Blonde moment

Blonde moment indeed - I messed up the time of my 2nd cooking class today. I thought it was at 1:15, giving me the morning to find an apron. Well, I get all my things together, walk over to the place, open my planner to find out that I have missed my class, which was at 11:15am. I was 2 hours late. RATS. The teacher saw me and was like "you missed my class, they are eating now." They were eating and it was the Japanese menu, so I was super bummed. There was also like 2 Americans/foreigners, I am more bummed that I didn't meet them and make friends. RATSx2 I had to reschedule for 2 weeks from now, so that week of blog posts should be good since I will have 2 cooking classes that week. Unfortunately that week I will also be a bad Japanese student and cancel my Japanese lesson to go to cooking class. tehe Anywho, I had to pay a small materials fee for missing the class. They are all about conservation and not being wasteful, which is good. Bad part is, Mike is definitely going to make fun of me for missing class and crack some joke about how I have nothing to do, so how could I miss the few things I do have planned. It should be a good time.

In honor of missing cooking class(though I am really bummed), I decided I would re-make one of the dishes we made last week, shrimp au-gratin, for dinner. It was a success, even though we did have a few problems. The white sauce was not as thick as I would have liked it, so maybe I have to stir the rue longer before adding in the milk. I don't have individual ramicans, so I made it in a square cassarole dish, so hopefully it will be ok. Here is the right out of the oven picture. Let me know how you think I did from the previous picture. I am hopefully getting Mike to write something after dinner. All I know is that I cheated a bit as it came out of the oven and ate a pasta shell, hmmmmm.


Amanda told me to blog about her dinner. I tried to write "It was good", but then she got mad at me. So, "It was good, but it needed more sauce". I don't think she'll like that any better, but at least it's more. I don't exactly know how au gratin is Japanese cuisine, except there was shrimp in it. I guess the important thing is it was much better than anything I could cook for myself, so I'm very happy. And full.

Super Bowl Monday Morning

I realize it doesn't have the same ring as Superbowl Sunday, but that is when I watched the game here!

Before I tell you all the details, I have to say what a wonderful husband I have. He loves football and would probably have loved to watch the game, but had to work. He was supportive of me going to the bar to watch the game and even called me at halftime to see if I was having fun. So once again, here's to Mike, for being a wonderful husband!

So the game. I made a reservation at Legends in Roppongi, which is a bar that shows a lot of American sports. There were signs saying "bar opens at 7:30am, game on at 8:15am." Naturally I did not arrive on time because being at the bar at 7:30am is a bit much. What respectable, married woman gets to a bar that early without her husband and in a red coat. Well that would be I, around 7:50am in all smiles. :)
I was assigned a seat and a gentleman was already sitting there, Mr. Williams. I made friends with him and we chatted. So part of the reservation included American breakfast and 2 drink coupons (yes, I had to pay for this at a set price). I started out with a screwdriver and the American breakfast, which was good. It had some scrambled eggs, 2 slices of bacon and sausage links, baked beans, croissant, roll, a few tater tots, and a hashbrown square (like the McDonald's kind, including the grease). I figured if I was going to start drinking so early, I might as well coat my stomach with grease, so I ate it and the rest of the breakfast. 2 more men joined our table, so it was now me and 3 Japanese men. funny how that happens.

The game was about to start and all the tvs were on, as everyone was waiting. I was cheering for the Saints and it was a good things because the majority of the bar was as well. So the game starts and I was so excited and then it was commercial time, where I was bummed. I didn't get to see any of them. I can only hope there were some decent ones. 1st half was good and we are waiting for the 2nd half to start. it does and here is shot of the bar right after the Saints scored at the beginning of the 3rd quarter. Mr. Williams is the guy in the bottom right of the picture.

Here is when the Colts scored right after that. Not as excited except that girl in front.

Now a little song: "every party has a rooper (not pooper) and that's this guy (in black shirt, cap backwards, standing on the bar)! This is right after that lovely interception to take the game.

This guy was a hoot, but made it fun. And of course here is one at the end of the game. yay SAINTS.


The game was over and it was time to go home. Excited that I got to see it and even more excited that is was a good game. I realize some of you may be thinking, gosh, what a mean girl to go watch the Superbowl while Mike has to work. Well, since I had the rest of the day open, I was a good wifey and did laundry, even folding it and putting it away, and had dinner ready for Mike when he got home. So, see I am not all that mean!

