So this is Christmas

PUBLOG

It's Christmas Eve in Japan, a day set aside for couples. If you're single, you're probably at work. Which led to me having nothing to do on this day. So I was invited by a couple of friends to join them at an izakaya, or pub, to celebrate the holiday. Turns out they were working at the pub, and would not be free until after 11 or later. I had nothing to do, so I opted to just go to the pub and wait it out at the bar.

...

The following is taken verbatim from notes entered into my tiny notebook during my hours of alone time at the bar.

4:45 - I arrive through the kitchen, where I jokingly offer to cook. They seat me at the bar. My socks don' match.

4:57 - After switching the music channels, they settle on Brittany Spears: "My lonliness, is killing me ...." Hmm.

5:18 - I try to figure out how to order a white russian. Nakaji (friend and worker at pub) runs around. Customers enter, somebody says "irrashymase" (welcome), then everybody says it too.

5:30 -I order a beer (500 yen) and an onion salad (480 yen). I resolve to drink slowly. Long night ahead. I want to change my socks.

5:35 - Pissed off. I realize I'm reading the Friday Japan Times. It's Saturday.

5:53 - Finish salad. Beer is 50 percent done. Tomomi (another friend and pub employee) arrives.

6:12 - Beer almost gone. I'll be at the bar alone for at least another four hours. At a beer an hour, that's 2000 yen, about $20 ... but, can I manage this liesurely pace? Music - Ace Of Bace, "I saw the sign."

6:30 - Second beer arrives. Party of four exits. Entire staff: "Arigatou gozaimasu" (thanks very much).

6:53 - Japan Times story from London via AP tells the story of Toga, "a 3-month-old jackass penguin" who was discovered missing. What am I gonna do when I finish the paper? The crossword.

7:30 - Travel page was boring . I turn to crossword. Beer almost gone. Number three soon?

7:41 - First potty break. I hope those sandals were in fact for me to use. Third beer on the way. Losing patience. At fish-tale snack. Good with beer.

8:00 - For no apparent reason Tomomi serves me hot green tea. I am NOT paying for that. This crossword is friken hard. I want to ask the guy next to me for help, but he's with his girlfriend and probably doesn't speak English. I long for cheeselogs and movies and couches. What have I done?

8:40 - Sports page. Need beer four. Tea is gone. More food? No.

9:00 - Tea and bathroom break allows for hourly beer to move to top of hour. Easier to remember. More significant. Positive development. Music: Ace of Bace, "I saw the sign." Again. You bastards.

9:30 - New goal ... close the bar. Official motto - finish what your started. Beer is on schedule. After sports, I stare knowingly at the crossword. I consider filling in random letters to make it look like I'm really smart.

9:40 - Running out of newspaper. About to embark on a sports story about an Austrian giant slalom skier.

10:57 - Never ordered fifth beer. I cave, and order water.

11:10 - Water is long gone. I find a picture on my camera from the otehr night of my friend, holding in his hand what might well be a white russian. Could I order via photo?

11:14 - Success.

11:39 - I think about reading "Dilbert" in the Japan Times for a second time, hoping to uncover subtle jokes I missed in the first reading.

11:33 - Has anyone else ever noticed that Dilbert uses a wireless mouse?

11:50 - One of my ankles is old. Oh, right. The socks.

11:57 - Naturally, friend expected at 11:30 still has not shown. I am out of everything, reduced to eating ice cubes. Thankfully, they are free.

12:00 - Christmas morning. Time for a drink to celebrate.

Epilouge --

The no-show friend, it turns out, had to tend to a friend of hers who broke up with her boyfriend on this, Japan's Day of The Couple. After Nakaji gets off work, we are joined by another friend and actually do have some fun at the bar. My tab only comes to under $30. Considering I had dinner and drinks, it doesn't add up. Whatever. At my lodging place, a friend'a floor, I call home to mom. I find out they don't yet have cheeselogs.