Moving' on UP
BAM!!! omedetou! You have advanced from the regional level to the state level! Pepsi will be available AFTER the game. hehe
No Pepsi on Pepsi Day--Stay Calm!
Today the kid is bowling in the Pepsi regional bowling tournament with his new, quite "uniquely" coloured bowling ball.
Good luck, musuko. I'm proud of you for being in the game and for doing what you do. Now is the only time there ever is, so put your heart into each moment and let winning and losing take care of itself. Most of all, have fun!
Swimming Progress
I swam over a mile* today, broken down into mostly 100 and 25 yard repeats.
Three sets of these:
3 x 100y crawl
2 x 100y breaststroke
And two sets of these:
6 x 25y butterfly
I didn't even bother with backstroke because it takes finesse, and I don't even have the shampoo.
*What is a mile? On the road it's 1760 yards. In a yard pool it's 1650 yards. In a metre pool it's 1500 metres. Why? Who knows?!
Three sets of these:
3 x 100y crawl
2 x 100y breaststroke
And two sets of these:
6 x 25y butterfly
I didn't even bother with backstroke because it takes finesse, and I don't even have the shampoo.
*What is a mile? On the road it's 1760 yards. In a yard pool it's 1650 yards. In a metre pool it's 1500 metres. Why? Who knows?!
Chicken Katsu Sauce Recipe
Chicken Katsu Sauce Recipe
1/3 cup ketchup
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 soy sauce
2 tsp worcestershire sauce
(optional: 1/4 tsp pepper)
(optional: 1/4 tsp ground red pepper)
Just heat until ingredients blend. I let it cool completely before using.
This sauce is sweet, unless you add the optional pepper. Even adding just 1/4 tsp of black pepper made it too hot for me. I included the measurements for the peppers to keep the original recipe intact, found at: http://fooddownunder.com/cgi-bin/recipe.cgi?r=55251
1/3 cup ketchup
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 soy sauce
2 tsp worcestershire sauce
(optional: 1/4 tsp pepper)
(optional: 1/4 tsp ground red pepper)
Just heat until ingredients blend. I let it cool completely before using.
This sauce is sweet, unless you add the optional pepper. Even adding just 1/4 tsp of black pepper made it too hot for me. I included the measurements for the peppers to keep the original recipe intact, found at: http://fooddownunder.com/cgi-bin/recipe.cgi?r=55251
TI Swimming
I've been following the TI philosophy of swimming. It's a mindful, relaxed approach that puts
more emphasis on efficiency and technique rather than raw power and speed.
２００８年１０月１０日：New crawl record, 500 yards. These are my first year goals (open to revision) and the progress I've made:
crawl: 450 of 450
back: 225 of 225
breast: 125 of 125
fly: 50 of 125
２００８年８月２２日：New distance record. 400 yards. I stopped because I meant to do 2x400, but I didn't.
２００８年６月３日： Increased my front crawl record distance to 100 yards today, just by adjusting my breathing when turning. I noticed that I was taking in too much air in the turns, so I just inhaled less. Being over-pressurized is not a good thing. Intrathoracic pressure and all.
The other important thing that I've learned is that breathing is regulated by carbon dioxide, not oxygen. Regulating both pressure and CO2 is what enabled me to get beyond 25 metres or yards. Don't hold your breath; make bubbles!
Yaaahooo! (Howdy, cowboy.)
more emphasis on efficiency and technique rather than raw power and speed.２００８年１０月１０日：New crawl record, 500 yards. These are my first year goals (open to revision) and the progress I've made:
crawl: 450 of 450
back: 225 of 225
breast: 125 of 125
fly: 50 of 125
２００８年８月２２日：New distance record. 400 yards. I stopped because I meant to do 2x400, but I didn't.
２００８年６月３日： Increased my front crawl record distance to 100 yards today, just by adjusting my breathing when turning. I noticed that I was taking in too much air in the turns, so I just inhaled less. Being over-pressurized is not a good thing. Intrathoracic pressure and all.
The other important thing that I've learned is that breathing is regulated by carbon dioxide, not oxygen. Regulating both pressure and CO2 is what enabled me to get beyond 25 metres or yards. Don't hold your breath; make bubbles!
Yaaahooo! (Howdy, cowboy.)
Flight (Crash?) Testing
Flew the Super Cub RC "foamie" for the first time. 楽しかった。
Damage report: broke tail off, shattered cowling, bent propeller, slightly cracked firewall, and broke ends off 3 out of 4 wing struts. The wheels also seem to angle back further than before.
It isn't that bad. I had the tail back on in the time it took the hot glue to cool, then I flew again and "landed" again. Replaced the propeller. The struts will be easy to fix. The cowling broke like an eggshell; still waiting for the epoxy to set before gluing it even more. I could have all but the cowling in the air tomorrow.
ハッシン！
Update: the epoxy didn't stick very well to the plastic of the cowling. I ended up using hot glue to reinforce it. Hot glue FTW!
I'm Fly
That's me on the left training with Michael Phelps in my backyard baby pool.* It's amazing what swimming sounds like below the surface when one pushes the envelope of human aquatic ability.
