This is the store where you can purchase the perfect sign for catching the eye of potential customers as they walk by, provided they can read Japanese -- not an unreasonable assumption here. Several of these signs read (in part) either 'Ramen', or 'Karaoke', and that's about all I can make out -- other than 'Open', of course.
This store sells the plastic food featured prominently in the front windows of many restaurants here. The "food" is very realistic looking, but also quite expensive. Many of the items in these display cases were well over $100.
And without further ado, here is this posting's gratuitous Robert picture. In Japan, one lives under constant threat of morphing into an anime character. Tragically, Robert's transformation has already begun:
Last week we stumbled on a new (to us) playground in the Hiroo district. I have heard Hiroo referred to as the "Gaijin ghetto", though it is actually quite upscale. It is a much quieter than Roppongi, its more famous cousin to the East. Hiroo seems like a very nice area, especially now that we've found the park! Sarah and Robbie had a great time on the teeter-totter (or shi-shaw in Japanese, if you'd rather).
We may move to this area once the lease is up on our current place in mid July. I was recently asked to extend my stay here in Tokyo and take on a new role: 'Product Manager for Derivatives Enablement, Tokyo'. The title probably sounds fancier than the job actually is, but it is a big promotion. The next couple of years will likely be challenging, but hopefully they will be a lot of fun too.
Sarah is on board with the idea of staying here through the end of '09, even though I know it's probably not her first choice. Sarah, you are a model wife, mother, and my best friend. Thank you for this. On a related note, Robert starts 3 day a week 1/2 day daycare/preschool at an international (i.e. English language (i.e. very expensive)) school just down the road on Monday. Wish him luck!
The annual 'Skipalooza' ski trip organized by our friends Matt and Mary kicks off in a couple of weeks, and with it has come the attendant bump in e-mail traffic to the mailing-list associated with the event. For the first time since 2004 we will not be in attendance and that's a real bummer for two reasons: not only has it been an epic snow year, but I will miss the thrill, the tingle of danger each time I take a drink, lest I shoot it out my nose like I did my coffee this morning while reading the following:
Matt: First the bad news. Lem and Satu have decided to join us in Utah after all, so unfortunately we'll have to share the house with them again this year. The good news is that this means you'll all be getting a cash rebate when we get to the house. Think of it as compensation.
...
So far only Rockett is coming to Tahoe for PPSW (Pre-Palooza Ski Week). But wait! Did you realize that the world Elk calling championships are being held here next week? You can't turn down sking *and* Elk calling, surely? We're talking the world championships for heavens sake!
Isaac: Last time I called an elk it just put me straight through to voicemail. I ended up having to text it.
Can you imagine a whole week of this?
Isaac's wife Wendy is a second-grade school teacher. As penance for stealing his material, I am including a link to a proposal Wendy has up on donorschoose.org to purchase new chairs for her classroom. Unfortunately(?) Wendy's project appeared on television recently, and now appears to be fully funded (I think I need to start checking e-mail more than once a week). Donorschoose is an excellent service though, and I encourage you to browse the available proposals. If any of them speak to you, please consider making a donation. And Wendy, if you put another proposal together in the future, will be sure to post it here.
1 comment:
Pica-robert-shu strikes again!
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