Check it out:
photographer tonchan
Ton is absolutely mad for mom's digital camera, and has taken some wicked cool shots.
Check it out:
Check it out:
take a break
take a break
Originally uploaded by renfield
Did some shopping in Harajuku and Shibuya, gathering random toys, bits, and bobs for the kids back in the states as bribes for letting me crash on a loaned couch, driving my carless butt around LA, etc.
Reasonably nice weather; kind of cool (compared to the sweaty scorchers to-date) and misty kind of rain. Here the girls take a wee break as I ran off to buy funny stickers and check out the latest label-free coolness from Muji.
"explosions, overpowering...
...over the competition I am towering..."*
Not really. But when something blows up, things certainly get interesting. Not fun, but interesting.
(In Japanese that'd be tanoshikunai ga omoshiro.)
So on Wednesday, a hand grenade turned into a bunker buster and may end up being the trigger pop to a thermonuclear chain reaction.
Needless to say I did not join my coworkers last night to watch the Chiba Lotte Marines crush the Softbank Hawks from the comfort and privilege of the newly renovated stadium box seats.
I did however learn a whole lot about legal procedures, unsecured debt obligor precedence, and ISDA standards language.
Luckily P and the Tonchabeast are back at the Ibaraki farm homestead hanging chill for summer holiday obon.
I managed to get out of the office at a decent hour, given the weeks events and the fact that it's friday, so I treated myself to some rotator sushi before heading to my regular table at 'bucks for some late-night studying (this month's text is kashikingyomu shuninsha shikaku shiken: money lending business responsible person qualification exam).
* I don't do much karaoke, and even less in English, but when the stars align and I bust my rhyme, suckas go "oooh!" at my meaty groove.**
** Yeah OK that sucked.
Not really. But when something blows up, things certainly get interesting. Not fun, but interesting.
(In Japanese that'd be tanoshikunai ga omoshiro.)
So on Wednesday, a hand grenade turned into a bunker buster and may end up being the trigger pop to a thermonuclear chain reaction.
Needless to say I did not join my coworkers last night to watch the Chiba Lotte Marines crush the Softbank Hawks from the comfort and privilege of the newly renovated stadium box seats.
I did however learn a whole lot about legal procedures, unsecured debt obligor precedence, and ISDA standards language.
Luckily P and the Tonchabeast are back at the Ibaraki farm homestead hanging chill for summer holiday obon.
I managed to get out of the office at a decent hour, given the weeks events and the fact that it's friday, so I treated myself to some rotator sushi before heading to my regular table at 'bucks for some late-night studying (this month's text is kashikingyomu shuninsha shikaku shiken: money lending business responsible person qualification exam).
* I don't do much karaoke, and even less in English, but when the stars align and I bust my rhyme, suckas go "oooh!" at my meaty groove.**
** Yeah OK that sucked.
movies
I rarely see movies but recently I've been on a real bender. Here's what I've inhaled recently.
Indy Jones' Crystal Skull -- a fun romp, well done...but, dude, ALIENS?
Kung-fu Panda -- totally ninjabuttkicking excellent. Will be a favorite of Tonchan's as soon as she's old enough to sit still and watch for more than 7 minutes.
TMNT -- my fault for expecting it to be more than awesome CGI and a plot written for and by a 12 year-old.
Hancock -- a) Like Will Smith, b) LOVE Charlize Theron. A damn fine movie, thanks.
Forbidden Kingdom -- FINALLY Jet Li and Jackie Chan together, with mad wire-work crazy kung-fu ancient China and magic. The annoying white kid was more than outshin'd by my new favorite: OMFG BingBing Li. She is most. excellent. seriously.
Dark Knight -- Yup dark. Joker: excellent. Batman: excellent. Two-Face: excellent. Believe the hype; a blockbuster movie actually worth all the great things said about it.
Oh yeah, did I mention how awesome is BingBing Li?
Indy Jones' Crystal Skull -- a fun romp, well done...but, dude, ALIENS?
Kung-fu Panda -- totally ninjabuttkicking excellent. Will be a favorite of Tonchan's as soon as she's old enough to sit still and watch for more than 7 minutes.
TMNT -- my fault for expecting it to be more than awesome CGI and a plot written for and by a 12 year-old.
