Goodbye Japan

[swimordie]

I think I just about had time to unpack this time before leaving again. I'm on my way to the airport now, apparently I'm going to New Zealand for a training exercise.

This is why I can't have a pet. I was thinking about pets last week. I'm not even home enough to keep a plant. Perhaps a cactus could survive my neglect?

Why do taxi drivers insist on talking so much? So annoying.

Comments

[dontcallmeking]

I temporarily had a cat. But travelling meant that in the end my mother kept it.

I think even cactus die.

[swimordie]

I don't have a backup, so if I found I couldn't care for it then it would end up with a charity. And that's not fair. This is the kind of thing Makoto fixed.

Evidence or it doesn't happen.

[dontcallmeking]

Maybe something that can travel with you. A goldfish.

Evidence via google.

[swimordie]

We don't do goldfish.

Um. Wow. Well, it happens to the best of us. So I hear.

[dontcallmeking]

You swim. A goldfish would be the logical choice of pet.

Dead cactus happens to everyone?

[swimordie]

The chlorine would kill a goldfish.

Yes. That's exactly what I meant.

[dontcallmeking]

If you're dumb enough to throw it in the pool.

Huh... Learn something new ever day.

[swimordie]

It would be cruel to keep it in such a small space of water when I can swim in a pool.

[lepeintredusade]

Please be responsible when buying a cactus. A cactus is for life, not for the continence of needing something to look after that requires very little care. Neglecting plants should be a crime...

[swimordie]

I see. Clearly one doesn't just buy a cactus on a whim, I would never commit to something like that so rashly. Um...yes. Because that would be easy to enforce.

[lepeintredusade]

I would certainly hope not. Perhaps not.

[cuddlesfordays]

You have two options with taxi drivers. If you ignore them they tend to get the point and stop talking so you can spend the entirety of your journey in silence. If you engage them at all after the initial and brief conversation on where you are going then you open yourself up to further conversation on anything and everything. Here you have two more options. You can limit your responses to one word answers and grunts and let the driver happily babble on oblivious to the fact you're being a jerk and ignoring them or you can talk to another human being and have an interesting conversation. Some taxi drivers are very interesting. Some not so. You need to learn to read the signs on which drivers to engage and which to not.

And when in doubt you can take an ipod with you and plug yourself in. That is the universal sign of "please shut the fuck up I'm not interested".

I hope this helps.

My name is Ibu Shinji by the way. Nice to meet you. Please don't have children. They're harder to tend to than plants.

[swimordie]

I generally don't like to engage in coversation with random strangers I just met. ...Which I realise I'm doing right now.

My headphones are in my suitcase in the boot.

Very helpful, thank you. And gave me something to read on the trip.

Haru. I...hadn't even considered children. But thank you for the tip.

[cuddlesfordays]

There isn't a thing wrong with engaging strangers in conversation. Some can be very interesting. Isn't there a line about a stranger being a friend you haven't met yet? How will you get to know anyone if you don't speak to them?

Next time keep them on you. If you travel that's just logic. All important items you keep as close to your person as you can. Including those things that can give you an easy escape in social and stressful situations.

You're very welcome.

[swimordie]

I barely engage my friends in conversation.

I was tired, I forgot. I might see if the air stewardess sells them. Are there other things that can help in social situations that aren't headphones or tasers?

[findingrhythm]

Do you have a friend that you can bully into being a part time pet owner?

Hi, I'm Kamio! I think I saw you on tv!

[swimordie]

Not really.

Hi. Yeah, maybe. They keep telling me adverts are good for sponsorship or something. I don't know, I just want to swim.

[purrvocation]

Wow all the way to New Zealand just for training??? That's pretty amazing!

But sorry man, I can't help you with your plant problems- I'm good with the kids, but very bad with plants ^^

[swimordie]

I've been further.

Wouldn't kids be harder to look after than plants? At least plants stay where you put them.

[purrvocation]

Really? Where?

Perhaps. But when it comes to watering and all that stuff it's confusing. With kids you know you have to feed them 3 times a day, entertain them and put them to sleep :) They don't make much trouble at the hospital

[swimordie]

The US, the UK, France, Russia, even India once. Just...seems like pretty much everywhere. I have to do exhibition races and stuff, and train with different coaches.

Water isn't confusing. Water is the only thing in the world that makes sense. I'm not good at entertaining, and I've been told I'm not particularly varied with meals so I don't think I'd be very good at all. Why are you in the hospital?

[purrvocation]

Wow you travelled half the world! Those places sound amazing! Hopefully I save up enough for trip to Italy or France :D!

I am not good at cooking, but I make mean cookies :D! Kids love them!

Oh! I work there. I'm paediatrician.

[swimordie]

Yeah, pretty much. They're both really nice places. Great oceans, nice pools.

Kids like cookies, it's in their DNA or something.

Ah, I see. That must be rewarding work.

[purrvocation]

Which one would you recommend?

I read somewhere that it has to do something with the growth. Not sure what I read of if it's true.

It is. Until recently I was thinking of becoming sports doctor but I changed my mind.

[usuck]

I don't ride taxis often, but wearing headphones should keep them from chatting away?