Return

A return to Japan, a return to real life, a return to health. This year will hopefully be all about returning to the good side of life, and heading off in new, challenging, and potentially exciting directions. And as such, it seems appropriate to resurrect my blog. And so here it is. My beginning anew.

It seems only appropriate that as of late the weather in Vancouver has been spring-like. Flowers are blooming left, right and centre. It has been (mostly) sunny and reasonably warm. It is practically hanami time out here. And it is getting to be my time for getting out and doing things again.

I'll take it slow. Let's wait and see how it goes.

Moonless Moonlight

Looking across the river tonight, the treetops up the side of the hill are all coated in a sugaring of snow. Enough snow that I had to glance around to see where the glow was coming from. But, as it is a clear moonless night and the stars are thousands of miles away, it was only the glow of the snow against the dark blue sky that had my mind's eye playing tricks on me.

Blasted Cold

And I don't mean the weather -- although irony of ironies, after constantly telling people how it is warmer in Vancouver than some of the places I have lived in Japan, this week they were decimated by a blizzard. And this following a week after a massive rainstorm that the city didn't quite recover from... And this is where I am going to spend Christmas?? Hmmmm...

I have been attempting to get over my cold for nearly 2 weeks now, and almost had it in the bag Monday. And if I had taken the day off Monday and spent one more day in bed, I have no doubt it would be a thing of the past. However I didn't and it isn't. And I am wishing I had some more of that yummy nabe right now. -C, I'll see if maybe I can't bring you some?

Helter Skelter

... but without the summer swelter. With the winter freeze doesn't sound nearly as good though.

Once again, back to being wanted as a mail came hither today informing me that a neighboring town next to where I used to live is interested in having me work there. It's always nice when people give you good press.

Multiple nabe parties in the here and then, as three weeks straight have been occupied by parties devoted to this ubiquitous and comfort-food style dish, the most recent being Sunday night just past. After a semi-disastrous bowling outing -- no, I didn't accidentally toss the ball backwards like I have done in the past, I merely sucked horrendously in the first game (57!?!) but made up for it a bit by the second (102, not great but whatever), only to walk away with a set of garbage bags and a 500 yen certificate for anything I want. A crew of volleyballers primarily, we managed to make more than our share of gutterballs, single pin knockdowns and the occasional spares and even more elusive strikes. Followed by a quality meal at Tomato Onion, paid for by Niimi Wellness (I truly don't understand how they can afford to do this, as the whole day only cost me 500 yen, and I got my bowling paid for, a 500 yen set of trash bags, a 500 yen certificate, and a free lunch out of the deal), we headed back to Niimi for a nabe party at Datte's that night. Originally intended as a night out drinking, they shifted gears and decided to do nabe and beer instead when I informed them I was short of funding. Seriously, it is great when people love you. Especially when they go into the grocery store, and knowing that you don't drink beer, buy several of your faourite "Cocktail Partner" -- can you have a favourite cocktail partner? -- as well as one of every other flavour on the shelf. I would put money on one of these guys having a crush on me.

Conversation devolved into playing and drawing at the party as we all started messing around with Datte's 1 year old daughter's toys. It also lead into discussions of blood type's, which as we all know is used and believed in more than horoscopes and star signs are at home. Being a B myself, apparently quasi-rare in Japan, seems to mean that I am prone to being lost in myself, or self-centred if you want to go with the negative spin on it. I'm not sure how accurate I would say that is, however I seemed to prove their point when every once in a while when conversation flowed too rapidly or came from too many directions, I stopped paying attention. I tried to explain that it can make a person tired, focussing and thinking in another language constantly, but I don't think they believed me. Way to help perpetuate a stereotype, Nico. Or I just don't want to cop to it.

If you are curious, I get the feeling Type B is considered the worst to have. According to the Wiki (bow down before the all-knowing and sometimes erroneous Wiki!!), I am:

Best Traits: Creative and passionate. Animal loving. Optimistic and flexible. Individualist.
Worst Traits: Forgetful, irresponsible, and self-centered.

I will definitely give them the forgetful... The other ones, who knows.

And if this has whetted your curiosity, here is what the Wiki says about you...

Type A
Best Traits: Conservative, introverted, reserved, patient, punctual, and perfectionist.
Worst Traits: Obsessive, stubborn, self conscious, and uptight.

Type AB
Best Traits: Cool, controlled, rational. Sociable and popular. Empathic.
Worst Traits: Aloof, critical, indecisive and unforgiving.

