... at least, it is here in Tokyo, and so I therefore feel justified in announcing that the MOAB Weekend is upon us!
I hope your bags are packed, your vacation requests approved - Lizz? - and everyone is ready to head on out from Kingsburg as soon as M gets back from Fowler.
I'll be arriving back in San Francisco at around 10am and immediately heading over to T-Mobile to replace the Blackberry I lost on the plane on the way out to Tokyo this week. Doh! I should be back online by around 11:30 and will be in touch with folks then.
It's gonna be a long day for me but don't think I won't be ready to party like it's 1999 later tonight.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Fishy Tales
I thought you all might appreciate this picture of me enjoying some fermented squid entrails at dinner here in Tokyo last night. This was followed shortly by some seasonal fish testes. Not just any old fish testes - these were seasonal ones!
Menudo is for wimps!
Menudo is for wimps!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Santa wants to know...
... what is on your Xmas lists this year. That is, of course, only if you've been good.
Send your Xmas lists our way and we'll make sure he knows what special something you would like to find in your stocking this year. And, we may post excerpts on this site for reference purposes.
Ho! Ho! Ho!
Send your Xmas lists our way and we'll make sure he knows what special something you would like to find in your stocking this year. And, we may post excerpts on this site for reference purposes.
Ho! Ho! Ho!
MOAB Update
Well, here we are at the beginning of what Michelle described yesterday as her Pre-Birthday Week. Every year she manages to creatively extend the length of her Birthday celebration and this year she has excelled herself by demanding special attention more than a week in advance of her actual birthday. She sure is a special one, that's for sure.
Anyway, arrangements for next weekend's trip are in an advanced state. Ride-sharing arrangements have been settled, meeting times negotiated and (with one exception - Lizz!) half or full day vacation requests confirmed. The challenge for those of you driving will be to ensure you get to the Rio Hotel by 8pm such that you can get changed quickly and ready to depart for the South Point Casino by 8:30pm for the Purple Reign Show.
I will be getting to the Las Vegas around 3pm and heading straight to check-in and organize all the rooms for us (and catch a couple of hours nap time I hope) so all you'll need to do upon arrival is head on up to the rooms.
Michelle has indicated that she wants to go from the South Point Casino over the Hard Rock to play No Bust 21 and anyone that is not too sleepy (Rita!?!?) can join us there or head back to the Rio that their pleasure.
I'm off to Tokyo today to begin my warmup process for the trip - y'all should make sure you are well-rested this week also as Las Vegas is truly the City that never sleeps!
c u there!
Anyway, arrangements for next weekend's trip are in an advanced state. Ride-sharing arrangements have been settled, meeting times negotiated and (with one exception - Lizz!) half or full day vacation requests confirmed. The challenge for those of you driving will be to ensure you get to the Rio Hotel by 8pm such that you can get changed quickly and ready to depart for the South Point Casino by 8:30pm for the Purple Reign Show.
I will be getting to the Las Vegas around 3pm and heading straight to check-in and organize all the rooms for us (and catch a couple of hours nap time I hope) so all you'll need to do upon arrival is head on up to the rooms.
Michelle has indicated that she wants to go from the South Point Casino over the Hard Rock to play No Bust 21 and anyone that is not too sleepy (Rita!?!?) can join us there or head back to the Rio that their pleasure.
I'm off to Tokyo today to begin my warmup process for the trip - y'all should make sure you are well-rested this week also as Las Vegas is truly the City that never sleeps!
c u there!
Thanksgiving Update
Well, it is now Sunday and I am only just getting around to providing the promised post-Thanksgiving Dinner update. As usual, the dinner was a huge success (as Meleena has already posted on her blog) and both Turkey's were delicious. Of course, my opinion is biased in terms of exactly which one was the best, but I'm not going to denigrate the competition in any way. There was a last minute emergency when we realized that noone had brought any gravy - I aborted making some right at the last minute - and Rita had to run home quickly to save the day.
