Japanese Story

I saw Japanese Story yesterday. It’s a really small, but well done film. Japanese Story is about people who change when placed in an unusual and unfamiliar situation. Toni Collette gives a very human performance, which is pretty raw in a couple scenes. The Japanese male lead gives a very strong performance as well. A couple small details of the narrative could have been better executed. The music was a touch heavy-handed. There was a hint of after-school-specialness to the mise-en-scene. Overall though, it was really excellent.

Read if you must, but I warn you, it’s dull.

I had lunch with Thomas on Friday at Water Buffalo, on Water and Buffalo. It was strangely comforting to eat at a place with a sign that depicts an animal I’m very familiar with. My dad learned to swim by playing with the water buffalo on his family’s farm in the Philippines. As I still do not know how to swim, I could probably use one of these.

I have some freelance design work ahead of me, which comes at a good time. Looking forward to doing something that’s not women’s-fashion oriented.

Oh man, the Ducati Sport Classic is not starting. Guess I’m going to have to trailer it to Saukville to get it looked at. Serves me right for neglecting all winter. Hope it’s going to be nice to me.

Question: Will winter ever end in Wisconsin? Gosh, if it’s this bad here, I wonder what it’s like in Canada.

What a dull post, which is good, because dull is what I need right now.

Dunkin Donuts

Today we went to Dunkin’ Donuts. We got 6 doughnut: strawberry filled, black raspberry filled, Dunkin’ stick, chocolate covered cake, chocolate stick, and a Boston Cream. I ate 3 back-to-back. Dunkin’ Donuts is far superior to any other doughnut out there.

Killing two birds with one stone, I burned some of the extra calories Garden-Weasling(TM) the strip of lawn that got macked during the winter. The handy tool worked well for this minor re-grade. It just needs some seed.

I feel so manly.

Find Normal

I want to be home with Debbie. I want to walk on our floors. Run with Mojo and Prinnie. Cook again. Look at the house to see what needs fixing, then learn how fix it. Ride my Ducati’s. See old friends. Paint the office. Get my hands dirty in the yard. Eat on the patio. Watch TV on the couch. Look at the moon and stars between the trees in the back. See the lake. Figure it out and enjoy myself while doing so.

Constants

I am married, and it feels good. We had a great wedding. Debbie looked beautiful. The ceremony was unique and hopefully interesting. The chuppa was amazing, and I didn’t really know what a chuppa was before the wedding. (La Petite Fleur did an outstanding job.) My grandma gave the most graceful speech. Everyone seemed to have a good time. It could not have gone better, with the exception of the reading that was to happen during the ceremony… Carlos’ reading duty got sidelined in the fray, unfortunately. Sorry, man.

I am leaving Philly, for various reasons I shall not disclose here. I don’t need to air out my laundry on the internet, for all eternity. I will say that I don’t regret the experience. I have met a lot of nice, really talented people, and that is always good.

Tomorrow I go to DC to visit Chris, my best friend from college. It will be good to get out of Philly for a while. Chris and I have not seen much of each other the past few years, but every time I do see him it is like old times. I used to think that I was going to be one of those people that didn’t keep up with friends. My wedding was pleasant affirmation that this is not the case. It was great to be with old friends, and comforting to see that no one has changed all that much. We’re all looking a little more weathered, but also seemingly more comfortable with ourselves, having shed some of the awkwardness that sometimes comes with youth. We also still seem to share the things that connected us when we met.

I have to do my taxes now. Ug.