Michelle's asleep!
After getting up at 4:00am to accompany some students to UCLA for a visit today, she was pretty tired tonight. And, it seems that I'm just not ready to go to sleep yet. So, I've snuck out of our bedroom leaving her to sleep without the danger of my fidgeting disturbing her, and made may way over to the front room in the hope that I'll fall asleep over here fairly soon.
Don't worry - this room is plent comfy, it has a TV, the wireless network works fine and Cornflake has decided to keep me company. She probably thinks she's more likely to get fed over here...
Monday, March 31, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Famous Tokyo Monkeys
Went out for dinner last night with Hanako, Yuka and Jackie and ended up at Hanako's favorite bar - the American Darts Bar Monkeys. No one really knows why the word 'Monkeys' is tagged on to the end of the bar name, but it is. Nor do I know whether they have some ornamental monkeys on shelves inside the bar because of the name, or whether they name is related to the fact that they have monkey ornaments. Regardless, that's the name of the bar and who am I to question their choice?
Anyway, I managed to score a whopping 619 points from 8 sets of 3 darts which has earned me not only my very own set of darts that they will keep for me behind the bar for future visits, but the honor of having my picture taken and displayed on the wall.
Look for it next time you find yourself heading to a bar in the Roppongi area. My number is 8014.
Anyway, I managed to score a whopping 619 points from 8 sets of 3 darts which has earned me not only my very own set of darts that they will keep for me behind the bar for future visits, but the honor of having my picture taken and displayed on the wall.
Look for it next time you find yourself heading to a bar in the Roppongi area. My number is 8014.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Cherry Blossom - Big Deal?
This is the first year that I happen to be in Tokyo during the Cherry Blossom season. I've heard much about it since I started making trips over here 3 years ago, but have never had the chance to be in town when it is actually happening.
It's a big enough deal for the locals that you see them stopping, getting out their fancy cell phones and taking pictures of the trees as they make their way out for lunch and dinner. Lights are erected so that the blossoms are illuminated throughout the night-time so people can enjoy them. Big parties are thrown in the parks where people gather around the trees, drink sake and celebrate the transient nature of life (because of how quickly the blooms come and go each year).
Here I am, with Hayashi san (the executive sponsor at one NetSuite's Japanese partners), in the Shinjuku Gyoen park where they have many different types of Cherry Blossom trees that can be admired during a leisurely lunchtime stroll.
It's a big enough deal for the locals that you see them stopping, getting out their fancy cell phones and taking pictures of the trees as they make their way out for lunch and dinner. Lights are erected so that the blossoms are illuminated throughout the night-time so people can enjoy them. Big parties are thrown in the parks where people gather around the trees, drink sake and celebrate the transient nature of life (because of how quickly the blooms come and go each year).
Here I am, with Hayashi san (the executive sponsor at one NetSuite's Japanese partners), in the Shinjuku Gyoen park where they have many different types of Cherry Blossom trees that can be admired during a leisurely lunchtime stroll.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Baseball in Japan
I had the privilege of attending the Opening Day game between Oakland A's and Boston Red Sox here in Tokyo last night. Boy, did they make a song and dance about it. Literally.
The opening ceremony consisted of some traditional Japanese music, dancers in traditional dress (some wearing black and looking like Ninjas doing modern breakdance-inspired dance moves) and people holding aloft enormous racks of lanterns on long bamboo poles while somebody banged a big drum.
Not only was this my first experience of attending a baseball game in Japan - very similar to the US - but also the first time I've attended one wearing a suit. All-in-all (as Meleena would say) a great way to spend 5 hours while in Tokyo.
The opening ceremony consisted of some traditional Japanese music, dancers in traditional dress (some wearing black and looking like Ninjas doing modern breakdance-inspired dance moves) and people holding aloft enormous racks of lanterns on long bamboo poles while somebody banged a big drum.
Not only was this my first experience of attending a baseball game in Japan - very similar to the US - but also the first time I've attended one wearing a suit. All-in-all (as Meleena would say) a great way to spend 5 hours while in Tokyo.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Earthquake
We just felt the aftershocks from a 5.3 earthquake that occured off the coast of Japan north east of Tokyo. The building we are in moved enough for us to feel it but it appears to be nothing to worry about. In fact, the folks in the office here appear to be completely indifferent to it.
More importantly, we are heading out to find some good Sushi soon.
More importantly, we are heading out to find some good Sushi soon.
Happy (Japanese) Easter
I did a quick search for 'Japanese Easter' on Google Images and this little guy turned up on the first page.
I've no idea whether it really is a Japanese bunny but it was cute enough to make the grade for inclusion in UlloaSullivan.com.
Happy Easter!
I've no idea whether it really is a Japanese bunny but it was cute enough to make the grade for inclusion in UlloaSullivan.com.
Happy Easter!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Murder on 12th Avenue
We returned from our trip to the movies last night - 10,000 B.C. - to discover this lying on our family room carpet. In fact, while this was certainly the most gruesome section, there were feathers strewn about a much larger area of the room.
Our forensic experts surmise that the victim was dragged forcibly through the exterior cat door, across the garage, and through the second cat door into my office. We discovered some stray feather fibres clinging to the inside edge of this door. From there, it would have been taken through to the kitchen and family room wherein this nightmare tragedy would fully unfold. Clearly, it was cruelly taunted and chased around the room for a while before expiring of near decapitation at the hands of the murderer(s).
And who might be responsible? It didn't take long for us to identify our prime suspects. They were sat right by the corpse licking their lips and feeling proud of what they had caught us for dinner.
Luckily, we weren't hungry just then as we had already eaten at... wait for it... Red Robin!
Our forensic experts surmise that the victim was dragged forcibly through the exterior cat door, across the garage, and through the second cat door into my office. We discovered some stray feather fibres clinging to the inside edge of this door. From there, it would have been taken through to the kitchen and family room wherein this nightmare tragedy would fully unfold. Clearly, it was cruelly taunted and chased around the room for a while before expiring of near decapitation at the hands of the murderer(s).
And who might be responsible? It didn't take long for us to identify our prime suspects. They were sat right by the corpse licking their lips and feeling proud of what they had caught us for dinner.
Luckily, we weren't hungry just then as we had already eaten at... wait for it... Red Robin!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Simon's Cat
I came across this little animated video just now and thought I would share. It reminds me alot of one of our cats.
Enjoy!
Update: Check out this other animation by the same guy. This one reminds me of both of our cats - sometimes at the same time!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Springing Ahead
Time jumped ahead an hour overnight here in North America this weekend in recognition of arrival of spring time and Presidential folly.
For the next two or three weeks there will only be a 7 hour time difference between California and the UK making an early morning wake up call from a UK-based relative anxious to talk to us a little less likely.
For the next two or three weeks there will only be a 7 hour time difference between California and the UK making an early morning wake up call from a UK-based relative anxious to talk to us a little less likely.
Friday, March 7, 2008
They're back!
Our nesting (not) robins - seen here in this archive photo - have returned. They have been spotted in the last couple of days checking out the nest situation and chattering loudly.
I have managed to keep this situation a secret from Michelle since last week but I'm pretty sure she'll find out soon. She has previously declared "we're not going through all that again" when asked whether we would be prepared to accommodate their chick-rearing ambitions in 2008. Now that Spring is in the air we'll have to see whether she meant it.
I'll keep you posted.
I have managed to keep this situation a secret from Michelle since last week but I'm pretty sure she'll find out soon. She has previously declared "we're not going through all that again" when asked whether we would be prepared to accommodate their chick-rearing ambitions in 2008. Now that Spring is in the air we'll have to see whether she meant it.
I'll keep you posted.