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Found out tonight that the textbook job didn’t come through. I was definitely a little surprised when I read the e-mail, but I guess that’s how it goes. Oh well. Instead of letting myself get too disappointed about it, I’m totally kicking into full gear to find a new, real, full time job. I’m ready. If anyone has any leads, let me know.

Moving back to the US is a consideration of course, but I think I’d like to stay here if I can.

I guess winter’s almost ready to end here in Japan. About time. Last week it was pretty warm for a few days, then the weekend had mad crazy wind. It was cold again, then today we had some of the heaviest rainstorms I’ve seen in a while – and they lasted only a few hours. And I think the super winds are back now. The rest of the week is supposed to have highs in the 50’s.

I feel like I started this entry with a bunch of ideas, but they’re all gone now. Uhh… Well I guess that’s all for now.

Oh but one thing! This year’s かなまら祭り(Iron Penis Festival) is on April 6th. Anyone going? I thought for some reason it was in late March, but I checked and it’s officially on the first Sunday of April every year. Also checked this site. Steve Cochrane will be in Japan that week, and Macie is coming as well, so those two will probably enjoy seeing the weirdest freaking event on the planet. Need I remind you of last year? I’ll have to think of some other weird stuff to show those two while they’re here. They’ll probably be here right as the sakura bloom, which is perfect. And of course Namja Town is on the menu.

Now that I think about it, I don’t know if I really want to go back to the Kanamara Festival, since the old Confederate guy with the dog might attack me or something.

I’m finally recovered from my cold and back to 100% health. I spent most of Sunday evening napping or laying down, and by Monday I was down to just a slight cough. Totally good now. Oh, and as I mentioned in my last post, here is just a sampling of some of the Japanese potion medicines that I took. I also took a few Dayquil/Nyquil tablets, but overall I think sleep is what cured me. I’m usually able to fix most illnesses by sleeping. I guess the medicines help a bit though. And while this is just a sample of what I took to get over this cold, it’s an even smaller sample of the hundreds of different medicine and energy drinks they have here, most served in tiny little glass bottles.

From left to right:

• 葛根湯(Kakkontou) – Kudzu root extract. This is supposed to be taken as soon as you start to feel cold symptoms, as an early medicine. A few times I tried this last year and I was completely fine within a day or two. This time I didn’t get kakkontou in time, but it still helped a little bit I think. It costs about 800 yen for 3 vials at a drug store. You’re supposed to take 3 a day.
• C1000 Lemon – Not really medicine, but I always feel like this helps. It’s like a tiny bottle of really carbonated lemon soda. The main selling point here though is that is has 1000mg of vitamin C in each bottle – a lot. Costs about 100 yen at any grocery or convenience store.
• ルル・ゴールドＧ(RuRu Gold G) -This is an energy drink specially made to help relieve cold symptoms, like fever, sore throat, fatigue, all that fun stuff. It has all kinds of weird ingredients in it: vitamins, royal jelly, nicotinic acid, ginseng, ginger, etc. This is the super version, and costs about 600 yen at a convenience or drug store. The regular one is only 300 and doesn’t have as much mojo in it. You’re supposed to take just one a day, or you risk turning into Ultraman.

A little bit different than just taking some ‘tussin.