The End of an Era

All good things must come to an end. The final episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation was entitled, “All Good Things…”, and while I was heartbroken to say good bye to one of the best shows ever on television, I knew that in life there comes a time when things must end.

This is the final entry of the JaBlog.

For more than 4 years I’ve been writing stories, posting photos, and uploading videos about my life in Japan, the south, and now New York City. I’ve been able to share my thoughts and adventures to an untold number of friends, family, and internet strangers. I’ve enjoyed it all, but I feel like it’s time to move on to something else and leave this blog as a monument and memory to the past.

I’d rather just go ahead and say, “that’s a wrap!” with the blog instead of slowly and gradually tapering off into rare and sporadic updates about things like dogs in bags (see below). I need a new angle, a new voice for blogging (perhaps one not so closely associate with my unique and easily-googled name). I still have many stories to tell…and the endless reaches of the information super highway will ring with them.

Thank you to everyone who has been a follower of my blog. I’ve enjoyed sharing my life with you.

Farewell, good bye, さよなら.

Enough with the dogs!

New York has a market on ridiculously small sized dogs. I think breeders here have mixed Chihuahua and Miniature Terrier with every other medium/small size dog breed to produce a horde of teeny tiny pooches that serve as accessories to lonely and thoughtless people.

Okay, that was a bit harsh…and uncharacteristically ranty for the JaBlog. But recently I’ve just been astounded by all the bizarrely small dogs and how their owners treat them.

New York is a big, but very walkable city…walkable if your legs are larger than a rubber eraser. Most of these little dogs can’t go but four blocks before they’ve reached their physical limits and thus their owners must tote them around like little princes and princesses through the crowds. If not in their master’s arms, these little dogs will spend their afternoon tucked away inside a stylish bag. This is where I start thinking the dog is less of your companion and more like an accessory. Who wants to spend hours inside a mess bag being jostled about? Dogs should be free to run and dance and chase balls! They don’t need to go with you uptown to meet your botoxed friends…dogs don’t want to go to Starbucks…dogs don’t even drink coffee! They just want your love and affection and promise to treat them with the respect they deserve.

I saw one dog “carrier” that was really just a halter that encased the dog with his legs and head poking out. The dog was then carried over the shoulder like a purse. This looked cute…but also sad as the dog was immobile and degraded to purse status. Not cool.

Dogs are awesome animals and have been companions to us for thousands of years. I think it’s good people want to have them with them all the time…but I fear it’s not always practical…and the end result is turning them into trendy accessories bred for their cutest, tiniest size. Guinea pigs are more ferocious then some of the pups I’ve seen around! Come on, people! Enough already!

My Japan Legacy

For those of you who have been reading the Jablog since its inception four years ago (yes, just recently had a 4 years anniversary! Holy cow!) you know that during my time in Japan I made a lot of wacky videos for the blog. Most of these were either moving photo montages or zany—but precious—duets with a little Shark Friend. All of these videos were uploaded to YouTube to be viewed be the masses and thus allow me to share my experiences and creativity with the world.

Most of the videos have been viewed a modest 200 times…a few of them around 700 times. But then there’s one that’s now been viewed over 8,000 times! 8, 588 times as of this morning!

What has caused this significantly disproportional number of viewings? A higher production value? A more meaningful message? Nah, the video that’s been viewed so many times is so popular because it’s vulgar, shocking, and simple…the pillars of what makes a good YouTube video.

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“Santa and the Japanese Kancho” is truly a moving piece of video and recently a friend contacted me to let me know he found it featured on another website that clearly explains some of the…er, hardships…of teaching in Japan (check it out at: http://www.tofugu.com/2009/07/22/how-to-defend-your-butt-from-japanese-children-kancho-survival-guide/).

After all I accomplished on my 3 year journey in Japan, the most notable and lasting image of me is dressed as Santa Claus and being attacked by orphans.

I think it’s hilarious.

The Obviously Enchanted Pair of Shoes

We all go to thrift stores for one reason: to find secondhand magical items that will reveal our destiny. I’ve been searching through shops for years now, but it wasn’t until this past week that I finally found my special item.

I was in the “upscale” Good Will over in Chelsea that supposedly gets more of the “name brand” and “boutique” items when I found a pair of handmade black leather shoes. I’ve been looking for a pair of black shoes and knew instantly that this pair was special. Whenever I go shopping, I wait to get that “Wow! Yes this is the item!” feeling before committing to buying an item. When I saw these shoes I got that burst in my heart and prayed that they would fit. Being my destiny shoes, of course they fit perfectly!

