Interesting dream which combined loads of random little things together. I remember now that the best thing about analysing my dreams was seeing which bits influenced them in ral life. It spoke quite accurately about my present worries/concerns or just LOL-lish things.
Was in a room with some of the Battlestar Galactica cast. (This must have been cos of the music video I showed Nicole which has the guy running around the club beating up people looking for number Six).
In some weird homage to that someone is running around beheading them outside! Using the dumbells Monica gave me!
I run out to investigate. bodies everywhere. Someone runs behind me and into the room I was in and when I go back in they're all dead too! headless corpses everywhere! I see a shadow diappear round a corner and run after it and round a corner and suddenly running up a garden towards a house. Weird bit; someone's granny is doing the killing! (I was telling Monique about my granny the other night so that must be where this little element came from).
Now I see all the ALTS and gaijin I know. They're hiding around the house from the granny. The granny is ruthless and impossible to kill. She runs around with different guns and we scrape together some but for some reason no matter how good a chance we get we can't kill her. Very horror movie, lol.
She's slow and steady and kills off some people. I think peeps like Roman fall first (mentioned him to Monica that night).
We retreat to a central part of the complex. Yeah now it's not a house but a massive sprawling hangar style place with walk ways, and corridors snaking over, under and around everywhere; almost resembling some kind of massive activity park like the place in Yonexawa for climbing. (I think I got the walkways from the picturesque bridges and crossings which we passed on our trip up to kahoku).
Then suddenly it's over. It's been like a game or something. It's like big brother, and everyone starts to leave but I hang back watching them go (lots of friends and peeps going soon, pretty obvious reference there)
Monday, 30 June 2008
A Last Weekend in June
One more packed weekend. Saturday an early start for my school's Founder Day.
Speeches aplenty. For some reason the woman chose to talk about Care Management! Are they trying to remind them that, with their aging population, the one way they will be sure to make a living will be to clean up after their increasingly decrepit elders?!
Anyway, afterwards tried to elicit LOLs by saying to a student that perhaps something more exciting, like Purikura, "not something boring like care management". Student tells me her mother works in care management. Shit.
The gymnasium was hot and humid. I was surrounded by teachers, with the beautiful but silent girl teacher to my right and Tom to my left. He would check round on me from time to time but eventually stopped, thank god. So I decided to close me eyes and let nature take its coruse.
In the day dream I was with Jeff and Monica. Then I walked out to get into the car and go travelling somewhere. Cue for my brain to shut down and actually sleep. Cue my head obviously dropping forward, I swear I almost hit my knees, lol. I sat bolt upright, laughed a little to signal to others that I understood I was caught and felt stupid. Spent the rest of the speech shifting around trying not to feel tired again. Didn't help that I had 5 hours sleep the day before because I was looking at t-shirts again and music.
Later on went to lunch in TAS, wehre I saw Tom's friends and chatted with a few people. then I was gone and off to Yonezawa to get curry stuff and see Monique. Went to Yamaya afterwards on my way back and bumped into Shane and Yuko.
By the time I'd gone to get petrol, and gone to Yoku, Monique had arrived at my apartment only a little before me.
Tidied up whilst making the "Basic Curry Sauce" my mum had sent me. Realised how fun it is to make a curry, just throw in ingredients all over the shop and it'll still turn out good. Monique had made tandoori chicken too! What with that and Terminator 2 on TV that evening I could have closed my eyes and been back in Belfast again.
The night was hot and humid but my room alternated between hot and cold. Felt unsettled and was told that I apparently shouted "FUCK OFF!" to noone in the middle of the night. Usual for my brothers but not for me. LOL
Went to Kahoku for Disney marathon and got through 4 movies; A Goofy Movie, Lion King, Aladdin, and Recuer's Down Under.
Looked at some shirts that I want to get with Maggy and then we went back to Nagai. Stayed and watched the Majestic with Monica before getting home, finally washing up all my plates from the night before and tidying up a bit more.
Speeches aplenty. For some reason the woman chose to talk about Care Management! Are they trying to remind them that, with their aging population, the one way they will be sure to make a living will be to clean up after their increasingly decrepit elders?!
Anyway, afterwards tried to elicit LOLs by saying to a student that perhaps something more exciting, like Purikura, "not something boring like care management". Student tells me her mother works in care management. Shit.
The gymnasium was hot and humid. I was surrounded by teachers, with the beautiful but silent girl teacher to my right and Tom to my left. He would check round on me from time to time but eventually stopped, thank god. So I decided to close me eyes and let nature take its coruse.
In the day dream I was with Jeff and Monica. Then I walked out to get into the car and go travelling somewhere. Cue for my brain to shut down and actually sleep. Cue my head obviously dropping forward, I swear I almost hit my knees, lol. I sat bolt upright, laughed a little to signal to others that I understood I was caught and felt stupid. Spent the rest of the speech shifting around trying not to feel tired again. Didn't help that I had 5 hours sleep the day before because I was looking at t-shirts again and music.
Later on went to lunch in TAS, wehre I saw Tom's friends and chatted with a few people. then I was gone and off to Yonezawa to get curry stuff and see Monique. Went to Yamaya afterwards on my way back and bumped into Shane and Yuko.
By the time I'd gone to get petrol, and gone to Yoku, Monique had arrived at my apartment only a little before me.
Tidied up whilst making the "Basic Curry Sauce" my mum had sent me. Realised how fun it is to make a curry, just throw in ingredients all over the shop and it'll still turn out good. Monique had made tandoori chicken too! What with that and Terminator 2 on TV that evening I could have closed my eyes and been back in Belfast again.
The night was hot and humid but my room alternated between hot and cold. Felt unsettled and was told that I apparently shouted "FUCK OFF!" to noone in the middle of the night. Usual for my brothers but not for me. LOL
Went to Kahoku for Disney marathon and got through 4 movies; A Goofy Movie, Lion King, Aladdin, and Recuer's Down Under.
Looked at some shirts that I want to get with Maggy and then we went back to Nagai. Stayed and watched the Majestic with Monica before getting home, finally washing up all my plates from the night before and tidying up a bit more.
Saturday, 28 June 2008
Clinic visit
The clinic was jjust how I always remember going to the doctor. It combines eagerness nad relief for the end is apparently in sight but also apprehensiveness about stating the case right, or having the symptoms you have laboured under dismissed by an overly arrogant doctor.
Having a Dad as a doctor certainly gives some insight into the whole mentality that they have and the absolute need for proof and feedback which us as patients just sometimes aren't aware we need to show them in order to properly state our case.
Still, while the doctor's themselves frustrate me with their haughty attitudes, the same around the world, the setting itself I am always fascinated by and soothed in some way. I spent a lot of time walking around hospitals with my Dad or on tours and things. Obvioulsy the fact that I am in Japan teaching english and with a computer science degree speaks loudly about my "failed potential" to be curing things, lol.
I know I must e calmed by the clean steril white environment because when I get my blood pressure taken it is always the lowest there!
Saw the guy about my pain. It was a little weird at first, I was temptedt o launch into introductions, and I asked his name politely as he didn't seem to want/know when it was time to tell me. He was obviously steeling himself for an assault of English.
So I begin to explain, and as I find a million times the Doctor begins to draw his own conclusion based on the few tings you say. Oh sure you tell him certain events accurately but you can see them thinking "well it simply sounds like he needs rest".
That was basically what he said after I told him my tale of woe; about the marathon training being a little painful but that playing a certain badminton game, and then running the longest i'd ever done, on the same afternoon, fucked me up. I limped on with some training and then actually doing the damn marathon but since then I've nothing but rest! No running, no badminton, nothing. Just daily "gotta do this" kinds of things.
Like putting on socks. Incredibly painful. Every morning. The same intensity.
This didn't come across though because he wants to know the cause, and then, being a doctor, ignores the pain and symptoms and instead, as they often do I find, diagnose and treat for the REASON you got your injury or ailment.
Okay wait, let me elaborate, that seems logical enough, but it means he thinks just "simple rest" is enough when I think nothing short of a crutch and not using my leg at all is what's needed since it has demonstrated that normal daily activity is enough to tear or inflame the tendons and we're back to square one. They miss the severity of it oftentimes.
So I get landed with some pain killers. I won't be able to feel the pain and tears. Yay! But in 5 days, when they are finished, I wonder if the pain will be back. Um... I'm betting it will be.
The examination was funny. He tapped my Achilles tendon. All today I noticed, Sod's Law in effect, that my ankle tendon has healed kinda well overnight, as it will do from time to time. However his tapping reawaoke the slumbering beast and now this evening I've actually more pain after leaving the clinic! LOL
The pain killers are kinda working. My Hop Test shows that I can almost manage it now on my bad heel. Hoping that with the inflammation gone for a while it will strengthen and repair.
Having a Dad as a doctor certainly gives some insight into the whole mentality that they have and the absolute need for proof and feedback which us as patients just sometimes aren't aware we need to show them in order to properly state our case.
Still, while the doctor's themselves frustrate me with their haughty attitudes, the same around the world, the setting itself I am always fascinated by and soothed in some way. I spent a lot of time walking around hospitals with my Dad or on tours and things. Obvioulsy the fact that I am in Japan teaching english and with a computer science degree speaks loudly about my "failed potential" to be curing things, lol.
I know I must e calmed by the clean steril white environment because when I get my blood pressure taken it is always the lowest there!
Saw the guy about my pain. It was a little weird at first, I was temptedt o launch into introductions, and I asked his name politely as he didn't seem to want/know when it was time to tell me. He was obviously steeling himself for an assault of English.
So I begin to explain, and as I find a million times the Doctor begins to draw his own conclusion based on the few tings you say. Oh sure you tell him certain events accurately but you can see them thinking "well it simply sounds like he needs rest".
That was basically what he said after I told him my tale of woe; about the marathon training being a little painful but that playing a certain badminton game, and then running the longest i'd ever done, on the same afternoon, fucked me up. I limped on with some training and then actually doing the damn marathon but since then I've nothing but rest! No running, no badminton, nothing. Just daily "gotta do this" kinds of things.
Like putting on socks. Incredibly painful. Every morning. The same intensity.
This didn't come across though because he wants to know the cause, and then, being a doctor, ignores the pain and symptoms and instead, as they often do I find, diagnose and treat for the REASON you got your injury or ailment.
Okay wait, let me elaborate, that seems logical enough, but it means he thinks just "simple rest" is enough when I think nothing short of a crutch and not using my leg at all is what's needed since it has demonstrated that normal daily activity is enough to tear or inflame the tendons and we're back to square one. They miss the severity of it oftentimes.
So I get landed with some pain killers. I won't be able to feel the pain and tears. Yay! But in 5 days, when they are finished, I wonder if the pain will be back. Um... I'm betting it will be.
The examination was funny. He tapped my Achilles tendon. All today I noticed, Sod's Law in effect, that my ankle tendon has healed kinda well overnight, as it will do from time to time. However his tapping reawaoke the slumbering beast and now this evening I've actually more pain after leaving the clinic! LOL
The pain killers are kinda working. My Hop Test shows that I can almost manage it now on my bad heel. Hoping that with the inflammation gone for a while it will strengthen and repair.
Friday, 27 June 2008
Heartened: A diamon in the rough
Okino is starting to really hearten me these days. i still can have moments of "LOL, WTF am I doing?!" but for the most part I do feel more involved with the students, even if they probably aren't that keen on me.. Well, apart from the kid who loves to stroke my arm hair!
Anyway, what's particularly touching is one student. She's sickeningly cute, with big moon cheeks, and out of nowhere has got a fasntastic steady grasp of English. Sure the kids in Nagai koko could blow her away with their vocabulary but few of them are able to handle a simple honest to god conversation like she can. I feel sad that I see her 'stuck' in the school.
Had a chat with her and she told me she is learning some Italian from her aunt who is working for a company in Italy. Really cool to hear her ream off some Italian. When I speak proper slowly (not "slowly" like I did for monique's student on that phone that one time, lol) she can understand things and she has very clear diction. A true diamond in the rough.
Anyway, what's particularly touching is one student. She's sickeningly cute, with big moon cheeks, and out of nowhere has got a fasntastic steady grasp of English. Sure the kids in Nagai koko could blow her away with their vocabulary but few of them are able to handle a simple honest to god conversation like she can. I feel sad that I see her 'stuck' in the school.
Had a chat with her and she told me she is learning some Italian from her aunt who is working for a company in Italy. Really cool to hear her ream off some Italian. When I speak proper slowly (not "slowly" like I did for monique's student on that phone that one time, lol) she can understand things and she has very clear diction. A true diamond in the rough.
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Injured in my old age
Oh for goodness sake. Getting really ticked off now. Arab anger in me rising up several times today to smack myself on the leg and mutter "come on!". I can feel my ankle tendon tearing from its mooring on the base of my ankle bone.
Why you may ask? Beats the fuck out of me. I've done nothing to aggravate it. Indeed I can feel a day of pain coming when I am lying in bed, I can feel my tendon on my hip or on my ankle slowly 'tearing' as the night goes on. I try and move it into a more comfortable position but something happens and my body seems intent on weakening the join so much that by morning I am limping anew.
There is no improvement. Tried to jog across the car park on the way back from Tom's. Can't. I usually grit myself through pain, wrecked my elbow tendons that way a dozen times climbing and this is what caused my current injury (and a certain merciless opponent at badminton, lol). But no way could I push through that pain. I did another test and found I could hop on my left leg fine, couldn't even bounce off the ground on my right. FUCK.
I don't want to phone home and ask cos I know the weird pleasure my parents would get in thinking they can sit and preach and decree things. On the other hand I have no idea where to go here to have someone look at it properly. I think I'll have to completely stop using the leg until its healed at both ends, heel and hip, otherwise this fucking thing won't ever heal.
