Today was another of the great sort of day I've had all week, wherein I get up, do some stuff, go back to sleep until late in the afternoon, then hang out with friends until I feel like going to sleep again. This formula of sleep+other stuff+more sleep has been working exceptionally well for the past while; I could say I've been sleeping so much because of the cold I have, but it's honestly more an excuse to do what I already wanted to do than anything else.
I can't stop thinking about The Return of the King - the ending manages to capture the poignancy of the book surprisingly well, especially when combined with the Annie Lennox song that plays over the end credits. In fact, it's mostly the fault of that song that the movie has continued to linger with me; a certain fore-sighted friend gave me the soundtrack, and ever since watching the movie I've been playing that song non-stop. Incidentally, that was the first time I've ever gone to a movie and had reserved seats - apparently when movies here are expected to sell out, everyone gets seat assignments to assure that groups that come together will be able to find seats together without having to wait in line for hours. There are no ushers wearing round caps and wielding flashlights, more's the pity, but it was still pretty fun.
It was Valentine's Day yesterday, which in Japan means that the fine ladies give chocolates to the men they know, and said lucky boys do nothing except gorge themselves on their ill-begotten gains. This strikes me as a uniquely excellent custom, and one that we Americans should try to imitate. There is a complementary day here in a month or so where men do the same thing to girls, who then complain bitterly about what fat pigs they are while stuffing chocolates into their mouths with both hands, and I feel America could do without this foolish practice. Reciprocity is the catchword of demonic bureaucracies, not delicious candy dealings.
Speaking of C.S. Lewis, I have been wanting to read the Narnia Chronicles really badly lately; I think I may search around for a Japanese translation, just in case one is readily available. Those of you who have not read the entire series must have been living in a terrible Bizarro world where this set of remarkably fine books is actually, say, a tasty bit of caramel nougat, or maybe a reference manual for knitting sweaters for the homemade-clothing-loving Alien Squirrel Overlords.
- Gyaa! I'm give up
Naka-ku, Hiroshima
730-0803
JAPAN
