*sigh* OK, here goes.
On Facebook, the new evil in my life, Stuart named me as one of the people he wanted to do this quiz. Since I am a sucker, I did.*
Three Names You Go By:
1. Julie (shocking!)
2. Jules
3. Oozle. But if anyone other than my brothers try to call me that, I'll have to send my goons over to beat you up.
Three Parts of Your Heritage:
1. French
2. Canadian
3. uh, French-Canadian? Really, there is no third part! Throw me a frickin' bone here!
Three Things That Scare You:
1. Birds. Holy f**k.
2. Heights. (sometimes)
3. Cataloguing. (LOL - couldn't resist.)
Three of Your Everyday Essentials:
1. Eating something chocolate.
2. Spending time with my dog...which is currently sorely lacking from my life.
3. Facebooking, apparently.
Three Things You Are Wearing Right Now: This is easy!!!
1. Pink fleecy PJ top.
2. Red and white plaid fleecy PJ pants.
3. Blue slippers with white snowflakes on 'em. It's getting late here!
Three of Your Favourite Songs Right Now:
1. Staralfur by Sigur Ros (will always be #1, I think)
2. anything from the Katamari Damacy videogame soundtrack - too perfect to not listen to while walking through Japanese life!
3. ummm, 3 songs? I've listened to the same songs for the past 5 years... OK, "Front 2 Back" by Playgroup off the "Blue Crush" soundtrack. (I'm so embarassed...)
Three Things You Want in a Relationship (other than Love):
1. Honesty
2. Humour
3. Curiosity about the world
Two Truths and a Lie (in any order):
1. I have a weakness for redheads. (Hi, Stuart!)
2. I am a real redhead. (Ask Randal!)
3. My first boyfriend was a redhead. (Have to stick to the theme.)
[answers at the end]
Three PHYSICAL Things About the Opposite Sex that Appeal to You:
1. Hands. (sooooo important that he has good hands)
2. Drownable eyes.
3. Height. (Tall is good.)
Three of Your Favourite Hobbies:
1. Reading a good book.
2. Pretending I can make paper crafts.
3. Sleeping. (My students always put this as one of their hobbies, and I'm jealous - I never get enough sleep.)
Three Things You Want to Do Really Badly Right Now (But Can't):
Other than the obvious ("see my dog"):
1. Eat a Toronto Roll. Holy, do I ever.
2. Watch a hockey playoff game. Especially since (or despite the fact that? I'm not sure) it won't be the Maple Leafs.
3. Retire on the proceeds of the book I'm never going to write.
Three Places You Want To Go: Only three???
1. Vietnam
2. Prague, Czech Republic
3. France
Three Things You Want to Do Before You Die:
1. Travel as much as I can.
2. Read books till my brains fall out.
3. See the northern lights. (I never have! What a bad Canadian I am.)
Three Ways That You Are Stereotypically a Girl/Guy:
1. I was a NKOTB fan. It was a long time ago, and I was young and foolish!!!
2. While I am no Imelda, I am often chastised for not owning any "sensible" shoes. (I own three pairs of sneakers - what a lie!)
3. I believe that videogaming is a perfectly honourable way to pass one's time ... wait a minute. Which of the two gender stereotypes am I trying to prove again?
Three People I Would Like to See Take This Quiz:
On Facebook: Keith, Marie-Lyne, and Brandon.
On Their Blogs: Rebecca and Mark, who can both also Facebook it if they so choose, and Randal, who currently refuses to join Facebook, and I am having no luck in the art of persuasion on that point.
Oh yes. The answers to the 2 Truths and a Lie. I do indeed have a weakness for redheads. I swoon at the sight of them. Archie was my god, growing up. And Rick Astley, oh my. This is largely why I wish so much that I were a redhead. But as Randal and my hairdresser can both tell you (though their information may come from, uh, different sources), I am not. Miss Clairol is my best friend. And Brandon now *has* to carry on this meme, since I was kind enough to mention him as a true redhead (which he is) and as my first boyfriend (which he was). So. The truth is ugly, but well, it's out there.
* If nothing else, perhaps this will stop the incessant Facebook poking. At least for a little while.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
A festival from afar
A few weeks back - April 7th, to be exact - I was sitting in my apartment on a mild but slightly grey and slightly rainy day, nursing my yucky non-Hokkaido cold and feeling really sorry for myself, when I suddenly became aware of a ruckus going on outside. I went out on my balcony and saw the beginnings of merriment at the shrine and neighbouring playground on the street behind my building.
A festival! For the whole morning, I caught snatches of music but not much was going on yet (at least that I could see). I debated going out to investigate, but my misery knew no bounds, so I contented myself with spying from the balcony. (aka, I could stay in my PJs that way.)
Early afternoon, chaos was unleashed. Well, OK, Japanese-style chaos, which is orderly and tidy and subdued.
You can't really see it here (I did the best with my optical zoom), but here the guys on the platform (VIPs of various types) are throwing motchi (sweet(ish) rice cakes with anko bean paste up the middle - actually quite tasty) to the people below. I've been at festivals before where they threw motchi, but never for this long. It went on for almost 15 minutes!
Then, just as my camera batteries started to die, the portable shrines, or mikoshi came out. Panic ensued, but I found replacement batteries, as you can see:
And they headed straight down the main street past my apartment! Cool. I'm sick, miserable, and unhappy, and thankfully don't have to leave the comfort of my own home to indulge in some Japanese culture, for once.
I believe hiding under that plastic (it was drizzling at this point) was a giant taiko drum.
Here's a snippet I took of the procession, including the proper way to transport a mikoshi:
The people at the old folks' home across the street from me couldn't contain their excitement at the merry-making.
You can see a little old lady in a purpley-grey shirt leaning forward toward the passers-by, with a guy in a white shirt right near her - he was making sure she didn't hurt herself - she was so excited, dancing and clapping and waving like mad at everyone. Later I could see the hospital staff talking about her (as they were bringing in the chairs and stuff).
And then - so soon - it was over.
I went back to my normal life. However, about an hour later, I heard the telltale music once again! I rushed out to the front door, and sure enough, the worshippers were on their way back to Tsushima Shrine, the mikoshi's tour of the neighbourhood completed.
And then it was, this time, actually all over. I went back to being Poor Little Sick Julie For Whom Nothing Interesting Ever Happens In Japan (Until Something Does).
A festival! For the whole morning, I caught snatches of music but not much was going on yet (at least that I could see). I debated going out to investigate, but my misery knew no bounds, so I contented myself with spying from the balcony. (aka, I could stay in my PJs that way.)
Early afternoon, chaos was unleashed. Well, OK, Japanese-style chaos, which is orderly and tidy and subdued.
You can't really see it here (I did the best with my optical zoom), but here the guys on the platform (VIPs of various types) are throwing motchi (sweet(ish) rice cakes with anko bean paste up the middle - actually quite tasty) to the people below. I've been at festivals before where they threw motchi, but never for this long. It went on for almost 15 minutes!
Then, just as my camera batteries started to die, the portable shrines, or mikoshi came out. Panic ensued, but I found replacement batteries, as you can see:
And they headed straight down the main street past my apartment! Cool. I'm sick, miserable, and unhappy, and thankfully don't have to leave the comfort of my own home to indulge in some Japanese culture, for once.
I believe hiding under that plastic (it was drizzling at this point) was a giant taiko drum.
Here's a snippet I took of the procession, including the proper way to transport a mikoshi:
The people at the old folks' home across the street from me couldn't contain their excitement at the merry-making.
You can see a little old lady in a purpley-grey shirt leaning forward toward the passers-by, with a guy in a white shirt right near her - he was making sure she didn't hurt herself - she was so excited, dancing and clapping and waving like mad at everyone. Later I could see the hospital staff talking about her (as they were bringing in the chairs and stuff).
And then - so soon - it was over.
I went back to my normal life. However, about an hour later, I heard the telltale music once again! I rushed out to the front door, and sure enough, the worshippers were on their way back to Tsushima Shrine, the mikoshi's tour of the neighbourhood completed.
And then it was, this time, actually all over. I went back to being Poor Little Sick Julie For Whom Nothing Interesting Ever Happens In Japan (Until Something Does).
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Just for Elliott
You can stop complaining now. By the time you get back from Golden Week* travels, they should be just about perfect! (I'll refrain from mentioning that the sakura are already merely a fond memory here.)
* For those not in the Japanese know, "Golden Week" is the period April 29 - May 5, when there are 4 national holidays in one week. April 29 is Showa Day (former birthday of Emperor Showa, who died in 1989), May 3 is Constitution Day (commemorating the new post-war constitution of 1947), May 4 is Greenery Day (dedicated to the environment - Emp. Showa was a big environment fan, apparently), and May 5 is Children's Day (one of two - this one is for boys - the one for girls is March 3). Many Japanese travel during this week, and prices to go anywhere skyrocket. Randal and I are headed to Kyushu, where we'll meet up for part of the week with Elliott, who is also headed there, and our mutual friend Erin-of-Nagasaki.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Finally, photographic genius
Though my propensity to post a thousand-and-one photos on Flickr might suggest to some that I think otherwise, I know full well that I am not a particularly adept photographer. The vast majority of them, while nice, fall far short of breathtaking.
While going through photos from recent trips (there have been quite a few, and yes, I know I'm horribly behind on updating about them), however, I took a double-take at this one. On April 8, we went to nearby Inuyama ("Dog Mountain"), a castle town, which was having a festival. The cherry blossoms were also at their loveliest. But at one point, I turned my back on the sakura, and snapped a picture of some people sitting on the riverbank in the mid-spring sunshine.
I won't quit my day job just yet (though I sure want to some days), but I want to take more pictures like this one.
The rest of my photos (from South Korea, Inuyama, and Takayama, amongst others), though not as perfect as this one, will hopefully follow in the next little while. That loosely-worded promise complicated by the fact that we are going to Kyushu, the southern island of "mainland" Japan (ie., not Okinawa) in just about a week. Which means more delays, and - horrors - more photos. I'm never going to catch up.
While going through photos from recent trips (there have been quite a few, and yes, I know I'm horribly behind on updating about them), however, I took a double-take at this one. On April 8, we went to nearby Inuyama ("Dog Mountain"), a castle town, which was having a festival. The cherry blossoms were also at their loveliest. But at one point, I turned my back on the sakura, and snapped a picture of some people sitting on the riverbank in the mid-spring sunshine.
I won't quit my day job just yet (though I sure want to some days), but I want to take more pictures like this one.
The rest of my photos (from South Korea, Inuyama, and Takayama, amongst others), though not as perfect as this one, will hopefully follow in the next little while. That loosely-worded promise complicated by the fact that we are going to Kyushu, the southern island of "mainland" Japan (ie., not Okinawa) in just about a week. Which means more delays, and - horrors - more photos. I'm never going to catch up.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Dragged from my deathbed* to give you this update
I see from the webcam, that Ottawa seems to be under a bit of snow yet again.**
A propos of nothing entirely, this afternoon when I got home from school, it was so nice out that I opened the balcony door for a bit of fresh air, and, uh, I'm considering sleeping with it open, as the air is just deliciously lovely and fresh and just the wee bit crisp. It is mid-April, after all. We're well into spring.
And tomorrow evening we are headed to the Takayama festival for the weekend. (I forgot to start a countdown clock.) Takayama is two hours north of here by train. Looking forward to it, as we missed their October festival. Except I think it's supposed to rain. Anyway, this means that proper blogging (can't blog, must travel) is yet further delayed ... I know you've all given up hope on me ever properly maintaining and updating this site. In a nutshell, in addition to Hokkaido (which I flickered about, and that's almost the same thing), we went to South Korea mid-March, and Inuyama (a castle town near here which was having a festival) on Sunday. Food was eaten. Sakura (cherry blossoms) were viewed. Portable shrines were followed. A good time was had by all (despite my near-death state at the time).
* I am just finally getting over being sick now. I've also been bitten by the horrid can't-stop-playing-Rollercoaster-Tycoon bug. Very hard to shake.
