Sick Day

Well today hasn't exactly been the best day of vacation so far, but it has been the most relaxing. I didn't sleep well for some strange reason, and I thought it was because I occasionally heard the distant thunder, but in reality, I'm guessing it's because my body isn't doing so well right now.

Yeah. I have the dreaded diarrhea one sometimes gets when you are travelling overseas. And I foolishly don't have any medications. The best part is, I planned to lay low around the bungalow today, and I've done just that, though I've spent more time inside in my bed than I probably would have otherwise. And it's pretty cloudy with an occasional rain shower, so I'm not missing out on much. The bad news is, I have to spend my beach day with the tummy rumbles, and Evan set off hiking before I realized just how icky I felt.

Now I'm whining, which isn't what I really wanted to say, but there it is. I hope I feel better soon so I can at least be appetized to lay out some more or go for a swim. It's just no fun to feel this way, even if it's a relatively mild ill feeling.

We ran into Niels and Oi this morning, and I'm sad to say he was feeling worse than I. That's probably actually what has set me into feeling sorry for myself, which never helps the healing process. Guess I need to get up, drink some water, and foray into those warm Pacific waters. It will be so much better after that I hope. So long.

Part 2 --- 10:51 PM

So I'm feeling better after taking a long nap until 3 o'clock, waking up, getting a bit of sun between the rain showers, and relaxing until Evan returned from his trip. Though I wasn't feeling superb, I was up for a Thai massage, so we headed down the beach to find a spot we liked.

We ran into Tal along the way and set dinner plans, and then I had a traditional Thai massage. In short, I'm not sure why I waited so long to treat myself to such brilliance. The sunset whilst laying there was magnificent, and for a whole hour I forgot how yucky I felt.

After dinner we stopped at 7-11 for water, anti-diarrheal (which they didn't have), and Evan grabbed a roti, basically a pancake/crepe with bananas inside and chocolate and vanilla sauce. OISHII! I ate a few bites, and we happened to run into a girl from Japan who is studying in Thailand, and it was fun to practice our Nihongo with her and her brother.

We picked up Tal, and then had a quite a long walk through town while we tried to find something to eat, which really didn't help me in my weakened state. I mean, I didn't exactly eat much besides half a Clif bar today. I did stop at the pharmacy and the lady gave me some charcoal pills (I think) for the diarrhea, making sure I wasn't throwing up or feverish, for about 5 bucks. I have no idea if that was a rip-off or not, but I don't really care. So far it's helping a bit, I guess.

I kind of put my foot down when they suggested walking back to Rock Sand for dinner since it was quite a ways, I was weak, and I had been tasting that food from last night all day. I think it would have been fine, but we picked a great little place and I had some pasta with the meat sauce on the side. Sadly it was more like BBQ sauce than the delicious bolognese from the 15 Palms place, and I should have left even the little bit I tried off altogether. I did enjoy the lettuce adornments (oddly, the fiber and plainness of lettuce always seems to be something I can eat whenever I have a stomach problem) and the garlic bread, and the fact that my dinner was only 90 baht.

On the way home Tal suggested breakfast in the morning, but I again had to veto since we already have to be on the taxi at 8 AM and I wasn't feeling up for an early morning hike to get a pancake. He and Evan have returned to Rock Sand for internet and more food, and I'm hitting the hay early. Along the way we saw more spectacular heat lighting, crabs galore, and the coolest iridescent worms at the edge of high tide. We're not sure what they are, but the bright blue light they give off is really fascinating.

I said my mata ne's to Tal, and now I'm off to bed for what I hope is a good night's rest. Hopefully I'll feel sturdy enough to join the snorkelling trip, but only tomorrow morning will tell. At least I got some food down, right?

Racing to the next Decade

So the past couple of days have been interesting...

First, Sunday was a rather long day of rehearsing our countdown show. In general, I really have enjoyed rehearsals in Japan up until now. But this countdown show feels thrown together whimsically. Without a lot of preparation.

And not that I mind. It's only a one night gig. But when you're dealing with 33 dancers, 10 singers, 24 band members, 18 (of the 67) gai-jin, on one stage for an 11 hour day, well, it just becomes one big clusterf***.

Seriously.

Sorry if I offended anyone there.

See, the problem is, the Japanese have figured us out. And worse yet, we've figured out the Japanese and the loopholes in their system. Throw in singers with live mics, 8 pairs of tap shoes that are amplified, a bunch of ADHD poster-children, and a language/culture barrier with only one translator?

Yeah. It's like Congress trying to pass a health care bill. It might happen. At the last minute. With a whole lot of squealing along the way.

So I'm ready for New Year's Eve to be over and done with. Especially since I will work that 14 hour day followed by 5 shows New Year's Day and yet another 5 show day on that Monday (which is my Friday). So I think I'm a bit justified logically when I get annoyed with other performers' inability to maintain focus and/or professionalism.

But, what really gets my goat, is about 8 hours in to any given rehearsal, when people start complaining. About how long we've been there, even though the schedule (and the audio repeat of that schedule at the start of the day) says we won't be released for another hour. Because see people don't pay attention or listen to announcements and then complain. Because people goof off and make the process longer, harder, and more redundant in rehearsals, and then complain.

Yeah. That's what gets my goat. And I wasn't afraid to voice that opinion at work when queried!

