Adventures and Escapades

Been Too long

2006-12-01T06:08:00.000+09:00

Havn't posted in a very very long time. I'm not sure anyone reads this thing anymore.

Heres the news:

1 - moved back from Japan. It was expensive, living there isn't so bad, but the cost of moving back and forth is huge. I spent at least half of the money I ahd saved just moving back.
2 - Moved into an apartment in kitsilano (this is also very expensive) The rent here is more than twice what I was paying in Japan.
3 - Started my second undergratuate degree. I must be crazy. I've done this once, but I'm going back again...... Have to start a career somehow, and working as a teacher in Japan won't cut it. Its either this or I start working as a lab technician...... Not my idea of a viable option
4 - Got OSAP Yay. Its the only way I can afford to live here.
5 - Got work study job !!! yay more money.....
6 - Going to school, waiting for Mayu to visit, insanely busy. Taking aikido on the side....
7 - Mayu came for a visit. This place felt like home for the first time. Neither of us really like the city :P Makes me feel better. I will stay until I graduate, but afterwards...... Maybe Australia. Close to Japan for Mayu and they have lots of work in my field.
8 - Oh somewhere in the middle I decided not to become a mechanical engineer, I'm going to go into mining :D.

That brings us up to the present. Tomorrow is the last day of classes. Exams are coming, I'm writing the Japanese proficiency test this sunday..... WOW..... So much to study for and so little time. Saturday I'm going to Victoria for an aikido seminar, first one, hopefully it will be prettty good :D. After that I have to get back to Vancouvevr somehow and then to the test downtown on Sunday. Exams are headed my way and in 2 weeks I will be flying back to Toronto. If all goes well, it will suddenly get very cold and I can work at the ski hill over christmas. I need to buy new ski boots..... Its been a long time since I was home. The parents are already in a huff about where I will spend the night...... a waste of energy, they really do hate each other.

Thats the news for the moment, I'm going to study for exams do well, and then go home and work over christmas.
62 days until Mayu arrives.

I wonder if I can leave posts in Japanese.....

cool temple at disney sea

2006-05-19T00:05:00.000+09:00

Jumping water

2006-05-19T00:04:00.000+09:00

Awsome opportunity, and no tripod in sight :(

One of the rides at night

2006-05-19T00:03:00.001+09:00

Temple at night

2006-05-19T00:03:00.000+09:00

Grand Finally before heading off to bed. Sugoii

2006-05-19T00:02:00.001+09:00

Hotel Miracosta where we stayed.

2006-05-19T00:02:00.000+09:00

The hotel was quite beautiful and the lights at night were amazing. It was Venetian in style and our room faced the waterways that surrounded the hotel. The nicest hotel I have stayed in while in Japan.

The lobby'

2006-05-19T00:01:00.001+09:00

Inside hotel Miracosta

2006-05-19T00:01:00.000+09:00

Oyasuminasai Disney Sea

2006-05-19T00:00:00.000+09:00

Mickey you look so tasty, I just want to eat you up

2006-05-18T01:10:00.000+09:00

mmmmMMMMMMMMickey

2006-05-18T01:09:00.000+09:00

YUM!!

Thats Mine!!!!!

2006-05-18T01:08:00.000+09:00

MMMM Mickey Pizza. Can you survive on Mickey food?

The Disney Parade begins

2006-05-18T01:07:00.000+09:00

The cheshire cat

2006-05-18T01:06:00.000+09:00

Bow to me Mr. Snail

2006-05-18T01:05:00.000+09:00

Cool, Petes magic dragon...

2006-05-18T01:04:00.000+09:00

Trippy

2006-05-18T01:03:00.001+09:00

Chip

2006-05-18T01:03:00.000+09:00

Amazing gown

2006-05-18T01:02:00.000+09:00

The end of the Disney Parade

2006-05-18T01:01:00.000+09:00

Sayonara Disney Tokyo

Cool Surfers

2006-05-18T00:47:00.001+09:00

seaweed and barnacles

2006-05-18T00:47:00.000+09:00

Man on the Beach

2006-05-18T00:46:00.000+09:00

I have to say this is one of my favorite pictures.

The Blue Cave

2006-05-18T00:45:00.000+09:00

Welcome to hell

2006-05-18T00:44:00.000+09:00

The Lone tree

2006-05-18T00:43:00.000+09:00

Mayu

2006-05-18T00:42:00.000+09:00

2006-05-18T00:41:00.000+09:00

Mayu and Sakura

2006-05-18T00:39:00.000+09:00

2006-05-18T00:30:00.000+09:00

Iwaki Park tree and bridge

2006-05-18T00:25:00.000+09:00

Iwaki Park

Sakura season number 2

2006-04-29T11:25:00.000+09:00

Last year I was excited, this year I was prepared. Armed with my new camera I went hunting for some sakura pictures, they still don't do it justice, but I captured a few good ones.

The pictures during the day time are from the park right near my house. A great little spot surrounded by sakura. I spent a sunny afternoon taking pictures. The Sunday afterwards I went with Mayu and Yossi to Yonomri. It was amazing, the streets was lined on both sides with sakura trees. The Blossoms formed a pink ceiling over our heads as we walked down the street. It was amazing and busy too. It was set up much like fireworks would be in my home town of Peterborough. There were parking attendants and people to direct you to where you needed to go. We finished off the evening with a sugar filled crepe and a hotdog on a stick. The hotdog was about 10 inches long...... Interesting.

2006-04-29T11:24:00.002+09:00

Sakura at night

2006-04-29T11:24:00.001+09:00

A japanese picture

2006-04-29T11:24:00.000+09:00

Yossi

2006-04-29T11:23:00.002+09:00

Lanterns in Yonomori

2006-04-29T11:23:00.001+09:00

Beautiful

2006-04-29T11:23:00.000+09:00

Sakura up close

2006-04-29T11:22:00.000+09:00

The park near my house

2006-04-10T10:41:00.000+09:00

I'm not sure what this is, I am going to call it a jelly fish though

2006-04-10T10:40:00.000+09:00

the aquamarine structure is pretty amazing. I wish I could have taken a picture from the outside.

2006-04-10T10:39:00.001+09:00

another kimono

2006-04-10T10:39:00.000+09:00

kimono

2006-04-10T10:38:00.001+09:00

more flowers :)

2006-04-10T10:38:00.000+09:00

I love the colours on this star fish

2006-04-10T10:37:00.002+09:00

some beautiful tulips, couldn't help taking a picture or 2

2006-04-10T10:37:00.001+09:00

squid

2006-04-10T10:37:00.000+09:00

jelly fish 2

2006-04-10T10:36:00.001+09:00

jelly fish

2006-04-10T10:36:00.000+09:00

puffer fish

Bought a camera

2006-03-26T01:37:00.000+09:00

Been a long time.....

Bought a camera a couple of weeks ago (Nikon d50)

Its officially awesome. I have some pictures of the aquarium in Onahama (20 minutes by car from my house)

2 weeks ago I went to an FIS world cup moguls event. Canadian girl won, of course :P. P.S. I love you AIko chan. Apparently so does most of Japan, one more in the mix won't make much difference. The event was pretty neat. I have video of the whole thing. I watched it later on t.v. and it definitely looks different on the screen. Seth and I met one of the American girls which was cool. Seth was in his glory. It was amazing to be able to meet people who, only weeks before had been competing in the Olympics. I'm glad I was able to attend. The little onsen in the hotel was fun to. ;)

My Japanese tutor has left for Tokyo, she's moving on and up it seems :( no weekly lessons for a while. On a positive note, I may be able to join the intermediate Japanese class. I have an interview/test at the end of April. I'm definitely not there at the moment, benkyo shimasu..... Maybe in a month and a half I will be rdy.

Aikido is going well, some days are better than others, twice a week is a lot, but I may step it up to 3 times a week, I do enjoy it. I'm not sure how that will fit with going to the gym but I might give it a try. With my hours changing as of next Saturday I can probably fit the gym in during the morning and the aikido at night.

I will post some photos if I can transfer them onto the computer.

Movies

2005-11-25T21:50:00.000+09:00

I watched 2 movies today. I began the day with a little bit of a head trip and watched what the bleep do we know. Very interesting, I quite enjoyed the part about the water formations. A blend of physics, theology and a bit of psychology. You control the world, the world doesn't control you perspective. With loads of science and philosophy to back it up.

