glorious chain cafe

Soon before leaving, I asked my friend Reimi, a stylist at Breen Tokyo, if she could style my hair and take some more professional headshots for my resume. This was followed by yakitori, drinks, and more sweets than one should consume in one sitting :D



flashback |  glorious chain cafe

Thanks for the hairdo, Reimi!

caramel banana pancakes

l-r: yomi, t.j., me, reimi, don-chan, julian

From the salon, Reimi and I made our way to Shibuya (with a pit stop at Cinnabon on the way) to meet our friend Don-chan, (Take Amublance) and T.J. (Her Name in Blood). After drinks and yakitori (because you can never have enough chicken on a stick) we headed over to Diesel's Glorious Chain Cafe to meet up with Julian (Make My Day) and tattoo artist Yomi.

This night was so fun and one of those times where I found myself realizing how much I would miss walking between Shibuya and Omotesando and just running into friends. I remember the first time I met each one of these people and sitting there having wine and cheese with everyone and splitting decadent pancakes with Don-chan, I realized how much I would miss them.


Anyway! Things you should check out next time you're in TKY:
▶ Yomi's tattoos (He did my first one!)
▶ Her Name in Blood
▶ Breen Tokyo
▶ Take Ambulance (Unfortunately, they've disbanded but still good!)
▶ Make My Day
▶ Glorious Chain Cafe


Let's all meet up again someday! Atlanta or Tokyo, haha :)


♡ jennifer

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swingers, mountain lions, & reunions oh my!

So when I first started thinking about leaving Japan, I got it in my head that I would move to LA and keep up my "career" in music journalism. Even though trick/rock. wasn't something that Lisa and I did for money, it was something I really loved and I thought the West Coast would be the best place to continue pursuing that.

I used some of my accumulated miles for a ticket, fought with our bundle-of-wires internet for a cheap rental car via Priceline and arrived in LA on a Wednesday night. Honestly, after all those 11-14 hour plane rides between Atlanta and Tokyo this was a breeze; I was more worried about finding the rental place and getting to Carrie's house safely.

Oh, and when I say I'd been driving in Georgia, I mean I'd been driving around town and then maybe like, 30ish minutes to Doraville and Roswell. To be honest I don't think I've even driven downtown since I moved back. So getting in that little car and getting on LA's big highway (I'm sorry, the 110? I can't remember now) was terrifying. Actually, I take that back. The highway itself wasn't bad--not too different from highways in Georgia--it was all those damn side streets and crazy parking signs that got me nervous.

By the time I got to Carrie's house my legs were shaking a little and I couldn't have been happier to be out of that car, I won't lie. Anyway, we headed to Swinger's Diner for dinner and had omelets and roasted potatoes while we caught up. Because, let's be real. Breakfast for dinner is always the best :)

day 1

The next morning I went to try out the Coffee Bean and can, I just say: I fuckin' love you Coffee Bean. I don't know why. It's not exceptionally amazing or anything, but I just really took to it. I could have done without, however, the meth head affecting a faux Irish accent hitting on me. "Well, aren't you just a slice of gorgeous there, aren't you."

Right. What is a slice of gorgeous? Is that pie? Pizza? I'm confused. And I haven't washed my hair since yesterday, I'm not wearing makeup and I really just want you to go away.

I ended up walking to The Grove during the day. Beautiful, beautiful shopping center, but honestly the only thing I ever did there was a eat a chicken salad wrap and people watch. And discovered that apparently cupcakes are a big thing? Looked delicious, but I was too cheap to drop almost 4 bones on a sugary treat.

That night Carrie had a beachfront BBQ with her run group so we headed down to Dockweiler Beach. There was a run as well, but we decided to sit it out and be in charge of the smores and cider instead. Everyone was really nice and super chill and definitely the type of people I think I'd get on really well with if I moved out there. I'm just really bummed I'd probably never be able to run with them since I kinda messed up my knee in college. Sad! Beach running seems like it'd be awesome.


day 2

On Friday I drove to Los Feliz to visit with my cousins! My one cousin lives in LA and the other in NYC and we both just happened to be visiting at the same time.

It was really nice to see them and catch up and I think one of the hardest things about moving to Georgia was being so far from our extended family. We talked a lot about that, childhood memories, watching Santa Claus come down that cul-de-sac in Jersey on a firetruck, and our grandpop. We all miss him a lot and it was really nice to talk about him with them. Miraculously I didn't cry, but I would've loved if my brother could've been there with the three us, too.

Oh! And we went to this great little place called Home. Anyone know it? I initially thought it was just the coffee shop and didn't even realize that giant outdoor area next door was part of it. Or rather, the actual restaurant haha.

That night I went to El Coyote with Carrie and Joey for dinner. As we were getting out of the car, we saw a pink corvette and Carrie tells about how supposedly there's this woman that got famous off of billboards that owns a pink corvette just like that one. Then just as we're walking in we literally almost walk right into her. Haha!

A woman sitting next to us in the entrance told us her name is Angelyne and she came to prominence in the 80's for all her billboards. Wikipedia says it better, but you get the gist.

