I went to get my hair cut the other day and was looking through a women's fashion magazine called "Vivi" at the salon. Towards the back, there was an article about how to tell if a guy is lying to you, while at the same time making sure your lies fool him. Now let that idea just sink in for a moment.
It included tips about, "how to cover up that you lied when he asks you point blank." For example, if he asks, "Did you cheat on me?" You say "Yes. (pause) No wait--I mean some guy asked me out to dinner, so I thought that may be considered 'cheating.'" (In this scenario you did, in fact, cheat on your boyfriend, but now he thinks you are just stupid and don't actually know what that word means.)
There was also a list of ways to efficiently snoop around on his cell phone to find out if he is cheating:
1. Buy the same type of phone as him, so you can "accidentally" mix them up.
2. Buy him an app as an excuse to get him to tell you his password.
3. Remember that smart phones can access PC email, so don't forget to check all his accounts.
4. Look through the photos he has on the phone to see if there are any other girls in them.
5. Steal the memory card from out of his phone.
So everyone is always lying to each other, and they don't trust each other in the first place anyway...
No wonder Japan is a "cheating culture" where women accept that it is normal for their boyfriend to cheat on them, and men (as well as women) use that as an excuse to keep cheating. What I want to know is why does anyone bother getting mad about it then?
2011年7月15日金曜日
2011年6月3日金曜日
My Earthquake Experience
By now I'm sure everybody is fully aware of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and consequential tsunami that hit northeastern Japan on March 11, 2011. I have refrained from commenting on it up to now, because I wasn't quite sure what to say. I was extremely lucky; no one I know personally was killed or injured, my house did not fall down, and really I have suffered no ill effects, other than getting extremely annoyed by people in Tokyo hoarding toilet paper, bread, batteries, and other goods that should have been sent up north to the affected areas to help those truly in need of them. Now, nearly three months after the disaster, I finally feel ready to share my experiences from that day and the days immediately after. I feel like, though the direct impact on my life has been extremely limited, I have seen evidence of the best of humanity (mixed with a small amount of shitty behavior) through this tragic event.
On the morning of March 11, I made the trek to the nearest national tax agency. The due date for filing was the following Monday, so I hoped to avoid super long lines by procrastinating just enough that I still had one full business day before the inevitable last-minute dash. What I thought would take all morning and afternoon, miraculously took only 30mins, so I had several hours to kill before a scheduled meeting with a friend in Shibuya. Thinking I would just go early and do some shopping (as a reward to myself for paying those taxes), I headed there after a quick pit stop for coffee and cheesecake (another reward, which I totally deserved--come on, taxes suck).
I arrived at Shibuya around 2:46pm. I remember the time because as I was exiting the ticket gates the entire station started shaking violently. I knew immediately that it was the strongest earthquake I had ever experienced and I knew it was definitely an unusually big one because a station attendant started shouting over the loudspeaker, "Everyone, hang on to something!" I steadied myself against a nearby pillar and watched in shock as the signs and automated schedule boards swung back and forth precariously. The doors of the trains that were in the station had been closed to prevent anyone from trying to run off, because inside a (stationary) train is one of the safest places one could be during an earthquake. (Though personally I was glad not to be in one of the claustrophobic steel tubes that were swaying back and forth with abandon.)
After about five minutes that seemed much longer, the shaking subsided. The station attendants told everyone to wait calmly for further instruction. After about five more minutes when no more rumbles arrived, the people around me started to go about their business as if nothing had happened. Obviously the trains were not up and running yet, but the stores reopened right away and, despite one shattered plate-glass window, I saw no damage around town. Since the shaking had felt so strong where I was, and no one else seemed to think anything of it, I assumed we must have been near the epicenter and, though it was a big one, there was no serious damage done. I found out later that the quake registered in Shibuya was only about 6 magnitude.
Since no one seemed to be panicking or talking about the quake and the stores were still open for normal business, I continued with my shopping plans. Around 5:00pm I went to meet my friend, but, realizing that her train may have been delayed, sent her an email to see if she was still coming. I waited for about 30 minutes, and when she did not show up and I had still not received an email reply, I went to Starbucks to wait for a while. The place was completely packed, but I managed to get the last seat at the large table on the second floor. I read my book for about two hours until I heard a nearby couple on a clearly awkward first date discussing the trains. "When do you think the trains will be up and running again?" she asked, with a tone that suggested what she really meant was "because I want to get away from you as soon as possible." "Well, they're saying definitely not until last train time at the earliest," he responded. At this point it was 7:30pm and the last trains are around midnight. This is when I began to suspect something more serious was happening than I initially inferred.
I left Starbucks and joined a throng of people watching a live news feed being broadcast on a TV outside of a store. That is when I first saw the footage of the tsunami wiping away a parking lot full of cars. There was an air of panic around me as people gasped at the horrible footage and tried to call loved ones on their cell phones. The cell network had been completely overloaded since the quake of course, which is why I never heard back from my friend. I walked toward the station to see if there was any news about the trains and saw long lines at every normally ignored public phone, since only land lines were working. At the bus terminal, there were people lined up in four rows that stretched from one end of the station to the other waiting for buses with no guarantee of what time, if ever, they were coming. Inside the station people were milling around, some sitting and leaning against the walls and pillars, clearly prepared to camp out for the night if need be as the station workers kept repeating that they still had no news of when the trains would be running again.
Since I knew that even if the trains started again I would have to wait for hours in line just to get on an agonizingly packed car, I decided to start walking. I live about 20 minutes by train from Shibuya. It took me about four hours to walk home. I figured I would just follow the tracks until I got to my station. Once I got out of Shibuya, where there is no direct path that follows the tracks, so I had to walk down some very creepy, dark alleyways, and past Daikanyama, where I got turned around and took a 30 minute detour because the tracks disappear underground, it was easy to just follow the overpass and the long line of people that were doing the same.
After walking between four stations, I realized I had not eaten since that cheesecake around 12:30 and stopped at a convenience store. Though the shelves where already growing sparse, I managed to get the last pork bun and a tall can of beer (yeah, it was definitely time to start drinking at this point.)
Halfway home, I crossed the Tama River, which acts as the border between Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture, where I live. From the bridge, the light from a huge blaze on far off Tokyo Bay could be seen and a voice drifted eerily from a loudspeaker on the Kanagawa-side, warning Kawasaki City residents to stay away from the river "just in case" the tsunami were to cause flooding. (I guess the Tokyo side is not as overly cautious, or they don't care about there citizens as much...)
When I was on my way to the station one stop away from my own, a man started walking next to me and trying to get my attention. When I took out my headphones he asked in Japanese, "How far have you been walking?" With plenty of other people around I felt it was safe to have a friendly conversation about our shared situation, so I answered him and we commiserated about the long walk. Then he said, "Your Japanese is really good, where are you from? I'm trying to learn English." --Oh, wow, you are one those people and you are willing to use any excuse to try to talk to a foreigner. Maybe you should spend that effort on making sure that all of your loved ones are safe.-- Still, not wanting to be rude, I allowed him to go through the usual stupid list of queries that they all ask: "How long have you been in Japan?" "Do you like Japanese food--can you use chopsticks?" "What about natto?"
Then he asked if I was going to the next stop and when I said, "No, one more after that," my heart sank as he cheerfully announced that he was going to the same place... Starting to feel creeped out, I pretended that I was going to make sure my friend who lived at the closer station was alright, so I could get rid of him. Then he asked for my number, or rather demanded, "Hey, give me your number, so I can talk to you sometime!" I blurted out, "I have a boyfriend!" hoping that would deter him, but he pressed on, saying, "Oh no, I didn't mean it like that--I just want to practice English, because I work in a foreign-owned company. We should have coffee sometime so you can help me practice my English, you can even bring your boyfriend." --Yeah, right, creeper.-- Now feeling thoroughly uncomfortable, I gave him my business card, saying, "If you ever need translation services at your work, you can contact me." I then hid on a side street for several minutes to give him time to walk ahead before setting off on the final 30 minutes of my walk home.
I managed to get home at 11:30, only one creepy experience and a couple of blisters worse for the wear. Luckily, the only damage to my apartment was this:
No collapsed walls, no gas leak or fire, nothing broken. Just a few figurines that fell down. I was extremely fortunate.
The next morning my doorbell rang. There were two little old ladies at my door. They asked if I was alright after the earthquake, so at first I thought they were from some community group coming around to make sure everyone was safe. Then they said, "Well, that near death experience must have gotten you thinking about what is going to happen to you in the afterlife, huh? Have you heard of Jehovah?" That's right, the fucking Jehovah's Witnesses were using a disaster that has caused the deaths of over 15,000 people with thousands more injured or missing as an excuse to proselytize. Now, usually I try to politely decline taking their creepy-ass Watchtower pamphlet, but I was so furious at the insensitivity of these people that I just shouted, "NO!" and slammed the door in there little old faces.
So, I had a couple of bad experiences that were especially shocking because people still think it is okay to act like that in the midst of a huge tragedy. But I have also seen the generosity of people, donating their money and, more recently now that conditions have become safe for civilians, their hard work as volunteers in the clean-up efforts. I am glad to say that, despite a few bad apples, most of the country (and that includes the foreign residents) has truly come together to help those in need.
For details on the earthquake/tsunami visit:
The wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_T%C5%8Dhoku_earthquake_and_tsunami
The Japanese Meteorological Agency: http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/en/2011_Earthquake.html
To donate to the Red Cross from America (choose the "Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami"): https://american.redcross.org/site/SPageServer?s_subsrc=RCO_ResponseStateSection&pagename=ntld_main&s_src=RSG000000000
On the morning of March 11, I made the trek to the nearest national tax agency. The due date for filing was the following Monday, so I hoped to avoid super long lines by procrastinating just enough that I still had one full business day before the inevitable last-minute dash. What I thought would take all morning and afternoon, miraculously took only 30mins, so I had several hours to kill before a scheduled meeting with a friend in Shibuya. Thinking I would just go early and do some shopping (as a reward to myself for paying those taxes), I headed there after a quick pit stop for coffee and cheesecake (another reward, which I totally deserved--come on, taxes suck).
I arrived at Shibuya around 2:46pm. I remember the time because as I was exiting the ticket gates the entire station started shaking violently. I knew immediately that it was the strongest earthquake I had ever experienced and I knew it was definitely an unusually big one because a station attendant started shouting over the loudspeaker, "Everyone, hang on to something!" I steadied myself against a nearby pillar and watched in shock as the signs and automated schedule boards swung back and forth precariously. The doors of the trains that were in the station had been closed to prevent anyone from trying to run off, because inside a (stationary) train is one of the safest places one could be during an earthquake. (Though personally I was glad not to be in one of the claustrophobic steel tubes that were swaying back and forth with abandon.)
After about five minutes that seemed much longer, the shaking subsided. The station attendants told everyone to wait calmly for further instruction. After about five more minutes when no more rumbles arrived, the people around me started to go about their business as if nothing had happened. Obviously the trains were not up and running yet, but the stores reopened right away and, despite one shattered plate-glass window, I saw no damage around town. Since the shaking had felt so strong where I was, and no one else seemed to think anything of it, I assumed we must have been near the epicenter and, though it was a big one, there was no serious damage done. I found out later that the quake registered in Shibuya was only about 6 magnitude.
Since no one seemed to be panicking or talking about the quake and the stores were still open for normal business, I continued with my shopping plans. Around 5:00pm I went to meet my friend, but, realizing that her train may have been delayed, sent her an email to see if she was still coming. I waited for about 30 minutes, and when she did not show up and I had still not received an email reply, I went to Starbucks to wait for a while. The place was completely packed, but I managed to get the last seat at the large table on the second floor. I read my book for about two hours until I heard a nearby couple on a clearly awkward first date discussing the trains. "When do you think the trains will be up and running again?" she asked, with a tone that suggested what she really meant was "because I want to get away from you as soon as possible." "Well, they're saying definitely not until last train time at the earliest," he responded. At this point it was 7:30pm and the last trains are around midnight. This is when I began to suspect something more serious was happening than I initially inferred.
