Yeah, I’d been lazy the last couple days with maintaining the blog. Where to begin…
Thursday - burgers, nabe, and the crazy Avon Lady
Darya has finished her “career” at Nova. For her first official day as a layabout, we decided to go and eat noodles. Of course, it wasn’t really the occassion that warranted the noodles, it was more of a ‘cuz we can attitude.
But, since it’s us, it was only natural that we deter from our original intention. I mean, the way original plan for the day had been to go shopping. I am perhaps the most indecisive person when it comes to spending money on clothes and the way I figured it, for the time being, I’m doing all right with outfits.
We then thought to go to Costco; this plan was nixed because we both realized it wouldn’t really be worth the trip since there wasn’t a whole lot either one of us needed.
So, it was no surprise that on the train, I turned to her and said, “Or, we could get burgers.” I had been having a taste for burgers the day before and this was a perfect opportunity to satiate such a desire.
Funny thing about Kua’Aina; it always seems like a good idea at the time, and it ain’t like it ain’t satisfyin’ ‘cuz it all kinds of is…but it’s also VERY filling. It was funny ‘cuz the last time we had eaten there, we left very full, very happy…and very sleepy.
We decided to walk off the meal by hitting up Muji and Tower. I really like the stuff in Muji, I just wish it weren’t so darn expensive. I saw lots of pretties, but alas, I had not the funds to purchase such.
Traipsing around Tower, I really wished we had a Borders. Aside from the book factor of Borders, the music selection is quite impressive. I was disappointed by the musical section in Tower, but the classical section was pretty cool, especially when I found the wind ensemble section. I talked myself out of two CD’s, as I do have copies of the songs, but still.
When we got home, both Darya and I were dead set on taking a nap. This proved difficult because a electrician arrived simultaneously to install an air conditioner/heater in Jacob’s room. Apparently, this did not deter me totally discourage me since I somehow managed about fifteen minutes worth — which was enough to charge me.
I decided I needed pastry goodness, so Darya accompanied me to Pandero, a bakery that is located at the very end of our street. On our way, one of the neighbors on the main street came out and started talking to us in Japanese. Neither of us were quite sure what she was saying, and in my truly diminished Japanese, I tried to explain to her that neither one of us understood and that we were both English speakers.
She rode off, then, but still muttering to herself. Darya mentioned that she had seen the woman before and that the last time she saw her, she had tried talking to Darya then, too. We dismissed it.
When we came home, though, the woman was in our house talking to Jacob. It turned out that she was pretty upset with us for being loud. Admittedly, we can be loud, so we apologized profusely, quite chagrined, and tried to explain to her that we would be more quiet. Jacob explained to her that Darya and I only speak English. It was an amusing reaction because she said to Jacob, “They don’t speak Japanese…but you do?”
It was a light moment in an otherwise awkward and uncomfortable situation.
I felt really bad about the whole thing. I’m not one to be inconsiderate, in fact, I try awfully hard to be the opposite of such. So to be chastised by one of our neighbors made me feel all kinds of awful, and for poor Jacob to catch the brunt of it was even worse. I removed myself from the living room, as I did not have any desire to intensify the admonishment.
Jacob came up the stairs a little later and I fully expected him to chasten me, but instead he said he didn’t think the woman was quite “all there”.
“She just came into the house, she didn’t even knock or ring the bell. I think we should start locking the door more often.”
He called Masumi about the lady, too; both to find out about the lady and to let her know what happened from us before she got an angry complaint or something.
We started walking a different way to get to the train station, too. Just to be safe since it was established that the crazy lady lives with creepy guy — a fellow who sits either in their foyer or in the road just watching people.
We all three went to meet Mike and Anna for nabe at AsianDays, since Darya realized the last time she had it was when she took Braden and me there back in March. We related the story to the pair of them, by this time, the feelings had begun to dissipate. Jacob laughed and said, “If I had been in a snarkier mood, I would have just started telling her things like ‘Be careful of bears’ and ‘I am Japanese’.”
It was on this night that my Kuya gave us “Heroes”; we had intentions of watching Spaceballs, but since Jacob is impatient when it comes to things like this, we went home and watched all four episodes instead. Matt came to join us, too; and yeah, it was a grand evening.
***
Friday thereafter
After our day in Ninja Town, I separated from the rest of the group to meet Yuko for dinner in Esaka, where her friend lives.
Yay.
Yet another fun filled, awkward silence and soul-saving evening.
I’m starting to think that this is all just insane.
Yuko’s friend introduced herself to me, “My name is Junko, but nickname is Imagine.”
This does not bode well. No offense to either of these women, I just had a sinking feeling about all of it.
We ended up at a Chinese restaurant. For all intents and purposes, it totally looked like a Chinese restaurant, but the food was more akin to Panda Express. No big. I mean, Japan’s perception of real Chinese food may be off, but I dig that this country is all about the set meals. Plenty of food for cheap, and considering this was the first real meal I’d had all day, I was pretty content.
I think just once, I would like to meet with Yuko and not talk about God.
I was invited to one of their parties this Saturday, a kind of Halloween Party, and I think I might actually go. Yuko said it would be from 6PM until about 9PM.
“This year, we have a theme,” Imagine explained, “dress as a dream you had when you were young. So not like witch’s costumes.” She also said there’d be no alcohol, which was a total bonus to me…but then she also said it would be “Girls Only”.
Sheep and wolves came to mind, only I’m not sure whether I’m a sheep or I’m a wolf. Regardless, this rang funny in my ears. Darya teased me and said it’s probably a cult.
I wouldn’t be surprised.
But like I said, I’m trying. I want to make it work because I need other friends. I love Fight Club…but it’s good to have variety.
And like I said, I don’t know that this isn’t what I came looking for.
Still messed up lots.
***
crazy Avon lady follow-up: Nope. Not so much we’re annoying, the woman is just off. Masumi told us that she complains about everyone, so definitely not feelin’ so bad.
jessi’s diet: Dude, in the past five days, four of the five have had dead animal in it. That’s a lotta beef!
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