Monday, September 29, 2008

I Got Mail in my Shoe Box- Yay!

Because that's where they put the mail. Your shoe locker/box is where you stow the shoes by the front door to get before you leave, since you can't wear the shoes indoors. Which is kind of a stinky place to put incoming mail. Literally. Hm.

So!

I got a letter from Courtney- yay! I think she might have painted the front of the card herself, here is a picture:



So, my address does work, and it only takes a week for me to receive letters. I'm going to try to send some postcards either today or tomorrow, so be on the lookout. Um, if I don't have your address, I can't send you a letter/postcard, so please give me your address if you would like one! The postcards I bought are uber pretty (nudge nudge).

Also, I got confirmation of my voter's registration as a student abroad. Hoorah, I am empowered.

Though, also very tired! Gah! The girls down the hall keep partying all night! I haven't complained yet to the management because I'm hoping that they'll stop partying once school starts. Maybe that's a little optimistic? Hope not...

I Think I Have Trench Foot

Today was very rainy but Isabel and I walked all the way from Yotsuya to Akihabara in it anyway. We had meant to walk to Shinjuku, but ended up a little askew in our directions. Anyway, we probably walked from about 11:30AM to 7:30PM with a half hourish break in the middle to get coffee so we wouldn't perish of the cold. Seriously, I got completely soaked.

Currently, my clothing of today hangs dripping onto a towel from the bar in my room. Everything from my jacket to my undies was murdered by rain- gr. I even had an umbrella but alas! My toes were all white and wrinkly when I finally got back. I think I will never be warm again.

Anyway, we went to a shrine today called Yasukuni-Jinja (Jinja is Japanese for Shrine). According to my Knopf Mapguide:

This Shinto sanctuary, founded in 1869, pays homage to the kami (spirits) of 2.5 million Japanese who sacrificed their lives for this country. It also generates great controversy, due to the tributes paid to General Tojo (had of the government from 1941-1944) and 13 other war criminals. The visits to this nationalist stronghold by a recent Prime Minister caused outrage in both Japan and other parts of Asia.

End quote? Wow, I didn't know this at the time. There's also a museum inside, which apparently is dedicated to the military history- though I think that one was a little more obvious. The first floor of the museum is free, so we went into the shop and got many souvenirs.

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2046903&l=fdf1a&id=32404300
Photos!

Also, we kept walking and walking and walking, and hit the corner of the Imperial Palace, the Kitanomaru-koen (garden), but you can't get through this way (I think...). There was a cat hiding inside one of the little statue things- so cute! Can you see him?



We didn't get very far though, it seemed like an impasse but maybe we were just insane from the cold and wetness? Anywho, we stopped at about the Nippon Budokan, which didn't SEEM impressive at the time, but is apparently where the Beatles made their Japanese debut (oops). Oh, and a statue of someone, but who?:



Edit: The two men looked nothing alike, so it wasn't the guy I guessed it was. I don't think anyone read that note before I deleted it though. O.o Who is that fellow?!

Anyway, pictures of the park:

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2046905&l=84406&id=32404300

We finally made it to Akihabara, which I did take pictures of, but I'll post them later, after I've gotten back there to take better pictures. I was kinda tired to put any sort of effort into it, so they're crap.

<3s!

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Lame-o Vide-o

Because I lack foresight.



But, I did take pics:

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2046786&l=df8cf&id=32404300

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Trains

The commute-by-train way of life is super nice and convenient, quick and clean. You always have to stand and are constantly sardined in, but I think it makes the trip go more quickly and burns more calories! The pushers who cram you all in and get you slammed tight up against the window definitely are real- and it DOES hurt! It is really awkward if you are pushed close to a man, though, because it's hard to tell if they're being publicly elicit or just trying to keep from falling over. >.< Let's assume the latter, shall we?

Also, it's very scary because there are many suicides via jumping before a train. I'm not sure if the trains are cleared often for other reasons, but I'm pretty sure that one of the main reasons you see "Line Delay for Track Cleaning" is the high number of suicides. It's very disturbing. One of the other students said he wanted to see someone jump. I'm only rewriting this because it has been bothering me so much. I thought about it, and cried, both for his ignorance and the sadness of this problem. I hope that there's another reason the tracks are cleaned so often..

Additionally, you see a lot of drunks on trains. I feel really bad for them, because I would have trouble making my way home if I was drunk. And the train is very jolty, so they fall down sometimes. It isn't like in the U.S. where they're alcoholics so much as businessmen who must socially drink so much that they can't help but get intoxicated to further their careers. It's really nice though that the public transportation is so available, so that there probably aren't as many people driving under the influence/intoxicated.

I haven't gotten any pictures of the trains yet. It's always very busy, hrm. And I feel bad taking strangers' photos...

Eco-Friendly? Not so Eco-Friendly?

Hm, I'm still not sure how I feel about Japan's environmentally-mindedness. Some things seem very clever and make me happy for the earth, but others just seem extremely wasteful. Part of me thinks that the country only pollutes less than others because it is quite small. But, then, I also spend most of my time in a pretty urban area.

There are some good things, for sure. For instance, everyone seems to be very good at my apartment complex about turning off lights in the bathroom and shower when they aren't in use. By "everyone" I mean the Japanese people living here, and probably some of the foreigners. I've been doing it too- yay me? Also, the shower room's sliding door is always closed when people are showering, to keep the heat inside, I think.

Additionally, the garbage sorting, though irritatingly time consuming, is very good. On the downside, garbage bags are set out usually near very busy areas or in parks, where crows can get at them. Thus, garbage ends up all over the streets near the pick up sites. This is very gross and bad.

Furthermore, hoorah for Tokyo's public transportation system. There just aren't as many cars here as there could be, and many people bike if they need to cover smaller distances. However, a lot of people also ride motorcycles and vespas, which, according to my Critical Issues in Southeast Asia professor (an international environmental specialist), are even worse than the average car, pollution-wise (this seems really odd to me, but it's what she does for a career, so it must be true). Also, the cars that I do see tend to be Hummer-ish.

