Teriyaki Zen

My latest adventure

2005-10-30T11:15:00.000+09:00

Ah, the hills Tohoku. To be more specific, the mountains of Yamagata. This week I took a short journey to the north in Honshu island, and visited some cities with ancient pasts, matched with gorgeous landscape. The trip was amazing (and expensive) and worth all the train hopping I had to do in order to get to some of these places. Now most tourists don't visit the Tohoku region because of its remote atmosphere. Also, there isn't much claim to fame in this place. However, one of my favorite poets, Matsuo Basho, traveled to this place and wrote about it in his famed Oku no Hosomichi.

It's always great to read about something in a text and then see it for real in a different text (i.e. the actual historical setting). My journey took me from Basho's birthplace in Iga Ueno, and ended at his burial site in Otsu. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole vacation, and would love to do it again. It almost seemed like a field trip that some literature class would take. Of course I did some extra things like climbing a few mountains. Hey, here's me at the top of Mt. Zao--1841 meters! It was a great feeling to finally get to the top. I met some nice Japanese people, one of whom spoke English quite well. I need to send her some pictures!

Must have vacation!!!

2005-10-18T02:25:00.000+09:00

As I sit here on my bed, laptop in my lap, I keep thinking that I need to turn in and get some sleep so I can wake up in 6 hours and do it all again...teaching English. But alas! My day of NOva has arrived. Seriously, the company is making me retarded in so many bad ways. I actually sit at my booth and play with my chapstick (I have severely chapped lips right now; in fact, I look like one of those kids who drinks cherry Kool-aid compulsively). If not playing with the Blistex, I try to rotate my chair with only my body force (look mom, no legs!). Most of my lessons I do everything I can just to stay off camera so the students do not get discouraged looking at my morose posture and grim mug.

Recently I have been ruminating over the idea of leaving and moving on with my plans to be a professional filmmaker. The other day I was sitting in my favorite katsudon place, eating some chicken katsu and reading my copy of Rebel Without a Crew, and I could not believe how easy it seemed for him (Robert Rodriguez). I mean, it wasn't easy, but it just seems like he had more connections to his advantage and I have none at this point. He also made a good point (among many) about getting your foot in the door in that business. He made me realize that, without any practice or hands on experience, I won't amount to much to any film companies or distributors, and they will simply throw me out on my ass. So I cannot screw up that important moment in my life that has yet to come.

Still, I find myself in a quagmire of what to do next. My options are pretty open, but I'm still down to save more money while I'm here. I need to exercise patience and focus as I press on through this horrid nightmare of a job. It's not so bad from an outsider's prospective, but once you are in this job long enough, it becomes painful to smile...even to co-workers. I'm tired of teaching the same shit everyday. The only thing that makes it bearable are the students...at times. The other night I had a student, Natsumi. Natsumi, in her elder wisdom, told me about the things she does in her free time: teaching English to the elderly, holding art therapy classes for people who have frustration in their life. It was wonderful to know that there is someone out there making good use of his/her time. Meanwhile I sit in my booth, continuing to fret about my future and freaking out over a goal I haven't really hammered out yet.

After speaking to Natsumi, and a recent tarot reading I had, I decided my much needed vacation was well warranted. I will be off to the Tohoku region within a week's time, hopefully hiking and basking of the glory of Japan's autumn splendor, and finding my center. I will also be taking my journal with me and a copy of Basho's Narrow Road to the Deep North. Haiku time!

Joyous Japanese cuisine!

2005-10-01T23:46:00.000+09:00

I'm finally going to be able to make something other than ramen, udon, and rice! Recently, my fellow Nova colleague Heather and I went to a cooking class in Saidera (Osaka suburb in the northern hills, really cool place!)

After spending 35 minutes on the train, 1 hour waiting for a bus to show up, and 15 minutes riding the bus, we still were not there. We then had to walk 10 minutes through a neighborhood until we got to the place. It was all worth it though.

