Me and my homegirl. Erica and I have known each other since before we got to Japan. The day I met her, we were at an pre-orientation meeting in DC. I was having some personal issues with the guy I was seeing at the time and didn't really get to socialize with folks like I would have normally, so we didn't talk at all during the day. Being from DC (well actually, she went to Howard but is from Chicago) she was nice enough to invite me and a few of the other Black folks out to Dream that night. I told her I'd try to make it and we exchanged info. I ended up getting pissed of by that same lame-o dude and was like F$%# IT! I'm going out! And I'm glad I did, because that's when she and I bonded. When I got there, she came to meet me at the door and I think got me in for free and no waiting. Nice!

Music was good, club was tight, and I was well on my way to getting tipsy. I remember being at the bar and ordering 2 Cape Cod's (cranberry and vodka) and she came up to me while I'm holding them both in my hand and was like "You know you can go back right?". I believe I said something like..."Nah, both of these are for right now."We both started laughing and thus began our beautiful friendship.

We've been through ups and downs in this three years. Boy have we. Of course I can't go into all of them here but I will say that I don't believe I would have been able to stay here this long without her. We are like sisters now. I have two of my own sisters and thousands of Delta Sorors but friends that you choose are that much more special. Love ya E.

Before I end my, I must make special mention to our edition to the E and E Dynasty...Lil Mo. Our Jamaican-Canadian buddy from Toronto. The 3 of us have gotten into some THANGS in this time we've been here together. I always remember the "Chipmunk" and "The Treehouse." Love you Mo!

About me
(I wrote this description for some online website or other about a year ago. Nothing's changed.)

I drink heavily, over eat, talk dirty, spit and use the bathroom with the door open.
I like expensive smelling perfumes.
I like pinkish purple sunsets.
I like blue skies and stormy afternoons.
I like sitting by the window when it rains so it sprinkles on me just a little.
I like peppermint tea.
I like the feel cotton sheets on a winters night after a hot shower.
I enjoy music and art and people who I can engage in stimulating conversation with without saying a word.

That's just about says it all.

The Human Thing

"It's funny. You love something and then one day it's suddently gone or changed or lost forever. But somehow that doesn't stop your love. Maybe that's how you know it's the real thing. When it doesn't come with conditions and get-out clauses, when it doesn't have a best-by date. When you just give your love, and never stop giving it, and know that you never will. That's when its real. That's when they can never touch it or spoil it or take it away from you."

I just finished reading a book called One for My Baby by a British man named Tony Parsons. This book has taken me through the full gamet of emotions in the past 3 days. I was reading on the train coming home Sunday and out of the blue, burst out in tears crying! A few minutes later I was laughing aloud. It was so strange, but you name the emotion, I've felt it along with Alfie (the main character). I recommend this book to anyone at all. A lot of it touched me because I can relate to Alfie as a fellow ex-pat living in Asia. Only difference is he was from London living in Hong Kong and I'm American living in Japan.

At one point...I started to cry contemplating how my own love with BB is going to work out. Knowing how it is to love someone so deeply and watch them leave your life. I cried for my unborn children. I cried for my sick grandmother and my hardworking parents. I cried for people who want a better life than the one they have and the things they have to do to make a living for their familes. Then I just sat and I cried. Letting it all out. Crying. . .but not depressed or low spirited type of cry. A sympathetic and loving cry. A cry that helped me realize that I am more sensitive than I was when I first arrived in this strange country. A cry that reinforced what people have told me, that I am a different person than I was 3 years ago. I love more. I feel more. I'm open to more. And hell, I cry a little more too.

Read this book. It's real life shit. That's what I love about it. The characters are not all slim, beautiful, rich, movie star/model types or loaded business folks (although a few are in there as minor characters). This book is about life shit and "the human thing" as Parsons calls it.

Tony Parsons you have a true talent for capturing real life. Very rare and much appreciated. Thank you.

Use Your Brain Dude

This morning I could barely get out of bed my head was hurting so bad. I drove back home late last night from Tokyo and had to stop and get a coffee on the way to help me stay awake. The coffee helped for a while, but did a terrible number on my stomach! It was all I could do to keep from throwing up once I got home. I fought the urge and managed to fall asleep. That was apparently a dumb move because I woke up this morning with the same feeling that I could puke at any moment. I got myself together, managed to drive to school, taught the first two class periods. Now sitting here waiting to eat lunch and take myself home...woe is me.

But that's not what I really wanted to write about. What I really wanted to tell you is about the stupidity of some Japanese people. The principal at Shoji elementary school came here to the Junior High today to drop of/pick up something. He handled his business and drove back to his school (which isn't even 5 minutes from here). This all happened before my first class of the day...let's say around 8:55am.

When I return from class, as I'm entering the teachers room (its 9:45am now) the phone rings. Low and behold its the principal from Shoji and he has called to tell us that as he was leaving, he noticed that someone had left their headlights on.

Okay, so my questions are these:
#1 If you saw the lights on, why didn't you turn them off? (Note: the drivers window on the car in question was down) ? #2 If you didn't want to turn them off, why didn't you go back to the building and tell someone while you were STILL THERE and tell them that the lights were on?? #3 If you didn't want to go back to the building, why did you wait almost a full HOUR before you called to tell someone that the lights were on???

These people do some f-in' stupid things, I swear.

Of course whoever left the car lights on (that would be me) was quite dumb as well, but I don't feel well so I have an excuse. What's his?