Wishing Mr Trevor John Sullivan a very happy birthday on this the 26th day of February, 2008.
Many Happy Returns!
Craig and Michelle
Cornflake and Miko
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Getting to Asakusa
I braved the cold and the Tokyo Subway (the kind with the trains, not the other kind!) to visit a temple in the Asakusa area yesterday afternoon. This area was a much older section of Tokyo than the places that I usually get to hang out in - the temple itself dates back to the 12th Century - and I encountered a good number of Japanese tourists getting there incense and holy water prescriptions filled. That is, they were pouring the water over their hands and rubbing the smoke from the incense all over their bodies.
The temple itself is surrounded by small market stalls - selling all manner of things, from modern toys to Japanese calligraphy to candies and shoes. There seemed to be lots of shoe shops in the area.
Anyway, this is the first time I've used the Tokyo subway on my own and it turned out to be a very painless experience. Not least because it turned out that the station outside my hotel was on the line that went directly to the Asakusa station, meaning I didn't even have to switch trains!
The temple itself is surrounded by small market stalls - selling all manner of things, from modern toys to Japanese calligraphy to candies and shoes. There seemed to be lots of shoe shops in the area.
Anyway, this is the first time I've used the Tokyo subway on my own and it turned out to be a very painless experience. Not least because it turned out that the station outside my hotel was on the line that went directly to the Asakusa station, meaning I didn't even have to switch trains!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Tuna Sub in Tokyo
Oh boy! Look what I found today in the building next to the hotel here in Akasaka.
I am looking forward to lunch tomorrow. :)
I am looking forward to lunch tomorrow. :)
Summer Travel Planning
Just to let you all know that the arrangements are now in full swing for our 2008 summer trips. I have today booked the tickets for Michelle, Justin and Matthew to join me in Europe for a trip to Italy (including a stop by city of Pisa) and Sardinia. More details on that will be forthcoming shortly.
The second summer trip for Michelle and Meleena to Japan will be organized just as soon as the final details are agreed regarding what I'm going to be up to this year. We'll fill you all in on that as soon as we can...
The second summer trip for Michelle and Meleena to Japan will be organized just as soon as the final details are agreed regarding what I'm going to be up to this year. We'll fill you all in on that as soon as we can...
Teacher of the Year
I am pleased to report that, for the second year running, our very own Michelle has been selected as Teacher of the Year by her peers in the School District. The official announcement was circulated via email by the District Superintendent - Dr Cruz - on Thursday afternoon.
Official celebration details will be forthcoming soon. In the meantime, please join me in congratulating the woman who is my 'Teacher of the Year' every single day! :)
Official celebration details will be forthcoming soon. In the meantime, please join me in congratulating the woman who is my 'Teacher of the Year' every single day! :)
Hotel Gym Etiquette
Please, if you know that you sweat alot when exercising and you are visiting a hotel gym (or any public one, for that matter) please observe the following basic rules:
1) Don't wear a vest if you sweat alot - it's bad enough seeing the sweat drip down your face, let alone see it on the backs of your arms and under your arm pits. Note also that violation of this rule is particularly bad if you have a large amount of body hair.
2) Don't lean on the equipment - not only does this cause you to be in the wrong posture for optimum workout results, but seeing the smudgy residue of your sweaty arms (see 1. above) over the display and buttons will at the very least distract others from their own workout.
3) Don't constantly look around the gym at others - if you are guilty of 1 and 2 above, pretty much everyone else will be actively avoiding making eye contact with you anyway.
4) Don't check your neighbor's workout display to see how fast they are going so you can increase your own speed/incline/resistance so that you are obviously working out more than them - you are, after all, already sweating all over the place.
5) Do not walk away from your piece of equipment leaving a puddle of sweat under the machine - that is just plain gross.
1) Don't wear a vest if you sweat alot - it's bad enough seeing the sweat drip down your face, let alone see it on the backs of your arms and under your arm pits. Note also that violation of this rule is particularly bad if you have a large amount of body hair.
2) Don't lean on the equipment - not only does this cause you to be in the wrong posture for optimum workout results, but seeing the smudgy residue of your sweaty arms (see 1. above) over the display and buttons will at the very least distract others from their own workout.
