(no subject)
Ah, October.
I've been in Tokyo about a year and a half, and I'm not adjusted to the weather patterns yet. I look at the calendar, see it's October, and start thinking it's going to be cold soon, I need to break out the winter jacket, it might snow a couple of times before the end of the month. Then I remember it's Tokyo, and even though they closed the outdoor swimming pool last month, it won't really be cold here until late December (most likely) and I'll still be able to wear shorts on the morning dog walk for a while. I don't think they even bother to turn off the drinking fountains in the park here, which they've already done up in Hokkaido where I was living before. A few trees are dropping leaves, and I don't need to use the AC in the apartment anymore but it's going to be a good while yet before it's cold. I might see snow drop once or twice this winter, it might even stay on the ground for a whole two days. I'm not going to miss Hokkaido winters, or the far colder Minnesota winters.
Several places have put up Halloween decorations, even though Halloween is no big thing here. It's becoming more popular, but still very small outside of a few places. It's still nice to see, though. I broke out some of my decorations and put a small plastic Jack-O-Lantern on my desk, filled with the seasonal pumpkin flavored Kit-Kats and Country Ma'am cookies (a fairly popular cookie brand in Japan. They aren't too bad- I'd say they're a bit better than Chips Ahoy, but still no match for home-made. It's been a while since I've had any of what my mother calls "her" cookie recipe, even though I know she actually got it from the neighbor lady 30 or so years ago). I've been invited to a movie-character themed Halloween party at the end of the month, along with a request to come as Darth Maul. As I said in a facebook status, I think I've been typecast. And here I always wanted to be a Jedi... There won't be anywhere at the party to put on the makeup, so I will be putting it on at home and riding the trains across most of Tokyo in full Darth Maul. That ought to get some looks. Hmm. I bought a big Muppet-style Yoda puppet when I was at Star Wars Celebration VI- one of these days I should just dress up like Frank Oz with it for one of these events.
I found a dog cafe/restaurant/bar about a 10 minute walk from my house. I don't know how often I'll go, but it's nice to have a place I can go out for dinner or something and be able to bring the dog with me once in a while.
I've been in Tokyo about a year and a half, and I'm not adjusted to the weather patterns yet. I look at the calendar, see it's October, and start thinking it's going to be cold soon, I need to break out the winter jacket, it might snow a couple of times before the end of the month. Then I remember it's Tokyo, and even though they closed the outdoor swimming pool last month, it won't really be cold here until late December (most likely) and I'll still be able to wear shorts on the morning dog walk for a while. I don't think they even bother to turn off the drinking fountains in the park here, which they've already done up in Hokkaido where I was living before. A few trees are dropping leaves, and I don't need to use the AC in the apartment anymore but it's going to be a good while yet before it's cold. I might see snow drop once or twice this winter, it might even stay on the ground for a whole two days. I'm not going to miss Hokkaido winters, or the far colder Minnesota winters.
Several places have put up Halloween decorations, even though Halloween is no big thing here. It's becoming more popular, but still very small outside of a few places. It's still nice to see, though. I broke out some of my decorations and put a small plastic Jack-O-Lantern on my desk, filled with the seasonal pumpkin flavored Kit-Kats and Country Ma'am cookies (a fairly popular cookie brand in Japan. They aren't too bad- I'd say they're a bit better than Chips Ahoy, but still no match for home-made. It's been a while since I've had any of what my mother calls "her" cookie recipe, even though I know she actually got it from the neighbor lady 30 or so years ago). I've been invited to a movie-character themed Halloween party at the end of the month, along with a request to come as Darth Maul. As I said in a facebook status, I think I've been typecast. And here I always wanted to be a Jedi... There won't be anywhere at the party to put on the makeup, so I will be putting it on at home and riding the trains across most of Tokyo in full Darth Maul. That ought to get some looks. Hmm. I bought a big Muppet-style Yoda puppet when I was at Star Wars Celebration VI- one of these days I should just dress up like Frank Oz with it for one of these events.
I found a dog cafe/restaurant/bar about a 10 minute walk from my house. I don't know how often I'll go, but it's nice to have a place I can go out for dinner or something and be able to bring the dog with me once in a while.