I left Starbucks and joined a throng of people watching a live news feed being broadcast on a TV outside of a store. That is when I first saw the footage of the tsunami wiping away a parking lot full of cars. There was an air of panic around me as people gasped at the horrible footage and tried to call loved ones on their cell phones. The cell network had been completely overloaded since the quake of course, which is why I never heard back from my friend. I walked toward the station to see if there was any news about the trains and saw long lines at every normally ignored public phone, since only land lines were working. At the bus terminal, there were people lined up in four rows that stretched from one end of the station to the other waiting for buses with no guarantee of what time, if ever, they were coming. Inside the station people were milling around, some sitting and leaning against the walls and pillars, clearly prepared to camp out for the night if need be as the station workers kept repeating that they still had no news of when the trains would be running again.
Since I knew that even if the trains started again I would have to wait for hours in line just to get on an agonizingly packed car, I decided to start walking. I live about 20 minutes by train from Shibuya. It took me about four hours to walk home. I figured I would just follow the tracks until I got to my station. Once I got out of Shibuya, where there is no direct path that follows the tracks, so I had to walk down some very creepy, dark alleyways, and past Daikanyama, where I got turned around and took a 30 minute detour because the tracks disappear underground, it was easy to just follow the overpass and the long line of people that were doing the same.
After walking between four stations, I realized I had not eaten since that cheesecake around 12:30 and stopped at a convenience store. Though the shelves where already growing sparse, I managed to get the last pork bun and a tall can of beer (yeah, it was definitely time to start drinking at this point.)
Halfway home, I crossed the Tama River, which acts as the border between Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture, where I live. From the bridge, the light from a huge blaze on far off Tokyo Bay could be seen and a voice drifted eerily from a loudspeaker on the Kanagawa-side, warning Kawasaki City residents to stay away from the river "just in case" the tsunami were to cause flooding. (I guess the Tokyo side is not as overly cautious, or they don't care about there citizens as much...)
When I was on my way to the station one stop away from my own, a man started walking next to me and trying to get my attention. When I took out my headphones he asked in Japanese, "How far have you been walking?" With plenty of other people around I felt it was safe to have a friendly conversation about our shared situation, so I answered him and we commiserated about the long walk. Then he said, "Your Japanese is really good, where are you from? I'm trying to learn English." --Oh, wow, you are one those people and you are willing to use any excuse to try to talk to a foreigner. Maybe you should spend that effort on making sure that all of your loved ones are safe.-- Still, not wanting to be rude, I allowed him to go through the usual stupid list of queries that they all ask: "How long have you been in Japan?" "Do you like Japanese food--can you use chopsticks?" "What about natto?"
Then he asked if I was going to the next stop and when I said, "No, one more after that," my heart sank as he cheerfully announced that he was going to the same place... Starting to feel creeped out, I pretended that I was going to make sure my friend who lived at the closer station was alright, so I could get rid of him. Then he asked for my number, or rather demanded, "Hey, give me your number, so I can talk to you sometime!" I blurted out, "I have a boyfriend!" hoping that would deter him, but he pressed on, saying, "Oh no, I didn't mean it like that--I just want to practice English, because I work in a foreign-owned company. We should have coffee sometime so you can help me practice my English, you can even bring your boyfriend." --Yeah, right, creeper.-- Now feeling thoroughly uncomfortable, I gave him my business card, saying, "If you ever need translation services at your work, you can contact me." I then hid on a side street for several minutes to give him time to walk ahead before setting off on the final 30 minutes of my walk home.
I managed to get home at 11:30, only one creepy experience and a couple of blisters worse for the wear. Luckily, the only damage to my apartment was this:
The next morning my doorbell rang. There were two little old ladies at my door. They asked if I was alright after the earthquake, so at first I thought they were from some community group coming around to make sure everyone was safe. Then they said, "Well, that near death experience must have gotten you thinking about what is going to happen to you in the afterlife, huh? Have you heard of Jehovah?" That's right, the fucking Jehovah's Witnesses were using a disaster that has caused the deaths of over 15,000 people with thousands more injured or missing as an excuse to proselytize. Now, usually I try to politely decline taking their creepy-ass Watchtower pamphlet, but I was so furious at the insensitivity of these people that I just shouted, "NO!" and slammed the door in there little old faces.
So, I had a couple of bad experiences that were especially shocking because people still think it is okay to act like that in the midst of a huge tragedy. But I have also seen the generosity of people, donating their money and, more recently now that conditions have become safe for civilians, their hard work as volunteers in the clean-up efforts. I am glad to say that, despite a few bad apples, most of the country (and that includes the foreign residents) has truly come together to help those in need.
For details on the earthquake/tsunami visit:
The wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_T%C5%8Dhoku_earthquake_and_tsunami
The Japanese Meteorological Agency: http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/en/2011_Earthquake.html
To donate to the Red Cross from America (choose the "Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami"): https://american.redcross.org/site/SPageServer?s_subsrc=RCO_ResponseStateSection&pagename=ntld_main&s_src=RSG000000000
2011年2月15日火曜日
The Search for Yan-san
If you are like me and many others who have studied Japanese at university, you have probably watched the Japanese language learning program "Yan-san and the Japanese People." This NHK-produced "drama" from the 1980's is about a foreigner of never explicitly stated origin who comes to Japan to work/study as an architect.
 |
| Yan-san |
Through the various predicaments he finds himself in, the Japanese language students are supposed to learn important grammar points, but the real charm of the show (whether intentional or not) was the hilarious, over-the-top acting and ridiculous situations.
I was recently re-watching the second season of this classic when my friend and I realized that we could probably find where Yan lived using addresses and visual clues from the episodes. And so began our search for Yan-san...
