Here’s a 5 minute long video to accompany the set of pictures that I posted a few days ago. The background music is called Obsolete, by Mutemath. Be sure to look for the monkeys crossing the road, and compare the before and after (the typhoon) shots of the river. Can’t wait to go back next year. Thanks again to all who made it so special.
So, I thought I’d post a quick description / follow-up to my problems with my iMac. I called in to tech service and they told me that I definitely needed to send it into repair. Sigh. So, I scheduled a pickup. The day that the man came to pick up my iMac was coincidentally the same day I was invited to go to the Nametoko Camp. In the end, instead of waiting for the week of zero connection with the outside world to end at my apartment, I had a blast at camp instead. Good timing! Anyway, thanks to both my paranoia and the ability to call the delivery people and schedule things, I documented the departure and return of my iMac. When it came back to me, a week after it left, it contained a new 750 GB hard drive (since the old one died, as I suspected) as well as a new 1 GB stick of memory – fixing a problem I didn’t know I had. So now I’m back at my 3 GB original setup. Yay! Anyhoo – here’s the second delivery guy (from the last 2 pictures) pulling in and getting my iMac out of the truck. Ha ha. Overall, the timing sucks, but I’m pleased with the way it went. Thanks Apple. Now just keep your standards higher so that people don’t have to go through this hassle. Sheesh. 
Apple, Customary Drivel, Media, Photos, Unsolicited Commentary, Video
Will’s parents came all the way from Texas to visit him for a while. The word on the street is that his brother might visit too. I hope he does. Anyway, back to the story. Before I went to Nametoko to participate in the English camp, I was able to spend 2 great days with them. On the evening of the day they arrived, we had a yakiniku (grilled meat) enkai (drinking party) for them as a welcoming party. We did it at the same restaurant that I talked about before – the spot directly next to the police department. Remember? That was great fun. Then, after securing last minute leave from school during the Pirate Race (after the first round or two) from the Vice Principal, I was able to go off on an adventure to the Asahi Brewery in Saijo with Will, his parents, and three of his coworkers from elementary school teachers. We had a load of fun. We toured first, then went to a sampling cafe where we were told that we could drink for 20 minutes. The guide even said, “Officially we’re allowed to give you up to three pints per person…but unofficially, we don’t keep count.” Ha ha. So, after most of us had 3 pints in 20 minutes, we went to dinner. Surprisingly…it was also all you can drink. Had we known that, the time limit would not have been so intimidating. Ha ha. We were kind of out of it by the time we finished up on the massive shabu-shabu meal that we ate. Afterward we went to karaoke in Imabari for about an hour and a half before coming back to Hakata and parting ways immediately before conking out. Great times. And I still plan on visiting the Mangums in Texas when I’m back stateside. They’re good people!
All right, all you crazy kids. I’ve gathered photos from a bunch of people and mixed them in with my own for this collection of 64 pictures from the 2007 Nametoko High School English Camp. I’m in a lot of them, because, well, this is my site and my family would enjoy that. (I was tempted to say “My public needs me,” but I’m not that delusional.) Thanks to everyone who contributed to make this camp awesome. I cannot wait to be invited back next year. Looking forward to it already. Please, click the link and continue. Read more…
So, I’ve decided to attend Monster Bash 2007’s second day. Monster Bash is a rock festival held in Kagawa prefecture, right next door to my Ehime, for two days. I can’t make it to the first one, but I can make it to the second, so that’s where my concentration lies. In this entry I’ve selected one music video for each artist I’m going to see. The only group I’m familiar with (and have sung at karaoke in the past) is ウルフルズ (I guess that looks like “Ulfuls” in English). I’m stoked about that. Anyhoo – let’s hit it. Click the read more link for a YouTube walkthrough of the lineup. 14 videos to experience. Read more…
It’s about time I told you about my time as a pirate in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea. Forget that it was a one-race outing for me, and listen to my tale. I’ve got 30 pictures here, and a video at the end of the post for your enjoyment. So, avast me hearties, shiver me timbers, and batten down the hatches, or something. Then click the more link to continue.
