Chris's Goodbye/ Birthday party

So my friends invited me to a Goodbye/Birthday party last weekend. Since I had nothing better to do, I decided to go. It actually ended up being a party for a person I knew, or rather, had met once. It ended up being in this little studio and Chris and his Japanese friends played some music and they rocked. They had a very different and interesting sound. We all hung out, laughed and danced. After we went for Ramen, Fried Rice and Gyouza. It was a great night!

Monique and I

Lets get this party started!

The band

There was even a strip show!

So soon?!

Yes its soon, but I will be going back to America the first week of April. I am very excited about it! I have a week off for "Spring Vacation" (essentially the week between school years, unlike Americans unecessarily long summer vacation, Japanese schools have between one week and a month off between school years in March and April). The plans have changed a few times and the closer it got the more I came to the realization that I will be sitting on my ass doing nothing for a whole week. I mentioned this to my sister who mentioned it to my father who remembered that its my aunts birthday in Seattle and that the entire family will be going there for a big PARTY! He also realized that I would be the ONLY one NOT attending and made me a proposition I couldnt turn down. He said that if I could stay until the 5th and attend my Aunts birthday Party then he would pay for my ticket to come home that week. Of course that was no problem!!! Im so excited to spend some "quality" time with my sister for a few days and of course get to see the rest of the family in Seattle! YAY! Wish me safe travels!

Sick in Las Vegas

So as I hope you all have read, we went to Las Vegas to Suprise my sister for her 21st birthday and had a great time, the part I left out was the part where I was curled on the bed in pain to the point where I went to the ER.

All day Saturday while we were walking the strip I had stomach pains and was convinced it was from all the fried heavy American food I was eating. I was a trooper and tried to keep up with everyone, but really wasnt feeling well. We had dinner and I even managed to make it to Cyote Ugly with my sister and Nicolle, but when we got home around 3am I was feeling terrible.

We went to bed around 4am and I awoke at 4:30am with severe stomach pains. I didnt know what to do so I went to the bathroom and drank some water and laid on the bathroom floor for a while before going back to bed. At about 5:00am I got up and ran to the toilet where I vomited for the first out of about 7 times for the morning. The vomiting was incredibly painful and after the first 3 or 4 times there was nothing in my stomach left to vomit. I was weak, tired and sick....so where did I go.... to my mommy. :)

I went and knocked on my mothers door and she immediately saw that I wasnt feeling well. I vomited in her bathroom and then she ended up finding me some antacid tablets, some anti-vomit medicine, some 7up and some crackers..... but none of those worked...they all came right back up after going down. I asked her to take me to the ER.

(Side note: I HATE HOSPITALS!!!. Doctors always Yell at me for not going sooner. They scare me and I dont like being on drugs....so I avoid them at all costs)

Asking my mother to take me to the ER, made my mother panic! They arranged everything and off we went with a trash can in one hand incase I vomited and a towel in the other, I made it to ER. Where I had to explain a 100 times that I lived in Japan and didnt have insurance in America. Luckly ER still takes you!

They ended up putting an IV in me and giving me fluids and finally pain killers and Nasuia (spelling?) medicine through my IV and I passed out for over an hour! The finally gave me heavy duty drugs and sent me on my way. I spent the rest of my time half dead or sleeping.... so I cant really tell you what happened on Sunday. Good news is that I slept the ENTIRE 10 HOUR FLIGHT BACK TO JAPAN!! Gotta love Meds! However I hated the way they made me feel when I was awake.

So when I got back I went to the doctor here and he said I have the stomach flu. He said its been going around Japan and he has had over 10 patients just this week coming in for the same thing. He thinks I caught it before I went to America, but the symptoms didnt show until I was there. He has me on meds that are slowly working, but I still have dull stomach pains and headaches. He said if I dont feel better after a week then it might be ulcers like the ER doctor told me and to go back, but Im hoping its just the stomach flu!

So anyone that I have been around if you are having stomach pains go to the doctors and tell them that you might have the stomach flu and I am sorry because it hurts more than you can imagine!

Wish me a safe recovery! And feel for my sister who had her 21st birthday ruined by her sister catching a Japanes stomach flu!

Vegas-A suprise 21st birthday weekend!

So many things happened over the course of the past week I dont even know where to begin!!! But for sake of making things easy to read I will first blog about my sisters suprise weekend.

So my mother and her long time friend, whom I call Auntie K, decided that my sister had to go to Las Vegas the weekend after her 21st birthday. Of couse my sister is my best friend and I couldnt have her going without me! So I helped them plan a suprise weekend! We spent months planning and consipiring with help from my dad, family and all of Jessicas friends!!

There ended up being 11 of us on the trip. Mom, Cliff and I were driving from Redlands to Las Vegas. Then we were picking up Nicolle, Jessica, Auntie K and Rod from the Airport. Then later that night Nate, Crystal, Phil and Katya were driving in from Redlands to join us for dinner and night festivities. Nicolle, Mom and I were so excited about Jessica being suprised and getting off the plane that we kept thinking Jessica was every person coming into baggage claim and so excited and anxious!! Finally she poped up and we yelled "HAPPY 21st JESSICA" so loud that the entire airport could here us!!!

This is Jessica looking for her supriseees (she is wearing the red sweater)

This is us after she got off the plane!

Our hotel was in downtown on Fremont street at the Four Queens hotel, which besides the rude desk clerk and the old bathroom was beautiful! We ever had a view!!! We relaxed and ordered roomservice before meeting up with the four other youngn's and heading out for Jessicas birthday dinner, presents and night out on the town!!

Jessica, Nicolle and I infront of our Hotel

The gang

That night we ate a great dinner with the entire gang including Mom, Cliff, Auntie K and Rod. Then we went back to the hotel room so Jessica could blow out her candles and open presents. The next stop of course was MARGARITA VILLE! We took a taxi to Margarita Ville where we danced and drank in celebration of Jessicas 21st! Then we walked, well stumbled the strip, stoping whereever we felt to gamble, drink or look around! Nate and I even got into a high five contest...in order to see who could get the most high fives from random people... great game! You should try it sometime! We ended up back at the hotel at about 5:00am with the most beautiful view!

Gotta love the view from our hotel room, better yet, gotta love Vegas at 5am!

Unfortunately for me, this was the highlight of my trip, starting the next day after breakfast I got really sick. But on Saturday we woke up and had some breakfast before taking off to explore the strip during the day. We went to New York New York where Jessica had hoped she could catch the roller coaster, but due to strong winds was DENIED. We walked up the strip stoping where ever the wind took us (literally) and doing some shopping and sight seeing. We ended the afternoon with a great buffe dinner in the Paris. It was a great dinner where we all just sat around chatting and eating like the old friends we are (oh and new friends!) Then it was time for Nate, Crystal, Phil and Kayta to say goodbye! Nicolle, Jessica and I ran back to the hotel and did a quick makeover in hopes to see Zoomanity, but were rejected when we showed up at the ticket counter 15 minutes before curtian. But did end up getting in VIP to Cyote Ugly! Cool to go, but we werent really feeling it. We could only watch girls dance on the bar for so long. Then we attempted an Irish Pub where they had really good White Russians (lol...no pun intended), but werent really in the mood from some celtic music. Then Jessica got her wish to ride the New York New York roller coaster! At night!!! But then she felt sick so we decided to call it a night.

I cant really tell you what happened the next day for I was in ER half passed out....but for that you have to stay tuned to my next blog.

Anyways I hope Jessica had a great time no matter what! It took a lot of planning and I was so happy I got to see her and spend time with her! As Im sure everyone else did. I am positive she will be going back soon with some friends to waste away in Margarita Ville again!

totally stoked! - Random thoughts

So I leave for Vegas in a few days!! YAY!!! Im totally excited!!

My sisters 21st birthday is tomorrow, saddly I wont be there to buy her her first drink; however, I will be flying there the day after and me, my mother, our cousin and some close friends will be suprising her in Las Vegas!! She has no idea! Half of California is in on it it feels like. Her friends planned this big old San Fransisco trip that they all know she wont be able to go on because she will be in Vegas with us. Our family planned this big old birthday dinner that she cant go to because she will be with us.... so bascially she is planning for a wonderful weekend that wont happen.... is this good or bad, I dont know, but Im SUPER EXCITED!

For those readers who dont know, my sister is my best friend! I love her more than anything! I love to suprise her!! She will be so excited and that excites me!! So wish me safe travels! I will post some blogs when I get back!

My sister and I

Nathaniel arrived back in Nagai today. Things feel strangely normal, like he never left. He is trying to decide between teaching and going back to school. He will make up his mind this weekend while I am gone. That, in turn, will decide how long he will be staying with me here in Nagai. So if you call or see a man around.... dont get all freaked our nor excited for me... its nothing special. Just Nathaniel.

Nathaniel and I

Looking forward to a few things coming up. Okitama Bowling Party on March 15th. I think Nathaniel and Takako will also be joining me. Chris's Soiree on March 29th. Totally excited about the art gallery and dressing up! Im going to be sporting the pink dress and fish net stockings! Oh yeah! And Mags and I are still trying to figure out our Disneyland adventure the first week of April. During Golden Week one of my very best friends will be visiting Japan from Washington DC. Her first time in Japan! She is a lot of fun and hope you all can meet her.

Ger and I forever ago in France

On an entirely different note I decided that Im in serious need of posting pictures on my blog site....it just looks so boring. Im also going to try to post more about events and what not instead of just my random tangents in life. So good luck to me on that!

I think thats all thats on my mind right now.. Its 1am... gotta work tomorrow so Im off!! Happy slowly coming SPRING!

Elizabeth was suprisingly excellent

Today I randomly went to the movies with friends to see ELIZABETH THE GOLDEN AGE. And I was presently suprised. A fantastic movie!! Cate Blanchett was a brilliant Queen Elizabeth the First. And Clive Owen was the most handsome I have ever seen him. According to my memory of history (and that says little so please correct me if Im wrong) it was fairly accurate historical wise and I loved the twisted love story, love stories like this one just seem more real and human than the typical love stories where everyone ends happily ever after. The visuals were fantastic! I loved all the lighting and imagery. Please see it! And Enjoy it.

PS. My favorite part was the horse on the ship... I laughed so hard!!! I have a thing with horses jumping off ships and swimming. (Please see the American version of THE RING when the horse jumps off the ship.... makes me crack up laughing every time!!)

http://imdb.com/title/tt0414055/