Here are some warnings for anyone thinking about buying a place:
Do NOT bring anything with sharp corners into your new home. If you do, it will inevitably be knocked over and it will make a huge gouge in your wooden floor. Even something as small will make a sizable gouge.
Do not answer the door when NHK comes calling (and they will...at least once a day.)
If you happen to exchange "greeting" gifts with your next door neighbors, do NOT present them with the exact same thing that they just gave you.
Here are some warnings for anyone thinking about bringing a puppy into their new place:
Do not allow anything soft (rugs, floor chairs, clothing) to sit on the floor for anything length of time in the same vicinity as the animal. He will inevitably pee on it.
Do not take it personally when he chews at the corner of every wall within his reach.
Do not dwell on it when he tears the wallpaper off of part of a wall and exposes the cement and studs underneath.
Do not feel guilty when after weeks of constantly being peed on, the floor develops permanent staining.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
Ode to Smokers
When I first thought about writing this post, I was planning to show what little sympathy I sometimes feel for smokers who have no where to go these days. Since then, I have changed my mind, but let's start at the beginning.
At our old apartment, I had one very strict rule about smoking. No smoking inside was a given, but I did not allow smoking on the veranda as well. This is because verandas in Japan are not typically used for one's leisure. They are used for laundry and garbage, so the last thing I wanted was for our newly-washed clothes to smell like smoke or god-for-bid for our laundry or garbage to catch on fire. I also did not want the risk of smoke-stink to rush inside the house every time one opens the patio door just after smoking. I made Suk smoke outside the entrance door to our apartment. He kept an ashtray can out there, and after much complaining, he seemed to get used to it. At first he was embarrassed, and I said, "If smoking embarrasses you so much, perhaps you should quit."
Then, four years later, we moved to our new condo and since we own the goddamn place, you would think Suk would be able to enjoy the freedom of smoking in front of his own entrance door, but NO. The day after we had moved in, the Condo Association guy was walking around and he rang our door bell. No, it wasn't to introduce himself and welcome us to the building. It was to inform us that ashtray cans should not be left out front as it might cause problems for neighbors. The wind, I suppose could cause ashes to blow onto neighbors' entrance areas. Fair enough.
I truly felt sorry for him as he begrudgingly moved his can to our veranda, but I sternly reminded him that the veranda rule would not be changing. However, we live on the 12th floor and it is a long way down every time he wants to have a smoke. For the first week or two, I never saw him smoking. I know that he attempted to go down to the strip of grass just behind our building a few times, but that proved to be too strenuous. I thought maybe he had quit, or that he had taken to smoking only at work. What a dream either of those scenarios would have been.
But, last weekend, he went out on the veranda to smoke...not once, but twice...and right in front of me. I was not myself though. I had come down with a bad chest cold, and just didn't have the energy to gripe about anything, so I said nothing.
Another thing is that my ultra-annoying new co-worker who tends to make an ass of himself in drinking situations tried to have a debate with me about smoking and how it is his right to smoke, and he doesn't give a shit if it bothers anyone else, and that he's going to die anyway, and that he's been smoking for 23 years and he ain't gonna stop now. There was no arguing with him. What's the point in arguing with someone when he is of no relation to you and you couldn't give two shits whether he lives or dies? Suk, on the other hand, I do care about and I like to give him the argument about how smoking can affect your sperm, and he's always like, "RE-E-E-EALLY?"
At our old apartment, I had one very strict rule about smoking. No smoking inside was a given, but I did not allow smoking on the veranda as well. This is because verandas in Japan are not typically used for one's leisure. They are used for laundry and garbage, so the last thing I wanted was for our newly-washed clothes to smell like smoke or god-for-bid for our laundry or garbage to catch on fire. I also did not want the risk of smoke-stink to rush inside the house every time one opens the patio door just after smoking. I made Suk smoke outside the entrance door to our apartment. He kept an ashtray can out there, and after much complaining, he seemed to get used to it. At first he was embarrassed, and I said, "If smoking embarrasses you so much, perhaps you should quit."
