blodeuedd

[ETA: One more picture, which I forgot to include.]

When I manage to get to bed at a reasonable hour, it's a chore to drag myself out of it as early as I'd like. And then when I let myself go to bed later, planning on sleeping in, I'm wide awake at 6:20 and am unable to fall asleep again. Sigh.

Perhaps I shouldn't complain, because the reason I couldn't get back to sleep (in spite of Tabitha being warm and purry beside me) is because after yesterday, my brain is fired up and unable to stop.

I know I keep saying, "I'll post about this next time," and I really mean to, but oftentimes I don't, or it gets delayed indefinitely. Perhaps it's because I feel I don't want to be spammy and post long entries about stuff that others might not be interested in. I figure if I only post long entries once in a while, there's more chance they'll be read. ^_^; Anyway, I really want to write about creativity, and the whole creative process, because after a good creative week, yesterday was almost too much for my little mind to handle. Or maybe it was all the fabric fumes*. At any rate, Kimberly and Jamie are both very creative in very different ways, and it was a joy to spend the day bouncing ideas off other people, making stuff, talking about making stuff, and sort of casually brainstorming.

But first, as promised, pictures**! For pictures of Tabitha, my completed dress, my not-yet-completed dress, and miniature fruit, it's this-a-way: ( Also my chest -- go ahead and laugh, Jill! XD )

That's it for now, folks. I swear, within the week I will write about:

- Tenimyu
- creativity
- a really cool izakaya I went to in April
- OMG I'm going to Korea for a day! :D

* I'm somewhat allergic to the chemicals that are used at the end of the fabric-making process, which is one of the reasons I always wash my fabric before using it. Something that I've been working with must not have been washed, because I'm feeling distinctly asthmatic, which only happens when I'm with Siamese cats, or using fabric that's still factory-fresh. And I know it's not the damp, because even though it's been grey and drizzly, the air isn't damp enough to make my hair start to curl.

** And this is where I visit my Photobucket account and see that, hey, there are pictures and video I uploaded over a month ago that still haven't been shared with the world! -___-;

Can one go into cheese withdrawal, I wonder?

So for the past three nights, I've gone to bed between 11:40 and midnight, and each night I've woken up at exactly 0:40. And I don't know why.

I got an email from my aunt this morning, regarding my posts about Vienna: Your pix are great! I just find it hilarious that my 67-year-old aunt actually typed "pix". XDDD

And now for the story of the reasons behind my brief life sans internet, in case you cared. ^.^ ( Boring story goes here. )

In other news, I've got the travel bug, and I've got it bad. Sunday, Emily and I met up for our first strategic planning session of our Assault on China*, and there was much poring over the map, much discussion about means of transportation, and pondering what we were going to eat. In China, not at the restaurant.

Today I went to a travel agency to look into tickets, and we are nearly booked! I go back tomorrow to pay for them. And then I get to go crazy looking for info about travelling in China! :D

Also coming up is my blink-and-you'll-miss-it trip to Korea with Eda, which will be very, very exciting. And spicy. And hopefully full of fabulous, cheap shoes. :DDD Damn, I have to get in gear to keep my promises to Haengbok-sshi, or Eda's gonna make me some more Inui juice! D:

All right, bed time!

I'm feeling way too chipper about everything. ^_^;

* We need an official name for our trip. Journey to the West would be appropriate, no? XD

I don't have to leave for another ten minutes, and I'm all ready. The hell? XD

Brief recap of the past few days:

- Got a sweet letter from rynn_sama -- thanks! <3
- Made Eda brew me some Inui juice at Royal Host, because I slightly failed at keeping my bedtime/rising time resolution. I only drank half of it, since I figured it was only a minor infraction, and also because it was totally gross. In case you're wondering, melon soda + ice coffee + orange juice = green and foamy and sludgy.
- Bought what must be the fiercest footwear I've ever owned as a reward for keeping up my studying every day this week (except the day I was sick). I'm going to have the sexiest in feet in Europe! ^o^
- Got a 4GB memory card for my camera -- Tokyo folks, they're on sale for about Y1,950 at Yodobashi.

I think that's it? All the important stuff, anyway. Have a great Golden Week, be good while I'm gone! ^_~

The day I went to Ome to see the plum trees this year happened to be the 14th of March, which is White Day, and also the anniversary of my divorce. In a happy coincidence, I had some coupons for 50% off a large dessert at Coco's (the family restaurant, not the curry place!), so Kimberly, Jamie and I decided to go stuff our faces after having admired the natural beauty of the blossoms.

