chicago really is windy
My but it IS cold in the Windy City. Endless interviews and lots of work work work, but I managed to get to the dojo last night and workout, and then we hit the nothing-but-quality Lincoln Diner for a turkey burger and heavenly waffle fries.
the ladies
Mom and the girls picked me up we went home where I became an immediate hit by producing stacks of cool Japanese stickers, notebooks, and pens. Food beckoned, so we wandered up the street to get some greasy Chinese take-out and ate it at the park before chasing each other about and playing with massive static electricity from the plastic slides. Do they build them like that on purpose?
The girls were getting restless and downright grubby, so we cruised home for a bath and some jammies before they drove me back to the hotel.
In an attempt to beat jet-lag I spent an hour in the gym and am now entirely ready to pass out. So if you'll excuse me...
The girls were getting restless and downright grubby, so we cruised home for a bath and some jammies before they drove me back to the hotel.
In an attempt to beat jet-lag I spent an hour in the gym and am now entirely ready to pass out. So if you'll excuse me...
san francisco
First things first: ANA is most awesome. Electronic biz class seats that go nearly full flat. Power plug that looks like a regular outlet (no special adapter needed). Brilliant food. Wonderful service. Personal entertainment system with tons of movies. Noise cancelling headphones. Blanket like a sleeping bag.
Silliness: my suitcase checked by the very thorough agents in San Francisco airport, looking for drugs. Drugs?! What kind of a moron smuggles drugs from Tokyo to the USA? Tokyo, whose draconian drug laws are second only to maybe Thailand?
More silliness: the anti-liquid rule. The "no congregrating" announcement by the pilot. The full set of metal cutlery distributed with every in-flight meal. The bottled water available aplenty in-flight, though don't bring your own.
Really silly: An executive suite at the Four Seasons. Damn.
Silliness: my suitcase checked by the very thorough agents in San Francisco airport, looking for drugs. Drugs?! What kind of a moron smuggles drugs from Tokyo to the USA? Tokyo, whose draconian drug laws are second only to maybe Thailand?
More silliness: the anti-liquid rule. The "no congregrating" announcement by the pilot. The full set of metal cutlery distributed with every in-flight meal. The bottled water available aplenty in-flight, though don't bring your own.
Really silly: An executive suite at the Four Seasons. Damn.
oriental voodoo
P is trying some oriental voodoo magic accupuncture. She's got three needles in her back, and two in each ankle. Supposed to relax her, especially the abdomen, giving Tonchan room and freedom to flip out of breech and into position. Hey, whatever works, eh.
similarities
Good turn out in class today, and an interesting discovery, though not surprising: sa and enyo and basically the same kata. Specifically, the sayabiki and the use of the left side of the body are the same. Doesn't matter if you're turning to the left as in sa or turning to the right as in enyo; the effect is the same: get the saya out of the way to get the sword out, don't draw with just the right arm, let the hips do the work.
This is why I think teaching is such a great way to learn: things I think are key and obvious aren't necessarily so for others. So I try to show and explain in a different way, and in doing so I re-discover something. As Gosoke says: "There is only one kata in Mugai."
This is why I think teaching is such a great way to learn: things I think are key and obvious aren't necessarily so for others. So I try to show and explain in a different way, and in doing so I re-discover something. As Gosoke says: "There is only one kata in Mugai."
akiba economics
Took my old and busted iPod (well ok not busted per se, but certainly old as it was bought used, and the battery doesn't hold a charge any more) and sold it at Softmap. Didn't realize that on the 5th, 15th, and 25th of the month they do a special points campaign, so it being Sunday the 15th the used buyback counter was packed. Had to wait four hours, so I wandered to the cool t-shirt shop and back alleys, discovered a couple new robot parts and LED shops, ate some crappy rotator sushi, and watched some digital entertainment at Tower Records before picking up my points.
I then crossed the street to the Softmap Mac store and picked up a brand new 80 gig black video iPod for: zero cash. I had over 45,000 points stored up so I used them all.
I then crossed the street to the Softmap Mac store and picked up a brand new 80 gig black video iPod for: zero cash. I had over 45,000 points stored up so I used them all.
cuttin'
Cutting all day in Honbu; morning session had seven people, and we split the floor with the Beginner's class, which was packed with 15. A little worried about space, but we went one at a time on our side, and the beginners spent most of the time learning how to sit, stand, and bow, so they didn't take up much room.
In the afternoon there were only four of us, and we each went through about 10 targets, plus all the cuttable bits left over from the morning. I cut better than usual, but from shear volume my arm got pretty sore.
In the afternoon there were only four of us, and we each went through about 10 targets, plus all the cuttable bits left over from the morning. I cut better than usual, but from shear volume my arm got pretty sore.
tonchan @ 32 weeks
Tonchan is doing well -- near 2 kilos, and has long legs (where'd those genes come from?) She's still breeched; face buried into the placenta like a nice pillow. If she doesn't flip head down in the next few weeks we'll have to figure out what to do -- might have to do a cesarian which P is understandably not looking forward to.
happy birthday p!
P's birthday, so first things first, I handed over her DS Lite and Brain Training games -- gotta keep her wits sharp now that she's not working in the office anymore!
She went to the newly opened all natural health food store and got some free bread, though she had to battle the grandmas for it.
In the afternoon Mihohoho came back from Boston for a week and needed someone to go with her to see Kabuki, so P went along and they did dinner in Shinbashi whilst I got pummel'd by the Fighting Girls. Wednesday seems to be my Day of Pain: 45 minutes of non-stop cardio, followed by muscle training (situps, pushups, etc.) and then finally pad/bag work for another hour.
She went to the newly opened all natural health food store and got some free bread, though she had to battle the grandmas for it.
In the afternoon Mihohoho came back from Boston for a week and needed someone to go with her to see Kabuki, so P went along and they did dinner in Shinbashi whilst I got pummel'd by the Fighting Girls. Wednesday seems to be my Day of Pain: 45 minutes of non-stop cardio, followed by muscle training (situps, pushups, etc.) and then finally pad/bag work for another hour.
2 months to go!
Taking full advantage of the last of this 3-day weekend, P and I rearranged the funiture in the bedroom to make it more Ton-chan friendly, including the addition of the Ton-chan Sleep Recepticle.
dali..er, ginza
P and I got motivated to check out the Dali exhibit in Ueno, but I think everyone else in Tokyo had the same idea, given the 3-day weekend and perfect post-typhoon weather. It was mad packed, with a line that looped the park.
So we bagged it and walked up and down Ameyoko for a bit, then got back on the Yamanote and headed to Ginza. Much nicer to walk around there and it was fairly uncrowded.
Ultimately had lunch at TGIF's and then I headed to the dojo for some extra cutting with a few of the guys and gals.
So we bagged it and walked up and down Ameyoko for a bit, then got back on the Yamanote and headed to Ginza. Much nicer to walk around there and it was fairly uncrowded.
Ultimately had lunch at TGIF's and then I headed to the dojo for some extra cutting with a few of the guys and gals.
typhoon...and chips
LL's last day in Tokyo before she's off to London, and mad mad typhoon rain, so I skipped the dojo and headed down to Dubliner's for some farewell bevvies and chicken and chips, and fish and chips, and ... chips.
Nothing finer than a big, fried, potato-like structure, hot and smothered in ketchup.
Nothing finer than a big, fried, potato-like structure, hot and smothered in ketchup.
take the skinhead bowling!
Work's yearly Bowling Night! I missed last time, so I was definitely in. We engaged in The Sport Of Kings at Tokyo Dome's Yellow Building 5th Floor bowling lanes (just up from th off-track betting.)
I bowled okay, considering how long it has been since the weekly league back in Munster, Indiana when I was 5. First game 135, second game 137.
Managed to come away with the team win, as my partners in crime managed to stay out of the gutter and throw only one open frame the second game (for individual 3rd place) respectively.
But such glory is not without sacrifice!
After such a brutal workout in the dojo on Wednesday (45 minutes non-stop with the music cranked, then situps, back arches, and pushups for another 10, then a final hour of target kicking) I was already sore, and lofting an 11-pounder at the pins for an hour just finished me right off.
I bowled okay, considering how long it has been since the weekly league back in Munster, Indiana when I was 5. First game 135, second game 137.
