No, Really, I Am an American

Blech. I got me two more days in this country and then I’m jettin’ off across the ocean again. Why can’t Japan be closer? Feh.

Okay. So…The List:

drink Pepsi
eat roast (Thanks Chris O!)
eat Lou’s
eat Portillo’s
go to Olive Garden
go to Friday’s
go to Border’s and blow about $100 in books (although, it was actually Barnes and Noble’s…)
see a movie
go back to the Art Institute
buy Natural Cheetos (again, technically, they were all bought for me, but I did eat ‘em)
get eaten by mountain men to prove to VoW that they do exist
WIN Settlers of Catan
stab people in the back while looting the dungeon (and finally get that damn ice cream Al said we could have) (I think cookies made a nice substitute)
hang out with my friends

Hmmm…not too bad. The stuff that has yet to be accomplished I’m not exactly busted up over. To be honest, when I was listing some of those things, like go to Olive Garden, I put it down because it sounded like a good idea at the time. Now, I’m not overly interested. Personally, I want to substitute a few things, like winning Golden Deuce TWICE for Settlers; and as for the mountain men, they were simply spotted.

I’m pretty proud considering I’m not the greatest at making lists and even less wont to accomplish anything on them.

I gotta back up a few days. I thought I posted about it, but I realized I didn’t write anything about the events of Tuesday. I can’t say I’m the greatest at keeping in touch with people, like friends from school and all, so I was really glad to have had the opportunity to catch up with me college chums Melany and Denise. We were wont to gather and galavant during our days in Bloomington-Normal and it was shiny hanging out again. I don’t have a lot of people I can talk soaps with, as it were. I went to Baker’s Square with ‘em (yet another substitution I think I should make, this one taking the place of Friday’s) and we ended up spending the whole afternoon and the early part of the evening having conversations. (I guess it’s pretty plain that that’s what’s lacking in Japan.)

That evening was the second time I won Golden Deuce when Al, Grant, and Vicki of Wau-con-da came over for some tom foolery. It was a shame that the awesome fruit snack things we sampled previously were not available at the 7-Eleven, but I got Reese’s out the deal…oh yeah, and I won!

Yesterday was another friend-filled day. I’m always amazed when we gather before seven in the evening. I met up with Yoss, Cristina, geekspotting Abs, Mark, Rich, and Grant (who came later) at Sushi Station at 2:30 PM. It was really good sushi, better than Kappa, the 100 Yen place in Kita, but for the price we paid, I would hope it would be. Their tekka maki was quite yummy, and their hamachi was excellent. It may be that I also liked the place more because the wasabi is all on the side.

I had plans to head over to the Halfway House, but not without stopping over to see my girlfriend first. I had only seen her once since being home and it was high time I pay her another visit. She was far more rambunctious this time around; she even head butt me. Sigh A girl after mine own heart…

I was happy to play with Lucy. I had joked that she didn’t play as much the last time ‘cuz she knew I was cheating on her, as I had just come from meeting Dixie. I laughed again when I got the the Ordonii House and Dixie could smell Lucy on me. My mistress is far more forgiving, however, as it wasn’t long before she was shoving a toy in my hand.

I caught up on How I Met Your Mother and watched “Slap Bet” again just ‘cuz I really dig that Robin Sparkles video. Not for the first time did I wish my friends in Japan appreciated the show to the same degree to speak a little Quote with ‘em, but no matter.

I was lamenting over my impulsive purchase to VoW. My brother gave me a Best Buy gift cert and I spent it on Justice League Season 1 and 2. When these were first released, I really wanted them; but in retrospect, I should have spent the gift cert on HIMYM Season 1 and Finding Nemo or some other movies I’ve wanted for some time instead. Don’t get me wrong, I like the cartoon, but I think that I am more likely to have a marathon on HIMYM more than Justive League. Curse me and my impulse!

Sorry, got a little off topic. That eve, we convened at Yoss’s place for games. I haven’t been able to stay awake much as it seems come seven in the evening I get really tired, so I passed out for a spell while they played Peanuts and we were waiting for other to join us. I got the chance to play Rummikub and totally won a game! Yatta!

I was lame and bailed early to try and sleep, figuring it would be better to be lame than to fall asleep at the wheel.

This morning, my mom and I went to Woodfield and holy smokes, I bought these two great shirts from The Limited! They’re viscose rayon (I looked at the tag, I have yet to know these things off the top of my head) and quite shiny.

My detest of people came out again as I was shopping, of course. I’m still trying to figure out exactly what it is about shopping in America that bugs me. Maybe ‘cuz I’m insanely self-conscious and there’s something about other women that just bothers me. I don’t have this problem in Japan. There, it doesn’t seem like anyone really gives a damn, but here, I can’t help but feel like I’m being measured the second I walk into a store or something. Yes, I know. I’m crazy.

I also couldn’t help but notice a difference in workers. I was amused to observe that Japanese sales clerks greet you boisterously, but then aren’t likely to harass you unless you ask for help — then again, this is only my experience — and the people at McDonald’s or other fast food places are quite bright and cheerful. Here it seems opposite, the sales people are overly helpful and the food service people are quite dour.

But yeah, I still prefer shopping for clothes in Japan.