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Tuesday, November 25, 2003
send home
i think i need a list fix, so here goes...
recent cheery events
1. remy is getting chubby. apparently at the last vet visit she had gained 20 pounds. hahahah what are my parents doing....
2. popo`s 90th birthday was on sunday, and i think Ee got a roast pig.
3. linda and wayne are some of the best guests ever
4. it`s almost december and it is still gorgeous. canada/toronto take note
5. mary`s emails sound exactly like the way she speaks, with the breaks/pauses and everything... either she`s a super emailer, or she has forgotten what she was writing about mid-sentences...puahahahh
6. the perfect way to spend a lazy holiday monday includes miso soup, a burnt out ALT, the tv, and marinated beef
7. GAP mittens & banana chips (thanks linda, love them =])
8. big whales at Hep 5
9. maccha parfait in Kobe`s "Chinatown"
10. buying plants from Konan... possible addiction starting soon
11. emails from the east coast (oh yeah, Laura said to check out SoHo and H&M for good shopping)
12. I think I`m going to teach at a handicapped school next term and might keep Joyo and Nankominami! yatta!
13. anticipation for booking hawaii tickets & the wedding
14. thinking about Christmas/snow... =)
15. being there to hear Tony exclaim, "Miharu, Lucas has his first tooth!!"
16. ayu got into the college she wanted
i think i need a list fix, so here goes...
recent cheery events
1. remy is getting chubby. apparently at the last vet visit she had gained 20 pounds. hahahah what are my parents doing....
2. popo`s 90th birthday was on sunday, and i think Ee got a roast pig.
3. linda and wayne are some of the best guests ever
4. it`s almost december and it is still gorgeous. canada/toronto take note
5. mary`s emails sound exactly like the way she speaks, with the breaks/pauses and everything... either she`s a super emailer, or she has forgotten what she was writing about mid-sentences...puahahahh
6. the perfect way to spend a lazy holiday monday includes miso soup, a burnt out ALT, the tv, and marinated beef
7. GAP mittens & banana chips (thanks linda, love them =])
8. big whales at Hep 5
9. maccha parfait in Kobe`s "Chinatown"
10. buying plants from Konan... possible addiction starting soon
11. emails from the east coast (oh yeah, Laura said to check out SoHo and H&M for good shopping)
12. I think I`m going to teach at a handicapped school next term and might keep Joyo and Nankominami! yatta!
13. anticipation for booking hawaii tickets & the wedding
14. thinking about Christmas/snow... =)
15. being there to hear Tony exclaim, "Miharu, Lucas has his first tooth!!"
16. ayu got into the college she wanted
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
on a blah blah day...
on this blah blah day, with the blah blah weather and a blah blah mood, i just want to sit beside and take a picture of an overflowing bouquet of drooping yellow water lilys lying in the golden afternoon sun.
on this blah blah day, with the blah blah weather and a blah blah mood, i just want to sit beside and take a picture of an overflowing bouquet of drooping yellow water lilys lying in the golden afternoon sun.
Sunday, November 16, 2003
shiai
like, how amazing is november in japan???????? i seriously can`t get over how utterly GORGEOUS it is outside today... woohoooooooooooooooooooo!! (is it bad that cuz i`m so happy i want to go shopping? hahaha) I had the mommy vball tournament this morning, but only stayed till 11:30 cuz Mari was leaving at that time and she was my escort back to Joyo. It was pretty darn cool, I was number 13, and got to play in the second game. I AM the weakest link!! but hopefully they will think that the Canadian vball system is just weak =) but I think they`ll do really well... Joyo mommies are strong! and as we were attempting to leave, they wouldn`t let us walk out without giving us bentos to take with us. And it wasn`t just a bento... it was literally a bag of food. A wonderfully heavy bag of food =) I finally get to try out Mister Donuts` muffins woohooooooooo!! all i want to do each and everyday is make beautiful, clean passes to the setter, return spikes crisply, and wander about in the sunshine with a bento and a camera. OHH! japan vs. canada on tuesday! so conflicted!