At the class there were some other students (all women except for me), all coming from different parts of the world. They all spoke English, except for the cooks who were native to Japan. They are learning the language though, so it makes a good exchange for me since I'm and honing my chef boyardee skillz. The first day we made pork rolls, using marinated pork and fresh vegetables such as daikon (Japanese radish--very tasty). Kinoki gohan (rice dish with 4 different types of mushrooms) was also on the menu, as was a soup of which I can't remember the name. Heather took the recipe and was apparently too busy reading her book about valley girls to make me a copy. But I will get it soon, and then will probably try to make one of those dishes. I checked out prices at Super Tamade (24 HOUR SUPA CENTA, and the sponsor of this blog) and the ingredients seemed to be reasonable and inexpensive.

Anyway, even though we only had an hour there since we were late, it was still an enjoyable morning. The discussion we had was great, and I even got to practice my Japanese a little too. I look forward to the next class, on Oct. 14th. Here's a picture of the finished product!

Feel the nano of my pod

2005-09-12T02:58:00.000+09:00

That's right boys and girls! It's a 2 Gig! Yay, I'm so happy, as I cradled it in the palm of my hand. It's my new pet, iPod Nano! Holding up to 500 songs and 25,000 photos, this little guy has everything I need...alarm, contact storage, picture storage, and of course music storage. Did I mention that it's got SOLITARE as well?!! It definitely passed the test of coolness at that point. At $200 for the 2 Gig, it's a pretty good deal considering it's tiny and weighs less than 2 ounces, has a battery life of 14 hours (rechargeable) and uses flash memory for storage, so there is no risk of damage that you would have with a hard drive. I'm glad I didn't buy the iPod mini, that thing is so bulky (haha just kidding, but it is bigger than the nano). The iPod really needs a built in dig. camera to be complete, but who's got the time? And where would one stick it, anyway?? Yeah so the pics are down below...sugoi! And you can get more info on it at apple.com.

Next on the agenda...the iMac G5 with Final Cut Pro...*drool* It's a bad ass editing program that professionals use for movies. But I might need to wait a few months for that impulse buy. Bye!

The results are in! KANPAI!

2005-09-12T02:46:00.000+09:00

Well, it would seem this snap election was more than a good move for Koizumi, whose numbers were slipping prior to the dissolving of parliament. Ooooh, the power of the PM! What does this mean for me?? Absolutely nothing! I won't live here past next year so the mail system can just...err...be maily! But I would like to see harsher penalties for bike riders who can't drive straight! Oh, wait, that would be everybody. I swear Japanese people walk and ride bikes like tornadoes! If there is one thing I learned from living in Indiana most of my life, it's that AAHHHHH! Tornado coming! Everybody run and hide, or you will die now!

The new company

2005-08-28T05:14:00.000+09:00

Here is the title to my entertainment company...in its extreme infancy. I will make it prettier later, but I think this is what I was going for originally.

He's back! Netanyahooooooo!!!

2005-08-07T23:21:00.000+09:00

Guess who's back?? Actually, Netanyahu just resigned as Finance Minister in the Knesset. I think he will be running against Sharon in the next election...yay!

2005-07-16T12:06:00.000+09:00

You are a drumstick.

Absolutely insane. That is how most would describe you. You aren't afraid to take risks, and enjoy putting yourself in strange situations. Most people hang out with you because of your hilarious sense of humour. You light up any bad situation, and can help all of your friends with their problems, except for your own. Because of this, you enjoy being around people like you. Many shut you out for your very weird, random personality, but honestly, you shouldn't care.

Most compatible with: Guitar, and another drumstick.

Click here -- What Random Object Represents Your Inner Self?

It's those simple things in life that tend to make it all worth while

2005-07-09T03:23:00.000+09:00

This is a picture from the flea market I visited on the 21st of last month, at Shitennoji Temple. Nice place, I wouldn't mind going back when it's not packed with people lining the walks, scavenging for garage sale items. Actually the concept of the flea market takes me back somewhat to the vagaries of a soothing, summer afternoon in the comfort of my own hometown.

