shichirinya
Originally uploaded by renfield
serious beef.
health check results
[added cholesterol info as requested by dad; not something I am terribly concerned about given my largely Japanese and vegetable-heavy diet]
Let's begin at the end, with a nice, fat WTF?!
Total score: D.
Now let's break it down:
Height/weight: A
I seem to be shrinking about a centimeter a year. Was 168.1 in 2008, 167.3 in 2009, and 166.8 in 2010. I know for a fact my posture is getting better, so I can only assume that I have successfully managed to reduce inefficient and unnecessary extra space in my body, thus making me more compact, dense, and as a result shorter.
Blood work: A
Huh? This is attributed solely to something called bilirubin, which was 0.2 mg/dL higher than normal: "The total bilirubin level was noted to be just midly elevated in the blood test. Since no other abnormalities that go along with it were noted in the liver function test, it might constitutional, i.e. of a genetically-determined trait. No harm will be done at this level of abnormality, and there is no need for you to be nervous about it."
OK, so how about at least a B then? Damn, can't a guy get a break?
Renal function/urinalysis/electrolytes D
Damn! "Blood urea nitrogen, one of the parameters that reflect kidney functions, was noted to be elevated in the blood test. However, the extent of the abnormality at this level may just reflect the fact that food and fluid intake was restricted on the day of the examinations. In other words, mild dehydration might have been the cause of this mild increase in blood urea nitrogen."
Well yeah, I hadn't had anything to eat or drink since 6pm the previous day, a good 15 hours before, as instructed. So I do what I am told, they know that can screw up the results...and I get a D? No love man, no love.
Lipid Metabolism: A
Circulatory System: B
Every year the doctor takes a look at my ECG results and my blood pressure and pulse and says two things:
Upper digestive tract: C
For the first time I did the drink-barium-and-ride-the-roller-coaster-x-ray-machine. I actually kinda enjoyed it, but the results: "Findings suggestive of chronic gastritis (chronic inflammation of the stomach mucous membrane) were noted in the upper gut barium swallow X-ray."
I suspect that is left over from my history of "stomach problems", which thanks to PCP I have largely solved, merely be eating real food that is non-surprisingly easy to digest.
And every now and then, just to remind myself, I binge on greasy, fried onion rings and then feel utterly miserable with multiple trips to the toilet.
So I'll take this C as a legacy issue.
Overall, I am quite happy with the individual results.
Numbers going down (good or bad!):
Let's begin at the end, with a nice, fat WTF?!
Total score: D.
Now let's break it down:
Height/weight: A
I seem to be shrinking about a centimeter a year. Was 168.1 in 2008, 167.3 in 2009, and 166.8 in 2010. I know for a fact my posture is getting better, so I can only assume that I have successfully managed to reduce inefficient and unnecessary extra space in my body, thus making me more compact, dense, and as a result shorter.
Blood work: A
- Cholesterol
- total = 184 mg/dL
- LDL = 91 mg/dL
- HDL = 84 mg/dL
Huh? This is attributed solely to something called bilirubin, which was 0.2 mg/dL higher than normal: "The total bilirubin level was noted to be just midly elevated in the blood test. Since no other abnormalities that go along with it were noted in the liver function test, it might constitutional, i.e. of a genetically-determined trait. No harm will be done at this level of abnormality, and there is no need for you to be nervous about it."
OK, so how about at least a B then? Damn, can't a guy get a break?
Renal function/urinalysis/electrolytes D
Damn! "Blood urea nitrogen, one of the parameters that reflect kidney functions, was noted to be elevated in the blood test. However, the extent of the abnormality at this level may just reflect the fact that food and fluid intake was restricted on the day of the examinations. In other words, mild dehydration might have been the cause of this mild increase in blood urea nitrogen."
Well yeah, I hadn't had anything to eat or drink since 6pm the previous day, a good 15 hours before, as instructed. So I do what I am told, they know that can screw up the results...and I get a D? No love man, no love.
