[o]
( And now, the photos )
( And now, the photos )
July 18th, 2009
July 16th, 2009
What is this and to whom does it belong?
I've already asked Charlotte, it's not a filter for her camera. I've also googled the numbers with no success.
I've already asked Charlotte, it's not a filter for her camera. I've also googled the numbers with no success.
[o]
Becasue EVERYTHING in Japan is CUTE!
This is a slide from a presentation this weekend, discussing the spread of diabetes.
Becasue EVERYTHING in Japan is CUTE!
This is a slide from a presentation this weekend, discussing the spread of diabetes.
July 15th, 2009
[J]
Ahem.
Puce is a shade of red.
Chartreuse is a shade exactly between green and yellow.
That is all.
Ahem.
Puce is a shade of red.
Chartreuse is a shade exactly between green and yellow.
That is all.
July 14th, 2009
[J]
Mmmm... hot coffee, chocolate-and-toffee pocky, and a parasite encased in plastic.
Aside from the parasite, breakfast of champions.
Mmmm... hot coffee, chocolate-and-toffee pocky, and a parasite encased in plastic.
Aside from the parasite, breakfast of champions.
July 13th, 2009
[J]
In which creepy guy is creepy.
*sigh* There's this guy at work who is really chatty. He's also a violator of personal space. He likes to ask borderline personal questions, too. For example, "You ride the bus, right? Where do you take it from? Oh, near Southpoint? I live there, too! I guess you're using that bus pass a lot, huh? Your contract ends soon, right? So, how's the job search going? Are you looking for something in tech services again or what?" etc etc.
I just get an icky vibe.
This afternoon I was up on the top floor of the stacks with my headphones on. I'm usually the only one up there, 'cause that's where the microfilm and the out-of-date reference stuff is. All of a sudden he's *right there* knocking on my book cart and grinning. Jesus. Of all the places I DON'T want to have a conversation.
Bleh. He went away after two or three awkward silences.
Corner me in a dark-ish library, with no exit nearby? You bet I'm gonna be at least a little rude.
In which creepy guy is creepy.
*sigh* There's this guy at work who is really chatty. He's also a violator of personal space. He likes to ask borderline personal questions, too. For example, "You ride the bus, right? Where do you take it from? Oh, near Southpoint? I live there, too! I guess you're using that bus pass a lot, huh? Your contract ends soon, right? So, how's the job search going? Are you looking for something in tech services again or what?" etc etc.
I just get an icky vibe.
This afternoon I was up on the top floor of the stacks with my headphones on. I'm usually the only one up there, 'cause that's where the microfilm and the out-of-date reference stuff is. All of a sudden he's *right there* knocking on my book cart and grinning. Jesus. Of all the places I DON'T want to have a conversation.
Bleh. He went away after two or three awkward silences.
Corner me in a dark-ish library, with no exit nearby? You bet I'm gonna be at least a little rude.
July 12th, 2009
[o]
Do not press the "spray" button on the toilet. Water pressure 50% = SuperSoaker 2000 aimed at your anus. Travel to new lands, learn new things.
4am... should've taken Tylenol PM.
Sunrise over the rooftop gardens is pretty spiff. Pictures taken.
The toilets smell slightly of cat litter.
The pork tastes... Japanese. Even the bacon. Tepanyaki bacon? WTF?
On the flight over, I watched Frost/Nixon, wherein Nixon says "I don't like Italian shoes. A man's shoes should have laces." And, really, I agree with him. This bothers me.
Usually in my presentation in these meetings, I have about 60 slides, 45 minutes to present them, and take about 30 minutes to do so. This time we had an interpreter though, so I got to talk in Normal Owen Mode.
Everything is SOOOO much easier with cash. I actually look like I know what I'm doing now.
Adorable Japanese bellhops LOVE the "sarudas" story, even though they don't speak any English and I know 8 words of Japanese (Up from the 7 I knew when I arrived. I'd forgotten "konichiwa").
CRUNKY! CRUNKY! CRUNKY!
Hmmm... Pocari Sweat does not taste nearly as awesome as I remembered. Kinda just watery citrus Gatorade. *sad*
6800Y* for that niggardly little buffet? Seriously? "Here's your 2 bites of chicken. Feel free to try one of the five chafing dishes we have". If I knew I was going to exceed my meal budget anyway, I would have had the 15 dollar cup of coffee from room service.
(*6800Y = $73. I'm limited to <$50 for meals per day, in theory)
3000Y breakfast buffet (included in room charge) overlooking the Japanese garden with the coi pond and the waterfall... well, at least they get something right.
4am again. Yeesh.
Do not press the "spray" button on the toilet. Water pressure 50% = SuperSoaker 2000 aimed at your anus. Travel to new lands, learn new things.
4am... should've taken Tylenol PM.
Sunrise over the rooftop gardens is pretty spiff. Pictures taken.
The toilets smell slightly of cat litter.
The pork tastes... Japanese. Even the bacon. Tepanyaki bacon? WTF?
On the flight over, I watched Frost/Nixon, wherein Nixon says "I don't like Italian shoes. A man's shoes should have laces." And, really, I agree with him. This bothers me.
Usually in my presentation in these meetings, I have about 60 slides, 45 minutes to present them, and take about 30 minutes to do so. This time we had an interpreter though, so I got to talk in Normal Owen Mode.
Everything is SOOOO much easier with cash. I actually look like I know what I'm doing now.
Adorable Japanese bellhops LOVE the "sarudas" story, even though they don't speak any English and I know 8 words of Japanese (Up from the 7 I knew when I arrived. I'd forgotten "konichiwa").
CRUNKY! CRUNKY! CRUNKY!
Hmmm... Pocari Sweat does not taste nearly as awesome as I remembered. Kinda just watery citrus Gatorade. *sad*
6800Y* for that niggardly little buffet? Seriously? "Here's your 2 bites of chicken. Feel free to try one of the five chafing dishes we have". If I knew I was going to exceed my meal budget anyway, I would have had the 15 dollar cup of coffee from room service.
(*6800Y = $73. I'm limited to <$50 for meals per day, in theory)
3000Y breakfast buffet (included in room charge) overlooking the Japanese garden with the coi pond and the waterfall... well, at least they get something right.
4am again. Yeesh.
July 11th, 2009
[o]
Japanese crows say "Aw!" Not like a bird says it, but like a human trying to sound like a bird says it. They also get cranky when you sit on their bench.
Breakfast: ham and cheese omelette, nummy pastries. Why couldn't England manage this?
Jay walking does not happen. Like, almost at all.
Japanese ATMs hate Americans. Even the ones that speak English don't like your bank card.
The school girls really do wear Sailor Moon outfits, except for those wearing kimono.
It is REALLY damn crowded.
Need help? Find a Starbucks barista!
Addresses don't make sense (or, at least, it takes some figuring out what a "chome" is)
The tapeworm is 8m long. And they have an 8m piece of strapping that you can play with.
No cash means no souvenirs from the Meguro Parasitological Museum. Tres sad.
No Cash Back for you! Where's a Morgan Stanley?
POCKY! POCKY! POCKY!
Japan Rail says use the subway! The subway won't sell me a ticket. Please, soembody take my money!
Aikido in the park, or is that the schoolyard?
An ATM that like Americans. Too bad it's in the basement of the hotel, at the end of a long corridor, hiding in the Post Office.
Bored sponsor starts googling images of me. Like this one:
Quoth the sponsor: "Man, I wish I'd seen that picture before I met you".
Coffee break = small, bad iced coffee. That's it? Seriously? What about a goddamn bagel? Lunch is sorely missed.
E-mailing the sponsor sitting next to me. "By the way, K, you won't get this for a week since you'll be in Thailand, but..."
In a country of slight, thin people, the 210 lb American will sweat. A lot. And stink. I need a shower.
Body says it's 4:17 AM. Being hallucinatory in the country of Hello Kitty and Anime could be dangerous.
130 dollars for a steak, even if it is kobe beef? Geez... guess I'll have the pork.
Nummy saki!
Japanese crows say "Aw!" Not like a bird says it, but like a human trying to sound like a bird says it. They also get cranky when you sit on their bench.
Breakfast: ham and cheese omelette, nummy pastries. Why couldn't England manage this?
Jay walking does not happen. Like, almost at all.
Japanese ATMs hate Americans. Even the ones that speak English don't like your bank card.
The school girls really do wear Sailor Moon outfits, except for those wearing kimono.
It is REALLY damn crowded.
Need help? Find a Starbucks barista!
