That's what it's all about!

Friday, after handing over a frackin' huge pile of cash (I really should have taken a picture of me rolling around in it beforehand), I got the key to my new place! It looked much better with the late afternoon sun slanting through the windows than it did when B1 and I visited the first time, on a grey and rainy day. It also smelled better, since the tatami weren't so damp, or maybe I was just predisposed to find everything wonderful, since it's now My Place, as opposed to A Place I Might Rent. At any rate, new tatami are being put in this week, so I'll wait before pronouncing a final verdict regarding the smell. In the meantime, excuse the poor quality of my cell phone picutres and ( have a look: )

The moving company sent 20 boxes over, and I've already filled 5. I'm aiming to do at least 5 more today, mostly the rest of my sewing stuff and non-essentials, and leave the clothes/toiletries/computer for the last minute. I think a whole box is going to be just shoes. >_<

When I was listing the Good Things about Kichijouji, I completely forgot to mention that the burger place in the station has poutine on the menu.

Allow me to repeat that, because I had to read it over twice myself when I saw it:

They have poutine on the menu.

I haven't tried it yet, but -- THEY HAVE POUTINE ON THE MENU.

*glee*

I've eaten poutine in Japan once before*, at a Canadian pub in Shibuya (called the Maple Leaf, I think?), but it was made with grated mozarella and thus wasn't proper poutine, so I'm not expecting miracles from this place. Who knows if you can even get proper cheese curds that go "squeek squeek" in Japan? Still, poutine!

Mmm, poutine...

Last week I went out for karaoke with my coworkers. After three hours of belting out songs in English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Spanish and Romanian -- and all getting up on the sofas for "Dancing Queen" -- we thought it about time to head home, and after a glance and a grin at each other, all launched into the "Goodbye Song", which we sing with the children before sending them off at the end of the day. Ah, what working with kids will do to you... :)

And speaking of kids and singing, I was completely unprepared for the feeling of nostalgia that welled up within me the first time I did the Hokey Pokey with my class. Because seriously, that song rocks.

* Outside of Canada -- and yes, it's a Quebec delicacy, but it's spread! :D~ -- I also saw it on a menu in the U.S. once, somewhere in the Midwest, at a Wendy's. It seemed to be some sort of new special item, so I don't know if it ever took off, but you'd think fries smothered in cheese and gravy would catch on in the States, no?

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It's sort of pathetic, but at the moment, I'm inordinately pleased with myself for having made soup. But a girl can't live on combini burgers and instant yakisoba alone, even if she occasionally switches it up with discounted depaato sushi*.

Filled up some more boxes and started disassembling my shelves. If I could, I'd put aside some clothes to wear this week and just pack everything else, but the weather's been so inconsistent lately that I'd rather not chance it.

Having my brother here was so much fun that I'm sad he's gone, but I won't let that stop me from proding him along in his love of Prince of Tennis. It's a bit tougher now, since we hardly ever manage to be on line at the same time (when I'm on, he's either sleeping, at work or out), so I've enlisted my mother to help. Her first instructions were, "Ask him if he thought Japan was sugoi," and she reported that he laughed and said it was.

For my next sneak attack, I've told her that when she next makes smoothies, she should present him his glass while saying it's her new Super Ultra Deluxe Hyper Golden Remix Neo (or any order of those words). I can't wait to hear what he'll say to that! :D

* While watching the Ouran High School Host Club episode in which Tamaki is horrified at the thought of poor Haruhi thinking that supermarket sushi is as good as it gets, I was all, "...what's wrong with supermarket sushi?" XD Fine, the supermarket sushi I've had wasn't so great, but Matsuya's stuff is quite edible, and Lawson's negitoro maki are not bad.