4am

Can't sleep. I woke up at 1:30 after about 1 hour of sleep, and it seems I am now back to my regularly scheduled programming of waking nights and sleepless days. Those 2 decent nights I just enjoyed seem intended to merely taunt me, rather than satisfy.

Luxe

Silk clothing is niiiice... Very, very niiiiiiice.... The 'nog will never be the same.

Home on the Range

20 hours have passed but a day has been temporarily gained. I am home alone on a Friday afternoon, as my family have disappeared to celebrate Grandpa's 90th birthday.

I left the house at 9 in the morning, the taxi I had reserved the night before showing up on time. I felt so lush, dashing off to the bus station in a taxi I had reserved. Taxis themselves are nothing to me, but to have arranged a pick up just feels so much more posh.

My cat is climbing all over my desk right now, scrambling mom's papers and drooling on my fingers in his glee at finally finding me home again. I am such a soft touch for him, covered as I was in orange and white cat hairs withing 15 minutes of walking in the door. He is lying belly up now, with his head depressing the number keys, so I think it is time to stop.

No More Teachers, No More Students, No More Work

... for 3 weeks at least. Last class of the day was what is probably my worst class in the entire school, but it was an activity that called for lots of running around and chaos, so it suited them well, and didn't make me feel like walking out like I desperately wanted to do last week.

Flying out tomorrow, and tonight will be my usual last minute packing chaos. However, this time, it is not entirely my own procrastination at fault. I did my laundry on Tuesday, and I have been waiting since then for it all to dry out. Last night, I even had it hanging in front of a heater, but to little or no effect. I am hoping that tonight it will dry out at least enough that I don't feel soggy wearing some of it tomorrow. It still has a little bit of time, as I have to run a couple of errands in Yonago before I return home.

I have been given a couple of presents from the principal and vice-principal to give to my parents when I return home. I don't know what they are, but they are beautifully wrapped, and were thoughtfully presented still in the Takashimaya bag. Just so you know nobody cheaped out on the prezzies.

Everyone keeps commenting on how excited I must be to see my family again, especially after a year away, but I explain, actually, my family won't be there until Sunday. When they ask why, I reply that they are travelling. They are all going to be at my grandfather's 90th birthday celebration in Prince George, leaving me to relax in peace, try and recover some sleep, and order a pizza. I am so excited about the pizza bit, as I haven't lived within delivery range for 5 years and am already tasting the possibilty in my mouth.

Unfortunately, as much as I was looking forward to going dancing when I go home, I may be disappointed once again, unless I can drag my brother and his girlfriend out. I love my friends, but they are kind of lame sometimes. I finally am going somewhere with a variety of clubs to choose from, and I am not going to be able to go. Perhaps, just perhaps, I can convince Leanne to come all the way in from PoCo, but I think most of them just don't understand the situation. The desperation. The delayed gratification. The deprivation.

雪の国

It has been snowing off and on, to little and a lot of effect, since Sunday night. I drove into Yonago last night to run errands and deliver Christmas cheer, and as I drove I noticed how much less snow there was in the city. I can only imagine what it is like in Nichinan town right now.

In the past hour or so, the flakes have gone from drifting little confetti flakes into large, fluffy, determine to make a difference ones. It looks like I may be leaving my white Christmas behind.

Voices From the Past and Sticky Sticks

Saturday afternoon I got a lovely surprise that almost made me cry. While sitting on my living room floor, going through and listening to music, I got a phone call from -c. Conversation ensued about who is doing what and where and how and when, but not so much on the who, until the connection was cut. My eyes got all moist as I remembered good times and last year and a smiling face with laughing (sometimes unfocused) eyes. My mood was set for the rest of the day.

The Christmas party was preceded by a lovely dinner at Do!Do!Do! Cafe where many of the staff were laughing at my Santa hat and numerous bells. It is hard to be discreet going down stairs during someone's wedding reception, especially during a speech when you have bells on your shoes... The Christmas party itself was well attended, as all the friends I invited showed up and hung around till wee hours dancing, drinking, and laughing more and more. Although there was a band that refused to yield, hollering out, "2 more song!" then, "1 more song!" as they launched into heavy head-banging renditions of whtever the hell they were trying to play. Sadly, people started filtering out at this point, leaving me, the last DJ, with nought but the die-hards or too-drunk-to-leaves. Both Cian and Mollerfucker performed excellent sets, Cian with borrowed back-up from other bands. He even ventured into a third chord, much to the shock of Ted. Tetrapod, a trio I had never seen before, also rocked the house, playing a funky instrumental of the Peter Gunn theme song.

