icecream dessert @ singapore seafood
Originally uploaded by renfield
Met Uncle Jorge at Shinagawa Station and headed across the street to Singapore Seafood for some lunch. Tonchan inhaled many a shrimp and finished things off with banana icecream.
icecream dessert @ singapore seafood
icecream dessert @ singapore seafood
Originally uploaded by renfield
gyoza etc @ 67
gyoza etc @ 67
Originally uploaded by renfield
Picked up Tonchan from school and met P in Hiroo. We went to 67 Gyoza for dinner; Musashimau's restaurant. Tiny little sliver of a place but we went early and it was empty. Gyoza, oden, riceballed wrapped in pork...SO. GOOD.
tokyo #1
Thanks to a strong yen, Tokyo once again reclaims its rightful place as the most expensive city in the world.
kumitachi gasshuku
Headed down to Ajiro (just after Atami, south of Tokyo) for a weekend of beatings.
We did a weekend of kumitachi; paired sword work. This time everyone used kiritampo: basically a PVC tube covered in foam so that you can smack the hell out of each other and do little damage.
Most people took this as an okay to flail all-out at each other, which didn't end up being much of a practice session but was probably lots of fun.
First day I taught the beginners so we went through the basics nice and slow. Didn't bother trying to explain distance and timing, just tried to get them to remember the kata; left foot, right hand, high, low, etc. Seemed to go well enough and a couple of them even have potential if they keep properly focused on their training.
Second day Salty and I took the advanced group whilst Gosoke took the beginners. Salty and I spent most of the time shaking our heads and sighing...everyone knows the moves so they they would just flail out at each other as fast as they could, dancing around in a pre-arranged manner.
A few of them got the idea, slowed down, and tried to react to each other, changing up the tempo and targeting, moving a little more smoothly and economically. But generally there was much flailing...
Using "safe" weapons is a good way to learn the basics without getting hurt, but at some point the realistic possibility of pain and possibly serious injury is what clicks your brain and body into the right mood to really deflact, evade, and counter. Then again not many of them are ready for that, so perhaps it's best to stay safe.
We did a weekend of kumitachi; paired sword work. This time everyone used kiritampo: basically a PVC tube covered in foam so that you can smack the hell out of each other and do little damage.
Most people took this as an okay to flail all-out at each other, which didn't end up being much of a practice session but was probably lots of fun.
First day I taught the beginners so we went through the basics nice and slow. Didn't bother trying to explain distance and timing, just tried to get them to remember the kata; left foot, right hand, high, low, etc. Seemed to go well enough and a couple of them even have potential if they keep properly focused on their training.
Second day Salty and I took the advanced group whilst Gosoke took the beginners. Salty and I spent most of the time shaking our heads and sighing...everyone knows the moves so they they would just flail out at each other as fast as they could, dancing around in a pre-arranged manner.
A few of them got the idea, slowed down, and tried to react to each other, changing up the tempo and targeting, moving a little more smoothly and economically. But generally there was much flailing...
Using "safe" weapons is a good way to learn the basics without getting hurt, but at some point the realistic possibility of pain and possibly serious injury is what clicks your brain and body into the right mood to really deflact, evade, and counter. Then again not many of them are ready for that, so perhaps it's best to stay safe.
dojo sunday
Headed to the Kudan Dojo just after noon to run the promotion exam. Four guys tested for shodan and did ok, one tested for nidan and failed, one tested for sandan and barely passed. Perhaps I am being too strict...nah, screw it. Nothing wrong with failing; it's the best way to learn, and you can always just test again, next month, every month, next year, every year...good to have goals but the goal isn't "to get promoted" it is "to get better than I am now", and therefore in that sense promotions are one of many reasonably useful tools.
But these days far, far too many people take their "rank" way too seriously. Especially in an old art like Mugairyu, the modern invention of dan ranks is totally and completely irrelevant. The only "rank" that matters is a scroll; the first menkyo. Until then we are all just beginners, and it would serve most people well to remember that.
After the testing we had a cutting session. I cut like crap, as always. But that's a good thing. I am much more relaxed about everything, and have more fun trying to figure out how to cut a nice clean hidari kesa then trying to pull off some crazy cuts from-the-draw. Basics are so much more interesting these days.
