November 11th-12th in 2015

Well, on the 11th, I impressed the office with the two very simple card tricks that I’ve learned in preparation for teaching at Yamasaki today. So, that was nice. I also impressed a few Miyachu students, which was even better. Maybe I won’t be so scary if I keep doing these. That’d be nice. I also hypnotized an office lady. Just a bit. Just made her fingers stick together, but, still, that was something. It was a good feeling. I’d not been able to hypnotize anybody in China. Maybe because they were translating. I did this in Japanese. Man did it feel good. Anyway, I barely touched my half lunch and saved up calories and didn’t work out. I did not do so at all. I ran a few errands (though I forgot to dry my laundry which was the big thing I NEED to do, and then got in the bath and listened to the old relaxation CD that I listened to as a kid.
Back in the winter of 2000, mum was at Twelve Oaks Mall, and they were giving out CD’s from some lady with an amazingly interesting voice. It was all about relaxation and the like. As I was very into meditation and the like at that age, she, surprisingly, gave it to me. I adored it. It became something I would do all the time. Then, through use and misuse, I scratched my only copy. Last year, I wrote to the lady who made it and asked if I could pay her literally anything for another copy. She sent it. I still haven’t sent a thank you. I feel like a total and utter dick. I should remedy this.
Anyway, I got in the bath and just relaxed. I used to enjoy baths. They were so much fun. Now? All I can do is think about the things I should be doing. My old Open Diary was full of fear that I’d turn into my father, now I worry about turning into mum. Anyway, I got into the swing of relaxing, and I feel a LOT better for it. I think there’s a big difference between doing meditative relaxation in a tub and wasting time playing video games. For one thing, I actually feel better after this. Truth was, yesterday, I was super sore. Grading for Inori Sensei takes forever because she only collects students’ notebooks weekly, so I had been bent over page after page after page, added to working out, added to stress . . . you get a mess of a sore back and everything else. So, yesterday, with calories to spare, I just relaxed. It was great.
Now, the end of the night didn’t go according to plan, but let’s move backwards from the summary.
I had two classes with Ebihara Sensei yesterday, which both went pretty well. Beyond that, I mostly did a lot of grading. I got a bit of walking in, and I think that the card magic has restored me, somewhat, to the good graces of the art teacher whom I think I offended. Still, I didn’t quite make 10K steps yesterday. Anyway, when I finished, I went home, dropped off my stuff, and went to the post office. I mailed my letter to Lindsey, and, then, I immediately went to the stationer’s shop to get more writing paper. I got some beautiful autumnal stationary. They have more, but it’s more spring appropriate. The next time I’m in Sendai or Kagoshima, I’m going to pick up a ton of paper. I also need to come up with some kind of rack so I can burn incense or oil beneath the pages. I figure, if a letter is going to be sent, it’s a declaration of sublime impracticality. Why not go all out with it? While there, I inquired after sealing wax. They had none. I’m also looking for a fountain pen more suited for calligraphic writing, but, so far, no luck.
Then, I went to 7-11 and grabbed two Caesar Salads. One of the guys there, the one I lamented to the day before about how for two days they’d been sold out, smiled and said they certainly had them today (yesterday). After that, I went to the electronics store. I wanted a new toothbrush. I’m noticing that there’s some unpleasant brown along my gum line, and I’m brushing now more than ever (thanks to requisite lunch brushing in Japan). However, looking at the price of the electric toothbrushes, I decided that maybe I’d best do a bit more research. I honestly think it’d be cheaper to just see a dentist more often. I think I’ll probably do that soon, as I’m a month or two overdue for a checkup. Anyway, I did buy an alarm clock. I think that one reason I’m so ready to go back to sleep is that my alarm clock is either the sweet sound of pretty music from my phone, or, a gentle buzzing on my wrist. I want a hideous noise to leave me shaking with fear. I also keep my phone charging near my bed at night, so it’s far too easy to just turn off and reset. I bought a cheap, terrible, glow-in-the-dark, travel alarm clock, and it’s going to be lovely. I set it for this morning, but, sadly, it didn’t work. See, in my brilliance, I forgot to turn the alarm to “on”. Way to go, Ozment. I also bought a nose hair trimmer. Kind of bothersome that A. I need one, and that B., the one that I have with my beard trimmer sucks offensively. Finally, I bought a food scale. It’ll be useful if I ever eat at home, and it’s nice to make sure I’m getting the proper amount of milk and cereal. Gotta lose this weight. I considered headphones, but, I think I’m better off to try to get a refund from the broken ones I bought (as they were good and super expensive). I can live with the crap ones I have. For now. Tragically, they were selling vaporizers with fluid at the store. I had to make myself a solemn oath not to buy one before December first to try to give myself time to talk myself out of it.
The police were out in force last night. Apparently there was a traffic fatality recently. In this town, that’s serious enough to mount a full mobilization. I live in the middle of nowhere. Still, I was amazed at just how many cops there were.
Then, off to Plasse for coffee and sushi. And Mikan. Of course Mikan. They were out of the 7 piece I ususally get, but, they had ONE 8 piece left, which I bought. I talked to my favorite cashier, and we agreed that I was very lucky that day. I had a few Eshin students behind me, who recognized me. One I recognized. It was a young girl, whose sex I’d previously been unsure of. Good to know. Oh androgynous Japan, you never cease to surprise me.
Well, then home, eating, and the bath/relaxation. I finished around 8, and decided I’d read The Tale of Genji until sleep overtook me, and I made good progress for a while, before getting a match on Tinder 3 miles away. We chatted for a while. Unfortunate, in a way. Lucky in others. Tentatively, we’re scheduled to take a walk on Friday. We’ll see what happens.
I have Yamasaki today, as I’ve mentioned, and I’m looking forward to it. I also have tea ceremony, and I’m not looking forward to it. I think that I’ll do a few more weeks and then bring up the subject of cutting down on my time.
I’ve decided that I’m going to resume exercises next Monday. I still plan on doing my walking, but the full body stuff . . . I think I’m just going to do half of what’s suggested. I’ll have to gradually move up from there. It’s embarrassing, but I guess it’s necessary as their simplest workout, something easier than our Cats pre dancing warmups, left me in pain for days. I’m also considering just doing it every other day, to give me a chance to recover, and to work on cards and contact juggling and the like on the other days. This morning, sadly, though I got up on time, I used the internet. I think I may need to go back to my old “No computer in the morning” policy. However, this is somewhat difficult when, if I’m working on card tricks, I’ll be using it. Sometimes it’s easier to go al or nothing. This is an instance where, I suppose, I’d best learn some self-control.
All and all feeling a LOT better than I was last week. I don’t know what changed. The night walk with the rain and the smoking. Somehow, after that, something changed. It’s been hard not to buy a pack since then, but I’m staying strong. It’s weird. I don’t like cigarettes, but I want them. I don’t like the burning, I don’t like the smoke going up my nose. I just like the physical sensation of breathing smoke. I’m really considering buying a hookah. That way, I’ll be able to indulge sometimes, but, the elaborate setup means that it’ll be a rare indulgence rather than a habit. I was about to go into the benefits of getting back into e-cigs right now, but I think maybe it’s best if I don’t sing their praises while trying not to buy them.
Wow. Prattling again, are we, Ozment? One day wherein nothing happened, and I’ve wasted over two pages. The entries that I’ve posted since coming to Japan take up over 82 pages in Word. Granted, I’ve started to put in page breaks between entries, but it’s only the status updates that I keep in a single file. The one offs are separate, so it’s probably pretty close. Compelte word count, at the moment, is over fifty six thousand words. I don’t know the exact number because my computer has been stalled at 56082 for quite a while. 57,776. There we go. I think I read once that a novel was supposed to be 60K words? Man, I should have been writing one. But, we’ve gone into those difficulties.
From the scale, I appear to be still losing weight. But it’s speeding up, and I’m worried. I want to make sure it’s real weightloss and not just a trick. We’ll have to wait and see. Anyway, that’s the news from the front. Hope all is well. Goodnight.

Edit: it’s now 9:47, and I just did the card trick for several people around the office. All were impressed. I also hypnotized another office lady. Man I love this.

Last updated November 12, 2015