Addresses don't make sense (or, at least, it takes some figuring out what a "chome" is)
The tapeworm is 8m long. And they have an 8m piece of strapping that you can play with.
No cash means no souvenirs from the Meguro Parasitological Museum. Tres sad.
No Cash Back for you! Where's a Morgan Stanley?
POCKY! POCKY! POCKY!
Japan Rail says use the subway! The subway won't sell me a ticket. Please, soembody take my money!
Aikido in the park, or is that the schoolyard?
An ATM that like Americans. Too bad it's in the basement of the hotel, at the end of a long corridor, hiding in the Post Office.
Bored sponsor starts googling images of me. Like this one:
Quoth the sponsor: "Man, I wish I'd seen that picture before I met you".Coffee break = small, bad iced coffee. That's it? Seriously? What about a goddamn bagel? Lunch is sorely missed.
E-mailing the sponsor sitting next to me. "By the way, K, you won't get this for a week since you'll be in Thailand, but..."
In a country of slight, thin people, the 210 lb American will sweat. A lot. And stink. I need a shower.
Body says it's 4:17 AM. Being hallucinatory in the country of Hello Kitty and Anime could be dangerous.
130 dollars for a steak, even if it is kobe beef? Geez... guess I'll have the pork.
Nummy saki!
July 10th, 2009
[o]
Business class on a 747: I cannot reach the back of the chair in front of me with my feet.
Flying in to Narita airport: Rice paddy, rice paddy, golf course, rice paddy, golf course, rice paddy, runway
Standing in the parking lot: That's right! I'm in the land of Subaru! I could go swee where mud-spattered, butch storks start their journey carrying bundles of little baby Outbacks and Foresters!
Japanese trees are weird. And bamboo grows in the medians.
Kukura-san is the driver who picked me up at the airport. He's young and energetic, and he had a Japanese game show playing on the TV for me when I got in the car.
I think I passed a no-tell motel. "Rest 3,800 Y. Stay 5,800 Y."
Kudzu in its natural habitat still must be napalmed into oblivion.
The bellhops (all female) at the hotel are wearing uniforms just like the stewardesses on the ship in Fifth Element. I want to adopt one.
Mmmm... room with a kimono. Time for a shower and a change of clothes, and room service.
Business class on a 747: I cannot reach the back of the chair in front of me with my feet.
Flying in to Narita airport: Rice paddy, rice paddy, golf course, rice paddy, golf course, rice paddy, runway
Standing in the parking lot: That's right! I'm in the land of Subaru! I could go swee where mud-spattered, butch storks start their journey carrying bundles of little baby Outbacks and Foresters!
Japanese trees are weird. And bamboo grows in the medians.
Kukura-san is the driver who picked me up at the airport. He's young and energetic, and he had a Japanese game show playing on the TV for me when I got in the car.
I think I passed a no-tell motel. "Rest 3,800 Y. Stay 5,800 Y."
Kudzu in its natural habitat still must be napalmed into oblivion.
The bellhops (all female) at the hotel are wearing uniforms just like the stewardesses on the ship in Fifth Element. I want to adopt one.
Mmmm... room with a kimono. Time for a shower and a change of clothes, and room service.
July 9th, 2009
[J]
I just helped this guy rescue some ducklings from being squished on I-40. Their mama had been hit when I passed by and the whole bunch of them were entering the road. We stopped and tried to grab them, but they were running into traffic. We had to wait until they got to the median to scoop them up.
Three of them didn't make it, but four little puff balls of ducky goodness are now bundled off to the man's farm.
Joy!
I couldn't really hear what the man said over the traffic, but I think he said they were wood ducks? The ducklings looked kinda like this, which would be about right:
ETA: you know, all ducklings look the same to me. And, uh, I couldn't tell what plumage mama bird had. So screw it. They were anonymous ducks.
I just helped this guy rescue some ducklings from being squished on I-40. Their mama had been hit when I passed by and the whole bunch of them were entering the road. We stopped and tried to grab them, but they were running into traffic. We had to wait until they got to the median to scoop them up.
Three of them didn't make it, but four little puff balls of ducky goodness are now bundled off to the man's farm.
Joy!
I couldn't really hear what the man said over the traffic, but I think he said they were wood ducks? The ducklings looked kinda like this, which would be about right:
ETA: you know, all ducklings look the same to me. And, uh, I couldn't tell what plumage mama bird had. So screw it. They were anonymous ducks.