Also been reading another Japanese book on "nanba"; this one written but a bunch of teachers (elementary through college) and how they applied "nanba" principles of movement to their high school basket ball team, college orchestra, and junior high PE classes. Interesting stuff. Mostly things I already knew, but a few ideas in there that got me thinking more about how to utilize my back and shoulder blades more when walking, especially up and down stairs...good stuff to adapt to iai so I think I will have some fun playing around this weekend at the kumitachi gasshuku.
But these days far, far too many people take their "rank" way too seriously. Especially in an old art like Mugairyu, the modern invention of dan ranks is totally and completely irrelevant. The only "rank" that matters is a scroll; the first menkyo. Until then we are all just beginners, and it would serve most people well to remember that.
After the testing we had a cutting session. I cut like crap, as always. But that's a good thing. I am much more relaxed about everything, and have more fun trying to figure out how to cut a nice clean hidari kesa then trying to pull off some crazy cuts from-the-draw. Basics are so much more interesting these days.
Also been reading another Japanese book on "nanba"; this one written but a bunch of teachers (elementary through college) and how they applied "nanba" principles of movement to their high school basket ball team, college orchestra, and junior high PE classes. Interesting stuff. Mostly things I already knew, but a few ideas in there that got me thinking more about how to utilize my back and shoulder blades more when walking, especially up and down stairs...good stuff to adapt to iai so I think I will have some fun playing around this weekend at the kumitachi gasshuku.
qtips in the ears
qtips in the ears
Originally uploaded by renfield
How my darling, genius daughter responds to the question: "Can you show papa how you clean your ears?" She jams a q-tip in each ear and makes a variation of The Face.
fish o the day
fish o the day
Originally uploaded by renfield
Her royal P-ness had the fish o' the day whilst Tonchan destroyed an Idaho-sized bowl of fries. I stuck with the ever-so-healthy riette sandwhich. Ah, reconstituted pork fat; thanks for the recommend Beck!
After lunch P went for a massage and I held Tonchan for a couple hours whilst she napped. In the evening Ton and I joined Todd and the girls for dinner at La Boheme in Sanja, and finished the evening with some icecream at BaskinRobbins whilst the pregnant moms relaxed one their couches.
fries with ketchup
fries with ketchup
Originally uploaded by renfield
I am sure there are some parents out there who manage to feed their kids nothing but wholesome vegetables as part of a well-balanced diet high on natural vitamins and minerals, low on sugar, carbohydrates, and starch. Those are the same parents who make their kids wear helmets on the swing and never let them play with scissors.
BORING.
My girl eats french fries. Great big bowls of 'em. With ketchup. Lots and lots of ketchup.
choki choki
choki choki
Originally uploaded by renfield
She has really been into scissors recently.To the point that she cut her finger a few days ago. But that didn't stop her; she stills loves to snip snip snip.
@ azabu tailor
@ azabu tailor
Originally uploaded by renfield
I love my tailor. Besides being a fine collection of sharp dressed and quick-witted individuals, they have completely the wrong prices on really fine materials; Loro Piana, Zegna, Scabal, Dormeuil...they also have a great selection of proper buttons (horn not plastic), suit linings (silk not polyester), and are not afraid to recommend against something truly atrocious.
the last supper
the last supper
Originally uploaded by renfield
Mama's last night in Japan so we went to her (and our) favorite: Sankoen yakiniku! So. Good.
who loves raw liver?
who loves raw liver?
Originally uploaded by renfield
My name is Tonchan. I am two years old. I like raw liver. I ate a whole plate of raw liver. Then I ordered a second plate. Then I ate half a bowl of bibimba.
Soon I will be sitting on the porch step smoking unfiltered cigarillos, drinking whiskey from the bottle, and playing mahjong.
making wagashi
making wagashi
Originally uploaded by renfield
Mama and I went to make traditional Japanese sweets. Actually the teacher was Yoshida's mom, so we went to her house in west tokyo, made some sweets, then had a killer lunch and finished off with some fresh tea and sweets.
Brought the rest to work and everyone ate them at tea time.
the girls
P was out at a junior high reunion so mama made meatballs and fussili (twisty pasta) and I invited Todd and the girls over.
Amy (six), Maia (three) and Tonchan (two) had huge buckets of fun tearing around the apartment, playing with the tricycle and the cardboard house, and all of Ton's various other toys.
Finally around 8pm Ton started to get tired and Todd had to take the girls home. I put Ton in the bath, got her into her pajamas (monkeys) and she fell asleep before P came home!
It was easy, thanks to the girls coming over.
Amy (six), Maia (three) and Tonchan (two) had huge buckets of fun tearing around the apartment, playing with the tricycle and the cardboard house, and all of Ton's various other toys.
Finally around 8pm Ton started to get tired and Todd had to take the girls home. I put Ton in the bath, got her into her pajamas (monkeys) and she fell asleep before P came home!
It was easy, thanks to the girls coming over.
scissors + plastic spoon = fun
scissors + plastic spoon = fun
Originally uploaded by renfield
Ton's been on scissors kick recently. She loves chopping up anything. P bought her a pair of red plastic scissors that can only cut paper, but for the real heavy lifting she goes for the small white nail clipping scissors, which can do serious damage to plastic spoons.
indigo dying
murakami haruki's jerusalem prize
My absolute favorite author*, Murakami Haruki, has received the Jerusalem Prize for his literature.
Here is the article from The Jerusalem Post.
Now here is the full, unedited text of his acceptance speech as transcribed by a reporter who was present at and recorded the acceptance speech.
Two conclusions:
Here is the article from The Jerusalem Post.
Now here is the full, unedited text of his acceptance speech as transcribed by a reporter who was present at and recorded the acceptance speech.
Two conclusions:
- Murakami Haruki is and forever shall be The Man
- The Jerusalem Post has absolutely zero cohones
back from gunma
Tonchan spent most of Saturday afternoon playing with Chiepon's nephew Ryoma so P and I relaxed in the onsen.
We took Ton into the rotenburo but it was cold outside and hot in the bath so that didn't last long.
In the evening we had a stupendously huge dinner of unending pork shabu-shabu and a million other courses, the Tonchabeast literally running circles around the room.
On Sunday we checked out the various crafts of Takumi-no-Sato village. Did some traditional indigo-dying and baba decorated a cool ceramic dolphin for Ton which she wore proudly as a necklace.
Heading back Ton was running out of energy and I carried her most of the way. She mainly slept on the shinkansen back and was pretty mellow, not eating much dinner, and she crashed shortly after bathing.
This morning she had a lovely fever so stayed home with P; a bit too much excitement with double grandparents and travel and running about!
We took Ton into the rotenburo but it was cold outside and hot in the bath so that didn't last long.
In the evening we had a stupendously huge dinner of unending pork shabu-shabu and a million other courses, the Tonchabeast literally running circles around the room.
On Sunday we checked out the various crafts of Takumi-no-Sato village. Did some traditional indigo-dying and baba decorated a cool ceramic dolphin for Ton which she wore proudly as a necklace.
Heading back Ton was running out of energy and I carried her most of the way. She mainly slept on the shinkansen back and was pretty mellow, not eating much dinner, and she crashed shortly after bathing.
This morning she had a lovely fever so stayed home with P; a bit too much excitement with double grandparents and travel and running about!
@ Taiyokan onsen ryokan in Gunma
@ Taiyokan onsen ryokan in Gunma
Originally uploaded by renfield
Chiepon's childhood home! Which is great because her nephew is the same age as Tonchan so I have not seen my daughter for hours because she is off playing with him.
found!
For the past few days I have been missing my work ID. I keep it in a little black Tumi business card holder, with some cards and other insignificant bits and bobs.
At first I thought I left it in a pants pocket but I checked with the dry cleaner and he didn't have it.
So I figured the Tonchalizer had done something with it, as I remember she was playing with it on Saturday afternoon.
After much agonizing and tearing up the house looking for it, I gave up and got a new ID at work...and then this morning there it was sitting on the window shelf behind the trashcan in the bedroom.
Ah, the keen insight and cunning of a two year old!
At first I thought I left it in a pants pocket but I checked with the dry cleaner and he didn't have it.
So I figured the Tonchalizer had done something with it, as I remember she was playing with it on Saturday afternoon.
After much agonizing and tearing up the house looking for it, I gave up and got a new ID at work...and then this morning there it was sitting on the window shelf behind the trashcan in the bedroom.
