Biff's Blog

Before I forget most of this, I wanted to give a rundown of our recent trip to Japan.  Hopefully I'll publish more detailed accounts when I have time.

 

We left from Seattle on Christmas morning.  Arrived in Tokyo in the evening of 12/26 and finally got to Itami (Osaka) around 7pm.  Flying in to Itami I finally got a good look at just how HUGE Osaka really is.  It is humongous.  Went on forever and I could see several distinct downtown areas with lots of rivers running through.

Jet lag takes a minor bite going to Japan so it was 7pm when we got in but it really was like midnight to us.  So we eat and stay up until around 10 just to force the body into some normalcy.

The following day (12/27) we went to Kobe to do some shopping in the maze of shopping streets, going from one store to another.  Last stop was at a sake brewery so I could pick up some "necessities".  I always pick up about 3 or 4 bottles so I have something to drink at night.  Literally, each night is filled with sake and beer drinking.  The Japanese love their sake, beer, and shochu.

We spent a couple of nights in Osaka after this, visiting Yoko's friend Tamayo and her friend Eiko.  First night was in Umeda where we did some shopping and then went out to eat, me hauling an 18" overnighter on wheels everywhere we went.  We went to a really cool Izakaya in a crowded back street.  Expensive but good food including some things I have never had before.  Lots of beer and sake as well.  Next night was in Namba.  Massively crowded, tons of lights, and very entertaining.  Ate Okonomiyaki and other things for dinner and then went to an Irish bar.  That's right, Irish.  The Japanese love their drink and welcome any other culture that drinks as much or more than them.  Next day we went up into the mountains outside Osaka to see the monkeys.

Next we went out to the country to go to a town which is known for pottery.  Bought a couple of things at one of the shops.  Both Yoko and I like similar types of pottery which is good.

Next was a visit to Nara to see the friendly deer and the wonderful shrines and temples.  Really quite beautiful scenery.  This was still during the time of the year that the Japanese are all out of work so it was really crowded.  Everyone goes to the temples during this time.  Had some awesome soba, sushi, and a traditional macha set.

While we were there, Yoko's uncle passed away.  I felt uncomfortable going to the funeral but I was asked so I went.  It was my first Japanese funeral and one I won't soon forget.  There was lots of bowing, chanting, and prayer-bead holding.  I paid my respects to a man I had never met, placed flowers in the coffin right next to his uncovered body, and was asked to help carry the coffin to the hearse.  I couldn't believe they would ask me, me being a gaijin and everything.

Yoko and I then took a trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima.  The Hiroshima part was a bit sad.  The Peace Park museum and memorials were somber and depressing, but it was something that I needed to see for myself.  I'm glad I went, it's just such a big part of human history.  Miyajima was totally worth the trip.  It's about 10 miles outside Hiroshima by train and then ferry (it is an island afterall).  Lots of history, beautiful temples and shrines, and amazing scenery.  More wild deer as well, this time though it was against the law to feed them.  We spent the night at a small ryokan.  Small room, slept on the floor on futons, but had some nice local sake and momiji manju (local maple shaped filled cakes) to put me to sleep. 

Next trip was to Kinosaki-onsen.  It's a touristy town directly north of Osaka on the Sea of Japan known for it's onsen (hot springs).  We stayed in an extremely old ryokan.  This town is known for it's crab so dinner was a mondo dinner with like 3 courses of crab plus tons of other things, plus sake.  I was stuffed but managed to go along with everyone else while we strolled from onsen to onsen.  The town has 7 different onsen and the tourists walk from one to another in their yukata (traditional loose-fitting clothes).  The first onsen I was unsure of what to do so I watched the others and pretended to know exactly what I was doing.  I thoroughly enjoyed the really hot water, especially outside.  It was here that I saw a guy with tattoos all over his body.  I immediately thought back to a book I read called "Angry White Pants" where the author sees a yakuza in a public bath.  I was hoping he wouldn't come over and start talking to me...<g>

Also took another short trip to Arima which is right near the house.  Just wanted to explore again since I had a great time the last time I was there.  Did some shopping, saw some additional sights, and had another good soba lunch with age (pronounced ah-gay).