Then, four years later, we moved to our new condo and since we own the goddamn place, you would think Suk would be able to enjoy the freedom of smoking in front of his own entrance door, but NO. The day after we had moved in, the Condo Association guy was walking around and he rang our door bell. No, it wasn't to introduce himself and welcome us to the building. It was to inform us that ashtray cans should not be left out front as it might cause problems for neighbors. The wind, I suppose could cause ashes to blow onto neighbors' entrance areas. Fair enough.
I truly felt sorry for him as he begrudgingly moved his can to our veranda, but I sternly reminded him that the veranda rule would not be changing. However, we live on the 12th floor and it is a long way down every time he wants to have a smoke. For the first week or two, I never saw him smoking. I know that he attempted to go down to the strip of grass just behind our building a few times, but that proved to be too strenuous. I thought maybe he had quit, or that he had taken to smoking only at work. What a dream either of those scenarios would have been.
But, last weekend, he went out on the veranda to smoke...not once, but twice...and right in front of me. I was not myself though. I had come down with a bad chest cold, and just didn't have the energy to gripe about anything, so I said nothing.
Another thing is that my ultra-annoying new co-worker who tends to make an ass of himself in drinking situations tried to have a debate with me about smoking and how it is his right to smoke, and he doesn't give a shit if it bothers anyone else, and that he's going to die anyway, and that he's been smoking for 23 years and he ain't gonna stop now. There was no arguing with him. What's the point in arguing with someone when he is of no relation to you and you couldn't give two shits whether he lives or dies? Suk, on the other hand, I do care about and I like to give him the argument about how smoking can affect your sperm, and he's always like, "RE-E-E-EALLY?"
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Moving Day
I know some people are waiting to hear about the move and our new place along with an update on the MIL, so I'll just start with a short post about the move itself.
We chose a moving company with an elephant for its logo because our condominium recommended that everyone use them. The price was estimated to be about $1200. They told us to be ready to go by 8 am on the moving day.
At 8 am we sat waiting for them, and thought we were about as ready as we were going to get. My husband went outside to buy us a drink from the vending machine and he saw their truck parked outside with two guys in uniform sleeping inside. We wondered why they didn't just come up and get started. We waited another hour (and of course my husband wasn't about to knock on their window and say, "What the hell are you doing?"), and we packed some more things up. Suk was getting really antsy.
Finally, the two sleepers (who looked like they were recent high school grads) came up and rang the doorbell. They informed us that they had been "waiting" for the second truck to show up with the rest of their team. However, while they were waiting, another moving company's truck had shown up and parked in front of the building. They were moving a family into the building and had already started, so we would have wait until they finished. It would take about 90 minutes. "Oooookaaaaay," we reply with doubt.
While we waited, our guys decided to move the dining table and hutch out and take it to MIL's house. They finished that in about one hour, and then they came back and parked...and took another long nap. The other moving company did not finish their job until well after noon. There was no sign of a second truck either.
By noon, my antsy-pantsy husband had been sent to the new place with my SIL and Sensei (her husband) so that they could get started over there. I gave them simple things to do like putting together the dog's cage, put up curtains, put contact paper in the drawers, etc. His mom had also shown up with lunch and he had taken her over to show her the new place as well. I waited for the movers to start working.
At about 1 pm, I happened to be outside talking to a friend when the other moving company finished and pulled out of the parking spot. Our moving guys were still napping, so I went over and knocked obnoxiously on the window and yelled, "Owarimashita yo!" (They're finished!).
Finally, they got started and out of nowhere, the rest of their team appeared, but still no second truck. They began in a whirlwind, taking all the boxes and a few pieces of furniture. By that time, Suk and his mom had come back to help out, but actually, the movers don't need any help. You should just stay out of their way.
Then they informed us that a second truck would not be showing up, and they would have to do the move in two parts since only half of our stuff would fit into the small truck they had. Great! March and April are the busiest times for moving in Japan, so I kind of understood the dilemma, but still. We had been told that our move would only take 3 hours at most!
We went to the new place where MIL set up a picnic lunch on the living room floor and we all ate. She even provided beer! It was nice to just relax and eat her food for a bit. Then, the movers appeared with our stuff and in a whirlwind of excitement, it was decided that I should stay at the new place to direct the movers. Suk and his mom went back to the old place to clean.
I am really grateful for that, but I also felt guilty. Anyway...bygones.
What the movers did that irked me:
1. One of the idiots dropped a box full of glass-bottled spices right in front of me. He swore at the box, and his team leader immediately took the box from him and asked me to open to make sure nothing was broken.
2. Towards the end of the move, (about 8pm!!!) the same idiot came into the living room to fetch me. He needed me to check the position of the bed after they had put it together. His way of fetching me was to walk into the room and just stand there silently until I would notice him.
3. Back in the bedroom, the idiot and his team leader re-positioned the bed, and the team leader advised me to leave a bit of space between the wall and the bed. I replied by saying, "Hai" (yes), and the idiot actually mimicked me!
All in all, it was a good experience...one that I learned a lot from. The move took 12 hours total, but not all of it was work, work, work. I think there was a lot of sleeping and standing-in-line. I wouldn't recommend that moving company to anyone either. But, it is so nice to be a new place that is so easy to clean.
We chose a moving company with an elephant for its logo because our condominium recommended that everyone use them. The price was estimated to be about $1200. They told us to be ready to go by 8 am on the moving day.
At 8 am we sat waiting for them, and thought we were about as ready as we were going to get. My husband went outside to buy us a drink from the vending machine and he saw their truck parked outside with two guys in uniform sleeping inside. We wondered why they didn't just come up and get started. We waited another hour (and of course my husband wasn't about to knock on their window and say, "What the hell are you doing?"), and we packed some more things up. Suk was getting really antsy.
Finally, the two sleepers (who looked like they were recent high school grads) came up and rang the doorbell. They informed us that they had been "waiting" for the second truck to show up with the rest of their team. However, while they were waiting, another moving company's truck had shown up and parked in front of the building. They were moving a family into the building and had already started, so we would have wait until they finished. It would take about 90 minutes. "Oooookaaaaay," we reply with doubt.
While we waited, our guys decided to move the dining table and hutch out and take it to MIL's house. They finished that in about one hour, and then they came back and parked...and took another long nap. The other moving company did not finish their job until well after noon. There was no sign of a second truck either.
By noon, my antsy-pantsy husband had been sent to the new place with my SIL and Sensei (her husband) so that they could get started over there. I gave them simple things to do like putting together the dog's cage, put up curtains, put contact paper in the drawers, etc. His mom had also shown up with lunch and he had taken her over to show her the new place as well. I waited for the movers to start working.
At about 1 pm, I happened to be outside talking to a friend when the other moving company finished and pulled out of the parking spot. Our moving guys were still napping, so I went over and knocked obnoxiously on the window and yelled, "Owarimashita yo!" (They're finished!).
Finally, they got started and out of nowhere, the rest of their team appeared, but still no second truck. They began in a whirlwind, taking all the boxes and a few pieces of furniture. By that time, Suk and his mom had come back to help out, but actually, the movers don't need any help. You should just stay out of their way.
Then they informed us that a second truck would not be showing up, and they would have to do the move in two parts since only half of our stuff would fit into the small truck they had. Great! March and April are the busiest times for moving in Japan, so I kind of understood the dilemma, but still. We had been told that our move would only take 3 hours at most!
We went to the new place where MIL set up a picnic lunch on the living room floor and we all ate. She even provided beer! It was nice to just relax and eat her food for a bit. Then, the movers appeared with our stuff and in a whirlwind of excitement, it was decided that I should stay at the new place to direct the movers. Suk and his mom went back to the old place to clean.
