Day Off

On TV: first a program on fashion, but now a JPop show. The whiny vocalists are making me a little crazy.

Just earlier, I had a healthy hotpot dinner with lots of tofu (my favorite!) at home with Mom and Dad. Now I am waiting for Chang-sensei to give me a deep-tissue aromatherapy massage, as a closer to a day of rest that finally came after what seemed like weeks of non-stop work and activity.

This afternoon, I accompanied Mom to the supermarket in the basement of The Mall 遠企. It was my first time there, and I think I will go back if given the chance. There's a good variety of Japanese and Western food there. The floorspace was not impressive, but the variety and layout reminded me of Andronico's, a local and high-end supermarket/deli in Los Altos, where we lived during part of my high school years. The best part of the store was a special section for soy products, all handmade by a Japanese tofu maker who has been brought over from Japan. I didn't have the chance to chat with him for very long, but he said tofu in Taiwan isn't made with nigari 苦汁. Apparently, coagulation is done by incorporating shihui 石灰. Nigari is supposed to be better for the body. I haven't done research, but I think organic nigari my have something to do with it. In any case, if you like tonyu 豆乳 pudding, zarudofu 笊豆腐, gomadofu 胡麻豆腐, goma tonyu 胡麻豆乳 or other soy products, this is a place you may want to visit. I definitely would like to do so again. Oh, we came home with goma pudding, macha 抹茶 pudding, tonyu pudding, zarudofu, momendofu 木綿豆腐, agedashidofu 揚げ出し豆腐, oageお揚げ, regular tonyu and goma tonyu. Absolutely heavenly.

Moving on to wine...

Is it possible to get hungover on one small glass of red wine? It seems that I can.

For six nights now, I've been having one small glass of red wine before bed to help me sleep better. It seems that I sleep quite well, because my eyeshades are still on when I wake up in the morning. They usually end up on the other side of the bed because I guess I toss and turn through the night.

I'm still very tired during the day.

It sounds like a hangover, but theoretically, it's a little unlikely. Although I don't normally drink, because my stomach turns inside out when I do, everyone in my family does, and in large amounts as well.

I don't get a headache, but I'm tired.

I guess I'm just tired. Should I keep drinking? That's a tough one. One other thing that I've learned recently is that I don't like drinking by myself and without food to go with the drink. I am just not sophisticated enough. There's nothing wrong with the 1998 Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from Father's cellar (he caught me today), but it tasted rather unpleasant. A week ago when I was having dinner with Mama and Honda-san at a sushi-ya san, we first had white wine and then osake over wonderful conversation and delicious food, and the drinks tasted great. I kept helping myself to more.

Here are my findings thus far:
1. wine in the night helps me sleep
2. alcohol is only nice with good company and good food
3. I need to do more to relieve my fatigue

Do you have any suggestions?
Mama said to soak my feet for 5 minutes and hands for 6 instead of taking a bath.
Mom said to see the Chinese medicine doctor in Nangang

Oh, it's 22h05 and Chang-sensei just got here. I guess I won't be sleeping on time tonight either.

Lazy Morning

Scene description:
Having breakfast at the dining table, with Oreo mid-morning napping the floor on my left and Lucky on my right. Finished watching the local morning TV news, now tuned to NHK.

Mama, lots of energy to you for your Nagoya concert!

Yuko, sorry I chose the same blog template. I just could not resist the color.

Well, I am ahead of schedule! I have some blog links set up. If anyone knows of any more that I can add, please let me know.

It appears that Dad bought a new flat panel TV. I saw it still in the box when I came home last night. This morning when I came down for breakfast, the box was open and the TV gone. I assume it's in their room, because it's nearly 12h30 and I haven't seen either one of them. It's hello to new TV and goodbye to the rest of the world.

I slept in until 9h30 this morning, passing on my drawing class. I have been too tired in the past few days. I've had very little rest for weeks. My eyes and mind got a good change of scenery when I returned to Tokyo for a few days last week, but my body is reaching its limit. I began craving for chocolate even before reaching the station yesterday. I broke down and had a Snickers, and then later regretted it. I guess I don't like those things anymore.

Time really flies. I've been at FTV for two months officially and five in total. Speaking of which, I better get ready for work!

Additional goal: put my picture up in the profile section.

Have a good day, everyone!

Hello, I am back!

I wasn't aware that so many of my friends have blogs. What an encouragement that is to continue mine, and what a wonderful thing it is to be able to know what's going on in their busy lives.

It has been a while since I last posted, and much has changed. I'm now living and working somewhere I didn't think I would, in an industry that no one thought I would. Work has been keeping me very busy, but I'm having lots of fun. One thing I need to work on is finding a balance between work and play, however. I miss my family and I miss my friends.

My Blogger goal for next week: post 3 times and get my friends' blog links.