Special birthday greetings on this special birthday from US all the way from Tokyo.
Hope you're having a great day and look forward to celebrating with you at the weekend!
Many Happy Returns!
C & M
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Happy Birthday to me (again)
The great thing about being in Asia right now is that I can legitimately wish myself a happy birthday again as, even though it's June 23rd here it's still June 22nd for you folks in the UK and the US.
Had a lovely meal at a Teppenyaki restaurant with M, Hanako and a couple of colleagues - Harish and Chris - last night. There was birthday cake and a couple of awesome t-shirts as my presents from M (you'll see them soon enough), followed by a G&T and Tequila shot before heading back to the hotel to watch the humiliation of the French football team.
More fun tonight as we stay up to watch the Encgland game in the hotel bar and then... Well, the rest if the week is really based on how well we do tonight.
Had a lovely meal at a Teppenyaki restaurant with M, Hanako and a couple of colleagues - Harish and Chris - last night. There was birthday cake and a couple of awesome t-shirts as my presents from M (you'll see them soon enough), followed by a G&T and Tequila shot before heading back to the hotel to watch the humiliation of the French football team.
More fun tonight as we stay up to watch the Encgland game in the hotel bar and then... Well, the rest if the week is really based on how well we do tonight.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Happy Birthday to me!
Just a quick note as I start the 22nd of June here in Tokyo to wish myself a very happy 39th birthday.
I've got a busy work schedule today, but I won't let that dampen my spirits or take away from my having a great day. And anyway, in true birthday week tradition, there's always tomorrow. Or the next day. Or the day after that. And, of course, the weekend when we get home to Kingsburg. ;)
Yep. I have indeed learned from the Sensei of prolonging birthday celebrations.
I've got a busy work schedule today, but I won't let that dampen my spirits or take away from my having a great day. And anyway, in true birthday week tradition, there's always tomorrow. Or the next day. Or the day after that. And, of course, the weekend when we get home to Kingsburg. ;)
Yep. I have indeed learned from the Sensei of prolonging birthday celebrations.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
The First Zuchini/Courgette of the Season
Upon watering my modest vegetable patch this morning I noticed that nestling under the leaves of the Zuchini/Courgette plant as a surprising large and well-formed Zuchini/Courgette. Given that we're heading out of town for a few days this from tomorrow I figured it best to pick it so that we can enjoy it today lest it spoil before we get back.
I'm really quite proud. We'll be saute'ing it this evening when we dine over at the Leon's.
Note that I am also growing some Japanese Eggplant - known in the UK as Aubergine - and will post a similarly bi-lingual entry when I have one of those ready to be picked and eaten.
Adios/Goodbye for now.
I'm really quite proud. We'll be saute'ing it this evening when we dine over at the Leon's.
Note that I am also growing some Japanese Eggplant - known in the UK as Aubergine - and will post a similarly bi-lingual entry when I have one of those ready to be picked and eaten.
Adios/Goodbye for now.
England vs. USA / Pool Opening
We hurried back from San Mateo, after attending the 10th Anniversary Work Dinner the night before, in order to get ready for the 11:30am kick-off of the England vs. USA World Cup match - the match that was supposed to re-affirm our dominance in the sport that we invented and which our American friends have found tough to figure out. But, given the resulting 1:1 draw, we're either not that good or the USA have gotten a lot better.
In spite of the final score, the party was a lot of fun - aided by the contents of the box that was delivered earlier in the week, following some covert communications between M and Mum & Dad, that contained not only some England plates, flags, noisy-trumpet-thingies, special World Cup edition Walker's Crisps, chocolate biscuits and several t-shirts - and saw some gold old friendly rivalry between the natives here in California and myself and my team of defectors.
After that - we waited the requisite 20 minutes - we headed outside and tried out the pool. The fact that it had only just finished filling up earlier that morning and was pretty cold didn't deter Mark Anthony from being the first in with an impressive Cannonball from the diving rock, followed shortly thereafter by myself with a technically perfect dive fashioned after Christopherson from Fantastic Mr Fox.
Thanks to everyone who joined in the fun. Please remember to keep your fingers crossed and put your thougths behind the England game on Friday - it seems we need all the help we can get!
For more details on the festivities check out Meleena's detailed write-up of her and her friend Rebekah's experience here. In addition, for the video of Marky's cannonball prowess click here.
