I got a little ahead of myself. AKB48 isn't until next week. This weekend we hit up Kyoto and Shiga. More old school Japan. Nothing too entertaining this time guys.
We arrive in Kyoto around 11am and the station there is pretty awesome. Huge and pretty modern looking. Also Kyoto is the only place to get those famed green tea Kit Kat bars. Little things are expensive. Going by the station, it looks like pretty normal Japan. A modern station with tons of people. You don't really get the feel of the city until you walk into the city. It has a much different feel than Tokyo. It has a much more traditional feel. Kevin tells me that government passed some sort of law where the tallest building can't be taller than the temples in Kyoto. I thought that was pretty cool. We walked everywhere that day. I think we calculated we walked a good 7 miles in Kyoto. We hit up a couple temples and whatever was on the way. The temples were pretty awesome. Check the pics on facebook to really see what I saw. I forgot what we ate that day?
After we do the temple thing there was a change in the original plans. At first Kev was thinking we spend two days in Kyoto but after further thought he was like well there isnt't much else after the temples and what not. So he decides that instead we will go to Shiga and spend the night there and his host families house. Back in the day when Kevin went to high school in Japan this was the host family he stayed with. He became very close with them and even after all this time has kept in touch with them which is pretty groovy. So he's all like yo Gene how you feel about staying at a traditional Japanese house? I'm like sweeet. Little does he know how freaking terrified I am of The Grudge and now he's taking me to a place where she usually manifests herself. Fantastic.
We get off the train in Hikone and its about a 20 minute or so walk to his house. Nice cool night. Showing me things along the way. Then we get to the street of his house and we hang a right off the main road. There are like... no street lights anywhere. Its dark as hell and grudge houses to my left and grudge houses to my right. My life ends tonight in Japan. I can feel it.
Fortunately there is no story about how I actually went through a grudge experience in that house. Or I just couldn't conjure up a good enough story to tell. But there was some scary ass stairs just like in the movie.
I go into the house and I'm greeted by his host family. Some of the nicest people I have ever met in my life. His mom is such a pleasant person. I want her to be my host mom too. His dad is like an OG. Just chillin. He is a cool dude. And one of his sisters and her 3 children were also there. Mutsumi was your sisters name was it? I think so. She is 30 years old..doesnt look a day
They made dinner and it was off the chains. Shrimp Tempura and a bunch of sides. Great food. Kevin your a rice MACHINE. This guy can down like 3 bowls of rice with a beer and nothing else. Pretty amazing to watch. After dinner we're just hanging around the house. Kevin plays with his 3 nieces and nephews and literally kills an hour and a half throwing a tissue box back and forth with them. What a fool... I watched the whole time it was pretty entertaining.
That pretty much wraps up the night. You know what the next day was really short so I can go ahead and fit that in here too.
The next day I meet his younger sister Yumi. His family takes us around the city for lunch and see a couple of things and we hit Hikone Castle which is an old school castle from the olden days. Pretty cool place. We walk around a bit and a few hours later we head back to the house and they take us out to dinner. More yakiniku bbq. Damn it was off the chains. Refer to pictures. The beef tongue. Good Lowd. Met his brother Yuken and his two daughters. They named them Heart and Cute. Yes thats right. Heart and Cute. Not heart and cute in Japanese and I just translated it. No no, its really Heart. And Cute. Um..yea.
Thats about it for that day. We just took it easy. Caught a late train back to Nagoya and called it a night. Relaxing weekend. Nothing epic.
Random convo for the weekend:
Kevin: yo man, how you doin? its cool? the house is cool?
Gene - yea man. this is tight. except im scared as hell of the grudge
Kevin - wtf is that?
Gene - what?? the grudge?? you dont know the grudge? JUON?? come on man your in Japan...
Kevin - uh.. so.. what, is she gonna come out of the tv or something?
Gene - DUDE, thats the RING, GOSSHHH
Kevin - um.. alright dude.. take it easy...
Gene - *scoff* over 22... has 3 kids... and, dude sorry bro, but your sister is HOT. Alright now that that is awkwardly out of the way let us move on.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Chronicles of Japania Day 7: Sakae
Nevermind about the preview I had from last time. Gonna go in a different direction. Well i get up early once again today but I can't really go anywhere yet as I'm waiting for my ipod to arrive. I run to the 7-11 real quick and pick up some breakfast. 7-11 is off the chains. I stick around the aparment til about 1130 when the deliver guy shows up to deliever my ipod. Its even bubble wrapped. Gotta love the Japanese. I get ready to start my day and head out to the bank to get some more yen. Its raining outside, and its cold too. I get to the bank Kevin tells me to go to and I sit down and go through the normal language difficulties to try to get things done. After like 15 minutes of nonsense they tell me that they don't do currency exchange for foreigners. Yea, only Japan residents can change money. What kind of sense does that make I don't know. They even showed me a sign in english that says just that. Baloney. Oh well, I can find a place elsewhere. GAH I forgot my phone. Head back to the apartment to get the phone. Now I dont wanna leave. Its like noon. Ok I'm not leaving anymore. I sit down and do something or another for like... 4 hours. Ok time to get up. To Sakae!
Sakae is probably my favorite area. I love this place. It has a little bit of everything. It has all kinds of shopping and all kinds of food and all sorts of interesting people. I went there everyday this week. It also happens to be the area where Kevin works so it makes for a great meet up place. TULLYS what whaaattt!!!
Anyways, as I'm walking around the city I'm starting to notice something. Now the holidays are fast approaching and it appears as if the people in this country are all up into it. It seems every store I walk into they are playing either some form of jingle bells or... Last Christmas by Wham! Dudes literally every store I walked into it was some form of Laaaast Christmas I gave you my heart.... And when I say ALL forms of that song. I mean ALL forms of that song.
Male vocals...Last Christmassss.... Female vocals.... I gave you my heartttt... boy band..... but the very next day (next day).... school girl band......you gave it you gave it you gave it away(way). ...
techno remix version... mm jtt mm jtt mm jtt mm jtt L-L-L-L-Lassst (bell chime) christmasss.. i gave you my heart heart heart heart mm jtt mm jtt mm jtt
even gangster rap remix... yo yo it was this time last year mutha f*ckaaaa. I gave you my heart mutha f*ckaaaa.. then you gave that sh*t away to some other ho ass trick mutha f*ckkaaaa
Sersiously... what the hell. I know, Ill ask Kevin.
Gene - bro, sup with wham playing eveyrwhere i go? do they know thats a sad song?
Kevin - dude...
Gene - seems christmas here is pretty big tho..
Kevin - dude... i... like... its like... the thing... i.. xmas is.. its like...SIIGGHH
Gene - dude, deep breathes. you ok?
Kevin - christmas in Japan is crap dawg. this country made me dislike christmas so much
Gene - Why?
Kevin - man they dont do it right man. its not for the right reasons
Gene - what you talking about? they play wham
Kevin - dude...first of all. its a country full of buddhist. and christmas is supposed to be about family and stuff. you know how it be back home. you know what they do here? KFC
Gene - KFC? what does that mean
Kevin - KFC.. the Chicken... kentucky fried chicken
Gene - i dont follow..
Kevin - for christmas...you take your girlfriend... to KFC.. thats what you do. thats like.. the thing you do for christmas. you like have to reserves tables at the damn KFC
Gene - LOL hahhaha, are you serious. thats hilarious
Kevin - Yea no... im not feelin that shit man. christmas is wack here man
Gene - Well like..
Convo ended. It doesnt get any further than that. Kevin is upset. And he storms off somewhere in a hissy fit. We dont like upset Kevin. Damn Christmas in Japan... damn you....
Wham... in Japan... It's awesome. You even hear it randomly walking around in the forest. its everywhere. George Michael 1 Universe 0
Preview for next day: I will attempt to describe the phenomenon that is AKB48
Sakae is probably my favorite area. I love this place. It has a little bit of everything. It has all kinds of shopping and all kinds of food and all sorts of interesting people. I went there everyday this week. It also happens to be the area where Kevin works so it makes for a great meet up place. TULLYS what whaaattt!!!
Anyways, as I'm walking around the city I'm starting to notice something. Now the holidays are fast approaching and it appears as if the people in this country are all up into it. It seems every store I walk into they are playing either some form of jingle bells or... Last Christmas by Wham! Dudes literally every store I walked into it was some form of Laaaast Christmas I gave you my heart.... And when I say ALL forms of that song. I mean ALL forms of that song.
Male vocals...Last Christmassss.... Female vocals.... I gave you my heartttt... boy band..... but the very next day (next day).... school girl band......you gave it you gave it you gave it away(way). ...
techno remix version... mm jtt mm jtt mm jtt mm jtt L-L-L-L-Lassst (bell chime) christmasss.. i gave you my heart heart heart heart mm jtt mm jtt mm jtt
even gangster rap remix... yo yo it was this time last year mutha f*ckaaaa. I gave you my heart mutha f*ckaaaa.. then you gave that sh*t away to some other ho ass trick mutha f*ckkaaaa
Sersiously... what the hell. I know, Ill ask Kevin.
Gene - bro, sup with wham playing eveyrwhere i go? do they know thats a sad song?
Kevin - dude...
Gene - seems christmas here is pretty big tho..
Kevin - dude... i... like... its like... the thing... i.. xmas is.. its like...SIIGGHH
Gene - dude, deep breathes. you ok?
Kevin - christmas in Japan is crap dawg. this country made me dislike christmas so much
Gene - Why?
Kevin - man they dont do it right man. its not for the right reasons
Gene - what you talking about? they play wham
Kevin - dude...first of all. its a country full of buddhist. and christmas is supposed to be about family and stuff. you know how it be back home. you know what they do here? KFC
Gene - KFC? what does that mean
Kevin - KFC.. the Chicken... kentucky fried chicken
Gene - i dont follow..
Kevin - for christmas...you take your girlfriend... to KFC.. thats what you do. thats like.. the thing you do for christmas. you like have to reserves tables at the damn KFC
Gene - LOL hahhaha, are you serious. thats hilarious
Kevin - Yea no... im not feelin that shit man. christmas is wack here man
Gene - Well like..
Convo ended. It doesnt get any further than that. Kevin is upset. And he storms off somewhere in a hissy fit. We dont like upset Kevin. Damn Christmas in Japan... damn you....
Wham... in Japan... It's awesome. You even hear it randomly walking around in the forest. its everywhere. George Michael 1 Universe 0
Preview for next day: I will attempt to describe the phenomenon that is AKB48
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The Chronicles of Japania Day 6: Harajuku
The night before I made the trek back to Nagoya and now early today I'm hopping on a train and heading back to Tokyo. About a 2 hour trip or so. My cousin again tells me to meet them in Harajuku around noonish. Harajuku is a pretty big shopping district in Tokyo so I was excited to see what it was all about.
I arrive about 11 or so and start walking around checking the place out. Pretty cool although I didn't see a whole lot of stores except for a gigantic GAP. I found an alley and it looked like a long street of shops but more along the lines of mom and pop shops. So I took a walk around and it wasn't long before I was bombarded with Africans telling me to come into their stores and try on the clothes in their store. 1. I don't trust black guys in foreign countries and 2. Kevin said stay away from all the Africans in Japan as most are crooks or hustlers. So I kindly decline all 7000 of their invitations. No negro I do not want to try on your FUBU jeans.
I make my way all the way down the alleyway into one of the main streets and have a look. Ahh, here we go. All the shopping is here apparently with huge department stores and even some familiar brands sprinkled about. I call my cousin to see where their at, their gonna be a little late. Like 3 hours late. I'm on my own for awhile. I decided to tackle some lunch before I explore. I had many conversations with myself today as I was solo for most of it. And this was the first.
Brain - dude, your in Japan and your gonna eat mcdonalds?
Gene - i heard they have a few different things like a teriyaki burger and stuff
Brain - dont do it.. look ramen right across the way
Gene - come onnn....
Brain - dont do ittt
I had no idea what to order so I pointed to something that I thought might have been something different. It wasn't. Well technically it was. I ended up ordering a quarter pounder but the one in Japan has lettuce in tomato in it. What did it taste like? It tasted like a quarter pounder with lettuce and tomato in it. I wrap up lunch and walk back towards the main street through 50 more africans. I get to the main street and hang a right. I walk for a second and then..
Brain - dooooode, the new cowboys stadium is in Japan?
Gene - .... holy crap
Brain - its huuuuggeee, who plays here?
Gene - dude... thats a freakin forever 21....
Brain - daaaaaaaaaaaaaamn
I continue past the monstrosity and come to some department store. Looks pretty poppin so I walk inside to check it out. Hey not too shabby. Japan department stores are a little different. There is only like 4-8 stores per floor but there are like 8-12 floors. So you just keep taking escalators up and down. I explore a little bit and I hear something...
Gene - is that...?
Brain - is what? what are you talking about?
Gene - shush, listen...