Janie did her usual trick of excelling on the dessert front requiring us to have some of her banana pudding even though we were already over-stuffed from the main course.
The funny thing about Thanksgiving dinner is that even though you eat more Turkey than you should on the day itself, it is always necessary to have leftovers for lunch the next day too.
Inevitably, conversation during the evening turned to the arrangements for next weekend's MOAB trip to Vegas. But more on that in a minute...
Janie did her usual trick of excelling on the dessert front requiring us to have some of her banana pudding even though we were already over-stuffed from the main course.
The funny thing about Thanksgiving dinner is that even though you eat more Turkey than you should on the day itself, it is always necessary to have leftovers for lunch the next day too.
Inevitably, conversation during the evening turned to the arrangements for next weekend's MOAB trip to Vegas. But more on that in a minute...
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving
Just a short note to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
The photo is of the basket of Flowers received from Mum and Dad / Val and Trev (replete with miniature turkey and something that looks like a beetroot). There was also a delivery of a bunch of cookies and other goodies addressed to the entire family and you can rest assured that we will be bringing those to the dinner this evening - and sharing them out!
Oh, and I am super confident about my Turkey this year. Details of the competition winner will be posted here later tonight - tryptophan overdose allowing. Bring 'em on!
The photo is of the basket of Flowers received from Mum and Dad / Val and Trev (replete with miniature turkey and something that looks like a beetroot). There was also a delivery of a bunch of cookies and other goodies addressed to the entire family and you can rest assured that we will be bringing those to the dinner this evening - and sharing them out!
Oh, and I am super confident about my Turkey this year. Details of the competition winner will be posted here later tonight - tryptophan overdose allowing. Bring 'em on!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Crayon Physics
I came across this free-to-download game while browsing the Web yesterday and thought I would share it with everyone.
It's amazingly simple - all you have to do is get a ball from one side of the screen to the other to collect the star using objects you can draw with a Crayon - but amazingly addictive and challenging as you have to plan carefully. The rules of physics apply in that if you draw the object in free space it will fall and interact with other objects that get in its way and cause them to move accordingly.
Anyway, click here for the site where you can download it. Enjoy!
It's amazingly simple - all you have to do is get a ball from one side of the screen to the other to collect the star using objects you can draw with a Crayon - but amazingly addictive and challenging as you have to plan carefully. The rules of physics apply in that if you draw the object in free space it will fall and interact with other objects that get in its way and cause them to move accordingly.
Anyway, click here for the site where you can download it. Enjoy!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Secret Show
I caught a couple of episodes of this cartoon during a particularly long and boring Virgin Atlantic flight from Tokyo to London a while back and have just discovered it's playing on the NickToons channel.
While obviously targeted at Kids, I have to admit to finding it really rather enjoyable myself. I guess I'm just a big kid at heart. But with episodes about the Secret Secret thing that is so secret they can't tell each other about it, the use of Penguins as weapons, and the Agency boss who's name has to be changed every day for security reasons I don't mind admitting that I am.
UPDATE: I was discussing this show with Justin last night and he admitted to finding it funny too. :)
Friday, November 9, 2007
24 Spoof - What if it were 1994?
24 Fans - check out the video here for a take on what it would be like if Jack Bauer and team were using technology from 13 years ago in their attempts to save the world. Very funny.
MOAB
Preparations are in full swing for Michelle's Birthday Weekend which, we have agreed to codename: MOAB (Mother of all Birthdays).
People have RSVPd, rooms have been booked at the Rio, Purple Reign have been confirmed to be playing on the Friday night, Hoover Dam is open and accepting visitors on the Saturday and, most importantly, Michelle has reiterated her intent to 'go crazy' all weekend.
I'll be meeting everyone there as I will be returning from Tokyo that day and will schedule my flights such that I connect in San Francisco and fly on to Vegas rather than risking delaying everyone else's departure from Kingsburg. That will give me a chance to check in for everyone and be ready to head out as soon as you arrive.
Can't wait!
People have RSVPd, rooms have been booked at the Rio, Purple Reign have been confirmed to be playing on the Friday night, Hoover Dam is open and accepting visitors on the Saturday and, most importantly, Michelle has reiterated her intent to 'go crazy' all weekend.
I'll be meeting everyone there as I will be returning from Tokyo that day and will schedule my flights such that I connect in San Francisco and fly on to Vegas rather than risking delaying everyone else's departure from Kingsburg. That will give me a chance to check in for everyone and be ready to head out as soon as you arrive.
Can't wait!
New Guinness Commercial
Note: Otherwise known as an Advert for our UK readers. :)
I spotted this online this morning and thought I would share with you all. Apparently, it took 3 experts 2 days to prepare the dominos that are shown at the very beginning and only 14 seconds for them all to topple when they started filming.
Apparently, the concept of the commercial is community and showing how an entire village can come together to create something awe inspiring. Funny - I thought it was to inspire people to drink a good pint of Guinness. At least in that respect they succeeded and now I want one. It's just that it's not that easy to find around here.
Anyway, here's a link to the commercial on YouTube.
I spotted this online this morning and thought I would share with you all. Apparently, it took 3 experts 2 days to prepare the dominos that are shown at the very beginning and only 14 seconds for them all to topple when they started filming.
Apparently, the concept of the commercial is community and showing how an entire village can come together to create something awe inspiring. Funny - I thought it was to inspire people to drink a good pint of Guinness. At least in that respect they succeeded and now I want one. It's just that it's not that easy to find around here.
Anyway, here's a link to the commercial on YouTube.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Happy Birthday Rita!
Many Happy Returns!
At least to me, you don't look a day older than when I sang your birthday song to you on your 40th. Oh, the memories!
Have a great day. :)
At least to me, you don't look a day older than when I sang your birthday song to you on your 40th. Oh, the memories!
Have a great day. :)
Sunday, November 4, 2007
My New Toothbrush
Many of you might accuse me of being, how should I put it, 'careful' with money. However, as those of us who receive such accusations know, it is more likely that we would rather wear something out completely before replacing it than frivolously replacing it when it's not necessary. Such items such as socks, undershirts and q-tips all fall into this category, as do toothbrushes.
And so it was that during my last business trip I grew tired of the bristles of my travel toothbrush falling out while in use and gradually turning up again during the course of the business day and decided to go and get a new one. While there wasn't much selection at the Sainsbury's Local store, they did have the Colgate 360 which caught my attention due to bright colour combinations and the promise of cleaning parts of my mouth that no other toothbrush can manage.
Who would have believed that this would turn out to be the best toothbrush I've ever used? It's so good that not only do I find myself looking forward to using it in the morning and at night, but I also find myself thinking about it during the day and sneaking off to brush my teeth again in between meals just to feel the sensations as it deftly massages my gums and cleans my cheeks at the same time as doing a smashing job on my teeth. It makes brushing your teeth exciting and I can barely finish writing this post before heading off to do mine again.
Buy one and tell me it isn't so.
And so it was that during my last business trip I grew tired of the bristles of my travel toothbrush falling out while in use and gradually turning up again during the course of the business day and decided to go and get a new one. While there wasn't much selection at the Sainsbury's Local store, they did have the Colgate 360 which caught my attention due to bright colour combinations and the promise of cleaning parts of my mouth that no other toothbrush can manage.
Who would have believed that this would turn out to be the best toothbrush I've ever used? It's so good that not only do I find myself looking forward to using it in the morning and at night, but I also find myself thinking about it during the day and sneaking off to brush my teeth again in between meals just to feel the sensations as it deftly massages my gums and cleans my cheeks at the same time as doing a smashing job on my teeth. It makes brushing your teeth exciting and I can barely finish writing this post before heading off to do mine again.
Buy one and tell me it isn't so.