Starting over with everything..

Hmm...

2009-09-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

Why does the weekend always go so fast? Why doesn't my laundry do itself? Why does unwashed dog smell so badly? Questions that I'm pondering today. Also, what should I eat for breakfast and why do I wake up so early when it's my day off? Maybe huevos and bagels? But that means I'd have to drive.. and get dressed, ugh. Cereal, you win again.. you win again. I kind of wish I stopped having to go to work on the weekends, one day off is not enough to keep me sane. Yesterday was supposed to be the last day for the year, but me has a sneaking suspicion that they lie.. Just like most of the people I date.. oooooooh~ hahaha *sob* Anyway, I'm going to get some crabs later, so it's probably best I don't eat heavy now. I don't mean those crabs, I mean the kind you eat from the place I go on Sundays. I'm off to do the laundry.. For the maybe one person who reads this, look out soon, I'm starting a blog about beer. It shall be fantastique!

The "Misoji" club

2009-09-15T21:40:00.000-07:00

Wow. Thirty. My most traumatic birthday yet. I got rid of someone I really cared about because it's not fair for caring to be so uneven. My body feels okay, except I know that I can not bounce back from consuming large amounts of alcohol like I used to (thank goodness for sick days.) I'm feeling like I can bounce back better emotionally, at least.

At thirty, the kindness of strangers and the audacity of rude people still shock me. I feel more able to cry when I'm happy and when I'm sad. I find when I do get upset, I'm less willing to accept excuses. I have more things I want to do with my life and things that I want to learn. I seem to have all the time in the world and yet time goes by so fast my head is constantly spinning.

I'm not 100% happy with where I am or maybe even where I'm going, but I'm okay with where I am right now. I want to see, feel, and experience everything I can and hopefully I can do that with someone cool someday. Thirty is just starting and although I'm off to a rough start, I can do nothing but thank the stranger who hugged a very drunken me in a bathroom during a fantastically low point in my life and gave me hope by telling me I was just beginning to live the best part of my life. Corny, I know, but wherever you are, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Thirty birthday... bad, thirtieth year.. we'll see.

Las Vegas

2009-09-07T15:20:00.000-07:00

I live in Las Vegas. Apparently most people assume that means I go out and party til the break of dawn, have an endless supply of hooker shoes and have a million friends. This is not the case, but I appreciate the assumptions. My reality is this: I go to sleep around 10 or 11 nearly every night and I don't mind; I have flat caveman feet and the one pair of hooker shoes that I own have only walked the streets a total of one or two nights for fear that I will slip and fall and crack my head open- oh and my feet cramp up when I wear them although they are very sexy; I have three friends in Vegas right now- four if I count my brother. Three out of four of those friends, I met ages ago and they have to be my friends due to the 'longevity of knowing someone' rule. The fourth friend... that's info I'll keep to myself for now.

The first time I lived here, I was miserable but then again, I was in a very different place in my life then. I like it. I wish I could travel more, but I can only have so much debt before I have to start selling my blood on a regular basis for food. Maybe I can get more hooker shoes to start a new "side-career." Still, the slipping and cracking thing is pertinent... I'll consider it. I promise a spicier entry next time. I'm just being lazy today. I did morning yoga and was so relaxed I fell asleep for 3 hours. I think I need to be just a tad bit more adventurous. Toodles.

Sore dewa hajimemasho...

2009-06-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

It's been forever and a year since I posted on this blog. I feel it was cathardic when I started to blog my new adventure in Japan and have decided to start again on this new portion of my life. Nobody I know, probably nobody in general will read this but I'd like to have a public record of the stuff that goes on to just kinda check that I'm not 100% crazy.

I live in the city of Sin, have gotten a better job not too long ago, still speak Japanese to myself when I'm really drunk, and miss my friends from Japan something fierce. I have a car that I spent waaaaay too much money fixing up, am in the process of moving in with a friend of mine to appease what little sanity I have left and recommend drinking Michelob Ultra on an empty stomach in order to get the least amount of calories AND a buzz. I run the gambit of emotions and experiences here and haven't quite gotten used to it yet.. Will post a mini-summary since the last post forever and year ago up to this point soonish. Must finish packing.

Isla de Salsa 2007

2007-08-04T03:33:00.001-07:00

How not to pick up a sober girl at a bar

2007-07-28T11:48:00.000-07:00

For any male readers I have and who hopefully aren't married, this is short guide on do's and don'ts of how not to pick up on a sober girl at a bar and tips on how to recognize if a girl is sober or not.

Tips on how to recognize if a girl is sober.
1. If you ask, "What are you drinking" and she says, "Gingerale" and then she proceeds to tell you how she isn't drinking tonight because she's the designated driver.

2. If you ask her a second time and she repeats answer to number 1.

3. If you offer to buy her a beer and then she says, "No thanks, I'm not drinking alcohol tonight, because I'm the designated driver, that means I have to drive home" that's a good sign she's sober.

4. If she asks you, "Do you drink a lot?" and you say yes, and she doesn't say anything, and you say drunkenly while wobbling in your chair, "Why is that a problem?" And she responds, "you can do what you like, I'm just not really into drinking anymore", she may be a tad more sober than you.

Do not...
1. Say "hi" next to a girl and wave then very awkwardly work your hand from shoulder to ass gently tapping the ass. This is definitely not a good way to start off your attempt.

2. Try to sit-side-hug the girl next to you after you have tried number 1. A good sign to not continue touching the girl next to you, would be if the girl next to you says, "Jesus, do I know you? I see you're drunk, but I'm definitely not.*"

3. Do long handshakes. Though this may be incontrollable depending on one's drunkeness or creepiness level, if the girl is frantically trying to pull back her hand, it's a safe bet, you're still hanging on to the hand and it's time to let go.

4. Say cheesy lines like, "Hey, wow, you look really sweet." or "Wow, you're really cute." Especially if you are still doing the long handshake thing. Also if the girl is repeating what you're saying in what sounds like a bitchy or sarcastic tone, that's a sign she's not falling for it.

5. Talk about your crazy wife that you're separated from and your kid that you never see. Just because you're going to be "officially divorced" in November makes no difference if the girl doesn't like you in the first place.

6. Ask for a girl's phone number and say you'd really like to see her again, why still trying to caress her butt (and getting your hand slapped and poked in the chest simultaneously) after talking about a time when you got really drunk and beat up some men Russian men, while you were drunk and naked in Hong Kong and then got on a boat and proceeded to dance with your buddies... while naked.

7. Try and cross your leg over your knee when sitting at the bar stool, while sitting very close to the bar. It won't work no matter how hard you try.

8. Have a violent sneezing attack and then wipe snot on your shirt. And then as the girl next to you ask you if you're okay, say in an accusing voice, "Are you wearing perfume or cologne or something?"

9. Tell the girl you're leaving because you're going to hit on a girl who wants your attention, start rubbing on some girl and then try to come back to hit on the girl who just saw you do that 5 minutes later.

10. Tell me you really enjoy the Filipino ladies because they are just so attentive of a man's needs... so much in fact, you've learned Tagalog. Oh did I mention not to scratch your no-no place while saying this?

I could go on, but I think you can get the point. Basically Do's are simple, don't ask like the jack-ass that hit on me tonight and you might have a chance.

The prime minister, back injury, humidity and McDonalds

2007-07-26T06:37:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I haven't written in forever. Not many people read this and it's frankly too hot to be typing unless my fan is directly on me like it is right now and it's the middle of the night. I haven't been up to much lately besides sweating and waiting for time to pass so I can get to my vacation. Let's see, recently I renewed my Visa so I wouldn't get arrested or fined. Not an exciting task, by any means, but it meant I got to get the hell out of my town for a bit and head to a slightly bigger city. Basically I was excited because I could have Indian for lunch (mmmm, Indian food). However on this trip I actually got to see the Prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe. He was about 10 feet away from me and my friend Karen, trying to campaign for reelection in my small prefecture. I tried to get a photo, but I couldn't find my phone and by the time I did, I could only see him from behind. Eh well, it was exciting for the day. I should have waved my passport and bank book in his face, but I only thought about that later on (he doesn't really like foreigners and he thinks the foreigners who are here shouldn't be able to send money to their home countries, like the friggin' yen is so powerful, whose damn fault is that, Abe-poopy face????) Abe Poopyface, (he'll probably be the PM in office for the
shortest amount of time in Japanese history, if we're lucky!)

I'm still trying to exercise and get healthier, but I think I have muscle strain for the new position I'm being trained for on my tug-of-war team. I'm trying to take it easy, but I'm feeling the pressure of being in a Japanese club, even as an adult and I feel the need to do the impossible for the good of the team. I took this week off to recover a bit though, don't worry mom! I'll be posting videos and pics of my next practice hopefully next week.

On other news, there is a McDonalds that has opened up around the corner from my house and I feel it is mocking me everytime I go outside. Damn you, McFlurries! I curse the day some fat guy invented you. I've remedied my urge by buying a appetite control stick. It's like those Vicks inhaler things that were wildly popular before, but it smells like hippie and actually doesn't make you want to eat, but does make you want to shower. My water bill will be huge this month!

Japan is so hot this time of year, but at least it's not as hot as in Vegas, where I hope and pray Jaime and Lanie aren't melting in the desert. Thank God you have central heating and cooling. Anyways, I'm sticky and am going to see if a shower will make me sleepy. Take care all of you. xoxo

Simpsonsize me

2007-07-18T06:55:00.000-07:00

My friend showed me this cool site that you can take a picture of yourself and turn it into a Simpson character. Enjoy!

Body Paints

2007-07-18T02:28:00.000-07:00

Long time no blog. I can't be bothered really. But posting a video is pretty simple, so I hope you enjoy this. This is a Seattle (Go Washington!) artist who is absolutely amazing. You can check out his website at www.philinthecircle.com I'm hoping I can see some of his work when I go back next year. Anyway, I'll update maybe next week although anyone who still reads my blog probably knows what's going on anyway, so there you go. I'm gonna go lie down now.

Halloween and underwear

2007-06-21T20:59:00.000-07:00

It's been a strange day so far.. but I don't really mind because it's keeping me awake. I came back from lunch today and there was a woman sitting at the end of the row of desks where I sit. She has an official name tag, displaying her title but I can't read it. She's dressed like a pretty pirate in a black and white thing that I desperately wish to take a picture of, so people can see what I see. She says, 'Are you the other English teacher?' to which I respond yes, next she asks the normal follow-up of where are you from. I answer, but something about this woman is just a little off to me, who is she? What is that tag say? Why is she here? I ask her, 'Are you... uh, what do you do here?' (I only go to the school I'm at today, twice a week and I never know what's going on, so she maybe a new staff member or something.)

She says, 'Underwear.'

'What?'

'Underwear, I sell underwear."

'Aaaah, I see.' (That explains why you keep staring at my boobs.)

Talk ensues about, if I need underwear, what size I wear, where I buy my items, etc... Of course, why wouldn't I tell you the most intimate details about myself, I only met you 3 mins ago. Arrrrggh, I likes me panties crotchless, I wanted to say while wearing my parrot hand puppet, pirate hat, eye patch and hoop earrings, but alas, I don't know how to say "crotchless" in Japanese and I've left all items (which I really do own) at home.

I polietly chat with her for a bit, until I act as if I'm working. A male teacher walks by my desk and pauses slightly to think. His pause makes me stop and look who stopped. He's new to my school this year, so I don't know what he teaches. He's very darked skinned for Japanese and has a very unusual nose as the bridge is quite tall and considered quite "western" by Japanese standards. And he had a large boogie sticking to his very Japanese-western nose hairs. Furthermore, he had has been growing a goatee and looks very much like Antonio Banderas in Zorro, if he were to be Japanese and dress like Homer Simpson. A part of me feels like it's Halloween in June and no one told me the date has changed.

The underwear lady gave me some milk candy that has Hello Kitty on it. Is my mind too much in the gutter if I think that's suggestive that the Underwear lady gave me Milky candy with a Pussy Cat on it? Hmmm... Maybe that's a stretch. It happens to be some of the best damn milky candy I've ever eaten. Hahahahaha, heee heeee, heeeeee... Wooo, hooo, okay, I'm alright now. I'm probably just sleep deprived. She also tells me it's amazing I made the little plants on my desk grow.

My plant, Planty.

One thing I love about Japan is that lots of times (especially in the summer) they will give away little funky things with drinks you buy at the store. Recently my water has been including minature plants and amazingly enough I haven't killed them yet. Apparently the underwear lady had them too, but she said hers didn't grow. But then she said, I could have killed them by using tea instead of water to water them a few times. Sometimes I was too lazy to get water sometimes. I nod because it feels like an appropriate time to do so.

She asks about my relationship status and after telling her I'm single she says asks again what size of bra I wear, I tell her I'm not sure about Japanese sizes because people are much smaller than me here and then tell her because I'm single I don't need cute undies because I have no one to impress but me. Then I say grandma undies are okay with me for the moment. She stares at me for a second then starts shaking her head and laughing and says, 'you have a point.' She left soon after stalking a few other teachers and trying to get them to buy undies at school. Apparently, teachers are so busy working that they have no time to buy undies. So if you can't come to the mountain top, the undies come to you. Or something like that. Like I said, sleep deprived.

We just had an assembly party as a pep rally for a student event and partly because the students teachers we've had in the past three weeks are leaving today. Apparently one had a nervous break-down and ran away yesterday but came back in the afternoon. It just reminded me of the story my mom told me about my oldest brother Luis and the time he tried to run away when he was a kid. She said he had made a little hobo sack and put it on a stick because he'd seen a cartoon do that when he ran away. My mom waved goodbye as he "ran away" and he lingered in the yard for some time. He made it as far as the lilac bushes in the far corner of the yard (about 20 feet from the front door) before he stopped to rest and have the snack that my mom had packed him for the trip. So while crying he ate a sandwich and hung out around the other side of the bush so my mom couldn't see him and would think that he was gone. Then when it started to get dark he came running back. The teacher whom I receive all my school gossip from told me the student teacher is weird and everyone was kind of glad she was leaving. The student teacher seemed nice enough, I gave her a popcicle and 'Thank you' was about the only interaction I had with her. She's now gone and given her emotional goodbye to the school. I hope I can leave early today, I want a nap more than a new pretty pretty pirate top.

For the love of fluffy

2007-05-17T19:08:00.000-07:00

I have a Japanese friend here who doesn't really like her sister-in-law. My friend is about 50 and her sister-in-law, I believe is in her late 50's or 60's. Her sister-in-law is unmarried and has no children. But she does have two cats, or should I say had two cats until recently. One of the cats recently died. We were chatting about random stuff when the who subject of cat and sister-in-law came up so I asked her loads of questions.