Brought back a bunch of stuff including food, pottery, knit goods, trinkets, souvenirs for friends, and of course sake!  We actually needed an extra bag which is not too out of the ordinary.

The flight we were suppossed to be on out of Narita (Tokyo) was actually an hour earlier than we thought so we got hussled through checkin, immigration, and security and just barely made out flight.  Got stuck in the middle section when we were suppossed to be in the 2 seats on the side.  That kind of sucked but they were in United's Ecomony Plus section which had a little extra legroom.  So, not the worst thing that could have happened.  The bus ride from Haneda to Narita through Tokyo was interesting though.

The jet lag coming back to the states was much worse than going to Japan.  We left at around 1pm on 1/12 and got in at 9am on 1/12.  Huh!?  Yea, flying across time zones is whack.  The body is much more screwed up coming this way though.  Just now getting back to normal after a week of odd sleeping patterns and going in to work at 5 or 6am. 

That's it for now.  Hopefully more details later as I have time.

Another season, another letdown for Romo and the Cowboys.  This time the crappy Giants embarrased the 'boys.  The Giants have sucked all year, barely winning most of their games and yet the Cowboys can't get up to play them, at home, with the year on the line.  Romo always chokes on it when the pressure is on and the game is on the line.  Throw it away when you're outside the pocket and about to be sacked for a 15 year loss!  Then go ahead and throw it away again, this time when you're in the pocket!  Penalty.  Will all of this screwing up make him learn something?  I surely hope so.  Next year has got to be better.  I'd even be happy with a worse record but actually making it to the Superbowl. 

Now comes the worst part of the year when the Cowboys aren't playing.  Even worse is that I hate both teams in the Superbowl.  I guess I'll be watching some of it just for the commercials...

Well, it's been a busy summer so far but it's finally slowed down.

 

As you'll see from the pictures I posted, I did some travelling earlier this summer. 

 

First, Mexico in June with my brother, future sister-in-law, and friends.

Next, Vancouver with the in-laws.

Finally, Helen, Georgia for a Rivers family reunion.

 

I'll post a synopsis of those trips in another post.  I'm glad all that travel is over.  Good time but I want to settle in to the Seattle summer now and not have to go to the airport for a while.  The airport is just such a pain and travel itself is kind of stressful sometimes.  Don't have to worry about that until November.

Now the Warriors look like the 8th seed.  They got the dream matchup against the Mavs and won but now they have to play a team that they don't match up well against, and it shows.  They were outrebounded again in game 2.  That small-ball lineup can run but it can't rebound for shit.  And what of those missed free throws?  Shows what kind of team they really are.  Good teams play defense and make free throws.  Not looking good Warriors, hanging your head at the end of the game... Have you given up already?

 

They also look really tired.  I'm surprised they even hung in there until the end.  Davis has to play so many minutes because they suck without him.  He'll be dead at the end of games if he has to play so many minutes.  And that doesn't even factor in the knee and shoulder.  He was almost done at the end of the Mavs series, he'll be done before the end of this one.

Maybe the Mavs will go down in history as the biggest choke team in the history of the NBA... It's a little early in their history as a contender but a few more appearances in the playoffs like this one and they will.  Choke in the finals against the Heat.  Choke in the first round against a team that can ONLY beat Dallas.  What's next?  Maybe next year they'll win 70 and choke in the first round against the Clippers. 

 

Either they need to suffer this humiliation in order to win in the future, or they really are a team of destiny.  That is, a destiny to choke when it's all on the line.  Maybe after beating San Antonio and Phoenix last year, they thought everything would just come to them, that those were the 2 best teams in basketball.  They thought they could cruise.  Now they know, it's not automatic.

 

On to Golden State.   This team barely squeeks into the playoffs but they get the gift of facing the only team they can actually beat.  It gets much harder after this guys.  Even if you get by Houston or Utah, the next game will be against a team that you cannot beat.  You will not be able to run and gun against Phoenix.  You will not be able to play that way against San Antonio either.  Dallas can beat those teams.  You can't.

 

Next year Dallas.  I'm still there rooting for you.  For now, I'll turn my attention to rooting against Golden State and for the Bulls.  Go Bulls!