If you like paying very low prices for health insurance, you might be a Socialist.

This is why universal health care/national health insurance is AWESOME!

1) Last week I paid for my whole next year's health insurance, the total amount was based on what I earned last year (0 yen). Total: Approximately $300.00. 300 dollars!!! That's it!!

2) I just got back from the doctor. Since this was not my first visit (at which time I paid about 30 bucks), today I paid about $3. THREE US DOLLARS!! My doc is no hack, either. He's the approved doc for the UN here in Tokyo, speaks English like a native, and referred me to a dentist who's office is like a spaceship spa (that's the best way to describe it, oh, and he's also awesome!).

Free at last!

Free at last! Thank Oprah almighty, I'm free at last!

Okay, I know that's a bit of an exaggeration (especially because I was happy to be doing the work I was doing), but after working until 7:30am Sunday morning and clocking out at 2:30am today, I'm ready for a little break. Plus, I have "So You Think You Can Dance" shows to catch up on.

In celebration of the end of my two weeks of editorial servitude, this week I plan to:

• Sing a lot of karaoke.
• Dance - either in a club or in my apartment, but it must be done.
• Read my new Marie Claire magazine (Angelina J is on the cover!).
  
• Look through my pictures for things to submit to Global Themes, a photoblog I've been sending some stuff to.
• Go to a job interview.
• Study Japanese (oh, yeah, that).
• Read a book (anything not having to do with the economies of southeast and/or central Asia will do).
  
• Watch a movie (I've got a Christian Bale one that I've been saving for rainy day).
• Play tour guide to 3 friends of friends who are visiting Tokyo.
• Drink a couple of Shandies.

To end on a happy, YouTube note, I give you:

WARNING: Turn the volume low, but not mute, on this.


I think my soulmates must have written this one especially for me. Don't you think? ;)


My fave line is "You're so beautiful, you coulda been an air hostess in the 60s." This line is appropriate for me not just because I live in a country where that is still thought of as a good job for a girl to have because it makes her good marriage material (you know, service training), but also because I happen to live 5 minutes walking distance from the ANA Training Center where they train those girls... those girls who FLOOD the tiny station here every morning and evening, perfectly powdered in their matching suits and shoes and French twist hairdos.

Yeah, I sing along to this song too.

Happy 14 juillet, la France!

Coo-coo, la France! Je te souhaite un super cool 14 juillet avec beaucoup de feu d'artifices et du champagne, bien sur!

Bisous,

Miki :)

Oh, yeah, now I remember...

Why I never wanted to come back to Japan during the summer holidays after we moved back to the States:

MOSQUITOES!!!!

Apparently, for mosquitoes, my blood is considered Grade A Prime choice. I have made the mistake of leaving my apartment with my lower legs bared - heaven forbid! - 2 times in the last few days. I now have - Count them! - SIX bug bites, just on those exposed areas, not to mention the really annoyingly located one in my armpit (I have no idea how that one happened). I keep forgetting to put on my Professional Grade, 80% DEET "Bushman's" brand insect repellent that I bought for battling the feeding hordes of Tasmania. (Yes, there's a cancer risk, but that only hurts on the inside. We're talking serious itching here, people!) I don't remember getting a single bite that entire trip. Now, a couple days in perfectly developed, non-rural, non-bush Tokyo, and my legs are well on their way to developing that oh-so-trendy summer "I like to have people put cigars out on my legs" look so "in" during my Japanese kindergarten years.

I think I'd trade this burnish-ridden, moist skin of Tokyo any time for the dry, ashy skin of California. Anyway, it looks like I've got the Pox, so who cares if my skin is moist!

Okay, rant over. Back to work - and by "work," I mean "scratching."

In absentia

Okay, here's the mini-deal. I'm not so much employed right now as I am not so much unemployed. I've been super lucky to get some editing work sent my way recently and have been uber occupada (and sleep-deprived, hence the very strange word choices). I've got another week o' caffeine and hair-pulling (and lovin' every paying second of it!) and then I'll be back with some real posts- I promise! I've got like 5 post ideas sitting in line just waiting to be written!

In the meantime, if you've gotten sick of Tinkerbell's America-Love-a-Ganza (though, to be honest, I don't know how that is possible), I leave you with some clips of my favorite dances from the currently airing season 3 of "So You Think You Can Dance." Almost all the dancers are pretty frickin' amazing this summer.

Now, 5, 6, 7, 8!

Wade Robson does it again.
sytycd3 top 20

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Another great Wade Robson.
Sara and Jesus sytycd

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This one is a contemporary piece from one of the new choreographers this season, Mandy Moore (not the singer).
COntemporany dominic and sabra

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No surprise, this one was choreographed by the amazing Mia Michaels.
SYTYCD Lacey and Kameron

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This guy was at the auditions. He didn't make it through past the first round, but what he does in this video is really amazing. He's so good at isolations, it's freaky. Shane Sparks trips out on how good this guy is.
SYTYCD - NewStyle Poppin - Phil

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Happy belated birthday, America!

Sorry I missed it! Hope you had a great day!



The only way this video could get more American is if I could somehow add apple pie smell-o-vision to everyone's computers.

Happy 4th of July!!