Type O
Best Traits: Ambitious, athletic, robust and self-confident. Natural leaders
Worst Traits: Arrogant, vain and insensitive. Ruthless

Perverse Retribution

Possibly owing to my claiming you could drown in the humidity we have been experiencing, the weather has decided to try and drown us all in earnest. It hasn't stopped raining for a couple of days really, and seems to come down harder nearly every time I step outside or am about to. Fortunately today we were also blessed with a little thunder and lightning to liven things up and make me wish it were already nighttime, and I was home in the dark with a glass of wine enjoying the storm.

Oppression is in the Air

The clouds have hung heavy and low in the sky for the past few days. Except for a very brief reprieve this morning when they cleared out for a brief glimpse of the sun, we have been living in the grey. The clouds themselves wouldn't be so bad, but they are holding in the heat and humidity better than my apartment ever does in the winter. It has been in the low thirties and humid every day lately, making every movement feel like a life-draining effort. I attempted to go jogging last night, but I just felt like I was drowning in the air. And yet, I have friends that love this, whilst I am hoping for the days to return where I can start the day without sweating getting up out of bed. Ha, all you people in Vancouver that think it's humid -- bite me. You got no idea what you're talkin' about.

More Fireflies

Going jogging along Hoshoji River last night at half past nine, I saw more fireflies than I have ever seen in my entire life. Dotting the riverbanks on both sides, apparating in the midst of rushes, even going so far as to visit neighbouring rice fields. It made for a well-lit night, as the moon was full and suggestive of autumn harvests.

Weekends

are a beautiful thing, and far too short. Although, this weekend just past I was allowed to escape to freedom about 2 hours earlier than normal, as homeroom teachers were busy with parent-teacher discussions.

I went home during the sunny gorgeous afternoon weather and was so excited, I wanted to tell someone. But for the most part, everyone was working, so I messed with my favourite waiter's head a little via mobile mail. Followed this up with some desperately needed weeding in my garden, as well as a couple of loads of laundry and general tidying up of various areas of the house. Cian suggested the park, but that was merely a teaser as he was still working, and would be for hours yet.

Saturday, another gorgeous day that taunts you into believing that spring has finally sprung, had 18 degrees flashing on the sign by the side of the road as I whipped past with all the windows down and the music up. Those sunny days, they will probably prove to be the end of my driver's licence at some point as I can't help getting just a little too excited by the weather. And on this gorgeous day, I spent most of it indoors, in dark corners. Plans made nearly a week before to see a movie and relax over a late lunch proved to be ill-timed for the weather, as Sunday rose gray and cloudy, vacillating between whether to rain or not -- an ideal indoor activities day.

The movie was Syriana, and the restaurant can be figured out on your own -- although I would like to point out, I did not suggest the location, nor did I make any broad or subtle hints in that direction; I just didn't argue and avidly seconded the notion. Syriana is one of those movies that leaves you feeling unsatisfied on multiple levels and pondering the multitude of things wrong with capitalism in it's current incarnation. Although, it probably isn't going to stop me from leading my life of glorious consumption, eh?

Sunday, my phone promised rain and snow, and only delivered on half of it's promise in a very haphazard way, as you could step outside in the rain, and when you returned 10 minutes later, it had already ceased for who knew how long. I ended up doing some quality gardening during the in-between times, only to wake this morning and see the tender pansies and the like buried under 6 inches of snow in the garden. Hopefully they shall prove hardier than they look and not die off until I accidentally kill them through neglect. In the meantime, it was a lovely view to see the little flashes of colour in various corners and crevices of the garden during the winter hibernation.

This was followed by more laundry and cleaning as I attempt to get things sorted before my parental units descend upon my privacy. Futons were dragged out of cupboards in the hopes of airing them out without any outside air; sheets and towels were dug out of other cupboards and thrown into the mix, all the while I keep hoping someone else will do it for me. Sigh.

On a side note only semi-unrelated, Saturday morning was spent making phone reservations for various hotels and the like. My first call of the morning, to a hotel in Hiroshima, left me in a sparkly mood as the woman I was speaking to didn't start trying to speak English with me until I told her my name. "Ah?! Nico-sama? Nico-sama desu ka? Ah." At that point Saturdays and twenty-fives started being bandied about as I could hear the stress level in her voice slowly climb despite the fact I was still carrying on in J-go, same as before. A lovely and unexpected compliment of sorts.