Last night I went with three other people to a Hanshin Tigers game. This team has a huge following in the area where I live. The stadium was built in 1920, and feels really small, but I think it can hold well over 50,000 people. Opposing the Tigers was the Orix Blue Wave, Ichiro's former team.
I had a great time talking to strangers at the game, who were all happy to be single-serving friends as we supported the Tigers together. I am still not very good at the chants, but I do try. More than that I enjoyed expressing my individualism by yelling something when the crowd was kind of quiet, often in between the well organized cheers. The fans seemed to appreciate this, so I didn't feel too shy about it. One player, Hiyama, came up to bat but I misread the kanji for his name because the scoreboard was too far away and because kanji are hard to read. "Let's go Matsuyama!!!" I shouted, with all the power I could muster. I was soon informed of my mistake. A bit embarrassing but bound to happen. Oh well.
Many of the fans were drinking beer, and some were drinking a lot of beer. Some of the latter were in fact drinking too much beer. I say this because when I went to use the restroom I could hear two men vomiting at the same time. One was flushing the toilet repeatedly, presumably to mask the sound of his wretching. I was glad that the task I needed to perform was much simpler than that. But it didn't stop me from drinking beer.
The game went into extra innings and was eventually left as a tie, I think after the 12th or 13th inning. It was 11:30 pm by that time. My overall impression was that I need to get to games more often, but make sure I know the player's names before I try to cheer for them.
Thursday, May 26, 2005
House-breaking
On Monday I was given a rare opportunity. A friend of mine is building a new house, but must first demolish the old one. I asked if I could have a couple hours with a sledge hammer, and she kindly agreed. I don't think I really had a lot of stress or anger, but I nonetheless broke as much of the interior of the old house as I could in the time I had. We made a video of the event. After searching for the right background music, I settled on a medley of selections from Rage Against the Machine. Very fitting. I did get a blister on my left hand and I also managed to hit my left foot with the sledge hammer, but all in all it was well worth it. Nothing like breaking things without breaking the rules.
Thursday, May 19, 2005
Batons and Buttons
Last Sunday I met the 2004 baton champion of the world, or so I am told. She herself only told me that she was employed in a baton teaching capacity. Today one of my students, a very nice lady who claims her hobby is sleeping, told me that she recently lost five million dollars on the stock market. Ouch. And tonight I met a professional Japanese tennis player, Tomoko something. A restaurant I often go to happens to have a lot of famous clientele, but I never recognize them when I am there. I don't suppose it would make much of a difference to me anyway.
Last night at karaoke I was making an artistic statement by hanging a number of clothes hangers from the buttons of my shirt and performing an interpretive dance when one of the staff unexpectedly walked in. I wasn't embarrassed but I think I was the only one in the room who felt that way. The waiter (yes they have waiters at karaoke, kinda) was struggling to hold back his laughter (laughing AT me, not with me, certainly) while presenting me with my shiny new member's card. Perhaps the best part about it was that I was drinking nothing but orange juice and coffee the whole time. A true moment of inspiration.
Last night at karaoke I was making an artistic statement by hanging a number of clothes hangers from the buttons of my shirt and performing an interpretive dance when one of the staff unexpectedly walked in. I wasn't embarrassed but I think I was the only one in the room who felt that way. The waiter (yes they have waiters at karaoke, kinda) was struggling to hold back his laughter (laughing AT me, not with me, certainly) while presenting me with my shiny new member's card. Perhaps the best part about it was that I was drinking nothing but orange juice and coffee the whole time. A true moment of inspiration.
Friday, May 13, 2005
Monkey Magical Mystery Tour Bus Station Airy
Sorry for the lack of postings. I am kind of used to my life lately, I guess. But if I keep typing, I reckon I can think of something....
I went to dinner with Mr. Miyagi's daughter. I also discovered that she is good at singing Michael Jackson songs in karaoke.
We lost another softball game and I popped out twice when facing a very fast female pitcher. She was scary. When the next pitcher came in I hit the ball high and far but the outfield was playing so deep that it was all for naught. Oh yeah, and one guy on our team was rounding third and heading home and I enthusiastically high-fived him on the way home, hoping to boost our team's morale a bit more with my foolish foreigner antics. But we were soon informed that such behavior is in fact against the rules. As a result the run was replaced by an out. Oops. Once again I must say how thankful I am that no one on our team cares at all. Although being competitive might be fun.... I tried to cry bad shoulder so I could play first base but I was denied and forced to maintain my former position in left field. No rest for the weary.
Next on the agenda that day was an all-you-can-drink beer fest, all afternoon. I decided not to go, though, because I was already too tired from other things. Maybe I am getting old. Or just wiser. which wouldn't be saying much. The previous night I had managed to convince four friends to join me to see a rock show. I know the band and wanted to support them and introduce some new people. My inside information, however, was incorrect. The performance was not Saturday but Friday. Great. So I had four unhappy starving girls to entertain.... I had promised them a concert after all. Luckily my hunch about another bar only a few subway stations away proved correct, and there was a band playing there. So we went, ate, and listened. I saw some people I know, including a certain victim of a certain unbelievable crime that might have been mentioned previously. Also I saw a really sweet girl I know who has faces of rock stars tatooed on her neck and arm, along with other things. One of the kindest girls ever, with a really hard look about her. I love that her personality and her appearance are what they are, and not what people would expect at all.