Hancock -- a) Like Will Smith, b) LOVE Charlize Theron. A damn fine movie, thanks.
Forbidden Kingdom -- FINALLY Jet Li and Jackie Chan together, with mad wire-work crazy kung-fu ancient China and magic. The annoying white kid was more than outshin'd by my new favorite: OMFG BingBing Li. She is most. excellent. seriously.
Dark Knight -- Yup dark. Joker: excellent. Batman: excellent. Two-Face: excellent. Believe the hype; a blockbuster movie actually worth all the great things said about it.
Oh yeah, did I mention how awesome is BingBing Li?
waterworld
waterworld
Originally uploaded by renfield
Mad fun toys spread out at Roppongi Hills! Check out this amazing water track with boats and pumps and waterlocks and paddles...hours of fun splashing and driving boats around.
slow smooth fast
Can't remember where I first heard it: slow is smooth and smooth is fast.
Maybe it's the heat. And summer holidays so no one is around. Or eating too much BBQ.
Only one dude showed up for class, and it was hot and humid something nasty.
The air-con in the dojo was already running, so I just left it on, making temperature a mildly tolerable 32 degrees or so.
I felt like I didn't have much energy, which probably helped. Moved like molasses, barely any energy in my fingers or arms, and I moved...fluidly. Felt really good; smooth, no jutting corners or edges to catch.
Also spent a long time -- nearly an hour -- on just tsukate. How to put the hands on the sword for the initial draw. Bend boths elbows and move both hands at the same time, but of course the left elbow has to bend more to get the hand on the saya, and the right hand has to move faster to cover more distance in a straight line. Making it one smooth movement, keeping everything still but the lower arms, is key. Staying on the centerline is also key.
Now if I could just figure out what to do after that...
Maybe it's the heat. And summer holidays so no one is around. Or eating too much BBQ.
Only one dude showed up for class, and it was hot and humid something nasty.
The air-con in the dojo was already running, so I just left it on, making temperature a mildly tolerable 32 degrees or so.
I felt like I didn't have much energy, which probably helped. Moved like molasses, barely any energy in my fingers or arms, and I moved...fluidly. Felt really good; smooth, no jutting corners or edges to catch.
Also spent a long time -- nearly an hour -- on just tsukate. How to put the hands on the sword for the initial draw. Bend boths elbows and move both hands at the same time, but of course the left elbow has to bend more to get the hand on the saya, and the right hand has to move faster to cover more distance in a straight line. Making it one smooth movement, keeping everything still but the lower arms, is key. Staying on the centerline is also key.
Now if I could just figure out what to do after that...
36th
Birthday celebration started a bit early. It's The Big Boss' birthday on July 31, and we had a sales guy visiting from Hong Kong so went to dinner in Higashi Yama with sales and trading. Figuring The Big Boss and Posse would end up there, we went to Muse in Nishi Azabu (man eaterz night, always fun) and ended up not getting home until 3:30.
So on my birthday morning, just like on any other morning, at 6am Tonchan jabbed her fingers in my nose and shouted "PAPAPAPAPAPAPA!" to wake me up so that I could make her some cheese toast for breakfast.
Then I piled her into the stroller (with spray bottle of course) and we went to summer school.
Had a reasonably productive day at work prepping for London management updates, then sent the summer interns to get 50 chocolate croissants and 120 Krispy Kremes.
Popped over to the pub to say farewell to our soon-to-be new Sydney COO, and then checked out Indy Jones Crystal Skull late show...dude, aliens? Whatever.
So on my birthday morning, just like on any other morning, at 6am Tonchan jabbed her fingers in my nose and shouted "PAPAPAPAPAPAPA!" to wake me up so that I could make her some cheese toast for breakfast.
Then I piled her into the stroller (with spray bottle of course) and we went to summer school.
Had a reasonably productive day at work prepping for London management updates, then sent the summer interns to get 50 chocolate croissants and 120 Krispy Kremes.
Popped over to the pub to say farewell to our soon-to-be new Sydney COO, and then checked out Indy Jones Crystal Skull late show...dude, aliens? Whatever.
spray bottle attack!
spray bottle attack!
Originally uploaded by renfield
Lately the Tonchabeast's favorite accessory has been this lovely spray bottle, filled with water. With a devilish grin she tears around the house moistening everything in sight, particularly me. I think she especially likes the way I jump and flail like a monkey when she sprays me back as I eat breakfast.
