Culture Training - Keith Jarreth

This rainy weekend was rounded off with a visit at the Orchid Hall at Bunkamura just down the street from my place. I basically know nothing about jazz music and even less about Keith Jarrett, but got invited and thought - why not? A grand piano and Keith on the stage, nothing more, and that is really all that is needed. I'm sure I would have enjoyed the concert even more had I not been the musical illiterate that I am, but that's my own fault. 

Before going I was slightly curious how dressed up people would be, and what is the proper jazz out-fit. I decided to go safe and wore my pin-striped black suit and a black top, and a pair of not so high heels. The heels were mostly selected since it is raining and my everyday shoes are leaking like a sieve. Turns out that people had not dressed up that much, and black were not the predominant colour in the room. But my suit was just right.

Banya and Korean BBQ with Swedes from Work

House MD

Collectable

Or maybe not, but still has a slightly over exposed late 50's kind of feel to it...

Rainy Afternoon

Went out for a 1.5 hour walk in the sun, and just made it home before the sky started to promise stormy weather. Has rainy season started? Regardless, the lovely smell of summer rain greats you as soon as you open the door. 

Now watching Monroe, while waiting for the soup to get ready. Probably more than 3 weeks since last time, a shame really, but absence makes the palate grow founder, or what was it?

Fuji-Q Highland Park

Today we made the brilliant decision to skip office and go and play instead. Fuji-Q has lots of fun rides, but surprisingly it was none of the big roller coasters that became the winner of the day, but instead this very simple water slide. When weather is as nice as today, water splashing is the way to go. 

Fujiyama coaster was a bit too wobbly and shaky, and the first drop was not as impresive as the one on Thunder Dolphine at Tokyo dome. 

Dodonpa was crazy and it is really difficult to scream when you sitt at the front and are pushed forward at a speed of 172 km/h. 

Eejanaika, 3 track inversions (14 if counting chair inversions too), a so called 4th dimension roller coaster. I liked it. Was dizzy after. The line was too slow though... according to wikipedia it is supposed to have a capacity of 1000 persons/hour, it was far from that today. 

The other water ride, had giant golden manekineko and a cat that told us we were going to get so wet, nice things will happen to us if we get wet, I mean really wet. 

Roller coaster man!

And Fujisan. 

All fun has an end (unless you think circles are really funny), and we had to go back to Tokyo.

Postcard from Odense

3 Photos from Saturday Eve in Ebisu

Really nice Japanese dinner at Jackpot in Ebisu. We even got oysters, and the sashimi salad was really nice too. 

Gustav - handsome as usual. 

And a snap shot of a wedding party next to us. Unfortunately, I missed the shot where the boy on the ground did somersault on the tarmac. 

New Photos

Updated decoration on my office computer this morning with two new photos, or one is older than the other but newly taped to the computer.

Kaki

Kuroneko - Black Cat

Not only does this delivery company have the cutest logo ever, they also have surprisingly good service. When I came home last night I found a notification that they had tried to deliver a package to me. Today calling to say I could go to the service center myself and pick it up, I opened the door to go outside to get network coverage, one of the Kuroneko delivery guys stood there with my package. It could have been a lucky coincident, but until proven otherwise I will put it down to impeccable service instead. 

Yakuza Yoga

Or this is what we guess they are doing instead of joinig Demi Yoga Studio, since tattoos are not welcomed there. Currently we are considering, besides bad-mouthing retarded Yoga Studios, to open a Onzen/yoga resort for Yakuza and pretty girls with tattoos. We are almost convinced we have a business case, not so sure we get someone to finance the project, unless they are very much covered themselves. Guy next to us on the train and a nice traditional Japanese half-sleeve... he might have had more, but that was all we saw. We probably should have asked him about our idea. 

Backlogged Birds

Kirin-chan

Nurse Jackie

1942

Happiness in a bottle will cost you $119 at BevMo!

Other Birds - and I do not mean girls...

I have a few more photos from on top of the mountain, of these birds, but blogger refuses to upload those. Guess some other day... Also, what are they called? 

Karasu Californiea

Strangely this one was not rummaging around in garbage, seemed to enjoy being outside in the nature, maybe is a Japonica speciality...

A Hill with a View

Some of them are not taken that high up, but the view is still splendid. 

The Bridge

Since I have a habit of disliking people who take photos in Shibuya crossing, I guess that I should not take postcard photos of the Golden Gate Bridge either... so you'll have to settle for the "under the bridge" shot instead. 

The Magnus

He is indeed a little poser, and that might be the very reason that there is only one good photo of him today (or I was focused elsewhere). But the photo I got, is good - all that counts. 

Nature for Real

Today's outing started with a drive to Deany Street and a bagel place - all good. Then we went over the bridge (there will be photos of that too) and up the hills to have a look at some of the smaller cedars or Redwood trees as they are called. You have to go to yoshimite to se the good ones, but it was very relaxing walking in the forest anyway. Got a few photos too, "hundkex" was probably the best one, but there is a redwood tree too... 

At the Morris'

Not far from Sunnyvale, so we went over there this evening. Nice food, good company, cute baby Anders, yes and Fletch the Cat. 

Mexican for Lunch

Half an enchilada and nice Mexican beer, served by a proper Mexican. And, yes the chips were nice and the green spicy sauce were really good too.  

Nature Photography from Living Room Floor

If you're lazy, on a living room floor and happen to have a decent zoom lens, you can pretend to be outside. At least if there is some type of fern/evergreen growing close to the balcony. 

Or if you keep big pretend plastic plants next to your telly. 

Purple Flower

Forgot my camera today, so you will have to do with a photo from yesterday. Today we went to Palo Alto for breakfast and a walk, then to some random mall. Now hungry since lunch were skipped and now it's 4 pm. 

Betsy Johnsoned

A black little corset like top, with a little skirt at the bottom. Will be totally awesome for Roppongi playing. 

Buildings