This is the week of excitement!

This week saw the release of trailers for two movies I am super stoked for:

A longwinded post about my opinions on relationships

When I was a senior in high school my English teacher did a thing asking us between two people who would hold more importance to you [it could've been some other adjective, but I don't remember exactly what the questions were].  One of the last ones we were asked about was who was more important to us, our [potential] significant other or [a] friend[s]?  Only a friend of mine and I raised our hand for friends over significant others.

At the time, I didn’t believe I would get married, thus the question was moot.  Obviously I would choose friends over a nonexistent significant other.  Clearly, I don’t hold the same opinion, and even at the time I acknowledged that once you commit to marrying someone they should be more important in your life than friends, but having to choose between the two people who are most important to me (family not included) – my best friend and my [potential] significant other, is not fair.

Thinking about it now, my significant other would have to understand that if ever my best friend[s] were to call me asking for help, I would drop everything to do what I could to help them.  In a way, because being married to someone means waking up next to them, going to sleep next to them, living with them – I would put my best friends over him.  I wouldn’t drop everything to help my husband with a minor problem if I were spending the day with a best friend of mine, like I would if a best friend called me asking for help and I was with my husband.  In my head, when I see someone every day, that means they see me enough that I need to devote time to people I don’t see every day.

Were I ever to be in a relationship with someone, I firmly believe I wouldn’t become one of those who cannot do anything without their boyfriend or girlfriend.  I wouldn’t be one of those who completely forgets about their friends when they get a boyfriend or girlfriend.  In fact, I can see the biggest problem in our relationship being me appearing not to care about the relationship at all.

But that’s a topic for a different time.  The point is, at the time I viewed friendship more important than love – essentially.  In my head, my thought process was this: My true friends are some of the people I’ve known the longest.  I only recently started dating (I still haven’t been on a date, but that’s neither here nor there), who am I to put someone I’ve known for a month or two over someone I’ve known since middle school or high school?  Just because I find someone cute or attractive, doesn’t mean they have my best interests in mind, like my friends who have stuck by me through the years do.

I feel like, when someone has been in my life longer than six months, that’s when it’s the real deal.  Until then, someone’s disposable, if a good friend of mine tells me to my face that they don’t approve, I would probably listen.

But that’s obviously me.

So now we finally get to the point.  Haha, I’m long winded, I know.  Sue me.  I came to Japan in the middle of August.  I got to know the people I trained with, hung out with them, blah blah blah.  Well, on Sunday I was invited to a rugby match – I had been planning on attending and told a friend of mine that when she asked if I had time to meet for lunch next week.  Instead of deciding on when to have lunch, we thought we’d do lunch before that and then catch the match.  I was getting a little excited, because she and I hadn’t hung out one on one at all since arriving in Japan, but as the date got closer and I confirmed again I was planning on going to the game, she told me that she and another gal pal of ours were going to be spending the whole of Saturday together and sleeping over, so I would meet the two of them on Sunday instead.

I was a bit let down, and irritated.  But Sunday came, and I met up with the person who was giving me a ticket, and the two girls anyway.  Then they both found out that two of the guys they get along with were coming along, and I was all but forgotten about.  Instead of hanging out with the two of them, I hung out with the guy who invited me and some of the other people I had just met that day (who were probably better company anyway).  The girl who wanted to meet with me for lunch clearly has a crush on one of the guys, so I was pissed that I was so casually thrown aside just for a guy who she wants to bone.

What makes me the angriest is that I spent the whole day with them, but they only said about four sentences to me.  How’s that for hanging out?  We didn’t even meet for lunch that day.  Obviously my friendship means nothing to them when a potential hookup shows its face, which means I’m done.  I haven’t known these people for six months, I don’t need to spend my time with people who don’t care about me.  Or only care when there are conveniently no potential hookups around.  That’s not friendship, and I’m done letting that affect me.

People say that they don’t want a relationship all the time, but that’s really them just saying that to cover up that they’re lonely because five minutes later they have another boyfriend.  If you really truly didn’t want a relationship you’d do what I do and become apathetic.  It’s worked for me all of my life.  I’m the same way with people who don’t treat me with the same respect I give them.  I’m apathetic, I won’t care either way about what you say or do.  And when it comes down to it, they’re so full of drama anyway and I do my best to avoid drama, it’s for the best.  Ce la vie.

Best Christmas song ever.

This is full of ridiculous, one only need look at the title to figure that out.  But up until listening to this, I was straight up Grinching.  Now, I’m a bit more in the holiday spirit than I was before.  Thanks, Luda.  You da man.

“Rob from the rich and give to the poor”

Just got AWOLNATION’s album, Megalithic Symphony, and I can’t stop listening to this song.  I LOVE IT.  Actually, the whole album is pretty brill, but this is probably my favorite track.  Give them a listen, and if you’re feeling up to it give Megalithic Symphony a listen, I swear to you you won’t regret it.

Why I Hate Clubbing Part II

I hate clubbing.

Actually, that’s not true: I like clubbing but only when I’m in the mood for it – which, by the way, is not every weekend.  Like once or twice a month is good enough for me.

I had to think about this one, because since I’ve arrived here, with the exception of a week or three (aside from going to Tokyo), I have gone to a club with the other ALTs in my area.  The DJs have been decent, not super good, but decent.  Here’s the thing, if I’m going to go to a club I want it to be a theme night.  And not clothing theme night, but music theme night.  I’m talking like 80′s or 90′s night.  I want to know what kind of music to expect.  I want to be able to sing along to the songs.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all down with the Top 40 hits, but only when I’m in the mood!  Now if Hamamatsu rolled out the 80′s Night, I’d be there every week.  But not if they’re just playing Top 40, or repetitive music beats all night.  I’m not down with that.  I will take going to a live show over that any day of the week.

The other thing about clubs that doesn’t fly with me is that reason why everyone goes to a club in the first place.  They’re loud, cramped, and we all know why you go there.  You definitely aren’t going to converse.  And when you take that away from me, I flounder.  I thrive in atmospheres where I can converse, get to know people.  That’s what I’m about.  And not body language – I don’t need to know that.  I want to actually get to know someone by having a conversation.

I’m super tired of that being the main goal every weekend.  It’s no wonder there’s so much drama going on between all the ALTs!  All they do is go out and hook up with other ALT’s friends.  We’re all so connected that if you want to avoid it all, stop going out just to hook up!  It’s simple!  How do you think I’ve managed to stay away from all the drama for so long?

I’m also pretty tired of hanging out with people who would much rather hit on girls, or guys, (and fail, mind you) than hang out with me.  Glad you care about my opinion too, thanks.  Being here, and doing this weekend after weekend, makes me wish for back home oh so much more now.  My friends, my bar, my previous job…At least back home my friends cared about my opinion about places.  You don’t know how many times I’ve mentioned that I don’t really care for the bar the we frequent the most on the weekends, and yet weekend after weekend that’s where we end up because a majority of the people would rather meet people to hook up with than get to know each other.  I mean quite honestly, the only thing I know about most of the people I trained with is where they’re from, how old they are, where they live, and that they like to get drunk and hook up with strangers.  We’re totally best friends, if you can tell.

That’s not to mean that I’ve been a peach to hang out with, because I haven’t – but that’s mostly due to the fact that I hate the clubs that they frequent but go out anyway in hopes of actually managing to converse, but just end up sitting to the side miserable counting down the minutes until we leave.  But that’s partly my fault, because I could try to have fun, but I mostly keep up the disgusted act so that people don’t talk to me.  I hate trying to have conversations in a club.  There’s no point.  Mostly, I get to know people by talking about how much I don’t like the place while sitting outside.  It’s worked so far…

Anyway, this weekend I am going to switch it up.  I’m going to a live house, going to see some live rock music with a friend, and if they all go to a club – more power to them.  I don’t give a shit.  Not that they care about me, the past few weeks they’ve been going out and not telling me – which is fine, but then when I run into them they say the typical – “oh I haven’t seen you in a while!”  Gee I wonder why…It’s been a while since I’ve actually conversed with any of them because it’s like our interests just don’t mesh.  After the initial, we’re in the same boat let’s hang out stuff, I’ve realized I don’t have much in common with most of them.  In fact, it’s becoming more like I can’t stand to be around some of them, which means that the ones that I do like I probably won’t see in hopes of avoiding a few.

