Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in Jinkamoo's LiveJournal:

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Wednesday, January 7th, 2009
1:10 pm	I Spoke to a Texan Today He was very rodeotypical. Some HR Manager for a non-corp I had to confirm. He's the kind of voice I'd like to meet someday. Michael already confirmed his 10-gallon hat. An unsavory gray running-late, congested train, scratchy throat morning and I pulled it all off sans umbrella. My winter jacket makes me resemble a kotatsu on legs. Accurate since its wonderfully billowy and the body heat keeps me from dying. I only got a mite dampish on the walk to the subway. Did a few magic switcheroos with the A Express line and got to work not as horridly late as I'd anticipated. Everyone is sick, truly everyone. At the job, in my home, on the 6 train, in the dance troupe. It's inescapable. Determined not to be as sick as I have the potential to be, I have stubbornly downed my vitamins and toted breakfast to work for I will NOT be a coughing, miserable wreck on Saturday when I am expected to humiliate myself at karaoke. My goal for today is to overuse the word "rue". Already I have irritated Raymond the Intern beyond help with my superfluous usage. I am also determined to dye my hair again. It looks as dull and worn out as I feel these days. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, January 1st, 2009
3:43 pm	SHO CHKU BAI A better beginning to the New Year I could not have planned. Settling into the new place in Brooklyn is taking a small toll on my work ethic. I realize that in the space of 6 months, I have moved 4 times. Stability being something of a constant issue with me, I strive to regain my routine again. Moving throws a huge rubber dildo into the gears of my sanity. I will do better. I must do better. Showed up for tech rehearsal directly after work. The MARITIME once upon an era was known as the Phoenix House, a halfway home for runaways. Now it serves the overwealthy. Poetic. They hadn't even lit the stairs yet so we made our way precariously into the pitch black staircase and into the cavernlike dimness of the restaurant. Chic places are attracted to unlit sub levels. Once inside, however, I found the decor at MATSURI to be sublime, a masterfully designed space of equal refinement and Japanese authenticity. No sign of kitsch. Huge white paper lanterns hung on dark wooden rafters, the napkins were cotton-dyed tenugui and when TAIKO MASALA set their drums down on what would become our makeshift "stage", it looked like they were replacing something that had always been there. The kitchen staff had just begun setting up when we arrived so there wasn't much time or room to rehearse. We went through the motions of each dance and found the space to be cramped but negligible when unoccupied. This was discouraging taking into account we would be dealing with a congested floor of drunk and possibly rowdy party-goers. Anything goes, Tomas said. We let all planned formations flap feebly in the breeze. Find a space to dance and dance in it. After rehearsal, I had dinner with Takuto. The puppy will be leaving for Japan soon and this saddens me just for the range of comical faces he makes when he gets emotional which is a natural talent of the under 25 crowd. I went back to the Rock briefly to wash my hair and then we set back out into the cold to arrive at MATSURI well before meet-up time. The underwear models at the door were confused by us at first as they hadn't gotten the memo that there would be dancers at this event. I felt bad for them as the place was already alive and hopping and here were two unexpected somethings before them. After a brief discussion with the manager, we were allowed to bow and duck our way across the dining room and to the kitchen, dodging the super-quick and harried waitstaff on the way. We got more than one baffled "May I help you?" as we tried to gain access. I felt weird. I've never just strolled into a professional kitchen before, let alone one as high volume as this. We wandered deeper into the bowels behind the scenes, ignoring multiple "DO NOT ENTER" and "PLEASE KEEP CLOSED" signs until we found the busboys' cafeteria and collapsed. There was no place to change so we just had the men avert their eyes while we got into our costumes and put on our makeup. "Oh, you look like adult girl." Takuto said as I whipped out my mirror to dab on some foundation. "Adult girl?" I grinned. "Yes." Takuto never balks at his own enigmatic phrasing. "You seem more girl, no-- woman when you put on the makeup." "You too, dude." I said, handing him my Ipod to distract him. He didn't listen to it, just occupied himself with pressing the buttons. Boys. Eventually the other members arrived. Hastily we lined eyes and lips in slashes and dabs of