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Family Time in Tokyo
24/4/26 05:56![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
l33tminionFor dinner, we went to Denny's, which is mostly notable for the trivia that it's an entirely different restaurant chain licensing the Denny's branding. It's a good time, though, and "family restaurant" is a thing for a reason.
On Thursday, we went to visit my host parents, Kyoko and Isamu, in Shisui. Was really lovely catching up (making the most of my somewhat faded and not that strong in the first place Japanese language skills), and I'm so glad Erica had the chance to meet them in person. They took us out to a really nice lunch nearby.
On the way back, we stopped at Tokyo Skytree Town. Erica didn't want to check out the observation deck of the Skytree itself, the view from the floor 30 lounge in Skytree Town was high enough. The lower floors of the mall there had a lot of pop culture focused shops, among other things. Erica was very excited about the Pokemon Center and we had dinner at the Kirby Cafe, which was definitely very cute.
Video for an abandoned English Language Day post
23/4/26 08:58neonvincent
Queens Botanical Garden
22/4/26 23:03silver_chipmunkIt was a sort of grey, overcast day, I would have preferred sunny, but it wasn't too cold. The gardens are beautiful now, lots of tulips, blossoming trees of various types, and the lilacs are starting to bloom.
I saw lots of squirrels, robins, a blue jay, a pair of mallard ducks, a school of goldfish, and two cats, presumably from the houses across the street from the gardens.
I walked through most of the gardens and then went to the gift shop where I bought granola bars, and an "advice from a hummingbird" tee shirt. I figure I'll wear it up at the cottage because of the hummingbirds.
Then I finished a the last bits I hadn't walked through, and headed home.
I had great bad luck with the buses, but finally I got a 44, only to be told when we got to Kissena Blvd that the next stop would be the last before the Bronx! The driver said it was a "school bus", I have no idea what that means.
Anyway, I got off there and walked to Roosevelt Ave, where there is a small place I had noticed that sells Chinese buns and similar stuff. I got a fried pork bun for $4 which was juicy and delicious. That was lunch.
I got another 44 bus home, it was about 4:00, and I went and lay down and puttered on my phone til just before 6:00. Then I went out to the living room and called
mashfanficchick to ask zer if ze minds if I stay overnight tomorrow. Ze said OK so I will be doing that because on Friday I'm going to the funeral of the father of R from my Saturday meeting. She came to Oldest Brother's cremation so it's only right. And the funeral is twice as long a trip from my place as it is from
mashfanficchick's. Plus we can stay up later if I don't have to worry about going home, so it's win/win.Anyway, it had been arranged our D&D game was going to start a half an hour late. So I Teamed the FWiB and we were able to talk til 830 as usual.
Then we played the game, which was more fighting bugbears and rescuing prisoners. It went the usual two hours despite starting late, so we ended almost 10:30. Then I fed the pets and made my own dinner.
And then I started here.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. The Botanical Gardens.
3. Tasty pork bun.
4.
mashfanficchick5. My gaming group.
6. Bed soon.
Rejected image for Earth Day post
22/4/26 18:51neonvincent
Retiree meeting
21/4/26 22:18silver_chipmunkIt was very easy to get to, just the bus to Flushing and the 7 train from there. Then a few blocks walk. I thought I was going to be late, but I got there just on time. And the meeting started late anyway.
There was a breakfast, pastries and bagels and fruit. I had a mini muffin and a croissant, and coffee. The meeting was pretty interesting, they talked about benefits and programs available to us. some I may use later.
Lunch was served at the end, sandwiches, and I had tuna.
Then I went back home. I lay down and was going to have a nap but I got into a long, somewhat heated discussion, or argument, with the Kid by text. I think we resolved it though, and ended on cheerful terms.
At 6:30 I came back out and puttered on the computer til it was time to Team the FWiB at 7:00. We talked until it was time for me to have my Al-anon meeting by Zoom.
The meeting was pretty good. M and S were both there plus some other people dropped in.
After the meeting I had a snack, then went to the bedroom again and played solitaire, and also checked my repeat delivery of turtle food from Petco. I am low, and the next order doesn't come for a month. I just can't seem to get it right.
Anyway, at pet feeding time I fed the pets, and started here.
And that was the day.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. My union.
3. The Kid.
4. My meetings and the people there.
5. My pets.
6. Bed soon.
Let's Go! (to Japan)
21/4/26 21:21l33tminionThe long flight from Boston was managed, though we got to Osaka on almost no sleep. Direct flight from Boston went well, though it's a long journey. The connection in Narita was interesting, the domestic terminal has only a few vending machines past security and you take a bus from the gate to the plane on the tarmac. It makes Narita feel like a small regional airport stapled to a major international hub.
Arranged for an airport pickup, though missed our driver in a surprisingly chaotic crowd in the airport arrivals lobby. Got that straightened out despite some struggles with the international roaming on my cell phone plan. (Which took a call to T-Mobile support later to get straightened out.)
And then we were up in middle of the night despite being on about three hours of sleep in the last 36. The sound approach is to just close your eyes and just wait in darkness or silence for four hours straight. Good luck getting a kid to do that, so we took a different approach, a little thing I like to call "jetlagmaxxing", and went to the combini at 3AM for a snack instead.
Our first real day of the trip was spent at Universal Japan. It does seem a certain amount of silly to go that far for a theme park, but it was pretty good for a first-day activity. And we were all (somewhat shockingly) feeling awake and full-energy all day until Erica crashed to zero abruptly just before dinner around 6. Erica was mostly not in the mood for roller coasters, which made me disinclined to spend time waiting for those. And she wanted to spend a lot of time in the Wonderland corner of the park (which has Peanuts, Hello Kitty, and Sesame Street characters and most of the little kid rides). I still had a lot of fun with the calmer rides, treats, and all the details of the theming. Super Nintendo World was absolutely amazing, though. We all exclaimed aloud when we stepped out into the main area, it was really a beautifully realized setting, nostalgic and lively and fun. Donkey Kong: Minecart Madness (Erica's one roller coaster of the day) was top-notch in my book and my favorite bit of the day.
Today, we went to see the deer in Nara Park. They're cute, and we were no exception to everyone wanting to feed the deer, but they will mug you for a deer cracker if you have one (or look like you have maybe thought about having one at some point). Their nipping isn't as aggressive as possible, but nip they do, and some of them would clearly consider taking your crackers at gunpoint but for the lack of guns (and thumbs).
Before heading to the Kasuga-Taisha shrine, we had steamed kakinohazushi (sushi wrapped in persimmon leaves) at Izasa-Nakatani-hompo Yumekaze-hiroba.
Kasuga-Taisha was amazing. I imagine if you're actually Shinto it hits unfathomably hard, but it's definitely an awesome and uncanny place: The monumental lanterns and thousand-year-old trees and wildlife that seems to grow increasingly pious as you approach the shrine. I got insufficient cash from the cash machine this morning and we almost didn't get to see the shrine interior as a result (Erica would not have wanted to make the climb again after backtracking). But we were bailed out by a friendly pair of tourists who spotted us admission when I asked if they could exchange some yen for USD or payment via Venmo or similar. Turns out they were from the other (i.e. the original) Cambridge. Sorry for not catching your names, you're the best, that really made our day.
For the other main attraction of the day, we went to Osaka Castle, which had an interesting museum and fascinating scenery. Afterwards, we went to Osaka Shinsekai and had supper at Jarinko, a very friendly and beautiful little izakaya. They made their own plum wine in-house, fermenting it on the side counter in large jugs. The appetizers were delicious. Got through with dinner just on time to see the whole neighborhood lit up for the night on our way to the train.
A nice quiet day
20/4/26 22:17silver_chipmunkEventually I decided I should do something today, so I decided on the Queens Botanical Gardens. I showered, and washed my hair, and got dressed.
I started walking to the bus, when it suddenly hit me... It's Monday, isn't the Botanical Garden cosed on Monday? So I checked, using my phone, and sure enough, closed til 8:00 am Tuesday. Grumble.
But I had banking to do in Flushing, and I decided to get my face waxed, which it needed, so I went to the bus stop anyway. Took the 20 in, took care of my banking (I had a $50 bill I wanted to deposit and then withdraw in smaller denominations), and then went and got my face waxed.
I think she did a better job than any other time I've gone, and it cost me a bit more too. But so it goes.
I came home and decided I still wanted to do something. So I collected the book I'm reading, The King's Peace, and went to The Busy Bee coffee shop. I had an egg sandwich, very good, and a lavender cream latte. Then I sat an read for about 45 minutes. They close at 6:00 and it was just before closing time when I left.
Came home and puttered online. Actually got a little it of writing done, and then it was time to Team the FWiB.
We talked for close to an hour and a half, and then got off.
mashfanficchick called, and we had a brief conversation to plan upcoming days.Then I went into the bedroom and played solitaire. I also called the Kid, of course she didn't answer. It really is starting to annoy me. Anyway I texted her to please call.
Fed the pets at pet feeding time. Then I took a picture of the doctor's order for my DEXA scan on Thursday and sent it to the lab.
mashfanficchick called again. I'm still waiting for the Kid to call.And that's the day.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. Caught up on sleep.
3. Got my face waxed.
4, The Busy Bee.
5. Good books.
6.
mashfanficchick
a hodgepodge for Moody Monday
20/4/26 19:39mellowtiggerSo many hot topics, so little time.
music: I've said repeatedly that I think Trump is suffering from untreated syphilis. I'm still holding to that theory. I keep expecting to see pockmarks of dissolving flesh soon, but he keeps getting his skin covered up with makeup or bandages. It's only a matter of time, though. Meanwhile, I'm making a song playlist for that special day that must arrive eventually. Do you have any songs to recommend for this list (YouTube)?
job: Today at work was more than usual. I was late (30 minutes) going to lunch, and I was late (45 minutes) clocking out. I need to leave early sometime this week, so I don't have overtime to report.
stockpile: I've warned before that you need to buy what you can now, while you can. I reiterate that message now.
Click to read a list of things I expect to decrease in availability or value...
libertarianism: This topic deserves a whole post of its own, but I think I finally have the thing that will help the USA snap out of this terrible decades-long devotion to neoliberal economics. It's been happening ever since the Powell memo of 1971, since the U.S. Chamber of Commerce opposed the Humphrey Hawkins Act of 1978 to stop USA's transition to social democracy, and since 1980 when Ronald Reagan launched his presidential campaign promoting so-called trickle-down economics (or "voodoo economics" to quote another former President). Go to whichever AI chatbot you can access, and ask it this particular question:
"Use the Price equation to model the paradox of tolerance. What conditions (like detection of defectors and removal of non-cooperative actors) are required to make that comparison accurate."I want to delve farther into its answer. It seems to call out the ills of libertarian politics and neoliberal economics. The people demolishing our detection, reporting, intervention, and funding institutions know exactly what they're trying to accomplish. It's like they already understand the Price equation but have sided with demons to create perpetual cruelty in a libertarian hellscape instead of choosing the other option offered by the equation. They're succeeding so far, and this AI answer might help us defend attempts to restore/rebuild community, using incontrovertible math as justification.
I'm reminded of an idea I had before that our government should make it easy for citizens to do good things, and maybe that should be the next great push in governance goals. I have to write more about what's needed as we begin the restoration of the USA and its foundational ideals.
The beginning is near. Are you preparing?
Discarded video for 420 Day post
20/4/26 09:45neonvincentStarsky and Hutch chat
19/4/26 22:34silver_chipmunkHad a very good time chatting, and got a little bit of writing done. We stayed chatting til around 6:00.
I went to the bedroom and played solitaire until just before 7:00, then came out and Teamed the FWiB. We talked until 8:30.
I called Middle Brother then. He is fine, nothing new.
I went to the bedroom and called
mashfanficchick, and we talked for awhile. Nothing new. Then I called the Kid, who did not answer, of course, so I texted her to please call. We'll see if she does.Then I made dinner and ate, and went back to the bedroom til pet feeding time. And that was the day.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. Catching up on missed sleep.
3. The Starsky and Hutch fandom.
4. Middle Brother doing well.
5. Friends.
6. The Kid.
yup. snow.
19/4/26 07:10mellowtiggerAs I warned about yesterday, winter is not yet done with Minneapolis.
Here's the view out of the patio door at the front of my house this morning. We have sub-freezing temperatures forecast for tomorrow morning too.
P.S. I wanted to mention somewhere that while I was digging with a shovel in the front yard yesterday, a lady from next door (public housing unit) stopped to thank me. "For what," I asked, genuinely confused. "For the air conditioner and the whistle," she said. I replied while smiling, "Oh, sure!" Not very eloquent, but I'm not exactly the master of human interactions. When I finally ordered a new smaller air conditioner unit last spring that would fit properly in my bedroom window, I offered the older/bigger unit to them for free, so it wouldn't go unused. Plus, they got one of foeclan's 3d-printed whistles when I delivered notes to my neighbors back in January.
Day 2 at the Met
19/4/26 00:44silver_chipmunkI didn't go to the diner afterward, I went straight to
mashfanficchick's. D rode on the bus and the subway for a good part of the way with me, which was interesting. He's a very strange person. Anyway I got to
mashfanficchick's and we went into Manhattan, by the F train to the E. Before we took a bus to the museum we looked for someplace to eat, and went to Thisbowl, and Australian chain. I got a bowl with salmon.Then we took the bus to the Met, and waited for Marja on the steps. It didn't take long, and then we went into the museum.
We went to the American wing and spent most of our time there. Tiffany glass windows and things, so beautiful.
Eventually Marja was tired though so we left and took the bus back to the subway and came back to
mashfanficchick's. I Teamed the FWiB, and we ordered Mexican food for dinner. I had a shrimp quesadilla. After that we watched the final episode of Heated Rivalry. It's so sweet.
Then I took an Uber home and fed the pets and here I am.
Gratitude List:
1. The FWiB.
2. Marja.
3. The Met.
4. Good food.
5. My meetings and the people there.
6. Good TV.
Minneapolis is not ready for zone 5 yet
18/4/26 17:47mellowtiggerI'm a big advocate of recognizing climate change.
For instance, back in 1960, this USDA map shows Minneapolis in zone 4a. Sometime later, we changed to 4b, and today we're in zone 5a. We're still fully surrounded by zone 4b, though, so it's only because of the "heat island effect" that we're considered a warmer zone. You can see that island of heat on this map. That's fine, I suppose.
Unwelcome, however, is receiving plant shipments on dates that are still too early for actual cold weather habits in this part of Minnesota. I planted things a few weeks ago, when they shipped much too early, then we had a hard freeze down to -7C/20F. I received more plants on Thursday, only a little too early. I kept them indoors, because I saw the forecast for below-freezing temperatures this morning. That's also fine, I suppose. After work today, I got some asparagus and roses into the ground finally. I had to dress warm, because the wind chill was 3C/37F.
I have a few more delivered plants to put into the ground, but I'm waiting until Monday morning's sub-freezing weather passes. One of these plants is another rose, but it's already blooming! It just seems terribly wrong to try putting it into the ground right before a freeze.
That photo isn't great, but the single open flower at the top is still visible. These last remaining plants will just have to wait for Monday afternoon. I wish all of these plants weren't delivered until late April, like what would happen years ago, when we were still in zone 4.
Balcony time
18/4/26 17:49himbeersaftSome of my old stuff survived (my strawberries, the raspberry, a lavender, and the snowball, which is already in bloom now) and I got a few more plants today. All of them should be frost-resistant, but I don't trust these labels anymore. However, since we're in a Super El Niño year I doubt this winter will see such cold temperatures anyway.
The balcony looks really nice now though. I get a smile on my face whenever I look out the window. Now we only need new furniture for outside, or old one is falling apart. We saw a set we think would fit at the gardening centre today, so we'd just have to take measurements and them order online. Because without a car we can’t just pick it up from the shop and transporting it on the tram is also out of the question. ;)
Apart from being productive irl I also finally played a bit of Neo:Twewy again today. I did Week 2 Day 5 and it went quite well. Combat is still a chore, but at least I'm making progress and still didn’t have to change the difficulty to easy. I really want to finish this game fairly soon, preferably before the next Genshin patch but that should be doable, I think. I'm still undecided what I'm going to play after that (right now I'm not really motivated to sub to FFXIV) though. But there's no hurry to decide...
Yesterday I read this thread on a forum talking about the old internet and what people miss about it. It made me so nostalgic. It also led me to Livejournal, where people are apparently trying to get a revival going. Ignoring all the drama around the Russian owners, I would love if they succeeded. However, I think it's very unlikely though. Unfortunately, the internet has changed so much compared to LJ's peak in the early noughts. You can seeing here on Dreamwidth too. The site is kind of dead. So is Bsky. And the corner of Tumblr I'm visiting once in a while. It's sad. I wish I had more people online to interact with, especially around my age or at least those who are into fandom but not only obsessed with shipping. I guess I'm asking too much.
But it would be so nice if this site was more active and had more non-fandom communities.
Artistic Experiences
18/4/26 19:08tcpipNitul and I caught up again the following night for the opening night of German artist Julius von Bismarck presenting his multimedia and installation pieces with a climatological edge, "This is Not The Storm" partly sponsored by the Goethe-Institut. The place was packed to the rafters, but I did get to talk with my old uni friend and author, Claire Coleman, whom I hadn't seen in twenty years. Today I decided to go back to the exhibition, hoping for a quieter visit, only to discover the artist was giving an explanatory tour of their works. This time, I managed to get a pretty thorough conversation in about climatological issues, Antarctica, and Zurich, and, curiously, I foresee future collaborations.
Further, B is visiting from interstate and last night we went to the comedy festival show, "Nosferatu Looking For Love" at the Motley Wherehouse (reminds me of a place in Sydney I used to frequent), also meeting up with Erica, Chiara, and Susie. The show was delightfully corny, as expected, and there was plentiful engagement with the small audience. I honestly don't care for much comedy, but the two scales of events this week, Rhiannon McCall and Daniel Sloss, were both very enjoyable experiences. Today we caught up again, this time to visit the basement beneath the State Library and to see the current exhibit, Rebel Heart; the latter is certainly worthwhile.
It has all been quite an exciting week, and it furthers my considered assessment that artistry, screening out the lack of context, depends very much on the creativity, talent, and sincerity of the artist, with the latter, the ethical component, often quite overlooked. I would rather discuss this matter a lot more, but alas, I will have to leave that for another day. As others prepare themselves for the rest of the weekend, I have to cloister myself to catch up with various climatological research, which I have fallen behind a little. But that will certainly make the bulk of the next post.
