Fragmented updatey-like thing

[dr4b]

okay so I haven't really written much the last few days and I don't have time to. why? because I was a dumbass and spent most of today going through pictures I took yesterday. and I cleaned my apartment some, and did laundry, and some other stuff, and I had to go fetch my bike from the station, and... yeah.

but really it's because of the pictures. I can't believe how long it takes to go through 650 shots and do stuff with them. Even though in the end I kept 170 and I'm still narrowing those down, if you think it takes about 2-3 minutes to crop/etc a picture, that IS a good 7 hours right there. I decided there's no fucking way I'm bringing a camera to my next few games... I'll sit in the outfield and yell and not take pictures goddamnit, even in Sapporo. And in America there's no real point in taking pictures, unless I manage to meet Hillman-kantoku...

OKAY SO ANYWAY, I called HP about the laptop. And it wasn't a Japan issue but was actually a billing issue. I think the real problem is that I don't have my american cellphone number anymore. I put down Carl's phone number as the phone number at the old Ballard house, and apparently despite that I put down my old phone number with the billing, things got screwed up. It seems they SHOULD be able to still get it out there in time for me, but I'll get email in the next 24 hours confirming or denying that. I am really looking forward to having a new computer. The Frankenlaptop (or maybe that should be Zombie Laptop since it doesn't have any brains, aka memory) has been a great amount of fun but I'd like to get back to some stability.

I'm flying out on Saturday afternoon from here, so I leave Japan in approximately 108 hours. Yikes. I've been trying to make a list of all the things I need to get in America, but it seems pretty impossible. I'm also bringing back a ton of clothes to give to Goodwill (because, oddly, I don't know of any clothes recycling places here and certainly not for big people). I've lost 20 pounds since I moved here, and I do expect to gain some of it back when I go nuts eating things like Chipotle burritos and Pagliacci's pizza and Ivar's fish'n'chips and all, BUT my guess is I'd lose it again when I came back here, so there's no point in keeping a ton of clothes here that I can't wear, but there's also no real point in storing a lot of this stuff in Seattle. Anyway, mostly I need to get shoes and socks, and then things like soap and medicine and whatnot. And something Ichiro-related for one of my students who requested it, and a coinpurse for Sam since I promised.

I'm also in a bit of a panic because I don't really have plans to see lots of people in Seattle, so I'm worried I simply won't see many people. I kind of figure that Carnival will be Carnival in Pittsburgh and one way or another I will see people, but... also, I have no clue how one rents a cellphone in America but it sure seems like a necessity.

But yeah, that's the last few days in a nutshell. Nothing much to say about Friday; Saturday was overwork and an attempt to relax after. Sunday was going to Chiba, getting the backstage tour of the stadium and meeting some famous baseball people, seeing the Marines pull a win out of nowhere. Sam and I went to Costco afterwards too and I got some rootbeer and diet dr. pepper, and he got a bunch of stuff, and we both had pizza at the food court and he said, "I agree! This tastes like America," which was pretty funny. Oh, another retarded thing is that there was no Ainori on TV tonight so technically I could have gone to try to see a movie or something, but it's just as well that I didn't since it's pouring rain outside.

I finally opened up and used the photo printer I got with my little point-and-click camera, to print out the picture of me and Bobby Valentine so I can bring it to work and my students will all freak out. That should be pretty funny :)

Comments

[sorakirei.livejournal.com]

Tracfone if the first thing that came to mind for someone needing a phone for a short time especially because it does not require a contract. It's a prepaid phone that you can add minutes too. The cheapest phone is about $15.

Verizon Wireless has a pay as you go plan called InPulse but the phones are pricey.

[ohhim.livejournal.com]

When I left my phone at home on a Monday about 2 months back, and didn't notice until I reached the airport, I snagged a net10 phone for $30 at the Eckerds at the airmall, paid another $30 for 450 minutes (had to register via phone or online) and forwarded all my calls to it. I ended up giving the phone to my BBBS little once I got back to town so I don't have it anymore :(

[dr4b]

Any idea where I can get these though? I can't figure out their site beyond buying a tracphone online...

[rehana.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure where to get a Tracphone specifically, but Radio Shack has similar things from other companies. Both times I've looked the cheapest phone was $20.

[sorakirei.livejournal.com]

You can pick up these phones at any major big box retailer like best buy or walmart.

[jccw.livejournal.com]

I think any Best Buy-like place now has payasyougo phones for like $20 at most (which includes $10 airtime). I got a cingular/at&t one for christmas and used it in colorado last month and just re-upped it so it'll still work when I'm back for carnival. The only problem is the credit has a time limit of like a month initially & if it runs out you lose the credit AND have to pay like $35 to reactivate it. But if you buy $100 of airtime all at once, it lasts a year (probably not needed if you're only going to use it for 2 weeks and not come back to the US again soon; you'll probably just want to use it and recycle it when you leave.)

[tg2k.livejournal.com]

Just so you know, I've heard that some airlines, to reduce fuel costs, are restricting passenger baggage...the number I heard was a single <50lb baggage item, and the 2 carry-ons (one overhead, one under the seat), with no possibility of additional baggage (over? ship it!). No idea what this does to people traveling with kids and car seats, strollers, etc...or whether it affects international flights, nor how many airlines. But I wanted to mention this to you so you can check with your airline if you're taking a lot either way.

[dr4b]

I'm flying on United for all my flights.
What might be bizarre is if they have different restrictions for domestic vs. overseas -- meaning that my baggage is fine to get in and out of the country but not to get to Pittsburgh. I guess I could do all of my grocery shopping in Pittsburgh though :)

[tg2k.livejournal.com]

The information I can find is here. It applies after May 5th and is only for exclusively domestic travel, neither of which seem to apply to you, and unlike what I heard, it seems you can still take a second checked bag for a fee. So I think you're in the clear after all.