smudged pinks, deep red, black and white. The runny liquid liner really burns my eyes every time I use it. I tend to think the shape of my face lends itself more to a doll or a Columbine than the intended oni or kabuki mask of my comrades. The men's makeup is a bit more complicated as they have to draw dramatic orangey-red and white designs on their faces, not just the eyes. Ace did a striking job on his. Due to lack of space, Hiro once again did not participate with us but he was up in the 2nd floor balcony/bar taking professional and elegantly timed photos which I am sure he will share once his diva self gets through touching them up and making them all shmancy. As taichou, Hiro's usual place is on the sidelines perched on his box, keeping time with his hands. Sometimes he brings his drum. Soldiers should be allowed to sit, even slight and mischievious ones. The house was impossibly packed and already well into the toxic stages of profoundly sexy when we made our way back up through the kitchen. TAIKO MASALA was there, waiting to begin the countdown. At a signal from Tomas, we gathered on "stage" naruko at the ready. 10, 9, 8, 7... HAPPY NEW YEAR and we shook our naruko as though we were getting paid. I was a little wary because our performance area was surrounded by tables and meddlesome drunk people. To their credit, most of them remained respectfully seated. Directly after countdown, TAIKO MASALA delivered a soulful taiko rendition of Stevie Wonder's SUPERSTITION and then, with our announcement, we were on. The drums rumbled low. We lined up and assumed the position. "DO KOI SHO!" Yocchore is a high energy festival dance that involves timed jumps and big arm movements. As I was placed at the very end of the line perilously close to the diners, I was mindful not to injure anyone seated within inches of my flailing. Fat, plaid-blazer asshat was not seated so he was subjected to the full fury of merry abuse. Yeah, he was drunk so I really can't complain but we all worked really hard to be there and the last thing I needed was some troglodyte getting in my way. Dude was trying to dance with us and break into the line so I just kept on smiling and not apologizing or slowing down every time I caught him with one of my fists. But that was the only sour note... We went on right after countdown which, in hindsight, set the tone for the right amount of giddy energy our dances typically invoke. We managed to execute all three despite rowdy conditions, limited space and quick alterations. The crowd LOVED us! Everyone was really feeling our vibe and when we took our final bow, I heard shouts of "Encore!" and "Mooore!" particularly from the enthusiastic sushi bar workers who were all Japanese and working harder than we. "Nee, sushi choudai?" I joked with one of them. "Ageru wa!" one said. "Come here, I'll give you some for another dance!" "But then you have to give some to all my friends." Much as I would have loved to collect on such a princely fee for one extra jig (MATSURI sushi is as elegant and expensive as the rest of it), we were soon herded back down below with the rest of the kitchen staff and had beer and fried chicken with the busboys. In all, a more perfect evening I could not have planned. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL! KOTOSHI MO YOROSHIKU ONEGAI SHIMASU! (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008
12:57 pm	Tinslemasu is over, hori horo. The apartment is aged and, for now, empty. The cat is a shy phantom of a beast. My first night I spent solitarily staring at my clutter. She was nowhere to be coaxed or even heard. When I got home from work, however, her bowl was eerie and empty. This blessed morning when nothing went right, I was brushing my teeth in the hall and turned to find her staring at me from Alex's doorframe. "Good morning sweetheart." Pippa ignored me and stalked directly to my room, smearing herself against the boxes before digging her claws into the red sofa (Go!Go!7188). "Nah-uh, kitty." I didn't want claw marks on it so I went in to break that noise up. She didn't ignore me when I gently grasped both paws to dislodge them, mewing in an ill-tempered way. I'd managed to blow a fuse last night which has surprisngly never happened before. The stove, the fridge, and every socket in the house is dead as a doornail. I wasn't too concerned as my lights still worked and the alarm clock on my keitai was still charged. I went downstairs and banged loudly on Alice's door. She's a dear on oxygen. She turned up the heat for me and called it quits. Her son is supposed to be around this afternoon to fix things. I truly hope so. I am honestly too tired to even be annoyed. This part of Brooklyn is remote, on the other side of Prospect Park and close to Greenwood cemetary. The commute was grand. No fighting to get on the train, I even got a seat. I left 10 minutes late and still managed to get in on time. Exhausted. Two rehearsals in 4 days. Fortunately nothing new is being added so I think things will look good. We're set to go on just after the count, spreading the yosa-koi love for intoxicated rich folk. It's going to rock, indeed. Don't feel like working. Or eating. Want nap. Current Music: Ama no Hafurito (Comment on this)
