everybody's workin' for the weekend

I didn't get my laundry done, but I had wonderful adventures with my friends while staying close to home. Sunday, we went to Chofu.

I spent today running around Kokura with Ken, meeting hep cats.

you can get anything you want...

I had to deconstruct Thanksgiving for my British friends on the way to Chomonkyo. Pilgrims, Indians, hand-trace turkeys, etc. Then, as I explained my family tradition, I got a little nostalgic. We meet at my dad's house, I yell at him that we are going to be late as he spreads cans of Cream of Mushroom soup over green beans. My brother, father, and I pile into the car and listen to Alice's Restaurant on the way to my Uncle and Aunt's house. Then we eat sushi, turkey, pecan pie, etc, while watching football or catching up on the past year of our lives. Later, we play basketball and drive home to go to our friends' Thanksgiving dinners and eat more.

This year I celebrated my day off work (it was coincidentally Japanese Labor Day)by going hiking in the freezing rain with some buddies from other places in the Ken, going to a delightful onsen, and stuffing my face with curry, which Steph pointed out was appropriate for the occassion ("you know, Indians"). It was a lovely day.

A Thanksgiving tea and a chance to get warm; fires and tatami mats and debating imperialism.

Marco tricked us into going on and we were gladly fooled.

things to do in fukuoka when it is raining

I had never seen Fukuoka during the day(actually, I saw the sun rise in Fukuoka once after a night at the Happy Cock, just before stumbling onto the first bus back to Shimonoseki and subsequently passing out), so I decided to go early and run around in the cold rain.

Kushida Shrine

******************

Hakata Machiya Folk Museum

Sugoi, ne.

This woman is scary, but thankfully, not real.

Not real.

Not real.

Not real (but check out the creepy kid in the basket).




I like old things...



















The Grand Sumo Tournament at Fukuoka Koukusai Center. I had no idea that I would love sumo this much. Mmm... sumo.

Watashi wa Nihon ni ooki desu yo.

My buddy Lou took this right after I told everyone at the Lanikai to shut the fuck up (which is not so helpful when the people talking don't speak English). I'm big in Japan, yo.

a room with a view

The view from my balcony...

...and my front door.

The past five months

I have been living in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi...