Tim’s Ramblings

Back at the Narita lounge. It’s nice but it’s even nicer knowning that, since I’m here that means I’m heading home.

Granted I have a nasty 4 hour layover in Newark but that just means I’ll grab an early dinner and chill out in the lounge until my flight. Not too bad. Could be worse.

Had a very busy friday but at night, I met up with T who was here doing training and we went back to Kawasaki for some shopping and dinner We ended up at a yakiniku place (the whole “cook your own meat” thing) and it was really really good. After 2 weeks of mostly eating fish due to the vegetarian VP with us, it was a nice change of pace.

Today I met up with T and headed to the airport. She is flying Northwest while I’m on Continental so we said goodbye once her flight started to board.

Not too many posts this trip. I DID try the new Pepsi Iced Cucumber drink though. I took pictures and I’ll write about it later. It was….different…..not horrible. Just…different… I didn’t even buy too much stuff but my luggage and carryon were heavy as usual. Fun….

Not much more to say. Gonna chill out here for another 45 minutes or so and then head out to the gate. Gonna see if I can buy some snacks before getting on the plane so I won’t have to eat any of the food onboard.

Next time I write it should be from the US :)

Today I would like to introduce you all to the strangest, and at the same time, funniest sign I have ever seen in Japan or anywhere. It’s not funny because of what’s on it. But funny due to where it was.

So, here is picture #1, taken this past April from the observation deck of the Tokyo Tower. Nothing odd really. You see the sprawl of Tokyo through the window and, oh look…there seems to be some silver plaque on the window sill. At first I thought maybe it’s just one of those standard “here’s what you’re looking at” signs.

But…upon closer inspection…um…here. Take a look…

It’s….in….braille.

Let me explain to you where this is at. This is by the WINDOW on the OBSERVATION DECK of the Tokyo Tower. Why…oh why….is a blind person on an observation deck of a tower…especially when you have to pay about 8 to 10 bucks to get up there??? To me, this is funnier than the braille on the drive up ATM’s. At least there is a reason for that. They are using the same parts as the standard ones. But this? Come on…. What do you do…stand in front of the window, read the sign with your fingers and go “ah…so Mt. Fuji is THAT way…”???

Anyway, I thought it was funny. (^_^)

Ahh…Sunday.

It was nice to get out and do some more sight seeing. I didn’t really go anywhere new but it’s more fun to go to places with other people than by yourself after all.

Today was Meiji Jingu to get some charms for friends, Kiddy Land in Harajuku for some shopping, Akihabara for some walking around and more shopping about, then dinner with T at a yakitori place (yum).

The pictures are from my trip out to Asakusa yesterday and some of the places today.

As a start, here is further proof that Japan is ruled by Gundam. This is a relatively large scale RX-78 model with the characters from Asakusa and Kaminari Mon (the gate out front) on his shoulders :)

More after the cut!! Click on the link below!

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Well, it’s Sunday morning around 7:50am and I have to say…it’s been a long week.

Lots of meetings. Lots of discussions. A full day of standing on Friday at the show. Yeah…been exhausted every day. I’ve forgotten how tiring it is doing both translation and actual work. Still have tons to do. This week is going to be just as tough and filled with more work and decisions that need to be made. But at least the first week is over.

Yesterday another person from the office came up to do training this entire week and today yet another person will be up here to do more partner visits and such with me and the VP. Actually, since she can speak Japanese, the first half of the day I’m going to be with the trainer and join the VP the second half of the day. Also we’re slated to go to Osaka on Wednesday so we will need to buy tickets soon.

Hmm…what else what else. I’m actually craving meat this trip…. The VP’s a vegetarian but since he’ll eat meat we’ve been going to sea food places. A lot. Now I like sushi and fish just as much as any Japanese but damn…I need some meat too. At least this trip we’re finding more places to go. Last time he was here it was harder since, to be honest, vegetarianism is more of a western and more specifically a US thing. So most dishes here in Japan contain some sort of meat. Oh well. We’ll figure something out.

So, yesterday I only got out for a little bit and then spent the rest of the day picking up T from the airport. It’s amazing how fast the day can go. Today I don’t have much planned except to go to Meiji Jingu to pick up some charms. I don’t think either of the 2 here have been there either so it’ll be a nice trip. The weather is nice too so it’s all cool. A bit warm but not too bad (I hope).

Oh yeah. I almost forgot. Yesterday (the 16th) was my 10th year at the company. Wow…. Who would have thought??? It’s been a long long unique experience. I honestly thought I’d be here for maybe a year or two if the company was even still around and then go back to grad school. HA! Obviously that didn’t happen. Started at around the 36th employee. We’re now a company of over 600. Crazy I tell you. But we must have done something (ok, a lot of things) right since we’re still here and we’re still profitable.

Anyway, no more reminicing. That will be for another time.

Right now it’s 8am so it’s time to take a shower and get breakfast :)

So, I picked up the most recent edition of Famitsu, the weekly video game magazine here, and I came across this ad.

It’s…weird….or at least to me. I’m not sure if it’s because, to this day I have an immature 13 year old in the dark recesses of my mind that giggles every time he hears words like “wood” and “bone” and phrases like “pitch a tent”… Or if it’s the dead pan expression on the girl’s face. Or just the general oddness of her holding up an index card and a chunk of wood…not just a block of wood but literally a chunk of wood…

This is an ad for a Nintendo DS software called Eikenou. It’s software to help students prepare for their English proficiency exam. The tag line basically says that to prepare for the English proficiency, the DS Eikenou is better than a foreign teacher. Level 2 comes out in August I guess. You can see screen shots of the software here: http://www.gakken-index.co.jp/products/index.html

…just an odd ad. (^_^)

…the observation may get me in trouble but…it’s true…

Aaaaanyway, first off, the update. Not much really. Went to the parent’s place yesterday. Weather was bad but it cleared up by the time I got back to the hotel so all was well.

Today it was off to the office in the morning with a long tiring 2 hour meeting followed by some trouble shooting and then it was back to the airport to pick up the VP. Turns out he got in far far earlier than expected so I guess he was waiting a while. Oops. Then it was dinner at a sushi place and then…well…he decided at the last minute he needed a haircut…soooo 30 minutes at a barber shop. Wooo.

Now I’m back in the room but I’m so sleepy!!! Typically I have no problems staying up but man…it’s only 8 and my eyelids are heavy. I know there are a few other work e-mails I need to get out today but…urg…might have to wait ’till 6am tomorrow when I get up. Hate to waste a day but…not sure if I can write a coherent techinical e-mail…especially one that’s going to be awfully long.

….ok…just spent a good 15 minutes writing another long response back to our partner. They don’t leave the office…. Granted it’s crunch time for them to get the demos and such ready for the show on Friday but still….ugh….sleepy….

Anyway, on to the observation. Now…please keep in mind that #1…I’m not some kind of perv. However, being a guy…things seem to catch my eye more than…say….others stuff. Just remember that it’s not like I’m obsessed… I’m not helping at all am I? Screw it. I will get to the point.

I’ve noticed many things while being here but this one is just…I don’t know…something I’ve noticed for a while but never wrote about.

Women in Japan, especially the younger ones, seems to like patterned bras more than their US counterparts.

I told you it’ll make me look bad. But it catches my eye!! In the US, women seems to wear bras without any patterns on the cup. Basically the cup is smooth. But here, women seems to wear ones with patterns…you know…those lacy ones more often. Why does this catch my eye? Because the front of their t-shirt or blouse would be bumpy. It looks weird. I expect to see a smooth curve but instead it’s this lumpy bumpy curve. Weird….and not really flattering…

Yeah.

You know…maybe I’m just really really tired…and I should go to bed.

Made it. Tired. Really really tired.

I feel like a character in an H.P. Lovecraft story, desperately writing down his thoughts and experiences before the crawling horror from beyond the known dimensions comes through his door to destroy him. …but in my case, it’s not a crawling chaos scratching at my door but just sleepiness.

And if the previous paragraph meant absolutely nothing to you…then…um…yeah….ignore it.

I was going write a quick review of the book World War Z by Max Brooks since I read the entire book on the plane ride over (so yeah…it was good). But at this point, I don’t think I can actually write a review that’s coherent. So…yeah…that’ll be tomorrow.

The flight was good. Didn’t have first class to Newark but the flight’s only an hour anyway. Had some kid next to me. He was about 5 or 6 at most and was traveling with his family but they all got separated. But he just sat next to me and was reading Harry Potter (at 6!…I mean…wow…way to go J.K.R.!) until he fell asleep. And on the flight to Japan, the seat next to me was open (miracles can happen!) so that was nice. No good movies so that’s why I read the entire book and played some DS and took a bit of a nap. Bought some cliff bars at Newark so I didn’t eat any of the onboard meal. Smelled nasty anyway.

Got in an hour early, and was at the hotel by a bit after 3. Nice. Putzed around a bit, watched TV, went to get dinner, stocked up on drinks, and now I’m desperately trying to stay awake until at least 8 or 9 so 1 to 2 more hours to go. Tomorrow I’m off to my parents by 10. I think this is the only time I’ll see them this trip though due to other people coming in. No biggie though. It’s not like I won’t be back. Some…yuckiness with work…but we’ll work it out one way or another.

Right. Time to watch some Japanese TV :)

…just can’t wait to get on the road again…

Oh wait…no. That’s not right. I definitely CAN wait. Ah well. Once again, the time as come for me to cram my fat ass into an economy seat and fly to the other side of the world. Then go through immigration. Customs. Then drag my luggage to the train station. If I’m lucky, get the train to Shinagawa as opposed to Tokyo. Get off, go up to the station, then go back down into a different platform to get on another train to Kawasaki, then find the escalator going up, somehow fight my way through the gate with my luggage, take an elevator down to street level and then a quick walk to the hotel. Mmmmmmmmmmmm….good times…

This time it’s for 2 weeks. Like I said last time…1 week is too short…2 weeks is too long. Bah. And this time we got some high level meetings going on since a VP will be joining me. Actually, now that I think about it, this will be the first time this year that I’m going to have to wear my translator hat. It’s been a while now that the Japanese market is slowly picking up steam. Not as much people coming to Japan with me these days. Hopefully I’m not too rusty!

Packing took longer than I expected this time. Not sure why. Well…I kinda do. It’s pretty damn hot here today (my AC is STILL on….) but in Japan, even though it’s the middle of June, for some reason it’s kinda chilly with lows of high 60’s and even highs not breaking the 70’s. Kinda odd really since typically by now it’s hot and nasty and humid. But it seems like it’s going to be kinda wet/rainy this trip. So basically I’m trying to figure out if I take shorts or jeans or a jacket or not or…aaaaa.

Well, I exaggerate. I’m really not going “aaaa”. Just a bit annoyed. That and I have a cab coming at 5am. Fun… Wooo. I bet I get the same cabbie too. Nice older guy who will tell me about his Phillipino wife once again :)

Well, all I have left now is to wait for my electronics to finish charging to finish packing.

…on a totally different note…Lindsay Lohan is #1 on the Maxim 100??? Bah. Give me Maria Sharapova over her ANY day.

*ahem*

But I digress. Where was I? Oh yes. Packing. Right. Hmmm…10pm already. I should go to bed. Not sleepy all of a sudden though. For some reason I get sleepy at 8pm but not at like 11…weird.

Right. Gotta go.

Now this is funny!

Apparently Disney/MGM is doing a “Star Wars Weekend” to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the first movie. To advertise this, they made a bunch of posters. But for some reason, the posters show all the characters interacting at an airport.

But enough talk. On with the pictures!! Thanks to Upgrade: Travel Better blog.

(^_^)

I can’t decide if the favorite is the one with Vader in line at the security checkpoint holding his boots or the one of Bobba Fet picking up Han at baggage claim!

I love these!! Especially with all the traveling I do, it’s nice to know that even the dark lord of the Sith still has to take his shoes off and probably HATES going through the metal detector and getting wanded every time!