Cleaning residences, like any "career", has pros and cons. Slowly but surely, it's destroying my health, starting with my joints and back. It's not glamorous, I come home exhausted and filthy, and there's no insurance plan attached. Plus, I'm forced to handle all my own taxes, a pain I will be feeling quite soon. Finally, there's the job insecurity, since a tanking economy means "luxuries" like house cleaning go out the window early on. All these factors can make it pretty tough at times.

But then there are days like today, when the circumstances fall just perfectly so that I make $39/hr. Suddenly, it feels worth it.

^__________^

Random Japan Photo #11

Shika and I in kimono (duh). Yeah, I'm short. >.< They were strikingly comfortable. Unexpected. The wonderful woman who lent them to us also sent us home with two authentic several-meters-long obi (decorative belt). They're gorgeous.