Last night was our end-of-season party for the Misawa Mogul Mashers (ski and snowboard club). It was a good turnout to a less than stellar season of skiing (due to the economy and maybe global warming).
The club treasurer, secretary, president and I (vp) decided on the Oirase Brewery for the venue. I had been there one other time and enjoyed it (perhaps too much). It's another one of those seamingly popular pay-too-much, cook-your-own-food and leave-with-lots-of-grease-burns restraurants. Fortunately this ptm, cyof, and lwlogb restaurant also provides transportation there and back (about 40 minute trip) and all-you-can-drink alcoholic beverages. Surprising how the grease stops burning (as much) after a couple of pitchers of microbrewed ale. The beer (even the soba beer) was good, the food was good (burns and all), and the cameraderie was good.
I'm looking forward to next season and trying out snowboarding more often and getting AX more comfortable on skis.
Grinding more powder than Colombia (credit to Scott S.),
Marty
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Impaled
You know how your mom always told you not to run with something in your mouth or you'll fall and jam it through the roof of your mouth? Me either. My mom always suggested I take a steak knife and go play in the busy street. (I know you meant well, Mom.)
EW has had some instances of biting, however, nowhere near the trouble we had with AX. Fortunately, I don't think consuming flesh was his intent last night. We were all having a nice time reading books during EW's story time, except EW. The little guy wasn't really in the mood for reading and wanted to continue playing. He likes to stand on my chest and, with some assistance, jump up and down (it's not entirely as painful as it sounds). He wasn't ready to stop his game of "up down" when I was done assisting so I left my hands up to catch him if he slipped.
I then diverted my attention to AX as he was about to read a book for EW. (AX by the way is starting to read. This book in particular he has memorized so he reads it that way.) EW tried to stand up and resume his game and did indeed slip. As his face headed down with his mouth agape and laughing, I felt my fingernail click across his tooth and sink into the soft part of the roof of his mouth. (Sorry if that makes you a little squeamish; that's how I felt in the instant I knew what happened.). When he realized something wasn't right (probably from the look of surprise from me), he started crying. I opened his mouth and saw the blood running down the roof of his mouth and down his throat. I took him to the sink and attempted to apply pressure, but couldn't touch so far back without gagging him. We called the Urgent Care clinic and they told me to bring him in.
I don't know what it is about older siblings, but AX felt the overwhelming need try to distress his little brother. He was pretending to cry; even though EW wasn't anymore. Then he was being overanxious about blood. I realize there was potential for a kid to get worked up about the trauma, but this was quite apparent that he was trying to get a rise out of his brother. Finally, he tried to work his way into going to the clinic with us. I know it seems like he was worried, but if you know AX at bedtime, you would know he was looking for a reason to not go to bed.
At almost the same time as I was phoning the clinic (and AX was doing his gig), the bleeding had slowed to a trickle so I didn't think he'd bleed out on the way. By the time we got his shoes on, the bleeding had stopped and I could clearly see the fingernail-shaped gouge.
After a short but apprehensive wait, he and I were able to see the doctor, who assured me that it was just a flesh wound and would heal quickly and without assistance.
EW seems past it all already and really hasn't even showed any discomfort while eating. He's a pretty tough kid.
And for the record, my Mom was very caring and would never send me out into a busy street carrying a sharp object ... It was a spoon and our street wasn't that busy.
Keeping the kids intact for another day,
Marty
EW has had some instances of biting, however, nowhere near the trouble we had with AX. Fortunately, I don't think consuming flesh was his intent last night. We were all having a nice time reading books during EW's story time, except EW. The little guy wasn't really in the mood for reading and wanted to continue playing. He likes to stand on my chest and, with some assistance, jump up and down (it's not entirely as painful as it sounds). He wasn't ready to stop his game of "up down" when I was done assisting so I left my hands up to catch him if he slipped.
I then diverted my attention to AX as he was about to read a book for EW. (AX by the way is starting to read. This book in particular he has memorized so he reads it that way.) EW tried to stand up and resume his game and did indeed slip. As his face headed down with his mouth agape and laughing, I felt my fingernail click across his tooth and sink into the soft part of the roof of his mouth. (Sorry if that makes you a little squeamish; that's how I felt in the instant I knew what happened.). When he realized something wasn't right (probably from the look of surprise from me), he started crying. I opened his mouth and saw the blood running down the roof of his mouth and down his throat. I took him to the sink and attempted to apply pressure, but couldn't touch so far back without gagging him. We called the Urgent Care clinic and they told me to bring him in.
I don't know what it is about older siblings, but AX felt the overwhelming need try to distress his little brother. He was pretending to cry; even though EW wasn't anymore. Then he was being overanxious about blood. I realize there was potential for a kid to get worked up about the trauma, but this was quite apparent that he was trying to get a rise out of his brother. Finally, he tried to work his way into going to the clinic with us. I know it seems like he was worried, but if you know AX at bedtime, you would know he was looking for a reason to not go to bed.