I was disheartened to hear of the bombings in London. I am hoping that none of my relatives were affected by it, although I'm sure they were in the nationalistic sense. No one likes to have their own soil scarred with the blood of their own. I find it interesting that the four London bombs struck at approximately the same time that those four planes struck the US, four years ago. That's a lot of fours. I wonder if we will discover some pattern to this. I would like to get the world back to where it was, on an axis that doesn't tilt with insanity. The word "four" in Japanese actually means death. But certainly those terrorists weren't toting a Japanese dictionary with them while they plotted these attacks. I hope Tokyo, another capital of another G-8 nation, does not suffer the same fate as London.

But I don't want to go too far into that quagmire of geo-political agony. It's better if I keep things simple. Hey, $50 billion to Africa ain't too bad. They can buy a lot of Slim Jims with that money! I hope it actually gets to the people who need it this time.

Get down with the beat y'all!

WTF???!!

2005-06-03T23:56:00.000+09:00

Seen in my local newspaper...all I have to say is JESUS! You lost a lot of hair.

Is that a form of censorship, or is the virgin Mary happy to see me?

HANSHIN TIGERS!!

2005-06-03T01:32:00.000+09:00

Wow it's been 15 days!! I'm so bad!

I had the fortunate opportunity to attend a baseball game with my friends this weekend. Hanshiin Tigers vs. Fukuoka Hawks. I've been to a few ball games before, but this was the best time I've ever had at one!! The Hanshin fans are absolutely out of control throughout the game. They purchase items like little plastic bats to make noise for each player. Then, when a player steps up to bat, they receive a personal song with a beat produced by the thousands of simultaneous beating of plastics sticks.

The seventh inning stretch is no exception to the mass chaos. During this traditional break in the game, every Tigers fan is expected to blow up a long balloon (yes, it very much resembles a penis) and then countdown to release. It's quite a rush, let this fan tell you. Thousands of screaming fans, balloons, and trumpets all at once are enough to drive a person insane, and yet I really want to go back to another game!! It helps that the tickets are dirt cheap too (1700 yen...if you can't figure out the conversion, google it).

Ah, the eyes are sagging right now at this late hour, and work is creeping around the corner of night. Must go...check out more of my pictures on flickr! http://www.flickr.com/photos/40203445@N00/?saved=1

And Beth, I want your pictures from the Tennesee trip now!!

DUNK!

2005-05-15T23:03:00.000+09:00

Yeah so this is the karaoke place that I always used to hang out at after work. Since I moved from Shoji, I can no longer go there (well...unless I want to pull an all nighter there, which I have before). These are mostly Nova buddies, but also some locals. Woot!! It's hella fun and good drinks! Kanpai!

The secret's out...

2005-05-13T03:32:00.000+09:00

Well this is by far one of the coolest things we have discovered since moving to the new hood in Uehon. This is a picture of the secret rooftop lounge area. We believe that the properties within belong to those who are currently residing on the 5th floor. But no one can really be sure how the sofa actually got up there, since the ladder is this tiny, skinny, and frankly unsafe metal protrusion coming out of the wall. I could barely climb it in a normal human manner. But it was worth it to get up to this utopia of ours. Love hotel in the background...courtesy of our neighborhood friendly Yakuza!

Will he win????

2005-05-06T02:41:00.000+09:00

Of course he will!! That is what one of my Nova British friends told me...I have to start labeling him English though because calling someone British is just not accurate according to him. Oh well. Cheers to the Labour Party success! Oh, and I saw the first episode of the all new season of Family Guy yesterday, so I can rest at ease now. I think I might start getting some Alias episodes too while I'm at it.

Uehonmachi!

2005-05-04T02:49:00.000+09:00

YAY! Brett moved to a cooler part of town! I am now settled into my new apartment in Uehonmachi, a place with busier streets, taller buildings, and some very classy restaurants. Another bonus, it's much closer to the job. My bedroom has tatami mats, way cool. The transition to a Japanese citizen is almost complete!

