Mint the Parakeet

Monday November 1st. I'm off on Mondays but boyfriend usually isn't. He was off this day, so we planned to run a bunch of errands and spend the day together since we'd both been so busy lately we haven't been able to just do stuff or spend time together. I got ready, put on my perfume that boyfriend actually likes (he's a bit picky with scents). I got this perfume in the depths of Nakano Broadway and it's got a picture of and is inspired by Mint, my favorite anime Tokyo Mew Mew girl. She's a blue magical parrot girl, for anyone who doesn't know the anime.

I'd followed an instagram account about taming and training parakeets recently. I've always loved parrots, specifically parakeets, they are my favorite animal, and boyfriend loves all animals, even more than humans. We always talk about what animals we like and pets we want. Parakeets are not only beautiful and colorful, but they are extremely smart and funny. They can be trained relatively easily, and can be super lovable, and can learn how to talk. We decided we'd look into local pet shops that Monday for fun and for the future. We found one nearby and after getting my favorite yaki imo breakfast, running a few errands, and a yummy kaiten sushi lunch, we decided to check it out. They had a few hand-fed baby parakeets. There was one still being hand-fed that was sooooo cute and would start chirping for food when we'd accidentally pointed a finger too close. Then I heard the familiar singing of parakeets and realized there were some more mature (but still baby) budgies. There were 4. One blue and white one at the end was hiding at the bottom of the cage at first so I didn't notice him right away. But then he was singing and making sounds like he'd wanted to talk and kept looking at me. He was fluffing up and rubbing his head on the cage bars like he wanted me to pet him. I couldn't leave him behind. I felt something. Like I'd be heartbroken to leave him behind. I'd cry if we left. We had an appointment to update our Internet in 20 minutes. We missed it. Now he is sitting next to me grinding his little beak and looking sleepy.

Coming up with a name was kinda hard. Beforehand, boyfriend suggested Yakitori (grilled chicken) and I jokingly added Kara-age (fried chicken). We were thinking of getting 2 parakeets when were ready because I was worried just one would be lonely, but the shop staff said one would be fine and less risky than if 2 didn't get along, plus he'd bond with humans more. They were all kept separately and couldn't see each other, unlike how I'd remembered in American pet stores like PetCo where they were all kept together in a large enclosure. Actually, we weren't even planning to buy a bird that day...but Mint chose us. 

I think he's a boy because of how vocal he was and because his cere (nose) is blueish. Boyfriend suggested the name Sora (sky in Japanese) but I think there's probably so many blue parakeets with that name, and we have a friend named Sky already XD I thought Sage would be pretty, but boyfriend said it sounded too much like the Japanese male name "Seiji". Then, in the same category of herbs and spices, I thought Pepper would be cute....but then I thought what it would sound like pronounced in a Japanese accent, like Sage. It would sound like "Peppah", which got Peppa Pig in my head. Noooooo thanks... so I thought of the next herb that popped in my head. Mint. The perfume I wore. My favorite anime. My favorite character from the anime I'd loved since I was a child, that had first piqued my interest in Japan. The blue girl. The parrot girl. It all clicked. His name in Mint

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Here's a story from my childhood. It's not a happy one

(Trigger warning: pet death) I grew up with birds as pets which has made me love them, but I have an unhappy memory related to this. When we lived in NY as kids, we had 5 birds. A cockatoo, 2 cockatiels, and 2 parakeets (budgies to be specific). I had a green and yellow one named Cookie and my sister had a blue and white on named Cream. We didn't really know how to tame or take care of them, but I learned a lot, and we'd eventually been able to form a bond and semi-tame these birds. Then the tragedy hit. We had an awful rat problem in that apartment. Actually we had lots of problems and awful experiences there, but this one stuck the most for me. I don't remember all of the details because I think my mind is protecting me. One morning I think it was, I went up to where our birds were. I found one of our cockatiels Leana Pearl dead. Then I saw my parakeet Cookie was also dead at the bottom of the cage, and Cream was lethargic and not doing well. I'm pretty sure I screamed something along the lines of 'Cookie is dead and Cream is dying!' and was already crying and borderline hysterical at this point. I picked him up and held him in my hand and seconds later, he died, while still in my hand. We were shocked and I don't remember ever feeling as devastated as I did then, and I don't remember much else before or after that. Snowy and our other cockatiel Rosie were ok. Snowy is still around, at my grandma's house today. We'd assumed everything was fine because Snowy and Rosie were fine, so we decided to get 2 new parakeets. They were beautiful. I got one named Periwinkle and my sister got one named Mystic, but we called them Peewee and Mimi for short. I don't remember the exact time frame, but the same thing happened to them. The same way. I was devastated and traumatized. I still have nightmares about it. I refused to go when my mom and sister went to give them a burial at sea, which I was told was beautiful. Both my mom and sister have had pets since then, but I haven't. We'd gotten 2 more sweet babies only to have them die because we'd chosen them. That's how I felt. This was the last traumatic straw before we moved from NY to WV for good.

I know that a pet is a living being, a huge responsibility. We are their whole life and all they have. If I can't be sure that they will have a life better than if they'd been born free or gone to another home, I don't want to take that chance. I'm opening up again for my little Mint. I will do my best for him and give him my all. 

First Time Big Event Leader Feelings

Ohhh wow, today was hectic! I’ve been getting increasingly more important (and exciting) responsibilities from my job, and today was one of them. I emceed one of our biggest events and had to lead the thing! It was EXHAUSTING to say the least, and, at times fun. I made many little mistakes, but learned a lot! 

I’d never thought I would ever have a job that I would easily and happily be able to dedicate myself to, especially so much, that I’d receive these kind of responsibilities, but I’m so happy I have! I don’t work just for money, I need happiness and passion. If another “normal” job offered me double or even triple what I currently make, I would without hesitation turn it down.