She likes this spray bottle so much she carries it with her in the stroller on our way to school. On the train she cleverly eyes the salarymen and OLs standing around her, just waiting for the chance to blast them with a cool and refreshing spray of ice cold water...actually given this summer heat it would probably be a welcome refresher.
votoms robot
votoms robot
Originally uploaded by renfield
Tonchan is getting over a virus and her fever is down, but now P is feeling sick, so Ton went out to give mom a break. She and I were on our walkabout in the Hills when we spied the "150 Anniversary of Steel" festival. Yeah, I don't know what that is either. But it doesn't matter because they had this 5 meter tall robot specially built just for the occasion. Totally. Excellent.
lime green caddie
lime green caddie
Originally uploaded by renfield
Because if you're going to drive a Caddilac, it might as well be LIME. GREEN.
big turkey!
big turkey!
Originally uploaded by renfield
Tried the Big Turkey from a new sandwich shop near the office. Yes, that is in fact alot of turkey.
boxing
Couldn't get to the dojo at lunch, so I signed up for the evening boxing class. Taught by Asia Pacific Cruiser Weight Champion Ryosuke Takahashi. Besides being a really nice guy whom I've met several times via the dojo, he is the fastest big guy I have ever seen. Or maybe he's the biggest fast guy...
egg bacon burger @ baker bounce in midtown
egg bacon burger @ baker bounce in midtown
Originally uploaded by renfield Went over to the Midtown Clinic to get my nose zit checked (diagnosis: confirmed; it is a big nasty nose zit) and then hit Baker Bounce for a soul-replenishing / artery hardening double-egg bacon red-eye (lean patty) burger. With pink lemonade.
sparta weekend
Three-day weekend thanks to Ocean Day, so we went down to a beach town on the coast of Chiba and...trained for three days. We call it the Sparta Gasshuku. Here's the schedule. It certainly was ot fun, but it was well worth it.
Think I pulled my hamstring, though. Thoroughly not a pleasant feeling, but I'll live.
Think I pulled my hamstring, though. Thoroughly not a pleasant feeling, but I'll live.
how many nuggets can you eat?
how many nuggets can you eat?
Originally uploaded by renfield
The challenge: how many chicken nuggets can you eat in 15 minutes?
The answer: OMFG that is disgusting.
Sent the intern out to get some nuggets. 500 of them.
@ bornelund
@ bornelund
Originally uploaded by renfield
HOT. Like, really really really hot. Summer sucks, man, too hot!
Spent the morning in the kiddie pool on the deck (got a nice sunburn for it, too thanks) then did some walkabout to Roppongi Hills. Randomly bumped into the Smallwoods, had lunch at Bairan newly opened at the hills, met Newman briefly, did some more goofing off, then went to evening practice with a bunch of folks I hadn't seen in a while.
And it was too damn hot all day.
krispy kreme
krispy kreme
Originally uploaded by renfield
It's Friday, and for lack of anything better to do, we sent the intern over to Shinjuku with an order to come back with as many doughnuts as she could carry.
She returned with ten dozen.
Excellent effort, well done.
good samaritan
Managed to leave the office at 7:30 (wow, only a 12-hour work day!) and the weather was awesome; not too hot, low humidity, so I walked to Roppongi Hills.
Passed a couple of obviously lost kids and asked them if they needed help. They were trying to go to Roppongi Hills too so I told them to follow me.
Seems they are three exchange students studying in Nagasaki, up in Tokyo on summer break. Asked what was cool to do in Tokyo so gave them some suggests (Asakusa, Sunday afternoon in Harajuku, sushi brunch in Tsukiji) and led them to their destination.
Then I camped out at the 'bucks and got my read on. Plowed through another chapter of my credit derivs book
, wrote bunches of emailage on the Crackberry, and walked home. A most productive evening.
Passed a couple of obviously lost kids and asked them if they needed help. They were trying to go to Roppongi Hills too so I told them to follow me.
Seems they are three exchange students studying in Nagasaki, up in Tokyo on summer break. Asked what was cool to do in Tokyo so gave them some suggests (Asakusa, Sunday afternoon in Harajuku, sushi brunch in Tsukiji) and led them to their destination.