July 8th, 2009
[o]
First Class flight to Detroit. Woo hoo!
"The Compass keeps spinning around." Uh oh.
5.5 hour delay flight out of RDU. Booooo!
Finished Commodore Hornblower, bought Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Woo hoo!
Airport bar has Newcastle. Woo hoo!
Neck and shoulders still hurt from fencing yesterday. Boooo!
Flight to Tokyo left just before I landed in Detroit. Boooo!
Next flight leaves in 24 hours. WTF?
Have a voucher for a hotel. Woo hoo!
It's a Comfort Inn. Er...?
In Detroit. Uh oh!
Exactly as bad as you think. Booooo!
But with an inroom jacuzzi. Woo hoo!
That's taking for-fucking-ever to fill. Booooo!
And your carry on luggage is still at the airport. Booooo!
And you won't get there in time to go to the Parasitological museum, probably. Booooo!
Well, the room smells like bowling shoes, but the jacuzzi is full. Catchyalater
First Class flight to Detroit. Woo hoo!
"The Compass keeps spinning around." Uh oh.
5.5 hour delay flight out of RDU. Booooo!
Finished Commodore Hornblower, bought Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Woo hoo!
Airport bar has Newcastle. Woo hoo!
Neck and shoulders still hurt from fencing yesterday. Boooo!
Flight to Tokyo left just before I landed in Detroit. Boooo!
Next flight leaves in 24 hours. WTF?
Have a voucher for a hotel. Woo hoo!
It's a Comfort Inn. Er...?
In Detroit. Uh oh!
Exactly as bad as you think. Booooo!
But with an inroom jacuzzi. Woo hoo!
That's taking for-fucking-ever to fill. Booooo!
And your carry on luggage is still at the airport. Booooo!
And you won't get there in time to go to the Parasitological museum, probably. Booooo!
Well, the room smells like bowling shoes, but the jacuzzi is full. Catchyalater
[J]
Owen is on his plane to Japan. He has promised to at least try to make it to the Meguro Parasitological Museum and bring me back something gross.
His only stopover is in Detroit (ptui!). He fears he may miss his connection and have to stay there extra.
Owen is on his plane to Japan. He has promised to at least try to make it to the Meguro Parasitological Museum and bring me back something gross.
His only stopover is in Detroit (ptui!). He fears he may miss his connection and have to stay there extra.
July 7th, 2009
[J]
It has been a long time since I posted about a crazy bus person.
Today a man with really nasty dreads (srsly, it was like one big dreadlock) got on my bus. The dreads were not really the problem, but the description sets the scene.
First, he poured a cup of water over his head. Then he shook it out. All over everyone. Yuck. Then he offered the entire bus cereal. He sat behind me and kept asking the woman next to him if she was a genius.
Finally, he smelled like rosemary.
It has been a long time since I posted about a crazy bus person.
Today a man with really nasty dreads (srsly, it was like one big dreadlock) got on my bus. The dreads were not really the problem, but the description sets the scene.
First, he poured a cup of water over his head. Then he shook it out. All over everyone. Yuck. Then he offered the entire bus cereal. He sat behind me and kept asking the woman next to him if she was a genius.
Finally, he smelled like rosemary.
July 6th, 2009
The boys are officially up for adoption! Claudius, Cicero, and Caesar. Anyone want a kitty?
Thanks,![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
spyderbug, for the photos!
Thanks,
spyderbug, for the photos!
July 2nd, 2009
[o]
As some of you know I've had to put on my Big Boy Shorts and sacrifice fun to get work done lately. This culminated big time in the past 24 hours. I passed on Aikido in favor of work, but about 7:30 last night realized I was just too brain dead to focus. So I popped two Tylenol PM and by 8:15 was dead to the world. Mmmmm good shit. I wonder if the Fat Tire had an additive effect.
Of course, going to bed at 8 when I'm used to going to bed at 11 did weird things to my sleep schedule. Like, say, waking me up at 3. As a result, by 4am I was sitting at the kitchen table diligently working, again. And now as midday turns into afternoon, I'm still diligently working, with the only break about a half hour to make lunch and drive in to work. And with a line of telecons rapidly approaching, at 3:30 pm I'll still be diligently working.
