Entries this day: Amanda Jana.Sharon fuck however huge_fun

Amanda

3:10pm JST Wednesday 12 November 2003

Amanda says, "say something funny? No, it's too difficult."

Earlier she cracked me up with her emphasis/accent on the word "heaving:"

"I went to Kyoto in April and it was absolutely heaving with people."

We've been buds on this Hakone day trip. She hates roller coasters, skydiving and anything scary. She's married, has no job and is a published journalist.

In short, we have nothing in common until we found that we both know a bit about the zodiac and have similar non-dramatic views of religion. (bad description, but meh (like our sense of religion))

We're about to arrive at the boat-stop in Hakone, but I don't think we'll make the departure in 3 minutes.

Nevermind; we will!

5:00 ish

Boat was cold. Big gondola up to the top of the mountain where it was even blusterier and colder.

Amanda says, "I like the fact that it was beautiful and you could see out to the Pacific and the sun was starting to set, although it was a bit misty."

At the souvenier shop, I took pictures of the trick box houses that I chose not to buy for Fred. We did however, get him another puzzle. I'll take a picture of it before I take it apart to give to him. I'll not let him have a pic of it; that cat is too good a putting together puzzles for any hints like what the finished product should look like.

Jana.Sharon

7:11pm JST Wednesday 12 November 2003

Yammered with Sharon a bit on the way up the cablecar thing to the freezing windy area, then yammered with her and her friend Jana after we dropped off peeps (including my mom, Jon, and Amanda, et. al.)

They're good natured crazy fun lovin' American girls, adventuresome, apparently hard working, etc.

But the point is they brought up a critical question for me: "what do you do?"

If I haven't been to a bath-house and I don't go out, what do I do? I could account quickly for 3 days: 3 theme parks. But what about the months? Studying Japanese? Not really. You know what it is? this computer. This is my time-sucker.

Encouragement to get out and do stuff. Not worry too much about Learning Japanese; just get out there and dance. Dance I said. Salt-n-Pepper's here, inside my head.

Thank you.

fuck

7:18pm JST Wednesday 12 November 2003

Amazing.

In the shrine at Fifth Station up Mt Fuji, I stood in front of the money dump box, unzipped the change pocket on my wallet, turned it upside down, and released my fear around money. Came to the mantra, "I am financially wealthy."

Some money got caught by the folds in the pocket; I declared that must mean it's still for me to keep.

Ma gave me 2000 yen to tide me over until payday in 2 days. In 31 hours (midnight tomorrow tomorrow night)

Took the shinkansen home to Shin Yokohama, paid for as part of the tour today. Talked to Jana and Sharon in the *last* seat on the train, which was the first three vacant seats in a row. Talk talk talk, ate chocolate. Traded emails.

Got off the train, went downstairs, recognized I had no proof of my ticket. No receipt thing; I had left it on the train.

Cost to get out of the train station: 1900 yen.

Fuck.

Train to Kikun from Shin Yokohama, (which I hoped would be rolled into the shinkansen ticket) cost: 110 yen.

Thank you, ma, for covering my dumb ticket losing dumbness. (all but 10 yen, that is)

- - - -

I'm walking from Kikuna to my apartment (1.5 local stations away). Started walking at 7. Oh, I called Shin to say I could meet him tonight. Wonder if we can meet and allow the universe to provide me with some cash.

It's 7:25 now. I've written these two entries on a swingset near the train line. Near the intersection of Tokyu Toyoko line and the shinkansen.

walking again.

7:42pm

Home.

8:02pm

Shin cannot meet me tonight.

however

9:15pm JST Wednesday 12 November 2003

Miki emailed me; I'm going to meet her et al at Warawara. I have 1107 yen to my name.

huge fun

1:26am JST Thursday 13 November 2003

Huge fun was had tonight.

Miki, Miki, Rachel, Rachel, et al, et al, were all there. Really felt good to be welcomed into the group. Carla paid 2000 yen for my orange juices and gyouza. Kaori encouraged me to drink sake so I asked for something sweet. It was orangey and sweet with a little alcohol in it. Dunno what alcohol nor even the name of the drink.

In this picture are Yutaka, KG Miki, Rachel, Aiko, Bill, Miki, Kaori, Mamiko, Miho, Rachel, Lyle

Invited both Miki's to see Nami's tap recital on the 24th.

KG Miki (she used to be a kindergarten teacher, so (though no one calls her KG Miki), I'm distinguishing her this way) thinks she doesn't know enough English to go overseas, but she totally does and I totally told her.

Made it home on the last train.