A cold winter day

So, what's there to do on a cold winter day here in gloomy ol' Osaka? Be cold. Though there have been some interesting things that have happened to me this week. Most notable is The Incident of the Fallen Man:

I'm not a fan of the police here. This is in part, of course, due to the lack of communication that I can have with them. An obvious hindrance. While on my way to my favorite Max Value for a little grocery shopping, I happened upon a homeless man lying in the middle of the sidewalk. Directly in front of this fella was his bicycle, burdened with much heavy ordinance, also lying in the middle of the sidewalk. The poor guy looked like he was in a bit of a bind, like he was too hurt to move.

I decided, "Hell, I might as well try to get some help." I take out my phone and call the emergency number. In Japan, there aren't so many street names, however there are vertical, green signs that have the area's map name and number. I try explaining with my limited langauge skills the situation and where to find this poor guy.

Now, here's another reason I don't like the cops here. When upon calling and giving the information of the situation, they do not - DO NOT - send out a car to assess the situation. They enjoy then asking a miriad of useless questions, the first being your name, and phone number and address. Like any of this matters. After reaching a point of not understanding anything they said, I hung up on them and decided to see what I could do for the guy, still on the ground, reaching out towards me.

Without any help from the masses walking around this bearded man (there wasn't much room to do this mind you), I lifted his bike up with tons of heavy stuff, at which, must have released the magic spell that was holding the old man down because he stood up, helped me place the break down - no easy task - and then proceeded to try having a conversation with me, not understanding that I didn't understand what the hell he was talking about. After five minutes of my company, he let me be on my way. I guess it just goes to show ya. There are many things in this world that you might as well do yourself. Only if the public that buzzed on by could understand that. Pricks.

***

It's come to my attention that my cousin Mariyah will be traveling soon. First to South Africa for wheel chair racing, then - if not mistaken (which I usually am) - to Oceania where she'll be playing some wheelchair B-ball. Sweet! A GREAT BIG HUG and GOOD LUCK from Me and Meg! Her sister, Margaret will be graduating this year from Penn State! Happiness all around!

Anyways!

Until later...
Mike, disgusted about even the concept of a Simpsons movie, the RocketRat

So lazy...

It's been quite a long time since I posted anything up on my humble site. Truth be told, it's completely my fault. I promised myself that I would write and write and write, and yet, during my winter vacation from the job, I gained a few pounds, a few of which went straight to my brain. All the work I promised myself I would do never got done. All the e-mails I promised to write, all the drawings and story bits I was going to fashion. All the updates I planned for all these little things...all of it a pack of lies and disappointment.

An on with the story! Me and the Megumi have been very busy with work lately. Everyday we come home, we're exhausted. Saturdays are the worst for me. Megumi's bosses are the worst for her. WEEEEE!!

To relax lately, I've been watching the second season of Lost that I've downloaded and I've started to watch a British sitcom called Spaced - done up by the wacky minds who nailed Shaun of the Dead into my collection! Funny stuff.

Every since it was X-Mas, Meg put into my head the idea that I needed a Nintendo Wii, and I can't shake it out of my head. Thankfully, being unable to afford one and a occassionally strengthening sense of repsonsibility keep the demon box from the Apartment and my addictive personality.

I've also been pretty addicted to a game called Age of Empires III. I'm not really good at strategy games, but I've discovered that setting it to easy mode makes it so the computer is dumberer than me, and that indeed is a difficult thing to accomplish.

Japan's greatest Pop singer in history - at least in my opinion - just released a new DVD of a concert of her last tour. Her name is Hikaru Utada, and she is perhaps the greatest Pop singer of the modern age. Meg and I went to see her in concert, on this very tour. We were very lucky to get tickets, and despite the fact they were standing tickets, she was amazing.


However, through no fault of hers, the audience stunk. Many Japanese love to go to concerts of famous people not because they like the person, but because maybe they heard them on the radio, or simply - because they're popular. This results in many audience members sitting and watching as opposed to rockin' they're ass off. The venue is quieter than it should be and it sucks the energy out like foam sucks absorbs sound in a music studio.

Despite the asses, Me and Meg were highly satisfied and got the chance to witness her tinted-windowed SUV try to sneak away. We waved. Whether she saw us or not, we will never know. I highly suggest you check out this native New Yorker's work.

***

Tomorrow, being Sunday, being my day off, I think I shall spend some time updating everything a little bit, like adding images and posts to my various Brogs.

Well, until tomorrow then!
Mike, he don't eat no stinkin' cheese, the RocketRat

2006 was SOOO over!

I would have written sooner, but I was away in a far off land called Hidaka. And in this land, the air is clean, the streets are quiet at night, and I never wonder why there is poo nearby (It's compost for the many, many vegetable and rice fields.) Yes, I was spending a little time away from Good Ol' Osaka, hanging out with Meg's family. It was a good time, but thanks in part to the clean air, and mountainous mountains, it was several degrees colder than what I was used to. A few degrees in Celsius is akin to going from autumn to pluto, very quickly.

Anyway...for New Years, we ate immense amounts of food, followed by eating more food, further followed by passing out from all the food we had just ingested. In the early afternoon on the first day of the New Year, we (Meg, Ma-san and Pa-san, Uncle-san and Niece-chan Sora) went to the shrine where it took many moons to reach the front for the tossing of the coin (good luck...for the shrine. Ka-CHING!), shaking of the rope with the big bell, and the clapping of the hands. This ensures the gods come to you to ignore all that you wish for. Hazaa!

The next day, we visited Granny-san, who promptly told me I look skinny in the face and I should eat more. No, frickin' lie. Everyone back home would love her. We also visited Meg's friends Missy and husband hiro who just had a baby a couple of weeks ago. Gorgeous baby, but so tiny! Usually J-babies are the biggest things you've ever seen, but not this one. Missy's American, so this baby is what is adoringly called a "half" here in the J-Land. As much as Japanese want to get married to foreigners only to have half-babies (creepy), this also carries a negative connotation as anyone not 100% Japanese will never truly be accepted as human. Hooray!

I hope everyone had a Merry X-Mas and Great New Year's. Happy Birthday to Elizabeth!

***

I was taking a gander at all the trailers over at the apple website. Just so you know, Spiderman 3 trailer...I had a heart attack! Harry Pooter and the Order of the Phoenix, wow! And Breach! There is nothing wrong with Chris Cooper! Heck! Even the New Fantastic Four trailer looked interesting. I suggest taking a look at Pan's Labyrinth, as well. Juicy stuff!

***

Anyway, I though I'd tell you that the What Am I Going to Do With You, Japan? sight is moderately complete. The first post is a positive one. One that brings me much joy. Check it out! There will be rantings soon enough.

I also added a site to On Subjects of the Funny. Cute Overload is full of the cuteness! There's so much cute here that arteries will explode, creating a scene of mass horror the likes the world will never get over! SOOOOOO CUTE!

Well, until laterz....
Mike, that ominous shadow that you question if it was really there, the RocketRat!