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I'm glad I went, definitely. I'm a little tired, so I'm also sort of incoherent because I can feel my fingers typing but they're not quite "real". ;) (Actually I think that is an effect of mild numbness due to the cold - it was not really chilly but I was glad I had brought both my sweater and my 'jacket' which is really just a windbreaker.)
Good things:
Indifferent (but possibly weird) things:
Bad things:
And other stuff: Food, and driving. I didn't go for the food, in fact I explicitly ate a good dinner before I went because I don't tend to like "weird food" (and it doesn't tend to like me), and I'm very "generic white American" in what I consider not-weird most days. This was a good thing. I tried everything but the cracker mix (which listed almonds as its second ingredient - true, my allergy "only" makes the roof of my mouth and my tongue itch thus far - even hazelnuts do better, making them swell a bit as well - but encouraging it sounds bad) and the sake (sorry, no thanks - though it seemed pretty popular despite being the only item costing extra). What I tried, I mostly liked on the first taste (as something new), and quickly came to loathe.
The tea was...sweet. I might have tolerated it with something salty to balance it, for which the cracker mix I couldn't have would probably have been perfect. But it's not a taste I'd fall in love with, even with something to balance it. The full moon cakes (rice and beans)? Sweet again. If they hadn't had such an odd aftertaste, it might have been okay. I almost spat out a bite laughing when I heard the woman behind the counter tell someone that a little kid once compared them to Peeps, though! The worst part was I could tell why....
Miso soup. The only salt available to me with my allergy, you'd think I'd've loved it. Unfortunately, the weird taste was only cool for a second or two, and then the aftertaste (sorry, I'm not good at describing) hit. That was what finally drove me away from the food. Ugh! I kept having a little of my soup to counter the other two and it was really, really not happy.
Finally had to get rid of the remains of my portions (not much smaller than the starting size) and get away from the food to settle my stomach. Complete with chewing a piece of dental gum to clear away the taste.
Usually I am not adventurous enough to try, so I am proud of myself that I at least tried them...but next moonviewing, if I go to another, I won't. Been there, done that, no thanks. Heh.
It was really fun actually. I'm not sure if I will do it again, but I'm not sure I won't. If I go to a fall one I will take a heavier jacket but what I had was good for this time of year.
Driving home was easy - but I was right; that road sign was not visible at that distance in the dark. However, the fact that a whole bunch of people were leaving the park at once would have got me on the right road out of the park. It's only at that jogging turn (and later on, to not follow people turning too soon for me) that I would have been in trouble. As it was it was really nice and easy. I followed the flow of traffic out of the park, turned where I needed to turn (my landmark was good; I saw it, and would have even if the people in front of me hadn't been turning there), did everything as I needed to. Really easy and hassle-free.
But oh am I glad I'd driven it in the daylight yesterday!
In short: much fun, very pleasant.
Oh, yes. And Buttonses Part 2: I went to work in tan pants, I went to the moonviewing in jeans. Not because I felt that tan work pants were inappropriate, but because I came home to have dinner first, sat down, and the button came off. Looks like I have some sewing to do this week.
But not tonight. Good night!
Good things:
- The garden is pretty in the evening and the dusk.
- The lanterns are pretty with candles in them.
- The moon is pretty rising as a pregnant orange spot behind the clouds.
- I met a woman and her husband who were really nice and chatted with me for the last hour or so (the point where most - but far from all! - of those attending congregated in front of the Pavillion in hopes of not missing the moonrise).
- I found benches and sights I hadn't noticed, or had forgotten, because other people looked at/occupied them and so I saw. I saw a view of the gardens other than my own (and very much enjoyed it).
Indifferent (but possibly weird) things:
- My English teacher from freshman & senior year of high school was there, recognized me, and said hi. Fortunately she also told me who she was, because I couldn't remember, though I did know I knew her from somewhere.... (This is almost good, 'cause it was really cool, but it's just too weird.)
- The gift shop was open until 9. I thought this was silly until I wanted to warm up, and thought, hey it has a door. It was being kept nice and toasty - almost too hot. I made a circuit, chatted with the woman behind the counter, and then exited (without buying any of the items that tempted me during said circuit...).
- The flutist kept wavering and occasionally cracking. I wonder if the cold got to him? If my fingers were a bit cold, his on a metal flute must have been.... But when he was on, he was good.
Bad things:
- Cloud cover.... Came up as a haze on the horizon right where the moon was s'posed to come up. Luckily we could see it through, but not the full, naked moon I'd hoped for...still very pretty.
And other stuff: Food, and driving. I didn't go for the food, in fact I explicitly ate a good dinner before I went because I don't tend to like "weird food" (and it doesn't tend to like me), and I'm very "generic white American" in what I consider not-weird most days. This was a good thing. I tried everything but the cracker mix (which listed almonds as its second ingredient - true, my allergy "only" makes the roof of my mouth and my tongue itch thus far - even hazelnuts do better, making them swell a bit as well - but encouraging it sounds bad) and the sake (sorry, no thanks - though it seemed pretty popular despite being the only item costing extra). What I tried, I mostly liked on the first taste (as something new), and quickly came to loathe.
The tea was...sweet. I might have tolerated it with something salty to balance it, for which the cracker mix I couldn't have would probably have been perfect. But it's not a taste I'd fall in love with, even with something to balance it. The full moon cakes (rice and beans)? Sweet again. If they hadn't had such an odd aftertaste, it might have been okay. I almost spat out a bite laughing when I heard the woman behind the counter tell someone that a little kid once compared them to Peeps, though! The worst part was I could tell why....
Miso soup. The only salt available to me with my allergy, you'd think I'd've loved it. Unfortunately, the weird taste was only cool for a second or two, and then the aftertaste (sorry, I'm not good at describing) hit. That was what finally drove me away from the food. Ugh! I kept having a little of my soup to counter the other two and it was really, really not happy.
Finally had to get rid of the remains of my portions (not much smaller than the starting size) and get away from the food to settle my stomach. Complete with chewing a piece of dental gum to clear away the taste.
Usually I am not adventurous enough to try, so I am proud of myself that I at least tried them...but next moonviewing, if I go to another, I won't. Been there, done that, no thanks. Heh.
It was really fun actually. I'm not sure if I will do it again, but I'm not sure I won't. If I go to a fall one I will take a heavier jacket but what I had was good for this time of year.
Driving home was easy - but I was right; that road sign was not visible at that distance in the dark. However, the fact that a whole bunch of people were leaving the park at once would have got me on the right road out of the park. It's only at that jogging turn (and later on, to not follow people turning too soon for me) that I would have been in trouble. As it was it was really nice and easy. I followed the flow of traffic out of the park, turned where I needed to turn (my landmark was good; I saw it, and would have even if the people in front of me hadn't been turning there), did everything as I needed to. Really easy and hassle-free.
But oh am I glad I'd driven it in the daylight yesterday!
In short: much fun, very pleasant.
Oh, yes. And Buttonses Part 2: I went to work in tan pants, I went to the moonviewing in jeans. Not because I felt that tan work pants were inappropriate, but because I came home to have dinner first, sat down, and the button came off. Looks like I have some sewing to do this week.
But not tonight. Good night!