tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64370835018073316242024-03-25T06:58:29.303-07:00Move over Godzilla.Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.comBlogger177125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-67555858708089164352016-02-16T03:23:00.001-08:002016-02-16T03:23:52.021-08:00Updates and Goodbyes<div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Due to working on freelance writing projects and being promoted to a manager position at work (!!!), I am afraid that (if I want to have something resembling a social life) I can't update Move Over Godzilla on a regular basis anymore. I have loved writing this and meeting so many lovely people in the blogosphere, but right at the moment my priority has to be getting my work in print.</span></div><div><br></div><div>However I won't disappear completely, as you can find me on Instagram at: missgodzilla_tokyo</div><div><br></div><div>Keep in touch and happy travels!</div><div><br></div><div>Much love, Miss Godzilla</div>Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com62tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-11910649681332663672015-11-22T03:16:00.001-08:002015-11-22T03:16:34.101-08:00Mr. and Ms. Godzilla<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After many years and many discussions, Matcha-kun and I (much to the relief of this grandmother and other relatives) decided to get married. No proposal, giant diamond ring or tulle. Just a few photos, and a small gathering later in December (certainly no giant wedding, eeek). We will each be retaining our own names as we forge ahead together.</div>
<br />Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-91348282674511758872015-09-15T19:57:00.001-07:002015-09-29T20:08:29.075-07:00Burning the Midnight OilOne of the tough parts of working in Japan is that it is so very easy to rationalize things based on the surrounding work culture. To be honest, I am not even sure it is a Japan-specific issue, it seems like it is similar elsewhere too.<div><br></div><div>One gets lulled into a sense of complacency.</div><div><br></div><div>'At least I only do 1.5~2 hours a day of overtime, other people are in the office until midnight'. (No matter that it adds up to an extra full day of work per week in total hours)</div><div><br></div><div>'If I stay a bit longer each evening maybe I can get it done' (No matter that I am in fact holding two positions which should both be full time)</div><div><br></div><div>'Oh cool, only 1 extra hour today!' (No matter that my manager looks confused at my departure)</div><div><br></div><div>Comparatively speaking, I must admit my situation is much better than many of my friends. Matcha-kun has had weeks in which he came home past 11:00pm every night. </div><div><br></div><div>I hear tales on the train, regaled with a certain inexplicable measure of pride and exhaustion, of working 3 days straight with only naps under a desk to keep going. It is almost like some people are proud of the amount of overtime they do, of the time taken away from their family, outside interests and required REM hours.</div><div><br></div><div>My job has many incredibly interesting parts, and I realize that I have a degree of responsibility and free rein that are unusual for someone my age (especially female and especially in Japan), but the culture of overtime just seems so destructive. There are certainly times when you have to cope with emergencies and will need to put in the extra time, but expecting this to go on for months (years!) is not conductive to employee health and well-being. It is a bit of modern machismo I despise and yet have to submit to.</div><div><br></div><div>How does one change this? Do we just have to wait for all the 'my-job-is-my-life' dudes to retire? </div>Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-58897897503629283752015-07-30T05:11:00.001-07:002015-10-07T19:21:57.419-07:00Thoughts on a Shinkansen Night RideOh hello... I have been a bad blogger, haven't I? Mea culpa.<br />
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But you know how it is.... 50~60 hour weeks, the hot blanket of summer over the city smothering ones' creativity, freelance writing opportunities popping up. It often feels that I am so busy I barely have time to blink. And that is, of course, Not Good.<br />
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While work is certainly quite important, busyness for the sake of being busy is destructive. The mind needs time to roam free, to come up with those wonderful little ideas that become something exciting: a piece of art, a book, a new business, a daring mathematical theory.<br />
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But enough of my complaining, for Ms.Godzilla (travel writer at large!) is on her way to Niigata, the land of sake. And hopefully there will be many new stories to tell and exciting discoveries to share.<br />
<br />Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-385998080587261592015-06-28T03:08:00.002-07:002015-06-28T03:08:37.308-07:00Sunset Flowers aka あじさいマイラブ<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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It is the beautiful purples, pinks and blues of hydrangeas that make <i>tsuyu</i> (Japan's rainy season) bearable. The sky may be grey with heavy clouds, but everywhere these hardy charmers provide a pop of color and chance for an impromptu photo shoot.</div>
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You can tell that the rains and cool breezes will soon desist by how the hydrangeas are starting to dry and crumple into sepia versions of their former selves. But until they are gone for good, these harbringers of summer continue to be delightful.<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQ8PuebZj3ftFgFn3Eac1Qzr2CUA26k5iRimNBjNhPo1LpWesaaX7OgDVk5b9ySsxcM2pPLg95jyu7gypV31V0ZnmVsisoiO3VxEVS4Nje5Cvi-ZUas_hBi3dRy76Wilweq6hLKeuAJ0/s640/blogger-image-487604062.jpg" width="640" /></div>
Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-44344118833193700372015-05-30T02:49:00.000-07:002015-05-30T02:49:49.482-07:00To Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Before... well, not quite. Still, if you are looking for inspiration for neat places to check out in Tokyo (or nearby), here are a couple often overlooked favorites.<br />
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KITASENJU</div>
