Sarah,
Things are going well. I don't have too much to say. Just wanted to know that I am thinking about you and all those around you. I miss home a lot. I have been thinking a lot about magic waters, food courts, cheap movies and sitting in a large couch wonderng why it is that we don't turn the air on until it is already too hot in the house. I am thinking about cool mornings and the hope that the rest of the day follows suit. Driving with windows down because the air conditioning in the car smells funny. Running around with friends in pursuit of where everyone is meeting up. The lists of chores to do while mom was at work. Day time down pours and lightning storms. Tornado sirens and the subsequent calls to the red apple to see if it was serious. Who needs a weather report when you have a mom to tell you it's alright, but really you need to stop calling me at work. Summer style and aloe vera lotion. Beach towels and secretly wanting to lay out in an attempt to change something about myself the easy way, let nature takes it course...I don't have to run around to get some color, even though it always ended up being a painful red. Cheese fries at the Riggins house and nights spent there...who knows who will show up and who knows what will happen. I miss Dad's grilling perfection and delicious potato salad and the endless tupperware containers of freshly cut fruit in the fridge...all of these things are running through my head as I sit 6,000 miles away in the wetness of Japan. I am happy over here and I would only change a few things if I had half a chance. The future is looking well lit. I don't know about anything for sure, but I am thinking that something good is going to come out of all this.
I look forward a lot. I look forward to the day when money doesn't impend my freedom. I look forward to the day when it won't be a matter of "can I come home?" but instead "I am coming home...". And in my heart I know that this time will come.
As much as it breaks my heart not to be there with all of you this summer, I can sayt that it was an amazing feeling when my whole family united in saying, "we understand". That's family 'eh?! Couldn't tell if you didn't want me or if you truly understood (I think that I'll take the optimists route).
I miss you all and I can't say how proud I am of how far we all have come. Crazy to think that something so screwy as "us" could straighten out this much. It's like driving in snow...and not going completely into the ditch.
I love you and I miss you and I will see you again soon enough.
Love your little brother...
7.30.2006
6.30.2006
ramblings and a picture...
How am I supposed to do this?
I have realized that I can not work in your factories and offices.
I can not act as though it all isn't too much.
I grow weary of the pressure.
Am I weak?
I must be.
When I think of all those people and their hearts and pride that came before me I realize how pitiful I am.
Money doesn't drive me.
Satisfaction does.
Where is the happiness in what I do?
I don't feel as though what I do makes that much of a difference. And even if it did I don't think that I would notice because I am too busy thinking about what it is that I haven't accomplished and haven't yet done.
Then when I think about how it is that I am going to do these things...These things that I feel drive me so much, my attention quickly vanishes and I again accept, neigh look forward to, the life that I find myself wanting to escape.
What's it going to be?
There are two columns, two choices, two futures. To me the first looks like a shopping cart, with a kid at the front, a basket full of food, and a wife leading the way picking and choosing turning only to scowl at my requests or to put something else in the little space that's left.
The other choice is just me. Alone sitting in a nondescript room wishing for the first vision but happy to be by myself.
I want to make my own way and create the reality as I go. But there are too many times when I just don't believe in myself...see, even right now I just realized that this post is really a waste of time. I started off thinking that it would be great, but in the end I've lost interest...I blame DNA.
A humorous anecdote:
I met a girl out at a bar the other night who told me that she had the ghost of a dead soldier following her around. Intrigued I asked how she knew this. She replied that a Buddhist nun who owned the snack bar around the corner told her it was so.
Interesting.
"Do you know why he's there?"
Her answer had something to do with the fact that her soul was damned or something like that. I didn't get it all, I was too busy trying to get the barman's attention.
I just picked up the beginning and end. I guess she is destined to kill herself. Or at least that was my interpretation.
It really was kind of sad. So sad that I had to move away.
As I bent over to pick up my bag I realized why it was that he was following her; her legs didn't even touch the ground.
She must of made him feel taller.
Damn soldiers, you can bury them, but the pride just won't die.
This here is Captain Ditto, a man of below average height, and a regular Japanese soldier. Too bad for the girl, if only she had drank that extra glass of milk when she was younger...but instead her soul shall suffer.
Lifes a bitch. Drink your milk. Or just don't visit Buddhist bar owning Nun's. They've got nothing nice to say about anyone.
I have realized that I can not work in your factories and offices.
I can not act as though it all isn't too much.
I grow weary of the pressure.
Am I weak?
I must be.
When I think of all those people and their hearts and pride that came before me I realize how pitiful I am.
Money doesn't drive me.
Satisfaction does.
Where is the happiness in what I do?
I don't feel as though what I do makes that much of a difference. And even if it did I don't think that I would notice because I am too busy thinking about what it is that I haven't accomplished and haven't yet done.
Then when I think about how it is that I am going to do these things...These things that I feel drive me so much, my attention quickly vanishes and I again accept, neigh look forward to, the life that I find myself wanting to escape.
What's it going to be?
There are two columns, two choices, two futures. To me the first looks like a shopping cart, with a kid at the front, a basket full of food, and a wife leading the way picking and choosing turning only to scowl at my requests or to put something else in the little space that's left.
The other choice is just me. Alone sitting in a nondescript room wishing for the first vision but happy to be by myself.
I want to make my own way and create the reality as I go. But there are too many times when I just don't believe in myself...see, even right now I just realized that this post is really a waste of time. I started off thinking that it would be great, but in the end I've lost interest...I blame DNA.
A humorous anecdote:
I met a girl out at a bar the other night who told me that she had the ghost of a dead soldier following her around. Intrigued I asked how she knew this. She replied that a Buddhist nun who owned the snack bar around the corner told her it was so.
Interesting.
"Do you know why he's there?"
Her answer had something to do with the fact that her soul was damned or something like that. I didn't get it all, I was too busy trying to get the barman's attention.
I just picked up the beginning and end. I guess she is destined to kill herself. Or at least that was my interpretation.
It really was kind of sad. So sad that I had to move away.
As I bent over to pick up my bag I realized why it was that he was following her; her legs didn't even touch the ground.
She must of made him feel taller.
Damn soldiers, you can bury them, but the pride just won't die.
This here is Captain Ditto, a man of below average height, and a regular Japanese soldier. Too bad for the girl, if only she had drank that extra glass of milk when she was younger...but instead her soul shall suffer.
Lifes a bitch. Drink your milk. Or just don't visit Buddhist bar owning Nun's. They've got nothing nice to say about anyone.
6.09.2006
The great philosophical minstrel show that is life...for Scotty on his Birthday
Two men walking home from work one day turned a corner to find an unusual site. On a street they had walked many times before they ran into a man standing amongst a passing crowd singing out loud. It was no familiar tune or amazing melody. It was a mix of body movement and murmurs with a whistle and a twitch thrown in here and there. Most of the lyrics consisted of grunts and what sounded like occasional laughter. Immediately the two men stop. After a day of staring at computer screens and office memos this stirred their dormant spirit within.
One of the men immediately turned to the other and through a laugh mumbled, “The man must be crazy. His song makes no sense at all.”
His partner nodded at first and then added, “It may be a little odd, but to be honest I’m a little jealous.”
Seeing the puzzling look on his friend’s face he adds, “Well what have we done all day? We sat at work without making so much as a peep while he stood out here singing for all to see. Although he may not make a penny at least he’s creating something new for the world.”
“What will that ever buy him?”
“Nothing I guess. What does your money really buy you? What meaning does it give you?”
“Security, what more could I want?”
With this they both stand quietly drawn to the man who remains bonded to his ballad. After a few minutes incommunicado the opposition simply rebuffs, “meaning.”
“Meaning? You think I don’t have meaning? Why else would I work? Why else would I even try to get up if I didn’t have meaning?”
“That’s not entirely what I mean…”
The conversation is interrupted by the final screeching note from the crooner and ends abruptly as the two wait for the next possible distraction.
As they wait patiently a few feet away glancing, not glaring, the singer hums a few more notes in possible preparation for the encore. But instead he gives in to his own satisfaction and with a look of pleasure approaches his audience.
Walking the short distance through the crowded sidewalk he approaches the two men who notice his approach and signal to each other it’s time to move on.
“Excuse me gentlemen,” they’re caught, “I don’t mean to press you or anything, but I wonder, did you like my diddy?”
Reluctantly they stop and turn. Both looking in opposite directions they offer their limited appreciation.
“I thought it was rather funny, if you don’t mind me saying.” Says the man with meaning.
“It was kind of refreshing.” Offers the jealous one. “But I have to ask, what makes you sing like that? Are you trying to make a point? Or is there some meaning to it?”
“Maybe,” he replies, “what do you think?”
“I think that you are wasting your time. What good comes from you standing out here in front of all these people making an ass out of yourself? Don’t you have a job? Or even a normal life?”
“I have everything I need.” The man acquiesces.
On that note the two men peer at each other and then back at the man.
“Well either way, I enjoyed your singing. Do you have a collections box or anything I can put your tip in?”
Confused the singer repeats with extra emphasis, “I have everything I need.”
Slightly agitated the pessimist sternly adds, “Excuse me, you have nothing.”
“Exactly, I have nothing. And everything.”
Confused the optimistic enquires, “How is that possible?”
“I have my song.” And with an air of renewed confidence the singer quickly turns his back and disappears into the crowd.
One of the men immediately turned to the other and through a laugh mumbled, “The man must be crazy. His song makes no sense at all.”
His partner nodded at first and then added, “It may be a little odd, but to be honest I’m a little jealous.”
Seeing the puzzling look on his friend’s face he adds, “Well what have we done all day? We sat at work without making so much as a peep while he stood out here singing for all to see. Although he may not make a penny at least he’s creating something new for the world.”
“What will that ever buy him?”
“Nothing I guess. What does your money really buy you? What meaning does it give you?”
“Security, what more could I want?”
With this they both stand quietly drawn to the man who remains bonded to his ballad. After a few minutes incommunicado the opposition simply rebuffs, “meaning.”
“Meaning? You think I don’t have meaning? Why else would I work? Why else would I even try to get up if I didn’t have meaning?”
“That’s not entirely what I mean…”
The conversation is interrupted by the final screeching note from the crooner and ends abruptly as the two wait for the next possible distraction.
As they wait patiently a few feet away glancing, not glaring, the singer hums a few more notes in possible preparation for the encore. But instead he gives in to his own satisfaction and with a look of pleasure approaches his audience.
Walking the short distance through the crowded sidewalk he approaches the two men who notice his approach and signal to each other it’s time to move on.
“Excuse me gentlemen,” they’re caught, “I don’t mean to press you or anything, but I wonder, did you like my diddy?”