Google-mapping the address seen on a plaque in the first episode of season 2 led us to a neighborhood near Oshiage Station in Tokyo. After winding our way through the tightly packed streets, we found it...Yan-san's apartment! It is still standing, though it shows the more than 20 years of wear and tear since the show was filmed (when it was already pretty run-down). Also still there is the shopping street he frequented and the park he ran through on his way to pick up his love interest, Okada-san.
 |
| The address plaque, updated with Romaji since the 80s. |
 |
| The nearby park, site of epic jumping over the fence scene. |
 |
The shotengai (shopping street). |
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| The fruit/veggie stand Yan-san's neighborhood friends owned. |
 |
| Yan's apartment building! |
 |
A light is on in Yan's apartment...looks like he's home. |
Of course we couldn't just look at these historic landmarks...Some scene reenactments were in order.
First, the scene where Yan's landlord is walking home after shopping at the veggie stand:
First, the scene where Yan's landlord is walking home after shopping at the veggie stand:
And of course, I would be remiss if I didn't reenact Yan's leap over the park fence as he joyously runs to pick up Okada-san from the station for his nabe party.
First episode of Yan-san season 2 can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiDFrYG3zes
2011年2月1日火曜日
Sarah's Analog Blog (circa 1998/99) And That's All She Wrote
I did some more journaling off and on during 8th grade. However, since middle school tends to be the worst period in any adolescent's life (and it definitely was for me), most of the entries are way too angsty to be even remotely funny. I talk of frustration over never being asked out by a boy, even though all of my friend's had been, and my feelings about lady issues that really should be burned rather than ever reread. I had a list of "bad people" who were mean to me at school and a list of the "Top 10 Cutest Guys," which included Seth Green and David Boreanaz (I was huge Buffy fan), Leo Dicaprio (but only in Titanic), and Link as number one (make fun if you want, but I still say he is the perfect guy).
The most amusing thing in these entries is my apparent belief that if I just participated in sports and school activities with my "friends," who were actually making fun of me behind my back the whole time they were using me to get rides to the mall from my parents, and acted like my real self, the other self-obsessed middle-schoolers would eventually start to like me. Hah. All that being said, there are a few sections of comedic note, mainly due to my warped take on reality...
Sept. 13, 1998
The best things in life are free! But you can give them to the birds and bees! I want the $money$!!
Today I got the "Wedding Singer" soundtrack, volume I and II. I love the song "Money (That's what I want!)" I do want money! I have no use for love!
It would be cool if I could read peoples' minds. Not all of the time, only if I wanted to.*
* !? No idea where that randomness came from.
-------------------------------
4/6/99
Today is the last day of Spring Break :( *
You know what sucks? In movies when they take an outcast boys don't like and take off her glasses, cut her hair, and get her cool clothes, she's popular overnight. That doesn't really happen though. Maybe in high school there is stuff like that...8th graders are just immature.
*At least I finally stopped being so excited about going to school...
-------------------------------
5/30/99
I've started sleeping on my back, I think sleeping on my front has stunted my "boob" growth. A. said that is probably true, because when she stopped wearing her bra to bed her breasts grew!
I got a new outfit to wear to Valley Fair Tomorrow. It's both stylish and practical. I doubt anyone will notice though, no one ever does.*
*AAAANNNNGGGGSSSSTTTT!!!!
-------------------------------
Everything else in there is just uninteresting drivel. Good thing this was the final diary of my youth, because it seems the older one gets, the less interesting they become.
The most amusing thing in these entries is my apparent belief that if I just participated in sports and school activities with my "friends," who were actually making fun of me behind my back the whole time they were using me to get rides to the mall from my parents, and acted like my real self, the other self-obsessed middle-schoolers would eventually start to like me. Hah. All that being said, there are a few sections of comedic note, mainly due to my warped take on reality...
Sept. 13, 1998
The best things in life are free! But you can give them to the birds and bees! I want the $money$!!
Today I got the "Wedding Singer" soundtrack, volume I and II. I love the song "Money (That's what I want!)" I do want money! I have no use for love!
It would be cool if I could read peoples' minds. Not all of the time, only if I wanted to.*
* !? No idea where that randomness came from.
-------------------------------
4/6/99
Today is the last day of Spring Break :( *
You know what sucks? In movies when they take an outcast boys don't like and take off her glasses, cut her hair, and get her cool clothes, she's popular overnight. That doesn't really happen though. Maybe in high school there is stuff like that...8th graders are just immature.
*At least I finally stopped being so excited about going to school...
-------------------------------
5/30/99
I've started sleeping on my back, I think sleeping on my front has stunted my "boob" growth. A. said that is probably true, because when she stopped wearing her bra to bed her breasts grew!
I got a new outfit to wear to Valley Fair Tomorrow. It's both stylish and practical. I doubt anyone will notice though, no one ever does.*
*AAAANNNNGGGGSSSSTTTT!!!!
-------------------------------
Everything else in there is just uninteresting drivel. Good thing this was the final diary of my youth, because it seems the older one gets, the less interesting they become.
2011年1月27日木曜日
Sarah's Analog Blog (circa 1997)
After filling in a total of four pages of my original "dolfins diure" (see Analog Blog 1992) I forgot about it for years until one day I found it while cleaning out my desk and decided to begin writing in it again. In the first new entry, I state "I have not written in this diary for years, and I can't believe I wrote this." Amazing that I was able to predict exactly what I would be thinking 13 years later...
These supplemental entries took place in July and August of 1997--the summer before 7th grade, AKA the magical summer I discovered the movie "Labyrinth."
July 9 '97
This afternoon I watched a movie called "laberynth." I really like that movie. It is about a girl named Sara who wishes that goblins would take away her baby brother Toby. Then the Goblin King, Jareth (played by David Boey, who I think is cute as Jareth) really takes him. She travels through the laberynth to the castle to save Toby. I like all the songs in it, but my favorite is Dance Magic and Down in the Underground.* One line in the movie is said by Sara, it goes like this- "I have come for the child. Through dangers untold andperils hardships unumbered I have fought my way here through the goblin city, to take back the child you have stolen. For my will is as strong as yours, and my kingdom as great. You have no power over me!"
I wish I could be Sara in the movie and go in the "laberynth" to save my brother. In fact I wish I could be there right now!
