[Grysar] From: Shizaru To: Taki Shimiru Date: Afternoon of May 18, 2004 Subject: When are you next in Tokyo? (Unencrypted) Hey Taki, Sorry I've been out of touch. I suspect school is just as busy on your end. There's a lot of neat people here, but if I vanished one day I don't think anyone would notice. Probably a good dose of humility there for me after being in student government so long. I hope you are doing well. I just got a delivery from Paul that included some home made cookies (among other things, he's too generous and I need to figure out what to give in return) and also got a hockey movie involving waterfowl). They're unusual, a little dry after the trip, but are interesting and have like a hash mark on them. I think if I hadn't been spoiled by your cooking I'd be a lot more impressed. I also think these might grow on me. So.... kind of awkward but they were delivered by your old boyfriend now that he's back in Tokyo for the summer. I gave him a tour of campus and dragooned him into carrying a package for me when he goes back to Maine, ^_^_v. He seemed a bit dorkier, sweeter, and taller than I expected. Anyhow, I don't want to be talking to him behind your back, so I thought it was important that I tell you, but I won't say anything more unless you want me to. More important question: when is your next trip to Tokyo? I know its expensive and it may be a while, but we should get together when you come home, My treat! Shizaru --- [RDMGryphon] From: Taki Shimiru To: Shizaru Yamada Date: Evening of May 18, 2004 Subject: Re: When are you next in Tokyo? (Unencrypted) Hi Shizaru, I have missed you, but part of the problem with not being the level headed one is that we don't go "Wouldn't it be helpful to have somebody who keeps calm, knows what to do, and works hard in this sort of situation?" and just panic and make bad decisions instead. I think I've got everything under control now, but that's for a definition of under control that involves a hockey duel instead of actually fistfighting one of the jerks from my old school who has also moved down here. When I get my restaurant up and running, if you haven't taken over Japan, I'm going to offer you the job of being level headed and organized. I'm glad that you, Paul-san and Satoshi are getting along. He's a great guy and I can't fault him at all in our breakup. At least I've learned a lot from my mistakes. I really wish I could be up there right now, but travel is so expensive when you're going between cities. They say love is the ultimate spice, so I'm sure that when Paul can give you his cookies in person, nothing I can make will come close. But I'll strive to stay in second place! Barring disasters, I'll be coming back to Tokyo in a few weeks and I'm looking forward to spending time and catching up with everyone. -Taki --- [Grysar] From: Shizaru To: Taki Shimiru Date: Morning of May 19, 2004 Subject: Re: When are you next in Tokyo? (Unencrypted) Ha! Neither national rule nor Maître D' for me, thanks! In either role I fear I'd have to spend too much time dealing with grumpy powerful people. So maybe I'm just feeling a bit of the strain of a long distance relationship, but you put too much weight on romantic love as a spice. If Paul and I find a way to be together I look forward to his learning some of my favorites, but you'll still be my #1 chef. Likewise, he would need to help with planning, but Mikage would be quite sharp with me if I allowed any other to be my prognosticator-in-chief (I'm not sure that economics is less of a dark art than pretending to be a diviner, but it's certainly more respectable ^_~). So you're in a hockey duel? It sounds better than a fist fight fight but have you decided if you're committed? Wakahisa-kouhai would have liked to have dueled me in something (tennis, swords, whatever), but my various sporting outings have been more distinguished by enthusiasm than victory. I know Sakuragaoka had a good program, but it's been a while since you played, right? Have you talked with Watanabe-san? It seems like it'd be super awkward, but from what Paul says he's really good, he was even going to the Waseda rink when I finished giving him a tour. Shizaru p.s. In this hopefully more equitable era, it might make sense to have a "<3 ultimate spice" training course for couples and singles looking to . But I'd just as soon have you stick with a restaurant where you give me the friend rate every now and then as a consultant fee for being level headed and organized for you. --- [RDMGryphon] From: Taki Shimiru To: Shizaru Yamada Date: Noonish, May 19, 2004 (Unencrypted) Nooo! My shield against entitled old men! All of my plans dashed and turned to dust! I’ll be forced to turn to want adds when my restaurant gets large enough to need one, truely a horrible day for five to ten years in the future me. :P Thirteen-thousand yen and two hours away is almost too far for me, and I’ve admired your ability to stay in touch with Paul-san across so much more. And I maintain that love is the best spice. I know how to make food that will be enjoyed by you because I love you. (As a friend.) In the end it may not be the equal of fresh ingredients or good techniques, but, like all spices it fills the gaps between and provides a spark, a taste of something that would otherwise be lacking. Most spices can only be used in certain ways, but there is no dish that can’t be improved with love. So, Paul + high quality ingredients + maybe a little coaching? (Most cookies are pretty forgiving, so if he isn’t trying to be fancy with cremes or other volatile ingredients, there isn’t much help that can be given) + actually getting to eat them fresh should be better than myself with those same conditions. I really like your <3 Ultimate Spice idea, but I’m not a good teacher, so some other entrepreneur is going to have to use it. I haven’t committed to the duel yet, and logically I know it’s a terrible idea and I’m encouraging the jerk, but on the other hand I do miss playing and the idea sounds fascinating. (Also, I have no idea how much of I miss playing is actually I miss Satoshi and the rest of the team. I’ll think about running it past him, but I’m worried he’ll just see it as me making more bad decisions and not commiting to things. Also awkward.) Thanks for staying my friend. -Taki --- [Grysar] From: Shizaru Yamada To: Taki Shimiru Date: Evening, May 19, 2004 Subject: Re: When are you next in Tokyo? (Unencrypted) I’d recommend checking out a Seishun 18 Kippu pass for your trips to Tokyo. [MC note: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2362.html]. Only certain months and takes more hours,, but much less yen per trip. I hadn’t realized I was such an inspiration and I worry that I have been a bad role model in my relationship with Paul. Maybe we both sometimes mix and . Perhaps something to talk about later. Big picture, it’s also important to think both about your shield and sword with the establishment. If your restaurant dream means as much to you as I think, it’s worth fighting for. I don’t know how much you’ve socked away, but even with the financial support of your friends, you will probably need some loan officer or property developer willing to take a chance on you. It will be hard enough to be an entrepreneur as an unmarried woman and they would likely see any abnormal relationship as a red flag. It is nice to think it should be none of their business, but, from my dealings with our principal, suffice to say people with money or power have an expansive view of what their business is. On the duel, “bad decisions” and “not committing” are different problems. To be able to commit, you have to accept that something might be a bad idea and accept the consequences. That doesn’t mean never changing your mind, but Wakahisa-kouhai was able to bedevil me because she exploited my hesitation and dithering, this punk may do the same to you. I’ve never really had an ex, so I won’t pretend I know what it’s like, but Watanabe- san knows both hockey and this guy, right? Whatever you decide, he may think you’re wrong, but he’d have to be a real jerk to judge you for seeking his advice. He didn’t seem like a real jerk, but if he pulls that kind of thing on you, I won’t hesitate to break out disappointed student council president voice on him. Thank you for staying my friend yourself, Shizaru p.s. Speaking of awkward, I didn’t really feel comfortable asking Watanabe-san this, but do you know what is the deal with Akemi Shiraishi- san? After her visit to Maine she left quite an impression on Paul. We were talking about the West Wing yesterday and she came up again. --- [RDMGryphon] From: Taki Shimiru To: Shizaru Yamada Date: Technically Morning, May 21, 2004 Subject: Re: When are you next in Tokyo? (Unencrypted) Thanks for the travel advice, I’ve looked into other methods, including airplanes, I’m just nervous, anxious, impatient, and a little homesick. Hopefully by the time we speak face to face again I’ll have everything more in order. My life has provided far too many swords, to the point where I undervalue their friendship and help, and don’t really notice until they’re gone. As far as loans go, I hadn’t thought about that. The real “how to run a business” classes aren't until next year. The first semester is focused on practical skills and mostly in the kitchen. And, even I have to admit that my restaurant is closer to a dream than a business plan right now. I’ll do my best to learn from you bad experiences, no matter how much I wish that I didn’t have to deal with things like that. Your advice about talking to Satoshi is actually better now than when I thought of it. Just pretend that there’s a paragraph here that does a really poor job of explaining how that makes any sense and why I’m nervous talking to him. I’ve written about six of them that sounded fine in my head and then I typed them out and read them on the screen and they were awful and confusing. orz As for Akemi-chan, I want you to imagine a puppy, the cutest most adorable puppy there has ever been in the history of puppies ever. And this puppy is perpetually happy, because it just discovered it has a tail, or a sun beam, or made a new friend. And it is adorable. But, if you say or do anything mean, you will make that puppy sad. And you really don’t want to make the puppy sad, because it’s an adorable puppy. The puppy is smart enough to have figured this out, and has a hidden agenda, but that agenda is to make everybody around her happy because being happy is the best thing that’s ever happened to her. Sorry this is a lot less polished than my usual emails, it’s late and I’m sick of fighting that one paragraph. -Taki