It's starting to get warmer here. I loooove the heat so much. Except when wearing dress clothes, which is like 5 days out of the week. Such is life with an actual job. Tomorrow I search for a new toilet seat, some curtains, and actual laundry detergent. I was told earlier by a Japanese friend that the stuff I had previously bought was in fact a fabric softener. So for two months I have been washing my clothes a little softer each time. Snuggle fresh!! Everybody dance!

Okay it's late, I'm still hungover from my weekend Izakaya extravaganza, and therefore I actually feel tired!

YAY I still have hair!!

2005-04-13T16:46:00.000+09:00

I was adventuring today in my usual way (wandering aimlessly of course) and trying to find a place where I could get a haircut. Most places require you to take a loan out, or donate your left arm, in order to get a trim. I was not going to pay over 2,000 yen, seeing as I am cheap. Men never should have to spend over $15 in my opinion to shorten their hair. So when I found this place in Fuse for 1,890 yen, I figured I would give it a shot. What did I have to lose (other than all my hair)?

So I go in there and it's not too busy. There is a television playing...what else but really loud and obnoxious Japanese soap operas! The man approaches me and has me sit down in a chair. Then asks what my "style" is. 16 gestures/broken Japanese sentences later, he was underway. The blade was pretty thin it turned out, because I could start to see my scalp quite clearly. I was completely terrified that he was buzzing me. But then he whipped out the scissors, started performing some magic, and about 10 minutes later, my hair looked normal again, and I wasn't completely bald.

THEN he walks away and this woman comes over to my chair. A team effort, I see. So she goes to work on my scalp with some sort of hair tonic. Cool, cool. Soon after she is smacking the back of my head with her hands in some sort of post-haircut ritual known as "the hitting of the head with hands." She got my shoulders too, that was nice. Then it was time for the traditional hot, steaming, melt-your-face-off towel, to remove any loose hairs of course.

The process was quite painless actually, and I don't look half bad if I do say so myself. Let me tell you, it took a lot of courage to walk in to a haircut place in Japan. It's not even easy for me to get one in English, I never know what to say. So you can imagine my surprise when the whole ordeal turned out A-OK!! Sugoi!!! Ja, mata.

2005-03-22T22:15:00.000+09:00

Last time, the blog was immensely hugely disproportionately inexcusably uneccessarily long. So I leave you with this image to ponder. Actually, it was taken like the 3rd day I was here.

It seems like I have been here a while, and it has not even been a month! I am getting used to this place very quickly, I have a routine and shit. It`s all good too because I finally know some more people from work. I think I was able to break down the barriers that form at this job as a result of your hire date. I mean I figured I would hang out with the people that arrived at the same time as me, but I also decided it would be good to know some veterans. And now that the walls are down, I realized that there are quite a few people who live out in my hood. Went to karakoe the other night (was that in the previous blog??) and was pretty fun. I think I will definitely be doing that again some time. That`s it!! No more or this will be long too!!!

Days go by...

2005-03-20T01:40:00.000+09:00

I was just thinking of that song...I think it`s from Family Matters or something. Anyway, I know I have let some time go by since the last blog, but work has kept me busy...that and the heavy drinking. HA just kidding, it`s too expensive to go out much. Beer here runs about 500 yen in a bar. Unless of course you find yourself in an Izakaya, in which the beer is 280 yen. Very happy drink time! Yes, these bars are very happy because the beer is big yet cheap.

All drinking aside, I have come to realize that there just isn`t that much to do in Shoji, where I live. And if I want to hang out in Namba (the city center of Osaka) I have to make the subway by 11:45 PM or it`s a long walk home. So my friend Josh and I are trying to find a new place to live that is closer to the fun. Another factor in this decision is the absolutely ridiculous amount of rent that my employer is charging me to live on the outskirts of town. I actually save money by moving closer to the city...isn`t that weirrrrrrd??

