Movie Monday

Last night I went to my first movie in over three months. That is some kind of crazy-ass record, because I usually am at the movies ALL the time. Shinders and I made a night of it by going early to AEON for shopping….tho we sadly only got groceries??? Um, yeah, exciting. But it was nice to wander around AEON, as I hadn’t been there in a few weeks. I find myself having AEON withdrawals at times! I can’t imagine not living near it. I love me some Ota! Hehe.

Anyway, after shopping, Shindy and I went to Kappa Sushi, which is kaiten (conveyor belt). Cheeeeeeeap! Granted, not as good as made-to-order, but cheap and good enough. Plus I decided it is like watching porn while having sex, because you get to eat and watch food pass by you at the same time.

We saw The Corpse Bride with Mami and Minako and it was so nice to be in a movie theatre after so long! Yes, I am a nerd. Also, they have CHURROS and BEER at the concession stand? Why has it taken me so long to go to a movie?! Anyway, the movie was entertaining, but not amazing or anything. Very glad I didn’t pay full price for it!

Monday is “couple’s night,” so Cindy was my girlfriend. Tickets are “only” $10 (sad day when I consider that cheap), so we have made it a plan to go to movies on as many Mondays as possible! Harry Potter comes out in a week and a half and I am muy excited about that! Then on the 10th we get Sayuri (Japanese title for Memoirs of a Geisha), which I can’t wait for! I hope it’s as good as it should be. Then on the 17th we get King Kong! Yay Peter Jackson. So, even tho we won’t get Rent for up to SIX FUCKING MONTHS, at least there are entertaining movies in the meantime. Tho meh to not getting Narnia ‘til March? Anyway, the movies were good times. I hope we get Brokeback Mountain!!!! Sigh.

Three work-related thoughts of the day:

1. I am becoming the biggest slacker when it comes to dress code as it gets colder. I am pretty sure I can wear whatever I want and get away with it, but I always dress nice just in case. However, I refuse to bust out the long-sleeve button shirts (I wear short-sleeve ones) because there is no way you can’t iron those. I REFUSE to iron every day, and the short-sleeve ones can be “flicked” enough after washing to make it look ironed-ish. So, to make up for my lack of warm clothes, I have been totally Japanese and have been wearing a track jacket over the shirt. I am getting tired of wearing the same jacket every day, though, so today I am wearing my Muji hoodie over my shirt. The thing is, I still look nicer than like all of the 3nensei teachers, hehe. Tomorrow is shougakkou, and I am pretty sure I could wear my pajamas there and look nicer than all of the teachers, so I’m not too worried.

2. Has anyone else noticed how Japanese people aren’t afraid to touch garbage with their bare hands? When I help with cleaning in the morning I help empty the garbage cans into trash bags. Sometimes stuff falls out or the contents of the bag need to be pushed down, and the kids and/or teachers do it with their bare hands! GROSS! It’s especially nasty because like half of the trash is tissues. Given, Japanese people mainly use tissues as paper towels and napkins, but you KNOW in the winter a lot of those are NOT touch-worthy! Gross! It makes me want to have a big orgy of Purell after cleaning. *shudder*

3. I AM SO HIGH RIGHT NOW. K, so today is FREEZING. I can see my breath in the hallways. Oh, let me explain for those that don’t know that Japan doesn’t know what the hell central heating is. They think Americans are rich for having such crazy things as multiple heated rooms (I always want to respond “we’re not rich, we’re just smart,” but refrain from doing so). Anyway, the cheap way for them to heat rooms is using kerosene heaters. Not only does it run the risk of burning you alive, but it also gives off fumes that makes it necessary to open the windows once an hour. I have yet to use it at home, but they turned them on for the first time in the staffroom today. I am seriously high. Like, I can’t even describe it, but I can’t concentrate or anything. My head feels funny! Does one get used to this sensation? Is this how teachers deal with stress? “It was a fucking bad day, time to turn on the kerosene heater…whooooa, that’s the stuff!” Seriously, I can’t work like this! I’m gonna start giggling at the kids’ English or something!