Long Time Expat In Japan
里とほき八声の鳥の初声に花の香送る春の山風 satohotoki, yagoeno torino, hatsukoe ni, hananoka okuru, haruno yamakaze In my home town, everywhere you can hear, the first calls of birds, the fragrance of flowers, carried on the mountain winds. The imagery of this one hit me on the heartstrings. I don't live in mountains, admittedly. But I do, or did, live in … Continue reading carried on the mountain winds
Hello kitty is the epitome of marketing. As far as I can tell, Hello kitty has never been a comic book character, a TV show, a movie, or anything. It only exists as a marketing vehicle. According to wikipedia, "she is a perpetual 3rd-grade student who lives outside of London," has a twin sister, Mimi, … Continue reading Japan is Awesome – Hello Kitty
I went to Meiji shrine the other day, taking a guest from out of town. I paid some yen to pray. You choose how much to throw, like tossing coins into fountains. They say that it's better to throw a 5 yen coin because it’s better luck. So 5 yen is better than 1, 50 … Continue reading Japan is Awesome – Fortunes
It was in my second year of college that I learned the meaning of the word sophomoric, conceited and overconfident of knowledge but poorly informed and immature. It kind of hit hard. And it was kind of true. It was a time when I learned enough to know I didn’t really know anything. The below … Continue reading 3rd-Dan
... to have a highball or two at the end of a long day at work. It’s my grandfather’s drink, but I don’t mind; I’m self actualized. It’s usually just one. Maybe two. Just a night cap till “once more into the breach.” Tonight was different, I bought a canned highball, labelled “strong.” And so … Continue reading It’s My habit
A little background. I got a new job (same company, new place). I needed a small apartment for M-F because it’s so far away. For my move I asked for the service where they pack and unpack your stuff. Mostly it’s just the dishes I didn’t want to wrap, and the books I didn’t want … Continue reading On Why I’m a Jerk
There’s a dampening field on my mood. It’s called a face mask. A face mask numbs the muscles in my face. How does that sci-fi line go? “In space, no one can hear you scream.” In a mask, no one can see you feel. Sure, there are practical reasons. It itches. It scratches. It’s heavy … Continue reading Barriers
I’m not usually one to crow. I learned humility well and early, often with good reason. Tooting your own horn is unseemly. I am from a different age, I suppose. But I am disproportionately proud of this one bit of calligraphy that I did for a level up test recently. So enamored of it, in … Continue reading Proud – and a Little Ashamed of Being So
Ancient Chinese wisdom shows up in my calligraphy all the time. That’s kind of the idea. This week’s pulled on my heart strings a s being particularly true. 翰逸神飛 When the pen flows, the spirit flies.
Not a Zoom meeting but close. Don’t misunderstand. I’m very thankful for my job. I have so much to be appreciative for. But this meeting was loooooong
