playing @ appi azabu
Originally uploaded by renfield
new kids facility in azabujyuban is awesome!
tonchan running in muji
tonchan running in muji
Originally uploaded by renfield
Did some wandering and shopping in Ginza; had lunch at Muji Cafe and got Ton some summer clothes. She also spent way too much time at Hakuhinkan toy store checking out the Totoro and Miffy toys and stuffed panda.
sharp sh04a
Finally upgraded my cellphone to something with a half decent camera. Sharp's SH04A sports a proper 5.2 megapixel camera with face and smile detection and all the trimmings. It also aspires to be an iPhone killer, with a beautifully large touch screen. Sadly, it being from Sharp, the interface and OS are expectedly mediocre. However it does sport a full querty keyboard, more than making up for the crappy UI. But seriously, if Sharp (and every other cell phone maker in Japan) hired a proper interface designer and could make the political decisions necessary to remove the 4579 features that are totally unnecessary, then they'd have some kickass phones.
Either way, I am happy I have 7 different ways of calling up the new email screen and I am even happier that I have an all-u-can-eat packet plan, because the browser and OS supports flash, various video formats, and Microsoft docs.
Oh, and I can watch 7 different channels of digital broadcast TV. In surround sound.
Either way, I am happy I have 7 different ways of calling up the new email screen and I am even happier that I have an all-u-can-eat packet plan, because the browser and OS supports flash, various video formats, and Microsoft docs.
Oh, and I can watch 7 different channels of digital broadcast TV. In surround sound.
new shirt from baba!
new shirt from baba!
Originally uploaded by renfield
Baba sent this cool newt-shirt, which of course Ton would not take off and slept in. Here she is post-breakfast, after having dribbled miso soup and bits of egg and ketchup on it. I think she likes the shirt. Thanks baba!
honbu
Managed to stop by Honbu for an hour or so. Salty was just finishing up his kids' class; a mom doing iai and her four kids: two girls and two boys, aged 4-9. As Salty says: "Someone ends up getting hit in the head, someone is laughing, someone is crying...but it's never boring."
After that we put on the head protectors and smacked each other around for a couple of minutes with the foam short swords; neat but not scary enough. Wood is better.
Class then started and there were way too many on the floor, so after doing a couple hundred warm-up cuts, I stepped off, changed, and went back to work to do my regularly scheduled conference call.
After that we put on the head protectors and smacked each other around for a couple of minutes with the foam short swords; neat but not scary enough. Wood is better.
Class then started and there were way too many on the floor, so after doing a couple hundred warm-up cuts, I stepped off, changed, and went back to work to do my regularly scheduled conference call.
head shaving @ kawamura with tonchan
head shaving @ kawamura with tonchan
Originally uploaded by renfield
Ton and P came with me to Barber Kawamura to see if we could cut Ton's hair. We couldn't. But I got a nice shave and Ton was relatively well-behaved checking out all the cool kit, playing with the blinds and sitting on all the chairs.
lunch @ crayon house: cold!
lunch @ crayon house: cold!
Originally uploaded by renfield
Lunch at Crayon House. Awesomely wholesome, healthy, organic buffet. However everyone else in Tokyo with kids had the same Sunday Lunch idea so it was understandably crowded. Wasn't so cold outside, but in the shade it was a bit chilly so we wrapped up the Ton in a nice blanket and poured warm miso soup into her nose.
muji apple juice
muji apple juice
Originally uploaded by renfield
A little shopping in Shibuya; hit Muji to get some ladels for the kitchen, took a little apple juice break, then walked up to Omotesando for lunch...
flipping pancakes
flipping pancakes
Originally uploaded by renfield
Tonchan earns her keep by helping to make breakfast. After cracking an egg into a bowl and beating it, she poured in soy milk and pancake mix and mixed it all up. She let P do the actual pancake cooking, but Ton was the pro flipper, launching many a saucer into the air.
dolphin jump
dolphin jump
Originally uploaded by renfield
Since we were alrady in Shinagawa, we headed over to the aquarium and checked out the most excellent dolphin show. Way, way too loud with the stupid music and dancing girls, but the fish were most excellent. Tonchan got a bit freaked out by the music and noise, but watching the dolphins jump and swim was awesome.
icecream dessert @ singapore seafood
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.
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
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