LD's Guide to Japan

Aug 28

My damn cat likes to sit on top of my laptop, as if to defy me to get any work done.

Aug 23

Back in Japan—things to do

That was a long and ever-so-awesomely-epic vacation, but I’m back home now, and it’s time to get to work:

1. I have to get a Japanese Drivers License.  I’ve been dreading this.  The process is ridiculous and tedious, not to mention costly.  The final, practical driving test is absurdly strict, almost always causing people to have to take it multiple times.  You generally have to take a class beforehand (or a few classes) in which they teach you not “how to drive,” but rather “how to pass the driving test,” because they make you do things in the test that you would never, ever really do while driving (e.g. check around and under the car before you get in, pump the brake twice when slowing down, do a 3-point check (rear mirror, side mirror, over the shoulder) followed by another check before you change lanes, etc.).  It’s not uncommon for people to have to take the test upwards of 5 times before they pass it (and you have to pay each time you take the test).
2. I’ve come back to Japan to find that a friend of mine has lost a heckuva lot of weight.  He went from 90kg down to about 75 in only a couple of months, and he looks really great.  So I’ve been inspired to do the same.  I’ve been hovering at about 82kg for a while, and I’d like to see if I can get down to 70 within 6 months.  I started on the “Couch to 5k” program this morning (a 9-week training program designed to get someone from doing no exercise to eventually being able to run 5k without stopping), and I’m trying to start to watch what I eat and drink (that’s going to have to be a gradual process—I love my junk food too much to go cold turkey).  Plus, the fact that I can use my iphone to track my running and my eating makes it kinda fun.  I plan to start going to the gym, too, but maybe not for another week or so.
3. Before I left I was on quite a roll as far as music was concerned—I did just about a show every week for the last two months before vacation—and I’m gonna do my best to keep that going.  I may have a gig opportunity this coming Sunday, and I’ve got a few other projects in mind for September and October, so I’ve got some work to do.

Basically, the goal now is to keep myself as busy as I possibly can over the next several months.  This may mean less blogging, so I apologize in advance for that, but it’s a good thing for me.  That’s all for now.  See you soon!  -LD

Aug 17

Parting is such sweet sorrow…

Aug 15

Spotted at Best Buy.

Aug 12

[video]

Aug 08

Kayaking in Forest Park!

Aug 06

St. Louis, here I come!

Just enough time for a little stroll through Ginza before I head out. Man, I miss living here.