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Land of truly cool painted shutters (a whole street worth), really odd 'Italian-style' takoyaki and more bars than you can shake a stick at.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3McwQhD2GBTWa8KBUlSZE70THWqM5x2wR63sA2qf5DG2CBW7jlSrlLf51ReEgCcVshYMKUEyk3u9n-qPfKWNuRk6_mMgCCXpiCX2n9i_sxyRrQvThzABprZKVR2e6eRyorMOJTm4ZNB8/s1600/IMG_1953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3McwQhD2GBTWa8KBUlSZE70THWqM5x2wR63sA2qf5DG2CBW7jlSrlLf51ReEgCcVshYMKUEyk3u9n-qPfKWNuRk6_mMgCCXpiCX2n9i_sxyRrQvThzABprZKVR2e6eRyorMOJTm4ZNB8/s640/IMG_1953.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqkFvoaejXZIrUgUiKtmPaiThB9TLuYwesdp8f2EejaXm1TN3KenWaDTtn1a4FK24FgQlvcR0lTYoHdu1zgSpSvLvLEJRS3yqgO7dmT57GDSLuoMkifnZ_RWTWR6psdcX1SWz6RtE3HQ/s1600/IMG_1951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqkFvoaejXZIrUgUiKtmPaiThB9TLuYwesdp8f2EejaXm1TN3KenWaDTtn1a4FK24FgQlvcR0lTYoHdu1zgSpSvLvLEJRS3yqgO7dmT57GDSLuoMkifnZ_RWTWR6psdcX1SWz6RtE3HQ/s400/IMG_1951.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWbymHm_9ewbQ2r62ItIcyLdoILJwmB13378HZvGMmDI2IQJxVdr12ekR4gFWG17Z7mXG5QixorQyuLrj5v3C-YL9wsvnfXfY0_7HeMD_NDBUDEit8AEdgjE9-4Eg21Swn_QBg3uINm0/s1600/IMG_1952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvWbymHm_9ewbQ2r62ItIcyLdoILJwmB13378HZvGMmDI2IQJxVdr12ekR4gFWG17Z7mXG5QixorQyuLrj5v3C-YL9wsvnfXfY0_7HeMD_NDBUDEit8AEdgjE9-4Eg21Swn_QBg3uINm0/s400/IMG_1952.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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KAWAGOE</div>
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Streets filled with Edo-era storehouses and homes, delicious sweet potato snacks and visitors dressed up in kimono and fox masks.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-SaEPg7bmHZW1UdNCmEd8M56EJd_WJxzcvmhgoRQ1RTdEihesnHFHR071rFk6PQtTKZ9EKsyB7IkWf9LvmHyN61cPbryYaJdlj3SvMV0bMindyVyN5F1OUSQytOOClKHUz5eMarFNtc/s1600/IMG_1973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-SaEPg7bmHZW1UdNCmEd8M56EJd_WJxzcvmhgoRQ1RTdEihesnHFHR071rFk6PQtTKZ9EKsyB7IkWf9LvmHyN61cPbryYaJdlj3SvMV0bMindyVyN5F1OUSQytOOClKHUz5eMarFNtc/s640/IMG_1973.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtjRLfv2CV20CBX_vFUmW9jUQY-Nd13nF1zm1QyhFYbMaysyIzH2Hy50LhwfGNS6ZCw_mFShaalrRp8yxmGgo_8Jx2YWmrm0FvFHx3JvZcjY6_0YVZZqsarUzUKSb6FmNtoMo9yCMRiQ/s1600/IMG_1974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtjRLfv2CV20CBX_vFUmW9jUQY-Nd13nF1zm1QyhFYbMaysyIzH2Hy50LhwfGNS6ZCw_mFShaalrRp8yxmGgo_8Jx2YWmrm0FvFHx3JvZcjY6_0YVZZqsarUzUKSb6FmNtoMo9yCMRiQ/s400/IMG_1974.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzt3FwdtIqxGjsmdBr6P3lnMCgCy_oYBGUGmhpNvvJZx3dTX9zQJFrPmw7qD_L7f7r03X5gxFWMbLepTxwWe6MVm6puVSpNQ5PPUh-erB2eonb-R8HPFxvITzLqoWYEv_kmQKoMU8r9M/s1600/IMG_1972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCzt3FwdtIqxGjsmdBr6P3lnMCgCy_oYBGUGmhpNvvJZx3dTX9zQJFrPmw7qD_L7f7r03X5gxFWMbLepTxwWe6MVm6puVSpNQ5PPUh-erB2eonb-R8HPFxvITzLqoWYEv_kmQKoMU8r9M/s400/IMG_1972.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-60972748132362057462015-05-16T21:14:00.001-07:002015-05-18T19:20:04.568-07:00A Single InterludeMatcha-kun has flown off to Europe for work (lucky bugger!) leaving me with our whole apartment to myself and a brief return to my single life... and I can't say I hate it. Typical only child, I am quite happy spending time on my own in my quiet private domain. Free to arrange the plates as I wish, eat whatever odd thing I want for lunch (veggie burger with about 3 kilos of salsa), read until 2:00am and dance around like a loon to Vienna Teng.<br />
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While we are quite independent people, no matter how flexible living together does change things a bit. You try to respect the other's schedule, make meals for two (so, 2 spoonfuls of peanut butter and a smoothie won't cut it) and make time together.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Cj-f8hEvkPGfXX0MtPUodrQaAscgg4abBT0G48O3by9omwlDjwgHcDtmLdtrN7uU_EUBQcM8PguZqTM_ME7Fr6__C_RAeGAZLd-urjCnG6xOAmh633E9zsh1M7XQTjXASsF8aaTJ83A/s640/blogger-image-449336870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Cj-f8hEvkPGfXX0MtPUodrQaAscgg4abBT0G48O3by9omwlDjwgHcDtmLdtrN7uU_EUBQcM8PguZqTM_ME7Fr6__C_RAeGAZLd-urjCnG6xOAmh633E9zsh1M7XQTjXASsF8aaTJ83A/s320/blogger-image-449336870.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7U07ayu_zj-K2WTBeqf5ZK6lPORr4P1NTByoI1y4nas6eKdElonmo7_LLI8dVeFRV1Jqho_4WWffh-I_peD-6yeN3GiYsAnj6AP9XJs6Y7J-ounpNR8aNeP64U6tTaPS0IWkBQlKvfw/s640/blogger-image-1299789898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7U07ayu_zj-K2WTBeqf5ZK6lPORr4P1NTByoI1y4nas6eKdElonmo7_LLI8dVeFRV1Jqho_4WWffh-I_peD-6yeN3GiYsAnj6AP9XJs6Y7J-ounpNR8aNeP64U6tTaPS0IWkBQlKvfw/s320/blogger-image-1299789898.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">am probably not the poster child for coupled living. I like to do things by my own schedule, need alone time and require lots of time for my hobbies (koto and long distance running). Matcha-kun is by no means willfully interfering, but sometimes I feel like I am juggling constantly and that in a lot of ways living alone was simpler.</span></div>
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This probably sounds bad, however it don't mean that I intend to give up our coupled lifestyle. There are many benefits to it and lots of laughter, and as David Levithan wrote: 'In truth, I still sleep better when I'm alone. But now I allow that sleep isn't always the most important thing'.</div>
Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-17266391699025786362015-04-22T22:29:00.000-07:002015-04-22T22:29:34.911-07:00Romance is in the eye of the beholderI am told that 'Japanese men just aren't romantic'... well, to tell the truth I have no idea, as my demographic samples are quite limited. Still, I think romance is very much in the eye of the beholder. Red roses are nice, but they can be bought. Those little things that don't involve a wallet are often far better.<br />
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Here are a few things I find incredibly thoughtful, and even romantic (in an odd, non-media conforming way):</div>
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1- 'The bed is yours'</div>
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When I'm sick, I mainly just want space, to huddle under covers and wait for my immune system to win its battle against the evil invading germs. Although I have never vocalized this, Matcha-kun will still decamp to our tatami room, and leave me the whole bed to myself, 'So you can sleep deeply and not worry about waking me up'. He provides me with medicine, food and water too, but this particular gesture is so very much appreciated.</div>
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2- Dish Washing</div>
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I hate washing dishes, getting my hands dirty and poked by cutlery. Eeew. But since moving in together, I can literally count the times I have had to wash dishes on one hand. Okay, so it drives me up the wall when he doesn't overturn the cups and bowls (the water can't run out, aaaah) but not having to do a hated chore is a real gift.</div>
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3- 'As you wish'</div>
I am a bit...stubborn. Bossy? Assertive? A combination of the three? Topped with a strong desire to See All The Things, this makes me a bit difficult to travel or walk around a city with. And yet, no matter what weird thing it is I have decided to do (see the extremely difficult-to-find tomb of Ogino Ginko, look for vegan burgers in Shinjuku etc...) he comes along with a smile and a great deal of patience (did I mention that I also have no sense of direction?). This support means the world to me.<br />
