O-Yone Ito

Now that it's been over a week since the official start of summer everything around here seems to be blooming and sunny and happy. All the flowers I planted are growing--the roses and peonies and gladiolas! Even Mr. Flynn is tanned all toasty and brown. I'm sorry, Mr. Hudson but I think the days of outdoor ice hockey has long since past, even for someone with your talents. You could still play on the street though or in the gym, I hope.

The best part being, of course, the Farmer's Market. It's open every Saturday and Sunday from six am to eleven am and filled with all sorts of home grown organic vegetables and plants, honey, crafts, bread, meat, and ethnic food. It's really a lot of fun but best to get to early before all the crowds show up...if anyone wants to go with me on Saturday, every Saturday.

Summer is a lot of fun but I don't think it's my favorite season. Maybe fall, especially here with all the color changing leaves. I guess I'm kind of rambling now but the invitation is still open for the market.

I found this wonderful Asian market just outside of North Conway today while I was running errands. That means I was able to stock up on surume and they even had umeboshi, I couldn't believe it. If anyone is feeling adventurous or drunk enough you should try it.

I haven't heard anything about Mr. Lionne or Miss Marquez. Apparently no one has seen them and I wonder if maybe they didn't leave the state. I wish I knew why they left. I hate to think they're a liability, I'd hate to have to see them dealt with.

It's nearly Memorial Day Weekend and that means its time to start planting gardens. I'm planning on planting a lot of flowers this year because I like to have fresh ones around in my room and the kitchen and Mr. Smith's office. I was also thinking about planting a Victory Garden, not because I'm worried about the rising cost of produce in these difficult financial times but because I really like pulling carrots and picking beans and digging up potatoes and onions.

It's a shame we don't live in a more tropical climate. I'd love to grow pineapples. Did you know they grow on the ground and not on trees? Doesn't that seem strange?

Anyway, if anyone wants to help plant or have any requests of things to plant, just let me know. Mr. Slavin has already agreed to help which sounds like a lot of fun. I heard there are psychics who can talk to plants! While being a Hydrokinetic makes irrigation easier it would still be nice to be able to encourage the plants to grow in a way they would actually understand.

I read on the website of Mr. Harrison Price that he's going to hold a special engagement here in "Psychic Town" North Conway. At least he's trying to. He's having a difficult time getting permission from city officials and finding a suitable location. I guess since stories of our statements have gained so much media attention, his events are becoming larger and larger and more difficult to control to the point that even the police are having a difficult time keeping up. I don't understand why some people don't realize maybe they should quit what they're doing while they're ahead. I saw a segment on Dateline about him saying he makes hundreds of thousands of dollars off of his followers and people who attend his seminars. When exactly does someone have enough money?

I haven't had to worry about Valentine's day for a long time, it's been two years since I came here, but when I lived in Japan it was kind of a stressful holiday. It isn't quite like Valentine's day here. I'm sure some couples still go out, and as Miss Harper put it, it's still a holiday to wear red lingerie and have lots of, you know, but there's an added tradition in Japan. Girls and women buy chocolate for the men in their lives. Giri Choco, or Obligatory chocolate, goes to co wokers or boys who are friends, that sort of thing, and Honmei Choco, which is the special chocolate a woman would give to her boyfriend, husband, or someone she is serious about.

It was always really embarrassing for me to get chocolate from girls in school, I was never quite sure what to say when that happened, but that's nothing I have to worry about here! Not until March, anyway.

March 14 in Japan is White Day, the male version of Valentine's. We give chocolate back to the girls who gave us chocolate the month before. I am kind of looking forward to that, actually. I enjoy giving gifts.

Mr. Travers got an assistant, did you know? I think he and I, his name is Myles Solomon. Mr. Solomon, I'd like to meet you. We can do assistant things together.

Tomorrow's the first day of February and already I can't wait for the snow to melt and for the ground to thaw. I like winter in moderation, a month or two and I'm through with it. Once the snow freezes over and gets all gray from exhaust and pollution it's just not as pretty anymore and I miss being able to go outside without a coat on. More than that I miss gardening. I think this year I'm going to trade flowers for vegetables. That would be nice, wouldn't it? To have fresh grown tomatoes and strawberries? I was thinking tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, strawberries, and raspberries. Maybe a few flower too -- edible ones? That would be interesting.

On Friday I went out with Dameon, Eddie, and Braylen to see The Uninvited and for dinner -- a sort of double date except not since I'm not dating anyone. It was nice to get away from the base even if we had to go to the next town over. The movie wasn't all that scary, not like the reviews I heard on the radio with everyone screaming and everything but still amusing. Japanese horror movies and American horror movies are very different, even the American ones based off the Japanese ones. Although I think one of the strangest Japanese movies I saw was called Gozu.

