Archive for August 24th, 2007

A night with Mike and Anna

Published by
jessi
at August 24, 2007 in Arts and Entertainment and Random Reading. 0 Comments

Mike and Anna have returned to us safely from their little jaunt across the ocean and they decided to have people over to their new place. They were originally gonna have it tonight, but when I said I couldn’t come ‘cuz of the private students, they changed the night. The program included a viewing of The Simpsons Movie and TMNT. For some reason, I got it in my head that I wanted to ride my bike there. In the 100 degree weather. I am a genius.

So the bike ride wasn’t all that bad, and it turns out the weather was more like 90 yesterday, so go team. I laughed a bit to myself. Last year, Fight Club consistently met until about the end of August in worse conditions. Seriously, when did I get to be such a wuss?

Jack and I were in charge of bringing some beverages. Sidetrack: see, this is what happens when you don’t post a lot. Jack is one of Mike’s old pals who works on the 13th Floor. He and I bonded over comics, theatre, and teaching. He’s kinda part of our Tuesday night gang. We were the first ones to show up. It was the first time I’d seen the place since both Mike and Anna officially moved in, so I spent that time poking around. Have I mentioned how much I love their place yet? Seriously. Great apartment. Still close to work and when they can’t ride their bike, the bus stop is literally right outside. Still a little jealous.

The other arrived within the hour: Phil and Nikki, Scottish Lou and her beau Ryan, and Steve. Mike went to Costco to pick up pizza for dinner and after we filled our plates we sat down to enjoy the movies.

I hate to say it, but I’m glad I didn’t pay money for either one of these movies. I ain’t sayin’ they were awful, but the Simpson’s movie was what everyone said it was — one long episode. TMNT was actually pretty cool, but I don’t know how well it did in the box office, and I had a minor fit with April O’Neil — when did she get to be a bad ass? When the HELL did she pick up archeology? I tried finding out about her character from the comics and stuff, but didn’t really come up with her being so cool. When she first started speaking, I joked and said, “Oh cool. Buffy’s joined up with the Turtles.” Then as April continued to make appearances in the movie, I started to go into geekery, “Uh, when did April become an archaeologist?” To full blown fit when she started using her katana and kicking ass.

Well, the animation was pretty wicked and I am glad I saw the movie.

All in all, it was a really fun night at Mike and Anna’s.

Firefly Sundays: Hermanos, Pirates of Dotombori, and a small world

Published by
jessi
at August 24, 2007 in Firefly Sundays. 1 Comment

This past Firefly Sunday, we decided to try something different. There are one or two Mexican places around and we seem to have exhausted all our usual options. We ended up at Hermanos, which is the cheaper and more laid back of the two restaurants…or so I’d been told. It was quiet when we got there, since dinner rush hour in Japan is closer to 7 or 8. We were seated upstairs away from the bar, and it was pretty much just us. The waitress ended up putting on some Mexican music, and it never ceases to amuse me when we get “ethnic” food in Japan ‘cuz they always end up turning it Japanese. To be honest, the fajitas I had weren’t bad. Aside from the green beans it was pretty much like anything else I woulda gotten back home. Of course, it would have been a lot cheaper, but considering Mexicans weren’t making it and such, I was able to deal. I’m not crazy, right? Usually fajitas don’t come with green beans.

Usually spicy food and I don’t get along very well, but this wasn’t too bad.

There was some drama at dinner, but things cleared up by the end of the night.

Mike really wanted to go see the local improv group the Pirates of the Dotombori so I tagged along. We’d been meaning to see them anyway. Their venue for this show was at Club Pure, a place renown for it university-style hook-ups. I wasn’t quite looking forward to going to a club, but it was a comedy show so we figured it would be okay this time around.

It was a pretty decent show. I freely admit I wasn’t too keen on paying nearly $15 for a drink and the show, but it was good to branch out. When we got the cast list, I couldn’t help but notice the name “Caitlin Barlow”. It struck me as incredibly familiar. I shook it off, thinking it was impossible.

It turns out I wasn’t crazy. The Pirate Caitlin is someone I know, well, not very well, but I’d seen her in shows at ISU. She and Mike’s friend…whose name eludes me…Dan? I don’t know. Anyway, point is, she works at a Nova branch with Mike’s old roommate. So she came by us after the show and I knew I had to ask. We were both pretty amused and amazed that we should run into each other, in Japan of all places. I remember seeing her in the ISU production of Pride’s Crossing, and it turns out she had been on Improv Mafia as well.

Small world.