I have always had EXTREME stage fright. Yet, I’ve always been on or back (or even above when I learned lighting) stage for most of my life in one way or another. I did dance shows since I could walk. I always joined whatever choirs was offered at any school I went to. I did every theatre and drama thing I could in high school. I studied theatre costuming (and a little of everything else) in college. And now I work in theatre! It’s like I’m destined for the stage 😆 

Blog: Pittsburgh Double Date Shopping and Places

Later, we went to the Ross Park Mall, because I wanted to go to Lush! I'll post more details about the Lush stuff and my experience there separately =]

After that, we wandered a bit around the mall

*Edit* I almost forgot to post about the Avalon Exchange! It's a super cool secondhand store with lots of designer and non designer stuff for good prices! I've even found Japanese, Chinese and Korean brands there. It's right next to one of the food places I always go in Pittsburgh, the Ramen Bar.

And then Karaoke!! As far as I know, this is the nearest and only Asian style karaoke place here. They had a lot of Japanese songs, though not as many as I wanted XD Not bad for so nearby though! Oh, I just found the website with a list of songs! I wish I had found this before to prepare, but I'll totally use this next time [Kbox website] We're planning another karaoke trip soon =3

Then we went to this place where you can see an amazing view of the city!

Next is all of the food places and food porn!

Review: Jill Stuart Cherry Shell Nail Polish

I've been meaning to review this forever!  This was a gift to me from my Japanese friend two years ago at the end of my study abroad as a birthday/going away gift.  It's the only Jill Stuart item I currently own, and I believe you can only get it in Japan.  The color is called Cherry Shell

The color is absolutely perfect, my favorite shade of pink!  It also dries surprisingly fast

Blog: Tricot Concert and Exploring Washington DC

Hello! This was from awhile ago during my blogging hiatus.  Anyway, my friend Chris introduced me to this Japanese band Tricot, and I really liked them, then, he said they were coming to The Black Cat in DC and he wanted to go see them! I think this was the first time I went to see a band that I actually had time to listen to all of their songs, get excited, and even learn some of the lyrics!  It was so much fun, and I went with some of my favorite people (Chris and my boyfriend, Takeru) which made it even better!  I'd also never really been to DC much, besides once before for another concert (Failure, who was also amazing! I didn't really know their music until right before the concert though) so I was super excited to leave early to explore a bit!  I'll start with the pictures from when we went to the Failure concert, though I didn't really get many pictures from the actual show because it was so big and crowded.  I did get a lot of pictures seeing and exploring DC for the first time though!

 Some typical touristy stuff

Murica unicorn

Then these were from when we went to see Tricot!  First wandering around the area

We found a poster for their show!

When we went out to eat.  I know it looks like he's strangling me here, but I was just lying down in his arms! I just think he looks super hot in this picture.  I however look like a derp

Then these are from the show

People's heads in the way DX

And here's a little cell phone video taste:

Anyway, I totally plan to go see Tricot again when I'm in Japan in the future!  It was such an amazing experience. I can't wait until I can see some of my other favorite Japanese bands live someday too! 

Review: Laline Body Lotion

Ok, I've gotta share this product with the world. I don't even know how to review something like this since you can't really capture in pictures what it does. If you know me well, you probably know that I've always been obsessed with body lotions and creams. Like, I love them, and I have sooo many, like from Victoria's Secret, Bath and Body Works and more, in so many different scents! Soooo when I was in Harajuku, I went into this store called Laline. OMG, everything that I tested in there smelled amazing!

I bought their body lotion in Cherry Blossom. This is probably the best smelling stuff that I own (plus now the smell is forever linked with my travels around Japan). It was so hard to decide which one! Anyway, this stuff makes my skin feel soft like no other. It's definitely the best lotion that I own, and I want more! 5 stars all the way! I just looked them up online and was happy to find that they have a US version of their site so I'll be able to order it even when I'm not in Japan. :) I'll post that and the Japanese version of it here.

http://www.lalineusa.com/

http://www.laline.jp/

Elementary School Visit, Japanese Children's Games, and Other Stuff

Today me and the other foreign exchange students took a second trip to the elementary school! We got to play some traditional Japanese games like daruma otoshi, origami (paper folding), kendama (ball in cup-ish game), shogi (Japanese chess), and calligraphy. The kids made them all look so easy! I wish I could keep all their cute faces showing, but the internet is a horrible scary place, so I covered their faces to be safe.

First is daruma otoshi. I was actually kind of good at this game! This one was the one that I was most excited to try.

That's me failing

I did it!!!

They were all so interested in the fact that I could write in Japanese.

I also tried this plate spinning game....WAY harder than this kid made it look!

That's my "Oh god, I hope I didn't hit any children with it" face

There's even a Japanese version of chess called shogi.

And they made me some origami =]

And here's kendama, which I didn't try

The children put on these robe things and serve lunch to their classmates, and they all clean the school themselves instead of having janitors.

The head of the school gave us all little gift certificates to a bookstore =]

Here's just some random pictures of pretty plants I saw on the walk back.

And here's just some stuff from my life too little for its own blog post. We had an art class this week. I think I did super well, but we ran out of time :[ Actually, more like I got too much into it and ran out of time.....but those birds turned out amazing! I can't not take art seriously. Second pic is my version.

One of our teachers always brings us little treats to class =] Did you know that 11/11 is Pocky day? XD I'm just learning all the things!

These are some pictures taken with an Instax camera by one of our Japanese friends, and the last pic is from when my Chinese roommate made me dinner =] She does that randomly sometimes; she's so sweet! I made her chocolate pancakes in return.