Also, whenever it rains, plastic bags are used to carry umbrellas inside shops. Every store you enter has a person handing out bags, and it is frowned upon to reuse them (I did it anyway). Goodness sake, I'm sorry that it is so terrible to have slippery floors, but these plastic bags end up everywhere and are not recyclable. Phew. That one peeves me off.

Anyway, that's all I have to say. Hrm. Kinda rantish.

Friday, September 26, 2008

The last few days have been busy -_-zzz

So, yesterday, I pretty much spend ALL day doing errands. In the morning, Isabel and I went to Warabi City Hall to get our Certificate for Registered Materials. I'm still not sure what this paper is, but it's magic and everything runs smoothly-ish when you have it. Isabel took some gorgeous pictures of a shrine we went to on the way back and a beautiful green butterfly. Hopefully, I can get those and post them to my Facebook.

Anyway, after getting the certificate, we went to Harajuku AGAIN to FINALLY get our cell phones- yay!!!! I'm going to post this to my contact thread as well, but here is my:

Cell Phone Number: 011 81 090 6568 6333

Cell E-mail: mandycandyland@softbank.ne.jp



That is my beautiful cell phone. Be amazed and awed. Don't even speak while looking at the picture.



This is the guy who spent four hours with us getting the cell phones @.@ Isabel has like seven names and it made their system go mad! Gah! It was the longest day ever!!! And we didn't eat until very very late.

Today, we got our bank accounts in the heart of Tokyo (Tokyo station) at the Citibank. Japanese banks are a lot different, it's like all of my money is at risk of disappearing because it all goes into some sort of trading thing that may make me money or lose me money. I don't really get it. So I'll take all the JASSO money out as soon as it goes in >.<

I also had lunch with Yuki and Isabel in Shibuya. We ate at the same cheap sushi restaurant I went to last time. Yuki is very gentlemanly now- he even bought us lunch! Wow... I am so impressed. It has been a long time since high school, apparently.

Then Isabel and I went to the school to get our language placement test results. I'm in Intensive I, which is what I wanted, because it starts you off at beginning intermediate level. Isabel was not happy with her placement (she placed the same as me), so she's going to have to talk to the professor and try to get added to Intensive 2. Nonetheless, I'm happy, because it is all done- paperwork for Sophia and everything. I get the JASSO money on the 10th gah! So long away still!

Then we went back to Shinjuku and visited some shops- mostly Don Quixote which is a humongous, extremely packed variety store. It is five stories, I think. I didn't take a picture though. I'm not sure why not >.< I didn't like the store- it was too busy and crowded for me.

I had dinner with Mayumi, who I met at Orientation, and her friend Kaoru. The two of them studied at Seattle U last year and have boyfriends attending. They are very nice and helpful! I"m probably going to join Piano Club and English-language Club. They belong to one each. We had Okonomiyaki at a small restaurant, and you make it yourself on the table! I have some pictures available on Facebook (you don't need an account to view them):

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2046697&l=df3a8&id=32404300

So exhausted! Sorry if this didn't make sense- it was a very long day! Coming home on the trains was difficult- I was too sleepy to pay attention to the stops! But I made it home safely, hoorah! Tomorrow, I think will be a sleepy day or littleness happening.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Contact Info in Japan (Again, but all Together)

Call me anytime on my Skype phone number for LOCAL RATES (as in, if you haven't been calling me because it's "too expensive," then you're in need of a new excuse) I also have voice mail, so leave me a message if I don't answer:

(206) 792-9690

Watch my vlogs (videos):
http://www.youtube.com/user/Kattie41

Send me things? (This is updated, but what I put before should be fine too):
Amanda Martin #215
DK House Warabi
2-32-5 Minami-cho
Warabi City, Saitama
Japan
335-0003

E-mail me:
martina2@seattleu.edu

Cell Phone Number: 011 813 090 6568 6333

Cell E-mail: mandycandyland@softbank.ne.jp

So, no excuses!!

Shibuya, Sore Feet, and Shopping

So, here are the very few pics of Shibuya that I took:

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2046621&l=a5078&id=32404300

If you haven't, read the linked Hachiko story, because it is very essential to understanding the statue!

I only went to Shibuya for lunch, though, so that's why there's basically pics of the station and surrounding buildings. After eating in Shibuya (7 items on the sushi conveyer belt plus tea for 800 yen (like $7.50)!), we went to Harajuku again and spent many hours shopping (and by many, I mean, like, six or seven). I didn't buy all that much, but Isabel got many items of clothing. I just spend the entire day with her, so if my English has suddenly become a great deal better, you can blame her lovely Swiss English.

My big splurge was $40ish dollars for calcium supplements. I just don't drink any milk or really any soy milk/products here because they are so expensive (hrm) so I bought the pills, which were also expensive (so did I really save in the end?). Either way, future osteoporosis free me is happy. I also got some little things for around the apartment- a knife, bathroom sandals, napkins, tissues,gum. I also got a very cute present for someone (not sure who, I just realized the person I had intended it for has already been bought for hrml... oh well, hoorah for said person).

I additionally got finger nail polish remover, so that I am now able to paint my nails. Oh, and I purchased lotion- a better kind than my last purchase, which works well on mosquito bites but not for dry skin. Furthermore, I bought an eye shadow four-in-one, which has lovely colors. I will try to blog tomorrow, so that you might see it. It is very sparkly!

Again, the Softbank store smit me, and I still have no cell phone. I must first go to the City Hall again to get the Form for Registered Materials (I think that's what it's called...), which I will also need for school (phew, this is so hectic!!). Then, I'll need to set up a bank account to receive scholarship funds. Honest to God, when that scholarship money comes in, I'm eating a feast! It gets hungry, trying to budget!

By the way, nobody is calling or e-mailing me. What the heck? Seriously, you are on my naughty list and will get coal for my birthday. Which is in November. When one might need coal. I'll need to rethink that one, perhaps.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Yeats' "The Second Coming"

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again; but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

-- I read this today and thought it was pretty. Um, obviously not very positive, looking at the future-wise.

