That 1 Guy & his Buttmachine

Masaru, the owner of Wictor, found the Blast II Japan website! It's pretty cool!

Travel. I love it!

I was thinking...I've traveled alot lately and it doesn't look like it will be ceasing anytime soon, sweet!!! Here is a look at the next two weeks: Japan - Chicago - Dayton - Dallas - Midland - Austin (breathe) THEN Midland #2 - Bloomington - Japan tour.....
Before all this, let's see..where have I been. So starting last May, about one year ago: Austin - San Antonio - Georgia - 2.5 month U.S. tour, maybe 30 cities? - L.A. w/ Paigey - Austin - Nagoya, Japan - Kyoto - Mt. Fuji - Nara City - Tenri City - Tokyo - Toyota - America - back to Japan
YATTA! I love this :)

'Nuf said.

It's been a long haul, and I'm sure anyone I know never wants to hear the word "Blast" come out of my mouth ever again! But, this time is different. It's FOR REAL!! I am officially in Blast II: Music In Xtreme in a Feature Role position.
BAM!

(and the first tour is in Japan! I'm so happy to come back!)

Here's a short, promotional video of the show!


Here is the tour schedule:
Bloomington, IN, Star Hall - June 2- July 7
Promotional Tour in Japan, 5 cities - July 7-12
Matsumoto, Hotel Buena Vista - July 12 - 27
Nishinomiya, Hotel Branvia Osaka - July 28 - Aug 3
Tokyo, Akasaka Prince Hotel - Aug 3 - Sept 1
Nagoya, Hotel Grandcourt Nagoya - Sept 1 - Sept 7
Fukuoka, Hakata Excel Hotel Tokyu - Sept 8 - Sept 15
back to America (again! that's my 3rd time in one year) - September 16

Showtimes are : 1pm, 2pm, 6pm, 7pm

My "Condommate" ;)

Liz - you are my backbone.
No decision would have ever been made, no silly Wal-mart pictures would have been taken, no outrageousness would have been had in Toy Joy, #307 would still have carpet and be white, not glorious yellow, little cat would be a little saner, and most of all I would have no one to laugh at, without you. Thank you for being there to shun away the police officers after being maced on 6th st., thank you for eating buckets of ice cream while watching movies with me, thank you for chasing me when I ran away (I'm glad I can laugh at this now), thank you for making smores with me in the fireplace, thank you for getting drunk off one glass of wine so I could drink the rest, (I'm seriously laughing out loud right now) thank you for studying with me at 3am at JP's. I'm so happy you were there to make balls out of the Washington Monument with me, I'm happy we country danced in the living room on your birthday, I'm happy we were together two-fisting pitchers of beer at the UT/OU game, I'm really happy we had the tacky Christmas sweater party. I'm happy that I was stuck in the apartment with you when the CRAZY ICE STORM OF THE CENTURY hit Austin and everything shut down.I can't believe you actually let me do so many of the crazy, stupid things I've done! I can't believe that we are around the World from each other AGAIN!!!! for the freakin' third time! But we stuck together through all these years. You will forever be my roommate..even if I'm in Japan and you're in London. You will always be my backbone, my best friend, my go to girl when I have problems. I will always be here for you no matter what, for anything you ever need.


But really, this is all so I can use you to go to the lake. Soo...uh, how bout it?

"Mochi-ing"

In celebration of the last day of Tenrikyo camp for the kiddies, we made mochi today! The process is quite involved but a fun social event...fun if you like to use your muscles :) This is how it goes: Michi wakes you up and says " Good Morning! We're making today if you want to come." "Cool, what time?" "Maybe...now?!" "Haha, ok. Be there soon." So you roll out of bed (us gaijins aren't the earliest risers) and head down to the mochi making area, which is by the cafeteria. There are 3-4 little fires set up - metal barrels on top of sand with fires inside. On top there is a pot of boiling water which is steaming rice that's on top of the pot. The steamed rice is taken to a large granite bowl, like a large version of an apothecary bowl (seen in the pic). The rice is dumped in there and three people use the big wooden..hammers? (as seen in the pic) and they squish the rice around until it's more like goo. From there, people take turns hammering the mochi into an even gooier (?) consistency. Meanwhile there is someone on the side who turns the mochi and uses water to keep it from sticking to the hammer and the bowl. After the mochi is pounded to the right consistency it's put into a container of flour...and then goes away somewhere that I've never seen, haha.
What does mochi taste like? Well, it's kind of like taffy. It really gooey and squishy. It can be flavored and put on sticks as candy, or rolled into a ball with red beans, fried and in a soup base or even dried and then cooked in the microwave and eaten with sesame powder (at least that's my best guess as to what it is!) Any way, watashi wa suki des!!!! (I like it!)