Maybe this is what I get in my old age, turning 24 and I lose my youthful ability to regenerate.
Our bodies repair mechanisms start to lose their fight with aging around about this time in fact.
You see we were only ever designed for the short life spans of our predecessors, average life spans being about 30 or 40 years. By then the body has matured, and only just begun to age. We were never competitvly reproducing to stay wrinkle free in our 50s, only to maintain moderate youthful attractiveness until our mid 20s before we pop out sprogs.
I always scoffed at the idea of people getting "old sports injuries". Seems Sod's Law is alive and well. Well that or the God really is that singer of Irony; Alanis Morisette. According to Dogma she is, lol
Watching Lord Of The Rings which I borrowed from Tom. The Mouth Of Sauron is funny to watch having been in Japan for so long. I'm somehow less horrified from his ferocious set of gnashers having witnessed some choice mouths here in the inaka in my time here.
Why you may ask? Beats the fuck out of me. I've done nothing to aggravate it. Indeed I can feel a day of pain coming when I am lying in bed, I can feel my tendon on my hip or on my ankle slowly 'tearing' as the night goes on. I try and move it into a more comfortable position but something happens and my body seems intent on weakening the join so much that by morning I am limping anew.
There is no improvement. Tried to jog across the car park on the way back from Tom's. Can't. I usually grit myself through pain, wrecked my elbow tendons that way a dozen times climbing and this is what caused my current injury (and a certain merciless opponent at badminton, lol). But no way could I push through that pain. I did another test and found I could hop on my left leg fine, couldn't even bounce off the ground on my right. FUCK.
I don't want to phone home and ask cos I know the weird pleasure my parents would get in thinking they can sit and preach and decree things. On the other hand I have no idea where to go here to have someone look at it properly. I think I'll have to completely stop using the leg until its healed at both ends, heel and hip, otherwise this fucking thing won't ever heal.
Maybe this is what I get in my old age, turning 24 and I lose my youthful ability to regenerate.
Our bodies repair mechanisms start to lose their fight with aging around about this time in fact.
You see we were only ever designed for the short life spans of our predecessors, average life spans being about 30 or 40 years. By then the body has matured, and only just begun to age. We were never competitvly reproducing to stay wrinkle free in our 50s, only to maintain moderate youthful attractiveness until our mid 20s before we pop out sprogs.
I always scoffed at the idea of people getting "old sports injuries". Seems Sod's Law is alive and well. Well that or the God really is that singer of Irony; Alanis Morisette. According to Dogma she is, lol
Watching Lord Of The Rings which I borrowed from Tom. The Mouth Of Sauron is funny to watch having been in Japan for so long. I'm somehow less horrified from his ferocious set of gnashers having witnessed some choice mouths here in the inaka in my time here.
Urgh
Okay I can see why a whole prefecture decides to pull out of the JET Program (Iwate apparently). I was sat doing nothing all day at my desk.
To occupy myself I organised all my photos on my computer and uploaded them. Oh and gave one or two hints about some English phrases which Haga-sensei always come up to me about.
Pretty useless.
To occupy myself I organised all my photos on my computer and uploaded them. Oh and gave one or two hints about some English phrases which Haga-sensei always come up to me about.
Pretty useless.
Weird Request
I've got to bring my white suit to school tomorrow. Not because I am a hot magnet of funk in it. It's for Michiaki to wear...
Maybe he's grown jealous of Tom's attractiveness and is deciding to fight back with my fetching beige/white suit.
In reality it's for some jokey PR film his class is doing for the school festival.
This is going to be ... weird
Maybe he's grown jealous of Tom's attractiveness and is deciding to fight back with my fetching beige/white suit.
In reality it's for some jokey PR film his class is doing for the school festival.
This is going to be ... weird
Tom
A tease for those girls who are interested in my JTE, he's sat beside me in a fetching black polo shirt. But not just any old polo shirt, oh no. A sexy polo shirt. Upturned collar with white inlay, form fitting tapered tailoring, black trousers with pin stripe patterning somehow working with the all black top. It's very "Tom".
There, hope I've whetted your appetities.
I caught myslf trying to see if I could spot the "hotness". It's a little disconcerting the amount of praise he gets. Chryssy's friend thought it was down to his "Johnny Depp" mouth. So what do I do when I was bored in the staff room one day? That's right, slowly raise my hand up to block out his face and look at the chin. He turns and looks at me and I manfully soldier on with my experiment. Result? A Maybe.
There, hope I've whetted your appetities.
I caught myslf trying to see if I could spot the "hotness". It's a little disconcerting the amount of praise he gets. Chryssy's friend thought it was down to his "Johnny Depp" mouth. So what do I do when I was bored in the staff room one day? That's right, slowly raise my hand up to block out his face and look at the chin. He turns and looks at me and I manfully soldier on with my experiment. Result? A Maybe.
I am officially going mad.
Party
Al's birthday was on Tuesday. Rebecca did the organising and emailing of everyone, I sat and did a hat. Made the main bit over at Rebecca's with help and stars. The next day at okino I ... borrowed a thing to score out the shapes I was planning for it.
Drank too much miruku tea and got the caffeine shakes and palpitations. Raced back and started work on the hat at 5. Raced frantically to get the UK flag done (that is a bastard!) and then glued everything down whilst running around trying to get ready and out the door.
Zoomed along to Yonezawa, treating the hat like a VIP, and then arrived at the exact same moment Monique did. Unfortunately the restaurant was closed. Okitama restaurants all seem to close that day. God knows why.
Sadness at the weirdness of Okitama restaurants
When everyone arrived at the Italian place we all decided to hunt down another Italian place. Noticed that we'd all chosen red/yellow/orange colours so it looked kinda like some United Colours of Benneton meet, lol.
#Red and yellow and green and blue... #
Ended up going to Cocoas after the other Italian restaurant had apparently been bought by some place that is mad for fish and big fishy signs.
Did the birthday song in Cocoas, learnt new dance moves from Ceed and Monique, and showed off my new drink pouring skills with a rose hip tea and orange juice combo, taught to me by Siobhan.
Afterwards we went to Seag World where we popped Chiara's purikura cherry and manys a frantic game of air hockey and light gun arcade action was to be had. Oh nad taiko, where I lost to the untrained taiko player Ceed despite my amazing prowess from Iide taiko group practice.
Drank too much miruku tea and got the caffeine shakes and palpitations. Raced back and started work on the hat at 5. Raced frantically to get the UK flag done (that is a bastard!) and then glued everything down whilst running around trying to get ready and out the door.
Zoomed along to Yonezawa, treating the hat like a VIP, and then arrived at the exact same moment Monique did. Unfortunately the restaurant was closed. Okitama restaurants all seem to close that day. God knows why.
Sadness at the weirdness of Okitama restaurants
When everyone arrived at the Italian place we all decided to hunt down another Italian place. Noticed that we'd all chosen red/yellow/orange colours so it looked kinda like some United Colours of Benneton meet, lol.
#Red and yellow and green and blue... #
Ended up going to Cocoas after the other Italian restaurant had apparently been bought by some place that is mad for fish and big fishy signs.
Did the birthday song in Cocoas, learnt new dance moves from Ceed and Monique, and showed off my new drink pouring skills with a rose hip tea and orange juice combo, taught to me by Siobhan.
Afterwards we went to Seag World where we popped Chiara's purikura cherry and manys a frantic game of air hockey and light gun arcade action was to be had. Oh nad taiko, where I lost to the untrained taiko player Ceed despite my amazing prowess from Iide taiko group practice.
Shock!
A fun night and Al seemed to really enjoy himself. Pictures and purikura are probably floating around Facebook as we speak, lol
Rush Hour
Okay it must be a sign of the apocalypse. I had to actually wait to leave the car park today because of the number of cars trundling along the usually sleepy quiet residential road running outside my apartment block.
Dreams
Took a nap after work. Was so god damned tired. Unusually I actually dreamt. And I felt very refreshed after it. Still me and Rebecca weren't up to a full night of climbing and left early.
I'm in a restaurant. I'm waiting in line for the toilet. There's a bunch of people. There's a party on and everyone is chit chatting as we wait. Kat is in the line ahead of me. There's another ALT there, a new one. He's big, fat and bearded. He looks like a geek lost from a convention. Kat is talking with him.
I am told I need to go somewhere. I feel like I need to go somewhere so I make my way out of line and glance back. Kat is ducking into the toilet and as I turn to see her I see that she has.... a... beard!
Now I'm in a car. Not sure who is driving but Jeff is in the front passenger seat and Oscar is next to me. It's mid conversation and I'm laughing about my weird hallucination of seeing Kat with a beard. I say my usual exaggerated "SUGOIIII!" and we laugh about my funny ways of saying certain Japanese words.
I also start talking in a British accent and saying apparently funny shit which makes them laugh. I think that comes form riding in the car with Ceed and others the other night and I made a few jokes.
People laughed and I suddenly felt happy and sad, because some of these people will be leaving, because I'm sad that I still kind of care for that attention, crave it, because I'm not a funny person, because I'm not "on" enough to make my friends laugh all the time and I try so hard to be and in the end just miss out on just "being".
Anyway. I like these dream things. It reminds me when i was younger and I wrote them down all the time. It was really interesting experience. I've just psycho analysed myself after a dream about a car ride with 2 people I don't see very often.
I'm in a restaurant. I'm waiting in line for the toilet. There's a bunch of people. There's a party on and everyone is chit chatting as we wait. Kat is in the line ahead of me. There's another ALT there, a new one. He's big, fat and bearded. He looks like a geek lost from a convention. Kat is talking with him.
I am told I need to go somewhere. I feel like I need to go somewhere so I make my way out of line and glance back. Kat is ducking into the toilet and as I turn to see her I see that she has.... a... beard!
Now I'm in a car. Not sure who is driving but Jeff is in the front passenger seat and Oscar is next to me. It's mid conversation and I'm laughing about my weird hallucination of seeing Kat with a beard. I say my usual exaggerated "SUGOIIII!" and we laugh about my funny ways of saying certain Japanese words.
I also start talking in a British accent and saying apparently funny shit which makes them laugh. I think that comes form riding in the car with Ceed and others the other night and I made a few jokes.
People laughed and I suddenly felt happy and sad, because some of these people will be leaving, because I'm sad that I still kind of care for that attention, crave it, because I'm not a funny person, because I'm not "on" enough to make my friends laugh all the time and I try so hard to be and in the end just miss out on just "being".
Anyway. I like these dream things. It reminds me when i was younger and I wrote them down all the time. It was really interesting experience. I've just psycho analysed myself after a dream about a car ride with 2 people I don't see very often.
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Beeping Things
Japan is in love with its beeping things. The latest debacle over my water heater proves this.
Tom came over and showed me that I cna just flip the circuit breaker for it and silence the fucking thing. It rectified itself by the time he'd left. Methinks faulty sensor on the pipes. I noticed it dripping (a small drop like, nothing tidal wave enough to warrant incessant beeping!)
My alarm clock is another nadir of beeping devices. It's piercing shrill alarm has shattered many a plesant, assexual dreamscape. Moreover it's got a weird choice of an 8 minute snooze (come on, 10 minutes please!) and the absolute worst feature? The alarm never stops.
This thing beeps on and on. My old alarm did that for maybe 5 minutes before stopping. Plainly if you aren't getting up and stopping it after that length of time you are dead and should be left to rest in peace!
I am often in the shower when I hear the snooze go off. I cringe knowing my neighbour is one day going to flip and come over and murder me cos of the fucking endless alarm. And once again its endless beeping will do nothing to rouse me again!!!
Tom came over and showed me that I cna just flip the circuit breaker for it and silence the fucking thing. It rectified itself by the time he'd left. Methinks faulty sensor on the pipes. I noticed it dripping (a small drop like, nothing tidal wave enough to warrant incessant beeping!)
My alarm clock is another nadir of beeping devices. It's piercing shrill alarm has shattered many a plesant, assexual dreamscape. Moreover it's got a weird choice of an 8 minute snooze (come on, 10 minutes please!) and the absolute worst feature? The alarm never stops.
This thing beeps on and on. My old alarm did that for maybe 5 minutes before stopping. Plainly if you aren't getting up and stopping it after that length of time you are dead and should be left to rest in peace!
I am often in the shower when I hear the snooze go off. I cringe knowing my neighbour is one day going to flip and come over and murder me cos of the fucking endless alarm. And once again its endless beeping will do nothing to rouse me again!!!
Why does Japan do it?!
My car beeps uselessly when you leave the keys in it but open the driver's door. WHy?! This is the country where people leave their cars running while they nip into the combini. This is the coutnry where crime is so non existant I haven't locked my car or apartment since I arrived and have had laptop and ipod and all manner of things on display in plain view. But no, leaving the keys in the ignition and opening the door.... beep beep beep beep.
The latest thing to add is of course the water heater. The common thing with all of them is my question; why do none of them stop after a certain time?!
The latest thing to add is of course the water heater. The common thing with all of them is my question; why do none of them stop after a certain time?!
The Dream Ends
It seems fitting that I should follow up my last entry with a tale of awakening.
So it's the morning. I can tell because there is some light in the room. In fact, it may even be disgustingly close to the time I ave to get up anyway, only for my body to squander the last bit of sleep it can get just to cry out "HEY! I'M UP! WHAT'RE WE GOING TO DO TODAY?!" like a demented ADD child.
