- Modelling for a Drawing Class & hospitals and haircuts and picnics *
Just a little check in to say that I made it out the door – amidst a sudden rainstorm that makes it feel like November – looking sharp wearing my tailored blue herringbone suit, a sort of carnival barker top hat, have a peacock feather in the bag just in case, a striped shiny shirt and contrasting tie which should look interesting for the drawing class participants, with a few different outfit modifications (vest, different tie, different shirt) and accessories (book, camera, pipe)
I drank my afternoon dose of Chinese tea, took two Tylenol and two Valium, put sticky plaster heat packs (I don’t know what you call these) on my calves under compression socks, and on the sore point at the base of my neck and my lumbar spine… Made it out the door with moments to spare to catch the bus
Should arrive with time to maybe grab a coffee at my favorite secret place ‘hiding in plain sight’ inside the station before meeting my contact to taxi over to the location
I’m carrying the accessories in a leather satchel I got in Sri Lanka which looks like a time traveled from a steam ship a century ago, I’ve also got on a gray trenchcoat style raincoat contrasted with my wife’s blue batik light cotton scarf so eccentric points are high and comfort points are moderate
I’ve got ear plugs in, cleaned my glasses, and of course have a pocket square in the suit
Since I’m here, I’ll tell you about being under a cherry blossom tree last night when I ‘snuck out’ with the family for a night time hanami – nothing fancy and nothing involving a couple hours of preparation and pulling out the camping wagon and all the equipment…
We swung by and grabbed some karage and I brought hot water for kanpo & tea, a mosquito candle and a flashlight with batteries already run down, and a blanket and made it happen… Sometimes those little spontaneous moments of grace are a wonderful distraction
And did I mention after my hospital visit on Friday I explained that I’m at my limit with the neck & back pain and I really need a “Sherlock Holmes spinal problems” to sort this out…
Note: When I’ve had imaging in the past it shows slight prolapse and impingement in my spine which may not be enough to cause significant stress in normal people but in my case, it’s climbing a mountain with a sharp pebble in the boot as it become too much
I’ve got a referral to pain clinic with a stack of intake forms in about 10 days after we get back from Osaka Expo 2025 so ~ in the meanwhile, I’ll just do my best with self-care and management to make sure we all managed to have a bit of fun
Oh right, did I tell you I got a haircut? Best one in a long time, something to be said for something better than a cheap and cheerful barber (which, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the cultural experience of but this was elevated so to speak)
I’ll include some snapshots of my mug which somehow relate to these various stories, or not
