osaka

which is completely fabulous because i started off Friday completely on the wrong foot, had a fight with my mother before i could even open my eyes fully (it takes me a while in the mornings to go from peering at the world as though i were driving a tank to my usual wide-eyed amazement) i was stressed about my presentation for Monday. i tried to work on it but i couldn't concentrate. i messed up a whole load of cookies, they tasted all bitter, and burnt the last tray of them, and there was nothing to eat at home but bread. I'm so sick of bread!
My luck began to turn when my mom came home with shopping including lentils, which prompted me to make lentils for the first time in not a soup and make up a meal as i went along. It turned out delicious ^___^ My mom offered me 2 bottles of Champagne (or i should say sparkling wine mthode traditionnelle.)
We were going to Norbar's apartment, the self same one from the new years story! I packed my bag, stopped off at the shop to pick up my wine and met Chris, Adam, Jacek and Kacy on the next metro station. Kacy gave me flowers
We spent our bus ride listening about Chris's horrible day at work and commenting the movie Devil which Jacek had watched and warned us not to waste our lives. Adam had actually watched it though and they were laughing at how retardedly awful it is. we spent the walk through the, now very wet and slushy thanks to the warmer weather, woods shouting things like " five children at a bus stop and one of them... THE DEVIL!" at some kids and "Five people in a wood and one of them...A BOAR!" [this requires some back story: basically there are reports of wild boars in the woods around Norbar's house which he used to talk about a lot especially since he heard on the news that some dude got charged at by one and it pierced his scrotum with its tusk. So obviously we all speak loudly about the dangers of boars every time we walk there]

When we arrived finally we took some time to get comfortable on Norbar's couch and Jacek started doing some programming homework. Norbar made us tea, which tasted very nice but unfortunately smelt like fish and had us all rolling around helpless with laughter as he tried to apologize and order pizza. We amused ourselves with beer, retarded stories and silly youtube videos. Jula and Rudy arrived and we rejoiced and i got a cupcake kit wrapped in gorgeous yellow paper. So juicy!
then we smoked some and the silly stories continued, as well as Rudy jumping on Norbars mtn bike (that he has set up so he can ride it as a stationary one in his apt) and pedaling as fast as he could while singing Lady Gaga with all of us joining in on the chorus.
The pizzas were ENORMOUS. We got out the champagne and felt fancy while Chris insisted on sandwiching two slices together and eating them in record times. Almost everyone (most notably me. twice. in a row) almost died because of laughing while trying to swallow half chewed pizza. At some point the upstairs neighbors started banging on their floor/ our ceiling and that had little to no effect on us.
when the Pizzas were gone and so was most of the second champagne we smoked some more and had an impromptu wine glass concert/ jam session. we looked like a little cult ^___^
Then all of a sudden Norbar brought out an big box of cupcakes. wonderful.




after we were all well fed and weak from all the hilarity
and high-jinks

we settled down, turned off the lights and watched some Twilight Zone. Which was followed by The Descent. Which is another awfully bad movie. But we did get scared properly once and Chris shouted in my ear which made me scream. YAY!
The party wound down then, we were all so sleepy. Jula phoned for a taxi and soon she, Rudy, Jacek and Kacy departed. Leaving us four having sleepy conversations while trying to clean up enough to make space to sleep.

Saturday.
there is nothing better than waking up next to the coolest guy ever and seeing him blissfully asleep drooling onto the pillow <3


After we roused ourselves enough to make contact, we also made coffee and watched a film about tattoos in Russian prison. hardcore shit. a bit depressing also but extremely worth watching. And so we had to begin the lengthy and arduous journey back home. Where i had just enough time to wash, eat a toast and head out to my first pole dancing class. Super fun, super good feelings.
when i got home my dad was there making dinner which was a nice, warm sort-of thing. Chris came to help me a bit with my presentation, watching Adventure Time and cuddles. And by then i was terribly tired.

by Sunday
my stress levels about my presentation were reaching critical points. Chris' parents were out for the day so we could really sit down and get it all worked out. When i got there though i was greeted with my birthday presents: a Campagnolo front wheel for my bike and splendidly awesome sexy time. good sex makes everything good and this had the effect of eliminating my stress completely ^____^
we got started but soon Chris suggested we change location, we went to Relaks which is near his house and worked some more on it there in between making coffee, talking to the owner, playing with his cuuuute bull-terrier Disko and so on. Eventually we had had enough and we were starving. Chris took me to Namaste one of my favorite Indian restaurants. We stuffed ourselves. everything was SO good. The place was very full and by some strange chance we ended up getting the samoosas last, which was fine cause we took them home. Home where we relaxed by watching Star Wars and EVENTUALLY finishing the damn presentation.
it was one of the best homework days imaginable and i was ( i still am actually) really overwhelmed by how lovely my whole birthday weekend turned out.

And then it was Monday.
got up extra early so i'd have time to go over the presentation before i had to present it at 9.45. but my rush out the door was thwarted by my family having gotten up extra early also to eat breakfast with me. My dad made me his extra soft and fluffy omlette and my mom revealed she had bought chocolate eclairs. surprisingly sweet.
but i had to be on my way, i had no time for sweetness, i had a presentation to present!
i hate presentations. i hate public speaking. i LOVE performing. but that is completely different. so while i was sitting in the front row in class going over what i had to say for each slide i was overcome with a sick feeling and my hands began to shake slightly. i got to go second, which i think was ideal because not too much attention would be focused on me. in the end i think it wasn't super great but the lecturer said she found it very interesting. so whatever. i was just glad to have it over with.
Chris presented me with yet another birthday present: a small box of various Kinder chocolates which i looooove and China Mieville's The Scar. rad. i love getting cool books.
i spent the rest of the day being very happy and even logical semiotics wasn't as painful as usual.
Then Chris came home with me for the birthday dinner. It started off well with presents, champagne and lasagna but sitting around with my parents too long inevitably ends up bad and more often than not they will have a fight with each other, my sister or i or any combination of the above. :/ but i'm sure you want to know what i got. i was surprised because i had discussed with my parents that i would like to get a simple digital camera similar to the one my sister got last year. they agreed to this idea but pointed out that they would not be able to do that on the day. fine fine. so i wasn't expecting to get anything else and yet i did. i got a stand for my guitar, a collection of Jarmusch films and a 2011 diary. my sister gave me mince pies from marks & spencers, butter toffees from marks&spencers, a bad of tiny marshmellows from marks&spencers and a small toy for babies which might be a dog/bear or rabbit also from that shop. it was all rather bizarre and funny. im rather unimpressed with plushy toys in general but i have to admit this one is quite endearing.