Wednesday, December 17th, 2008
11:54 am	Celery Stalks at Midnight "GYAH!" "Sorry, I just had a son." The large IT guy was nice enough to explain the sudden piercing caterwauling coming from his cel phone. Ah, proud techie dads recording their spawn's first screams into portable technology to share with the rest of us. "Mazel tov." said I en route to my desk. Everyone is sending us gift baskets. Apparently our department is faring well despite the sluggish market. Fruit, cheese, crackers, chocolates, crisp vanilla cookies from Japan. I love a company that feeds me. Breakfast today was nil. Instead of running on empty until lunch, I had a peach, some crackers and a cookie. I missed those expensive cookies that go perfectly with a hot cup of green tea. (Comment on this)
Friday, December 12th, 2008
12:17 am	Today I missed home very very badly. Current Mood: sore (Comment on this)
Thursday, December 11th, 2008
12:55 am	It was very cold when we arrived in New Brunswick. We put on a very good show, don't you know? They said so. True words of wisdom for jitters onstage. Look like you know what you're doing and missteps will be forgiven. The crowd loved us even though we didn't have time to do much more than a quick stage block before we were up. Good times. We were all exhausted by the time we boarded the train back. I sat between Hiro and Aki who are old friends and always teasing eachother. Awkward. Hiro fell asleep while Aki chatted to me about Maury Povich. When I glanced at him, he was suddenly staring at us in a decidedly ghoulish manner. "Quit it!" I cringed. "That's creepy! You look like JUON." "Really?" "Yeah, when you change the shape of your eyes like that." He attempted to do so again but ended up tearing. His eyes were red. I turned back to Aki, thinking he had fallen back asleep but he was still staring at us. "Dude, go back to sleep?" I joked, thinking he was teasing us again but he laughed. "I'm not doing anything. This is my normal scary face!" "Sorry." I looked away, ashamed. "My mistake." I saw Don Giovanni with mom and the aunt last night. It was so lovely to see a Don Giovanni on stage that was not an unattractive short fat man. Don Giovanni as a character is able to fool thousands of fiery women into loving him. For that, he ought to be able to take his shirt off. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, December 1st, 2008
8:11 am	Ooooooi Sleep where were you? You sick fuck, it's Monday! *whimper* (Comment on this)
Sunday, November 30th, 2008
12:16 pm	Soccoro It's been really difficult to sleep lately. It's unfair and ironic on this holiday of gratuitous tryptophan that I should see the sun rise. I tried to sleep in the daytime to make up for the loss but somehow that didn't happen. Curses and rot. I went to dance practice as usual. I pulled something during warm up that wouldn't let me put too much weight on my right leg without a twinge so learning the Souran Bushi was a bit tougher than usual for me. I was exhausted and Souran is not a dance for the weak. Besides that, I simply don't know it all yet. Surely, I haven't practiced enough. I must be much more focused in the next two rehearsals before the show, enough to find out where to catch myself quickly when (not if ^^) I make a mistake. Yocchore is basically not much of a problem. Tomorrow is going to bludgeon me to death with forms, payments, old files, and oh yes, we have an audit! Whoopee! ^^ HOtcha! And all that... Current Music: Love child never meant to be (Comment on this)
Monday, November 17th, 2008
2:10 pm	JAM SESSON- DAY 2 FIRST, may I say, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDREW SWEETIE!!! I am so sorry I couldn't be there! I will have to make it up to you right away!!! I hope you had a good time this weekend celebrating the big 2-5!  And then we did it all again! I like, no love performing with this crowd. I am not a performer, I am not a senin. I am a working girl and these people really understand that, I think. Some of them are working senin. Is such a thing even possible? I seem to understand that our group is not focused solely on da skillz. Take me, I have none. No training, no dance background and I always need a lot of work just to get acquainted with a piece. I was shocked when they accepted me because everyone else had one thing in common--dance/theater background. Me? Um, I lived in Japan and I don't mind looking like an asshat in public. Go fig. It was more than I expected and I'm happy about that. Though I can't help but nitpick, I am sure round 2 of JAM went justifiably well in comparison. A good time was had despite exhaustion. Though I went out onstage much more confident in the steps (first-time jitters gone), this time it was a wardrobe malfunction that fucked me over. HA! I hadn't really gotten a chance to recover as our call for Sunday was earlier that morning. I went to bed at 2 AM on Saturday. Going in for the 2nd day, we were all noticeably tired, less pumped, stretched thin. Trying to get the OOMPH back took much of my concentration so I completely failed to notice my new costume had TWO velcro fastenings at the waist! And yeah. The fucking hat. Again. They do look cool, I'll give them that. They help complete/define our image and I absolutely understand why they are there but GAHHH, they do take getting used to! I managed to tie up the ribbon properly this time but I had no time to adjust before my cue so I had to leave the stiffened ends of the string where they were--in my face, right in front of my nose. HAHAHAHA! I looked like a Japanese thief or something and that pissed me off in the peripheral through the entire first set. I was aching to just shove it aside. Again, I can only hope that being in the back row provided enough sanctuary. If that wasn't bad enough, the last set in our dance requires a lot of energetic fast paced jumps and sudden posing. I think Hiro desgined our costumes really well to allow for freedom of movement and to create an authentic feel of Japan but I realized as I rose from the dead, that it felt like my obi was coming undone and the folds were getting too loose. Oh well, nothing to be done so I did a mental finger cross and jumped (roughly) on cue (those jumps are a BITCH for me to time exactly right) despite the fact that I could feel my shoulder popping out of my neckline, exposing way more than necessary. Thankfully the costume was made very well and no, it did NOT slip off completely but when I went backstage, I realized one of the inner velcro snaps had been completely ignored. Oh well, I never expected my first show to be a smooth/perfect one and hey, considering all the odds, I don't think it went too badly at all. The rest of the company was tight, gave a fantastic show and I think I am just beginning to catch up with them. I had a wonderful time and that's what this is about anyway. And they understand that. The rest of the night went wonderfully!  The staff had made a mikoshi/mini platform strewn with akachouchin (red lanterns) and white that we could dance around for intermission. The concept behind JAM is that of a matsuri, not just a sit down and watch performance. We're there to energize the audience and pull them in so during the 20-minutes between shows, 10tecomai was invited to dance around the mikoshi with our naruko and people really did enjoy it! We free-styled it in high enthusiasm, I looking like a dork and not giving a shite. We even scored us a (potential) new member, Takuto. He went up to Tomas after the show and said he was thrilled with us and wanted to join. Tomas is letting him try out on Tuesday. YAY! Partly because, the more the merrier for like minded souls and partly because more menz! There's nothing wrong with an abundance of femme but there are only three guys in the group (each one worth 10) and a fourth might be really good for the chemistry overall. By the by, Samurai Soul Swords owns me. One of our amazing dudes, Ace, did a killer performance with another group called Samurai Soul Sword. They're a professonal kendo outfit (I think) plus drama (yes, stunts+theatrics=wow) They slash, they parry, they emote! There were gasps, there were jitters, there were oh nooooes, there were laughs! The crowd loved it!, we were totally blown away They were the last show on and frankly, the organizers saved the best. Ace looked incredible, totally focused, sharp and on his game despite the fact that he had already done one show. GO ACE! We were so proud of him.   (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, November 16th, 2008