like, how amazing is november in japan???????? i seriously can`t get over how utterly GORGEOUS it is outside today... woohoooooooooooooooooooo!! (is it bad that cuz i`m so happy i want to go shopping? hahaha) I had the mommy vball tournament this morning, but only stayed till 11:30 cuz Mari was leaving at that time and she was my escort back to Joyo. It was pretty darn cool, I was number 13, and got to play in the second game. I AM the weakest link!! but hopefully they will think that the Canadian vball system is just weak =) but I think they`ll do really well... Joyo mommies are strong! and as we were attempting to leave, they wouldn`t let us walk out without giving us bentos to take with us. And it wasn`t just a bento... it was literally a bag of food. A wonderfully heavy bag of food =) I finally get to try out Mister Donuts` muffins woohooooooooo!! all i want to do each and everyday is make beautiful, clean passes to the setter, return spikes crisply, and wander about in the sunshine with a bento and a camera. OHH! japan vs. canada on tuesday! so conflicted!
Wednesday, November 12, 2003
fall-ing
fall in japan is amazing. coming from the t-dot/markham, where fall is four days in early october, weeks of actual fall-crisp air combined with warm sun and changing leaves makes for a supremely happy me. like today for example... it has been raining and overcast for the past few days, but today... God busted out the sunshine and cool air to cover me as i went to work. ureshii na~ and on top of that, Joyo finished at 12:15 today, making for a v.short work day. So, Mari, Tomoko and I went out for lunch, the assistant school nurse, JTE and the ALT aka the "Young Group" according to Tomoko hahahhaa. we went for lunch at this cool little pasta/dessert place in Kyobashi, populated mostly by young career women. it was really fun, bonding over bread choices (walnut bread, yum!), gooood pasta (Tomoko in horror: "what are the red things?"), delectable desserts that were impossibly rich, talking about boys (Mari: "I have... one way love..." so cute... ), and demonstrating the comb-over. On the way back, Mari was wondering what movie to see on Saturday with her one-way love man (puahahah), so we stopped at a convenience store to pick up movie listings, and on the way back the sun was so bright and warm, but it was still a little bit chilly... Autumn perfection!! Sigh, I really like Joyo, and will be v.disappointed if I have to leave... sigh. AND i got to leave early!!!
I Love Fall in Japan!!!!!!!!!!! the sun makes lovely shadows in the train when it filters through the screens on the windows, making everyone look a little romantic... lovelylovelyautumn.
fall in japan is amazing. coming from the t-dot/markham, where fall is four days in early october, weeks of actual fall-crisp air combined with warm sun and changing leaves makes for a supremely happy me. like today for example... it has been raining and overcast for the past few days, but today... God busted out the sunshine and cool air to cover me as i went to work. ureshii na~ and on top of that, Joyo finished at 12:15 today, making for a v.short work day. So, Mari, Tomoko and I went out for lunch, the assistant school nurse, JTE and the ALT aka the "Young Group" according to Tomoko hahahhaa. we went for lunch at this cool little pasta/dessert place in Kyobashi, populated mostly by young career women. it was really fun, bonding over bread choices (walnut bread, yum!), gooood pasta (Tomoko in horror: "what are the red things?"), delectable desserts that were impossibly rich, talking about boys (Mari: "I have... one way love..." so cute... ), and demonstrating the comb-over. On the way back, Mari was wondering what movie to see on Saturday with her one-way love man (puahahah), so we stopped at a convenience store to pick up movie listings, and on the way back the sun was so bright and warm, but it was still a little bit chilly... Autumn perfection!! Sigh, I really like Joyo, and will be v.disappointed if I have to leave... sigh. AND i got to leave early!!!