Apparently she had a funeral for the cat. She had the cat cremated and put into an urn. Before I talk more about the cat funeral, I need to explain about some Japanese customs or the rest of this won't make sense. Japanese funerals, for people, are very elaborate and costly. But they are also very beautiful and every thing they do has some sort of religious meaning. Most Japanese aren't too extemely religious and some say they're only religious for holidays, weddings, funerals, including their own. I can relate to this as I consider myself a holiday Christian and only really show up for church or celebrate how I'm supposed to on those special days. Anyway, I'm veering from my point...

At Japanese funerals they have a very large picture of the deceased and there are big wreaths of flowers placed around the alter and picture. People give an offering of money and incense. Though it is more common now to have funerals held at funeral homes, in the old days they used to do everything at home. The remains are placed in a cemetary (sometimes at the home, but more often not) but I think they are place in a monument and not actually buried. I've never heard of anyone actually being buried here. I'm not sure whether cremation is just that for religious reasons or for practical reasons of they have no space to have large cemetary plots.

Mouring lasts 49 days and there are very specific things you need to do on certain days. Certain anniversaries should be recognized too, something like the first year after the person is deceased, 5th year... and so on, I don't quite remember. At almost every home I've ever been to here, there is an alter dedicated for the family's deceased. Everyday offering of flowers, food and incense are given to pay respect. Okay, I think that's about it...

So back to the cat lady, she had a full-fledged funeral for her cat. Over-sized picture of the cat, draped in ribbon. People sent huge wreaths of flowers to her (am not sure about money) because she always gives money to her co-workers/friends when they have funerals, wedding, babies, ect... Since she has no kids her cats are a huge thing and people have taken it more seriously. She's looking for a pet cemetary to take the ashes to currently, but hasn't found one yet. She gives offerings of incense and food in honor of the cat everyday since. Strange yea?

All this got me curious as to what people do in the good ole USA. I know we have several animals buried in our back yard, but we've never had anything fancy, not even a make believe service for the animal or anything. I don't even remember seeing the animal in the hole as that whole process was very secretive so it wouldn't be tramatic I guess.. (Have a five year old kiss grandpa in the casket, but somehow Oreo's funeral is more tramatic? Hmm. Must speak to my mom. ) I look it up online and found pet funeral services to be on the rise. It's really quite impressive the kind of stuff that they have out there for pets. I understand it, but I know I would probably never spend that kind of money on a pet, I think..

I also found few surveys about pet owners and their pets. Think it explains why more or less people would do things like this.

Fifty-eight percent of all American households have at least one pet in the house.
There are more than 61 million dogs in US households today.

– American Veterinary Medical Association

More than half of all pet owners stated they would want their pet instead of another person with them if they were stranded on a desert island.

– American Animal Hospital Association

Percentage of pet owners who…
refer to themselves as their pet’s “mom” or “dad”– 84
greet their pet first when they return home – 72
greet their spouse or significant other first – 13
greet their children first – 7
include their pet in holiday celebrations – 86
hang a Christmas stocking for their pet – 64
say they are willing to go into debt to provide care for their pet – 74
say they will spend $1,000 or more to save their pet in a life-threatening situation – 73
have sung to or danced with their pet – 65
celebrate their pet’s birthday – 63
have cooked or baked for their pet – 54
include their pets in family or holiday portraits – 51
have taken time off work to tend to a sick pet – 51
have given their pet a wrapped present – 43
have taken their pet to work – 44
have more pictures of their pets than of their spouse or significant other – 39
allow their dog to sleep in their bed – 36
talk to their pets on a phone or answering machine when they’re away from home – 33
have held a funeral after their pet’s death – 19
carry a pet’s picture in their wallet – 17
say they feel closest to their pet when exchanging kisses – 11

– From a survey conducted by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) among pet owners in Canada and the United States.

Percentage of pet owners who consider vaccinations and routine care critical to their pet’s quality of life – 92
Amount spent by pet owners on veterinary care in…
1991 – $6.9 billion
2002 – $11 billion
Number of vets in the United States who perform surgery on pet fish – about 20
Cost of fish surgery–$350 to $1,000
Number of vets in the United States who specialize in pet dentistry – about 60
Cost of dog or cat root canal–$600 to $800
Cost of dog or cat orthodontics–$2,800 and up
Average amount spent annually by pet owners on pet expenses–$1,266
Typical breakdown:
$156 Routine vet visits
$289 Specialized vet visits
$187 Food
$45 vitamin supplements, worm medications
Eight out of ten owners purchased at least one gift for their dogs in 2000
Percentage of pet owners who…
say their pets make their family or home life healthier, either emotionally or physically–84
say that playing with or confiding in their pet relaxes, calms and helps them cope better with life and the associated stresses of our fast-paced society when they are stressed or worried–70
Average amount spent on food, toys and treats annually–$750

– From a survey conducted by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA)

So you've joined a tsunahiki team...

2007-05-15T23:45:00.000-07:00

Tug-o-war

2007-05-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

Drinking in Japan can be dangerous. You meet strange Japanese people and they invite you to do strange things. The fact that you're drinking means you tend not to question things. This is what I mean when I say it's dangerous to drink in Japan. A while ago, I went to my mexican friend, Cecilia's bar and there were some old guys drinking there. So we all drink and talk shit and they invited me to play tug-o-war for some festival. I polietly decline their offer and that was that.

I got a phone call from Cecilia Friday. Since I was sleeping at 10:30 on a Friday night (I party like it's 1899) I was a bit groggy, but agreed to go meet her at the bar to meet up with the same guys to bullshit some more. Turns out they want me to go to a tournament with them to the prefecture of Aomori. Aomori is #3 on the map, the second most northern place on the map. I live in Saga, number 34 in the southwest corner of Japan.

Basically this is a place that I would never probably get the chance to go otherwise because I proabably wouldn't pay for it. So the first practice, which was I told, I can just look (complete lie!) and not participate in, we had to first drag a few people across the gym. Did I mention I had to wear special shoes? Then we had to hold the pull position for a minute, which is a lot harder than you would imagine considering you have to be like Michael in 'Smooth Criminal.'

Anyway, it took 3 days for my hands to heal and I came back to practice today for some unknown reason. I kind of was thinking I wasn't gonna go, but I get a call from the coach who says he needs a ride because he's been to an enkai (work party) and can't drive because he's been drinking. So I tell him I'm going, and am off for my second grueling practice.

My hands are blistered to hell and will hurt like hell after the alcohol wears off. Oh did I mention I just came back from my welcome party at a ramen shop where I got hazed verbally, but got to talk shit back so it was okay. There was a hilarious incident where I couldn't stop laughing as they were teaching me the best way to wring out a towel, they just said I was weird and I agreed so it was all good. Anyway, I have work tomorrow, so I have to wash all the ramen, tabacco (which I didn't smoke) and beer smell off me. Hope everyone is doing well.

Could work be more boring?

2007-05-10T23:29:00.000-07:00

I want to stab myself so I don't fall asleep, but I don't want anymore scars so I'm writing. It's been a while since I wrote, but sadly there isn't too much to update.

Let's see I bought a large amount of pottery last week because it was good quality and cheap and just pretty. I got to hang out with a friend's family which is always refreshing because you have the sense of being home. I got told my an old man than when he was younger all he wanted to be was a Kamakazi fighter (suicide pilot) when he graduated but since the war ended he couldn't live out his dream and kill Americans. After being thoroughly yelled at by his family members, and after much conversation about war and patriotism, we settled it by him saying he wanted to go to Las Vegas when I move back and gamble. It was fun actually.

I got to meet up with a few of my Japanese friends and friends that don't live close by that I don't see very often. It was nice to get the hell out of here and hang out with them all. I took a few small trips around here that saved my sanity as I was working quite a bit lately. I got to watch some quality Korean Drama which I'm a bit addicted to at the moment and am learning vital Japanese (I watch the Japanese dubbed versions) like I'll never forgive you, Do you enjoy seeing me in pain, Let go of me, Is that how it is, etc... I can't wait to try them out. Apparently it's quite customary to beat your loved ones in the head in Korea. That's something I could get behind. Anyway, the clock is tickin' and there is a teacher that is trying to extract information from some students and it sounds interesting so I'm gonna spy on them. Thank God it's Friday.

What's in a name?

2007-04-14T01:19:00.000-07:00

Apparently a lot of friggin' songs. In addition with several thousands.. of people with my name, there were a lot songs with the word Sarah (Sara) in it. When I was a kid, I remember "Sara" by Starship was really popular and I HATED that song. My brothers would tease me if it came on the radio in the car and sing at the top of their voices. Good lordy. In searching You Tube, I found some Sarah songs, some which I actually liked.

Sarah by Eskimo Joe- Even though he calls her by name apparently she hasn't told him her name, it has a catchy tune though.

Sara by Starship- Still as cheesy as ever and still makes me want to vomit a little.

Sara by Bob Dylan, covered by someone else- I actually like this song.

Sara by Fleetwood Mac- It's nice to know that most of the songs titled Sara or Sarah come from some tramatic instance in someone's life and are usually kinda depressing.

Sarah by Thin Lizzy- A sweet song from a father to his daughter.

Sara Smile by Hall and Oats, covered by some guys- A nice rendition of this song which I also like.

Sara by BoA- A Korean singer who is apparently really in love with her cat, Sara. Though the intro is long, it's worth it to listen for a bit just to hear all about her cat.

If you are sitting there, going wow, these songs are great. I wonder if there are more Sarah songs, there are!! Go to this link and search for more songs. Or you can even search for your own. Hope you have as much fun as I did.

The Fugu monster

2007-04-12T21:45:00.000-07:00

I woke up today from dream where I and some random people, who I can't really remember, were trying to escape the perils of some swampy, watery place that was riddled with killer fish that looked like a cross between eel, koi fish, snakes, saba (mackrel)and fugu (poisonous blow fish). We kept having to get into the body of water to get to the other side and without being eaten by said fish monster. It was all very cheesy and dramatic. I remember breathing very hard and even choking a bit on the horrible swampy water and thinking this was a bit like the movie Critters, but with monster fish and swamp instead of mutant worms and desert and Kevin Bacon. (Do you think he chose his own last name? If so, why? Can anyone love bacon that much? Hmm...)

Anyway, after a good stretch and normal morning noises, I grow increasingly irritated that today is only Tuesday and I have the whole week ahead of me. Then I check the time again and see that my ever faithful phone is not only on time, but also exists to tell me that it is in fact Friday and it's still garbage day. Though I still have no intention on doing my garbage today. I wander around my apartment, drink my morning shake, contemplate eating a banana but skip it and head for the shower. Today is a good day. I've been extremely sleepy as of late, but I'm completely convinced that my sleepiness is due to extreme boredom rather than hard work and diligence. Hmm, I think I have a nap waiting to happen. There are far too many people in the staff room today to practice my one-handed-sleep-stare-at-my-desk-to-try-and-look-busy nap. I have a bad tendency to jerk my head when I nap in strange positions. Maybe it's because I'm being chased by monster fish. Hmm...

Tokyo!!!

2007-04-09T07:07:00.000-07:00

I went to Tokyo for the weekend and had a faaabulous time. I have said I hated Tokyo for I don't know how long and yes, it's still large and crowded and obnoxious, but it was so much fun this time around. I got to see a beautiful work of art by Da Vinci, people watch, see people get married and just be amazed by the enormity of it all. The sakura were blooming, the sun was shining, mexican food was readily available, along with long lost friends and wonderful new ones. I'll definitely be heading back, but when.... I'm not sure. Anyway, just some pics. Hope everyone is alive and kicking. Happy belated Easter. As the horse said, 'Hail Jesus.' I miss you horsey! xoxo

Junko et Jeremie

Uma and me

Jeremie's beautiful sisters

Inebriated fabulousness

Men on men action

Time to kill

2007-03-26T21:22:00.000-07:00

1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question.

This is like the 3rd time I've done this but it's entertaining every time.
__________________________________
What does next year have in store for me?
“Sorry” Madonna

What's my love life like?
“Addicted to love” Robert Palmer

What do I say when life gets hard?
“Mama's don't let your babies grow up to be Cowboys” Willie Nelson

What do I think when I get up in the morning?
“Prelude to the End of the game” Sting

What song will I dance to at my wedding?
“Malted Milk” Eric Clapton

What do you want as a career?
“Freaks” Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Your favorite saying?
“Can't take my eyes off of you” Lauren Hill

Your pets name?
“Come as you are” Nirvana

Favorite place?
“Whos to blame?” Ozomatli

Describe your sex life:
“99 Luftballoons" Nena (WTF?)

What do you think of your parents?
“Clandestino” Manu Chau

What's your Pornstar name?
“Hablemos la Mismo Idioma” Gloria Estefan

Where would you go on a first date?
“A.M. Radio” Everclear

Drug of choice?
"Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart” Stone Temple Pilots

Describe yourself:
“Should I stay or should I go” The Clash

What is the thing I like doing most?
“Maxwell's silver hammer” The Beatles

What song best describes my school principal?
“Yesterday” The Beatles

What is my state of mind like at the moment?
“Big Lie, Small World” Sting (Irony of irony)

I love...
“Before you accuse me” Eric Clapton

I hate...
“Por Si Acaso No Regreso” Celia Cruz

My perfect Boy...
“These boots are made for walking” Nancy Sinatra (Again, too freaky)

How will I die?
“The Glamorous Life” Shelia E

What turns me on?
“ Take on Me” A-ha

All time favorite song?
“ Brown Eyed Girl” Everclear

Wishing and hoping and plotting...

2007-03-21T17:26:00.000-07:00

I often feel like I belong to another time. Don't get me wrong, I never begrudge the fact that because I live in the time I live in, I have opportunities available to me that I never would have had in a different era. Still, I sometimes wish I could have been born in simpler times. Times where things were more straight forward, though difficult... safer, but perhaps more boring... A time where my likes and hobbies wouldn't be considered that of an elderly woman. My mom sometimes says, I was born an old person. I don't entirely disagree. Do we carry on, through the souls of others? Old souls finding new bodies to carry on, having a chance to make their life better in a fantastic way.

Isn't that why people have kids nowadays? Does the collective "they" have kids so they can leave a legacy behind.. to leave some record of themselves in this long running history of the world through their children? The idea is more vain than re-incarnation, isn't it? The whole idea of re-incarnation keeps me going. Perhaps that's blasphemy on my part, being I loosely consider myself a christian. However, believing in the idea of being able to start again and having a better life or a chance at one based on how you live the current one, really just suits me well. The idea keeps me from plotting to kill people who do me wrong, which seems to happen more and more frequently. I've watched so many crime shows and documentaries on murder that I feel pretty confident I have an above average chance at getting away with it. If I less of a conscience... damn.

