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Ok, try copying the character below into anywhere you put text. Like the comment box of this entry and then type me a message. WTF. (The thing that looks like a circle of commas.

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what the hell is this thing?҉

Old neighbours.

I've always admired the cars parked in the parking lot below my building. Although I don't really know anything about them, I can tell most of them are pretty damn nice. For a while there was even a Blazer. In Japan, that's a pretty flashy vehicle to drive. My place is small but nice, but the cars never seemed fit the neighbourhood.

A few moments ago I just figured it out.

I was parking my bike at the back when a car alarm went off. What? No big deal. Some girl I'd seen in the building before was playing with her remote starter thingy. A moment later a short, stalky, tough looking guy walked out toward her. Nothing new, I'd seen these two together before too.

Wait...something was very very new.

I'd seen him before, but never in a t-shirt and shorts. Although he was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, he was still wearing long sleeves and long pants. Follow? That is, he had FULL BODY TATTOOS. Down to his ankles, up to his wrists. In Japan, this mean only ONE thing. Yakuza. The Japanese Mafia. Tattoo are not very common in Japan. Especially among people over lets say 25 years old. And a full body tattoo means you are in the mob. Period.

I casually said 'konbonwa,' (good evening) smiled, and headed off to bed.

Packing

Packing sucks. Put crap in a box, then take it out. Rock goes up the hill, rock comes down the hill. Seems that way anyway. After seeing my new place in Okayama, it makes me want to leave here even less. This place is small, but that place is SMALL. I'll really miss seeing the mountains out my window, my tatami mats, my big closet, and having a sink in my bathroom (come on, is that really too much to ask for?!). I'll have no mountains to run up, no cheap supermarkets nearby to dash too, no Filipino prostitutio.....wait forget about that one.

I feel when I'm sorting my stuff, I'm kind of sorting memories. Is this card worth keeping? Will it cause me to remember something special next year? In two years? In 20 years? Damn I really liked this book the first time, maybe I'll want to read it again sometime...should I really carry it for so long? I think I take a distinct pleasure in getting rid of crap I don't need. I'm sure I get this from my father. So perhaps my mother causes the mixed feelings about it. This is a nice shirt! I haven't worn it in so long....I wonder if it still fits me....

Oh yeah, counter space? Forget it.

Camupingu

People here often confuse the word 'camping' with other things. Other things like 'picnic,' 'hiking,' or 'leaving the city.' We were camping. We had tents, a barbecue, a tarp, and a cooler. I think the people down the beach from us had tables, chairs, a kitchen, a stove, a microwave, a television, oh--and maybe a tent but I couldn't tell just by looking at it.

Our camp site was about 10meters off the beach and 10 meters off the road creating a strange dichotomy when you're trying to relax/sleep. Waves...relaxing. Motorbikes...not so relaxing. In the end camping was much much more on the relaxing side. I ate, slept, swam, ate, drank, slept, and so on. The beach was pretty nice, the weather was great except for a touch of rain, which could have been far worse had the typhoon come.

Only two days left....then back to work.

big day

Gonna head to my new apartment today in Okayama...I heard it was small...but nice. Sounds like Japan. After a day exploring the area around my apartment I'm heading down near Kochi (a city in the south) to go camping. Oh, during my exploring I need to get something to sleep in. I think I tent would be the best.

On a strange note, my folks are in...Alaska. Or on a cruse ship heading there....or heading away from there, I'm not really sure. I think my dad decided a while ago that he wanted to see all of Canada, and I have to say he seems to be doing a pretty good job. Now if only he could get to Japan.

I'll post some pictures when I get back...I'm heading to the really cool looking rope bridge that I'm sure will make some great shots.

d.

Vacation

I'm FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.

Everyone has 'em

Everyone has those days...where we say I hate Japan. Today, er...yesterday more so, I had one of those days. They just start with something not going your way, and every little thing builds up. What may have started it was reading about this. After reading that, molehills can become mountains. Japan is a really friendly place, but every now and then you see something questionable. A little sign that reads 'no gaijin,' the empty seat next to you on the full train, or just noticing how close the glass ceiling really is.

Today I was informed that in English we call these the dog days of summer. Do we now? Although I've heard that before, I've never had any idea what it meant. But I guess I must say it. Did you know that I use chopsticks really well? It's truly amazing how well I use them. Oh, and 2 year old children use them well too.

It's not so bad I guess, I think that publication I linked earlier got yanked after one or two issues and then the publishing company went out of business or something. But somebody wanted to make and it then somebody let them.

Moving on, I got a big vacation coming in a few days, and that's going to feel really really good. Too bad my folks are going to be in Alaska during it so I can't head back to the motherland. Between camping and maybe going to visit my old friend Dan, it should prove to be a pretty relaxing time. For relaxing time, make it Suntory time? That shit is terrible. Whatever I'm on about, a few days in the sun should clear it all up.