12:56 am	JAM SESSON- DAY 1 The morning hadn't been treating me at all well. I'd unwisely (BUT for the sake of dual Stepahnie rapture) stayed out too late and drunk one beer. One beer folks after treating myself like crap for a straight week. My body doesn't wanna renew its lease. It's finished, can't keep it together, maxed out on adrenaline credit. But I go on. So I woke up too late and felt nauseous. Couldn't move. After dry heaving, puking and feeling decayed for a few hours, I called me a cab and dragged myself over to Greenpoint. The venue was actually a church, a wonderful stage and lighting crew tricking the place out like an art space ought to be. The tech rehearsal went smoothly except we realized the stage was a bit smaller than we'd predicted. When I tried to rise on cue from my spot on the floor, I ended up hitting my head on a light fixture. Doof! And we had to whisk our hats off carefully cuz Kasumi's totally clipped me on the mouth when she tossed it. The very stage was kicking my ass! I was so nervous, I was going through the motions of the final set on line at the McDonalds! I hardly even realized people were staring at me! We got into our costumes backstage and put on our makeup. The makeup was pretty traditional for yosa-koi, white, red and black slashes across the lids. We all looked like demons, slightly unsettling and mischievous, clownish if spread too thick, kabuki if done so artfully. The energy was there. 10tecomai as a yosakoi group represents at all times the feeling of a Japanese matsuri. Of enjoying the moment together with one's friends and pulling the audience in with us. As we all waited backstage for the announcer to bring us out, we just started jumping up and down. Now Hiro, the Founder, was meant to cue the music with a loud "Here we go!" but the fuckin sound guy totally ignored him. He also ignored Tomas' boisterous "IKU ZE!" which confounded everyone. When the music finally started after a few annoyed seconds, we were jolted onto the stage and thrown right into the act. I totally almost collided with Tomoko san during the opening set. (got a bit too zealous) and absolutely flubbed two details! When we ran backstage to get our straw hats, I realized I had grabbed Tomoko's by mistake! We have only about 15 seconds to secure these precarious hats on our heads before we take positions so this is one aspect we cannot fuck up. I wasn't able to completely tie my hat to my chin so I just kinda half-assed secured it on and prayed for the best, the two red ribbons dangling stupidly from my chin. Ugh. Oh well. At least I was out on cue. Aaaaand of course, I flubbed the part I ALWAYS traditionally flub, right in the beginning when we all do the big arms thing. Fortunately I am in the back so I hope no one noticed too much. The rest went smoothly I think though my death throes might have been kinda awkward. It was so much fun, the crowd was really into it and after the show, people were really complimenting us a lot. They lov ed us! Today was a huge success! We were all with it and I think many people enjoyed our performance, despite my fuck uppery. The other artists were astounding! Dudes, if you wanna see a great show this weekend and don't mind Greenpoint, it's totally worth the $25. Kickass performances by Japanese artists. The Swan Lake was really well done. Sunday doors open at 3 PM. More info here: http://10tecomai.blog69.fc2.com/ I am tired now so goodnight! (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, November 13th, 2008
1:31 am	RUSUBAN DESU I learned how to void a check today. And not just any checks, mind, but Japanese checks. Religiously driven as the Japanese tend to be by structure and method, delicate operations must be handled more anally than most. Sorting my trash and throwing it out on the proper day was easier than this. One thing I severely don't miss. I am not a very skilled garbage sorter. After void one must cut away the signature and take the scrap of paper and dice it very fine. Then place it with the left hand on a tiny stone shrine turned counter clockwise (but NEVER on Tuesday) and burn for exactly 26 seconds eyes closed NANU NANU. Tomorrow I learn how to reissue said ritually anulled checks. JAM is approaching. I am finding myself more and more able to keep pace. It's always been near impossible to study here, though. We got our costumes today. They're pretty and easy to dance in. Current Music: No music (Comment on this)
Tuesday, November 11th, 2008
3:53 pm	I love You Wiki kun Adriana Caselotti. Actress who provided the voice of Disney's Snow White. Disney would not release her voice for any future job offer, wishing to keep the integrity of the character and her signature soprano untainted. Nice, Disney. A talented little girl makes you one of the most prominent movie moguls of all time and what do you do? Blacklist her. You saint. She did have one more uncredited voice work job. Blink and you'd miss it. In The Wizard of Oz as Juliet in the song "If I Only Had a Heart". "Wherefore art thou? Romeo?" I hear a beat... Yeah, that. Current Music: *sigh* (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Friday, November 7th, 2008