I am really grateful for that, but I also felt guilty. Anyway...bygones.
What the movers did that irked me:
1. One of the idiots dropped a box full of glass-bottled spices right in front of me. He swore at the box, and his team leader immediately took the box from him and asked me to open to make sure nothing was broken.
2. Towards the end of the move, (about 8pm!!!) the same idiot came into the living room to fetch me. He needed me to check the position of the bed after they had put it together. His way of fetching me was to walk into the room and just stand there silently until I would notice him.
3. Back in the bedroom, the idiot and his team leader re-positioned the bed, and the team leader advised me to leave a bit of space between the wall and the bed. I replied by saying, "Hai" (yes), and the idiot actually mimicked me!
All in all, it was a good experience...one that I learned a lot from. The move took 12 hours total, but not all of it was work, work, work. I think there was a lot of sleeping and standing-in-line. I wouldn't recommend that moving company to anyone either. But, it is so nice to be a new place that is so easy to clean.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Jumpstart - Six Weird Things
Christine tagged me, so this will be my grand entrance back into the blogosphere. I have been pining away hoping to find the time to write, and now here I am.
Six Weird Things/Facts/Habits About Me
1. I sometimes call my dog by my husband's nickname by mistake. Suki and Maxy - I suppose that is easy to screw up, but thank god Suki has never heard me say this.
2. I hate playing/watching team sports. I prefer playing sports individually where competing for higher points is not necessary.
3. I love to eat dark chocolate, and I don't care if it's really not that good for me. My brain is convinced otherwise.
4. When I was kid, I used to get hand-me-downs for clothing, so I tried to be really creative with them. I used to wear bow ties with my great-grandfathers button-up vest. The first time I wore that outfit in junior high, I got laughed at, so I stopped wearing such fashions.
5. In 5th grade, I went around speaking what I called "Martian Language" to my classmates. It was just jibberish. To this day, I have no idea why I did that.
6. I used to be addicted to coca-cola, and last year I finally admitted it to myself. That is the first step to overcoming.
That was fun, but a little hard. I would like to tag the following people:
Homesick Home
at a loss for words
andrea in japan
Nanchatte Technojunkie
The Mean Teacher
Here are the rules!
1. Reveal six weird facts/things/habits about yourself and then tag six people.
2. Leave a "You're Tagged!" comment to let the people you have tagged know they have to reveal six things (or the entire blogosphere will explode and it will be their fault).
3. Leave a comment letting me know that you have completed your mission (if you have chosen to accept it!)
Six Weird Things/Facts/Habits About Me
1. I sometimes call my dog by my husband's nickname by mistake. Suki and Maxy - I suppose that is easy to screw up, but thank god Suki has never heard me say this.
2. I hate playing/watching team sports. I prefer playing sports individually where competing for higher points is not necessary.
3. I love to eat dark chocolate, and I don't care if it's really not that good for me. My brain is convinced otherwise.
4. When I was kid, I used to get hand-me-downs for clothing, so I tried to be really creative with them. I used to wear bow ties with my great-grandfathers button-up vest. The first time I wore that outfit in junior high, I got laughed at, so I stopped wearing such fashions.
5. In 5th grade, I went around speaking what I called "Martian Language" to my classmates. It was just jibberish. To this day, I have no idea why I did that.
6. I used to be addicted to coca-cola, and last year I finally admitted it to myself. That is the first step to overcoming.
That was fun, but a little hard. I would like to tag the following people:
Here are the rules!
1. Reveal six weird facts/things/habits about yourself and then tag six people.
2. Leave a "You're Tagged!" comment to let the people you have tagged know they have to reveal six things (or the entire blogosphere will explode and it will be their fault).
3. Leave a comment letting me know that you have completed your mission (if you have chosen to accept it!)
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