Lipid Metabolism: A
Circulatory System: B
Every year the doctor takes a look at my ECG results and my blood pressure and pulse and says two things:
- "You have a VERY low heart rate...you a marathon runner?" I got the low pulse from my dad, and now that I am actually running 3-4 times a week, it's even lower. My typical standing heart rate is in the low 50s.
The comment was, again: "sinus bradycardia" - [looks at ECG results...scratches chin...looks at me...looks at results again...] "You...ever been diagnosed with or treated for a heart condition?" When I was in high school I was told I had nonclassic mitral valve prolapse. I was also told there wasn't a damn thing to be done about it, and it would either kill me, or it wouldn't.
I guess I went for option #3: confuse my health check ECG results every year.
Upper digestive tract: C
For the first time I did the drink-barium-and-ride-the-roller-coaster-x-ray-machine. I actually kinda enjoyed it, but the results: "Findings suggestive of chronic gastritis (chronic inflammation of the stomach mucous membrane) were noted in the upper gut barium swallow X-ray."
I suspect that is left over from my history of "stomach problems", which thanks to PCP I have largely solved, merely be eating real food that is non-surprisingly easy to digest.
And every now and then, just to remind myself, I binge on greasy, fried onion rings and then feel utterly miserable with multiple trips to the toilet.
So I'll take this C as a legacy issue.
Overall, I am quite happy with the individual results.
Numbers going down (good or bad!):
- Blood pressure: 108/57 (128/68 last year, 137/72 the year before that)
- Weight: 64.8 kilos (73.2 last year)
- Height: 166.8 (167.3 last year, 168.1 the year before that)
obon weekend
Took Friday off and got on the Tsukuba Express with the posse to jiji and baba's for a weekend of non-stop eating, with the occasional break to pay respects to dead ancestors.
Mighty Mo picked just the right weekend to master the word "jiji" so he had grandpa at his beck and call all weekend. Ton got to play with Hana-chan across the road and managed to survive getting absolutely eaten by mosquitoes all weekend.
Highlight was definitely the awesome old-school shaved ice at Yamagen.
Bummer was my hay-fever / allergies catching up with me, sneezing/sniffling through Sunday and skipping the visit to the Tsukuba graves. Also bending my thumbnail whilst unfolding the stroller sucked, too, but at least the searing pain made me forget about my nose for a bit.
And it was the last time we would ever ride in jiji's old & busted. The New Hotness is being picked up this week, so when we are back from SF in early September, the next time we head to the homestead we will be cruising in style!
Mighty Mo picked just the right weekend to master the word "jiji" so he had grandpa at his beck and call all weekend. Ton got to play with Hana-chan across the road and managed to survive getting absolutely eaten by mosquitoes all weekend.
Highlight was definitely the awesome old-school shaved ice at Yamagen.
Bummer was my hay-fever / allergies catching up with me, sneezing/sniffling through Sunday and skipping the visit to the Tsukuba graves. Also bending my thumbnail whilst unfolding the stroller sucked, too, but at least the searing pain made me forget about my nose for a bit.
And it was the last time we would ever ride in jiji's old & busted. The New Hotness is being picked up this week, so when we are back from SF in early September, the next time we head to the homestead we will be cruising in style!
cleaning the ohaka for obon
cleaning the ohaka for obon
Originally uploaded by renfield
This is actually the Tokyo Yamamoto gravestone - from one of the nephews of Honke (the main Kuroda house) who went to Tokyo decades ago. And now they are all dead so Honke takes care of the gravestone.
earphones
So running 4-5 times a week, generally early in the morning, before it gets too hot and humid. Having music is a big help, actually. Especially the kickin' tracks assembled by DJ Dasterdly Daboo.
Problem is listening device.
The Bose headphones sound great and are really comfortable, but they are too big and cumbersome for running.
My Shure sound-isolating earphones are TOO good: they block ALL ambient sound so I can't hear traffic around me; sketchy dangerous.
The Bang & Olufson A8 earphones look cool and sound great, but don't fit my ears very well -- the clamp doesn't hold onto my ear when I run, and the earpiece itself is too big to wedge comfortably into my ear and keep it there.
So I need suggestions for decent, small, comfortable earphones to wear whilst running, that do NOT block out all ambient noise. Don't care about dynamic range; I am listening to ripped MP3 and AAC4 tracks whilst running and paying attention to ambient traffic noise, so I don't care about sound quality as much as comfort whilst running.
Suggestions?
Problem is listening device.
The Bose headphones sound great and are really comfortable, but they are too big and cumbersome for running.
My Shure sound-isolating earphones are TOO good: they block ALL ambient sound so I can't hear traffic around me; sketchy dangerous.
The Bang & Olufson A8 earphones look cool and sound great, but don't fit my ears very well -- the clamp doesn't hold onto my ear when I run, and the earpiece itself is too big to wedge comfortably into my ear and keep it there.
So I need suggestions for decent, small, comfortable earphones to wear whilst running, that do NOT block out all ambient noise. Don't care about dynamic range; I am listening to ripped MP3 and AAC4 tracks whilst running and paying attention to ambient traffic noise, so I don't care about sound quality as much as comfort whilst running.
Suggestions?
38 and feelin great
Started the day with an easy 6 kilo run at 6am, then a light breakfast of melon and various fruits.
Killed some time with laundry and other bits and bobs, then took Ton to the park for a bit before meeting P and Mo at French Kitchen in the Grand Hyatt.
It is not the most extensive menu for a brunch buffet, but it is damn tasty! Scallops for an entree, but started by loading up on grilled veggies, tuna tar tar, and fruit salad. Managed to stay away from the dessert tables until round 3, than had to have two small banana fudge brownies doused in fruit cocktail and topped with sprinkles.
Then went on my own to Aoyama for a metrosexual 2 hours of manicure and pedicure luxury. Also went for the option head-massage, too, because dammit I am worth it.
Checked out the latest Ferrari at the dealership downstairs, then headed home for a carbo-loading of whole wheat pasta with tomato and egg-plant sauce.
Health check is on Friday, so for the next 4 days it's all fruit and veggies, no carbs, lotsa cardio. Yes, that is cheating, but I have to cheat since they weigh me fully clothed at the clinic, so that's like a kilo right there!
Killed some time with laundry and other bits and bobs, then took Ton to the park for a bit before meeting P and Mo at French Kitchen in the Grand Hyatt.
It is not the most extensive menu for a brunch buffet, but it is damn tasty! Scallops for an entree, but started by loading up on grilled veggies, tuna tar tar, and fruit salad. Managed to stay away from the dessert tables until round 3, than had to have two small banana fudge brownies doused in fruit cocktail and topped with sprinkles.
Then went on my own to Aoyama for a metrosexual 2 hours of manicure and pedicure luxury. Also went for the option head-massage, too, because dammit I am worth it.
Checked out the latest Ferrari at the dealership downstairs, then headed home for a carbo-loading of whole wheat pasta with tomato and egg-plant sauce.
Health check is on Friday, so for the next 4 days it's all fruit and veggies, no carbs, lotsa cardio. Yes, that is cheating, but I have to cheat since they weigh me fully clothed at the clinic, so that's like a kilo right there!
happy birthday to me!
happy birthday to me!
Originally uploaded by renfield
38 years old, peak condition!
66 kilos, 15% body fat.
routine
Wake at 5am, sit. It is already hot. Usually sit for about 20 minutes. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Don't really time it, just sit until I am done sitting.
Sometimes I am so sleepy and I totally zone out. Sometimes I just get more and more awake until I jump up off the cushion.
3-4 days a week I go for a run. I am really, really liking running. I change up the course I run; usually do 3-4 kilos one day, followed by 6-7 kilos the following run.
I run slowly; takes me 30 minutes to do 4 kilos, 45 minutes for 7. Low impact on the joints, thin-soled shoes, lots of back and shoulder movement coordinated with my hips, steady pace up or down hill, no massive heart-rate spiking and gasping for air. But it is already plenty hot and I does me some sweating.
Back at home, some exercising. Recently been into pull-ups. Read an interesting article about how most people can't do pull-ups because they don't do pull-ups. Duh. I discovered this, too.
When I started PCP I could barely do a couple, now I can do many more.
Recently I knock out sets of 3 and see how many sets I can do before failure. Up to 6 sets.
Then I do inclined (45 degrees) until my forearms are burning and my abs tingling, about 20 or so.
Sometimes motivated to do other bits, and have recently been doing hand-stand push-ups. I can do a decent head-stand but not a hand-stand, so I do them against a wall. Can do 10 or so, and it's not that my arms and shoulder give out, but spending that long upside down my head feels like a zit about to be popped and I have to put my feet down and get all the blood out of my head.
Seen some videos from gymnasts about working up to a hand-stand to do push-ups...not sure if I have the patience to train myself to balance. But free-standing hand-stand push-ups are on my list of cool-physical-tricks-I'd-like-to-do, right up there with a standing back-flip. Some day.
Finally, I finish off with the good old 8 Minute Abs: "Come on, guys!" Never gets old, and still burns nicely so it's doing some good.
Past couple of mornings it has been raining a bit, which is actually quite nice weather for running; at least it's not so hot, and there is usually a good breeze. Plus I am all sweaty anyway so don't mind being wet. Running in my TerraPlana Dharmas; nice thin sole and wide toe-box so they're great. I ordered a pair of TerraPlana's running shoe: Evo, but they were too big so I sent back for an exchange and it's been...forever. Need to contact them and see if I'm ever getting my shoes.
Really love TerraPlana; were them at least five days a week. Really helpful to be able to feel the ground properly, and not have a heel in the way messing up my stride and balance.
I think compared to 2 years ago I have fundamentally changed my posture, walking, and now running. For the better or not, no idea, but I do much, much walking, often pushing a stroller or carrying some gear and/or child, and I can certainly walk all day and not worry much. My feet will be tired after walking 15 kilos or so all day, but that's to be expected and it's not damage pain; so far my joints have been ok. So I assume my use-of-body is actually quite efficient and low-impact. Maybe in a couple of years my toes will fall off or something, but for now, especially carrying less weight, it's all good.
Speaking of which, I am stabilized at about 67 kilos; sometimes touch 68 after a massive breakfast, sometimes 66 after a big workout. 2 kilo swing is no big deal; water/sweat/urine can cause that much swing in a day. I think body-fat is around 15%, though not sure how accurate my cheapy home scale is, and I don't actually weigh myself frequently enough to get a good baseline. I just look in the mirror: Abs visible? OK. Love handles sticking out too much? Not OK.
For breakfast I am usually doing a nice 7-grain fig bagel, some veggies with 2 eggs, and a fruit blendy; whatever is in the house. This morning it was: carrot, banana, blueberries, plum, peach, and half an avocado. Need to get more mangoes! And passion fruit. Plus the Mighty Mo LOVES the blender. He'll sit up on the counter and help me put stuff in the blender, then smiles and claps at the noise when it blends. I give him the first taste, and if he approves, I give him a small cup and a spoon and he'll sit in his high-chair for 15 minutes getting it mostly all over his face and shirt and the table and the floor and sometimes in his mouth. Keeps him busy while P makes bentos and breakfast and I try to get his sister fed. Plus gets him into the taste of fresh fruit, which can't hurt.
Sometimes I am so sleepy and I totally zone out. Sometimes I just get more and more awake until I jump up off the cushion.
3-4 days a week I go for a run. I am really, really liking running. I change up the course I run; usually do 3-4 kilos one day, followed by 6-7 kilos the following run.
I run slowly; takes me 30 minutes to do 4 kilos, 45 minutes for 7. Low impact on the joints, thin-soled shoes, lots of back and shoulder movement coordinated with my hips, steady pace up or down hill, no massive heart-rate spiking and gasping for air. But it is already plenty hot and I does me some sweating.
Back at home, some exercising. Recently been into pull-ups. Read an interesting article about how most people can't do pull-ups because they don't do pull-ups. Duh. I discovered this, too.
When I started PCP I could barely do a couple, now I can do many more.
Recently I knock out sets of 3 and see how many sets I can do before failure. Up to 6 sets.
Then I do inclined (45 degrees) until my forearms are burning and my abs tingling, about 20 or so.
Sometimes motivated to do other bits, and have recently been doing hand-stand push-ups. I can do a decent head-stand but not a hand-stand, so I do them against a wall. Can do 10 or so, and it's not that my arms and shoulder give out, but spending that long upside down my head feels like a zit about to be popped and I have to put my feet down and get all the blood out of my head.
Seen some videos from gymnasts about working up to a hand-stand to do push-ups...not sure if I have the patience to train myself to balance. But free-standing hand-stand push-ups are on my list of cool-physical-tricks-I'd-like-to-do, right up there with a standing back-flip. Some day.
Finally, I finish off with the good old 8 Minute Abs: "Come on, guys!" Never gets old, and still burns nicely so it's doing some good.
Past couple of mornings it has been raining a bit, which is actually quite nice weather for running; at least it's not so hot, and there is usually a good breeze. Plus I am all sweaty anyway so don't mind being wet. Running in my TerraPlana Dharmas; nice thin sole and wide toe-box so they're great. I ordered a pair of TerraPlana's running shoe: Evo, but they were too big so I sent back for an exchange and it's been...forever. Need to contact them and see if I'm ever getting my shoes.
Really love TerraPlana; were them at least five days a week. Really helpful to be able to feel the ground properly, and not have a heel in the way messing up my stride and balance.
I think compared to 2 years ago I have fundamentally changed my posture, walking, and now running. For the better or not, no idea, but I do much, much walking, often pushing a stroller or carrying some gear and/or child, and I can certainly walk all day and not worry much. My feet will be tired after walking 15 kilos or so all day, but that's to be expected and it's not damage pain; so far my joints have been ok. So I assume my use-of-body is actually quite efficient and low-impact. Maybe in a couple of years my toes will fall off or something, but for now, especially carrying less weight, it's all good.
Speaking of which, I am stabilized at about 67 kilos; sometimes touch 68 after a massive breakfast, sometimes 66 after a big workout. 2 kilo swing is no big deal; water/sweat/urine can cause that much swing in a day. I think body-fat is around 15%, though not sure how accurate my cheapy home scale is, and I don't actually weigh myself frequently enough to get a good baseline. I just look in the mirror: Abs visible? OK. Love handles sticking out too much? Not OK.
For breakfast I am usually doing a nice 7-grain fig bagel, some veggies with 2 eggs, and a fruit blendy; whatever is in the house. This morning it was: carrot, banana, blueberries, plum, peach, and half an avocado. Need to get more mangoes! And passion fruit. Plus the Mighty Mo LOVES the blender. He'll sit up on the counter and help me put stuff in the blender, then smiles and claps at the noise when it blends. I give him the first taste, and if he approves, I give him a small cup and a spoon and he'll sit in his high-chair for 15 minutes getting it mostly all over his face and shirt and the table and the floor and sometimes in his mouth. Keeps him busy while P makes bentos and breakfast and I try to get his sister fed. Plus gets him into the taste of fresh fruit, which can't hurt.
3 hours
Things that 3 hours is:
- Enough time to watch a movie
- A good long workout in the dojo, including changing and smack-talking before and after
- Enough sleep
shrimp and scallop lunch
shrimp and scallop lunch
Originally uploaded by renfield
Awesomeness at a little place near P's office.
Yet another reason I love Japan: fried shrimp heads with pink tar-tar sauce.
discipline
My discipline starts of great in the morning and goes downhill from there.
I get up every morning at 5am. First thing I do is sit on the cushion. No set time; sometimes 10 minutes, sometimes 30. Just depends what kind of mood I am in.
Then I either go for a run (Mon/Wed/Fri) or grab the jump rope, turn on the NHK morning news, and jump for 15 minutes.
Back from the run (30-45 minutes, depending on distance) or after the jumps, the TV goes off and I exercise.
I try to do different muscle groups every morning and not hit the same group two days in a row. So this morning I did shoulders and back; lots of pull-ups and variations thereof, hand-stand push-ups (against a wall: I still cannot balance in a hand-stand. Yet!), etc.
Abs I do every day, usually 8 Minute Abs. Today I did a 2 minute plank just to warm up and remind myself how miserable planks are.
Yesterday was chest so I did dips and push-ups. Running and jumping takes care of my legs just fine, but maybe once a week I'll throw in some squats (100 or so) and some pistol squats just to keep myself honest.
Breakfast is 3-5 different veggies (today was red onion, garlic, tomato, Chinese cabbage, and eggplant) chopped up and tossed into a pan with a dash of sesame oil and heated a bit, crack in two eggs, cover, and let sit on low flame until the eggs are white with runny yokes.
As that cooks, put a carrot and whatever fruit there is (today was banana, passion fruit, peach, and blueberries) into the blender, dump in a bunch of cinnamon and a little honey, maybe some granola or nuts or cereal, and blend.
Lunch is whatever steamed veggies I put into the bento, plus whatever protein I had handy (natto, fake crab, tuna in water, etc.) and maybe something for fun like kimchee or leftover veggies that Hiroko made for dinner.
Dinner is same as lunch, just a bit less. Recently have not really been focused on carbs much. Will throw some in the blender in the morning, or maybe toast a bagel or something, but don't bother with carbs and lunch or dinner. No point in getting filled up on rice when there's veggies and protein to eat!
I snack on fruit, and if I am out of fruit I cruise up the street to the supermarket and load up. I eat lots of fruit. Lots. Monday I bought a bunch of bananas (five), four figs, three bunches of grapes, and four red apples. Gone by Wednesday.
No fruit on my desk today, and totally crushed my meat allocation this week by having yakiniku followed by Brazillian all-u-can-eat, so today I had not one but TWO fraps from bucks (new flavor: yuzu green tea!) and snacked on junk food at a small gathering to say farewell to a co-worker repatriating back to London.
Will finish off the day with some properly greasy Chinese food...and then get up tomorrow at five AM and do a nice big 7 kilo run. Which won't actually make up for all the debauchery, but is just enough to alleviate the extraneous guilt.
I get up every morning at 5am. First thing I do is sit on the cushion. No set time; sometimes 10 minutes, sometimes 30. Just depends what kind of mood I am in.
Then I either go for a run (Mon/Wed/Fri) or grab the jump rope, turn on the NHK morning news, and jump for 15 minutes.
Back from the run (30-45 minutes, depending on distance) or after the jumps, the TV goes off and I exercise.
I try to do different muscle groups every morning and not hit the same group two days in a row. So this morning I did shoulders and back; lots of pull-ups and variations thereof, hand-stand push-ups (against a wall: I still cannot balance in a hand-stand. Yet!), etc.
Abs I do every day, usually 8 Minute Abs. Today I did a 2 minute plank just to warm up and remind myself how miserable planks are.
Yesterday was chest so I did dips and push-ups. Running and jumping takes care of my legs just fine, but maybe once a week I'll throw in some squats (100 or so) and some pistol squats just to keep myself honest.
Breakfast is 3-5 different veggies (today was red onion, garlic, tomato, Chinese cabbage, and eggplant) chopped up and tossed into a pan with a dash of sesame oil and heated a bit, crack in two eggs, cover, and let sit on low flame until the eggs are white with runny yokes.
As that cooks, put a carrot and whatever fruit there is (today was banana, passion fruit, peach, and blueberries) into the blender, dump in a bunch of cinnamon and a little honey, maybe some granola or nuts or cereal, and blend.
Lunch is whatever steamed veggies I put into the bento, plus whatever protein I had handy (natto, fake crab, tuna in water, etc.) and maybe something for fun like kimchee or leftover veggies that Hiroko made for dinner.
Dinner is same as lunch, just a bit less. Recently have not really been focused on carbs much. Will throw some in the blender in the morning, or maybe toast a bagel or something, but don't bother with carbs and lunch or dinner. No point in getting filled up on rice when there's veggies and protein to eat!
I snack on fruit, and if I am out of fruit I cruise up the street to the supermarket and load up. I eat lots of fruit. Lots. Monday I bought a bunch of bananas (five), four figs, three bunches of grapes, and four red apples. Gone by Wednesday.
No fruit on my desk today, and totally crushed my meat allocation this week by having yakiniku followed by Brazillian all-u-can-eat, so today I had not one but TWO fraps from bucks (new flavor: yuzu green tea!) and snacked on junk food at a small gathering to say farewell to a co-worker repatriating back to London.
Will finish off the day with some properly greasy Chinese food...and then get up tomorrow at five AM and do a nice big 7 kilo run. Which won't actually make up for all the debauchery, but is just enough to alleviate the extraneous guilt.
meat
My blog is aptly named, for once.
Been a veritable meat-fest here for the past couple days.
Yesterday I met Salty and we had yakiniku whilst discussing the deep and pressing issues our future in budo. Basic concept: do our own thing, at our own place. All in due time. More details later.
Then tonight I met Kobayashi for all-u-can-eat goodness at Barbacoa. It was a serious meat overload, but then again they have an amazing salad bar, so I loaded up on spinach leaf, grilled veggies, mushroom and onions, and of course grilled pineapple and finally some fried banana.
Been a veritable meat-fest here for the past couple days.
Yesterday I met Salty and we had yakiniku whilst discussing the deep and pressing issues our future in budo. Basic concept: do our own thing, at our own place. All in due time. More details later.
Then tonight I met Kobayashi for all-u-can-eat goodness at Barbacoa. It was a serious meat overload, but then again they have an amazing salad bar, so I loaded up on spinach leaf, grilled veggies, mushroom and onions, and of course grilled pineapple and finally some fried banana.
sesshin
Had our yearly sesshin at Tokei-in in Shizuoka this past weekend.
Small group this time, only 9 people. Was much quieter and a bit easier; fewer people to serve so the meals went quicker, and less cross-banter than we usually get with 20 people.
Saw some old faces and some new, and had a really zen moment:
Was drinking my tea out of my rice bowl at the end of dinner on Saturday, and I saw my reflection in the tea as I tilted the cup to take a drink.
"Aha!" I thought. "That is just a reflection of me...but I am just a reflection of it. We are both the real me. Dude, check me out I am ENLIGHTENED!"
And I was generally feeling quite full of myself for making such an intellectual connection with the universe and reality...and then I continued to tilt the bowl to sip the tea, and though I could still see myself reflected in the tea, as the bottom of the bowl came into view, I could see myself reflected there, too.
Now there were two reflections of me, plus me. That's three of me. Brain overload, Buddhist-ego crumbling, pre-conceived notions shattered, dominant paradigms subverted.
I almost cried...or at least got really, really scared and nervous for a second. Like I had just pulled that last thread holding the sweater together, and the whole thing just unravels.
But actually I just drank the tea, enjoying the warmth as is went down my throat, and got over it.
Small group this time, only 9 people. Was much quieter and a bit easier; fewer people to serve so the meals went quicker, and less cross-banter than we usually get with 20 people.
Saw some old faces and some new, and had a really zen moment:
Was drinking my tea out of my rice bowl at the end of dinner on Saturday, and I saw my reflection in the tea as I tilted the cup to take a drink.
"Aha!" I thought. "That is just a reflection of me...but I am just a reflection of it. We are both the real me. Dude, check me out I am ENLIGHTENED!"
And I was generally feeling quite full of myself for making such an intellectual connection with the universe and reality...and then I continued to tilt the bowl to sip the tea, and though I could still see myself reflected in the tea, as the bottom of the bowl came into view, I could see myself reflected there, too.
Now there were two reflections of me, plus me. That's three of me. Brain overload, Buddhist-ego crumbling, pre-conceived notions shattered, dominant paradigms subverted.
I almost cried...or at least got really, really scared and nervous for a second. Like I had just pulled that last thread holding the sweater together, and the whole thing just unravels.
But actually I just drank the tea, enjoying the warmth as is went down my throat, and got over it.
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