1:02 pm	AMANOJAKU: Blink and Miss I have powerssss! There are sleepy, noddy-headed times where I care not enough to say anything or meet even half a glance. That's not just city conditioning. Walking down a street, sitting on a train, it's perhaps understood by most that when traveling solo, it is best not to attract notice. I, however, have the ability to disappear whilst standing directly in front of someone who knows me! My mom loses me constantly, either because she was distracted and I am 10 steps ahead or because I am simply walking a little way behind and not talking. The piece d'resistance of my invisibility came in my senior year. We were on some field trip uptown. It was cold and we were supposed to plant trees or something like that. Our class gathered at the ranger's station for a brief meeting and then we were supposed to pile into a van and get taken to the site. I informed my teacher that I had to use the restroom, she told me to hurry up. I complied. When I stepped out of the bathroom, the lights were out and not a soul was around. Hallelujah! No tree planting for me! I got out my reading assignment and started reading. Not 10 minutes later, I heard the voice of my classmate shouting: "DON'T WORRY KIRSTEN! WE'LL SAAAAVE YOOOOOOU!" They'd left without me and they were so sorry. I was sorry too. Planting trees with bare hands in cold mud for extra credit? So not my idea. By the by, new "F-word" for admins? BATCH. Today must be my birthday or something... Current Music: Akai Kutsu wa Odoru- Sugar Mama (Comment on this)
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008
9:05 pm	PIQUANT Oughf. I don't think I've sat down at all today. Ooooh, what IS this? Good luck, Winnie! Current Music: No One- Alicia Keys (Comment on this)
Saturday, November 1st, 2008
2:44 am	TSUGUNAI I came home and had a Blimpie. I always get the same thing at Blimpies--- ham/salami/cheese. In Japan I would crave them mady. Sliced cheese is very hard to find unless you like it processed (ugh) and long bread for submarines is also rare. Big cities have chains like Subways and Starbucks where you can get kindasorta American style sandwiches (catering to Japanese taste) but it's not the same. The closest I would come is ham and tomato on a sliced cheese bun. Halloween today. My parents' anniversaire today. I did all of three things at work. MInako san helped me put on my kimono as I couldn't make any sense of the instructions. I really don't see how one can put those on by themselves. She did a stellar job, using binder clips to hold the fabric together. The obi fit wonderfully and secure but after 5 hours of wearing it, I actually had to fight to breathe. How some Japanese women can sit seiza for hours in a kimono more severe than the one I wore today is beyond me. It truly is tiring just wearing those, having your posture dictates for you, not allowed to take any mannish strides (mince, mince, mince) and I have never felt so warm in my life! My company appreciated it, though. Apparently, I pulled off the look quite well. I even won third place in our costume competition. I don't know who won but I hope it was Amano san. His costume was so simple. An impeccable black suit, hair slicked hair, sunglasses and a tiny cigar. He'd look like a mafia hit man even without the tie but he really completed the image today. I attended the JET Information session at HUNTER College wearing the yukata. I thought it would be nice advertising and it felt really good to talk about the JET Program again and see my professor. I felt really good afterwards. I skipped the parade in lieu of some rest and a shower. Everyone is out tonight and I am a woman alone. Also, I am sorry? I'm sure they are decent people but Hoboken is fairly fookin white bread. Evesdropping on conversations here makes me itchy. Bars line the street coming towards the station and no one ever seems to be in those bars but Whitey McWhiterson and Gossip Girl. The PATH home was so drunk and crowded, I almost thought I wouldn't be able to leave. Screams of "CHANGE WE NEED!" and "OBAMA" and "FUCK MCCAIN!" melted into "ASSHOLE!" and "GOT A BIG BAG OF SHUT THE FUCK UP FOR YA, DICKHEAD!" Heated words were exchanged. Some blondes started squwaking "Duke it out (you fags) Duke it out! Duke it out!" If push had indeed come to shove in the densely packed, dirty commuter train, I would not have felt sorry for elbowing those skanks into the melee. You wanna see a fight, I use you for cover pendeja. I love Halloween but the people who reside here now make it all seem so lame. (Comment on this)
Saturday, October 25th, 2008