I held the shoes in my hands and examined them carefully. The leather was worn, but still in excellent condition….the soles had been resoled meaning the previous owner had taken care to preserve the shoes. I wonder who owned these before me? And how did they come to be in this store? At only $20, I didn’t ponder too long before taking the shoes to the cashier and slapping down the cash.

Wearing the shoes makes me feel good and I enjoy the clicking sounds as I step and the leather murmur when I move my ankles around in them. I’m still not exactly sure what kind of enchantment these shoes have, but since shoes are made for walking, I figure they will take me somewhere good.

Outdoor movie rush

“Attention everyone, the lawn will open in 5 minutes. Once the lawn is open, you may proceed in and take your spot on the grass for the movie. There’s plenty of space, so there’s no need to rush.”

No need to rush. Right…then why is the entire exterior of the lawn lined with eager blanket-holders ready to dash and lay claim to the precious grass space? I looked around at the other “summer outdoor film series” enthusiasts waiting in Bryant Park at 4:55pm on Monday afternoon. We were all here to relax on the spacious green area and enjoy a film projected on a large screen at one end of the lawn. Tall buildings struck out from beyond the trees and a dazzling sun was gradually setting behind them.

Every Monday night in the summer there’s a free movie shown in Bryant Park and people come with blankets and picnics and watch the movie in a beautiful outdoor setting. I imagined the experience to be laid back and chill…but when I arrived early as the officially appointed “space saver” for my group, I was met with a hundred other people waiting just beyond the roped off lawn with intense eyes staking out the best spaces on the lawn.

“The lawn will open in, 10...9…”
“Whoa, there’s a countdown?”
“8…7…”
“Why does everyone already have their blankets out?”
“6…”
“Is that girl wearing cleats?!”
“5…4…”
“Holy cow, I think everyone is gonna run for it!”
“3…2…”
“AAAHHHHH!!”
“1! GO!”

I ran with my sheet waving like a flag and darted around people who flung themselves to the ground claiming space. I dashed up the middle and planned to head as far to the front as possible. A dense wall of blankets sprung up in front of me and I slung my sheet to the ground. In about ten seconds every bit of grass was covered with a blanket and everyone was scrambling to stretch their coverings to their maximum breadth. What the heck was that?!


This was at 5:00pm. The movie started at 9:00pm. Fortunately, Marc and friends arrived a little later with food and wine and we reclined on the lawn enjoying the summer air. The film was “Dog Day Afternoon” staring Al Pacino and was a fun movie to see. The 6 hour investment was worth the experience…in part because you get to say, “Only in New York…”

More Random Murals

Since the Spock mural caused such a craze on my blog a few weeks ago, I thought I'd put up some more pictures of random street murals that I've seen along the streets of NYC. Enjoy.

Nervous frogs, in Williamsburg

Joe Strummer, in Alphabet City

Shurikens beneath construction worker, in Brooklyn

A rather positive day, on Houston Street near First Avenue

Lost keys

I never heard them jingle and clink as they spilled from my bag and hit the sidewalk. I was too absorbed in my iPod as I ran home from the gym. Somewhere between Avenue A and Fifth Avenue along 12th Street, my keys and I parted ways amongst the afternoon crowds.

I’ve never lost a set of keys before. I rarely lose anything…especially not one of the small everyday objects that play such important roles in our lives (i.e. keys, wallet, iPod, cell phone, infant). My first emotion upon realizing my keys weren’t in my bag was utter and complete dread. A deep and resonating boom echoed somewhere in the distance as my heart sank. Panic came next as I poured out everything in my bag and searched for the missing keys. I knew they weren’t there…I knew they weren’t back at the gym…I knew they were somewhere in the streets of New York City. Crap.

As if on cue the rain began to pour. Perfect…rain and locked out. I felt like R2-D2 from The Empire Strikes Back when he’s locked out of Yoda’s hut on Dagobah (perhaps a bit too obscure of a reference…). I had to find my keys…so I began the 1.5 mile walk back along the way I had come…my eyes scanning every inch of sidewalk with desperation and urgency. Could I find them?

I walked all the way back to the gym…and all the way home again. Nada. Nothing. 鍵
ない！ The keys were gone.

But where? I would have seen them if they were still in the middle of the sidewalk. So did someone pick them up? A human? An animal? A sewer gnome who regularly collects dropped items and adds them to his store of people treasures in his underground lair? I had no idea…all I knew was I had contributed to the lost items of NYC.

I’ll miss you keys. You have my drug store and grocery store MVP cards that get me deals on toothpaste and tomato sauce. Sigh. Life goes on.