Then I camped out at the 'bucks and got my read on. Plowed through another chapter of my credit derivs book
, wrote bunches of emailage on the Crackberry, and walked home. A most productive evening.
i put on cat
ruths chris lunch
ruths chris lunch
Originally uploaded by renfield
Island Mama took me to lunch. She had the cheese steak sammy, I had the steak and 'sparagus salad. With fries.
Quality.
cold
Head is stuffy and throat hurts. P has a cough. Tonchan's pink eye seems to have cleared up. Like everything in life, there is balance; one week in Hawaii vs. sick family upon return to reality!
hawaii
Spent a week in Hawaii, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
Hawaii does not suck:
Bought matching aloha clothing.
Went to Haruka & Todd's wedding in Waimea near the North Shore.
Checked out the farmers' market at Kapiolani Community College.
Did some rakugaki with a pen.
Played with Sana and Nanako and Yokkun.
Went shopping at Ala Moana and had lunch at Panda Express and Mariposa.
Ate at the diner a bunch of times.
Took a surfing lesson.
Consumed massive amounts of chocolate fudge brownies.
Chilled at the beach and the pool.
Hung out with a penguin.
Had dinner at Cafe Miro.
Upgraded to first class on the way home.
And caught a cold.
Hawaii does not suck:
Bought matching aloha clothing.
Went to Haruka & Todd's wedding in Waimea near the North Shore.
Checked out the farmers' market at Kapiolani Community College.
Did some rakugaki with a pen.
Played with Sana and Nanako and Yokkun.
Went shopping at Ala Moana and had lunch at Panda Express and Mariposa.
Ate at the diner a bunch of times.
Took a surfing lesson.
Consumed massive amounts of chocolate fudge brownies.
Chilled at the beach and the pool.
Hung out with a penguin.
Had dinner at Cafe Miro.
Upgraded to first class on the way home.
And caught a cold.
maserati gransport v8
maserati gransport v8
Originally uploaded by renfield
Simon showing off his latest wheels. And no I'm not in the driver's seat; it's a right-hand drive car (this is Japan.)
arisugawa park
arisugawa park
Originally uploaded by renfield
Hung out in the park with Conan of the Small Woods, playing badminton and other park-like activities. Tonchan did her running about and falling down alot thing, as well as goofing on the slide, in the sand box (dirt pit), etc.
muji tricycle
muji tricycle
Originally uploaded by renfield
She hasn't quite got the pedaling concept down but she is loving the trike. Methinks it has serious birthday present potential. Comes in red, yellow, and white. Love the parental handle, too.
shrimp shumai
shrimp shumai
Originally uploaded by renfield
Hooked up with P and headed over to Roppongi Hills for some dim sum. Tonchan was sleeping and woke up just in time to inhale some shrimp shumai.
bucks break
bucks break
Originally uploaded by renfield
She can drink a whole tall ice soy chai latte, so I have to get a grande just to make sure there's some left for me to drink.
english breakfast dinner
english breakfast dinner
Originally uploaded by renfield
Net net massively crappy: political turmoil, economic crisis, friendly fire and beheadings...typical day in the middle east? Or in the office?
After the last nail in the coffin, headed with some of the lads to the pub for a right proper dinner: The Full English Breakfast. Baked beans and buttered toast and sausage and bacon and fried eggs and fried tomato and fried mushrooms.
Absolutely. Brilliant.
pizza
Various new hires in the so-called support areas on my team, so I took the posse out for beers and pizza at Pizzakaya. Actually quite the bargain and damn fine eats, too. Much reveling and silliness and eating and drinking. I suspect a good time was had by all. Which is key because I am unforgiving bastard who demands absolute perfection at work, so at the very least I can buy everyone the occasional pie.
breakfast grumpy
breakfast grumpy
Originally uploaded by renfield
Tonchan, sweet and dear love of my heart, when you grow up and read this, don't think ill of me. I really do love you. Really. But god DAMN you can be a grumpy little punk in the morning!
killings in akiba
Every now and then someone goes wacko in Japan. This weekend, a guy drove is truck into a crowd and started stabbing people in Akihabara. I guess we can be thankful that it wasn't the USA, in which case he would have had a machine gun and instead of seven people dead it would be more like 70.
taikai
Ah the taikai. Well, as expected I got my ass handed to me first round. Luckily I was utterly defeated by the H-Bomb, who went on to win all of the next 3 rounds and then dominated the final 5-0. Last time I won a couple years ago I beat her, so fair is fair.