What made it strange was a scene where this Yakuza underling spent the night in a bed and breakfast while he searched for the body of his superior that had recently vanished after he killed him. Anyway, the surviving Yakuza is woken to a man in a diaper with a cow's head that says "gozu gozu" over and over and licks him with a really slimy tongue. Another weird scene was when the surviving Yakuza runs into his superior who has somehow reincarnated into a really cute woman. They end up having sex except he gets stuck inside her and he's crawling all over the room trying to get away while dragging her along behind him.

Cultural differences can be very strange.

Horrible Engrish aside, the Gun O'Clock looks like something a few people around the Base would really enjoy. I wouldn't mind having one myself, it would definitely be an interesting way to wake up in the morning, kind of like that alarm clock you're supposed to throw at the wall or the one that runs away from you so you have to actually get out of bed to make it shut up.

I had a pretty good sparring match with Braylen in the gym the other day. I realize I may have left a mess behind, I'm sorry about that, but by the end of everything I was more anxious to take a nap than I was to clean up after myself. What's wrong with me lately? I have no idea. Maybe the people I've been hanging around with have been making a bad impression on me.

It's only the end of January but I'm already feeling a little bit stir crazy, I'm suffering a bit of cabin fever. Ever since that drawing of me was in the paper I try to stay out of town as much as possible. North Conway is a small place, small enough that people are too nosy for their own good and I don't want to cause any real trouble. Still, I've already cleaned my room from top to bottom, even my refrigerator and cupboards and reorganized everything and I'm not sure what else to do with myself. I don't suppose anyone needs help with a little early spring cleaning?

I have lots of energy today! I woke up early and took care of a few chores and errands, cleaned my fish tank, did some ironing, and then went out grocery shopping! I may have gone a little overboard as far as food was concerned and then proceeded to go home and dirty every single dish in my kitchen! So, Juniper-chan, Mr. King, Mr. Rayne, Eddie, and Mr. Wilder, if you don't have any plans please feel free to come by my room for dinner tonight, you can even bring a guest, I've made enough.

On the menu: walnut crusted mahi mahi grilled with baby mini sweet potatoes and broccolini, roasted red pepper risotto, pork chops stuffed with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach, asparagus drizzled with butter, and fruit pizza for dessert.

Even if you don't like fish or spinach, please trust me and come anyway. You'll hardly realize what your eating it will taste so good. I won't even make you wash dishes after.

Soon, everyone will be heading out on their New Years eve missions. Good luck. I'll be here back at the base worrying about you. Hopefully no one will get injured. I'm sure the mission will be a great success so there's no need to concern myself with that!

The first through the third is Shogatsu in Japan, our biggest holiday by far. If anyone would like to celebrate with me, please feel free. It is traditional in Japan to spend Shogatsu doing absolutely no work whatsoever and relaxing and having fun. I don't think I'll be able to get out of my duties, especially since Shogatsu begins right when this important mission should end, but I'm definitely going to have fun and make a lot of holiday food.

I'm back a little early from the hunting trip I went on. I returned early this morning thanks to Mr. Rayne who drove all over the place to get me. I hurt myself, twisted my ankle while going through the woods. Everything was so snowy and treacherous out there it was silly of me to be careless. Aries should be back soon. I imagine he may want to stay out a little longer now that he isn't stuck with an extra burden. I hope he makes it back in time to eat his Jell-O.

I enjoyed myself at Mr. King's birthday party but there wasn't an opportunity for me to write about it before I had to leave. It doesn't matter though, I was so hung over the next day I don't think I could have stood to look at a computer screen for any amount of time. I'm not entirely sure about the theme or the stripper or the way Mr. Flynn was dressed but it was good to relax for a little while.

Everyone's been divided up into teams and I must admit I'm a little jealous. I imagine the gym and the armory are going to be busy places with everyone's training for the upcoming mission. When I lived in Japan and the oyabun was bored, we would hold games. He would give me something to protect or make me a target with or without my knowledge and instruct his men to either steal the token he had entrusted to me or to attempt to "kidnap" me. Whoever did would win. Maybe something like that would be useful for the junior team? I mean, I'm not implying you use me as a target but maybe one of your new underlings, Miss Rose. Or maybe assign everyone someone else on the team or on the base as a target to track and "dispose" of?

I was surprised when I returned and the captives had esca.

I never wrote about it before, I guess I'm not much of a journal-er but my Black Friday shopping was very eventful and a little crazy. I didn't get kicked out of any stores, not like Eddie and Dameon, but I did get a little carried away. I made a water slick purposefully to trip another shopper just so I could get an iPod. I didn't even want an iPod but now I have one and I feel like it's some sort of trophy even though I feel bad for aggravating that woman's back condition. Thank you for taking me with you, Juniper-chan.

I am going on a hunting trip with Aries for a few days, three to be exact and two nights! I've never slept outside before. I assume that's where we're going to sleep, in the wilderness, but people do it all the time right? And Aries is like a giant electric blanket so I'm sure he'll make sure I don't freeze. Still, I'm trying to pack but I'm not entirely sure what I should bring. Does anyone have any suggestions?

The timing is a little awkward - I set up two rooms for some new Stargate members today who should be showing up sometime in the next couple of days. I don't want to give away anything too good about them since surprises are always the best but I'm sure they'll make wonderful additions to the Project.

In Japan we don't really celebrate Thanksgiving but we do have our own version of it. On the 23rd we have a Labor Thanksgiving Day where we commemorate labor and production and giving one another thanks. There are festivals and things like that but nothing like the huge holiday dinners that are here in America. I'm looking forward to tomorrow and plan on eating so much I will be barely able to move the next day. I feel bad for the guests in the basement for having to be all alone and away from their family and friends.

After tomorrow the next holiday I have to look forward to is the Emperor's Birthday on the 23rd and, of course, there's Christmas.

I've never been out the day after Thanksgiving for shopping but I think this year I might give it a try. It's not that I'm worried so much about the savings just that it seems like a lot of fun and I'm usually up that early anyway.

I tried to stay up until midnight since today, Monday, is my birthday but I couldn't do it! I fell asleep in front of the TV watching Prince of Tennis and when I woke up (just now) it was already after one!

I'm eighteen today.

There will be cake in the kitchen.

Bunka no hi came and went and I didn't even realize! Of course there wouldn't be any celebrations here in the United States, especially in Stargate, but I would have liked to have some tako yaki. Maybe I'll make some. I'd offer to anyone who would like to try but I'm not sure how adventurous you are. Yaki soba is much safer and everyone seems to like Okonomiyaki so maybe I'll make some of that as well. Unfortunately, there won't be much free time for me in the future so I may not get to these things until Shogatsu!

Mr. Rayne, would it be alright if I came to visit? I made you a get well present and some treats.

To all of our operatives going out on this very important mission, good luck.

I am extremely thankful that Dr. Bishop is always so willing to take care of anyone whenever they need it even if what you need is very minor. I think the cleaner I had to use to get the permanent marker off the wall in the hallway ate my fingers raw but Dr. Bishop took care of that in an instant! The few hours I had to live without the ability to pick up anything was horrible!

Juniper-chan, would you like to go trick-or-treating with Mr. Rayne, Mr. Harris and I on Halloween? Of course the invitation is open to anyone else here as well! Mr. Nando? Maybe you would like to come also?

Lately I feel like something's about to happen. You know what I'm talking about don't you? That ominous anxious feeling? And it has nothing to do with Halloween or Hockey or Canadian Thanksgiving. The worst part of it is I don't think I'm prepared. It's probably nothing, just my imagination, or maybe I need to go out and relax for once. There isn't much to do in a town like this, though. Of course I'm not exactly sure what kids my age are supposed to be doing for fun to begin with. I'm not entirely sure the other people here my age are providing the kind of examples I want to follow, either.

Should I be playing Rock Band?

Mr. Stine : If you're bored again in the future and need an online quiz to take you should try the Enneagram Test. I'd be curious to know what number you are.

It's always sad when a show I like comes to an end. That's the difference between American and Japanese television. In America the shows go on and on and on until their popularity is gone and there is no more money to be made. In Japan the show is over when the story has finished, usually there is no dragging it out.

And now one I really liked, Nabarai No Ou, is concluded and if I ever hope to see Yoite or Miharu again I will have to wait for an OVA.

Do you think I would get into trouble if I dressed up as Mr. Smith for Halloween? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?

I need some practice. There hasn't been much of an opportunity to do so lately so if anyone would like to fight me, in a friendly way, of course, please don't hesitate to reply. We can spar with our abilities or with a weapon.

I hope everyone enjoyed the egg rolls I made the other day. If someone decided they would like some even though they didn't tell me, there are an extra 60 or so in the freezer in Styrofoam containers. P is Pork, C is chicken, V is vegetable and there is sweet and sour or duck sauce in the refrigerator.

Here is something funny for you to watch. Sometimes seeing things like this make me nostalgic for Japan. Perhaps I can convince Mr. Smith he needs a vacation so we can spend a week or so there.

Ramen Shop
Yahoo prt1
Yahoo prt2

Do you feel unappreciated?

I have read that a lot of people in the building are becoming antsy as they wait for specific missions or tasks to be passed on down to them. Adam showed me these websites that I look at when I am bored or have free time. They're very amusing, especially the pictures of the clothing.

engrish.com
engrishfunny.com.

When I was younger I remember having a shirt with English on it. I'm not entirely sure what it said now but I'm almost positive I ended up walking around Kobe saying proclaiming something ridiculous or completely nonsensical.

I've decided to make some egg rolls although they're the kind of thing you have to make a lot of if you're going to do it at all so if anyone would like some please let me know.