Sandy & TOKYOエアポート～東京空港管制保安部～

There's a torrential storm taking no mercy on the East Coast right now. Wind gusts are up to 70 mph ... imagine a vehicle on the highway hitting you, albeit with less mass. Regardless, it hurts. Anyway, the wind and the rain are caused by Hurricane Sandy, one of the strongest hurricanes the Mid-Atlantic has experienced in quite some time.

Of course, all local, state and federal officials have closed down most all government offices EXCEPT for the Baltimore City government, my employer. Non-essential (non-emergency) employees were on "liberal leave," meaning that we could choose to take off, but we would still have to use a vacation or personal leave day. That wasn't acceptable for me because I am still on probation, and choosing to stay home would mean that I would give up a work day because I have no vacation/personal leave days to use. The result is that I went to work while the storm was still in its early stages, though the wind blew me around and broke my umbrella. Anyway, I stayed a few hours and realized how imprudent I was before dashing back to safety. 

I got back and watched an episode of TOKYOエアポート～東京空港管制保安部～, starring Kyoko Fukada, who I've dismissed as a horrible actress for the longest time. The mere idea that this dorama would be focused on airport staff made me shiver, but I gave it a chance anyway. And actually, it's a very good dorama. They do a good job sticking to what the airport staff actually do without dramatizing it so much. Of course a little exaggeration is necessary, but the overall product is pretty good. Kyoko Fukada is a better actress, probably because she's matured a little bit. The support cast isn't bad. 

The only major complaint I have with this is the horrible English. The ground staff at the airport communicate with the pilots using English, like most international Airports do, but that forces Kyoko Fukada and the other case to speak in a foreign tongue, obviously. It's quite horrendous, and I wouldn't be able to tell what the heck they're saying but for the Japanese subtitles underneath. It's even more comical because whenever the script gets a little more complicated than just the basic "clear to land" or "reduce speed," the characters switch to Japanese. The pilots that they communicate with are conveniently Japanese, but that's a little unrealistic. Just my take, but the latest episode wasn't half bad!

ズボラ飯

This might have to be one of my favorite dorama of all time. It's called 花のズボラ飯 (Hana no Zuborameshi), which loosely translates to Hana's sloppy meals.  It's a dorama about a lazy girl who makes meals with whatever she has in her fridge, but the end result ends up tasting really good! The dorama is based on a popular Manga of the same title.

The first episode just dropped online and if you have some free time, you should check it out. There were two zuborameshi were quick bread dishes.  The first one is called シャケトー. The idea is to mix Sake Fish flakes with Mayonnaise, put it on top of bread, and toast it. The second dish in the first episode was ピザトースト・シャンチョビ味, which is pizza toast, sanchovi flavor.  The sanchovi is a mix of words between Sake and Anchovis, because the girl (played by Kurashina Kana) uses the Sake flakes instead of anchovies. The pizza part is just tomato paste or tomato spaghetti sauce.

シャケトー

ピザトースト・シャンチョビ味

This dorama is awesome because I can see myself making these things if I were living alone (which will most likely happen next year after saving some money!). Also, I like Kurashina Kana a lot in this dorama. I didn't particularly like her in 私が恋愛できない理由。

back [with the flu]

Sorry for the blogging hiatus! There a ton of things that have happened since my last post, but I'll have to take them in turn! For now, I'm down and out with the flu :(

Hopefully I'll be ready to go within a few hours to teach at the dojo. Except that whenever I get up and walk around, I feel pain down my back and a fever coming. This is bad!

july 4

Today we celebrate our independence from Great Britain. But since my mom has been in Japan, I feel like my dad and I are celebrating our independence from my mother. Most of the house chores shifted to my dad, but of course he forces me along.  I can't tell if I'm his son or his babysitter (I say this knowing that I owe my parents a huge debt of gratitude).

We went to LOTTE for some shopping.

When was Unagi 20 dollars?! Good gracious. Then of course, my dad uses the opportunity to buy his goodies. A lot of beer, and CALPIS (I thought they changed it to CALPICO in America?).

