child devil of tuna

I've decided that there's nothing on Earth that is more instantly satisfying than scratching a mosquito bite. To give in to the nearly uncontrollable urge. To scratch despite knowing that the ensuing satisfaction is cheap and fleeting. To go through with it even though you know full well that there will be consequences.

And there are consequences. Like nearly all cheap fixes, the gratification that comes from scratching that mosquito bite is not without repercussions. As if the swelling, burning, internal bleeding, and bruising weren't bad enough, scratching the bite will only make it itch more. It is a vicious self-perpetuating cycle, not unlike that of the hopeless crack addict, and I am caught in its vice-like jaws.

I have this mosquito bite on my right ankle and all day long it's been nagging, teasing, tempting me to scratchscratchscratch it. I can barely concentrate on my work as it is taking all of my conscious will power to overcome the urge. Unfortunately, I don't know how much longer I can hold out against the histimine-onslaught. I think I'm just going to go ahead and indulge by satisfying my appetite for scraching this goddam bug bite.

As Ned Flanders once said, "Mmmm, sure are fun to scratch. Satisfying."

posted by Grace @ 5/30/2004 10:52:00 PM 0 comments

There's apparently something about Tennessee...

On three separate occasions this week, different Japanese people who are in no way connected to each other, asked me where Tennessee was in the U.S. and whether I had been there or not. My curiosity was peaked. So what IS there in Tennessee?

Union Planters IMAX Theater - Open since 1995, the IMAX Theatre is the only one located in the Mid-South. The screen stands four stories high with IMAX Digital surround sound and more. The facilities can accommodate meetings, lectures and other large presentations. The theatre seats up to 240 people.

Graceland - Tour the mansion of Elvis Presley, which features a famous pink Cadillac and more. Located on 14-acres, the mansion features a pool room, Jungle Room, trophy building. Situated in the trophy building are gold records, movie and stage costumes and more. Respect can be paid in the Meditation Garden.

Memphis Music Hall of Fame - Documenting the history of music in Memphis, this museum covers everything from WC Handy to Elvis Presley.

Country Music Hall of Fame - The hall of fame is located in downtown Nashville in the entertainment district. Over 40,000 square feet of space is featured. A large two story wall includes every gold and platinum record which ever made the country music charts. Situated in the museum is a restaurant.

The Parthenon - Located in Centennial Park, the Parthenon is a full-size replica of the one on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Situated in the Parthenon is a large 42-foot sculpture of the Athena. A permanent art collection is located on-site. This is the only replica in the world.

The list goes on and on. I shouldn't have underestimated the Great State of Tennessee. I mean, it has a city named "Pigeon Forge." Can't beat that. Check this out in case you ever find yourself passing through Tennessee.

posted by Grace @ 5/28/2004 12:39:00 AM 0 comments

Revelation for the day: Claritin kicks ass.

Allegra doesn't even come close. I was suffering the worst allergy attack today and I all but used an entire box of Kleenex. 30 minutes ago, I popped a 24-hour Claritin and now I'm sneeze-free! Mad props to Schering-Plough Healthcare Products Inc. for developing a now-non-perscription allergy medicine that works!

posted by Grace @ 5/22/2004 01:25:00 AM 0 comments

Why do I bother being patient? Why do I insist on sacrificing my own interest so that I can accomodate the interests of others? Why do I keep giving people the benefit of the doubt when time again, those people prove to be unreliable?

I had plans to go on what promises to be an amazingly fun trip. I had the flights all but booked but I cancelled those plans so that I could open up more options for other people. I put in so much extra time and effort; made phone calls using my not-so-shit-hot Japanese. I relayed that info which I so carefully gleaned from numerous sources to the party in question and waited waited waited for a response.

And where does all of that patience, hard-work, and generosity leave me? Back at square one. Yeah, thanks a bunch for leaving me hanging.

posted by Grace @ 5/20/2004 01:00:00 AM 0 comments

Because I'm bored and also because I'm trying to keep my mind occupied, I once again turned to inane internet quizzes to pass the time. In doing so, I came across Tickle's IQ Test, brought to you in the form of this safe-for-work link. It's no Mensa test, but it'll probably waste a good 10 minutes at work. When you're done, you can put in my email address (haushinka18@hotmail.com) and find out my score as well. Or I can just toot my own horn and post my results for all to see. I'm going to have to assess just how arrogant I am first!

posted by Grace @ 5/12/2004 10:23:00 PM 0 comments

They say that if life throws you lemons, make lemonade. But then life shoots a cannonball at me and all I can do is to try and keep from dying inside.

Life can be so harsh sometimes.

posted by Grace @ 5/10/2004 12:34:00 AM 0 comments

Answers:

1) Snoopy
2) Astro Boy (aka Atom)
3) Pinocchio
4) Moomin (what the hell's a Moomin??)

And what miserable weather we're suffereing here in Kuwana-shi, Japan. Nix my plans to go grocery shopping due to the fact that my nice umbrella is in the trunk of some random Japanese guy's car and that I'm a Californian and I just don't know what to do with myself when it rains. What? Water from the sky? The gods are unhappy and I'd better stay indoors.

I never thought that I would miss the weather of California, but I find myself yearning for it now. Four seasons a year was only something I read about in books or saw in movies. No snow in winter, no color-changing leaves in the fall, no April showers or May flowers, and certainly no humid Augusts. I watched Kill Bill Vol. 2 last night. Most of it takes place in what looks like Arizona's Painted Desert and the whole time I couldn't help thinking how incredible the scenery looked. For the first time since I arrived in Japan, I felt a little homesick.

What is it about the desolation and solitude of the desert that appeals to me? I don't really know. While I appreciate mountains and greenery, lakes and rivers, snow and sometimes even rain, I truly love the dry heat of a desert and the salty waters of an ocean. Nothing else can compare.

posted by Grace @ 5/08/2004 08:03:00 PM 0 comments

Ah, back from vacation and back to the grind... and here I am, just wanting to sleep all day. Good thing I had some recyclable lesson plans to fall back on. My JTE wanted to play Jeopardy again and she came up with a new category: who am I? She showed me the questions and I vetoed them all on the basis that I had NO IDEA what some of the answers were and there was no way that my non-English speaking students could figure them out. See if you can figure them out.

I am a dog.
I am American.
Who am I?

I am a boy; but I am a robot.
I am not American.
I am Japanese.
Who am I?

I am a boy.
I am not American.
I am Italian.
Who am I?

I am from Finland.
I am not a dog.
I am not a bear.
Who am I?

Hehehe. Good luck.

posted by Grace @ 5/05/2004 11:19:00 PM 0 comments