It would be nice to walk to work too, I like walking. And the bike scene is huge, of course. You can`t really go anywhere without maneuvering around the sidewalk for crazy bicycle girls trying to e-mail their chicas on their cell phones while trying to navigate the narrow path that is supposedly marked for pedestrians! Ah well, their cute attractive innocence (?) makes up for it.

So far I have made a few friends at work. Some of them live out in Shoji and Kita-tatsumi (our neighbor to the south). One girl actually lives in my building. She is Scottish and has this amazing accent! She`s pretty good looking too. But then there`s this other girl that is friends with one of my co-worker. She`s really cute too and speaks English pretty well. I`m going to Kyoto with them on Monday for lunch before going to work (is there even enough time?? who knows?). I work at 3, so I was told that we can go to Kyoto, eat and come back in time to teach some Engrish.

Yeah so my schedule is not bad. 3-10:40 pm. Everyday. Except Tuesday and Wednesday, which is my new weekend (Saturday and Sunday, you are DEAD to me!!). After probation I will be able to do some shift swaps, which I hear are good to do. I really just want a pay increase, two months to go! It seems like such a long time, but I can dig it. I`m not planning to leave here anytime soon. The big city has already grown on me. And I can`t help but crack up at some of the character of this place...for example:

First of all, I have to talk about the J-dancers that hang out in the bottom of the OCAT building (where I work). It seems that this group of seemingly misguided teenage Japanese have it out to `bring it on` in some competition very much like that of the plot in `You got served.` They are quite a scene, and I have the sheer joy of walking past their dance practice everyday...yes, EVERY day. You just got served!! Keep on practicing...for whatever it is you are practicing for!

Then there are the clients at work. Every lesson is different, with different people, and usually a different booth to work at. What makes this job special are definitely the clients though. Now it`s easy to throw a giggle their way if they say something wrong in English, but what they don`t seem to realize is that, after the lesson is over, the instructor (that would be me) is still connected to the server and cannot disconnect until all students have left the lesson room. So today I had a three-way class with some mid level skill students. One of them, an older man, liked to talk about his money and his golf score. I think what he really wanted to `score,` however, was the one of the other student`s phone number. So after class was over, the young woman was talking to this dude...lucky for me I understand some Japanese. This man, who was clearly at least 25 years older than this girl, asked for her cell phone number, and then proceeded to tell her that he will give her a call some time!!! WTF??? Is this job a matchmaking service in disguise? It`s out of control! HAHA! Wow, it was a great moment though, because I just cracked up at that point and they had no clue I could see and hear them. Ah, such power is grand.

Anyway, that is the first really funny experience that I`ve had so far, but it`s only my third week so there is much more comedic gold out there to be had.

No pictures this time because the damn computer is not reading my picture CD. I do have some more Japan to share though, and will post as soon as I am able. As I said before, until I get into a new place, I won`t have permanent internet. So it`s going to be intermittent for a while. Well I think this is where I shall end the blog tonight. No engrish shirts have been spotted so far. But that is not to say I have not found engrish in other forms. There are a few pictures to share, but again, computer is retarded. I am finding a few things that I think I want to send to certain people (hehe). I will be sending stuff as soon as I figure out how to use the post office (Beth what lesson was that???). Cheerio for now everyone.

The View

2005-03-10T01:31:00.000+09:00

Okay, K-man requested a view, so here it be...more on flickr of course.

Peanut butter nightmare

2005-03-08T22:14:00.000+09:00

I was at LIFE today (my grocery store...well, not mine, but its there) and picked up a small jar of Skippy peanut butter...490 yen!! Thats like $5. Sheesh, and it wasnt even that big. So I got a squeeze bottle of Snoopy brand peanut butter. Yeah, Snoopy. Havent tried it yet. Carrying groceries home is a major bitch, but i figure its my weight lifting for the day. Ha, gyms here are really expensive and require your alien registration card and pretty much your left arm. So I dont think I will be participating in that. They are expensive too (big surprise there). Im not being cynical, in fact the high price of Osaka doesnt really even bother me that much.

