Square Dancing Elvises and Three New Kit Kats

After an 18 hour flight from the states, I took the train from the airport to Kanayama Station to catch a cab home. Kanayama is a busy subway station with a bunch of different lines that run through it and lots of shopping and eating all around. It is actually a cool neighborhood. In case, after seeing an airport full of Japanese people, I was still unsure about whether or not I was in Japan, I had a totally weird Japanese experience ready to confirm my location.

Crossing the street to find a cab, I heard loud music screeching out of a boombox and saw four grown men in full Elvis greased-up ducktails dressed in motorcycle boots, black jeans, black t-shirts line dancing on the pavement next to the station. The Elvises were odd for a number of reasons. (a) they did not look like they were having any fun. Totally serious. I mean, if you are going to spend your Sunday square dancing in an Elvis costume, you might as well have a good time. (b) they were neither attractive nor young. I had a feeling they were thirty.forty-something salarymen during the week and this was how they blew off steam (c) nobody was paying attention to them.

I got home to a very happy/mad Carlos who is as cute and big as ever. i was so so so happy to see both of my guys.

And if seeing my guys weren't enough... there are THREE new flavors of KitKat. One is vanilla bean (bought it, but have not tried it). Another is chestnut (delicious). And the third is unidentifiable. The picture looks like it might be a little mound of poop, but I highly doubt that is what it is. Perhaps bean paste? Not yet ready to give it a try, but I'll report when I do.

And finally... it is David's birthday today!!!! He is 36 years old and so cute and funny and smart and great. Tomorrow night we are going to bring Kentucky Fried Chicken to a karaoke room and eat, drink and sing Air Supply. Yippee!!!

j

Phew!

Well. I am back. Had to go to the states for a few days to get a once over by some English-speaking doctors. I guess nothing serious is going on, but no fun to be sick in a foreign country.

Anamaria came and went. We had a wonderful time with her, though Carlos gave her the cold shoulder for a few days. It was fun showing a Mexican grandmother of six around Japan and watching her jaw drop at everything she saw (especially the super-short school uniform skirts the girls wear here).

Going to bed, but will pick back up with writing again.

Hope all is well

It's been fun...

Headed out of town for a bit... and back by the 24th. Probably taking a bit of time off the blog. Keep checking for periodic updates.

Big kisses...

Jenny

Haiku Contest Winner

MY ASS
Ugh, where did you go?
You use to be so perky
I check everyday

-Jill Graff


Anamaria is coming tomorrow, so no more blogging until the 19th!

j

Haiku

OK. So, apparently some of you do not follow INSTRUCTIONS very well... Nevertheless, here are the entries thus far.


Jenny and David
Should you really move away?
Is NOLA our home?
-Jeannine

Sunday morning blue
Baby with cold no sleep
Much coffee today
-Becca

House for sale NO LA
Please someone f-ing buy it
Cute child with purchase
-Jenny

Perhaps it's a sign
You need to move back asap
reason for party
-Casey (referring to Jenny)

It's jenny's birthday
a green tea and raw fish cake
for her special day
-Danielle Ramo-Larios : )

Carlos,David And Jenny
Tacos in Japan
Needing chile, come on home.
-Roberta Ramo


six months in japan
kutz and ramo family
makes for good reading
-Leah

>nola japan blog
Jenny loves bathroom humor
I always knew it
-Leah


Carlos! Jacoma?
Divulge the definition
I wish to know friend
-Ronan Schmidt

Hupula is mine
The word they can't recognize
Its meaning; COME PLAY
-Ronan Schmidt


Sleeping yanks so far away
Soon to be home where love stirs
Embraced by those left behind
-Paula


">Keep them coming!

Haiku Contest Without a Prize

Please submit to me
An haiku that is worthy
And I will post it



Five syllables
Seven syllables
Five Syllables


send to jenzoe@gmail.com

Swallow whatever you are drinking and sit down...

Disclaimer: Jennifer Anne Ramo (hereinafter known as "Geisha") has given all readers of this blog (hereinafter known as "victims") fair warning of the graphic and possibly disturbing content below. Victims renounce any and all claims against Geisha now and in the future from psychological distress, depression, or physical illness resulting from viewing of photos presented below.















Here I am thinking about how much I would like to pour
some hot tea for a Japanese businessman.


Look familiar? I went to Kyoto yesterday and got a geisha makeover for a piece for NYLON magazine. So funny. I'll wait to write the article to give all of the details, but it was a ball. I lasted about 20 minutes in the outfit and that was enough for me. I did look realistic enough for a bunch of tourists to take my photo thinking I was an actual geisha not a 36 year old mommy.














Here I am on my way to practice the shaimasen
(for those of you who did not read Memoirs of a Geisha,
it is some sort of guitar/violin like instrument that geisha play).


















Touching up my lipstick!



















Mama needs some Visine!



















I can't wait to get to the tea house to
perform a dance for the Minister of Agriculture
while he eats his eel!




















Geisha tan lines

Geisha-izing

Off to become a Geisha for the day (or a Meiko... a younger Geisha) tomorrow in Kyoto... then to Osaka for the night to see my friend Kathy who is in town on business. I will miss David and Carlos, but cannot wait to sleep in.

Be back on Wednesday with some geisha photos.

j

Love at the Aquarium

Carlos attracts the ladies like nobody's business. Here is his. Minding his own business, when a lovely young lady comes calling. At first he looks interested, but ultimately plays it cool. She, on the other hand, is practically throwing herself at him.