“nostalgia is a hobby for those not busy making the future”
dvo
PS i am nostalgic as fck
279 draft posts in web archive, do i bother? of course :)
Realizing huge swathes of my life aren’t even addressed (yet)
Convo with pal has me “reconstructing” travels and rambles from 86-96, dang so many miles!
I’m roasting wild boar meat
End of Dispatch
Compiling usual additions to standard collections, ergo:
* rotary phone (black, functional) at Tereya Cafe
* postbox (6th floor of dept store courtyard)
* wooden ship (hotel lobby with cutty sark booze)
* ink stamp rally checkpoint (at a traveling aquarium)
* coffee (Hawaiian Lion at hotel)
Oh my goodness, what a topsy-turvy start to day… really going on for a few days since Typhoon(s)… While we didn’t get hit hard but dealing with some unpreventable & unsuspected problems so currently preparing for a fumigation and heading out to an unintended “hotel vacation”.
A busy post holiday week in August meant most everything was booked, and, in general, you have your choice of elegant/full-service, traditional ryokan or “highly efficient, but spartan and charmless” business hotels… Darling wife found us a groovy, kind of faded glory resort-y kind of place, seaside in commercial port harbour village about 40 minutes away.
[Update] Impromptu hotel night included:
Some evidence follows:
& now cuddled up with travelling correspondence kit
Summary: Making mango-ade outta fumigation downer
Bonus: after the hotel which included to swim in the pool, and I soak in the very hot seaview onsen, we went to our “usual” beach Nishiwaki for a dip in the ocean, a lousy ukulele song, and a bit of a meal and a snooze in the groovy little café.
Aug 3: I’ve got a big long day at the hospital tomorrow, preparation for which is my priority.
So I’m going to fold some laundry and tidy up the writing desk.
Resisting desire to re-hang new art.
Did I tell you about our massive closet project yesterday?
Will find a long-winded yet loquacious esoteric historical rabbit hole podcast/video/audiobook (what’s the difference anymore?) to listen while I’m doing the above.
(Yes Margaret, I scribble when I’m anxious)
“to seriousness, as a miner who is always in danger makes haste in what he does”
V vG
Aug. 4: Terrible sleep, unbelievably anxious about today’s hospital visit even though I’ve done this literally hundreds of times before…
So, “pregaming” at my tiny calm cool coffee shop from which the master sent me a postcard (with transcription from his diary remarking on my first visit to his kissaten)
I keep whispering to myself (while at hospital checkpoint 2 of 5 or 6)
“you’ll be okay”
(I neeeeeed a long rest, however, i cant think about quite yet) but also, im #betterthanbefore
Always exciting to go to the “department of nuclear medicine”… Isn’t it? #BetterThanOppenheimer
Protip: for “tube tests” I now bring my own sleeping masks and earplugs and ensure them there is no metal included.
I have a whole arsenal of earplugs for different circumstances and situations but my “heavy artillery” are custom made by a hearing aid maker in Thailand and work their way down my ear canal and seal off the entire world when fully inserted.
Oh and I took my wonderful doctor a gift of a travel size Bodum French press – stainless steel with extra lid.
She’s incredibly busy and I always find canned coffee empties on her desk so trying to change that travesty.
Also, some bamboo charcoal and a shodo style letter.
Of course, I also have (at last count) 47 different sleeping masks in my continual search for the “perfect sleeping mask” / eventually, will sew my own but my fingers are much more geared for “big clumsy rough” projects right now
Colossally long day at hospital. They’re incredibly efficient, organized and caring but my goodness, it’s a busy place and today had several different checkpoints including injections and scans in magical tubes.
My darlings came to pick me up fortunately, we are now home.
Thanks as always for my “fellow chronic and complex travelers” for chiming in with words of support and solidarity.
In my mind, summertime is especially hard for folks like us. #shrug
this afternoon’s pour over ice coffees made with “Lion brand, pride of Hawaii” beans – note charcoal in the water carafe which was homemade out of bamboo (removes impurities from water like your fancy water filter does)
the beans were a gift from a mystical elder lady who has very likely made more artisan okonomiyaki than any other person alive #ProveMeWrong + as such, including a cheesy snap of me holding the bag
you know the coffee is going to be good when it’s “cooked” on the same grill as the grub – definitely worth all the stars
This was nephew Lee’s last meal before heading back to Canada after his two months with us here in Okayama and he requested okonomiyaki and – like a quality prison warden – I obliged.
The remarkable proprietor, who also painted all the walls and ceiling, indulged the youngster (an aspiring okonomiyaki cook) for a photo in-behind the grill.
There’s no sign in front, only a beige noren when open / maybe fits eight people, there’s a tiny “squat” toilet room (little privacy), a cooler for beer and sake, a miniature aquarium. More art on the walls, sometimes even mine.
The bill came to ¥2150 for three squid and pork okonomiyakis + she sent the boys on their way with a bottle of “Calpis” soda each, and the aforementioned bag of macadamia /chocolate coffee beans for us.
Note: I’m usually not a fan of any kind of flavor in coffee beans but this makes for a very nice afternoon icy treat from a legacy brand 150+ old of roasting on Hawai’i.
Just a date/time stamp post to remind myself to update my medical diary: went for IV (by bus) 3:30 PM yesterday 2/22/R5
{Also I might need to trim my mustache slightly}
Before the medical appointment, we did a few things around the house, mostly pulling the suitcases out from the barn and errand them out… this is the first floor of the barn is looking these days… Have also started a “emergency preparedness kit“ as well as having the secondary stereo set up and records here.
Realized a couple of beautiful wool sweaters were a little worse for wear as well so washed and hung to dry to survey the damage.
At some point along the way, Ichi dug up some turmeric from the garden.
While getting the iv, listened to @TBeanpod “Valentine’s“ episode… {I guess I’m a bit behind but I always enjoy glimpses into his life and parental wisdom about molding growing kiddos. Thanks for the goodness}
Feb. 21 Typed the “liner notes” (so to speak) for 2 mixed CDs + 1 mix cassette tape… made like last November or December but got stalled out by a rough couple of months. All ready for the post office now, decorated and everything!
Includes a mix of my spoken word poetry/ambient field recording audio collage creations, a few spoken-songs i crafted from loops and samples, songs by musician friends with my words & their music, some spoken word i did on a heavy (Bad Wougar) album, and other DIY recordings.
And yes tracklists are really typed (albeit poorly) on an Olivetti Lettera 34 (like 32 but ¥ key) #Typewriter
Every CD/Cassette is different (because i like to make things difficult) and the liner notes are all original as well.
One time, i made a video of typing these for no particular reason… well I guess it’s because i like the sound and might keep someone company on a lonely day.
Example video: Typing Liner Notes in the Kura (with Joe Strummer vinyl)
2/20 Stopped at a lovely coffee shop after visit to orthotic foot guy and before a visit to a park for picnic.
They even had a tip jar on the counter which I had never seen in Japan before… But it was deliberately filled up to the top so was really they’re just for aesthetic purposes and ambience rather than expecting a tip :-)
Took coffee & sandos to a park and saw a great little “hangout hut“ made from repurposed sake (or maybe miso?) barrel idunno at the best kids playground park I’ve ever visited in Japan… {Like it’s not even close as most playgrounds are a rusty chin up bar, a broken swing and a non-slippery slide}
I did take a couple other snaps of my darlings but for now, here’s a barrel with some holes in the side and a roof…
2/19 this morning, the two darlings were up early making a drive in the K truck to a bakery for a variety of fresh bread which we enjoyed with hot cocoa for him and coffee for us.
Then we organized his “next round” of clothes as he’s growing out of current stuff. Much tidying!
They headed off to tea ceremony, I watched a bit of a hockey game while eating a Bento, scanned a few tax documents, put away some cleaning supplies and then into dark bedroom with head spinning a bit so uploaded some videos and transcribed some poetry notebooks in the dark.
2/18 darling wife’s band came for rehearsal at the house, there are now 3 kids and 1 more on the way amongst the members! #NextGeneration I made 3 kinds of tea and served on various China + set-up/took a promo snapshot for their upcoming show. I should note that while the band was rehearsing, I snuck out to the kura barn to set up the drum set you may be caught in a previous post. Came back in at the one hour mark to do the tea service and then stealthed away to fiddle.
Later we made pizza & he’s got the skills down solid now – spins the sauce with a spoon, adds toppings like a pro(ish).
