December 14th, 2003
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The holiday season
It’s hard to believe, but I’ve been in Japan for 6 1/2 months now, the longest continuous period I’ve ever done anything five days a week. I’ve been out of my country for for some odd 200 days, and two weeks from now I’ll be back there, probably be cozying up to a Sutler-stoplight, or something equally foul concocted for the bonding of brethren. But for now, despite working 70-hour weeks, I’m doing my damnedest to keep the Christmas spirit alive, and I think I’m storming my checklist of major events.
1) Got a tree. He’s a live(ly) one, he’s 16 inches (plus root) of Cupressus “Gold Crest”, evergreen, and his name is Koji. He sits in front of my window with lights, gold beads, and some lovely red ribbon. He rocks. Go little dude, grow…
2) Christmas joy via post. I sent Christmas cards to a bunch of folks dear to me some 10,000 miles away. Actually, they’re Japanese akemashite [happy new year] cards, but they’ll arrive with the correct intentions and time frame.
3) Plan to go Christmas carolling, Japanese style. I’ll hit up karaoke and some spirits with my buddies from F-Zero production and one of my CMU senseis next week.
4) Christmas shopping. Well, I’ve been doing this off and on for months, but I’m sure I’ll assail a hyaku yen shop for eastern goodies shortly before departing the country.
5) Going to see the lighting of the big tree. There’s apparently a several kilometer long trail of gorgeous lights that takes hours to wait in line for between Tokyo and Shimbashi eki, near the Emperor’s place. Rad.
6) Seasonal movies and specials, lots of them. So far I’ve seen Rudolph, Charlie Brown, Garfield, and Christmas Vacation. [aah, remember the "Rusty" rule of the drinking game version?] Next week comes Frosty, da Grinch [hooville], and of course, It’s a Wonderful Life.
7) I’m sure I’ll cook something.
But I’m having a blast and not thinking about my shrinking checking account. The food is good, I’ve had Spumante, Moet and listened to live jazz and Christmas tunes, and this is all in the last forty-eight hours. I ventured on another odyssey yesterday [we're now up to 240+ photos to pick from for the Autumn version of Sun Flare], got a colorful little colored glass lamp and an engrish-branded cup, visited the lovely Shinjuku gyoen today for a brisk stroll, AND I found two great maps I’ve been searching after for quite some time. Now I can highlight at 1:15,000 scale all the meanderings I take inside the Yamanote line. You have no idea how happy this makes me.
Don’t let it pass you by…IT’S CHRISTMAS IN ONLY 12 days!!! Peace and good will to you…
