Entries this day: Dream_foot_traffic Helpful_Ami Sabina_at_the_Zoo.html _at_The_Zoo at_The_museum at_the_Galleria chowing_Star_Pizza rie_and_Jason

Dream foot traffic

7:28am CDT Monday 6 August 2007 (day 13649)

Sleeping on the couch and people coming through, wondering where other people were. Dad not waking up for his early appointment; then Fred was complaining about something and Dad started arguing with Fred. He even tried to seek support from me, but I was like fuck off; don't you think Fred has a brilliant mind?

Later, Fred went to the front door when it was obviously a knock on the gameroom door we had heard. I wondered what time everyone was supposed to wake up. Then I heard Ami call me from the other room.

I woke up to go check, but I could hear her still sleep breathing. Her allergies to cats have got her a bit stopped up.

Helpful Ami

10:09am CDT Monday 6 August 2007 (day 13649)

I asked Ami to help me carry the spanish moss we had removed from the tree yesterday. She was squeamed out by walking through the semi-tall grass with mushy muddy standing water, but on her second trip I coaxed her like coaxing a child by walking backwards, and then on subsequent trips she was basically no problem carrying wads of spanish moss and sticks and grass and shizzle to the burn pizzle.

I pushed her to help me with a pile that was already there, and then she helped on her own accord when I continued to two other piles, one of which I didn't want to carry because it had rose bush branches in it.

But after that one, I was like, "aight showertime [for you] and hapily gave her kisses as a mutual reward for getting it all done. I think dad will be pretty glad about it too.

Sabina at the Zoo.html

2:29pm CDT Monday 6 August 2007 (day 13649)

Nice. Ami and I are at the zoo, with first stop being the aquarium. There were some docents with various aquatic animal body parts for touching purposes, and then two docents at a tank with two sea turtles.

One of them was all, "these are green sea turtles, about five years old. They will reach full size when they are fifteen years old. They will live to be eighty years old, but actually we will let them go in September; the Houston Zoo is helping rehabilitate them. The Houston Zoo is the only facility in the area certified to rehabilitate sea turtles,.."

And I tried to collect all the deets in my mind and translated for Ami.

Then the other docent was like, "your Japanese is really good,.."

A bit shocked, I asked how she knew Japanese, and as her friend was like, "she's completely crazy about Japan," Sabina answered, "well, I've just had a fascination for the culture and everything.." etc etc and she asked if I am in the JET Program. No, but I do recommend it, except for the long preparation time required (after 1/4 of the first year they are like, "you wanna sign up for year 2??")

Anyway, as it was time to leave, I thought it appropriate to give some way to give her more information. Gave her my email address, plus "日本語がんばってね！" from Ami, and we'll see what happens.

Now we're close to the monkey exhibit and Ami is drinking a cup of Sprite as I'm thinking of what to write.

at The Zoo

7:30am CDT Tuesday 7 August 2007 (day 13650)

Ami and I enjoyed the zoo.

at The museum

7:30am CDT Tuesday 7 August 2007 (day 13650)

I was really happy to see this 5000lb ball spinning lazily on its base. I've climbed it more than once before, but this was the first chance I've had to do it with Francois. I wondered if anyone would care that I was on it; back in college days I had usually climbed on it at night. But this was my one shot so I handed Ami my camera and clambored on up.

at the Galleria

9:30pm CDT Monday 6 August 2007 (day 13649)

Though feeling a bit pressed for time, I was smart enough to realize we'd have to go to The Galleria *now* (then) or else it would be closed *later* (now). Thanks to Fred for driving us, and handling the traffic better than I might have. I'm so glad I don't have to drive!

Ami ended up with only an hour to shop, even though it was her one requested thing to do while in town. egad. The day in the zoo and museum was her agreement on my suggestion.. Anyway, she was astonished by the skating rink in the shopping mall, she got to shop for an hour and I got to be her shopping cart, and Fred got to chill in the car.

And now she has some really cute short shorts (that she says she'll only wear at my apartment).

chowing Star Pizza

10:30pm CDT Monday 6 August 2007 (day 13649)

Written a month afterward: 12:29pm JST Thursday 6 September 2007 (day 13679)

Chowed Star Pizza at Star Pizza with Molly + Will + Anna + Rachel, plus Fred and Ami and me. I think invited Jason, and I know I invited Rie and her boyfriend to come. They came as it was time for Rachel et. al. to head home.

We were seated in the upstairs area, with two pizzas ordered and Anna across from me talking, flirting, eating.

Ami was well-astonished by the size of the "medium" pizzas, which would definitely whip any "large" pizza in Japan. (note this is an unverified claim)

I remember being a bit anxious about meeting Rie and her boyfriend (Ryan?), so I went outside looking for them when they were about 20 minutes later than she said they would likely be there.

I came back up, and then they showed up a couple minutes later. So great to see Rie again!

I hadn't really mentioned the plans I had built up in my head. This seems related to difficulty in asking people for help. So when Rie and he arrived, I was like, "I thought we might all go to Amy's across the street.." and as I was speaking realized I should maybe not mention ice cream in front of the girls who needed to go to bed.

It worked out well. As I'm writing this, I realize now I should definitely write a thank you note or 4.

rie and Jason

11:30pm CDT Monday 6 August 2007 (day 13649)

written 12:40pm JST Thursday 6 September 2007 (day 13679)

Well, I guess his name is Jason, not Ryan. Anyway, we said by to Anna and family, then walked across to Amy's for some good ol' Amy's Ice Cream. I inquired about the bag I had made as my job application, but it appears not to have survived 5 years, plus me not getting the job in the first place (no use training me for less than a month of work)

Rie's English has definitely gotten better (of course!) and she happily bounced between the languages, alternately leaving Ami or us guys in the dust.

I realized I had been foolish to not get Rie and Ami connected sooner: Rie says she could have taken Ami shopping at all the good places. Ah well; next time.

Ice cream was great; conversation was fun and genki. Good news is Rie will be visiting Japan in December, so we'll get to see her again sooooon!