Lunch w/Rich & Edo Tokyo Museum

Today Mike and I actually left our apartment before noon. It was definitely going to be a good day. Mike's uncle Rich was in town for business, so we met up with him and his business colleague, Wayne. We met them at Tokyo station, which was an adventure in itself. Tokyo station is the 2nd largest station in Tokyo, so we had to search for them even though we had the name of where they were. Turns out there were 2 buildings with the same name, but after about 15 minutes, we split up to find them and I was successful. We had lunch and learned about what kind of busy they were here for. Mike called them seagulls because "they come in and shit on everything and then leave." They oversee and train people on what they are suppose to be doing. Sounds fun and after their few days here, they were off to another couple of places. After lunch, we headed over to the Tokyo Edo Museum, which had a special exhibit on the Mongolian Empire, including a big statue of Genghis Khan on a horse.

Tokyo Edo Musuem is a famous museum that discusses the history and development of Tokyo. We first went to the Mongolian exhibit, which was not as great as we expected. Every item description was in Japanese, so we basically spent our time looking at items. We couldn't take any pictures of the artifacts, but here is what I liked the best: traditional kimono that had peacock feathers woven into it everywhere. Mike and I both liked the Mongolian chess set that was at the end of the exit and we are now trying to figure out how to obtain one. We will let you know how it goes.

After this exhibit we went to see the permanent one on Tokyo. It was a really great exhibit that Mike and I both liked. They actually let you take pictures of some of the replica items. Mike and I would get done with one part of the exhibit and then try to see where Rich and Wayne were. We found them taking a break many times, but figured they were tried after traveling.
Not sure who he is or what he is doing, but I could take a picture. He was also in front of the theater that follows.


Next is a set of pictures of a major street in the city where people would gather. They replicated this and had binoculars available so you could see them up close.



Next is a split house, where 2 different families live.


Next are some pictures of traditional dress for kabuki theater. Check out her shoes, I need to find some of those!


Here I am sitting in a rickshaw!

I can't remember what this was, but I included it anyway!

An original car! hehe


After this, we ended our very long day of the museum. Rich and Wayne survived and then headed back to Yokohama, which is where they were staying. Mike and I headed home. It was a good day.

Little Texas

"Little Texas" was little, space wise, but definitely big when it came to Texas spirit. Here is Mike and I outside next to the sign before going in. Isn't it great!

Our friends, Wayne and Becky, along with their neighbor Kiko, took us, as they really enjoy country music. I was quite impressed with all the decor that reflected Texas in its best including the "lone star" beer cans and bottles, UT fan items, budlight 6-packs (which Mike did think about stealing!), TX license plates, and of course all the country music you could want. NO country bar is complete without this sign!

The band was great and the lead singer could definitely get the pitches and accents on certain words from songs. It was so funny and good. If you didn't know the words to the songs, you never would have known what he was saying. Good thing I like country music and know the words, as I was singing along!

Now the Japanese are cute when it comes to country music. They were all decked out in their Western gear, from cowboy hats to big belt buckles to cowboy boots. Most of them even had a bottle of whiskey at their table, which they were drinking with water. They love to line dance, to every song and most of the line dances look the same, but they don't care.


Now I like line dancing, so I got out there with Becky and Kiko, as well as everyone else and line danced. Now I had some trouble at first because the steps were not the steps I know from traditional line dancing, but I got them and had no problem. Here are some pictures of me dancing with my new Japanese country friends!


After line dancing, we took a picture with the lead singer, Tony, Becky, Kiko, and I. Mike only took one and unfortunately my eyes are close, but oh well. Kiko, is only 12 years old, and they let her in the bar. So one for Japanese culture!

Now since it was a bar, they had Texas select beer and of course, I couldn't pass it up, so here is my texas select beer. It was good, very similar to Mich Ultra, with only 58 calories. yay more me!


At the end of the night, I was as happy as I could be, getting a good Texas fix. This place was great and definitely a place we will go back to. Downside, there is a cover and its expensive. Upside, the BBQ ribs were good and we got a free coors light t-shirt, too bad I don't like coors light. All my Texas loving friends would love this place and love how much these people love Texas.

Here's to saying good night and y'all come back now, you here!