Brain - ok I'm leaving, your crazy
I make my way to the sound I'm hearing. I speed up as a I get closer to the sound. I need to be sure. Is it? I round the corner and I run into a teen girl accesorry shop or something. "...she wears high heels I wear sneakers shes cheer captain and IMM on the bleachers.. " YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. I was right. Taylor Swift in Japan! I hang out jamming to the song as 15 year olds shop for eye make up and the like.
I end up at some store called "Moussy Extreme." They only sell girls clothes and their stuff is pretty cool. I'm looking at some stuff and I can feel the employees eyes on me. And the eyes can speak. They are saying "does this retarded foreigner know he is shopping for girls clothing?" This happened quite often on my trip actually. I stress out once again on how to obtain the correct size on something. After a little bit I was like forget it and I just left.
Around 3 oclock rolls around and its time to meet my cousin up. I tell her to meet me in front of the gigantic space ship Forever 21. I get there first and I'm chillin on the rail and I see this dude walk by. I mean you always hear that Japanese fashion was a little bit ahead of the curve but this?? Let me paint a picture for you. For those of you who know my uncle picture him with some long hair and a busted tan. Long hair dont care. If you don't know him then think of an older man.. say 58 years old. Short. Like 5'1 or something. Ok so this dude is walking by me. Lets start at the top. He is wearing a red plaid buttton up shirt. Looks a little feminine but no big deal. You go to the next article and he has a pink cloth belt on. What was the belt actually on though? It was on a pair of denim SHORT SHORTS. Like mid thigh length. But I guess that wasn't AS bad since he was wearing PANTIE HOSE all the way up. To top it off. PINK CROCS for his shoes. And it didnt even match his belt. Oh and he had a back pack on too. I couldn't not stare. Was so stunned I couldn't even get to my camera in time before he disappeared into the horizon never to be seen again.
Gene - That was the shit
Brain - That was beyond the shit
Gene/Brain - Worrdd...
I finally meet up with dear cousin and we walk around the city some. Her hubby also had a cousin that llived there so he was showing us around. My cousin had a hair appointment so we take her to that and the boys go off on their own after dropping them off. We shop around some but we really we go food hunting. The first thing we tried was this thing called "takoyaki" which is like..octopus balls. I mean not like... octopus balls. Not like the testicles of an octopus but they made this like... ball of gooey goodness. Ok bad choice of words. IT WAS like this rice mixture and they stuck a piece of octopus in the middle. Anyways it was delicious. We wander some more and wander right into another restaurant. Gyoza this time which are Japanese dumplings. One of my favorite foods and it too was awesome. We finish that and head towards the hair salon. I was informed that Harajuku was known for their crepes. So I decided to give one a try. I went to look at their menu which is actually a case of all their crepes made out of wax so you can see what it looks like. Dude, the craziest crepes you have ever seen. I order the one with a cheesecake inside of it. A CHEESECAKE. INSIDE. MY CREPE. It was pretty good too. We finish that and we are pretty stuffed. My cousin gets done with her hair cut and meets us up. Ready for dinner guys?!..... Uh... its getting late. I'm gonna catch a train back to Nagoya guys. Say my goodbyes and I'm off.
I get to the station and hop on a train. Little did I know there were 3 different lines. Theres the Nozomi which is the fastest one and least amount of stops. But my rail pass doesnt allow me to get on that train. Theres the Hikari line which only has a few stops so it takes about 2 hours to get back to Nagoya. And theres the Kodama line, which I got on, and it stops at every single stop on the way to Nagoya. Took me a little over 3 hours to get back. That sucked. Effing Kodama line I swear...
Get back pretty tired called it a night and went to sleep.
p.s. i found dr pepper in tokyo. i think the japanese version only has 20 of the 23 flavors that we have. curious.
I arrive about 11 or so and start walking around checking the place out. Pretty cool although I didn't see a whole lot of stores except for a gigantic GAP. I found an alley and it looked like a long street of shops but more along the lines of mom and pop shops. So I took a walk around and it wasn't long before I was bombarded with Africans telling me to come into their stores and try on the clothes in their store. 1. I don't trust black guys in foreign countries and 2. Kevin said stay away from all the Africans in Japan as most are crooks or hustlers. So I kindly decline all 7000 of their invitations. No negro I do not want to try on your FUBU jeans.
I make my way all the way down the alleyway into one of the main streets and have a look. Ahh, here we go. All the shopping is here apparently with huge department stores and even some familiar brands sprinkled about. I call my cousin to see where their at, their gonna be a little late. Like 3 hours late. I'm on my own for awhile. I decided to tackle some lunch before I explore. I had many conversations with myself today as I was solo for most of it. And this was the first.
Brain - dude, your in Japan and your gonna eat mcdonalds?
Gene - i heard they have a few different things like a teriyaki burger and stuff
Brain - dont do it.. look ramen right across the way
Gene - come onnn....
Brain - dont do ittt
I had no idea what to order so I pointed to something that I thought might have been something different. It wasn't. Well technically it was. I ended up ordering a quarter pounder but the one in Japan has lettuce in tomato in it. What did it taste like? It tasted like a quarter pounder with lettuce and tomato in it. I wrap up lunch and walk back towards the main street through 50 more africans. I get to the main street and hang a right. I walk for a second and then..
Brain - dooooode, the new cowboys stadium is in Japan?
Gene - .... holy crap
Brain - its huuuuggeee, who plays here?
Gene - dude... thats a freakin forever 21....
Brain - daaaaaaaaaaaaaamn
I continue past the monstrosity and come to some department store. Looks pretty poppin so I walk inside to check it out. Hey not too shabby. Japan department stores are a little different. There is only like 4-8 stores per floor but there are like 8-12 floors. So you just keep taking escalators up and down. I explore a little bit and I hear something...
Gene - is that...?
Brain - is what? what are you talking about?
Gene - shush, listen...
Brain - ok I'm leaving, your crazy
I make my way to the sound I'm hearing. I speed up as a I get closer to the sound. I need to be sure. Is it? I round the corner and I run into a teen girl accesorry shop or something. "...she wears high heels I wear sneakers shes cheer captain and IMM on the bleachers.. " YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. I was right. Taylor Swift in Japan! I hang out jamming to the song as 15 year olds shop for eye make up and the like.
I end up at some store called "Moussy Extreme." They only sell girls clothes and their stuff is pretty cool. I'm looking at some stuff and I can feel the employees eyes on me. And the eyes can speak. They are saying "does this retarded foreigner know he is shopping for girls clothing?" This happened quite often on my trip actually. I stress out once again on how to obtain the correct size on something. After a little bit I was like forget it and I just left.
Around 3 oclock rolls around and its time to meet my cousin up. I tell her to meet me in front of the gigantic space ship Forever 21. I get there first and I'm chillin on the rail and I see this dude walk by. I mean you always hear that Japanese fashion was a little bit ahead of the curve but this?? Let me paint a picture for you. For those of you who know my uncle picture him with some long hair and a busted tan. Long hair dont care. If you don't know him then think of an older man.. say 58 years old. Short. Like 5'1 or something. Ok so this dude is walking by me. Lets start at the top. He is wearing a red plaid buttton up shirt. Looks a little feminine but no big deal. You go to the next article and he has a pink cloth belt on. What was the belt actually on though? It was on a pair of denim SHORT SHORTS. Like mid thigh length. But I guess that wasn't AS bad since he was wearing PANTIE HOSE all the way up. To top it off. PINK CROCS for his shoes. And it didnt even match his belt. Oh and he had a back pack on too. I couldn't not stare. Was so stunned I couldn't even get to my camera in time before he disappeared into the horizon never to be seen again.
Gene - That was the shit
Brain - That was beyond the shit
Gene/Brain - Worrdd...
I finally meet up with dear cousin and we walk around the city some. Her hubby also had a cousin that llived there so he was showing us around. My cousin had a hair appointment so we take her to that and the boys go off on their own after dropping them off. We shop around some but we really we go food hunting. The first thing we tried was this thing called "takoyaki" which is like..octopus balls. I mean not like... octopus balls. Not like the testicles of an octopus but they made this like... ball of gooey goodness. Ok bad choice of words. IT WAS like this rice mixture and they stuck a piece of octopus in the middle. Anyways it was delicious. We wander some more and wander right into another restaurant. Gyoza this time which are Japanese dumplings. One of my favorite foods and it too was awesome. We finish that and head towards the hair salon. I was informed that Harajuku was known for their crepes. So I decided to give one a try. I went to look at their menu which is actually a case of all their crepes made out of wax so you can see what it looks like. Dude, the craziest crepes you have ever seen. I order the one with a cheesecake inside of it. A CHEESECAKE. INSIDE. MY CREPE. It was pretty good too. We finish that and we are pretty stuffed. My cousin gets done with her hair cut and meets us up. Ready for dinner guys?!..... Uh... its getting late. I'm gonna catch a train back to Nagoya guys. Say my goodbyes and I'm off.
I get to the station and hop on a train. Little did I know there were 3 different lines. Theres the Nozomi which is the fastest one and least amount of stops. But my rail pass doesnt allow me to get on that train. Theres the Hikari line which only has a few stops so it takes about 2 hours to get back to Nagoya. And theres the Kodama line, which I got on, and it stops at every single stop on the way to Nagoya. Took me a little over 3 hours to get back. That sucked. Effing Kodama line I swear...
Get back pretty tired called it a night and went to sleep.
p.s. i found dr pepper in tokyo. i think the japanese version only has 20 of the 23 flavors that we have. curious.
The Chronicles of Japania Day 4 and 5: Hakone
Ok the next day and a half are going to make for a boring email. I mean it was cool for me to see everything but nothing very exciting and doesn't make for very good stories. But the show must go on. Here we go...
Get dressed head back to the room to get ready for dinner. Wasn't really feeling this dinner as it was a more traditional Japanese set course with alot of fish. Not really my thing. Probably the only time you will hear me say I didn't like the food I ate. I wasn't eating much so I was having a gander around the room and right behind us there was a little incident brewing. Some people were upset cause their food was coming out too slow or something? They started causing a little scene. Bu its like come on man relax, your at the beautiful place obviously meant for relaxing. So just relax! Whats the big rush for? Take it easy guey. And then I figured it out. They were speaking chinese, chinese mofo's. Probably from Taiwan cause thats the country of bitches. And well they were being bitches so it made sense to me. Leave it to some chinese people to be impatient about something and start yelling at super nice and polite Japanese waiters.
Hmm now I'm still hungry. But wait, there's its ok as the hotel offers free bowls of noodles from ten pm to midnight. Excellent. I leave my $80 dinner fully hungry and hit the free probably $5 in value bowl of noodles. Damn it was good.
That wraps up the night. I head back to the room completely relaxed from the bath and hit the hay. With the lights on of course. I think I heard a noise...just in case.
The next day was even less exciting in story form. The pictures whenever I get around to it will paint a much better picture. Basically we went around Hakone doing various things. Blah Blah Blah Day 6 will be a bit better as I head to Harajuku in Tokyo.
The Chronicles of Japania Day 4: Hakone, The City of "Onsen"
My newlywed cousin Tina was also in Japan at this time and today they have reservations at a resort in the city of Hakone. The city is a city of Onsen, which is the natural hot springs bath you always see on TV. Kevin thought it was definitely worth it to experience and suggested I join them in the mountains. I agreed and Kevin made the reservation for me to head out there. He gave me train directions to get there and it looks like about 4 different train changes. So I was ready to head out early that morning and make my way out there.
Gene - Dang it, dude i forgot to bring a swimsuit with me
Kevin - uh..what the hell would you need that for?
Gene - um..for the..hot spring bath?
Kevin - (shaking his head)
Gene - no?
Kevin - no dude...those arent allowed...
Gene - so....naked time?
Kevin - naked time brotha
Gene - i see...
Kevin - is that gonna be a problem?
Gene - no no, naked time is cool...
I get there some 3 hours later after multiple train switches. It seems the further I get from the city the less english is used all around. I get to the city and I finally meet a rude Japanese worker. Seems like he hates his job. Anyway I get through that and come out from the train station and get a look at the city. Gorgeous place. We are up in the mountains so its quite a different view of what I`ve seen already. Hills and trees and forest and crisp air everywhere.
Now I`m trying to find my hotel and not having much luck. No english on any of the signs. I finally find what I think is the place. The name is in Japanese and the only way I figured out it was the right one was spending 15 minutes matching the symbols to what I had on my sheet of paper.