Anyway, this is a depressing blog.  I swear to you I’m having more fun out here than it seems.  But I’ve realized that the friends that I thought I made out here weren’t who I thought they were, so I’ve got fewer friends than I thought (in the area).  For a social butterfly like me, it’s like having my wings clipped.  Not to mention that I hate people who cling to me, and I hate being clingy.  But sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to survive.

Cat Face was named by Billboard as Woman of the Year.

No.  Just no.

I’ve blogged a few times about Taylor, mostly about her songs.  Let’s recap what her music is about: “You Belong With Me” is about the nerdy girl falling in love with a handsome boy and singing about how awful his girlfriend is and how she’s better.  ”Speak Now” is about a girl who interrupts a former lover’s wedding because he’s getting married to an awful person and she’s better.  Sound familiar?

Unrelated, but this video is fairly entertaining, in a I can’t understand if he’s being serious or not way.

Ok, so “Mean” is song with a decent message – I mean who out there who has been teased wouldn’t want to show their old bullies just how successful they turned out?  At the same time though, there’s something not quite right…And I can’t put my finger on it.  It’s like she’s flaunting the fact, like look at me look at me!  Look how I turned out, and you’re just not as successful as me.  Or maybe I’m just trying to find something to dislike about it?  Who knows.

“Mine” is about getting married too hastily.  And while of course there’s a shiny happy ending, life isn’t full of happy endings.  ”The Story of Us” she doesn’t even look like herself, she looks airbrushed and not the curly haired country singer.  She looks like any other generic pop singer.  If there was something I always appreciated about Taylor was that she always looked very sweet, catlike, but sweet.  If you watch “The Story of Us” she doesn’t even look like herself, she looks like Britney ala “…Baby One More Time.”

I mean, ok, congrats, Cat-Face.  You got Woman of the Year, but if I’m going to be honest I don’t agree.  I mean, honestly what did she do this year to deserve the title?  And if she won based purely on the song “Mean” I can name a bunch of female musicans/actresses who have done more for women empowerment this year than Cat-Face.  Adele put out one of the top CDs in 2011, Jessie J came out with the catchy hit “Price Tag” about how we shouldn’t put so much weight on money.  And the obvious, Lady Gaga, who encourages everyone everywhere to be who they are and nobody else?  I mean, come on, anyone but Cat-Face!  Christina Aguilera co-hosted The Voice this past summer, she’d be a better choice than Cat-Face if you must choose an American blonde.  Florence + the Machine burst onto the scene this past year and enjoyed good success.  These are all just off the top of my head!

Cat-Face may have sold the “most albums of any other artist this past year,” according to USA Today but that doesn’t mean that the message most of her songs send is a good message to females.  Just because a guy is dating an “awful girl” doesn’t give you the right to feel free to steal a fiance or boyfriend.  That’s no excuse.  And so many female artists are guilty of this – Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend” comes to mind.  This is a terrible sentiment to echo.  The fact of the matter is, even though the girl is horrible as the song says, the dude obviously sees something in her.  And the fact that said girl is obsessed with getting with already taken boy is a bit disturbing.

It’s upsetting to me that many shows, artists and movies are going this route.  It’s not okay.  Just because someone is an “awful human being” doesn’t mean it’s okay that they end up hurt and broken in the end.  And just because your boyfriend/girlfriend cheated on you doesn’t mean it’s automatically fine that you cheat.  Nor should TV use the – “Girl meets Guy feels a connection with him, but then meets Charmer who gives Guy a run for his money, ends up with Charmer and they get engaged then Charmer cheats on Girl and Girl and Guy finally get together”scenario.  I get that there needs to be hitches in Girl and Guy’s relationship, but do they have to add in Charmer?  And if they add in Charmer, why does he always have to cheat?  Couldn’t they just have Charmer die or something?