So glad we have a full sized oven but still want to make a brick/clay pizza oven in the backyard… eventually. Will be so handy for birthday parties and get togethers.
After a really rough January, slowly expanding my energy envelope little bit by little bit… Trying to get a little bit more stable for the upcoming “BC invasion” (details coming) plus several groups of guests coming to visit in March.
Recap: (as you prob know) I go to Okayama university hospital once a month for a trifecta of treatments (plus there’s always some kind of admin stuff to tend to) then weekly to a local clinic for additional IV cocktail, plus seitai treatments 2 to 3 times a month, although currently the doctor is ill.
++ take various medications, supplements, vitamins, and traditional Chinese medicine concoctions at checkpoints 4x each day. Some of the medications are “off label” usage (not specifically designed for #MECFS) as well as some other new unique “experimental” approaches [neurotrophin] and “ketas” (generally an asthma medication which increases blood flow to the brain… #NotScientificExplanation) neither of the above are “FDA approved” afaik
A note about “ketas” for #MECFS curiosity seekers (from me-pedia)
#MEpedia “Vagus nerve infection hypothesis”
“Drugs such as ibudilast (brand names Ketas or Pinatos or in Japan), an anti-inflammatory drug used for over 20 years in Japan, mostly for asthma and post-stroke dizziness.[7]… Ibudilast can be combined with opioids to reduce chronic nerve pain.[7] Ibudilast is also a phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor, and crosses the blood-brain barrier and suppresses glial cell activation.”
Have also started a “new version” of a somewhat controversial #mecfs medication which i won’t mention yet.
Also use variety of vitamins and supplements… was using a lot more supplements but not seeing significant impact and becomes rather financially difficult to be honest and a lot of work to source at all.
I have also investigated low-dose naltrexone but that’s a no go in Japan.
Drying tree blossom petals while thinking about a friend ?
Flowers with thoughts of a friend
Thinking about a friend… #sigh
{Because I’m completely over the moon in love with this kid} here are 3 more snapshots + 1 video, ergo:
1) Gong Show trading cards waiting since 1970s to be opened
2) box of my childhood knick-knacks he loves digging through
3) Russian piggy bank full of global coins (new drums in bg)
Bonus: saturday breakfast time with scrambled egg and fruit yogurt breakfast (coffee for me, honey milk for him) before heading out for activities
Today in “Beauty and the Beast”
I’m just thrilled to be her sidekick :-) riding the bus together, her in kimono & sandals, and me in my hat & Docs
These photos surfaced when I mailed a postcard to a friend of a painting of a postbox – juxtaposed by a café table – in Olympia, Greece 2017.
Sent a postcard to a pal in the Berkshires. He asked me “what’s the story here?“
Olympia, Greece… Home (obviously) of the ancient Olympic games and all the various ruins, tracks, museums, artifacts etc.… but i got off the bus quickly early when we passed a “just right“ café with a couple of tiny tables out front, in the back were old men playing backgammon and drinking Ouzo at 10 AM / The thick armed boss brought me a wonderful little variety plate along with sturdy espresso.
Fortified, I scribbled & mailed postcards, watched people hurriedly walk by, saw the throngs leave by buses from the Olympic site, sauntered up there and looked around by myself – On the way, I looked at some rental listings to think about just staying indefinitely… that’s sort of “just right“ size town that I enjoy – instead paid too much for a taxi back (sat in the front seat) to catch the ship in time >> met a pal named Nikos playing a Tzouras, I sent him postcards just to complete the circle.
There’s a cat in this empty road as well… (Or was there?)
The original painting was sketched in situ in Greece and then combined with a postbox and painted with acrylics on Nusa Ceningan, Indonesia along with my darling wife.
As such, found the inspiration shots and then found the geo-location and Google Earth screenshot where you can see someone sitting in the chair where I sat making the painting. It’s all very recursive.
Πραξιτέλη Κονδύλη 32, Archea Olimpia 270 65, Greece (next droo/ downstairs of Hotel Appolon, at which sometime, i will stay for a forthnight, perhaps)
[Update: found screenshots from Ggle Streetview showing cafe´and table + clothing store next door where i bought a dress – not for me. ]
As it goes, this café is the exact measured point for the “Olympia, Greece“ (not Olympia, Washington) direction on my sign post.
See: Portals, 4 More Views of Olympia for more context
