Tired and Grumpy

Today was rough.  It just was.  I didn't sleep well.  My son is still waking up way too early, eager to start the day.  It is hot and humid.  And everything was pushing my buttons.  But life continues.  I still had stuff to get done and a little person to take care of.

After doing our morning routine of eating, brushing teeth, and getting dressed, we headed out to turn in my visa application.  I entered Japan on a visitor visa and am currently trying to change my status by obtaining a spouse visa.  Fingers crossed.  The walk should have taken 20 minutes, but instead took over 40 after having to stop numerous times for water breaks, snacks, and a bathroom pit stop.  We took the elevator up to the attorney's office and submitted our paperwork and documentation (thank you relocation team!). 

I wanted to swing by the American Embassy to ask for a referral for an attorney for some estate planning documents.  It was only about 4 blocks from the attorney's office.  I honestly forgot the security precautions of the Embassy.  I thought I would just walk into some main front desk, ask my question, and walk away with an answer.  The security guard blocking the sidewalk next to the Embassy was very nice, but was not going to let me anywhere near the Embassy without an appointment.  I realized this after I gave up trying to communicate with him myself and called my husband to have him translate.  So, I called the Embassy while sitting outside their building (outside the security perimeter).  They referred me to their website.  And everything I needed was right there.  Didn't even need to bother a human being.  I found this whole interaction to be sad.  There are reasons, but it still saddens me to be held out at a distance for reasons that don't have anything to do with me.

We then took the train back to the apartment because I didn't have the energy to get a 4 year old to walk back.  As we wove through the underground toward the train, I found myself wanting to yell at people for not following the "rules" and for other silly reasons.  Everything just seemed to take more effort than was necessary.  After the train ride, we picked up bento for lunch and finished walking back.  My husband joined us for lunch, giving me a brief smile in this grumpy day. 

The rest of the day was spent napping, folding origami, shopping, eating, and reading.  It wasn't a terribly eventful day.  Yet a grumpy cloud hung over me the entire day.

I have these days in the US, too.  It just seems a bit more intense here.  I don't have an outlet of yardwork or sewing that I can immerse myself into.  I also don't have any personal space, which is hard for me.  Last time I lived here, I would go on epic Starbucks quests.  There wasn't a Starbucks in Yao, so I would travel on the train over a half an hour to the closest one.  Once there, I'd order my coffee and pretend I was in the US for a short time.  It was just a little escape from reality.  But I don't drink coffee anymore and their other drinks are too sweet for me (their Hojicha Crème Frappuchino was a huge disappointment to me - way too sweet and not enough earthy flavor).  My old vice is gone.  I need to find a new escape.  A healthy one.  A productive one.  Suggestions welcome.