Edit: Um, I must have been depressed that day...

Monday, September 22, 2008

I am the luckiest girl in the whole entire world

I found a bakery! It's true! A French bakery! It's in the train station! It was there all along! Oh my goodness, I am the luckiest girl in the whole entire world! Um, maybe not wholly because of the bread- though it looks amazing. I almost want to take a picture of it. If you want one, I totally will. That is how excited I am about the bread. 1/2 loaf for $2.50ish, so $5/loaf? I think that's a moderate price from an actual bakery.

Oh, I figured it out in my mathy head, and apparently I've been eating for around $7/day. I think Tokyo's pretty reasonable, so long as you don't go out drinking/eating every night. I've only eaten out once >.< Oh, I also got a whole container of cafe au lait, so I'll be saving money on that too. Hoorah.

Anyway, today was very busy. I actually was asked to go to a concert as well, but I needed to get back. We had orientation today, which was very very boring, and then a party, which was GREAT. I met this Japanese girl who studied at the UW and has a boyfriend at Seattle U and we clicked, I think. We both like reading and we had a random fact connection- like we've both read (or tried to read >.<) Tale of Genji and The Pillowbook of Sei Shonagon. The authoresses HATED each other, and poked fun in a very mean way at each other in their masterworks. So, we talked about that and how amusing it was, and I think we clicked. She said we should go out, and she invited me for dinner at her family's home. ^______^ YAY!

I met many people today. My Japanese monitor student is kinda quiet tho... And I saw the guy who took me from the airport to my apartment again. He's very nice (he was wearing the same shirt O.o and I noticed. Does that mean I'm hyperobservant or maybe his shirt is just awesome. It says "You can't stop the motion" in English). I was invited again to English-speaking club, because a lot of them are working on American slang >.< I guess it is very difficult to learn American slang because it depends so much on random pop culture references. I.E. "I've fallen and I can't get up!" "I'll be back." "I want to believe."

Before going to orientation, Ed, Isabel, and I went to get our Alien Registration Cards in Warabi's downtown. Whoo, what a walk! We were late for orientation a little bit, but everyone was, but I'm now registered-ish. I have the document saying that I registered and am now waiting for my Alien Card. Nonetheless, I'm going to Harajuku tomorrow. It's a bank holiday, so I'm not sure how that will go. I also need to find a bank O.o but not tomorrow.

Harajuku's where I need to get my cell phone. I can't remember if I wrote about this, but I needed my student ID and Alien Registration and Visa and Passport to get it last time @.@ and all I had was a copy of my visa and passport and my credit card. So, I might as well try again, right?

My guidebook says that there's a shrine in Harajuku, close to the store. Maybe I'll go visit the shrine tomorrow, either in addition or instead of actually getting the cell phone. Either way, Mayumi (the girl I met at the party, among others, btw) says that I can get clothing in my size in Harajuku, because it is an international area. So I could potentially buy clothing, though I'm extremely cheap in this regard O.o because I feel for some reason that all the cash I have on me is all I have period.

My Japanese monitor student had me and two others assigned to him. So, I'm sorta paired with him, a girl named Ariel from Paris (she's really nice, and beautiful!), and a guy from Boston named Tyler (I think....). We gave all our e-mails to Tyler and he's supposed to cc us on a big e-mail, so we'll have each others addresses.

All the paperwork that we got at Sophia is very daunting. @.@ However, I did learn one cool thing: You can attend classes for up to ten days without registering, and then choose what you want to take. Like, the first day of class is the first registration day, because you attend classes you're interested in, and if it seems a good fit, you register for it later. And you keep taking classes till you find what you want! But the Intensive Japanese program I plan to take is supposedly very difficult. I don't want to be terribly busy, but I think it will be fine, since I'm in Japan and the language learning should come quickly anyway, as a necessity. Like reading the train stations @.@

I got a commuter pass- I need to switch it to a student commuter pass later for at 20% discount, but it is still very nice not having to figure out fare. Also, I think I'm figuring out the trains. I at least know how to get to and from school:

Nishi-kawaguchi (my station) to Akabane via the Keihin Tohoku line
Akabane to Shinjuku via the Saikyo line (or Shonan, which I found out today)
Shinjuku to Yotsuya (school station) via the Chuo line.

To get to Harajuku, I transfer at Shinjuku to the Yamanote line, which goes in a circular route (so I can't get on going the wrong way).

I'm pretty excited to have met so many people today, who seemed very nice. Also, Isabel was very very nice to me today, though her and Ed apparently took all of my maps O.o Holy smokes. I'll have to e-mail them and ask for them back >.< Er... or I'll just ask for another map at the office. If I can't get one- then I'll have to be a punk and demand they return my stolen property, OR ELSE BWHAHAHHHAHA.

I need to eat, I'm delirious and insane.

Loves!

edit: Oh, I found one of the maps. So only two are now missing. I think I'm ok with that. Or am I?!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Trying to Post a Vid here...

If it doesn't work, I'll link it later:

Harajuku, and other stuff

I still need to buy a hot water pot (for tea and insta coffee), if it's cheap, and my cell phone. Everything else is done done done! Hoorah! Um, but I went to Harajuku and I can't get a cell phone without my Alien Registration Card. I reaaaallly hope I can get it tomorrow morning. I'm going over there with Ed (from Seattle U- I'm a harasser) er to the City Hall, but who knows?!

Here are some pics of Harajuku. It's really busy there, so it's difficult to take pictures. I should be going back tomorrow evening or on Tuesday, so I'll put more pics up then:

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2046428&l=c3c0b&id=32404300

I met Mary today, and that's why there are pictures of me! Yay! But we had Italian and I got something with cheese up the wazoo and grease (ew) so my tummy's really swollen. T.T

Speaking of feeling bad about how you look (^^*), why do all the American girls wear all of their clothing into the shower stall and then strip inside and hang up their clothing, where it will inevitably get wet? Goodness glaciers, these girls are skinny, so they really shouldn't have such negative body images. Honestly, I'm chubby, and I strip in the outer shower room and walk in with just a towel. They should feel better about themselves. I am embarrassed for them- how's that for judgmental?

