I had a great week-end.
Not only did I buy a small motorcycle, but my ex-girlfriend Ashley and I hooked up for a steamy session of, well... sex. It was mutually rewarding and all of my plotting for the past month finally paid off - and how!
Today, while drained of energy and fluids, I've taken off from work.
I'm going Ayu fishing.
I'm up at 7AM and quickly get ready. Nakamura-san - my barber - comes over in his uncle's white car and we drive off to the Ohtawara fire station. It's a volunteers outfit, and I believe Nakamura-san volunteers. Regardless, we pick up some fireman's boots for me (they have to be extra large, because my 30 centimetre feet are three centimetres larger than the standard men's shoe size here in Japan.
We head out to the Naka-gawa (Middle River) here in Ohtawara. There, we buy some live ayu to use as bait as the fish are very territorial and will attack anything that doesn't belong in the area.
We travel along a road that to me resembles Africa (I've never been there, but if I had, I imagine it would look like that): the roads are pocked with holes and water hazards surrounded by lush foliage.
The green breaks suddenly into an open space and we turn down towards the river.
It's a cool and cloudy day, and all I can see of the sky are over-hanging clouds.
I put on my hip boots (knee-highs?), rain slicker and a long-sleeved shirt to protect myself against insects and wade into the river. It's cool but relaxing.
There are also another eight anglers in there.
Nakamura's uncle sets up my rod for me. It's nine-meters long. Really. He ties a lead to it and then the line. It's equal in length to the rod. At the end of the rod is the hook. We take an Ayu and insert a nose ring through its nostrils and a small hook below its dorsal fin (the main one atop its back). A three-pronged hook flows behind its tail.
An Ayu is supposed to attack the bait and hook itself on the three-pronged hook.
I cast and place the bait fish in the water and hold the rod up and let the current take it downstream and then lower the rod. You have to keep the line tight so the bait fish doesn't try and hide under the rocks. You also have to pull from the left and right or against the current.
By noon, my bait is exhausted. I eat lunch and let my bait rest. I've caught nothing, but I've learned a lot.
Nakamura's uncle has caught two and Nakamura-san has caught one Ayu. Even back home I never could catch fish. But who cares? It's fun!
After lunch we move to the Hoki-gawa (Broom River) and fish again. We also bought new bait.
Uncle says its a bad day for fishing as the water is too rough and its too cool out. He say he usually catches 30 to 35 fish! I don't feel so bad.
I have fun and wade out to the middle of the river. The water hits the top of my boots, but it doesn't matter as I'm already soaked. It seems that there is a zipper on my fireman's boots - so it's not water-proof.
We pack up and leave by 5:30PM, and arrive home at 6PM. It's like clock-work in this country... which is why I mention the time so often in these blogs.
After a shower (I smell like bait!), I make some dinner and watch television--a bacon, lettuce and cheese sandwich and a Coca-Cola--and watch some television. There's a baseball game on, so I get a good idea of what the announcers are actually talking about - as I know the sport pretty darn well.
I go to my extra-curricular English class I teach and give them a test describing parts of the human body. It's not a formal class, and the point is to learn and have fun learning.
Back home, my friend Naoko phones and tells me that Takako (Matthew's girlfriend) and Mrs. Narita (one of my cougar students at night school) have told Naoko that I am taking Shoko to a dance on Saturday night.
Rumours - or were they plotting something on my behalf.
Shoko is a very attractive, shy woman who is in my night school class. I do like her a lot, but her English isn't very good. But she is very pretty and she does like me, so I'm sure we could figure out a way to communicate.
Anyway, Naoko is shocked. She and Shoko are very good friends and she didn't know we were going out.
I tell Naoko that I'm not taking Shoko - that it's news to me!
And then it hits me. Last Tuesday while I was getting a back massage from Ashley (part of my seduction plan), Takakao had called and told me I should ask out Shoko. I said I would.
Apparently, I had forgotten about that until earlier this afternoon, and promised myself I would ask her out later tonight at class.
But I didn't. I didn't feel like it... but I did edge around whether or not Shoko would be there--but Shoko said she was busy anyways and wouldn't be attending.
I suppose I was a little mad a Takako and Mrs. Narita for gossiping - but to be honest, they were just trying to be helpful, and how could I be angry at that? I'm just glad that Shoko didn't hear about it before hand.
Ashley calls after I hang-up and acts rather non-chalantly about the past week-end... even kind of snobby... like it was no big deal. What the hell is wrong with women? Or me?
I'm pissed off and go to bed at 12AM.
Somewhere using the wrong bait,
Andrew Joseph
Today's blog title is by B.J. Thomas: BAIT