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Does anyone else have these types of weird gestures they wish to share? Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-47041724421853673752015-04-11T04:25:00.001-07:002015-04-11T04:25:20.524-07:00Tokyo Cherry Blossoms 2015: 東京と桜とあたしPersephone arrived from the underworld and briefly painted Tokyo pale pink, magenta and white to celebrate the end of winter.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXF26FO_r1f0Xxx-wb6vHb1oZlOKBfC-s_3_HuiLpYk8bOjYNb20sb-ezUmCkBuKAIPJsGrWiuuInjVYeuTnac5P3ecfJMkQIJwDv8F76z69gZPmmd8yLenXY3VyxQa_QQ_WODdBuHxQ/s640/blogger-image--1900011157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrXF26FO_r1f0Xxx-wb6vHb1oZlOKBfC-s_3_HuiLpYk8bOjYNb20sb-ezUmCkBuKAIPJsGrWiuuInjVYeuTnac5P3ecfJMkQIJwDv8F76z69gZPmmd8yLenXY3VyxQa_QQ_WODdBuHxQ/s400/blogger-image--1900011157.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfA5uP-ebBkNyHQkTJpZddbZ7xI09bwddQvkcobcrPWi43dsdpTINEv8Lj4wM73r3AmommH1VfqZytnERF0S7Bmh_xq3keMQ-oYT5eUsFGr6ini38JxPQ3ybxyP71I9M5OTqOE6uXNGY/s640/blogger-image-799085624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfA5uP-ebBkNyHQkTJpZddbZ7xI09bwddQvkcobcrPWi43dsdpTINEv8Lj4wM73r3AmommH1VfqZytnERF0S7Bmh_xq3keMQ-oYT5eUsFGr6ini38JxPQ3ybxyP71I9M5OTqOE6uXNGY/s400/blogger-image-799085624.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctoddSzvB15Ay6Paun2AFoXbscmY80hKd8gWvKrHjIuiz0O3ba2rwR-GpmrWZLcpFY13NSBBBJjmBjDxGeRynIcnDP0NREiiaxk1wWn9dhZk6o4ryu2mGbRGozV3lP5U0TeWIZajO2xk/s640/blogger-image--1911820055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhctoddSzvB15Ay6Paun2AFoXbscmY80hKd8gWvKrHjIuiz0O3ba2rwR-GpmrWZLcpFY13NSBBBJjmBjDxGeRynIcnDP0NREiiaxk1wWn9dhZk6o4ryu2mGbRGozV3lP5U0TeWIZajO2xk/s400/blogger-image--1911820055.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMPDanhC3Z7W_z4VGwOz__PzHj_icerGIQvWqYCV4e8gWd-ta1FVcD_8IUnN0eRicGdwILLsLzV-qhLy4b2L0XKhvcwZw1-bTdCBq903qaxMnVdL4qm5zzGHRIjTYhHIIQ6574_XnpIk/s640/blogger-image--1225175858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMPDanhC3Z7W_z4VGwOz__PzHj_icerGIQvWqYCV4e8gWd-ta1FVcD_8IUnN0eRicGdwILLsLzV-qhLy4b2L0XKhvcwZw1-bTdCBq903qaxMnVdL4qm5zzGHRIjTYhHIIQ6574_XnpIk/s400/blogger-image--1225175858.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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From hanami with friends at Yoyogi Park to solo bento lunches under the blossoms at a cute little park near work, I took every possible moment to enjoy the cherry blossom season.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86WU8VF6715oxBh_L1xq1nDGGALuiSGpL1V5qBnduQqdIGwVVKNmHlgKiEQ3AnUwU3u1dvQsGtKcPreJlpbBWQ9LM2SlxKK_CfQRm8Onh55McU44soi5Z55uRWt30XWkOgUnP4uE5kKQ/s640/blogger-image-420776864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg86WU8VF6715oxBh_L1xq1nDGGALuiSGpL1V5qBnduQqdIGwVVKNmHlgKiEQ3AnUwU3u1dvQsGtKcPreJlpbBWQ9LM2SlxKK_CfQRm8Onh55McU44soi5Z55uRWt30XWkOgUnP4uE5kKQ/s320/blogger-image-420776864.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowoPEEvRM5vEtcKmprpHgjtceI7Mpu8TcLL2zirm2QBXgourpu909gxnC4jz8nHi4eDEnIr8HkegqLBV-c-Cj4uw0le1MJ79Uo9uWWbZJK1filKUtXKFzOQfr1v34edvaSCqxoGgwK0Y/s640/blogger-image--1116395852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowoPEEvRM5vEtcKmprpHgjtceI7Mpu8TcLL2zirm2QBXgourpu909gxnC4jz8nHi4eDEnIr8HkegqLBV-c-Cj4uw0le1MJ79Uo9uWWbZJK1filKUtXKFzOQfr1v34edvaSCqxoGgwK0Y/s320/blogger-image--1116395852.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And a special tip for sakura lovers: the cherry blossoms at Shinjuku Gyoen tend to bloom a bit later than others around the city, allowing you to extend your hanami-ing for an extra weekend!<br />
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<br />Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-86270008742310135112015-03-21T00:58:00.001-07:002015-03-24T21:56:25.955-07:00Secret Spring: Hanegi Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Tokyo never ceases to surprise me. A short wander down the Inokashira Line, I came across Hanegi Park. Don't let the baseball field fool you, this park is home to a truly charming bairin (plum tree orchard) with around 650 trees fetchingly grouped together.</div>
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Unfortunately I showed up about 2 weeks past their peak so couldn't get the full effect. But ume are much hardier than their delicate sakura cousins, so there were still enough blooms to make for a nice afternoon walk.</div>
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The floor is no longer a freezing shock in the morning, and there is some light when I emerge from the office in the evening... Persephone is indeed on her way!Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-68178114391755610232015-03-13T05:44:00.001-07:002015-03-13T05:44:30.195-07:00Black Suits and Coffee: 就活と希望It is that time of year again. I see them in their shiny black suits, sensible shoes and faces white with tiredness and anxiety. The job hunting season commences, and I watch young students still unused to the brace of a suit as they file through my office, write resumes madly at coffee shops and stare out of trains, glazed over by the repetition of answers to the same 10 interview questions.<br />
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Not to mention the questions trey pose themselves.<br />
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Will I be okay?<br />
Will anyone hire me?<br />
Do I actually want to do this?<br />
But my parents say...<br />
But my friends say...<br />
What will I do with my life?<br />
<br />
I see them and just want to go over, give them a big hug and tell them:<br />
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You will be okay.<br />
Don't take a job just because the company is famous or your parents tell you to.<br />
Don't forget who you are, in the process of streamlining yourself for bored HR interviewers.<br />
Life is long, and your first job will mainly teach you what you do and don't like.<br />
Your value as a human being is not linked to your paycheck.<br />
You are fine just the way you are.<br />
Don't trust anyone who says 'you will be lucky to work here'.<br />
Don't trust companies that won't pay you benefits.<br />
Take a deep breath, you can do this.<br />
The company won't take care of you, YOU take care of yourself.<br />
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You will change and grow and make mistakes. Right now it all seems to loom so large, your whole future decided by a few sheets of paper and luck. But try not to worry. One day you will stand as I do now, hopefully in a slightly kinder world, and tell someone else the same thing.<br />
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大丈夫よ、自分のままで。Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-451208578297783492015-03-07T01:00:00.000-08:002015-03-07T01:00:36.433-08:00Vegan in Tokyo: A Helpful List<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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It seems that with age I am getting increasingly snarky about the morality of eating animal products.While I am by no means 100% vegan yet, I have definitely tried to severely reduce the amount of milk products and eggs I eat.<br />
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Since I know many others have similar moral (or health) concerns, I started listing some of my favourite haunts across the city, where you can get cruelty free tastiness!</div>