10:22 am	PUBLIC There's nothing at all engaging to say about three months. It will be four months exactly in a week or so. I got home, I got coded and jobbed. The job is going well if I ignore the random bout of sexism. Otherwise, my coworkers do not fill me with apathy. I smile there. Second week and all is well. Saw Religulous with Dan last night at the Angelika and the end was so sobering, that we laughed like children all the way back to 9th. Really Bill, do lighten up? Nevermind. Carry on. It's an odd sort of nostalgia, crossing from East to West village down streets I'd never get lost in. It is greatly comforting to imagine the foundations remain. The Angelika and the area around it brought me back to high school. Anyone getting into the scene, now perhaps as then, has probably and tragically missed the ride. But then I am a middling curmudgeon. The previews looked only mildly interesting. REPO MAN promo was visually hmmm...? in an extremely formulaic way. If there is a checklist for "cult classic", these guys have hit every mark. A Goth flick for lack of an informed term. I'll see it because it's a rock opera with Paris Hilton. My index finger has become a bother. I need it to indicate and revoke, it's the other half of my peace sign! It's infected or something. Dammit. Hair too long, must hack it quietly. Though I am faithful to Hoshi Coupe II, I doubt my stylist Iso(celes) is still to be found. I made an appointment elsewhere in the East. I want my bangs again and this length is troublesome and dull. I feel I have no alternative but to tie the entire tangled mess of it away. Need a change and feeling pretty is a shallow white lie I will pay for. (Comment on this)
Thursday, October 23rd, 2008
11:34 pm	NUKE Did....did...Old Man Bobby just.... speak Japanese? OK. Good night. (Comment on this)
Monday, October 6th, 2008
12:46 pm	Jammin on the One Saturday was my introduction to the piece "Rebirth". It's a theatrical piece incorporating elements of ballet, jazz, hip-hop and yoga. Just aligning my body into the pattern of expected trajectories (parallel to the floor, bee-otch!) was the challenge. Left hand leads right so then foot goes where??? It took a while just to figure out what went where and when. I've only begun the first sequence which lasts about thirty seconds or so. From there I've got five more minutes to go. It would be more daunting if it were not so fun. The group has three male leads (not counting Hiro, the Founder) Two of them are also kendo students. The theatrics of "Rebirth" involve a dramatic swordfight wherein the rest of the cast is gracefully "slaughtered" before being brought back to life. It's challenging but much easier (i.e. less physically demanding) than the first piece they had me do. I hate to use the G word again but there's nothing else to do but gan-ba-ru. I'm not discouraged, I had a great time and my talented instructor was supportive (patient). The Founder (Hiro) was there as usual, sitting on the sidelines and keeping time. After the first group rehearsal, I sat down to find a large smooth patch under my big toe. The constant friction of the polished wood against my bare foot had ripped the skin clean off. Unfortunately, that meant I couldn't dance anymore that night. I padded it up with some band-aids and had one final go, though. Even if it was just mimicking the arm movements, I had to do something. Then I sat with Hiro and Yuriya (the 1 year old mascot) and played with her to keep her from running into the other dancers. Spent the weekend in Staten Island with some very old accents and some very familiar smells. It was like being back in Brooklyn. Virgin Mary's, floral patterns, and Cosmo. Current Music: View to a Kill - Duran Duran (Comment on this)
Sunday, September 21st, 2008
11:28 pm	Details "His name was Chicky--Chicky Gaylord--and all he ever did was make holsters, leather holsters for guns and he was the best at it!" Built on the top of a huge hill, Inwood has many stairs. It is a truly queer part of town. Not quite ghetto, not quite college, absolutely uncute. The Cloisters stand nestled among the trees and if you'd like to forget for a minute that we do accept food stamps and for a good time call so and so, you could go there for a spell. They don't make tenements like that anymore. The door buzzers, tacky white on white tile patterns, the dual fireplaces with the false kindling, elevators with heavy doors you have to swing open. My grandmother lived in a building like that. Oh the smell. My father spent his 72nd birthday surrounded by a dozen or so rare individuals of his own breed. Aged encyclopedias yammering tirelessly on about facts, facts and more facts. Aimless tales veering in and out of tangent, references from the bottom of the sea, and of course, gripe, gripe gripe. I found Mom lodged awkwardly among piles of old magazines and yellowing sci-fi books, not knowing how to make conversation with John Boardman's listless wife, Perdita. She has Alzheimer's, poor lady. Boardman himself I knew. Big white hair, big white head, big mustache and glasses. Many first Saturdays of the month I made noise in his home as a child. Christ Adam was actually there among the relics. He lifted me with one arm when I went to hug him. Dude is a wall with a pleasant smile. He still looks