Speaking of death, I'm headed to a friend's wedding in two weeks time. Just kidding.. I'm probably jealous as hell, and in my recently singular condition, weddings just remind me of dying alone with cats feeding on my decrepit and decaying carcass. I mean, I'm happy for the bride and groom, really, truly.. I just need to practice not glaring at couples at the moment. I'm excited to go to Tokyo again. Yes, I do think the city's impossibly large, cold and confusing, but it's an adventure I need right now. Diszam, I should practice my French.. online course je vais alle.

My sentiments exactly

2007-03-18T17:44:00.000-07:00

Today's suggested activity

2007-03-15T22:04:00.000-07:00

Haaaaaahmmmmmmrrrrraaah

2007-03-15T01:16:00.000-07:00

I don't know what's going on lately. I'm restless, crazy, lazy, but active, hungry for sweets, but not hungry at all, etc... I feel like I've been travelling in a daze for about two weeks or so. It's a strange daze in which I feel that the remote to my life has been stuck in fast forward for a bit and the tracking on the tape is a little fuzzy. Yes, I still work with video. I'm not a DVD kinda girl. Gaah! I'm gonna make a cake.

Funny-strange, not funny-haha

2007-03-08T21:43:00.000-08:00

Today was my Junior High School graduation ceremony. Didn't you know Japan has a graduation ceremony everytime you switch schools, nursery school=> kindergarten=> elementary school => junior high school=> high school / trade school=> university/the rest of your life. It's tedious to say the least. All I could think of today was, god I'm freezing, I'm so cold. If I were any colder parts of me would be gangrenous. I wasn't thinking, 'oh how sad and proud I am of all these fine students' or 'I can't believe I've taught some of these kids through 4 grades now.' I barely cared.

I have a few students that I really loved and actually knew their names. I just find that I'm detached towards the end of the year for the people who leave JHS because of the type of person they act like. For the most part, I can't even blame them. The come from elementary school, fresh faced, creative and caring students, ready to learn and absorb the world. Instead of nurturing that uniquiness, they are treated like gortex pinatas that take three years to get beaten down to be the exact mold of each other. It's heart wrenching and if I think about it too much I get really upset. I do have some students that haven't totally gotten beaten to a pulp quite yet. I'll post pictures probably in a week or so as my computer has limited space on it and I have to wait til pay day to get my external hard drive. I took pictures with the majority of my favorites. Yes, teachers have favorite. Get over it, it's a fact of life, but the teacher's pets aren't always the one's you think they are.

I pretty much love all of my communications class (the special needs class). I sadly hadn't taught them for about 3 months due to a heavy elementary school schedule, but they are absolutely incredible. They are little balls of energy, some which have very hard to find 'on' switches. They brightened my day everytime I got to see them. They tried hard, in spite of their disabilies and warmed everyone's heart with their smiles and laughter. They were smart too. Shockingly they would understand things that not even their "normal" counterparts would. Three of the 8 or so students in that class, graduated this year, so I won't be seeing them for a long time. I suspect the class will be a lot quieter next year also. It was wonderful to see their mother's so proud and happy of their kids.

Other than that their a handful of kids, who I adored because of their creativity, their drive, their personality, but I'll write about them when I put the pictures up. Now, I have to go back to work and try and look busy. I have things to do, but my head's in too many places to try and do them.

Free at last, free at last!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-02-28T01:23:00.000-08:00

Oh good lordy, I have taught 16 elementary school classes in the past three days and today was my final day! Not only was it my final day this week, but it was my final day for a few months. At least two! Do you know what this means?!? It means I can come home from work not completely exhausted. It means, I don't have to sing and dance unless I'm drunk at home or elsewhere. It means, I don't have to constantly wash my hands because I won't come into contact with child boogies every 5 mins. It means, I'm free to be la-a-a-z-y! Yea!!!!!!! I love my kids, don't get me wrong, but it's fantastic, out of this world break considering I've taught anywhere from 8-16 elementary classes weekly (plus the occassional JHS class bringing my average class total to 18-20 every week) since the mid-October. Excluding the time I was in the US, oh glorious US. I'm gonna Tae Bo now.

Obsession

2007-02-22T16:19:00.000-08:00

I'm sooooo glad it's Friday. Not that I've had a particularly hard week or anything. I just find lately that I have an inclination towards not working that makes me look forward to the weekend as if it were Christmas. The weekends are a time for me to sleep in til 8:30, lounge in my pjs and eat peaches out of cans while watching American Choppers and theories on anthrax in the mail. Bliss, sheer bliss!!

However, lately I haven't been able to sleep really well for thinking about what I want to buy or how I'm going to redecorate my living room. I think of color schemes, making chair covers, spring cleaning. I threw 4 large garbage bags of things from my front room. Remnants of many years of teachers living in my house are strewn all over that front room. The majority is crap that the previous girl from England thought I might appreciate, things like: David and Victoria, an Invitation to the Wedding (David Beckham and Posh Spice's wedding, with full color exciting photos), coloring books about London, business cards of people she met, spy novels that a 4th grader wouldn't be tempted to read, etc... Most of that stuff is now in the garbage, hurray!! Is it sad that I can't wait to go home and clean something or move something into a new box or storage unit? Maybe I should get out more...

Poop socks

2007-02-19T23:21:00.000-08:00

Arriving at my elementary school today, the kids are busily cleaning the school as normal. I notice a group of kids huddled around something mysterious. Soon after a teacher shoos them away saying, 'there's nothing to see here, go to class' After I glance over to what the kids are walking away from, I see a turd wrapped up in tissue. (Cue, dry heaving motion.) Where the poop came from I haven't a clue and frankly I think I'm better off not knowing.

So I go to class and everything is going great until the game ends and the kids sit down. I then hear a kid in the corner yelling, "Ah!!!! UNCHI!!! UNCHI!!! UNCHI!!!" (Turd, turd, turd!) and pointing to a mushed brown spot on the carpet. Sure enough, the mysterious poop from the hallway made it's way inside my classroom. The girl next to the boy starts screaming too as she now has poopie on her socks. (We're not allowed to wear shoes in that classroom) So she takes her socks off and puts them in a heap and stares at them disgusted. (I find that a bit ironic considering she was picking her nose for most of class and regularly scratches herself, but I would do the same probably.) Everyone checks there own socks and sitting area and I make everyone move to the right. I make the boy who first spotted the poop stand-up and let me see the back of his pants to make sure he hasn't any poop smudges on the back of his pants. After the crisis was averted, we went to our drawing activity, while their homeroom teacher dashed outside to get poop cleaning supplies. I'm so happy I don't have to clean it.

After class, the girl with poop socks tries to leave them there, but another girl picks them up very carefully and tells her to take them. The other girl, screams and says, "No way!" to which her friend, her true friend I might add because there would've been no way I'd pick up poopie socks in the third grade, says "But they're your socks!" Then she responds with, "So what, they have poop on them!" I think I'm nodding slightly in agreement. The other girl said, "just put 'em in the washer and they'll be good as new." Cue the other girl running out of the room. See why I like teaching the 3rd grade?

Fashionable in the 3rd grade

2007-02-19T03:36:00.000-08:00

Today I was reminiscing about my favorite outfits in the third grade. One was a lovely turquoise/ borderline teal blue sweatpant outfit (blue sweatshirt and sweatpants) from K-mart or maybe JCPenny's am not sure. And another was my acid washed jeans (I'm an 80's child, gimmie a break) with my white turtleneck and green v-neck preppy sweater accompanied by a high side ponytail. Ah a vision, was I. And lastly my puffy paint smiley-face sweater that said, 'Don't worry' on the front and 'Be happy' on the back. Worn of course with the afore mentioned jeans and white turtleneck. Stylin'.

Today as I was teaching one of my favorite 3rd grade classes (3rd grade is my favorite grade to teach) I got several compliments on my outfit and hair today. Peachy button-up shirt with jeans, blue socks with white dogs on them (we can't wear shoes in the room I teach) and a headband to try and tame my hair from the monstrosity of a pouf it was in the morning. I felt really nice when these little kids all came to agreement on my outfit. Little kids who have bears and hearts and rabbits on their shirts. They sure as hell dress a lot better than me in the 3rd grade. I am perfectly contented to be a fashionista in the 3rd grade. May all of you have good hair day tomorrow. With that I leave you with a happy song.

Happy Valentine's Day

2007-02-13T17:03:00.000-08:00

Here's hoping you don't get your car stuck in a ditch, right in front of your workplace (causing your vice principal to make an announcement of your stupidity and ask for male volunteers to witness your stupidity) like I did this morning. This is a wish I have for you everyday, but I really mean it on Valentine's day. At least, as my co-worker said, I'm having a good hair day.

Sweet, sweet rest!

2007-02-11T19:15:00.000-08:00

Good lordy has this been a good weekend! Sleep, sleep, sleep! I missed it sooooo much. Sorry for this being such a lame post, but I feel like a thousand dollars. (I don't know what a million of anything feel like so I find it better to stick to familiar sayings.) I slept the majority of the three day weekend, partially because I'm sick, partially because I was exhausted from work and etc, etc.. I'm all good now. And I'm off to get some food Yea!!!!!!!!!!

Definitions

2007-02-06T21:32:00.000-08:00

While teaching a first grade class a Valentine's day lesson, I got some unexpected replies. (Mind you that first graders are 6 or 7 years old.) While showing this card

I asked what they thought was going on in the card. (My intended meaning was "LOVE") I got these answers, in Japanese:

One mouse likes the other one!

That mouse owes the other one money!

He's giving her a present!

They're hungry!

After explaining, that it was supposed to represent "love," I asked what they thought the meaning of "love" to be:

Couples!

Rabu-rabu! (translated as reciprocated love)

SEX! (with gestures)

Babies!

Sometimes it's hard to maintain a straight face...

Home Part II

2007-02-06T01:57:00.000-08:00

Back to Seattle..

in search for the 12th man

I found some hippies...

who took me to a groovy cupcake place.

I really don't remember how I ended up home...

Or how I ended up with drink after drink in my hand...

Or how the hell I ended up with these pictures...

I blame this cat... and maybe the cupcakes.

Good cupcakes.. mmm.

**********

I managed to find my longtime crush at a bar...

Maybe we'll look back at this photo at our wedding.

*************

HA! Joking, joking... sigh.

Home, home on the range...

2007-01-28T05:53:00.000-08:00

My trip begins...

We go to a magical place called Chucky Cheese.

Then I jet off to Paris...

And we meet Simon Cowell..

And Whoopi.

Got drunk and tried to join the Circus.

Rejected, I and my brother started on a journey

Met some bums on the beach

We played some football

And I lost so I had to give this one a donut.

Then we hugged in the parking lot to prove there was no hard feelings.

*************

Stay tuned for the next installment...

*************

Only in Japan...

2007-01-23T01:46:00.000-08:00

can you find a cat in a car in a parking lot, dressed in a pink and white checkered buttoned up collared shirt. I would have taken a picture but some lady was staring at me like I was a freak.

Homecoming

2007-01-22T16:00:00.000-08:00

Sorry for not having written in a while. I've been pretty busy since coming back and frankly couldn't be bothered when I was in the states. Happy New Year to all and I hope you had a good holiday season. Going home was crazy. I felt like such an outsider for most of the time. Not necessarily in a bad way, but not quite comfortable. I saw all my family and friends and even some people I never counted on seeing which was amazing and very surreal. It strange to see people grow up, but it's even stranger to see someone and leave for an extended period and see them blossom into a completely different person. Forgive me if I sound spacy, I'm still pretty tired as I haven't really gotten proper rest and haven't even unpacked properly yet.

To everyone back home, thank you so much for everything. I had a great time and was really sad to leave. I still have a bit of lingering homesickness but the temperature and my car have helped me overcome it a bit. I will write more later when I can and post pictures up from the trip. I'll be sending pictures to people personally this weekend because I think I have a break in my schedule. Love you all.

A Christmas story

2006-12-17T17:34:00.000-08:00

I love you all. Here is a Christmas story to get you in the spirit

T'was the night before Christmas

and all through la casa
Not a creature was stirring,

only the masa.

Mama making tamales con mucho cuidado
In hopes old Santa would feel obligado
To bring all the hijos, both buenos y malos
A nice batch of dulces and other regalos
Mis hermanos and I went to sleep in our camas Some in calsones, some in piyamas
Cuando out in the yard I heard un gran grito That I jumped to my feet like a frightened cabrito
And who in the world do you think que era?
El mero mero with his venados estaban afuera
Santa Claus in a sleigh with a big sombrero
Came dashing along like a little bombero
I watched as they came, and this little fat hombre
Was shouting and whistling, and calling by nombre
"Ay PEPE, AY JESSE, AY CUCA, AY BETO
AY PANCHO, AY CHATO, CHUY Y NETO!"
Then standing straight up, with his hands on his pecho,
He flew to the top of our very own techo
With his round little belly like a bowl of jalea
He struggled to squeeze down our old chimenea
Then huffing and puffing, and a little cansado
He picked up a bag that looked so pesado
He filled all the stockings with lovely regalos
For none of the hijos had been very malos
Then chuckling aloud, seeming very contento
He turned like a flash and was gone like the viento
As I heard him exclaim and this is verdad,
"MERRY CHRISTMAS A TODOS! FELIZ NAVIDAD!"

Chick flicks

2006-12-12T05:34:00.000-08:00

I'm obviously spending too much time at home. I was sick yesterday and spent the greater portion of the day sleeping. I slept so much I was a walking zombie around my house last night until I saw a show that reviewed the 50 best chick flicks of all time. Most I agreed with but I think a true chick flick list reflects the chick flick watcher's experience (ratio, how many times watched : how much you cry, even when you know what will happen) or something like that. 50 is too big so, I'm gonna only do 20 or so. Feel free to agree or disagree.