All of this to be told, this morning, by the client, "This document is ugly, you should tell your management that The Q should do things our way." Oh, and "Can you totally rearrange the database for us? That shouldn't be too hard, right? And still have it ready next Thursday?" My notes from this meeting end with "Sweet Jesus Almighty".
There are small rewards, though: Etta sat right next to my computer this morning, until I went in to work, and was fabulous and adorable. Also a little stinky. I think her stomach's not quite settled on the light food.
And the whole flying to Tokyo next week. Yeah, that's probably going to be pretty sweet, too.
But with all the stress and hunching over desks, my back is killing me. It had best straighten up and fly right before stabbery tonight.
As some of you know I've had to put on my Big Boy Shorts and sacrifice fun to get work done lately. This culminated big time in the past 24 hours. I passed on Aikido in favor of work, but about 7:30 last night realized I was just too brain dead to focus. So I popped two Tylenol PM and by 8:15 was dead to the world. Mmmmm good shit. I wonder if the Fat Tire had an additive effect.
Of course, going to bed at 8 when I'm used to going to bed at 11 did weird things to my sleep schedule. Like, say, waking me up at 3. As a result, by 4am I was sitting at the kitchen table diligently working, again. And now as midday turns into afternoon, I'm still diligently working, with the only break about a half hour to make lunch and drive in to work. And with a line of telecons rapidly approaching, at 3:30 pm I'll still be diligently working.
All of this to be told, this morning, by the client, "This document is ugly, you should tell your management that The Q should do things our way." Oh, and "Can you totally rearrange the database for us? That shouldn't be too hard, right? And still have it ready next Thursday?" My notes from this meeting end with "Sweet Jesus Almighty".
There are small rewards, though: Etta sat right next to my computer this morning, until I went in to work, and was fabulous and adorable. Also a little stinky. I think her stomach's not quite settled on the light food.
And the whole flying to Tokyo next week. Yeah, that's probably going to be pretty sweet, too.
But with all the stress and hunching over desks, my back is killing me. It had best straighten up and fly right before stabbery tonight.
July 1st, 2009
[J]
You have GOT to be kidding me.
I... I don't know what I would do if Vicodin were pulled off the market. I know I like to joke about it, but seriously, it's saved my life.
Living with chronic migraines means living with chronic pain. Like any other prescription drug, the effects of my migraine medication wear off over time, and every now and then it just plain doesn't work. Once a month or so I get a migraine that is an absolute BITCH and doesn't respond to ANYTHING but an opiate.
The bad old days, before I found competent pain medications, were indeed very very bad. I would very much like not to go back there.
ETA: I now have a migraine from irritation. Awesome.
Edited for clarity.
Unconcerned about the acetaminophen + opiates issue -- I'm sure I can find another painkiller. My concerns are:
1) Pulling an entire drug off the market that has gone generic is annoying.
2) Playing to the lowest common denominator, aka the stupid kids who put their eyes out thus ruining it for the rest of us, is really annoying.
3) The whole thing makes me think of "War on Drugs" and I can't get that bitter taste out of my mouth.
Going off to take care of my head now, and restrain myself from writing angry letters that will just make me sound like a drug addict.
You have GOT to be kidding me.
I... I don't know what I would do if Vicodin were pulled off the market. I know I like to joke about it, but seriously, it's saved my life.
Living with chronic migraines means living with chronic pain. Like any other prescription drug, the effects of my migraine medication wear off over time, and every now and then it just plain doesn't work. Once a month or so I get a migraine that is an absolute BITCH and doesn't respond to ANYTHING but an opiate.
The bad old days, before I found competent pain medications, were indeed very very bad. I would very much like not to go back there.
ETA: I now have a migraine from irritation. Awesome.
Edited for clarity.
Unconcerned about the acetaminophen + opiates issue -- I'm sure I can find another painkiller. My concerns are:
1) Pulling an entire drug off the market that has gone generic is annoying.
2) Playing to the lowest common denominator, aka the stupid kids who put their eyes out thus ruining it for the rest of us, is really annoying.
3) The whole thing makes me think of "War on Drugs" and I can't get that bitter taste out of my mouth.
Going off to take care of my head now, and restrain myself from writing angry letters that will just make me sound like a drug addict.
June 30th, 2009
June 25th, 2009
[J]
Is this not the most adorable kitteh evar?
And now back to your regularly scheduled fluff:
Is this not the most adorable kitteh evar?
And now back to your regularly scheduled fluff: