Merry Christmas!

It being Christmas, I decided to start using the bar of "Pine Tree" soap that I picked up from LUSH last week. It lathers into dark green suds and smells just like a wooded forest. It's a great scent, but at $7 a bar it's kind of pricey. Seven bucks for a bar of soap???? I know, I know, it's ridiculous and I was shocked by the price when I bought soap from Lush for the first time a couple years ago. Everything in the shop just smelled so good, so I bought a couple bars and couldn't bring myself to use them because of the price... I just occasionally sniffed them through the wrapper. But then a couple months ago I ran out of my normal bar of soap so I opened one up, and the delicious smell of lemon and honey clinged to my body for hours after taking a shower and I got hooked. It's expensive, but the strong scent is so delicious that it's worth it. So last week I went back to the shop and got a few more soaps, one of which was "Pine Tree".

So now I smell like pines.

Yesterday was nice. I was getting ready to leave to do some errands when I got a mail from a friend asking, "Are you home? Can I come over?" so I decided to wait until she got here. Upon arriving she said that another friend was on her way, and then a couple more were gonna stop by in the evening... so it looked like no errands were going to be done and I started thinking of what to make for dinner - turned out being Spring Rolls (we made them with cheese!) and Tomato Sauce Pasta (I thought everyone put sugar in tomato sauce but apparently not) - a weird combination but I get spontaneity points for throwing together a dinner for five on-the-spot.

Everyone showed up with cakes and presents and it turned into a Christmas party! It was great because I had everyone's presents sitting in the living room and was wondering when we'd be able to meet up. The cat had a great time, too. Everyone spent so much time playing with her that she passed out as soon as everyone left, and didn't wake up even when I pulled on her legs and rolled her around a bit. She always wakes me up in the middle of the night by biting my face so I figured it was time for payback. If I can't sleep, neither can she!

She still doesn't have a name and people seem to think that giving her a name is better than shouting "Hey, no biting!" at her all the time. There were some suggestions but we're still thinking on it.

Oh, and yesterday I heard her hiss for the first time! Chino was lying on the bed and the cat jumped onto her back, hissed ferociously at her hair, then grabbed a clump with her teeth and started pulling and tugging with all her might. I couldn't stop laughing while Chino screamed and the cat did her darndest to try and take a clump out. I eventually pulled the cat off and put her on the ground, but she jumped right back on the bed and made a dash for Chino's hair. No matter how many times I put her down, she immediately went straight for Chino's hair (I think the fur on Chino's jacket was the dangerous threat and the hair just happened to be in the way) so I ended up carrying her the whole time to prevent further attacks, and to prevent Chino from having to go wig shopping. It was so hilarious I couldn't resist a picture. Usually she's so cute and calm... and sometimes I find her in the strangest places. How did she get up there?

Beppu Fantasia

I went to the Christmas fireworks at Spa Beach tonight. I always go with Kiyoko and Kayoko, and this time there was someone new named "Pinky" that Kiyoko works with. Seriously, that's how she introduced herself. She wore all pink... jacket, skirt, stockings, and bag. And not just any pink, but that obnoxious, fluorescent color associated with highlighters and funky hair. In my mind I instantly classified her as a weirdo, which was probably quite rude of me. But hey, I call 'em as I see 'em.

The fireworks were scheduled for 8pm but Kiyoko was worried about parking so we headed to the beach at 4pm (surprisingly lots of people were already there) and wandered around eating stuff from the food booths, then sat down right in front of the barge where the fireworks were set up. It was the best spot and we were determined to keep it for ourselves, sitting in the cold for hours waiting for the fireworks to start. Thankfully the main stage was to our right where some (not-so-good) bands played and kept us somewhat entertained.

If you can stand the cold, winter fireworks are fantastic. The colors are so crisp and clear... the smoke dissipates quickly in the cold air and you don't get that hazy look from all the moisture and pollen in the air during the summer. There were some new kinds that I'd never seen before... I especially liked the ones that start with an initial burst of color, then each little spark bursts again into another shower of color. The ones that suddenly changed course in mid-air like haphazard rockets were cool, too.

In Japan Christmas is more about romance and is spent with your significant other, which I find so exclusive coming from an upbringing where we spend it with friends and family and is for everyone.

I happen to have Christmas Day off and don't think it'd be right sitting at home by myself (or with the cat that has yet to be named) so I'll probably go out shopping for a coat. My North Face stuff keeps me warm enough, but after 8 years it's time for a change of fashion.

Word Game

I stumbled upon this word game and got 26 of 33. The remaining 7 are bothering me and if I can't figure them out by the end of the day, I'll resort to internet searching to find the answers!

So far I can't figure out these...

***updated 11:10 p.m.***

6. 52 C in a P (W J)
Finally got it while sitting at my desk. Probably took so long to figure out cuz I haven't touched one in years!

16. 100 C in a D
Thanks, cyano... so true! I can't believe it stumped me!

19. 13 is U F S
Suddenly came to me while driving to work. I like this one - so creative!

28. 23 P of C in the H B
Given my major in university, I should have figured it out sooner!

29. 64 S on a C B
still no clue... 64 Seamen on a Communist Boat?
***Dec 23... I finally figured it out!***

31. 6 B to an O in C
still no clue... 6 Babies to an Oven in Cubes?
***Used the internet to find the answer... I've never played this game and don't know the rules, so would never have gotten it on my own...***

33. 15 M on a D M C
I got the first M, and google told me the rest. I never would have gotten this one in a million years.

I love it!

A coworker introduced me to this hilarious program that teaches English through aerobics. It aired in the 90s and is another reason why I love this country! If you need more the program is called Zuiikin English and there are a bunch more videos on YouTube!

Careers

A couple days ago I did a lesson about jobs and personalities in an attempt to help my high school students think about what kinds of careers they'd like to pursue. It got me thinking back to when I had to make that decision for myself.

I remember back in high school having to take a lengthy personality test that was then matched with people who answered the same questions on the test, and who are happy with what they do. The results were over 20 pages long and I remember the conclusion suggesting that I might possibly enjoy a career in Nursing or Medical Research. I guess I sort of followed that path by going the pre-med route and looking for Biomedical Research Positions after graduation, but I'm glad none of that turned out. I love what I do now.

Personalities change over time and I was curious to see what kind of career would fit my current personality. I found a short test and gave it a try. The site suggested these

Possible Career Paths:

Clergy / Religious Work
Teachers
Medical Doctors / Dentists
Alternative Health Care Practitioners, i.e. Chiropractor, Reflexologist
Psychologists
Psychiatrists
Counselors and Social Workers
Musicians and Artists
Photographers
Child Care / Early Childhood Development

Looks like I'm currently doing work that fits my personality. It makes sense that I love what I do!