20. Waiting to Exhale
*Fine men and we learned how to burn a car and look fab while doing it.
19. Amelie (France)
*Awkward, strange and very cute, everything love should be.
18. Like Water for Chocolate (Mexico)
*Mexico, evil family members, love and food with magical powers, it's hot!
17. Must Love Dogs
*Sooo, gonna be my life in the future, hopefully I'll get to meet John Cusack.
16. Whale Rider (New Zealand)
*Such a powerful film for all girls to watch, I cry everytime she gives the speech.
15. Love Actually (UK)
*This movie is good on so many levels I don't know what to say. I love HG's crab dance.
14. Wedding Planner
* I hate J-Lo. Everyone knows this, but my love knows no bounds for Matthew McConaughey.
13. My Best Friend's Wedding.
*Ever gal's nightmare come true. What to do when your back-up marries and you will be left alone to roam the earth with cats?
12. Dirty Dancing
*"Nobody puts baby in the corner." Nuf said.
11.My Big Fat Greek Wedding
*Change the names to Garcia or Lopez and add some Catholicism and Spanishyou have a Big Fat Mexican Wedding.
10.The Notebook
*Such a sexy and endearing story. I cried so much I almost used a whole tissue box.
9.Romeo and Juliette
*I bought the soundtrack and Complete works of William Shakespear after I saw it. Nerdy, yes, but I don't mind. Sadly lost the CD and used the book to decorate.
8. The Lake House
*Keanu and Sandra? Sexy times 1,000! I cried harder the second time, proving it's chick flick power.
7.Sleepless in Seattle
*Gotta give the props to my town. Okay, technically not my town, but I've been to almost all the places in the movie, more than a few times. And I can quote nearly the entire movie.
6.Top Gun
*Tom Cruise in dress whites? This is not a guy's movie. I have a 8X10 Bk/Wh glossy.
5.Say Anything
*Lloyd Dobler is so creepy and romantic. Reminds me of so many guys I know. *sigh*
4.Sixteen Candles
*If only we could all the a guy to get our undies back.
3.Practical Magic
*I love this movie because it's so damn cute and I love Sandra Bullock and even Ms Kidman.
2.Bridget Jones' Diary(UK)
*She is every woman.
1.Pretty Woman
*This movie made it okay to have 10 second fantasies of running away and becoming a prostitute in Hollywood.

Wonders never cease

2006-12-11T03:57:00.000-08:00

Had a sick day today and as my punishment there is nothing but poo on TV. As I've commented before, you can find some amusing things on Japanese TV at times. And if there is nothing on TV like today, you'll actually watch it. The show I watched had Japanese celebrities run away from Carl Lewis for a half an hour. You know, Carl Lewis, one of the fastest men of the world at one time, winner of 10 Olympic medals (9 Gold) 10 World Championships (8 Gold). And as entertainment he chases normal Japanese people at a very slow pace, while the Japanese people run away at full speed, screaming from the fast black man. Jesus. I was mildly entertained after he had caught everyone and they played God Bless America in the background. I can't wait to come home. 9 days, 9 long days...

A little place I like to call Jamexica

2006-12-06T21:30:00.000-08:00

I am my own island. I can be content in my home about 90% all at times. My house in Japan (Ja) where a mexicana (mex) american (ica) lives. Jamexica. I love mostly everything when I'm in my little house, except the fact that it isn't insulated and I don't have an electric plug in my toilet and therefore cannot get an electric toilet seat. Heaven has heated toilet seats, lemme tell you. That's living. Ahem, anyway...

Outside of my home is when I'm highly irritable and curse the country and the people that live here (incompetent teachers who show up 30 mins late for class and leave after 10 mins to help prepare lunch and say you're gonna come back, but then don't come back and in turn leave you with a huge project and ungrateful little messy kids; people who can't drive because obviously if I'm on a main street and am turning right onto a side street which you are on, that gives you who is waiting oh-so-ever impatiently to cut me off and turn right onto the main street; teachers who say they are busy, when they give you all their work to do and they aren't doing one fucking thing; etc...). I need a vacation and I need it now. Why oh why didn't I call in sick today?

Never again

2006-12-05T20:21:00.000-08:00

I came home for lunch today and did some menial chores around the house. Hang laundry before it molds in the washer, check. Fold dry clothes, check. Turn on heater, check. Start lunch, check. Eat half healthy, check. Watch tv, check. Throw trash out, check. Sit down and watch with full attention, check, check. Normally there is a crap-o-rama fest at lunchtime on TV, but today they had one of those survivor shows, you know, I shouldn't be alive or something. They had this guy who got stuck to the step he was stepping off of when he was doing a solo free style dive with some buddies. He stayed upside down for more than 40 mins. That's not why I'm telling this story. I am telling this story to say how sick I felt watching people dive. They showed normal dives over and over. Climbing out on a tiny step, hanging on to nothing but a wing strut, it's facking crazy. And I did it twice!!! What the hell was I thinking? No wonder my mom got so mad after I told her what I did. I didn't go on a free style dive, but I did do a static dive (alone with your parachute attached to a hook inside the plane, when the parachute goes taut the static line pulls your parachute out for you and releases you. Did I mention you are free falling and have let go the the strut to make the line go taut?) Yea, it's crazy. I distinctly remember being scared out of my mind jumping 6 feet down during training. How the hell did I climb out of a moving plane and drop 3,500 feet? BY MYSELF, TWICE. Man, seeing jumping from the jumpers view makes me think, wow, that's freakin' awesome and man, what I won't do after I've paid to do it. I'm glad I go senseless and do crazy things once in a while. I hope I do that for the rest of my life.

Have you ever...

2006-12-05T03:39:00.000-08:00

bought something for someone because that was the special thing they liked and when they didn't show up, eat it in defiance? I eat you ice cream, as a rebel act. Ha!

In a land where I am Santa..

2006-11-30T23:46:00.000-08:00

I've been teaching Christmas at my elementary school this week. I get asked questions like have I ever seen Santa and does he really live in America like their older brother said, etc... But that's not exactly talking about when I say that I am Santa. All my students have gone into hug overdrive since last week. Girls and boys seem to think that's the appropriate greeting for me now as I pass down the hall. I've decorated the AV room with Christmas decorations the kids made. I'll take a picture next week. This week, I'm being told secrets galore. I have a feeling it's because of the Christmasy environment that I made and the fact I know Santa personally. Kind of like why you tell priests what you did wrong, so they can pass the word onto the head honcho. I got told by a first grader today when all his friends left that he was gonna get to go to Huis Ten Bosch, a bavarian type theme park near my place made too look like Bavaria or Holland or some place European. As you can tell I haven't been there. But interestingly the story didn't stop there, the reason he was able to go was because his dad was getting a 1,000 dollar bonus and because of that he could go to there and was getting a Nintendo DS. I love it when little kids tell you too much information. A girl today told me she got to see Santa in the Philippines. When I asked why she was in the Philippines she said it was when she was small (she's in the 5th grade) and because she was half Filipino (said in a whisper). I told her that was really cool, (half kids aren't cool unless you're half something from an English speaking country) and that my auntie and sister-in-law was Filipino. Man, you should have seen the smile on her face, she said, yea I think it is too and ran away. I dunno, it just all makes me feel like Santa.

Apples

2006-11-28T03:58:00.000-08:00

(Fuyuzakura, winter cherry blossoms, Nagano-ken)
I'm finally more than half healthy right now. I can't tell you what a relief that is. I've got another 23 or 22 days (depends on if you count today or not) until I go home. I've got 16 days of work left, though they are 16 really hecktic days. None the less, I'm looking forward to going home and keeping busy while I'm here. Last weekend I got to go to Nagoya and see my ojiichan and obaachan (grandpa and grandma).

Tanaka Tanaka's wife and random
country old lady

We went to Nagano prefecture, (winter olympics place a few years back) north of Nagoya to the countryside. All the leaves were changing in all their beautiful glory. Everything happened a bit slower this year because it was so warm in October. On top of that, I got to see rare cherry blossoms in November. I know, big whoop right? Cherry blossoms are so infinitely representative of Japan to me, that they do and forever will remind me of Japan. These trees normally bloom in April, but these rare trees bloom twice a year, really gorgeous among all the momiji, Japanese maple, changing color with everything else around. Not to mention there were snow capped mountains off in the distance. I can't download all the pictures from my phone and like an idiot I forgot my camera the day I left because I woke up massively late and had to run to the station for my life to catch my train. Anyways, I've said it before and I'll say it again; trees make me happy. Here's the picture to prove it.

We went to Nagano to see the cherry blossoms and to get apples. I've got a crap load of expensive, delicious country apples. I can't tell you how happy I was to be in an apple orchard again. I teared up a bit when I went out there. I've decided all people who own orchards are bound to look like my uncle Jim and my dad, despite their nationality. They had the smallest little trees. I laughed when they asked me if I'd been to an orchard before. God there is something about the smell of orchard. Anyways I was one happy camper, as you can see. I'll have some better photos later on when I get hard copies of the pictures I took with Tanaka's camera.

I'm sure there is something more interesting than this, but not to me right now.

Some days I love my jobs and some days....

2006-11-21T00:44:00.000-08:00

I have a constant reminder to take my birth control that day. Today is a birth control day. I swear that some children just wake up that morning with a plan to be annoying.

Me: "Do you want to play the game?"
Everyone: "Yes!!!"Me: "Okay, then you have to be quiet so you can listen to the instructions right?"
Good kids: "Yes!!"
Annoying children: "I don't know how to play the game, I don't know how to play the game, I don't know what she's saying, hahaha, (to the kid next to them) haha, do you know this game, what does this sign say? (As I am explaining, the rules and what the sign says.)
Good kids: Shut up! Didn't you hear her? We want to play the game!
Annoying children: "What, what, what did you say? I can't hear you cause other people are talking."

And so on, and so on... It always bothers me most when best classes that you've had are the youngest children in the school and the older kids act worse than the young kids ever do. The only thing that made me feel a little bit better was when I was untangling a mass of strings and clips after school created my the annoying children and I had some of the 1st and 4th graders come in and start playing with my picture cards. Instead of saying them in Japanese they were saying them all in English and asking each other how to pronounce things. While that was going on, I had another 1st grade boy walk outside of the classroom yelling, I'm happy, happy, happy, happy, happy.... which was one of today's new phrases. Thank God for little kids.

How people get to Saga

2006-11-20T05:56:00.000-08:00

When I get older...

2006-11-14T01:41:00.000-08:00

losing my hair, many years from now... buy me a puppy and sneak me good ice cream (I can taste the difference) in the home and I won't haunt you after I'm dead for putting me in a home. I hugged the cutest puppies at work today. Why they had puppies at work today is beyond me, but lemme tell you, I did not mind. The first one was a black furry little poof of lovely that looked like a lab mix. The second was mutt all the way and matched the color of the sweater that I was wearing. He was sooo chill and when he got tired of the kids petting him, he hid his head in my boobs. HOW CUTE IS THAT? If only I had no desire to travel I would have put him in my big bag and ran away from them all. Aww, the area that he layed his little head out smells like puppy! Wonder if febreez will get that out? A slightly interesting fact is that even if you don't feed a puppy, dog food he still has puppy breath. He had some rice mush looking stuff, but still stinky puppy breath.

I have to learn a song tonight. Damn, I only know the first two lines. There is a choral concert for school and they are asking all the teachers to sing. Damn it's high. I sang that high in the 3rd grade. Shit I gotta do laundry. Okay, I'm off will try to write more tomorrow, have lots of belated semi-interesting stories and pics. Puppies, puppies, puppies.

Spider vs Human

2006-11-10T07:49:00.000-08:00

Holy moley! I just killed or maybe just injured the biggest spider I have ever seen inside a house. This was even bigger than the spider that was the size of my hand on the back of my couch and I had to call Dayo to come across town to kill with a half can of raid. I was gonna catch it in a party cup first, I try not to kill animals, just talk them down from the ledge and the hell outta my house, but I realized it was wayyyy too small for the freakin thing and had to empty my trash can to catch it after a 20 minute stuggle. My neighbors are probably gonna leave me a nasty note for screaming twice as it dodged the trash can two times. I lost it for a bit, but was gonna tear up my house if I couldn't find it, so thanks to a handy flashlight I found it's beady ass eyes mad-doggin' me. I say, nah-uh (mother's accent kickin' in) GET DA HELL OUDA MY HOUSE, PINCHE CABRONE! I sprayed it, ran, I sprayed and kicked things around to make it go outside and it went further inside unfazed by the deadly spray which is now giving me a headache. Right before it got into the kitchen I trash canned it. I could hear it moving trying to get out. I almost died. After internally screaming for 6 mins or so, I managed to get something over it and got it off the wall. I breathed, but then the top came off I screamed again, said NO WAY YOU'RE GETTING OUT! and opened the screen door then kicked trash can and top outside and slammed the door shut. I hope it burns in spider hell. It's got all of outside to chill, why's it gotta be up in my shit, bugging me on a Friday night?

Sometimes I think it maybe easier to kill or beat an intruder than to kill a spider, bug or creepy crawly thing. Aaah, I have phantom spider chills. Fa&kin' spider, rot!!!!!!

Happy, happy, joy, joy

2006-11-01T21:03:00.000-08:00

Good day sunshine, good day sunshine, good day sunshine...

Very strange, as I started to type that, it got brighter outside. Crazy... like anyone will believe me anyway. It's not too hot, not too cold, nor are the children or co-workers irratating me- it's just a good day. My jaw isn't making me wish I or everyone including my dentist was dead, I am a little sleepy, but I know where Chris hides the candy in his desk and he's at sho-gakkou. I am no longer doing my English conversation on Wednesday with very strange man and I just found a lollipop in my purse. I have 48 days till I go home and see my momma, life is good.

Now, I'm gonna prepare for a workshop I'm helping to give Monday. Even that isn't getting me down. Man, these must be some good drugs. Good day sunshine, bom-ba-doo-doo, good day sunshine, bee-de-doo-da, good day...

Osei, osei, osei, osei!!!!!!!!

2006-10-30T03:09:00.000-08:00

Euphoria

2006-10-29T18:12:00.000-08:00

I've been feeling stranger than usual, lately. I'm hopped-up on so many pain pills I should be flying right now. Guess I need to lose more weigh because flight has been coming and going periodically. Had tooth #3 pulled last Wednesday with really bad after-effects. If you could peel the top layer of skin off of one or your gums, then run a large wet cat covered in salt over that area you can get the gist of how I feel when the meds wear off. Thus why I've been popping tylenol like there is no tomorrow. Forgive me kidneys, I love you but you'll hafta suffer to make mommy feel better.

On the plus side, I've been pretty looped out at moments, normally when I'm on my lonesome, but occassionally in the presence of people who just think I'm crazy. I hide my true craziness elsewhere. It's like a mini-vacay that I sorely need.

I ended up cancelling plans for a Halloween party, partly due to the tooth and partly due to the fact my costume which was kick-ass was sent back to my brother's house because the post office worker who posted it was a retard. Unfortunate, but at least I will have a kick ass outfit for next year.

Sunday, I got to go to a really cool festival in Sasebo called Yosakoi. It was one of the best festivals I'd ever been to here. Basically dance groups from all over Japan come and dance their little hearts out in more or less a traditional/modern Japanese-drill team style. They wear really colorful costumes and have crazy hair and/or make-up. It's kinda rare to see people so happy and energetic, so to see a large number of Japanese people be super happy and super energetic was great and really infectious. I'll post pictures later on this as I'm at school typing when I should be making a yearly plan for one of the classes I teach.

After the festival me and the festival-goers I was with went to a onsen south of where I live to soak all our troubles away and it damn near worked. Tooth pain (or shall I say lack of tooth pain) was great foe. It was a great day and I had semi-great sleep. I did have a great dream about cake. Man, that was some delicious cake. Later on, I woke up in the middle of the night crying because my jaw hurt so badly and after I fell back asleep I woke-up late for work. Oh well.. I can't wait to get pictures of my neices from Halloween. Haley is gonna be a Cheetah girl or Monster princess? She wasn't making too much sense when I talked to her. Megan on the other hand knew she was going to be Aurora, what I can only assume to be Sleeping Beauty. I felt really outta touch when talking to them. I realize how much I miss being here when Haley said, "you don't know the Cheetah girls, do you?" Little smarty pants. I'll show her!

I think I should go as I'm getting loopy again. I'll try to post pictures later, though I may have to do it tomorrow as I have a Halloween party at my English conversation class today. Love ya'll and have a Happy Halloween!!!!

More scuba pics

2006-10-20T19:36:00.000-07:00

Swimmin' wit da fishes.

Workin' da fro

Injury by shoe

2006-10-12T17:16:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in a awhile. I haven't really had a whole lot to say recently. My head is really been in a strange kind of fog and I've really been trying to soak up which direction I should go to get out of it, but frankly I think I needed the fog so I just stayed put for a bit.
I've been thinking a lot about my future recently. I think I've been tentatively offered a position with my city, probably doing the same thing or just teaching at elementary schools for the next two years. It'll actually be harder than what I am doing, but I think I'm up for that challenge... maybe. I've also been thinking about home a lot. A big part of me wants to go back and get my masters or just another degree in teaching, but I don't know if I wanna spend the time back as a student. Having to deal with all the BS and bureaucracy that follows.

Lately, I've been a bit frustrated with the Japanese system of education. I have one special needs student named Koki that will be going into high school next year. And does he get to go to the one handicapp school in my prefecture? No, why because he scored too high on the test. He can't function in any of the normal classes here, but just because he scored too high he has to try to get into a normal high school my normal kids have problems getting into.

The teacher that sits next to me just got an injury on her hand because a student that was trying to ditch school threw her shoe at her. She was sitting there half stunned and half laughing that she has a shoe injury. Kids here are crazy sometimes. There are so many kids that just don't want to go to school. Everyone says it's a social problem, the kids are too shy, but I think the real problem is the kids hate the form of school here so much and since everyone will assume the former they choose not to go. Anyway...

I should know where I wanna go by now, no? I have so many ambitions and dreams but they all seem so far off. I'm just gonna focus on home right now. For those who I haven't told from home who actually read this, there should be two of you, I'll be going home on the 20th of December. I'm at times almost giddy about going back for the visit. I'm close to counting the days, but I won't just yet because then it will feel like forever.

Besides work and work, I've been not doing a whole hell of a lot because I've felt pretty ill physically. I got some tests done and everything checked out okay, so that kinda sucks but oh well. I just wish for once I could get some strange ass disease that's caught early enough so I can survive, but lasts long enough to get me back to my girlish figure of 16. Hey Santa, you hear that? I'm feeling a bit better, but I have a big weekend of DEEEEP cleaning to see if maybe it's my apartment making me ill.

I'm gonna get going and try to get some work done.

Una maravilla

2006-09-29T23:25:00.000-07:00

Okinawa

2006-09-27T04:47:00.000-07:00

I went to Okinawa a few days after my birthday as a present to myself. I have been waiting probably about 19 years to go to Okinawa. Why, I'm not sure, but I blame this partly:

I spent most of my time staring at the beautiful ocean, hyperventilating about going in the water and once I got over that, I was wishing I could stay calmer so my air wouldn't run out too fast and I could stay underwater longer. I've never had a closer to God experience than being underwater. I wanted to cry, I wanted to freak out (I only did a few times, eels are scary breathers), I wanted to laugh and wished everyone could see what I was seeing, especially my momma who loves the fishes. It's a whole other world that is so beautiful, it's simply indescribable. Pictures don't do it justice. I saw octopus, eel, lobster, sea snake, barracuda, clown fish, starfish, and so many other things. Am having problems posting the underwater pictures, so I hopefully will sort that out soon.

In the meanwhile, here are the pics from the rest of my trip. I traveled with my Canadian friend Jayne and despite typhoon we had a great time scuba-ing and even met up with another teacher in Japan. If I figure out how to download video, I'll show you a bit more. I really want to go back and go diving again and see more of the island I didn't get a chance to see. I wish you all could've been there.

Fukushuen Gardens, Naha

Rarrr...

Pictures at Shuri-jo

Shuri-jo, Okinawa

Kokusai-Dori, Naha

I'm convinced part of Karate Kid II was filmed here.

I looked for the scene, but didn't find it.

Next time...

My friend Jayne and me. Me in the typhoon.

Progression of the typhoon from the day we

arrived until the day we left.

We dove in between the second and third pic.

A 27 year lesson

2006-09-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

Forgive. There is very little that is unforgivable; though many things which are unforgettable.

Grudges cause stress, pain, ulcers and take excessive energy. See above for how to let go of them.

Tell people you love them, either with actions or words, but tell them when you can.

Old people are cool, cherish them, ask for stories, visit with them, leave them alone when they need to be.

Never lose hope in your darkest hour.

Seek help when you need it.

Help when you can.

Rinse your dishes when you're done using them, mold grows quickly.

Mexican food is good.

Life is too short to diet constantly. But try to eat healthy.

Learn from your mistakes, failures, horrible things in your life.

Breathe deeply sometimes.

cigarettes, alcohol and things with are "bad" for you, are sometimes a necessary evil.

I love my family, even the crazy ones and the ones I sometimes can't stand.

I love my friends, even if I wish bad things to happen to them sometimes.

Ask for forgiveness when you yell at someone, even if they deserved it.

Things can always get worse and probably will, enjoy the good stuff when it happens.

Be it allah, darwin, mother nature, god or some other entity you believe in, something is watching out for you.

Confront your fears when you can. It may not help you cure your fear, but then you will learn that your fear is substantiated.

Aprenda otra lengua.

Remember to say thank you and I'm sorry when appropriate.

Trees are beautiful.

Write letters by hand sometimes.

Dance in your undies.

You can find beauty in so many things around you.

Bounce and Snuggle make laundry wonderful feeling and smelling.

Hugs are good, but done incorrectly can be creepy.

Mom's are the cure for the common cold.

Little kids smell funny sometimes, but are pretty cool for the most part.

It's important to inflate your tires to their recommended psi.

Midgets are slutty. (At least the one's I've met.)

Generalizations are bad (but sometimes true.) You should avoid them when you can.

Be nice to crazy people who talk to you. Maybe they won't shoot you on their rampage.

Read a book once in a while.

Ice cream comes from heaven.

Crying washes your eyes and the soul.

If you wanna hit something, take up a martial art or boxing, or do Tae bo.

I'm grateful for my life, even the crappy moments because they make the good ones that much better.

Anxiety

2006-09-06T18:59:00.000-07:00

Exhausted.. busy... wired... am beyond sleep. I have been in the strangest place lately. I'm so tired I'm sure that if I stood still for more than a minute, I'd fall into a deep sleep and not walk up for days. However, I don't have that luxury right now and won't have that until Wednesday. Ah Wednesday, the most beautiful day of the week. How I love Wednesday.

Why is Wednesday so special to me, you may be wondering. It's because this lovely Wednesday, I go to a magical place called OKINAWA! Okinawa, known as the "Hawaii of Japan" is the birthplace of karate; Mr. Miyagi; the whole reason why I studied Japanese and came to Japan in the first place; wonderful pork and goya recipes, etc... And I'm going to go on Wednesday!!!! I'm thinking this is subconciously one of the reasons I can't sleep. When I feel tired I think about going. I'm slightly freaked out a little bit cause I'm gonna go diving for the first time and the whole idea of drowning or being eaten alive by a sea animal scares the living bejeezus out of me, but I figure it's a fear I hafta get over sooner or later. I'm not getting any younger. Good lordy, I'll be thirty in three years . I know that's no biggie, to some people, and normally I would say I don't care either, but the more and more I think about it, the more it's starting to freak me out a bit.

I don't feel too old. I look alright, I think. Brain's not completely shot, yet. But so many people have those, 'before I'm 30 goals'. I never had those. I've been kinda comparing my life to my brother's lives. All were married by 26 or before. They had all started their careers around the same time or before. I have lots of neices and nephews, two that are teenagers. What have I done? University degree and work in Japan. I have no desire to have kids and am pretty damn sure I don't want kids, yes even if I found the "one" before I'm 30. When people ask me about my life, I give a vauge answer when really I think I have a plan in my head but I don't want to share it cause people are gonna say, that's all fine and dandy but what about settling down? I think in terms of years, where I'll be next year, the year after that, and so on, but I never think in terms of my age. Is that strange? Ah fuck it, I'm to tired and young to think about this crap.

Okinawa, okinawa, okinawa, okinawa....

For momma

2006-09-02T17:09:00.000-07:00

My friend Dayo and me.
Remember we had dinner with him
once in Bellingham? He lives and
works in Nagoya again and just came
out for a visit.

Me and my kids.

Me at Mt. Aso.

Dressed up in a yukata for
a festival in Saga. It was so hot!

Me and Lisa burning up in our yukatas!

This post is for my mom who says I never post pictures of myself on my blog. I'm really not vain. Or at least not that much.

Sunday entertainment

2006-08-27T05:09:00.000-07:00

Whenever it's on and whenever I catch it, I watch a Japanese show called 'TV Champion.' It's a game show that pits 4 or 5 people that have a certain area of expertise, ex. ice sculpting, minature model making, being able to name an animal by smell, scent, or touch only, etc... in timed events, until they narrow it down it the best two and finally the TV Champion.

I love this show, but today it pissed me off to no end. Today they were trying to find the number one nature guy. They had to do stuff like make a fire with no matches to light some fireworks, gather the most shellfish for dinner, shelter themselves, create a mini-onsen, etc... This old guy worked his ass off and was smarter than everyone else. He was 62 and would finish each event first and way before everyone else. But the very last event was whomever finished first was the winner, regardless of the points you had collected before. It was like watching people who are 90 finishing the Ironman contests. He would have won if not for one of his self made oars falling to bits when he started out to this island on his self-made raft. And he didn't win even though he had more points! Grrr. The other guy even cried because he said it was crazy how much harder and burly the old guy was. Why he really cried was because he won cowardly as he didn't win anything else.

Anyway, that's my rant for today. Next week on TV champion, fancy stylish kiddy fashion designers go head to head.

Another tooth bites the dust...

2006-08-23T05:18:00.000-07:00

Cue the music! And another one down and another one down, another one bites the dust... Okay maybe not bites the dust (bad intro, my apologies), but another tooth got yanked out of my head. This one went soooo much better than the first tooth which took 20 minutes or so. And well, if you don't count yesterday.

Yesterday they shot me up with some potent stuff and then I kinda almost passed out for a while. The doc said I was going into shock, blood pressure dropped, body temp too, couldn't hang on to anything- very dramatic and ER-ish. Except you never seen anyone from ER getting brought back from beyond with an ice bag, fan, ice cold towel and cool dentist's chair to keep your head elevated. It really was one of the most enjoyable fainting spells of my life. They refused to pull the tooth because my blood pressure didn't get high enough and my hands were too cold.

However, today was a breeze. Boom, I get shot up with wonderful stuff. Boom he cuts around the tooth and I can't feel a thing. Boom, yank, yank and I was done! I loved it. I'm so happy to get that tooth out too. It caused me pain sometimes because it faced towards my cheek a bit. Like a backward snaggle. Anyway as exciting as my tooth extraction is to me, I'm sure it's not as interesting to ya'll. So to compensate, here is a little tooth humor:

A man & wife entered a dentist's office. The Wife said, "I want a tooth pulled. I don't want gas or Novocain because I'm in a terrible hurry. Just pull the tooth as quickly as possible."

You're a brave woman said the dentist. Now, Show me which tooth it is.

The wife turns to her husband and says, "Open your mouth and show the dentist which tooth it is, dear."

Ja, ja, ja.

Why I outta....

2006-08-18T04:23:00.000-07:00

Damn I really dislike people sometimes. On a normal day, if there are clouds out you can see people with umbrella in hand ready for the first drop to hit. Yet on days when everyone knows there's a typhoon coming people don't bring umbrellas to the store and steal my sh~tuff. I saw the guy running to his car with my favorite umbrella and trying to get away as fast as he could. I was so tempted to bang on the window and yell bad things at him and take my umbrella back and beat him with it. I probably would have given him a heart attack if I'd said anything.

I didn't do anything but fume and wish him very ill will. I hope whatever he bought at YouMe Town makes him have explosive diarrhea. Is that too much to ask?It's the 4th umbrella I've had stolen. I shouldn't get hung up on things like that but when people look at me and their like,'ahhh, bikkuri!!!' then stare at me suspiciously I want to do things like steal their precious little umbrellas to get back at all those that have done me wrong, but I don't. I write out my frustration. GAH! Okay I'm done. 10... 9... 8....

CHiPs

2006-08-09T02:38:00.000-07:00

Ay, ya yae! I feel like my mother more and more each day. Due to the summer lull in TV, I look forward to Sr. Estrada everyday. The only man I can stomach with a furry chest of hair and lat-fro, blinding white pearly teeth Day-um does that man look good in that tight police uniform.

Am I crazy in finding the adventures of CHiPs exciting today as they ever were? My brother Jaime had a CHiPs big wheel when he was a kid, man I loved that thing. It was the coolest! Real CHiPs stickers and everything. We wore the tires out to nubs. Good times, good times.

Okay, this post is not really that great, but was just watching it and thought I needed to write a post. Incidentally the episode I was watching had Carlos Santana in it as Ponch's primo. Locos.

Marriage via phone

2006-08-06T21:36:00.000-07:00

Today I get a phone call from a lady doing a survey.

