So what the hell is Japan like, anyway?
Good question. I have been here for a week and my impressions are still fairly confused. Dense, certainly. Full of low, concrete buildings that are built to withstand tsunamis. Also, it’s full of Japanese people. So far, ninjas are not in evidence, but of course, that’s exactly what I would say if I was surrounded by ninjas, so that doesn’t really prove anything, does it.
So, what have I been doing? I’ve been insanely busy. It takes more than a week to get set up in a new job and a new home in a new country. My living situation is pretty unsatisfactory at the moment, but I intend to remedy that in the near future. For now, though, at least my miserable room is close to work, so that’s something.
A quick note- the rest of this entry probably won’t be very funny, so if you’re just here for the comedy, well, this is just kind of some generic blogging here, so, you know, go away. Here, have a funny comic to read instead.
Anyway, on the plane over here I was pretty bummed out. I think that’s pretty understandable, considering that I’m leaving everything I’ve ever known, and that I’m doing this after spending a month with my friends and family just completely reaffirming how awesome they are and how much I love being around them, not to mention that it will certainly be more than a year before I can get any kind of visit home.
However, since I’ve arrived, I’ve been very busy, and I’ve had a lot of great support from my buddy Dan and his wife Val (who I had only met once before, but who has been kind enough to drive me around this island all week while I do pointless, endless bureaucratic rounds,) and from pretty much everybody else I’ve met. So I’ve been busy, and feeling pretty good. Also, I am very excited at how much stuff there is on this island. Once I get my car, I am going to be all about exploring the hell out of it.
Maybe this will change in six months. Maybe this won’t be the most awesome time ever, but I’m optimistic. After all, Pensacola, started out miserable, and although I had a good time or two there, it basically stayed that way. Meanwhile California started great and got better. So Japan has been good so far. Wish me luck.
Also, looking back through the archives, I see that even in what I think of as my best times on the site, I was only putting out about one really good entry a month. Right now, I am resolving to match that from now on. That’s not too ambitious for me, so come back every now and then, and see what I’ve got for you. Who knows. It might get even better.
Anyway, expect a photo entry later this week. I promise it will confirm what I have been saying all week, that this place looks exactly like Katamari Damacy.
September 18th, 2005 at 8:34 pm
When I see sentences like,
“I am very excited at how much stuff there is on this island.”
followed shortly thereafter by,
“this place looks exactly like Katamari Damacy”,
I get a little nervous.
Before you start rolling up everything around you, Sam, please remember that you are in a very dangerous place populated by ninjas, giant robots, giant fire-breathing lizards, giant moths, giant fire-breathing robot ninja-moths, and tiny children with huge heads. It took all the firepower the United States military could muster to bring them to heel, and we don’t want to upset them overmuch now, okay?
That said, I have been thinking about tattoos lately. Not for myself, just in general. And I’ve realized that tattoos basically fall into one of two categories: Tattoos That Kick Ass and Tattoos That Don’t Kick Ass. I want to flesh out this differentiation, and since you are employed in the business of ass-kicking I thought I’d consult you on it. Here’s what I’ve come up with; would you mind helping me in adding designs to the list and ascertaining their relative levels of kickassness? Thanks.
Tattoos That Kick Ass:
skulls
lightning bolts
snakes
knives
naked women
eagles
hearts with “MOM” in them
Keep On Truckin’
Tattoos That Don’t Kick Ass:
rainbows
flowers
Chinese characters (unless they have knives in them)
swords
Celtic knots
leprechauns
hearts with something other than “MOM” in them (except “Keep On Truckin’”)
Peace and Love
Thoughts?
September 19th, 2005 at 5:16 am
Well, I certainly agree with your assesment of what rocks and what does not. Personally, I have been pondering the issue of tattoos for some time, and, although I don’t intend to get one, I have decided that, were I to get a tattoo it would be either:
Snoopy as the WWI flying ace (probably on the shoulderblade)
or
The Gonzo Fist (on the forearm, of course)
However, we all know what the most awesome tattoo of all time is: http://www.achewood.com/index.php?date=02052004
September 24th, 2005 at 6:36 pm
sam, I am beginning to think that modern video games are really just elaborate location survival dossiers for you.
November 9th, 2005 at 3:55 pm
I am shocked that nobody consulted me during this discussion of tattoos and ass kicking. Clearly it was an oversight. Here are some things to add to Raph’s list:
Tattoos that Kick Ass:
skulls with snakes coming out the eyes
The Blessed Mother
Bobby Sands
a shamrock
skulls with fire coming out the eyes
a boot stepping on a skull
a skull with a knife through both of the eyes
a compass (only if you’re Bjork)
“Billy Bob”
an Adidas logo
an eagle globe and anchor (duh)
Tattoos that Don’t Kick Ass:
an angel
“Blessed be”
Che Guevara
The Red Hand of Ulster
a “tribal” design
a goddess
a yin yang
a yellow smiley face (even if it looks like it’s high)
a pot leaf
a Nike swoosh
a freaking gonzo fist (are you kidding?)
I like the Snoopy flying ace, though I don’t know if it kicks ass.