Did some cutting this evening. Tried a slightly more doable draw, using both hands to turnover the sword and saya just as the sword is free, theoretically making it easier to grip properly as soon as the blade is out.
I still can't cut for beans though. Here's tonight's excuse: it was damn cold, near freezing outside, and the targets were hard and cold. Yeah, that must have been it.
I'm starting to wonder if I was ever able to cut...I sort of distinctly remember being able to cut much better when I thought about what I was doing considerably less. But now all I do is remember how bad my form was (is), and now I can't cut at all.
When in doubt, blame the equipment. Besides cold, hard targets, I should have a new sword sometime this month, so that'll give me something to anew.
pramulator
Dude, I wanna have kids just as an excuse to push them around in The Pramulator! Actually, forget the kids, I wanna ride! Jorge, I command thee to buy one! Emi might be too big, but Maya will love it!
high school morons
Just as I've always suspected: the average high school kid in the US is a total moron. Thanks to a stunningly inconsistent education system bolstered by pop news media, I predict first amendment rights will go the way of Guantanamo Bay, but sales of spinner hubcaps and baggy jeans will continue to climb in lockstep with oil prices.
relax
Jujitsu practice at Shinbukan. Which means we spent the whole time playing "humans can't really do that?!" games. Push without pushing, pull without pulling, step without using your feet. Frustratingly fun.
Got home hungry and Hiroko and I chowed down a big pot of fish and veggies whilst watching a tv special on greedy oil-futures trading hedge fund bastards and the millions of dollars they make.
Got home hungry and Hiroko and I chowed down a big pot of fish and veggies whilst watching a tv special on greedy oil-futures trading hedge fund bastards and the millions of dollars they make.
ebisu date
Hiroko and I did some shopping for basic supplies at National Azabu, and given that the weather was sunny and not too cold, we decided to head over to Ebisu. We got lunch at Ippudo and walked over to Ebisu Prime Square. They were shooting a TV show or something, so there were camera crews and equipment trucks and gawkers all over the place. We went into B&B Italia to check out the cool, overpriced furniture. They have Jorge's awesome Charles couch. Would never fit in my living room, but damn it's a fine piece of furniture.
We then hit the Atre shopping mall at the station, bought a pot for the bamboo plant in the bathroom, looked at cool luggage and wallets, and relaxed with a 'bucks as the weather turned drizzly.
We then hit the Atre shopping mall at the station, bought a pot for the bamboo plant in the bathroom, looked at cool luggage and wallets, and relaxed with a 'bucks as the weather turned drizzly.
full workout
Gosoke ran us through all 28 kata tonight. I haven't done them all in forever. I quickly forgot how cold it was in the dojo as we tore through the first 15 in an hour. Next hour we did the last 13, and by the end my back and shoulders were pretty sore. It was good to go through them all, though. I haven't reviewed them in detail for a while.
After practice Gosoke and I went to Ninjin for the standard dinner: sweet & sour pork, chili prawns, gyoza. I was really tired and almost fell asleep on the train, but managed to make it home and plunged straight into the bath.
After practice Gosoke and I went to Ninjin for the standard dinner: sweet & sour pork, chili prawns, gyoza. I was really tired and almost fell asleep on the train, but managed to make it home and plunged straight into the bath.
socratic logic for the boardroom
Complete this logic proof:
1) CEO and Board are responsible for shareholder value.
2) Stock price has been stagnating/declining for years.
3) ?
(Here's a hint.)
1) CEO and Board are responsible for shareholder value.
2) Stock price has been stagnating/declining for years.
3) ?
(Here's a hint.)
dinner with amy
Had dinner in Hiroo with Amy and her Rudick parentals.
