Prepare to be overdosed...

Love ya'll!!
Sorry for burying your post, Florence.

Spirits of Christmas Past

I know Christmas is over, but who cares.
Scroll down and have a good laugh, my friends and family.
Thank you Mom for painstakingly taking photos of the photos for want of a scanner.
Merry Final Christmas!

Niigata. It snowed and hailed an awful lot. And our show kinda stank. But, oh it was fun.
(Where's braless Waldo?....nasty.)

What did the audience say when Mom, Masa, and Elaina sang three part harmonies on a lone mike?
HAHAHAHAHA plop.

I have some of the coziest memories of this Christmas....
Guys, nothing can faze me after surviving Clover Gakuen. Hardcore, man.
And our show was even pretty snazzy, considering how Gideon's band we were.

Ah, the Christmas of "Go to the (Filipino) Churches." We got to see folks get slain in the spirit FOR REAL. I think this was the same place where they prayed in the name of Esau and Jacob, and poor Mom had to pretend her fit of laughterwas in fact the spirit moving her to convulsive tears. Good times!!

Now this I do remember....we got to dance with the "teens"(China and Alisa) and I was haaaaaapy!
Check out Michael Fogarty's hair! Niiiiiice! Do it again, Uncle Merkel!

I don't remember this, strangely enough, but there we are, and I'm not too sure that we're too sure about what we're doing...
(I spy Jeremy and Kenji so this must be Greenfields.)

Komae (maybe? Somebody help!) Aren't we a fine looking bunch...

HCS...I think. Ring tinfoil bells. Don't I look sincere?

Things

Things I've done this year:

# Gotten malicious hate mail (This feller writes me twice and then decides to write my best friend with a letter of all my short-comings. CHRIST, creepy ay?)
# Started playing the piano and the guitar
# Sang in front of almost everyone I know, and some (twice)
# Had someone draw a picture of me (twice)
# Wrote a song with Tomo
# Had a feller like me (Don't even ask WHAT KIND...cheap cheap joke.)
# Got a good taste of MM. (movin' to an FD home soon, so I'll be FD again, DV)
# Webcammed
# Went to KFC (hurrah!)
# Got to see a hotel room (didn't sleep there though, only watched TV.)
# Recorded voices for a Playstation game
# Wrote a novel, and then wiped it from the face of the earth. (clicky clicky)
# Got my first Activated Subscriptions (the number's close to 23 now)
# Gotten over 400 people saved
# Signed the provisional charter membership contract
# Fell in love with AN NIN DOFU, courtesy of Kelly who weaseled me into it. (Using the modern program we call Paint, I have created the following image for your viewing pleasure:)# Vegetated in front of cable television, watching NIP TICK, SEX AND THE CITY, FRIENDS, ALIAS, and MTV. Discovered that I don't like reality TV. Maybe I'm not a voyeur after all, sigh. Or maybe I just have a sensitive stomach.
# Became the movie committee for the home (and have gotten my share of persecution for it, I promise)
# Became the activity committee (God bless Elaina, my only other committee buddy)
# Became a VOTING MEMBER. Hwa! I'm always outvoted though, for some reason.
### Bought Häagen-Dazs for everyone at home for Christmas. NEATO. (just forgot to buy some for myself...crud.)

Another Christmas

I was planning something fancy to hail the Merry Christmas that just in all realistica could not have been done in time, what with christmas parties, christmas shows, christmas night singing, and me getting sick and all.
But we went out with a bang tonight--me singing with my post sore-throat haggard, grating voice that inspired everyone to sing along to cloak the sound. It really did turn into a rather godly evening, with brotherly love and compassion for all the sick people. (Beer for every one!!!)
SO MERR CRISMUS and Appy new year to all ya'll. And may God bless us all.

Promotion

Finally got these pics...
Steve, Rick and Yosh on National TV doing promotion for the Tomatoes and Recycled.

I wish I had pictures of them getting their make-up. I think I fancy Rick's new look.
And finally, Steve and I on another TV program where we were guest stars...not even going to explain how that happened.

What a fun show...

Today's show was like no other.
We pile into the van to go to Okitsu, safely an hour and 45 minutes away, for a show at a NICE old folks' home. We get there, perform pretty shoddily downstairs, but nothing too bad.
We get upstairs for our bigger audience and start singing Deck the Halls without microphones. Fine, let's belt it, that's cool. Suddenly the track skips to...like...the last measure and we all find ourselves doing the last pose out of habit before it clues in to WHAT the heck? (As shown in the photo to the left--halted mid-song.)
So after we get everything fixed--we switch to another sound system that won't skip, we begin the song for the second time around, get about one verse through until the sound system...oh what did it do again? It just fritzed out somehow. Behold, we, who are not quick to give in, try a THIRD time around, and the sound system they'd switched to this time is just inaudible, so we give up and go on to the next song while they try to set up some monitor speakers behind us.
Other than that it was great. Smiling and smiling because there's nothing to left to lose out of a show that already went as wrong as it could go three times over.
The following are random images of the show, both downstairs and up.



