Toys are much better when they are won.

Jen and I went shopping in Sannomiya yesterday. Our mission was to find a nice birthday present for Aaron and Oli, but we got sidetracked in a arcade. They are a million different little games, grabby games and video games. I tried a game where you scoop some toys up, then dump them on a moving platform, and hope some get shoved off into the hole. I won on my first try! I got really excited, and Jen took a picture haha. I won the red, bean-looking thing. They're edamame (soybeans), and apparently have many characters among them. On the second try, I won FOUR! I gave two to Jen (a purple one, and a yellow one) and kept the orange and yellow ones. I have a new addiction...

I dragged Jen to a mexican restaurant in Sannomiya. It was super disapointing. Pretty place though. We left still hungry. However, we stopped by a convenience store and Jen bought an American dog. Check out the super convenient and practical mustard & ketchup combo.

Since Aaron and Oli's birthdays are close, we had a joint birthday party in Osaka. We went to the Ramada rooftop beer garden. It was really nice! On my way to the restroom, I stopped and played foozball with three young girls. I kicked their asses. They kept speaking to me in Japanese, and I would reply in English. I feel like we bonded. Later, as they walked past our table, they all gave me high fives.

It just dawned on me how that might be strange for there to be young children at a beer garden.

After the rooftop beer garden, we took a taxi to The Blarney Stone. It was fun. I wore the bartender's glasses. I look like Elton John.

Jen hiked Mt. Fuji with Aaron last weekend. She bought me a little charm for my cell phone. It's a little Fuji san!!! How cute.


There's a Japanese flag on the back.


New KitKat flavor. Apples and carrots?

Two things to brighten my morning

On the way to work, I usually listen to a podcast. Either the NBS News, Wait Wait, or This American Life. I know I've said before I never realized how often Wait Wait references Japan, until I moved here. However, this morning, I heard:

"This edition of Wait Wait Don't Tell Me has been brought to you from Pabst Brewery, makers of Pabst Blue Ribbon."

I knew I loved Peter Sagal and Carl Kasell.

Toys and Candy

KitKat has many different flavors in Japan. Here are some new ones: Above, I have no idea. The photos looks like it should taste like a mojito. I'm still not sure what it was.

This KitKat was strawberry flavored, but they were tiny little onsies, individually wrapped.

Yes, everyone's favorite, Apple Vinegar!!! Tasted more like a sour apple to me.

If you can tell me what flavor these Doritos are supposed to be, you will win a prize.

New favorite snack, from Lawson's. One bag, with popcorn, Cheetos, and Doritos. I'm in heaven.

These are similar to caramels, but taste like green tea. I just bought them because they have a samurai's butt cheeks.

I later found out you're not supposed to unwrap them, the wrapper dissolves in your mouth.

I buy Pepsi when they have toys. They always have Snoopy toys. This is Snoopy on a Chinese dumpling.

And Snoopy on some vegetable. I had no idea what. (That seems to be a common theme with me)

Last but not least, Apple Pockey.

I love Mexican food

Sunday night was THMFJ night!!! Oli and I met up in Osaka at Shinsaibashi to find El Pancho, a Mexican restaurant I found online. We stopped by Murphy's for a pint first, and a couple games of darts and pool, which I lost miserably at. Then we trekked over to El Pancho and I was delighted. Success.

The worst pint of Kilkenny both Oli and I have ever had. Tasted like vinegar.

Oli kept trying to castrate the guy in the poster with his dart.

It looks pretty Mexican...

I enjoyed a Sol. Reminded me of Los Archos.

Cheeeeeese.

Almost up to date!

Sorry, I've been pretty busy trying to edit 6000 photos to post here. Finally finished! Hopefully now I will update every couple days instead of once every two weeks.

Random things....

I have a kid's class with two 10 year olds. They rock. Friday, they started doing Thriller by Michael Jackson in class. They were dancing, and singing the song, but not the real words because they didn't know them. I laughed really hard for about 18 minutes. Then I had to get up and correct their dance moves. Needless to say, class was a success.


This weekend marks the beginning of The Hunt for Mexican Food in Japan, or as I like to call it, THMFJ.

Randomly, Vince and I were trying to figure out how to translate the most famous line from Star Wars, "Luke.... I am your father". This is what we came up with:
"Ru-ku, seisha wa omae no chichi da." There are about 17 different ways to say "I" in Japanese, depending on your gender, age, and social status. We chose the one for a samurai or lord. After all, he is Lord Vader...

"Aaron, I hate you so much right now."

Against my better judgment, I went hiking with Aaron on Sunday morning. I was running late, but we started up Mt. Rokko around 9:30am. It is 931 meters tall, and I thought I was going to die. It was very steep, and hot and humid, and the steps were taller than my legs. Brutal. But, Aaron is a great motivational speaker and cheered me on until we reached the summit, where I promptly took a 30 minute nap in the shade.

Even though we started early, we were both super sweaty. Aaron rubbed half his face off on his shirt.

One of the less taxing boulder climbs.

Looking down at what we climbed.

Ready to die.

Seriously spent.

Please note the leaning. Not intentional, but I doubt I could stand on my own at this point.

931 meters, yo.

View. I was amazed how far inland we were.

Instead of hiking back down, we tried hitchhiking down. A very nice man, Akihiro, and his son picked us up, even though we smelled like roadkill.

We felt guilty, as we thought we were ruining this kid's day with his dad.

But he had fun learning English!

We all ate lunch together.

Obon Week - Day Eight - Goodbye :(

Saturday was the last day Mom and Dad were going to be in Japan. Their flight left from Itami Airport in Osaka at 8:00 am. We ate okanomiyaki, Osaka style, went shopping, and then ate a bunch of different goodies in the hotel room. After dinner, we went to Papa's to listen to Gordon's blues band, Mojo Hands. Mom and Dad enjoyed it very much!

The view from the hotel room.

Mom and Dad at Chibo's, the okanomiyaki restaurant.

Family eating.

I love food.

In the hotel, eating chinese dumplings.

I hope I don't really make that face when I'm enjoying what I eat.

Dumpling box.

Dad modeling his new hat.

Mom showing off her chocolate mochi cream.

Me and matcha mochi cream (green tea).

A wildcard mochi cream. I think it turned out to be raspberry.

Me modeling Dad's hat. I look like a paperboy.

Dad enjoying the music and beer.

The Dickey family. Wendy, Maxwell and Jen.

Gordon's friend Jun, who loves to make faces.

Gordon and Shige, two amazing guitarists.

Jun and my Dad enjoying each other's company.

Told ya, Jun loves the faces.

Dickey sensei and my Mom.

They switched glasses.

Shige and Jun's wife, Hiromi.

Jun dancing with my Mom.

Jun was making my Dad laugh.

Aw.

I dunno.

The faces are contagious.