Reluctantly they stop and turn. Both looking in opposite directions they offer their limited appreciation.
“I thought it was rather funny, if you don’t mind me saying.” Says the man with meaning.
“It was kind of refreshing.” Offers the jealous one. “But I have to ask, what makes you sing like that? Are you trying to make a point? Or is there some meaning to it?”
“Maybe,” he replies, “what do you think?”
“I think that you are wasting your time. What good comes from you standing out here in front of all these people making an ass out of yourself? Don’t you have a job? Or even a normal life?”
“I have everything I need.” The man acquiesces.
On that note the two men peer at each other and then back at the man.
“Well either way, I enjoyed your singing. Do you have a collections box or anything I can put your tip in?”
Confused the singer repeats with extra emphasis, “I have everything I need.”
Slightly agitated the pessimist sternly adds, “Excuse me, you have nothing.”
“Exactly, I have nothing. And everything.”
Confused the optimistic enquires, “How is that possible?”
“I have my song.” And with an air of renewed confidence the singer quickly turns his back and disappears into the crowd.
5.31.2006
"Honey, do you remember that sticky hand that you bought me outside the K-Mart?"
"You mean the one that you throw on paper and stuff and it picks it up?"
"Yeah," he sighs as he turns his head away in deep thought about how to just say it.
"Well for the longest time I thought that this hand," pulling out a clear vending machine toy egg, "was the symbol for our love and our relationship. You gave it to me as a gift. Unexpectingly, and graciously. I accepted it and loved it. Just as I told everyone how happy you made me, I spread that sticky hand about everywhere. I shouted my love for you from the mountains and stuck the sticky hand to the kitchen ceiling." He pauses once more and collects his thought, if this is going to be done smoothly he can't loose it now.
"That hand slapped a lot of things and it pulled a lot of paper off of various surfaces, but over time it got weaker and weaker. The dirt began to stick to it. The dust drained it's power away. It wouldn't stick to anything after awhile."
The look in her eye and the direction of her gaze began to reflect just what it was that he was getting at.
"Just like our love," he continued. "It started out strong but over time the stress wore down the love and the small fights began to stick to our minds an took over the power that we once held between us."
One tear and then two, three...they all began to fall down her cheek. She knew he was right.
"Honey, this hand will always represent who I am and the many things that you gave me throughout our relationship. But to be honest, I have found someone new. Someone who showed me how to clean the sticky hand so that it's power is even stronger than before. When she first showed me how easy it was to take the hand in my hand and with just a little mild detergent and warm water clean it and make it new all over again...it was...just beautiful. I've learned how to love again and she has shown me."
Silence.
"Honey, please talk to me. Please."
She takes a quiet sniff and simply says.
"She can have you and your dirty little hand. The soap wears down the rubber. I knew that it would clean it, but I didn't think that it would be right to take anything away from who you are. You can clean the hand all you want, but soon enough there won't be anything left to throw around. Good bye."
5.19.2006
Today I was teaching a class about Bob Dylan. I have a whole class devoted to the man. Don't really know why. Love his music, not a fan of the person though. However I thought that after I had gotten the nice scrapbook, DVD, and the CD from the recent "No Direction Home" marketting blitz I would have enough material to run a simple class for a few months.
Well it has worked pretty well for the past few weeks and it shows few signs of slowing...however my point was to tell you all what this mornings revelation was.
Here it is: some of you know the story of Bob Dylan as well as I do, but the thing that hit me this morning was the actual desire (emotion not album) that the man had at the age of 19.
Bob Dylan was from a small town outside of Duluth, Minnesota. After graduating from High School he went to North Dakota for a bit and then off to Minneapolis for college. There he found Woody Gutherie and eventually got the notion to take off to New York city. Not even 20 he left during a blizzard and hitchhicked to New York. Thus launching his musical career.
After teaching this little bit for about twenty minutes I began to ask the students what their passions were...one had another student translate "he wants to be a translator." Another wants to open a traditional Bed and Breakfast.
As we went around the room I kept thinking, "what's my passion?" I've picked up everything, sacrificed a great deal, and still I haven't gained a whole lot. Bob Dylan went to New York in December of 1960 and was playing Carnegie by November of 1961.
Sacrificing personal things and relationships isn't that trying to me. It's just the reason for the sacrifice that I don't understand. Theoretical benefits is all I know and even now, as my time over here comes to an end, I'm starting to tally them all up in an effort to rationalize my time...and lack of growth.
"To not live an ordinary life" is the only passion I can remember having. This is all I desire and all that I crave. However I have been left with the feeling that just about everything and everywhere is ordinary once you get there.
Well it has worked pretty well for the past few weeks and it shows few signs of slowing...however my point was to tell you all what this mornings revelation was.
Here it is: some of you know the story of Bob Dylan as well as I do, but the thing that hit me this morning was the actual desire (emotion not album) that the man had at the age of 19.
Bob Dylan was from a small town outside of Duluth, Minnesota. After graduating from High School he went to North Dakota for a bit and then off to Minneapolis for college. There he found Woody Gutherie and eventually got the notion to take off to New York city. Not even 20 he left during a blizzard and hitchhicked to New York. Thus launching his musical career.
After teaching this little bit for about twenty minutes I began to ask the students what their passions were...one had another student translate "he wants to be a translator." Another wants to open a traditional Bed and Breakfast.
As we went around the room I kept thinking, "what's my passion?" I've picked up everything, sacrificed a great deal, and still I haven't gained a whole lot. Bob Dylan went to New York in December of 1960 and was playing Carnegie by November of 1961.
Sacrificing personal things and relationships isn't that trying to me. It's just the reason for the sacrifice that I don't understand. Theoretical benefits is all I know and even now, as my time over here comes to an end, I'm starting to tally them all up in an effort to rationalize my time...and lack of growth.
"To not live an ordinary life" is the only passion I can remember having. This is all I desire and all that I crave. However I have been left with the feeling that just about everything and everywhere is ordinary once you get there.
5.10.2006
I talk to Larry everyday...
Recently I have had to face some tough choices, many of which I still have not answered. It was about two months when I woke up and had this extreme feeling of loneliness and despair. I had been reading a book by the French author Celine the night before and I have to admit that I think that effected me as I slept. The book is about a young man who keeps finding himself in horrible situations to which his only solution is to run away...and not in the noble "I'll take the higher road" kind of way but more in the "ignore it and it isn't there" sense of reality.
So anyway I woke with the sense that my problems were too great and that it was most likely time to run out on 'em. Which I would have loved to do, but as it is I had a class to teach. Plus my bags were not packed and I had laundry yet to do and, as much as my hygiene is not the best, I do hate the smell of dirty clothes packed into a suitcase.
Off to class I went with a paper cup of coffee and a horrible attitude to boot. This was most likely going to be one of those "talk amongst yourselves" kinda days; which, by the way, usually end up in awkward silence with a twist of food talk when the buzzing in my ears sets in from the dull quiet.
First period went off without a hitch or a buzz. As I sat in my paneled box truck like classroom I again got that feeling of abysmal pressure and lowness pushing down on my shoulders whilst my feet tapped and my legs said "lets go!" While dreaming of backpacking some great foreign country I swivelled around in my chair and turned on the t.v.
CNN, escape indeed. I proceeded to zone off into the infomercials and slowly nodded away...while my neck swiveled back and forth like a piano pendulum my attention was suddenly gripped and I sat forward to the sound of a thousand trumpets, or perhaps a synthesizer or two.
His eyes caught me while I wasn't looking, but when I noticed they pierced into my soul with their square and outdated frames. His jowls began to shake and from between them came the words I will never forget, "It's been a while dAnny."
I closed and quickly jerked open my eyes, "is Larry King talking to me?"
Gentle yet stern his glare was unjaded by my question. He did begin to settle into a smile and for a moment froze on the screen, maybe my satellite connection, not too sure it just happens from time to time. But this time it seemed to last at least...a little less than eternity, but not quite as long as forever, maybe a bit shy of a lifetime, however definitely more than a "sec"...I'd say about two minutes tops.
When the picture did finally catch up to the broadcast I saw that he was indeed not talking directly to me, but actually to the once great actor ANDY Griffith. The names do sound alike though. Beyond that though I fell into my little state again and could barely even summon the muster to care about the death of Barney (Don Knotts: RIP).
I sat inattentive not seeing, not caring, not nothing but something far deeper and less of it. I heard some talk about moving on to Anderson Cooper 360 and it dawned on me that it was almost time for second period. No rest for the wicked and dumb 'eh. I sat up in my chair and gathered my papers about on the desk and, with remote in hand, was just about to turn off the t.v. when again the square framed eyes of eyes were focused on only me and he simply said "good night and thanks for watching. Oh and if you get a chance try and talk to me sometime soon. I know you need the help. Now onto Anderson in New York". And with that he faded away.
As the day wore on I couldn't forget his last words, "talk to me tonight". Maybe it wasn't really Larry King, perhaps it was the almighty working through Mr. King. He is an open kinda guy, always having representatives of the many different world religions on his program. I always thought that he was Jewish...is it okay to ponder his being a Jew?...either way, he was speaking to me, and it worked.
All day I saw his face everywhere I turned. My lunchtime sushi showed the reflection of his liver spotted skin. The wisps in the cloud contained elements of his grey hair. I saw a picture of a beautiful suspension bridge set against a blue sky and immediately thought of Larry's classy red suspenders and finely ironed blue shirt...white collar, white clouds. The whole day was one continuous revelation of his beauty and majesty. I saw Larry everywhere.
With my head spinning I went to bed a little earlier than usual. I couldn't get the days thoughts out of my head. I just lay there tossing and turning, half scared and half excited. Two parts colliding and unbelieving. Not knowing what to do I was drawn to my knees. Honestly it had been a long time.
As I kneeled on the floor I thought to myself what it was all about and why I had been chosen. Or perhaps why it was that I had chosen to pay attention this day. Why? The fundamental word we all use, young and old alike. Always wondering and looking for the answers to all of the things we don't know, we don't understand.
I poured my heart out to him, or to whoever was listening. I laid it all out on the line. Everything that had been bothering me I gave up in a prayer to God, Via Larry King. It was truly a lively experience.
After I had poured my heart, my problems, and my greatest desires out I was left in a ball on the floor. I tried to stand but instead decided to crawl back into bed. My head hit the pillow like one of the many clumps of dirt that had graced Barney's resting place earlier that day 6,000 miles away. A pile of ashes and dust settled for the night.
The next morning I awoke feeling a little lighter. Not completely healed, but a bit better. Miracles are a slow process.