Alright, here's another faintly humorous story to tell; halfway through the medley I make a dash for the tight costume change between "Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer" and "All I want for Christmas is you". Our dressing room is too far away for this, and therefore I make it back just when the first stanza is ending. To my horror, a voice NOT MY OWN is singing a screeching "All I want for Christmas is You". I look around for the perpetrator, and Steve is screaming his lungs out as Santa Claus behind the mike, with an intense look on his face. Elaina is dancing and laughing so hard she almost died. Also, apparently her shoes were really slippery, and she had to concentrate really hard to dance, but then the laughter took over and...apparently it was "horrible".

As promised...

I love you, Neenster!! xxxxxxxx

All join hands...

We have created a private haven of godly fellowship, for the living sacrifices of our souls as unto the Lord.
Selah. Pax vobiscum. Lorem ipsum.

Seriously though, it's a cute little (NO! Don't call it a BLOG!!! GOD FORBID!!!) site where we would like to FREE THE MUSIC.
No...kidding.

Trying again, starting at the beginning...
We made a site where we can post Word-related things, being as talking about or discussing the Word or conclusions drawn from the Word or sharing quotes, etc, is also considered part of quality Word time (as according to "What is Jesus Worth to You").
We wanted it to be oriented KIND of privately (as in, among friends and family), so that we can post private bits of prophecies or personal applications of the Word, etc.
If you fall under this category, and you like the idea (and think you should be able to make a small post at least once a week), we really do want you to join us (or, even if you're not SURE if you're within this category). Right now it's just me and Flo, and that doesn't look so promising. NO OFFENSE TO FLO.............none at all...I promise...
So...holler in the comment box, revolutionaries!!!

Much love, Elaina (trying to be objective) and Florence (having the upperhand because SHE'S GOT THE KEYBOARD!!!)

Random bits of things I'd like to say

So we got back from the Jusco show today, I'm wiped but I have that sweet fulfilled feeling like a candy lurking in the bottom of my mouth, slowly getting smaller but slowly giving off nice sweet tastes. What a gross analogy. (Elaina also asks me the thought provoking question: "Does your mouth have a bottom?" Heavy. And just now: "Does your bottom have a mouth?" Disgusting.)
Hey, I'd just like to mention that living with Elaina is like living with an elephant of wisdom.
So I got home and had a wonderful bible class with Kana. It was real great, and it contributed to that little candy upon which I now suck. (Elaina gasps)
OH we read that MLK about John "Why I dropped out" or something similar. I really liked it and I wanted to read it to Kana. Looking over it again after we read it, I realized that it isn't actually that extraordinary of an MLK, but it so happens that it was just perfect for our Bible Class. Hmmm the Lord works in mysterious ways.
In other news, I've been slowly making my trudge through The Art of War part 3. I've been totally slippery in my prayer life; there's that diagnostic test, and I didn't even want to do it, I went through it like one tenth and decided that I knew, without a diagnostic test, that I really seriously need help.
So I did a huge prayer last night in my bed in a faint attempt to make up for all the recent months of prayer-less-ness. I also realized my need to acknowledge prayer as something I need as well, as opposed to just something I do for intercessory purposes. I can't remember the last time I actually desperately prayed for MYSELF. Weird. BAD!!!
And again, Elaina has something to say: "And yet I can remember the last time I desperately prayed for you!"
I've got to stop typing what Elaina says.
Plus, I finally getting around to posting the URL of my sister Chiyoko (Sunny), who lives and works in Palm Springs, CA. She just bought a new house and a new car, and got herself a new blog!!!

Merry Christmas

Seasons come and seasons go--and for that matter, years and lives--but the moments that remain suspended in time, are the moments that remain branded in minds and hearts, moments of...
BAH HUMBUG.
In my own words, that spew forth in over-abundance like a fountain of bad living conditions, Christmas is a time to be gay. Yes, laud the season with that good old-fashioned gaiety and skip around like there is no tomorrow.
And yes, posting pictures also falls under the category of Christmas Skipping--officially.
















The following picture is a fine representation of stylish Shiz almost-organized-ness (aka organized-but-not-quite). See, in the photo there's a trend that tends toward us all looking to the right, but at the same time, something's quite messy about the whole thing. NWO.



































Here's a fine young man standing on extremity-extentions, and peering lovingly down at hospitalized children from atop his perch. Aw, my Dad is cool.

