Everytime I think to blog...I stare at the blank webpage and find myself at a loss of anything intersting to write.
But I suppose the most obvious topic would be my visit home last month - so I'll touch a bit on that for those who I didn't get a chance to write personally or see and catch up with.
Anyway, here's a copy of an email i sent to tracy and nancy with a small recap - mostly about vegas:
Sorry guys, it's just easier this way. haha. also, i feel self concious typing at my new school cuz the keyboard is AT LEAST 25 years old and bangs like a brick everytime i press a key -- I'm getting a lot of stares. =)
I have to just remind myself...that sometimes this blog is for me too. It's easier to navigate this than a bunch of emails over a span of 2 years.
So this is my reply to Tracy's text asking how vegas was. As a birthday gift, Dan took me to Vegas even though he loathes the place. I think he likes it a bit more now...=) i hope. We stayed there for 2 nights. Lost lots of money on alcohol and penny slots. And...ate a lot of Del Taco.
An AMAZING AMAZING trip. it was perfect. =)
skipping the part about hating that "razor" phone...not believing how i used it for 2 years...
and...begin:
Anyway, Vegas was AMAZING. We decided on the trump hotel and it was really nice. Dan loved that there was no casino in the lobby. It literally feels like a normal hotel. In that respect, I was sort of like oh... Well this is real nice... But where's Vegas!!?! Haha. The suite was really cool. Way better than the one we all shared at the Venetian. But that's the only other suite I can compare it too. Never stayed in another. Next time, city centre or wynn would be cool. But also unnecessary if u still ask me. Haha. I'm fine with an in between. But the trump room had a TV embedded in the bathroom mirror. His and her sinks. Jacuzzi bath. Flat screens and couches. Nothing extremely like "whoooooa!!" except, well, that TV in the mirror thing. It was just real elegant looking. And a great view of the strip.
We saw Penn and teller. I got a picture with Penn. Dan got one with teller. Haha. Dan and I shared the brownie at the beg of the show but I must have given him more cuz he felt it a little and I didn't (he giggled really loud for what seemed 5 min when the whole auditorium was silent and p&t were in between jokes/skits). Haha
I lost $200 in penny slots! Dan is so mean and dangerous. Always egging me on, feeding me MY cash, and laughing when I lose it all. Haha. It was so much fun. Doesn't help when you add A LOT of alcohol into the equation. We decided the next time we go, I'm in charge of credit, he's in charge of cash. (he got carried away with drinks by the end --usuing a credit card is just too easy to buy and tip ridiculous amounts without ever being conscious of what you're spending). He threw up at some point in the night... After golfing down a plate of 6 stack pancakes DRENCHED in maple syrup, in less than 5 min.
The upside to the spending/losing money is that he won $200 on a basketball game. So we evened out by the end. =) it was a blast. I stand by my belief that Vegas is magic and can never do wrong. Ever. =) still my favorite city in the world!! ;)
How was Chicago??
The trip home made me soooooo look forward to moving back. I can't wait!! the elusive countdown has started. Sigh. 3 months feels easier than 12 weeks. So I keep telling myself to stick to months rather than weeks or days.
Gonna see you all again real soon! Yay! Cant come soon enough...
=)
j9
There you have it.
While in LA/OC...Dan also took me to see 39 steps - a broadway show featuring only 4 actors playing multiple roles, based on the Hitchcock film of the same name. It was really good! I was just sleepy a bit cuz we'd just gotten back from driving from vegas. After that wild night of drinking and losing all our cash. Dan kept yelling at me for yawning. but it couldnt be helped! I'm sorry. =) That was my other birthday gift. And Dan got us like 5th row direct center seats. It was perfect. and probably really expensive. So sweet. =) And I think it was a play that he actually enjoyed too. so it worked out great.
I also caught up on a few films - saw Kick-Ass. Loved it! Really good. really fresh. Saw How to train a Dragon with Dan's brother. Haha...he's so cute. Both of them. ;)
And saw a midnight screening of the "The Room" at Sunset 5 in Hollywood. You should youtube a clip. It's a ridiculous movie. and has acquired a "rocky-horror" cult following that involves monthly midnight viewings where people scream out obscenities and throw spoons at the screen. It was fun. We ate at Sushi-Dan before hand and I forgot how delicious american sushi rolls are! Omg...I've had enough "roundtable clipper"...just gimme the baked fried mayo-infused drizzled in eel-sauce breaded concoctions you call sushi, please! yum yum
We also...tried smoking for the first time. and we've both vowed never to do it again. To put it shortly, I had extreme hallucinations and paranoia involving deep black abysses...muscles burning alive under my skin...and a fear of losing myself and/or dan at a constant fearful never-ending repetitive rate. I just screamed and dazed and cried and screamed a lot. And I know what you think...we got some bad stuff. Or it was laced. It wasn't. I'm just...not built for this stuff. Drugs are definitely not my forte. And I'm glad and happy and thankful to know that. Had a similar experience in Cambodia where it just...zonked me out and wasn't the least bit...entertaining or relaxing or subduing or anything. it was just...terrible.
So...there was thaaat.
Ok, well I think that's a sufficient enough recap. If I feel there was more, I'll come back next week.
Oh, also caught up with Tracy, Nancy, Chris, and Kat over Ethiopian Food at Little Ethiopia. Sorry Nancy...I keep trying to give it another shot...it's good...but I don't think it's a food I'll ever crave.
Also caught up a second time over Souplantation. Dan was upset that over all the places to eat in LA, we had to choose Souplantation. But...you know what...even just having a decent salad and muffin and iced milk (!!!! yum!!!!) was more than i could say I've had in the past 10 months in Japan. So I still enjoyed myself. and it was just about hanging out.
Ill be back in no time...and we can eat at all the exotic fancy unique restaurants we want.
I'm so hungry. Today we had natto for lunch. the staff-room stank. and all the teachers got a KICK out of repeatedly asking me...."oh you don't like it? haha. oh you didn't eat it? haha. did you eat it? are you eating it? did you see we have natto?!" It's just the japanese way of opening communication. And...i do have to take some credit for it...I did say at the beginning of my introduction to all the classes...and at the enkai (work drinking party) that i dont like natto. But that's only cuz they get a total kick out of it. Like..."oh...haha. you're so funny. you just totally reaffirm our stereotypes about foreigners!" It's fine. I don't mind feeding into it...if it warrants a few smiles and friendly gestures now and then.
In 10 minutes I'll be hopping on a bus and heading over to Maruyama Koen for the annual Hanami Party - a BBQ and drinking gathering under the cherry blossoms in the park. I missed it last year, I was in the Phillippines. This year the cherry blossoms have bloomed real late - it's been exceptionally colder this year and for longer...than it has in the past. so the flowers have been slower to bloom.
I'm just looking forward to it because maybe for a few hours, I can forget about how much I wanna be home already. home home.