First period went as usual, perhaps with a little more excitement on my part, because the end signified my time to turn back to Larry. The television turned on in mid comment and I found myself even more excited when I found out that the guest was Liza Mannelli, at least one person I know of who needs more help than me. Larry was just about to take a caller when something happened to phone line. It was at this point that I was given my second message from Larry. Turning slightly to the camera he gave that playboy smile and simply said, "Sorry about that caller. Sometimes these things can be difficult. I appreciate your call, but you will have to wait to get the answer to that question".
I grinned in appreciation. I had been acknowledged, perhaps I didn't get what I was looking for immediately, but I know that it's to come. Along with many other great things. I'll just have to keep on being a faithful watcher and eventually all things will be reveled.
Still though, I talk to Larry everyday.
Do you?
So anyway I woke with the sense that my problems were too great and that it was most likely time to run out on 'em. Which I would have loved to do, but as it is I had a class to teach. Plus my bags were not packed and I had laundry yet to do and, as much as my hygiene is not the best, I do hate the smell of dirty clothes packed into a suitcase.
Off to class I went with a paper cup of coffee and a horrible attitude to boot. This was most likely going to be one of those "talk amongst yourselves" kinda days; which, by the way, usually end up in awkward silence with a twist of food talk when the buzzing in my ears sets in from the dull quiet.
First period went off without a hitch or a buzz. As I sat in my paneled box truck like classroom I again got that feeling of abysmal pressure and lowness pushing down on my shoulders whilst my feet tapped and my legs said "lets go!" While dreaming of backpacking some great foreign country I swivelled around in my chair and turned on the t.v.
CNN, escape indeed. I proceeded to zone off into the infomercials and slowly nodded away...while my neck swiveled back and forth like a piano pendulum my attention was suddenly gripped and I sat forward to the sound of a thousand trumpets, or perhaps a synthesizer or two.
His eyes caught me while I wasn't looking, but when I noticed they pierced into my soul with their square and outdated frames. His jowls began to shake and from between them came the words I will never forget, "It's been a while dAnny."
I closed and quickly jerked open my eyes, "is Larry King talking to me?"
Gentle yet stern his glare was unjaded by my question. He did begin to settle into a smile and for a moment froze on the screen, maybe my satellite connection, not too sure it just happens from time to time. But this time it seemed to last at least...a little less than eternity, but not quite as long as forever, maybe a bit shy of a lifetime, however definitely more than a "sec"...I'd say about two minutes tops.
When the picture did finally catch up to the broadcast I saw that he was indeed not talking directly to me, but actually to the once great actor ANDY Griffith. The names do sound alike though. Beyond that though I fell into my little state again and could barely even summon the muster to care about the death of Barney (Don Knotts: RIP).
I sat inattentive not seeing, not caring, not nothing but something far deeper and less of it. I heard some talk about moving on to Anderson Cooper 360 and it dawned on me that it was almost time for second period. No rest for the wicked and dumb 'eh. I sat up in my chair and gathered my papers about on the desk and, with remote in hand, was just about to turn off the t.v. when again the square framed eyes of eyes were focused on only me and he simply said "good night and thanks for watching. Oh and if you get a chance try and talk to me sometime soon. I know you need the help. Now onto Anderson in New York". And with that he faded away.
As the day wore on I couldn't forget his last words, "talk to me tonight". Maybe it wasn't really Larry King, perhaps it was the almighty working through Mr. King. He is an open kinda guy, always having representatives of the many different world religions on his program. I always thought that he was Jewish...is it okay to ponder his being a Jew?...either way, he was speaking to me, and it worked.
All day I saw his face everywhere I turned. My lunchtime sushi showed the reflection of his liver spotted skin. The wisps in the cloud contained elements of his grey hair. I saw a picture of a beautiful suspension bridge set against a blue sky and immediately thought of Larry's classy red suspenders and finely ironed blue shirt...white collar, white clouds. The whole day was one continuous revelation of his beauty and majesty. I saw Larry everywhere.
With my head spinning I went to bed a little earlier than usual. I couldn't get the days thoughts out of my head. I just lay there tossing and turning, half scared and half excited. Two parts colliding and unbelieving. Not knowing what to do I was drawn to my knees. Honestly it had been a long time.
As I kneeled on the floor I thought to myself what it was all about and why I had been chosen. Or perhaps why it was that I had chosen to pay attention this day. Why? The fundamental word we all use, young and old alike. Always wondering and looking for the answers to all of the things we don't know, we don't understand.
I poured my heart out to him, or to whoever was listening. I laid it all out on the line. Everything that had been bothering me I gave up in a prayer to God, Via Larry King. It was truly a lively experience.
After I had poured my heart, my problems, and my greatest desires out I was left in a ball on the floor. I tried to stand but instead decided to crawl back into bed. My head hit the pillow like one of the many clumps of dirt that had graced Barney's resting place earlier that day 6,000 miles away. A pile of ashes and dust settled for the night.
The next morning I awoke feeling a little lighter. Not completely healed, but a bit better. Miracles are a slow process.
First period went as usual, perhaps with a little more excitement on my part, because the end signified my time to turn back to Larry. The television turned on in mid comment and I found myself even more excited when I found out that the guest was Liza Mannelli, at least one person I know of who needs more help than me. Larry was just about to take a caller when something happened to phone line. It was at this point that I was given my second message from Larry. Turning slightly to the camera he gave that playboy smile and simply said, "Sorry about that caller. Sometimes these things can be difficult. I appreciate your call, but you will have to wait to get the answer to that question".
I grinned in appreciation. I had been acknowledged, perhaps I didn't get what I was looking for immediately, but I know that it's to come. Along with many other great things. I'll just have to keep on being a faithful watcher and eventually all things will be reveled.
Still though, I talk to Larry everyday.
Do you?
4.25.2006
So these are the trends for weddings now a days...but first some nice pictures that you want to see...because it's just nasty at the end....
so awhile ago I said that I had a bunch of nice pictures for you all...well I do...and there is a nice story of hiking along an old railroad track, eating a nice picnic on a warm spring day while looking about at all of the cheery blossoms...but I don't have time for that crap. So here are the pictures...you illiterate folks would probably rather look at them then my lame writing...enjoy!
Yeah...so it was a little late in the evening and I was at a wedding all night and one thing led to another...what can I say, I know how they keep the marriage/population/childbirth rate down in this country...guess you could say that I was just "hell bend for leather..." that is sooo wrong...please forgive me mommy. So I always thought that Noriko kept an open mind and all...but no. She saw me off doing my thing and immediately jumped ship...so I went looking for her and found her off...spooning with one of my friends...Damn you Vince, stupid Irish and their enchanting black spoons...
Yeah...so it was a little late in the evening and I was at a wedding all night and one thing led to another...what can I say, I know how they keep the marriage/population/childbirth rate down in this country...guess you could say that I was just "hell bend for leather..." that is sooo wrong...please forgive me mommy. So I always thought that Noriko kept an open mind and all...but no. She saw me off doing my thing and immediately jumped ship...so I went looking for her and found her off...spooning with one of my friends...Damn you Vince, stupid Irish and their enchanting black spoons...
4.13.2006
4.11.2006
What's new with you?
Well it has been a while. I hope that you all can forgive me. A lot has been happening; I have gotten a better idea of what I want to pursue after I finish over here. Nothin for sure but I am planning on applying for a scholarship to study at a Japanese graduate school. I will need a lot of help and a great many prayers, so if you can...assist with both 'eh. Enough about me...or actually why not more about me?
So you may be thinking, "what's going on in Japan right about now?" Well my friend, I can answer your inquires.
At the beginning of last month interport was held. Now for those of you that know me, you know that I have been playing a bit of rugby over here (see past posts about falling on deaf kids, scrapped up knees due to insufficient grass in Japan, or any other post for that matter). From my third day in the country until today I have been associated with the KR&AC, the club I play for. Now this here club has a bit of a history, about 135 years to be exact. It was one of two clubs, the other being the YC&AC (in Yokohama, Japan...the port outside Tokyo), that played the first ever organized sporting event in Japan...I believe that it was a soccer match, however that is not important. So anyway, the two clubs have gotten together just about every year since then to play their sports. This occurance actually happens twice a year, winter and spring, and it a hell of a lot of fun. Each gathering consists of three days of sports separated by a night of feasting and drinking...it was all started by sailors, and we all know how those fellas liked to drink. So yeah...this year's theme was "maritime" in honor of those before us that used to take the long trip between the two ports by boat...imagine that...about a two day boat ride just to play a bit of sport...dedication, of the likes I don't think I have...although it could have been a bit of fun...regardless this is going on too long, so screw the story and on with the pictures...first off, appropriately enough, we have my first mate and fellow prop "sensei"...
And then of course it wouldn't quite be a maritime party without a little wildlife...for that we went a little arctic, now I know that she can be a bit frigid, but even this hand made costume warmed my heart...
While we are usually a peaceful bunch many of the men thought that they would go the violent side...or maybe they were just inspired by the popularity of Johnny Depp and his own pirate side...either way, there was a massive amount of pirates, but only one really pulled it off with his rough yet suave demeanor...
Overall the party was a blast...wish I could say the same for the game itself...but sadly enough we were kicked in the stomachs...and various other parts...and subsequently were defeated 90-0. Oh well...honestly though...those guys were really good. Their team was made up of semi-professional and professional folks...or so we tell ourselves...either way it as a good game and all enjoyed the festivities.
Now on to the big boys...
The month of March also marks the return of sumo wrestling to the Kansai area (where I live). The Bashyo (two week tournament) came and went without too much of a fuss. No big upsets, the Mongolian Asashoryu (spelling could be way off...if you care look it up...sure wikipedia has something for ya) walked away with yet another tournament win...go him! The only big difference this year was that I attended. Now it's not too often that these things get the prescense of someone like me...at least on the spectator side that is. It was a lot of fun; not too much to say, you all are about as familiar with sumo as I am...maybe you know a little more or a little less, either way it's just a little. However I do want to comment that public events like this still blow my mind in Japan...only because you are allowed to go in with any food/drink that you want. Don't have to hide it or pay extra or anything...just walk in with your groccery bag and chilly bin and you're good to go. It's amazing...I only have a couple shots from the tourny...we had to sit pretty far away...but they aren't all that bad...
よし！
So yeah...that's about what I've been up to within the last month...it's been a lot of fun. I also took a really nice little day trip last weekend...and I do have a lot of pictures to share with you, but for now I am feeling a little tuckered out and think that I'll wait until next time to share all that with you. If I told you about it now it'd just be too much to write, too much for you to read, and then I wouldn't have anything to tell you about for the next month...so I'll see you soon and I hope that all is well...take care and much love!
So you may be thinking, "what's going on in Japan right about now?" Well my friend, I can answer your inquires.
At the beginning of last month interport was held. Now for those of you that know me, you know that I have been playing a bit of rugby over here (see past posts about falling on deaf kids, scrapped up knees due to insufficient grass in Japan, or any other post for that matter). From my third day in the country until today I have been associated with the KR&AC, the club I play for. Now this here club has a bit of a history, about 135 years to be exact. It was one of two clubs, the other being the YC&AC (in Yokohama, Japan...the port outside Tokyo), that played the first ever organized sporting event in Japan...I believe that it was a soccer match, however that is not important. So anyway, the two clubs have gotten together just about every year since then to play their sports. This occurance actually happens twice a year, winter and spring, and it a hell of a lot of fun. Each gathering consists of three days of sports separated by a night of feasting and drinking...it was all started by sailors, and we all know how those fellas liked to drink. So yeah...this year's theme was "maritime" in honor of those before us that used to take the long trip between the two ports by boat...imagine that...about a two day boat ride just to play a bit of sport...dedication, of the likes I don't think I have...although it could have been a bit of fun...regardless this is going on too long, so screw the story and on with the pictures...first off, appropriately enough, we have my first mate and fellow prop "sensei"...
And then of course it wouldn't quite be a maritime party without a little wildlife...for that we went a little arctic, now I know that she can be a bit frigid, but even this hand made costume warmed my heart...
While we are usually a peaceful bunch many of the men thought that they would go the violent side...or maybe they were just inspired by the popularity of Johnny Depp and his own pirate side...either way, there was a massive amount of pirates, but only one really pulled it off with his rough yet suave demeanor...
Overall the party was a blast...wish I could say the same for the game itself...but sadly enough we were kicked in the stomachs...and various other parts...and subsequently were defeated 90-0. Oh well...honestly though...those guys were really good. Their team was made up of semi-professional and professional folks...or so we tell ourselves...either way it as a good game and all enjoyed the festivities.
Now on to the big boys...
The month of March also marks the return of sumo wrestling to the Kansai area (where I live). The Bashyo (two week tournament) came and went without too much of a fuss. No big upsets, the Mongolian Asashoryu (spelling could be way off...if you care look it up...sure wikipedia has something for ya) walked away with yet another tournament win...go him! The only big difference this year was that I attended. Now it's not too often that these things get the prescense of someone like me...at least on the spectator side that is. It was a lot of fun; not too much to say, you all are about as familiar with sumo as I am...maybe you know a little more or a little less, either way it's just a little. However I do want to comment that public events like this still blow my mind in Japan...only because you are allowed to go in with any food/drink that you want. Don't have to hide it or pay extra or anything...just walk in with your groccery bag and chilly bin and you're good to go. It's amazing...I only have a couple shots from the tourny...we had to sit pretty far away...but they aren't all that bad...
よし！
So yeah...that's about what I've been up to within the last month...it's been a lot of fun. I also took a really nice little day trip last weekend...and I do have a lot of pictures to share with you, but for now I am feeling a little tuckered out and think that I'll wait until next time to share all that with you. If I told you about it now it'd just be too much to write, too much for you to read, and then I wouldn't have anything to tell you about for the next month...so I'll see you soon and I hope that all is well...take care and much love!
3.12.2006
here ya go...
I found it in my e-mail. I would love to post more but the server at my school has been acting funny recently and I don't really care to know why...sorry...apathy has me by the short and curlies...however I do want to say that I am fine and that I have been thinking a lot about all of you lately. I want to thank Mike for the mind numbing tv and for Sarah & Brian for the great tunes...you have all made my life complete these past few difficult months. Thank you all.
On with the cut and pasted memo...
> It started out innocently enough. I began to think at parties now
> and then to loosen up. Inevitably, though, one thought led to
> another, and soon I was more than just a social thinker.
> I began to think alone -- "to relax," I told myself but I knew it
> wasn't true.
> Thinking became more and more important to me, and finally I was
> thinking all the time. That was when things began to sour at home.
> One evening, I turned off the TV and asked my wife about the
> meaning of life. She spent that night at her mother's.
> I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and employment
> don't mix but I couldn't stop myself. I began to avoid friends at
> lunchtime so I could read Thoreau and Kafka. I would return to the
> office dizzied and confused, asking, "What is it exactly that we
> are doing here?"
> One day the boss called me in. He said, "Listen, I like you, and it
> hurts me to say this, but your thinking has become a real problem.
> If you don't stop thinking on the job, I'm going to have to let you
> go."
> This gave me a lot to think about.
> I came home early after my conversation with the boss. "Honey," I
> confessed, "I've been thinking..."
> "I know you've been thinking," she said, "Again! I want a divorce!"
> "But Honey, it's not that serious."
> "It is too serious!" she said, her lower lip aquiver. "You think as
> much as a college professor and they don't make any money! I refuse
> to let you do that to me!"
> "That's a faulty syllogism," I said impatiently.
> She exploded in tears of rage and frustration, but I was in no mood
> to deal with the drama. "I'm going to the library," I snarled as I
> stomped out the door.
> I headed for the library, in the mood for some Nietzsche. I roared
> into the parking lot with NPR blaring on the radio and ran up to
> the big glass doors. But they wouldn't open. The library was closed.
> To this day, I believe that a Higher Power was looking out for me
> that night. As I sank to the ground, clawing at the unfeeling
> glass, whimpering for Zarathustra, a poster caught my eye. "Friend,
> is heavy thinking ruining your life?" it read. You probably
> recognize that line. It comes from Thinkers Anonymous. Which is why
> I am what I am today: a recovering thinker.
> I never miss a TA meeting. At each meeting we watch a non-
> educational video. Last week it was "Porky's." Then we share
> experiences about how we avoided thinking since the last meeting. I
> still have my job, and things are a lot better at home.
> Life just seems... easier, somehow, now that I've stopped thinking.
> I think the road to recovery is nearly complete for me.
> In fact, today I registered to vote Republican.
I hope to be back to you all in full form very soon...much love...danny...
ps: it's a little old...but i hope that you enjoy the picture...I played santa for a friend of mine...it's his old lady...
On with the cut and pasted memo...
> It started out innocently enough. I began to think at parties now
> and then to loosen up. Inevitably, though, one thought led to
> another, and soon I was more than just a social thinker.
> I began to think alone -- "to relax," I told myself but I knew it
> wasn't true.
> Thinking became more and more important to me, and finally I was
> thinking all the time. That was when things began to sour at home.
> One evening, I turned off the TV and asked my wife about the
> meaning of life. She spent that night at her mother's.
> I began to think on the job. I knew that thinking and employment
> don't mix but I couldn't stop myself. I began to avoid friends at
> lunchtime so I could read Thoreau and Kafka. I would return to the
> office dizzied and confused, asking, "What is it exactly that we
> are doing here?"
> One day the boss called me in. He said, "Listen, I like you, and it
> hurts me to say this, but your thinking has become a real problem.
> If you don't stop thinking on the job, I'm going to have to let you
> go."
> This gave me a lot to think about.
> I came home early after my conversation with the boss. "Honey," I
> confessed, "I've been thinking..."
> "I know you've been thinking," she said, "Again! I want a divorce!"
> "But Honey, it's not that serious."
> "It is too serious!" she said, her lower lip aquiver. "You think as
> much as a college professor and they don't make any money! I refuse
> to let you do that to me!"
> "That's a faulty syllogism," I said impatiently.
> She exploded in tears of rage and frustration, but I was in no mood
> to deal with the drama. "I'm going to the library," I snarled as I
> stomped out the door.
> I headed for the library, in the mood for some Nietzsche. I roared
> into the parking lot with NPR blaring on the radio and ran up to
> the big glass doors. But they wouldn't open. The library was closed.
> To this day, I believe that a Higher Power was looking out for me
> that night. As I sank to the ground, clawing at the unfeeling
> glass, whimpering for Zarathustra, a poster caught my eye. "Friend,
> is heavy thinking ruining your life?" it read. You probably
> recognize that line. It comes from Thinkers Anonymous. Which is why
> I am what I am today: a recovering thinker.
> I never miss a TA meeting. At each meeting we watch a non-
> educational video. Last week it was "Porky's." Then we share
> experiences about how we avoided thinking since the last meeting. I
> still have my job, and things are a lot better at home.
> Life just seems... easier, somehow, now that I've stopped thinking.
> I think the road to recovery is nearly complete for me.
> In fact, today I registered to vote Republican.
I hope to be back to you all in full form very soon...much love...danny...
ps: it's a little old...but i hope that you enjoy the picture...I played santa for a friend of mine...it's his old lady...
2.24.2006
I know that it has been a while since you all have heard from me. Sorry about that. Things are getting back to normal out here in Japan. I have started teaching all of my regular classes as well as some extras...staying busy to say the least. Lets just hope that it all helps the cause.
So what else is crackin'? Not too much...I am starting to pull my hair out about what to do next...any ideas? Please drop them at the door...or via e-mail: dbaxelson@yahoo.com...don't be shy, I'm an open and honest kinda person and I respect your straight forward approach.
So I know that my personal life is a little boring...I would love to post some of the pictures that I took while on my trip, but I am afraid to report that the local server and my Mac are having a bit of a tift right now...but as soon as I get her up and running I will be sure to throw a few things your way...
I have to get running now and work on a presentation that I have to give on Monday...you know just a bunch of us professors gettin' together to discuss some things...ha! Not that I'm a real professor or anything...they just let me play in their reindeer games from time to time for fun...
Well I miss you all and hope that all is well!
Oh and last but not least: thank you so much to those of you that I was able to see when I was home. It was great to be able to relax and speak a bunch of english. I miss you and honestly am grateful. Your kindness amazes and warms me. To those of you that I did not get to see...I am very, very sorry. I was a little unsocial for most of the time that I was home. All of you were and are in my heart and I want you to know that there will always be a next time.
Thank you!
So what else is crackin'? Not too much...I am starting to pull my hair out about what to do next...any ideas? Please drop them at the door...or via e-mail: dbaxelson@yahoo.com...don't be shy, I'm an open and honest kinda person and I respect your straight forward approach.
So I know that my personal life is a little boring...I would love to post some of the pictures that I took while on my trip, but I am afraid to report that the local server and my Mac are having a bit of a tift right now...but as soon as I get her up and running I will be sure to throw a few things your way...
I have to get running now and work on a presentation that I have to give on Monday...you know just a bunch of us professors gettin' together to discuss some things...ha! Not that I'm a real professor or anything...they just let me play in their reindeer games from time to time for fun...