At almost the same time as I was phoning the clinic (and AX was doing his gig), the bleeding had slowed to a trickle so I didn't think he'd bleed out on the way. By the time we got his shoes on, the bleeding had stopped and I could clearly see the fingernail-shaped gouge.
After a short but apprehensive wait, he and I were able to see the doctor, who assured me that it was just a flesh wound and would heal quickly and without assistance.
EW seems past it all already and really hasn't even showed any discomfort while eating. He's a pretty tough kid.
And for the record, my Mom was very caring and would never send me out into a busy street carrying a sharp object ... It was a spoon and our street wasn't that busy.
Keeping the kids intact for another day,
Marty
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Trip Pics - Tokyo
I'm losing sleep for this post. Here's so my wife will get off my back for posting without pictures:
The Spanish teacher's pet. El perro?
This is what women look like in their natural habitat, a jewelry store. This one specialized in pearls. Notice the male in the background with a bewildered and confused look.
Hey, rickshaw boy! Stop checking out girls and take me to the Sumo tournament.
We're HUGE in Japan ... or at least we would have been in the Edo Period.
They already have wedgies, so they just have to battle for lunch money.
Part of the 360 degree view from Tokyo Tower.
View from the ginormous Ferris Wheel.
The Spanish teacher's pet. El perro?
This is what women look like in their natural habitat, a jewelry store. This one specialized in pearls. Notice the male in the background with a bewildered and confused look.
Hey, rickshaw boy! Stop checking out girls and take me to the Sumo tournament.
We're HUGE in Japan ... or at least we would have been in the Edo Period.
Now for a little Sumo.
They already have wedgies, so they just have to battle for lunch money.
Part of the 360 degree view from Tokyo Tower.
This one's for you, Dave. Now will you come visit?
A glimpse of the Giant Panda. Ok it was a cow, but we pretended so the trip to the zoo didn't feel like a waste.
I can only surmise that this is what became of the dear, departed Giant Panda. Or maybe this is just a Hollywood stunt double. Skadoosh!
View from the ginormous Ferris Wheel.
Yeah, I did that. No, I didn't get the lousy t-shirt.
Finally, our ride home - the Shinkansen.
Finally, our ride home - the Shinkansen.
And of course ... the Tooth Fairy's pet.
Sorry for the delay in photos. I hope I didn't force anyone to use their imaginations.
Marty
Friday, January 23, 2009
Sumo in Tokyo
This post is about a week late, but since I'm sitting here listening to Vanessa sleep and waiting for a utility company in the states to open so I can call and cancel the service that I've not utilized since early August, I thought I'd supply a little fodder for you. (yes, that was a very long sentence. Don't make me do an entire post in one sentence because you felt you needed to point that out.)
Last weekend we loaded up the family and took the Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) to Tokyo. The main purpose for the trip was to attend a Sumo Tournament. Secondarily, we went because, hey, we've never been on the Shinkansen, nor have we been to Tokyo. I suppose that's not entirely true cause we flew in to Tokyo on our way here, but we didn't really see much or get off the bus. And actually I've been on the Shinkansen once for a business trip to Sendai. So as I prattle on with half-truths, let's just say we've never done Tokyo nor all ridden the Shinkansen together.
The idea for the trip came from some of Vanessa's co-workers who have made an annual trip to Tokyo for the Basho (Sumo Tournament). They opened up the invitation, and after a brief discussion, decided to check it off our list. (That list is unofficial, but it does exist in our minds of the things we must do whilst we are exiled here). Needless to say, the Basho was pretty awesome, even if our seats were a bit lofty. Surprisingly, even the boys enjoyed it and seemed to remain captivated by the rotund gents smashing into each other and whose nether regions were covered only by a towel or mawashi (the size needed for those guys could easily be large enough for a family-sized beach towel. And now that I think about comparing a silken cloth that has been firmly set betwixt a 400 pound Japanese guy's sweaty cheeks, perhaps that wasn't the best analogy). I can only imagine that EW was thinking Santa Clause decided to ditch the red leisure suit for something a little less constricting. (See previous post)
In addition to the Basho, we also visited the Edo (that's Tokyo before it became the capital) Museum, and Tokyo Tower at night (great observation deck).
The next day we went to the Ueno Zoo. According to their website they have a giant panda, but according to the sign at the entrance said panda died almost a year ago ... c'mon update your site and stop misleading uninformed tourists ... I mean Vanessa was devastated and almost cried. We also stopped in at a really busy shopping area that had loads of vendors and people. I really didn't see anything that would create such a large crowd, but perhaps it's a place for people to go hang out when they're missing the crowded subway. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped in Akihabara (the electronics district) and Ginza (the 5th Avenue of Tokyo). We didn't buy or need to buy anything, but now we can say we've been there.