Work at Nova began today...training day 1. Pretty intense and fast paced. I think I missed having that again. Working at Yankee was good, but really slow and almost shot me into depression at times. This new job keeps the blood flowing and makes me feel like Im getting things done...takin care of business (breaks into song). The view from my break room on the 15th floor is breathtaking, and I wish I could share it with you all. BUT, youre not here even though I said you should be. You know who you are. OKay peeps, thats all from this side of the world. Peace out.

the　chaos of osaka

2005-03-05T16:33:00.000+09:00

okay, it`s not chaotic really, but when you get right down to it...it`s crazy!! Packed full of buildings and people, the city is a rapid heart beat of life, never slowed. today is my second day here in the big city, and the excitement never ends. So last night josh and i were out and about in the outskirts of the city and...actually wait, let me explain something first. I live in the outskirts of Osaka city, in a little district called shoji, in the Ikuno ward. Not much happening there except for heavy gambling. It still has plenty of stuff to offer, but not that exciting. I`m actually thinking of moving out soon to a place closer to the city center.

that info aside, we were hanging out near some casinos after having some udon and checking out some signs that looked like love hotels. furthering our interest, we proceeded to go into the building and up the elevator. once on the top floor, all there was were 3 doors with different signs on them, such as `lonely hearts club` and silly names like that. There was also some really bad singing going on in one of the rooms, so we figured it was karaoke night. when we left, however, we noticed that many of the people hanging around all drove really nice cars, with tinted windows. Some of these gentlemen had long black coats, wore earpieces, and even had hookers attached to their arms. Yakuza much? Anyway, we decided at that point that it was in our best interest to leave, since one of the men was eyeing us and probably wondering what we were looking at. i was going to make him an offer he couldn`t refuse (500 yen to ride in his mercedes) but vetoed that idea quickly.

I have to say at this point in my two day existence in japan that it is very expensive. i bought a cell phone and am going to save some money by doing a pre paid service. i don`t plan on using it that much. also bought a surge protector for my flat, which only has ONE outlet. Yes, one. Another reason i`m considering the move idea.

Today was an informal meet up with some Nova employees. i met some new people...all very nice and from different parts of the planet themselves. we trekked down to dotonbori shopping district (waaaay bigger than the tippecanoe mall, HA!). I have some pictures that i will post on my flickr site soon. Also had a donut at mister donuts. for some reason the japanese populace find it acceptable to play really loud obnoxious music right by the entrance to every store...as if that will attract the customer? if you think the Abercrombie store is bad...try 700 stores all at once. yes, very loud, very busy. that`s the best way to describe it. yet, it`s still not chaotic really, because everyone just goes with the flow, and there is little commotion from the people walking around.

and that is the update to my life so far in japan. not sure what i`m doing tonight, might be going out to a club, though I don`t know how i`ll get home since subways stop at midnight. then again, if i`m that drunk, i probably don`t want to be near those tracks..HAHA!! take care all.

Cursing snow in many tongues...

2005-03-01T11:50:00.000+09:00

EVIL!!! You see, the snow system that is currently draping itself over my city and surrounding states might create some problems for me in the very near future. Certain flights out of the country could have problems leaving if said system continues its cold, bitter rampage. Snow and I have never gotten along in the past, and needless to say we have always tried to top one another in a game of wits. This is why the sun and I are greatest of friends! He stays far away enough not to melt me, and I gladly embrace his warming love in return. Together we try to make snow not happen...although the sun is much better at than I (usually I have to use a hair dryer over one spot for at least 15 minutes).

Having said that, I am feeling good about flying on Wednesday. Really I'm just looking forward to landing on an airport that is completely surrounded by water...even on the bottom. Kansai is man-made and slowly sinking. Hopefully, it will still be there upon my arrival. This is my last post before leaving for Indy tomorrow. Hope everyone stays cool here on the big island of USA. I know I will try my best as well. On Friday I will try to get some pictures up from any new discoveries along the way to...where ever it is I go that day. Ta ta.

