Tanabata

Happy Tanabata, everyone!!

unfortunately it`s quite cloudy here so i doubt that the lovers will be able to meet this year. i don`t remember if they were able to meet last year either. kawai soo, ne? for those of you who don`t know Japanese folk tales, Tanabata is the night when two lovers (who have been immortalized as stars but cursed to live seperated on opposite sides of the Milky Way) are able to meet for one night (this from the culture of the Love Hotel) and one night only each year. BUT if it`s cloudy and you can`t see the stars then the lovers cannot meet for that year. it`s beautiful and romantic and painfully tragic - just like most Japanese dramas. hhmm... in Sendai they have a "festival" to "celebrate" Tanabata that apparently is quite moving. people write their wishes on pieces of paper and then tie them to to a large bamboo tree... and then burn it. i`m a little fuzzy on the details because the student who was explaining it is still just a beginner. truth be told she has been a beginner for a long, long time. *sigh* also somewhat tragic - but with comedic moments, to be sure. remind me to put up some funny student quotes sometime. there are some real gems...


and in totally unrelated news: they finally developed a
sobriety phone!! this will significantly decrease the embarrassment of some and the entertainment of others... and on the plus side we can now act like complete and total idiots while safe in the knowledge that our CELL PHONES will protect us from ourselves. oy.