Aiden and I planted Rosemary, Oregano, Sweet Basil, It. Parsley and Dill.
Nearby, I planted cucumber and zucchini vines.
In containers, I have tomatoes, jalapeños, habaneros, and cayenne.
By the garage, the blackberries are looking plentiful! They’re all green at this point, but many berry buds are visible.
Looking forward to harvest!
In the game, you are a waitress named Flo. You have to keep up with customers, getting bonus points for seating guests on their matching seat color. You run from customers to the kitchen, trying to keep up with orders. I’ve only gotten to the first part of the game, where Tom now owns two restaurants, one being a Tikki bar.
Be warned – once you start playing, it’s hard to stop. Enjoy!
I just got done folding more laundry than the legal limit, while I watched the film Sideways.
It was an interesting film from a pschyology perspective – not one that I would say is required viewing, but entertaining nonetheless.
Just at the point where I thought I was running out of new food, I found the Tokyo Food Page, with over 1000 restaurant reviews of places throughout Tokyo. Tomorrow, I’m thinking of stopping by the Halleluyah Korean place right around the corner. I might wait, though, until some of the guys at work are free to go out.
Food for the Day:
I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. I immediately ran over and said “Stop! Don’t do it!”
“Why shouldn’t I?” he said.
I said, “Well, there’s so much to live for!”
“Like what?”
“Well … are you religious or atheist?”
“Religious.”
“Me too! Are you Christian or Jewish?”
“Christian.”
“Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?”
“Protestant.”
“Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?”
“Baptist.”
“Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?”
“Baptist Church of God.”
“Me too! Are you Original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?”
“Reformed Baptist Church of God.”
“Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?”
“Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!”
To which I said, “Die, heretic scum!” and pushed him off.
(via Fark)
Just for your information, raman shops serve their noodles hot. Very hot. I forget every time, and every time I burn my mouth. I did find a good place in Yotsuya that served a wonderful meal (and new for me!) Along with the excellent udon noodles, I got a small bowl of what I would describe as an egg mixture with three oysters, scrambled together and served over rice. Excellent!
Food for the Day:
I love this quote from Theodore Roosevelt. According to the source linked below, it’s from an editorial Roosevelt wrote for the Kansas City Star on May 7, 1918.
“The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else. ”
(via Fractured Quotations)
I haven’t talked to Tom online today. My guess is that he’s enjoying his weekend being a tourist. I hope he’s doing well and taking lots of pictures.
What am I up to lately?
Someone responded to my Freecycle want ad for a piano, and I have been working on the logistics of getting it from Parkesburg to Coatesville. The piano has a lot of character. Dark cherry wood. It’s very old – maybe 1910s or 20s? Slight detail in the moulding that looks sort of Arts and Crafts style. It was once a player piano, but the player mechanisms are in a box – they were taken out so that the piano could be tuned, but were never put back in. Autotone, NY. Upright grand. Ivory keys. Read the rest of this entry »
I headed down to Asakusa (pronounced a-sock-sa) for the first time on this rainy Friday, and I was impressed. It’s amazing that even though this is my 10th trip to this city, it still manages to find ways to impress me. Today, it was the five story pagoda near the shrine at Asakusa. I haven’t had a chance to research it’s story, but it’s presence is impressive.
Read the rest of this entry »
I love iced green tea, uncorrupted by added sugar. It has a sweetness that perhaps only white tea could possibly beat. Sadly, Americans are addicted to sugar products like Coca-cola, so it’s impossible to get bottled unsweetened green tea.
In Japan, any convenience store will have at least a half-dozen brands of green tea, all unsweetened, and all delicious. Ironically, my favorite, はじめ (Hajime-cha) is made by Coca-Cola Japan.
Right now, my stomach is stuffed with various species of seafood. In Shibuya, I’ve found a kaiten sushi place who’s approximately 40 seats are always packed. My sushi palate is not very developed, so I’m pretty much looking for good cheap sushi, and this place delivers. Each plate costs ¥103 (about $1) for two pieces, and I can have a satisfying meal for $12-$15 (plus beer, if I get some), and because you don’t need to actually order anything, the language barrier poses no problems.
I’ve got the day off tomorrow, since I’m working the weekend. I’m planning on taking the Ginza line on the Tokyo Metro out to Ueno, which is on the other side of the Tokyo. I haven’t spent much time out at that end, so this will be new for me. It’s supposed to be rainy tomorrow, so I’ll grab an umbrella and snap some pictures.
CNET reported that Legend of Mir 3 player Qiu Chengwei, recently, IRL, murdered Zhu Caoyuan, another player, over a stolen virtual weapon. Qui and a friend had won the Dragon Sabre and allegedly loaned it to Zhu. Instead of returning the weapon, he sold it for about $870. When Qui tried to tell the police about his stolen virtual weapon, he was told that it was not actual property, and therefore not protected by law.
On one hand, it is grievous that a person would take another’s life over a weapon in a video game.
On the other hand, what validates something’s existence? The virtual weapon had monetary value. Just because an item doesn’t take up meatspace, doesn’t mean that it does not exist. Read the rest of this entry »
Time to dust off the albums.
Turn Me On from Come Away With Me
Like a flower
Waiting to bloom
Like a light bulb
In a dark room
I’m just sitting here waiting for you
To come on home and turn me onLike the desert waiting for the rain
Like a school kid waiting for the spring
I’m just sitting here waiting for you
To come on home and turn me on
Ever had a song stuck in your head? Start singing “Mellow Yellow” to our friend Jim and you’ll make an instant enemy.
Recently, I’ve had Sunrise and Obsession stuck in my head. (It’s a beautiful song – really like it)
With the help of a quick download, you too can have this Josh Komorowski song stuck in your head, and humming the tune when you least expect it.
If you ever go to one of his shows, tell Josh that Tom and Sarah say hello.
Sorry Jim… I know… you still can hear the horns.
Tall and tan and young and lovely
The girl from ipanema goes walking
And when she passes, each one she passes goes – ahWhen she walks, she’s like a samba
That swings so cool and sways so gentle
That when she passes, each one she passes goes – ooh(ooh) but I watch her so sadly
How can I tell her I love her
Yes I would give my heart gladly
But each day, when she walks to the sea
She looks straight ahead, not at meTall, (and) tan, (and) young, (and) lovely
The girl from ipanema goes walking
And when she passes, I smile – but she doesn’t see (doesn’t see)
(she just doesn’t see, she never sees me,…)