In other news...

My nephew is very cute.


He is also a mugger:

Very no!

I thought I had broken myself of the Engrish habits I picked up during my stay in Japan, but apparently some changes have embedded themselves in my subconciousness.

Me: (post meeting)Okay, I'll get started on this after lunch...see youuu! Bai bai!

On the other hand, the Japanese that I had learned is seeping out of my brain at an alarming rate. Hajimemathingumie? So so so so so.

I've been flipping through my Lonely Planet phrasebook to practice my reading and work on my vocabulary. Unfortunately, this only resulted in my learning how to say "I take mushrooms occasionally" and "I need a potty/putter/acupuncture." Maybe Lonely Planet isn't the best route.

いきましょう

I want to travel, to go somewhere and see something new and unfamiliar. Maybe it's because I'm in the middle of 20 straight days of being at my church (for work, a concert and a funeral). Or perhaps it's because my parents are going to Hawaii for a week without me in March. Probably it's because I am being pummeled by a classic Canadian winter that I haven't experienced in over a year.

But I've had dreams recently about my trip last August, towards the end of my year in Japan, where I traveled by myself around Kyushu & western Honshu; it was so damn fun and supremely liberating. Of course, the evenings were dull as tombs (Japanese nightlife not so fun for the single traveler), but it was probably the best trip I went on that year. I went from Kumamoto to Beppu, to Hiroshima, to Yamaguchi/Hagi, to Fukuoka and finally back to Kumamoto. I embarassed myself here, here, and here.

My favourite memory of my JR (Japan Rail) trip was renting a spiffy, old, red bicycle for 4 hours (150 yen per hour). Basically, I cycled around Hagi, biking non-stop with a ragged map in one hand, my bag in the basket, with a carton of lemon tea nestled beside it. It's not exactly a thrilling place, and didn't have many sights to see but I really enjoyed tearing around this old samurai town, with no schedule to follow, no train to catch, no destination in mind. Just sat on the beach, wandered into the city museum, dodged mutant dragonflies and watched the nuns pop some wheelies.

(I talked to this cat for about a minute before I realized that there was an obaasan around the corner, watering her plants and listening to me prattle in both English and Japanese. D'oh.)

When I got back to Kumamoto...
Me: "I went to Hagi last week"
Japanese friend: "....Why would you do that?"

Maybe later I'll write about my trip in more detail (attack of the giant okonimiyaki, drunk calling from my ryokan, etc.) but for now I am toying with the idea of going somewhere by me-self after my 6 months of work are over. Europe? Japan? & HK? Cross Canada road trip?

いきたい!

Pope X-ray Vision

Bwahaha.

The highlight of my day at katebeaton.com

"Why you gotta forgive?"
"That's just how I roll."
"You the real deal, John Paul."

JBJ + Curling = Fun for all!

Bon Jovi, the Boss considered for curling reality show: report
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/curling/story/2008/02/11/curling-rockstar-boss.html

"Sex, drugs, guitars — and curling?

The Toronto Star reported Monday that NBC has acquired exclusive rights to launch 10 episodes of a proposed television show called Rockstar Curling. Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi, apparently closet curlers, are among the megastar rockers being courted to host it.

Citing unnamed sources, the Star said the two rock stars are among a group of entertainment types who rent arena time on occasion to pick up brooms instead of guitars. Organizers are trying to negotiate a deal to get one of them involved in the proposed show, possibly as a host.

The series' winners could wind up with a berth at the U.S. championships and perhaps at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

...

Curling was a surprise hit for NBC during the last two Winter Olympics, once getting better ratings than an NHL playoff game at the same time the following day.

The show would begin with nationwide tryouts, continue with the 10 chosen contestants receiving six months of free training in Lake Placid, N.Y., and conclude with the Olympic trials in February 2009, according to the Star."

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In reality, the equation would probably be more like:

JBJ + Curling = Donuts + Beer = Somewhat Doughy, Rather Less Attractive Rockstar

I can live with that.