rudick @ azabujyuban


rudick @ azabujyuban, originally uploaded by renfield.

Maya and Amy came over to play today. It was way too hot, but we went to the Azabu Jyuban festival anyway and loaded up on festival foods before heading home to feast. Amy got a bunch of cool rubber balls so we went into the basement and bounced balls all over the place for a while while Maya slobbered about and giggled.

duck and weave

Staying in constant motion for four consecutive three-minute rounds with only a 30 second break between is decidedly tiring. We worked a bunch of duck and weave and counter patterns, staying small and low and moving all the time. Wednesday class is usually tiring simply because it's a solid 1.5 hours of punching and kicking, but tonight was even better because we were constantly ducking, evading, side-stepping, bobbing around, and generally trying not to get hit. Loads of fun and I worked with Sensei the whole time which is great because he has such excellent control and timing. And when he wants to be, he is way too damn fast.
Finished up with 5 minutes letting all hell break loose on the heavy bag. Damn, I need to get me a heavy bag. One out of 20 punches I land it just right and the resulting sound echoes off the ceiling and the bag swings back visibly and it's just a whole bucket o' sweaty fun. After a solid workout, my legs and back are killing me.

ba ain't flyin'

jewish feast!


jewish feast!, originally uploaded by renfield.

I have long complained that the only thing Tokyo was missing is a proper Jewish deli. Well, Tokyo is now officially complete. David's Deli is a few minutes walk from my house (another reason to live in the middle of Tokyo), open seven days a week, and damn fine. They make their own bagels and pita, have motzo ball soup, falafel, stuffed cabbage, an assorment of pickles, and kasha varnishkes (which, according to my father, is horse food, but I still love it.)

And the best part is the Korean waitress has serious attitude. Just like Manhattan!

kasha varnishikes!


kasha varnishikes!, originally uploaded by renfield.

david's deli


david's deli, originally uploaded by renfield.

shibuya

Hit Bic Camera with The Eng to sort his home network situation. Having too many problems with his current solution, so we decided to switch him to Yahoo DSL. Paperwork was no problem, except for the arbitrarily useless phoneline issue -- the joy of having one and only one phone company:
In Japan, all phonelines have an owner. Of course, these days thanks to deregulation, you can rent out your phoneline to anyone. So The Eng's phoneline isn't his, he rents in. (Buying to own a phoneline is a magically expensive process.) The "construction" necessary to convert a phoneline to do DSL requires the OWNER'S (not the renter's) approval. And due to Personal Information Protection laws, NTT couldn't actually tell us who the owner was -- the fact that we know who it is "proves" to NTT that we have permission.
So we're sitting in Bic Camera, in the first place me doing everything because The Eng no speak the Japonesi. The Bic Camera dude calls NTT, hands The Eng the phone. Which I take. NTT lady says "Who is this?" and I confirm that I am The Eng, by reciting my name, address, and phone number. Then she asks who owns the line. The Eng has a blank look on his face. We try the name of his real estate agent. Nope. Trading assistant. Nope. Admin. Nope. Aha, maybe it's the owner of the apartment? What's her name? No idea. The Eng calls his real estate agent. She says the last name. I tell NTT. Yup, got the last name right. Now what about the first name? What?! I talk to the real estate agent. Akiko? Nope. Nanako? Nope. Keiko? Nope. Real estate agent calls her office. Gets someone to look at the paperwork. Calls The Eng back. Not sure how to pronounce the first name? Guess a couple of standard readings and finally Nail it: Sumiko! NTT lady on the phone confirms that, since we have given her The Eng's name, address, phone number, and the full name of the lady who owns the phone line, we have proven whatever it is we are required to prove, and have now been authorized to do whatever it is that needs to be done for his phone line to be switched to Yahoo DSL.
I love bureaucracy.