But I didn't Clean the Mess

I was supposed to clean the mess here at home today, but I didn't. The one who expected me to do so, was me myself. What did I do instead? I did laundry, washed dishes, prepared few meals, went to a food store and to the post office, took the kid out to play and stared at a wall while the kid took his nap. Ok, I surfed on internet while the kid slept, but it almost equals with staring at a wall, doesn't it.

Days go by in high speed, which is good, housewifing is potentially quite boring activity.

Congratulations

Happy birthday to a one year old little girl in Gothenburg!

Lounge Lover

I found Richard Cheese on Sunny's music list and downloaded some of that music home. Vimme heard the music and become a big fan immediately. He says: 'put the funny music on' and then he starts dancing. I wonder where his taste of music will lead him. To a lounge?

New Music

While M went to see if they had a certain DVD at a shop, I listened to a recently released CD from Capsule (I had never heard of them before). I bought the CD right then and I haven't listened to anything else since that.

It's my first Japanese CD.

A Dip

The kid fell into a fountain today. Boy did we all get scared. Fortunately it wasn't a deep one and the fall wasn't high, but for a brief moment I had the worst scenario in my mind before I dragged my screaming son out of water. My friend had extra clothes for a 2 year old with her, so Vimme got something dry to wear for the way home. I am still very grateful for that.

A Barfly

I've become wild. I was out again! One saturday after another. Where will this lead? To the total moral destruction?

I met a friend of mine and we went to an opening at a gallery. Art works the artist guy had done were quite magical - photos and a video. We had a glass of wine there at the gallery and then took a train to more central realms of Tokyo. After a nice italian meal we went to Shibuya to have another pint in a pub. I remembered seeing this sign there sometimes.


So that's where we went and I announce it to my favourite bar in Tokyo - so far. I haven't been to that many.

Good Hair Day

Secret of my fantastic hair today is that I accidentally put facial cream to my hair instead of hair wax. Which summeries clearly the present state of my consciousness. I did wake up 05.45.

Finglish + Japanese = Helluva Mess

I read what I wrote yesterday on this blog. Some Finglish. But I am not going to correct my yesterday's words. No use to do that - I would propably make the whole note worse.

Today I was at the Japanese class again and it was fun. I like my teacher. She has a good sense of humour and she is very patient. Vimme wasn't very co-operative at the class today so I couldn't focus on learning as much I'd wanted to. But hey, I value the fact that I can study at all. It's great there are volunteer people willing to teach their mother tongue to random aliens and one can even take her little monster with her.

Early Bird

Jesusgod I hate waking up 5.30 in the morning. I would propably join any crazy religious cult that promises good night's sleep and waking up time at noon to their followers.

Sunday Activities

I had an honour to carry a portable shrine, Mikoshi, on sunday evening.


The Portable Shrine.

All of us carriers got a uniform to wear: a happi-coat, shorts and these marvellous shoes, which we were allowed to keep after carrying. Before carrying we were served onigiris (rice balls), tea and sake. A guy told us how to carry the shrine and what to shout while carrying.


The carrying itself was a tough job. The shrine was heavy and though there were more than 50 persons to carry the shrine it didn't feel light even for a brief moment. Some smaller women hang from the shrine instead of carrying it. In spite of that it was fun. And the shouting was really really good for the soul.

We carried the Mikoshi to a gate of a shrine (a real unportable one) and there a blessing took place. Then we carried the thing back to where we strated. It took about 3 and half hours. The carrying is suppose to bring blessings and good luck to the whole neighbourhood - and in my opinion there are never too many blessings in this world, so I was happy to be part of that. Oh, and there were five other Mikoshis on the run with us. Some of them were visitors from other parts of Tokyo. It was all a big parade and there were lots of people watching the whole happening.

After the carrying we carriers were served more food and more sake. And the best of all: beer! Once we finished our out door meal we went to a public bath. It was my first time in such (I've been to a mountain hotel where I had a bath in onsen, but that was more private) and I enjoyed it a lot. They even had a small steam sauna. And no one kicked me out, though my tattoos were visible all the time.


Bruises.

At the bath I noticed that my shoulders were marked by the Mikoshi. Now I am still quite exhausted, though I've slept two nights after carrying the shrine. I seem to do all kinds of physically tough things here and Japan in a middle of all this housewifing. I wonder what'll be the next mission.

A Hair Dryer & A Dinner

I have always had a feeling that something is missing from my life and I had no idea what it was. Now I know: It's a pistol shaped hair dryer. I don't have it yet and it sure looks like something everyone should have. Doesn't it. This product was sold - of course - in a toy store.

Last night I had a nice dinner with Jo in Japan and Timorous Beastie. It was a pleasure to meet them both and to see who is the person behind the words. And the best of all I had a chance to tell about my gorgeous kid and his latests acts to new defenceless listeners! Muahahahaaaaaa.

