October 2003

October 29, 2003

I've put a few more things up on the wedding page, and done a bit of updating. Thanks to everyone who's emailed so far with suggestions and offers of help! Note that there is now a permanent link on this page (to the left), as I'll be putting up all updates and related info on that page right up until 'the big day'.

October 27, 2003

In preparation for the wedding in May, Laura and I have started putting together a wedding page that we can use to coordinate all the things that need to get done before then. For those that want to help, or for those who simply want to know what's going on, you will be able to find it all here. I will be putting a permanent link on this main page soon.

October 24, 2003

Things have been pretty busy this week as I prepare to move to a new school, and also as prime sightseeing season comes into its prime. Laura and I are trying to fit in as much as we can this autumn, and I was happy to get to see the Jidai Matsuri this week, if only briefly.

This weekend I am taking part in an Aikido demonstration in the old practice hall at the Budo Centre here in Kyoto, which should be fun. There is a shihan visiting from the neighbouring city of Otsu to conduct a weapons class as well, which I'm looking forward to.

On Monday I'm meeting with a monk from Nanzen-ji temple for my second session in my introduction to zazen meditation in the Rinzai style. I'm really looking forward to it, but in a very calm and living-in-the-present-and-not-yearning-for-the-future kind of way. Maybe.

As soon as I get the chance, I'll be putting some new pages together, as there is a serious backlog. I have never made a Nanzen-ji page, which is crazy, seeing as it is one of my favourites, and since I'm now studying there. I also have pages to do on Uji, Nara...and not to mention the fact that I have seven rolls of film waiting to be developed (which is going to cost me a fortune!). Now that we're reasonably settled in the new place, I'll hopefully have the time to do some of this...

October 22, 2003

Today is the day for Kyoto's Jidai Matsuri, or the festival of the ages. Today over 2000 people will march through the city - from the Imperial Palace to the Heian Shrine - in period dress from Japan's ages past.

It's interesting to see these dates coming around a second time, and to compare my present situation with last year's. Last year I was a part-time worker, and spent the whole day checking out the festival...this year I'm going to go over quickly to watch the set-up before rushing to work. The parade itself starts at noon, but I won't be able to wait until then...

It's also one year ago today that Laura's aunt Marlene came to visit us...our one and only visitor since coming to Japan a year and a half ago.

How will things have changed in my life by the time the next Jidai-matsuri rolls around...?

October 20, 2003

At long last, we are reconnected to the internet. Who knew that being disconnected would be so hard!

There's a lot to put up here, as we've been pretty busy in the interim. Yesterday, Laura and I finally crossed Nara off of our places we had to go in Japan. We did a marathon day of sightseeing, taking in the Big Buddha in Todaiji, the Pagoda at Kofukuji, seeing the deer in Nara park and then climbing a mountain to watch the sunset over the city.

Last week I also visited Kounji for the first time. It is a sub-temple of Nanzen-ji (which is a major temple for the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism), and I have been allowed to join as a lay-practitioner to learn about Zen meditation. I had my first session there on Friday.

I also found out last week that I'm going to be transferred to a new school in Shiga prefecture, a little down the line from where I am now. It's going to be pretty strange to change schools after so long, and I feel like I'll be leaving a lot of cool people behind.

October 13, 2003

Man, I think this is the longest I've ever gone without making an update...but it's been a bit of a process getting reconnected to the internet. I'm actually sitting in an internet cafe now, getting an inordinate amount of pleasure out of being hooked in again, if only briefly. Hopefully I'll be online by Friday!

The big news on the writing front, for those of you who haven't heard, is that my article for Black Belt Magazine finally went to print...the November issue. It actually made it in as a feature article, with lots of pictures to go with it. The article even got mention on the cover...how fun. Check it out while it's still on the newsstands!

The move into the new apartment went very smoothly, thanks to our friend Miyuki, who borrowed a van for us. The new apartment is excellent, and the neighbourhood is incredible.

The process of getting settled in to a new place has definitely eaten up a lot of our time (and money), but at long last I feel that the move is over. If I could just get internet going...