For those of you reading and appreciating the blog: Thank You. In a city where sarcasm doesn’t exist, it’s a little bit like 1 hand clapping all the time.

Today I’m talking about a bunch of stuff. I finally was able to decipher my oven manual and have the time on my oven converted to AM/PM as opposed to military time. I know this doesn’t seem like a big deal to you, but after a while, all that subtracting by 12 was making me a little headachey. By the way, that’s how they roll here in Japan. As if Metrics wasn’t hard enough to punch into my converter app.

As I continue to live here in Tokyo, I will try to remember to let you know what kind of “fashion” I see on the streets. Like I have noticed a LOT of girls (and a few guys) running around with frames on their faces without the lenses. It’s a little weird. I don’t get it. The other thing I have noticed is women walking around with VERY short shorts. I know it’s hot, but still. Cliff and I were walking home the other week and we got behind this one girl who I swear was wearing white underwear that had pockets drawn on the butt. WHITE. I was thinking I hope she got lasered and I hope it doesn’t rain for her sake. Am I getting old? I really thought it was gross. Among my observations, I’m just going to say what others here are thinking. What the heck is going on with the Caucasian group of women here? Maybe it’s because back in Hotlanta, all my friends were hot chicks and there were certainly extensions, nails, boobs and whatever else deemed necessary for goddessness, but over here, the white chicks are losing the battle. I thought it was just me and the fact that maybe I just came from a city where women liked to accessorize, but here it is a stark contrast between the Asian women who put on heels to go to the convenience store, and the foreign white women who look like they own no make-up and are always wearing bad resort wear circa 1980. I’m sorry if you are reading this White Lady and you take offense, but let’s be honest with ourselves. It kind of surprises me because for the most part, the expats here are women from around the world who have traveled and seen a lot more than most. I’ll try to take some pictures secretly to illustrate my point.

Chase went to his first movie here in Tokyo at the Roppongi Hills. It was part of a birthday party for one of the boys in our apartment. I knew tickets wouldn’t be cheap so I opted to keep another mom company and not have a ticket bought for me. Tickets range from 900-1700 yen ($11.72-22.14) depending on whether you are a high school student, senior or general admission. Tickets are assigned! and if you are like me and you don’t see movies opening weekend so that later you might be able to walk into a theater to find only 4 other people there with you, that kind of goes away because in the assignments, even if there are only 5 people in a theater they plop you all together in the middle. Since I haven’t tested the MPs (Movie Police) by actually going to a movie and switching seats, I’ll let you know when that drama unfolds.

In case you were wondering about the movie snack options I took this picture. Don't forget that portion sizes are much smaller.

Speaking of police, the other day I needed to pick up something at the shopping center and rode over on my bike. I couldn’t find a spot on the street rail, so I tied my bike to a tree next to the door and went in. By the time I came out, there was a ticket on my bike lock! Evidently I did something wrong. I’m not sure how they expect to enforce this, but I can only assume they think I will simply be a good citizen and not do it again. I just thought that was funny. Angela, of course, explained to me that I need to register my bicycle with the government. You know how in every mom group there’s that one woman who seems to know everything and have been everywhere already twice? that’s Angela. Part of me doesn’t believe she’s really new here. She’s either one of the craziest people I know, or one of the bravest.

Yesterday I went on a Kimono Shopping excursion with the TAC Women’s group. It was a lot of fun and I actually ended up picking up a terrific antique Obi to hang on my wall. I have to mention, during our walk, we passed a vending machine and we realized that it sold beer and wine! Talk about trusting your citizens.

Nghi is getting the Asahi Dry in the extra big can

I know compared to some blogs, mine might run a sukoshi long, but partly it’s because there is so much to talk about!

I want to wrap this episode with a follow-up to my first hair experience with my second attempt.

This is the website for Montblan criket:  http://www.creativeart.jp

Yuji Okawa is evidently some kind of color genius and in fact helps Aveda create some of its colors. Despite his notoriety, his salon is modest by some standards and I liked it better as soon as I walked in. It didn’t feel like a nightclub and he was very kind and spoke great English. Educated in England and his family has been in the hair business for many years.

I was offered a blanket, didn’t take it. We got to know each other a bit. While my color was processing,

Yuji offered me a variety of drinks, I accepted coffee.

When I needed to shampoo, they didn’t put the tissue over my face. The only way I can describe the shampoo is to say it felt like what I imagine a newborn baby must feel the first time its mother washes its hair. It was nice.

All in all a much more simplified experience and much more enjoyable experience. As we were wrapping up and I was signing the bill: 15,500 Yen = $201.84 I felt like I needed to say something more. I started telling him, “you know, in the States, I never had to say anything to Patti…” and he reached over and touched my shoulder and said, “Don’t worry, I’m here to make you beautiful. You don’t have to say anything more”.  He had me at “Don’t“.

Until next time…