Sensei Franshisu!

Watashi wa ego o oshieru. Korera wa watashi no gakusei des. kawaiiiiiiiiiiii!!! Omoshiroi des demo, watashi wa suki des!
Ego no kousha wa Wictor English Club.
Arigato gozaimasta Masaru-san to Kotoe-san!!!! Sabishiku narimas! Renraku shimas.

Things I miss....

Patience IS a virtue.

Recently I met somebody that has dramatically changed my view on life and myself. He is unaware of this and had no intention to cause a drastic effect or even try to convince me of anything. He was simply stating his view on life and therefore triggered something inside me that brought to light everything that I have observed and unknowingly absorbed during my time here in Japan.
It seems that at 24 years old I would be close to figuring out my inner self, but no, it is not so. In one way I feel like I am getting old, as in, many opportunities have passed and the chances of many more coming are diminishing. This scares me; because I am not a sea anemone. I use this analogy because the sea anemone, conceived by sperm and egg or by hermaphroditism, is bound to a substrate; steadfast there until conditions become unsuitable. Only at that time does it detach and suction cup along the ocean floor to a more accommodating location. Although I'm sure there is a suitable comparison of myself to something meaningful out there, I'm going to just go ahead and say I'm like a plastic bag blowing in the wind. Nothing significant, but the potential exists. Being carried by the wind with no qualm about it. Fleeting from one location to the next. Although, a plastic bag has no mind to be selfish, and that's what I am. This person talked to me about how the Japanese hold patience as a virtue, something that Americans don't have. Also, how people live to help others and ensure that the people around them are cared for, before themselves. When I first came here, it was really hard for me to understand everybody working together. At many times I felt that so many people helping meant they thought I couldn't do it myself, that I was stupid or not strong enough. As embarrassing as it is to say out loud, and in public for that matter, I also did not understand people putting others first. It's not that previous to the conversation, I didn't care about people or want the best for them. Or that I only cared how well I did, I just didn't consciously put forth the unlimited effort to think about others before myself and act on that. A common theme amoung the gaijin was that, we didn't like sharing things. For example, if you buy a package of Pocky, you offer some to everybody around you, pass it around and eventually it comes back to you and you have a few left. Us gaijin were not game for that. Even if you did not offer, people would ask if they could have one and you would unenthusiastically let them have one. I am very ashamed that I felt this way. very. How could I ever feel this way when so many people have given all they have so that I can be sitting in this room right now? when they have cooked me meal after meal everyday? when they literally jump up from their work to get me something or to help ME out? I am so, so ashamed that I ever felt this way inside. BUT! I am so happy that this turnover occurred, whether it was because of what this particular person said to me or if it was just time for it to happen. I feel a clearness inside now and hope it continues without fail.

No, those are not hobos.

In America, if you see somebody sleeping on a bench in broad daylight then they are most likely a hobo or "drag rat", as we so eloquently call them in Austin. This is why I was very perplexed when Mr. Sekine took us to the Emperor's Palace in Kyoto and there were hobos sleeping on every single bench! Turns out, people just like to sleep whenever and wherever they can! Japanese work so hard, and so much, but never sleep so they're damn good at sleeping standing up on the train, on a bench in a park, while visiting a museum, in the kitchen while eating, during a speech, or while writing a letter.
I think I will utilize this when I get back to America, too bad I didn't come by this tactic while I was still in college!

Texas Toast

Hopefully most of you are aware of so-called "Texas Toast". You know, the needlessly thick, greasy, buttery pieces of toast that come with your equally as unhealthy Denny's breakfast or Dairy Queen chicken fingers and gravy. Well, in Japan, all bread is Texas Toast! and it only comes in packages of 6. At first I just thought that's what Aikiyo bought, no complaints there, I love the stuff. But I went to the LaLa grocery store to get bread, and it's all they've got! Just a big shelf of white, Texas Toast in packages of six. I was baffled. There was no wheat bread to be found aaaaaannnywhere! but there was a whole aisle dedicated to rice ;)

Highly Technological Toilets

Being in Japan, there's just so much to say about toilets!!! In addition to the previously discussed "squatters", we also have the "holy crap, this thing can wash my ass AND lift it's own toilet seat!!!!" toilet. This are the fancy ones - found in Sekine outings and nice office buildings. These things can make you a cappuccino if you want...but that would seriously just be sick..and unsanitary. Unlike, the squatters, I need to describe this toilet to you because it's just THAT cool! I'm going to tell you about the top of the line "holy crap, this thing can wash my ass AND lift it's own toilet seat!!!!" toilets, because, yes, I have experienced that many different types of toilets here in Japan.
To begin with, when you walk up to the thing, it lifts the lid for you! Very unexpected. Then when you sit down it makes a flushing noise and, if you so please, you can adjust the volume. Thank you for all the options toilet. Then once you've finished your business you can choose from a variety of ...showers. (My mom tried them all out and gave me the lowdown. She was very excited.) You can have your ass washed for you and even adjust the pressure. If you're a woman, you can uh, use the shower instead of toilet paper, how environmentally aware.

