This weekend

Took Thursday and Friday off. I had to take 4 vacation days during the summer holidays or they're gone. Went out Wednesday night. First to Piemons with Tyler, Manjinder and Katherine (Masa was there, but Nana who took the day off) then to some sort of karaoke bar with Tyler. Was absolutely shitfaced, and probably puked at the karaoke bar. Woke up next morning on Tyler's couch, with the first thing that crossed my mind being "Where the fuck am I?" Had 300yen ramen, left Tyler's, ran into Pam and ended up spending the entire day with her, which was a really pleasant way to cure hangover. We went to the post office, the art museum, the artist co-op, Justco (a relatively cheaper and larger department store 30 minute away), the fish market near Justco, and Kaike beach. I think we really connected.

Tyler had a party at his apartment Friday night which drew at least 30 people. People came from Tottori-shi (1 hour by train) to drink so I obliged. Yohe, Tyler's boss at BOE, was there also and brought two girls. One of whom was Yuko, who was super cute and liked me enough to talk with me at length, give me her phone number and both emails, and emailed me the first thing next morning for future plans. She studied English lit at Osaka university, worked at some company for a year before quitting and going back to grad school in Kurayoshi for certificate to teach kindergarten. Born in December of Showa 53, 8 months older than me. Went to the same elementary school with Masa, who was at the party also. Another Amy, a second year at Nawa, was there too. She reminded me of a tanner version of that frisbee hippy girl from Hopkins (Kate?). Played kings with Courtney, Yohe, Nawa Amy, Pam, and Rachel (a Brit with an attitude, from Tottori). Corinne allegedly smoked up several people on the balcony. Around 11pm we all vacated the house and went to that all-you-can-drink pool/karaoke place in front of the station.

While people waited in the streets for the karaoke room I played pool with some Japanese guy in shirt and tie, who offered not a great game but a good opportunity for me to show off. Free drinks didn't come fast enough for me to get wasted, but enough to bump n' grind with Courtney, who was a great dancer (who IS a dancer) and moved with me in synchronicity and always keeping contact. Snuggled in the open with her, had her in my shoulder/neck nook, and together we crashed another room with Japanese guys and banged heads to Jap. metal. Despite all that flirting and teasing she turned away when I tried to kiss her in the hallway. She could not leave the place fast enough after that. I went after her into the streets, but she didn't think we needed to talk and waved me off. The party just wasn't quite the same after that. I left and rang Courtney's apartment without answer, returned to the place and stayed until 5am, then went home with Jason from Tottori who crashed at my place. Needless to say I wished he were someone else.