03/19/2006: "Blip"

So, the more observant of you might have noticed that the site was temporarily replaced by a 404 for a couple days last week. There's not much of a story behind that, except to say that when your credit card gets changed and you have to update all the things that charge it on a regular basis, the ones that only get charged once a year are likely to slip by. Really I was kind of thinking that I would have more to say on what amounts to one of the more exciting occurances in the life of this blog. But basically it was down for a couple days and now it's back.

Meanwhile, Lynnea is insisting that blogging our trip to 99 Ranch Market this afternoon will make for interesting reading and in the interest of proving to her that it really isn't I'll say a few words about that. So yeah, we uh, went up to 99 Ranch Market, and bought some groceries. For some reason I like 99 Ranch despite the fact that going there is incredibly stressful. I mean, anyone who's ever been to one (and actually for anyone who doesn't know what it is, it's a chain of large asian grocery stores) can attest that it's massively crowded and full of people won't think twice about running you down with their cart. Although as my friend Nate pointed out, so is much of Asia. For someone who has a minor phobia about being in the way of others though, that can make for an incredibly stressful shopping experience. In fact, my shoulders still feel a little tense. But as I say, I like the place regardless. Anyway, we got some good stuff - sake, squid jerky, those hard spiced plum candies with the salty centers that I love, shrimp snacks... the usual, basically. And that's really about all I can say about that. See, it wasn't very interesting, was it?

Anyway, I'm off to go play my poor, neglected PSP. It turns out I've been about a half hour from the end of Kingdom of Paradise for weeks and just had no idea (well... I had some idea, but the problem with games that let you collect stuff is that I've been wanting to collect everything before heading to the end, but really I just need to finish it... I've got better things to play).

Replies: 8 Comments

So when you teach in Japan, the shrimp snacks will make up for the crush of 2-3 million people?

[mary] on Tuesday, March 21st

Wait...
You're thinking about doing the Japan thing?

[Zac] on Tuesday, March 21st

Mary - I don't know if the shrimp snacks alone would make up for it, but they are but one of many many delicious japanese snack foods. Plus you know what else takes the edge off? Vending machines full of alcohol. Everywhere you go.

Zac - Yeah... I've been thinking about it for years. I find it odd that I've never mentioned that to you.

[Matt] on Tuesday, March 21st

Hrmm. Okay.

Moz - http://unsubstantiatedclaims.blogspot.com/ - is currently finishing up his stint with Nova in Japan. Much strangeness has he experienced...

[Zac] on Wednesday, March 22nd

Don't forget panties! Everything can be vended in the land of the rising son!

[mary] on Monday, March 27th

Grr. I meant 'sun'. You need to enable posters to edit/delete postings that they unwittingly embarrass themselves with.

[mary] on Monday, March 27th

Hmm... I don't think my blog software does that. Although I can edit and delete postings myself if I want to.

[Matt] on Monday, March 27th

Apparently having a BBQ on your porch is a big non-no in Japan...

[Zac] on Monday, March 27th