I go in and its a really really nice place. It better be for it being $250 a night on a freakin weekday. I hang out for awhile and then my cousin and her hubby finally arrive. We check in to our respective rooms and we go check them out. Pretty cool looking. My room was the western style so it was a little different from my cousins who has a Japanese style room. I have a look around and things look pretty normal, I have a normal bed you see everyday, a normal coffee table and normal toilet. I step outside to the balcony and find a traditional Japanese wooden bath! So cool! In this place they have their spring baths all over the hotel, around the hotel and they also have one right in your very own room. Sweet. Then I look around for my bathroom. I find the toilet, but its just a toilet. Where the crap is my shower?? I don`t have one. Only thing is the outdoor bath...in the cold weather...in the mountains. Crap. I run over to my cousins room down the hall to check their room out. Theirs is twice as big as mine and cooler than mine as it has the traditional Japanese stuff in it. Peep the pictures when I upload them. I was like dude.. we don`t have showers. Their like..um..yes we do. And they point to their shower..indoor. MEEHHH.
My cousin shows me a flyer that the hotel offers massages and stuff like that. I was like sweet. Lets do it. She calls and books the appointments and gets me the 60 minute shiatsu massage. We have a little time so we head down stairs and pick up Kimonos that they let us borrow while we are there. So we get changed and are walking around in Kimonos and Japanese slippers and all that. Pretty funny, but awesome. Time for massage. Went to the place and wait our turn and a nice little lady comes out to escort me into the room. Was so ready, I really needed it since I`ve been having a bit of a back and neck problem lately. So looking forward to this.
The next 60 minutes turned out to be the most treacherous and painful hour of my 27 years on this planet. HOLY mother of ALLL that is pure and heavenly. She started on my neck and back and the entire time I was clenching my teeth and I would have been begging for her to stop, but it hurt so bad I could not project any sound out of my mouth. I guess my back area was in worse shape than I thought. I have to tough it through. This was nothing short of torture. Jack Bauer has not seen anything like this before. A little bit in she was working my neck and I let out a gay girly yelp. And she lets up just a little and ask me the question "pain?" What I was thinking in my head was "EFFFF YEA PAIN, ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDIDNG ME??!?!?" Unable to speak correctly I muttered out in the gayest bitch voice ever "uh huhh." I think she giggled and continued on relentlessly. I thug it out as best as I could for the next half an hour and she flips me around face up and breathe a sigh of relief. She works my arms and legs and it doesn`t hurt. It feels great. Then she starts massaging my head and that also feels nice. What happened next made the first 45 minutes feel like childs play. HOLY HELL MAN. She gets to my temple and starts rubbing it and OH MY GOD I thought I was getting my eyes gouged out. My entire body clenches up and I`m frozen in absolute pain. Its boggling my mind, how did she manage to exceed the previous pain ten fold????? I know she sees the torture written on my face but she doesn`t let up. I`m thinking WHY won`t she stop, she sees the pain. Jesus I can`t describe how much it hurt. As I`m remembering what happened I`m starting to cry a little bit as I type this. After she gets to my temple area she won`t stop. She goes on for like ten minutes or so and I can only think that she won`t let up cause she knows its a really stressful area. I`m clenching so hard I damn near peed in my kimono. I swear the tears rolling down my cheeks turned to blood. MOM HELP!!!
She finally finishes and smiles at me and says "finished!" I`m out of breath and a little dizzy. I get up and stumble and struggle to find my shoes. I finally gather my thoughts and leave. She goes to find another lady that speaks english and tells her something in Japanese. The other lady comes up to me and says, she says your eyes are tired. Do you not sleep or something? I`m like..actually yes, I don`t sleep very well. Shes like thats why it hurt so much. Your eyes need more rest. You should try to sleep more. Fantastic advice. As if i try not to sleep on purpose. Damn that hurt so bad. You know what, the days not even done with and I can`t finish this. I`m traumatized reliving that massage. I mean my body felt really good after the fact, but while it was happening..... gah. I`ll finish up my Hakone experience with the next email.
take care kiddos
Gene - Dang it, dude i forgot to bring a swimsuit with me
Kevin - uh..what the hell would you need that for?
Gene - um..for the..hot spring bath?
Kevin - (shaking his head)
Gene - no?
Kevin - no dude...those arent allowed...
Gene - so....naked time?
Kevin - naked time brotha
Gene - i see...
Kevin - is that gonna be a problem?
Gene - no no, naked time is cool...
I get there some 3 hours later after multiple train switches. It seems the further I get from the city the less english is used all around. I get to the city and I finally meet a rude Japanese worker. Seems like he hates his job. Anyway I get through that and come out from the train station and get a look at the city. Gorgeous place. We are up in the mountains so its quite a different view of what I`ve seen already. Hills and trees and forest and crisp air everywhere.
Now I`m trying to find my hotel and not having much luck. No english on any of the signs. I finally find what I think is the place. The name is in Japanese and the only way I figured out it was the right one was spending 15 minutes matching the symbols to what I had on my sheet of paper.
I go in and its a really really nice place. It better be for it being $250 a night on a freakin weekday. I hang out for awhile and then my cousin and her hubby finally arrive. We check in to our respective rooms and we go check them out. Pretty cool looking. My room was the western style so it was a little different from my cousins who has a Japanese style room. I have a look around and things look pretty normal, I have a normal bed you see everyday, a normal coffee table and normal toilet. I step outside to the balcony and find a traditional Japanese wooden bath! So cool! In this place they have their spring baths all over the hotel, around the hotel and they also have one right in your very own room. Sweet. Then I look around for my bathroom. I find the toilet, but its just a toilet. Where the crap is my shower?? I don`t have one. Only thing is the outdoor bath...in the cold weather...in the mountains. Crap. I run over to my cousins room down the hall to check their room out. Theirs is twice as big as mine and cooler than mine as it has the traditional Japanese stuff in it. Peep the pictures when I upload them. I was like dude.. we don`t have showers. Their like..um..yes we do. And they point to their shower..indoor. MEEHHH.
My cousin shows me a flyer that the hotel offers massages and stuff like that. I was like sweet. Lets do it. She calls and books the appointments and gets me the 60 minute shiatsu massage. We have a little time so we head down stairs and pick up Kimonos that they let us borrow while we are there. So we get changed and are walking around in Kimonos and Japanese slippers and all that. Pretty funny, but awesome. Time for massage. Went to the place and wait our turn and a nice little lady comes out to escort me into the room. Was so ready, I really needed it since I`ve been having a bit of a back and neck problem lately. So looking forward to this.
The next 60 minutes turned out to be the most treacherous and painful hour of my 27 years on this planet. HOLY mother of ALLL that is pure and heavenly. She started on my neck and back and the entire time I was clenching my teeth and I would have been begging for her to stop, but it hurt so bad I could not project any sound out of my mouth. I guess my back area was in worse shape than I thought. I have to tough it through. This was nothing short of torture. Jack Bauer has not seen anything like this before. A little bit in she was working my neck and I let out a gay girly yelp. And she lets up just a little and ask me the question "pain?" What I was thinking in my head was "EFFFF YEA PAIN, ARE YOU FREAKIN KIDIDNG ME??!?!?" Unable to speak correctly I muttered out in the gayest bitch voice ever "uh huhh." I think she giggled and continued on relentlessly. I thug it out as best as I could for the next half an hour and she flips me around face up and breathe a sigh of relief. She works my arms and legs and it doesn`t hurt. It feels great. Then she starts massaging my head and that also feels nice. What happened next made the first 45 minutes feel like childs play. HOLY HELL MAN. She gets to my temple and starts rubbing it and OH MY GOD I thought I was getting my eyes gouged out. My entire body clenches up and I`m frozen in absolute pain. Its boggling my mind, how did she manage to exceed the previous pain ten fold????? I know she sees the torture written on my face but she doesn`t let up. I`m thinking WHY won`t she stop, she sees the pain. Jesus I can`t describe how much it hurt. As I`m remembering what happened I`m starting to cry a little bit as I type this. After she gets to my temple area she won`t stop. She goes on for like ten minutes or so and I can only think that she won`t let up cause she knows its a really stressful area. I`m clenching so hard I damn near peed in my kimono. I swear the tears rolling down my cheeks turned to blood. MOM HELP!!!
She finally finishes and smiles at me and says "finished!" I`m out of breath and a little dizzy. I get up and stumble and struggle to find my shoes. I finally gather my thoughts and leave. She goes to find another lady that speaks english and tells her something in Japanese. The other lady comes up to me and says, she says your eyes are tired. Do you not sleep or something? I`m like..actually yes, I don`t sleep very well. Shes like thats why it hurt so much. Your eyes need more rest. You should try to sleep more. Fantastic advice. As if i try not to sleep on purpose. Damn that hurt so bad. You know what, the days not even done with and I can`t finish this. I`m traumatized reliving that massage. I mean my body felt really good after the fact, but while it was happening..... gah. I`ll finish up my Hakone experience with the next email.
take care kiddos
Thursday, December 17, 2009
The Chronicles of Japania Day 3: Osu Kannon
I get up early again today and am ready to tackle something new. Kevin suggested I go to Osu Kannon, only a few trains stops away from where we are. He said there was a Buddhist Temple there so I decided that going would be a good idea. He shows me how to get there and he takes off for work and I`m on my own in Japan for the first time. I get off the train at Osu and pick an exit. Theres always a ton of exits at every station and I have no idea which one goes where. I picked exit 4. I come up into the streets and have a look around. I see... I see....I don`t see anything. What gives?? I walk around a bit and don`t see very much of interest.
About ten minutes later over the top of some buildings I see what might be the top of the temple that Kevin was speaking of. Osu Kannon Temple. I make my way over there and have a look around. Its a pretty nice temple. You guys can check it out once I upload the pictures when I get back home. So I do the whole temple thing and I look over and see what looks like a few souvenir shops off to the side of the temple. So I was thinking oh cool, I could use some temple souvenirs for my fellow Buddhists back home. So I make my way over there and the first thing I see is a few restaurants. Hmmm...further in i assume. So I go in some more and see more and more stores selling stuff like clothes or tea pots and the like. Oh cool I thought to myself, a row of shops of some cool things. Not bad, let me walk further down and see what else there is and I`ll turn back around towards the temple area. I go down a little bit and I come to a fork in the road. To the left... restaurants and shops. To the right...more restaurants and shops. Which way? Um.. lets go right. I walk down right and another road of shops is revealed. Had to be over 50 shops on that road. i get to the end of the road and there is another road connected to it perpendicularly. I go left this time. This is more of a main street so it looks more normal with shops on both sides. I come to yet another street and go right once more. More shops. I figured the rows and rows of shops would end soon but it doesnt. I walk for what felt like forever and I just keep turning into more streets and more shops. Pretty soon I was completely lost in a spider web of shops. This place has everything you could possibly think of! Clothing store, shoe store, accessory store, pots and pans store, second hand shops, mom and pop shops, dvd store, game store, pachinko parlor, jacket store, glove store, underwear store, used anything store, scarves store... oh...speaking of the scarf store...
So I`m learning quickly that in Japan they advertise like crazy and store owners are always out in front of their stores screaming something out. I can only assume its good things about their stores to try and get you to come in. So as you walk down a street of stores all you hear is screaming in Japanese. Even quicker you will learn to ignore all this nonsense. So I`m walking through the streets and I walk past this store that only sold scarves. I keep walking.. almost past it....and then the girl working there comes out and yells something out in Japanese. I looked over and...she was kind of cute. Hmmm...let me...stop by the store real quick... to look at scarves of course. I step in and alot of English and Japanese exchange with no one having any idea what the other is talking about. But there are signs. So thats good. 3,000 yen a scarf. Hmm... 3,000 divided by 100, whats that like 3 dollars or so? Oh hey thats not bad at all, ill get like...3 of them, thats like ten, twelve dollars. No big deal. I know a few people that likes scarves anyways. We go through this long process of picking out these scarves and I finally settle on 3 of them. Cool, lets get out of here. But wait, very skillfully she upsells me a..belt for a scarf?? What the? She shows me how it works and its actually kinda cool. Ok ill take one of those too. Its only 477 yen..divided by 100...about 4, or 5 dollars? Not bad. Hmm...something doesnt feel right. Oh well. The exchange rate kinda sucks right now, its actually less than 100, its in the 80s but using the 100 scale gives it an approximation.
So she rings up the scarves and the total on the register said 9,500 yen. and I pull out a 10,000 yen bill. And then it clicks..
Brain - SON OF A.. 9,500 divided by 100..carry the 2... subtract...
Gene - DUDE! you converted wrong!!!! 3000 yen is over 30 dollars!!
Brain - omg omg thats like a hundred dollars...
Gene - for three scarves?
Brain - dont forget the belt thing.
Gene - ?!?! you IDIOT
Brain - dude theres no time, either pay or run...
Gene - dude...
Brain - dude shes kinda cute... and she was really nice and helpful..
Gene - Oh really? she was helpful? what did she say to you?
Brain - but shes cute too...we kinda came too far...
Gene - Dude quit being such a dude.. we can jus....oh hey..pretty smile..
Brain - Thataboy...
And thats the story of how I hustled myself out of 100 dollars on some of the thinnest cloth you ever seen. This came not 72 hours after a friend told me to go to Japan and hustle THEM as much as I can. Ah well, at least they are soft scarves.