I did a lot of shopping at the Daiso today. There's randomly one in Alderwood Mall too, but it's not five stories (ha!). I got a train pass, which I can keep loading money onto, so I'm pretty set for now. It's not too bad, taking the trains, but figuring out the fare is a pain in the patootey. Gah, did I mispell patootey? Did I mispell misspell? (second one's right, btw). Good grief!

I played my flute today, after asking permission at the front office. The manager said it was fine as long as no one complained. That kinda puts the pressure on O.o If they complain, does that mean I'm crap? So I tried to be really quiet, but it's hard to be lively and quiet, so I only played very sad songs. And it was a very sad day- if you know why then you're sad too, otherwise, I'm not ruining your day with bad news.

And I read Toni Morrison some more, because it's just so pretty. How sad.

OH! And, people moved out today, so the two rooms to my right and two rooms to my left are now vacant. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? Should I take this personally? Can I switch my curtains with theirs, without management noticing? Hm, philosophy must ensue.

Pip pip and love!

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Being Politically Incorrect

New vlog:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r7d-nKZnCM

Edit: I know how to embed videos now, so:

An earthquake?

Apparently there was one, and everyone felt it but me. Ah, just like home with the pouring rain and the quakes. Chiba is really close to me:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/21/content_10085733.htm

I'm not sure this will work

But here are the photos from my walking about Japan, on Facebook. It says they should be accessible to everyone, but I think they're lying O.o How's that for skepticism?

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2046376&l=dafd9&id=32404300

edit: It didn't work the first time (ha!) so here I try again. If it doesn't work, I'm going to sleep, and we'll figure this out later.

Loves <3

I thought this was poignant- a facebook conversation

Stephanie (Moisa)
hey

Mandy
howdy

Stephanie
how's the other side of the world

Mandy
sunny
hot
lonely v.v

Stephanie
really

Mandy
how's that side?

Stephanie
boring
cool
oops
cold

Mandy
ah

Stephanie
and lonely
too

So, Everyone is Very Boring

And wouldn't go with me to Tokyo. Thus, I had no choice but to walk around and take photos for a few hours, until it started getting dark. And I was getting very tired. Apparently, there is a department store pretty close by, so I'll try to go there if I get a chance. I'm too tired to go back out today, even though it's only 5:30. It's hard to stay awake in the evening! It is very early in the morning today in Seattle...

In any case, that is why I took so many pictures. I'll just post five for now. I might post some more later. Apparently, I only am posting rural shots, and my mosquitoed leg.



My leg is so bitten up by mosquitoes. I was going to go to the store to ask for mosquito repellant, but I got to exhausted after walking around for so long. I think that I only had a few bites this morning, but now I have like six. If I get West Nile or malaria or some other mosqitoey disease, just pretend I had the bug block on, and it randomly failed.



I couldn't really capture this image correctly. The clouds just look like some kid drew them on the sky, and then threw a bunch of glitter on the lining. It literally looks like this cloud has a silver lining. You might not be able to see it very well, but it was beautiful.



This is a statue I saw by the elementary school. I have another picture that shows the rest of her (could be a him though), but I thought her face was so pretty, I wanted to show you. What a randomly lovely thing to put on a walkway. There were a few other statues, but this one was prettiest.



Just a pretty house I saw while walking around. I think it looks Italian.



I think that this shop was an animal shelter or something. They had a bunch of pictures of dogs and cats in the window. I'm thinking of going in and buying a new cat to replace Maynard (don't tell him O.O), and to hell with the consequences! Um... except then I'd have to sneak it back in or get kicked out. Hrml. And I just unpacked. What a tricky situation.

Edit: I went to the website on the window, and it's a veterinary clinic. So, no cat. Darn.

Friday, September 19, 2008

The longest hallway in the universe... for real... I'm not even joking...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Hh8YZn7hQ

Edit: I'm embedding it instead of making you link:



So, the hallway on my floor is crazy long. It's like our building must secretly be super thin and long and tall. But it doesn't look that way from the outside, so it is all confusing. Optical illusion, maybe? We'll find out. At some point, I'll circle the building and try to get to the bottom of this phenomenon.

We had orientation today. It was very boring; we pretty much just filled out paperwork. I met a girl from Switzerland. Not to keep track of new acquaintances or anything, but, I've met:

Chagron (spelling is definitely wrong) from England (room 208)
Arisa (or something) from Portugal (room 304), who I keep running into in the shower. What does it mean?
Isabel from Switzerland (I even have her e-mail wa ha!) in room 211
Yoko from Japan, whose room number is a mystery to me. Though, we did meet in the bathroom, so she probably lives on my floor somewhere.

I might go to Shinjuku today. It's a really busy district in Tokyo. Isabel wanted to go today and I asked if I could tag along. There's a welcoming party from 1-3PM, so it'll be after that. I really hope she goes with me (I hope I hope I hope!). Then I can get a pillow- hoorah!

Oh, I went shopping again yesterday, so basically all I really really need is the pillow. And a cell phone. Maybe I can get the cell phone tomorrow with Mary. Hrml. I feel bad though, because that's probably not the most exciting event for her weekend.

Goodness glaciers, it is almost one. I need to get ready for the party, and by that, I mean pee. (shh.) Talk to you later, all!

Thursday, September 18, 2008

My phone number on Skype, and vlog-- Oh... and pics...

So, call me here for local rates:

(206) 792-9690

If my computer isn't on or I'm out, then it won't work tho... I JUST set up the voice mail- it's free with the subscription. Peace!

I'm putting vlogs up on YouTube, because it is too hard to do it here, and I made it so you can't comment or rate unless I let you, so no mean comments- bwaahhahah!

MY VIDEOS : http://www.youtube.com/user/Kattie41

And pictures of my apartment:



The view from my window



My bed (look at that crummy pillow. But Pound Kitty seems to like it...)



