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Rant on housing
//rant on// The Japanese real estate system is exceedingly frustrating. With Tod soon unemployed, we’ll need to change our housing lease. Currently it is in the company name; now it will need to be in our name. That shouldn’t be such a big deal since we have ample funds to cover the rent through the…
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Move or quit?
If presented with a dilemma–follow your job to Singapore or become unemployed in Japan–what would you choose? We’ve decided on unemployment. In about 30 days, the door closes on the current chapter of Tod’s wage earning. It’s a little bit scary, but it presents a million possibilities for new directions and challenges so it’s exciting,…
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Late Night Delinquency
Middle of the Night Delinquency “I am seriously wigged out,” Tod wrote to a friend on IRC at 3:20 this morning.”Kristen and her friend MJ went out to the convenience store about an hour and 20 minutes ago (it is a 5 minute walk) and they are not back yet. There is no sign of…
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WC ticket, 1
My lucky husband got a ticket to tomorrow’s US-Germany World Cup game in Ulsan, Korea. What a great chance! He’s got a full day ahead of him with two flights, a reservation for a seat at a pub to watch the afternoon’s game (England-Brazil) being played in Japan, then a taxi to the stadium for…
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Sunny backdrop
What a beautiful day. It’s sunny, warm and not too humid. The perfect backdrop for a do-nothing Sunday. I’ve been reading, napping, and watching movies. I think I’ll go for a walk soon and pick up some veggies to grill tonight.
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Outdoor furniture
Yesterday’s task: build a container for the grill accessories. There’s nothing worse than a soggy cardboard box full of charcoal and tools scattered all over the veranda. I designed and built a simple table with a shelf and a door panel that’s hinged along the bottom. The charcoal, blowtorch and other things are hidden behind…
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Desk Inventory
I should be polishing an article that’s due, but I’m distracted by the number of things on my desk. Here’s an inventory: laptop scan converter digital camera DV camera remote telephone memo holder file box full of notebooks and maps keyboard wacom tablet flatpanel monitor on top of cardboard box card file four dictionaries wooden…
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My kitchen sings
My kitchen sings a symphony of morningtime domesticity. The watery swish and thump of the washer sets the tempo for an 18 minute concerto. The coffemakers clucks and chirps melodiously. The psst of spray cleaner on the countertop, whisper of sponge, and the legato smoothness of water from the tap join in the chorus. The…
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Tod’s new toy
Tod’s new toy–a blowtorch. It’s the perfect partner for our grill. Although it looks like he might be about to scorch the swordfish he’s cooking for our dinner, really the blowtorch is just for lighting the charcoal. This is a cleverly designed device. It’s a torch head that fits onto a standard “gas bombe” canister.…
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Cat in peril
5 am. A cat is crying outside. Its wails echo through the neighborhood. My dark, sleepy mind conjures a sad scenario–a young cat, abandoned by its owners, stuck in the gully where the Marunouchi line runs, unable to climb out. The trains haven’t begun for the day. I imagine phoning 119 to report this. Then…
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