Saturday, December 22, 2007

Fried Chicken Beer and One Good Ass Whoopin'

Fried Chicken Draft One beer




This was some youngish dude getting his ass kicked by an extremely angry older fellow in front of Tokyo Hands Department store in Shibuya. It seemed like old dude was just being a dick, but there was no way I was going to step in, me being a 'dangerous foreigner man' and all. So I just kicked back and watched for about 30 minutes. Japanese police are worthless, towards the end I was really feeling bad for young guy, but he wasn't putting up a fight at all. There goes the neighborhood.

Merry Fucking Christmas



Just when it seemed like things were back on track, it seems I have been duped again and this time only 3 days before Christmas. NOVA Corp./G-Communications is becoming incredibly efficient at striking down their formerly loyal employees with dismissal notices at the worst times. Not that I should be surprised, they harbor and breed a culture of dishonesty in the management, but I really liked teaching for the company. So, this is my big Christmas present of 2007: a notice of dismissal two weeks before I was supposed to resume working and less than 2 months before my visa expires. All this after I was encouraged to take a vacation by G-Comm and ensured I could start working on January 10th.

Friday, December 21, 2007

Who the fuck goes to Providence, RI???



Akira returned to Japan from Rhode Island after a 3 year hiatus. Apparently it is difficult these days to do internet research on how lame some places are before you make a commitment to stay there for an extended period....... Anyway, he is back and I showed him around Shibuya, which made for an interesting situation: a really, really Japanese dude that was really, really nervous to be around so many Japanese folks in central Tokyo with a really, really white tour guide.



Tokyo Metro. I only love New York's skyline more.

Rain in Africa/TamaPlaza


My boys took a hike. I take pride in giving big props to two big friends who meant a whole fucking lot to in the jungle of Tokyo and on Kilimanjaro. We'll see you again. It'll happen.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Standing-0 and Atom


After Tucanos we hit up Shibuya Standing-0 and Atom for what turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable evening. It fuckin' rocked!!!

Band of Brothers

The Brazilian


Paul organized his monthly churrasco at Tucanos which I normally don't attend, but this one was Paul and Matt's official going away party, so I made the effort. And it was worth it..... Great food, great drink, great friends, and hot-bodied ladies!

WILL POWER!!!

I despise Will Smiff with a passion, but his new movie, I Am Legend, looks like it kicks ass. Following in the footsteps of Vincent Price and Charlton Heston may not be so bad after all.....

Retern to Tran-sylvania


Transylvania
Old Boy David Tran is back in Tokyo. It is really good to see him again after his year of travelling, which can be checked out on his blog at Pimpin' Worldwide $$$. Good to have you back, Dirty Dave, even its only for a few weeks.



The hills of west Tokyo from Futako Tamagawa Station


Shibuya and Central Tokyo on a beautiful day

Almost Ghost


Last Tuesday night I took Matt and for one of his last "Shibuya Nights." Manu, Cam, and some of David's friends tagged along and we made a night of it. It was pretty fun, but I got too drunk and then it sucked after that. One the plus side, I discovered the Mega-Tamago & Mega-Tomato.

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Randoms

Over Yoyogi Park from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building

Cat Man with Cheetah in the 109 Shibuya

Deluxe Jesus toy with 3 loaves and 2 fish

Monday, December 3, 2007

Back to Narnia



After a long day working in an all women's university with 100% NO good looking femininas, Matt came over for a beer then we met Paul on the train for another one of the normals: "Shibuya Nights." It was Kiho's farewell that night so after we had a few run-ins with homeless weirdos, Don Quixote staff, and university cheerleaders, we partied with Kiho and one of her friends. It was all good, except this drunken asshole (in the last picture) tried to pick a fight with me because I didn't want him to stand at our already crowded table even though his table was free. All the dudes want to love Paul and smash me up. I'll take the later and receive my love from the ladies.

"SHIBUYA NIGHTS"

From Perth with love....

When in Perth, do as the 'roos do: Box. This is one of the bizarre photos that Yuko sent me from Australia......

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Big Friday & Another Horse



Thanksgiving is actually semi-observed in Japan, a fact that I guess slipped me last year, but it is held on a Friday so people are skimped of a 4-day weekend. I decided to take the day off from sitting on my ass in front of my computer searching for a job and head to Yoyogi Park for an all day rave by NHK Hall. I met up with the ladies who invited me, Mami and Noriko, then later Paul and some other showed up. After the rave winded down, Paul, Kiyoko, Noriko and I went to dinner then Noriko and I went to Minami Aoyama for Helene's photo exhibition, "Rountine Way" /party in which I was a model. I got home at 6am, so it was a long day, but well worth it.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Happy F**king Thanksgiving!!


Who needs a turkey for Thanksgiving when you can have a corndog without the bread on it! My Thanksgiving dinner kicks everybody else's dinners ass.


And then these are the deviled-eggs I made for the real Thanksgiving dinner at Carl Louis' house.

Fuji-phile

Industry meets Nature
Fuji/Sunset over north Kawasaki, November 2007

Miho's Fall Visit



Miho made the trip up from Osaka this past weekend for an old times get-together in Tokyo. It's always fun having her around for a few days; it feels like I am "living the dream" again back in Orlando. Anyway, we went out with Paul and Matt the first night to the old 200yen bar where we ran into Sam and then met a group of Italian chicks with whom I rapped. Saturday we hooked up with an old face from Orlando, Sumiyo. She was a really cool chick that was a student with Miho at the school where I worked, ASPECT. We had a "Shibuya" day with her and her boyfriend and then got wasted on that night for Rohan's 'farewell' party. Sunday was a relaxing day; we had a picnic on the banks of the Tamagawa river with Hideki, a Futako friend, and Rie, one of my old students. It was a busy but extremely fun weekend. Thanks for coming, Miho!!


Sunday, November 11, 2007

Welcome back, Gen San!


Sunday I organized (with the help of the lovely Mayu Miyata) a party for an old Shibuya comrade, Gen. He is going on round-the-world trip not unlike the ever so popular Dave Quest, and dropped in Japan for a few days. It was fun time with old friends. Good Luck, Gen!

King Karl's Koncert


Saturday night I worked the door at Louis's seasonal jazz concert. It's always fun at his shows and I got to drink and eat for free on account of my security detail. Big ups!!

Farewell Swiss Dave


Friday night Kumiko threw a going away party for her boyfriend, Swiss Dave. He is a cool bloke that is one of Dirty Dave and Oz James' friends from Sydney. Another cat that was spun in the web of friends. Good Luck, Dave!

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Chaos & Confusion

A Full Moon & Fuji


Since the last time I posted anything, a lot has happened: my company went down, there was a scramble for jobs, friends were evicted and the utilities cut off, etc..... I have been living off savings and borrowed money, hoping one of the jobs that I have applied & interviewed for comes through. Things are coming down to the wire now and don't look too promising. Who knows what the future will bring for Jim of the World.