Entries this day: Fred Fuji-Q_Highland Near_Fuji-Q_Highland

Fred

8:01am JST Tuesday 20 January 2004

janette helped me shift from I'm mad because Fred's making me late to Fuji-Q to I'm really glad Fred is in Japan.

I'm really glad Fred is in Japan.

Fuji Q Highland

10:17am JST Tuesday 20 January 2004

We're in たかお now, headed toward 大月 in order to reach Fujikyu Highland. It's been a challenge to figure out these trains. Really helpless feeling when I'm in a crowd of hurried pokerfaced people all seemingly equally disinterested in helping me find my way. Like who should I pluck from this crowd to ask a question? Who is least busy? Who will be most helpful?

No station attendant in sight at the past three of four stations.

Freddo is writing a letter to Nick Carter, and one to Ma. (secret?)

11:13am JST Tuesday 20 January 2004

Mother.

Fucker.

Between July and February (and possibly between July and June), Fujikyu Highland is closed five days (not in a row). Today is one of those days.

janette is in charge of finding something else to do in this area, and Fred is in charge of getting food. I am in charge of not inappropriately killing someone for this fiasco. Whatever is the lesson here, let's have it and get it over with.

- - - -

Yes, I did look up FQH website to see when it was open. No I could't find any reference to days this year. Yes, I did not ask for help from any of my Japanese friends. I had assumed that what I remembered Nami having said was true: Fuji Q is open every day of the year.

For the record, these are the dates in the list of dates that end with 1/20 (today) which the guy pointed to and said, "おやすみ" (day off): 7/8, 10/21, 11/18, 12/16, 1/20.

- - - -

Today is absolutely stellar beautiful weather. Clear clear clear clear sky. Fantastic photos of FQH coasters I hoped to take and have published.

- - - -
- - - -

"And the moral of the story, kids, is to always keep a scapegoat handy at all times."

"Saddam Hussein is to blame for this."

Near Fuji Q Highland

1:30pm JST Tuesday 20 January 2004

We're the only three customers in a little shop that sells eels and noodles for eating purposes. We've chosen to procure three cooked eels for consumption.

Around this building a slanted city spotted with snow piles lies within a valley of mountains, including Mt Fuji. A bus with chains on two of its six tires clanked by, leaving a series of claw marked trails through the asphalt street.

janette slipped a bit on the ice as she walked beside the street. Visions of turtle creek went through my mind. "Please don't fall, janette."

"I won't."

"See, even us risk taking guys, wait, even we risk taking guys aren't doing that."

"Pussies."

Hahahahahaaha.

5:20pm

Th9s is the deciding factor, folks. Can he ty0pe in the glovesl

This is the decidingg factor, folks. Can he type in the gfloves.

This is the decided factor, folks. He can type more easily without the gloves.

5:24pm

Today we wandered around the station at the end of this line; climbed on snow covered rocks, ate white chocolate, grabbed a pig lighter out of the lake (*), and took a ropeway up the mountain to where a rabbit was torturing a bear. I took pictures of the posters; I wonder wtf is behind that story.

On the way back, Fred and I kicked snow into a pretty deep culvert thing by the side of the road. It melted almost immediately, so when we reached Lawson's, looked down and found two rather ample blocks of ice, we decided (I convinced Fred) to throw them into the culvert. I wanted to video it with my new video camera and he's like, "yah" and threw his in before I knew he was doing it. I recorded myself throwing mine in, and watched is in the culvert for a while (a hardly identifiable speck) and then turned the camera off before it fell down the inner waterfall thing because I believed it wouldn't be able to fall before it melted beyond interestingness.

On the way back, I interviewed Fred, asked him if he thought janette bought anything while we were gone. We settled on the guess that she bought hot tea. We were right. I can immediately see how TV reality shows can be so much fun to record. Probably not as much fun to edit, but hey.

Now I want a real video camera that will take better quality videos. Though I don't know how these videos will look once I get them on my computer (assuming I can(; it didn't work last night (but I haven't installed the software (yet)))).

(*) the lighter turned out to be part of a handle to a fishing pole.

5:35pm

Where's janette? We gotta be on a train soon.

5:37pm

Where's Fred? We gotta be on a train sooner.

12:48am JST Wednesday 21 January 2004

Short version: made it home using a Limited Express which cost 1210 yen more each, but allowed us big seats facing each other.

Ate at a restaurant with challenging service in Tsunashima.

My iPhoto can't import photos now after I installed the Canon software. Poop. (Without Canon software, I couldn't import movies)