like a little boy sometimes. Artifacts from my years in Brooklyn sat preserved in the nooks and crannies of that Inwood apartment. A Snoopy Snow cone maker, a candle in the shape of a robed old man, wall prints ingrained in my memory, a music box of Alice in Wonderland I could have sworn belonged to my mother, an entire case of Moxie--a foul-tasting early Cola prototype, loose change on the floor, garish paint on the walls, fly paper (gasp) on the ceiling oh yes, and the smell. Gene Souberman was there, my father's childhood friend. I didn't recognize his face when he politely introduced himself. I thought I'd heard his name wrong. He was the only person there that night who did introduce himself. I stayed with Andrew and Tavie, watching Disney war propagandas. The image of a crazed and desperate Donald Duck with a gun to his head ought to have disturbed me more as a six year old. We also watched that "Shadow Man" episode of the Twilight Zone with just to see if it was still terrifying and ladies and gents, if I had not been in such a regressive/nostalgic state, I might not have been as rattled as I was. Andrew got me into Yorick: The Last Man series. Oh dear. (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, September 19th, 2008
12:28 am	KREPLACH Today was impossibly good. For dad's birthday yesterday, we went to a FREE presentation at the Kaufman Theater for Japanese Rakugo. I will never say no to free tix anywhere in the circumference of Lincoln Center. Originally used by monks to make temple teachings more lively, rakugo is a raised art form in Japan especially famous in Osaka. Mom and I were afraid dad would nod off as it was late and live theater ain't exactly his schtick. But the show was fantastic! A full house and everyone was laughing! The humor was definitely exaggerated and some of it was a bit tongue in cheek but dad ate it up! I was thrilled. Then I went back to the rock with them and had liverwurst. Mmmmm! I woke up and polished the cat until she shone. She was in dire need of a polishing. The boy ignored me so I patted him for a few seconds then stopped. He inched closer. I scratched his chin unsatisfactorily for three seconds. Perplexed at my erratic show of affection, he dumped his copious weight across my lap belly up. He a dumb needy kitty. Had a very positive phone interview with a very positive sounding manager of a textile showroom. My recruiter also wanted to send my resume off to Fujisankei for an Assist to the Prez position. I am leery. Presidents seem like understandably mad, red-faced, needy people and I am made of nothing they want. I had to work for one once. Wasn't pretty. The showroom might be a better scene though I have zero background in sales. At any rate, the interview went well and I can use the practice. I just got an "Omedeto" letter in the box from the Yosakoi peeps. My heart is glad but my shoulders say Whaaa?? We shall see how this goes, we shall see. I have a lot of jitters and kinks to work out. In the meantime, oof, more Ibuprofen.... Interviewed at the Tenri Institute for Autumn classes in kanji and keigo. The instructor interviewed me in Japanese which made me glad and very confident. When I went in again to observe a sample class, the receptionist accidentally put me in the wrong room. I found myself sitting among a large group of people all learning how to say: "Ken desu." "Joe desu ka?" "Iie. Ken desu." "Sumimasen." The proctor finally noticed me and addressed me in Japanese. "Aren't you Kirsten Phillips?" "Yes, um...I think this is not my class." "I'm so very sorry, I'll show you to your room." The advanced group had six students. For our first time we had to engage in very detailed self-introductions. No sissy answers like: "My name is Bodaecia." more like "I am Bodaecia, daughter of Rhapsodia Queen of the Hootzbah Clan, named after my father's favorite Rockette whom he idolized in a sonnet titled ummm, I forgot." That sort of thing. Two of the students were Chinese professionals, one was a grand Russian/Transylvanian madame with a short punk hairdo, one was a Sicilian from Brooklyn (fuhgedabboutit--yeah) and the other was a salt and pepper haired young lady. The Institute is more like a gallery and features Japanese culture lessons, art exhibitions, and religious gatherings (it's a temple) as well as language seminars. Very cool place and located conveniently near my sister's job. Depending on where I end up working, this might be problematic. I did a lot of chores today. Ran an errand for Tavie, went shopping (had to hunt down a butcher) for soup ingredients, took out the trash, a load of laundry, dusted floors, cooked a huge pot of matzoh ball yum plus a Vegetarian version for Gina, and watched Season 4 Episode 1. やっとサムの力見えた！ヤバいヤバい。　ディン、お帰り。　このシーズン楽しい事くるわ！ (1 Comment |Comment on this)