Entries this day: Little_bit_late Morning_work Wasting_time_with_Komatsu ami's_birthday

Little bit late

10:33am JST Tuesday 12 August 2008 (day 14020)

Rolling in to work a bit late; I just got on the train in Motosumiyoshi, though normally I like to get the 10:24 train, and optimally betweeen 10 and 10:20. But that pales in comparison to halfway getting back in touch with Abbey Tennis! I got a mass email from Mattboy Kime; he emailed TO everyone he knew instead of BCC, but that's good for me in this case cause I was then able to write to Abbey.

I hope she's enjoying super greatness!

Morning work

2:17pm JST Tuesday 12 August 2008 (day 14020)

got a bit done. Now going to chat with Komatsu in Japanese for 4000 yen per hour during his English lesson.

Wasting time with Komatsu

5:07pm JST Tuesday 12 August 2008 (day 14020)

I walked from our lesson to Yoyogi, instead of Sendagaya, saving 20 yen, and realistically taking no more time than waiting for the train to make the transfer to go one station, yet past where I actually need to go.

Anyway, during the lesson, he asked me about what I did "about a month ago" (two weeks ago): meditate. I told him the word again in Japanese, and he didn't know how to spell it, and looked it up again in his dictionary. The first definition is like, "honored priest," so I moved the cursor down to "meditation."

Twenty minutes in Japanese trying to explain why I do it, and that I try every day. He assured me it's a waste of time (not that he's tried it; he didn't even know the word in Japanese when I told him the word in Japanese). I assured him that he didn't have to meditate, and explained that I do it so that I can remain more centered during my normal activities. But I don't know how to say that in Japanese, so I was like, "so I know who I am."

That didn't work, so I told him about the time I broke my shoulder and wasn't phased (much) by it. I told him when mosquitoes bite me, I don't spend all lesson counting them; they don't phase me.

blah blah blah words and stuff were spoken, mostly in Japanese, a bit in English, and a smaller bit in Tagalog (he likes Filipino girls.)

ami's birthday

7:01am JST Wednesday 13 August 2008 (day 14021)

Last night I left work at a normal time (basically didn't get anything done after Komatsu's lesson) and met Ami on Yamanoted Line at 7pm. I was at the platform a bit early, and she stepped smilingly off the train that arrived at 6:55pm (coming from Ebisu (Roppongi)), and I pointed right back onto the train, and we went to Ikebukero

Because we were on the first car, I got a bit lost getting out of Ikebukero (normally get out in Ikebukero from the middle of the train), but after a bit of a walk, including outside, I sorted out where we were going (didn't know the name of the exit nor the building, but I know what it looks like when I see it.

At ate the buffet restaurant where Helma and Brett and I went to dinner after the first night of the ATE a couple weeks ago. We each got two plates, featuring almost completely different foods (I'm a sweet tooth and she's a spicy tooth) We were seated in the back of the restaurant (where Helma, Brett and I had sat near the front) where two girls were seated in the table next to us, one of whom had light (nearly white) colored lipstick. I kept glancing over at her and feeling a bit guilty cause it's Ami's birthday for goodness sake, but Ami didn't seem phased. She basically doesn't care if I look, but just doesn't want me to touch.

I noticed how the two girls were like continually chattering; I couldn't tell about what they were speaking, but they started off with an ¤ª¤Ä¤«¤ì¤µ¤Þ¤Þ, so I imagine they work together. I wished Ami and I could speak that easily together.

I mentioned that I was approached by some massagie-massagie girls on the way home from work the previous night, and I turned down the first girl because I had to get the train, and she said it was okay: we could stay overnight at the hotel for no extra cost. Ami said basically, "there'd probably be a thug there the next morning to make you pay up, so be careful."

Wow! I really appreciated this answer; I know there's no chance I'd take up such an offer, but that I nearly have permission, is quite a nice feeling of freedom.

I told her about teasing the second girl by offering her a back massage, but she squirmed away, and then a third girl scooted backwards up to me to get a massage. I gave her a shoulder massage for a bit. (Left out the detail of the girl saying "more power," so I put too much pressure on her shoulders and she kinda buckled down so I let up and finished at a more appropriate pressure. I like giving massages and wondered if I'd enjoy having girls run up to me in the streets to receive for a quick massage.)

On the restaurant's dessert bar, they've got little shot glasses of green stuff that's sorta sweet and I've got little idea what's in them, though they sorta taste like banana (and the sign says ¥Ð¥Ê¥Ê, so I guess that's a good indication).. but they're green. Anyway, I offered to let Ami try my first one and she sniffed it, but was like, "no way!" so later when I offered her my second one, she sealed her mouth up, until I went to drink it and she opened her mouth like, "I want some!" and then I'd offer it to her and she slammed her mouth shut again. We played like this for about 10 rounds, and I almost tricked her by switching the pattern and opening my mouth to drink, but offering the drink to her. Funny funny. I love being able to play little games like this with Ami.

Happy and full, we left right after our neighbors, but lost them in the crowd down the escalators. We took the Fukutoshin Line to Shibuya, where I saw some guy run up to jump over the rail, thereby escaping without paying the fare. Oh! Jesse!! I haven't seen Jesse in a while, so we chatted for a bit (he didn't jump over the wall) and then he headed home to Ana and baby-chan.

Ami and I headed to the ¥×¥ê¥¯¥é and got pics. I got one sent to my cellphone, which is now my wallpaper. (I wanted another one, but I miss-clicked, though I still like this one.) Ami and I shared a seat (in succession) on Toyoko line on the way to my house where I told her I'd be her servant and do anything she wanted...

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