No, Really, I Am an American

I’ve been lamenting the loss of my green tag ever since I found out Alex was leaving Nova. He really is a cool ol’ guy — I head butt him every time I see him and grin like a fool, and I have been wont to steal things from him like his fancy bag. On a green tag level, he’s very laid back and he has good advice about things and the like, but he’s not uptight about any of it if that makes sense. It certainly puts me at ease.

He sent out a mass phone mail about his “Sayanova” last Saturday and the party itself was last night. I said I would go without a second thought; I mean, as far as I was concerned, it was for Alex, and I quite like the chap. Although, to be fair, in true jessi fashion, I protested going for all of five minutes last night.

The party was being held at New Dunk, as Old Dunk closed some time last month in favor of a new location and much bigger accomodations. It was the first time I’d seen the place and while it did boast a dance floor (of sorts), it was indeed bigger and yet it was still as intimate as the old place.

Phil, Mike, Anna, and I were representatives of Fight Club, and we managed to kidnap Kate in the process. Kate took some arm twisting, but Phil and I can be quite persuasive it seems.

“Come on, Kate,” I told her, “when’s the next time you’re gonna be able to come out with us?”

She relented, although, she did say that she would come for one drink and then catch last train.

For the record, she stayed as late as we did and had more than one drink.

When we got there, many familiar faces were already at the bar and Rebecca was already crooning out some Japanese song. We were all happy that Alex had the ol’ karaoke theme going. I’m not an authority on Dunk as I had only been to Old Dunk once, but I’d been told by several of my friends that Koji (the owner) had changed up the theme of Dunk and that now there wasn’t as much karaoke.

I mingled with a few people non-Fight Club and then found a prime spot by the window, followed by Kate, Mike, Anna, and Phil. Rob was also there, but to be fair, he was there first — which was what prompted me to go over there in the first place.

Various people came by us; two or three games of darts were played, nachos were consumed out of the generosity of Rob, songs were sung, drinks were consumed (although, I only had a Coke and then a little later an orange juice — both of which were bought for me), and there was some bad dancing.

I really had a lot of fun. I stayed there until about 2:45 AM or so, and then Kate, Phil, Rob, Matt, and I took our leave.

I was saying good-bye to Alex, when the next thing I know, he’s running for the mic, then running back to me and grabbing me by the arm, dragging me out onto the dance floor. I tried valiantly to dislodge my arm from Alex’s grip but to no avail. It would have been a nice serenade if I wasn’t kicking so much.

Rob, Matt, and I opted to walk home despite the distance. The night was way to beautiful and we had to take advantage of it. We were in good moods, some of us alcohol induced, but mostly I think it had to do with the good times we had together at Dunk.

I’m still heartbroken that I won’t be working with Alex anymore come October 1st, but his Sayanova was one of the best nights I’ve had in Osaka.

It’s a bit crazy, I think. This would be the second night in a row I’ve gone out and enjoyed myself.

What is the world coming to?

**”Alex no Sayanova” means “Alex’s Sayanova”