But the Japanese have taught me patience, and I have also learned the important lesson of leaving an overcrowded dressing room and finding fresh, clean (aurally) air to breathe.

So yeah. That was Sunday. But it was much better when Destiny and I had Monsoon and a long conversation after the fact.

And Monday, well.

Remember how I said Summer Party was like a reunion and a homecoming all at once?

Yeah, Monday was like regressing into the nightmare version of your past and realizing what a different person you are now.

It makes me wonder how people return to a show and a part they've left for years...

Seriously. We returned to the regular show and it felt so BORING. I mean, there's no more Christmas medley, no more fog, no more snow, no more reindeer, no more Japanese screaming-while-they-kick Rockettes.

Yeah. It was like returning to an old nightmare. Not a comfortable old friend.

So I'm thinking it's a good thing I'm leaving, because I still have 3 more months of this show that isn't nearly as pleasant as the Christmas version.

And, well, since I'm not doing the Valentine's show, I don't have a lot of variety to spice it up any more. I'll miss the overtime, but I think I'm glad to be done with rehearsals.

And then, today, despite my aspirations to leave early and visit some rollercoasters an hour North of Tokyo (I've chosen to delay said aspirations till tomorrow), I spent most of the day sipping a Blendy, reading my book, watching a Smallville/Weeds marathon, and prepping for Evan's return and our evening at the onsen (which has changed to the Hub).

Sometimes a guy just needs a lazy day off.

But I did find time to explore a new area of the seawall across the canal, and took an hour long bike ride. Made me feel like I was 15 again.

And that, my friends, has been my past few days.

OH.

And how could I forget?

Destiny and I went to sushi last night after work and I tried new things... Aigamo (duck) -- DELICIOUS. Scallops (which I LOVE but have never had raw) -- WAY BETTER RAW. And conger eel. Roasted. OISHII!

So, I mean, for those who wanna know... Yes. The sushi is amazing here. Especially the tuna. ESPECIALLY the tuna.

Alright. I'm off to the hub. Pray for less smoke and more booze.

OH. And my jury duty was cancelled. So I don't have to report from Japan. Or file 18 disqualification forms.

Happy New Year to me!

A conundrum

The lazy day and the migraine.

Kinda like the chicken and the egg.

Which one came first and caused the other to be?

I'm not really sure, but somehow all of my drive and gusto from yesterday was lost in a mire of headache and laziness today. I think it mostly had to do with the fact that I'm fighting a cold, the weather and pressure systems changed drastically today (evidenced by the torrential downpour I was fortunate enough to barely miss this evening), and dehydration. I just can't seem to ever feel hydrated in Japan, no matter how much water I drink. So the day just went downhill as I never got out of bed and my headache worsened.

I did make a DELICIOUS B.L.T. for lunch from the bacon I found yesterday at the OK. I haven't had bacon in 2.5 months, so it felt long overdue). However, I let the grease congeal in the pan since I was not in any state to be on my feet for long enough to clean it, and this evening when I returned I was completely disgusted by the gross fat that had gelatinized from 3 pieces of bacon.

Which pretty much made me feel like I won't be eating it for another 2.5 months. C'est la vie.

It got really bad about 4 PM when my head was just splitting, but a two hour nap and a shower at least got me motivated to still follow through on my 9:30 PM plans with Mel and Co from the Chicago cast. (I clearly had already decided not to do my laundry or get my haircut or explore somewhere new today).

And, as usual, the fresh air did me good. I got to Akasaka a little early just in case the theatre was difficult to find (like the WSS one was), and I was pretty much sure I had gotten off at the right station when a HUGE display of the show greeted me as I went through the ticket gates. I'd show you the picture but I left my camera at the bar, which my friends were wonderfully gracious about retrieving for me since I was pushing making the last train home for the night. Thanks guys!

Anyway, I met Mel and Cornelius right after their show and we went for a pleasant drink at a little Oyster Bar in Akasaka. It was the perfect venue, we got to have a REAL mixed drink (dirty Grey Goose martinis straight up), and it was so nice to see familiar friendly faces! Oh how it made me miss all my bests in NY! Akasaka, to me, is the perfect mix of a Tokyo neighborhood and gai-jin friendly establishments. Shibuya is overwhelming and very much the Japanese Times Square, and there are just too many foreigners and ex-pats when you go out in Roppongi. The neighborhood was very welcoming and friendly, but very much maintained a true Japanese character and there was only a smattering of foreigners around. So I give it an A plus!

I also was surprised to see my experience through someone else's eyes tonight. As I was answering their queries about my life here in Japan and the language and places to go, I realized how much I don't know about nightlife, but also what an understanding I'm starting to have of the language and the culture here. They were so enamored by how much I knew, and it surprised me because I still feel like I don't know anything. But seeing it through someone else's eyes grants you that perspective to see how much you've learned and are growing.

So that pretty much rocks.

It was really great to have a drink and some coffee (both of which surprisingly helped my headache, rather than make it worse) with friends, but now, of course, after sleeping all day and coffee late at night, I'm up far past my bed time. But I guess it's just good preparation for the long month of late-night Christmas rehearsals around the corner.

So there's not much to report, but I'm just glad I'm feeling better and got to venture back into Tokyo since it's been nearly 3 weeks! That's just plain wrong. Back to work for a full five-day week tomorrow! Haven't had one in so long it'll be weird. Night!