Plaid Skirt Torpedoes! : Domo arigato Mr. Kamui-san

San Francisco, is the city where things randomly happen to me, lingers, and then turns us both into something else.

Forever.

Kismet.

Enter Mr. Kamui-san.

His name, Kamui, translated in English, means "Power of God".

(A little back history.)

I play poker: Texas Holdem, Five Card Draw, even Pai Gow (but only a few times.)

I don't play often and I invest in far less playing Poker than what you spend a year on gas money for just one car.

I'm not a terribly great Poker player but I'm not horrible at it either. When I lose it isn't by much and I can play for hours, sometimes on only a $75 initial investment. I even enjoy watching others play Poker, live or on TV, doesn't matter.

(End of back history.)

I met Mr. Kamui-san in a gambling establishment owned, operated, and entirely patronized by Asians. Very awkward for me being as how I was raised in the Midwest and speak hardly any Korean, be that as it may, I'm welcomed all the same just for (~~not)~~ being (~~White)~~ Asian.

In Vegas, and in other gambling establishments, in certain social networks, Asian and European men love to watch girls play poker, but only if she really plays. It doesn't matter what ethnicity she is, so long as she's manicured, cute, dressed nice, sexy, etc., they'll not only watch her play, they'll put chips down on the table for her to gamble with. In part to keep the game going, and in part just to be genteel for standing behind or beside her. It's very addicting, not the Poker, but playing poker with other peoples' money. And naturally you want to win them money, or at very least keep the game hot.

Anyway,

I walked into this all-Asian gambling establishment. The men thought I was either a dealer or a prostitute because there were no women gambling. So I turned to leave.

As a woman gambler, even an amateur gambler, you never want the reputation of being a prostitute, though you're not a prostitute, you still don't want the misconception. Rumors travel fast.That's not a judgment on prostitutes, but men who truly love to see women gamble, won't give a woman gambler money if she has the reputation of being a prostitute, false as it may be. Peaches and plums.

The vibe in the air will tell you if women are welcome. If the vibe says leave, you leave. If you stay, you will be treated as a hooker. That's just the way it is.

Usually there's a small handful of Asian women gambling. Not this time. Not this place.

(Skipping a few details)

I met Mr. Kamui-san, at a table by the door. Sitting next to him was his "English translator". It's not uncommon for Asian men to pretend they don't speak English, especially at a poker table where English is the primary language spoken, even among Asians.

I only had the opportunity to meet Mr. Kamui-san, when I paused at the door after spotting some Asian girlie magazines on the floor rack. Some of the magazines had Asian girls in cheap Kimonos, tied up about as bas as their Kimonos. I lingered for a second and then walked out the door.

This got Mr. Kamui-san's attention who followed me outside with his translator.

In our very brief conversation through his "translator" I told Mr. Kamui-san I started roping not long ago. I mentioned how it's quite similar to knitting only your hands are the knitting sticks.

It's true. Shibari uses the same knots to bind on and off, as knitting. Same patterns too. I knit. 10 years. And now I know why I liked it so much!

(Skipping ahead.)

Mr. Kamui-san inquired after S&M and B&D. I very (very!) politely informed the translator, "If any man were to raise a hand to me, he better kill me. Because if I'm still alive afterwards, I would duct tape him down into a chair, and slowly inject his veins with air, just to watch the slow creep of death in his eyes."

I doubt the translator converted those exact words to Japanese, but nonetheless...

Mr. Kamui-san, with a very serious facial expression, informed me he knew a man who could help me with my mission at hand, concerning the binding of rope.

(Skipping waaaay ahead and the whole reason for this blog)

Now,

The truly interesting thing about Mr Kamui-san,

Even though he looks like he makes Medieval torture chambers in his spare time,

Is that,

He loves cereal.

As in,

Cereal!

I took these pictures with great caution.

He had other cereals too but,

Last thing I want to do is die because I messed with the Power of God's cereal !!

1. Lucky Charms