I am tired. Some other interesting people I have met recently:
A man who claims to be a professional clown whose specialty is inflating baloons with his butt. Nice guy. Said he makes about $10,000 a week. Or something like that. I think not. Rather clowny, though.... I did not ask him to show me his technique.
A guy from Jamaica who was high high high at first and then over the course of the evening became not high. Oh what a difference a few hours make. Nice talking about his culture and hearing the frank truth about things.
Two Japanese punked out chicks not long out of high school who also have the practiced tough appearance, but who have worked hard to achieve the overly cute behavior that is becoming so annoyingly popular among young Japanese girls. Hard to describe other than to say it is contrived until they forget how not to act that way. Then they get older and it seems even stranger. But I won't say it is not interesting!
A really nice young lady who happens to be employed as an exotic dancer (perfectly innocent, friend of a friend, I have never been to a strip club so there), who has just been diagnosed with cancer.
And others I am not remembering at the moment. I want to meet my pillow right now. One last person of note: Today one of my university students, when asked to do an impromptu one-minute 'show and tell' presentation, chose as his subject the monkey wrench he was carrying in his duffle bag. I think anything involving monkeys is funny. He went on about how he loves his monkey wrench, and then students had to ask him questions about it. Some that come to mind: "Do you love it?" ("Yes!") "What is your favorite size?" (He adjusted it and said, "This size!") "Why are you still awake and typing on this blog?" (Oops--internal monologue leak. Must sleep.)
Monkeys everywhere. I just remembered that the song that probably got my friends' band signed to a record label is a remake called "Monkey Magic." And that sounds like a nice thought for a title for this pathetic and delirious and oh so belated entry. The second entry in three to make some mention of monkeys. Perhaps I should designate May as Monkey Awareness Month. So all you loyal and patient and impatient readers out there, send in your monkey stories, links, and trivia! Or something. I wonder how much monkeys sleep?
I went to dinner with Mr. Miyagi's daughter. I also discovered that she is good at singing Michael Jackson songs in karaoke.
We lost another softball game and I popped out twice when facing a very fast female pitcher. She was scary. When the next pitcher came in I hit the ball high and far but the outfield was playing so deep that it was all for naught. Oh yeah, and one guy on our team was rounding third and heading home and I enthusiastically high-fived him on the way home, hoping to boost our team's morale a bit more with my foolish foreigner antics. But we were soon informed that such behavior is in fact against the rules. As a result the run was replaced by an out. Oops. Once again I must say how thankful I am that no one on our team cares at all. Although being competitive might be fun.... I tried to cry bad shoulder so I could play first base but I was denied and forced to maintain my former position in left field. No rest for the weary.
Next on the agenda that day was an all-you-can-drink beer fest, all afternoon. I decided not to go, though, because I was already too tired from other things. Maybe I am getting old. Or just wiser. which wouldn't be saying much. The previous night I had managed to convince four friends to join me to see a rock show. I know the band and wanted to support them and introduce some new people. My inside information, however, was incorrect. The performance was not Saturday but Friday. Great. So I had four unhappy starving girls to entertain.... I had promised them a concert after all. Luckily my hunch about another bar only a few subway stations away proved correct, and there was a band playing there. So we went, ate, and listened. I saw some people I know, including a certain victim of a certain unbelievable crime that might have been mentioned previously. Also I saw a really sweet girl I know who has faces of rock stars tatooed on her neck and arm, along with other things. One of the kindest girls ever, with a really hard look about her. I love that her personality and her appearance are what they are, and not what people would expect at all.
I am tired. Some other interesting people I have met recently:
A man who claims to be a professional clown whose specialty is inflating baloons with his butt. Nice guy. Said he makes about $10,000 a week. Or something like that. I think not. Rather clowny, though.... I did not ask him to show me his technique.
A guy from Jamaica who was high high high at first and then over the course of the evening became not high. Oh what a difference a few hours make. Nice talking about his culture and hearing the frank truth about things.
Two Japanese punked out chicks not long out of high school who also have the practiced tough appearance, but who have worked hard to achieve the overly cute behavior that is becoming so annoyingly popular among young Japanese girls. Hard to describe other than to say it is contrived until they forget how not to act that way. Then they get older and it seems even stranger. But I won't say it is not interesting!
A really nice young lady who happens to be employed as an exotic dancer (perfectly innocent, friend of a friend, I have never been to a strip club so there), who has just been diagnosed with cancer.
