Plum Rain

June 14th, 2007
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It’s officially that time again, folks. That’s right – 梅雨 (tsuyu). The kanji transliterate as plum and rain, but the meaning according to my battle-hardened Canon Wordtank G50 is as follows.

the long spell of rain weather in early summer; the rainy [wet] season; the monsoon

Ok, maybe “monsoon” is a bit over the top, but it is a real downer. Basically, from the second week of June to the second week of July, there is a classic Japanese drizzle – that ceaseless sprinkling of rain that’s just enough to deter you from going outside but not enough to be an enjoyable show. I like storms, but I like them big and electrical. I want a full out thunderstorm if I’ve got to be stuck inside. That way I can enjoy the sounds, the sights, and the benefits that they bring – falling to sleep quickly, feeling “cozy” for no particular reason, and nostalgia. Nostalgia? Yes, nostalgia. It is a rare thing for a full out knock-down drag-out thunderstorm to find me – the closest thing are the typhoons. Thunderstorms remind me of home. :-)

Anyway, I’ve decided that tsuyu has definitely begun. Why? I nervously packed my stuff this morning (forgot my pair of shorts, so I’ll be wearing the same pair of long dress slacks for three days…marvelous…) as I eyed the weather. There was a looming gray wall over the ridge visible from my back veranda. Needless to say, in classic form, it held off. That is, until the very moment I stepped outside. Then it rained. As I biked to the port. I was soaked. On top of that, I’ve got four classes today in a row that will impede on lunch, and multiple evening plans. Normally, that would be cause for celebration. :-) I don’t have much of a life, despite what you might think in your misguided rumor mongering. It’s just that after going to Oshima for 2 days and then taking a group of Hakata kids to the 村上水軍博物館 (Murakami Suigun Hakubutsukan, Murakami Pirate Museum – entry coming on that, by the way) by bicycle, I am wiped out. From Monday morning to when I got home on Wednesday, I rode my beat-up hand-me-down loaner of a bicycle about 36 miles. And just to think…next time I get to do it in the drizzling rain…

Hey, comes with the territory, I guess.

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  • Ha ha - good luck in Seoul, buddy. Watch for falling plums, too. What you said at the end of your comment reminded me of a commercial I once saw. It said, "Most men hate shaving. It hurts. They don't want to do it. In fact, they'd rather be doing something else. Anything else. Like setting their shorts on fire." Ha ha ha. :-)
  • It's raining plums here, too. Well, about to, at least. Just this weekend we decided to head to Seoul for a week, too. At least we can sort of navigate the city from underground, so we don't actually have to go out in the rain. I do actually have a car and a Korean license, but driving in Seoul is about as fun as sticking a sharp stick in my eye.
  • Ok, muchos kudos on the PotC3 reference. Awesome. I'll get to that post when I can - but there is a photo gallery and video in the works. So, yeah. No promises! And it was cooler than I expected, but not the coolest. Ha ha.

    And I'm sorry I'm having such a rough week, too! And I am too exhausted, but I'm still gonna destroy everyone during this Nintournament. :-) Maybe. I talk big. You might have noticed before.
  • Okay the 水軍博物館 sounds amazing. Pirates?!??! Although Japan has the ability to make even the coolest possible museum topic a bit... peculiar. Causing me some fury the likes of which hell hath no.

    Sorry you're having such a rough week. Hope you're not too exhausted.
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