I Love Fall in Japan!!!!!!!!!!! the sun makes lovely shadows in the train when it filters through the screens on the windows, making everyone look a little romantic... lovelylovelyautumn.
Thursday, November 06, 2003
anti-me
i have never been good at making decisions... in any sort of capacity. for example, put me in front of a menu that has more than two panels and i freeze... re: jack astor`s, joyfull, swiss chalet, burger king... u get the point. i think it`s my tendency to want everything all at once. greedy? or afraid of missing out? i was reading Mammon Inc and the narrator spoke about kia su, a Singaporean trait readily available in all of its citizens which basically made them supremo bargain hunters, because they would always refuse to settle for the easiest choice i.e. they never wanted to miss out on a better opportunity. sometimes in a state of frenzied kia su-ness that overtakes me during decision making time, i misinterpret and make the wrong decision. usually the result is fairly harmless: i end up with a chicken sandwich and five bowls of chalet sauce instead of a quarter chicken dinner... but nowadays, margin for error seems smaller, the reprecussions more heart-stopping than usual. how do i muddle through stuff, making and sticking with grown-up decisions while fending off frequent jolts of kia su? which wins, heart or head?
i have never been good at making decisions... in any sort of capacity. for example, put me in front of a menu that has more than two panels and i freeze... re: jack astor`s, joyfull, swiss chalet, burger king... u get the point. i think it`s my tendency to want everything all at once. greedy? or afraid of missing out? i was reading Mammon Inc and the narrator spoke about kia su, a Singaporean trait readily available in all of its citizens which basically made them supremo bargain hunters, because they would always refuse to settle for the easiest choice i.e. they never wanted to miss out on a better opportunity. sometimes in a state of frenzied kia su-ness that overtakes me during decision making time, i misinterpret and make the wrong decision. usually the result is fairly harmless: i end up with a chicken sandwich and five bowls of chalet sauce instead of a quarter chicken dinner... but nowadays, margin for error seems smaller, the reprecussions more heart-stopping than usual. how do i muddle through stuff, making and sticking with grown-up decisions while fending off frequent jolts of kia su? which wins, heart or head?
Wednesday, November 05, 2003
for liz
reasons why it`s good to be a girl con`t...
1. indulgence in makeup... even if you don`t have the double lid, eyelash curlers, esp. the one i will send you and mascara are too fun to pass up
2. more choice when clothes shopping, thus more outfits to reflect various moods (ahem)
3. boys are weird when they over analyze to death, decimating the original situation/meaning, losing all mental bearings in the nexus of space... we`re normal if we overanalyze.
4. having long lasting, meaningful friendships/relationships doesn`t elicit classy comments like "dude, you`re so gay!!"
5. we can sob openly in movies, while guys are restricted to a single tear falling down their cheek. anything more throws off the balance between sensitivity and manliness, putting them into the `crybaby` zone (remember your reaction to the Toy Story 2 display?? see what i mean...)
6. male pattern baldness is just not as prevelant with us girls... but i will concede the fact that there are some female george costanzas running amuck
7. if something is cute, we can tell it like it is, and then some, thus buoying someone`s self-esteem or spreading aesthetic goodwill. saying "CUUUUTTEEEE!!!" or "KAWAAIIIIII!!!!!!" in a delighted voice with regular frequency is not a common male activity.
8. we get to be mothers... and get better presents on Mother`s Day... ;)
9. no one can rock synchronized swimming like girls do
10. i just need to have ten items, but really i could have stopped at 4
see, it`s not so bad. the good outweighs the bad, trust me twister!
reasons why it`s good to be a girl con`t...
1. indulgence in makeup... even if you don`t have the double lid, eyelash curlers, esp. the one i will send you and mascara are too fun to pass up
2. more choice when clothes shopping, thus more outfits to reflect various moods (ahem)
3. boys are weird when they over analyze to death, decimating the original situation/meaning, losing all mental bearings in the nexus of space... we`re normal if we overanalyze.