Ah, the keen insight and cunning of a two year old!
breakfast of TonChampions
- Cheese (single slice, processed)
- Chocolate (individual wrapped, milk, two pieces)
- Nori (unflavored, strips)
snacking on koganeimo
snacking on koganeimo
Originally uploaded by renfield
Spent the day at Ueno Zoo with Baba and Tonchan. She liked the bears and birds and gorillas, she watched the porcupines eat carrots and fed the goats and sheep grass, but her absolute favorite part of the zoo? The monorail!
Mama's got some great photos and blogged it too.
On the way home she fell asleep but woke up when we got to Starbucks in Roppongi Hills so I carried her home. Then we watched sumo and snacked until dinner.
playing with layla
conference calls
If I may get my bitch on for a moment here:
Friday night 9pm conference calls suck, for many reasons.
I've already worked a good 60 hours in the office (never mind the hours spent on the blackberry. And I sleep with my cellphone next to my pillow. Not kidding.) and I am not in the mood.
You, on the other hand, have rocked up to work in London some time before noon in order to get on the phone with me and explain that you have not, in fact, read the reams of documents and lengthy email responses to your questions I have prepared.
In fact, you have a whole different set of questions which only manage to establish that you have not been paying attention, and even if you were, you don't get it.
And yes, I would just love to make some more documents for you to answer your additional follow-up questions so that you can ignore and not read them, and then we can get on the phone again, including a bunch of other people.
The only reason I am on the phone with you in the first place is because your counterparts here in my time zone are physically incapable of actually taking responsibility and making a decision, so they defer to you, he whom doesn't know nor care, isn't willing to bother, and will end up deferring to someone in New York anyway.
At least I got to make snide comments about you in Japanese to my coworkers, right under your nose.
Friday night 9pm conference calls suck, for many reasons.
I've already worked a good 60 hours in the office (never mind the hours spent on the blackberry. And I sleep with my cellphone next to my pillow. Not kidding.) and I am not in the mood.
You, on the other hand, have rocked up to work in London some time before noon in order to get on the phone with me and explain that you have not, in fact, read the reams of documents and lengthy email responses to your questions I have prepared.
In fact, you have a whole different set of questions which only manage to establish that you have not been paying attention, and even if you were, you don't get it.
And yes, I would just love to make some more documents for you to answer your additional follow-up questions so that you can ignore and not read them, and then we can get on the phone again, including a bunch of other people.
The only reason I am on the phone with you in the first place is because your counterparts here in my time zone are physically incapable of actually taking responsibility and making a decision, so they defer to you, he whom doesn't know nor care, isn't willing to bother, and will end up deferring to someone in New York anyway.
At least I got to make snide comments about you in Japanese to my coworkers, right under your nose.
zen
Just finished Brad's latest book. It was of course most excellent, especially the parts where he calls me a "sword master" and a "tough guy". I love it!
The flooding of my apartment figures reasonably prominently as well, so it's like I'm basically famous now.
Therefore please click on the link to the right and buy the book. In quantity.
Actually reading the book and writing about reading the book on my blog are just excuses to avoid doing my daily zazen, which as I'm sure you've figured out already is really. boring.
However something must be happening because the other day Tonchan grabbed the tiny zafu (ass cushion) that found it's way into the living room and sat on it and said "Papa, this one...like this" and tried to cross her legs and I had one of those Dad Moments.
Not one of those Dad Moments when you think "Wow, my lovely little daughter is learning and growing!"
But one of those Dad Moments when you think "Holy crap! Was she watching me pick my nose when I was brushing my teeth that one time too?!"
Speaking of teeth, I got mine cleaned this morning. I have already mentioned numerous times (about every six months for the past 12 years I think) how awesome my dentist be.* Turns out they just (well in the last six months at least) remodelled the tiny reception area to the tiny dentist office. It is now all cool modern wafu, with traditional wall-paper patterns in soothing colors and all quite tasteful. Yeah, my dentist kicks ass.
* For those dangling grammar police who prefer "how awesome be my dentist" I can only quote Churchill: "Ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put. "
The flooding of my apartment figures reasonably prominently as well, so it's like I'm basically famous now.
Therefore please click on the link to the right and buy the book. In quantity.
Actually reading the book and writing about reading the book on my blog are just excuses to avoid doing my daily zazen, which as I'm sure you've figured out already is really. boring.