3) Don't constantly look around the gym at others - if you are guilty of 1 and 2 above, pretty much everyone else will be actively avoiding making eye contact with you anyway.
4) Don't check your neighbor's workout display to see how fast they are going so you can increase your own speed/incline/resistance so that you are obviously working out more than them - you are, after all, already sweating all over the place.
5) Do not walk away from your piece of equipment leaving a puddle of sweat under the machine - that is just plain gross.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Imagine My Surprise...
... when this afternoon at 3:15, 3 vans full of High School kids wearing red and pink sweaters unload themselves in front of our house and come and knock on the front door.
Imagine my further surprise when they announce that they are my singing Valentines gift from Michelle and burst into song right on our doorstep. The fact that I was still wearing my pyjamas and hadn't yet showered did nothing to detract from how good they were.
It's a joy to know that after 15 years of marriage there are still some surprises to be had.
Thank you, Michelle. And Happy Valentines Day.
Imagine my further surprise when they announce that they are my singing Valentines gift from Michelle and burst into song right on our doorstep. The fact that I was still wearing my pyjamas and hadn't yet showered did nothing to detract from how good they were.
It's a joy to know that after 15 years of marriage there are still some surprises to be had.
Thank you, Michelle. And Happy Valentines Day.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Fishy Admission
I don't know why, but I have been craving tuna sandwiches recently.
I grabbed one from the Subway near the office in San Mateo on the way home last week and consumed it in the car en route. And then I had another one at Tres Casuelas in Kingsburg on Monday before heading out to Fresno with Michelle, Rita and Meleena.
And then, I'm not ashamed to admit, I had two more from Subway only yesterday! Yep, one while driving through Los Banos at lunch time and then another one for dinner in San Mateo last night. The only reason I didn't have another one for lunch today is that I went to a breakfast meeting this morning and had scrambled egg, sausage and some fruit with coffee and I decided that I should have my low-carb shake for lunch instead.
To make up for it, I'll probably treat myself to one as I leave the office tonight and eat it on the drive home. The good news about all this is that, in addition to being fairly healthy, the tuna is Dolphin safe!
I grabbed one from the Subway near the office in San Mateo on the way home last week and consumed it in the car en route. And then I had another one at Tres Casuelas in Kingsburg on Monday before heading out to Fresno with Michelle, Rita and Meleena.
And then, I'm not ashamed to admit, I had two more from Subway only yesterday! Yep, one while driving through Los Banos at lunch time and then another one for dinner in San Mateo last night. The only reason I didn't have another one for lunch today is that I went to a breakfast meeting this morning and had scrambled egg, sausage and some fruit with coffee and I decided that I should have my low-carb shake for lunch instead.
To make up for it, I'll probably treat myself to one as I leave the office tonight and eat it on the drive home. The good news about all this is that, in addition to being fairly healthy, the tuna is Dolphin safe!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
46, 23, 14, 1
These are the important numbers to consider following yesterday's Fresno County 2007-2008 Academic Decathlon competition.
The FHS team, lead by Michelle, achieved a whopping 46 medals - the previous school record (set last year under this coach) was 19! - with a 23% increase in points over last year with the team members receiving 14 Gold Medals between them! As a result they placed #1 in their division and achieved the distinction of Most Improved School in the Fresno County competition.
It was a great result and testament to all the hard work from the students, teacher, and occasional pizza-bringers/poster makers/cheerleaders, etc.
More details on the event, including a quote from Michelle is in today's Fresno Bee Newspaper. The article can be found online here.
We are very, very proud. Congratulations!
The FHS team, lead by Michelle, achieved a whopping 46 medals - the previous school record (set last year under this coach) was 19! - with a 23% increase in points over last year with the team members receiving 14 Gold Medals between them! As a result they placed #1 in their division and achieved the distinction of Most Improved School in the Fresno County competition.
It was a great result and testament to all the hard work from the students, teacher, and occasional pizza-bringers/poster makers/cheerleaders, etc.
More details on the event, including a quote from Michelle is in today's Fresno Bee Newspaper. The article can be found online here.
We are very, very proud. Congratulations!