[538] Oh, right... - 2007/12/31 (Mon)

This is my announcement of this year's best three memories. They're private until the end, but...

First, at number 3...

'First Dance' (^_^) It was seriously stressful. (^^;) My head was filled with static. (^_^)

And at number 2...

'First Photography Exhibit' (A collaboration, but still) It was so great to meet everyone. (^_^) Someday, a one-man show!!

And the great number 1... Definitely!!

'Climbing Mt Fuji' (^_^) Maaaan, I am so glad I climbed it. It was really hard, but I want to climb it again next year, too. (^_^)

On the work front... Number 3 is 'Matsusaka Beef' (^_^) That was the best flavor of my life. (^_^) I'm so glad we did some stuff there... (^_^)

Number 2 I can't forget, 'Hakugin & Yasokai.' Let's make some splendid memories together next year, too.

And number one is of course 'Asia Concert.' Music crosses national borders. Thoughts are transmitted through sounds. That's what I felt in that moment.

Well, a few jokes mixed in (^_^) but they're mostly things like this I think. This year, too, we talked about all sorts of things, and got splendidly busy. (^_^)

Next year... Make no mistake, we'll be busy again, but. (^_^)

Well then well then, let's head for the red and white and relax for a while...

Let's make next year another good year filled with nice smiling faces. (^_^)

P.S. This Year's Drawer Fertilizer: (bwahahah) First, Billy. (^^;) Then there's the Wii..., oh yeah, and the PS3... (^^;) Maybe I'll get them out for New Years...? (^_^)


[ happy new year everybody! akemashite omedetou gozaimasu~ ]

[537] Secret Weapon (bwhahah)- 2007/12/31 (Mon)

Well, we'll get there somehow anyway. (^_^) The Back Pain Band... Destined for greatness. (^_^)

Next year's goal is to strengthen my back. (^^;) There haven't been a lot of years without back pain, so it'll be a relief...

As for this year, it can't really be New Year's without the red and white, * so please don't forget the promised jump. (^_^)

Well then well then everyone have a good year~


[ * red and white being traditional japanese colors of happiness and celebration. ]

[536] Three days left!! - 2007/12/29(Sat)

Bracelets, they're pretty popular. (^_^)

Only three more days of this year of tears and laughter. Really, this year went fast, huh...

Let's spend it with no regrets, what little remains of this year.

'This year's dirt stays in this year.' (^_^) ... If that's so, it's time for a major spring cleaning. (bwahahah)

Well then, those of you having end-of-the-year holidays (major jealousy) please take it easy until next year. (^_^)

[535] UFO? - 2007/12/28 (Fri)

The lure of 'Yuuhou' (bwahahah) *

Fi, finally it's ready. Hosho's newest work, the so-called 'Yuuhou.' (^_^)

Yeah, someone out there has some good sense, huh? And no small amount of collaboration with me. (^_^)

This time, the motif is decisively 'dragon.'

Until now, when you mention dragon motif accessories, I can think of all kinds of examples, but they're all pretty much the same, and none of them really hit home.

But, as someone who visits the Kuzuryu Shrine every year without fail, I always wondered if there wasn't some must have item out there just for me. (^_^) **

For that reason, we made this with a design I was pleased with. (^_^)

When Hosho-san first saw the finished design, his face lit up, like, 'Wow, this is great, really, this is amazing!' and I forgot about the entire rest of my life. (^_^)

The 'Human' and 'Lily' goods will make you say, nice! but 'Yuuhou' ... is the best!!

You should definitely check the goods out at least once. Truly, this stuff is amazing.

Hosho-san, thank you for the lovely must-have item.

Everyone, may your fortune rise next year like the ascending dragon. (^_^)

Well then, I slowly return to my rest. (^_^) Only four days left in the year...


[ * i was wondering for the longest time what the hell he thought was so funny about this, until at last my synapses got up their ambition and crossed the vast distances to say a passing hello to one another in the inky void. yuu hou = yuu country. i'm pretty sure i have to own some of this stuff now. also, thanks to Emi, who pointed out the correct pronounciation of da goods. i love the font of info that is the readers of this blog. (^_^)
** the kuzuryu shrine, the shrine of the nine headed dragon, is that shrine he mentioned earlier this year with the torii gate standing out in the middle of the lake. something about it being a great place for a wedding, i think he said...

oh yeah, also. the email from yuu's BBS this afternoon was about a new line of accessories with clear crystals in them that started selling... today i think it said. bad me, i deleted the thing. ]

[534] Presents (^_^) - 2007/12/27 (Thu)

Finally, walking has become feasible. (^_^) After three days, it seems I'm ready for some kind of come-back. Maaan, thank God. (whew)

So, on to snowboarding. (^_^)

I've been using them for for something like four years, my snowboarding boots, but they really hurt my feet a lot. I thought they'd get better if I broke them in, the more I used them, but the other day I finally went out and bought new ones. (^_^)

The season when I bought my earlier boots was all wrong, they didn't have most sizes, and trying to make little compromises on that is no good. Seriously, gliding in pain is hell.

This time, I tried on I don't know how many, and selected the ones that fit my own feet right to a tee. Well, actually, I was aiming for a stylish end product, but without the proper size, there were unexpected expenses, (^_^) so everyone, never compromise on your shoes. Pleasing your feet is the most important.