The entryway. One day I will trip on that step and hit my head on the door.



My bookshelf and closet. The closet smells funny... I sprayed it with Daisy by Marc Jacobs, so maybe it will be pretty later.



From my doorway. Note the lovely scarves on display. Even though they look like dirty laundry...



My desk and chair. And pig. And photo. and Computer... and etc.

Gotta go shop. Wish me luck!

Love!

I'm not doing much today, so I'll probably blog a lot...

By the way, my blog's time is stuck at 4:34 AM, why?

I went shopping, but I didn't get everything I was going to >.< What a maroon!

So I still need (and I'm adding):
*Cup
*Bag
*rice cooker or hot water pot
*pillow :(
*shampoo, conditioner
*school supplies
*veggies, cereal
*bowls
*napkins
*laundry detergent

I did get some sanitary wipes and a spoon, and some other foods (sushi for cheap- I'll probably get sick O.o) at the 99 yen store. Poor lady, I don't think you're supposed to actually shop there for many things at a time. I only got two small bags worth though... and I didn't get lost-- hoorah! And hoorah for asking for directions O.o

Speaking of which, the guy at the desk (same as last night) seemed really hungover and smelled like alcohol. This does not inspire much confident. Plus, he's not very nice. However, I did get where I needed to go, so I"m not terribly worried.

Also, the weather is difficult! It is like the rain forest- light rain but REALLY humid. It doesn't even look like I used an umbrella. I figured out that I have a screen door I can use, so it's cooler in here now, but I got really sweaty.

I was going to ask the lady to take my picture, but I chickened out. Hrml.

Shopping List, and I can't sleep

Five am, gah. Can't sleep!

So, I think these are things I need to try to find:
*Groceries (soy milk, soy yogurt, cereal, fruit, veggies, granola bars?, instant coffee of some kind, eggs (I'll hard boil them bwahahah, bread, peanut butter?, bottled water (otherwise I'm sharing the tap with the bathroom...ew.), meat?, tea?, rice?)
*Pillow and sheets
*Rice cooker? (cheap?)
*Hot water pot? (If cheap)
*Hand/face towel
*Shower slippers
*Bag (for groceries,etc.)
*Shampoo and Conditioner (brought only a little bit)
*Cell phone O.O
*Kleenex box
*School supplies (folder, notebook paper, pens, post-its)

Here are the hours for everything in the apartment:
Manager's Office- 7AM-9PM
Dining Room- 6AM-12AM
Kitchen A- 7AM-12AM
Kitchen B- 6AM-11PM
Shower- 6AM-12AM
Laundry- 7AM-10PM

So... only forty minutes until I can take a shower. Hoorah!

So, I am in Japan now

And I'm trying to stay awake until 9 PM Tokyo time. Soooo tired. We took two trains to get here from the airport and then poor Takahara-san got us a little bit lost. And he burnt out very quickly >.< Now I'm burnt out- had myself a good cry (from sleepiness, mind you! That's what I do when I'm tired...). Too tired to go out and eat, so munching up granola bars (mmm).

So, here are the movies I watched on the plane (yeah, it was a long flight...):
Indiana Jones 4 (which I'd already seen and still like)
Leatherheads (which was randomly awesome. Why did it get bad reviews? It was very funny!)
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (I think we own this... I've seen it like three times..)
Prince Caspian (I really didn't like this movie.)

The airport was fine- everything clearly marked. We'll see how it goes from here. I'll probably get lost a few times at least. Orientation for the apartments is Saturday so I'll be a lazy bum tomorrow. But I have to go out and forage- gah!

I met the girl in apartment 208 (I'm in 215). I think her name is Chagron but not spelled like I spelled it. She's from England.

I don't think I can stay awake another twenty minutes.. how much time will peeing again kill? O.O

p.s. also, I unpacked my luggage. I thought it would take longer and eat more time T.T My room is divine now... except not really because it's quite plain.

And here are some things I must buy, and I don't have post its so you'll just have to be bored:
*hand towel
*post its (hah)
*groceries: (soy milk, soy yogurt, fruits, cereal... and other stuff that comes up when I'm awake)
*school supplies (folder, notebook paper, pens)
*exercise ball (for my back/neck-ness)

Someone left a turtleneck in the closet... and a magnet on the door... but a really boring magnet... but I'm the only one with a magnet... so hoorah?

I also saw a cat but I didn't know it was a cat at the time, so it a little bit freaked me out. Then I wanted to pet it but it was gone. Which just makes sense, in a universal way.

And I found a bookstore. Er, by me, I mean my "bring me from the airport to my apartment" buddy. He says I should join English language club to help them speak English better. They're working on slang right now. Ha. I am waay beyond slang.

This is a long entry. Yay for me. And now I only have fifteen minutes left. Wait a minute- dang!

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Wish me luck!

I'm off to Japan in about 15 hours O.O Wish me luck!

I'm Done with Grad School Applications!

...that's really all I had to say...

Monday, September 15, 2008

Am I My Resume?

Who am I anyway? Am I my resume?
That is a picture of a person I don't know.
What does he want from me?
What should I try to be?
So many faces all around and here we go,
I need this job Oh God, I need this show.
-Paul, A Chorus Line

Still working on grad school applications- just UC-Berkeley left. It turns out, I need to write another essay. It's so difficult, trying to figure out what exactly they want, especially when they give you such a limited amount of space.

I wish they would do an interview instead of requiring a Personal History Statement. All the questions they ask are so personal, I hate to document them on paper. I can just envision them passing around the deepest and most secret details of my identity and history, examining them with reading spectacles perched on the tip of their noses. "I don't know about this one," Dr. A explains, "I don't think she's suffered quite enough."

It honestly seems like they just want people who have suffered. Here's what they ask for:

In an essay, discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Please include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within your chosen field; and/or how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree.

Can't everyone contribute socially and culturally? It just seems like they're secretly saying: "If you're a person of color or gay or have one leg or practice Satanism, we want you, because you will contribute with your freakishness." It makes me feel like a spectacle, and I really don't appreciate the notion in an Ethnic Studies program, particularly.

But, anyway, they're number 3 in the country, so I'll just stop complaining and get it done. Grr.

Skype! And, why, hello.

Here is my Skype account name: Mandycandyland
Go to www.skype.com to get the program and video chat/audio chat with me for free in Japan, so that you don't miss my fantastic mug O.o

Also, I have a video camera and a digital camera now (thanks, respective parties!), so you should be getting some vlogs and photos in the near future. But, do I really have to take pictures at Narita airport? People always post them, but I'll look like crap! And that will be bad for my e-self-conscious.

Oh, and if you haven't read this before, there may be no need to go back, unless you really want to. Pre-trip things may be too boring to handle. There may have been some entries that were better left unpublished/I felt cool at the time but, looking back, I made a public geek of myself. Or maybe you're just jealous because you can't recite the ReBoot Season Three musical, which is, conveniently, to the tune of "I am the Very Model of a Modern Major General."

And welcome! Er... that sounds like this is a shop or something. Hello, then! Enjoy? Now I feel like an Emcee......

Saturday, September 13, 2008

I Think I Have a Serious Problem...

On quite a foolish whim, especially for a woman of my age, I did the unthinkable. Yes, yes, I counted my scarves. And, unfortunately, it seems I have a serious problem. Perhaps so serious that I may need to seek help.

As it turns out, I have nearly thirty. How did this happen? Why did such a terrible thing happen to such a nice girl? And what will the neighbors think?

If I wanted to, I could wear a different scarf for every day of the month! Or I could wear them all at once and never need a coat again! Or I could tie them together and climb out of my window to the ground.

So, if you are ever in need of a gift idea/wonder what the heck is wrong with me, it is always scarves.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

My favorites via YouTube

Because we all need a little entertainment/brainwashing. The link feature isn't working -_- so please copy and paste!

Movies:
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang- random hilarious scenes
"Where's My Gun?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zw_fC_eFYd4
"Who Taught you Math?"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8J_b02rx3c

Meet the Robinsons
Someone's favorite clips...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoDJdcBsiHg

Scent of a Woman
The Blind Tango scene
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBHhSVJ_S6A


Scenes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97H1dToqfxY ---Duckie Dancing! (and striking out v.v)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aIoTgy4zvo ---The Fresh Prince lip singing to "I Am Telling You I'm not Going"

Carlton, from Fresh Prince of Bel Air, stripping O.o but it's YouTube, so no worries, my censor-cautious loves!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHmheJ849zQ

The Best Scene, from Muppets Wizard of Oz- so random and hilarious: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lc0pVAvGvQ

Father Furlong in the Cave- "You're in for it now, Tony."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOdjDz1s3Co

DEBS- Lucy Diamonds turning good/A Little Respect
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWPhrHyZv8w

Oz- Father Mukada being sexy, singing Leather, licking the Bible
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDSJkMVLiF8




TV Shows:
Hey Arnold!, The Best of Helga:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkKkWMwMA_k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGC-xRI307s&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGwIfsM1q6c&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpwFk0jAQBg&feature=related

Touching Evil (Here is the first episode, yummy Jeffrey Donovan. I love him calling the cat "gorgeous.")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1vBt3Rv-0I

Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Goodness, what hotties, all! First episode!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28vZvhf3lXA

Angel, funny scenes and scenes where Angel makes a silly boo of himself:
Dancing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhcqBI-Porw
Spike Mocking Angel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kgXTruhaYs

Extras!- I love these actors making fun of themselves:
Sir Ian McKellen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43sbtkQM6zc
Patrick Stewart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg_cwI1Xj4M
David Bowie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jv6mEv_rDdE&feature=related

ReBoot
The Episode where it suddenly leaps in quality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_qvT97If9I

Buffy
The first part of the musical episodes... except only the audio ^^*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ota7XbKJM6w&feature=related

Star Trek: TNG
Clip from my favorite episode, Rascals
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRfV66FV_dE

Jake 2.0
The pilot!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-vh9vNLMRY

Burn Notice
Random segment from an episode- I figured I was safe with any clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9DbwlxVkyY




Music Videos:
Fallen Snow- Au Revoir Simone:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXmKpB9dn3c

Triangle- DBSK
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2MiiASgig0

Konayuki (Pure Snow)- Remioromen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DayRtlDtfg

Hoppipola- Sigur Ros
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Iqq1AWMTQI

Eternity- Dreams Come True
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcgrR8gCg7c





Vlogs:
Five Awesome Gays ^.^
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-uf3oNx2iI

Nikki, who is an awesome singer and very funny, singing to internet trolls. Maybe it's actually a music video, but this is my blog so I'll put it where I want it- rawr!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WxsjwVexR0

KevJumba, who is not G-rated, by the by
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGmO-jcKENQ
Dealing with Stereotypes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbZ9zJ22WfQ
After breaking his leg: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn5oierYyJk

Disneykid1, aka Five Awesome Gays' Thursday:
"Undesirable, Undatable, Unhappy, and Uncool":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USsHFtP8dqk
His Winning Vlog to become the New Thursday on 5AG:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8Jem0uwEEQ

Happy Slip
Morning Meest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtTEGOxnq8M



Interviews:
Edward Norton- I love how down to earth he seems, and nerdy! This just makes me love him more
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QslgkMt-ih4

Comedy Skits:
Welsh comedian- you've probably scene this but it's too funny not to include:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSFmipc_60s

The famous Yatta video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbZzGnb2T5Y

I'm a Marvel, I'm a DC (the whole series is good, here's the first one)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=av6fWfmugds

Barats and Bereta
The Good Word
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN4NzjI0Dyc


Other:
Scary Mary Poppins Trailer, because it's so well done:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T5_0AGdFic

Survey feedback- very funny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rg7Dl7n8bY

And, if you haven't, go watch Dr. Horrible!
http://www.drhorrible.com/mushortio.html

Address in Japan


In case you don't have it, here it is!!!