*The actual titles of the songs are "Magic Dance" and "Underground." I know because I have the soundtrack...and I'm listening to it right now, bitches.
-------------------------
July 10 '97
Today was pretty uneventful. The main thing that happened was this--I was watching "Labyrinth" for the 3rd time since we rented it. I only got a little way through when dad came out of the computer room. I stopped the tape, I didn't want him to know I was watching it.* He said he was going to return the videos! I had to give it to him. Later on our way to drop them off I said "I thought these weren't due till Saturday." It was a five day rental and he thought we got the movies on Saturday instead of Monday. I remember thinking, damn his stupid mix-up! The songs from the movie keep going through my head especialy Down in the Underground. It makes me want to cry, because I wish something like that could happen to me. I wish I had that movie. I also wish I could be as beautiful as Sara in the movie.
*Labyrinth: porn for pre-teen girls
--------------------------
July 15 '97
Nothing much happened today. I ran through the sprinkler, that was about it.
I still wish I could go to the labyrinth. See the goblin king Jareth was so handsome.* I wish I could have some kind of adventure. Especially if it was like "Labyrinth." Maybe I could write a book about it (I'll probably never get around to it).**
*Shit, I still wish I could go to the labyrinth...and you better believe I would say "screw you" to my baby brother and marry the goblin king.
**I never did get around to writing that book, thank god.
---------------------------
July 21 '97
Today I was looking at the JC Penny catalouge. I saw this really cool outfit. It has wide-leg jeans, a striped T-shirt, and these really cool zipper front boots.* I hope I can get it! I have to stop now (pens out of ink).
*OMG mid-90s fashion...I did get that outfit, and I think I wore it for my 7th grade school picture...
---------------------------
July 23 '97
Today I am going to put a list of things I want, and if get them I will cross them off.
1. Nintendo 64
2. A new bike
3. Gameboy/N64 games*
I hope I get a new bike soon, but if I had to choose between an N64 and a bike I'd choose the game system. I would even settle for a Super NES.
I also want 4 movies: Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Labyrinth.** I could watch those movies over and over again! I hope I get them.
*Not sure why #3 isn't crossed off, since logically I would have needed N64 games if I was going to play the N64 that I clearly did end up getting...
**If only having "geek cred" made you cool back then like it does now...I would have been the most popular kid at school.
----------------------------
Aug. 5 '97
Today I got a grrreat surprise! Mom gave Ellie and I each a Tigger beanie baby! He is so cute, his tail is even springy. We rented Labyrinth again and mom said we could make a copy of it for me!*
*Mission accomplished.
----------------------------
And that is where this diary ends once and for all. Now that I was in possession of my very own bootleg copy of Labyrinth I obviously had much more important things to do than writing in some dumb diary. Like watching the movie non-stop and fantasizing about David Bowie's magnificent blond mullet and sparkly, sparkly lip gloss. God I love that movie.
These supplemental entries took place in July and August of 1997--the summer before 7th grade, AKA the magical summer I discovered the movie "Labyrinth."
July 9 '97
This afternoon I watched a movie called "laberynth." I really like that movie. It is about a girl named Sara who wishes that goblins would take away her baby brother Toby. Then the Goblin King, Jareth (played by David Boey, who I think is cute as Jareth) really takes him. She travels through the laberynth to the castle to save Toby. I like all the songs in it, but my favorite is Dance Magic and Down in the Underground.* One line in the movie is said by Sara, it goes like this- "I have come for the child. Through dangers untold and
I wish I could be Sara in the movie and go in the "laberynth" to save my brother. In fact I wish I could be there right now!
*The actual titles of the songs are "Magic Dance" and "Underground." I know because I have the soundtrack...and I'm listening to it right now, bitches.
-------------------------
July 10 '97
Today was pretty uneventful. The main thing that happened was this--I was watching "Labyrinth" for the 3rd time since we rented it. I only got a little way through when dad came out of the computer room. I stopped the tape, I didn't want him to know I was watching it.* He said he was going to return the videos! I had to give it to him. Later on our way to drop them off I said "I thought these weren't due till Saturday." It was a five day rental and he thought we got the movies on Saturday instead of Monday. I remember thinking, damn his stupid mix-up! The songs from the movie keep going through my head especialy Down in the Underground. It makes me want to cry, because I wish something like that could happen to me. I wish I had that movie. I also wish I could be as beautiful as Sara in the movie.
*Labyrinth: porn for pre-teen girls
--------------------------
July 15 '97
Nothing much happened today. I ran through the sprinkler, that was about it.
I still wish I could go to the labyrinth. See the goblin king Jareth was so handsome.* I wish I could have some kind of adventure. Especially if it was like "Labyrinth." Maybe I could write a book about it (I'll probably never get around to it).**
*Shit, I still wish I could go to the labyrinth...and you better believe I would say "screw you" to my baby brother and marry the goblin king.
**I never did get around to writing that book, thank god.
---------------------------
July 21 '97
Today I was looking at the JC Penny catalouge. I saw this really cool outfit. It has wide-leg jeans, a striped T-shirt, and these really cool zipper front boots.* I hope I can get it! I have to stop now (pens out of ink).
*OMG mid-90s fashion...I did get that outfit, and I think I wore it for my 7th grade school picture...
---------------------------
July 23 '97
Today I am going to put a list of things I want, and if get them I will cross them off.
3. Gameboy/N64 games*
I hope I get a new bike soon, but if I had to choose between an N64 and a bike I'd choose the game system. I would even settle for a Super NES.
I also want 4 movies: Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Labyrinth.** I could watch those movies over and over again! I hope I get them.
*Not sure why #3 isn't crossed off, since logically I would have needed N64 games if I was going to play the N64 that I clearly did end up getting...
**If only having "geek cred" made you cool back then like it does now...I would have been the most popular kid at school.
----------------------------
Aug. 5 '97
Today I got a grrreat surprise! Mom gave Ellie and I each a Tigger beanie baby! He is so cute, his tail is even springy. We rented Labyrinth again and mom said we could make a copy of it for me!*
*Mission accomplished.