Well I miss you all and hope that all is well!
Oh and last but not least: thank you so much to those of you that I was able to see when I was home. It was great to be able to relax and speak a bunch of english. I miss you and honestly am grateful. Your kindness amazes and warms me. To those of you that I did not get to see...I am very, very sorry. I was a little unsocial for most of the time that I was home. All of you were and are in my heart and I want you to know that there will always be a next time.
Thank you!
1.13.2006
not too much to say...
"So this is Christmas...and a happy new year..." too bad Lennon was wrong and the war is not over, even though we all really want it too be.
So how was the Christmas? Good I hope. I can only hope that you got what you wanted and not what you deserved. Ha! Just kiddin'. No curses over your houses on my part. But I do have to say that Christmas in Japan this year was not all that bad.
Here's the short version: 24th Went to yaki-niku (grill your own meat, dip in sauce, repeat)...it was friggin' amazing. I had gone to this type of place before...but it being Christmas and all (the Japanese equivalant to Valentine's Day) I had to take the Lady Friend to a classy joint...so anyway, the meat was delicious (honestly, I don't want to say this, but it was like butter...so thinly sliced and deliciously marbled), the atmosphere was quite Japanese with a touch of Korea (yaki-niku is Korean by design)...overall an enjoyable evening...until the bill came.
25th: Went to the KR&AC (where I play rugby) and ate a wonderful Turkey and Ham dinner...with the fixin's...not quite homemade, but my stocking cap goes off to Simon for making all us foreigners feel at home...the day was accented with mulled wine (also delicious) and an afternoon/evening filled with 500 (a game a lot like Euchre or Spades...fantabulous)...my partner Pat and I won nearly 13 consecutive hands going undefeated for what seemed to about 2 hours...oh and I got a new rugby bag from Noriko...and socks, she's a t'inker
skipping ahead
December 31st: went to Noriko's parent's home...ate a big meal and drank Okinawan Sho-Chu...scary evening...went to Shinto Shrine/festival at 3 in the morning...a lot of fun...
Jan. 1-3: O-Shogotsu...Japanese holiday, much like Christmas...this is the time when the families all get together for three days of rest...traditionally the mother doesn't cook and everyone is allowed to sit about and watch t.v. specials...which I taped a great deal of...you don't have to know what they are saying to laugh...amazing stuff...over these fews days I slept, ate, and watched the tube...it was Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving being pushed into a solid three day stint...without the whole Jesus aspect though...no disrespect JC...just sayin'...
It was fun. But now it's over and I'm homesick. I really want to come and see all of you folks...that I'll see...or something like that...take care and I will there soon enough...sorry about the "..." I thought that it would an interesting touch...plus I've been reading Celine and he does it all the time...so I thought that I would give it a try...go ahead...you know you want to as well.............
So how was the Christmas? Good I hope. I can only hope that you got what you wanted and not what you deserved. Ha! Just kiddin'. No curses over your houses on my part. But I do have to say that Christmas in Japan this year was not all that bad.
Here's the short version: 24th Went to yaki-niku (grill your own meat, dip in sauce, repeat)...it was friggin' amazing. I had gone to this type of place before...but it being Christmas and all (the Japanese equivalant to Valentine's Day) I had to take the Lady Friend to a classy joint...so anyway, the meat was delicious (honestly, I don't want to say this, but it was like butter...so thinly sliced and deliciously marbled), the atmosphere was quite Japanese with a touch of Korea (yaki-niku is Korean by design)...overall an enjoyable evening...until the bill came.
25th: Went to the KR&AC (where I play rugby) and ate a wonderful Turkey and Ham dinner...with the fixin's...not quite homemade, but my stocking cap goes off to Simon for making all us foreigners feel at home...the day was accented with mulled wine (also delicious) and an afternoon/evening filled with 500 (a game a lot like Euchre or Spades...fantabulous)...my partner Pat and I won nearly 13 consecutive hands going undefeated for what seemed to about 2 hours...oh and I got a new rugby bag from Noriko...and socks, she's a t'inker
skipping ahead
December 31st: went to Noriko's parent's home...ate a big meal and drank Okinawan Sho-Chu...scary evening...went to Shinto Shrine/festival at 3 in the morning...a lot of fun...
Jan. 1-3: O-Shogotsu...Japanese holiday, much like Christmas...this is the time when the families all get together for three days of rest...traditionally the mother doesn't cook and everyone is allowed to sit about and watch t.v. specials...which I taped a great deal of...you don't have to know what they are saying to laugh...amazing stuff...over these fews days I slept, ate, and watched the tube...it was Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving being pushed into a solid three day stint...without the whole Jesus aspect though...no disrespect JC...just sayin'...
It was fun. But now it's over and I'm homesick. I really want to come and see all of you folks...that I'll see...or something like that...take care and I will there soon enough...sorry about the "..." I thought that it would an interesting touch...plus I've been reading Celine and he does it all the time...so I thought that I would give it a try...go ahead...you know you want to as well.............
12.26.2005
On holiday now...
Okay folks...I have had a merry Christmas and will most definately enjoy New Year's eve...I have a huge party to go to. It's at Noriko's folks house...it's going to be the four of us. I will spent most of the night sweating around the Nabe pot...soon you all will understand.
Due to the fact that I am on holiday now I will most likely not be posting too much...unless I get ambitious. But the truth is that I will have no reason to go to my office and will therefore not have access to the computer. So in the meantime I will redirect you all to my Doppleganger. Take care and I will talk to you all soon. Happy New Year! 2006...year of the Dog. Yeah.
Due to the fact that I am on holiday now I will most likely not be posting too much...unless I get ambitious. But the truth is that I will have no reason to go to my office and will therefore not have access to the computer. So in the meantime I will redirect you all to my Doppleganger. Take care and I will talk to you all soon. Happy New Year! 2006...year of the Dog. Yeah.
12.22.2005
It's friggin' snowin' man...
It's Friggin' snowin' man!!! Now for those of you that don't know I haven't seen the white stuff since last time I was home...almost a year ago. By the way, I miss you...I miss you all. Except for you know who...I don't miss you at all. So anyways back to the snow. Let me describe it for you: it's white, kinda heavy, you know not quite frozen solid but more semi-permiable. It's nice. However it has worsened conditions and it will be difficult for me to get around on my bicycle...thus I must walk to and fro hither and tither. I'm not extremely happy about that...but then again there really is nothing that I can do.
Today is payday...which means that I have to go Christmas shopping. So what does everybody want? Huh what's that? OH wait, I'm not Santa...and to be honest me getting you a present (unless you are my family) has about the same chances as the actual Santa coming down your chimney. However, if you work for Iowa Student loans you may consider a small fraction of your Christmas bonus (if they even give you one) to be in part from your's truly. What can I say, someone has to keep the spirit of giving alive.
So this weekend is Christmas. I am going to do my best to stay preoccupied, but I will still be missing all of you Stateside...very, very much. However I do want to say that I hope you all have a wonderful time together this holiday season and that you all get what you want from the ones you love.
I miss you.
I love you.
And my prayers and thanks go out to you all.
As they say in Japan, "Happy Merry Christmas!!!"
Today is payday...which means that I have to go Christmas shopping. So what does everybody want? Huh what's that? OH wait, I'm not Santa...and to be honest me getting you a present (unless you are my family) has about the same chances as the actual Santa coming down your chimney. However, if you work for Iowa Student loans you may consider a small fraction of your Christmas bonus (if they even give you one) to be in part from your's truly. What can I say, someone has to keep the spirit of giving alive.
So this weekend is Christmas. I am going to do my best to stay preoccupied, but I will still be missing all of you Stateside...very, very much. However I do want to say that I hope you all have a wonderful time together this holiday season and that you all get what you want from the ones you love.
I miss you.
I love you.
And my prayers and thanks go out to you all.
As they say in Japan, "Happy Merry Christmas!!!"
12.14.2005
...and you thought that Rosie and Ellen were in deep...
So you all may be wondering just what it is that I do most of the time over here in Japan...or you may not care...or you may already know. Either way I will tell you one thing that I have started to do lately...look for more of this guy:
It is pretty funny to watch and also helps me improve my Japanese language ability. よし！ That means...something like good! or okay! or yeah! you pick the expression and it fits. See I'm improving already. And to think, a lot of it has to do with my friend HG. I won't bore you with my perspective, I will instead copy and paste an even better opinion by a semi-legitimate guy (I don't really know the man).
Here goes...
How gei can one get? 'Pretend gay' is as far as it gets
By PHILIP BRASOR
"Talent," or tarento, is the cushiest job in Japan -- maybe in the whole world. Though you are expected to have some kind of skill (gei), once you achieve a level of regularity as a TV variety show guest, the work is self-perpetuating, though it's by no means guaranteed forever. And rarely do successful tarento have to actually demonstrate their skills. They just have to be themselves.
If comedy seems to provide the shortest route to tarento stardom, it is also the most crowded, and distinguishing oneself from the next chucklehead is becoming more and more of a challenge. That's why many of the comedians who've had the most TV exposure in the past few years aren't always comedians in the strictest sense. They're more like guys with gimmicks.
One such guy is Michael, who performs elaborate aerobic dance steps while smiling broadly and telling one-liners that are mostly pun-based. Another single-monikered funnyman is Hiroshi, a former host-club employee who dresses the part (tacky suit, open collar) and, with hands in pocket and gaze cast downward, frets about the injustices he suffers and the general pointlessness of life in a woebegone voice.
Michael, whose act is clever but limited in scope, will probably be no more than a memory a year from now. Hiroshi, however, is gaining in popularity, which is ironic as his act is premised on the idea that he's a failure in everything he does. Now, when he appears on a variety show, he isn't always expected to stick to the act, which means he's graduated to tarento status.
Success-wise, there are more Michaels in Japanese show-biz then there are Hiroshis, so it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Laser Ramon (Masaki) Sumitani, a guy-with-gimmick who made his broadcast debut only last February and since then has become one of the most talked-about personalities on Japanese television.
At the moment, Sumitani only appears on one show, TBS's Saturday night comedy program "Daibakuten" whose segments are mostly suggested by viewers. Apparently, Sumitani got on the show by actually requesting to see his own alter ego, Hard Gay, a hardbody dressed in stereotypical S-M couture: black-leather hot pants, tight sleeveless zippered leather jacket, Beatle boots, big motorcycle sunglasses, and a leather cap.
Sumitani performs acts of yonaoshi (social improvement) in his Hard Gay persona, which, in addition to the striking costume, incorporates a great deal of suggestive pelvic thrusting and periodic outbursts of "Woooo!", a cry of abandon that has become as much of a trademark as Crayon Shin-chan's mischievous nasal tones.
