Faretheewell Ramen

So I am pretty thoroughly convinced that Fred is not a normal cactus. Far more likely is that Fred is possibly plastic. I can't really tell. Between extreme temperatures and being in my not so tender mercies for more than a month, beyond all odds the cactus is still alive and well. Still prickly as ever, but hey, he is a cactus.

Aaron heads back to the States day after tomorrow, and we got together at Asagaya to have some of the thickest ramen I've ever seen. I mean, I stopped eating and the oil and grease started to congeal into not so much a skin... rather more like rhinoceros hide.... Great for guys, but definitely clued me into why I was the only female in the place. Had some great music ensembles such as "It's Raining Men" and "Nine to Five". That second is especially ironic as my boss called from Singapore to ask me to call London to try to get this contract that I'm negotiating done. I is hard for me to bite my tongue and ask my help, but it is really at a point where I'm chasing the company all I can without annoying the absolute hell out of the guy I am dealing with. Makes me look somewhat incompetent, but I can only do so much at this point.

I admit, it was a bittersweet goodbye. I'm a little jealous that he gets to go back, but at the same time, I'm starting new here, so there are more adventures to be had. That is, if little Californian me doesn't freeze in the winter first. Next on the list of stuff to get is winter running gear. Summer just won't cut it.

Fred the Cactus

Final day of Silver week 5 day weekend. Part of me felt I should go in to work, but I defeated the little workaholic that lives on my shoulder and opted to go check out the Uniqlo above the station. Got some corduroy pants in prep for the Fall cold snap (its been 60 here all month and really damn eerie, since I remember starting to freeze in Kyoto around this time), a few long sleeve shirts, and this snazzy undershirt that is supposed to act as a temperature regulator, warming when you are cold.
I have managed to keep the cactus alive for a day so far and named “Fred” for his funky hairdo and personality. He keeps me company in lieu of Francois (my car)... who by all reports is now being sold. Regardless, I haven’t managed to kill the little bugger yet, but we will see.
Rest of the day isn’t much to talk about though. Finally getting paid Friday so I can start figuring out what my monthly budget is actually going to be. Time to break out the spreadsheet Mike helped me make.