For more details on the festivities check out Meleena's detailed write-up of her and her friend Rebekah's experience here. In addition, for the video of Marky's cannonball prowess click here.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
My Solution to the Gulf of Mexico Oil Well Problem
Just as with many of you, I have been observing the fiasco surrounding the Gulf of Mexico Oil Well disaster with a combination of disgust, disappointment, frustration, anger and plain dis-belief for the past month and a half as the companies (and government) involved have lurched from one desperate - but perhaps not whole-hearted - attempt after another to control the ongoing leak. There are days when I just think to myself that they simply aren't trying hard enough to stop crude oil spouting into the open sea in order to ensure that they can re-start revenue generating operations as soon as possible.
So, having considered the problem for a number of days I am now ready to share with you my simple solution to the problem. Simple because of how obvious it is to me. And simple, also, because it is based around some items that most of us would find in our own homes - albeit that we would need substantially larger versions of them.
So, having considered the problem for a number of days I am now ready to share with you my simple solution to the problem. Simple because of how obvious it is to me. And simple, also, because it is based around some items that most of us would find in our own homes - albeit that we would need substantially larger versions of them.
First, you need a Funnel.
Second, you need some Concrete BricksThird, you need some Rubber Hose. Probably quite a bit of it as the gusher is 5000 ft below the surface.
To assemble this contraption you simply invert the funnel so the wide part is at the bottom, tie it to the concrete bricks and attach the hose to the spout that is now pointing up. Then, you slowly lower it over the top of the gushing oil pipe, allow for a little bit of pressure to build up and then begin to pump the oil up through the pipe; being careful to maintain the pressure and flow sufficiently that oil doesn't start to leak from around the bottom edges of the funnel. I'll happily draw a picture of the assembled design if you can't visualize it - and/or if the Government, BP or other Contractors involved in fixing the problem need it - but it should be pretty self explanatory.
I accept that this is not a permanent solution but I have to believe that it will buy some time for the more permanent solutions - the parallel drilling that is currently taking place but which won't be completed until August - and help prevent further catastrophic damage to the delicate eco-system in the area.
I offer this solution not for personal gain or glory but as a bid to end my (and others) frustration at the failure of the experts to solve a problem that was eminently preventable in the first place. If anyone knows people in the Administration, BP or related companies, feel free to point them to UlloaSullivan.com.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
BGG Album Delayed / R U Ready 4 Me Remix Available Now!
It seems that there has been a delay in The Blue Guitar Guy getting into the studio to record the remaining tracks for his long-awaited album 'Feeling Blue'. Obviously we don't know exactly what goes on in the life of this mysterious character but we can only assume that the responsibilities of an internationally renowned musical sensation must be pretty vast both in and out of the limelight. And we also know that whenever he gets around to completing the project it will be worth the wait.
In the meantime, we're pleased to share with you this new remixed version of R U Ready 4 Me that has surfaced over the weekend. Details of who worked on this latest version of song BGG shared with us back in January are a little scarce but having heard it ourselves we can pretty much guarantee that it will quickly become a staple of iPod playlists around the Globe. If the original version wasn't funky and infectious enough, try this version - complete with squelchy bass lines and synth sounds galore, in addition to the traditional screaming solos we've come to love.
Just click play in the music player below to listen online or click here, scroll down and click the Download Now button towards the bottom of the page and then on the next page scroll down and wait 30 seconds for the button to appear for you to download the file.
Enjoy!
In the meantime, we're pleased to share with you this new remixed version of R U Ready 4 Me that has surfaced over the weekend. Details of who worked on this latest version of song BGG shared with us back in January are a little scarce but having heard it ourselves we can pretty much guarantee that it will quickly become a staple of iPod playlists around the Globe. If the original version wasn't funky and infectious enough, try this version - complete with squelchy bass lines and synth sounds galore, in addition to the traditional screaming solos we've come to love.
Just click play in the music player below to listen online or click here, scroll down and click the Download Now button towards the bottom of the page and then on the next page scroll down and wait 30 seconds for the button to appear for you to download the file.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Not Computer Generated
Check out this real-life image of the aftermath of a storm in Guatemala this weekend. Incredible. It almost looks too realistic to be real.
For more details (and the full size picture) check out the article here.