Address:
2-32-5 Minami-cho
#215
Warabi City, Saitama
Japan
335-0003


So, no excuse for not writing me! Um, but if you are saving postage money, I shall stoop to accepting e-mails as well (piff piff pooh pooh), my humble subjects. Let me know if there's something you're dying for that I can get in Japan (for cheap or cheap-ish, not that you are, my lovely). But you'll have to wait to get it until I get back because postage is crazy.

BTW, I hear that most of the time, you're supposed to put a comma before "but" to make it correct. Maybe this is just a vicious lie, but since I love me commas something awful, I'm happily throwing them in. If I'm wrong to do this, you shall have to take it up with the Grammar Gods, who are far too busy with better things. Speaking of grammar, here is an excerpt from "The Higher Power of Lucky," which was a lovely, lovely book:

[Basically, there's a sign that says "Slow Children at Play," and Lincoln's irritated because he thinks that it implies either the children are mentally slow or just sluggish/lazy, so...]

Lincoln did something brilliant. Next to SLOW, he drew two neat perfect-size dots, one like a period and the other a little above it. Lucky knew it was a colon and it made the sign mean, "You must drive slow. There are children at play" (p. 24). [This is also pictured above, because I can't figure out how to put it at the bottom ^^*]


I also like the back of "Eats, Shoots and Leaves":

A panda walks into a café. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and proceeds to fire it at the other patrons.
'Why?' asks the confused, surviving waiter amidst the carnage, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder.
'Well, I'm a panda', he says, at the door. 'Look it up.'
The waiter turns to the relevant entry in the manual and, sure enough, finds an explanation. 'Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves.'

Good night! Gah! Good morning! We've talked the whole night through! I didn't like Singin' in the Rain... Except for "You are My Lucky Star." If you have the fast version, please tell me how, where, why you? Then, please send it to me or properly direct me ^.^

I Lost My Soul Today (but I wrote it months ago O.o)

Just a short piece of musings/depressinginess. (I didn't really lose my soul, so far as I know O.o)

I lost my soul today, somewhere between 3rd and 9th. I’d chosen to walk down Madison as a prescription against heart sores and burgeoning depression. My shoes, as it turned out, weren’t cut out for the trip, and I ditched them early on, walking barefoot through the city’s grime. Perhaps, I should correct myself then; today I lost both my favorite flats and my soul, while walking down Madison.

I can’t be exactly sure when my desoulment took place. To be perfectly honest, I’m not really sure how I know that I’ve lost my soul at all. Maybe it has something to do with the silent apathy with which I now take abuse of all kinds. I suppose I’ll know in time. If, that is, a soulless person can experience revelation.

On the way to losing my soul, I passed a number of beggars. I prided myself for looking them directly in the eye when they asked for my spare change and answering “No, sorry” with a small smile, not ignoring them as though they were an unfortunate blemish on my town’s otherwise flawless visage. But I also didn’t give any of these people money and I grew irritated when I failed to receive a kind comment in return for my words. Maybe this was where I lost my soul.

I once read somewhere about a study conducted at a university to see how many people would check on a person lying down at a bus stop. Nine out of ten people who approached the supposedly unconscious subject ignored him or her completely. When later questioned, these nine out of ten claimed that they merely assumed that the person was drunk. Did those nine out of ten people lose their souls?

Or what about those thirty-eight people who heard Kitty Genovese scream when Winston Moseley stabbed her twice in the back and fled, when one of thirty-eight yelled at him. Or those thirty-eight people who did nothing when he returned two stab and kill her. To do nothing, maybe that’s what robs you of your soul. But I did say “no, sorry,” so I did something. I must’ve lost it another way.

At about halfway, I passed a church with a free lunch program, to feed the city’s hungry. I was a hungry person at the time but I’m sure it didn’t apply to me. It was one of the Protestant churches- Presbyterian or Lutheran, maybe.

I was afraid of those people. I’m a little bit afraid of most people; I have a panicky attitude towards all human beings outside of myself. I can’t see inside other people the way I see myself, which I guess is normal, but I can never get used to for some reason. I’m arrogant that way- always hoping that I’m somehow special. I’m not, or at least I wasn’t. Maybe losing your soul makes you special, in a way.

Like everyone, I can’t help but discriminate with my fears. I don’t like to be alone with any man I don’t know, really any man I don’t know especially well. Even though people walk ten feet ahead of me and five feet behind, surrounding me, I consider myself alone as I walk; the men at this lunch scare me. I don’t think I discriminate based on race or social class, but I’m programmed to think that I don’t, because I don’t want to be a bigot. Maybe I am bigoted, and just try to ignore it, so that I can try to lead a normal, PC life. Or maybe it’s all just the fears in and of themselves.

After passing the church, I reached the underpass, beneath which lies the freeway. The wind blows strongly here and is cold and tinted with the sea, which is close and always seems to push closer with each wave of effort, hoping to one day drown the skyscrapers like Atlantis. The wind is probably strong enough to blow a person’s soul right out of her body. I think about twirling around, releasing my hair from its harsh ponytail, dumping my bag to the ground, and freeing myself to the wind. Closing my eyes, outstretching my arms, rejoicing in its sharp force. But I don’t, ever, and it is this above all things that I think causes people, such as myself, to misplace our souls.

On the underpass, I also think some things that are slightly darker in nature. Sometimes, more honestly, often, I wonder what would happen if I propelled my bag over the ledge. If it hit a car’s windshield, would it have to actually hit a person to kill him? And if it did, would the force of my bag falling from such a height combined with the force of the vehicle going seventy miles per hour kill him on impact? Or would it cause an accident at high enough speeds to do the job? Or, if I missed, how would the bag survive being run over? Would the car survive? And what if I just threw one paper from my bag and it glided slowly down? Maybe it would obscure a driver’s vision. If I wrote “I’m sorry” on the paper, would that make it any better?

