morning

morning
Originally uploaded by ninapod.

Popo had a very special appointment recently that he was so excited for.

"Popo, today you are getting your balls cut off!! Doesn't that sound FUN?"

"Yes!" his testosterone-ridden brain thought, "that sounds like a BLAST! Let me show them off one last time, though."

When he got to the vet's, though, he didn't pass his preliminary tests--something was wrong with his liver. So now he is chowing down on meds which will hopefully correct the problem, and then he can try again once he's better.

open open!

open open!
Originally uploaded by ninapod.

I got to take a sneak peak this morning at the new IKEA in Funabashi, in Chiba. It took a freaking hour and a half each way but it was worth it. I love this store. Going to the one near Seattle was an adventure (no, I do not get out much) and it made me feel like fulfulling my secret desire to become a home stylist diva like Martha Stewart was achievable. Plus they served $1 lattes (this in the land of Starbucks) and sold funny Swedish goodies at the food market. This new one is just a few stops away from Tokyo Disneyland, and the gentlemen leading the tours said that they would be their No. 1 competitor, only half jokingly. It'll be up to the consumers to make this a success or not but I hope it is.

hangin

hangin
Originally uploaded by ninapod.

cushy

cushy
Originally uploaded by ninapod.

I came up with a great premise for a novel/movie--a bunch of shoppers get trapped inside of a store. That store happens to be IKEA, so everyone just sets up shop in all of the model rooms and settles in, and gets to know each other really well. Swedish meatballs for dinner every night might get a little repetitive, however.

model bed

model bed
Originally uploaded by ninapod.

I was on a press tour a few weeks before opening, so things were still getting set up. The half-made beds, paperwork everywhere and general disorder actually made it feel more like a real home...

tokyo mosque

tokyo mosque
Originally uploaded by ninapod.

Right in the middle of Tokyo, this beautiful building. Islamic design was my favorite during my short-lived architecture phase.

"Contemporary Pops"

caretta live
Originally uploaded by ninapod.

You could not get more vague with a genre of music than that.

Miss Ai and her entourage played at Caretta a while ago, while I was on Blog hiatus. Better late than never, right?

The AG fan club were there, including Hisae-san, Satoko & Bolita.

smiley singer

smiley singer
Originally uploaded by ninapod.

I will gladly spend a day at Carette Shiodome anytime. It's classy, it's swell. it's seaside and has a killer view. The big plaza by the turtle fountain is great for events. Like a live concert from Avant Garde!

HK!

HK!
Originally uploaded by ninapod.

HK was the man behind the bass.

2006 Hanami

P1010049
Originally uploaded by ninapod.

hey y'all! long time no see.
It's spring in Tokyo, which means cherry blossoms. And hanami. Our company has a hanami party every year, always at Aoyama Cemetery, where the sakura were in full bloom last week. A picnic at a cemetery? Freaked me out a little too, but it was really quite lovely.
It's nice to get out of the office in the middle of the day, on a breezy spring day, together with coworkers, food, and alcohol. Not a bad way to spend a Monday afternoon.