I went, I saw, I bought the t-shirt, but Belle and Sebastian was less of a band than I expected. I think they're really missing Isobel. I know I was. But, don't misunderstand me, it was a good show. My favorite moment: The band was just starting into "Asleep on a Sunbeam" which features Sara on vocals. Up until this point Sara had been that person in the corner, not doing much, with her hands in her pockets, kinda what? Shy looking. Overweight. There, I said it. Anyways, for whatever reason I suddenly felt all this emotion when she began to sing, and I guess everyone else did, too and we all decided to show it. She got really embarrased and had to restart the song with us cheering like mad all the while. It's funny when you see people on stage you kinda develop this relationship with them, like you've known them all your life, and you think maybe you can see the kind of person they are... well, some shows are like that. Small ones. I think the entire audience just understood her then and we all decided we liked her. The worst moment? Some jerk-off in the audience trying to drunkenly debate religion with the band. Jesus. I din't pay roku sen en to listen to you, my drunken friend. Please go home and talk to your plush animals or whatever.

So that was the first show I've ever seen by myself. Not much different, but not as fun. Although, my sheepdog instincts got a rest, since there was nobody to herd.

This is from yesterday.

Trying to piece together the events of last night, January 24th, my birthday party. Inside the cluttered ashcan that is my brain a few vague images reassemble themselves... Night started with shabu-shabu. All you can eat. And more importantly, all you can drink. I'm sure the restraunt is considering changing this policy now. The waiter kept coming over to tell us to shut up, but it was useless. At one point I think two or three other tables had been annexed to our shabu shindig, all singing and laughing. I met some nihon-jin graduated from Fresno state.

Next, karaoke. I'll just say that we STARTED by dancing on the tables. I opened with my o-hako, "Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Ritchie, joined by the waitress for part of it. The place was tops. Even had some Dandy Warhols and Weezer tunes. Duran Duran. Smiths. Tears for Fears. Queen, of course. We were well and truly leathered by this time. Lashed.

Stumbled onto and then off of the train. Made it back to good old Takatsuki and ended the night by pouring shots from my birthday Wild Turkey bottle for the good patrons of the JK cafe. There was one super drunk guy there with a new Ultraman doll. He kept showing me how to do that Ultraman arm thing. Apparently I kept doing it wrong. I'll hafta practice. Amazing what's important to drunk people.

So! Happy birthday to me! I live in a zoo! I smell like a monkey and I look like one too!