January 24th: When “we” used too much money on drink.

Jan. 24th, 1986 (Age 7, Evansburg, New Hampshire)

Dear diary, today I got a gift from a best friend. The gift is a Whacky Wall Walker.  It is a sticky octopus that crawls down the wall or window. It is red.

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1/24/88 (Age 9, Evansburg)

Dear Diary, I’m getting a new diary. His name is Wildfire. He's just a cheap thing, but he'll be nice.  He knows nice poetry. You'll like him.

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Friday, January 24th, 1992 (Age 13, Evansburg)

I've completely run out of things to write about. Mandy is really getting on my nerves. One of my brother's friends asked me to write down all the blonde jokes I know for him. I just did.

     All day today I thought it was Tuesday. I didn't realize that it was Friday until my band teacher said, "Everybody have a good weekend!" at the end of the day.

     Nobody is home right now. My brother is at a school basketball game. He's in the pep band. My parents went out for dinner. I hope they remember to buy the newspaper because I need the TV guide.

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Sunday, January 24th, 1993 (Age 14, Evansburg)

Evangeline came to church with us this morning. I wonder how she liked it? Tonight I'm recording J.F.K. on the TV, and tomorrow Prince of Tides.

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Monday, January 24th, 1994 (Age 15, Nagasaki, Japan)

I've been looking in the new summer catalogs for a short jeans jacket to buy, but they're all so expensive. Then today at Daiei I found exactly what I wanted for just 1,900 yen, but I couldn't buy it because my mom was there. I know she would protest because I just bought a new jacket two months ago, but I want a jeans one, too. I think I'll go down and get it tomorrow, with the excuse that I'm going out to take photos for school (which I'll do, also).

     My dad called and said I got a letter from Evangeline. Finally! She hasn't written since October, and her letters are the best! I can't get it until tomorrow morning because my dad's gone out for the night.

     Dad was going to get us all tickets to the Janet Jackson concert coming up, but he's the only one who wants to go. I don't know why he does -- he doesn't even like that kind of music.

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Tuesday, January 24th, 1995 (Age 16, Nagasaki)

I just got off the phone with Sei. We stayed on a long time, but we didn't say much. It was good just to be able to hear his voice. I couldn't think of anything to say. His mom had to use the phone, so I just said "I love you" and "I miss you." Then he got really quiet and said it made him not want to hang up. I guess that's all he needed to hear all along. The words are true, but they're still pretty hard for me to say because I've never said them before.

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Wednesday, January 24th, 1996 (Age 17, Kobe, Japan)

I’ve started my English paper on Tom Robbins. The inspiration finally hit me, and the writing’s going well.

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Friday, January 24th, 1997 (Age 18, Exton, New Brunswick)

I tell Sei not to drink so much, but he doesn't listen. I sit all night at the bar with no drink for myself so we can save money, while he's knocking back his fifth. The next day he complains that he has no money, that "we" use too much of it. He gets drunk and calls me, and doesn't believe that I'm sitting in my dorm room alone in my pajamas. He thinks I'm talking to him while in the middle of an orgy somewhere.

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Saturday, January 24th, 1998 (Age 19, Exton)

We've finished unpacking. Yuko and a couple other friends are here right now, but it's 2:00 a.m. and I want to sleep. I had to wake up at 8:30 to reserve the freight elevator at our old building for the new guy to move his stuff in.

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Sunday, January 24th, 1999 (Age 20, Exton)

I went alone to the movie theater to see Shakespeare in Love. Afterwards Sei, my brother and I ate at Applebee's, and then Yuko came over for a bit.

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Monday, January 24th, 2000 (Age 21, Exton)

I think our wedding rings have come in. I got a call from someone saying the items I ordered are ready, but they didn't say who it was. I'll go by the jewelry shop tomorrow.

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Wednesday, January 24th, 2001 (Age 22, Kobe)

Sei's mom and I went to Daimaru department store this morning. We had to buy a thank you present for one of his father's employees who just got around to giving us wedding money. We picked out two Lladro figurines. She bought some shoes for me that I love -- they're wine red patent leather (I don't know if they're real leather, but in Japan they're usually not). This work week is never going to end. I'm only halfway through. On Saturday I have to work an extra day for the Intensive Course, which I'm sure will be chaos just like the last time.

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Thursday, January 24th, 2002 (Age 23, Kobe)

I started my new job today. The two ladies classes were fine, but the boy, like all little Japanese boys that I've ever met, seemed to have ADD or something. His mother stayed next to him the whole time, but all he did was color on the table, throw flashcards around the room, and tear pages out of my textbook. He's only three. I don't know why parents think kids that age need English lessons.

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Friday, January 24th, 2003 (Age 24, Kobe)

I bought a new sewing machine! I got my Christmas overtime pay which was 40,000 yen, so that's the first thing I went out and got. I bought the one that I saw for 10,000 yen. I think I got a good deal. It's a Jaguar Model 530, and boy is it fast! I'll be able to finish my quilts in no time now.

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Saturday, January 24th, 2004 (Age 25, Kobe)

I'm writing this entry a day late, and I've already forgotten what I did yesterday. I know I was at the Dub until midnight and drank too much wine at home before that.

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Monday, January 24th, 2005 (Age 26, Kobe)

Sei brought some money home, and we celebrated the end of monetary confinement with a dinner out at a Spanish restaurant. I drove so I couldn't drink, and the bill was only 4,500 yen! Bargain! Then we came home and watched a video. Sei has become so good about coming home and not going out again to a bar, and I think he's even starting to enjoy these relaxing evenings. We stretch out on our heated floor and watch TV until midnight, while I knit. I got the back of my latest sweater done tonight.

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Tuesday, January 24th, 2006 (Age 27, Kobe)

My new face stuff smells divine. I hope it works! We finally got our money today, so I can pay off last month's mountain of late bills.

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Wednesday, January 24th, 2007 (Age 28, Kobe)

I stayed over at Kai's which meant I had to wake up before 6:00, and then I felt very ill all day. I had to throw up twice, and finally I just came home after the morning lessons. The head teacher took over for me so I have to do his lessons tomorrow afternoon. I could take another day off but I think I'll be okay. There are fevers, mumps and chicken pox going around at our school but I think I was just over-tired. I napped for five hours when I got home, until Kai called and woke me up, and then I ate instant noodles.

     Oh, I heard from Yuji! He said he's been going through something and hasn't been communicating much or well. He didn't elaborate but it's not work-related so I guess it has to do with his ex-girlfriend.

Disclaimer: This blog is a work of non-fiction. Most personal names (except for those of celebrities) and place names have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals.