Tuesday January 31, 3:43 p.m.
Crossover announcement here. I just started another blog dealing with my love of J-Pop oldies called "Kayo Kyoku Plus". It's even more niche blog than this one, but if you're one of the dozen fans in this country, please take a look. As for the explanation of the title, you can find out over there.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Nippon Express Part 2
Tuesday January 31, 3:23 p.m.
Well, made the drive to Brampton on the west end of the city to meet that lady at Nippon Express to clear my packages with Customs Canada. It wasn't too bad in terms of traffic since we went there at noon. The 401 was clear sailing. Nippon Express was located in an industrial park just off of Hurontario.
Got there 15 minutes ahead of schedule which means that we were on schedule. My sales rep came out and made a couple of copies of my B-15 form that I'd gotten from Pearson Customs when I got home 6 weeks ago, and my passport. She predicted that things would go as smooth as silk, thanks to the B-15. Actually, the longest part of the whole thing was the drive from NE to the Customs centre nearby the airport and back which was a 30-minute round trip. The actual talk with the uniformed agent was only 1 minute. A bit of a waste in time and gasoline but as long as there were no hassles, I was grateful. The sales rep, Ms. Anderson, was a friendly young lady so the drive between NE and Customs went more quickly. Despite the name, Ms. Anderson is a Japanese woman who got married in her home country and then emigrated with her husband several years ago. We traded some of our war stories. She told me of some of the problems that she's encountered when transplanted Japanese businesspeople with very little English ability come to her office without the B-15. So, the moral of the story is...you're coming here to stay for a while, at least? Welcome to Canada.....BRING THE B-15 FORM!
On the way back, we discussed about the delivery for tomorrow. She had quite the hangup about whether or not the truck would be allowed to drop the stuff off in the visitors' parking. But I reassured her that I would talk to the super as soon as I got home. I didn't think we would have a problem. And sure enough, once I got on the phone with him, he was actually a bit surprised that I would even call him about it. I've sent Ms. Anderson the good news.
And so, 940 CDs will be arriving on my doorstep to adorn my room...and probably to aggravate my parents.
Well, made the drive to Brampton on the west end of the city to meet that lady at Nippon Express to clear my packages with Customs Canada. It wasn't too bad in terms of traffic since we went there at noon. The 401 was clear sailing. Nippon Express was located in an industrial park just off of Hurontario.
Got there 15 minutes ahead of schedule which means that we were on schedule. My sales rep came out and made a couple of copies of my B-15 form that I'd gotten from Pearson Customs when I got home 6 weeks ago, and my passport. She predicted that things would go as smooth as silk, thanks to the B-15. Actually, the longest part of the whole thing was the drive from NE to the Customs centre nearby the airport and back which was a 30-minute round trip. The actual talk with the uniformed agent was only 1 minute. A bit of a waste in time and gasoline but as long as there were no hassles, I was grateful. The sales rep, Ms. Anderson, was a friendly young lady so the drive between NE and Customs went more quickly. Despite the name, Ms. Anderson is a Japanese woman who got married in her home country and then emigrated with her husband several years ago. We traded some of our war stories. She told me of some of the problems that she's encountered when transplanted Japanese businesspeople with very little English ability come to her office without the B-15. So, the moral of the story is...you're coming here to stay for a while, at least? Welcome to Canada.....BRING THE B-15 FORM!
On the way back, we discussed about the delivery for tomorrow. She had quite the hangup about whether or not the truck would be allowed to drop the stuff off in the visitors' parking. But I reassured her that I would talk to the super as soon as I got home. I didn't think we would have a problem. And sure enough, once I got on the phone with him, he was actually a bit surprised that I would even call him about it. I've sent Ms. Anderson the good news.
And so, 940 CDs will be arriving on my doorstep to adorn my room...and probably to aggravate my parents.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Nippon Express
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| courtesy of Flick nespodzany |
Well, when it rains, it pours. Not only did I get the next batch of translations from Cozy, but I finally got THE call from Nippon Express, my movers, whose Toronto branch is in Mississauga. The 12 boxes have arrived, and tomorrow Dad and I have to head on over to get them cleared through Customs. Dad's rather grumbly about it since he had assumed that "Door-to-door"meant what it said. But the Canadian government made sure that it's not so. Also, I got word from her that the truck cannot use the visitor parking to unload when the truck comes over on Wednesday morning. Well, where are they gonna unload? I've got the feeling that it could be a long 2 days.
Anyways, I had to cancel Wednesday's lunch with The Wild Guy and The Egg with the next opening on the following Tuesday.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
6 Weeks
Sunday January 29, 11:45 p.m.
Coming to the end of another weekend. My brother's family came over for dinner, and so I could play with my niece once more. She's not into the Flag Game anymore...she's gone slightly conventional with Hide N' Seek. At the same time, my sister-in-law gave me some more tips on possible job openings via an organization called Costi and York Region...that latter choice is a bit removed from me. Strangely enough, one of my friends at last night's potluck also sent me the same web address for York Region via Facebook.
My mother went on full culinary power tonight. Sashimi, teriyaki chicken and tempura...it felt like a New Year's dinner...just without the osechi stuff. We briefly discussed about where we could take Dad for his birthday dinner in a couple of weeks. Nothing committed...I suggested Chako, that yakiniku place The Anime King had introduced me to a few weeks ago. There was also The Keg but for some reason, they don't take reservations on the weekends.
Anyways, as of tonight, it's been 6 weeks since I made my exodus back to Toronto. No job although Mark suggested that his wife's school may be calling me up in the next couple of weeks since I'm on the sub list. Still, I got those references and covering letter printouts from my brother, and he'll give me some estimates on inexpensive printers for home use.
Coming to the end of another weekend. My brother's family came over for dinner, and so I could play with my niece once more. She's not into the Flag Game anymore...she's gone slightly conventional with Hide N' Seek. At the same time, my sister-in-law gave me some more tips on possible job openings via an organization called Costi and York Region...that latter choice is a bit removed from me. Strangely enough, one of my friends at last night's potluck also sent me the same web address for York Region via Facebook.
My mother went on full culinary power tonight. Sashimi, teriyaki chicken and tempura...it felt like a New Year's dinner...just without the osechi stuff. We briefly discussed about where we could take Dad for his birthday dinner in a couple of weeks. Nothing committed...I suggested Chako, that yakiniku place The Anime King had introduced me to a few weeks ago. There was also The Keg but for some reason, they don't take reservations on the weekends.
Anyways, as of tonight, it's been 6 weeks since I made my exodus back to Toronto. No job although Mark suggested that his wife's school may be calling me up in the next couple of weeks since I'm on the sub list. Still, I got those references and covering letter printouts from my brother, and he'll give me some estimates on inexpensive printers for home use.
A Good Ol' Potluck Party
Sunday January 29, 1:58 p.m.
It was a pretty dreary day yesterday...typical January weather in Toronto. But the Anime Chamberlain picked me up as scheduled to take us both to our mutual friend's potluck party at his apartment in Etobicoke. I had been relieved to hear when our host asked me to bring dessert since I could hop on over to Eglinton Square and pick up some boxes of chocolates at Laura Secord. But Mom would have none of that and instead made a sponge cake for me to take over. In her traditionalist mind, a potluck should consist of homemade, not store-bought, dishes.
Since we were rather early, The Chamberlain and I stopped off at an outlet shop of Mr. Christie's near the Lakeshore which sells bulk versions of their cookies. I ended up buying a large package of Chunks Ahoy chocolate-chip cookies for the parents and me. Looking at the size of those chunks of chocolate made me paraphrase the company's famed catchphrase, "Geez, Mr. Christie, you make good diabetics."
My friends had their potluck in the 1st-floor party room. It turned out to be a reunion of sansei folks from my past. And showing our age, we all got to play Trivial Pursuit 80s, Monopoly, and Scrabble. Those disco-going days are long gone. I didn't get to play Monopoly, but then again, I didn't really want to since it looked those guys were going at it hard and heavy...kinda like a more contentious episode of "The Lang and O'Leary Exchange" on CBC Newsworld...a lot of it due to The Anime Chamberlain who seemed to have inserted himself as negotiations expert/Devil's Advocate. On the other hand, I did enjoy the other two games since they both played to my strengths...a long legacy of crossword puzzles and trivia. Adding those to my old love of things Trek would secure the geek trifecta for me. If Johnny Galecki ever decided to leave "The Big Bang Theory"...
Between games and noshing, I had a few good conversations as well with some old friends. I met one who, like me, had her JET and private English-teaching experiences in Japan for several years before returning. And I met a friendly Russian couple of which the wife has been a long Japanophile who had lived in Tokyo for many years and could make a run for my money in Japanese fluency.
As with all of my social circles over the past few decades, food was the centre to attract everyone. In fact, next week, some of these guys are planning to head to arguably the best Japanese restaurant in Toronto, Ematei, for dinner. But unfortunately (or fortunately for my wallet), I have to decline since I have my first Skype lesson with Mr. Moriya here at home.
For today, it's a stay-at-home. I spent an hour thinking about how to present my talk next week at Sam's church, and then my brother's family comes over for dinner.
It was a pretty dreary day yesterday...typical January weather in Toronto. But the Anime Chamberlain picked me up as scheduled to take us both to our mutual friend's potluck party at his apartment in Etobicoke. I had been relieved to hear when our host asked me to bring dessert since I could hop on over to Eglinton Square and pick up some boxes of chocolates at Laura Secord. But Mom would have none of that and instead made a sponge cake for me to take over. In her traditionalist mind, a potluck should consist of homemade, not store-bought, dishes.
Since we were rather early, The Chamberlain and I stopped off at an outlet shop of Mr. Christie's near the Lakeshore which sells bulk versions of their cookies. I ended up buying a large package of Chunks Ahoy chocolate-chip cookies for the parents and me. Looking at the size of those chunks of chocolate made me paraphrase the company's famed catchphrase, "Geez, Mr. Christie, you make good diabetics."
My friends had their potluck in the 1st-floor party room. It turned out to be a reunion of sansei folks from my past. And showing our age, we all got to play Trivial Pursuit 80s, Monopoly, and Scrabble. Those disco-going days are long gone. I didn't get to play Monopoly, but then again, I didn't really want to since it looked those guys were going at it hard and heavy...kinda like a more contentious episode of "The Lang and O'Leary Exchange" on CBC Newsworld...a lot of it due to The Anime Chamberlain who seemed to have inserted himself as negotiations expert/Devil's Advocate. On the other hand, I did enjoy the other two games since they both played to my strengths...a long legacy of crossword puzzles and trivia. Adding those to my old love of things Trek would secure the geek trifecta for me. If Johnny Galecki ever decided to leave "The Big Bang Theory"...
Between games and noshing, I had a few good conversations as well with some old friends. I met one who, like me, had her JET and private English-teaching experiences in Japan for several years before returning. And I met a friendly Russian couple of which the wife has been a long Japanophile who had lived in Tokyo for many years and could make a run for my money in Japanese fluency.
As with all of my social circles over the past few decades, food was the centre to attract everyone. In fact, next week, some of these guys are planning to head to arguably the best Japanese restaurant in Toronto, Ematei, for dinner. But unfortunately (or fortunately for my wallet), I have to decline since I have my first Skype lesson with Mr. Moriya here at home.
For today, it's a stay-at-home. I spent an hour thinking about how to present my talk next week at Sam's church, and then my brother's family comes over for dinner.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
More Anime
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| courtesy of TheMentes via Flickr |
As usual, after the bountiful dinner at Jerusalem, the two of us high-tailed it over to his place. I sat in his chair and listened to several of his anime songs. I had warned him beforehand that I would most likely doze off due to age and amount of food ingested. But no problems there. As soon as I started to nod off, he put on the frantic "Ielvan Polka", an anime video staple from several years back via YouTube and Nico Nico Douga. Just combine the Vocaloid Miku Hatsune and a classic Swedish song. Less grating than "Nyan Cat".
But the feature of the evening was another anime by the name of "Ben-to", adapted from a manga. Another hilariously whacked-out series which combines daily shopping and "Fight Club". They even have rules in these boxed lunch battles. Saw a couple of episodes of those before The King took me home. Some of these animators just have this ability to combine two forms to create classic absurdist theatre.
Jerusalem
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| Rice Pudding |
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| Round 1 |
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| Would've loved a bigger flash here |
This was definitely an omnivore's paradise. Lots of meat on display such as roast beef and variations on chicken but to counter them, there was also a sizable salad bar. Plenty of breads as well, including a really zesty number with all sorts of spices and herbs baked in. Of course, there was a dessert table that The King and I visited several minutes after our last bite of the main courses. As I said, pacing is key here. The tiny baklava was wonderfully flaky and sweet but not cloyingly so. But the winner for me was the rice pudding with raisins.
Still, despite my master's mantra in my head, my girth was threatening to smash our table into my eating partner. And of course, the inevitable buildup of methane made me feel like one of those honey ants in the southwestern United States. Didn't see any sign of belly dancers, though. Mind you, leaving the place I think my belly was doing the meringue all the way to the King's house.
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