PotW: June 28 – July 04 2009

It’s been awhile, but I was editing some of my photos and managed to find one that I’m actually pretty proud of.

As stated below, my friend Yoko and I went to Fukuoka last weekend to see a Flamenco show starring Angelita Vargas. (Amazing.) (Oh, and apparently she’s a world famous Flamenco dancer, Yoko called her one of Spain’s “national treasures”. No wonder I paid $100 for the ticket. That and the free-flowing wine.) I brought my big camera hoping to get some good photos to share with you fine folks, but I’m guessing Ms. Vargas wants control of the photos posted of her, so I wasn’t able to use it for the show.

In order to justify me hauling my big camera around Fukuoka, I took some parting shots of the city as Yoko and I returned to Iki via ferry. Now I’m quite glad I brought it, because it’s rare to have such a gorgeous day–good clouds, not much air pollution, clear water… you get the picture.

One of the lights from the ferry.

Didn’t do much in the way of post-editing. I did play with the sharpness a bit because I liked the grittiness of the light compared to the smooth water but… well. Good contrast. I enjoy it.

Here are some photos from the Flamenco show! They’re not the photos of the week.

Et-chan, Yoko, and Me at the bar. The photos in the background are other famous Flamenco dancers who have performed there.

Once the show ended, the waiters were nice enough to let me take a photo on the stage.

I feel like I should go more in depth regarding the show, but I’m not quite sure how to explain it.  The bar was tiny and crowded, so I didn’t get a good view of Ms. Vargas’ feet, one of the most important parts of Flamenco.  But her facial expressions and hands were enough to make my jaw drop.  She not only looked like she was having the time of her life, but she looked sexy.  And lemme tell you, this woman would not be considered conventionally attractive.  She’s of the older variety.  And a bit plump.  But when she moved it was like that all fell away.  She turned back into the inner vixen she probably was in her younger years.  Well, maybe she still is.  If so, I hope I can be that bad-ass when I’m older!

My other favorite part was one of the guitar players.  Again, not an attractive fellow.  Very plump.  Sweaty.  Short-ish.  But the way he moved with the guitar, and the gorgeous, enveloping sounds that came out well… my mouth went dry.

I really wish I could share something more with you from it, but unfortunately, that’s all.  But not to worry!  Once I perform (haha…hahaha…) in October, you’ll see me be bad, and then at least you’ll know how much better real Flamenco dancers can be.

Happy ID4 guys!  We’re having a party on Iki.  Hopefully it won’t take me too long to talk about it.

 

Oh, Arizona.

Sorry about the miniature hiatus here, guys.  I’d say I’ve been busy, but that’s not quite true.  Mostly, I’ve been playing the Sims and trying to figure out what to talk about.  I had a great time watching Flamenco over this last weekend.  Rainy season has (finally) arrived, but we’re still getting gorgeous weather sometimes (cross your fingers that it happens on the Fourth!).  And Stephen Colbert’s I Am America (and So Can You!) is hilarious.

Just thought I’d update regarding some bills that passed through or advanced in Arizona’s legislature this last week… It’ll make me pause before choosing a restaurant or bar when I visit the folks, I tell you that. 

 Several gun-related bills advanced, including one that would allow concealed weapons in all establishments licensed to serve alcohol. Originally specific to restaurants and bars, Senate Bill 1113 was amended in committee last week to include hotels, clubs and liquor stores.

Gun carriers would not be allowed to drink and would be subject to a fine of up to $300 if they do consume alcohol.

Oh, super.  This also applies to clubs, by the way.  So hey, lets make it okay for people, in an environment where making bad decisions happens all th time, to carry weapons around that could kill someone when their idiotic friend goes, “A-hyuk!  Hey, that shur is le shinay.  Wooo, I’ve got a gun!  ’s loaded?  Huh?  Well, I’ll just check…”

Doom.

Great guys.  Super idea. 

My favorite part was actually one lawmaker’s justification for the bill:

 People who are opposed to these bills are just people who want to ban guns, and they’re giving excuses, not reasons, to oppose these bills,” Kavanagh said. “The reputation these bills are sending is, think twice before you try to mug somebody in Arizona.

Actually, I’d say the people opposed to this bill (like, uh, me) don’t want to get shot and killed from an accidental firing by some dude who got drunk (or his friend got drunk).  And, really, I’m pretty sure people who do mugging have their own guns.  And since they pull it out first, they generally have the advantage. 

But aside from that, you really think muggings going to go down because more people have guns on them all the time?  More likely the muggers’ll just get bigger guns.  Or bullet proof jackets-es.

Okay, I know that’s a little far-fetched.  But really?  C’mon!

