Japan: The Musical
The kids are out of school. They had an end-of-the-year performance, but I won't inflict another video-medley on you. I will tell you that it involved many Beatles songs and a talent show. Hamza's impression of Fred from the B-52s doing Rock Lobster was the highlight. Now I have a whole summer of the children to look forward to. Actually, it won't be so bad, because next week they are going to summer school for a week, and then to the base for day camp for 2 weeks. As they are going and coming home with Jeff, my presence is superfluous. I am going to Kobe and Nara for the first week, solo. Any suggestions on must-see things and must-drink or must-eat places are hereby being solicited. And soon after that: Eric and Anuska and Olivia, and The Beautiful Mothers Tour '07! Joy!
Anyway, my weekend.
Finally went to Kichijoji (isn't that fun to say? Say it it with me: Kichi-joji) to hang out in Martine's 'hood.
Ate at a great Thai place called Peppermint (or Pepa) Cafe. First good Thai food I've had since I left Seattle.
We bought some beers (I tried some Aussie stuff called, uh, I forget) and went to Inokashira Park with them. There I met Darren, Tim, and Huey. Lovely people. We talked about Cleveland and Gary, Indiana, and punk music. It was raining a bit. I made them listen to TBM on my iPod, to plug for the shows next month (see how I work for you, honey?).
We then went to Moskow, and got to sit on the rooftop. I got my hand punctured by a tiny paranoid cat with a pierced ear who wasn't too good to eat the fries I gave it.
Just don't try to touch me.
After that, the boys split because they are pussies, and Martine and I went to Mikorin. A small bar full of lovely people and alcohol (including Mekong, the wonderful whiskey-elixir we drank so much of in Thailand and to which I was treated a shot by Minako, the fabulous owner-chick. In the red shirt. See video below).
Somehow, disco got played and it turned into a dance party.
On the way home, I rode sidesaddle on the back of Martine's bicycle, and we got pulled over by the bicycle cops (apparently no double-riding). Everyone giggled at the drunk gaijin girls (us), and we walked the rest of the way home. Martine has a wonderful house. Obviously only inhabited by girls. And turtles.
After a late breakfast, a soft cream in the park, from a place that had more flavors than I've ever seen, like Brown Rice and Miso (I had Black Sesame),
and a bit of a wander/shop thru the neighborhood (I got a parasol. Must keep my milky-white skin blinding people everywhere. I feel like such an obasan), I finally made it home about 5 pm. Just enough time to get ready to go out again.
With Jeff. Motomachi. Club Lizard. Buzz Buzz Hey!
Everyone, almost, that we know in Japan was there. The usuals, plus Jay and Geri, Rick, Zukyan, and I even got Helen to show up.
Lots of bands. I don't know what this one is called, but it had Sachiya in it and some guy I thought was a girl for 5 minutes, despite the deep voice.
This is The Soap. I have never seen girls this cute who rock that hard. They were so awesome, I have to put up TWO pictures.
I finally did the after-party thing; our own room in a restaurant in Chinatown. Most of the bands were there, plus fans. This guy has the most facial hair I've ever seen on a Japanese guy. Between that and his missing two front teeth, I wanted to give him a banjer and overalls. Nice guy, tho. His band was the Blues Bimbos. I thought the singer looked like Anthony Kiedis from the Chili Peppers. Helen agreed, even if Jay said I was high. I think he liked Helen.
Helen and I left when Jeff started singing 80s hair-metal songs on request. When we woke up, there were a bunch of people in my house. Nothing new there.
OH! And a mystery was solved last week! Remember the Things That Go Beep entry? Well, our hot water heater overheated last week and ate itself, apparently because we were blocking a vent with a bit of wooden trellis. The occasional beeping I heard was my hot water control panel warning me that the heater was overheating. Anyway, after being without hot water for almost a week (cold water really cut down on the time I wasted in the shower/bath; 120 seconds vs 20 minutes!), today, we got a whole new heater and shiny new control panels. AND I now know how to fill my bathtub by pressing one button. From another room!!! It even shuts off when it reaches the set volume! Can you IMAGINE MY EXCITEMENT???
I knew you could.
Anyway, my weekend.
