Poll

Is sitting at home alone, drinking beer, watching illegally downloaded episodes of Dawson's Creek cooler... because I'm in Japan?

Circle One.

Yes

No

The trip home was even worse than the journey to Amerika. But, this blog isn't about entertaining you with the outrageous stories of my doomed life. This blog is not here to retell antidotes about drunken shenanigans that happen when my estranged family gets together for a wedding. I did not start this blog to have a forum for life-updates, like the fact that all my possessions are sitting in boxes in my neighbor's house and in 1 week I won't have an actual residence. This blog is here for one reason! To give you a place to complain about my lack of sketchblog updates.

(Photo: my brother, sister, and I share our first/last night out at a bar together.)

What I Do

As my Facebook status reads, I am at an internet cafe in Fukuoka right now. This is part one of a very long journey back to Amerika. Land of veggie burritos and size 8 Women's shoes.

It's almost 4am. Ive been in this booth since 12:30. I drank 3 free beverages: peach soda, green tea, and water. I watched one DVD: Little Miss Sunshine. I surfed about 600 websites and realized the internet is boring and maybe I dont need an iPhone.

I'll go to Starbucks in about 30 minutes. Then, catch a taxi to Fukuoka airport. I have to say, "福岡くうどまでおねがいします" to the driver.

After that I'll be sitting around in the Tokyo airport for 7 hours waiting for my flight to L.A. There, I'll collect my shit, go through customs, and hop on another plane to Portland.

Total travel time: 35 hours.

Seriously, Alex, you better only get married once.

UPDATE (4:11am): I already smell bad.

I got a sunburn today. In preparation for my brother's wedding.

I also ate a wasabi-seaweed riceball on the beach, which just felt weird. I paid 106円 for something I could have eaten off the ground next to me.

Oh.

I just realized that if I wasn't spending $3,000 to visit America for 10 days... I wouldn't have to stay in Japan another year.

Letter of Resignation

Dear Boss Lady,

I regret to inform you that I'm leaving (your company). It is with reluctance that I'm submitting this letter. I have enjoyed working with everyone and have learned a great deal, and my departure in no way reflects badly on the company. Although my time with (your company) has been, on the whole, satisfying and productive, for quite a while now I have become less and less satisfied with the work situation. The split schedule, work load, and the living situation are making it increasingly difficult for me to continue here. Please be informed that I am resigning as of ８月３１日. I'll be happy to help train a replacement before I go.

Sincerely,

ジェネットラングミド

(Taken straight from the first Google result for "resignation template")

Gay Christian Japanese Ska Band

I'm not sure if that's exactly how they're marketing themselves.

Someone order a chinko?

A summer festival in Yamaguchi City.

The Circus is in Town

And by circus I mean my Aunt and Unlce! A few weeks ago Matthew and Kotoe came out to Suckuragi for a visit. They were in Japan to see Kotoe's sister's wedding, but couldnt resist a detour down to the Guchi-ken. Obviously, I gave them the grand tour-- Ell's ditch, Antonio's Yatai, and Shidax Karaoke.

The night started off well. What was supposed to be a bathroom break turned into an hour of Matt being pummeled by an old Japanese man at Ell's Ditch. He wanted to know Matt's name, occupation, birthplace, and you know, put his hand on his lap. After we said our goodbye's to all the drunken gaijin that make their usual Thursday night appearance, we headed to the yatai.


I'm sure Matt and Kotoe were very excited to meet the legendary Antonio and eat the oishii-est ramen within 10 square feet. Matt even got to fish out his own oden (which means Antonio loves him)!

There were some old business men at the yatai, and Matt and Kotoe chatted with some of them for a while. I don't know what they talked about but one crazy dude followed us into karaoke. After we said our goodbye's and got into a karaoke box there was a tappin' at the door. To our suprise the old business man, Antonio, and two gaijin wanted to join in on the fun.

Hilarious videos below:


(pervy old man)


(Antonio tearing it up)

(No, I wont post the one of my singing Mariah Carey, but with all the times it's been done and all the digital recording equipment available today, I'm sure it'll be on YouTube soon)

Stuck in Suckuragi

I'm considering changing my blog name. My bicycle was stolen this week, leaving me even more isolated than I was. First of all, I live in Sakuragi, a small part of Shunan city (or Tokuyama)... next to Kudamatsu (where I used to live).

So Sakuragi wasn't all bad at first. I live next to my office, there's a UniQlo closeby, a 7-11, a KFC (Ive never visited), and there were some grocery stores. For reasons unknown to me they closed both the SU-PA's in the last two months. Now, my closest grocery store is a uphill (both ways) 20 minute bike ride away. When I had a bike! Now my closest grocery store is wherever I can get if I beg a friend or coworker for a ride. This "no car" thing is not feeling very hip anymore.

Not to mention, the buses stop at 8:30PM. So I have no options to go out after work. Like, right now for example, I could be drinking beers in the park and eating snacks from the konbini with my friends. Instead I spent the whole night on the phone yelling at Indian people who work for Delta on Skype (and Orbitz, I took turns with each).

So, I'm gunna finish this can of frosting for dinner. And maybe do some drawing or something while Im stuck here.

(P.S. I have an escape plan)