おとん：カルピスいくらだ
おれ：Doesn't say。欲しいなら買えばいいじゃん
おとん：別に欲しいわけじゃない
おれ：え、欲しいから買うんでしょ
おとん：まあ、そういうもんだ

?

new start

I'm officially done with my clerkship.  It feels very, very weird, but I'm done my first professional full-time job.  Honestly, I still can remember, quite vividly even, the first day of work.  I remember feeling nervous, but ready, and confident. I remember shaking hands with our court clerk, Michael, and feel frustrated everytime I failed my judge. "Always something to improve on," he would share with his responsive body language.

And that's how I've ended my time as a clerk. Always something to improve on.  I have financial issues, loads of relationship issues, and too many things on my SGI list to feel like "I got it." Yet, I'm so freaking satisfied. It's not fun, but I certainly enjoy all of my obstacles.  

Turning in my keys . . . very surreal.

Celebratory whiskey from Amanda.

As always, being consumed with so many obstacles, I felt over the past couple of weeks that I've been losing touch with myself. I'm not quite sure what it was, other than letting my environment and circumstances dictate who I was. I recently signed back onto facebook and spent a good hour looking at my photos from SUA. Seeing those pictures, I remembered that I had so many friends that believe in me, no matter what how incapable I may feel about myself.  

I also got a lot of feel-good positive reinforcement (sometimes I desperately need) looking at the messages I received from my friends. Things like "fighting eric," "challenger award," and "the one that saves the day" reminded me that I wanted to be those things again. I forgot that my parents used the word 努力 in describing me (I was also called overly-sensitive, rigid, and clumsy, lol).  At some point I forgot how important hard work was for me. 

In other news, I went to my friends' wedding. It was awesome. Check out the photobooth photos (Lian was right, Heain and Sireth need to model).

beans

The other day I was look through the Eat Right 4 Your Type book that Lauren gave me, which details the blood type diets that I've been talking about.  As I've said, it's been working. And while weight loss is not the primary objective of the diet, as the author says, for Type A's, it's a natural consequence of being on this diet.  I'd like to really become a master of my diet, but with my other priorities, it's certainly difficult to make it perfect. That said, I think I can make the effort to make a major part of my diet beans. Beans are supposed to be good for me, and it really is the main source of protein for type A's, which are considered to have developed a digestive system akin to "agrarians."

With that context, I present to you the various types of beans, provided by mayoclinic.com.

Type of legume		Common uses
	Adzuki beans Also known as field peas or red oriental beans	Soups, sweet bean paste, and Japanese and Chinese dishes
	Anasazi beans Also known as Jacob's cattle beans	Soups and Southwestern dishes; can be used in recipes that call for pinto beans
	Black beans Also known as turtle beans	Soups, stews, rice dishes and Latin American cuisines
	Black-eyed peas Also known as cowpeas	Salads, casseroles, fritters and Southern dishes
	Chickpeas Also known as garbanzo or ceci beans	Casseroles, hummus, minestrone soup, and Spanish and Indian dishes
	Edamame Also known as green soybeans	Snacks, salads, casseroles and rice dishes
	Fava beans Also known as broad or horse beans	Stews and side dishes
	Lentils	Soups, stews, salads, side dishes and Indian dishes
	Lima beans Also known as butter or Madagascar beans	Succotash, casseroles, soups and salads
	Red kidney beans	Stews, salads, chili and rice dishes
	Soy nuts Also known as roasted soybeans or soya beans	Snacks or garnish for sa

talking to the moon

Recently, the stars are shining. Brightly.

Today was a good day.  My day started off humorous. I wanted to wake up early so when I initially woke up and was ready to 二度寝, I made sure to open my Pandora app on my phone in an effort to wake myself up. I was ready to get up until Bruno Mars's Lazy Song came on with: "Today I don't feel like doing anything  ~"

Iya iya iya, kore chigau, wrong song desho!

Anyway, that wasn't the best song to motivate me to get up. But I got up, and I chatted with Fumihiko for a little, which was a really great refresher. Then, I carpooled with Amanda and Kevin to attend the Dover African-American Festival to support the SGI booth there.  As always, it was great to be able to share Buddhism with others.  The drive was three hours one way, so I was pretty tired when I got back.

I was pretty tired after getting back, so I ended up watching a Natalie Portman movie, because, yes, like IU, she is my boy crush. I've been also chanting an hour in the evening.  The last two days I've unexpectedly had off from work because of a power outage at court, so it's given me a lot of time to chant and reflect.

I want to really kick ass at my new job. I want to bring SUA to my job. I want to make the most of my time there and contribute my 110%. 

By the way, me being Setsunai, I've been into Bruno Mars's "Talking to the Moon"

draw strings and 08

Ever since Lauren's gotten me on this diet, I've been losing a lot of weight.  Well, actually, I'm not dropping that much weight, but I'm getting rid of a lot of unnecessary fat. So much so that my pants are no longer fitting me - the waist is too big. And actually, the other day I was able to fit into my 28' khakis that I was ready to throw away.

Part of it is eating less, but also this blood type diet really works. The idea behind is that based on your blood type, certain foods are good and bad for you.  The entire theory rooted in history, and how valid the claims are I do not know.  I'm a blood type A, which, if I remember correctly, is the earliest blood type.  And as a blood type associated with early agrarians, I'm supposed to essentially be a vegetarian.  Meat is not good for me, although poultry is neutral (thank god, I could never go full-on vegetarian).  Leafy greens are really beneficial.

The other blood types developed over time.  Hunters and gatherers, who ate a lot of meat, are associated with type Bs.  ABs are the last to develop.  Again, I'm not sure how valid the historical context is, but the author of this "Eat Right 4 Your Type" makes a compelling argument, using personality traits to back up his claims.  I'm just happy that coffee is good for me. 


On a completely different note, I chatted with ChoyShin yesterday and after some conversation about 08, she said:

"Haru? He's 08?!"

golf

I've never watched golf for more than an hour, but today, the final day of the U.S. Open, I found myself stuck to the TV.  I don't particularly like the sport, but I think the competition is what makes it interesting.

Ever since becoming a judicial law clerk, and perhaps because of the nature of the job itself, I found myself becoming a little indifferent at my job.  That doesn't necessarily mean that I'm working any less harder than I had been.  But I am getting interested in beginning my new job with the City Zoning Board!

Just now I caught myself shouting "oh!" (Ernie Els just scored an Eagle).  There's also a 17 year old kid that's keepin' pace with the big guns.

The judge took me to the Baltimore Sailabration at the Harbor.  The event hosted a number of sail boats from across the world.  I'm not quite sure what we were celebrating, aside from the fact that it is the 200th anniversary of 1812.

because my friend posted

Since Cliff, who rarely posts anymore, posted, I feel compelled to also write about my recent doings.  It's been quite a tumultuous past month.  I began a relationship with a long-time friend that I am enjoying so much.  It's been two years since dating, but for various reasons, I feel so confident and comfortable in this relationship.  But I'll save this story for another time.

Starbucks Green tea latte (soy milk), no syrup.  The closest thing you'll get to a genuine japanese maccha.

Other than that, I was busy with a lot of May Contribution activities.  Since last year, I've made it a commitment to do participate in special contribution with a deeper sense of purpose and appreciation.  As a result, I've received a lot of benefits.  In fact, toward the end of the month, because I my life felt scrambled with job searching, activities, work, and other things, I had to sit myself down in front of the Gohonzon to chant about it all.  About the success of my relationships, finding a job, and finishing out my current stint with my judge in the best way possible.  Most of all, I was chanting for better financial fortune.  

I did a 久しぶりの 10-hour toso two weekends ago and I made some difficult decisions regarding my job search.  Without going too much in detail, I decided that I don't want to compromise what I wanted to do with my career.  I found myself getting so desperate to find a job that I came closer and closer to thinking that I would simply take whatever I could find.  After my daimoku, though, I made a firm decision to forego applying to a non-profit that I was confident i would get if I applied.  Ironically, a few days after I made that decision, the position was filled.  However, a few days after that, I received a [informal] offer from a place that I interviewed with 4 months ago. Out of the blue.  Now, I will be signing the papers on Tuesday, starting my new job in a month.  Daimoku!