Hmm... there's something dragging me back to conciousness no matter how much I try and stay in Dream Land. It's... my alarm?! No, it's too slow. Wait is this like my body clock all sped up?! You know like how on certain mornings you feel like a sloth but magically time is sliding by only to find that, well, it ain't! It's like a super power. Of course the flip side are mornings when you curse loudly when you see 10 minutes go by just brushing your teeth. LOL
Interest gets the better of me. And sheer bloody minded rage. Along with other less pleasant things I've inherited I've got my Mum's murderous rage for being woken up. Snoring really gets to me if the person is obviously enjoying the Land of Nod oblivious to the auditory assault on me (I wear earplugs as much for their protection as mine!). Likewise small incessant noises really really infuriate me and I will hunt them down and destroy them.
But yeah, it's wonderful really, like channelling the Hulk or something. Ok, anyone who read that is now re-evaluating sharing a room with me, LOL.
Anyway. Get up. It's not he alarm. Thank fuck. It's just before 7 AM though. An hour before getting up anyway. I go into the kitchen and see that its the water heater console.
"WTF" I think
So it's the morning. I can tell because there is some light in the room. In fact, it may even be disgustingly close to the time I ave to get up anyway, only for my body to squander the last bit of sleep it can get just to cry out "HEY! I'M UP! WHAT'RE WE GOING TO DO TODAY?!" like a demented ADD child.
Hmm... there's something dragging me back to conciousness no matter how much I try and stay in Dream Land. It's... my alarm?! No, it's too slow. Wait is this like my body clock all sped up?! You know like how on certain mornings you feel like a sloth but magically time is sliding by only to find that, well, it ain't! It's like a super power. Of course the flip side are mornings when you curse loudly when you see 10 minutes go by just brushing your teeth. LOL
Interest gets the better of me. And sheer bloody minded rage. Along with other less pleasant things I've inherited I've got my Mum's murderous rage for being woken up. Snoring really gets to me if the person is obviously enjoying the Land of Nod oblivious to the auditory assault on me (I wear earplugs as much for their protection as mine!). Likewise small incessant noises really really infuriate me and I will hunt them down and destroy them.
But yeah, it's wonderful really, like channelling the Hulk or something. Ok, anyone who read that is now re-evaluating sharing a room with me, LOL.
Anyway. Get up. It's not he alarm. Thank fuck. It's just before 7 AM though. An hour before getting up anyway. I go into the kitchen and see that its the water heater console.
"F 17" it says.
"WTF" I think
I hit buttons. It keeps beeping. I hit combinations of buttons. It keeps beeping. I pray to god. It keeps beeping.
I go outside to look at the boiler itself in case something obvious (explosions and sparks) presents itself. The damn BOILER is beeping! I press the Test Button, I flick it on and off.
I go outside to look at the boiler itself in case something obvious (explosions and sparks) presents itself. The damn BOILER is beeping! I press the Test Button, I flick it on and off.
It. Keeps. Fucking. Beeping.
I stumble back and forth between the two beeping monstrosities, drunk on growing anger at them. Oh my god! Why won't they stop!?!? Don't they know that I will simply kick and punch them into silence?! Repair bills be damned!
I put a towel over the console, doesn't help at all. It's defying the lawas of physics to sound piercingly clear through it.
I seriously consider a call to my supervisor, the deeply unsexy Tom;
"Hello. Yeah, can you help me with something?"
{Later}
Tom: Ok JoeyD, so you say that you "fell" on the console... multiple times... with your fists... and your feet .... and an iron bar.... right....
In the end I close the door to the kitchen, shove the ear plugs as deep as they will go and turn on my fan. It creates a weird drumming sound through my floor and into my pillow and ear which pisses me off at night but which was welcome relief from the fucking beeping.
Woke up later to find that the beeping had stopped..... but for how long....
I put a towel over the console, doesn't help at all. It's defying the lawas of physics to sound piercingly clear through it.
I seriously consider a call to my supervisor, the deeply unsexy Tom;
"Hello. Yeah, can you help me with something?"
{Later}
Tom: Ok JoeyD, so you say that you "fell" on the console... multiple times... with your fists... and your feet .... and an iron bar.... right....
In the end I close the door to the kitchen, shove the ear plugs as deep as they will go and turn on my fan. It creates a weird drumming sound through my floor and into my pillow and ear which pisses me off at night but which was welcome relief from the fucking beeping.
Woke up later to find that the beeping had stopped..... but for how long....
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Nuclear Dream
Had a cool dream last night.
We've had an earthquake or two a few weeks ago, and then a few days ago I think I felt a small one while lying on the futon. Oh and I read a friend's blog about their experience with earthquakes. Didn't think much of it but my brain must have slowly processed all this danger to life and the impending 25th of June earthquake that is supposed to happen.
The Dream
So I 'wake' in the dream to the room shaking like it was on the morning of the big earthquake in Tohoku. But things get worse. I'm not too scared, even enjoying it a little. Then for some reason, and typical in dreams, it isn't an earthquake but in fact a nuclear explosion. LOL.
So suddenly I am scared. I know that the shockwave is going to come. The apartment is also different. Lots of windows to look out over Nagai from. The sky is grey and debris is slowly filling the air. I race out of the apartment (now on the ground floor) and into the little storage shed. Massive rocking of the place and I hunker down.
Everything is still. There is no sound. I am the only person around. I go back into my apartment, holding my breath as I go outside. There's big pieces of ash or dust hanging in the air. I get into the house and there's smaller particulates in the air. I know that it is radioactive dust and worry that every breath I take is poisoning me. I keep thinking about getting out of here and getting those iodine tablets that stops your thyroid gland becoming irradiated.
I look down along the small moutain range that Nagai backs onto and I see the explosion area only a few miles away. I don't think about friends, they didn't exist in the dream. I ponder the journey ahead, slowly walking out of Nagai and into the inaka in the other direction.
Outside things are intact (despite it supposed to be a nuclear explosion). In a lot of ways it looks like the town in Silent Hill during the 'day'; kind of foggy, everything is grey and there is like a faint dust, almost like snow, drifting in the air and there's no one else around.
For some strange reason I don't feel lonely or sad.
I really love that dream! It wasn't scary and it was kinda exciting and cool. Skipped over some light details, such as the fact that I should have been scorched in the intial explosion, but oh well! Wish I could have more dreams like that! lol
We've had an earthquake or two a few weeks ago, and then a few days ago I think I felt a small one while lying on the futon. Oh and I read a friend's blog about their experience with earthquakes. Didn't think much of it but my brain must have slowly processed all this danger to life and the impending 25th of June earthquake that is supposed to happen.
The Dream
So I 'wake' in the dream to the room shaking like it was on the morning of the big earthquake in Tohoku. But things get worse. I'm not too scared, even enjoying it a little. Then for some reason, and typical in dreams, it isn't an earthquake but in fact a nuclear explosion. LOL.
So suddenly I am scared. I know that the shockwave is going to come. The apartment is also different. Lots of windows to look out over Nagai from. The sky is grey and debris is slowly filling the air. I race out of the apartment (now on the ground floor) and into the little storage shed. Massive rocking of the place and I hunker down.
Everything is still. There is no sound. I am the only person around. I go back into my apartment, holding my breath as I go outside. There's big pieces of ash or dust hanging in the air. I get into the house and there's smaller particulates in the air. I know that it is radioactive dust and worry that every breath I take is poisoning me. I keep thinking about getting out of here and getting those iodine tablets that stops your thyroid gland becoming irradiated.
I look down along the small moutain range that Nagai backs onto and I see the explosion area only a few miles away. I don't think about friends, they didn't exist in the dream. I ponder the journey ahead, slowly walking out of Nagai and into the inaka in the other direction.
Outside things are intact (despite it supposed to be a nuclear explosion). In a lot of ways it looks like the town in Silent Hill during the 'day'; kind of foggy, everything is grey and there is like a faint dust, almost like snow, drifting in the air and there's no one else around.
For some strange reason I don't feel lonely or sad.
I really love that dream! It wasn't scary and it was kinda exciting and cool. Skipped over some light details, such as the fact that I should have been scorched in the intial explosion, but oh well! Wish I could have more dreams like that! lol
Monday, 23 June 2008
Weird Jappers: Oranges
Japanese people don't eat the skin on each orange segment; they pain stakingly peel every single bit.
That is all.
That is all.
Personal DNA
No not the genetic test result about my cholesterol. Instead a personality test. Interesting results, though when I do these I can't help but feel tht it depend son the kind of mood you're in on the day of taking it.
Up until recently I think I would have had a much confident disposition but because of events surrounding friends, some of whom I wasn't even arguing with, I think I've got a darker outlook now than I would have a month ago.
Up until recently I think I would have had a much confident disposition but because of events surrounding friends, some of whom I wasn't even arguing with, I think I've got a darker outlook now than I would have a month ago.
Japan can't drive
A mini feature to remind myself of the horrendous driving skills of Japanese drivers.
Coming back from apartment and at the staggered junction at the end of my road and for some reason a stupid driver was on the wrong side of the road ahead, obviously having just done some retarded 20-point turn in the road to turn around.
I LOL'd, I grumbled, I shouted profanities. Not necessarily in that order.
Follows on the back of the Slow Ass Driver I was behind on the way to Kappa sushi with Chryssy and Chris.
The person was going maybe 30km/hr MAX. Massive queue of traffic behind him/her as we crawled along towards Nanyo. I took matters into my own hands. At the lights where I can turn right for the short cut to Akayu station I got into the lane ot turn right, but I was level with the Fucker (TM) and saw it was some middle aged Mum with her daughter.
The lights went green and I saw my chance. Put the foot down and out accelerated her (not hard to do, lol) and pull back into lane and flew on towards Nanyo at may many km/hr.
Funny thing was that chryssy was behind me and saw me do it. She arrived a few minutes after me thus proving that it didn't make that big a difference to the journey, but damn did it feel good!
Coming back from apartment and at the staggered junction at the end of my road and for some reason a stupid driver was on the wrong side of the road ahead, obviously having just done some retarded 20-point turn in the road to turn around.
I LOL'd, I grumbled, I shouted profanities. Not necessarily in that order.
Follows on the back of the Slow Ass Driver I was behind on the way to Kappa sushi with Chryssy and Chris.
The person was going maybe 30km/hr MAX. Massive queue of traffic behind him/her as we crawled along towards Nanyo. I took matters into my own hands. At the lights where I can turn right for the short cut to Akayu station I got into the lane ot turn right, but I was level with the Fucker (TM) and saw it was some middle aged Mum with her daughter.
The lights went green and I saw my chance. Put the foot down and out accelerated her (not hard to do, lol) and pull back into lane and flew on towards Nanyo at may many km/hr.
Funny thing was that chryssy was behind me and saw me do it. She arrived a few minutes after me thus proving that it didn't make that big a difference to the journey, but damn did it feel good!
Japanese, LOL
I fuck up the Japanese language on a regular basis but I am steeling myself for a massive push on it after the turmoil of July and August settles down.
In Yumiko's class today I was trying to remember names and asked each student that answered for their name while we went through the grammar point (rushing against the 6 minutes I was left with).
Disappointed with myself when I fucked up a student's name.
Became less disappointed as time wore on and I tried to correct myself.
You see her name was I-ku-ko. Three syllables. I find the Ku->ko a little difficult but it's not a problem. I repeat myself. She corrects me. Sounds the same to what I've said but I've learned that that's just a sign that I have missed the nuance.
It's the damn "ku" sound. I try again and again. Breaking it down and just saying "ku" the way I've done all year and then in increasingly outlandish ways only to apparently fail miserably each time. The poor girl did seem to take a littel offence at it which made me try harder.
In the end got a little sick of their attitude though, in particular her friend. There seemed to be glee mixed with "stupid gaijin" every time she failed me, lol.
Decided to "show" them. In a cheery jokey voice that belied my impatience and frustration asked her to pronounce my name. "David". Ikuko's annoying friend replied "Debbido". I mentally cracked my knuckles...
I am both a little ashamed, but also satisfied, to say that I had a field day correcting her and failing her again and again on the harsh criteria of absolute damn pitch perfect English pronunciation. I then returned to her friend's name and I think the point got across because she was like "OK!" finally.
I know I have to improve my Japanese but come on, they were taking the piss.
In Yumiko's class today I was trying to remember names and asked each student that answered for their name while we went through the grammar point (rushing against the 6 minutes I was left with).
Disappointed with myself when I fucked up a student's name.
Became less disappointed as time wore on and I tried to correct myself.
You see her name was I-ku-ko. Three syllables. I find the Ku->ko a little difficult but it's not a problem. I repeat myself. She corrects me. Sounds the same to what I've said but I've learned that that's just a sign that I have missed the nuance.
Or that they are being cockfags about their language...
It's the damn "ku" sound. I try again and again. Breaking it down and just saying "ku" the way I've done all year and then in increasingly outlandish ways only to apparently fail miserably each time. The poor girl did seem to take a littel offence at it which made me try harder.
In the end got a little sick of their attitude though, in particular her friend. There seemed to be glee mixed with "stupid gaijin" every time she failed me, lol.
Decided to "show" them. In a cheery jokey voice that belied my impatience and frustration asked her to pronounce my name. "David". Ikuko's annoying friend replied "Debbido". I mentally cracked my knuckles...
I am both a little ashamed, but also satisfied, to say that I had a field day correcting her and failing her again and again on the harsh criteria of absolute damn pitch perfect English pronunciation. I then returned to her friend's name and I think the point got across because she was like "OK!" finally.
I know I have to improve my Japanese but come on, they were taking the piss.
Monday Anime Class
Came in early to prepare for the anime class. Sod's Law got to work early late last week with Yumiko only coming to me on Friday after school to talk about Monday morning LOLs with her in two classes. Then I saw that it was the very first period and a weekend chock a block of cool stuff left me with only Sunday night to look over stuff.
Got some things ready on Sunday, first time I've really ever bothered to do stuff at home for school. and then got up and came in at 8:10 to prepare.