My first celebrity sighting? Am I an Angeleno yet?
Not quite.


day 3 

During the day we went to see Interstellar at the Cinerama Dome. Seeing it in a dome was kind of awesome and I'm starting to think all movies should be shown that way.

No, but really.

Great movie by the way! At first it was really weird to see McConaughey not putting on a sleazy slur and leather pants, but it was really well done. I actually loved it until...the last 20 minutes. But! This is not a movie blog. So...

A few weeks earlier, we had signed up for a "Haunted Hollywood Sunset Hike" of wonder and joy and joyness. Despite the title, I thought it was just going to be a hike, but after our tour guide started talking about how there were sightings on the tour and people smelled gardenias coming down the hill, my first thought was hell naw. Maybe I watch too much Ghost Hunters, maybe I believe in it more than I'd like to, but I deeefinitely don't want to experience it.

Anyway, the hike itself was gorgeous and we got to hike around all these fancy mansions and super pricey houses built into the side of the hills. Our tour guide asked us all for ghost stories at certain "rest points" and told us some of her own. Apparently she had multiple ex-boyfriends who lived in haunted buildings. I had an ex who hunted ghosts. It terrified me. Nope nope nope.

When we got to the end of the tour, our guide told us that it was another 30 minutes or so to the top of the Hollywood Sign. Being the spry foursome that we are, we're all like, "Pshh no way that takes 30 minutes. We'll be there in like 20."

No really though.  

It took about 30 minutes. 

Or more.

Also I went from being afraid of running into Casper to running into a mountain lion. A DAMN MOUNTAIN LION. I saw this thing in We Bought a Zoo that said something about big cats being afraid of loud noise. So I suggested we just stomp around and be obnoxious if we suspected any big cats were getting close.

We're good guys, we're good. Thanks Matt Damon.


Luckily there were no mountain lions or ghosts, but I did feel this weird breeze when we started back down the path. I'm about 90% sure it was just a weird air pocket or something, but at the time it did freak me out...just a little. Or maybe I was just secretly hoping Zak Bagans would come running down the hill and we'd be on surprise episode of Ghost Adventures.

Wait. Scratch that. That's not what I want at all.

○　●　○　●　○

Yay! Two blogs in a week. I'm excited. You know what else I'm excited for? Having Thanksgiving with my family for the first time in nearly 5 years! I want to say, "I'm not going to eat too much!" because I have a consultation at recruiting agency next week and I have to buy a suit buuuut I don't see that happening :D

If I don't post again before then, Happy Turkey Day everyone!

♡ jennifer

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me & crowley

Aptly named for that ace purikura you see up there and the fact that I have serious soft spot for the King of Hell. And Mark Sheppard.

Anyway, my natural inclination--or maybe obligation--is to not post until I have something big or cohesive but to be honest? I really miss the ease of posting on good ol' eljay and being able to write whatever I wanted as it happened. I'm not always going to have nice Canon shots and the truth of it is, most of the time you'll probably get stuck with iPhone photos :D

 Stick with me though? I kinda want to make this more of "daily" blog because, if and when I ever decide to move again, I want to remember the places I went and the things I did while I was here. Even the little things.

SO.

Happy New Year from...Ikebukuro?

 

Lighted mirror courtesy of my lovely roomie! ♡

Also celebrated Lisa's birthday!

It's already been a week and a few days since I've been back and I honestly have no idea where it went. You'd think my current state of unemployment would come in tandem with boredom but I've actually been super busy. Aside from actual boring things like getting health insurance and final arrangements with my old company, I got an awesome present from my roomie and celebrated Lisa's birthday in Shimokitazawa. Unfortunately due to jetlag and being an alcohol weenie in general, I was drunk after two beers. Yes drunk, and yes you read that right. Two. Let's not talk about how I was drunk off one 22 oz beer Christmas Eve dinner while my brewski-seasoned brother looked on in shame.

So.

me & crowley 

Though it's in my profile, I'll say it again. I really love Supernatural. Like a lot. Maybe too much. The first time I saw it towards the end of high school, it scared the shit out of me and I gave up. When I tried watching it again 4 seasons later, Satan possessed someone. NOPE.

Needless to say, too much tumblr and one SPN marathon after another and I was hooked. My friend Sarah, who is now lovingly called Sarahstiel, organized a Mexican lunch and general lulzy SPN day.

In retrospect this kind of looks like Dean Winchester cosplay D:

El Torito! Closest thing to decent Mexican I've found so far here.

Dem faces, tho.

Because honestly why wouldn't you dedicate purikura to Crowley? He's 1/3 of the reason I kept watching the show post-Season 5 anyway.

Don't know if I'm flattered or ashamed that I'm in that S☆Bux enough that they English-up my cups now XD

Nan-party with my old coworkers

Finally! Went with the 64GB silver 5S

Each of the cherry blossoms is an individual card!

I had to go into my old office to take of some final arrangements. Felt so weird being back somewhere that I used to work but not...working. Still felt like I had to take a seat at my desk or something. The overwhelmingly positive reception I got when I came in though, really made me want to cry. I will honestly and truly miss my old coworkers so much. So happy I got to work with such lovely people.

I have no idea how it's already 3:30pm and my feet are so cold I'm actually considering putting on another pair of socks.

Live show post coming tomorrow! Hopefully.

In the meantime I have a ton of band comments to edit and I'm going to try desperately to not sit and read these two until later.

♡ miss wave

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penny lane

So seeing as how we're already halfway through 2013 and I've written one entry, I've decided it's probably a good idea to break my posts up into smaller more manageable entries. I have a lot to write about but I'll do my best to play catch up! :)

For starters we'll go with mine and Lisa's fancy date in Omotesando last weekend ♡

Herbal chicken salad

"If you can't stay, take me away!"

Dressed up for club night!

Is this Holly Madison?! I swear it looks just like her.

 We were supposed to go to a Swedish club event but after dinner at this really cute little restaurant--that I totally just realized I lost the business card for--we quickly decided dessert was much more important than clubbing.

Keep in mine my current goal is trying to get ready for bikini season.
Details, really.

Being that both of us are entirely too driven by our sweet tooth, we found a sign indicating a nearby restaurant offered pancakes and waffles. After walking around for, well probably much longer than two girls should be looking for desert, we finally finally found Penny Lane!

One day I want to live somewhere like this D:

Literally just realized this was a kid with a mask!

Really cute interior and wifi!

Cute sign is cute.

Tiny Lisa! Big couch.

The most amazing pancakes you've ever seen. 

A rare day when I won "Battle of the Bangs"

Even though we blew off the club, it was actually really, really nice to get dressed up for once. I spend the majority of my time either in work clothes or in my beloved All Stars when I'm at shows so putting on strappy sandals and a flowy dress was a nice change.

That's all for now! Going to attempt curing my headache with lights out and some Big Bang Theory ♡

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meet-up with ri

One whole week but I finally have time to write about my meet up with Ri last week! Write-up itself is small because we spent a lot of really lovely time talking so we'll go the scenic route.

And yes. I did retro-filter the hell out of these photos.

Anyway so Ri and I met up in Harajuku in the morning and walked over to Yoyogi Park intending on some last minute hanami but to our surprise we ran into the Doggy Carnival instead! I like cats too but I'm much more a dog person so my face was basically

We didn't see any particularly gorgeous hanami around--and by that I mean really any--so after getting solicited by a particularly handsome water salesman we parked it on a bench with some takoyaki.

Ri is ridiculously easy to talk to and super down to earth. We were both inspired by the same type of thing to come here and it seems like we're both slowly starting to be able to follow our dreams. So...yay!

 

When we crossed over into actual Yoyogi Park we found the Horde of Evil Crows. No really, they were insane. 

Despite the actual lack of hanami in the park, there were a ton of people there! Really nice to see Tokyo so full and teeming with life again. We did however find the above few trees and a lot of very young hanami groups and this very nice middle-age couple that took this two-shot for us.

Ri was so stylish and pretty in her coord, too!

After that we headed back to Harajuku so Ri could get a shirt from the Hangry&Angry store. So nostalgic! Also popped into Deal Design and Candy Stripper before running into this crowd of people waiting for a famous model who neither of us knew to come driving out of a back alley? Yeah.

Lastly we headed to Shibuya where Ri was giving an interview and I had a friend's show to go to so we popped into a cute cafe for some cake and ice cafe lattes. I think that was my third that day if I remember correctly.

After (sadly) parting ways with Ri I headed over to Shibuya Cyclone to see FEAR FROM THE HATE play. I used go to visual-kei shows, but I've been sporadically hitting up a few metal/screamo/hardcore shows and I have to say they're pretty fun. I don't throw down for them but it's still nice to watch metal and the atmosphere is so much more relaxed than visual shows. No stress. Just lots of death-voice. It's kind of nice to be honest.

Basically the biggest pain-in-the-ass to find livehouse next to Holiday, however

Got home stupidly late and got up bright and early the next morning to meet up with my bb, Caroline! We haven't seen each other since the quake and it was so good to be reunited. Had lunch at our beloved T.G.I.Friday's and sadly our little baby waiter wasn't there. He was lulzy. I liked him.

Afterward we proceeded to the PARCO in Ikebukuro where we were on a mission to have our matching EGOIST hat purikura.

Favorite favorite favorite!

Caroline's so cute here X3

The EGOIST in the Ikebukuro PARCO always has at least one rude staff girl working every time I go in but they were legit so nice to us that day! I think it's because Caroline was already dressed up and I was head to toe in EGOIST save for my black tank top and shoes. In the words of Janice Ian, "Suck on that! Aieieie!"

After Caroline and I parted ways, I met up with a friend so I could assist with something for his band. I don't really want to say anything else until things are more concrete but it was really fun and I'm glad I could help them out even a little bit. Hopefully I'll be able to say more later but let's just say I'm ridiculously excited that it looks like little by little my dreams are starting to come true, too. I still have a long way to go and I need to figure out how I'm going to get there but, I'm getting somewhere and right now that's all that matters to me.

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