----------------------------
And that is where this diary ends once and for all. Now that I was in possession of my very own bootleg copy of Labyrinth I obviously had much more important things to do than writing in some dumb diary. Like watching the movie non-stop and fantasizing about David Bowie's magnificent blond mullet and sparkly, sparkly lip gloss. God I love that movie.
2011年1月19日水曜日
Sarah's Analog Blog (circa 1995) part II
The saga of Sarah's school count-down during the summer before 5th grade continues. As before, the names of real people have be replaced with Harry Potter pseudonyms to preserve anonymity.
Aug. 25 1995
10 more days till school!!
It's really late, almost 12:00pm! So I'm only going to write a little.
Today dad got really mad and tore up one of my folders for school! I also got a call from the library to say the book I requested was in (Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes)!
Fang still didn't have his bath today! Mom bought me a Quick Sew from Frank's today! I also had a tea party with Eleanor!
OMG, I just can't stop using exclamation points! Everything in my life is just so exciting!!
--------------------------
Aug. 27 1995
9-8 more days!
The reason I didn't write yesterday is because it was almost 12:00 when we got home. I was really tiered. So I'll have to fill you in.
Yesterday we went to Mall-of-America. I got to try the new vertuall boy! I also won an issue of Nintendo Power magazine, it has 115 pages! We also went to the rainforest Cafe and got stuffed! And we saw Nine Months. It was funny!
Today Eleanor and I got to go to Mom's school to help in the library, then play in the computer lab!
This evening we watched Wane's World! It was OK. Fang still hasn't had a bath!
This entry submitted without comment...because I was too busy facepalming and head-shaking to think of any.
-------------------------
Aug. 28 1995
7 more day till school!
Today was pretty uneventfull. I got a call finally, from my captain (Ariana).*
Fang got stung by a bee, in his ear.
I forgot to say yesterday that I got 20 Simpson pogs at the mall!**
I also finished my quick stich, and my Goosebumps book!
I read some more in Nintendo Power magazine.***
Tommorow I'm going to clean my race track.
*Wow, the school patrol called at last! Though they were cutting it pretty close with only one week left before school.
**Though I ended up with quite a collection of Simpson and Goosebumps pogs, to this day I have never played the game, not even once.
***At the time I only had a gameboy and would not get another gaming system until I saved up my money to buy a N64 in middle school. I did, however, end up subscribing to Nintendo power and read all 115 pages of every issue for several years. Even though wasn't able to play most of the games it talked about.
------------------------
Aug. 29 1995
6 more day.
Today Eleanor and & I went to a movie, Forever Batman. It was O.K. But after we had to call dad at the Good Will. We had to wait forever, and the ladys were mean! We also rented 2 movies, and tonight we watched Alien 3. It was pretty scary. I also started doing some research on racoons (just for fun!).*
*..........................................________
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...........((.....*~_......."=-._......";,,./`..../"............../
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.............\`~.*-,.....................................,./.....\,__
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...................................,<`..__,-&``................`
------------------------------
Aug. 30 1995
5 more days.
I almost forgot to write! Fang still hasn't had a bath! Today we were talking about open house at school. I want to go, but I also want to go to the state faire.* I can only go to one. I want to got to open house, but I don't think dad wants to.
Today we got a call from the Nutcombes, they invited us to their trailer at Pathfinder** for Labor Day weekend.
*No! It is NOT a Renaissance festival!
** A camp ground.
----------------------------
Sep. 2 1995
2 more days!
I haven't written for 2 days!
Thursday we went to the State Fair!* It was fun!
Friday we went to Mom's school! We did lots of work, but we played too.
Today we went to Pathfinder. I got to sleep on the top bunk in the camper!
We also went swimming in the pool! I got grape flavored taffy. Tomorrow is the penny carnival (it's always fun). We also entered a potato-head contest with Pocahontas Potato. It won 1st prize (I'm not surprised).**
*Dad won.
**My sister, our friend, and I actually were quite the talented little potato artisans.
-----------------------
Sep. 3 1995
Only 1 more day till school starts.
Today was the penny carnival (actually tickets were 25cents each!)*
Kirely and her mom had a fight, because her mom tryed to wash Kirely's face after she had used an Oxy pad.**
*Total rip-off.
**Uh...?? Guess you had to be there.
----------------------
Sep. 4 1995
Tomorrow's the 1st day of school.
I can't wait for tomorrow! I can't believe I'm in 5th grade!*
Today before we left Pathfinder Fang puked 2 times. Eleanor and I had to pick it up! It was really gross.
We came home, got unpacked, then went shopping.
I'm going to wake up from 6:00- 6:30!**
*Neither can I...
**Wow, I'm actually impressed that I used to get up that early--how did I ever do it?
------------------------
Sep. 7 1995
I haven't written for the last few days! I've just been so busy with homework, I even had homework the 1st day of school! The first day was great! 5th grade is going to be fun! I even think math is going to be fun this year.*
On Wensday a new boy (Ciceron) came. Mr. Ollivander asked where he was the 1st day, he said at Hoover! Talk about going to the wrong room, this guy went to the wrong school!
*No, it wasn't.
And that is the last entry ever written in this diary. Well, as I've always said, end with a joke to keep 'em laughing...
Aug. 25 1995
10 more days till school!!
It's really late, almost 12:00pm! So I'm only going to write a little.
Today dad got really mad and tore up one of my folders for school! I also got a call from the library to say the book I requested was in (Revenge of the Lawn Gnomes)!
Fang still didn't have his bath today! Mom bought me a Quick Sew from Frank's today! I also had a tea party with Eleanor!
OMG, I just can't stop using exclamation points! Everything in my life is just so exciting!!
--------------------------
Aug. 27 1995
9-8 more days!
The reason I didn't write yesterday is because it was almost 12:00 when we got home. I was really tiered. So I'll have to fill you in.
Yesterday we went to Mall-of-America. I got to try the new vertuall boy! I also won an issue of Nintendo Power magazine, it has 115 pages! We also went to the rainforest Cafe and got stuffed! And we saw Nine Months. It was funny!