Lady: Hello, I'm doing a survey for so and so hospital about the quality of water at hospitals.
Me: Mmm-hmm.
Lady: The issue of hopital water quality has been an issue in the news as of late, are you aware of this?
Me: No, I haven't heard about that.
Lady: Do you go to hospitals often?
Me: No, not really.
Lady: Oh how great! You must be very healthy. We find that people who don't go to hospitals often are in their early twenties or thirties. May I ask how old you are?
Me: I'm 26.
Lady: Oh well, no wonder, of course, 26.... Are you foreign??
Me: Yes...
Lady: Wow, I thought there was something different in your voice. How surprising! Your Japanese is great! Where are you from?
Me: America.
Lady: Wow, so you must be living and working in Japan, how long have you been here?
Me: 2 years.
Lady: Wow, how exciting! You teach in Japan?
Me: Yes, I d-
Lady: Great! A teacher. So, of course you're single?
Me: Um, (WTF?) yes, I am.
Lady: How about marrying a Japanese guy?
Me: Ah...
Lady: It's a good idea, I think.
Me: Lots of people tell me that.
Lady: There is a show on TV that showcases foreign weddings on TV.
Me: Yes, I've seen it before.
Lady: It seems so romantic! Don't you think?
Me: ahahaha
Lady: My son is single!
Me: ahahahahahaha
Lady: ahahaha, no really, he's single. Do you like Saga? Can you understand Saga-ben?
Me: Yes, I understand a little.
Lady: That's wonderful, hahaha. Thank you for your time.
Me: Mmm-hmm. Goodbye. *Whew*

Isn't it sad when rumors are more exciting than your life?

2006-07-19T03:40:00.000-07:00

I don't call home as often as I should. Maybe there is a reason for that, but I'm not sure. After calling my brother and according to the family grapevine, I find out that I'm not only dating some person, but am close to getting married to him. How romantic! And completely not true... but it's a nice thought. Amongst the midst of love dust that surrounds the area I live in, (everyone is either getting engaged or married) it's nice to think I could be included, but alas I am not involved nor am I getting married at the present time.

It's a similiar feeling of when my students see me around town with friends. You were at Youme Town on Sunday, weren't you? Weren't you with your boooyfriend??? I had a bunch of friends come visit me this weekend and subsequently I walk arm and arm with some of them sometimes. At least my students think it's strange I'm not married and live alone. At least someone's keeping the fires of hope burning.

My Job

2006-07-13T00:15:00.000-07:00

Sport's Day competition, this is their cultural dance at the end of the competition.

I complain a lot about my job. I work in a non-air condition, but hot air-conditioned with gaijin sweat and children that give off body heat like little animals hibernating in the winter. I often have classes given to me at the last minute that I must have magical and entertaining lesson plans ready to head-up. I have to be smiley and happy every minute I'm in the presence of teacher and/or child. I must deal with the fact that children make crazy observations, sometimes rudely, about me from my hairstyle, my weight, choice of clothes, the way I teach, where I'm from, a bandaid I wear to hide my tattoo, how I apparently give off the smell of grapes, and how I sweat profusely through my clothes. I must deal with constant, 'Sarah-sensei, chotto onegai ga arun desu ga...' Sarah-sensei, I have a bit of a favor to ask you... and smile and say sure, 'I'd love to do it!' while mentally I'm hitting my head on the desk over and over...

Left, Sport's Day; Right, Kids cleaning up after an English class.

And here's the kicker, I VOLUNTEERED to do it for another year? Why? Well, as soon as I get tested, I'm gonna claim my number one reason to be I'm certifiable. Besides that it's because despite my bitching and ill will towards my job, I love teaching. I love teaching kids, adults, anyone who'll listen to me and my corn jokes in class.

My current corny joke involves the weather. 'Rain' is ame in Japanese. Ame in Japanese also has another meaning, 'candy.'
I say, have you ever heard of a Rein ko-to? (Rain coat)
Students yell, 'Yes!'
I say okay so if Rain is ame in Japanese, what is a Rein ko-to in Japanese?
Students yell, 'Ame ko-to!'
Then I say, you're right, but don't eat it!

Then the teacher laughs because they're surprised I can make a joke like that and two or so kids laugh because they actually understood what I meant. Then those few students explain to the other students why it's funny. Then some students say, 'jeez...' I love it.

I have met some really great people here. Lots of which are leaving and some of which are staying, thank goodness. I have an apartment which I love and being that I've cleaned it recently, I love it even more. I live in a beautiful part of Japan and I get to practice my Japanese all the time. I teach cute little kids which are adorable and make me laugh and smile, most days... And it's mainly these little smiley, silly kids why I'm still here. So this is a post to thank them, all the reasons why I'm glad for my life here. Thank you.

First grader just back from swim class

PS. Sarah, this is the picture I'd like to submit for the cutest kid competition we're having. If you out do this one, I shall be forced to out do you again next week.

Whining and mopey

2006-07-11T07:10:00.000-07:00

These are my two favorite moods as of late. Well, wait does drunk count as a mood? It's not one I've been aiming for but it seems it's one mood that likes me when I go out recently. Never the less, I'm whiny and mopey and sick of it all. I've had one too many unhappy surprises as of late and out of that comes a constant headache that I can't get rid of. Could it be cause I found out my pain reliever expired in January and I just noticed today? I dunno. I only have two things driving me in a positive direction at this point: 1.) I only have two more days of elementary school I have to teach and only 4 1/2 days of work before I get a week of rest (which I'll spend wallowing because friends are leaving) and 2.) Payday is 10 days away. Oh we can almost count three if I think of organizing my trip in September to Okinawa but I have to pay money and have a ticket I can't use until September, so I'll leave it off the list.

Here are some pictures because I haven't put any up in a while.

Old people

2006-07-06T17:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I went to see a friend of mine in the hospital. She wasn't hurt seriously, but was made to stay overnite for observation. She had her own private room. In Japan, I'm guessing they put foreigners in private rooms for two reasons: 1.) So people don't stare at you constantly, causing you undo stress during your hospital stay and 2.) So you don't stare at the people who are staring at you constantly and causing them undo stress because their is a foreigner staring at them.

Japanese hospitals are strange. Her room had a small TV and a mini-fridge. You had to pay if you wanted to use either. The TV is situated so you have to lay on your side to watch. Her room had a leather couch which was quite comfy actually, although I doubt this is a practice that will be adopted anywhere else. When you press the call button for the nurse, the intercom comes on overhead and the nurse says, ' what is it now?' However, this is much more polite in Japanese. Then you yell back and she comes in moments later. Strange.

The first floor of the hospital had old people in the lobby. I thought at first this must be the dementia ward. After I came down later and the people were gone, I realized it was the arts and crafts / recreational area. There were just some people with dementia there earlier, but they had rooms elsewhere.

The second floor much like the first had a bevy of old people but much more sedate than the first floor. These old people were watching TV in the lobby and when I walked by they stared at me with sad eyes. Some smiled as I passed as if to convince me to stay and chat, but I just smiled back and walked away as fast as I could.

The state of old people in Japan is odd to me. I see some old people puttering around well past their experation date when it seems they should be 'resting peacefully'. Some walk, others shuffle, others ride scooters with cute little helmets on. They tend to their housework, their large gardens or even rice /onion/ tea fields with the vigor of a young person. Active shrinking members of society. They live with their families and are happy and live a long time. They have daily tasks and every day is a busy day.

This is a part of a day of my friends the Tanaka's. Wake up; watch NHK news; (here's where it splits for man and woman work, I'll continue on with man work) smoke one half cigarette; get ready and do hair; have bodily function; drink tea and swallow medicine powder; dust outside of car; eat breakfast with wife;watch NHK drama; smoke other half of cigarette; take bento (lunch); leave for "work" (work is patrolling the grounds of a university that's mostly empty and checking off a checksheet as you leave a room); call Sarah and ask: what she's doing, if she has a cold, why she didn't answer the phone yesterday, if she is going out today, to don't use your money on stupid things, to send you a text message, not to drive in the rain; go back home.

From the woman's part above she: gets up and starts cooking the bento; starts the laundry when she has time; bodily function; checks the food for dinner later and asks Tanaka if ~ is okay for dinner tonight; makes breakfast and sets table; makes tea, sets it out immediately; eats breakfast quickly and brings in dry laundry and folds while drinking tea and watching NHK drama; gets dressed; does hair; puts out laundry; says goodbye to Tanaka and leaves for work (she's a cook at a community college), then she comes home later.

Again, active strinking members of society. Sorry if I've bored you with their day, but they always have something to do, even on days off. However, they've adopted me into their home because it's usually just them puttering around on their lonesome. They have one son who's around 40 something and who never married. They haven't spoken to him in two years because he doesn't call them and the only time he was around in recent time was when Tanaka had cancer and he helped out, mostly financially. I call them once a week or so, they call me three or 5 times a week. These are the lucky old folks here.

I saw the unfortunate ones yesterday. They were abandoned to this hospital. I've heard a lot about them. In Japan, it's really shocking if you've put you're old folks in a "home". It's becoming more and more frequent as the society ages and stays alive. Finding useless jobs for these people become more difficult when their are so many people entering the job market. A Japanese friend of mine works at an old folks home. He always seems relieved to be around younger people when he goes out. He doesn't like to talk about his job because he says, it's just sad how they dump them off their and leave them without another thought. He says they just want to die and some try to commit suicide. In Japan, the largest age group to commit suicide are people who are 60 years old or over. It's really sad.

People should avoid putting their loved ones in homes. It's really horrible. Some people that work their are truly angels, but their only human and working with old people constantly can put a toll on you sometime. However, their are a great number of people who hate working their and they can make you're loved ones go through such hell in their final days/months/years that they will sit there and wish that you had left them their to die in the street of their own volition. Those sad eyes look up at you and they have had everything beaten out of them. They sit and wait for something to happen just so they can feel a little alive. Please be careful if this is your final recourse for your old person. Check out the place before you put them there and visit them for God sakes.

I only really had my natural grandparents around until I was about 7, but there where loads of old people around that I adopted as grandparents. Although I don't regret getting older, I regret the fact that they have to get older to. I've seen death too many times and I'm tired of it. Just because it's "natural" doesn't make it any easier when you know how they lived out their last days. Eh, well... This is really depressing and I have papers to grade. I have more to say but this is already too long.

Happy Fourth of July!

2006-07-04T01:11:00.000-07:00

Hola mi gente americana! Te extraño muchísimo y te quiero mucho también!

(De la izquierda a la derecha, Shelley, Haley, Megan y mi hermano Gerardo.)
Feliz cumpleanos a mi sobrinita, Haley. Se cumple 7 años este día! Ojalá tienes un día maravilloso!

(This page written in Spanish as a part of my counter English only campaign.)

Should I stay or should I go now?

2006-06-27T16:59:00.000-07:00

The Clash are brilliant aren't they? Some of the lyrics have been haunting me lately, maybe not in the same context, but you know what I mean. Leaving or the idea of leaving has reared it's ugly head and is just staring at me in the face, especially as I see my good friends here leaving soon. I can't help but be nostalgic, weepy and grumpy to the world. A part of that is because I'll miss my friends and I'll feel the void after they leave whole heartedly. Yet, another big part of my discontent right now lies within my own self. What the hell am I doing here is a constant theme running through my head as of late.

I try to consider the possiblities:

1. I am running away from home
2. I am avoiding starting the next part of my life
3. I am scared to leave what I know
4. I have a good job that I mostly like and am used to doing it
5. I am lazy
6. I hate living in the States
7. I am waiting for a miracle to occur to change my life and give it infinite meaning
8. I love Japan (mostly) and I don't want to live anywhere else at the moment

Some of these definitely carry some merit but other more positive ones outweigh the others so much it makes them seem insignificant unless I'm obsessing about leaving like now. I feel I made the right decision to stay. I have a midget asshole to thank for this decision mostly, but none the less if there were no midget assholes I may be super, super resenting my life if I made a different decision. So hurray for midget assholes!

This post is more like a public note to self, so I apologize. I tend to talk to myself a lot and that's only natural that I extend that habit to my writing skills, so I apologize to the three people who read this. I think the there are certain things that I'm gonna watch for that are certain signs that I need to get the hell out of here as fast as I can.

Warning signs

When these apply I'm outta here:
(copied from a 'You know you've been in Japan too long if...' website)

...you think "white pills, blue pills, and pink powder" is an adequate answer to the question "What are you giving me, doctor?"
...you think 4 layers of wrapping is reasonable for a simple piece of merchandise.
...a new Gaijin moves to your neighborhood and you know immediately you will get his mail for a while.
...you think the meaning of a red traffic light is: "Hurry up! 10 cars now in quick succession, and then we'll think about slowing down."
...when you get on a train with a number of gaijin on it and you feel uneasy because the harmony is broken.
...you think the natural location for a beer garden is on a roof.
..you ask fellow foreigners the all-important question "How long have you been here?" in order to be able to properly categorize them.
...when in the middle of nowhere, totally surrounded by rice fields and abundant nature, you aren't surprised to find a drink vending machine with no visible means of a power supply...
...and when you think nothing of it when that lonely vending machine says 'thank you' after you buy a coke.
...you stand before a sign on a bridge and ponder the possible meanings of "Bridge Freezes Before Road."
...you notice you've forgotten how to tie shoelaces.
...you rush onto an escalator, and just stand there.
...you find yourself bowing while you talk on the phone.
...you think US$17 isn't such a bad price for a new paperback.
...you don't hesitate to put a $10 note into a vending machine.
...you don't think it unusual for a truck to play "It's a Small World" when backing up.
...you really enjoy corn soup with your Big Mac.
...you can't have your picture taken without your fingers forming the peace sign.
...on a cold autumn night, the only thing you want for dinner is nabe and nihonshu.
...when you believe that the perfect side dish to eat with a juicy, deep-fried pork chop is a pile of raw, tasteless, shredded cabbage.
...you are speaking in English but all references to money come out in Japanese.
...you answer "hai!" even when speaking English to non-Japanese friends.
...you select shoes based on how easily you can get them on and off.
...you think any lunch costing less than US$10 is cheap.
..."Ohio" no longer means the state.
...you don't think twice about sitting on the floor barefoot in an expensive restaurant.
...you can back into a Japanese parking space -- without your passenger getting out and guiding you in.
...you look forward to winter in your Japanese house so you can store beer and frozen foods in your bedroom and bathroom.
...you stop turning on your windshield wipers before you make a turn.
...you would not only settle for Taco Bell, you would actually kill for it.
...people ask, "Do you want to go by car?" and you respond, "No, I'm in a hurry."
...you can't remember saying 6 bucks was too much to see a movie.
...your daily knowledge of the exchange rate would make a commodities broker proud.