Finally went to Kichijoji (isn't that fun to say? Say it it with me: Kichi-joji) to hang out in Martine's 'hood.
Ate at a great Thai place called Peppermint (or Pepa) Cafe. First good Thai food I've had since I left Seattle.
We bought some beers (I tried some Aussie stuff called, uh, I forget) and went to Inokashira Park with them. There I met Darren, Tim, and Huey. Lovely people. We talked about Cleveland and Gary, Indiana, and punk music. It was raining a bit. I made them listen to TBM on my iPod, to plug for the shows next month (see how I work for you, honey?).
We then went to Moskow, and got to sit on the rooftop. I got my hand punctured by a tiny paranoid cat with a pierced ear who wasn't too good to eat the fries I gave it.
Just don't try to touch me.
After that, the boys split because they are pussies, and Martine and I went to Mikorin. A small bar full of lovely people and alcohol (including Mekong, the wonderful whiskey-elixir we drank so much of in Thailand and to which I was treated a shot by Minako, the fabulous owner-chick. In the red shirt. See video below).
Somehow, disco got played and it turned into a dance party.
On the way home, I rode sidesaddle on the back of Martine's bicycle, and we got pulled over by the bicycle cops (apparently no double-riding). Everyone giggled at the drunk gaijin girls (us), and we walked the rest of the way home. Martine has a wonderful house. Obviously only inhabited by girls. And turtles.
After a late breakfast, a soft cream in the park, from a place that had more flavors than I've ever seen, like Brown Rice and Miso (I had Black Sesame),
and a bit of a wander/shop thru the neighborhood (I got a parasol. Must keep my milky-white skin blinding people everywhere. I feel like such an obasan), I finally made it home about 5 pm. Just enough time to get ready to go out again.
With Jeff. Motomachi. Club Lizard. Buzz Buzz Hey!
Everyone, almost, that we know in Japan was there. The usuals, plus Jay and Geri, Rick, Zukyan, and I even got Helen to show up.
Lots of bands. I don't know what this one is called, but it had Sachiya in it and some guy I thought was a girl for 5 minutes, despite the deep voice.
This is The Soap. I have never seen girls this cute who rock that hard. They were so awesome, I have to put up TWO pictures.
I finally did the after-party thing; our own room in a restaurant in Chinatown. Most of the bands were there, plus fans. This guy has the most facial hair I've ever seen on a Japanese guy. Between that and his missing two front teeth, I wanted to give him a banjer and overalls. Nice guy, tho. His band was the Blues Bimbos. I thought the singer looked like Anthony Kiedis from the Chili Peppers. Helen agreed, even if Jay said I was high. I think he liked Helen.
Helen and I left when Jeff started singing 80s hair-metal songs on request. When we woke up, there were a bunch of people in my house. Nothing new there.
OH! And a mystery was solved last week! Remember the Things That Go Beep entry? Well, our hot water heater overheated last week and ate itself, apparently because we were blocking a vent with a bit of wooden trellis. The occasional beeping I heard was my hot water control panel warning me that the heater was overheating. Anyway, after being without hot water for almost a week (cold water really cut down on the time I wasted in the shower/bath; 120 seconds vs 20 minutes!), today, we got a whole new heater and shiny new control panels. AND I now know how to fill my bathtub by pressing one button. From another room!!! It even shuts off when it reaches the set volume! Can you IMAGINE MY EXCITEMENT???
I knew you could.
posted by Sandi at 8:55 PM
3 Comments:
you funny woman! amazed by the automatic filling bathtub? pah!
(have to be honest - i was freaked out by them at first. especially when the little automatic girl voice tells you that your bath is ready)
yeah, saturday was fun - thanks. glad you got me to come out. must have been more fun than i thought because i really don't remember you taking that picture of me...
Oh, yeah, the voice! The old system didn't have that. Now when I'm feeling lonely during the day, I can press a button and someone will talk to me. Even if it's only to tell me I have changed the temperature I set the water to. She sounds nice. I think I will call her Ofurochan.
I wish I had an automatic filling bathtub! I want an Ofurochan too.
Thanks for a hilarious night, I just put some pics up on my blog and Flickr so go check 'em out when you get a chance.....
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