Today Eleanor and I got to go to Mom's school to help in the library, then play in the computer lab!
This evening we watched Wane's World! It was OK. Fang still hasn't had a bath!
This entry submitted without comment...because I was too busy facepalming and head-shaking to think of any.
-------------------------
Aug. 28 1995
7 more day till school!
Today was pretty uneventfull. I got a call finally, from my captain (Ariana).*
Fang got stung by a bee, in his ear.
I forgot to say yesterday that I got 20 Simpson pogs at the mall!**
I also finished my quick stich, and my Goosebumps book!
I read some more in Nintendo Power magazine.***
Tommorow I'm going to clean my race track.
*Wow, the school patrol called at last! Though they were cutting it pretty close with only one week left before school.
**Though I ended up with quite a collection of Simpson and Goosebumps pogs, to this day I have never played the game, not even once.
***At the time I only had a gameboy and would not get another gaming system until I saved up my money to buy a N64 in middle school. I did, however, end up subscribing to Nintendo power and read all 115 pages of every issue for several years. Even though wasn't able to play most of the games it talked about.
------------------------
Aug. 29 1995
6 more day.
Today Eleanor and & I went to a movie, Forever Batman. It was O.K. But after we had to call dad at the Good Will. We had to wait forever, and the ladys were mean! We also rented 2 movies, and tonight we watched Alien 3. It was pretty scary. I also started doing some research on racoons (just for fun!).*
*..........................................________
....................................,.-'"...................``~.,
.............................,.-"..................................."-.,
.........................,/...............................................":,
.....................,?......................................................\,
.................../...........................................................,}
................./......................................................,:`^`..}
.............../...................................................,:"........./
..............?.....__.........................................:`.........../
............./__.(....."~-,_..............................,:`........../
.........../(_...."~,_........"~,_....................,:`........_/
..........{.._$;_......"=,_......."-,_.......,.-~-,},.~";/....}
...........((.....*~_......."=-._......";,,./`..../"............../
...,,,___.\`~,......"~.,....................`.....}............../
............(....`=-,,.......`........................(......;_,,-"
............/.`~,......`-...............................\....../\
.............\`~.*-,.....................................,./.....\,__
,,_..........}.>-._\.................................................`=~-,
.....`=~-,_\_......`\,.................................\
...................`=~-,,.\,...............................\
................................`:,,...........................`\..............__
.....................................`=-,...................,%`>--==``
........................................_\..........._,-%.......`\
...................................,<`..__,-&``................`
------------------------------
Aug. 30 1995
5 more days.
I almost forgot to write! Fang still hasn't had a bath! Today we were talking about open house at school. I want to go, but I also want to go to the state faire.* I can only go to one. I want to got to open house, but I don't think dad wants to.
Today we got a call from the Nutcombes, they invited us to their trailer at Pathfinder** for Labor Day weekend.
*No! It is NOT a Renaissance festival!
** A camp ground.
----------------------------
Sep. 2 1995
2 more days!
I haven't written for 2 days!
Thursday we went to the State Fair!* It was fun!
Friday we went to Mom's school! We did lots of work, but we played too.
Today we went to Pathfinder. I got to sleep on the top bunk in the camper!
We also went swimming in the pool! I got grape flavored taffy. Tomorrow is the penny carnival (it's always fun). We also entered a potato-head contest with Pocahontas Potato. It won 1st prize (I'm not surprised).**
*Dad won.
**My sister, our friend, and I actually were quite the talented little potato artisans.
-----------------------
Sep. 3 1995
Only 1 more day till school starts.
Today was the penny carnival (actually tickets were 25cents each!)*
Kirely and her mom had a fight, because her mom tryed to wash Kirely's face after she had used an Oxy pad.**
*Total rip-off.
**Uh...?? Guess you had to be there.
----------------------
Sep. 4 1995
Tomorrow's the 1st day of school.
I can't wait for tomorrow! I can't believe I'm in 5th grade!*
Today before we left Pathfinder Fang puked 2 times. Eleanor and I had to pick it up! It was really gross.
We came home, got unpacked, then went shopping.
I'm going to wake up from 6:00- 6:30!**
*Neither can I...
**Wow, I'm actually impressed that I used to get up that early--how did I ever do it?
------------------------
Sep. 7 1995
I haven't written for the last few days! I've just been so busy with homework, I even had homework the 1st day of school! The first day was great! 5th grade is going to be fun! I even think math is going to be fun this year.*
On Wensday a new boy (Ciceron) came. Mr. Ollivander asked where he was the 1st day, he said at Hoover! Talk about going to the wrong room, this guy went to the wrong school!
*No, it wasn't.
And that is the last entry ever written in this diary. Well, as I've always said, end with a joke to keep 'em laughing...
2011年1月11日火曜日
Sarah's Analog Blog (circa 1994/95)
On April 26, 1994 I began writing in another diary. This was during the spring of 3rd grade. My spelling had improved somewhat from my previous efforts in first grade, though my handwriting was still rather sloppy. I also abandoned my old storytelling in favor of a sporadic, stream of consciousness writing style. The following is the first entry (after the inside cover page that reads "Private Keep Out!"):
Dear diary,
It feels kind of weird saying that! I mean who is diary anyway? Nobody! Anyway, today was good. Katie Bell's* such a jerk! I just felt like saying that. Cedric's so cute! I just felt like saying that, too. There was a 5th grade consert today. I hated it! It was stupid! Well that's all I have to say today. Bye!
*All names of real people have been changed to those of Harry Potter characters to preserve anonymity.
****************
After this first entry there were two more uneventful entries dated the following day and two months later in July. After that I would not write again until December 13, 1994--the winter of fourth grade.
Dear Diary,
I'm finally back. You probly noticed my handwriting is better!* I'm in 4th grade now. Today we start our litichure groups. I got Indian in the Cupbord (my first choice). I'm in GT to!** Also I get to be in the top math group. We have music and P.E. today. Also I get to sit next to Cedric! Yes I still like him.
*Though it seems my spelling had gotten worse.