( Happy White Day/Divorce Day! )

In other news, I almost succeeded in doing all of Inui-sensei's exercises correctly this evening! I was doing so well, until I screwed up on the last glissade-assemblé bit. But still, it was a victory for me to managed those passé jumps. For once, I didn't look like a spastic frog doing them. XD Also, Inui-sensei has stopped trying to pull my ribcage up past my shoulders, so presumably my posture has improved to his satisfaction. Now he comes around mainly to re-angle my hips and to poke my lower abdomen, to get me to tighten the muscles there. Mada mada da ne...

I've just eaten a slice of the blackberry pie Jamie and I made the other day, and it's time to get myself to bed. Sweet (blackberry) dreams, everyone! ^_~

Looking through the pictures after the fact, I noticed that of all the food we consumed, there was barely any pictoral evidence, at least on my camera. If anyone else has some, please share, especially if it involves YES!! post-cooking but pre-eating.

Apart from YES!!, we had: salad and dressing made by Emily; ham and fried okra, provided by Kimberly; Swedish meatballs as well as baked zucchini and eggplant with cheese on top, courtesy of Jamie; shepherd's pie, a joint effort by me and Alexis (well, he brought the can of creamed corn from Canada XD); bread, cheese and crackers brought by William; yummy Vietnamese snacky things from Kira; potatoes mashed by Imo-hime (Tiffany); my sangria; rice cooker cookies made by Sarah; Eda's amaaaaaaazing lemon poppy seed cake and another cake whose name I can't remember but was also very yummy; apple slices (and Peeps!) dipped in chocolate, brainchild of Jamie. Am I forgetting anything? @__@

At some point during the proceedings, Kira and Alexis discovered their common heritage. Said William, "That's the first time I've ever witnessed a spontaneous high five in the wild."

( Bon appétit! )

And that's it! I had so much fun, and I'm really glad that everyone else seemed to enjoy themselves as well. I love you guys! <3

So I could write up a long, detailed account of Easter in Mitaka, complete with insightful commentary and recipes and... oh, who am I kidding, we all just want the pictures posted as soon as possible, right? So here is part I of III, with a sprinkling of words for good measure.

( Herein lies Easter )


And that was Part I! Stay tuned for Part II and Part III, featuring more pretty girls, cheese, YES!!, boobs, and KKKitteh!

Here's what I looked like today:

( Mug shot! )

For a photobooth picture, I think it's quite a good one! Very European-looking. The dark smudges under my eyes are proof that I fail at removing make-up -- those are the remains of yesterday's mascara. At least my hair turned out more or less the way I wanted it to. ^_^ But is it just me, or is my hairline oddly uneven?

The picture was for my international driver's license, which was the quickest, most painless bureaucratic experience I've ever had in Japan. Once I'd walked the hour and ten minutes or so it took to get to the Fuchuu* licensing bureau from my apartment, I was in and out of there in under ten minutes with my new license. I almost came. ;___; (tears of joy)

Anyway, I showed the picture to a few people, who commented thusly: Tiffany said I looked like an international spy; Emily said I looked like a French actress; Eda said, without hearing Emily's comment, that I looked like I should be in a French movie. XD What do you think?

Later in the day, after a Very Large Meal (will post with pictures another time), when I was contemplating the fruit at the grocery store, a Russian man asked me, in Russian, whether I was Russian. At least, I'm assuming that's what it meant, since I didn't have a handy Eda with me to translate. All I heard was, "[insert Russian sounds here] Ruski?" He took my confused expression and my "I'm sorry, I don't understand," as a "No," smiled, and walked off.

* Fuchuuuuu! Almost as fun to say as Beppuuuuu!

( I like crossing stuff out! )

So, yes, more Chinese Prince of Tennis! I honestly don't know why they're bothering writing in some sort-of-maybe-could-be romance between Long Ma and Xiao Ying, because the Golden Pair provide all the rabu-rabu you need in a show that's supposedly about tennis. Though they're mad at each other, and Ju Wan is kind of a dick (not waking Da Shi up when he overslept), as soon as he hears Da Shi is sick, he runs back to the dorm to take care of him. Then they reminisce about when they met, and we get flashbacks to them as dorky first-years, complete with their first meeting. "OMG, you play tennis too?! <3" I really wish I had subs for this part, because from what I understand, Da Shi wants to play doubles, but Ju Wan doesn't want to, so sets up some kind of challenge, like "I'll be your partner if you can do ____." But I could be totally off base. WANT SUBS! At any rate, dorky-wants-to-be-Ju-Wan's-partner-so-badly!Da Shi = <3

This week has been spent recovering from the combination of last week's allergies/cold/whatever the hell it was, and last weekend's road trip. On Tuesday, my body was too tired to survive ballet class, so I invited Jamie over for hotpot. Wednesday, I formally welcomed Alex back to Tokyo by watching him devour an enormous bowl of ramen, then initiating him into the mysteries of the family restaurant and the drink bar. Yesterday I went to ballet class (Inui-sensei's stretching exercises are starting to pay off!), as I did tonight. Tomorrow is my school's graduation ceremony, then Laura's farewell dinner in Shibuya -- not to be confused with her farewell lunch, which will be on Sunday.