Anyway, I’m getting sidetracked, but still I think Cat-Face deserves congratulations, but that’s it.  If she continues in the way of “Mean” she’ll be more than deserving of Woman of the Year.  Until then, I continue to call her Cat-Face.

Albums turned Musicals

Inspired by this blog post on Thought Catalog (which can be hit or miss), I began thinking about albums I would love to be turned into musicals (you know exempting the ones that Gaby mentioned: Dookie & Enema of the State) and what I would want the story to be…

Absolution – Muse.  If this could be done, My high school self would be so happy.  I see it as a post-apocalyptic story-line.  We meet our protagonist, living in the aftermath of the world as we know it, near death.  We then flashback to how society collapsed (Apocalypse Please), and how most people accepted the end was near, our protagonist fought for survival.  Turns out Protagonist has someone to live for.  Protagonist is in love with Best Friend’s Sister, and Best Friend is in turn dating Sister’s Best Friend.  Protagonist, a spineless person (hence why he hasn’t told her how he feels, or talked to Best Friend about it), but with the human race being so close to extinction, he has to do something (this is starting to sound like Cloverfield, apologies), and he finally grows balls to save Best Friend, Sister and Sister’s Best Friend (Time is Running Out).  Protagonist is able to save Sister and Best Friend, but is too late for Sister’s Best Friend – as Best Friend is mourning over her body (Sing For Absolution).  Protagonist has to convince Best Friend that he can’t end his life as well, but with the “end of the world” BF feels like there isn’t much else to live for.  Stockholm Syndrome plays as BF decides not to end his life, and there’s a time shift.  The three of them have been surviving as “the only humans left.”  While Best Friend dreams of Sister’s BF, Protagonist is finally admitting feelings to Sister after you know a year after the end of the world.  Pussy.  The first act ends with Sister & Protagonist getting it on, and Best Friend whilst dreaming walking into danger (Interlude).

Act Two begins with a possessed Best Friend, who interrupts the morning after (Hysteria).  Best Friend has also brought the possessed others with him, who begin to close in on Sister and Protagonist.  Then all of a sudden Sister’s BF’s ghost appears to talk to BF, as Sister and Protagonist come to terms with having to kill BF to get out alive (Blackout).  As BF dies, finally joining Sister’s BF, Protagonist vows to get revenge (Butterflies and Hurricanes).  The first step is to find other non possessed humans.  Sister and Protagonist set off in search of more humans, and Sister is torn between her love for Protagonist (who is pretty much only concerned with avenging Best Friend, and that is slowly driving him insane) and her desire to just survive.  Protagonist and Sister run across a haven for humans, and Protagonist convinces them to join his cause (The Small Print).  The night before Protagonist leaves to go avenge Best Friend, Sister pleads with Protagonist to leave the Possessed alone – having made her choice.  Protagonist insists this is something he must do, leaves the room they both share and gives a rousing speech to all the males united in his cause, while Sister mourns with the rest of the wives (Endlessly).  As “Endlessly” closes out, Sister says her farewell to Protagonist at dawn (with the other wives doing the same in the background), and then “Thoughts of a Dying Atheist” begins with the men facing off against The Possessed.  The wives are the ones singing, while the men engage in battle after battle.  Sister is obviously mourning because she knows that Protagonist will probably not be returning.  As Protagonist watches his men fall against The Possessed, he realizes just how much Sister was right.  With his fate sealed, Protagonist fights harder to get to the leader (Thoughts of a Dying Atheist).  We end with another dream sequence where Sister, Protagonist, Best Friend, and Sister’s BF are reunited.  They are in a future alternate reality where BF and Sister’s BF are married and Sister and Protagonist are married.  Somehow, though the alternate reality seems sunny and bright, all of a sudden it’s revealed that The Possessed are there too.  The musical ends with it unknown whether the alternate reality is actually real, or the other reality was real – and it’s left to the imagination whether Protagonist survived or not (Ruled by Secrecy).  Curtain!  Cue applause!