*No, not really.
*No, not really.
Musuko Sensei
So, your kid is one year ahead and top of her class in a private school? Nice... My son is just a practising trauma surgeon; graduated from medical school at 9.
剣術
Note to self: Tsuka length, 3 palm widths. Blade length, just above ground.
I went to kenjutsu class last night. Sensei taught two kata (deadly dance moves) and two slices (suburi?).
I wore jammie bottoms and a T-shirt. I actually had the jammie top on under my jacket during the 5-minute walk to get to the doujou. What's the difference? A training gi was originally underwear. At least my jammies have a somewhat Chinese look to them. Better to train in boxers?
Time offers no refunds to those who waste their currency. I will only be able to attend about 5 times. Partly my fault. I had known about the sessions for two months but I didn't go. Then I was informed that we will leaving England two months early. Five months reduced to one month.
Before we leave I must cut my bokutou down to youth size to fit it in luggage.
I went to kenjutsu class last night. Sensei taught two kata (deadly dance moves) and two slices (suburi?).
I wore jammie bottoms and a T-shirt. I actually had the jammie top on under my jacket during the 5-minute walk to get to the doujou. What's the difference? A training gi was originally underwear. At least my jammies have a somewhat Chinese look to them. Better to train in boxers?
Time offers no refunds to those who waste their currency. I will only be able to attend about 5 times. Partly my fault. I had known about the sessions for two months but I didn't go. Then I was informed that we will leaving England two months early. Five months reduced to one month.
Before we leave I must cut my bokutou down to youth size to fit it in luggage.
People Whisperer
I credit the Dog Whisperer for demonstrating how to become pack leader by being calm and assertive. It works on thieves as well, or so it seems.Monday I noticed that my son's bike was stolen. Amazingly, Tuesday I saw it locked in town. I sent my son to call for the police while I guarded the bike. Three guys and a girl came over. I "talked" with them about "our" bike. Eventually the "new owner" just unlocked it for me. I thanked him. The end.
Now I just need to get my bikini.com towel back. Why would someone take my towel? Come awn.
魚雷になってる
やった！ ちょっと泳げる。I did the front crawl for 8 whole metres with breathing. My son was already doing some type of swimming action last week in Lanzarote. At least I've caught up. heheUpdate: Today, ２００８年２月２７日、I did a 16m front crawl. (The pool is only 16m.) One day I will be ready for the big pool! One day.
Update: ２００８年３月１０日、I did an approximation of the breaststroke with breathing. My instructor told me to inhale earlier in the stroke and it helped. I also think doing the butterfly surfing drill helped. I think the butterfly might be an easier stroke overall (for me), but I lack the experience to speak with authority. :-p
Update: ２００８年３月１９日、butterfly stroke practice today. I got over-the-surface recovery going somewhat. I really like this stroke. It's similar to the way I used to propel myself on a tube; dolphin kick and simultaneous arm movement. The only differences are the undulation and working breathing in there somewhere. heh
Update: ２００８年３月２７日、I swam the big-people pool! I managed to survive the "short course"(25m pool) twice today and once two days ago. I used the front crawl. None of the other strokes are working effectively for me yet.
Chinese State Circus
We just saw the Chinese State Circus. 素晴らしかった! I wouldn't doubt that they can direct their chi underneath themselves and use it like anti-gravity. Amazing stuff.
The most recent theatre visit is always my son's favorite. heh
Lanzarote
Last night we returned from a trip to Lanzarote. Lanzarote is one of the Canary Islands, owned by Spain, off the coast of Africa. The photo is of our first daylight view from our hotel room
balcony. I think the island in the distance is Fuerteventura. (Don't ask me how to pronounce that!)
Mars Man-bag
This man was spotted by the Mars rover. He is apparently carrying the very stylish Astro HandbagTM that protects its valuable contents from 100% of harmful cosmic radiation. Available in shimmering silver and glittering gold from a NASA store near you.(Picture taken in Timanfaya National Park.)
ベジータ DS Theme
It took me a while to figure out how to get these images to work on the R4 DS card. The trick to getting it to work [in my case] is this directory structure which is cAsE sEnSiTiVe. (I don't know if it matters that I made _SYSTEM_ a hidden directory.)
./_SYSTEM_/THEMES/THEME01/
The images are called, in order, LOGO.BMP, ICONS.BMP, BCKGRD_1.BMP, and BCKGRD_2.BMP.
I just cropped and sized the top image. The lower image I created using the original layout as a template. Each image must be 256x192 pixels, 24-bit color, and saved as BMP. The icons are 70x70 pixels.
There can be up to 12 themes. Press the "select" button to switch between themes. If any theme image is missing, the kernel will load a default image.
DHA (Omega-3)
Since I'm on the topic of supplements, an important one that we give our son is DHA (omega-3) in the form of strawberry-flavored fish oil. I found it while looking for a lemon flavored product recommended by a friend.After we started giving our son DHA, his work and behavior at school improved. Makes sense since DHA is important for brain development.
I take omega-3 capsules as well. I would use the oil myself if it weren't so expensive. Ever hear of fish burps? Well, strawberry burps are better. heh
苺風味！
Melatonin
I've been using melatonin since sometime in August 2007. Melatonin is a natural hormone that regulates sleep. Levels can be affected by age, blindness, and other issues. After over 5 months of use, there have been no apparent side effects. Only 0.5 milligrams of melatonin helps me to maintain a steady sleep pattern. It is inexpensive and sold along side vitamins and other supplements.
Before using melatonin, my internal clock believed the day was longer than 24 hours. After a week, that really messes up a sleep schedule. Using melatonin simply resets the clock and basically ends the day.
(My tablets don't look half as tasty as that molecule!)
Before using melatonin, my internal clock believed the day was longer than 24 hours. After a week, that really messes up a sleep schedule. Using melatonin simply resets the clock and basically ends the day.
(My tablets don't look half as tasty as that molecule!)ChiRunning
I've decided to learn how to do "ChiRunning." ChiRunning is supposed to be a mindful, less strenuous way to run. So far any running has been strenuous to me, possibly due to having large, wide, flat feet. After a short distance it feels like my calves will explode. I've improved a tiny bit by making some adjustments, so I'd like to learn more about running technique. After all, one day I might need to run to save a life; maybe my own.From what I gather, ChiRunning involves using gravity to create forward motion, landing mid-foot, and keeping the lower legs relaxed.
I've also read that walking and running barefoot can help one to learn to run with less impact while strengthening the feet. Also, that expensive, high-tech shoes that totally support the foot and supposedly reduce shock can actually weaken the feet and lead to injury. Part of the problem being that the shoes cause the feet lose the ability to sense the ground and impact and don't allow the arch to act as a natural shock absorber. The shock then transfers to other areas of the body.
Crawling
Without taking a breath, I managed to do an 8-metre front crawl today, starting from a streamlined glide (けのび). Changing the position of my head (and mind) a little and locking on to a reference point with my eyes helped a lot. I still can't believe how some people all but pop out of the water. How do people just hold their heads above the water?!I also did the back crawl with breathing. That goes well until I splash water up my nose. It's also a pain to crash into a wall head first. Just the thought of that makes me stop early. heh
木刀を買った
I received my bokutou* today. Now what? hahaha There are some people within a short walking distance from my flat who practise with these things. Gotta check em out.My sister told me that our Japanese relatives told her that we had samurai in our family way back. Look at us now... No longer carrying finely crafted swords; reduced to a collection of Ginsu knives that can cut through a can and still cut a tomato into paper thin slices. What the heck is "Ginsu" supposed to mean anyway?!
* 木刀 (ぼくとう) (n) wooden sword;
Stomp
We just got back from the theatre. We saw "Stomp". Basically, people banging on anything and everything including themselves. heh It was very good.Theatre is the one thing that keeps my son on the edge of his seat, other than video games.
We also saw "Slava's Snowshow" a while back. Some of the effects were intense. At times, the effects and participation spanned the entire seating area.
audio test clips
This is the "Waterloo" voice acting, UK version.
This is the "Waterloo" voice acting, New Jersey, USA version.
This is the "Waterloo" voice acting, New Jersey, USA version.
Laptop Incliner
An inexpensive* way to reduce neck discomfort, this book holder raises the top of the screen to eye level. The edge of the holder is a little uncomfortable on the wrists, but that could be trimmed off or padded. It doesn't matter if you use the mouse most of the time. The typing angle is good for people who must hunt for keys. heh
*Artificial plant not included.
Yeah, that's a Linux fish.
*Artificial plant not included.
Yeah, that's a Linux fish.
Breaking Wind
Travel tip: If you plan to stay in England any length of time, make sure you have a good vented umbrella. Nevermind the rain; the wind has been getting pretty strong. I've seen many damaged or straining dinky umbrellas. I'm glad I have a "super" umbrella. (Kmart, $12.99 plus tax. heh)
"Boy with umbrella in the wind"
William Henry Hunt (1790-1864), British
The most pitifully helpless figure on a rainy day was the unwary person whose umbrella the wind had turned inside out.
"Boy with umbrella in the wind"
William Henry Hunt (1790-1864), British
The most pitifully helpless figure on a rainy day was the unwary person whose umbrella the wind had turned inside out.
日本語で
日本語で (To make that more clear, it says, "nihongo de.")
Whoever gets this message, if I haven't done some blogging in Japanese, please leave a comment to remind me to do so. I had originally started blogging to practice writing in Japanese.
これから洗濯しなければならない。失礼します。(ワープロ馬鹿w)
Whoever gets this message, if I haven't done some blogging in Japanese, please leave a comment to remind me to do so. I had originally started blogging to practice writing in Japanese.
これから洗濯しなければならない。失礼します。(ワープロ馬鹿w)
Great "Swim"
Today was a breakthrough day for my son. He put his face in the water to practice swimming. That is something that I just started doing as well. I guess he figured that if I can do it, anyone can do it!We've been to pools in Guildford, Woking, and Basingstoke and not once did I do a proper swim stroke. heh At least we got to see some natives in the wild.
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