I continue walking..and I walk by this store with this jacket for girls sitting outside. Oh hey cool jacket. How much? 3,400 yen. Ok think real hard how much is that. Less than $40 dollars. Are we sure?...Ten minutes pass. Yes we are sure. Hey thats pretty good. What size is it? hmm... no size...ok take it inside and ask the shop owner what size, they understand small medium and stuff. I go inside and find the dude over the counter and he looks kinda scary until I start talking then he turns into a real nice guy.
Gene - um..excuse me.. size?
Guy - Ohhh size-o?? hashi moosen asheno ehn.. asennn herrookooki
Gene - uh..no japanese?
Guy - OOOOO no japaenese! ehh..no sizeo. vhan size..
Gene - oh one size? one size fits all? dude no way...
Guy - haii haii
Gene - i guess not then..i need to know the size.
Guy - oohhh, haii... eh..sohreee..
Gene - its ok..
So I go put the jacket up and I look at it again. Man I like this jacket. My friends come in all size, someone can fit this. I want it. I take the jacket back inside and try again.
Gene - um, you have no idea what size this is?
Guy - annoo.. haji ishi noonkeh hannteyoo (he is looking at and it really looks like he is trying to figure it out, nice guy)
Gene - ok um.. my friend..is like...this tall ( i make up a heigh with my hand) and.. about this wide.. (i just put my hands apart as if im about to clap)
Guy - ahh hai hai, asenihi oshen dattebayo horigan ishen ohren san k ai yo?
Gene - (oh he asked me a question i heard the accent go up) dude i have no idea what you just said (im shrugging like dude i duno)
Guy - ahh ahsen americano ahiishahe hajhaj yoo hahaha!
Gene - eh..(i point to my jeans) um.. jean size... maybe 3 in japan?
About ten minutes later over the top of some buildings I see what might be the top of the temple that Kevin was speaking of. Osu Kannon Temple. I make my way over there and have a look around. Its a pretty nice temple. You guys can check it out once I upload the pictures when I get back home. So I do the whole temple thing and I look over and see what looks like a few souvenir shops off to the side of the temple. So I was thinking oh cool, I could use some temple souvenirs for my fellow Buddhists back home. So I make my way over there and the first thing I see is a few restaurants. Hmmm...further in i assume. So I go in some more and see more and more stores selling stuff like clothes or tea pots and the like. Oh cool I thought to myself, a row of shops of some cool things. Not bad, let me walk further down and see what else there is and I`ll turn back around towards the temple area. I go down a little bit and I come to a fork in the road. To the left... restaurants and shops. To the right...more restaurants and shops. Which way? Um.. lets go right. I walk down right and another road of shops is revealed. Had to be over 50 shops on that road. i get to the end of the road and there is another road connected to it perpendicularly. I go left this time. This is more of a main street so it looks more normal with shops on both sides. I come to yet another street and go right once more. More shops. I figured the rows and rows of shops would end soon but it doesnt. I walk for what felt like forever and I just keep turning into more streets and more shops. Pretty soon I was completely lost in a spider web of shops. This place has everything you could possibly think of! Clothing store, shoe store, accessory store, pots and pans store, second hand shops, mom and pop shops, dvd store, game store, pachinko parlor, jacket store, glove store, underwear store, used anything store, scarves store... oh...speaking of the scarf store...
So I`m learning quickly that in Japan they advertise like crazy and store owners are always out in front of their stores screaming something out. I can only assume its good things about their stores to try and get you to come in. So as you walk down a street of stores all you hear is screaming in Japanese. Even quicker you will learn to ignore all this nonsense. So I`m walking through the streets and I walk past this store that only sold scarves. I keep walking.. almost past it....and then the girl working there comes out and yells something out in Japanese. I looked over and...she was kind of cute. Hmmm...let me...stop by the store real quick... to look at scarves of course. I step in and alot of English and Japanese exchange with no one having any idea what the other is talking about. But there are signs. So thats good. 3,000 yen a scarf. Hmm... 3,000 divided by 100, whats that like 3 dollars or so? Oh hey thats not bad at all, ill get like...3 of them, thats like ten, twelve dollars. No big deal. I know a few people that likes scarves anyways. We go through this long process of picking out these scarves and I finally settle on 3 of them. Cool, lets get out of here. But wait, very skillfully she upsells me a..belt for a scarf?? What the? She shows me how it works and its actually kinda cool. Ok ill take one of those too. Its only 477 yen..divided by 100...about 4, or 5 dollars? Not bad. Hmm...something doesnt feel right. Oh well. The exchange rate kinda sucks right now, its actually less than 100, its in the 80s but using the 100 scale gives it an approximation.
So she rings up the scarves and the total on the register said 9,500 yen. and I pull out a 10,000 yen bill. And then it clicks..
Brain - SON OF A.. 9,500 divided by 100..carry the 2... subtract...
Gene - DUDE! you converted wrong!!!! 3000 yen is over 30 dollars!!
Brain - omg omg thats like a hundred dollars...
Gene - for three scarves?
Brain - dont forget the belt thing.
Gene - ?!?! you IDIOT
Brain - dude theres no time, either pay or run...
Gene - dude...
Brain - dude shes kinda cute... and she was really nice and helpful..
Gene - Oh really? she was helpful? what did she say to you?
Brain - but shes cute too...we kinda came too far...
Gene - Dude quit being such a dude.. we can jus....oh hey..pretty smile..
Brain - Thataboy...
And thats the story of how I hustled myself out of 100 dollars on some of the thinnest cloth you ever seen. This came not 72 hours after a friend told me to go to Japan and hustle THEM as much as I can. Ah well, at least they are soft scarves.
I continue walking..and I walk by this store with this jacket for girls sitting outside. Oh hey cool jacket. How much? 3,400 yen. Ok think real hard how much is that. Less than $40 dollars. Are we sure?...Ten minutes pass. Yes we are sure. Hey thats pretty good. What size is it? hmm... no size...ok take it inside and ask the shop owner what size, they understand small medium and stuff. I go inside and find the dude over the counter and he looks kinda scary until I start talking then he turns into a real nice guy.
Gene - um..excuse me.. size?
Guy - Ohhh size-o?? hashi moosen asheno ehn.. asennn herrookooki
Gene - uh..no japanese?
Guy - OOOOO no japaenese! ehh..no sizeo. vhan size..
Gene - oh one size? one size fits all? dude no way...
Guy - haii haii
Gene - i guess not then..i need to know the size.
Guy - oohhh, haii... eh..sohreee..
Gene - its ok..
So I go put the jacket up and I look at it again. Man I like this jacket. My friends come in all size, someone can fit this. I want it. I take the jacket back inside and try again.
Gene - um, you have no idea what size this is?
Guy - annoo.. haji ishi noonkeh hannteyoo (he is looking at and it really looks like he is trying to figure it out, nice guy)
Gene - ok um.. my friend..is like...this tall ( i make up a heigh with my hand) and.. about this wide.. (i just put my hands apart as if im about to clap)
Guy - ahh hai hai, asenihi oshen dattebayo horigan ishen ohren san k ai yo?
Gene - (oh he asked me a question i heard the accent go up) dude i have no idea what you just said (im shrugging like dude i duno)
Guy - ahh ahsen americano ahiishahe hajhaj yoo hahaha!
Gene - eh..(i point to my jeans) um.. jean size... maybe 3 in japan?
Guy - OOOOO... 3... hasheyanong anenne ashen sikoyi da.. eh... hearriko.. ahasejkene
Gene - ok one more time.. um.. (i look to the side and see a shirt thats a size medium) dude..ok...this... is medium...
Guy - hai! medium!
Gene - ok if this...is medium... this jacket is.. small? or medium?
Guy - (light bulb goes of) AHHH!! smallruu.. mediumruuu!
Gene - Did you just say both sizes??!?!? come on man!! help me out!
Guy - hahahha ashenoyo hikori menokorekna sano kiayyyy hahha
Gene - yea i know right, tell me about it
Guy - ashenikak noya asen ko ya?
Gene - yea its cool, dont worry about it.
Guy - ikirishio anskea?
Gene - yea your probably right, ill take it.
Guy - haisne iilkio on saneyy
Gene - yea i kno i kno, true, itll probaly work.
Guy - hosenigonaga?
Gene - i have no idea why we keep talking to each other in our native languages either when its clear we have no idea what the other one is saying.
Guy - hai!
Gene - Arigato!
Guy - Arigato!
Walk out, jacket in bag. Not sure exactly what happened. I just know it was epic.
Later that night I was introduced to Japanese BBQ called yakiniku. Freakin A is was awesome. So damn good. We need to find a yakiniku place in Dallas or make one ourselves or something. The meal was epic. This was just an epic day. From hustling myself to my legendary conversation to dinner to everything.
Me and Kevin reflected on life at dinner too. Epic. Reliving our time back in the day when we used to roll together. Also epic. Deep conversations about life and love. Nothing gay I swear... EPIC
The Chronicles of Japania Day 2: Takin it Easy
I go to sleep about 3am the previous day and its freakin 6am and I`m already wide awake. Even half way around the world I can`t sleep correctly. YJ crashed with us last night and he and Kevin are still asleep like normal people. Check out time is at 9am so I got at least 2 and a half hours before anyone else gets up. Time to bust out the Ipod. Only one way to go...Taylor Swift.
Everyones finally up and we get on out of there. Head downstairs and had breakfast in the hotel lobby. It was alright. I ordered an orange juice for like 4 u.s dollars and it came in a shot glass. Fantastic. There was an item on the menu that read "Hawaiian Breakfast." The description said "spam, eggs and toast." Not a pineapple anywhere to be found I kid you not.
They decide to take me around Tokyo to see a few sights before me and Kevin head back to his city, Nagoya. Its an absolutely gorgeous day. The day before was really cold and rainy. Since YJ stayed with us he still has all his stuff with him so he is walking around the city with his long sleeve sweater, big jacket, and an umbrella in 75 degree weather and sunshine everywhere. Pretty damn funny. I hear a little about YJ`s story. Quite the interesting character. Korean dude that doesn`t even really wanna be Korean. See kiddos, not even Koreans wanna be Koreans. Life lessons.
Anyways after all the walking around they take me to a store called Bic Camera. Its like a giant electronic store. The thing is like 9 floors full of electronics and appliances and all sorts of crazy stuff. You can even purchase a Cambodian slave on the 7th floor. Its wild. So I wanted to get a camera in Japan and I`m looking through their stuff. A little disappointed as most of the stuff I saw was available in the U.S. But I did see this one that looked pretty badass. A bit pricey but I was like screw it I want it. Now... I think there was something like 150 different cameras on that floor... and 149 of them had the option to turn the menu into english. Guess which one I chose? Yea, total wackness.
No camera for me. Head to the train station ready to head to Nagoya. Said our goodbyes to YJ and hop on the bullet train. The train ride is about 2 hours long. Not to bad at all. Halfway into the trip though I go to my bag to get my Ipod out and...no ipod anywhere. Damnit i left it at the hotel. This sucks.
Kevin - dont worry ill call the hotel when we get back and they will send your stuff to my apartment
Gene - seriously? they do that?
Kevin - yea why wouldnt they?
Gene - i dunno? that wouldnt happen back in the states man. all the maids there are black or mexican. thats a christmas present for the family right there dude.
Kevin - dude its Japan, there are no mexicans and if they find it theyll keep it for you.
Gene - wow...no mexicans....
Before we get to the apartment he takes me to the 7-11 convenient store. Man they are OFF the chains. They got everything in there. Like an entire section of Japanese food, like real Japanese food! Noodles and ramen and soba and hot buns and hot soup and rice. It was amazing.
Anyways, we wrap up the day with dinner a bit later and I pass out. Pretty tired. Was a long two days. Nothing too too interesting today but Day 3 is pretty epic.
p.s. - even in Japan the bathrooms smell like doo doo. I half expected it to smell like potpurri all the time or something... i dunno.
PREVIEW FOR DAY 3 - I hustle myself out of $100 and a legendary conversation.
Everyones finally up and we get on out of there. Head downstairs and had breakfast in the hotel lobby. It was alright. I ordered an orange juice for like 4 u.s dollars and it came in a shot glass. Fantastic. There was an item on the menu that read "Hawaiian Breakfast." The description said "spam, eggs and toast." Not a pineapple anywhere to be found I kid you not.
They decide to take me around Tokyo to see a few sights before me and Kevin head back to his city, Nagoya. Its an absolutely gorgeous day. The day before was really cold and rainy. Since YJ stayed with us he still has all his stuff with him so he is walking around the city with his long sleeve sweater, big jacket, and an umbrella in 75 degree weather and sunshine everywhere. Pretty damn funny. I hear a little about YJ`s story. Quite the interesting character. Korean dude that doesn`t even really wanna be Korean. See kiddos, not even Koreans wanna be Koreans. Life lessons.