After the taikai we did the typical eating and drinking and general rabble-rousing thing. Some photos here. And a bunch more photos here and here.
After the taikai we did the typical eating and drinking and general rabble-rousing thing. Some photos here. And a bunch more photos here and here.
new toilet
new toilet
Originally uploaded by renfield
The old toilet in the master bedroom died. Long live the new toilet! Tonchan certainly likes it, and is always flushing. Here she poses majestically with her new friend, after the evening bath.
iphone in japan
Finally. And with Softbank, which is even better. Gives me an excuse to leave Docomo after 11 years.
However some questions remain, as my current NEC handset has built in wireless IC digital money (I use it for purchases at convenience stores and as my rail pass on all subways, trains, and buses), plays digital broadcast tv, shoots and plays video, music, and flash, and runs various java apps.
However I will give all that up if the iphone allows me to seemlessly switch between WiFi and cell network, so that I can use an unencumbered Safari browser to surf teh internets, using a all-you-can-eat packet plan.
Bonus if jailbreak works, too.
However some questions remain, as my current NEC handset has built in wireless IC digital money (I use it for purchases at convenience stores and as my rail pass on all subways, trains, and buses), plays digital broadcast tv, shoots and plays video, music, and flash, and runs various java apps.
However I will give all that up if the iphone allows me to seemlessly switch between WiFi and cell network, so that I can use an unencumbered Safari browser to surf teh internets, using a all-you-can-eat packet plan.
Bonus if jailbreak works, too.
authentic
you are not welcome
I can think of no better way to ensure that people are even less encouraged to travel to the US than to require them to register online before travelling. And this is for the citizens of the countries that are strong US allies, requiring no visa.
I, for one, am now even less motivated.
Assuming Tonchan really, really likes Hawaii...then we'll just go to Okinawa alot I guess.
Plenty of Japan still left to see!
I, for one, am now even less motivated.
Assuming Tonchan really, really likes Hawaii...then we'll just go to Okinawa alot I guess.
Plenty of Japan still left to see!
class of 2008!
class of 2008!
Originally uploaded by renfield
Hosted this year's graddies for some eats and drinks. The restaurant made us this lovely cake...and then a waiter proceeded to break a wine glass all over it, so the cake was replaced with lots of little puff-pastry balls filled with cream. Anyway the cake says "Congrats on Joining the Company!" and probably would have been delicious if it weren't liberally springled with shards of broken glass.
more yakiniku
Gosoke took us out to some cheap and absolutely killer yakiniku. Nothing finer than grilling meat and talking shop.
machida
Got up EARLY and headed down to Machida to help out with the 32nd Annual Toyamaryu Tournament. Lots of representatives from the US and I was drafted as interpreter for the day.
Afterwards we hit Hataya's shop and then walked down to the station for a celebratory dinner.
Finally got all the gear packed up, got on the train, and checked into the Hotel Kuroda by 1am. Tired like crispy bacon.
Afterwards we hit Hataya's shop and then walked down to the station for a celebratory dinner.
Finally got all the gear packed up, got on the train, and checked into the Hotel Kuroda by 1am. Tired like crispy bacon.
papa bumped his head on the bus
papa bumped his head on the bus
Originally uploaded by renfield
Luckily an orange bandaid saved him from hemorrhaging to death.
hiroshima
R1011058
Originally uploaded by renfield
Did two nights at Sekitei in Hiroshima.
Flew down, took the bus to the station, train to Oonoura, and then the ryokan van. As expected, most excellent room. First floor had two rooms off of each side of the entrance, plus a little lounge and access to the main garden. Upstairs was another room with a big wooden bathtub in the middle. Totally. Awesome.
They also have a new private bath; a two story affair with a big bath in the middle of the downstairs and a shower in the ceiling, and then a lounge upstairs with a small bath on the balcony. This one is all modern and clean design, different from the one we used last time which was all old school and homey.
Perfect weather for two days too so we wandered around Miyajima in a sunny but breezy way.