Went to work, had some fun studied a little Japanese. Came home and decided to watch Ghost World (at Carries behest). A long ago suggestion i will admit, but I did finally follow up on it.
I feel decidedly depressed at the moment. I havn't decided about the ending either, was it a happy ending or a sad ending. Its a hard call, and with my current mood, I'm leaning towards the latter.

Talked to my dadtoday he seems well, and in good spirits. Things are looking well for him. I will make him a paper crane, its a japanese thing.

Bed time for the moment, maybe i will post soe pnderings later.

Reading the news today and.......

2005-11-21T10:06:00.000+09:00

(Copied from the Gaurdian)

This is not the country that I once knew

Former President Jimmy Carter believes that a warring America is abandoning its fundamental values

Sunday November 20, 2005
The Observer

In recent years, I have become increasingly concerned by a host of radical government policies that now threaten many basic principles espoused by all previous administrations, Democratic and Republican.
These include the rudimentary American commitment to peace, economic and social justice, civil liberties, our environment and human rights.

Also endangered are our historic commitments to providing citizens with truthful information, treating dissenting voices and beliefs with respect, state and local autonomy and fiscal responsibility.

At the same time, our political leaders have declared independence from the restraints of international organisations and have disavowed long-standing global agreements, including agreements on nuclear arms, control of biological weapons and the international system of justice.

Instead of our tradition of espousing peace as a national priority unless our security is directly threatened, we have proclaimed a policy of 'pre-emptive war', an unabridged right to attack other nations unilaterally to change an unsavoury regime or for other purposes. When there are serious differences with other nations, we brand them as international pariahs and refuse to permit direct discussions to resolve disputes.

Regardless of the costs, there are determined efforts by US leaders to exert American imperial dominance throughout the world. These revolutionary policies have been orchestrated by those who believe that our nation's tremendous power and influence should not be internationally constrained. Even with our troops involved in combat and America facing the threat of additional terrorist attacks, our declaration of 'you are either with us or against us' has replaced the forming of alliances based on a clear comprehension of mutual interests, including the threat of terrorism.

Another disturbing realisation is that, unlike during other times of national crisis, the burden of conflict is now concentrated exclusively on the heroic men and women sent back repeatedly to fight in the quagmire of Iraq. The rest of our nation has not been asked to make any sacrifice, and every effort has been made to conceal or minimise public awareness of casualties.

Instead of cherishing our role as the great champion of human rights, we now find civil liberties and personal privacy grossly violated under some extreme provisions of the Patriot Act.

Of even greater concern is that the US has repudiated the Geneva accords and supported the use of torture in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanamo, and secretly through proxy regimes elsewhere with the so-called extraordinary rendition programme. It is embarrassing to see the President and Vice President insisting that the CIA should be free to perpetrate 'cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment' on people in US custody.

Instead of reducing America's reliance on nuclear weapons and their further proliferation, we have insisted on our right (and that of others) to retain our arsenals, expand them and, therefore, abrogate or derogate almost all nuclear arms-control agreements negotiated during the last 50 years. We have now become a prime culprit in global nuclear proliferation. America also has abandoned the prohibition of 'first use' of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear nations and is contemplating the previously condemned deployment of weapons in space.

Protection of the environment has fallen by the wayside because of government subservience to political pressure from the oil industry and other powerful lobbying groups. The last five years have brought continued lowering of pollution standards at home and almost universal condemnation of our nation's global environmental policies.

Our government has abandoned fiscal responsibility by unprecedented favours to the rich, while neglecting America's working families. Members of Congress have increased their own pay by $30,000 per year since freezing the minimum wage at $5.15 per hour (the lowest among industrialised nations).

I am extremely concerned by a fundamentalist shift in many houses of worship and in government, as church and state have become increasingly intertwined in ways previously thought unimaginable.

As the world's only superpower, America should be seen as the unswerving champion of peace, freedom and human rights. Our country should be the focal point around which other nations can gather to combat threats to international security and to enhance the quality of our common environment. We should be in the forefront of providing human assistance to people in need.

It is time for the deep and disturbing political divisions within our country to be substantially healed, with Americans united in a common commitment to revive and nourish the historic political and moral values that we have promoted during the last 230 years.

· Jimmy Carter was the 39th President of the United States. His latest book, Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis, is published this month by Simon & Schuster.

· This article first appeared in the Los Angeles Times.

Finally posting some pics of B.C.

2005-11-14T23:57:00.000+09:00

These pictures are from last January when Dan and I took a trip to kicking horse.
Enjoy the views.

2005-11-14T23:56:00.000+09:00

Dan taking a rest. 4000ft is a hard ski, and the drops don't stop. I needed stronger legs.

2005-11-14T23:55:00.000+09:00

-40 and a view from the hotel. We are off to ski those peaks.

2005-11-14T23:54:00.001+09:00

The backside of kickinghorse. A view down the mountain chain.

2005-11-14T23:54:00.000+09:00

Highway 1 its a beautiful trek through the mountains.

2005-11-14T23:53:00.001+09:00

On the way back to calgary.

2005-11-14T23:53:00.000+09:00

I skied down here :)

Iwaki bike path.

2005-11-14T23:40:00.000+09:00

Last weekend, Seth and I decided to take a little trip to find one of the local shrines just outside of Taira. We checked the local map and started out on our trek, following the bike path. Apparently neither of us can read a map properly, because we ended up on the wrong side of the river. By the time we figured it out we had gone too far and decided just to head all the way to the ocean. It was a great day. The area is actually quite beautiful when you get out of Taira. I get so stuck in my little portion of town that you fail to realize how much is actually out there. We met some people on the way, it was almost like home going out for a walk and saying hello to the people you pass.

The ocean was amazing there were huge waves coming in, I'm guessing between 1.5 - 2 meters. I brought both my digital camera and my SLR along. I was able to take some photos of the ocean.

By the time we started back towards Taira it was getting dark. The ocean is 7km away, and we did get lost trying to find the bike path. We found the shrine less than 5 minutes from town on the other side of the river :P.

I took some pictures with my phone and posted them below. They didn't all turn out and the light was a little to low for the SLR but I tried anyways. Whenever I finally get the time to develop the photos, I will find out if I was able to get the shots I wanted.

I plan to take a trip back to the shrine to get some more photos (perhaps a sunny day this time)

2005-11-14T23:34:00.000+09:00

part of the shrine...... no idea, looks neat though. Similar to the statue at the cemetary.

2005-11-14T23:33:00.001+09:00

The main building of the shrine.

2005-11-14T23:33:00.000+09:00

A cemetery found on the way to the shrine.

A DAY OF WAITING

2005-10-21T22:11:00.000+09:00

My dad went in for surgery, today. I spent a rather woried day.

I called him after work though and despite a little pain he seems to be doing well. The doctor was happy with the surgery and seems to feel optomistic. The doctor thinks he got the whole tumor, but only time will tell. My dad seems to be in good spirits though. He is selling his business amoung other things. I talked to him about my plans for the future, and he doesn:t seem to mind that I am considering going back to school. I guess now that I have one degree he doesn:t really mind whether I go back for another. At least I will be doing something :P.

The weather is beginning to change here, its great. I love the smell of fall. Winter needs to hurry up and et here though, this long season thing is torture. Why is there no SNOW!!!!!

Went to the gym today , feel pretty good. Think I am gaining weight again, finally. Was way way way to thin. On ym way to my 173 lbs. Which according to the internet is my ideal body weight.

How wonderful the internet can be. It can tell you everything you should strive for. Damn t.v. :P

Speaking of which I miss North American television shows, and my internet is so screwed up at the moment, that I can't download any at good speeds........ grrrrrr

A realization

2005-10-11T23:55:00.000+09:00

If I can complete everything on my list, I am going to have a very full life.

Life is short, I can't screw around if I want to get all of this stuff done. If I had written this list before coming to Japan, living here would have been one of them....... A step in the right direction, now I have to figure out how to make sure I get the rest of them finished.

The List

2005-10-11T23:54:00.000+09:00

Its supposed to be my top 50, but I got writers block at 44, well a little before. There are lots more, but they are stuck in my brain at the moment and don't want out.