4. having long lasting, meaningful friendships/relationships doesn`t elicit classy comments like "dude, you`re so gay!!"
5. we can sob openly in movies, while guys are restricted to a single tear falling down their cheek. anything more throws off the balance between sensitivity and manliness, putting them into the `crybaby` zone (remember your reaction to the Toy Story 2 display?? see what i mean...)
6. male pattern baldness is just not as prevelant with us girls... but i will concede the fact that there are some female george costanzas running amuck
7. if something is cute, we can tell it like it is, and then some, thus buoying someone`s self-esteem or spreading aesthetic goodwill. saying "CUUUUTTEEEE!!!" or "KAWAAIIIIII!!!!!!" in a delighted voice with regular frequency is not a common male activity.
8. we get to be mothers... and get better presents on Mother`s Day... ;)
9. no one can rock synchronized swimming like girls do
10. i just need to have ten items, but really i could have stopped at 4
see, it`s not so bad. the good outweighs the bad, trust me twister!
Monday, November 03, 2003
function
it`s raining now, and has been since morning. it`s dark outside, and i can see the rain reflecting off of the curves and valleys in the road when headlights land. you want to know the perfect rainy day setting? well one at least... in a quiet apartment, slightly dark, because of the overcast sky, the rooms illuminated just by the available natural light. or walking down the street, sheltered by a big purple umbrella, hearing the raindrops plink and plunk off in rapid succession. perfect rainy day song? Sparks by Coldplay, or the acoustic version of Something`s Missing by John Mayer... you can`t beat moments like these.
i think the acoustic guitar is one of my favourite instruments... there is just something about the timbres of that instrument that create atmosphere... and JM can evoke the passion/moody/introspective like no other, a dangerous combination: acoustic prowess, smoky voice and lyrics to lose yourself in... go here. so good.
john mayer | something`s missing
I'm not alone
I wish I was
Cause then I'd know I was down because
I couldn't find a friend around
To love me like they do right now
They do right now
I'm dizzy from the shopping mall
I searched for joy but I bought it all
It doesn't help the hunger pain
And a thirst I'd have to drown first to ever satiate
Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
Something's missing
And I don't know what it is
At all
When autumn comes
It doesn't ask
It just walks in where it left you last
You never know when it starts
Until there's fog inside the glass around your summer heart
Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
Something's missing
And I don't know what it is
At all
I can't be sure that this state of mine is not of my own design
I wish there was an over-the-counter test
For loneliness like this
Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
Something's missing
And I don't know what it is
No, I don't know what it is
Somethin's different
And I don't know what it is
No I don't know what it is
Friends (Check)
Money (Check)
Well slept (Check)
Opposite sex
Guitar ( Check)
Microphone (Check)
Messages waiting on me when I come home
it`s raining now, and has been since morning. it`s dark outside, and i can see the rain reflecting off of the curves and valleys in the road when headlights land. you want to know the perfect rainy day setting? well one at least... in a quiet apartment, slightly dark, because of the overcast sky, the rooms illuminated just by the available natural light. or walking down the street, sheltered by a big purple umbrella, hearing the raindrops plink and plunk off in rapid succession. perfect rainy day song? Sparks by Coldplay, or the acoustic version of Something`s Missing by John Mayer... you can`t beat moments like these.
i think the acoustic guitar is one of my favourite instruments... there is just something about the timbres of that instrument that create atmosphere... and JM can evoke the passion/moody/introspective like no other, a dangerous combination: acoustic prowess, smoky voice and lyrics to lose yourself in... go here. so good.
