Off to Jackson Hole I go. Ah, the joy of flying US domestic. I shall skip the post-9/11 Security Theater and suffice to say that Chicago Airport is quite lovely, Denver airport is even cooler, and there are far, far too many people wearing cowboy hats.
The Four Seasons, Jackson Hole is right on the slopes, damn big, and pretty sweet, by the way. No boarding today, thanks, I'll just have the Native Stone Massage.
shootin'
Officer Little took us to the police firing range and I got first-hand instruction in a 9mm pistol as well a couple of machine guns. The sten is a nice WW2-era collection of auto parts. Not much aiming involved, just spray bullets at the bad guy. The tommy gun is a piece of Chicago history and I felt like Elliot Ness squirting lead into Prohibition-era baddies. The M-14 is huge and loud and heavy and no fun. The kick is so strong I could barely keep it aimed at the target.
Guns is fun. America is a great country.
do these jeans make me look fat?
Keith picked me up and we met Joanna for brunch at a Swedish diner that used to be funeral home. Nice stained glass. If I knew the Swedish meatballs and potato sausage were that good, I would have ordered nothing else. And DAMN the cinnamon rolls were good. Way, way too much food for any single human to consume in one day let alone one sitting.
Noticing the giant super-sized Vitamin Shoppe down the street I realized: Americans wouldn't need so many supplements and health clubs if they just didn't eat such crap in such ridiculously large quantities. Food is just too cheap in this country, it's silly.
I wanted some jeans (no I don't own a pair of jeans; never really needed them) and failed to purchase jeans in Japan because I'm not an androgynous, skinny little Japanese Boy.
So Keith and I head over to the Gap on the edge of BoyTown. And they have a wall of jeans. Light-dyed, pre-washed, boot cut, easy fit, loose fit, at waist, below waist, slightly below waist, flared, 1969-style, classic cut...can't I just some, y'know, jeans? Like, a pair of jeans? That fit?
Grabbed four different colored, different styled pair of jeans, all the same size, and tried them all on.
Found a pair that sort of fit; at waist, so when I sag them down to below waist to oh-so-fashionably show off my boxers, the crotch is properly mid-way to my knees. Pulling on those below-waist jeans reminds me too much of the wedgies my brother used to give me as a child. No need to relive such trauma in the name of fashion. For whatever reason, classic fit straight leg is baggier than loose fit boot cut. Or something like that. Anyway, $50 bucks and I got a pair of jeans. Hallejulah.
Went downtown and checked out the art museum gift shop. Got a couple of cool art neckties including a Keith Haring wolf-pattern tie, and some toys and stuff for whomever. Then went over to see Miller at his office, checked my mail, and grabbed a caffeinated bevvie before heading back to the dojo to do some cutting.
Miller showed up as we were setting up, and we got to it. Keith was using the cutters Neeley left at the dojo from last time, and Miller was using his Nyosudo 'steel iaito that cuts.' And damn, that thing could cut. Great work by all. And I gotta say that kotetsu that Tony hooked up with, that thing cuts like a light saber. I wish I could take it back to Japan with me. I have a custom-forged sword coming this month, but if it doesn't cut as well as that badboy, I'm gonna have to figure out how to get that blade to Japan, because it's a beauty and I love it.
After cutting they had an aikido class, and then I ran the iai class. We went late and managed to get through the first 10 kata, pointing out the details for everyone to work on. Most folks still using too much armage to swing, not pushing through with the hips, so that's homework. Noto, too -- gotta slow down and relax, take your time and control the sword at all times.
After class we went to Matsuya to get some Japanese food. I wowed the waitresses with my Japanese, but of course the sushi chef himself was Korean. I love America. Good sashimi, though. Refrigerated shipping is the modern world's greatest invention.
chicago seminar
Joanna and Keith picked me up and we got some good diner breakfast before heading to the dojo. Good turnout; about 20 people for an all-day seminar. Spent the first hour or so just moving and working on the theory of hips, shoulders, centerline. Then we ran though a bunch of basic exercises, basic cuts, lots of detail on each little movement. There were a couple of total beginners who needed lots of TLC, and in general everyone was doing ok.
Took a lunch break and got a burritto, and then continued on with some kata work. Only did a few kata but got really into each one of them; partnering up and drilling through the distance, timing, targeting. The trick is to really see the imaginary enemy in front of you; visualize how he moves, where he is, what he's doing. Hard when you're just standing there by yourself, but necessary.
After the seminar we went down the street to Jeanne's Chinese Food and I got my fill of American sweet & sour pork, broccolli beef, and bbq spareribs. It must be my upbringing, but nothing beats plain old American Chinese food.
Took a lunch break and got a burritto, and then continued on with some kata work. Only did a few kata but got really into each one of them; partnering up and drilling through the distance, timing, targeting. The trick is to really see the imaginary enemy in front of you; visualize how he moves, where he is, what he's doing. Hard when you're just standing there by yourself, but necessary.
After the seminar we went down the street to Jeanne's Chinese Food and I got my fill of American sweet & sour pork, broccolli beef, and bbq spareribs. It must be my upbringing, but nothing beats plain old American Chinese food.
After dinner we went to a cafe in an attempt to stay up a couple more hours so that I could force my system into Chicago Time. Had a damn fine latte and Keith's buddy Little showed some photos from Iraq and promised to take us shooting on the Chicago PD firing range on Tuesday. America's a great country.
united airlines
Nothing finer than flying on a bankrupt airline, eh. Got to Narita early (the bus from the ANA Hotel was flying) and grabbed a haircut and shave before the flight. Fairly painless straight shot into Chicago. At least they had a bento meal for me; I always forget to pre-order and they always run out. Joanna picked me up and we went straight to the dojo. I wasn't lagging too much, so we hung out at the dojo and then I ended up teaching the evening iai class. Couldn't make it after class though and had to get checked into the hotel for some beauty rest.
jenn!
Did a quick cutting demo at honbu tonight, and Jenn in town for a couple days again and Hiroko came by to check it out. After practice we went to Ninjin, like always, with Niina-gosoke, to get some greasy Chinese food: sweet & sour pork, chili prawns, gyoza. So damn good.
ebt reunion
Got the whole gang together at Pizzakaya. Moka engaged, Yuki still getting lost on her motorcycle, Chimi trying to get into fashion, Hani being The Man, Todd giving out baby stuff to Tomo and Spike about to have daughters...
Chimi's got the whole scoop, plus more photos.
it's official
I now work for Bid'ness Management. Actually, I started on Feb. 1 but it took a couple of days to get my head around the whole thing.
So instead of a lonely office I have a desk on the trading floor. I know I was bragging about how cool my office was, with the killer view and all, but it was lonely and boring. Now at least I'm surrounded by noisy traders and CNN and printers and copy machines and orders shouted into phones and ringing dealer boards, and I even speak to and interact with other human beings on a regular basis, both in person and on the phone.
Oh yeah, and I'm way busier now. But that beats the other option, which is unemployment.
So instead of a lonely office I have a desk on the trading floor. I know I was bragging about how cool my office was, with the killer view and all, but it was lonely and boring. Now at least I'm surrounded by noisy traders and CNN and printers and copy machines and orders shouted into phones and ringing dealer boards, and I even speak to and interact with other human beings on a regular basis, both in person and on the phone.
Oh yeah, and I'm way busier now. But that beats the other option, which is unemployment.
sore
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.
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.
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