05/14/2008: "[At work] What a week.."

Been quite a week, and it's only Wednesday! I'm not sure any of it's noteworthy, but let's go for it!

In less that a week, I'll officially be a university graduate with a BA in East Asian Studies, Japanese Option (Japanese History), and a minor in psychology. Since I'll no longer be a university student, it also means that I'll no longer have my job (it's a student worker position). Been busy with getting all that stuff dealt with, studying for finals, and doing some presentation stuff (had a final, homework assignment due, and a presentation yesterday). One more final on Friday, and I'm officially done!

On the IRS front, through continued calling I learned that for some mysterious reason, they only have one of the supplemental papers that was sent in the same envelope as my 1040. Not only did they just have that (which isn't markedly useful for doing my taxes), they also somehow screwed up just having it and stapled and sent it to someone ELSE with their tax return (for seemingly no reason). Thanks, IRS. You just sent out my SSN, name, and address, and some of my financial information to a complete stranger. You truly are my hero. And to boot, I won't get my refund or stimulus payment for another 6-8 weeks (assuming the 1040 I resubmitted ever actually gets there).

Despite that, I'm really not all that upset. These things happen in life, and there's really very little that you can do about them other than keep a stiff upper lip, sigh, complain a little bit, and move on. In the end, things will work out.. it's just getting from 'here' to 'there' that's a bit of a trial.

What does have me on edge, however, is this whole 'I don't have a visa yet' thing. I really should have it by now, especially considering I'm supposed to leave in about 2 weeks. Odds are that I won't be getting it in time to go, so I'm probably going to cancel my Tokyo trip and reschedule my flight for a week later. I just hope that's long enough, and I don't have to reschedule twice (first time is $35, second and beyond is $185... yeah) or even worse, more.

But with that.. again, I know I eventually will make it to Japan and will start working. It should happen soon, but if it's delayed a few weeks, it really doesn't matter much in the grand scheme of things.

Basically, I think I'm getting pretty Zen, if I do so say myself. It's also distinctly possible it could just be apathy, but I think there's only a fine line separating the two (detachment and apathy). I think 'Zen' sounds much better, though, so I'll opt for that.

So, finish up today, go to my last day of work tomorrow, take a final on Friday. What to do for now, though? I have no idea, but I'll be here for quite awhile longer. I guess it's time to read a book or something. If I'm lucky, I can ninja some of the pizza from the pizza-party down the hall for students. Being staff certainly does have perks..


School