I'm only halfway there. Gotta go work now.

Banging my head against the wall

2006-06-22T22:27:00.000-07:00

... metaphorically speaking. Okay maybe I'll actually try doing it for real when I get home. I work with a few strange people but there is one guy who seems semi-normal but isn't apparently. I was told when I came to work today that he 'probably has a little bit of mental sickness inside and that's why he didn't come to work.' Wha~? This "normal guy" told me yesterday that his wife was pregnant again, he's got a 18 month old and that he was hoping to go on a vacation for summer but he couldn't go far because of her condition. Condition- ha! Wonder where she caught that from?

Anyway, he does this to me a bit and I usually stand in for his classes. It's friggin' ridiculous how often he doesn't come. I usually get told his daughter is sick or something to that affect, but I guess they decided they'd tell me the truth about Bob today. I have another friend of mine who does what I do that is going through the same thing but much worse because her co-worker is prone to have fits of crazy and refuse to go to class. Plus she works with another teacher who might as well be the Japanese version of Mommy Dearest. I don't know how she hasn't gone completely crazy already. I have nothing to complain about in comparison. Sometimes I guess it pays to be crazy.

I've gotten the you shouldn't be in school because it's summer and you and the students should be on vacation blues. School is sooo humid. Teenagers and teachers make for a very moldly, musky atmosphere. It's almost bad enough to make you feel faint sometimes. Anyway, it's late. I'm off to bed.

Father's day

2006-06-17T17:39:00.000-07:00

This is a picture of my dad and I coming home from shopping for Thanksgiving. I'm guessing I was about 4 years old. Dad's holding the cranberry sauce my family loves. I'm holding my favorite cheesy crackers that had sesame seeds on them. I love this picture because it represented my happy time with my dad. I loved to go grocery shopping with him. He taught me how to be "value conscious."

Later on, my mom would call that being 'cheap ass like your father', but even today I employ his cheap ass techniques. When I get sad or just feel strange here, I wander in grocery stores. It just makes me feel better. I'd feel better yet if I could sit under the cart and get pushed by I might get thrown out of the stores here if I did that.

It's been about 4 years since my dad passed. He wasn't perfect. In fact, he was very far from perfect. It's funny how you can go from loving someone just cause they buy you cheesy sesame crackers and then and then wishing them ill will later on. How complicated things get after you learn how to talk. Never the less he was my dad and I remember him on this day among many others. Thanks for everything dad, I hope you're well wherever you are and I love you.

What will they think of next?

2006-06-13T22:35:00.000-07:00

On my lunch break I was wandering around You Me town (my local mall) and was just looking at random crap when I came across the Father's Day section. For some reason I was drawn to the cufflinks and noticed a few odd ones among the very Dad-ish variety.

One set had the flag of Ireland on them. For all those Irish... Japanese people who live here... ?

I found a picture online of the second one's I saw online. I hope my doc buys them.

Off of the subject, I have the cutest little boy in one of my first grade elementary school classes. He's a little dirty old man reincarnated in a 6 year old's body. After everything he was taught in his first ever English class, he added the word 'baby'.

Singing a song: What's your name, what's your name, what's your name, babeee! Nice to meet you, baby! Hello, baby! Good morning, baby!

If it weren't for the air-humping guesture that he was making (a common thing for elementary school boys here) I would have thought it innocent. I hope he learns that saying 'baby' to random strangers stops being cute when you're not a kid. I think it's funny too how a simple lecture on self introduction can be changed into into 'how to pick up a date 101 for kids'. He's funny as hell.

Yet on another tangent, for some reason this all reminds me of when I used to work at Sears in the home appliance department. When I got bored I used to like to listen and giggle to myself whe my co-workers were trying to sell vacuum cleaners. I swear I have such toilet humor sometimes, but funny is funny.

Larry the sales associate: This model has more sucking power than any other model we carry.

Customer: Really? How does it do on short carpet?

Larry: Oh it's great on short or shag carpet. What kind of carpet do you have?

Customer: I have short carpet in most rooms, shag just gets too dirty.

Larry: Yes, I agree. What kind of a hose where you looking for?

Customer: I have a lot of hard to reach places, I'm guessing a long hose is best, but sometimes it's a lot of trouble. *sigh* And it just gets in the way. Plus I use the special attachments and I feel they work better with a short hose.

Larry: I see, this model over here has a short hose which can extend to make a longer hose, also you can add an attachment if you need more length. Were you comfortable with an upright?

So sue me, I was bored at work a lot. However, I did learn a lot about vacuums and other home appliances. I also worked in hardware and automotive later on. I learned a lot at that store. Am babbling now, must stop.

Oscar the grouch

2006-06-07T23:40:00.000-07:00

I've been massively irritated as of late. For my male readers, no that isn't just a "that time of the month thing" it's a things are f*cking retarded and irritate me beyond belief thing. Soooo, I'm gonna bitch about this on my blog before I kill someone.

Things/people/behaviours that irritate me as of late.

*people who don't say thank you.

*people who don't say bless you (excluding people who are Japanese, that's not a custom here, so it doesn't bother me.)

*people who are lazy and who don't work. (excluding those with mental and physical disabilities, no stupidity isn't a disablity although it almost should be)

*people who spout saying of philosophers / religious people, documents / etc... and are friggin' hipocrates. Pick different trend to copy.

*people who are mean and not funny.

*wet toilet seats.

*people without common sense.

*people who don't do stuff unless they are asked or told to do so.

*people who never call you but want to hear from you more.

*being a tape recorder in class.

*chauvinist pigs who think men are better at everything.

*complaining about a problem that could be so much worse.

*people who think yoga is a fad and it doesn't do anything.

*prices of Japanese gas.

*prices of Japanese fruit.

*lack of cilantro in Japan.

*stupid people.

*people who drag me into their drama.

*loud stupid people.

*people who lie.

*people who take everything for granted.

*people who think everything you have is theirs to use and get upset when you say, back the #uck off.

*the fact I am nice to people I can't stand because I don't wanna hurt their feelings.

*lack of motivation to clean my house.

*people who take advantage of kindness.

*my lack of motivation for cooking.

*insomnia.

*the fact coffee gives me the jitters.

Haaa~ I feel better. I apologize if this offended anyone, but I need to vent.

Lazy Saturday

2006-06-04T06:02:00.000-07:00

Trees

2006-05-31T21:45:00.000-07:00

I am writing this still laughing from what a student just asked me. I have another dentist appointment today and since I didn't have time to go home before my appointment, I decided to brush at school after lunch today. This is a common practice at my school as most of the teachers brush right after lunch. With some of their teeth though, you would think they are brushing with gingivitis laden toothpaste. Anyway, so I'm out in the hall by the sink just brushing away and there are some students waiting in line for their health check-up outside of the nurse's room.

One student looks at me with wide eyes saying, 'Wow, you're using a toothbrush?!?'

I look at her confused as does her friend behind her. I mumble, 'Ha~?' Japanese for 'what the hell are you talking about?'

'I thought foreigners didn't use toothbrushes!' I almost choke on spit and toothpaste. Her friend looks at her like she's crazy.

I struggle to say 'Why, do you think that?' with a frothy mouth.

She says, 'Trees, right? You use trees to brush your teeth, don't you?' Her friend cracks-up behind her. I spit/choke /rinse and ask, 'What TV show did you see that on?'

She continues, 'you use like twigs and chew on them, right everyone does that, I saw it on TV.'

TV the information source for foreign-lore/culture in Japan, especially for those out in the sticks. TV tells my students I have the same brushing habits as a panda. TV causes my students to stare at me and take mental notes as if they were novice Jane Goodalls out in the field watching the gorillas brush.

EQUALS...... ??

Her friend asks, 'Maji?' meaning 'seriously?' in Japanese but is now staring with at me doubtingly to debunk this outrageous claim that her friend so ferverently believes.

I rinse again, shake my head and say, 'No sorry, we use toothbrushes, not trees.'

The friend looks disappointed and her friend says, 'but- they said that's what foreigners do..'

I smile and say, 'Maybe somewhere far away they do... far, far, far away. Where I don't know.'

As I walk back to my desk I hear her telling her friend, 'I really did see that on TV...'

I became curious as to who these bark chewing people were so I began to research right before I wrote this and this is what I found.

The toothbrush as we know it today was not invented until 1938. However, early forms of the toothbrush have been in existence since 3000 BC. Ancient civilizations used a "chew stick," which was a thin twig with a frayed end. These 'chew sticks' were rubbed against the teeth.

Everyday mysteries- Fun science facts from the Library of Congress

At least she almost had it right, just not recently, or in the past couple of decades. I also learned that the first bristle toothbrush was invented by a Chinese guy- what didn't they invent? However the first nylon brush was invented by an English guy. GI soldiers were influence by European soliders' habits during WWII and that's how it the practice of good oral hygiene came to the US. I was shocked to learn that most Americans didn't brush their teeth until the war, but damn it all if most havent kept up on that.

Jeez louise, I've been tooth obsessed lately. Doesn't that mean someone's gonna die or something bad is gonna happen, snakes will become the rulers of the earth, etc...? I'll look that up later. Off to find some trees.

Men are tards and I am a tard magnet

2006-05-29T07:34:00.000-07:00

*Sigh* What else do I have to say? I seem to be going out with men recently who have very similar dating habits which I find quite alarming. No, I don't think that men having the same dating habits is freakish, what I find alarming is their actual dating habits and the similarities between them. Apparently I'm a frightening gal who deems the supervision of a chaperone. It's insane. Or maybe that's normal now? Have I fallen into a coma recently and fallen into victorian times by mistake? Is this some sort of strange 'The Village' experiment? Maybe I should be challenging my dates to a foot race or something. If I have I'd rather know.

Although I know that girls often use the tactic of inviting a friend along to feel "safe" on their first dates, I didn't know guys over the age of 13 (who have to driven by their mommies) implored this tactic unless the girl they are going on a date with insists on bringing a friend.
As this has not just happened to me once recently, I can tell you it's not exactly ideal for a date. Especially in the last case where the friend my date invited got violent diarreah from an undercooked hamburger and was in the bathroom for nearly 30 minutes when we tried to leave the restaurant. Maybe it was a clever rouse to get out of the date early, but I doubt that a friend would stay in the bathroom so long and then going pale and sick looking just to get his friend out of a date. Maybe I'm naive. None the less it was entertaining.

Another guy told me he didn't know what to do with me on a date. (?!?) He said his image of dating a foreign person was similar to that of being in an Italian movie. I said, what do you mean? Like holding hands and skipping down the road or something? He said no, not skipping, maybe just walking with coffee...

My image of dating in Italy

Alas, I don't know if I'll be going on a date anytime soon. I think my dating career is heading more towards cats-ville, but at least that's more interesting. Wish me luck either way.

The Arita Tooth Inquisition

2006-05-21T06:33:00.000-07:00

I haven't been to the dentist since I was 13 years old. Even then I only remember going to the dentists only when I was 13 years old. I didn't have health insurance back then and stuff like dental and yearly doctor visits were a bit of a luxury when I was a pre-teen. That was just the way things were.

However, I brush regularly and don't have too rancid of breath and no green teeth yet but I didn't doubt I had a cavity or 6 lying around in my mouth. And since I have fabulous insurance now I decided, now's as good of a time as any to get started fixing everything.

I went to a doctor a friend of mine recommended last year. I also used to do yoga with the denists daughter so I figured he had to be nice because she was always so nice too.

I was asked to bring in my toothbrush and when I got there was asked several questions on tooth care and what not. Thoughrougly embarrasing.

Dental Hygenist (DH): How many times do you brush a day?
Me: (proudly) Two, at least. (on most days if I haven't fallen asleep exhausted but
who would blame me?)
DH: Do you feel that you get your back teeth properly brushed?
Me: Um, I try... but maybe not always.
DH: (Writes notes in my file) Mmm hmm, I can see you have cavities in
in your back teeth. Your tooth brush head is too big.

She comes back later and demonstates how I should brush my teeth with the itty bitty brush she gifts to me. She says, 'it's not that hard right?' as if to offer encouragement. (Really a sweet guesture, but half sarcastic if you ask me.) And then reports her findings to the dentist.

He comes over nods and preceeds to inquire more about my tooth. 'Why do you think you have cavities?' Because I like sweets was apparently not a sufficient enough of an answer as I was asked how many sweets I ate, what kind of sweets I ate, why I ate sweets and if I thought I could curb my behavior and if there was any other thing that could possibly lead to my teeth problems. I sullenly replied, beer and other alcohol, so we would do down that what kind of alcohol road and hopefully not repeat the kind of questions he asked for the sweets. He just nods and writes on my chart.

I can't believe it. I feel like I'm 4 and have just pulled the cat's tail and got caught or something. I'm actually hanging my head and avoiding eye contact. I tell myself to stop, but I just can't. Thank God they decided to move on before I start to cry. He really is a good dentist. He tells me my fillings need to be replaced because they are made from Mercury (NOT GOOD!) and that it's not healthy. I agree and tell him to please do all of them over. He only filled one tooth, but he didn't even give me novacaine! It didn't really hurt! He did something with metal, I don't know what but I swear the pain was minimal. Did I mention he's a healer too? I had to do something with a laser and a box at the end but supposidly I was all balanced afterwards.

I like holistic medicine and believes it works, so bring on the healing dentists. I go back tomorrow, hopefully things go well and I can keep eye contact.

Viet nam

2006-05-10T22:54:00.000-07:00

Vietnam is a beautiful country. I dare say it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been in Asia. Parts of it had rolling fields of greens which reminded me of the tea fields all around me. Although, it's difficult to appreciate them when you feel like your boobs are gonna bounce straight off your chest while you ride on the bumpiest road you've ever encountered.

There are gorgeous caves. These caves were created by the decending dragons that protected Halong Bay.

Boats waiting in the bay are awaiting people in the bay and
take you back to a time where you can just see pirates alive
and well with hooks and all their burliness.

We slept on the boat which I recommend doing after you've drunk some delicious Vietnamese wine because apparently there are creepy crawlies all over your room. Eh well, just stay in a wine-induced sleep and you'll be fine.

Motorbikes and incessent honking make crossing the street exciting in Hanoi. Life buzzes on the street as it's the happening place to be. Smells of food, petrol, bread and so many unknowns sometime lead the way when looking for adventure.

Adventurers seek food and drink.

Mission accomplished.

Next one is to have clothes made. Submission: Look great while becoming broke.
Again, mission accomplished. Sorry you didn't get to see the clothes, but trust me they're great.