Sumitani's gimmick is juxtaposing two manifestations of attitude that, while not mutually exclusive, aren't normally placed together in the same thought: being a responsible citizen and being a homosexual libertine who can't control his libido. Thus, when he approaches an elderly woman in the Sugamo district of Tokyo and offers to carry her across the street, it looks very strange.
Many people reject Sumitani's offers and suggestions. The sight of him with his crotch bobbing up and down and fingers furiously unzipping his jacket to expose his perfectly smooth abs and pecs seems to turn a lot of people off. "Gross!" exclaims a bunch of Shibuya girls when he appears in front of them on Fathers Day and asks if they've properly thanked their dads for all the work they have done. He waylays a couple of punks nearby and, after putting out their cigarettes in his pants ("You're not supposed to smoke while walking"), gets one of them to call his father on Hard Gay's own cell-phone (the "gay-tai") right there and then.
Hard Gay's beyond-the-pale antics position him closer to the anime/manga species of characters than they do to his fellow comedians. The gay thing is so stylized that it's impossible to take it at face value. Bondage freaks who dress this particular way make up a subculture that seems as corny as the Village People's "Greatest Hits." He's a stereotype in appearance only.
But it's a resolute stereotype. Almost all the messages on the "Daibakuten" BBS are about Sumitani, and they're invariably approving. Everyone from 11-year-old kids to middle age salarymen love the guy, mainly because he works so hard at his "gei," a pun that everyone uses. On camera, Sumitani never sheds his Hard Gay persona, which is irrevocably positive. Even when people on the street flee his advances screaming in terror, he has a joke at the ready and an ecstatic cry of "Woooo!"
But can he take the Hard Gay gimmick further? So far, Sumitani hasn't appeared anywhere else on TV, either as Hard Gay or with his partner in the comedy duo Lazer Ramon, or with yet another partner in the comedy sketch group Big Porno, a stage act.
Hard Gay's appeal is in the way his character interacts with people on the street, so he may not have much to offer in a variety show setting, where people mostly sit around and talk. Last week on "Daibakuten," he broke out of the yonaoshi pattern and tagged along with former idol singer Hiromi Go (their initials match) before a concert in Nagoya, and while it was funny watching Go squirm as Sumitani cajoled him into spanking him with a whip and joining him in a "Hard Gay dance," it wasn't nearly as interesting as the yonaoshi segments. . . . It was simply a series of dumb gay jokes.
Which brings up another question. Right now there are many popular tarento who are widely believed to be homosexual, but who never "come out" because it is still considered unacceptable. Here is a comic who, based on available intelligence, is not in fact gay but pretends to be in the most exaggerated way. If they all appeared on the same show, would they cancel each other out or double the fun? Everybody say "Woooo!"
The Japan Times: July 17, 2005
----------------------------------------
Interesting stuff 'eh. He is fun to watch and I will try to tape some of the show for anyone interested in watching next time I come home.
For now...have a happy Christmas Season. And please stop writing Xmas. It just looks tacky. Thanks!
It is pretty funny to watch and also helps me improve my Japanese language ability. よし！ That means...something like good! or okay! or yeah! you pick the expression and it fits. See I'm improving already. And to think, a lot of it has to do with my friend HG. I won't bore you with my perspective, I will instead copy and paste an even better opinion by a semi-legitimate guy (I don't really know the man).
Here goes...
How gei can one get? 'Pretend gay' is as far as it gets
By PHILIP BRASOR
"Talent," or tarento, is the cushiest job in Japan -- maybe in the whole world. Though you are expected to have some kind of skill (gei), once you achieve a level of regularity as a TV variety show guest, the work is self-perpetuating, though it's by no means guaranteed forever. And rarely do successful tarento have to actually demonstrate their skills. They just have to be themselves.
If comedy seems to provide the shortest route to tarento stardom, it is also the most crowded, and distinguishing oneself from the next chucklehead is becoming more and more of a challenge. That's why many of the comedians who've had the most TV exposure in the past few years aren't always comedians in the strictest sense. They're more like guys with gimmicks.
One such guy is Michael, who performs elaborate aerobic dance steps while smiling broadly and telling one-liners that are mostly pun-based. Another single-monikered funnyman is Hiroshi, a former host-club employee who dresses the part (tacky suit, open collar) and, with hands in pocket and gaze cast downward, frets about the injustices he suffers and the general pointlessness of life in a woebegone voice.
Michael, whose act is clever but limited in scope, will probably be no more than a memory a year from now. Hiroshi, however, is gaining in popularity, which is ironic as his act is premised on the idea that he's a failure in everything he does. Now, when he appears on a variety show, he isn't always expected to stick to the act, which means he's graduated to tarento status.
Success-wise, there are more Michaels in Japanese show-biz then there are Hiroshis, so it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Laser Ramon (Masaki) Sumitani, a guy-with-gimmick who made his broadcast debut only last February and since then has become one of the most talked-about personalities on Japanese television.
At the moment, Sumitani only appears on one show, TBS's Saturday night comedy program "Daibakuten" whose segments are mostly suggested by viewers. Apparently, Sumitani got on the show by actually requesting to see his own alter ego, Hard Gay, a hardbody dressed in stereotypical S-M couture: black-leather hot pants, tight sleeveless zippered leather jacket, Beatle boots, big motorcycle sunglasses, and a leather cap.
Sumitani performs acts of yonaoshi (social improvement) in his Hard Gay persona, which, in addition to the striking costume, incorporates a great deal of suggestive pelvic thrusting and periodic outbursts of "Woooo!", a cry of abandon that has become as much of a trademark as Crayon Shin-chan's mischievous nasal tones.
Sumitani's gimmick is juxtaposing two manifestations of attitude that, while not mutually exclusive, aren't normally placed together in the same thought: being a responsible citizen and being a homosexual libertine who can't control his libido. Thus, when he approaches an elderly woman in the Sugamo district of Tokyo and offers to carry her across the street, it looks very strange.
Many people reject Sumitani's offers and suggestions. The sight of him with his crotch bobbing up and down and fingers furiously unzipping his jacket to expose his perfectly smooth abs and pecs seems to turn a lot of people off. "Gross!" exclaims a bunch of Shibuya girls when he appears in front of them on Fathers Day and asks if they've properly thanked their dads for all the work they have done. He waylays a couple of punks nearby and, after putting out their cigarettes in his pants ("You're not supposed to smoke while walking"), gets one of them to call his father on Hard Gay's own cell-phone (the "gay-tai") right there and then.
Hard Gay's beyond-the-pale antics position him closer to the anime/manga species of characters than they do to his fellow comedians. The gay thing is so stylized that it's impossible to take it at face value. Bondage freaks who dress this particular way make up a subculture that seems as corny as the Village People's "Greatest Hits." He's a stereotype in appearance only.
But it's a resolute stereotype. Almost all the messages on the "Daibakuten" BBS are about Sumitani, and they're invariably approving. Everyone from 11-year-old kids to middle age salarymen love the guy, mainly because he works so hard at his "gei," a pun that everyone uses. On camera, Sumitani never sheds his Hard Gay persona, which is irrevocably positive. Even when people on the street flee his advances screaming in terror, he has a joke at the ready and an ecstatic cry of "Woooo!"
But can he take the Hard Gay gimmick further? So far, Sumitani hasn't appeared anywhere else on TV, either as Hard Gay or with his partner in the comedy duo Lazer Ramon, or with yet another partner in the comedy sketch group Big Porno, a stage act.
Hard Gay's appeal is in the way his character interacts with people on the street, so he may not have much to offer in a variety show setting, where people mostly sit around and talk. Last week on "Daibakuten," he broke out of the yonaoshi pattern and tagged along with former idol singer Hiromi Go (their initials match) before a concert in Nagoya, and while it was funny watching Go squirm as Sumitani cajoled him into spanking him with a whip and joining him in a "Hard Gay dance," it wasn't nearly as interesting as the yonaoshi segments. . . . It was simply a series of dumb gay jokes.
Which brings up another question. Right now there are many popular tarento who are widely believed to be homosexual, but who never "come out" because it is still considered unacceptable. Here is a comic who, based on available intelligence, is not in fact gay but pretends to be in the most exaggerated way. If they all appeared on the same show, would they cancel each other out or double the fun? Everybody say "Woooo!"
The Japan Times: July 17, 2005
----------------------------------------
Interesting stuff 'eh. He is fun to watch and I will try to tape some of the show for anyone interested in watching next time I come home.
For now...have a happy Christmas Season. And please stop writing Xmas. It just looks tacky. Thanks!
12.13.2005
this has got to stop...
I can tell that the holiday season is in full swing back home...no one has posted a damn thing recently. Which also means that there is a good chance that no one will be reading this either.
Oh well. Enjoy your Turkey induced comas you sons-a...tis the season to be happy.
くそ！
Oh well. Enjoy your Turkey induced comas you sons-a...tis the season to be happy.
くそ！
12.02.2005
I'm off to see the Buddha....the biggest Buddha in the world...
It was a lovely day in Amagasaki, Japan when myself and my little companion Noriko let out for the mighty and distant town of Nara. This lovely city is one of the oldest in Japan. It has been around for a long time and it saw many a happening...enough history already. It was a nice day and we took off early, must have been at least 11 am.
After about an hour on trains and the sort we arrived in the magical city. I had been told many a tale about this lovely place but didn't know what to expect..except for one thing: lots of deer and Buddhist temples. I had had a nightmare the night before about deers attacking us and taking our lunch boxes (or bento...it's just more fun to say; together now: ben-toe. Yeah!) So when we arrived I was extremely relieved to see that they had the mystical beasts under the control of ancient Buddhist monks. Like this fella.
Putting my fears to sleep like this hornless hunk of a beast I quickly donated my ¥10 and was soon blessed as to not be harmed by the mystical beasts.
Moving on, unmolested, my companion and I became one with the deer and soon found that they were rather fond of us. As can be seen in exhibits
A.
and B.
As we gently fed the deer and became a part of this ancient tradition...Nara by the way means "petting zoo" in Japanese. Interesting little tid bit wouldn't you say?