However something must be happening because the other day Tonchan grabbed the tiny zafu (ass cushion) that found it's way into the living room and sat on it and said "Papa, this one...like this" and tried to cross her legs and I had one of those Dad Moments.
Not one of those Dad Moments when you think "Wow, my lovely little daughter is learning and growing!"
But one of those Dad Moments when you think "Holy crap! Was she watching me pick my nose when I was brushing my teeth that one time too?!"
Speaking of teeth, I got mine cleaned this morning. I have already mentioned numerous times (about every six months for the past 12 years I think) how awesome my dentist be.* Turns out they just (well in the last six months at least) remodelled the tiny reception area to the tiny dentist office. It is now all cool modern wafu, with traditional wall-paper patterns in soothing colors and all quite tasteful. Yeah, my dentist kicks ass.
* For those dangling grammar police who prefer "how awesome be my dentist" I can only quote Churchill: "Ending a sentence with a preposition is something up with which I will not put. "
20 minutes
Hit the dojo tonight for about 20 minutes. Just jumped into an ongoing class and went through a few kata. Did about 3 minutes of teaching. Nice to do my own mellow training for a bit. Lately I have no patience with myself. And if there is anyone else in the dojo, invariably I am asked to teach. Much prefer the dojo to be empty when I want to practice, otherwise I really get nothing done. *sigh*, that's how it is these days.
singing abc
singing abc
Originally uploaded by renfield
She got her rhythm from her dad and her voice from her mom. Don't ask why she's wearing an apron: I have no idea.
french fries
french fries
Originally uploaded by renfield
Spent the day shopping with mama and tonchan. We hit Tokyu Hands in Shibuya and then bought a bunch of quilting material at the cloth store for the new baby quilt. Skull and bones -- love it!
Then went upstairs and had lunch upstairs at TGIFs. Tonchan has been snuffling all weekend, her nose running just as fast as her little feet. She didn't have much of an appetite but with a pile of ketchup she did some damage to her fries.
Then we walked up through Aoyama, Ton happily dozing in the stroller...until we got down to Nishi Azabu crossing and some truck with a monster speaker blaring it's cheap trash collection and moving services at 150 decibels woke her up. We headed up to Roppongi Hills for a 'Bucks break, then hit the slide park and came home.
Mama made a mountain of potato pancakes that we had with steak and apple sauce. Tonchalizer liked the potato pancakes but still wasn't so hungry so she only nibbled a bit and chomped a couple bits of steak.
She doesn't have a fever but is sniffling and snuffling so we suspect it'll be a nice cold in a day or two...or she'll blow it onto a friend at school and pick up an even more pleasant virus!
tonchan directs
tonchan directs
Originally uploaded by renfield
I think she likes the music classes at school. Here Tonchan directs P and baba in a rousing chorus of "ABC". She's got more rhythm than I, and whenever baba sings she says "Shhh! No quiet please!" so she's got a decent ear for music, too.
playing with layla
playing with layla
Originally uploaded by renfield
This bodes well: Ton loves having a little kid around. She wakes in the morning and the first thing she asks is "Baby?" If she hears Layla crying she goes into the guest room and gives her a toy and jumps around trying to make her laugh. I only hope she is this nice when it's her own mom's baby, not some other random lady's kid who is staying down the hall for a week.
fruit dessert
fruit dessert
Originally uploaded by renfield
Took my Finance team out for some supposedly veggie dinner in Roppongi Hills. Ordered the black truffle course, but they were out of black truffles so instead we got...lots of MEAT! I love the vegetarian concept in Japan. Vegetarian = with vegetables. In beef broth. Restaurant was high on style, quality, and price, low on satisfaction and volume. Typical of the 'Hills.
me & mama new sneaks
me & mama new sneaks
Originally uploaded by renfield
On the wayto UR to get mama's hair cut we passed The Cool Sneaker Shop in Urahara. Mama got a fly pair of white sneaks with gold trim, and I took home the ever-stylish orange ZIRA complete with haibiscus logo.
fresh kicks
fresh kicks
Originally uploaded by renfield
shopping in urahara and picked up a pair of sweet orange zira sneaks
baba and chiepon
baba and chiepon
Originally uploaded by renfield
We had soba for lunch before they went off to the Quilt Show and we goofed off around the neighborhood.
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