“Three Libras” by A Perfect Circle is on… “Well I threw you the obvious, just to see if there’s more behind the eyes of a fallen angel, eyes of a tragedy…”
Two revelations today. One was a good surprise, one was not so good. First with the not so good…
I spoke to a work colleague as she was reading the news from a website. She was on a New Jersey news page reading about a car accident recently, which claimed 3 lives. Turns out that 2 of those who were involved was her father’s cousin and his wife. The car caught fire and the couple were trapped. My prayers go out to their family, especially their children.
The same work colleague also revealed today that she was one of the radio DJs for a local, very popular ethnic radio station. She’s usually loud and can’t stop talking on the air, but in the workplace she’s very reserved and a good example of bashful. She was telling me how they were not allowed to use real names and the heaps of fan mail she’d receive at the station from fans (predominantly male). Isn’t it bizarre when you learn something new and outlandishly cool about someone you see and talk to all the time?
Today’s working day was unusual, in that I worked possibly my hardest today. Well, for half the day anyway, because by then, I had finished all my work for the day. After lunchtime I just helped with a report and chatted to another work colleague about bands we like, bands we had seen and bands he would like to see castatrated (The Coral rated pretty high on the list). He was talking about the band he was currently in and the gigs he had lined up, and really made me miss those great times I had in my former band. Kids without worry and without respect for low volume. {Sigh} I really need to get back into that, but for now I am content being a one man band; a guy who has an 8-track and plays all the instruments.
“Kinda like Moby,” as my friend put it. “Moby?!? Naw, I prefer to think of myself as Cornelius (Keigo Oyamada),” I rebuked, in marvelously faked fashion.
“Uh, OK, sorry.”
I guess some of my music is Moby-esque, as a few have pointed out, but I would rather strive to be more like Cornelius… who commands greater respect on the (musically more sound) electronica/pop circuit and has a more-than-just-good-friends relationship with Takako Minekawa. Sorry, no contest.
After work, nipped with some work pals down the road to a wine bar for drinks to the health of one, who was celebrating his 23rd birthday. It was nice seeing everyone away from work, under relaxed conditions (even moreso after a few drinks). After the alcohol equivalent of 6 distilled vodka shots, I somehow remembered my scheduled meetup with my favourite uncle. I made my excuse, wished everyone a good evening and weekend, and carried my reddened face into the rain, to meet my uncle.
During the walk to the rendez-vous point under the shelter of my umbrella, I wondered once again why my face would become flushed after consuming alcohol. Kinda like an allergic reaction and inflammatory response, but despite that, I am able to handle my drink. I don’t really like to drink a lot, unless occasion really calls for it. At a party, I’d prefer to have nothing to drink and just hit the dance floor, because quite frankly, dancing is no fun when I’ve lost all inhibitions and lost all perceptions of the vertical stance. This way, I can afford to be fashionably late and still hit the rug immediately upon arriving at a party, but whether or not I can “cut a rug” is open to interpretation. For my 22nd birthday I can’t remember what I had but it was in the region of two glasses of JD and coke, vodka and lemonade, 4 shots of Aftershock (2 red, 2 blue) and 2 shots of tequila. The world became both a happy and spinning place, but I surprised myself when I walked a few paces let alone all the way home (if you negate the train and cab ride).
But really, I am quite surprised at how much I can take without compromising my balancing skills, you know, being Asian and all. I noticed that quite a few Asians get the “red face” look after one or two drinks but I still didn’t know the reason why. Well, Marc suggested to me one time why. He said he saw a documentary about tea. It reported that people in the west used to fend off the winter chill by sipping Whiskey (or was it Brandy?), but this was not practised in the east. The people in the east used to ward off the cold with tea. Over time and numerous bouts of evolution, people in the west had become tolerant to the effects of alcohol so were no longer as red faced as their eastern counterparts. I kinda do and don’t believe it. Sounds too simple, and you know how unbelievable the simple truths may appear.
I went with my uncle to try out the local sushi place, which I’ve heard serves the most authentic Japanese sushi in London. Well, all the staff there are Japanese and the chef was allegedly trained in Japan, so that’s quite possible (note: a lot of Japanese restaurants here are run by Chinese and Korean owners, with Chinese, Korean and Mexican chefs). I’d never been there before because it always used to be closed and seemed to open whenever it felt like it, kinda stubborn like a spoilt child. I had read reviews slamming it, saying that it was shocking that the restaurant was not open on Friday evenings! Of course, the reviewer went on to say that once they had sampled its goods, realised it was worth the wait. I entered the restaurant and the (kawaii) waitress spoke to me in Japanese (a sure sign that my disguise was working):
Waitress: Konbanwa [Good evening].
Me: Konbanwa. Futari onegai shimasu [Good evening. Table for 2, please].
Waitress: Do you have a booking?
Me: Iie [No]… Ah… {I realise it’s time to switch to “English mode.” I look around at the many empty spaces in the restaurant} Are you booked out completely tonight?
Waitress: {Converses with the manager} Yes, bookings are from 7:30.
Me: {Looks at watch. It’s 7:00} Oh…
Waitress: {Puppy dog eyes flutter} You just have half an hour.
Me: Never mind, but thank you anyway. {I think of booking before turning up next time} May I have one of your business cards please?
Waitress: Pardon?
Me: Meishi o kudasai [May I have a business card please?].
She handed me a business card, we said goodbye and left. Hmmm, so much for turning up like that. I didn’t even think it was going to be open. Will definitely have to book for next time, but what to do tonight? I knew. I could always rely on my old two pets, the Hare and Tortoise. I had the usual, with some mouthwatering Unagi (saltwater eel) sushi and made toasts with my uncle over a shared flask of warm sake. Warm sake is great for fighting the chills of November London weather. I’ve not had sake many times but each time has been in the company of good people and good conversation.
Today’s most interesting topic was food. Again. My uncle and I were discussing different types of meat and the different types we each had eaten. So far out of everyone I know, I think my uncle is in the lead in the “eaten most number of different animals” race. Let’s see… he’s had all the conventional meats like beef, chicken and pork. He’s had pretty much all the animals you can buy from your local butcher or in the supermarket. Then in addition to that, he’s eaten dog (”Tastes like beef“), snake (”Tastes like chicken“), tortoise (”Tastes like chicken“), hedgehog (”Tastes like snake” ?!?!), crow (”Tastes like chicken“), leopard (”Tastes like beef“), tiger (”Tastes like beef“) and monkey (”Tastes like beef“). So, the score is like what… chicken: 4, beef: 4? I guess it doesn’t really reinforce the statement “It tastes like chicken,” where “it” is a random meat (kinda like the mystery meats served in US school diners). However, I will contest that frog’s legs really do taste like chicken, madames et messieurs.
