Entries this day: AM_Meditation AM_Shiatsu Cheap_ticket_shops Got_cash Headed_to_pack Packed! Painting_for_Beans Qantas_checkin Qash_exchange Security_cheque Visa_check Waiting_for_flight

AM Meditation

9:00am JST Tuesday 24 March 2009 (day 14244)

Haven't seemed to reach the same state of consciousness as a couple days ago, but still practicing.

AM Shiatsu

12:01pm JST Tuesday 24 March 2009 (day 14244)

Just finished my shiatsu lesson with Kimura-san. We reviewed the side position (though I had studied the face down positions).

After he performs the technique on me, I repeat on him, and he gives suggestions/corrections as necessary.

Afterward, he gives me a free shiatsu session, at the end of which he holds my right hand and left foot, and then switches, holding left hand and right foot, similar to a process that Kathy Fey would do back in the day. I asked Kimura-san, "is that shiatsu?" and he goes, "no, but it doesn't matter to the client; you don't have to say 'this is shiatsu, and this is not shiatsu,'"

"Yes, I understand that, but I'd like to learn that technique as well, so I was wondering what it is."

"The client comes to be healed and doesn't mind what it's called. You can do anything you like."

I let it go.

Cheap ticket shops

12:43pm JST Tuesday 24 March 2009 (day 14244)

I checked both ticket shops in Shibuya to get 100 yen off the Keisei Skyliner tickets (to/from Ueno/Nippori from/to Narita, usually 1000 yen). Sold out at both shops. D'oh!

Got cash

12:45pm JST Tuesday 24 March 2009 (day 14244)

Grabbed 140,000 yen cash from my account, which I have calculated will plenty-cover my OZ adventure, and I *double dog* hope that the value of the yen will be pushed down after the Japanese financial year begins on April 1st, meaning I can make back a bit of profit when I change the AUD back to JPY when I get back.

We'll see if it happens, but only if I remember to keep track of the exchange rates each way.

Headed to pack

12:49pm JST Tuesday 24 March 2009 (day 14244)

Headed home now to pack. Pretty much I've got everything semi-ready, though there are a couple items I still need to buy: flashlight, and white t-shirts.

The T-shirts will work for me after the course as well; I need to get some for suit-and-tie interviews and possible job.

During the course, clothing should be light colored and plain so as to keep pure energy during meditation. No visual distractions for participants and nothing to attract astral energies that may arise.

Am considering buying Crocs as well; mine have developed some decent sized holes, so that if I wear socks with Crocs, the socks come home with matching holes, darnit!

The shop in Shibuya didn't have my size. I imagine it will be easier and less expensive to buy these items in OZ.

Packed!

3:04pm JST Tuesday 24 March 2009 (day 14244)

Packed and essentially ready to go with 51 minutes until I need to catch my train. Might as well head out early, I think!

Painting for Beans

3:14pm JST Tuesday 24 March 2009 (day 14244)

Not actually her painting, but an email referencing it.

Happy Beans Day!!

Dearest Beanest

Your loveliest painting is chillin' safely right here beside me.  I just want you to know it will
almost certainly be in your possession by your *next* birthday (in 2010).  I 99.9% guarantee it will
be there!  Thank you for telling me you don't care how long it takes.  :-) I wanna make sure it gets
there safer than faster.

I am headed out to Australia, and will arrive on the 25th, and chill in Sydney for your birthday, and
then head 4 hours west of Sydney with NO INTERNETS for 8 days, and then back to J-pan, arriving on
April 6th.

    Love Love Love Love
     - Robest!

-- 
Freestyle art and healing
rob [of the domain] robnugen.com

Qantas checkin

6:35pm JST Tuesday 24 March 2009 (day 14244)

Checked in for Qantas flight 22. The agent talked to her supervisor for a second at first because I had given her only my new passport, thinking she just needed to verify my identity. She was all, "nevamind!" when I added my old passport to the stack.

She concluded with "please come to gate 82 by 7:45pm," and I was like, "go to," and she was all, "?" and I explained a bit in Japanese, basically, "you said 'come to' but it's better to say 'go to.'" Didn't explain why, but I hope she appreciated the correction.

Qash exchange

6:46pm JST Tuesday 24 March 2009 (day 14244)

Aight, when I exchanged currencies, I paid 140,886 yen for 1,800 AUD. Rate was 78.27 yen per AUD.

Security cheque

6:52pm JST Tuesday 24 March 2009 (day 14244)

Strictly speaking, I have liquids with me. Oh-so-dangerous dihydrogen-oxide in a equalized solution with sodium-chloride. I'm wearing my contacts at the moment and if I wanna pop dos badboys out during the flight, I have a bit of saline to support said procedure. I carried it in my pocket through the metal detector, assuming it wouldn't detect any amount of liquid (my skinsack is full of liquids), including not detect a couple CCs of saline in my contact case.

My 問題児 (problem child) sticker right on my laptop didn't cause any concern either. I'm glad about that.

Visa check

6:58pm JST Tuesday 24 March 2009 (day 14244)

Visa check also no problem. yay.

Waiting for flight

6:59pm JST Tuesday 24 March 2009 (day 14244)

I sat next to the TV (so I can't see it (just chill in its electromagnetic radiation. (Actually it's a flat screen so I don't know how much of that there is.))) Plugged in my laptop and my Little Blue Monkey (the name of my blue-cased iPhone), and my headphones so I can't hear the TV either. It had an announcer and guests jabberin' about the news that Obama is (apparently) going against his campaign promises and keeping the secret prisons open for a year and sumpin' sumpin' sumpin'. Bah.

In better news, there are two (2) infants within a meter of my seat, and two new(?) mommies having a little mommy chat about their prized creations.

When the first small person arrived, I tossed Uncle Cow onto the ground near her. Mommy smiled a bit, and baby's quick taste test proved U-Cow wasn't particularly exciting.

7:26pm JST Tuesday 24 March 2009 (day 14244)

Aight; we're about to board. I'm gonna change my clock to Sydney time. brb.

9:27pm EST Tuesday 24 March 2009 (day 14244)

Okay.