Recently I've been learning the importance of appreciation.  Buddhism teaches reverence for the dignity of life, all life - regardless of how that life is manifested.  So, even the life of someone who is causing you problems  is deserving of this kind of respect (which, of course, doesn't mean that his/her actions are acceptable).  Buddhism also teaches that these problems in your environment that you may confront are opportunities to find/develop your own Buddha nature, the inherent condition that we all possess and which is also the reason for the respect we have for all life.  Anyway, I've realized that I wasn't appreciating this buddha nature in everybody, and instead, taking problems that I associated with them as insurmountable and as fact. When I started appreciating though, I came to realize that I was ignorant to the fact that this was an opportunity to reach down deeper in my life to bring out the best possible conditions of my life and challenge the situation.   

Anyway, in other news, I reached nana-kyuu in Karate!

lingering

Health issues! This time an inflamed tongue and swollen taste buds. I an convinced that something happened last year that is making me more susceptible to these bodily failures. It seems like my immune system became abruptly dysfunctional.

So, back to the doctor's I go.

But before that I have to get through the work day. I feel awkwardly comfortable sitting in my office despite my struggles.

cancun & returning

A peaceful sunday evening. As old as this makes me sound, I enjoy these few hours were everything seems to just slow down . . . . With the frenzy of activities taking place on the weekend, this is one of the few times I can relax, reflect, and to return to my determinations.

These days I'm so caught up doing this or that, and I often find it difficult to step back and get a sense of what kind of history I am creating for myself. Is this the kind of person I want to be? Or even more fundamentally, what kind of person do I want to be? Ikeda Sensei often asked himself these questions, but he was also an individual of action, based on succeeding in his mentor's foosteps. I too also want to become a person fighting to fulfill his mission.

I think that is one essential factor in living a regret-free life. There are of course times when all of us will think, "why did I do that?" or "what the heck was I thinking?", but more and more I realize the importance consistently moving forward to create meaning and value of our conduct. To dedicate oneself to a mission, and to a mission that is worth dedicating one's life towards - is something that I think on this Sunday evening.

But before I forget - Cancun was amazing! I really enjoyed myself despite traveling with my parents. Actually, I think my parents invited me because they would just have a better time with me there. I initially felt bad for mooching off this chance to go to a beach but, I now understand that if I wasn't there, my parents probably would have gotten arguments or spend unnecessary time debating things over the course of the weekend.

In any case, day 1 was probably the most enjoyable because it was the initial and most dramatic change in setting. Instead of going straight to Cancun, we visited Cozumel  first, and spent our night in a youth hostel (yes, with my parents) owned and run by a Japanese woman. It was really fun because I got to spend time with 6 or 7 other 20-something-year old guys and gals. It almost felt like I was in Japan, except surrounded by amazing beaches.

That first day, we spent walking the streets of Cozumel, which were so genuine and real. I really felt like, well, that people were living there. I saw people walking, shopping, riding their mopeds - just daily life. Many of these clay-type buildings were made in a way where there is just an opening - no doors, which gave me a sense of openness and community. Cozumel was just so plain and beautiful.

The hostel we stayed at.

There were literally only three gas stations in downtown Cozumel. This was after waiting  ~20 min.

There are many of these fruit stands. Who does this anymore in America?!

That same day, we also took a drive with a jeep around the island, which was really the most simple kind of fun I've experienced in a while. The drive was about an hour long, and we stopped in a few locations en route. The two lane road around the island is made in a way where there are no traffic lights, and you can cruise at 80-90mph. It was confusing at times, though, because there are certain "stops" you can make to get on that part of the beach, but the road unnecessarily splits at those places. My dad took the wrong one once, and the road just abruptly stopped. Fortunately he was going on about 50-60 mph, so when he hit the brakes, we didn't die ... The beaches on the island were small enough to make it feel comfortable. That said, there were also a good number of beach hotels, but of course they were not anything in comparison to the ones in Cancun.

