Bizarroverse

So when it's winter in Japan there's mever any way to escape the bitter, withering cold that bites at your fingers, face and feelings no matter where you go--there's no insulation, no indoor heating, and every window and door is habitually flung open to bring the old air in. We let the cold into our homes here like a cowardly Russian welcomes the ravaging Mongols. There is no hope of escape from the ferocious, relentless cold.

On the flip side it's now early summer in Japan, and I find myself with no way to enjoy the warmth. It's even legal to drink alcohol outside in Japan, but there's just nowhere to go drink it at; there is not a single place in my city where you can go get something to eat or drink and sit outside with it. No cafe with outdoor tables, no resteraunt with a patio, no picnic tables in the park. No ice cream truck. And all the places keep their windows shut to the breeze. In winter, indoors=outdoors, but in summer outdoors is all shut out. I don't get it. All I want is to go have a cup of coffee and a sandwich somewhere and sit outside in the shade with the cool breeze on me, then read a book and float away. Perhaps it is because this place does not have a lot of tolerance for "float away" that they do not enourage such locales. I think I want to be in Paris with cousin James.