(after writing...... I was able to find the last 6, and the last ones a doozie, he he he)

Here goes in no perticular order:

1 - C.S.I.A. lvl 3
2 - C.S.I.A. lvl 4
3 - Live in China
4 - Live in Europe
5 - Ski in Newzealand
6 - Live in B.C.
7 - Own property in Revelstoke or Golden
8 - Become an engineer
9 - Financially independent (don't have to work unless I want to)
10 - get married
11 - have kids
12 - design and build my own home
13 - Have my photographs published in National Geographic
14 - Have my photographs published in a ski magazine
15 - Create a semi-professional ski video
16 - climb Fuji san
17 - Enter an adventure race
18 - Maintain a stable body weight between 170 - 180 lbs
19 - Watch the 2010 Olympic downhill race
20 - Be involved in the 2010 Olympics
21 - Go to grad school
22 - Find a filfulling career
23 - reach a conversational lvl of Japanese
24 - Learn to read Japanese kanji (2000 Kanji)
25 - Become a black belt in Aikido
26 - Travel to India
27 - Get my pilots liscence
28 - Scuba Liscence
29 - Ski in Chille
30 - Ski in Japan and ski in Hokkaido
31 - Motorcycle liscence
32 - Go heli-skiing
33 - Become certified in mountain safety
34 - Take a survival training course
35 - Learn to speak and read Chinese
36 - Drive in a ralley race
37 - Knit a sweater for myself
38 - Travel throughout Russia
39 - Go to a rave
40 - C.S.C.F. lvl 1
41 - C.S.C.F. lvl 2
42 - C.S.C.F. lvl 3
43 - Join a ski racing team
44 - Own my own business
45 - Become a trained chef
46 - Have a fully stocked kitchen (Naked chef style :P)
47 - To live an active lifestyle
48 - To become less dependant on others decisions
49 - To become more of a leader
50 - Live every day without regret

2005-10-11T23:36:00.000+09:00

A dreary weekend, along with a dreary week. This was on Sunday. Its tuesday night now, Its rained every day since friday. Maybe longer it all blurs together.

2005-10-11T23:34:00.000+09:00

Taichi..... Very cute, but can't leave his mother. If we close the door he cries. He won't let go of his mothers hadn and continuously runs in and out of the room. The more kids the more nervous he is. (oh he's 3 thats why he has his fingers up :P)

2005-10-11T23:33:00.000+09:00

Mai is the girl in pink. Rikuto is her cousin and the other girl is a new student. Mai is awesome in class, she is a perfect example why women want to have little girls. All she does is laugh :)

2005-10-11T23:31:00.000+09:00

Miu another one of my favorites, and her english is really high too. She comes twice a week, this is the second day. On her first day she came as an angel on this day she came as a devil. Too cute

2005-10-11T23:30:00.000+09:00

marin and her sister Karen who I sorta cut out of the picture. I think Marin is my favorite right now. She and Karen are hillarious though. good sisters and always always happy. They run through the store and come and talk to me all the time. Funny kids :P

2005-10-11T23:29:00.000+09:00

Ryo (one of my favorites)

2005-10-07T01:03:00.000+09:00

hmmmm think this is rikuto, can't tell from this angle.

2005-10-07T01:02:00.000+09:00

keita lol he's cute and hyper but still well behaved. good fun in class :P

2005-10-07T01:01:00.000+09:00

honuka

2005-10-07T01:00:00.000+09:00

Dave giving himself a thorough cleaning nose hairs and all

2005-10-07T00:59:00.000+09:00

Jeez Dave..... I know its your last night in Iwaki, but getting fresh with the bar sign :(

2005-10-07T00:58:00.001+09:00

The lake around the shrine

2005-10-07T00:58:00.000+09:00

This is the oldest building in Iwaki. Kitty my thia friend took me for a visit, the koy in the pond and the herrings around were really neat. I want to go back when the leaves change its supposed to be all red......