However, even this world has evolved quite a bit in only a few short years. I sort of accidentally bought a replacement full set. (^^;)

Yeah, properly patient. (^_^) I don't have much longer to go on my current board. (bwahahah)

There's no time in this season, so how many times will I get to go I wonder... I'd like to go at least 10 times. (oh please)

Well then, thank you all for your end of year wishes!!

P.S. There are a lot of makers of snowboards, but if you want a recommendation, it has to be BURTON... They're great! (^_^)

[533] Chicken Ham Postscript - 2007/12/26 (Wed)

A really amazing lot of people have back pain. Probably has something to do with being born a bipedal human being. Even with how many years of chiropracty and acupuncture, it continues its circuit, and I always believe I'm cured, but. (^^;)

It always comes back right when I've recovered, like, whew, and forgotten about it. Maan, let's all take care of ourselves, okay.

So, the essential chicken ham. If you look it up on the net, I think you'll find recepies with various prescription, but I'll outline it for you.

Prepare
Chicken Breast meat (Must be breast meat)
Sugar
Salt
Pepper
Zip Lock bag
Saran wrap
A pan in which you can entirely submerge the chicken meat
Extras (^_^)

First, remove theskin from the ckicken and rub in a teaspoonfull of sugar. When moisture appears, repeat the process, this time with salt. An ample tablespoon should be good. Similarly, rub this in thoroughly.
To close, rub in a little bit of pepper, and seal it in a zip lock bag with as much of the air taken out as possible.

So, leave it alone for two or three days in the refridgerator. (^_^) If you try to touch it and it's got a sort of crunchy texture, your preperations were OK. Wash away the oxidised fat. (Water about 32~33 degrees) * After that, soak it in a salt water mixture (about 1.5% concentration) for 30 minutes to an hour. Incidentally, I soak it for an hour.

Firmly wipe it dry with kitchen paper, roll it up in Saran Wrap like a maki roll with as firm pressure as you can. Candy wrap the ends, and, taking the air out from inside, shape it up like a ham. Ideally, wrapping it round and round like an octopus would be good.

After that, put in the water and boil it 30 minutes over low heat, about 70~75 degrees, or you can put it in simmering water and leave it for 6~8 minutes with the lid open and the flame up until it comes to a boil again, I think either way should be fine. If you don't submerge the chicken meat completely in the water, it won't work, so please be careful.

When it cools down, take it out, put it to bed in the fridge for up to half a day and voila, 'Chicken Ham' is complete!!

When you boil it, make holes with a toothpick in the wrap, and you'll get a nicely flavored chicken stock. If you don't make holes, the stock won't form, but the flavor of the chicken will concentrated in the ham.

People's tastes are widely scattered, so please try some fine tuning a couple of times of the boiling time and salt mixture. Mine was only a little salty. If you add mayonaise, it's delicious. (^_^)

If you cut it the middle is a just a little pink, like a ham. The flavor might be described as chicken-style ham, too.

For people who've never made it, definitely take up the challenge, and please tell us youre inpressions.

Well then well then~ Only one more week in the year~


[ * all degree mesurements are of course in celcius. after all the cooking tips he spouts, a) i'm going to start referring to him as Cooking Mama, and b) i'm going to put recepie translation experience on my resume. ]

[532] Hii, Hii, Hoo... - 2007/12/25 (Tue)

When you're in pain, it's the Lamaze method. (^_^)

Also, going to the toilet has become a major event. (^^;) Seriously, being an old man is trouble...

Reluctantly, I had to give up on the live (T_T) but at least I was able to rescue the chicken ham. (^_^) While I was up for a trip to the toilet, I boiled some water, and left the chicken ham as it was (^_^) in the simmering water with a little bit of salt, and then turned off the heat and covered it and waited a few hours until it was cooled, and then it was finished.

To tamper or not to tamper, the Leave it Completely Alone play had the better merits (^_^) and I had some great success with some street photos. (*joy*)

By the way, what are you doing for Christmas? (bwahahah)

Well, at this rate, I'll have to wait about two days. Once I'm able to walk, I'm going straight to the doctor.

If I can rest a day, it'll get better little by little, so everyone be careful.

However, seriously, I've got to do something about my lower back. Standing, sitting, sleeping, they all hurt. I can hold my back pain, and I've experienced not being able to move time and again, but for first timer's, it's pretty frustrating.

When I first had pain like this, I had my cell phone at my bedside, since I couldn't even stretch my hand out it hurt so bad. Plus, when I inevitably trudged over to the bonesetting institution that was right before my eyes and ear from my house, (usually about a minute) they handed over a compress and said, 'Bed rest, three days.' (^^;) That time, with even walking unreasonable in the end, it was about a month until I made a complete recovery. (^^;)

Yeah, this time, I'll behave. Besides the making of the chicken ham. (^_^)

Well then well then everyone, please definitely try the chicken ham challenge. (^_^) It doesn't require much labor, and if it was delicious with the leave it alone play I've been describing, you can't go wrong. Definitely for people without much time!!

P.S. Santa-san... Did you come? (^_^) I bought myself some snow boarding goods. (^_^)


[ also, i just realized his iron chef reference from the other day. between this, lamaze, and his general kookiness, i've become utterly convinced that i must visit his country and undertake the serious task of ninja stalking. (^_^) ]