Oh, and if you are confused about the time that this is written, I have already set the time for Japanese (+9 GMT). So it's like I'm writing this even though I haven't experienced it yet. W00t!!!!

Packing!

2005-02-28T04:54:00.000+09:00

It's complete chaos in my house right now!! I am doing laundry, trying to pack, finding more to pack, and then deciding if I really need this or that. Crazy. Said goodbye to some more people yesterday. And then hit some bars with my dad, my brother, and brother in-law. That was fun, and I avoided a hangover the next morning. Tomorrow (Monday) I will visit my friend Beth and Jocelyn, for the final time. I think they are the last of my friends to see me off.

It seems like the days last forever, both last week and this week. I guess tomorrow or Tuesday will be my final blog from the US, and then after that I don't know when I will have internet again. Soon, hopefully. I will try to find an internet cafe in Osaka somewhere, I know they have lots. I think the washer is done! Back to work, it's gonna be a long week.

Stop the madness!!

2005-02-24T00:49:00.000+09:00

This facial hair of mine is growing out of control!! I must keep it until saturday, just for kicks you know. It continues to irritate the hell out of me. It's like having a pet on your face, always annoying you and demanding attention.

Today is picture day on campus. The sun finally decided to show itself this week, so I think a walk on campus is warranted. Maybe I'll stop by Joci's office for a spot of tea! Monica was supposed to call me back today, so not sure if she's still around or not. She's hard to contact these days. Maybe I will use the power of fortuitous intervention, and randomly run into these people on campus. It happens all the time. OH! And I wonder if I would have time to stop by the old cancer lab. That would be nice to see those people again too. Hmm, it will take careful planning and timing to pull all of this off. Plus, I have to head to the mall to visit my fellow Yankees one more time.

So many people, so little time left! (Seven days to be exact)

Take 5

2005-02-22T03:27:00.000+09:00

I have scheduled (the British way) my week out and it's going to be hectic to say the least. Today on the agenda: cleaning out my car, organizing all books and pictures that I am taking with me. Should take a few hours to go through it all. Everyone knows that when you start going through old stuff, the nostalgia comes back to hit you like a ton of bricks, and you get easily distracted. At least, it happens to me.

Tomorrow I will see the grandparents for a dinner and chat.
Party with Beth and friends on Friday night
Have a gathering at home with family on Saturday
Sometime I have to go visit my buddy Aaron in Bloomington, IN

All this AND I have to get all my shit into two suitcases and have them ready for travel by Tuesday. I think my parents and I are going to stay at my sister's on Tuesday night since she lives so close to the airport.

Well, that's the week as it stands. Time to clean! And eat this delicious looking candy bar....mmmmm.

2005-02-21T14:23:00.000+09:00

Ok I'm a Maroon Five song:

This Love by Maroon 5

"I was so high I did not recognize
The fire burning in her eyes
The chaos that controlled my mind"

You were so great in 2004 that you make everyone a little bit sick!

What 2004 Hit Song Are You?

Too crazy! I guess I had a lot of fun last year...yeah, with friends and family. Everything else pretty much sucked. Oh well.

Listening to Bolero

2005-02-21T06:33:00.000+09:00

I love that song! It reminds me of going to ball, in a great hall, where there are plenty of tall...women and the wine flows like cheese! Okay now winamp just switched songs to American Idiot...everyone head bang!!

I hope I get to see Green Day in Osaka on March 17th. That would make my day. Oh yeah, by the way I am moving to Japan in about a week. Looking forward to that...um...don't have anything much else to say. I'm starting to pack already. My dad is taking me to get "stuff" that I need (overstocking on toothpaste and lots of DEODORANT!). Apparently Japan is not known for its fragance in hygeine. Or so I've been told. I'll let you all know once I get there.

Hopefully I will keep up with the blogging on here as I discover a new country, and a new lifestyle. I'm sure I will have time to do so. Besides, blogging is fun!!! Everybody dance!