21 by Adele could be interesting too.  The album was brilliant.  It’s too late for me to come up with something brilliant, the above album took all my brain power, so I’ll come revisit this after I’ve recovered. =]

Look, Ma! I’m on TV!

Back in the summer before I left for Japan, I found out that you could go see the Seattle auditions for The X-Factor for free.  Now I’m not a fan of reality TV, I only watched the first season of American Idol, but a chance at listening to good music for free?  Hells yeah!

So I gathered up my girls, and we went.  We had a great time, saw Simon ragging on people, heard some talented people, it was a blast.  I even talked to and shook Paula and Nicole’s hands.

The X-Factor premiered in September and I just watched the episodes that feature Seattle to see if I would appear and lo and behold I did.  It was during a douchey but talented guy’s performance.  See if you can spot me!

Maybe my idea of friendship is different than other people’s.  I only say this because my parents, and a few other people, have voiced opinions on a certain matter.  In May, my best friend is getting married.  It’s going to be difficult for me because I have work then.  Thus, I’d have to ask for a couple days off of work so I could fly out a few days before the wedding, and then fly back the day after the wedding.  Luckily for me, I get five days in addition to the five they assign for me off of work, I just have to give them at the least three days notice (obviously I would give them more than that).

The thing is, my parents think I’m nuts to want to fly back to the US for only four-ish days.  It’s crazy, for sure, and might cost me an arm and a leg (especially because I also have a wedding in London to budget for in July of the same year), but my best friend is getting married.  Never once has the thought crossed my mind that I would be absent from that event.  There are a handful of people who I would never miss getting married for the world.  And of course, my bestest friend falls into that category.

This weekend I’m contemplating heading out to see my friend who lives about two and a half hours away by bullet train.  It’s kind of nuts because I won’t get my paycheck for another month, but I really want to see her.  There are some friends who I will go out of my way to see.  Next weekend, a group of us wants to head up to the mountains to go visit a friend, and then the weekend after I’m thinking about heading over to Tokyo.

I see myself not having too much money in October, but honestly – I’d prefer that.  Moving here, and living here, has made me have to think wisely about money – and what I need and don’t need.  I do plan on investing in a better futon though…I’m getting used to the one I have, but it’s still super uncomfortable – and I’m shedding hair all over.  It’s kinda nasty…So I need a vacuum as well.  Haha

Anyway, I digress.  There are times in my life when I wonder if people would do the same for me – go out of their way to see me just because they want to.  One of those times was just before I was leaving for Japan (the first and second times).  Both times, I was amazed at the people who wanted to see me (and actually made an effort to) and the people who half-heartedly attempted.  That’s not to say that I’m worth going out of the way for.  By no means, am I saying that.  It’s just that there were people who actually made an effort to see me, and there were those who didn’t.  And some of them, I was surprised by.  It’s kind of hurtful when I think about it, because if I’m close with you and the situation were switched (he or she was leaving the country for an extended amount of time) I would have done all I could to have been there, even if it was for a short while.

Whatever.  This isn’t about hurt feelings, this is about the fact that my friends mean the world to me (as do my family).  I’m a pretty selfish person in the sense that I don’t think I could ever be a body guard for someone, but there are a handful of people I would take a bullet for.  My best friend, and of course my brother, being two of them.  I think, if I’ll take a bullet for them, the least I could do is be at their wedding in case something happens and I have to live up to that promise.

God.  That sounds like an Asian Drama.  *Knock on wood* that that doesn’t happen.

We got no money, but we got heart

I discovered this band, Walk the Moon, through StarKid Potter.  And if you haven’t heard of StarKid Potter, for shame (if you’re nerdy like I am), look up A Very Potter Musical immediately.  But I digress, I am obsessed with Walk the Moon’s track “Anna Sun.”  It makes me want to get up and just dance.  I put it on one day at Pel’Meni and just started dancing around the empty shop.  In fact, that was the first time I had listened to that song, and now every time I hear “Anna Sun” I think of Pel’Meni.