Adventures in the Looking Glass

I was down by the river taking a walk this morning and saw a few things that set Japan aside from others:

• a woman running along the path wearing a t-shirt that read " I am not a virgin"
• a guy sitting on a park bench, headphones on, cigarette in mouth,  doing stretches
• three women hugging a tree
• a guy walking down the street misting his hair with a plant spray bottle

Dubiously en-sloganed clothing is everywhere in Japan, and I'm always surprised that no one actually checks the meaning of whatever's on their t-shirt or bag, or jacket.  Some of the best ones I've seen include - "I came here to fuck your ass", "I LOVE SEX" a la Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Frankie says RELAX" t-shirt, posters on classroom walls that say "Let's Fuck" and a guy in Harajuku with "Fuck You" written in gothic script across his back.  Not, that this doesn't happen outside of Japan.  I translated the kanji on a friend's t-shirt which he thought looked really cool, but when he discovered that it said "Punk Rock Girl" he decided that maybe he didn't like it so much any more.  I think I should invest in more clothes containing dodgy language.

if it's one thing about Japan that I love, it's the odd eccentricities that people have, which seem to be tolerated.  I just don't see anything of these things happening back in England (well, tree-hugging and bench stretching are not too unrealistic, I guess).  I'm not making fun of these people at all.  I'm always on the look-out for the unusual, and Japan just brings me something everyday that gives me a smile...or the creeps.
I held a vegetarian Thanksgiving party at my house today (I know - an English vegetarian holding Thanksgiving - odd). We'd actually been invited to another party, but it was too far, and there was a baby there (why would I want to go to a party where I wasn't the centre of attention;)), so two of us were not up for it.  I like an excuse for a vegetarian get-together so we all brought something different:  mashed potatoes, green beans, cheese and potato bake, devilled eggs, veggie lasagna and I made pumpkin samosas.  The guys brought booze and snacks and we had chocolates for dessert.  it was a good afternoon/evening and now I'm beginning to think I may have drunk a little too much. 

I feel like another break from drinking is in order soon, as I seem to be having a few too many parties of late.  In fact, I have another party tomorrow night, and some gigs next weekend.... when am I going to get this done???

One month until I go to Bali.  Can't wait to leave the country for a bit!!

Tomorrow I'm heading back to Japanese class for the first time in 6 months.  Am looking forward to getting back into a regular study routine as the past 6 months I've not had any chance to actually study, though I've spent a ridiculous amount of time discussing major issues like ice-cream flavours with small children.

I'm also considering going to try Bikram Yoga, though I'm a little afraid of the amount of flesh on show in those classes - yoga at 100 degrees = bikinis.  I'm still mulling over yoga clothes too - need a top that's not to slide around all the time and pants that don't fall down.  Plus hoodie.  I want that hoodie.  (edit - I was very naughty and bought the hoodie in bright purple, rather than the pink and black I wanted).

Well, bed time for me I think.  Need to give my brain some rest before tomorrow's lesson!  I shall leave you with a picture from a walk last week that I took on my Holga and got x-processed:

My birthday weekend has been pretty nice. On Saturday night Kumi organised a little party at a place called Bar-7 - or Bar Nana - where we drank lots of beer, ate birthday cake and played darts. Then we wandered off into the night to karaoke, where I serenaded everyone with "Wuthering Heights". Then off to Dei-ai for further drinking until 5am.

On my actual birthday I woke up far too early. Andrew and I went to West Village where we met up with a couple of my students and had lunch followed by Crazy Parfait - 18 inches of ice cream. Tabezukare deshita! I had a brief chat with Gideon by phone, which was nice. Then Yasuko picked me up and took me to her place for sushi.

Today Mikio took me to Okaya to see Pirates of the Caribbean. It was dubbed. In Japanese. But I still thoroughly enjoyed it, even though I only understood about 10% of what was said. Then we stopped off at a restuarant where a friend of his works. I was flagging by 6.30pm so he dropped me home. I'm still flagging but I'm too hot to sleep yet.

Pictures to follow next week!

Sleeeeeep!

You can see some of my photos from New Year at Flickr. A little late, but it has taken me that long to get the film developed.

( In addition, here are some of the photos from the party we had a few weeks ago: )

Hell yeah! Three weeks to go and I am outta here and fleeing down south to the house of hell! At least the home front has seven cats to cuddle - well, OK four, as only that many enjoy it.

The party went well, a few unexpected faces turned up too which was good. People said they enjoyed themselves, though I always find it hard to believe, I think mainly coz I get a bit anxious at my own parties. I always enjoy other people's parties more as I don't have to worry about their house getting trashed. In any case, everyone was very well behaved and apparently we were very quiet. Not sure what that is a measure of.

I haven't eaten a real vegetable for a few days - perhaps it was last Monday or Tuesday? I have been to Sainsbury's though and bought lots of veggies - I can feel my body breathing a sigh of relief - "AHHH NUTRIENTS!"

Bank Holidays are good as it's another wonderful excuse to veg about and not do anything. I like nothing more than sitting about on my own reading. Having to cope with humanity for eight hours a day puts me off humans - I prefer my own company, and that of the chosen few. In fact, working has made me more misanthropic than I already was because I end up hating the world by the end of the day - stupid people always phoning and asking stupid questions. I need to write this damned novel and then I can spend hours by myself and appreciate human scum a bit more.

DO I SOUND ODD? There's a bottle of flat champagne in the fridge - I think I'll make a flat Bucks Fizz.