Once the party was over, decorations hastily collected and good-byes rapidly mumbled, we three stooges and Subo ventured back to Do!Do!Do! so I could lust quietly and flirt ostentatiously with my cute waiter at 2:30 in the morning. We spent quality time telling un-quality jokes ("What is brown and sticky?" "A stick") until it was time to kick us out for the night. Sarah and Subo, to celebrate their recent engagement, carried on back to Missile, while Elly and I stumbled on home to Sarah's floors.

Sunday, in a desire for brunch of good food, and again, my waiter, we meandered on back to Do!Do!Do! for one last visit, intended to sustain me until I return to Japan in January. Knowing grins were exchanged amongst the wait staff when we strolled in less than 10 hours since our last visit (which had also been made in less than 10 hours since our last visit before that) and we were seated in the honour spot in the middle of the bar. ALl this so I could make it through a quasi-manatory town organized Christmas party that I was going to show up 2 hours late to. Ahh, life is good.

And the snow keeps coming. There is at least 1 foot on the ground, if not more, and the kids have turned everything into a snow country, populated with snowmen everywhere. My garden is looking gorgeous under the Christmas lights right now. It's a shame it is too cold to stand and stare at it.

End of a Term

Winding down to the last week or so of classes, wondering if I can keep up the energy level. I think I could probably be a teacher, in fact I may need to become one just to get some decent holidays. I blame our lack of real vacation time in Canada on the American influence. Fine, you wanna be a pioneer? Go ahead. I'd really rather have the month off. Europe managed to swing it, so why can't we? Or maybe I should be a politician... They hardly ever work. Hmmm.

Only 2 more nights until I get to play DJ again for a little while. I have been listening to and culling music for days and days now. I haven't yet decided what I want to do with my set yet, as I fear playing some of the stuff I want to that would make me happy won't necessarily work for everyone else. Just cause I love "Closer" by Nine Inch Nails doesn't mean it will get everyone else out on the floor. But I may just decide, "To hell with them all!" It's not like I am getting paid for this and have to bow to others' demands. Hey, I didn't take requests last time...

So Much for the Snow

The rains have come and they don't look to be stopping any time soon. All the glorious snow has turned to slush; the sky is grey; the weather is bone-chilling. With but 2 classes today, I am wishing I had taken the afternoon off, so as to bundle up with a blanket, book, hot chocolate laden down with marshmallows, and music. One of the lovely things about shoji screens is how the keep out the misery.

Bloody Earth

The red salvia in the schools central garden have been weighed down by the snow today. It looks like the earth has been done irreperable harm as flashes of crimson red burst out from under the snow in cracks and crevices.

It snowed for a couple of hours this morning, creating a gorgeous covering, however it couldn't keep it up as the weather warmed just enough to create a little slush. Roads should prove to be an adventure this evening when I hope to go for a walk. I may have to venture out before dark after all.

The vice-principal, being the kind soul she is, is trying to send everyone home as early as possible, rather than having lingerers until 6:30 or 7. May as well get caught in a mess of slush and useless drivers -- certainly better than ice and ineptness.

I am trapped waiting, waiting, waiting for one of the 6th grade teachers to appear. Next week is the gingerbread cookie cooking disaster and it must be well planned or true chaos will overcome. Ingredients need to be bought, times decided upon, and loins girded.

Looking forward to returning home tonight to leftovers, videos, music and a warm kerosene heater. Happiness is not a warm gun, in fact a warm gun would fall short for several miles. Happiness is instead a mixer and a stack of CDs, as I got so excited playing last night I forgot to sleep until well past my intended witching hour.

Geese are Getting Fat

And, quite frankly, it's not just the geese. Gotta get outdoors more. A situation which will not be helped by tonight's visit to Do!Do!Do! Cafe to ogle the wait staff. Friends and food, that is always the way it seems to go.

Should be ski season soon though, and when I come back to Japan, I will have to hit the slopes a few times, as well as ski gracefully down them many many more. Well, "not in an utterly inept manner" would be more accurate than "gracefully" I suppose.

Lately the weather has been a wee bit unpredictable, and I shall blame it in part for the indoor nature of my life lately. Twice today rain has suddenly come pouring down while the sun shines on. It has happened several times in the past couple of weeks, and while I am not a huge fan of the rain, I do adore the colour of the sunlight when it filters through the clouds in a sudden rainstorm.

Engrish Madness

At lunch I sat next to a girl wearing a t-shirt that said,

Town and
Country
Infernal sister wave tour 2003

Gotta love that burning feeling...

I saw a boy with

***PERVERSION***

hanging over his ass, written as it was on the tail of his t-shirt. What do you think he's trying to tell us?