1 Month Mark

Today I have officially been in Japan for 1 month, oh how the time goes by so fast. It was only 4 short weeks ago that I was getting off a plane feeling miserable, burning up, and desperately trying to avoid coughing as I past the quarantine area at the airport. I spent the next week in doors to get better. Then the next week came and I started Japanese lessons. And then it was time for cooking school. I have been a busy bee! In my month here, here is what I have learned/observed/liked/disliked, etc:

- my nose, hands, and toes will always be cold b/c we don't have central heating, but heating in every room and its always cold in our
- I still can't get use to difference in fashion sense as mouth still drops when I see a girl in a very, very mini skirt with tights and high boots.
- I spend alot of time alone, so it's a good thing I know how to entertain myself
- learning the language is hard especially the characters, don't know what they were thinking when they developed it
- when I try to practice my Japanese, all the japanese people laugh at me, but I don't care as I continue to try
- I don't feel bad when I stare back at people with mean/awkward faces because they are looking at me the same way
- my video game playing skills are improving!
- drinking sake and beer in the same night is not a good idea as it gives me a slight twinge of a headache the next morning. Its just like the no beer/alcohol order.
- talking to my mom on skype is an adventure in itself, but she mastered calling sooner than I thought, so that's a good thing
- walking uphill to get to our apartment in the cold or after many beers is not so fun...on the bright side, my legs better look damn good after we leave this place
- I enjoy not having to drive, especially in traffic
- it's a good thing I am not people phobic or claustrophobic because it gets up close and closer when in the trains or subways during peak hours
- I wear my red coat whenever I go out to be different and bright because everyone else is always in black, gray or brown. I love black, but not a sea of black, so I use red.

Surprise party for Yoko

Friday night and what better way to spend the evening after a long week's work (for everyone else, not me), but to have a birthday party. Yoko had no idea that we were all waiting for her arrival at dinner and everyone at work did a great job in keeping it a secret. We went to a traditional Japanese seating restaurant where you had to take off your shoes and then sit around the table indian style. We had a set course of about 11 items (in small portions) and it was all you can drink!!! We started with a sweet potato, fried tofu, jelly fish.

Next it was all the veggies in this soup pot.

You also use this same pot to cook one of our next courses, the fish.

Of course we had to KOMPAI many times in honor of Yoko. Yoko's neighbor had the right idea, forget the glass and go for it all.


Happy Birthday singing time with cake!


And course, we had to go to karaoke to finish off the night. This was a good karaoke night as everyone sang good songs






A final happy birthday to the birthday girl. We hope you had a good time.


On the way home, I got hungry after all the beer I had been drinking. I sure wished there was a Whataburger around, so I could go get a jr. cheeseburger and then pass out. No such luck, rats and eating sushi after a night of beer just doesn't sound the same as a cheeseburger.

1st day of Japanese Cooking school

Today was my 1st lesson at Japanese cooking school. I figure I should look the part of housewife to be at cooking school, so I got all ready, even put some make-up on and an argyle sweater. It was time to cook!

I show up and I am ready for class. I get my recipe and its all in Japanese. RATS. I so thought it would be in English, but no. Then I found out that I have to bring my own apron, towel, and house shoes for when I cook. No one told me that, so I felt a little unprepared, and I don't like that feeling. Anywho, I just borrowed theirs and will buy my own apron this weekend. The teacher also read off the ingredients in English, so I was able to write everything down and make notes. There were 4 courses, 2 of which were more like main courses and then the salad and small appetizer. There were 3 of us in class, including myself and I made a friend of one of them. Her name is Helen Tso and she is Taiwanese, but speaks great English. Bad thing is, she will be leaving back to Taiwan in April. I make a friend and then they leave me, damn.

So each one of us participated in making the meal. The teacher would tell us what to do and then we would do it. We started out with making fresh butter from cream and that butter really, really tasted good. As the teacher was working on the making some cheese, each of us were working on cutting the veggies for everything. Next we started cooking the soup and the noodles.

We ended with putting together the gratin that we baked. Dividing it up between us

Putting the broccoli and then the cheese

Right out of the oven, nice and hot, ready for my tummy

And here are the finshed products starting from upper left going clockwise:
appetizer - cracker with fresh butter, 2 raisins, 1 walnut and some maple syrup drizzle
salad with a semi-hard boiled egg, fresh cheese (what she called cottage cheese, yuck), fresh dressing made with mayo, powdered cheese, salt, pepper, anchovy paste
entrees - shrimp gratin with fresh wine sauce, macaroni, mushrooms, lots of onions, broccoli, topped with cheese and bread crumbs
soup made with celery, carrots, endive, onions, pork, and chicken


After all of that work, it was time to eat and boy did I enjoy it. The soup and the au gratin were really good. The salad was ok, but I didn't really eat much of it and the crackers were surprisingly good, really good. I will definitely be making the entrees again and the crackers. Mike asked what I made and then asked why I didn't make any of it for dinner. Simple response: I can't eat the same thing for lunch and dinner. Next lesson is on Tuesday.