Damn but she is one cute little thing. Like most 2 year-olds, though, she does not stop moving. Ever. Well maybe she sleeps really soundly or something, but when she's awake, she's all over the place. Her giggles will melt your heart, but her cries will bring you to tears. There must be some explanation in quantum mechanics or something; how is something so small capable of generating so many decibals at will?
spin state
Chirs Moriarty's debut novel is a damn fine piece of sci-fi. Got just enough cyberpunk edge to keep it thumping, but also a strong undercurrent of almost plausible quantum physics, believable characters, and a good plot. I hope she writes more.
shinjuku revenge
Totally overcast and damn cold, but Hiroko and I braved the weather to head to Shinjuku. First we checked out the annual Actus sale. It was (not) surprisingly over-priced designer furniture and homestuff, more for looking at than actually using/sitting in. Porada is the worst. Stunnigly slick curved wood Italian design chairs and tables, absolutely none of which are worthy of use by mere mortals. Chairs bite into the spine, couches are lumpy, too wide, too low, too hard, made of impractical materials and sorrounded by unnecessary heavy and sharp corners or unwieldy curves that limit usefulness to "my that looks stunning!"
We then set out to find the kaiten (conveyor belt) sushi place that we orginally sought with Jen a couple months ago. We knew it was underground, and after stumbling about in Shinjuku's nether regions we finally found it. And it was good. The fish was fresh and big and thick and delicious. Between the two of us we put down 19 plates, and the total was less than ¥7000.
We then set out to find the kaiten (conveyor belt) sushi place that we orginally sought with Jen a couple months ago. We knew it was underground, and after stumbling about in Shinjuku's nether regions we finally found it. And it was good. The fish was fresh and big and thick and delicious. Between the two of us we put down 19 plates, and the total was less than ¥7000.
okuden naiden
I was the only one in class tonight, so Niina-gosoke ran me through the advanced kata, naiden and okuden. Them is some craziness. Fundamentals are the same, but they've got that some extra that makes them that much more difficult, and interesting.
After class we went to Ninjin (It of the Slippery Floors) and stuffed ourselves on cheap Chinese food. Chili prawns, sweet & sour pork, pot stickers. Miyasawa-kun's new student joined, and Niina-gosoke wanted to eat Tanmen (ramen) but couldn't eat a whole one, so he split it with her, despite her protests. Naturally, she ended up finishing it off, so I immediately gave her the unpleasant nickname "Tanmen-chan." I guarantee it will stick. I have that kinda magic.
After class we went to Ninjin (It of the Slippery Floors) and stuffed ourselves on cheap Chinese food. Chili prawns, sweet & sour pork, pot stickers. Miyasawa-kun's new student joined, and Niina-gosoke wanted to eat Tanmen (ramen) but couldn't eat a whole one, so he split it with her, despite her protests. Naturally, she ended up finishing it off, so I immediately gave her the unpleasant nickname "Tanmen-chan." I guarantee it will stick. I have that kinda magic.
not even close
Shock! Haven't really tried cutting in while, I mean on my own, for my own sake. I tried several half-rolls, slow and deliberate. Total disaster. Then again it is to be expected, for two reasons:
1) I have significantly changed the way I draw and cut. No windup, not overdone follow-through; just straight and clean to the target. Naturally, I'm no good, so it doesn't work.
2) My cutter is just too different than my iai sword. I'm used to draw a sword that's slightly longer, has far more curve, and different balance. Using my cutter is just totally throwing me off. Next month I should get my custom-forged, and I'll use it for both cutting and iai. Of course, it being a totally new sword with a different weight, balance, and size, it will probably take me another 3 months to get used to it.
So this year the theme is 'back to square one', every time I start.
1) I have significantly changed the way I draw and cut. No windup, not overdone follow-through; just straight and clean to the target. Naturally, I'm no good, so it doesn't work.
2) My cutter is just too different than my iai sword. I'm used to draw a sword that's slightly longer, has far more curve, and different balance. Using my cutter is just totally throwing me off. Next month I should get my custom-forged, and I'll use it for both cutting and iai. Of course, it being a totally new sword with a different weight, balance, and size, it will probably take me another 3 months to get used to it.
So this year the theme is 'back to square one', every time I start.
this isn't what i wanted!
There are a series of robot toys called "Kore jyanai Robo!" ("This isn't what I wanted Robot!")
