I Have Been A Busy Boy

Well, we're partway through Golden Week, and I have been having a lot of fun. I took the Shinkansen out to Osaka on Saturday. That evening Dave and Miyako hosted a falafel party for about 12-15 people, most of whom I knew from my Nova days. It's amazing how so few single people remain in my social spheres. I can count them on one hand in most cases. On Sunday we had a takoyaki lunch, and it turns out I actually like the stuff. For those of you unfamiliar with it, a takoyaki is like a Timbit (or doughnut hole), but undercooked and filled with bits of octopus, ginger, and spring onion. Pour on some tonkatsu sauce (which holds the same function in Japanese cuisine as ketchup in North American cuisine), or fish flakes if that's your thing, and it's a good snack. Extremely popular in the Osaka area. Last night we headed out to see Rie and Steve. They're a very nice couple, and we had a really great meal: proper chili, spare ribs, potatoes, and salad. I also got to play Wii tennis for the first time--I see why it's catching on so well. It's simple, it's fun, and it involves moving more than your thumb. The weather has co-operated as well. It's raining today, but today is the day we've set aside for just hanging out in the apartment and watching movies. Tomorrow I'm off to Tokyo, and hopefully the rain will have blown through by then.