john mayer | something`s missing
I'm not alone
I wish I was
Cause then I'd know I was down because
I couldn't find a friend around
To love me like they do right now
They do right now
I'm dizzy from the shopping mall
I searched for joy but I bought it all
It doesn't help the hunger pain
And a thirst I'd have to drown first to ever satiate
Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
Something's missing
And I don't know what it is
At all
When autumn comes
It doesn't ask
It just walks in where it left you last
You never know when it starts
Until there's fog inside the glass around your summer heart
Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
Something's missing
And I don't know what it is
At all
I can't be sure that this state of mine is not of my own design
I wish there was an over-the-counter test
For loneliness like this
Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
Something's missing
And I don't know what it is
No, I don't know what it is
Somethin's different
And I don't know what it is
No I don't know what it is
Friends (Check)
Money (Check)
Well slept (Check)
Opposite sex
Guitar ( Check)
Microphone (Check)
Messages waiting on me when I come home
Saturday, November 01, 2003
by day|by night
so i was supposed to go to shaun`s this weekend, and de-city-ize in nishiumi. alas i didn`t forsee the magnetic pull of the hamlet, and all of the tix for the overnight bus were sold out. OSSHIIIIIII. but things have been great so far. today i got to sleep in, and received a call from my Ots. I had no idea, but i think he calls me sometimes when everyone is out of the house... and he said that he thought maybe i could come home during Christmas and bring Ayu with me... methinks my father misses me much... so after i hung up with him, and the idea slowly registered into my head, i started to cry. the crying part wasn`t that great, but it was good because it kind of solidified my decision to only stay for the year. Japan is really great, but I can`t stay suspended in Japanimation forever.
Anyways i finally managed to Clean, including tackling my version of Dante`s Inferno, Pigeon -style which currently exists on my balcony. it is still really filthy, but at least there is more concrete visible. and i am so not joking. Had a text-fest with Liz, and finally pulled out my Bible, and read a verse from Isaiah out on the fire escape, while being drenched in warm sunlight and the sound of a trumpet from within the park. ureshiiii~ Then went to dinner in Kyobashi and mommy vball... note to self: wear your freakin kneepads on monday.
i realized something last night, while leading two hapless robots around Shinsaibashi: I really don`t like walking in that area at night. It really depressed me to see all of the red-light district-y bars, especially the ones with the Filipino/Korean etc. girls in the front, hawking their wares. These women/girls don`t deserve to be here... there must be something more they can be, even the flightiest of the flightiest don`t deserve to be degraded like that. I really hated walking by the bars/clubs. And I can`t help but notice that my blinders become denser the more I walk through there.
so i was supposed to go to shaun`s this weekend, and de-city-ize in nishiumi. alas i didn`t forsee the magnetic pull of the hamlet, and all of the tix for the overnight bus were sold out. OSSHIIIIIII. but things have been great so far. today i got to sleep in, and received a call from my Ots. I had no idea, but i think he calls me sometimes when everyone is out of the house... and he said that he thought maybe i could come home during Christmas and bring Ayu with me... methinks my father misses me much... so after i hung up with him, and the idea slowly registered into my head, i started to cry. the crying part wasn`t that great, but it was good because it kind of solidified my decision to only stay for the year. Japan is really great, but I can`t stay suspended in Japanimation forever.
Anyways i finally managed to Clean, including tackling my version of Dante`s Inferno, Pigeon -style which currently exists on my balcony. it is still really filthy, but at least there is more concrete visible. and i am so not joking. Had a text-fest with Liz, and finally pulled out my Bible, and read a verse from Isaiah out on the fire escape, while being drenched in warm sunlight and the sound of a trumpet from within the park. ureshiiii~ Then went to dinner in Kyobashi and mommy vball... note to self: wear your freakin kneepads on monday.
i realized something last night, while leading two hapless robots around Shinsaibashi: I really don`t like walking in that area at night. It really depressed me to see all of the red-light district-y bars, especially the ones with the Filipino/Korean etc. girls in the front, hawking their wares. These women/girls don`t deserve to be here... there must be something more they can be, even the flightiest of the flightiest don`t deserve to be degraded like that. I really hated walking by the bars/clubs. And I can`t help but notice that my blinders become denser the more I walk through there.