Yumiko pissed me off when the kid she sent for me came at 9:30, giving me just 20 minutes, including time to set up the computer and projector and stuff, handing out the sheets and then starting. So maybe 12 minutes max. Flew into things a little too quick and it didn't gel like I hoped.
I laughed when I found out that she scolded the class just before I came, something about not preparing for the class. Probably explains why they were so shit scared and why even when I asked her to help they were probably scared she'd tell them off for not understanding. LOL
Got some things ready on Sunday, first time I've really ever bothered to do stuff at home for school. and then got up and came in at 8:10 to prepare.
Yumiko pissed me off when the kid she sent for me came at 9:30, giving me just 20 minutes, including time to set up the computer and projector and stuff, handing out the sheets and then starting. So maybe 12 minutes max. Flew into things a little too quick and it didn't gel like I hoped.
I laughed when I found out that she scolded the class just before I came, something about not preparing for the class. Probably explains why they were so shit scared and why even when I asked her to help they were probably scared she'd tell them off for not understanding. LOL
Sunday, 22 June 2008
Weekend
Fun weekend.
Saturday
Monique and Maggy stayed over at my place, the first time I've slept guests. It was fun, and copious use and modulation of the AC was in order all through the night.
Hoped my place was up to the usual standards. The drain clogged in the morning though and I was put off breakfast unclogging it.
Left Maggy in my perennially unlocked abode to go with Monique to taiko performance.
Sunday
Taiko performance with Kaitlin in Iide Rose Park
Monique, Siobhan, Brigid and Chris all came
Had some tea and ate two cakes, one from Kaitlin, to save her breaking her detox
Hung around Kaitlin's place with the others for a while before going to a lovely temple near Miyauchi
Curry dinner in Cocoas before heading home
The evening was spent trying to find tortilla chips, to no avail, and trying to get money, to avail.
Now procrastinating over doing the ironing and preparing something for class tomorrow... Will my attention hold that long?!
Saturday
- Met Kat in Yamagata city and discussed AJET, her "amazing story" and the upcoming End Of The World (JET Leaving Party).
- Maggy got glasses in Ars mall
- Bumped into Nicole twice
- Bumped into creepy Japanese man twice
- Got followed by crazy creepy Japanese man
- Sweated profusely in humidity
- Had dinner in Nagai with Monique Maggy and Monica
Monique and Maggy stayed over at my place, the first time I've slept guests. It was fun, and copious use and modulation of the AC was in order all through the night.
Hoped my place was up to the usual standards. The drain clogged in the morning though and I was put off breakfast unclogging it.
Left Maggy in my perennially unlocked abode to go with Monique to taiko performance.
Sunday
Taiko performance with Kaitlin in Iide Rose Park
Monique, Siobhan, Brigid and Chris all came
Had some tea and ate two cakes, one from Kaitlin, to save her breaking her detox
Hung around Kaitlin's place with the others for a while before going to a lovely temple near Miyauchi
Curry dinner in Cocoas before heading home
The evening was spent trying to find tortilla chips, to no avail, and trying to get money, to avail.
Now procrastinating over doing the ironing and preparing something for class tomorrow... Will my attention hold that long?!
Cash Flow Issues in Japan
OK I say over and over, in a joking way, that you could be the richest person in Japan but after 9pm on a weekday, or worse still a weekend, and if you don't have notes in your wallet you are on the same social rung as a homeless person.
The Hunt for Tortillas took a new spin when I seemingly remembered that I had bought them at Yoku. This followed on a similar hunch that I "definitely" had bought them at the combinis I fruitlessly searched.
I give up and start buying other less elusive, less mythical, snacks like Toppo and things like toothbrushes. Go to check out, about to wait in line when I remember about a lack of any notes and only about 500Yen in pocket.
This happens fairly often as I don't take out huge amounts of money and then be as frugal as possible.
I dump my horde in the alcohol section, safe until I come back. Head for the cash machines in yoku. First one, inserts card, types in PIN and money. Machines whirs. Lights flash. Card pop out with receipt... and nothing.
um?!
Okay it must be too late or something retarded... at 6:45pm on a Sunday my futuristic demand for money right at this moment seems beyond Japan's banking system... I really am pushing it.
Next machine. More luck it! Get to a page where it tells me my balance after putting in my amount. Strange... balance... looks... the same?! Whirring, I can hear notes being shuffled... and then... the card pops out and the machine returns to the first screen.
No mullah.
Shit.
I had to go out and drive up the road to the Yamagata Ginko bank to withdraw direct from my bank. Heart in mouth at the thought of being completely broke in real life despite passing a milestone on the balance sheet.
Money spewed forth and I swore I would hunt down those responsible for such a retarded banking system.
The Hunt for Tortillas took a new spin when I seemingly remembered that I had bought them at Yoku. This followed on a similar hunch that I "definitely" had bought them at the combinis I fruitlessly searched.
I give up and start buying other less elusive, less mythical, snacks like Toppo and things like toothbrushes. Go to check out, about to wait in line when I remember about a lack of any notes and only about 500Yen in pocket.
This happens fairly often as I don't take out huge amounts of money and then be as frugal as possible.
I dump my horde in the alcohol section, safe until I come back. Head for the cash machines in yoku. First one, inserts card, types in PIN and money. Machines whirs. Lights flash. Card pop out with receipt... and nothing.
um?!
Okay it must be too late or something retarded... at 6:45pm on a Sunday my futuristic demand for money right at this moment seems beyond Japan's banking system... I really am pushing it.
Next machine. More luck it! Get to a page where it tells me my balance after putting in my amount. Strange... balance... looks... the same?! Whirring, I can hear notes being shuffled... and then... the card pops out and the machine returns to the first screen.
No mullah.
Shit.
I had to go out and drive up the road to the Yamagata Ginko bank to withdraw direct from my bank. Heart in mouth at the thought of being completely broke in real life despite passing a milestone on the balance sheet.
Money spewed forth and I swore I would hunt down those responsible for such a retarded banking system.
Friday, 20 June 2008
Holy Shit!
45 blog posts in June and still going strong!
Now with a super secret rant blog just for myself and this one I am headed on course for complete Personality Schism and resulting megalomania and epic battle with Batman.
Now with a super secret rant blog just for myself and this one I am headed on course for complete Personality Schism and resulting megalomania and epic battle with Batman.
Bring it!
Old emails put things in perspective
Before going to meet Chryssy and her friends over from LA I was sprawled on the futon with the fan on hoping for a little sleep.
My phone proved more interesting though and the 1000 inbox emails I've accumulated over a year here were crying out for my attention.
Most people would delete them but I wanted to go through and save interesting ones from the past and get rid of the "Yeah i'm coming over now" emails that were clogging up everything.
My voyage back in space and time was really cool.
There was the excitement in the lead up to the Tokyo Games Show and the panicked search for hostels and hotels.
The long ass driving we used to do with Al to go to the climbing wall, which used to take 40 minutes but now I know where it is takes 10, lol.
Playing alien racket ball with Clare at the Zao Rock Festival and face planting into a tent.
The Jomon Mura party and the excitement of everyone coming into town for that.
Some friend's feature more heavily 'back then' than they do now. Others I still hadn't gotten a chance to know, while others I would grow more and more closer to as the year went on. Also had issues with some people even as early as September, and am quite surprised to see the old adage "History Repeats Itself" come true as I go through the emails.
It's all very interesting stuff. And it shows how kind some people have been. Looking back I suddenly realise who some of my best friends are.
My phone proved more interesting though and the 1000 inbox emails I've accumulated over a year here were crying out for my attention.
Most people would delete them but I wanted to go through and save interesting ones from the past and get rid of the "Yeah i'm coming over now" emails that were clogging up everything.
My voyage back in space and time was really cool.
- I remember about the Coke spillage in the car on the way up to Sakata to watch Jeff's band play in a Cafe Freestyle. I opened a nice cool bottle of coke and noticed, in the glare of the combini's lights, that there was a 'bubbling cauldron' outpouring of mist from the bottle. "Oooooh!".
I was marvelling at this for a moment when the reason for such an upshift in cold air became apparent when the fizz poured out of it straight into my lap and onto the seat and steering wheel. I frantically threw the bottle out the door and then we cleaned it up and went back on our, stickier, way.
There was the excitement in the lead up to the Tokyo Games Show and the panicked search for hostels and hotels.
The long ass driving we used to do with Al to go to the climbing wall, which used to take 40 minutes but now I know where it is takes 10, lol.
Playing alien racket ball with Clare at the Zao Rock Festival and face planting into a tent.
The Jomon Mura party and the excitement of everyone coming into town for that.
Some friend's feature more heavily 'back then' than they do now. Others I still hadn't gotten a chance to know, while others I would grow more and more closer to as the year went on. Also had issues with some people even as early as September, and am quite surprised to see the old adage "History Repeats Itself" come true as I go through the emails.
It's all very interesting stuff. And it shows how kind some people have been. Looking back I suddenly realise who some of my best friends are.
Adama-san
The janitor guy looks like Admiral Adama from Battlestar Galactica.
I needn't worry about the hiatus (hate that word for some reason) in BSG when I can follow Adama-san's latest adventures pruning plants in front of the school or cleaning up things.
That is all.
I needn't worry about the hiatus (hate that word for some reason) in BSG when I can follow Adama-san's latest adventures pruning plants in front of the school or cleaning up things.
That is all.
I think I'm forgetting something
Running down the stairs, hobbling across the car park (fucking tendon!) and throwing my laptop in the car... what am I forgetting?
I seem to have developed a new habit in my morning routine.
Clothed? Check.
Shirt, Trousers? Check.
Shoes? Check.
Belt? Check
Tie? ........ bollocks
Some mornings I think "aha! I won't forget to put you on this morning!" as I reach for the tie only to get out of the apartment and realise I haven't put on my belt! There have in fact been times when I've made it all the way to school before realising!
The janitor guy must laugh when he sees me skidding into the car park, the car comes to a halt, engine suddenly springs into life again and I reverse out and tear away, lol.
Need. To. Engage. Brain
I seem to have developed a new habit in my morning routine.
Clothed? Check.
Shirt, Trousers? Check.
Shoes? Check.
Belt? Check
Tie? ........ bollocks
Some mornings I think "aha! I won't forget to put you on this morning!" as I reach for the tie only to get out of the apartment and realise I haven't put on my belt! There have in fact been times when I've made it all the way to school before realising!
The janitor guy must laugh when he sees me skidding into the car park, the car comes to a halt, engine suddenly springs into life again and I reverse out and tear away, lol.
Need. To. Engage. Brain
Mother Hen
Tom is not hot!!
I'm sorry but no, my supervisor is not. He looks kinda non Japanese, maybe Chinese, but I'd never say that to his face for it would likely go down as an insult for him!
Now that all of the Joey's Angels are really digging him I am starting to feel oddly protective towards him. Like when he's out with me and friends I'm almost watching over him, aware of the reaction he is instilling in the girls, lol. Is it jealousy?!
He should really have his own fan club.
I'm sorry but no, my supervisor is not. He looks kinda non Japanese, maybe Chinese, but I'd never say that to his face for it would likely go down as an insult for him!
Now that all of the Joey's Angels are really digging him I am starting to feel oddly protective towards him. Like when he's out with me and friends I'm almost watching over him, aware of the reaction he is instilling in the girls, lol. Is it jealousy?!
He should really have his own fan club.
Thursday, 19 June 2008
You're joking, right?
Mukoda comes back from another class today. Geez, the man's had a full quota of five classes today. Notably I didn't go to any of them cos they were grammar. I sometimes go to the 3rd year one but not today it seems.
As he was tired we were joking about me doing a class alone. But I can never really fully 'joke' because as soon as I do, sure as eggs is eggs, they suddenly whip the carpet out form under me and reveal that Faustian Pact I suddenly agreed to. Happened with Michiaki, though my memory fails me, maybe it was too traumatic the things I got into doing, lol.
But yeah the moment I start joking along with him his face drops and he's like "Oh! Really?! You will? Cool JoeyD!".
Urgh.... well yeah it would actually though the 'out of the blue' element is a little too Random for my liking!
After going into a little too much detail for a 'joke', he gathers his things and leaves for class alone. Thus the joke comes to an end of sorts with me sitting here a little scared wondering still if he really does expect me to do it right now! He may be off home for all I know!
I suppose this is the famed J-Humour, like that time Michiaki talked about selling his family into slavery to make ends meet, tears nearly streaming down his face, only to turn and reveal that it was a 'joke'. A brilliant skill to to have!
As he was tired we were joking about me doing a class alone. But I can never really fully 'joke' because as soon as I do, sure as eggs is eggs, they suddenly whip the carpet out form under me and reveal that Faustian Pact I suddenly agreed to. Happened with Michiaki, though my memory fails me, maybe it was too traumatic the things I got into doing, lol.
But yeah the moment I start joking along with him his face drops and he's like "Oh! Really?! You will? Cool JoeyD!".
Urgh.... well yeah it would actually though the 'out of the blue' element is a little too Random for my liking!
After going into a little too much detail for a 'joke', he gathers his things and leaves for class alone. Thus the joke comes to an end of sorts with me sitting here a little scared wondering still if he really does expect me to do it right now! He may be off home for all I know!
LOL
I suppose this is the famed J-Humour, like that time Michiaki talked about selling his family into slavery to make ends meet, tears nearly streaming down his face, only to turn and reveal that it was a 'joke'. A brilliant skill to to have!
Impacts
Oh my giddy aunt!
Well, you see, I was walking back to school. Had a scrumptious lunch at home, eating the last of the fajitas I'd made, and delicious they were too thank you for asking, and now I was making my way back to work.
Thoughts of organising photographs and more silent taiko practice at my desk bounded across my vast fields of conciousness. I approached the steps up to the entrance and suddenly wondered about time. Enjoying my lavish feast for lunch took longer than my usual peckish preparation of tuna and toast.
The overhang over the entrance obscures my view of the clock tower at the school. Hmm. "Clock tower" like Back To The Future! Anyway, okay, keep walking forwards stooping a little to see the clock.
I draw level with the entrance now, and finally the clock looms into view: 12:53. Satisfactory. Very satisfactory. So satisfactory that without a cautious glance I heroically turn to my left and face plant against the closed glass door...
The impact rocks my delicate little world of Northern Irish pride, an encyclopaedic knowledge of Internet Speak and desires for worldwide fame an acclaim.
A massive whopping grease face imprint stares back at me from the glass, its mouth still agape by the shock.
I look around for witnesses. There's no one around, but then again nifty ninjas don't count.
Well, you see, I was walking back to school. Had a scrumptious lunch at home, eating the last of the fajitas I'd made, and delicious they were too thank you for asking, and now I was making my way back to work.
Thoughts of organising photographs and more silent taiko practice at my desk bounded across my vast fields of conciousness. I approached the steps up to the entrance and suddenly wondered about time. Enjoying my lavish feast for lunch took longer than my usual peckish preparation of tuna and toast.
The overhang over the entrance obscures my view of the clock tower at the school. Hmm. "Clock tower" like Back To The Future! Anyway, okay, keep walking forwards stooping a little to see the clock.
I draw level with the entrance now, and finally the clock looms into view: 12:53. Satisfactory. Very satisfactory. So satisfactory that without a cautious glance I heroically turn to my left and face plant against the closed glass door...
The impact rocks my delicate little world of Northern Irish pride, an encyclopaedic knowledge of Internet Speak and desires for worldwide fame an acclaim.
A massive whopping grease face imprint stares back at me from the glass, its mouth still agape by the shock.
I look around for witnesses. There's no one around, but then again nifty ninjas don't count.
I can feel them. They saw! Oh god they saw!
Taiko!
"Oh God. What have I got myself into!?"
Nah, nothing too big, JoeyD's concious, just a taiko performance on Sunday. Chillax!
Really eager to go for it that day. Got my taiko sheet beside me in work and I keep glancing at it to go through another line in it.
It's not too hard really, it's a short song that pales in comparison to the crazy stuff our Japanese co-taiko-ers do when they get us to clear off the stage at practice.
Still our "simple" song is still tripping me up over a few bits. I did far better at practice though when we were all stood in formation (There's got to be a better word than that I could think of!?). The arm movements came more naturally when I could see everyone else do it at the same time.
Kinda pleased at how I've done given that I haven't (whispers) looked at the sheet between practices until this week!
Me and Kaitlin are performing. By all accounts it'll be to 9 old ladies and maybe an ALT friend or two. I can't imagine what it must have been like for Chryssy and Kaitlin to go into it in front of 1000 people back in Autumn last year!
Nah, nothing too big, JoeyD's concious, just a taiko performance on Sunday. Chillax!
Really eager to go for it that day. Got my taiko sheet beside me in work and I keep glancing at it to go through another line in it.
It's not too hard really, it's a short song that pales in comparison to the crazy stuff our Japanese co-taiko-ers do when they get us to clear off the stage at practice.
Still our "simple" song is still tripping me up over a few bits. I did far better at practice though when we were all stood in formation (There's got to be a better word than that I could think of!?). The arm movements came more naturally when I could see everyone else do it at the same time.
Kinda pleased at how I've done given that I haven't (whispers) looked at the sheet between practices until this week!
Me and Kaitlin are performing. By all accounts it'll be to 9 old ladies and maybe an ALT friend or two. I can't imagine what it must have been like for Chryssy and Kaitlin to go into it in front of 1000 people back in Autumn last year!
Cool Video
Really love this little video. Catchy little song and a cool music video and Battlestar Galactica peeps in it too!!
Sadly it doesn't appear on the UK iTunes, only the US iTunes. Had to download THREE fucking virus laden mp3s from Limewire (Lamewire) before I found someone who actually had the damn song!
Old 97's
Sadly it doesn't appear on the UK iTunes, only the US iTunes. Had to download THREE fucking virus laden mp3s from Limewire (Lamewire) before I found someone who actually had the damn song!
Tendons
Since the marathon my ankle and hip tendons have been fucked.
Really starting to piss me off as of late because my gimpy leg comes on the back of my lame elbow tendons. When I climbed they would get more and more painful. I pushed through it but eventually the body just says "Okay mate, how about sitting this one out?" before promptly losing all strength from the limb.
I rested them as much as I could, and things would feel better, but as soon as I started climbing on Wednesday the pain would quickly return. Rinse and Repeat.
Eventually the pain went away. I cut out all activity with my arms other than climbing and even that I didn't go to one week, reasons why escape me, and my tendons recovered.
Was trucking along well until the marathon training when things went fucked up.
Actually, it wasn't the marathon training but playing badminton which did me in. I played with Kato at okino and the evil professional bastard played a hard game and I, throwing myself into it, fucked up my ankle from the constant lunges for drop shots and the like.
Walked with a limp for nearly a week, but that actually stressed a tendon up on my hip! LOL! So suddenly it was my ankle at one end of my leg, and some random little tendon up at the top! Bugger.
After the marathon things kind of felt okay but then the pain returned with avengeance and since then haven't run at all. The pain is still as bad though, every goddamn day. The ankle is all but healed it's just this hip thing. Really fucking frustrating. Oh and now my elbow tendons are flaring up again on my left arm. Great!!
There's so little vascular flow to tendons that healing takes a long time. Furthermore because of this they tend to just scar over rather than fully repair, permanently weakening them in the process. Bollocks.
If there's one curve ball career I wouldn't mind having it would be sports physiotherpaist. I loved biology and I'd do well stating the bleedin' obvious wrapped up in science and biology.
"Yeah, well your leg is broken so what you may want to do is keep pressure off it for a little while m'kay?"
Really starting to piss me off as of late because my gimpy leg comes on the back of my lame elbow tendons. When I climbed they would get more and more painful. I pushed through it but eventually the body just says "Okay mate, how about sitting this one out?" before promptly losing all strength from the limb.
I rested them as much as I could, and things would feel better, but as soon as I started climbing on Wednesday the pain would quickly return. Rinse and Repeat.
Eventually the pain went away. I cut out all activity with my arms other than climbing and even that I didn't go to one week, reasons why escape me, and my tendons recovered.
Was trucking along well until the marathon training when things went fucked up.
Actually, it wasn't the marathon training but playing badminton which did me in. I played with Kato at okino and the evil professional bastard played a hard game and I, throwing myself into it, fucked up my ankle from the constant lunges for drop shots and the like.
Walked with a limp for nearly a week, but that actually stressed a tendon up on my hip! LOL! So suddenly it was my ankle at one end of my leg, and some random little tendon up at the top! Bugger.
After the marathon things kind of felt okay but then the pain returned with avengeance and since then haven't run at all. The pain is still as bad though, every goddamn day. The ankle is all but healed it's just this hip thing. Really fucking frustrating. Oh and now my elbow tendons are flaring up again on my left arm. Great!!
There's so little vascular flow to tendons that healing takes a long time. Furthermore because of this they tend to just scar over rather than fully repair, permanently weakening them in the process. Bollocks.
If there's one curve ball career I wouldn't mind having it would be sports physiotherpaist. I loved biology and I'd do well stating the bleedin' obvious wrapped up in science and biology.
"Yeah, well your leg is broken so what you may want to do is keep pressure off it for a little while m'kay?"
My Car
God, I love my little car.
- I love the fact you can push it with one hand
- You can almost lift it off the ground at the back
- It can practically pull away in 2nd gear
- For having a lawnmower engine it's not too bad speed wise.
- Mileage is really good, at a time with bloody 173 Yen petrol (Urgh)
- When I'm the only one in the car taking corners on practically two wheels
- She's stupidly manoeuvrable
- Reliable as a fucking reliable... thing (touch wood)
- Small enough to pass goddamn cyclists on tiny roads
- Home to Elmo
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
Storytime
Just realised that my story idea, about a time travelling couple who fall out of love before ending with her warping to the time in his life when he had a near death experience as a kid and potentially killing him, is just some stuff my brain churned up after combining:
What do you do when you realise you've just rearranged elements from other stories in your head?! I really liked what I came up and now it's just some knockoff before it was even written!!
- Doctor Who
- The Lakehouse
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
What do you do when you realise you've just rearranged elements from other stories in your head?! I really liked what I came up and now it's just some knockoff before it was even written!!
Noooooo!!!
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
Return of the LOL
It's back. My blog. My personal space.
This time with less emphasis on personal conflict, though its scars will remain for me and others to debate about privacy issues with a blog as well as right to free speech and the use of said speech to fuel real life arguments.
Old posts were being used as evidence for sheer madness and irrationality on my part, despite being weeks or even months old. This won't happen anymore and people will enjoy seeing the same reserved approach I took in real life to conflicts applied more effectively here.
This time with less emphasis on personal conflict, though its scars will remain for me and others to debate about privacy issues with a blog as well as right to free speech and the use of said speech to fuel real life arguments.
Old posts were being used as evidence for sheer madness and irrationality on my part, despite being weeks or even months old. This won't happen anymore and people will enjoy seeing the same reserved approach I took in real life to conflicts applied more effectively here.
- it seems my blog was doing all the talking lately
I wonder if I will have such avid fans to read through my blog now.
I hope I do.
Monday, 16 June 2008
Private
I suppose this is just to explain some of my thoughts about taking the blog private. The thing is incredibly tempting for me to spout and babble on it. It's cathartic but not suited for anyone else to read. And it seems that nowadays with so much goddamn ongoing drama and pissed off friends coming out of the woodwork it's time for it to go.
Privacy
It seems time to face up to the truth that the blog is being read by more than myself and one or two curious friends.
It's trying to do two things, be a diary and be a fun "gee whiz!" account of Japan and my escapades.
Of course the later is fun but I haven't spoken much to anyone else about the less genki experiences I've had and instead it is the blog which is doing the talking, often with its in-the-moment rants.
After too long a time it seems sensible to keep that shit to myself like I do in real life; that scary place where there isn't green lines of code and where you can't say "!!!!"
It's trying to do two things, be a diary and be a fun "gee whiz!" account of Japan and my escapades.
Of course the later is fun but I haven't spoken much to anyone else about the less genki experiences I've had and instead it is the blog which is doing the talking, often with its in-the-moment rants.
After too long a time it seems sensible to keep that shit to myself like I do in real life; that scary place where there isn't green lines of code and where you can't say "!!!!"
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Climbing & Running & Cakes
Out of nowhere the evenings are brighter. I arrived at climbing and noticed it was noticeably lighter.
It's the one thing I love about summer, the long drawn out evening twilight. I think it is so atmospheric. When I think about my stories and the scenes with most emotional resonance I always imagine them happening at sunset. I imagine there is a deeper meaning to that but I'm not an English Literature major so I won't go off on a tangent about what that represents!
Sucked at climbing. Managed my three usual courses but only by rushing through them and not really thinking about feet. I need to train more. Maybe too much time spent running?
Interesting to learn from friends that for a 10k he doesn't often actually run that far while training. Instead just shorter distances and some 'suicides' to increase the ol' lung capacity. Kind of a relief to learn that it wasn't all about running mindlessly for 50 minutes. I get bored very quickly and my mind wanders (you could say it races! PUN!). It can be almost as fatiguing mentally as it is physically.
There are more marathons coming up in the next few months. I would like to do the Nagai one but I hear different reports about when that is. October from one friend, earlier from someone else. Hope I don't miss it either way.
Looking forward to pizza night on Saturday with friends. I'm going to raid the Nishiyama cake shop for fine delicatessen treats. Japan has got it licked when it comes to deftly packaged and crafted treats and cakes. Each one is individually wrapped (think of the penguins and all that rubbish!) and they take great care over them, putting in those silica gel sachets to keep things firm and crisp.
I only wish they had more 'kick' to them. I needs MOAR SUGAR!
It's the one thing I love about summer, the long drawn out evening twilight. I think it is so atmospheric. When I think about my stories and the scenes with most emotional resonance I always imagine them happening at sunset. I imagine there is a deeper meaning to that but I'm not an English Literature major so I won't go off on a tangent about what that represents!
Sucked at climbing. Managed my three usual courses but only by rushing through them and not really thinking about feet. I need to train more. Maybe too much time spent running?
Interesting to learn from friends that for a 10k he doesn't often actually run that far while training. Instead just shorter distances and some 'suicides' to increase the ol' lung capacity. Kind of a relief to learn that it wasn't all about running mindlessly for 50 minutes. I get bored very quickly and my mind wanders (you could say it races! PUN!). It can be almost as fatiguing mentally as it is physically.
There are more marathons coming up in the next few months. I would like to do the Nagai one but I hear different reports about when that is. October from one friend, earlier from someone else. Hope I don't miss it either way.
Looking forward to pizza night on Saturday with friends. I'm going to raid the Nishiyama cake shop for fine delicatessen treats. Japan has got it licked when it comes to deftly packaged and crafted treats and cakes. Each one is individually wrapped (think of the penguins and all that rubbish!) and they take great care over them, putting in those silica gel sachets to keep things firm and crisp.
I only wish they had more 'kick' to them. I needs MOAR SUGAR!
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Anime lesson
Hurrahs! I thought it would never come!
So today we're doing chapter 3 in the book and it's about anime. Cue lots of talk about me and otakus. Also touched on the recent shocking story about the stabbings in Akihabara. I just kept saying "shocked" and pointing at myself. Hope they didn't misinterpret it as "I did it". LOL
Before class Tom asked me to make a little 5 minute thing for students. Since i know no game I do in 5 mins goes down well I just plonked for a simple "listening exercise" where I tell them what I think are the 3 main differences in Japanese anime.
Got out a great little video of the opening of the 90s tv cartoon series Batman: The Animated Series.
Had to squeeze it all in to 5 mins at the very end but it actually gave it the pep and energy it so desperately needed and they were interested by the Batman opening theme compared to their usual crazy OTT anime openings.
So today we're doing chapter 3 in the book and it's about anime. Cue lots of talk about me and otakus. Also touched on the recent shocking story about the stabbings in Akihabara. I just kept saying "shocked" and pointing at myself. Hope they didn't misinterpret it as "I did it". LOL
Before class Tom asked me to make a little 5 minute thing for students. Since i know no game I do in 5 mins goes down well I just plonked for a simple "listening exercise" where I tell them what I think are the 3 main differences in Japanese anime.
Got out a great little video of the opening of the 90s tv cartoon series Batman: The Animated Series.
Had to squeeze it all in to 5 mins at the very end but it actually gave it the pep and energy it so desperately needed and they were interested by the Batman opening theme compared to their usual crazy OTT anime openings.
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
iPhone
The new iPhone is coming out here in Japan.
Should I get it?!
The iPod Touch needs another £5 charge to update it. This is on top of the other charge I paid back in February to add new things like email to it.
I could send it back to Jonathan, his iPod is fucked.
Hmm... not sure.
Then again I've got a contract with DoCoMo, which I imagine would be expensive to back out of.
If I had wireless at home my touch would be enough though. Sadly my internet connection is gay! It isn't a normal router, but instead one which is like a high tech modem of yesteryear.
Getting off on watching Blade Runner on it though as I wait for tumble drying to finish. WIN!!!
Should I get it?!
The iPod Touch needs another £5 charge to update it. This is on top of the other charge I paid back in February to add new things like email to it.
I could send it back to Jonathan, his iPod is fucked.
Hmm... not sure.
Then again I've got a contract with DoCoMo, which I imagine would be expensive to back out of.
If I had wireless at home my touch would be enough though. Sadly my internet connection is gay! It isn't a normal router, but instead one which is like a high tech modem of yesteryear.
Getting off on watching Blade Runner on it though as I wait for tumble drying to finish. WIN!!!
Subarashi Saturday: A Birthday To Remember
Arrive at the bowling place. I'm nervous thinking about who else would be there and if I can pull off a convincing 'surprise' face. It's time to pull that Oscar winning performance out of the bag!!
Lift doors open and we're going towards the bowling place. It looks pretty empty as we walk along the hallway towards the entrance. I keep looking down near the desk for Monica, Monique or Maggy. Emphasis must be put on the fact that I was looking for a small group of people, possibly with one balloon.
Walk in through the doors and BOOM! Nearly two dozen gaijin faces jump out at me and close around me.
Wow! There's Kathryn, Jesse and Kat off to the right. Chryssy. Clare? Siobhan?! And of course there was Monica and Monique, even Melissa!
I was genuinely surprised to see how many of them came! I say hello to everyone, get given my birthday hat and then we're bowling! Hurrahs! I was so fucking happy that my dream, Matrin Luthor King-like in its clairty, of having Okitamians and Yamagatians bowling had come true!
My head was away with it (Northern Irish translation: distracted by all the craziness) and I rushed around trying to chit chat with everyone, graciously receive gifts and also play a decent game of bowling. More than, oh, a dozen times I had to be called back to my lane by my patient lanemates! LOL
Our second game consisted of a lot of style shots. Our lane was the last to finish owing to my long absence between sets, as well as the absolute eon it took for me to cut the cake! My cutting was more like that of a giddy 14 year old than a 24 year old! Some people got small pieces, others huge wedges. There really wasn't any science to it, just me giddily wielding a massive knife over a Birthday cake!
Monique had made the cake and it was gorgeous. Chocolatey goodness, now with my favourite; blobs of cream!!
Got loads of gifts from people. I hadn't had this many since I was a kid! One of the funniest was a recorder from Heather. Now I will endeavour to learn Three Blind Mice on the recorder all over again so I can wow people.
Bowling came to an end. Weird neon bowling shoes were returned. Jesse won a trophy for getting the highest score. I suddenly realised I had a new nemesis at bowling...
I stole the score sheets for a bunch of people. I will pore over them in my lair, working out their weaknesses based on things like their ability to knock down all the skittles in a split.
The open secret was that we were going to karaoke after this. Chryssy broke the silence by saying "Sorry I won't be going to karaoke after with you". LOL, secrets!
Despite no one drinking there was a great atmosphere in karaoke and we were treated to the Separate Ways dance by friends. The first half they seemed reluctant to open the tapes on the funk, instead focusing on Melissa as a heterosexual outlet for the song's driving bass and yearning lyrics, but later on they amped it up; I think 'fanfic'/Yaoi has been written about less I swear!
The recorder was brandished and used as accompaniment to many a song.
Note to self: Must make a karaoke list of good songs for people to sing. We missed out on Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls and Aerosmith "I don't want to miss a thing".
Ended at midnight. We all went home, I repeated my long ass "goodbye and thanks!" speil from the 80s party as I went around thanking everyone for coming. It was the least I could do given the heart-warming number of people who came. Then we were on our way home.
Not to relax you understand. Oh no. We've got to get up at 5:30 tomorrow to go to Higashine and run a marathon! LOL!
Lift doors open and we're going towards the bowling place. It looks pretty empty as we walk along the hallway towards the entrance. I keep looking down near the desk for Monica, Monique or Maggy. Emphasis must be put on the fact that I was looking for a small group of people, possibly with one balloon.
Walk in through the doors and BOOM! Nearly two dozen gaijin faces jump out at me and close around me.
Wow! There's Kathryn, Jesse and Kat off to the right. Chryssy. Clare? Siobhan?! And of course there was Monica and Monique, even Melissa!
I was completely bowled over.
Pun!
I was genuinely surprised to see how many of them came! I say hello to everyone, get given my birthday hat and then we're bowling! Hurrahs! I was so fucking happy that my dream, Matrin Luthor King-like in its clairty, of having Okitamians and Yamagatians bowling had come true!
My head was away with it (Northern Irish translation: distracted by all the craziness) and I rushed around trying to chit chat with everyone, graciously receive gifts and also play a decent game of bowling. More than, oh, a dozen times I had to be called back to my lane by my patient lanemates! LOL
Our second game consisted of a lot of style shots. Our lane was the last to finish owing to my long absence between sets, as well as the absolute eon it took for me to cut the cake! My cutting was more like that of a giddy 14 year old than a 24 year old! Some people got small pieces, others huge wedges. There really wasn't any science to it, just me giddily wielding a massive knife over a Birthday cake!
Monique had made the cake and it was gorgeous. Chocolatey goodness, now with my favourite; blobs of cream!!
Got loads of gifts from people. I hadn't had this many since I was a kid! One of the funniest was a recorder from Heather. Now I will endeavour to learn Three Blind Mice on the recorder all over again so I can wow people.
Bowling came to an end. Weird neon bowling shoes were returned. Jesse won a trophy for getting the highest score. I suddenly realised I had a new nemesis at bowling...
I stole the score sheets for a bunch of people. I will pore over them in my lair, working out their weaknesses based on things like their ability to knock down all the skittles in a split.
The open secret was that we were going to karaoke after this. Chryssy broke the silence by saying "Sorry I won't be going to karaoke after with you". LOL, secrets!
Despite no one drinking there was a great atmosphere in karaoke and we were treated to the Separate Ways dance by friends. The first half they seemed reluctant to open the tapes on the funk, instead focusing on Melissa as a heterosexual outlet for the song's driving bass and yearning lyrics, but later on they amped it up; I think 'fanfic'/Yaoi has been written about less I swear!
The recorder was brandished and used as accompaniment to many a song.
Note to self: Must make a karaoke list of good songs for people to sing. We missed out on Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls and Aerosmith "I don't want to miss a thing".
Ended at midnight. We all went home, I repeated my long ass "goodbye and thanks!" speil from the 80s party as I went around thanking everyone for coming. It was the least I could do given the heart-warming number of people who came. Then we were on our way home.
Not to relax you understand. Oh no. We've got to get up at 5:30 tomorrow to go to Higashine and run a marathon! LOL!
I thank Monica and Monique for organising everything and everyone who turned up. It really was a birthday to remember.
Bored
Tuesday is Grammar day.
Means I get an outing to the san-nenseis, but other than that I'm pretty much stuck at my desk all day. Oh joy!
Busied myself with some vital work; organising my photos. Have early 900 photos on my phone, in one massive uncategorised mess. So I decided I'd put them all in order so that in a few months/years time I'm not staring blankly at them wondering where the fuck or when the fuck they were taken.
Other than that I had a fairly decent grammar writing class with the 3rd years, as mentioned before, and let some of the students taste Milky Way. The looks of surprise and cries of "oishii!" were LOL.
Means I get an outing to the san-nenseis, but other than that I'm pretty much stuck at my desk all day. Oh joy!
Busied myself with some vital work; organising my photos. Have early 900 photos on my phone, in one massive uncategorised mess. So I decided I'd put them all in order so that in a few months/years time I'm not staring blankly at them wondering where the fuck or when the fuck they were taken.
Other than that I had a fairly decent grammar writing class with the 3rd years, as mentioned before, and let some of the students taste Milky Way. The looks of surprise and cries of "oishii!" were LOL.
Monday, 9 June 2008
Heat
Heat heat go away, come again another day
We've reached the critical PAT Point of summer here. Back home I am safe from this theoretical but gnarly effect but here in Japan, a country which prides itself on hilariously extreme shows of seasonality, we've soared past it.
PAT Point = Perspiring All the Time
I've been relishing the cool weather we've been having for a few weeks now. We were well into June and temperatures were, if anything, slightly cooler than back home. But I knew it wasn't to last. Nooo!
Ran the 5K yesterday (must remember to stop using the grand sounding "Marathon"! lol) and of course it was on the first day of PAT Point this year. I was surprised I didn't get heat stroke, even more surprised that the onigiri girls and man dressed as a rabbit weren't keeling over from heatstroke!
Gotta fish out the fan from storage and try and make peace with it I suppose! Being half arab though I thought I would have some genetic fallback?! Like a special gift in Heroes I may have been able to adapt to the heat, laugh off 30C as if it were merely chilly! Alas no! Maybe I need to get into a nuclear accident?
We've reached the critical PAT Point of summer here. Back home I am safe from this theoretical but gnarly effect but here in Japan, a country which prides itself on hilariously extreme shows of seasonality, we've soared past it.
PAT Point = Perspiring All the Time
I've been relishing the cool weather we've been having for a few weeks now. We were well into June and temperatures were, if anything, slightly cooler than back home. But I knew it wasn't to last. Nooo!
Ran the 5K yesterday (must remember to stop using the grand sounding "Marathon"! lol) and of course it was on the first day of PAT Point this year. I was surprised I didn't get heat stroke, even more surprised that the onigiri girls and man dressed as a rabbit weren't keeling over from heatstroke!
Gotta fish out the fan from storage and try and make peace with it I suppose! Being half arab though I thought I would have some genetic fallback?! Like a special gift in Heroes I may have been able to adapt to the heat, laugh off 30C as if it were merely chilly! Alas no! Maybe I need to get into a nuclear accident?
Sunday, 8 June 2008
Birthday Week
Wow.
That's really the best way to sum up the last week.
Will profoundly ramble at a later date.
That's really the best way to sum up the last week.
- The 80s party, where I relived my childhood and paying homage to all the great icons of the 80s
- Dinner with friends at a sushi place
- Rounded out by my 'surprise' party on Saturday.
- A 'cool down' going to the Sakuranbo Marathon in Higashine.
Will profoundly ramble at a later date.
Friday, 6 June 2008
Friday Fun & Frolics
So Friday has rolled round finally!
But jeez has it been a long week. Sleeping so late really does takes its toll on me. I definitely am less genki and coherent. Looking forward to a big lie in tomorrow.
Got a bunch of things to juggle tomorrow. Early afternoon climbing then got to get back to Nagai to get Monica and pick her up; something about a parcel in Yonezawa. Then who knows.
Got out of school and collapsed into bed. There was a party for the student teachers but since I also had to go to a party at Chryssy's friends house for 7:30 I thought "fuck it" and just fell into bed and grabbed what sleep I could.
Woke up at 7:10 and got ready to go. Brigid was coming which seemed a little unusual, but it was a welcome surprise, we don't get to see her much down here.
Chryssy's directions were really good, I must commend her on them. I got through Iide and went up a hill; the same one we would come down when me and Rebecca followed another ALT to the climbing wall way back when we started. We hadn't a clue where it was so we used to follow him from Kawanishi! My god was that a long long way round! It took something like 30-40 minutes! When little did we know that it was just 10 minutes away direct to Iide! LOL.
After the 4th or so time doing that, arriving late at our rendez-vous, I used Google Maps and discovered the shocking truth, never looked back since then! It's funny to think about it now. Next year I may try to put something together that allows the newbies to see these places marked out on the maps.
Anyway. was up the hill looking for a temple. Straining agains the darkness I kept wondering "Is that it?" at every speck of light. Thought to myself about a line in the message, about there being trees around it, and remembered a tiny wood off the road. Went back there, memories of the Blair Witch Project flashing through my mind.
Pulled up at a massive house. It was so big it made me uneasy! I mean, never have I seen such a huge thing in Japan! There was people inside, I could see kids playing and watching TV and see Japanese women busying themselves with something.
Oh well, either I've stumbled upon a wood HQ for a coven of witches or this is the place. A call to Brigid confirmed it and I came inside.
Aiko, the woman who was hosting tonight's dinner, is a great lady. Funny and very worldly; she lived in Africa for 9 months! Sugoi!
One table was the "African area" and we had to eat like they did, with our hands. I, being a germophobe, had to grapple with the idea a little more than Brigid, but I loved how slightly shocked, then how giddy with exctiment, the Japanese women were at the thought of using only their hands to fish out a lump of mashed potato and mix it with the curry-like dish Aiko had made.
It was all really nice. Brigid had helped make the sushi rolls which were amazing and her friend's husband had made rice onigiri wrapped in a leaf and slightly pulped. It was really nice, and gave a new taste to the otherwise boring white rice flavour you always get from Japanese rice (I miss Indian rice!)
Chryssy came later. I taught Aiko a rude word. Also think I pushed my joke about not liking Brigid's successor a little too far. She kept urging me not to do that, reminding me how unfair it would be. Of course in reality I'll be welcoming to them, eager to guide them round Yonezawa and Nagai if they want, but it'll be sad at the same time. I wonder if I will be comparing or contrasting them with the friends I met in my first year.
Aiko showed us all her house. It was amazing. Awakened my old love of seeing people's houses and being guided round them. Her house, several orders of magnitude larger than my apartment, was amazing enough but the piece de resistance was the friggin' massive temple they had connected to it at the back!!!
It was all amazing. If I hadn't been so dead set on a proper night's sleep at home I would have stayed. Me and Chryssy left, Brigid stayed but was off the next day. It's sad that time is growing short and I won't be able to hang out much more with her and others. I'm going to Sendai at the same time some of them are going to Tokyo one last time all together. Other than that there's the farewell party in Sakata, hope everyone comes to that.
Made my way back, blasting my way back to Nagai and a proper sleep.
But jeez has it been a long week. Sleeping so late really does takes its toll on me. I definitely am less genki and coherent. Looking forward to a big lie in tomorrow.
Got a bunch of things to juggle tomorrow. Early afternoon climbing then got to get back to Nagai to get Monica and pick her up; something about a parcel in Yonezawa. Then who knows.
Got out of school and collapsed into bed. There was a party for the student teachers but since I also had to go to a party at Chryssy's friends house for 7:30 I thought "fuck it" and just fell into bed and grabbed what sleep I could.
Woke up at 7:10 and got ready to go. Brigid was coming which seemed a little unusual, but it was a welcome surprise, we don't get to see her much down here.
Chryssy's directions were really good, I must commend her on them. I got through Iide and went up a hill; the same one we would come down when me and Rebecca followed another ALT to the climbing wall way back when we started. We hadn't a clue where it was so we used to follow him from Kawanishi! My god was that a long long way round! It took something like 30-40 minutes! When little did we know that it was just 10 minutes away direct to Iide! LOL.
After the 4th or so time doing that, arriving late at our rendez-vous, I used Google Maps and discovered the shocking truth, never looked back since then! It's funny to think about it now. Next year I may try to put something together that allows the newbies to see these places marked out on the maps.
Anyway. was up the hill looking for a temple. Straining agains the darkness I kept wondering "Is that it?" at every speck of light. Thought to myself about a line in the message, about there being trees around it, and remembered a tiny wood off the road. Went back there, memories of the Blair Witch Project flashing through my mind.
Pulled up at a massive house. It was so big it made me uneasy! I mean, never have I seen such a huge thing in Japan! There was people inside, I could see kids playing and watching TV and see Japanese women busying themselves with something.
Oh well, either I've stumbled upon a wood HQ for a coven of witches or this is the place. A call to Brigid confirmed it and I came inside.
Aiko, the woman who was hosting tonight's dinner, is a great lady. Funny and very worldly; she lived in Africa for 9 months! Sugoi!
One table was the "African area" and we had to eat like they did, with our hands. I, being a germophobe, had to grapple with the idea a little more than Brigid, but I loved how slightly shocked, then how giddy with exctiment, the Japanese women were at the thought of using only their hands to fish out a lump of mashed potato and mix it with the curry-like dish Aiko had made.
It was all really nice. Brigid had helped make the sushi rolls which were amazing and her friend's husband had made rice onigiri wrapped in a leaf and slightly pulped. It was really nice, and gave a new taste to the otherwise boring white rice flavour you always get from Japanese rice (I miss Indian rice!)
Chryssy came later. I taught Aiko a rude word. Also think I pushed my joke about not liking Brigid's successor a little too far. She kept urging me not to do that, reminding me how unfair it would be. Of course in reality I'll be welcoming to them, eager to guide them round Yonezawa and Nagai if they want, but it'll be sad at the same time. I wonder if I will be comparing or contrasting them with the friends I met in my first year.
Aiko showed us all her house. It was amazing. Awakened my old love of seeing people's houses and being guided round them. Her house, several orders of magnitude larger than my apartment, was amazing enough but the piece de resistance was the friggin' massive temple they had connected to it at the back!!!
It was all amazing. If I hadn't been so dead set on a proper night's sleep at home I would have stayed. Me and Chryssy left, Brigid stayed but was off the next day. It's sad that time is growing short and I won't be able to hang out much more with her and others. I'm going to Sendai at the same time some of them are going to Tokyo one last time all together. Other than that there's the farewell party in Sakata, hope everyone comes to that.
Made my way back, blasting my way back to Nagai and a proper sleep.
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Birthday
I usually have a quiet birthday at home. I was a massive homesbody back home. It's almost shocking the difference that I've gone through since I've come to Japan. From refusing to go out to clubs and bars to turning up as a Rubix cube with rum in hand.
Still I usually expect my birthday to be as eventful as a stamp collectors conference and still do even now.
Going to dinner with some friends at a sushi place in Nanyo. A nice quiet affair, for a nice quiet boy. Actually, knowing that more than one or two are coming, as I initially imagined, I am strangely nervous! It's not a party by any but even just having 3 or 4 people there saying 'hey' to me seems mind blowing! Sad I know.
Update: And they sang happy birthday with a makeshift birthday cake at Kappa sushi. Clapping ensued from the other eaters there; my friends' impressive singing skills playing a large part there, lol
Still I usually expect my birthday to be as eventful as a stamp collectors conference and still do even now.
Going to dinner with some friends at a sushi place in Nanyo. A nice quiet affair, for a nice quiet boy. Actually, knowing that more than one or two are coming, as I initially imagined, I am strangely nervous! It's not a party by any but even just having 3 or 4 people there saying 'hey' to me seems mind blowing! Sad I know.
Update: And they sang happy birthday with a makeshift birthday cake at Kappa sushi. Clapping ensued from the other eaters there; my friends' impressive singing skills playing a large part there, lol
The Cleanup
I used to pride myself on my quick one hour scrub'n'clean of my apartment, but I've let things build up so much over time that I have had to stage the cleanup, like some extensive construction project.
I fall between OCD and ADD when it comes ot my cleaning habits. ADD in that it takes me a while to focus my attention on cleaning, distracted as it usually is by shiny things like the Internet or going out. However when I start I go a bit OCD and go through quite a ritual in cleaning.
This time I just kept putting it off and back; the ADD rubber band was being stretched taut until finally it snapped.
I hadn't ironed my things for a couple of weeks! They were cleaned (using my pioneering Warm Water Wash System - W3S) and everything just not ironed. Finally last night spent well over an hour ironing everything. Then I had to put away unwearable clothes; not fashion wise mind you but ones that would be too warm in the face of the Japanese summertime.
The days before had been occupied with cleaning bathroom and kitchen and tidying up my storage spaces. Nothing particularly massive but I was proud I was able to focus on it long enough to get it all done and dusted rather than suddenly lose motivation half way through and try to engineer a reason not to finish up.
So only thing to do is hoover and that's it! Thank god! The germophobe in me is close to finally being able to exhale.
Today finally took out the rubbish; 3 weeks worth cos I kept forgetting to do it on Wednesdays. I'd put a bunch of stuff outside my door on the small landing I had to myself in my stairwell. I must be checking all the stereotypes, finally, about messy gaijin. Then there's plastics and cardboard collections to contend with (with the omnipresent fear of rejection by faceless Japanese binmen).
God, did I really just ramble on about cleaning?! Maybe it's cos I'm a guy, and no matter how small it is we love to feel proud of our 'epic' operations and machinations in fighting dirt, dust and weird blockages in drains.
On the eve of my birthday, friends' presents and cards ready to be opened, I realised I finally had an enormous yawning gap on the tatami where my clothes basket of washed and dried clothes had sat for 2 weeks. My Kingdom was in order at last!
I fall between OCD and ADD when it comes ot my cleaning habits. ADD in that it takes me a while to focus my attention on cleaning, distracted as it usually is by shiny things like the Internet or going out. However when I start I go a bit OCD and go through quite a ritual in cleaning.
This time I just kept putting it off and back; the ADD rubber band was being stretched taut until finally it snapped.
I hadn't ironed my things for a couple of weeks! They were cleaned (using my pioneering Warm Water Wash System - W3S) and everything just not ironed. Finally last night spent well over an hour ironing everything. Then I had to put away unwearable clothes; not fashion wise mind you but ones that would be too warm in the face of the Japanese summertime.
The days before had been occupied with cleaning bathroom and kitchen and tidying up my storage spaces. Nothing particularly massive but I was proud I was able to focus on it long enough to get it all done and dusted rather than suddenly lose motivation half way through and try to engineer a reason not to finish up.
So only thing to do is hoover and that's it! Thank god! The germophobe in me is close to finally being able to exhale.
Today finally took out the rubbish; 3 weeks worth cos I kept forgetting to do it on Wednesdays. I'd put a bunch of stuff outside my door on the small landing I had to myself in my stairwell. I must be checking all the stereotypes, finally, about messy gaijin. Then there's plastics and cardboard collections to contend with (with the omnipresent fear of rejection by faceless Japanese binmen).
God, did I really just ramble on about cleaning?! Maybe it's cos I'm a guy, and no matter how small it is we love to feel proud of our 'epic' operations and machinations in fighting dirt, dust and weird blockages in drains.
On the eve of my birthday, friends' presents and cards ready to be opened, I realised I finally had an enormous yawning gap on the tatami where my clothes basket of washed and dried clothes had sat for 2 weeks. My Kingdom was in order at last!
Guitars and Names
Me and Chryssy are starting a concerted effort to learn the guitar.
My JTE, Tomohiro Mukoda, agreed to help. We met him the first night at Cocoas and chatted. He sat disturbingly close to me, as Chryssy later pointed out; more used to the metre or so gap we have in the office.
He also tells her to call him "Tom". This is touched ono an issue I've had since I came here.
I've worked closely with Michiaki and Mukoda and Haga. But those are their last names. I always, rather formaly, call them "~~-sensei". I'm told that you graduate up the rungs towards more personal names and affixes but I have always stuck to those original labels.
I must be stubborn. Introduce yourself to me and that's how I will address you until your dying day. I don't even shorten my friends names unless they introduced themselves to me like that! So it's "Michael" forever more instead of "Mick" like I hear all his other friends call him.
So now I am trying, very forcefully, to say his name different. But by god is it hard. Chryssy laughed her ass off afterwards at my forced use of "Tom"; it sounded like I was being forced to say that Darth Vader was my father. Imagine Luke's pained cry and that's how it basically sounded.
I've got a long way to go.
My JTE, Tomohiro Mukoda, agreed to help. We met him the first night at Cocoas and chatted. He sat disturbingly close to me, as Chryssy later pointed out; more used to the metre or so gap we have in the office.
He also tells her to call him "Tom". This is touched ono an issue I've had since I came here.
I've worked closely with Michiaki and Mukoda and Haga. But those are their last names. I always, rather formaly, call them "~~-sensei". I'm told that you graduate up the rungs towards more personal names and affixes but I have always stuck to those original labels.
I must be stubborn. Introduce yourself to me and that's how I will address you until your dying day. I don't even shorten my friends names unless they introduced themselves to me like that! So it's "Michael" forever more instead of "Mick" like I hear all his other friends call him.
So now I am trying, very forcefully, to say his name different. But by god is it hard. Chryssy laughed her ass off afterwards at my forced use of "Tom"; it sounded like I was being forced to say that Darth Vader was my father. Imagine Luke's pained cry and that's how it basically sounded.
I've got a long way to go.
Muslims FTW!
Teaching Islam today! Finally!
I expected something like this to happen sooner but only now did I find a way of worming it in. I don't think any of them really know that I am a Muslim; pictures from Facebook would only help dispell the notion further I'm sure, lol.
We'd done a chapter about one girl doing a small thing but which got everyone else doing it with her. Tom (who I'm still having trouble calling that name) asked me to come up with something similar in my life, for about 30 frickin' minutes in class! Right....
So I thought about the only thing with people doing something intensely personal, but which they do together with lots of other people, and I thought, as you do, of the pilgrimage to Mecca!! w00t!
In super quick time made a work sheet up, multiple choice questions, blanks, sentence writing, all trying to do something different to keep them interested. Course I'll probably get word back from Monica that it was boring; she teaches some of my students so she often gets feedback on my mundane lessons.
Didn't finish it entirely, I got 18 minutes in the end, peppered with lots of questions to the class and getting them to translate "we pray 5 times a day to a big cube".
Next class Tom is bringing his Ruix cube to mock the Kaaba and bring much LOLs to the non-genki 1-2 class.
I expected something like this to happen sooner but only now did I find a way of worming it in. I don't think any of them really know that I am a Muslim; pictures from Facebook would only help dispell the notion further I'm sure, lol.
We'd done a chapter about one girl doing a small thing but which got everyone else doing it with her. Tom (who I'm still having trouble calling that name) asked me to come up with something similar in my life, for about 30 frickin' minutes in class! Right....