Life's Getting Easier

Weather is getting cooler. It's still hot, but you don't need an air conditioner to get a little cool air and draft to the flat - you can simply open your windows.

Phones and Their Users

A guy talked on a cell phone on a bus. He did it very unnoticeably and quietly. After a while the bus driver said something through his loud speaker and the guy hid his phone quickly and he looked quite embarresed.

In general people here don't talk on their cell phones on busses or on trains - they do surf on the internet. If someone talks on the phone, that person gets legions of dissapproving looks from the people around him/her. Or that person is a gaijin who doesn't know/care about anything anyway.

In Finland and in Sweden people use their phones anywhere. It isn't only once or twice that I've heard someone talking very loud about something very intimate on a public place. Especially in Sweden when someone talked in Finnish and thought that no one understands her/him. Ha ha - I did and enjoyed my eavesdropping a lot.

Return Of The Lazy Student

My Japanese language course started again. I inherited my friend C's private teacher, now that she's returned home. The teacher is very nice. But you know, it's the dark side of these nomadic international circles: you meet people you really like and then soon you have to say good bye to them.

Anyway, I hadn't done my home work during the summer break and I could say very little in japanese. Shame on me. But, I am determined to go on studying there: Vimme seems finally to be enjoying himself playing with japanese grannies, while I repeat new sentences in japanese to my teacher. And it's better to learn little than nothing.

Mama's Feeling Guilty

I wonder if there are any 2 year olds that are always like sunshine itself and who's parents never loose their temper with them? It's amazing how something so gorgeous can be so tiring at the same time. I feel really bad every time I have found myself shouting at the kid and every now and then I find myself doing exactly that. I wish he'll be sane when he's grown up inspite of my lack of patience.

Oh, by the way, he has a tiger.

Out of Sight

All of a sudden Vimme's five packs of play cards and Crayons needed a rest - eternal rest if you ask me.

Spammers - Stay Away From My Blog

I have turned on the word verification on comments. I got some spam on my Finnish blog and I wanted to make sure I won't get any on this Finglish one (I still can't say I write in English).

Spammers really really piss me off. I wonder who they are. I'd like to see a person who is an actual spammer and I'd like to hear his/her side to the story. Are they only desperate people trying to make some fast money or some serious minded family men who try to make their living.

All the same, spamming works as well on me as a turd with an ad on it left on my porch.

A Dinner by a River

Cicadas are becoming quiet. Autumn is here I suppose, though the weather is still warm.

I was out last night with a group of Finnish women. It was nice.
The restaurant was quite close to Futagotamagawa station, by the river. From the distance it looked like a barrack - and I guess it was one. Interior was decorated to look like a "european" restaurant and torches illuminated the terrace. It was very cosy. There weren't any buildings right next to the restaurant and that made the whole place very unusual in Tokyo standards. 'Spacious' is hard to find here. Food was OK, but not a reason to go there again. The reason will be the unusual location and the great atmosphere.

A Cold

The kid has caught a cold. He had high fever on wednesday, which fortunately lowered and I didn't have to take him to a doctor. He is still coughing and we are still staying at home, indoors, like we've done all week. I really wish he'll get well soon.

IKEA's Everywhere

IKEA will open two stores here in Japan next year. Then I won't have any reason left for returning to Sweden.

Oh well, there's always my ever lasting course at Gothenburg's University that I'd like to finish some day.

Anakin's Hair

I saw Star Wars, Episode III and I couldn't stop thinking how awful Anakin Skywalker's hair was. Ok, Luke Skywalker's hair was quite bad too - in every episode - so maybe it's in their genes to get a bad hair cut.

Otherwise the film was ok.

Visitors

This typhoon seems to stay away from Tokyo. I don't mind. I am not that keen on getting first hand experiences of nature catastrophies.

A friend came by with her two sons (2 and 4 years old) today. I have to say that days are more fun when you have someone adult to talk to. And boys had fun playing together once Vimme got over his territorial crises.

Never Alone

Right now I find it very difficult that I have no time to be alone. If I only could have an hour or two totally alone, I'd be a much nicer person towards everyone.

City Hike

Because someone woke up 5 o'clock this morning we decided to go to Tsujiki Central Wholesale Market. The place was worth seeing and I had the best sushi ever there. Jesusgod it was good!!!

After the sushi breakfast we started our city hike. It was fun and totally unplanned. On our way from x to y we went to a sky scraper, Anpanman store (that's where the picture was taken - more pictures on my Flickr), a park close to Tokyo Tower, Roppongi Hills Mall and a park close to Hiroo station. Then we took a train home and now we all are very tired. I hope the kid will sleep a bit later tomorrow morning. Or even a bit more later.

Tough World

Both the hurricane in New Orleans and the stampede in Baghdad Iraq make one go very quiet. So many people are - again - suffering.

No Raw Fish

If you don't like raw fish you can always try Kooki Sushi. Thanks for the link J.