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I was casually searching for Tarot on the facebook, and I was #1 in the search results. Is this for real?

Long Distance: Tokyo to Baltimore Fall 2008

Boyfriend Back

Boyfriend face

Last time I think we saw each other was September labor day weekend in Pontiac, Michigan. Is that right? It's almost one month until we see each other again for a little bit. I'm very ready for 2008 to be over.

Obession: Handfasting

Handfasting is a way of promising yourself to another person for one year. It is a conscious decision to want to be with someone. Rather than the one time relationship hook up and "staying together" this is a pact that is renewed annually where you can been honest about you feelings in the relationship and make it work, or decide not to have your hands fastened, and you move on.

PS. links when you click on the photos.

I love Ponytail

I'm having a proud mom moment with Ponytail. Molly's photo was on the top page of the New York Times.com.... they just played some CMJ things, and apparently are going back to NY this weekend to play again. Molly looks stoked and Jeremy is a handsome man blur.

You guys are outstanding.
xoxo

Foods: Best of October (so far)

Mushroom Buckwheat Noodle Soup!

Tempura (fried vegetables with sea salt and green tea)

Mango Milk (Mango Puree with whole fat cream milk and mint)!

Stealing From Friends: Utako as Maiko

This weekend I trekked out to Fuchu to see my friend Utako perform Nihon Buyo (traditional Japanese dance). She has been practicing for so long for this performance. It is a non-competative performance, and she was astounding. It's amazing to see a friends hidden talents expecially with such drama of the costuming, music, and makeup involved with Nihon Buyo.

Here is an example of the genre of dance (but utako's was much more complicated and 16 minutes long):



Utako's performance was the story of the maiko. She was dressed head to toe in gorgeous kimono to perfection. Maiko is not the same as geisha, but the visual is kind of similar dress to geisha. Maiko are girls who are trained performers of dance and song while geisha are more like "hostesses".

We got to go back stage to see her costume up close and personal. This is the closest I have ever been to this kind of outfit. Utako looked so beautiful and elegant, it was very inspiring to see her perform. My graceful little friend.

Here you see the maiko costume next to the contemporary "Fruits" or "Harajuku Girl" fashion:

Utako as Maiko, Ayumi as herself!

Utako's mother and grandma were both at the performance, they looked very proud. Her mother even brought obento for all of us! We chatted and ate our obento, it was a very relaxing day. I even made a new obasan friend in the audience whom was very interested in why I was at such a traditional event outside of Tokyo. A new adorable Japanese grandma buddy!!

Congratulations to Utako for her wonderful performance!

OMG: Canada Dog!!!

How I love thee! Do you like curling? I do! Do you like Hockey? Me too! How about Kids in the Hall? We are going to be the best of friends.

*This post is dedicated to Erin and the Pfund family for their love of all things Canadian and their hatred of poodles.

Foods: Jim Thompson's House Museum and Restaurant

Jim Thompson is a legend in Thailand for developing the village craft of Thai silk weaving into a cottage industry of luxury silk items for posh people around the world, boosting the local economy of rural Thai towns. His company worked to market beautiful Thai silk goods in a fair trade system while preserving the culture of silk weavers and the Thai people. His plan was the ideal mix of selected commercialism with respect to individual artisans who could easily be exploited, but he was a man with integrity and a deep respect for Thai culture.

He was just a good old American boy from Delaware, who mysteriously disappeared never to be heard from again.

Read here for the more info about him and the mystery of his disappearance. Since his disappearance his traditional Thai house was turned into a museum and elegant restaurant serving healthy and delicious Thai food. On my recent trip to Bangkok I had lunch in this little oasis and even got myself a lovely scarf!

How to eat a coconut*

Pad Thai wrapped in an omelette.

Spicy Mango Salad

For information about the silk and more.

For information about the house and museum.

Obsession: The Wicker Man

This kind of ties into the Halloween obsession a bit,but this is a song about Beltane/May Day.This song is very useful when explaining the birds and bees to the little ones. The Wicker Man is probably one of my favorite movies of all time. The costumes are amazing, the color is lush, the ladies bodies are rockin' in that puffy/soft 1970's way, and there is a wealth of grooving fiddle time. This will give you an afternoon of amazing screen shots for your flickr. It's a pagan horror musical, what more can you ask for really.

*Watch the entire movie on boobtube.

Foods:

Excitement: HALLOWEEN 2008

I am totally stoked for Halloween this year. Why? I don't know, but I can really feel it.

Stealing From Friends: Jefferson Cheng

I was blessed this week. Koala bear Jefferson came to Tokyo for a quick two day engagement. We spent the days shopping at the fancy spots and smelling cologne at Comme des Garcon. We spent the evenings eating and laughing. Thank you dear friend for visiting, we had a lovely time!

hello?

Hotel Room: New York City

Forgotten Trips: New York City Strangers

I forgot to tell you about New York. It was an 8am train ride from Baltimore to New York. Coffee and bagel, like, that's so American right? Running to the gallery to set up, hugging people. Running to the office, lunch with Koko.

We were sitting at this knock wood table painted nautical blue. There was a fake Keith Herring mural across the street. The water was room temperature without ice cubes, but I knew it was because that's more healthy. And the light was bouncing off the window pane, water glass, cement panel being lifted by crane, and Coco Rosie was playing softly in the background.

That really captured my imagination, that Coco Rosie warbling. It was so perfect, and I thought "I know this, I know exactly this and it all makes sense". Rude but posh waiter in contemporary American casual and this music and light. It was exactly where I needed to be. The sense of now-ness was thick and velvety.

Opening, lovely girls, then to some club I heard about from this guy on the subway who was from Montreal but grew up in Michigan. Birthday resolution to be more social is fulfilled. Nervously waiting in line, I see Yego in the VIP smoking area. He's so VIP. After 4 years of no contact it was just there again, instant camaraderie. We talked about Haiti and American health care while he cranked up the smoke machine to mask hitting a joint.

Exhausted, this was the third cab driver to scream at me today.

On the business express train back to charms-ville, I took sat next to a very tall business man my age. I read the 33 1/3 book about the Led Zeppelin "Zoso" album, he read about retirement plans and 401k something. We had noting in common, but actually quite a bit. I felt bad for him imagining his stock broker bank job not existing anymore. When I stood up for my stop he got my suitcase down for me, and it matched again all the people and situations feeling right. Velvet and silk, strong and soft.

The lovely feeling of an American life.

East to Far East: Tokyo to Thailand

Welcome to Bangkok!
Utopia and the Thai flag.

I ate this pig skin!

And this deep fried shrimp covered in mayo and cherries!
(with potato salad)

And this really good jelly with coconuts in it!

More gastronomical travels to come!