**GT stands for "Gifted and Talented." Clearly no spelling test was required to get in.
****************
That was the last entry until the summer before fifth grade when I read a book called "Bingo Brown and the Language of Love." In the book the title character writes in his journal every night, so I decided to do the same. This new journaling craze marks the turning point where I began writing significantly longer entries, so I will just cut out all the boring stuff and stick to the highlights. (Incidentally, it is also when I began writing all of my entries in cursive for some reason.)
Aug. 20, 1995
There's only 15 more day till school starts, I can't wait!* I can't believe no one called for school patrol! The captains, Dymphna, Ariana, Tiberius, or Theodore are supposed to call to see if you still want to be a patrol. There are only 15 more days to call!
*OMG--WTF was wrong with me!?
------------------
Aug. 21, 1995
Only 14 more days till school starts. I'm going to do a count down!*
After I finish writing this I'm going to start reading Julius Caesar! It'll be challenging, but I can do it!**
*Seriously, WTF, seriously...
**Who did I think I was, a f-ing life coach!?
------------------
Aug. 22, 1995
13 more days till school!
We went to the library today. I got 3 books, Haunted House, Bingo Brown's guide to romance, and Into the Land of the Unicorns!* The JC Penney Christmas Catalog came today & it's only August!
*Always the eclectic reader.
------------------
Aug. 23 1995
12 more days till school starts!
Today for lunch we went to Mcdonalds. I kinda like the food, but the rest of the family doesn't, so I pretend not to. Anyway we went because Eleanor had two coupons one for a free Big Mac extra value meal and one for a hamburger. But you could only use 1 per visit, so we went in sepratly. I even ordered by my self, (though dad was with me!) I got a small sprite (which was pretty big!) with my own money!* Fang was supposed to have a bath today, but he'll have one tommorow instead. We are suposed to shampoo his hurt feet every night!**
*Major accomplishments in the life of a painfully introverted child.
**Our pet dog had been hit by a car, which tore up the skin on his back paws.
-------------------
Aug. 24, 1995
11 more days till school!
Today I finished reorganizing my room. My furniture is all in different spots, and it's all clean (I even changed my sheets)!*
Once again Fang didn't get a bath, maybe he'll get one tomorrow!? I sure hope so, he needs one Pee-Yew!
*Whatever, changing sheets is for chumps.
-------------------
This diary is a bit too long for one post, so I am going to end here for today...
Will the school patrol ever call? Will Fang ever get a bath? Will Sarah ever shut-up about the unbelievably lame way she spent her summer? So many burning questions yet to be answered, so stay tuned next week as I reveal days 10-0 on the dorkiest school countdown ever!
Dear diary,
It feels kind of weird saying that! I mean who is diary anyway? Nobody! Anyway, today was good. Katie Bell's* such a jerk! I just felt like saying that. Cedric's so cute! I just felt like saying that, too. There was a 5th grade consert today. I hated it! It was stupid! Well that's all I have to say today. Bye!
*All names of real people have been changed to those of Harry Potter characters to preserve anonymity.
****************
After this first entry there were two more uneventful entries dated the following day and two months later in July. After that I would not write again until December 13, 1994--the winter of fourth grade.
Dear Diary,
I'm finally back. You probly noticed my handwriting is better!* I'm in 4th grade now. Today we start our litichure groups. I got Indian in the Cupbord (my first choice). I'm in GT to!** Also I get to be in the top math group. We have music and P.E. today. Also I get to sit next to Cedric! Yes I still like him.
*Though it seems my spelling had gotten worse.
**GT stands for "Gifted and Talented." Clearly no spelling test was required to get in.
****************
That was the last entry until the summer before fifth grade when I read a book called "Bingo Brown and the Language of Love." In the book the title character writes in his journal every night, so I decided to do the same. This new journaling craze marks the turning point where I began writing significantly longer entries, so I will just cut out all the boring stuff and stick to the highlights. (Incidentally, it is also when I began writing all of my entries in cursive for some reason.)
Aug. 20, 1995
There's only 15 more day till school starts, I can't wait!* I can't believe no one called for school patrol! The captains, Dymphna, Ariana, Tiberius, or Theodore are supposed to call to see if you still want to be a patrol. There are only 15 more days to call!
*OMG--WTF was wrong with me!?
------------------
Aug. 21, 1995
Only 14 more days till school starts. I'm going to do a count down!*
After I finish writing this I'm going to start reading Julius Caesar! It'll be challenging, but I can do it!**
*Seriously, WTF, seriously...
**Who did I think I was, a f-ing life coach!?
------------------
Aug. 22, 1995
13 more days till school!
We went to the library today. I got 3 books, Haunted House, Bingo Brown's guide to romance, and Into the Land of the Unicorns!* The JC Penney Christmas Catalog came today & it's only August!
*Always the eclectic reader.
------------------
Aug. 23 1995
12 more days till school starts!
Today for lunch we went to Mcdonalds. I kinda like the food, but the rest of the family doesn't, so I pretend not to. Anyway we went because Eleanor had two coupons one for a free Big Mac extra value meal and one for a hamburger. But you could only use 1 per visit, so we went in sepratly. I even ordered by my self, (though dad was with me!) I got a small sprite (which was pretty big!) with my own money!* Fang was supposed to have a bath today, but he'll have one tommorow instead. We are suposed to shampoo his hurt feet every night!**
*Major accomplishments in the life of a painfully introverted child.
**Our pet dog had been hit by a car, which tore up the skin on his back paws.
-------------------
Aug. 24, 1995
11 more days till school!
Today I finished reorganizing my room. My furniture is all in different spots, and it's all clean (I even changed my sheets)!*
Once again Fang didn't get a bath, maybe he'll get one tomorrow!? I sure hope so, he needs one Pee-Yew!
*Whatever, changing sheets is for chumps.
-------------------
This diary is a bit too long for one post, so I am going to end here for today...
Will the school patrol ever call? Will Fang ever get a bath? Will Sarah ever shut-up about the unbelievably lame way she spent her summer? So many burning questions yet to be answered, so stay tuned next week as I reveal days 10-0 on the dorkiest school countdown ever!
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