Riyoko and Cory left Japan this past saturday, both of them hung over and sick. i hated sending them home in such a condition but they assured me that they had a good time so i considered it a successful trip. hopefully they did too. on their last night in Tokyo i gathered a bunch of friends together and we went out to an izakaya for some major oolong hi drinking and karaoke. Cory got to sing karaoke for the first time (or so he said) and Riyoko, who of course doesn't sing at all, got to down my favorite japanese beverage, the oolong hi. now i've never gotten hung over on that shit before but it seemed to do a number on the both of them. the train ride to the airport was a rough one for them. but the friends really liked them and they liked quite of few of them so i think it all turned out well. i can't imagine that they want to take another trip out to japan for at least a solid decade.
OK, on to future matters. yes i know it's technically too early to be getting excited about my birthday but i really am! i'm going to okinawa with Clare, Julie and Adam from the 15th to the 17th. a short trip but it should be heaps of fun anyways. beachh, boys, and of course . . . TACO BELL for the first time in 2 years (i failed to have any when i was home for the holidays because there was so much better mexican food in cali)! anyways, i am very excited and hope it's relaxing and fun. i plan to stay away from the bikini though, don't want the children to try shoving me back in the water screaming "free willy!" damn children.
5.25.2005
5.13.2005
3piece suits, cards, and not bitching about work . . .
Ok, ok, ok, ok. i know. it's pathetic. one update in two months is not actually keeping a blog. i realize this and know that i must be better about it but it's hard to get me motivated. i've caught a cold right now which is why i'm catching up one my emails and stuff. clearly my head is screwed on a bit lopsided these days. i'm working on it.
I've discovered my big guy turn on: the three piece suit. even guys who i normally wouldn't catagorize as being anywhere near hot can be positively boiling in a three piece suit. you know what it is? it's when the jacket is off and they're wearing the waistcoat and maybe their sleeves are rolled up and they look fucking fantastic. case in point? today i worked with a guy who i'd never give a second look or anything. very not my type. except he was dressed exactly the way i described and i thought he looked amazing. the fresh haircut helped too. yeowza!
ok, another rant regarding boys: The big H is always going on about putting your "cards on the table." is this really a good thing? i've found that putting the cards on the table just make me feel like ass cuz clearly there is never any reciprocation when only one person is putting their cards on the table. but if you wear your heart on your sleeve (as i do most of the time) does that require a cards on the table moment. clearly he would know how i feel. is verbalization necessary or it is just an added humiliation? but whenever such a situation arises, the Big H is screaming "cards on the table! cards on the table!" meaning that i need to stick it out there and hope it doesn't get cut off. oi vey! don't know if i should be doing this.
ok, enough about boys and no more about work. all i do lately is bitch about work and i'm worried about becoming "that guy." i don't wanna be "that guy." "That guy" is an asshole. but when so much stress is generated from one place, it's tough not to bitch about it. but you know, my personal life, my work life, my family life, my love life, my home life, and he rest of the facets of my life can go to shit if it's one at a time. unfortunately, right now they all seem to be headed towards the shitter and i think i'm having a tough time coping with that. i know, i know; must breathe . . .
i happy news, my sister and brother in law are in town for a couple of weeks. i love taking them around and showing them everything but it's exhausting. they are in kyoto for a few days (they'll be back on tuesday) so it's a good time to rest up. i'd feel terrible if i was less than 100% while they are in tokyo. good thing i'm hitting the meds pretty hard core. thank god for nyquil.
I've discovered my big guy turn on: the three piece suit. even guys who i normally wouldn't catagorize as being anywhere near hot can be positively boiling in a three piece suit. you know what it is? it's when the jacket is off and they're wearing the waistcoat and maybe their sleeves are rolled up and they look fucking fantastic. case in point? today i worked with a guy who i'd never give a second look or anything. very not my type. except he was dressed exactly the way i described and i thought he looked amazing. the fresh haircut helped too. yeowza!
ok, another rant regarding boys: The big H is always going on about putting your "cards on the table." is this really a good thing? i've found that putting the cards on the table just make me feel like ass cuz clearly there is never any reciprocation when only one person is putting their cards on the table. but if you wear your heart on your sleeve (as i do most of the time) does that require a cards on the table moment. clearly he would know how i feel. is verbalization necessary or it is just an added humiliation? but whenever such a situation arises, the Big H is screaming "cards on the table! cards on the table!" meaning that i need to stick it out there and hope it doesn't get cut off. oi vey! don't know if i should be doing this.