Anyways after all the walking around they take me to a store called Bic Camera. Its like a giant electronic store. The thing is like 9 floors full of electronics and appliances and all sorts of crazy stuff. You can even purchase a Cambodian slave on the 7th floor. Its wild. So I wanted to get a camera in Japan and I`m looking through their stuff. A little disappointed as most of the stuff I saw was available in the U.S. But I did see this one that looked pretty badass. A bit pricey but I was like screw it I want it. Now... I think there was something like 150 different cameras on that floor... and 149 of them had the option to turn the menu into english. Guess which one I chose? Yea, total wackness.
No camera for me. Head to the train station ready to head to Nagoya. Said our goodbyes to YJ and hop on the bullet train. The train ride is about 2 hours long. Not to bad at all. Halfway into the trip though I go to my bag to get my Ipod out and...no ipod anywhere. Damnit i left it at the hotel. This sucks.
Kevin - dont worry ill call the hotel when we get back and they will send your stuff to my apartment
Gene - seriously? they do that?
Kevin - yea why wouldnt they?
Gene - i dunno? that wouldnt happen back in the states man. all the maids there are black or mexican. thats a christmas present for the family right there dude.
Kevin - dude its Japan, there are no mexicans and if they find it theyll keep it for you.
Gene - wow...no mexicans....
Before we get to the apartment he takes me to the 7-11 convenient store. Man they are OFF the chains. They got everything in there. Like an entire section of Japanese food, like real Japanese food! Noodles and ramen and soba and hot buns and hot soup and rice. It was amazing.
Anyways, we wrap up the day with dinner a bit later and I pass out. Pretty tired. Was a long two days. Nothing too too interesting today but Day 3 is pretty epic.
p.s. - even in Japan the bathrooms smell like doo doo. I half expected it to smell like potpurri all the time or something... i dunno.
PREVIEW FOR DAY 3 - I hustle myself out of $100 and a legendary conversation.
Monday, December 14, 2009
The Chronicles of Japania Day 1: Arrival
Day 1: Arrival
So i arrive in at the airport in Tokyo and all is well. Went through customs and it was pretty much a painless process. Took a good 45 minutes to get through everything. These people like to bow...alot. Anyways i get out through the terminal and start looking for Kevin. Dude is nowhere to be found. I walk back and forth and finally decided he stood me up. I go to a pay phone and make my very first purchase in Japan. I buy a phone card for 1000 yen. Machine popped out a card, i stuck it into the phone and called him. No answer. Hmm... where is this dude. Call him again, he picks up this time hallelujah. Hes not there yet!! He been waiting for me for ten years to get to Japan and dude gonna be late. Seriously. He said he will be there in a second and all of a sudden i hear his voice echoing. Dude is running up the escalator right next to the phone booth. MY NIGGA!!! Um... many many manly homeboy hugs ensue. ANYWAYS moving on...
We hop on the train and headed back to the hotel. He is in Tokyo for business so his company put him up for the weekend. Free room, sweet. We get there and its bigger than I thought it would be in Japan. Anyways, we kick it for awhile and then we head out to dinner. Kevin has a couple friends that are gonna meet us up. We head to..Shibuya was it? one of the busiest cities in Tokyo. Was pretty sweet. People everywhere. We get off at the station and Kevin points out the busiest starbucks in the world in the middle of Shibuya. So we meet up Kevin`s two friends. A guy named YJK. Yea the dudes name is 3 letters. Y J K. pretty freakin awesome. Real chill guy. We call him YJ. Korean dude with endless stories. and then we meet another guy nicknamed "Seku." I won`t tell you what that nickname means. But he is a really nice guy and he actually went to UNT in Denton for 4 years way back when. Anyways he says to me:
Seku- eh..i..fohget...engrish...how...are you?
Gene- oh, its cool, im good im good. thank you
Kevin- ha, thats funny, just wait.
Gene- wait for what?
Kevin- *smug smile* just wait.
YJs english is very good so now problems there. We begin walking, headed to dinner. They wanted to start me off with a nice Japanese experience so they take me to a "Izakaya" style dinner. Its where you sit on the floor around a table order a bunch of appetizer type food to eat and drink some beers and have a good time. Its like family style eating. It was pretty awesome. At this point, Seku and Kevin are at like... 8 beers already. I`m quite a few behind them since I didnt wanna overdo it, I had been up for about 23 straight hours from when I left Dallas at that point. A few more people arrive and join us so we all kinda have our little side convos. I was talking to Kevin then all of a sudden...
Gene - man so talk to me bro hows everything
Kevin - its good man its good, im doing well at my job everythings good.
Gene - thats good to hear yo
Kevin - yea yea, how about you? hows home?
Gene - man you know how it is.. same ol stuff back there... everyone looking for a job and all that
Kevin - man i hear ya..
Seku: So with the economy struggling as it is,how does your government plan to avert this problem facing America. Any stimulus package or something of the sort in the works?
Gene: well the thing is... wait what?
I look around kind of confused and i look to Kevin. Dude is laughing his ass off.
Gene- dude did you just speak perfect english to me?
Seku - haha! i dont know? i... i am not sure! more beer???
Gene - ....
Kevin - hahahaha, i told you to wait for it man. dudes english is unstoppable when he is drunk.
Gene - dooode
Kevin - dude, you good? you gotta be tired...
Gene - Im good man, i think i can go another 3 or 4 more hours.
So we all start telling stories and just chilling and somehow we started talking about black people. Oh yes. I had plenty to say. Black girls specifically and the amount of hatred I have for them. YJ agrees, he is very knowing of the black girls way in the states. Evident by his constant finger snapping, head waiving and saying "OOOKKKKKK" oh yes, my kind of guy, he knows. So i tell the gay black guy vs. black girl story I experienced back home and most are quite impressed with my gay guy/black girl impressions. But Im not sure YJ knew what i was doing as he was still in the background head shaking finger wagging to no one in particular. He knows. My nigga.
3 to 4 hours have elapsed...
Kevin: dude man.. you been up for like.. 27 hours or something, you good? we can head back..
Gene - whenever man, im cool. im good for another 3-4 more hours...
Kevin - dude you said that 3 hours ago...
Gene - ...... sweet...
Kevin - sweeet
So now we are all done with dinner and about to head back and we say our goodbyes to most everyone and head out. YJ brought out a girl that he wanted to introduce to Kevin..Seemed like they got along pretty well. Then i accidentally told the story were everyone in texas thought Kevin was gay until recently... i swear it was an accident, Kevin not happy. So we start heading back but Seku wants just one more drink. So we head down to an irish pub kinda deal and he gets a drink while we pretty much wait for him. We finish up and head back to the hotel, I`m almost at 30 hours straight now.. time for some rest
ODD CONVO OF THE DAY
Ok so in that pub we were at... this weird older white guy just randomly comes up to Kevin and starts talking to him. Just out of nowhere. He is from the states. Anyways they talk foreevverrrr...
Guy - *small talk small talk small talk*
Kevin - *fake responses fake responses*
this goes on for a good 15 minutes...and then..
Guy - So what do you think of this whole kidnapping thing going on in Japan?
Kevin - uh... what?
Guy - yea man kidnapping
Kevin - oo..k.. hey listen i gotta..
Guy - So i was in Japan years ago and I had a baby with a Japanese woman here. And guess what she did? She took my kid and left. Just kidnapped him man. I mean I`m the kids father. Its ridiculous.
Kevin - oh.. well.. hey my friends are..
Guy - So i went back home for awhile..then i was like you know what.. im gonna go back to Japan...and I`m gonna find my kid no matter what.
Kevin - um...your in a bar... i dont think your kid is here..
Guy - Yea i was here yesterday too, it was kinda dead...
Kevin - hey my friends have left already, their all waiting for me outside..im gonna go...
Guy - ok man ill be here tomorrow too if you wanna come out here and get a drink...
Kevin - o.. yea..no...
Guy - Later bro!!
Awesome day 1.
Preview for day 2: The camera fiasco and lost ipod...(yes, already)
So i arrive in at the airport in Tokyo and all is well. Went through customs and it was pretty much a painless process. Took a good 45 minutes to get through everything. These people like to bow...alot. Anyways i get out through the terminal and start looking for Kevin. Dude is nowhere to be found. I walk back and forth and finally decided he stood me up. I go to a pay phone and make my very first purchase in Japan. I buy a phone card for 1000 yen. Machine popped out a card, i stuck it into the phone and called him. No answer. Hmm... where is this dude. Call him again, he picks up this time hallelujah. Hes not there yet!! He been waiting for me for ten years to get to Japan and dude gonna be late. Seriously. He said he will be there in a second and all of a sudden i hear his voice echoing. Dude is running up the escalator right next to the phone booth. MY NIGGA!!! Um... many many manly homeboy hugs ensue. ANYWAYS moving on...
We hop on the train and headed back to the hotel. He is in Tokyo for business so his company put him up for the weekend. Free room, sweet. We get there and its bigger than I thought it would be in Japan. Anyways, we kick it for awhile and then we head out to dinner. Kevin has a couple friends that are gonna meet us up. We head to..Shibuya was it? one of the busiest cities in Tokyo. Was pretty sweet. People everywhere. We get off at the station and Kevin points out the busiest starbucks in the world in the middle of Shibuya. So we meet up Kevin`s two friends. A guy named YJK. Yea the dudes name is 3 letters. Y J K. pretty freakin awesome. Real chill guy. We call him YJ. Korean dude with endless stories. and then we meet another guy nicknamed "Seku." I won`t tell you what that nickname means. But he is a really nice guy and he actually went to UNT in Denton for 4 years way back when. Anyways he says to me:
Seku- eh..i..fohget...engrish...how.
Gene- oh, its cool, im good im good. thank you
Kevin- ha, thats funny, just wait.
Gene- wait for what?
Kevin- *smug smile* just wait.
YJs english is very good so now problems there. We begin walking, headed to dinner. They wanted to start me off with a nice Japanese experience so they take me to a "Izakaya" style dinner. Its where you sit on the floor around a table order a bunch of appetizer type food to eat and drink some beers and have a good time. Its like family style eating. It was pretty awesome. At this point, Seku and Kevin are at like... 8 beers already. I`m quite a few behind them since I didnt wanna overdo it, I had been up for about 23 straight hours from when I left Dallas at that point. A few more people arrive and join us so we all kinda have our little side convos. I was talking to Kevin then all of a sudden...
Gene - man so talk to me bro hows everything
Kevin - its good man its good, im doing well at my job everythings good.
Gene - thats good to hear yo
Kevin - yea yea, how about you? hows home?
Gene - man you know how it is.. same ol stuff back there... everyone looking for a job and all that
Kevin - man i hear ya..
Seku: So with the economy struggling as it is,how does your government plan to avert this problem facing America. Any stimulus package or something of the sort in the works?
Gene: well the thing is... wait what?
I look around kind of confused and i look to Kevin. Dude is laughing his ass off.
Gene- dude did you just speak perfect english to me?
Seku - haha! i dont know? i... i am not sure! more beer???
Gene - ....
Kevin - hahahaha, i told you to wait for it man. dudes english is unstoppable when he is drunk.
Gene - dooode
Kevin - dude, you good? you gotta be tired...
Gene - Im good man, i think i can go another 3 or 4 more hours.
So we all start telling stories and just chilling and somehow we started talking about black people. Oh yes. I had plenty to say. Black girls specifically and the amount of hatred I have for them. YJ agrees, he is very knowing of the black girls way in the states. Evident by his constant finger snapping, head waiving and saying "OOOKKKKKK" oh yes, my kind of guy, he knows. So i tell the gay black guy vs. black girl story I experienced back home and most are quite impressed with my gay guy/black girl impressions. But Im not sure YJ knew what i was doing as he was still in the background head shaking finger wagging to no one in particular. He knows. My nigga.
3 to 4 hours have elapsed...
Kevin: dude man.. you been up for like.. 27 hours or something, you good? we can head back..
Gene - whenever man, im cool. im good for another 3-4 more hours...
Kevin - dude you said that 3 hours ago...
Gene - ...... sweet...
Kevin - sweeet
So now we are all done with dinner and about to head back and we say our goodbyes to most everyone and head out. YJ brought out a girl that he wanted to introduce to Kevin..Seemed like they got along pretty well. Then i accidentally told the story were everyone in texas thought Kevin was gay until recently... i swear it was an accident, Kevin not happy. So we start heading back but Seku wants just one more drink. So we head down to an irish pub kinda deal and he gets a drink while we pretty much wait for him. We finish up and head back to the hotel, I`m almost at 30 hours straight now.. time for some rest
ODD CONVO OF THE DAY
Ok so in that pub we were at... this weird older white guy just randomly comes up to Kevin and starts talking to him. Just out of nowhere. He is from the states. Anyways they talk foreevverrrr...
