Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Atomik the cat


アトミ
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
Black like licorice, as deeply plush as velvet, sweeter than molasses and one front paw short of a full set of limbs. Has less inhibition than a two year old and gives away enough love to fuel your heart for a lifetime.

Sunday, November 20, 2005

Sbux Christmas Blend


Sbux Christmas Blend
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
It's here! The Starbucks Christmas Blend, that is.

Every morning I get off of the train one stop early because it is more convenient for me to go to the Starbucks that is right by the exit. It's always sunny at 9:50am, and people everywhere getting to their offices, and Starbucks is always busy. I order my tall drip and am ready to face the day.

Last year was my first time tasting the Sbux Christmas Blend. I have never been able to taste differences between blends well, but this one is seriously good. Strong and a little bitter, but very smooth. Get it while it's in season!

onion tears


onion tears
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
Miss Ai is moved to tears by the onions she was slicing for this evening's dinner (肉じゃがand豚汁 YUM). Is it just me or do I kind of look like Shimura Ken in this photo?

red fish


red fish
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
For years I thought of this as "that red fish poster Mom has in the bathroom," and little did I know it was a Work of Art!

The Pushkin exhibit is in town. Maybe Miss Ai and I will go see the red fish.

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Half Blood Prince


Half Blood Prince
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
Ah, Harry Potter. Next week "The Goblet of Fire" is out at the theaters and after watching the trailers and reading the reviews I can't wait. "Half Blood Prince" was most excellent, as I am sure the kitty in this random photo I found online will agree.

Middlesex


Middlesex
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
I heard the author Jeffrey Eugenides give a talk on public radio not too long ago, and couldn't wait to see if his writing was as interesting as he was in person.

It is!

Never Let Me Go


Never Let Me Go
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
This was a BIG surprise. I had no idea what it was about when I began, and it just kept getting progressively creepier and fascinating as I went along. Touching and sad and made me an Ishiguro fan! Am now in the middle of "The Remains of the Day" and am still trying to work out how it can be written by the same author.

book


book
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
Mom will be happy about this one. A friend moving abroad was clearing out her things and I picked this up. Written by a husband and wife team, it's very reader friendly and caused many revelatory "ah-ha!" moments.

Da Vinci Code


Da Vinci Code
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
I found a secondhand hardback of The Da Vinci code in Seattle right before I came to Tokyo, and brought it along for the plane ride. It ended up sitting in the closet for month until I got around to actually reading it...

Curious Incident


Curious Incident
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
I come from book-reading stock. English books can be pretty expensive in Tokyo (and slim pickings), so coming across a good read feels doubly special here.

I got this one from a co-worker, and finished it in a day. An autistic boy tries to solve a murder about a neighbor's dog.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

ポッポ


ポッポ
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
Poppo has this look, which I like to call the "Popo is having a rough day" look. It's a mix of desperation, fear, anxiety and eminent nervous breakdown. But all this melts away into blissful contentment when Miss Ai (or to Popo, Mom) shows up. Even better if it's time for bed and Popo can burrow under the covers and feel safe.

Sunday, October 30, 2005

glitterati


glitterati
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
Glitterball 2005 was a big success, a Wednesday night all-you-can-drink extravaganza at Roppongi's Velfarre. I reprised my high-school halloween outfit of Princess Leia, basically a really long wig and a sheet, and Miss Ai was Mia from Pulp Fiction. Anybody order a five dollar milkshake?

The Two Leias


P1010051.jpg
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
Oooooh, competition! Leia on the left, version Return of the Jedi, made it up on the stage for the Competition portion of the night (I myself, as a Crisscrosser, was not eligible, alas). I kept running into her throughout the evening, and she always wanted to take photos with me, the sweetie! We eventually ran into Darth Vader too for a good photo op, and I wish we had been able to track down Obi-Wan, whom I had seen pacing around the dance floor.

waddup


waddup
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
You can't see them here but Cedric had some phat gold teeth made up for his outfit too. While most of us chose to wait until we got to Velfarre to change into our costumes, Cedric went from a Proper Graphic Designer to Bust Cappin' G before leaving the office. Together with Sheriff Beau, they made quite a sight on the subway, but must say blended in quite nicely with the regular crowd once we got to Roppongi.

Y'all have a good time now


P1010039.jpg
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
The prod man Beau "Mirror" Miller found some SNAP tassled faux-leather chaps during one of Crisscross' closet mass cleanouts, which became the inspiration for his Glitterball outfit.

beer No. 6


beer No. 6
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
Free drinks all night. Enough said!

The Glitterball


P1010031.jpg
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
Velfarre's spinning globe of mirrors, aka the disco ball, or on this night, the Metropolis Glitterball.

cat/death/uma


cat/death/uma
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
Even though it was on a Wednesday night, cousins M & M were nice enough to stop by, and I think they had a good time too! Midori made it through the night, but Madoka disappeared halfway through... I think Death here had something to do with it... Madoka, are you ok??

masalica


masalica
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
Masa, super-polite and a go-getter sales account manager when I see him at work everyday, transforms into an air-guitar riffing, head-banging K-1 fighter "Masalica" (like Metallica, get it?) once he gets a few beers in him.

masked and bewigged ladies


masked and bewigged ladies
Originally uploaded by ninapod.
We found Nishimoto-san just as we were sneaking off from the party, and isn't that a beautiful mask she is wearing? Apparently an authentic Venetian creation, quanto bello!!