And others I am not remembering at the moment. I want to meet my pillow right now. One last person of note: Today one of my university students, when asked to do an impromptu one-minute 'show and tell' presentation, chose as his subject the monkey wrench he was carrying in his duffle bag. I think anything involving monkeys is funny. He went on about how he loves his monkey wrench, and then students had to ask him questions about it. Some that come to mind: "Do you love it?" ("Yes!") "What is your favorite size?" (He adjusted it and said, "This size!") "Why are you still awake and typing on this blog?" (Oops--internal monologue leak. Must sleep.)
Monkeys everywhere. I just remembered that the song that probably got my friends' band signed to a record label is a remake called "Monkey Magic." And that sounds like a nice thought for a title for this pathetic and delirious and oh so belated entry. The second entry in three to make some mention of monkeys. Perhaps I should designate May as Monkey Awareness Month. So all you loyal and patient and impatient readers out there, send in your monkey stories, links, and trivia! Or something. I wonder how much monkeys sleep?
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Send Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
I haven't had much to say lately, I guess. Let's see... last night I went to an Italian restaurant and then to karaoke for a really long time. Nothing new there....
Oh, I met a really nice guy who claims to have recently been drugged by two Japanese women and sexually assaulted over the course of three days. This story came after I inquired about the red marks on his wrists which he said were from handcuffs. That in itself I found hard to swallow. Little did I know what tales awaited me. He said he woke up after days of unconsciousness, discovered a strong need to urinate, a lack of mobility, a lack of clothing, and a stranger on top of him. He was uncuffed to use the toilet and made his escape, still reeling and in a drug-induced and shock-affected haze. He, against his own gentlemanly nature, knocked the captor to the floor and fled the spinning room, carrying his clothes and falling down the stairs on the way. By the time he reached a train station, he still didn't know where he was. He found he still had his wallet but that it was missing the month's pay he had been carrying. He had to sneak on and off the trains to get home, but finally made it. While he was out he lost the new job for which he had just been hired due to continued and unexplained absence. Aside from the uncommon nature of the story itself, I had no reason not to believe him. So I kinda did and kinda do. He claimed to have other physical evidence to support his story, but I didn't ask to see it. Let this be a lesson to all of you unsuspecting and amorous men out there: beware of chemicals and strange women.
As for me, I am working hard and dreading the summer humidity which has already begun to rear its ugly head.
A point of interest to some, perhaps: the freak shoulder-injury from that fateful volleyball game of four years ago, the very same one which almost certainly led to ultimate dtd defeat, has continued to plague me until now and has recently become annoyingly painful. I reckon a trip to the doctor is in order. But not until after softball on Sunday.
And I am planning a day-trip to Hiroshima tomorrow. I will say hi to the monkey lady for the garbage man. Lord Graysan still lurks in the cyber-shadows, but I will nonetheless include him in the greeting howl. If there is a zoo in Hiroshima I hope I won't be near it. Wouldn't want to cause another primate riot.
Speaking of zoos, how about the renegade elephants in Seoul? Did people see this on the news? They headed straight for the kitchen. Here is video proof that elephants are literally crazy for kimchi.
Oh, I met a really nice guy who claims to have recently been drugged by two Japanese women and sexually assaulted over the course of three days. This story came after I inquired about the red marks on his wrists which he said were from handcuffs. That in itself I found hard to swallow. Little did I know what tales awaited me. He said he woke up after days of unconsciousness, discovered a strong need to urinate, a lack of mobility, a lack of clothing, and a stranger on top of him. He was uncuffed to use the toilet and made his escape, still reeling and in a drug-induced and shock-affected haze. He, against his own gentlemanly nature, knocked the captor to the floor and fled the spinning room, carrying his clothes and falling down the stairs on the way. By the time he reached a train station, he still didn't know where he was. He found he still had his wallet but that it was missing the month's pay he had been carrying. He had to sneak on and off the trains to get home, but finally made it. While he was out he lost the new job for which he had just been hired due to continued and unexplained absence. Aside from the uncommon nature of the story itself, I had no reason not to believe him. So I kinda did and kinda do. He claimed to have other physical evidence to support his story, but I didn't ask to see it. Let this be a lesson to all of you unsuspecting and amorous men out there: beware of chemicals and strange women.
As for me, I am working hard and dreading the summer humidity which has already begun to rear its ugly head.
A point of interest to some, perhaps: the freak shoulder-injury from that fateful volleyball game of four years ago, the very same one which almost certainly led to ultimate dtd defeat, has continued to plague me until now and has recently become annoyingly painful. I reckon a trip to the doctor is in order. But not until after softball on Sunday.
And I am planning a day-trip to Hiroshima tomorrow. I will say hi to the monkey lady for the garbage man. Lord Graysan still lurks in the cyber-shadows, but I will nonetheless include him in the greeting howl. If there is a zoo in Hiroshima I hope I won't be near it. Wouldn't want to cause another primate riot.
Speaking of zoos, how about the renegade elephants in Seoul? Did people see this on the news? They headed straight for the kitchen. Here is video proof that elephants are literally crazy for kimchi.
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