So we too got hungry, not the deer and I, but Noriko and I. So we say down in the city park and opened up our bentos and began to eat. It was lovely really. All around were people playing with these gentle beasts...and I eating my rice ball. Quite a way to spend a Saturday afternoon. All was well until the charm began to wear off (personally I think that the monk found out I really gave him a Chinese nickel...the value being far less then the recommended ¥10) and the deer attacked. Now I know that last week I alluded to the fact that some of the Monkeys in Minoh could be dangerous little thugs...but honestly, they couldn't hold a candle to these OG's. I tell ya what, I'm surprised Bambi turned out as well as he did after loosing his mother...because it definately seemed like these degenerates came from broken homes the way they attacked our table. First they took (and ate) or map so that we wouldn't know where the closest police station was, and then they tried to make a grab for our food. Now you all know me as a fun loving pacifist, but I tell ya what, I kicked the crap out of them deers...just kidding. I did however throw Norikos bento onto the ground, grabbed my own, and ran up a tree. That also is a joke.
So anyway the first deer (there were only two in the attack) came up on Noriko's right side and grabbed the map (diversion) while the one on her left tried to grab at her food. They of course didn't go for a thing near me...being as I am the closest embodiment of the Buddha that they have seen. So long story short, I grabbed the food and the girl and skeedaddled. We found another spot, set up camp, dried Noriko's tears (she was crying...they were pretty mean to her...head butting and all...no joke) and ate out lovely lunch.
After the meal and a little recon we felt that it was safe to move on.
After walking through the park we found ourselves at the gates of the mighty Todaiji Temple. This temple was built in 732 as a housing for the largest Buddha in the world (the Daibutsu). It is the largest all wood temple in these parts and again maybe the world. What you don't believe me with all of these "largest in the world" comments...well I will have you know I didn't have to duck all day.
Yeah whatever...look at it already.
It's pretty big 'eh?
The first thing that I saw, when walking through the main gates of the temple are these two huge mean looking guards. Now they had chicken wire like fencing protecting them...so the picture wasn't all that great, but inside the temple there were two more sculptures of the same scary guys...and they were also big. Probably made from the same cast...and one of them looked like this fella
cute isn't he.
More to come...have to go to class now.
Okay then, I'm back.
So anyway, there we were at the temple. We had escaped from the ravenous deer and found refuge in the company of the Diabutsuden, or really friggin' big Buddha. Now as much as I can gather this here Buddha is made to resemble of the reincarnations of the original Sidartha hisself. I am not sure what this Buddha's name is, but I do know that he is supposed to be the Buddha that will bring light to the world. Therefore the Buddha was made out of bronze from a cast that took three years to build and was then coated with gold. I did read a little story about the gold...when they first began to guild the big guy there was no gold in Japan, or moreover, no gold had been previously discovered in Japan. So all of it had to be imported from China and other nations abroad. This was frustrating. So they began a prayer a thon and lo and beholdith, gold was found in the north of Japan. Kinda interesting I thought.
So I bet that you are wondering what the big guy looks like...here, I'll give you a peak (but to be honest a little picture on my tiny blogger isn't really going to give you the full impression...you really should just come over here and visit me...)
After seeing the big guy we mosied around the temple and through the gift shop were be both decided that we didn't need any deer or buddha related materials...not even the bottle opener with one of the guards on it...which was tough to pass up, but I made Buddha proud and suppressed my desires.
After leaving the temple we wondered around the grounds of the park and related area. It really is a huge bit of land. We saw many more deer and they did get a little less harrassing after we left the temple...maybe the temple deer are like the dirty money changers that Jesus threw out and the deer outside of the enterance are more like you and me. Just a thought...but then again I don't think that even I am this cute.
Then we looked at more leaves. I know, I know, two weeks of trips to look at leaves? It's all about the aesthetics baby...speaking of, I think that my overalls make this picture more please. Example: My overall handsomness, overall aura, and overall pants. What do you think?
So as you that know me could imagine, I did become a little hungry as we walked and looked at all those leaves. So I began to think back to last week when I was in a similar situation. What did I do then? Well I took what nature offered me...sweet, sweet oak leaves. Now I know that some of you may think that I'm a monster, but I just couldn't help myself...or should I say I just couldn't not help myself to a mouthful of them tasty treats...
Now they weren't quite as good as the fried ones from the week prior, but they hit the spot. Also it wasn't all that awkward for me to eat 'em raw...after eating raw chicken, beef liver, horse, and all things aquatic the leaves felt rather normal. However as the day wore on I still felt hungry. Through a clearing in the woods we ran into a quaint little place
that offered us some tasty Zatsui...or at least I think that's what it's called. It was a sweetened red soy beans soup with a tasty little rice cake (not like in the states were it's dry and nasty without flavor or a heart, but more like pounded rice that becomes almost doughy and quite tasty). The dish and I looked like this (I hope that you like the pictures...sorry if there are too many of me...but honestly I know that so many of you miss me and so really it wouldn't be fair if I just didn't give you want you really wanted)
And as the night wore on we were chased from the park by the Deer who were out with flashlights looking for little children who had been separated from their parents for the evenings festivities.
The day was coming to an end.
As we rode the train back towards home we thought as to what else we could do...but instead sided with the immediate idea of sleeping on the train. Now I know that before I have been surprised at how easily the Japanese can sleep on trains, but now is the time for me to admit that they are wonderful to sleep on. I think that its the gentle rocking and the soft seat that has been warmed by so many of the people that came before me. The seats aren't like the Chicago "El" all cold and hard and crap, but they are instead upholstered with a fine fabric a lot like that of a Lutheran Church pew...you know, like a cattail...not like those hardwood Catholic pews.
So there we were sleeping and thinking as to what was next when I got hungry again. All of this heavy walking and running from deer made me hungry and some stinking leaves, beans, and mochi aren't going to fill up this stomach. Especially after all the viewing as well...Buddha, leaves, young women in uniforms, etc.
So we found our way to a nice little place where one of my students works. Its called something like "EE Nonde Kutte" Good Eat and Drink. The drink was a'ight but the food was talking to me.
Honestly, the little fishies looked up at me and said (this is a rough translation), "Hey La'do, you don' eat me I tell you where da man is who'sa gonna grantcha tree wishes." You'd think that he worked for Popeyes the way he talked. So I agreed and he told me and I ate him. Sucker...or was it salmon.
So I followed the directions and found the man I was looking for...he was a little tough to spot, but I thought that the bag stood out a little.
A think?
So I told him all about my run in with the fish and only said, "I hope ya ate the bastard. Ain't no one s'pposed ta know about me till after the Emperor's birthday." It was then that I realised that not only crazy cajun's and popeye poops talk like that, but anyone in the chicken biz. So Col. Claus continued, "I give ya three wishes. Whaddya want?"
So I thought for a minute and then said....
1 & 2 Gioza and Beer
and 3. A Drunken Yoda
...I don't know if his speech problem is because he's Irish or because he's a drunk. Either way he's green and it fits. He kept going on all night about some new spoilers but I just told I didn't care and then by the end of the night it was pretty funny, he didn't have the force to make it to the bathroom. Alright then...I'm tired. I hope that you enjoyed the picture post. I will be talking with you again sometime soon. Kudos!
11.22.2005
aesthetically challenged
The theme of todays post is "aesthetics". This is one of those words that I came across in college and continued to use until I knew what it really meant. You see I thought that it was a great word for describing something beyond what we call "beauty", but then I just found out that it was a way of appreciating or interpretating beauty (but then again, maybe I still don't know exactly what it means and therefore and stopped using it because a. It's not what I really thought it was or b. I don't know what the hell it means). Anyway now that I have confessed my ignorance I am going to go about the rest of this post as though I didn't. Ignorance is bliss, and really all that I have at this point.
So now that November is here and soon you lucky bastards will all have a mouthful of turkey while I'm here sucking on chicken twisters (which honestly are quite delicious) I thought that I would do my best to make you slightly jealous of my lavish, yet turkeyless, existence. I shall begin with exhibit A: autumn leaf viewing. Now some of you may think, "well yes Danny boy, autumn leaves are quite nice, but I often only enjoy them from my couch or car window". Well my friends have I got a tradition to share with you: in Mother Russia...oh wait, in the Great Nihon they make an all day trip out of the event. And it isn't simply walking through a park on a nice sunny autumn noon, but it is a whole experience complete with vendors lining your path selling all kinds of crap! There are trinket stands, fall food stands, sausage stands, sweet potato stands, standing stands, you get the point. It was crazy. Honestly, I thought that it was just going to be a nice little walk in some mountainous area. But no. We had to deal with a lot of families and old folks. But all of the difficulties were all made up for when the monkeys arrived. Oh I'm not a talkin' about no British invasion or circus act, I'm talkin' about some real live monkeys just hangin' out...monkeys, hangin' out...always gets a giggle out of me. Back to the monkeys though. So they were just relaxin' in trees and eating little kids that wondered too far from the pack. It really felt like I had truly gone back to nature. Except for all the stands...but they were traditional stands, and Japanese tradition goes back like a lot longer then Caucasion tradition...so essentially I was going back to when my people were in the muck and poo of nature, it's just that this time I'm in a more developed part of the world. NO I'm not turning Japanese; just making a point.
So anyways, back to the monkees...everytime I go to Karaoke I have to sing "Day Dream Believer", no really, they make me or else they ask me to leave.
So anyways, back to the mokeys...my students told me that the mokeys out in Minoh (where I went, pronounced "Me-No") were pretty mean. Like beat you up and take your lunch kinda mean. Or at least take your lunch kinda mean. They also are quite advanced, or so I was told. This can be seen in their ability to purchase soda and tea (for other drink options see last post) from the vending machines (like I said, back to nature). However as of late they have not been able to use the vending machines due to the increase in charge from ¥100 to ¥120; their little monkey paws can't hold the three coins. The local UMWoJ (United Monkey Workers of Japan) as been in talks with the vending people in an attempt to gain some limited choices of ¥100 drinks, but to no avail.
So yeah, this last weekend I went out and looked at maple tree leaves and monkeys while surrounded by people half my size...honestly it felt I was on Monkey mountain now that I think about it....and in the end we came upon a wonderful waterfall. It honestly was very beautiful and it was nice to get out and see some seasonal wonders. I am sorry, but I don't have any pictures of the waterfall, my battery died in my camera before we got there. I do have this lovely shot.
You can see a bit of the waterfall through the trees. I hope to go back this winter and hopefully will see more monkeys and take more pictures so that your jealousy can be complete.
I just remembered that I was supposed to talk about aesthetics today. I also see that I have failed at this task. I think I can handle this by simply ignoring the fact once again.
So did I mention that they also happened to sell momiji-tempura on the road to this waterfall? I am sure that most of you are familiar with tempura? As someone from Rockford, Il. may inform you, "It's the name o'the batter that's on the shit you get at Happy Wok". Good! You guessed it. "Momiji" means Maple leaf...so yeah, put those together and what do you get? A snack fit for a fat kid at a carnival. Really, breaded and deep fried maple leaves...did I buy some? You bet your buttocks I did. "Were they delicious?" You may press, and in my best Socratic method I would reply, "Didn't I say they were deep fried?"