ok, enough about boys and no more about work. all i do lately is bitch about work and i'm worried about becoming "that guy." i don't wanna be "that guy." "That guy" is an asshole. but when so much stress is generated from one place, it's tough not to bitch about it. but you know, my personal life, my work life, my family life, my love life, my home life, and he rest of the facets of my life can go to shit if it's one at a time. unfortunately, right now they all seem to be headed towards the shitter and i think i'm having a tough time coping with that. i know, i know; must breathe . . .
i happy news, my sister and brother in law are in town for a couple of weeks. i love taking them around and showing them everything but it's exhausting. they are in kyoto for a few days (they'll be back on tuesday) so it's a good time to rest up. i'd feel terrible if i was less than 100% while they are in tokyo. good thing i'm hitting the meds pretty hard core. thank god for nyquil.
4.08.2005
Hay fever and Hanami
Ah the season is upon us. Drunken salarymen and women gather in the great outdoors (AKA concrete parks) to view the cherry blossoms so beloved by the samurais thousands of years ago. This is a hotbed of discussion amongst my students this season. Many of them arrive with their white surgical Michael Jackson masks on and blow their noses repeatedly into tissues during lessons. They apologize profusely as they deposit their snot into their free advertisement tissues and I can hardly disguise my disgust. One of my students explained the art of Haikus (very popular this season apparently because the cherry blossoms serve as inspiration for creativity) through his sniffles. Haikus are Japanese poems consisting of 3 lines comprised of 5,7, 5 syllables respectively. The theme can be anything but the haiku must have a connection to the season for which it is written. With this in mind, I bring you my first haiku:
Pollen attacks us,
They come with masks and tissues,
The snot flows always.
Pretty good, hun? Well, I like it. My office hanami party is going down tomorrow night after work in Oji at Askayama Park in my old stomping grounds of Oji. I go armed with chex mix and skittles (courtesy of Lani) and a bag full of cheap flavored canned shouchu drinks called chu-his. Ah, Japan. If it all goes well, perhaps it will inspire the next haiku! Stay tuned . . . .
Pollen attacks us,
They come with masks and tissues,
The snot flows always.
Pretty good, hun? Well, I like it. My office hanami party is going down tomorrow night after work in Oji at Askayama Park in my old stomping grounds of Oji. I go armed with chex mix and skittles (courtesy of Lani) and a bag full of cheap flavored canned shouchu drinks called chu-his. Ah, Japan. If it all goes well, perhaps it will inspire the next haiku! Stay tuned . . . .
3.19.2005
Released and the Aftermath
I was released from the hospital the 15th with warnings from the doctor to take it easy and stay home. this proved easier thani thought because he sent me home with major head bandages which would make me an automatic eyesore in any public setting. so i ordered pizza and stayed home with a few visitors popping in to say Hi. the best things about being home? sleeping in my own bed, washing my hair, nobody sticking things up my butt in the name of medicine. i also find myself back in the company of candle light, much nicer than the harsh flourescents that flood the hospital. and of course internet access to read pointless articles and do stupid quizzes about my non-existent love life and what color my "aura" really is.
recovery is a bitch. having had a mostly horizontal lifestyle for the past 8 days, i find myself exhausted after a trip to the market. Julie and I went out for some sushi on thursday and my jaw was killing me afterwards. i'm trying to stay off the pain killers as much as possible and NOT having a nap in the middle of the say. i don't think i'd be able to make it through a full day of work at the rate i'm currently going. need to rebuild stamina.
the doctor got rid of the bandages and took out the stitches a couple of days ago but my head still hurt and the left side really feels weird. for starters, i've lost tactile feeling in my left ear. i can't feel it and the doctor thinks that this will be a permanent condition. several surface nerves were severed during the surgery and they won't grow back. the scarring will probably be minimal and my friends say i look pretty much like my old self but i definitely don't feel like my old self. i feel . . . damaged (i guess that's the closest word out there). so i guess i gotta play my own shrink (thank god i'm a gemini) and sort my head out as well. i gotta do it quick; i start back at work next thursday.