Tonchan was a trooper; only broke two glasses and hated the band-aid on her hand more than the minor cut. She also inhaled momiji-manju (red bean paste sweets) and was generally eating the whole time. She ran around during the day so much she slept soundly all night the whole time.
taco rice @ eat more greens
taco rice @ eat more greens
Originally uploaded by renfield
Met Chiepon for lunch -- Happy Birthday! -- at Eat More Greens. We walked up to Roppongi Hills and played at Børnelund, then walked up to Midtown and got some bevvies. Took a taxi to National Azabu and stocked up on groceries (mostly animal crackers and apple juice) before heading home and ordering pizza. Tomorrow: Hiroshima!
jiji and baba
jiji and baba
Originally uploaded by renfield
Had lunch at Toyoda with the assorted grandparentals. P's parents were surprised as they weren't expecting the USA contingent. Masa had a wee too much drink and took a nice nap.
Afterwards we checked out the Mitsui Museum and had a 'bucks break before heading home and catching the start of the rain.
drunk
So methinks my daughter has a drinking problem. She got into the habit several months ago of drinking mouthwash. I don't mean playing with, or spilling, or sipping, I am talking great big gulps by the mouthful. She is particularly fond of Listerine Fresh Mint, and though she is incapable of removing the childproof cap herself, like the Quality Parents that we are, P and I often give her a capful or two whilst she's watching mommy get ready in the morning.
So yesterday P sends me one of The Best Emails A Parent Can Ever Get:
So yesterday P sends me one of The Best Emails A Parent Can Ever Get:
From: hiroko.kurodaAnd that's pretty much all you need to know about the Kuroda Family.
Sent: 05/22/2008 08:54 AM ZE9
To: Renfield Kuroda
Subject: mouth wash
She drunk it some this morning, and her face became red. I guess ethanol in it worked, so she’s pretty drunk. We have to hide it or stop using it, otherwise she’ll be alcoholic.
shibuya
After post-work bevvies at which we mainly told increasingly ludicrous stories about obnoxious industry veterans, I headed to Shibuya to do a right and proper bitch session with jorge. Of course we feasted on proper ramen whilst doing so.
I have now gone to Suzuran so many times in the past two weeks, all the guys working there know me and greet me as a regular. Perhaps it's time to eat less ramen...
After stuffing ourselves silly jorge needed his caffeine fix so we walked over to the 'bucks at the crossing and planted ourselves at the window seats second floor to people watch the amusing festivities of hachiko and whine about the corporate inane.
I have now gone to Suzuran so many times in the past two weeks, all the guys working there know me and greet me as a regular. Perhaps it's time to eat less ramen...
After stuffing ourselves silly jorge needed his caffeine fix so we walked over to the 'bucks at the crossing and planted ourselves at the window seats second floor to people watch the amusing festivities of hachiko and whine about the corporate inane.
our dangerous stistical ignorance
The single most pernicious threat to liberty today is humanity's natural
tendency to misunderstand the statistics of rare events...[more]
tendency to misunderstand the statistics of rare events...[more]
clam chowder
clam chowder
Originally uploaded by renfield
Took the day off to hang out in Arisugawa Park with Ton and her school mates for Sports Day. Tonchan was feeling particularly shy so didn't do much until we had lunch and she ran around a bit. P went to work for the afternoon so I took the Tonchalizer to check out the sword display at the Okura Museum and then we went into my office for a bit before meeting P for dinner. Burgers and clam chowder at Homework's in Hiroo.
yak in japan
Some things in Japan fail to surprise me. The gross inability of the National Police Agency to deal with the organized crime is one of them. This article by probably the only foreigner to know about such things is illuminating but sadly not surprising.
mogambos
mogambos
Originally uploaded by renfield
A fine evening of basic late-night foolishness. Here The Vid enjoys a fat Cuban stogie, ignorning the rain. We carried on until the wee hours. I left early and still didn't get to bed until 4am. Word is the true believers greeted the sunrise with a final toast. Strong. Sleepy.
matsuri
matsuri
Originally uploaded by renfield
This year the Kanda Matsuri was ura, aka small and low-key. Still, it's pretty sweet. They pass right in front of Honbu Dojo and go up Chuo Dori to Kanda Station, then actually enter the inner Emporer's Palace; one of the only festivals that is allowed to do so.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)