They look like this (with a bottle of Shochu, now an all season tradition in my home):
Well folks I grow tired. This weekend I am going to go to Nara to crank my neck some more in city parks while gazing at the wonderful fall colors. I will also be feeding and trying to ride some tame deer at Nara Park. I will charge the battery a little longer so that I can have more pictures for you next time...and possibly less words.
Take care and have a happy Thanksgiving...I hope that your center piece is aesthetically pleasing. Nothing worse then gorging yourself while having to stare at dead or dried flowers. Especially when they are in one of those ram's horn looking wicker things...why do I have the feeling I just offended a family member?
So now that November is here and soon you lucky bastards will all have a mouthful of turkey while I'm here sucking on chicken twisters (which honestly are quite delicious) I thought that I would do my best to make you slightly jealous of my lavish, yet turkeyless, existence. I shall begin with exhibit A: autumn leaf viewing. Now some of you may think, "well yes Danny boy, autumn leaves are quite nice, but I often only enjoy them from my couch or car window". Well my friends have I got a tradition to share with you: in Mother Russia...oh wait, in the Great Nihon they make an all day trip out of the event. And it isn't simply walking through a park on a nice sunny autumn noon, but it is a whole experience complete with vendors lining your path selling all kinds of crap! There are trinket stands, fall food stands, sausage stands, sweet potato stands, standing stands, you get the point. It was crazy. Honestly, I thought that it was just going to be a nice little walk in some mountainous area. But no. We had to deal with a lot of families and old folks. But all of the difficulties were all made up for when the monkeys arrived. Oh I'm not a talkin' about no British invasion or circus act, I'm talkin' about some real live monkeys just hangin' out...monkeys, hangin' out...always gets a giggle out of me. Back to the monkeys though. So they were just relaxin' in trees and eating little kids that wondered too far from the pack. It really felt like I had truly gone back to nature. Except for all the stands...but they were traditional stands, and Japanese tradition goes back like a lot longer then Caucasion tradition...so essentially I was going back to when my people were in the muck and poo of nature, it's just that this time I'm in a more developed part of the world. NO I'm not turning Japanese; just making a point.
So anyways, back to the monkees...everytime I go to Karaoke I have to sing "Day Dream Believer", no really, they make me or else they ask me to leave.
So anyways, back to the mokeys...my students told me that the mokeys out in Minoh (where I went, pronounced "Me-No") were pretty mean. Like beat you up and take your lunch kinda mean. Or at least take your lunch kinda mean. They also are quite advanced, or so I was told. This can be seen in their ability to purchase soda and tea (for other drink options see last post) from the vending machines (like I said, back to nature). However as of late they have not been able to use the vending machines due to the increase in charge from ¥100 to ¥120; their little monkey paws can't hold the three coins. The local UMWoJ (United Monkey Workers of Japan) as been in talks with the vending people in an attempt to gain some limited choices of ¥100 drinks, but to no avail.
So yeah, this last weekend I went out and looked at maple tree leaves and monkeys while surrounded by people half my size...honestly it felt I was on Monkey mountain now that I think about it....and in the end we came upon a wonderful waterfall. It honestly was very beautiful and it was nice to get out and see some seasonal wonders. I am sorry, but I don't have any pictures of the waterfall, my battery died in my camera before we got there. I do have this lovely shot.
You can see a bit of the waterfall through the trees. I hope to go back this winter and hopefully will see more monkeys and take more pictures so that your jealousy can be complete.
I just remembered that I was supposed to talk about aesthetics today. I also see that I have failed at this task. I think I can handle this by simply ignoring the fact once again.
So did I mention that they also happened to sell momiji-tempura on the road to this waterfall? I am sure that most of you are familiar with tempura? As someone from Rockford, Il. may inform you, "It's the name o'the batter that's on the shit you get at Happy Wok". Good! You guessed it. "Momiji" means Maple leaf...so yeah, put those together and what do you get? A snack fit for a fat kid at a carnival. Really, breaded and deep fried maple leaves...did I buy some? You bet your buttocks I did. "Were they delicious?" You may press, and in my best Socratic method I would reply, "Didn't I say they were deep fried?"
They look like this (with a bottle of Shochu, now an all season tradition in my home):
Well folks I grow tired. This weekend I am going to go to Nara to crank my neck some more in city parks while gazing at the wonderful fall colors. I will also be feeding and trying to ride some tame deer at Nara Park. I will charge the battery a little longer so that I can have more pictures for you next time...and possibly less words.
Take care and have a happy Thanksgiving...I hope that your center piece is aesthetically pleasing. Nothing worse then gorging yourself while having to stare at dead or dried flowers. Especially when they are in one of those ram's horn looking wicker things...why do I have the feeling I just offended a family member?
11.15.2005
Got any Corn?
As the weather continually declines over here in ole Nippon I begin to find myself looking for new and interesting drinks to warm myself up with. No, I am not talking about alcohol, that stuff actually doesn't warm you up at all but instead can be more harmful in cold weather...however, hot toddies can be delightful!
Anyway, on with the strange drink selections.
So you see over here sodas, or pops, or whatever you want to call them, are not very popular. Now there are such things as coke and pepsi and diet colas, but there are not such things as mountain dew or sprite. There are however Japanese versions of non-colas such as Mitsuya cider (which tastes nothing like I thought cider was supposed to taste like).
To clarify: the drinks are not like the United States. No syrupy sodas and no flavorful combinations (if you need an example think about the many concoctions that Mountain Dew has thought up in the past few years).
This however does not leave the drinks to be unworthy of sampling; quite the opposite. I obviously can not always read the label so I am often surprised when I make such a purchase. It is fun and somewhat exciting and a great thing to do while waiting for a train.
Now most folks with half a brain would say that it's not too hard to determine if something is a tea (which makes up about 45% of the drink options), coffee (another gimmie really, and about another 45%), vitamin drinks (such as "1000 Lemons" which tastes nothing like lemon consentrate but more like...well I don't know, but lemon concentrate would just not be palatable...just think about the acidity of such a thing..not to mention the morning after factor. That would burn...reminds me of the one time I ate a whole pineapple...ouch) vitamin drinks also include the infamous "Genke" drinks (pronounced: gay-n-key; this being japanese for excited, or healthy, or happy...however in drink form this word means wired, or so I've been led to believe...they are pretty harmless and don't have the heart racing effect of red bull). Vitamin drinks about 4.5% and soda making up another 4.5%. So you may be asking yourself, "well Dan you cheeky little monkey, where's the other 1%?" Well my friends I don't really know if any my percentages are anywhere near correct, but I will say that if I had my way that last one percent would have to be given to the canned corn market share. Oh you read it right. From the country that loves to put corn in any and all ackward positions comes corn in a can...that you can buy out of a vending machine...warm as well...and not just *ching* 20 seconds in the microwave warm, but "ya gotta sip it so as ya don't burn your mouth" kinda warm.
Isn't that awesome?!?!
It's just like the creamed corn that mom used to cook (probably the repackeged surplus to be honest). It is tasty and definately a much needed treat for those standing on the cold train platform waiting for the ole 17:02 to Kyoto Express...whilst sick, either the bottle or the natural kind. It is delicious and I think that we need to press for more of these kind of things both at home and abroad. You want to spread happiness to all the little children of the world? Send 'em a can of Knorr's warmed (creamed) corn (soup)...don't know which it is supposed to be.
So in effect, it may only take up 1% of the vending machine possibilities...it makes up 100% of the warm and happy thoughts in this man's head as he waits for that train.
Soothes the throat too!
Now for today's picture...
Geez you'd think that I opened up an online deli with all that meat...but honestly, I'd rather leave that to the professional.
Well have a good one and I bid you ado.
Love you mom!
Anyway, on with the strange drink selections.
So you see over here sodas, or pops, or whatever you want to call them, are not very popular. Now there are such things as coke and pepsi and diet colas, but there are not such things as mountain dew or sprite. There are however Japanese versions of non-colas such as Mitsuya cider (which tastes nothing like I thought cider was supposed to taste like).
To clarify: the drinks are not like the United States. No syrupy sodas and no flavorful combinations (if you need an example think about the many concoctions that Mountain Dew has thought up in the past few years).
This however does not leave the drinks to be unworthy of sampling; quite the opposite. I obviously can not always read the label so I am often surprised when I make such a purchase. It is fun and somewhat exciting and a great thing to do while waiting for a train.
Now most folks with half a brain would say that it's not too hard to determine if something is a tea (which makes up about 45% of the drink options), coffee (another gimmie really, and about another 45%), vitamin drinks (such as "1000 Lemons" which tastes nothing like lemon consentrate but more like...well I don't know, but lemon concentrate would just not be palatable...just think about the acidity of such a thing..not to mention the morning after factor. That would burn...reminds me of the one time I ate a whole pineapple...ouch) vitamin drinks also include the infamous "Genke" drinks (pronounced: gay-n-key; this being japanese for excited, or healthy, or happy...however in drink form this word means wired, or so I've been led to believe...they are pretty harmless and don't have the heart racing effect of red bull). Vitamin drinks about 4.5% and soda making up another 4.5%. So you may be asking yourself, "well Dan you cheeky little monkey, where's the other 1%?" Well my friends I don't really know if any my percentages are anywhere near correct, but I will say that if I had my way that last one percent would have to be given to the canned corn market share. Oh you read it right. From the country that loves to put corn in any and all ackward positions comes corn in a can...that you can buy out of a vending machine...warm as well...and not just *ching* 20 seconds in the microwave warm, but "ya gotta sip it so as ya don't burn your mouth" kinda warm.
Isn't that awesome?!?!
It's just like the creamed corn that mom used to cook (probably the repackeged surplus to be honest). It is tasty and definately a much needed treat for those standing on the cold train platform waiting for the ole 17:02 to Kyoto Express...whilst sick, either the bottle or the natural kind. It is delicious and I think that we need to press for more of these kind of things both at home and abroad. You want to spread happiness to all the little children of the world? Send 'em a can of Knorr's warmed (creamed) corn (soup)...don't know which it is supposed to be.
So in effect, it may only take up 1% of the vending machine possibilities...it makes up 100% of the warm and happy thoughts in this man's head as he waits for that train.
Soothes the throat too!
Now for today's picture...
Geez you'd think that I opened up an online deli with all that meat...but honestly, I'd rather leave that to the professional.
Well have a good one and I bid you ado.
Love you mom!
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