So I thought about the only thing with people doing something intensely personal, but which they do together with lots of other people, and I thought, as you do, of the pilgrimage to Mecca!! w00t!
In super quick time made a work sheet up, multiple choice questions, blanks, sentence writing, all trying to do something different to keep them interested. Course I'll probably get word back from Monica that it was boring; she teaches some of my students so she often gets feedback on my mundane lessons.
Didn't finish it entirely, I got 18 minutes in the end, peppered with lots of questions to the class and getting them to translate "we pray 5 times a day to a big cube".
Next class Tom is bringing his Ruix cube to mock the Kaaba and bring much LOLs to the non-genki 1-2 class.
Tuesday, 3 June 2008
Running
God, I hate running.
I challenged myself to do a marathon. Didn't start training till just over a week ago. Entered myself in for the 5 kilometre, thankfully; I'd initially wanted to challenge my nemesis, Alistair Locke, to 10km. This would have been stupid and resulted in my death at about the 6km mark.
I had been going back to TAS to train but that expensive gym has a severe lack of air conditioning, which screws you, running as you are in a hot breezeless space. So I decided to try running around the school.
It was Wednesday and I was a little nervous. I wanted to run with someone because I was very self concious of being a gaijin pounding the streets of Nagai; wouldn't I' stick out like a sore thumb?!
I joined a girl from one of the sports teams on her run, but she buggered off after only a lap, thanks little girl! I managed another 2 laps and then stopped. About 2.7km. Down off my distance in the gym but hella-more interesting and fun.
The next day during a 3rd year class I somehow mention to one of the students about running. Actually I think he said it first because he'd seen me running around the day before. Agreed to join me on my runs.
My complete lack of memory when it comes to Japanese names came back to bite me in the ass since I have NO IDEA what this guy's name is. Still don't, even after running 3 times with him!
He has helped me to do 4.5km around the school and I've even broken 4:00 for a kilometre, w00t! I'm a little less enthused about his current suggestions for training, every other lap trying to go fast, but stitches aside I think it's helping me.
Gotta load up on carbs (thank god I like pasta). After the 80s party I didn't eat much, aside from the two breakfasts, and on Monday I was especially woeful and stitch-ridden.
Funny thing is that after each run I thank him for his effort, then hop in the car and drive back to Shinmeicho, LOL. It's deeply ironic.
Anyway, only 5 days to go. Dun dun DUN
I challenged myself to do a marathon. Didn't start training till just over a week ago. Entered myself in for the 5 kilometre, thankfully; I'd initially wanted to challenge my nemesis, Alistair Locke, to 10km. This would have been stupid and resulted in my death at about the 6km mark.
I had been going back to TAS to train but that expensive gym has a severe lack of air conditioning, which screws you, running as you are in a hot breezeless space. So I decided to try running around the school.
It was Wednesday and I was a little nervous. I wanted to run with someone because I was very self concious of being a gaijin pounding the streets of Nagai; wouldn't I' stick out like a sore thumb?!
I joined a girl from one of the sports teams on her run, but she buggered off after only a lap, thanks little girl! I managed another 2 laps and then stopped. About 2.7km. Down off my distance in the gym but hella-more interesting and fun.
The next day during a 3rd year class I somehow mention to one of the students about running. Actually I think he said it first because he'd seen me running around the day before. Agreed to join me on my runs.
My complete lack of memory when it comes to Japanese names came back to bite me in the ass since I have NO IDEA what this guy's name is. Still don't, even after running 3 times with him!
He has helped me to do 4.5km around the school and I've even broken 4:00 for a kilometre, w00t! I'm a little less enthused about his current suggestions for training, every other lap trying to go fast, but stitches aside I think it's helping me.
Gotta load up on carbs (thank god I like pasta). After the 80s party I didn't eat much, aside from the two breakfasts, and on Monday I was especially woeful and stitch-ridden.
Funny thing is that after each run I thank him for his effort, then hop in the car and drive back to Shinmeicho, LOL. It's deeply ironic.
Anyway, only 5 days to go. Dun dun DUN
Monday, 2 June 2008
Common Sense Blogging
Self censorship in blogs is interesting. They're not really diaries after all. If they were they'd be ones left open on the hall table, pages flapping in the breeze beckoning everyone to read what's within.
They are also a platform for 'funny' thoughts, for tongue in cheek rambling or deliberately skewed take on your life at the moment; putting the "LOL" in "Life".
When it comes to negative thoughts though it becomes tricky. Surely your friends only want to read the happy moments? Only mildly candid moments need hit that "Submit" button.
Then again the Internet seems to beckon for those in need of baring their soul. It somehow feels more impactful to write that diatribe about a colleague or a fight with a friend on your blog. It's the instant messenger way of gathering your friends together and sitting them down for the heated performance of emotion and vitriol. It's the mute, always attentive, Arial size 12 audience.
So it can be tempting to cross the line with what you write. And you have to beware of that. It's not really self censorship if it's just common sense.
But when release is at your fingertips, and the "publish" button just sitting there waiting to take your musings and commit them to a mile high noticeboard for all to see, who cares about common sense, eh?!
They are also a platform for 'funny' thoughts, for tongue in cheek rambling or deliberately skewed take on your life at the moment; putting the "LOL" in "Life".
When it comes to negative thoughts though it becomes tricky. Surely your friends only want to read the happy moments? Only mildly candid moments need hit that "Submit" button.
Then again the Internet seems to beckon for those in need of baring their soul. It somehow feels more impactful to write that diatribe about a colleague or a fight with a friend on your blog. It's the instant messenger way of gathering your friends together and sitting them down for the heated performance of emotion and vitriol. It's the mute, always attentive, Arial size 12 audience.
So it can be tempting to cross the line with what you write. And you have to beware of that. It's not really self censorship if it's just common sense.
But when release is at your fingertips, and the "publish" button just sitting there waiting to take your musings and commit them to a mile high noticeboard for all to see, who cares about common sense, eh?!
AJET
I think there's already potential rift between us new sempais in Okitama. I think we should start early with get togethers and parties and some others feel differently, preferring to wait to a later time.
Whatever happens I think us four; Chryssy; Chris; Rebecca and me, will make a better, more concerted effort, to welcome and integrate with the first years than our current representative managed.
Already it seems there'll be more male ALTs next year. I wonder how that'll change things. Less peeps to innocently grind against at parties?! NOOOOO!!!
Whatever happens I think us four; Chryssy; Chris; Rebecca and me, will make a better, more concerted effort, to welcome and integrate with the first years than our current representative managed.
Already it seems there'll be more male ALTs next year. I wonder how that'll change things. Less peeps to innocently grind against at parties?! NOOOOO!!!
The 80s Party
I had a lot of fun at the 80s party this weekend. In the lead up to it I also had a lot of fun rediscovering my arty side as me and Monica prepared the costume I was going to wear.
Preparation
Monica had the brilliant idea of wearing some sort of box, maybe adorned with a giant Pacman or something. The idea evolved into a Rubix cube. Instant LOLs were had at the idea and we both knew it was perfect.
On the Monday evening we got to work cutting and making the box. 2 hours later and we were proud owners of a Rubix cube box to wear.
I was desperate to pay homage to as many 80s icons as possible. I wanted to go as the karate kid initially but I eventually wanted to wear the Back to the Future shirt and I didn't know where to get a 'gi' costume from. (Later on in the week I found that Jesse had one but the ball was rolling towards Awesome 80s Homage Costume).
I had the idea for 80s bracelets (or 'cutlets' as I kept calling them all week!) with different 80s icons on each face. Made a Pacman bracelet and a 80s cartoon bracelet. It was fun to come up with the designs and make them, very much harking back to earlier days of my craftsmanship.
In between all the mad cutting, scouring and gluing I put the finishing touches to my t-shirt: "Nobody calls me chicken!" said, of course, by Marty McFly in Back To The Future. I was nearly finished with my costume and Monica was almost finished cooking.
Things got freaking hectic though.
The Rush
I was rushing through gluing down my Tetris pieces and Transformer logo when it was already 7pm. Maggy arrives and we rush out to sushi. Saw two of my teachers there, probably on a little after work dinner date?!
Rushed back, and started to get dressed. Only the day before me and Chryssy had scoured Yonezawa for 80s wares. I'd managed to get some exceedingly tight white jeans in a thrift store. Not my first choice I can tell you, but faded blue jeans were so damn expensive I could only go for these random ghetto white jeans!
So with much LOLs at tight jeans and heavy eye liner we started to pack the car. It was after 8 at the point. Then disaster struck; Maggy's car wouldn't start! Monica went to her boss in her full 80s regalia and asked him for help. First thing he asked was "Why is your makeup weird?!". He came out and managed to start it and off we went.
The Promise
We were flying along the roads towards Yonezawa.
I had to sit in a uncomfortable position, leant forward trying not to touch the seat in case my beloved neon letters peeled off. Worried that at any moment we may crash, checking my rear view mirror for Maggy and contending with the rain, I had a horrible thought and said to Monica:
"Monica, if we crash, promise me that you will change my pants. My normal trousers are in the back. Promise me! I can't die in these!"
The Party
And then we arrived and it was all a bit of a blur after that with the masses of familiar faces, randodm chit chat and nostalgia filling my memory. Everyone had amazing costumes. Monica's inspired cube got a lot of positive comments and I had fun getting people to guess the 80s references on my hastily prepared cutlets...bracelets!
Somehow, due to extreme geeking out with my costume (including karate kid bandana) I got a prize, though Jeff's was the best proper 80s male costume I think, he looked very George Michael.
With someone's help, Clare or Jenny maybe, I pioneered the Cube dance. Also leant my cutl- bracelet to Randy to give him something 80s to wear; he turned up looking very 2008.
Other highlights of the night were
Aftermath
The next day I went to Cocoas for breakfast with the Northerners before they all left. Then came back and went to brunch with Nicole, Monique and Monica. We shopped at Avail, Nicole styled me, and then we all went home.
The 80s were over and we were zooming back at 88mph to June 1st 2008, Nagai, Japan.
Preparation
Monica had the brilliant idea of wearing some sort of box, maybe adorned with a giant Pacman or something. The idea evolved into a Rubix cube. Instant LOLs were had at the idea and we both knew it was perfect.
On the Monday evening we got to work cutting and making the box. 2 hours later and we were proud owners of a Rubix cube box to wear.
I was desperate to pay homage to as many 80s icons as possible. I wanted to go as the karate kid initially but I eventually wanted to wear the Back to the Future shirt and I didn't know where to get a 'gi' costume from. (Later on in the week I found that Jesse had one but the ball was rolling towards Awesome 80s Homage Costume).
I had the idea for 80s bracelets (or 'cutlets' as I kept calling them all week!) with different 80s icons on each face. Made a Pacman bracelet and a 80s cartoon bracelet. It was fun to come up with the designs and make them, very much harking back to earlier days of my craftsmanship.
In between all the mad cutting, scouring and gluing I put the finishing touches to my t-shirt: "Nobody calls me chicken!" said, of course, by Marty McFly in Back To The Future. I was nearly finished with my costume and Monica was almost finished cooking.
Things got freaking hectic though.
The Rush
I was rushing through gluing down my Tetris pieces and Transformer logo when it was already 7pm. Maggy arrives and we rush out to sushi. Saw two of my teachers there, probably on a little after work dinner date?!
Rushed back, and started to get dressed. Only the day before me and Chryssy had scoured Yonezawa for 80s wares. I'd managed to get some exceedingly tight white jeans in a thrift store. Not my first choice I can tell you, but faded blue jeans were so damn expensive I could only go for these random ghetto white jeans!
So with much LOLs at tight jeans and heavy eye liner we started to pack the car. It was after 8 at the point. Then disaster struck; Maggy's car wouldn't start! Monica went to her boss in her full 80s regalia and asked him for help. First thing he asked was "Why is your makeup weird?!". He came out and managed to start it and off we went.
The Promise
We were flying along the roads towards Yonezawa.
I had to sit in a uncomfortable position, leant forward trying not to touch the seat in case my beloved neon letters peeled off. Worried that at any moment we may crash, checking my rear view mirror for Maggy and contending with the rain, I had a horrible thought and said to Monica:
"Monica, if we crash, promise me that you will change my pants. My normal trousers are in the back. Promise me! I can't die in these!"
The Party
And then we arrived and it was all a bit of a blur after that with the masses of familiar faces, randodm chit chat and nostalgia filling my memory. Everyone had amazing costumes. Monica's inspired cube got a lot of positive comments and I had fun getting people to guess the 80s references on my hastily prepared cutlets...bracelets!
Somehow, due to extreme geeking out with my costume (including karate kid bandana) I got a prize, though Jeff's was the best proper 80s male costume I think, he looked very George Michael.
With someone's help, Clare or Jenny maybe, I pioneered the Cube dance. Also leant my cutl- bracelet to Randy to give him something 80s to wear; he turned up looking very 2008.
Other highlights of the night were
- Rebecca and moi occupying the box at the same time.
- Extolling the virtues of Mysterious Cities of Gold to all would listen.
- The pain from the trousers turning to blessed numbness.
- Running around trying to get my box fixed when one of the strings snapped.
- Having both strings snapped by mischievous Nicole.
- Randomly holding Kathryn's hand for a long time.
- Hearing the 'proud to be replaced by JoeyD" spiel from Randy again.
- Rediscovering my Ulster accent.
- Seeing lots of old faces again, including Trisha and the mysterious Lynn.
Aftermath
The next day I went to Cocoas for breakfast with the Northerners before they all left. Then came back and went to brunch with Nicole, Monique and Monica. We shopped at Avail, Nicole styled me, and then we all went home.
The 80s were over and we were zooming back at 88mph to June 1st 2008, Nagai, Japan.
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