The Ghost of Matsubara

Been sick for weeks now!! WTF!!

2010-07-13T03:11:00.000-07:00

The doc started me on new antibiotics... I also manged to find a Japanese over the counter pain reliever called Shin Kokon-S. It has 900mg of acetaminophen plus some herbal junk. That kicks the bananas outta the J-Tylenol, which only has like maybe 200mg of acetaminophen...

I need to kick this bug... I've spent more time, energy, and money on this than I have on anything else I've caught since I've been in Japan. And no... The oppressive humidity is NOT helping.

Of course, my doctor told me I was looking much healthier...

Hisashiburi...

2009-06-02T15:27:00.001-07:00

Well, I guess it's been a while since I last posted a blog. Truth is nothing too interesting has been happening. My master's thesis is due in November, so I've been keeping my nose buried in articles about Japanese religion & spirituality. Other than that I'm well into my first year as a university ESL teacher. Definately likin' it!

Well, that's all for now.
See you on the other side!

-- Post From My iPhone

Bathing in Beppu!

2009-04-03T06:24:00.001-07:00

Today, I was in the land of onsens, Beppu! For those of you who don't know, an onsen is a hot spring in Japan. Beppu is a city in north eastern Kyushu that was built on top of a huge natural spring which is heated by volcanic activity deep below the surface. I managed to take 3 baths at various onsens in the "Jigoku" area of the city. "Jigoku" translates into English a "Hell". I believe the name was given to this area because of the dense steam spewing out of all the pipes and street vents in the area. The picture I have attached is of Nannawa Mushi Yu which is a steam onsen. In this particular onsen you lay down on a bed of grass in a small stone hut for ten minutes. It's a lot like a sauna, but steamy! When you come out you are drenched! Then you go get in the bath and enjoy a good soak. It was a lot of fun, but not something I would want to do in the heat of a Japanese summer. Anyway, lots of fun.

-- Post From My iPhone

Aso's volcano!

2009-04-02T01:54:00.001-07:00

Today was a wonderful day to see my first volcano! The largest mountain in Kyushu, Japan is Aso-san. It is an active volcano surrounded by five peaks. We were able to take a bus just about to the top of the mountain, and from there we took a gondola to the mouth. The plum of sulphuric gas was causing everyone to cough and sputter a bit, but the view inside was amazing! The most beautiful color greenish blue steaming lake of sulphuric lava lay at the suface and was reported to be 200 degrees Celsius. Apparently, it is a steaming 1000 degrees Celsius inside the mountain!

No burning projectiles today! (^_^)v

--Post From My iPhone

Kumamoto Castle

2009-04-01T02:07:00.001-07:00

Spent the day at Kumamoto Castle in Kumamoto, Kyushu. Absolutely, beautiful! By far the biggest and most impressive castle I've seen here in Japan. The surrounding walls were gigantic as well!

-- Post From My iPhone

I got the blogger app!

2009-03-31T18:42:00.001-07:00

Ok, so I spent ¥350, but I'm happy!

I'm thinking that this will make me a more avid blogger.

Expect more pictures!

-- Post From My iPhone

On the road in Kyushu

2009-03-31T16:15:00.000-07:00

So, I'm down in the southern most part of Kyushu in a place called Ibusuki. Ibusuki is famous for it's hot volcanic sand which is supposed to have great health benefits. I went last night, and I gotta say, "It was amazing!!" I'll have the video up on YouTube in a few days.

Today we're off to Kumamoto.

I'll also add a post about Miyajima later.

See you on the other side!

Fatblueman Rocked Canada in Tokyo

2009-03-05T17:30:00.000-08:00

So, yes... We played a gig for the Canadian embassy's food expo in Tokyo yesterday. It was lot's of good fun and TOO MUCH good food! We had everyone bobbin' there heads despite their neck ties. But, I gotta hand it to the Quebec-ers. They were the only ones willing to cut loose and dance!

Also, on the drive up to Tokyo we passed Mt. Fuji! It was my first time seeing it! Every other time I've passed by there had been to much cloud cover. Unfortunately, the pictures I took don't really do it much justice, but it really is an awesome sight!

That's all for now.
See you on the other side!

I'm wishing the best for Obama!

2009-01-20T14:27:00.000-08:00

I watched Obama's inaugural speech this morning via YouTube. I'm back in Japan, so even though we're a day ahead of everyone I get my news a day behind. ;) I thought it was very moving. I liked his acceptance speech better, but this one was very powerful as well. Also, my family was somewhere in that massive crowd this morning!! I looked, but alas I couldn't find them. It's like Where's Waldo times a million!

Anyway, I wish the best for Obama and my fellow Americans around the world!

See you on the other side!

18 hours later...

2009-01-16T18:06:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm back in Japan. I really enjoyed my month back in America for the holidays. Now I gotta get my mind back into the working mode...

The plane ride was long as always, but I happened to look out the window just at the right time to catch a great view of the Canadian Rockies. Absolutely beautiful.

See you on the other side.

Snowboard Junky

2009-01-12T17:44:00.000-08:00

So, I am officially beat... Yesterday, I spent the day out a Greek Peak snowboarding with my friend from SUNY New Paltz, Al Gandelman. We tore it up, and then rocked some sweet tunes back at his place in Cortland, NY afterward.

Today, I got up wicked early, hopped in the car with my dad, and met Chenza up at Gore Mountain in the Adirondacks. Believe me; Gore Mountain is 2,300 feet of hardcore vertical action!! From the top of the mountain it takes about 2o minutes to get to the bottom, and there are TONS of trails to play around on. I linked the site, so be sure to go check it out.

Anyway, I'm super tired, so peace out for now.

See you on the other side!

Snowshoes & dental work

2009-01-05T19:44:00.000-08:00

Well, I got a new crown on one of my molars. My face was good n' numb for a few hours, but I was able to find constructive ways to pass the time.

First off, I went ahead and strapped on the ol' snowshoes, and headed up the hill across the street from my house. See, I usually hike in the swamp down behind my house. (Actually, I went cross country skiing down there with my parents yesterday.) But, today my dog, Kya, and I took the camera and took ourselves a walk.

It was a really beautiful day. I got some great shots of the valley and the farm down the road from my house.

On another note, last night I was watching the deer right in my back yard! I couldn't get any pictures because I was watching from inside the house, and I knew that the flash would just reflect in the window. Anyway, it was very cool to just quietly watch them for a while.

Anyway, see you on the other side!

A New Year and some fresh snow.

2009-01-02T19:59:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to everybody! Its 2009 and if you're reading this you're still here. (^_~)

I had a great New Year's eve. I got to hang out with my good friend and band mate from high school, Mark Stins on. He's now in the army, but more importantly he's probably the best bagpiper I know! We went down to the Brae Loch Inn in my hometown of Ca zenovia where Mark was playing opposite a cover band. Then, at the stroke of midnight, the lights went out and he played an amazing rendition of the classic "Auld Lang Syne". You can check out the video HERE.

Today was another great day of snowboarding. My father, my sister and her boyfriend, and I went to Labrador Mountain. I was a lot of fun, but just before we hit the slopes I got some nasty lower back pain. I took a couple of runs, but then I had to go in and get some Tylenol. After that started to kick in I loosened up and was able to rock the hill.

Good times. Until next time...

See you on the other side.

Kickin' back n' relaxin'.

2008-12-29T19:52:00.000-08:00

Well, its a few days after Xmas. Still relaxing and enjoying my vacation. Not much new to report, but I do love being in the country. Believe it or not, all the snow melted around here! Kind of a bummer, but the temperature dropped again, so we expecting another dumper of snow.

I did make it a point to take a drive into the city of Syracuse. Lots of old memories. I almost forgot how much I love to drive around singing along with the radio. Rediscovered Soul Asylum's "Grave Dancer's Union" CD. Love it!

Anyway, back to the relaxin'!

See you on the other side.

Merry Christmas to All!!

2008-12-25T18:51:00.000-08:00

So, today was my first real Christmas in 3 years. And, to top it off it was a white Christmas!! (I love snow!!) I got some good goodies, and ate way too much food.

As most of you know I'm a Taoist, but I enjoy Christmas. Yeah, sometimes the commercialism gets to be a bit much, but I think there is a bit of genuine human love and goodness that shines through during the holidays. My parents are divorced, but seeing as I'm home this year we all spent the day together and put aside all the wreckage of our pasts and had a good time.
I know... I sound mushy...
Oh well...

Merry Christmas!

See you on the other side.

Back to the bunny hill!

2008-12-23T17:37:00.000-08:00

Today, I went snowboarding at Toggenberg Mountain in Pompey, NY. I wouldn't exactly call it a "mountain", but its the ski slope that I grew up on. Well, I didn't "grow up" on it, but I did learn how to ski & snowboard there. It was a good time. I was only there for about 4 hours and the conditions were kinda icy, but it was really nice to be out in the ice cold fresh air.

On the way home we stopped at my dad's friends house. He just got a 1951 racing Porsche out of a barn, and now he's gonna restore it. Its covered in mud, but it's still a pretty sweet car!

Snow country!!

2008-12-22T18:16:00.000-08:00

Woo-hoo!! Let it snow!

Well as some of you know I'm originally from the outskirts of Syracuse, NY, and we like our SNOW!! It's really been coming down, and I'm lovin' it!!

Today, my sister and went into the city to do some last minute Christmas shopping, and while we were there we met our dad for a pizza at Uno's. 久しぶりで美味しかった！！
I haven't had a good deep-dish pizza in over three years! Japan has some delicious food, but they don't seem to get pizza right. This one was excellent!

After that, the two of us went and did our shopping, and then met our mom and her work friends for their department Christmas party.

On the way home it was REALLY snowing. In such conditions you gotta dive slow, but its a great adventure. So anyway, we were in to separate cars, and I was driving with my mom, when we all of a sudden get a phone call from my sister. Turns out she spun her car around 180 degrees, and was off the road! Well, that's not to out of the ordinary for CNY-ers, but I, having been in Nagoya for the past three winters, was psyched to see some snowland action!

So, we got their and I hopped in the drivers seat. Just then a guy with a 4WD vehicle and a tow hitch stopped by and offered to pull us out. We hooked up the hitches, put both cars in 4WD and popped that baby right out of the snowbank. Good fun! I was also really great that some one was nice enough to stop and help out a fellow human being in need. That really meant a lot to me.

Anyway, that's my story for today.

See you on the other side.

So it begins!!

2008-12-21T21:23:00.000-08:00

Well, here we are... Face to face with the beginning of my life as a blogger.

You may already know me from my YouTube page. This blog will be a bit of a different window into my soul though I imagine. What does the future hold in store for us? I do not know... All we can do is subscribe and find out.

Pictures, movies, mayhem, and more!!

See you on the other side.