2005-10-07T00:56:00.000+09:00

we went out with bb guns one day, they have some pretty cool stuff....... rob seems to be loosing his pants, not sure if thats the style or a problem :P

2005-10-07T00:55:00.000+09:00

Josh.... he's been drinking

2005-10-07T00:54:00.001+09:00

I get these tree frogs all over my front door when it rains

2005-10-07T00:54:00.000+09:00

mmm pingu cereal

2005-10-07T00:53:00.000+09:00

how can you pass up a pair of these sandals

2005-10-07T00:52:00.001+09:00

a better pic of taiko drumming

2005-10-07T00:52:00.000+09:00

Taiko drumming it was awesome to watch

2005-10-07T00:51:00.000+09:00

This is during tanabata, happened in August and there was a big street festival. This dance is performed at the houses of recently deceased members of the family. Apparently Japanese usually only see it once or twice in their lifetimes...... this was a competition.

2005-10-07T00:49:00.000+09:00

Apparently bike theives are so rampant in japan you have to purchase this to stop masked men from stealing your purse. I bought one immediately. I feel safer, wait I don't have a bike....

2005-10-07T00:47:00.000+09:00

Found this shirt in Koriyama, what can I say read it, and maybe you'll understand.....

2 month overview

2005-07-31T13:15:00.000+09:00

Havn't posted in 2 months, been busy and lazy of course, always lazy.

I've spent so much money this month its insane my budget has gone right out the window. Though I did have some hidden costs, new glasses amoung other things.

I've just bought myself a bike to travel around town with, makes iwaki much much smaller its great.

Not sure where I left things off.

I was having trouble with Masako, but I've cut off all contact and things are much better. She hasn't tried to contact me and I've deleted her from my MSN, hopefully that will solve everything. Things went a little crazy there for a while.

I met some canadians a couple of weeks ago and things have improved. Iwaki is still pretty small, but its not as boring as it was before.

I am seriously looking into heading up to hokkaido to live. There is an opportunity that I may be able to transfer there in November, but I havn't started persuing it. Its goign to require some wheeling and dealig in order to make it work.

My japanese is coming along. I'm learing quite a bit these days. Self study has been doing wonders. I can't always speak it, but I can deffinitly understand alot more. My vocabulary has expanded alot, but my grammer is still crap. I'm thinking about taking lessons from city hall. I need someone to actually teach me now. I think I have enough of a base to actually start saying things if I can just get enough practice actualy speaking.

I'm off to koriyama this weekend. Met an Aussie girl last weekend and she is hooking seth and I up with a place to stay. She sent me a hershy kiss and tried to call me at 3 in the morning yesterday. Has me a litle worried, I'm less than interested....... lol. ahwell. its goign to be a very drunken entertaining night no matter how it turns out.

Thats my overview for the moment, lots happened. It was a good time, lots more pictures to come. Taking my phone whever I go and pictures are just a click away.

Woot.....

wish me luck with the new girl at work, ;)

2005-07-31T13:08:00.000+09:00

After his amazing performance Seth was given some free baskets and we headed for mizunoya to finish off the evening. Hichan decided to give us his version..... apparently he's and old man fishing for eels. The first basket is to catch the eels and then you store them in the second.

2005-07-31T13:06:00.000+09:00

This is seth, a fellow gaijin. From the states. The proprietors felt he needed to dress up for some reason.

2005-07-31T13:05:00.000+09:00

Salu (monkey) at mizunoya. A little bar in the seedier part of town... Its a great place to go drinking if you don't mind the hookers standing outside, lol. Japan is different.

2005-07-31T13:04:00.000+09:00

kids are hilarious in Japan. This one wouldn't leave geora, wouldn't stop hugging him, lol.

2005-07-31T13:03:00.000+09:00

More geora.....the girl on the right is one of my students, Kanako. Cute and always happy :P.

2005-07-31T13:01:00.000+09:00

We had an event in ito yokado.... geora went around and hugged all the kids while I handed out balloons and spouted english for their enjoyment..... It was fun. The girl in pink's the new cute girl at work, I'll get a better pic of her later.

2005-07-31T13:00:00.000+09:00

My other creation (I didn't do anything all week). Yay balloons and markers.

2005-07-31T12:59:00.000+09:00

My version of geora, a cardboard cut out drawn cut and painted by me. (Geos mascot.....)