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Lets start in Roppongi, of all places. A short stroll from Mori Tower you will find Chien Fu (which also has a sister restaurant in Kunitachi). They specialize in Taiwanese style vegan food, with the fake meat the country is so famous for. The sweet and sour 'pork' is a major favorite, and their huge teishoku sets are all around 900yen. You can buy bags and cans of fake meat, vegan ramen and tofu mayonnaise on your way out too!<br />
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Next up is Kagetsu, a major ramen chain. During the spring they have vegan ramen, gyoza and fried rice. Cheap and cheerful. </div>
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(NB. This is the last year they will be serving it, although you can buy the gyoza and ramen from their online store!)</div>
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(I ❤ gyoza, can you tell?)</div>
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While not a restaurant, the health food store Natural House, which has branches across the city, usually has several choices of macrobiotic bento. They are a bit on the pricy side, but allow you to have the traditional bento experience minus the meat and fish. My favorite is the 'meat' stew Nagomi set.<br />
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A hidden gem, if you so happen to be between Azabujuban and Shirokanedai station, is King Falafel. This used to be a twice monthly treat, when I worked in the area. The owner is lovely, and the full sized sandwich is a serious meal, with freshly fried falafel. Serious yum, but only two little chairs outside for seating.<br />
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On the same lines, Shamaim near Nerima is a bit of a hike from central Tokyo (unless you live there, of course), but has a fabulous falafel set and hummus set.</div>
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For something with a more American flavor, Good Honest Grub (housed in what appears to have been a normal house, between Shibuya and Ebisu) has an excellent Mexican bean wrap and smoothies. </div>
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I have already written extensively about Eat More Greens (near Azabujuban Station) <a href="http://moveovergodzilla.blogspot.jp/2012/10/a-sunday-of-scaling-tokyo-tower_11.html"><span style="color: magenta;">here</span></a>, where the menu changes with the seasons (and has the most amazing Valhrona chocolate vegan doughnuts).The same goes for Deva Deva in Kichijoji (info <a href="http://moveovergodzilla.blogspot.jp/2014/01/vegetarian-in-tokyo-deva-deva-kichijouji.html"><span style="color: magenta;">here</span></a>). Both T's Kitchen and T's Tantanmen are fabulous, with the first being one of my go-to lunch places when I lived on the Toyoko line.</div>
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There are several more places I wish to go, and there are definitely some that have slipped my mind at the moment.</div>
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Any recommendations? I would love to hear from other veggies in Tokyo!</div>
Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-54490135525452373742015-02-23T04:39:00.002-08:002015-02-23T04:39:39.270-08:00Tokyo Marathon 2015: Expectations and RealitySo, I finished the Tokyo Marathon... and am now dealing with the disappointment that came with it.<br />
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I started off really well. It felt like flying, going at a good pace with steady breath, steady heart rate and powerful legs... except for a twinge in the left knee.<br />
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Right after saying hello to my wonderful friends who came to cheer, I started feeling real pain. I tried different ways to stretch it out, and kept on going until the 23km mark, where suddenly my knee locked and I couldn't bend or land on it. I burst into tears of sheer sadness and disappointment. Had the knee not given out, I am pretty sure this would have been my fastest race yet. I had trained very hard, gone to the sports therapist to get my muscles and tendons properly stretched... all for nothing.<br />
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I hobbled over to the AED tent, and the kind volunteers stretched me out and taped up my knee. Hoping for the best I started running again. For about 5 steps. Nope. This was not happening. No can do. More tears and general despair.<br />
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And this is the interesting part. Until not too long ago I would have given up, since I obviously couldn't reach the 'perfect run' image jealously guarded in my mind. But instead I took a few breaths and re-framed the whole situation.<br />
Okay, so a sub-5 hour marathon is out of the question. What CAN I do?<br />
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Oddly enough, walking wasn't all that painful, as long as I kept my knee from bending. Good. So the new goal is to finish the darn race and not get swept (loaded into a bus that takes you to the end point because you are too slow to finish in the set time). I picked myself up and power-hobbled my way to the end, trying not to be too sad or jealous when my friends passed me (since its not their fault, for crying out loud). I ended up finishing in just under 6 hours, which is not bad for a hobble pace.<br />
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While I am proud of myself for finishing and not giving up when my 'ideal' was stripped away, some ambivalence remains. There is medal on my bedside table, and I am not sure I deserved it. I can't help but think 'what if the day had been warmer' (as the doctor said the long wait in the cold might have precipitated it) or 'maybe if I had just stretched it out a bit more'... ugh, annoying.<br />
<br />Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-43007096074522547892015-02-04T04:31:00.001-08:002015-02-06T02:53:33.115-08:00Cultural Fatigue: aka 'Eugh, not this again!'<div>Yesterday I was scrolling through Tumblr (small life tip: if you haven't got a Tumblr account, don't get one. It is intensively addictive!) when I came across a reference to cultural fatigue (<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://www.vagabondjourney.com/what-is-cultural-fatigue/). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">While the author is talking about a very different situation (being constantly overcharged in South America) the whole 'feeling' is so very familiar.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">As much as one can enjoy living in a different country, it can get exhausting. Japan may be easier than South America in many aspects, but it still finds ways to make you want to scream.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">I spend almost all of my waking hours speaking in Japanese. I like my job, for the most part, but the thickly layered bureaucracy is a slog. Having to speak and write in keigo is exhausting. Not always understanding 100% of things said or jokes can be a bit alienated. Getting spoken to in boo-boo English from shopkeepers. People assuming I am an English teacher or don't know much about Japan.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrLHdAcrdqWYBrlSITrfB0isuQ6NQQbco_10JsFvLjtMzPmtj1HFslWYanpUvTtI6bS0vaA2eoIUSwLdpiyuJzMgqIQ-HIZyTbLV9GH95x8KNK46x89EHT2BiVvsHov3SHfnB0nEaGZA/s640/blogger-image--13561542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrLHdAcrdqWYBrlSITrfB0isuQ6NQQbco_10JsFvLjtMzPmtj1HFslWYanpUvTtI6bS0vaA2eoIUSwLdpiyuJzMgqIQ-HIZyTbLV9GH95x8KNK46x89EHT2BiVvsHov3SHfnB0nEaGZA/s640/blogger-image--13561542.jpg"></a></div></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">It is not the end of the world, but these little things do add up. I can't run away from it, so how is one to deal with these feelings of 'doneness' and annoyance?</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Well, I have a few ideas of my own, and would love to hear about others:</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">1- Give Yourself a Break</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Spending most of your day in a foreign culture is mentally draining, so give your grey cells a break. Watch shows or read in your native language. Listen to comedians you like. Just space out for a while. Find quiet time to let your mind go blank.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">2- Sweat it Out</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">Cultural fatigue also seems to turn into muscular tension. Get rid of that frustation through exercise. I find that running is a great way to combine idea 1 and 2.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">3- Let It Go (Let it go~🎵)</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">There is a wonderful Buddhist saying: let go or be dragged. At a certain point you just have to let go of some of these annoyances. Making fun of them (to myself or with an understanding friend) helps me make the recurring annoyances small enough to brush off.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">4- Enjoy the Good</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">While there are downsides to living in a different culture, there are (usually) also lots of good points which are worth remembering and celebrating. For instance, I enjoy celebrating traditional Japanese holidays in a small way (like eating ehomaki for Setsubun, or going to a shrine on New Years). I love that I can run safely even after dark. I love that tofu is dirt cheap. I love the beautiful places one can get to by train. I adore not having to drive or own a car. Making a little mental list of the things you enjoy can perk you up.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">5- Eat Your Own Food</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">No matter how delicious Japanese cuisine can be, sometimes you just need a taste of home, whatever that might be. Super cheap Kraft macaroni and cheese, a plate of lasagna, hummus loaded with tahini... whatever it is, keep a secret stock for when you need it.</font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">I am now going to take my own advice, have a bowl of pasta e ceci and watch terrible trash tv online. </font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-54828067356906815222015-01-09T05:02:00.001-08:002015-01-14T16:00:33.476-08:00Of Snow, Running and Learning<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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I hope everyone had a lovely New Year! I spent just under 24 hours in Nagano with Matcha-kun and his family. They seem to have gotten much more used to me, to the point that I actually stayed with him in his grandmother's warm little house (in the same room too, scandalous!).<br />
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We did hatsumode at Zenkouji Temple, which was beautifully covered in snow, and bought some omikuji and a blessed arrow (which is supposed to keep bad things out of the house). After a cup of coffee and some apple cake, we jumped back on the shinkansen to Tokyo.</div>
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My vacation was very short (ah, the joy of IT and travel-related businesses), but it was lovely to have 4 days away from the computer. </div>
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With Tokyo Marathon coming up (yup, I got a spot!), my weekends are filled with running increasingly ridiculously long distances. Fortunately, thanks to recently finding a lovely long park, 20 km just fly by!</div>
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Of course, this means that my time with Matcha-kun is more limited than usual... but we both know it is only a temporary thing. </div>
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It is interesting how since moving in together, our interests have started to interweave more. He has started swimming again (influenced by my running obsession) and I have taken to reading more about history and political affairs (his field of expertise). And we both have gotten into Downton Abbey!</div>
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Never stop learning, that's the trick (*^^*)</div>
Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-60351839235172688052014-12-30T20:55:00.002-08:002014-12-30T20:55:42.029-08:00良いお年を! Happy New Year!I love Tokyo during the New Years season. Over a course of days the city slowly assumes an emptiness, with only 3 or 4 people in the space I am usually used to seeing 20. The trains, usually a scene of discreet shoving and lines of people wrapped in thick coats and thicker perfume, today dwindled down to just me. An entire train car to myself, as I make my way to work through the quiet shuttered streets.<br />
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At night I can hear the high clap of the wooden blocks, the same sound that announces the start of a kabuki play, as the local volunteers warn the shoutengai inhabitants to watch out for fire. A sound from a different era, which lulls me to sleep, giving a sense of safety and balance to the unusual quiet.<br />
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2014 was an odd year, punctuated with a series of highs and lows reminiscent of a jagged heartbeat. Ending on a high is certainly a great blessing, as are all the lessons I learned on the way. Here is hoping for a happy 2015, with more adventures, joys and tranquility. <br />
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(And, ladies and gentlemen, if you happen to pass a homeless individual today, be kind and buy them a ticket for a bowl of warm soba, to start the New Year right. I haven't seen the cheery lady I sometimes chat with in front of the station in a couple of weeks, and am worried about her...)Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-1658840684038888872014-12-11T04:33:00.003-08:002014-12-17T04:30:17.228-08:00Revisiting the Past: Kitasenju<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAoM05SJpXIapVt1x7IZ1pYWr2NuJwViJZSyc7qtJeD0ub0yrSk4MYh-dnihArwXkRsMi8duhyclAqaOoyr2Sqr_rtvYe8IBFYWq9CgUtLIS5YA8iRedoSFOczb6GRl7InH9gmKg5D4U/s1600/IMG_1939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAoM05SJpXIapVt1x7IZ1pYWr2NuJwViJZSyc7qtJeD0ub0yrSk4MYh-dnihArwXkRsMi8duhyclAqaOoyr2Sqr_rtvYe8IBFYWq9CgUtLIS5YA8iRedoSFOczb6GRl7InH9gmKg5D4U/s1600/IMG_1939.jpg" height="400" width="300"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsINZ1ehkkpUPkK9Uv2-hvGx0mwnSXPVW1C74Mz9epR5mY4I0ulhAR7W7WpuQRwz_FRVFyTjryenLrY5-Z8jq3J-_soxb237tQUz_abMNfn8-D-ttV3b0sYf_T-za82okuXgP3nj5b3RE/s1600/IMG_1946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsINZ1ehkkpUPkK9Uv2-hvGx0mwnSXPVW1C74Mz9epR5mY4I0ulhAR7W7WpuQRwz_FRVFyTjryenLrY5-Z8jq3J-_soxb237tQUz_abMNfn8-D-ttV3b0sYf_T-za82okuXgP3nj5b3RE/s1600/IMG_1946.jpg" height="400" width="300"></a></div>
Recently, spurred by the desire to try a great Thai place which appeared on one of our current drama obsessions (Kodoku no Gurume), Matcha-kun and I ended up at Kitasenju.<div><br></div><div>To tell the truth, I had tried to ignore this (admittedly blameless) area for a good long while. When passing through the station on my way to my koto lessons, I whisked from one line to the next, and never left the station.</div><div><br></div><div>The reason is silly, but not entirely. Several years ago, I actually stayed in Kitasenju for about a week. I was in Japan to job hunt and visit my then-significant other. As Kitasenju is out of the way, and home to a lot of Tokyo's day laborer population, the lodging was really cheap. </div><div><br></div><div>This was not a great time in my life. I was in grad school in London, so doing the long distance thing with my SO, and having absolutely no luck finding a job that would take me back to Japan. </div><div><br></div><div>As the SO was also busy, I ended up spending a lot of time running around for interviews, then walking around alone. My last 2 days in the city were spent rambling about, missing this person who had been 'forbidden' (!!!) to spend the evenings with me... mostly because his parents were afraid he would get plastered right before his first day of work. </div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Eventually he did show up on the eve of my departure, after his first day at work. Drunk after a welcome party for new recruits... not a good state. One of my major issues with him was his inability to stop drinking at a reasonable point, so you can imagine how upset this made me.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">All in all, the whole mess left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. And I guess it made me irrationally dislike Kitasenju.</span></div><div>
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How different things are now. Exploring the long shoutengai shopping streets hand in hand with Matcha-kun, I could literally feel my heart lift. This place now has new memories affixed to it, the dark aura it had in my mind is gone.</div><div><br></div><div>Perception is a funny thing. The things, places and people we thought were so perfect or pursued so assiduously actually turn out not to be what actually makes us happy.<br>
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The total shitamachi-ness of Kitasenju now can actually speak to me. The long street with colorful hand-painted shutters, the cute little cafes and bars, the calls of merchants purveying everything from snacks to futon. During that visit<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> I couldn't even see it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">But now I can. Forgive me Kitasenju, let's be friends.</span></div>Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-57453019682305314442014-12-05T18:29:00.001-08:002014-12-11T04:35:42.048-08:003 Years OnDue to a friend's question about exactly when Matcha-kun and I started dating, I realized it has now been 3 years... give or take a bit.<br />
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That odd 'bit' is due to a couple reasons. The first being that I am terrible at remembering dates and anniversaries. Hence, my mental image and timeline of our dating is a biiiiit fuzzy.</div>
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The second is that, being two very different types, we have different concepts of when our relationship started.</div>
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Matcha-kun, in typical decisive Matcha-kun fashion, feels that we started our relationship on the first date. I, being more cautious and undecided, think that it was closer to the 7th or 8th. Not that it truly matters, but it does make for an amusing conversation.<br />
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My coworkers seem vaguely concerned about this. It is commonly thought that women are the ones that care about anniversaries, special holidays and other 'romantic' dates. But really, I don't mind. I much prefer daily kindness and care to a few expensive dates throughout the year.</div>
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And when does a relationship truly start anyway? First kiss? After an explicit agreement? After surviving the first fight? I think there are various stages in any long term relationship, and those transitions are equally worthy of being remembered...even if you can't pinpoint an exact date.<br />
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Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-63038713376574037242014-12-03T04:50:00.001-08:002014-12-03T04:50:49.110-08:00Fall in Tokyo(ish): Rikugien, Kawagoe and Mukojima Hyakkaen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
All I can say is, I hope ya'll like autumn leaves... because fall foliage is on the menu today! </div>
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As my parents were in town (and due to the persnickety weather) I didn't have quite as much time as usual to run around the various parks and indulge in my love for koyo. However, what parks we did manage to visit were splendid.</div>
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I am particularly pleased with several of the shots taken in Rikugien. Matcha-kun, my parents and myself managed to get there during the golden hour, when the setting sun and fog made the whole place magical.<br />
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The two pictures below are from the little known Mukojima Hyakken. It is a very small garden, but the combination of the actual trees, lamp posts and Sky Tree is quite lovely.<br />
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Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-25229615863069372012014-11-14T01:43:00.001-08:002014-11-20T21:22:52.619-08:00Dating in Japan: Moving InThe common reaction I got/get when telling local friends or coworkers that I moved in with Matcha-kun are a bit bemusing. Basically, they can be summed up as:<div><br></div><div>'OMG! He proposed! *squeeee* You are getting married, OMG when is the wedding?!? Show me your riiiing...wait, where is your ring?!'</div><div><br></div><div>Uh, whoa. I didn't realize we had slipped back in time to the 50's, when sharing a dwelling was equated with matrimony.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides the repeated necessity to explain that cohabitation and marriage can indeed be separate things, I think the Matcha- Godzilla household is proceeding quite well. For the most part things go along smoothly, with much silly dancing and weird noises by both parties. Occasionally we spat, about things like laundry drying and other such world shaking matters, but resolve things quickly with a minimum of nastiness.</div><div><br></div><div>For the most part we are both flexible about things, although I must say he is more amenable than I. It probably comes from having several siblings. While I am not always good with change, he takes it in stride. And while I am better at creative problem solving and spatial reasoning (very important when it comes to furniture and textiles), he is better at more concrete issues... and of course anything that requires reading complicated kanji.</div><div><br></div><div>Like many intercultural couples before us, we realize communication is key. Sometimes you literally have to spell out what you are thinking, because the 'default mode' just doesn't work. Obviously this is not just a cultural thing, but it becomes more pronounced. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEzkEfoTjGQ3iaSFxOOnz5qqwqDzDxI5YIHM_Opdv-mNUCawtvVXNGcLqIIochX1fWy8Fx3G7iTplYxDQwHxpdm_Ge3VKBy2XdzS26QW5QtL7s8b9dyQCont4t0WShdBO0xoq7D6F6wk/s640/blogger-image-683825267.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEzkEfoTjGQ3iaSFxOOnz5qqwqDzDxI5YIHM_Opdv-mNUCawtvVXNGcLqIIochX1fWy8Fx3G7iTplYxDQwHxpdm_Ge3VKBy2XdzS26QW5QtL7s8b9dyQCont4t0WShdBO0xoq7D6F6wk/s640/blogger-image-683825267.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>Household duties have been divided fairly, so the apartment is usually quite respectable looking. Since cooking daily is not something either of us is interested in doing, we make a few large batches on the weekends, supplemented by a couple meals by me during the week. And on weekends, he makes fancy vegan pancakes and other yummy things (yay!) And does all the dishes (more yay!), because I hate dishes and prefer doing laundry.</div><div><br></div><div>There will always be points of contention (like his insistence of leaving suits airing all over the place, or my annoyingly early alarm clock) but such is life. On the whole we have a good time watching odd dorama online (like Shinya Shokudo or Kodoku no Gurume... yes, food porn), running around the cit, eating far too much French bread and being silly.</div><div><br></div><div>Not earthshaking, and that is (in the words of Martha Stewart) a GOOD thing. </div>Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-74209481800572678742014-11-09T05:23:00.001-08:002014-11-09T05:23:02.719-08:00Here it Comes!Strap on your seat belts and prepare for much enthusiastic blithering... for autumn has finally hit Tokyo (well, Tachikawa, but close enough). Behold, photographic proof!<br />
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The ginkgos of Showa Kinen Park have turned that glorious shade of goldenrod which delights the hearts of all koyo fanatics. As Tachikawa is about 3-5 degrees colder than Tokyo proper, we got a sneak peak of the autumnal glory which should hit the city in around 2 weeks.<br />
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In other, vaguely related news, for some reason the IKEA in Tachikawa is much less crowded than the one in Yokohama. And their delivery service is much faster! Good to know for peeps seeking cheap chairs and printed fabrics (!!!).Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-89413772487346568482014-10-28T21:56:00.001-07:002014-11-01T21:24:16.036-07:00可愛いのに (Even Though You are Cute...)Recently I came across a phrase that gave me pause, and as it has been tumbling about in my brain for a bit without coming to a satisfactory conclusion, it shall end up here for public(ish) debate.<br />
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The perturbing phrase was: </div>
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'Even though you are so cute, you still care about/are interested in the homeless'.</div>
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Now, just take a minute to let that sink in and roll around your brain for a minute.</div>
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Since when does cuteness have anything to do with humanity? </div>
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I have heard people here make comments about (primarily women) who volunteer a lot and are not blessed with media-sanctioned good looks on the lines of : 'yeah, she looks like she would volunteer a lot'. Does this mean that only 'homely' women volunteer? Perhaps the implication is that they are not attractive enough to find a mate to snarf up their time? How incredibly narrow minded, should that be the case.</div>
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Are the cute exempt from responsibilities to their fellow (wo)man? Are they too busy traipsing along in high heels on the arm of some dude? Is it 'dangerous' for cute women to be close to the homeless? Is their time considered more valuable? </div>
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Perhaps it is more a societal issue. Homelessness is often seen as being due to some flaw in that person, when in fact people often become homeless due to reasons beyond their control (escape from abusive situations, loss of home due to illness, mental illness, sudden firing after the age of 50 etc). So, are these people not worthy of support? Considering some of the reactions I have personally heard when going to help out at food pantry events, this is a persuasive argument.</div>
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Or maybe<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> it is a comment on the lady in question instead. Are cute people supposed to be vapid and innocent to the messier sides of society? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">It is the のに (even though) part of the phrase that bothers me. Why couldn't it just be 'you are super cute and your concern for other people is praiseworthy'? Telling people they are awesome is certainly a nice thing to do, but it doesn't have to come with a side of comparisons.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Thoughts, suggestions or comments welcome.</span></div>
Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-85273390154025435822014-10-27T21:19:00.001-07:002014-10-27T21:19:31.356-07:00Nagano in a NutshellThere is a very famous phrase, written by Kawabata: 'トネルを抜けると、そこは雪国であった' (On the other side of the tunnel, there lay snow country).<br />
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That was my image of Nagano in the winter, covered in thick coats of snow, which appear suddenly after the long tunnel after Omiya.</div>
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Man, was I in for a surprise when visiting last New Years! After much thought about what to wear and how to layer, the temperatures were pretty much the same as Yokohama....sans snow.</div>
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I really like Nagano.</div>
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First of all, many of their regional specialties are things I can actually eat (apples, peaches, soba and the fantastic oyaki). Oyaki, for the uninitiated, are chewy dumplings filled with all types of seasoned veggies. They are truly amazing, and on this trip I found a little store purveying an apple pie version!</div>
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Secondly, it is rather unpretentious. Like many mountainous, dangerously snowy and cold places, people tend to be a bit more practical. For instance, Nagano is the prefecture with the most uniform-less schools. Students can wear things that actually keep them warm (aka pants in winter for girls).</div>
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They are practical in many different ways *cough cough* (yes, that is an adult toy store).<br />
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Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-16816736741901321912014-10-12T23:13:00.001-07:002014-10-14T21:23:31.595-07:00Akihabara: Land of the WeirdLast week I fulfilled the oddest work assignment I have had to date: attending an Alice Project 地下アイドル('underground idol') live show, and writing a review about it. Suffice to say, this was not your average AKB48 show. On the 7th floor of a Pasela building in Akihabara, I stepped into an odd world populated by girls in hockey masks wielding colorful chainsaws, girls in Wizard of Oz costumes and others in fake armor singing over remixed versions of Irish folk tunes. And don't forget the fans...<br />
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As an ethnomusicologist I am familiar with the fan culture surrounding idols, but have never seen it up close. I do have to say that they are extremely respectful, taking turns approaching the stage to whoop and call out to their favorite idol... but it was truly odd. Seeing them all sit on the floor when the girls were talking (in typical, high-pitched kawaii fashion) was quite a sight.</div>
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After the live show, I was taken around a few of the major maid cafes run by one of our clients. Yet more high-pitched voices and pouting ('Master, Milady, are you leaving already?!'). I did my utmost not to give into my desire to scream about the effects of sexualizing infantilized women, but it was a close thing.</div>
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As I walked back to Iwamoticho station, slightly dazed, I came across the highlight of my night: a congregation of weird vending machines.</div>
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Just in case you suddenly need a jar of assorted bells, a toy train or yakitori in a can. Some of the items on sale had been taken from their original packaging and placed into plastic jars (like the chocolate soccer balls and candy above).</div>
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I don't know if this is someone's personal hobby, or something set up for a clientele that doesn't like to interact with others much (perhaps hikikumori?). But, if you find yourself in Akiba late at night and need an aroma candle, a can of oden or a pack of emergency rations, this odd little corner awaits your patronage.</div>
Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6437083501807331624.post-34635163146097351832014-10-08T22:13:00.000-07:002014-10-08T22:13:40.868-07:00Dating in Japan: Reactions<b>Notice: While I am dealing with the whole moving process, I will be bringing back a few of my most popular posts for an airing. Once things have settled down a bit more, I will be back to regular posting.</b><br />
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One of the unexpected parts of dating Japanese guys is the reaction one gets from women. I am well-aware that the Asian Male/Non-Asian Female couple is still considered a bit of a minority in the relationship arena, so knew that people might be a bit surprised. However I did not expect to hear from my Japanese female friends:<br />
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'Why would you date them?! Japanese guys aren't nice!'<br />
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Really? In all the countries I have lived in and visited, I have never experienced such widespread disparagement about the local males (except perhaps Italy).<br />
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I find this very odd because, unless for some reason I am only aquainted the best of the bunch, I have found most of my male aquaintances here to be perfectly nice, likeable people. Infact, comparing with my home country, I would say there is a higher rate of respectful men here. <br />
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Perhaps this is because I don't play into the roles so many women think they need to take on to have a relationship. While for the first couple dates I may be a bit more demure (Rule #1: It is impolite to broadcast your personal craziness indiscriminately), that soon fades away, and the full force of my personality is apparent. Take it or leave it, honey.<br />
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As I see it, if you act like a burikko, you are going to attract people who are into being the powerful one in a relationship. If you give your power away so freely, you have a much higher chance of ending up with a nasty boyfriend/girlfriend/whatever. <br />
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I am opinionated, silly and outspoken. I demand respect, and will immediately take someone to task if they say something I do/say/believe is because I am female/gaijin(hate that word)/whatever. I pay my part of the bill, and do not expect to be treated differently. And, lo and behold, guys don't flee from me... quite the opposite. I stick to the idea that people are people, wherever you go.<br />
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Other positive and negative reactions I have experienced so far and their common perpetrators (sheesh, this is starting to sound like some kind of primer!) are:<br />
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- Being photographed without you or your partner's consent, usually by elderly Japanese men with overly large cameras<br />
- Being asked about 'size', interestingly from both Asian and non-Asian men (sorry, I have not conducted a full demographic study on the matter, nor do I intend to)<br />
- Joy on the part of cafe owners ( 'Ya'll look so stylish, please sit near the window'!)<br />
- Giggling high schoolers of both genders (minds=blown)<br />
- Reaaally annoying the Nationalist guys in the nasty black trucks, especially when you start giggling at their ridiculous proclamations (Note: this is also a solo sport)<br />
- Being told 'your children will be sooo cute' by women of all ages (eeesh...any 'children' I have will be furry, four-footed, and infinitely more adorable than a human child)<br />
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As with all dating, at times amusing, at times exasperating. All I can say is that, personally, so far there have been a lot of fun, respectful times! Ms.Godzillahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14528004139439104356noreply@blogger.com13