On our final day, we ventured out to see the Tokyo Dome (I guess it's a baseball field), but we could really only see the outside of it (mostly uninspiring, but it was on the list of things to do in Tokyo). Across from the Dome was a shopping mall with some amusement rides. There was a roller coaster that circled around the roof, so I had to take a spin (alone of course). The first downhill was exhilarating, but that was about it, then it was over. We all rode the huge Ferris wheel and enjoyed a nice birds-eye view of the city (during the day this time). We then finished our morning with lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. Vanessa and I have now eaten at BGSC in San Francisco, Honolulu, Minneapolis, and Tokyo. I know, you're jealous. Finally, we gathered up our things from the hotel and made our way back to the train and home.
If you made it through this lengthy summation, I feel obligated to inform you that AX finally lost his first tooth today. I'm probably more excited than he is, because now I don't have to check it for him daily and give him my opinion as to how near it is to detaching. And since the Tooth Fairy is asleep, I'm going to stand in and hook the little guy up. I don't know what the going rate for a first tooth is these days. I guess I'll see what I have in my pocket; he may get an inkpen and some lint.
Time to have some mooch's water turned off (honestly, the house was a steal. You'd think he'd have the decency to change the utilities over),
Marty
Last weekend we loaded up the family and took the Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) to Tokyo. The main purpose for the trip was to attend a Sumo Tournament. Secondarily, we went because, hey, we've never been on the Shinkansen, nor have we been to Tokyo. I suppose that's not entirely true cause we flew in to Tokyo on our way here, but we didn't really see much or get off the bus. And actually I've been on the Shinkansen once for a business trip to Sendai. So as I prattle on with half-truths, let's just say we've never done Tokyo nor all ridden the Shinkansen together.
The idea for the trip came from some of Vanessa's co-workers who have made an annual trip to Tokyo for the Basho (Sumo Tournament). They opened up the invitation, and after a brief discussion, decided to check it off our list. (That list is unofficial, but it does exist in our minds of the things we must do whilst we are exiled here). Needless to say, the Basho was pretty awesome, even if our seats were a bit lofty. Surprisingly, even the boys enjoyed it and seemed to remain captivated by the rotund gents smashing into each other and whose nether regions were covered only by a towel or mawashi (the size needed for those guys could easily be large enough for a family-sized beach towel. And now that I think about comparing a silken cloth that has been firmly set betwixt a 400 pound Japanese guy's sweaty cheeks, perhaps that wasn't the best analogy). I can only imagine that EW was thinking Santa Clause decided to ditch the red leisure suit for something a little less constricting. (See previous post)
In addition to the Basho, we also visited the Edo (that's Tokyo before it became the capital) Museum, and Tokyo Tower at night (great observation deck).
The next day we went to the Ueno Zoo. According to their website they have a giant panda, but according to the sign at the entrance said panda died almost a year ago ... c'mon update your site and stop misleading uninformed tourists ... I mean Vanessa was devastated and almost cried. We also stopped in at a really busy shopping area that had loads of vendors and people. I really didn't see anything that would create such a large crowd, but perhaps it's a place for people to go hang out when they're missing the crowded subway. On the way back to the hotel, we stopped in Akihabara (the electronics district) and Ginza (the 5th Avenue of Tokyo). We didn't buy or need to buy anything, but now we can say we've been there.
On our final day, we ventured out to see the Tokyo Dome (I guess it's a baseball field), but we could really only see the outside of it (mostly uninspiring, but it was on the list of things to do in Tokyo). Across from the Dome was a shopping mall with some amusement rides. There was a roller coaster that circled around the roof, so I had to take a spin (alone of course). The first downhill was exhilarating, but that was about it, then it was over. We all rode the huge Ferris wheel and enjoyed a nice birds-eye view of the city (during the day this time). We then finished our morning with lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. Vanessa and I have now eaten at BGSC in San Francisco, Honolulu, Minneapolis, and Tokyo. I know, you're jealous. Finally, we gathered up our things from the hotel and made our way back to the train and home.
If you made it through this lengthy summation, I feel obligated to inform you that AX finally lost his first tooth today. I'm probably more excited than he is, because now I don't have to check it for him daily and give him my opinion as to how near it is to detaching. And since the Tooth Fairy is asleep, I'm going to stand in and hook the little guy up. I don't know what the going rate for a first tooth is these days. I guess I'll see what I have in my pocket; he may get an inkpen and some lint.
Time to have some mooch's water turned off (honestly, the house was a steal. You'd think he'd have the decency to change the utilities over),
Marty
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