You've got the female, the enemy, and the hero.
According to the explanation:
You've got the female, the enemy, and the hero.
According to the explanation:
How many times has the magic of Christmas morning been broken by a child tearing open a wrapped present only to explain "This isn't what I wanted!"Absolute genius. Collect the whole set!
But life ain't so simple that you can just get whatever you want without taking any risk. Isn't it worth teaching that in order to get what you want, you have to be willing to earn it, to sacrifice? This toy teaches the harshness of reality by inflicting such trauma with its blatant not-wantedness that any child will surely learn this lesson.
Consider it an educational toy.
more joys of japanese banking
I discovered a long-forgotten bank book and ATM card for my old Asahi Bank account. Last entry in the book said over ¥100,000, so I went down to the main Shibuya branch at lunch. Asahi is now Resona; yellow has been replaced by green, and the old bank uniforms seem to have been replaced by a casual dress policy as all the cashiers appeared to be wearing whatever the hell they wanted.
Standing at the counter in front of a big sign that said
And not once was I asked for any form of identification.
(Note: round-trip train fare = ¥380. Subtract ¥179 and I net lost ¥201.)
Standing at the counter in front of a big sign that said
"For Your Safety: In order to protect the important assets of our customers, we will require a valid photo identification for all withdrawal requests. Sorry for the inconveniece."I produced my ancient ATM card and bankbook, and in a few moments I was told that the remaining balance was, in fact...¥179! So I said I'd like to withdraw the money and close the account. I produced my hanko (seal) and in a few moments the account was emptied and closed, I had a pocketful of change.
And not once was I asked for any form of identification.
(Note: round-trip train fare = ¥380. Subtract ¥179 and I net lost ¥201.)
post rain sunset
Sometimes, usually after the rain, Tokyo is damn near beautiful. After a weekend of freezing rain, the winter air is crisp, cold, and clear. Everyone calls Japan the land of the rising sun, but the sunsets from my 20th floor office window ain't too shabby.
shinnen keikokai
We had our Official First Practice of the year. Miserably cold, rainy weather. But not cold enough to turn into snow. Nasty stuff, but practice was at Toritsudai; a wonderfully new and warm gym in the Meguro Citizen's Center.
Niina-gosoke ran everyone through basic practice in the morning, and then in the afternoon we broke into groups and I had the upper ranks. We drilled for a couple of hours on various details of the kata. Spent a bit of time pairing folks up to figure out where they're really aiming, what distance is reasonable, and other things that are tough to figure out on one's own.
By the end of the day I was pretty fried and tired, considering I got up at 7 and had to go to Honbu first thing in the morning to get my stuff and then trek all the way across Tokyo.
Yoshida-sensei trained in the morning; since she had her kid in March she's been out, but now that the little grommet's gotten to the point where it can roll about, she's going to start practicing again.
After practice I came home and had some udon with hiroko for dinner. Sunday night basic Japanese dinner is practically a religion in our house.
Niina-gosoke ran everyone through basic practice in the morning, and then in the afternoon we broke into groups and I had the upper ranks. We drilled for a couple of hours on various details of the kata. Spent a bit of time pairing folks up to figure out where they're really aiming, what distance is reasonable, and other things that are tough to figure out on one's own.
By the end of the day I was pretty fried and tired, considering I got up at 7 and had to go to Honbu first thing in the morning to get my stuff and then trek all the way across Tokyo.
Yoshida-sensei trained in the morning; since she had her kid in March she's been out, but now that the little grommet's gotten to the point where it can roll about, she's going to start practicing again.
After practice I came home and had some udon with hiroko for dinner. Sunday night basic Japanese dinner is practically a religion in our house.
motivated
Got up early so that I could get to practice in Saitama...but the weather was nasty cold and rainy, and then I called Todd to see what was up, and then I just couldn't bother. So I spent the day playing PS2 whilst Hiroko read and napped on the couch. Ah, rainy Saturday afternoon, how do I love thee.
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