I am so excited about winter. The weather is wicked now - cool, clear, crisp, soon to be colourful - and is hinting at the winter to come. I've just been researching about snowboarding season passes and have found a great one that's for lots of different resorts in Japan, including Nagano and Gifu, where I figure I'll do most of my boarding. Yay ( Read more... )

"Atticus had never put his hand in a bag full of scorpions.  He ( Read more... )

Being without internet at home is proving to be more trying than kicking my kitkat addiction. (Luckily, the kitkats are all gone, so it's forced withdrawal for me.) However, as is the case at this very moment, one of my neighbours is kindly, but unknowingly, sharing his/her wireless connection with me. Let's just take a moment to appreciate ( Read more... )

There's just something about this song that makes me sad. Is it because I don't understand the lyrics that I imagine them to be lamenting the loss of something important? Or remembering something fondly, wistfully? It's almost like I'm listening to the words of an extinct race of people.

Me: I'm falling out of love with Japan ( Read more... )

The Hopeful Boyfriend ( Read more... )

I just got back from ACT City, where I saw my student's okoto performance. Her group was excellent - all women and dressed in kimono. There were shamisen, okoto, taiko, another small drum, and even a triangle! They sang, as well. It was quintessentially Japanese ( Read more... )

I really am a potato-eating flying monkey. Well, take out the flying bit and it's more accurate. I officially have cabin fever. I hate being sick and housebound - especially on a long weekend. Kuso! All I do is eat, sleep, check my e-mail, look at random sites on the net and read ( Read more... )

Moments of Significance

Firsts:
*All-night karaoke session.  Twice now.  I hold the record at somewhere between 7 and 8 hours of continuous karaoke.
*Camping at a rock festival. Fuji Rock 2004 at Naeba Ski Resort in Nagano ken.   A mind-blowing experience of lots of dancing, great music, interesting people and very little sleep!
*Crowd- ( Read more... )