Of course, after playing with the toilet's many options then you have a dilemna... drip-dry, wipe or be on your way. Gambatte with that one!

The End.

It's a little breezy in here....

Something most people don't know about Japan is that the toilets are...well, squatters as we call them. For example - Gaijin says they have to go to the bathroom, but returns rather shortly with a sad look and says, "Aw, nevermind, they're squatters." Gaijin, especially females, will go to great lengths to not use the Japanese style toilets, including just holding it in until a Western toilet is found!
As you can see in the picture, the toilet is less of a toilet and more of a hole in the ground. This restroom was kind enough to provide a descriptive picture of the correct direction to face while using this facility...too bad I found it 7 months after arriving in Japan. Yep, that's right...I was facing the wrong way for a very long time. I kept wondering why the toilet paper was behind me, that was very inconvenient! Needless to say when people are squatting over a hole in the ground....you're never sure exactly why the ground is wet...if you catch my drift..ew.
This brings me to another subject, my mom. If you ever thought I was weird...meet my mom. And yes, Japanese squatters and my mom DO have something in common. Instead of an explanation, I will give you one short conversation we had while she was visiting me in Japan - Mom : "Oh yeah! I almost forgot to take a picture of the toilet!!", said with all seriousness and charisma.
Me: "Um.......what?"
Mom: "Yea, I want to make a book about toilets around the World. I think they're cool!!!" giving me a look of 'don't you think that's cool too?! because I'm so excited about this'
Me: Utter disbelief.


The End.
mom's book idea

Beaker

This is what I look like when I play clarinet... sad, but true!

Front ensemble

This is a re-start of my blog... let's begin.

I have officially made it full circle in the realm of the marching arts. I started off as a clarinet player, learned mello & french horn for BK (drum corps) & LHB (marching band), participated in winterguard with Nolan, played trumpet for Aimachi and am now in the front ensemble in the Aimachi winterline. I feel kind of turned around sometimes because I'm used to hearing the pit tinkering away in the far distance. For me, they have always been the people you only see every once in awhile unloading their equipment from the truck and then they roll away, not to be seen again until full ensemble. You can always hear them though, their sounds carry on the wind to you and you look around wondering where they heck they could be. Maybe today they're standing in the shade under a tree, or in that ditch over there, or in the street, who knows. Then you come to full ensemble, and whoa! there they are. Or you see them rolling along in a train of keyboards and various percussion equipment, always with the smallest person on the biggest piece of equipment. I've only touched the pit equipment a few times. One was in New York at this school with a hill probably on a 30% grade down to the field. Another was when a thunderstorm hit in San Antonio and being the typical Texas storm EVERYTHING started to blow and roll away, so the Northerners freaked and everybody ran away screaming and terrified. One more involved another storm, that I believe was in Virginia during my first year of drum corps. The staff thought the storm would pass, so we left all of our equipment outside. Lo and behold, it rained so hard it could have been a typhoon. So, of course, we had to haul butt through the needles-and-pins rain and grab anything we could to bring it inside.

Anyhow, now I'm IN the pit. Although I prefer to move and march, this is a very nice change of scenery and fun experience. I like how the pit is a small family, that always moves and works together. It's interesting to see how this section rehearses compared to guard, trumpet, the battery, etc. since there is no marching involved. I had always wondered how they moved their sticks up to the board in time together and swayed back and forth together. Stupidly, I figured they were just trained that way. But since there aren't dots to learn or feet to work on, every small detail can be ironed out, down to how far to lunge to either side. It's also nice to have alot of time to practice and clean things up on your own. With say, mello, you usually learn and practice everything in tandem. Sixteenth notes are cleaned together, the new melody is learned together. With the pit, although you're physically in the same room as one another, you have time to stick in your ear buds, crank up the metronome and clean your notes solo. Then when there's sufficient time, everybody (minade) plays together and the group is cleaned as a whole. Pretty nice, I'd say.

To sum up and conclude, I'm excited to be apart of this new group and see how they work. It's kind of like how you always wonder how penguins can live and survive in the Antartic, but now you're there living with them and experiencing it firsthand....although this is not quite as extreme. :)

Over and out,

-F