Entries this day: Movies_with_Louise State_of_my_Life_Address end_of_the_voyage

Movies with Louise

4:40pm JST Wednesday 07 September 2005

Went to Louise's house near Jiyugaoka around noon today and we watched two movies: Shawshank Redeption, and Galaxy Quest. She and I had watched the first part of Shawshank several months ago, at which time her roommate's DVD player chose to simply stop, not even letting us eject the disc.

We watched it all the way through this time, though I didn't watch the first fighting/rape scenes. Good movie. I'm glad she encouraged me to see it.

For the second movie, I narrowed her selection down to three possibilities: _Monster's Inc_, _Galaxy Quest_, or _Bourne Identity_. She sorta turned down Monster's Inc, so I flipped a coin to choose between the last two.

Oh! When I sat down to watch, I noticed a note written to me. I was all excited to read it,

rob    i wanna squeal when i see you
you crazy cool boy with the biggest
and best heart.

I was like, whoohoo! and as I kept reading, it got more and more familiar to me.. This is the note written to me by Nicole!!

"How did you get Nicole's note to me?"

"Oh, I found it on the floor at the bar, and I figured I knew only be one Rob who it could be..."

Wow!

- - - -

We didn't talk a whole lot during my visit; the movies kept my attention fixed. Louise worked on a bead necklace for a friend of hers while we watched. We talked a bit and it seems she plans to stay in Tokyo for the foreseeable future, continuing to teach and work in the theater (assistant directing and acting).

She wondered about my sanity and safety a bit for my plan to go to Palestine. I plan to be fine.

State of my Life Address

4:54pm JST Wednesday 07 September 2005

State of My Life Address

1. I am back in Tokyo, living in Kellie's living room, after having just recently finished sailing around the world in 100+ days on P.B.'s 49th Global Voyage.

2. I am in email contact with Katt, though she kinda hacked me off in her last email after I was like, "I haven't shagged anyone cause I don't want to make things uncomfortable on PB."

   She was like, "I'm glad you can think ahead, but I think you can think of better reasons than that."

   And my immediate reaction was like, "fuck off; that's a perfectly fine reason," but I didn't write that to her, but pondered on it a bit. I think I'm more emotional than she is, so I chose an emotional reason for not shagging, whereas another reason might be something else.

3. I have not yet written/sold a book nor sold any artwork. I've not actually tried to do these things, either.

4. I have been in email contact with my bro, and sorta with my mom. Slight contact with my dad over the phone. Interesting that I am soon going to Palestine to tell the Israeli soldiers to chill out, and my dad is married to a Jewish woman.

6. I was just at Louise's house watching movies this morning. About to go to Millenium House to chill with Jen and other peeps who show up.

7. I have my tickets to Palestine reserved, with a 180 day open return ticket. I just need to pay before 20 September.

8. I have given up on learning Dvorak layout for a few reasons: 1) it's incompatible with QWERTY layout, which means I'll have problems when I need to switch to a friends' computer. 2) by not having to move my fingers as far, they seem to become stiff even more quickly than using QWERTY layout. This seems like it could actually increase repetitive motion damage

end of the voyage

end of the voyage

ps: I have added several of you to this list without asking.  If you don't want to
be on my mass email list, just click the remove link above.  I promise I won't be
offended!


Hey Everyone!

I must admit to being late with this final email from the amazing P.B. voyage
around the world.  I've been back in Japan since 30 August, and am somewhat settled at
my dear friend Kellie's house.  She's my friend from Gaba (my previous English
teaching job) who offered a space for me to keep TJ Bike.

The end of the trip was filled with activity: mostly cleaning, packing, and goodbye
parties, then a final mad rush to get all the departing passengers' luggage off the
boat in Yokohama.

During lunch on the second to last day, I handed Francois over to Christina, my
favorite Topaz Dining employee.  At the end of the meal, I asked for Francois back,
and she said, "maybe later."

I inquired again at dinner that night, and she said simply, "no," in her way that
means "if you complain enough, yes."

The next day, the last day of the voyage, I went in for breakfast. "Christina? 
Have you seen Francois?"

"Come back for lunch.  He will be here."

"But I don't know if *I* will be here!"  We had to be off the ship around 1pm; the
departure ceremony culminated at 2pm.  "What time?"

"12:30."

Later that morning, while we GET Teachers were busy unloading scads of passenger
luggage from the ship, I saw Christina out of her uniform, headed out of the ship.

"???"  I didn't even formulate a query before she answered.

"I gave him to David."

"Who?"  I tried to think of who she was talking about; I didn't know any Topaz
Dining employee named David.

"The teacher.  David."

"Oh!!  Dave!!"  Dave lived across the hall from me for three months; I definitely
knew who she was talking about.

Christina left, and I haven't seen her since, but soon thereafter, Katt saw me
and was like, "Dave gave me Francois," and gave me Francois.

I was like, "thanks!" when she handed him over.  I looked down and saw something
amazing.  Francois was clean!!!

Since we went scuba diving in Acapulco, Francois had a distinct tan, or more
accurately, a coating of dirt, which I had basically ignored. Christina is a rabbit
washing saint!

- - - -

After watching the boat leave without us, I went to Shibuya, one of my favorite
places in Tokyo.  Every time I saw a Japanese person (which was a lot, considering
I am in Japan), I thought "they must be from the boat," and tried to identify them.
After a full day of false alarms, I quit thinking I knew everyone I saw.

Except for one person: I happened to see my friend Olivia in the train station! 
How totally random to see her as we were each passing through.   We caught up
briefly on the past three months then continued on our respective ways.

Three goodbye parties and a week have passed.  I can safely say the trip is
complete.

- - - -

A few people have asked me what's next.   I'm happy to report that I have stuck to
my plan (for once): and it's 90% certain that I'll be flying to Palestine (not the
one in Texas (sorry, Sara!), but in the middle east, in the middle of Israel).  I
have a flight booked for October 5th.  Just need to pay for the ticket and work out
arrival arrangements.

I'll be reporting to this same list my adventures in Palestine, so stay tuned or
click remove if you've had enough!

    With Love
      - Rob!