Guy - *small talk small talk small talk*
Kevin - *fake responses fake responses*
this goes on for a good 15 minutes...and then..
Guy - So what do you think of this whole kidnapping thing going on in Japan?
Kevin - uh... what?
Guy - yea man kidnapping
Kevin - oo..k.. hey listen i gotta..
Guy - So i was in Japan years ago and I had a baby with a Japanese woman here. And guess what she did? She took my kid and left. Just kidnapped him man. I mean I`m the kids father. Its ridiculous.
Kevin - oh.. well.. hey my friends are..
Guy - So i went back home for awhile..then i was like you know what.. im gonna go back to Japan...and I`m gonna find my kid no matter what.
Kevin - um...your in a bar... i dont think your kid is here..
Guy - Yea i was here yesterday too, it was kinda dead...
Kevin - hey my friends have left already, their all waiting for me outside..im gonna go...
Guy - ok man ill be here tomorrow too if you wanna come out here and get a drink...
Kevin - o.. yea..no...
Guy - Later bro!!
Awesome day 1.
Preview for day 2: The camera fiasco and lost ipod...(yes, already)
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
curious..
Got to talking with a friend about relationships and whatnot and it got me thinking about what we talked about. Well we talked about a little of everything as far as relationships goes including just about every cliche in the book. "Guys are all assholes" came up alot. I don't dispute that. I'm losing more and more faith in my species. Not to saying you girls are just flawless. I could right a book on you guys but thats for another time. Yet those "assholes" got all the girls. Curious much. You hear that all the time right? "the asshole always gets the girl" and "the good guy finishes last." Those two go hand in hand. You always hear girls saying something like "I wish I could just find a decent guy." Please. They don't want that. They already have that. They can get that anytime they want. In fact, its pretty much guaranteed that 2 or 3 "good guys" are after any given girl at any given time. But what do they end up with? The Asshole of course. Its uncanny how often this happens. The handful of decent guys left in the world just cringed cause they know all too well. We literally see it all the time and just about everyone has wondered why the heck that is. Who knows! There have been a multitude of theories out there. You can pick and choose which one you think is right. I sure as heck can't figure it out. Why does the following conversation seem to happen all too much. Every, and i mean EVERY single one of you has been through this or knows someone thats been through this.
Girl A: Hey girl, hows it going with you and Timmy Perfect on Paper?
Girl B: *sigh* um... I don't know. It's ok I guess?? I just don't know about him...
Girl A: What do you mean you don't know? The guy is like perfect in almost every way.
Girl B: yeaaaaaaaa.. buttt...
Girl A: But what?? You guys get along so well, he has a great job, he makes good money, he takes care of his whole family, he's very educated, he loves you more than anything in the world, he would do ANYTHING for you, he puts you ahead of everything... even Tom Brady for crying out loud. And as a bonus he can even cook a little. What more can you ask for?
Girl A: I knowwwwwww... but... there's Johnny...
Girl B: What? You mean Johnny Dumbfuck?! Are you serious??
Girl A: *dreamy eyed smile* but i loveee himmmm
Girl B: What's wrong with you?? The guys a dead beat, doesn't even care about you, all he does is party, and he puts every single one of his friends before you. Besides that, he treats you like crap!
Girl A: *staring into space* but i loovee himmmmm..
Girl B: .........
Seriously. Happens way to much. The battle between Timmy Perfect On Paper and Johnny Dumbfuck rages on. Timmy your a great guy... but you got your work cut out for ya. Wait a minute...What if there existed a more balanced guy?? A cross between said Mr. Paper and Senor Dumbfuck. That would be the perfect guy wouldn't it be ladies? I don't know man. Becareful what you wish for. If you combine Timmy Perfect On Paper and Johnny Dumbfuck, you might end up with Jimmy Perfect Dumbfuck. I guess we can't win.
bummer
gt
Girl A: Hey girl, hows it going with you and Timmy Perfect on Paper?
Girl B: *sigh* um... I don't know. It's ok I guess?? I just don't know about him...
Girl A: What do you mean you don't know? The guy is like perfect in almost every way.
Girl B: yeaaaaaaaa.. buttt...
Girl A: But what?? You guys get along so well, he has a great job, he makes good money, he takes care of his whole family, he's very educated, he loves you more than anything in the world, he would do ANYTHING for you, he puts you ahead of everything... even Tom Brady for crying out loud. And as a bonus he can even cook a little. What more can you ask for?
Girl A: I knowwwwwww... but... there's Johnny...
Girl B: What? You mean Johnny Dumbfuck?! Are you serious??
Girl A: *dreamy eyed smile* but i loveee himmmm
Girl B: What's wrong with you?? The guys a dead beat, doesn't even care about you, all he does is party, and he puts every single one of his friends before you. Besides that, he treats you like crap!
Girl A: *staring into space* but i loovee himmmmm..
Girl B: .........
Seriously. Happens way to much. The battle between Timmy Perfect On Paper and Johnny Dumbfuck rages on. Timmy your a great guy... but you got your work cut out for ya. Wait a minute...What if there existed a more balanced guy?? A cross between said Mr. Paper and Senor Dumbfuck. That would be the perfect guy wouldn't it be ladies? I don't know man. Becareful what you wish for. If you combine Timmy Perfect On Paper and Johnny Dumbfuck, you might end up with Jimmy Perfect Dumbfuck. I guess we can't win.
bummer
gt
Sunday, June 7, 2009
i got nothin
Seriously, the whole reason I even started this blog was because I had quite a people tell me that my opinions on all matters in life would make for some great writings. And yea i started to think it was a good idea as there in fact were many things that I have strong opinions about. Picking a topic I thought would be the least of my worries. Couple months into this blog and I can't find anything to talk about. I still can't. Blanked out so bad lately I even posted a queer ass entry which has since been deleted. Oh well. I even missed my NBA finals blog. The finals has since started so I won't visit that. Which is good since I don't want to do too much sports anyways. For now I'll go rapid fire random thoughts. 1-50 in no particular order. Here we go.
1. mamba mode
2. one more again
3. vesperia
4. can you stop the unstoppable?
5. awesometerrificness
6. scofield
7. two words for you
8. you are out of control
9. what kind of phone is that
10. 7
11. 13
12. yo yo
13. hado-ken
14. cilantro and lime
15. i don't get it
16. in the roof
17. i can't sleep
18. let's go
19. you can have whatever you like
20. it is what it is, isnt it?
21. im running out of random thoughts already
22. make the call
23. spoofee
24. 24
25. thats just too much attitude
26. dylon, dylon, dylon, dylon... and dylon
27. years old
28. a beer
30. dont worry about it
31. hautelook
32. dissidia
33. i see you like to chew...
34. jvg
35. i got you
36. chilissssssssss baby back ribssss
37. gold chocobo
38. what number are we on?
39. is the answer to the question in another question?
40. shattered
41. exp points? or ap points?
42. this can't be life
43. shoot the j
44. soft!!!
45. why won't my rechargeable batteries charge..
46. just relax, i got it
47. get money, get paid, oh rah
48. rawr
49. im better
50. straight cash homey
1. mamba mode
2. one more again
3. vesperia
4. can you stop the unstoppable?
5. awesometerrificness
6. scofield
7. two words for you
8. you are out of control
9. what kind of phone is that
10. 7
11. 13
12. yo yo
13. hado-ken
14. cilantro and lime
15. i don't get it
16. in the roof
17. i can't sleep
18. let's go
19. you can have whatever you like
20. it is what it is, isnt it?
21. im running out of random thoughts already
22. make the call
23. spoofee
24. 24
25. thats just too much attitude
26. dylon, dylon, dylon, dylon... and dylon
27. years old
28. a beer
30. dont worry about it
31. hautelook
32. dissidia
33. i see you like to chew...
34. jvg
35. i got you
36. chilissssssssss baby back ribssss
37. gold chocobo
38. what number are we on?
39. is the answer to the question in another question?
40. shattered
41. exp points? or ap points?
42. this can't be life
43. shoot the j
44. soft!!!
45. why won't my rechargeable batteries charge..
46. just relax, i got it
47. get money, get paid, oh rah
48. rawr
49. im better
50. straight cash homey
Monday, May 11, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
jeanius
Sudden obsession with jeans. Jeezums its a terrible addiction man. How did this all come about anyways? Let me take you back to a night once upon a time...
I don't even really remember what we were doing that night. Just remembered we were going out somewhere with a couple of friends. I had picked up a friend and went on to meet another friend. Soon as a stepped out of the car...
Me: Hey..whats up
Friend: NEW JEANS!!!!!!!
Me: Huh!? Wha?! Whats going on?!
Friend: YOU GOT NEW JEANS!!!
Me: Dang... how did you know so fast?? its dark out here!
Friend: Dude seriously?? you got like...3 pairs total.
Me: Dang why you gotta call me out like that??
Friend: You only wear like one pair dude, and its not that one.. SO ITS NEW!!
Me: Crap maybe i should get some new jeans..
Friend: uh YEA you should, i got like 60 pairs
Me: 60!?! i bet you only wear like 5 of em huh...
Friend: Don't hate
So that started it all. I set out to have more jeans. Started out as an amateur and rightfully so, picking up some ok jeans here and there. But something was missing.. what was it? Baller jeans, duh. And since I'm a self proclaimed baller anyway, might as well go for it. Ended up at a far away place that had some pretty ballerific jeans...
Friend: Dude, gotta get some man.
Me: Na man.. a bit out of my league, not used to spending this much on jeans.
Friend: Dude, feel these. Feel how soft they are.
Me: Whats the big deal, its just a pair of j... ....oh my. These ARE soft.
Friend: Try them on yo.
And that was that. The beginning of an era. So it began. Now i had some guidlines to go by courtesy of my jeans mentor. Softness, comfort, wash and fit. Got em coach. I got it. But I was still young and not experienced enough and still had alot to learn.
Me: Sifu, Sifu. How about these?
Sifu: *backhand slap* Have I taught you nothing? Feel the texture of those. Smell the poor materials that they are made of. Out of my sight!
But I perservered. Trying to get better and better everyday. Only way to get better? Buy more jeans of course. And so i did. Not to long ago my closet had nary an option as far as jeans go. Now? I actually have some sort of choice. And the addiction isn't slowing down. More, More! MORE!
Me: SIFU! I got you these! what do you think??
Sifu: hmm, eh. Not bad. These are ok, do away with these.
Sifu would never say it, but Sifu was proud. I could tell.
All this accumulated to last night when I was trying on my latest pair at home. Seriously, they were softer than a swimming pool full of named brand marshmallows. Called for my cousin...
Me: Dude, come check out these jeans. FEEL THEM!
Cousin: ZOMG, so soft!!
Me: I know! What you think? Look alright?
Cousin: Dude.. what the hell man? Your..hot?
Me: What??
Cousin: Na, dude...like.. the girl kind of hot. Those jeans make your ass look better. Your... gay.
Me: *raises hand in victory as my cousin walks out of my room*
I follow her to her room.
Me: EH? EH? EH?
Cousin: Your such a chick. My cousin is a homo. Get out of my room
Me: Don't hate me cause I'm beautiful.
til next time kiddos
gt
I don't even really remember what we were doing that night. Just remembered we were going out somewhere with a couple of friends. I had picked up a friend and went on to meet another friend. Soon as a stepped out of the car...
Me: Hey..whats up
Friend: NEW JEANS!!!!!!!
Me: Huh!? Wha?! Whats going on?!
Friend: YOU GOT NEW JEANS!!!
Me: Dang... how did you know so fast?? its dark out here!
Friend: Dude seriously?? you got like...3 pairs total.
Me: Dang why you gotta call me out like that??
Friend: You only wear like one pair dude, and its not that one.. SO ITS NEW!!
Me: Crap maybe i should get some new jeans..
Friend: uh YEA you should, i got like 60 pairs
Me: 60!?! i bet you only wear like 5 of em huh...
Friend: Don't hate
So that started it all. I set out to have more jeans. Started out as an amateur and rightfully so, picking up some ok jeans here and there. But something was missing.. what was it? Baller jeans, duh. And since I'm a self proclaimed baller anyway, might as well go for it. Ended up at a far away place that had some pretty ballerific jeans...
Friend: Dude, gotta get some man.
Me: Na man.. a bit out of my league, not used to spending this much on jeans.
Friend: Dude, feel these. Feel how soft they are.
Me: Whats the big deal, its just a pair of j... ....oh my. These ARE soft.
Friend: Try them on yo.
And that was that. The beginning of an era. So it began. Now i had some guidlines to go by courtesy of my jeans mentor. Softness, comfort, wash and fit. Got em coach. I got it. But I was still young and not experienced enough and still had alot to learn.
Me: Sifu, Sifu. How about these?
Sifu: *backhand slap* Have I taught you nothing? Feel the texture of those. Smell the poor materials that they are made of. Out of my sight!