** Of course, the world is a terrible place, and she who laughs first, or last, or loudest, or the longest, or something like that, is also she who cries. For it's just entirely too possible that this time next year, I myself will be mired in snow along with the rest of the Ottawa suckers.***
*** By which I mean Harper and his gang. Why? Who else could I have meant? And, ugh, even the mere mention of his name makes me shudder. Visceral reaction.
A propos of nothing entirely, this afternoon when I got home from school, it was so nice out that I opened the balcony door for a bit of fresh air, and, uh, I'm considering sleeping with it open, as the air is just deliciously lovely and fresh and just the wee bit crisp. It is mid-April, after all. We're well into spring.
And tomorrow evening we are headed to the Takayama festival for the weekend. (I forgot to start a countdown clock.) Takayama is two hours north of here by train. Looking forward to it, as we missed their October festival. Except I think it's supposed to rain. Anyway, this means that proper blogging (can't blog, must travel) is yet further delayed ... I know you've all given up hope on me ever properly maintaining and updating this site. In a nutshell, in addition to Hokkaido (which I flickered about, and that's almost the same thing), we went to South Korea mid-March, and Inuyama (a castle town near here which was having a festival) on Sunday. Food was eaten. Sakura (cherry blossoms) were viewed. Portable shrines were followed. A good time was had by all (despite my near-death state at the time).
* I am just finally getting over being sick now. I've also been bitten by the horrid can't-stop-playing-Rollercoaster-Tycoon bug. Very hard to shake.
** Of course, the world is a terrible place, and she who laughs first, or last, or loudest, or the longest, or something like that, is also she who cries. For it's just entirely too possible that this time next year, I myself will be mired in snow along with the rest of the Ottawa suckers.***
*** By which I mean Harper and his gang. Why? Who else could I have meant? And, ugh, even the mere mention of his name makes me shudder. Visceral reaction.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
I went to Hokkaido, and all I got was this lousy cold.
In Hokkaido's defence, however, I think I actually got the cold from Randal, and he was sick prior to our leaving for Hokkaido, thus making the cold in fact a Gifu Cold. At any rate, my head and throat hurts from coughing all day. Poor me. Pity me. PITY ME.
I stayed home today, and spent the first part of the day sleeping (till 12:45 - how nice!) then the second part of the day aimlessly on the web (chatting online with my brother and my mother, emailing Randal, etc.). Coughing and generally being miserable too. Only this evening did I turn my attention to the dearth of photos from Hokkaido on my flickr site. Well, dearth there is no more. Though I noticed that it is perhaps arguable whether I was actually in Hokkaido at all, since I have not yet had a chance to raid Randal's photos and thus there is a distinct lack of photographic proof of my presence in that fair land.
At any rate, if the absence of my beautiful smiling mug has not turned you off altogether, you are most welcome to view my set here.
In the meantime, I must go off and find a small, dark corner somewhere where I can die in peace.
I stayed home today, and spent the first part of the day sleeping (till 12:45 - how nice!) then the second part of the day aimlessly on the web (chatting online with my brother and my mother, emailing Randal, etc.). Coughing and generally being miserable too. Only this evening did I turn my attention to the dearth of photos from Hokkaido on my flickr site. Well, dearth there is no more. Though I noticed that it is perhaps arguable whether I was actually in Hokkaido at all, since I have not yet had a chance to raid Randal's photos and thus there is a distinct lack of photographic proof of my presence in that fair land.
At any rate, if the absence of my beautiful smiling mug has not turned you off altogether, you are most welcome to view my set here.
In the meantime, I must go off and find a small, dark corner somewhere where I can die in peace.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Meanwhile, back in Winnipeg...
OK, so this picture is from January and was sent to me by Randal's dad months ago (well, in January), but I just stumbled across it, languishing on my desktop, as I furthered the continuation of my procrastination over packing for Hokkaido (speaking of snowy destinations). And he's my (and Randal's) dog, and he's a cute dog dammit, and it's one of the cutest pictures in the entire world, and I'll post it if I feel like it, so there!
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