Yesterday was one of these days that makes me extremely pleased with the life I am living. The weather was a bit gloomy, with grey clouds hiding the sun, but although quite inclined to spend my day sipping tea and reading novels, I finished a work that has been going on for weeks. So now I can proceed to review an article that is almost done and sit back to relax a bit before start working on my thesis. And to make my little break much on the perfect side, today my favorite kind of parcel arrived in the mail, bringing me old and cheap little books to be enjoyed during these two months in between my writings.

I dislike watching TV very much. I do like movies though and the only series I truly enjoy are BBC adaptation of classics, which I can very well buy the DVD boxes and enjoy as many times as I can without having to deal with silly programs and bad news in between. So, on my free time I read. One of my goals this year was to read at least two novels every month apart from the academic stuff. I was reading only one per month until 2010 because I couldn't administrate my schedule properly and that is not very good, is it. So I am truly happy to say that I was able to keep my goal during these first seven months. This is my 2011 reading list so far:

I found Robin Hood very boring, so although I started it in March, I stopped near the end because it did not inspire me at all. I cannot leave a book unread though, so I will have to gather courage and finish it until the end of the year. At the moment I am finishing I Shall Wear Midnight – my first Terry Pratchett novel – and might start the second part of Anne Shirley's adventures right after. I am very happy with my progress because I am not very good at keeping new year resolutions. But I guess this one helps a lot.

P.S.: While typing this, another huge earthquake/aftershock came. Will this never stop?

This week has been an exception in the usual unbearable Japanese summer. I still could only live of light, cold meals, like this salad I had this afternoon for lunch at my favorite café. But because of a typhoon that passed close by a couple of days ago, the week was of rain and cool weather and the sun seemed shy today, hiding behind grey clouds which seemed to be foretelling showers that never really came. It felt a bit melancholic - and I do like my share of melancholy when it comes without reason and stays in my heart like the sad feelings that inspired poets of old. Not when it comes with the disappointment after reading more dreadful news of terrorist attacks and violence all over the world.

I wish I could shut myself down to reality sometimes. I wish I could live on reading just the books I love, full of kindness, magic and hope. Avoiding the news that connect me with the rest of the world and, at the same time, push me away until I barely feel I am part of it. But even the book I finished today left a bitter taste, as well as painful thoughts I wish I could avoid because of my Faith and because of my Principles…

What do I want to say? I myself do not quite understand. Only that today, when for the glory of God Mokichi and Ichizo moaned, suffered and died, I cannot bear the monotonous sound of the dark sea gnawing at the shore. Behind the depressing silence of the sea, the silence of God.... the feeling that while men raise their voices in anguish God remains with folded arms, silent.

It's been a while. Up until now I have been so busy researching and writing that maintaining a blog felt like a waste of energy. It is a writing exercise after all.

But because of the earthquake earlier this year, my university and lab will suspend activities until October to save electricity. So here I am. And although in other circumstances I would probably be happy with the forced vacations, I have to hand in and defend my whole thesis on October the 26th, so it won't be vacations after all.

I have been spending this first week of freedom from duties visiting the library and the archives, transliterating, reading, scribbling, planning...

I have most of what I need already settled and analysed, but this is a MA thesis, so it has to be carefully done because it's expected to be good enough to be published. It also has to be very good – nearly perfect according to academic standards – because I am a scholarship student and if I don't write it well they might cut the support for my PhD.

But I am confident somehow. Every day I read an article, a chapter of one of the works I am still going through and transcribe at least one page of the XVI century letters I work with. So when I am finished is already night and I don't feel like I've been free at all; just changed the place of work from University to a café or my house.

Yesterday was just like the others. But after finishing my duties, I headed up to Harajuku after six months without going there. It's summer in Japan, which means it's terrible hot and humid and a typhoon was surrounding the area for the last couple of days. So Takeshita Street was actually quite empty.

I had some errands to run and a couple of small gifts to buy for a friend, so I went to Kiddy Land after finding the shop I wanted to visit closed for the day. I was never the girly girl type and cute things never ring a bell on my mind, but I enjoy looking through their Ghibli and Snoopy sessions. Nevertheless, I did find my gifts and took some time choosing nice props for my Luke and had fun photographing him before going to bed. He had (Rilakkuma) hamburger for dinner.

Hopefully his brother will arrive soon so that I'll have some nice, BJD related projects to break down the stress of the academic life during these three months of pseudo-freedom.

Who would ever imagine they would be forever linked in my mind to the scariest moments I ever beheld? They are my favorite flowers, with the most delicious perfume, and to me they announce the blessings of a long-awaited Spring here in Japan. But today, after the great catastrophe, while walking around the empty streets, I feel like they are the saddest little things in the world. Even though I do believe sadness has its beauty too.

For example, it brings people together. Thank you so very much for all amazing and thoughtful messages since everything started. I am fine, my home is safe and my friends and beloved ones are all unharmed. But, please, keep praying for Japan and other countries that still might suffer with Mother Nature's scolding.

I didn't have hot home-made meals and the warmth of my family on Christmas, but I had okonomiyaki and friends and a joyful Christmas eve live. On the first I went to Kamakura and could breath the clean air of Japan's charming countryside. We walked a lot and visited many temples following the tradition of praying for a peaceful and healthy New Year. It was chilly, but I didn't suffer much. I am getting used to the cold somehow; plus, the Japanese plum trees were blooming, my favorite flowers in all the world, and they taught me how to appreciate winter like nothing else. These ones were special, though. Yellow, instead of the pale pink I am used to, and the scent is almost as divine as the place where they grow in - a bit more spicy than the original one. I also visited a temple dedicated to the rabbit, in honor of the rabbit year, and had fun watching the monks' good humor. They had holy statues with ear muffs and a bunny spaceship there. I like those monks very much. We also had a late lunch in a charming little family restaurant where we sat in stone chairs sipping hot tea while waiting for a delicious vegetarian udon made by a plump old Japanese lady who loves cats.

All in all, another great year is over a a new, challenging one started. I only hope to be able to do (and well) all I have to do in the next 12 months.