But I perservered. Trying to get better and better everyday. Only way to get better? Buy more jeans of course. And so i did. Not to long ago my closet had nary an option as far as jeans go. Now? I actually have some sort of choice. And the addiction isn't slowing down. More, More! MORE!
Me: SIFU! I got you these! what do you think??
Sifu: hmm, eh. Not bad. These are ok, do away with these.
Sifu would never say it, but Sifu was proud. I could tell.
All this accumulated to last night when I was trying on my latest pair at home. Seriously, they were softer than a swimming pool full of named brand marshmallows. Called for my cousin...
Me: Dude, come check out these jeans. FEEL THEM!
Cousin: ZOMG, so soft!!
Me: I know! What you think? Look alright?
Cousin: Dude.. what the hell man? Your..hot?
Me: What??
Cousin: Na, dude...like.. the girl kind of hot. Those jeans make your ass look better. Your... gay.
Me: *raises hand in victory as my cousin walks out of my room*
I follow her to her room.
Me: EH? EH? EH?
Cousin: Your such a chick. My cousin is a homo. Get out of my room
Me: Don't hate me cause I'm beautiful.
til next time kiddos
gt
Friday, April 17, 2009
NBA Playoff Predictions Part 2
Now on to the Eastern Conference. I'll do this one a little bit different than the west. Just gonna break down the team and their chances of reaching the finals. Here we go.
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers
I guess Lebron James really is that good. This team is trash to me. I just don't understand that they are this good. But they have the best record in the league and have an unbelievable home court advantage. They should reach the east finals with relative ease with KG seemingly out of the picture. But this team isn't just perfect. Their main competitors are the Lakers and the Celtics. The Lakers best player is Kobe Bryant, their second best is Pau Gasol and their third is maybe Lamar Odom. The Celtics best player is Paul Pierce, second is Ray Allen, and if healthy their third best is Keven Garnett. Not bad. But what about the Cavs? Obviously Lebron is their best player, but their second best player is...Mo Williams? More power to you if you Cavs fan trust him to be your second best player. What about your third best player? Sideshow Bob? Do they even have a third player on that team? Their third best player is probably Lebron James' penis. It's huge. Don't ask me how i know that. I heard that as a kid when he played hockey, he used it as his hockey stick. No joke. I still think this team reaches the east finals as they have the easier route of both Boston and Orlando, they only gotta play one of them. But we'll see what happens if this team is faced with a little adversity and a little pressure.
MVP through the playoffs - Lebron James, duh
Xfactor - Lebron James' penis, duh
No. 2 Boston Celtics
KG and his knee kind of took the drama out of this one. They were decimated by the Cavs at the end of the year and they don't have the home court this year. Little reason to think Cavs won't take this series IF they meet. Big if as if they both advance, Boston has Dwight Howard and company to deal with. But don't count them out just yet. They still have The Truth Paul Pierce. Over the last 2 years he has definitley propelled himself into the top 3 or 4 of most clutch players. He can take over a series as he showed you in last years finals. So you know there are still things the Celtics will do to give them a chance. Paul Pierce will hit the clutch shot, Jesus will J you in your grill if you let him breathe, and Rajon Rondo will keep doing his fake behind the back pass in the paint that will lead to something or another. How will the Celtic bigs man the paint? Time will tell.
MVP through the playoffs - Paul Pierce
Xfactor - Rajon Rondo
No. 3 Orlando Magic
Gotta love this team cause you gotta love Dwight Howard. Superman is in the building. Dudes a beast but is he really ready to carry a team on his shoulders alone? It would appear he is not. It will take him doing what he does and the rest of his capable squad to do what they do in order for this team to advance. I think without KG Orlando will dispatch Boston in 6 or 7 games in the second round and get a date with Lebron James and his crew of rejects. I think Orlando CAN win vs Cleveland but I don't think they will. This time next year I'll take Orlando in a heartbeat if they got the same team more or less. This year... one series short.
MVP through the playoffs - Dwight Howard
Xfactor - Rafer Alston
No 4. Atlanta Hawks
Can they really build upon what they did last year? I really can't tell. If they win the first round they will be rewarded with a matchup with the top seeded Cavaliers. I really don't know what this team is gonna do. And when i say that I mean i don't know if they will take the cavs to 6 or 7 or just get swept. I don't think they will lose the first round even against Dwyane Wade. Seriously he is just ONE guy. Ill take the Hawks round one but no further. Althought I would LOVE to see it go further. Their a fun bunch. Should keep getting better.
MVP through the playoffs - Joe Johnson
Xfactor - Josh Smith
No 5. Miami Heat
Dwyane Wade can only do so much although he has shown he is absolutley incredible. But Atlanta has too much talen at too many positions and this team is chalk full of rookies and nobodies. Beasley hasn't shown me a thing this year but should improve in the coming years. Chalmers is still a kid playing a mans game although he has done well. I don't really trust him. Wade will carry this team, and if they advance it will be soley on his shoulders alone. Don't get me wrong, I would not be surprised if he averaged 43 in this series and wins it by himself. I just don't think it will happen. He does have a chance to do it because no player in the NBA is allowed to travel more than Dwyane Wade. More than a few times this year I've seen him come down court, kill his dribble at the three point line, do a spin move and dunk the ball. I kid you not. The NBA, where amazing happens.
MVP through the playoffs - Dwyane Wade
Xfactor - Dwyane Wade
No. 6 Philadelphia 76ers
Is there a team in the league that anyone cares less about than this team? I don't think so either. Honestly i don't know too much about this team. I know their fairly tough and their series with Orlando might be closer than some may think. The sixers tend to stick around close til the end and let the new AI do something crazy. Works out sometimes believe it or not.
MVP Through the playoffs - Andre Iguodola
Xfactor - man i dont know...
No 7. Chicago Bulls
A fun and exciting team to watch because of The Chosen One. You already know who. In due time, he may very well take this league over. Only a matter of time before King's ankles become a victim of the Red Rose. But its not his time just yet. This team really doesn't have an identity. What do they do? Don't really know. They have some talented forwards that play hard but I don't know if anyone of them will amount to even an all star. Kirk Hinrich needs more credit. An excellent combo guard that can shoot, score, finish and defend. They need him this series. Maybe if he and Rose are on their game the same night they can steal one from the Celtics. Maybe without KG there might be some matchup problems but Boston should still come through. Bulls fans should be excited about the future...or very scared of what their front office might do. But you still have The Chosen One. Bless that young man.
MVP through the playoffs - Kirk Hinrich
Xfactor - Tyrus Thomas
No. 8 Detroit Pistons
If the Bulls don't have an identity then this team is straight up lost in purgatory. I REALLY don't know what they do and still don't know what the big fuss is over Rodney Stuckey. Not impressed. If they got one thing going for them is Detroit and Cleveland have a bit of a rivalry. Would be great if they could make a series out of it. Won't believe it til i see it though. Good luck agains that giant penis.
MVP through the playoffs - Richard Hamilton
Xfactor - Rasheed Wallace
I'll write about the finals when it comes around just in case my teams that I picked don't get there haha. Right now I got the Lakers and Cavs going at it. More on this in June
til next time
gt
No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers
I guess Lebron James really is that good. This team is trash to me. I just don't understand that they are this good. But they have the best record in the league and have an unbelievable home court advantage. They should reach the east finals with relative ease with KG seemingly out of the picture. But this team isn't just perfect. Their main competitors are the Lakers and the Celtics. The Lakers best player is Kobe Bryant, their second best is Pau Gasol and their third is maybe Lamar Odom. The Celtics best player is Paul Pierce, second is Ray Allen, and if healthy their third best is Keven Garnett. Not bad. But what about the Cavs? Obviously Lebron is their best player, but their second best player is...Mo Williams? More power to you if you Cavs fan trust him to be your second best player. What about your third best player? Sideshow Bob? Do they even have a third player on that team? Their third best player is probably Lebron James' penis. It's huge. Don't ask me how i know that. I heard that as a kid when he played hockey, he used it as his hockey stick. No joke. I still think this team reaches the east finals as they have the easier route of both Boston and Orlando, they only gotta play one of them. But we'll see what happens if this team is faced with a little adversity and a little pressure.
MVP through the playoffs - Lebron James, duh
Xfactor - Lebron James' penis, duh
No. 2 Boston Celtics
KG and his knee kind of took the drama out of this one. They were decimated by the Cavs at the end of the year and they don't have the home court this year. Little reason to think Cavs won't take this series IF they meet. Big if as if they both advance, Boston has Dwight Howard and company to deal with. But don't count them out just yet. They still have The Truth Paul Pierce. Over the last 2 years he has definitley propelled himself into the top 3 or 4 of most clutch players. He can take over a series as he showed you in last years finals. So you know there are still things the Celtics will do to give them a chance. Paul Pierce will hit the clutch shot, Jesus will J you in your grill if you let him breathe, and Rajon Rondo will keep doing his fake behind the back pass in the paint that will lead to something or another. How will the Celtic bigs man the paint? Time will tell.
MVP through the playoffs - Paul Pierce
Xfactor - Rajon Rondo
No. 3 Orlando Magic
Gotta love this team cause you gotta love Dwight Howard. Superman is in the building. Dudes a beast but is he really ready to carry a team on his shoulders alone? It would appear he is not. It will take him doing what he does and the rest of his capable squad to do what they do in order for this team to advance. I think without KG Orlando will dispatch Boston in 6 or 7 games in the second round and get a date with Lebron James and his crew of rejects. I think Orlando CAN win vs Cleveland but I don't think they will. This time next year I'll take Orlando in a heartbeat if they got the same team more or less. This year... one series short.
MVP through the playoffs - Dwight Howard
Xfactor - Rafer Alston
No 4. Atlanta Hawks
Can they really build upon what they did last year? I really can't tell. If they win the first round they will be rewarded with a matchup with the top seeded Cavaliers. I really don't know what this team is gonna do. And when i say that I mean i don't know if they will take the cavs to 6 or 7 or just get swept. I don't think they will lose the first round even against Dwyane Wade. Seriously he is just ONE guy. Ill take the Hawks round one but no further. Althought I would LOVE to see it go further. Their a fun bunch. Should keep getting better.
MVP through the playoffs - Joe Johnson
Xfactor - Josh Smith
No 5. Miami Heat
Dwyane Wade can only do so much although he has shown he is absolutley incredible. But Atlanta has too much talen at too many positions and this team is chalk full of rookies and nobodies. Beasley hasn't shown me a thing this year but should improve in the coming years. Chalmers is still a kid playing a mans game although he has done well. I don't really trust him. Wade will carry this team, and if they advance it will be soley on his shoulders alone. Don't get me wrong, I would not be surprised if he averaged 43 in this series and wins it by himself. I just don't think it will happen. He does have a chance to do it because no player in the NBA is allowed to travel more than Dwyane Wade. More than a few times this year I've seen him come down court, kill his dribble at the three point line, do a spin move and dunk the ball. I kid you not. The NBA, where amazing happens.
MVP through the playoffs - Dwyane Wade
Xfactor - Dwyane Wade
No. 6 Philadelphia 76ers
Is there a team in the league that anyone cares less about than this team? I don't think so either. Honestly i don't know too much about this team. I know their fairly tough and their series with Orlando might be closer than some may think. The sixers tend to stick around close til the end and let the new AI do something crazy. Works out sometimes believe it or not.
MVP Through the playoffs - Andre Iguodola
Xfactor - man i dont know...
No 7. Chicago Bulls
A fun and exciting team to watch because of The Chosen One. You already know who. In due time, he may very well take this league over. Only a matter of time before King's ankles become a victim of the Red Rose. But its not his time just yet. This team really doesn't have an identity. What do they do? Don't really know. They have some talented forwards that play hard but I don't know if anyone of them will amount to even an all star. Kirk Hinrich needs more credit. An excellent combo guard that can shoot, score, finish and defend. They need him this series. Maybe if he and Rose are on their game the same night they can steal one from the Celtics. Maybe without KG there might be some matchup problems but Boston should still come through. Bulls fans should be excited about the future...or very scared of what their front office might do. But you still have The Chosen One. Bless that young man.
MVP through the playoffs - Kirk Hinrich
Xfactor - Tyrus Thomas
No. 8 Detroit Pistons
If the Bulls don't have an identity then this team is straight up lost in purgatory. I REALLY don't know what they do and still don't know what the big fuss is over Rodney Stuckey. Not impressed. If they got one thing going for them is Detroit and Cleveland have a bit of a rivalry. Would be great if they could make a series out of it. Won't believe it til i see it though. Good luck agains that giant penis.
MVP through the playoffs - Richard Hamilton
Xfactor - Rasheed Wallace
I'll write about the finals when it comes around just in case my teams that I picked don't get there haha. Right now I got the Lakers and Cavs going at it. More on this in June
til next time
gt
Thursday, April 16, 2009
NBA Playoff Predictions Part 1
The NBA playoffs are among us. Without further ado, here is my breakdown of what will happen. I'll start with Western Confernce today, and finish up with the Eastern Conference tomorrow.