recovery is a bitch. having had a mostly horizontal lifestyle for the past 8 days, i find myself exhausted after a trip to the market. Julie and I went out for some sushi on thursday and my jaw was killing me afterwards. i'm trying to stay off the pain killers as much as possible and NOT having a nap in the middle of the say. i don't think i'd be able to make it through a full day of work at the rate i'm currently going. need to rebuild stamina.
the doctor got rid of the bandages and took out the stitches a couple of days ago but my head still hurt and the left side really feels weird. for starters, i've lost tactile feeling in my left ear. i can't feel it and the doctor thinks that this will be a permanent condition. several surface nerves were severed during the surgery and they won't grow back. the scarring will probably be minimal and my friends say i look pretty much like my old self but i definitely don't feel like my old self. i feel . . . damaged (i guess that's the closest word out there). so i guess i gotta play my own shrink (thank god i'm a gemini) and sort my head out as well. i gotta do it quick; i start back at work next thursday.
3.13.2005
More Visitors and Hospital Food Rants
watched the rest of the 24s last night. Watched the last nine hours in real time so I was up for hours. But it was great!
Spoke to the doc today when he rebandaged me and he said that once my drainage duct was rendering less fluid from my wound, he would take it out and I could probably go home the next day. He says I would have to come back for regular checks of the wound but that I could go home so I am very much looking forward to that although I think I may need extra time off work. I’m still feeling pretty crappy but I know I’m looking much worse.
Masashi came in the afternoon and we got some drinks and sat downstairs and talked for a change of scenery. He’s a darling little fellow and every time we talk I am struck by how similar our personalities are.
Some of the work crew came today. Adam, Bella and Jennifer came by with flowers towards the end of visiting hours and of course Clare and Julie came too. We all sat around and chatted for a bit (I’m sure we were annoying the fuck out of my fellow hospital guests) until the nursed came and chucked them out. They brought me beautiful flowers which i had Clare take home because the olds in my room like to keep the heat cranked up which turns fresh flowers into dried ones in a matter of hours.
A Sidebar about Hospital Food: I’ve been in the hospital for 6 days now and the nicest thing I can say about the food here is that I was blessed not to be able to eat anything on the day of surgery. It’s fucking horrible. Aside from the fact that my mouth can’t open very much and my jaw hurts like a bitch, a lot of the food is hard, tough to chew and difficult to manage into small enough pieces. It tastes like shit too. It’s like they’ve purposely decided to live up to the clichés by making the food extra bad. Ugh.
The pain medication wears off during the evening so my jaw is killing me in the middle of the night to mid morning. However, the last time they offered me pain medication (this was the day of surgery) they shoved a fucking suppository up my ass so that put an end to my pain medication requests. Joel promised good drugs. I am a bit disappointed.
Spoke to the doc today when he rebandaged me and he said that once my drainage duct was rendering less fluid from my wound, he would take it out and I could probably go home the next day. He says I would have to come back for regular checks of the wound but that I could go home so I am very much looking forward to that although I think I may need extra time off work. I’m still feeling pretty crappy but I know I’m looking much worse.
Masashi came in the afternoon and we got some drinks and sat downstairs and talked for a change of scenery. He’s a darling little fellow and every time we talk I am struck by how similar our personalities are.
Some of the work crew came today. Adam, Bella and Jennifer came by with flowers towards the end of visiting hours and of course Clare and Julie came too. We all sat around and chatted for a bit (I’m sure we were annoying the fuck out of my fellow hospital guests) until the nursed came and chucked them out. They brought me beautiful flowers which i had Clare take home because the olds in my room like to keep the heat cranked up which turns fresh flowers into dried ones in a matter of hours.
A Sidebar about Hospital Food: I’ve been in the hospital for 6 days now and the nicest thing I can say about the food here is that I was blessed not to be able to eat anything on the day of surgery. It’s fucking horrible. Aside from the fact that my mouth can’t open very much and my jaw hurts like a bitch, a lot of the food is hard, tough to chew and difficult to manage into small enough pieces. It tastes like shit too. It’s like they’ve purposely decided to live up to the clichés by making the food extra bad. Ugh.
The pain medication wears off during the evening so my jaw is killing me in the middle of the night to mid morning. However, the last time they offered me pain medication (this was the day of surgery) they shoved a fucking suppository up my ass so that put an end to my pain medication requests. Joel promised good drugs. I am a bit disappointed.
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