(Quotes from here: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/06/30/20090630bills0630.html)

 

Rhythmically Challenged

So over this last weekend a lot of things happened.  First, on Saturday, Yuka and I went a-rice-planting.  This is when you get down and dirty in a big vat of mud and place rice spurts in the mud.  It required me to get up unreasonably early, but it was actually pretty enjoyable overall.  I almost fell in the mud three times.  Not so good.  and I’m also unsure whether I planted the sprouts well enough that they’ll be able to hold up against a strong wind but…

Well, yeah.

 

Yuka wanted to go swimming.

All ages participated at varying levels of skill...

Following this, on Sunday, two things happened.  Sunday was “Chuutairen,” or the island-wide Middle School sports competition.  Two weeks ago we had the club sports (like Tennis, Basketball, and Volleyball).  This last weekend was Sumo and Track/Field.  It was actually pretty entertaining, especially the Sumo.  It was the first time I saw Sumo, and it made me want to see it when the pros go to Fukuoka in November.

The best part was that the boys are all of varying sizes.  Being as it’s middle school, half the boys still haven’t gone through puberty.  So you have these boys who couldn’t weigh more than 70 pounds trying to topple some huge 15-year old who’s at least 130.  Pretty entertaining.  One of the boys, Nathan and I nicknamed him “The Bulldog” was actually pretty good.  Not that I’m really aware what good means as I know nothing about Sumo.

During lunch, I went to our neighborhood Bunka Hall to perform Taiko!  Only took eight months to get to this point…  I’m the one second from the right.  I also scream at the end.  Apparently I have a sweet scream.  The quality isn’t so good, but I hope you enjoy it!

Following that, I went back to Chuutairen to watch my students run.  Then I took a nap.  Then I had a spectacular time at an Enkai (party) with Hatsuyama.  

Sorry I’m a bit picture-less, I’ll attempt to add more later.  But it was a great weekend!  I had a lot of fun.

 

The Marriage Noose

Three months of work finally culminated in a performance today: that’s right, I geisha-fied myself and attempted to forget how to walk and move like a westerner and I did some Japanese fan dancing.  I wasn’t too nervous, overall, but I was very hot.  I learned several things about wearing kimono, too:

1. It’s impossible to step more than a foot in a kimono, which is why Japanese women move with such tiny steps.
2. You have no choice but to stand straight.
3. Kimono are REALLY hot.  Like, seriously.

The song that I danced to is an 80s classic called 契り(Chigiri).  According to my friend Yoko, it means “The Marriage Noose,” which just has several levels of hilarity.  

So yeah, here are some pictures and even a video (!) of the day.  Enjoy!  

 

People of all ages fan dance. Adorable ones are the best.

 

And gorgeous kimono. I want it!

Rock on!

 

Hey, who's that chick?

 

Tee Hee!

And finally, the winner!  Watch the whole thing, me making a bit of a fool of myself… but I hope you like it.  :)

 

Better! Huzzah!

So I still have occasional OMG I’M DYING bouts, but overall, I’m way better than I was.

What’s that, you say?  I was bad before?

Oh yes.  That cold that I’d bemoaned about catching?  Well it struck with vengeance on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.  I went home sick each day after I finished teaching (and honestly, I probably should have taken sick leave for the whole day).  My nose was like a hose.  I had terrible sinus headaches.  I was loopy and exhausted and probably shouldn’t have been driving.  I coughed up disgusting phlegm.  Really.  It was bad.  Worst cold I’ve had in a long time.

I started getting better on Friday after an excellent four hour nap, then I made the (somewhat poor) decision to go to curry.  I couldn’t really taste it, but the excellent time of my life came when I went to grab my flying pig order from Christine–

 

Loooooooooooooove!

She gave me NyQuil.  

I took two capsules when I got home.  Fell asleep thirty minutes later.  (Did not hang my laundry, though.  That was bad.)  Woke up ten glorious hours later.  Felt much better.

Then I made the definitely poor decision to go galavanting around Iki because I felt so much better.

Came home.  Took two more pills.  Slept for ten hours again.

Woke up and stayed home and rested.

Took two more pills.  Slept for eight hours.

Woke up today mostly perfect!  HUZZAH!  I still have the occasional cough attack, and my nose does get a little stuffed, but overall, I’m back to my normal self.  I even did some belly dancing without dying.  And honestly, I don’t think I would have recovered so fast if it weren’t for the NyQuil.  

So for you, my Dear NyQuil, I dedicate the following

Oh NyQuil, the brainchild of vicks

You keep me alive when life is the s**ts.

I coughed and I sneezed, I tossed and I turned.

Despite no fever, I practically burned.

But Vicks NyQuil, my green-colored love,

You rocked my socks off.

I know, I should be a poet.