Hamburger

I wonder if Humbug and Hamburg have any relation? I mean, if so, and the hamburger came from Hamburg, then we could all be saying humbugger instead of hamburger and it would mean the same thing.
Anyway, here are the promised photos of the Christmas tree. It looks much the same as it did last year.
To tell you the truth...not to banish your romantic notions about wonderfully Christmassy times around the hearth decorating the family Christmas tree, this tree was decorated upon sporadic urge in a frozen, dismal and messy room, usually by one person at a time who was given the lonely, scroogey job for "work time"...a terrible thing. So this year's yuletide gaiety was wasted during work time, and the tree came out looking very uninspirational...and somehow it doesn't inspire the same nostalgic feeling as it did the other years.
If you really want to romanticize, here's the Christmas tree creating a beautiful silhouette of Steve's feet (and dirty socks from being out all day for our shows at the Children's Hospital). Romanticize THAT.Here's Rick, Abner (the stable hand) and I playing a game of "spinning balls" as Abner fitly called it. Gabe and Win would remember, but I doubt if anyone else has seen this obscure game before. This is just like...30 minutes ago. We're all wiped and chilling after a long day.


And behold, the following photo has kind of a romantic quality to it...it's one of our cathedral light-houses next to an age-old picture of some good Shiz days, the Minato Gumbu team posing with the Mayor of Yaizu. GOOD TIMES.

Uh huh check it check it

So I bought these red and black quasi-toe socks at the 100 yen store.
Then divine Providence put a white paint marker in the studio while we practiced our Falalalalas for too long.
And on the second day, there was a black permanent marker laying around somewhere else, so I gave them some nifty fins.
They passed the Laundry Test with their faces intact so they're here to stay.
















Notice my tattered dance practice pants and my prickly, leathery winter legs. They are sending out a message.
















Does anyone know if fish pee? I've puzzled over that for a long time and I'd really like to know.

Words of Wiseness

If it's too loud, you're too old.

Humbug THIS!

Merry Christmas everyone.
This year I'm choosing to prefer the cozy and the reminiscent to the Scroogey. Who cares if someone thinks I'm a sentimental ninny when I'm sighing and smelling tinsel.
May you choose to be moved.

I miss you, my beloved ones: Mama, Daddy, Neen, Al, Amy, Moff, Cherish and Ken and all the friends and rellies whose names I will forget to add if I attempt it.
I love you so very much.




















That's Jusco's atrocity thrilling Michelle by the by, not our tree...

Other side stretch, flat back stretch...

I had this bad fever yesterday morning, and I stayed in (bed) for most of the day until I decided I would wither my life away and got up to do something about myself. I forget what I used to wile my time away, but I do remember going out on a walk with Mash (because she promised to buy me a drink).
So I bundle up to brave the weather. I couldn't find gloves in the spur of the moment, so I put leg warmers on my hands. They were wonderful, I think I'll do that more often.
We buy drinks and sit on the sea wall, and of course Mash has to make a comment about the stars. Thank God it was something like "Wow, goddamnit, there's tons of stars." As opposed to "Amazing! Hail the almighty God! How great thou art! How small we art!" I always thought that talking about the stars was a lame plan B to fall back on when you have nothing else to say.
So then we get into bickering about how the whole "screw you" attitude toward the world is a result of sour grapes. Everyone's sour grapes about something. I mean, sure we'd all like the kind of guy who could pull off the whole piercing, intense, violently passionate and serious lover stuff, but because people don't like to feel like dreamers, they step on the dreams instead. As a result, it becomes "cheesy", just because all we've ever seen are people who TRY but can't exactly make it, at least not in the way we'd like.
So sure, now we're all realistic about the whole love and romance thing. Lack-luster and "wise". I just think it makes us, as a race, harder to love.

Oh aren't you glad

I'm not alone
I wish I was
Cause then I'd know I was down because
I couldn't find a friend around
To love me like they do right now
They do right now

I'm dizzy from the shopping mall
I searched for joy but I bought it all
It doesn't help the hunger pain
And a thirst I'd have to drown first to ever satiate

Something's missing
And I don't know how to fix it
Something's missing
And I don't know what it is
At all

When autumn comes
It doesn't ask
It just walks in where it left you last
You never know when it starts
Until there's fog inside the glass around your summer heart

I can't be sure that this state of mind
Is not of my own design
I wish there was an over-the-counter test
For loneliness like this

How come everything I think I need,
Always comes with batteries
What do you think it means

John Mayer--Something's Missing

From where I am...

...in Chiba,
Sitting in the corner of someone's bedroom, trying to get off the computer so I can stop feeling like an addict, this is my shout out to Elaina, whom I miss, with every breath of my sordid being.
I just missed you about 10 times.
My journey through the concrete desert has taken me to an AIP seminar (lonely ol' me sitting midst a sea of FGAs), a late night indulgence ceremony with my brother Gabe and Win, and later to Laura who bought me ice cream and poured a generous portion of Baileys o'er top the wonderful stuff (glorious. you are so cool.), to MP3 where I saw my former roomie's second newborn, Ry's newborn and saw the MP3 dance. Good stuff. Now here I am at the PC, having made dinner with Mike, and having had a wonderfully fulfilling day.
I will now leave.
OH OH and I had tons of fun with Gene! Man I treasure little moments with that shorty!!!