When I’m really down, I think about tossing myself over the railing. Even when I’m not down, sometimes I think about it. I wonder if I really had to, if it was life or death, if I might be able to fly or just float a bit. Again, some part of me wants to be special. Part of me wants the angst and worries and responsibility of it all. And part of me would be disappointed to fly because I’ve had near death experiences and if the rush is any prelude to the real thing then it will be fantastic. And awful. Maybe not for me, but I’m happy to say, I’m not alone. When everything goes so slowly, but is over so quickly and you’re disoriented and suddenly in pain, but it’s gone in an instant because your brain knows how to protect you that way. And you cry because you don’t know if you’re happy or scared or somehow disappointed. Because for a second you were part of something huge- a community of all people, because it is inevitable. And maybe it won’t be like that if I’m old and I “go gentle into that good night.” No sense or what’s happening. Someone once said that they wanted to be awake and aware when they died, because they’d only have one chance to experience death. It may have been Richard Feynman, but since he also or instead said “I'd hate to die twice. It's so boring,” I’m probably wrong.

Maybe I’ve just forgotten how to feel my soul. I’ve forgotten so many other things, it wouldn’t be hard to believe. But I don’t think that’s the sort of thing a person forgets. I’d like to think, with or without my soul, I know its weight and significance within me, or without me. Do you think that it misses me, now that we’re parted, and wonders how it could possibly have lost its body?

Once I’ve safely crossed the underpass, I walk the length of the library and think about going in. It’s too daunting, too many stories, too many books. There’s a fountain by an artist I admire somewhere inside or around the perimeter, but I’m too daunted by the library to pursue it. Sometimes I have to walk on the other side of the street here because of construction. I hate that. I have an enormous library fee that I’ll never pay so I can’t check out books, anyway. I feel like I might be on the library’s Most Wanted list. Why does it matter what side of the road I walk on then? It does matter, I just wish I could understand it myself. Maybe it won’t matter anymore, what with the soul gone and all.

I tripped here one day when it was slick. It’s a steep hill and the pavement is often wet. If I’m foolish enough to wear heels, I slip. I didn’t today, probably because when I did trip, I fell, and no one asked me how I was. I don’t think this says anything about me, and I try not to take it personally. I try not to think that I might be going invisible like that guy in the Ralph Ellison book. Not the H.G. Wells one. That always confused me. In Ellison’s novel, the man goes invisible because he is socially invisible. You start to fade away because you are so insignificant that no one notices you anymore. You don’t literally fade, just from people’s conscious. I try not think that I might be like that. But the people around me when I fell said nothing, didn’t help me up, didn’t seem to notice or care. I think, if anyone should lose their souls, it ought to be them, and it ought to hurt something awful.

I reach the place where I would have disembarked from the bus, if I’d taken it instead of walking. It beat me down the hill- it always does. It runs every fifteen minutes and it takes at least twenty to walk the hill. But the bus is crowded and noisy and I feel obligated to give up my seat to elderly people, or anyone older than me, which is almost everyone, even thought I have pain. The sort that gets you a seat on the bus, if you are vocal about it. I’m not. So I walk down the hill to avoid the conversation. If I’d had the gumption to take the bus, I’d probably have a soul big enough to wallpaper the sky.

The bus stop I wait at, which covers the second stretch of my journey, a length I cannot walk, is on Third and Madison. While standing there with all the others, waiting for my bus to come, I realize my soul is missing. And now that I look around at all the other people with me, I wonder if they’ve lost theirs too. But I guess if they have, then at least we’re alike in that as well. A community of vampiric humans, zombie-like, animate objects. Infectious? Maybe. Medicine as it is, someday they’ll have a vaccine to prevent this condition. Unless we’re better this way. And now, I know I am special. But only insofar as there is nothing special about me at all.

Monday, September 8, 2008

おみやげ

I figured out how to write in Japanese on my Mac, obviously... Hoorah! It's actually really easy, but let's pretend, for the sake of my ego, that it is terribly difficult. What a talented lass I am. Or not.

So, here are the gifts I am taking to Japan. Woe to me, how to know what to give to who? And how to wrap between customs and meeting my student helper? Very little time!

Yankee Candle:

Six-- blurbs about how to use the candles and how they're made. To make it look all fancy
One-- French Vanilla votive candle
One-- Chocolate Cupcake votive candle
One-- Pumpkin Pie votive candle
One-- Harvest votive candle

The lady at Yankee suggested these scents. I think French Vanilla is the most popular. My favorite, by the by, is Christmas Cookie. It's only available at Christmas though, so I hope I get back in time to stock up!

Bath and Body Works:

One--Wild Honeysuckle Hand Gel
One-- Sweet Pea Hand Gel
One-- Midnight Pomegranate Hand Gel

What is a midnight pomegranate anyway? Crazy names.

Disney Store:

One-- Stitch Halloween Plushy (he's wearing a black cat costume)-- for Mari (she loves Stitch)
One--Pluto t-shirt for little boy (for Mrs. Lamba's little boy-- just in case we meet!)
Two-- Aristocats sticker sets
Two-- Cars sticker sets

Mariner Store:

Twelve-- Official schedules- with Ichiro on the front (yay!)
Five-- Mariner pens
Three- Mariner Notepads
One-- Ichiro phone charm

Starbucks:

1/2 lb. Pike Place Roast-- only available in Seattle! Yay for originality?

Made in Seattle:

8 0z. Salt Water Taffy (I want to eat it! mmmm)
Six-- Seattle keychains
Ten-- Seattle postcards (my guidebook says that postcards from home are very popular)
Four-- mini jams
Six-- Seattle pencils
Two-- lucky penny keychains (also supposed to be very popular)

Hallmark:

Four-- Disney Halloween ornaments (because ornaments are so popular for Halloween?)

So, how many is that total? Seventy little things? But, minus the blurbs and schedules, fifty-two? How many gifts will I need? Oh, indecision, how you rear your ugly head at the most awkward of times- le sigh!

No more melodrama. I have nothing more to write. Good bye!