Serving Sake

Last night- well last last night was wonderful. Edwin my cousin and his wife Eva, came from California to visit us so them, Auntie Sharon and my cousin Michelle and her bf Jackson went out to this really underground authentic Japanese sake restaurant (they only serve cooked food and no sushi). We sampled about 12 dishes each about $7-$12 each and only tiny portions from filet mignon lightly cooked with Japanese citrus sauce to mackerel rolled onto hot rice to beef patte shaped into a circular cake with different caviar shaped into a ying yang sign. I also got to sample some sake which I must sadly say I disliked. I think I'm going to rule off all alcohol. I think, as Tania said, I'll just buy some ice wine here and bring it back with me to NY and just age it. :P But I must say the sake was served beautifully: tiny glass 'goblet's each a different colour- mine being black with large flecks of gold. The sake was served in a blue glass bottle with many cuts and facets- reminds me something out of Tolkien's Rivendell. It sat in a oddly shaped reminiscent of a rock ceramic bowl with leaves and melting ice in it. Everything there was presented beautifully- that's what I find so seductive and beautiful about Japanese culture- turning every day habits into pleasure by transforming them from chore to ritual. I'm tired of American culture. I want to go to Japan. My escape for now is through the movie Memoirs of a Geisha. Yes it's not really a great adapted version of the novel but it's just so beautiful to look at- to see a dramatized part of the Japanese life from hot springs with floating sake boxes and oranges to cherry blossom viewing.
Well anyway, in the middle of the dinner Jackson had to go to 'the bathroom' when he in fact went to the front desk to override the already placed credit card of Auntie Sharon's. Very cunning. He also told them to sing me happy birthday because they forgot it was exactly ten days ago. I was really surprised because I thought it was Edwin's birthday or something. It was really fun. Did I mention the waiter was really hot? He reminds me of the stylized Manga/anime characters. Japanese guys are good looking in general.
They were really impressed by Auntie Sharon who travels nonstop her next place being a two week cruise to Scandinavia and then to Japan and then to Shanghai. I'd like to do that someday though it doesn't seem quite as fun without people to enjoy it with you. It seems that you either lead the life of a constant traveler- learning and enjoying the vast array of cultures, traditions and landscapes with a wide network of friends or to be grounded by the responsibilities (which do come with their own rewards) of spouse and family. It is hard to do both.

My greatest fear is that I am seeking more solace within human companionship than in the divine.

'The Promise' seems like a movie that calls upon the lines of Captivating and Wild at Heart.