Goodbye, Minako!

Quick summary of the past weekend...and more:

On Thursday night, Jeff, Ann and I went to Variee, a French restaurant located somewhere between Ota and Kiryu. The course dinner cost us each $105. I think this may be the most expensive meal I've ever paid for by myself. But, it was well worth it, as the food was delicious. We got to try soo many different things...and they were SO good. We ate everything and felt way too full afterwards. Anyway, it was a good experience indeed, as we weren't too sure about the silverware...outside in, right? What to do when you have like 10 plates coming your way? Hmm.

On Friday night, I trained over to Jeff's for another Veronica Mars' night. First, we went to Nacchan's for dinner. Then, we sat through 4 episodes of VM at his place, and watched most of Hirai Ken's music videos. By the way, we have decided that we're now both engaged to him, as he is hot. I love love love his "Popstar" video...it's soo funny...I don't think it was directed by a Japanese director. Anyway, Hirai Ken totally looks part something...like South American, but apparently, he is full Japanese! WTF?! I think somebody lied to him about his roots. Poor guy. Anyway, his music videos are awesome, and I can watch all of 'em, which is something to be said b/c I usually get tired of music videos very easily.

The next morning, Jeff and I biked to Yabuzuka eki. Yes, I biked this time! I figured out that if I fully extend my legs, I am able to reach the pedals! However, I have to jump off to get off...thank goodness there aren't many stop lights in Yabu. Anyway, we trained and bused to AEON, where we shopped around, then met up with Ann and Helen to watch King Kong. King Kong is a 3-hour movie, but it was good, so time passed by quickly. Yes, King Kong is definitely the best movie I've seen in Japan so far, and Adrian Brody is hot. More of a reason to go. Now if they would only release Brokeback Mountain here...

After the movie, Emily picked us up to go to Tatebayashi for Minako's farewell party. Minako is leaving for San Francisco on the 21st...she is moving there permanently!! That's so crazy. She'll love it there...this I know...but I can't imagine what I'd pack if I were leaving...for good! So yeah, we're all really sad to see her leave, as she always brightens up our days with her laughter and her "Sou da ne!" San Francisco is definitely a great place for her though. Good luck in finding your hot and rich American husband, Minako!! Remember to introduce me to his brother once you're settled...hehe.

After dinner, we all went to karaoke...well, Denny's first to wait for our karaoke room. Yeah, it was fun. Henry blew us away with his voice when he sang a Japanese song! Damn, that boy can sing! By the end of the night, we were all so tired. Emily was SO nice to drive Jeff home and me and Ann to my place. Thank you sooo much for driving, Em!!

The next day, I cooked breakfast for me and Ann. Wow, it's been awhile. I never seem to be home these days to cook anything. Anyway, thanks to Heidi, I now have both Kokology books at my place. Ann and I read thru some of it, and it really does seem to be pretty accurate in its analyses. It's fun!! After that, I let her finish the Gilmore Girls on my laptop. Damn...it's soo good. Now I just need to trek to Sean's to get the remaining episodes! I'm such a t.v. addict...less so here, thank goodness.

Thought of the day:

I had a conversation this weekend about the cars people drive in Japan, and how they don't fit the people here. In America, you can sorta see it. Like, "Yeah, she looks like she'd drive a Beemer." Here, it's different. My JTE, who's like half my size, drives a freakin' huge-as white van. I asked her how many children she has, and she said just one girl. Hmm. Then, I asked "Why do you have such a big van?!" She said, "For my daughter's friends." Um! That's nice of her! Strange to buy a huge van for OTHER people's kids, but nice, I guess. Anyway, since the cars that the Japanese drive don't fit them, I think this is compensated for in the tea cups they use at school. At my jr. high school, every teacher has his/her own cup. I know which cup belongs to which teacher b/c I am the one handing them their lunch w/ their tea cups at lunchtime. Anyway, it's really easy for me to remember which cup belongs to which teacher because it's SO obvious that that's their cup. For example, the music teacher has a very decorative/artsy cup, which suits her. There's this one older lady teacher who has a porcelain cup with different color flowers on it. Reminds me of my piano teacher, Marjorie Williams. The 3nensei social studies teacher has a dark brown coffee cup, that says, "Nice coffee. Nice day." It was totally made for him, as he looks like one that drinks too much coffee anyway. So yeah, I also have my own cup. It's the Chip 'n' Dale cup I purchased at Disneyland. I wonder if that suits me....or should I buy a new cup? Eh, whatevers.