I need to get up early tomorrow, and I have to hang up my laundry before going to bed, but I just wanted you all to know that I've almost completed one line on my travel post sticker chart! One more post, and I get to buy myself a scrumptious little bit of heavenly pastry. I can't wait! ^o^

This morning, I received what is probably my favourite email, ever. Someone (not someone I know, or at least I hope!) commented on a picture on my Travelpod. A picture I took and posted over 4 years ago. They said: you look not so good.

It's not even a picture of me! XD



I've been busy lately, and there are about a thousand things I want to share with you all, but for now, I just need to write a bit about what I did on Saturday, since I haven't laughed so much in a long time. In fact, it's probably illegal to have so much fun helping a friend move, so shhh, don't tell the authorities!

Anyway, Jill and I helped Eda move from Nakano to Nippori, because she decided she no longer wanted to be part of the West Tokyo Crew. ;__; I'd reserved the van from 11:30 to 9:00 and in spite of the rain*, we made fantastic time, getting the move done in just 2 trips, with a long break for lunch at Coco's, during which we helped Eda work out some details for the doujinshi she's going to draw. Seriously, it's going to be the best thing ever. Come on, admit it, you've always wanted to see the tenipuri boys on ice! XDDD

Jill and I are going to start our own moving company, Gaijin Girl Movers. I'll handle the driving and the logistics (what goes in the van when, etc.), and Jill will guard the van, pack the stuff in and assemble any furniture that needs assembling. Our motto? Yudan sezu ni ikou, bitches!

The navigation system in the van had us using surface streets the whole way, and traffic was surprisingly light. I got to honk at a twit on a bicycle who was in the middle of my lane and wearing earphones. We all misread Gokokuji as "Gekokujou", and somehow, each time, the 50-minute drive seemed to go by in the blink of an eye.

The first time I turned into the little street that leads to the even littler alley where Eda now lives, a purple-haired obaasan was selling vegetables from a truck, and her customers were blocking the road. I inched the van forward, waiting for them to get the hint and move out of the way already, and was given the dirtiest look I think I've ever received, courtesy of ol' pickled nasu face lady. Then, as Jill and I were running things into the building, we "met" one of Eda's neighbours, who will ever be Mr. Disgruntled to me. I mean, if you were about to go out, and a girl were struggling to get two unwieldly pieces of furniture up the step, you'd probably offer her a hand, if only so you could get to your shoes faster, right? Not this guy; Sourpuss just stood there, staring, as Jill finally got the pieces of the bed up from the genkan.

Once everything was inside, we helped Eda at least clear some space on her floor. Jill set to work assembling things, helped by Eda's Tool Bag of Manliness, and I piled things up in the corner. We did pretty good work, and since we had to get the van back from whence it had come, we opted for dinner in Nakano. An izakaya beckoned, and it was with great amusement that we watched Eda get tipsy on practically no alcohol at all! I actually had the most to drink of all of us, since Jill gave me her first drink, as she didn't like the taste.

It's a shame I didn't have my camera with me, but I didn't want to have to carry anything around, so here are some crappy shots from my phone. ( Click! )

* Note that I am more than happy to help a friend move by driving the van, but I seem to bring bad weather with me the first time 'round. With Jamie it was hail, with Becca it was a downpour, this time it was miserable drizzle. But the second time with Jamie, it was a gorgeous, sunny day. Second time's a charm? ^.^

I celebrated Valentine's Day marathoning movie/television adaptations of the works of Jane Austen with nekonezumi, akahannah, lizstarsky and later_uk. Pictures will come at a later date. ^_^

In the meantime, in honour of the snow that may or may not fall tonight, here are some pictures from a couple of weeks ago, when I awoke to a very unusual sight. ( Snow day! )

In case anyone was wondering about my back, there is now a hole in it, where the mole used to be. It's smaller than the mole was, since it's mostly healed, but the skin hasn't closed up completely yet. It'll probably take a few more days, maybe a week. It doesn't hurt at all (good!) and I can take normal showers again, and apart from covering it up for ballet class (went back tonight after over two weeks away, let's see how Inui-sensei's new stretching exercises leave me feeling tomorrow! XD), I can go about my life as though nothing had happened.