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs No. 8 Utah Jazz
Why the Lakers can win: They are clearly the best team in the west with everything they need to go to the finals. They are the most balanced team. Not much to talk about here, they should win.
Why the Jazz can win: On paper they can beat any team. A world class point guard, an all star forward, and some great role players. For some reason this team is jekyl and hyde. They are fantastic at home, and completely below average on the road. Who knows, maybe home court Utah shows up for the series
The Jazz still don't have anyone to guard Kobe despite better guard play than last year. This team closed the season on a major slump losing even at home. This team never put it together this year for whatever reason. I see them winning one home game but thats about it. Lakers advance 4-1
Best player in the series: Kobe Bryant - No one on the Jazz can slow him
X Factor: Paul Milsap - No one else will play harder
No. 2 Denver Nuggets vs No. 7 Chris Paul.. I mean New Orleans Hornets
Why the Nuggets can win: I believe they are the second best team in the west, well rounded from top to bottom. Great point play, great energy off the bench, and they got a closer of their own in Carmelo. And JR Smith is one of the most underrated players in the league.
Why the Hornets can win: They got Chris Paul. He will bring it every single game. They might need him to play 48 minutes a game to have a chance. Just a question as to who else shows up to play with him.
Denver is obviously the more complete team. But the Hornets are a one man team. But that one man is THE man. Without him the Hornets are on the precipice of the lottery. No one means more to his team this side of Lebron James. But I don't think its enough, especially if JR Smith knocks down his first three of the night. It rains after that. Nuggets win 4-2
Best player in the series - Chirs Paul, nuff said
X Factor - JR Smith - this dude is on the edge of superstardom
No. 3 San Anotonio Spurs vs. No. 6 Dallas Mavericks
Why the Spurs can win - They are the Spurs. Never count them out until they are out. Tony Parker is killin it this year. No one on Dallas can guard him, he should have a huge series. Timmy will be Timmy
Why the Mavericks can win - They end the season on fire offensively. Jet Terry is dialed in and for some reaosn, the Spurs have never been able to stop Dirk. Who knows why.
I really think the Mavs are the better team this time around. And I think they win. Seeing them going into SA and winning game 7 doesn't seem likely, so I guess I will take them in 6. Mavs move on 4-2
Best player in the series - Dirk/Tony Parker - neither team can stop the other
X Factor - Jason Terry - If he's on, good night.
No. 4 Portland Trailblazers vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets.
Why the Blazers can win: This team is playing great. Young energetic and full of confidence. Roy and Aldridge will be tandem to be reckoned with for years. And i got a man crush on Rudy Fernandez.
Why the Rockets can win: Yao should dominate this series. Oden can't check him yet. Artest is their next go to guy and he does a decent job. Houston is all about their role players. How will they play out?
This is the toughest series to predict in my opinion. I actually like the Blazers, but i don't think they are ready just yet. Its about damn time the Rockets left the first round. It finally happens here. And I'll take homecourt when im not for sure sure. Rockets slip by 4-3
Best player in the series: Yao Ming - He's really tall
X Factor - Rockets bench - they need to score the ball
Round 2 Western Conference
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs No. 5 Houston Rockets
Why the Lakers can win: Kobe destroyed the Rockets in the regular season. Him and Artest got something going. Kobe steps it up and drops 30 per.
Why the Rockets can win: If Battier can shut down Kobe enough to frustrate him to a bad series. Seriously, thats the only way.
Too much power from the Lakers. They take it. Lakers 4-2
Best player in the series - Kobe Bryant - He torched them all year
Xfactor - Andrew Bynum and what he can do against Yao
No. 2 Denver Nuggets vs No. 6 Dallas Mavericks.
Why the Nuggets can win: The starters are pretty even here but the Nuggets have the better bench. JR smith, Kleiza and Birdman > Jet Terry by himself.
Why the Mavs can win: Same as always, Dirk and Jet two man show. Nuggets advance 4-3
Best Player in the series - Carmelo Anthony - dropped over 40 on them last time
Xfactor - Birdman - outhustled every Maverick this year
West Finals No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs No 2. Denver Nuggets
Why the Lakers can win - Broken record, the best team in the west.
Why the Nuggets can win - They can't, but for argument sake, if Melo and JR can average 60 together they got a shot. Lakers win easy - 4-1
Best player in the series - Pau Gasol - should school Denvers big men
Xfactor - JR Smith - he always the xfactor
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs No. 8 Utah Jazz
Why the Lakers can win: They are clearly the best team in the west with everything they need to go to the finals. They are the most balanced team. Not much to talk about here, they should win.
Why the Jazz can win: On paper they can beat any team. A world class point guard, an all star forward, and some great role players. For some reason this team is jekyl and hyde. They are fantastic at home, and completely below average on the road. Who knows, maybe home court Utah shows up for the series
The Jazz still don't have anyone to guard Kobe despite better guard play than last year. This team closed the season on a major slump losing even at home. This team never put it together this year for whatever reason. I see them winning one home game but thats about it. Lakers advance 4-1
Best player in the series: Kobe Bryant - No one on the Jazz can slow him
X Factor: Paul Milsap - No one else will play harder
No. 2 Denver Nuggets vs No. 7 Chris Paul.. I mean New Orleans Hornets
Why the Nuggets can win: I believe they are the second best team in the west, well rounded from top to bottom. Great point play, great energy off the bench, and they got a closer of their own in Carmelo. And JR Smith is one of the most underrated players in the league.
Why the Hornets can win: They got Chris Paul. He will bring it every single game. They might need him to play 48 minutes a game to have a chance. Just a question as to who else shows up to play with him.
Denver is obviously the more complete team. But the Hornets are a one man team. But that one man is THE man. Without him the Hornets are on the precipice of the lottery. No one means more to his team this side of Lebron James. But I don't think its enough, especially if JR Smith knocks down his first three of the night. It rains after that. Nuggets win 4-2
Best player in the series - Chirs Paul, nuff said
X Factor - JR Smith - this dude is on the edge of superstardom
No. 3 San Anotonio Spurs vs. No. 6 Dallas Mavericks
Why the Spurs can win - They are the Spurs. Never count them out until they are out. Tony Parker is killin it this year. No one on Dallas can guard him, he should have a huge series. Timmy will be Timmy
Why the Mavericks can win - They end the season on fire offensively. Jet Terry is dialed in and for some reaosn, the Spurs have never been able to stop Dirk. Who knows why.
I really think the Mavs are the better team this time around. And I think they win. Seeing them going into SA and winning game 7 doesn't seem likely, so I guess I will take them in 6. Mavs move on 4-2
Best player in the series - Dirk/Tony Parker - neither team can stop the other
X Factor - Jason Terry - If he's on, good night.
No. 4 Portland Trailblazers vs. No. 5 Houston Rockets.
Why the Blazers can win: This team is playing great. Young energetic and full of confidence. Roy and Aldridge will be tandem to be reckoned with for years. And i got a man crush on Rudy Fernandez.
Why the Rockets can win: Yao should dominate this series. Oden can't check him yet. Artest is their next go to guy and he does a decent job. Houston is all about their role players. How will they play out?
This is the toughest series to predict in my opinion. I actually like the Blazers, but i don't think they are ready just yet. Its about damn time the Rockets left the first round. It finally happens here. And I'll take homecourt when im not for sure sure. Rockets slip by 4-3
Best player in the series: Yao Ming - He's really tall
X Factor - Rockets bench - they need to score the ball
Round 2 Western Conference
No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs No. 5 Houston Rockets
Why the Lakers can win: Kobe destroyed the Rockets in the regular season. Him and Artest got something going. Kobe steps it up and drops 30 per.
Why the Rockets can win: If Battier can shut down Kobe enough to frustrate him to a bad series. Seriously, thats the only way.
Too much power from the Lakers. They take it. Lakers 4-2
Best player in the series - Kobe Bryant - He torched them all year
Xfactor - Andrew Bynum and what he can do against Yao
No. 2 Denver Nuggets vs No. 6 Dallas Mavericks.
Why the Nuggets can win: The starters are pretty even here but the Nuggets have the better bench. JR smith, Kleiza and Birdman > Jet Terry by himself.
Why the Mavs can win: Same as always, Dirk and Jet two man show. Nuggets advance 4-3
Best Player in the series - Carmelo Anthony - dropped over 40 on them last time
Xfactor - Birdman - outhustled every Maverick this year
West Finals No. 1 Los Angeles Lakers vs No 2. Denver Nuggets
Why the Lakers can win - Broken record, the best team in the west.
Why the Nuggets can win - They can't, but for argument sake, if Melo and JR can average 60 together they got a shot. Lakers win easy - 4-1
Best player in the series - Pau Gasol - should school Denvers big men
Xfactor - JR Smith - he always the xfactor
Its How I Roll
I guess this should have been my first post before anything else, before I offend someone, or a large nation, or a small planet. (Its really not that bad, but just in case). I don't really care what anyone else thinks about me. I'm an ass and a hater. Definitely not very gentleman like. I say whatever i feel like, right or wrong be damned. Racial comments, sexist comments, stereotypes, unfair hatred... its all fair game here. If you don't like that, or are easily offended, then just don't read it. Take it for what it is. Its well documented that I'm a hater. But the good thing is i don't discriminate between hate. I hate ignorance. And ignorance comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Many times, I get alot of heat for stereotyping, which I love to do. "That's not fair to say, their not all like that, that's so not cool to say that about them." Duh, I'm well aware that they are not all like that. There are exceptions to everything. But where do you think stereotypes come from? They happen enough within a group of people that it gets itself a label. Just how it goes. Sorry white people, I know you love to give everything more credit than they actually deserve, but the reality is stereotypes and ignorance are everywhere and it effects just about everyone in their own way. I just like to call some of them out once in awhile in a greatly exaggerated fashion. Again, take it for what it is. There's a reason why everyone says black people are better in sports, that Jews are cheap as hell, that asian people can't drive, or that white people...dont get me started on them, or that asian people are better in math. It's because we have all had experiences about that. We all been dominated in sports by the superior black athlete. We all been shortended by some cheap ass people before. We have all cussed out some retarded asian on the road for nearly causing fatal accidents. And we have all copied off that ridiculously smart chinese dude in school that has no friends. So...read my posts if you like and I hope you enjoy it, again take it for what it is. "He keeps saying take it for what it is, what IS it?" um... hell if I know.
til next time
gt
preview of next post: I generally try to stay away from sports topics since it only tailors to sports fans, but sometimes ill talk about it anyway. Hopefully, for you non sports fans, you will still find my writing interesting even if it is about sports. So next up, the NBA playoffs and my predictions.
til next time
gt
preview of next post: I generally try to stay away from sports topics since it only tailors to sports fans, but sometimes ill talk about it anyway. Hopefully, for you non sports fans, you will still find my writing interesting even if it is about sports. So next up, the NBA playoffs and my predictions.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Chinese Food Buffets
Been so long since i been to a Chinese food buffet. Always avoided them for some reason. But this past weekend for whatever reason i decided to tag along with the some family to go to a Chinese buffet. Seemed one of my aunts really likes their crab there. And hell, you know when there is unlimited crab...or lobster... or any other kind of crustaceans, Asian people will be there to attempt to put the owners out of business, you know the drill. And when it comes to lobster and crab and stuff like that.. they are a little bit like pizza... or sex...when its good, its good. When its bad... its really not that bad. So while they were destroying plates of crab i was walking the buffet aisle seeing what all they had. And i came upon three trays of chicken sitting next to each other. General Tsao's Chicken, Orange Chicken, and Sesame Chicken. I always chuckle when i encounter these dishes, as you have no idea how many times white people have told me "Oh! i know this GREAT chinese place that serves THE MOST authentic Orange Chicken you've ever had!" Anyways, I'm looking at the chicken and I thought to myself...is there a difference between them?? Man i dont know.. they all look like cubes of fried chicken with some sort of gooey orangey brown sauce on them. The only difference i see is that one has sesame seeds on them, the other has some orange peels somewhere in the pan, and the last one doesn't have either so it has to be the good Generals chicken. Meh, hating on the chicken all the time but like always i put some on my plate, ate it, and probably enjoyed it too. Surprisingly, the food there was actually pretty good. i was a bit surprised. But like all of you know, even if the food was absoultley terrible, chinese food buffet always has a backup. The jello sitting next to the honey dew melons and the canned peaches with syrup. YEA BABY, jello there always taste so good. Usually they got red and green flavor and if your lucky enough, they might even have orange flavor. Not that the orange is the best flavor, but it just doesnt make an appearance as often as the other two. Mmm mmm mmm. Chinese food buffet jello. Money.
Til Next Time
gt
Til Next Time
gt
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