Fantastic day!

What a long few weeks.

With my brother being home, there has not been a lot I have been able to do... Well not so much that I have not been able to do it, but more that I wanted to spend every possible moment I could with my brother, before he headed back to Rome.

But, he is gone now.

Now I have to get back into the routine of working, and back to my life of making time for me, making time for others and working. It's a hard hard juggling act, especially when your friends are doing the same thing too.

But yesterday Diane and I managed to make time to hang out. It has really been a long long time since we had the time to do such things... Simple, important things.

I met Diane at her new place, got to see it, and want a great place it is. From there we went to see her Fiance Sean at his work. We had a nice walk there, where we chatted about everything. We then puttered off to find wedding dresses. And if you can believe it, first time out: Success! We, well Diane, found her dress. It is BEAUTIFUL! We talked about bridesmaid dresses, the hall where she is getting married (where we tried to put a deposit down, but the person wasn't there), and the wedding in general. Sounds like it is going to be beautiful. We had lunch at McD's, ran around to fine me a day-timer, and then went and watched her niece figure skate. And WOW is she good! Puts me all to shame, and only six, yikes, I cant believe it. We then toddled off to the mall where I checked out, in person (for the first time), the camera I want: Nikon Coolpix 5700, and I think that IS the camera. Short of going SLR (which I wont because I cant afford the lenses and I don't own any) is one of the best Digi cams. We then ran into some friends of mine from where, and we chatted for a while. Then we went to see The Last Samurai What an amazing movie!

[From the official site]: Captain Nathan Algren (TOM CRUISE) is a man adrift. The battles he once fought now seem distant and futile. Once he risked his life for honor and country, but, in the years since the Civil War, the world has changed. Pragmatism has replaced courage, self-interest has taken the place of sacrifice and honor is nowhere to be found - especially out West where his role in the Indian Campaigns ended in disillusionment and sorrow.

Somewhere on the unforgiving plains near the banks of the Washita River, Algren lost his soul.

A universe away, another soldier sees his way of life about to disintegrate. He is Katsumoto (KEN WATANABE), the last leader of an ancient line of warriors, the venerated Samurai, who dedicated their lives to serving emperor and country. Just as the modern way encroached upon the American West, cornering and condemning the Native American, it also engulfed traditional Japan. The telegraph lines and railroads that brought progress now threaten those values and codes by which the Samurai have lived and died for centuries.

But Katsumoto will not go without a fight.

The paths of these two warriors converge when the young Emperor of Japan, wooed by American interests who covet the growing Japanese market, hires Algren to train Japan's first modern, conscript army. But as the Emperor's advisors attempt to eradicate the Samurai in preparation for a more Westernized and trade-friendly government, Algren finds himself unexpectedly impressed and influenced by his encounters with the Samurai. Their powerful convictions remind him of the man he once was.

Thrust now into harsh and unfamiliar territory, with his life and perhaps more important, his soul, in the balance, the troubled American soldier finds himself at the center of a violent and epic struggle between two eras and two worlds, with only his sense of honor to guide him.

I was so skeptical about this movie, but when Sean and Diane said I needed to go, I went. We met Sean at the theatre, grabed some Za, popcorn and drinks, and then enjoyed an amazing movie.

If you want a good movie, this is one to see.

Then I came home.

But I had so much fun. It is so amazing to me the fun you can have when you spend time with good people.

I am lucky to have such great friends!

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INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT OF THE DAY
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"The road to a friend's house is never long."
-Danish proverb