Entries this day: Correction Kasa finding_nemo miki pf

Correction

10:12am JST Wednesday 17 December 2003

Yesterday I wore long underwear. They didn't seem to fit well in the butt, but oh well.

Today I'm wearing them again, and they fit much better. I noticed I had worn them backwards yesterday. And I wasn't even trying to be cool.

Kasa

2:31pm JST Wednesday 17 December 2003

In Japanese かさ is pronounced "kasa" with "ah" for the 'a' characters like Spanish pronunciation of casa (house). But in Japanese かさ means umbrella.

Okay.

I now know of one way not to ride a bicycle.

And I know of a quick way to stop a bicycle.

Would love to have gotten this on video.

- - - -

It happened so quickly that I had no time to recognize what happened before I was on the ground in a heap. I don't even really remember the sequence... I guess, ah here it is: it happened so fast that there was none of this "it happened in slow motion" kinda stuff when my brain goes into hyper-processing mode and sees everything under the influence of lots of adrenaline (?). It was more like, [ride ride ridsplat]

. . . woah. Three second internal check: anything broken? No. any super sharp pain? No. Any dizziness? No. Any pain at all? yeah my wrist and my thigh.

By this time, maybe 5 seconds had gone by. I realized I needed to move; I didn't want any Japanese trying to hover over me and me try to explain anything. A woman came up, "だいじょうぶ?" (are you okay?) "はい okay です。" ("why would you think I wasn't okay? Jeez how nosey can you be?") And she nodded and walked off, which now I realize wouldn't have happened in Houston or Dallas; a passerby would have insured that the person wasn't just saying they were okay.. anyway whatever

I was a bit woozy (my head did not hit the ground) from having the wind knocked out of me (quite a strange term, and I wonder what the process really is and why it's so discombobulating) so I sat meditatively on the curb by my bicycle for a bit. Just doing some more internal checks and allowing all my systems to reboot and settle.

This little delay means I'll be late. I checked the clock on my phone. Not too late, but late enough to let Miki know.

がんばって ("buck up, buttercup") and I got up to continue my journey. Then I saw what had happened.

I'm really glad I took the time to get a picture and didn't just try to get back on schedule.

Systematically took the umbrella out of my spokes, folded it and put it in my bag for show and tell. (Noted that as I had hung the umbrella from my handlebars, a little voice in my head had said, "hey jack, why don't you take a moment to put it in your backpack?" Thank you voice for your efforts. Thank you angels for protecting me even after I didn't listen to you.) In a great ego-driven show of hugeness, I did not look around at who might be watching me (just hoped a hundred people were) and jumped back on my bike and sped toward the station.

- - - -

In the station I called Miki to tell her I'd be late. My phone's display didn't survive the incident (I checked the time on the outer display, which was fine); I was able to call her from redial, not from (my) memory.

On the train after my dismount, I remembered the book _Mutant Messenger Down Under_ (I think) and healing-vibed my arm to heal quickly.

- - - -

Super duper thanks to みき for helping me navigate the ER. No broken bones, but I'm now wearing a wrist brace (actually it's my old skate wrist guard). No pain meds, but an adhesive topological thing called a しっぷ。

I got a copy of the X-rays (much to Miki's surprise) which I might photograph and publish.

finding nemo

12:16am JST Thursday 18 December 2003

_Finding Nemo_ is really really funny. I was in tears of laughter at times. Mostly with the turtles and Dori talking to the whale. Hilarious!

miki

12:21am JST Thursday 18 December 2003

We chowed at the ramen place on the corner of the buildings next to Gera Gera and then zoomed back to Kawasaki and sat in Starbucks for a bit before her flute lesson. I got kicked out of Starbucks for not buying anything after a while and roamed around looking for a Vodafone shop to see if they'll replace my phone which got fucked up in my umbrella enabled bicycle dismount today. *That*'s what bruised the crap out of my leg.

We sat (and I slept) a bit after getting some contraband food from the convenience store and then rocked into the movie.

After the movie, there were a lot of girls (and a few guys) wearing total goth clothes, with huge black tall high heels. I wondered who the show could have been for - certainly not anyone that I've heard of (though I secretly wondered if I would be disappointed to find out who)... it's a little band called Moi dix Mois. I ain't never heard of them, but they's apparently a bit popular (at least in Japan) right about now.

Some of the outfits were rather cute, but man what a nightmare for walking in those shoes!

Walked Miki to her bus and went home.

pf

1:49am JST Thursday 18 December 2003

Oh, ps. I was approached by a guy from a hip hop clothing shop. I was like, "I'm not cool enough to wear these," though he of course assured me that I was.

I left with a black brand name knit cap. Phat Farm.