Managed to come away with the team win, as my partners in crime managed to stay out of the gutter and throw only one open frame the second game (for individual 3rd place) respectively.
But such glory is not without sacrifice!
After such a brutal workout in the dojo on Wednesday (45 minutes non-stop with the music cranked, then situps, back arches, and pushups for another 10, then a final hour of target kicking) I was already sore, and lofting an 11-pounder at the pins for an hour just finished me right off.
monja
Daboo and N3i came back from Kansai and we had monja and okonomiyaki for dinner. They fly home tomorrow and definitely need to come back to Japan soon to hang out with Ton-chan!
baby stuff and bag
P and I went to Akachan Honpo (kinda like a Japanese Kids 'R Us) and loaded up on kids stuff: crib and all the fixings, bottles and feeding stuff, high chair, blankets, etc. DAMN this parenting is expensive, and this is before the kid is even born and after we got all the other stuff from everyone. I think I'll name my daughter "Money Pit".
After the kid shopping we braved the raining? weather and challenged Shibuya on a Sunday afternoon. Many umbrellas and packed as expected. We headed for Seibu Department Store so that I could finally get a decent replacement for the ratty old REI backpack I've been using for 10 years.
Checked out the cool Paul Smith bags but finally settled on the Tumi Tech Flow messenger bag. It has all kindsa cool pocketness and is expandable. I really liked the Sando messenger bag but it's too narrow for carrying dojo stuff.
To avoid the rain we headed into subterranean Tokyo, bought a bunch of dinner food at FoodShow, and bussed home.
After the kid shopping we braved the raining? weather and challenged Shibuya on a Sunday afternoon. Many umbrellas and packed as expected. We headed for Seibu Department Store so that I could finally get a decent replacement for the ratty old REI backpack I've been using for 10 years.
Checked out the cool Paul Smith bags but finally settled on the Tumi Tech Flow messenger bag. It has all kindsa cool pocketness and is expandable. I really liked the Sando messenger bag but it's too narrow for carrying dojo stuff.
To avoid the rain we headed into subterranean Tokyo, bought a bunch of dinner food at FoodShow, and bussed home.
wireless and sittin'
Headed to The Eng's in the AM to setup his wireless network. I was impressed with his ability to answer the door 2 hours before noon. He is strong when necessary, a fine upstanding gent.
So the wireless was easy, and the Yahoo! DSL seemed fine, then weak, then dropped completely...wtf?!
After much hair-pulling it was decided that the new home alarm system the building owner insisted he have installed was screwing up the phone line. So armed with my trusty screwdriver I proceeded to pry off the cover to the alarm, disconnect the phone line uplink, cut the power, disconnect the backup battery, and restore the phone line to its pristine state.
I also plugged the DSL modem and wireless into the phonejack in the bedroom, and amazingly enough it worked.
After that mad success, The Eng gave me a ride in his 43o Spider to Hiroo Station wherein I encountered a large group of large (ever seen small?) marines obviously confused. They were trying to get to Iidabashi, so I took them halfway and pointed them in the right direction as I continued on to Hongo 3-chome to do some sittin'.
And I sat.
And we had some snacks and bevvies as we usually do after sittin', then I bought a bunch of quality fish and dinner foods at FoodShow in Shibuya before bussin' home.
So the wireless was easy, and the Yahoo! DSL seemed fine, then weak, then dropped completely...wtf?!
After much hair-pulling it was decided that the new home alarm system the building owner insisted he have installed was screwing up the phone line. So armed with my trusty screwdriver I proceeded to pry off the cover to the alarm, disconnect the phone line uplink, cut the power, disconnect the backup battery, and restore the phone line to its pristine state.
I also plugged the DSL modem and wireless into the phonejack in the bedroom, and amazingly enough it worked.
After that mad success, The Eng gave me a ride in his 43o Spider to Hiroo Station wherein I encountered a large group of large (ever seen small?) marines obviously confused. They were trying to get to Iidabashi, so I took them halfway and pointed them in the right direction as I continued on to Hongo 3-chome to do some sittin'.
And I sat.
And we had some snacks and bevvies as we usually do after sittin', then I bought a bunch of quality fish and dinner foods at FoodShow in Shibuya before bussin' home.
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