I left Madison at 7:30am, and arrived in Tokyo at 4:30pm the next day. It's not as bad as it sounds, because you cross the international date line.
Whenever I fly, I get jet-lag like crazy. So this morning, I woke up at 3:30am and ate a "Tiger's Milk" bar for breakfast. Then later for lunch I ate this delicious can of Bush's Bold and Spicy beans. They're my favorite. That was something like 6:00am, so the stores and stuff weren't open yet.
This morning when I headed off to work at 8:00 the ground was pretty well frosted over. It really wasn't that cold, just below freezing I'd imagine. I always bicycle to work, and today is no exception. I got some strange looks from school kids because I only had my sport-coat on, not a proper winter coat.
I cooked up some chicken soup today. Not exactly Campbell's; potatoes, carrots, onions, sauteed mushrooms, cabbage, and of course chicken. I kept the pot warm (actually simmering) on my room heater while I ate.
I was enjoying the quietness of my town in the late afternoon.
It snowed a bit this morning. Everything was melted away by lunchtime however.
This is from a textbook I'm reading about Xcode 2, it's not meaningful in any way, it was just a random shot I took while playing with my camera lens.
When I saw this cloud in the morning, I thought it looked like Goofy, so I took a picture.
My city finally got it's own McDonald's! And when I politely asked for mustard they gave it to me! I like it already. Luckily it's far enough from my apartment and school that I probably won't go there much. I love McDonald's, but I don't want to supersize.
I took this picture on the way to work this morning. The sun was still low in the sky, and I got a really cool star-burst lens flare.
My lunch today. Beef curry with cheese. Yum yum!
This one's for the Mitchlock.
Whoa, that was some crazy weather this morning!
Relaxing in Starbucks on a Sunday morning.
I don't know if you've seen the new King Kong movie yet, but you should. This dude was one of the stars.
This is the staff shoe-locker area. You have to wear indoor-shoes in Japanese schools.
I thought this might be the rare spicy chicken Onigiri that I like so much, but it was a heavily sauced chicken. The origins of the sauce, I can't imagine.
Ooh! Maple-melon bread! This is a nice treat for my late lunch.
The school cat loves sitting on cars (and providing kittens to high school kids).
I took this photo at around 9:30 in the morning. We have snow! I was pretty surprised to see it when I walked out the door!
Have I told you I love MOS Burger?
Yeah, $6 for a jar of salsa is a bit ridiculous... But hey.
Japanese pickled cucumber and "family cheese." One of my favorite snacks in Japan.
I took the super ridiculously awesome mega turbo train to Tokyo today. It cost an arm and a leg, but it was fast.
Tokyo Disney, as seen from the train.
The gang is together for a conference in Makuhari. Do you like my beard?
This is part of the shrine in Asakusa, Tokyo. Religion in Japan is interesting. Most people are Buddhist and Shinto at the same time. There's really no conflict though, because while Shinto gives people the God(s) aspect, Buddhism (at least in Japan) is more of just how to live your life. The strive to truly understand existence and achieve enlightenment. There are a number of Christian Buddhists as well.
This is in Harajuku. Just outside one of the largest shrines in Tokyo. These girls are doing something called "COS Play," short for "costume play." Japan doesn't have Halloween, so when can you dress up in weird clothes? The answer? Anytime you want. I've never done it myself, and while there is a negative stigma attached, I think it would be fun. People take your picture, and you can be famous for a day.
We sell a tasty life.
Happy New Year! The first thing I did this year was to get on a plane back to Japan. Here's the football stadium as I flew over Madison.