ONLY ONE MONTH TO GO!!!!!

Tokyo, the second time around was so much more enjoyable. YES, I went alone (although I did meet up with my friend again on Saturday) but Sunday and Monday was all Melissa. All alone. On those trains. Cris-crossing my way across that massive city. DIDN'T GET LOST ONCE Y'ALL!!!!
Saturday I met up with Kotaro and after taking me to my hotel and such, we went to the Japanese Football Museum (we're both big fans!)

THE REAL WOMEN'S WORLD CUP TROPHY! WOOO!!!! sorry USA ladies!! XD

Where is 'Danmark?'

 

On Sunday I went around the city. In Ueno, I went to the zoo. They have pandas!!! And other great animals, but they don't have as much room as the zoo's back home. Which is sad.

And then I went to the Pokemon Center -- check that off the teenage wishlist! Thankfully, that was very close to Tokyo Tower, which was also on my list to visit.

Lastly, my hotel!

That Tokyo trip I took 2 weeks ago, heh.

I haven't posted in a long time. I'm so sorry!!!
I went to Tokyo but I didn't do much there. The Shinkansen (bullet train) is amazing to ride on. I've never been on something that goes so fast ... well maybe an airplane, but you don't really feel like you're moving so fast on one of those, especially in the air. It was amazing. My favorite part of the trip actually!
Anyway, I went to Akihabara which is known for anime. I wasn't impressed. Maybe I didn't get to see enough. Either way, I headed to Shibuya where I shopped till I dropped. Bought some high end fashion at BAPE, some CDs for my dad and then I went to Harajuku simply for the soccer shop next to the train station. Literally almost shed tears in the store. Aomori is so miserable.
So I'm going back this weekend and plan to do more, and take more pictures. I only took a few, which I'll upload now:
This is a friend I met in Tokyo, Kotaro. He took me to an English bar and we watched a Premier League match. There are soooo many foreigners in Tokyo and it was wonderful to see people who looked like me.

My hotel room. Not so bad.

Oh, dear.

The legend of Hachiko, who was a real dog and the story is true - even if my aunt doesn't believe it. Proof is here, sweet thing.

My favorite sign, on the trains. The trains are SO CROWDED AT NIGHT... there is absolutely no personal space. Had some old man pressed up against me and everything -- ew. Fortunately during the day, they're some breathing room. It is funny to watch people getting caught in the doors as they close. That guy? Happened to him. Serves him right!

Lastly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY MOMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU <3

Winter Festival

Sorry it's been a few days, but I've been busy!!
Last weekend was the winter festival here in Aomori, where they carve lanterns in the snow and light them up at night. They also make cool sculptures. I got to go with Miwa and her boys and got some great pictures...

We had fun!!! Next entry (tomorrow, for sure) I'll post my meat grilling party pics :) Interesting stuff there.

Sad image.

I was walking to work and wondered in my head if I'd run into the 2 pigeons I ran into last week where I fed them a few Goldfish crackers. I walked up to the opening near the post office and one lone pigeon literally came running, then flying over to me. And I 'awwww'd' and took out some goldfish to feed it... and I noticed there was a giant flock of crows hunkered over ... another dead pigeon. Totally eating it. I think the image of that little pigeon running, then FLYING to me, seeming like it was wanting help, will stick with me forever. It makes me want to cry even now - I just know that was its friend. So I stuck around as the other crows came flying over and waited for the pigeon to eat the big pieces before walking off. The crows don't actually come near people, but the pigeons do. Poor thing.

Anyway, I was stranded on the train going to Hirosaki for an hour, then got to my business class a hour late, then ended up (luckily!) leaving work early, spending 45 minutes in a cab and then 2 hours on a bus to come home. There's been a terrible blizzard since around 3:30 this afternoon. I've never been in something so massive - there was thundersnow and lots of lightening, which would have been super COOL, if I wasn't car sick, on the verge of throwing up in a cab. NICE. I swear if I have to go through this again, I'm qutting right then and there.

Here's hoping my lone pigeon can make it through this storm - and the rest of the winter.

I hear the plows out...

In the process of going to bed.
I got my hair cut, and let me tell you, Japan is superior. They give you a head and neck massage and are sooo gentle when washing your hair. Maybe my hair stylist back home is just really rough, but I looooved it here. Anyway, it's short. Not as boy short as I hope for one day (when I suppose I have children... or a man) but it'll do! I had fun and it was cheap and people stared like you wouldn't believe... and I am not pretty under those fluorescent lights!

Uggh, I used to be thin. I need an intervention.
What else is new... oh let's see.... I have no running water. At first tonight when I came home the toilet was flushing (let's praise God now that it had 2 flushes left in it when it did!) but no water was coming out of any faucets. Still, 8 hours later and no change. I was thinking it was frozen pipes but I would have thought they would have thawed by now... so I called the real estate lady but had to leave a message and I just pray PRAY that she calls tomorrow and we can have whatever it is solved tomorrow. Seriously, I went to Jonathan's tonight to pee, shower and brush my teeth. In that order.

And in final news, we had 2 earthquakes literally 12 hours apart today. I didn't notice the first one (was brushing my teeth and putting on my make-up... 'cause the water was working this morning!) but my phone had alerted me and then we had one a few hours ago and it was fun - but it literally feels like the plows are going by so I think I'm immune to earthquakes now. Ah well

Can you find me?

More snow pics! Short entry, these are just for my dad...
Can you see me?

Bridge lit up at night!

Mountain pictures!! They're covered in snow -- so it looks like it's clouds but IT'S NOT!

Very pretty :)

Snow shots

My parents have really been giving me grief over not going up to the roof to take pictures of the snow.
And so, this morning, I did just that. Except the door is jammed due to the snow and I can't get out. So I literally had the door opened a CRACK, couldn't even stick my hand out and took these pictures:

And the other night I took some photos on my way to the convenience store to buy bread and water:

THIS IS A HOUSE. WHICH IS LITERALLY SNOWED IN. 

Amazing!!