Did I mention how beautiful Vietnam was? This is China beach, about 7km from the city of Danang and one of the nicest beaches I've ever been to. Never would have guessed it was a killing zone, acting as a base for the Vietcong. Later on it was one of the places where the boat people fled from the terror of the Vietnam War. Today it is one of Vietnam's luxury beaches. Strange events, strange ending. Far off in the distance were the Marble mountains where according to the tiger balm girl, is full of monkeys. Didn't have the chance to see it. Maybe next time.

Sorry so many pictures, there are so many more I'd like to share, maybe I'll stick them up somewhere. Til next time. Miss ya'll.

Leaving on a jet plane..

2006-04-25T07:32:00.000-07:00

Yessirrie-bob,I'm getting me the hell outta this place for a little bit at the very least. The day after tomorrow I'm headed off to Vietnam, land that Americans, French and several other cultures tried to dominate and take over but failed miserably. *Sigh* I can't wait!!!!!!!!! I'm headed off this time not for my health so much as my sanity with my South African friend, Busi and my Scottish friend, Lisa, so we'll see if the sanity comes back intact. Love you everyone! Besos and Abrazos!

Nekkid butts and other sorts of strange things

2006-04-16T18:28:00.000-07:00

I like nekkie butts and I cannot lie...

What to do when you're bored and have sticky skin.

Best chicken ever!!!!

Scooby-doo, Where are you?

Un día gris

2006-04-09T21:34:00.000-07:00

el día es gris
como mis pensamientos
una ráfaga de viento me golpe
se pasa de un lado al otro
es como yo soy una tela
deshaciéndose en el aire

el frio no me toca
no siento nada físico
menos las convulsiones
involuntarias de me cuerpo
no puedo parar lo

algo me sigue
me ha seguido
por mucho tiempo ya
veo algo lejos
pero es una visión
no muy clara
mis ojos van fallándome

ya viene la niebla
huelo el aire
pesado
me llena con ansia
y a la vez náusia
con quién me confío ahora

Cleanse yourself, buddy!

2006-04-09T05:28:00.000-07:00

Right now I'm on day 12 of a 28 day cleanse. In Japanese this translates to I'm on a diet, much to my irritation. During the time I've been on this cleanse, there has been two work parties (enkai). Enkais are essentially a big overpriced party where over-stressed and over-worked teachers get to drink their ass off with their co-workers in the the spirit of go-team-go-ness. I really can't stand these things but there is a few perks to going.

1.You have teachers talk to you that you've never talked to before because they are afraid of you and embarrassed of their English but now since they're liquored they're courageous.

2.You get to find out some teachers actually speak English.

3.You find out how many people know your name.

4.The next day at work everyone is super friendly and acknowledges the fact you went as a sign of you becoming one of them.

5.You get to catch up on all the gossip at school.

6.You get to try new and exciting meats or veggies like raw whale (I didn't eat it though, po' lil' whales) or sea cucumber (strange texture, tastes bland).

7.I get to practice the school song.

8.You get asked questions or get complimented in ways which are hilarious.

(Your boobs stick out at least 5 cms!Does you bra have padding*poke, poke*Wow, bouncy too!)

At the beginning each enkai you have to kampai (to toast, say cheers). But I couldn't drink which prompted many teachers to worry, 'Why Sarah-sensei? Are you okay?' I'm not a lush (not anymore) but the fact I can drink as much as most men here (over two beers) without turning red makes me quite the oddity. Thus making me a challenge. How many beers can she drink? I usually just nurse beers and watch the show of drunken teachers, semi-entertaining. However, before I could even answer the question, the PE teacher I sit next to yells from the next row over, 'she's on a diet!' Oh God. So that teacher sits there and asks me wide-eyed, fifty million questions about my "diet."

In a society that is very much diet conscience, but not necessarily health concienence at the same time, it's crazy frustrating to try to say, I want to be healthy and if I lose weight too hey great but it's not that important to me. All they hear is "lose weight"- wow that's great. Anyway, all conversations that night were of my diet and strangely I became a diet advisor. I gave advice such as try to exersice at least 30 mins a day, even if it's just walking or try not eating fried foods or sweets too often. The most common response I got was 'hueee!' (wow!) It was like I was giving them answers from above. I tried to explain how the main reason I was doing this was to feel healthy again.

Yes, Japan has lots of healthy food, but they also have loads of unhealthy food which run rampantly around taunting me. I can be strong willed when I need to be but damn it's easy to not be. When I came back from Thailand I was hard press to think of a time before then that when I felt that healthy. I kept at it for a while actually, but I got busy at work, got tired and would let it slip a little and then a little more and then a little more. I stopped and said 'nuf 's 'nuf. I started to change it all and my attitude and again I feel good.

I have an audience for my cleanse now and really that's helpful because it ain't easy doing this on my own without people and without gorgeous sun, the sea, my own gorgeous silver fox of a yoga instructor- *sigh.* Some people I've told about the products are agree with the logic of doing a cleanse. I mean, if your sewer is clogged and backed up, your apartment's gonna stink, no? This isn't a case of so you don't think your sh*t don't stink, 'cause we have stinkers- I'm just stating the obvious. I think of it as just helping the natural plumbing along. If anyone wants to check out the site where I got the products it's http://www.ariseandshine.com I would recommend it highly for those who need a plan to start themselves off in a healthy way. Enough healthy talk, time to go cleanse the bowels. Ewww...

The RS Project

2006-03-29T16:27:00.000-08:00

It was a gorgeous day outside. The sun was shining, crows were cawing (we don't really have song birds around), sakura (cherry blossoms) were blooming and I feel faaabulous!!!

Yesterday my plan went into action. I previously incoherently babbled on how I had partially activated it, but now it's going full blow, balls to the wall. I shall call it the RS project. Before I didn't really reveal anything and I'm still not going to, but I will say I'm feeling better and whatever I'm doing now is all for the betterment of my health both mentally and physically. I know I'm still not making any sense but you'll just have to trust me.

I'm really looking forward to my vaction at the end of this month. I have been doing quite a lot lately.

I participated in a trivia contest and got 4th or 5th, I'm not sure. This is my team. You'd think with all the sluth ability we'd have done better. But we tried our best, maybe cartoon skills don't apply to real world...

I went to Nagoya to visit my second family. We ate the most delicious chicken I've ever had. We got eggs from a vending machine, too.They tried to kill me by over feeding me. After I took my shower on the day I left, they had a wonderful breakfast set out for me. Oh but wait- breakfast isn't complete without a beer. One of the few times I've actually drank a beer before 10am. But I did enjoy it... I miss them a lot.

I also went shopping with a South African queen and had a fabulous rainy day. Got the cutest tank top for cheeeap! Also I got to see a ramen dragon, totally worth the drive out to the outlet store.

On my home, home front there is some news.
My niece turned 4 years old!!!!! Yea, Megan! I miss you tons and I hope you don't forget me.
Love you!

Anyway, that's the end of this update. Hope you are all okay and doing well back home. Miss you, too!

Today's Happy Thought

2006-03-22T18:11:00.000-08:00

Is it any wonder why I love this comic?

Reach out and hug someone

2006-03-21T20:19:00.000-08:00

Okay, cheesy but cute and it gets my point across... What's my point you say? Hugs are important. Touch is important. I think as adults we forget that sometimes because we need space, we are too busy, we don't like to be close to others in that way. Yet, inside there are so many people who go around feeling lonely and empty and don't know why. I'm not suggesting hugs or touch is the answer to depression, but is the idea that a hug or a simple pat on someone's shoulder could help ease it? I don't think it's that far fetched to suggest that.

Of course, there are creepy huggers and touchy people. I can't explain what would make someone a creepy hugger/toucher, but they exist and they just freak people out. So if everyone you hug pulls away, discuss your creepy hugging with someone to help you be less creepy. Some people say Japan is a place where everyone keeps to themselves. There is no touching of others unless absolutely avoidable. I thought this was mostly true until I met older Japanese folk and started to hang-out with little kids. It's amazing how much I've learned from kids and old people.

Driving to lunch today I was stopped at a light when I noticed two little old ladies on bikes stopped at the corner. I saw the the younger little old lady pat the older lady on the head and gave her shoulder a squeeze. The older lady's face just lit up. I thought about why the first old lady would do that in a place that is so PDA-phobic. Maybe she was having a bad day and her friend was telling her it was okay, maybe she was congratulating her on something, maybe she said something silly, maybe she gave her friend a compliment, so many things were possible. I find that old people here just like little kids are less afraid of touching people because they don't care about other people so much. They see someone who is sad or happy or just there and they'll hug or pat or touch whatever and whomever they see fit.

After I saw these little old ladies, I got slightly homesick, or hugsick maybe. What I wouldn't do for a hug from my momma or my nieces. My youngest niece turns four this Sunday. She and her sister are super huggy people. I really miss that. Meanwhile I'll just have to settle hugging the hell out of my friends here. I like the fact that Japanese people are more willing to touch me here because they see it in the movies and believe it's western culture. It's cute that they are so curious. I've been told by some Japanese friends of mine that they didn't liked to be touched before but now that they have met so many foreigners they love getting hugs and wish it was a custom here too. It makes me feel good inside but a little sad for them too. Sometimes you just need someone to reach out to you. So, I encourage everyone to try and give a non-creepy hug/two-handed handshake/pat on the shoulder/pinch to someone's cheeks/ half-hug/or whatever you can think of to those around you because you never know who's day it might brighten up.

Ode to Fura

2006-03-12T16:37:00.000-08:00

Spring can definitely make you nostalgic. My fondest memories of spring involve being 16 and running around in Fura de Milo, my whale of a car. Most of the time I was with my three best friends acting like a complete idiot, but God it was fun. Let's see if we can go down a hill with Francesca hanging on to the hood of the car, how many hours do I have to spend waxing the back seat of the car so I could take sharp turns and make my friends slide into the harder than hell steel door and each other, let's see if we can make the racists cops think we're drug dealers by putting our pagers on the visors and get ourselves pulled over in Selah by acting normal and driving the speed limit, 25 mph- okay so that wasn't planned but none the less became an interesting story later on . I thoroughly enjoyed watching all three friends fight over and using rock, paper, scissors to finally settle who got the other seat belt in the car. Good times.

Then there was the Easter my mom and brother Jaime were gonna go out for a picnic, but it began to rain so we had the picnic in the car comfortably instead. My 1964 Plymouth Fury, with its push button automatic, 318 engine, in-dash tissue box holder, shiny mopar parts, which was more beautiful than the one pictured above , was my dream car and always will be. It saved my life and ended it's own tragically life. I will love you forever, Fura.

Watchu talkin' 'bout Willis?

2006-02-28T22:25:00.000-08:00

I'm so damn restless.. I have a plan in my head that was partially enacted today (wow, that sounds so movie-sque) but I still have a long way to go. However, the wheels they have started a turnin', my friend. I took a little time off from thinking and doing stuff like just being normal and stuff while I was sick, but no longer!!!!!!!! I mean I'm still sick... but no more excuses! Sticker chart here I come!!

I don't want to say the plan outloud because then I have to stick to it and I need something else first to ensure that I can do the first part. Does that make any sense? No, it doesn't. Man, antibiotics mess with your head.

I've been quite homesick lately. Maybe it's the fact there is no decent coffee shops around and it's raining. Maybe I've eaten too much dairy lately. Maybe it's because it doesn't seem like anyone from home misses me but my momma, I'm not sure. Thus the plan will make all this other stuff go away- the gunk, the ick, the general malaise that sits like butter in the air. That's it folks, the hamster is no longer a prisioner to the wheel, maybe the hamster just fell really hard, no matter, Hammy's no longer anyone's bitch. Nothin' but nuts baby, nothin' but nuts.

Danger Will Robinson, danger, danger...

2006-02-27T02:55:00.000-08:00

Oh my god! Joyfull's meat sauce spaghetti should be avoided at all costs. The ramifications could injure your insides permanently. That's all I have to say about that.

BEWARE OF MEAT IN A CAN!!!!! It'll make you cry.

Po' me

2006-02-25T21:00:00.000-08:00

Ugh, I'm sick. I'm a tissue-packing-snot-making-old-man-hacking-up-junk-vicks-toting-tea-drinking-all-day-pajama-wearing sick girl. I think I got sick by sitting in doctor's office trying to help a friend out by interpreting, but I forgot to bring a mask in with me to protect me from overly active and very potent children/old people sick germs which were also waiting in the doctor's office for an hour and a half.

What I wouldn't give for some tomato soup and a cheese sandwich. I've been pretty lazy lately not really wanting to get out and do things required to go out. Such as... showering, changing my clothes, brushing my hair, etc...

Do you blame me? This is me waking up after a sick nap, covered in blankets and vick's- momma's cure-all. Cuteness epitomized I'm sure, but I believe I should that kind of cuteness should be left to the home.

Besides my temporary sickness, I have had some good times recently and of course I have pictures to prove it.

Just a little bit ago, my good friend Badsha had a birthday party. Here she is with her and her man Eric. So cute, no? Anyway, here are pictures to prove what a good time was had.

You know it's a good time when you start making faces like this...

Or this...

Or look as cute as this...

Or group photos look like this, when you've tried to pose...

And when you have photos taken of yourself where you think you look good, but you come out looking like this...

Good times, good times...

Bah-Cupid..

2006-02-14T02:09:00.000-08:00

Well, it's Valentine's day here in Japan and it's a strange day indeed. It's not where I thought I would be this year, this time, but whatever. I just wanted to say inspite of the fact I hate this holiday, I love a lot of people; people whom I didn't have pictures of either, so I hope you all know that. I know it's corny, but I decided I'm gonna treat all holidays like my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving and give thanks to the people I care about both near and far. Love you all and I miss you more than I can show or else I'd be a crying mess all the time. Hope you have a good day, may you have sunshine and rainbows coming out of orafices you normally have bad stuff coming out of.

All my love,

sarah

2006-02-14T02:06:00.001-08:00

Ashley

2006-02-14T02:06:00.000-08:00

Mu-chan

2006-02-14T02:05:00.000-08:00

Yuko

2006-02-14T02:04:00.000-08:00

Letisha

2006-02-14T02:02:00.000-08:00

Chris and Carmen

2006-02-13T23:43:00.000-08:00

Sarah and Niq

2006-02-13T23:39:00.000-08:00

Sleeping Uma

2006-02-13T23:38:00.002-08:00

Francesca-bo-besca

2006-02-13T23:38:00.001-08:00

Rosie

2006-02-13T23:38:00.000-08:00

Kammiline

2006-02-13T23:37:00.000-08:00

Crazy people who live here.

2006-02-13T23:35:00.003-08:00

Yuritzi