Honestly, this beach was enough for me.

Of course they could afford to have their stores wide open like that because of the weather.

Downtown Cozumel, which is more just like a harbor boulevard.

Some random stop we made near the downtown Cozumel.

One of my favorite pictures of the Harbor off of Cozumel.

One of my other favorite pictures. To the left is the supermarket (the backside of the market you see in the picture below) we got all our fruits and other randomness at while staying at the hostel, and to the right you can see these food stands. How peaceful is this place?!

Day two, like all the other days, was really fun. We spent most of this day checking out from our hostel and making the voyage to Cancun, but before we did that, we spent our morning Diving! By the way, everything from here on out we did as a part of a tour group, but because of some of weather circumstances in Japan, the rest of the tour group, which should have numbered about 10-12 people, had their flights from Japan cancelled. So all the activities became part of a private tour for our family! The tour guide was really cool, a guy in his thirties that makes his living with a few of his buddies doing these tours in Cancun. He also lives in Cancun, which makes everything that much nicer. (Btw, we found out on our last day that, while we were diving, he got a report that his second son was born).

Anyway, the diving felt so natural to me, almost like I did it before. But the feeling was amazing nevertheless!  Unfortunately my mom had some problems with her ears (apparently many people do when they dive), so she could only go down about 3-4 meters into the water. On the other hand, my dad was able to dive down deep with me, but he's completely out of shape, so he was struggling down there...

My mom from above, since she couldn't dive all the way down with us.

 Before departing for Cancun, we also ate a nice outdoor restaurant in downtown Cozumel. I ended up ordering a Pina Colada as my side and as usual, I was tipsy after this baby drink. Ah, the woes of being a Kunimoto. My health karma stayed with me in Mexico (and back to Baltimore ... as I will explain in another post).

What?

Then finally, we arrived in Cancun.  At some nice 5-start resort, which was a huge change from the youth hostel we were staying at in Cozumel.  After some research, that place wasn't as expensive as I thought it would be. It was an all-inclusive hotel, which means that the multiples bars, fancy restaurants, spas, pools, and all the other amenities were a part of the package price. And that price was around 200 a night. All said and done, that's not too bad! Of course we were so packed with activities that we never were able to take advantage of any of those amenities. Instead, we ended up eating at the family buffet hahaha.

We also had some guy at the front desk that was learning japanese, around my age, and was really happy to be able to speak to use and practice what he was learning from his tutor. In fact, he would be talking with us so long that there be a long line behind us. I felt kind of bad ... except not, because he ended up upgrading us to an awesome room the second to highest floor overlooking the beach. I think this is probably a good place to mention, however, that as much as I enjoyed my time with my parents, this place it meant to be visited with a significant other ...

The next day, we woke up early in the morning to go check out the ruins. To be honest, I don't remember the history behind it all because I was just taking it all in. Or rather, I was too tired to use my brain. I just remember that many of the earlier sophisticated civilizations began here, including the Aztecs and Mayas. One of the crazy things I learned was that the Mayas perceived large heads as beautiful. So what they ended up doing was something similar to Chinese foot binding. Early on a child's life, the Mayas would bind the heads of the baby to make elongate the head, to make it look like an alien's. It was kind of disturbing. How far people will go to make them seem beautiful.

OMG we had Tacos stuffed with this meat. I had four of them because they were so tasty.

What are Mafias?

After the ruins, we ventured off to these .... places. I don't know how to explain what they are, except that they are spots where trees were hit by lightning. As a result of the lightning, the ground literally broke apart and a hole was created. In these places, though, there were natural underground springs, which are now used for light swimming. It was really, really nice.

I now realize that this post is getting too long, so I'll try to sum up the rest of the trip here. That night, my parents and I decided to chill on the beach near the hotel, but of course by that time it was 9 or 10pm. We packed our day with too many activities and never go to enjoy what people most often go to Cancun for. In any case, the following day, when we were supposed to leave, my mom had planned to have us to wake boarding or parasailing, but like always, she tried to plan too much and we didn't have enough time to do it :)

Okay, tired of writing. The end.