06/24/2009 Japan Revisited
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if you could live in a different place at a different point in time? That is exactly how I felt when revisiting Japan after almost ten years of being away. I would wish that I could go back ten years and start over and be able to stay in the country that has become my home even after so many years away. My wife says she can live without it and I guess I can also but I miss my father in law and my wifes two aunts. There are others that I wish I could see more often as well but if not then I guess it will not matter much anyway.
Our time spent in Japan was the best time I know that I have had in years. The activities that we had the prviledge to participate in while in Tokyo and in Nagoya made the entire trip worth all of the time and expense it took to get there. The time afterward was icing on the cake in my view
The real meaningful part of the trip for me was being able to see and spend time with my wifes family. while we were there I felt like I haven't felt on a long time. Like I was home. We got drunk like skunks almost everynight but with the exception of one massive hangover after I made the mistake of mixing sake with sho chu one night, we didn't get too far out of control.
We did a lot of running around while we were there because it has been ten years since we were there and we don't know when we can get back. We didn't get to do everything that we wanted to do because there was just not enough time. Even with the lack of time we spent the last couple of days lazing about the house soaking in the slended feelings of happiness that can only come from people you truly care about.
On the day that we were supposed to leave, we had called the cab to take us to the train station. Trust me when I say it was excruciatingly hard to get into that cab. Not only were we not wanting to leave but we knew what to expect when we got back. Anyway, we had the dogs and cats to worry about so there was no way we were going to miss our flight.
We made it to the train station in good time and also to Narita Airport. While there we ate lunch at a little resteraunt inside the terminal. I had what was probably the best soba noodle I have ever had in my life. They were absolutely out of this world. We also killed quite a bit of time looking for reading materials for the plane ride home. I found this really interesting book about a man named Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was one of the most famous if not the most famous Shogun in Japanese history.
The book did not help the flight home however. We got stuck behind some woman who would not shut up to save her life. For almost the entire flight she would yap, yap, yap, just like a barcking chihuahua. I wanted to scream but hey, it was a confined space.
What was even worse was after we got back into the U.S. We had a layover in L.A. and the only seat available was next to these Austrailian women that had to have overdosed on caffine because all they did was talk. They talked about everything from their trips to Europe to what they had for dinner on their last flight. Unfortunately for us they were flying through Texas on their way somewhere else. We hoped that they would not have seats anywhere near us but we were hoping in vain. Luckily for us, Dallas was our last stop. When we finally made it home around 8:30 p.m. we had to find all of the cats and dogs and make sure they were all there and in one piece. They are our little children you know.
Anyway, if you ever get to go overseas, Japan comes highly recommended from yours truly.
Rock On
Our time spent in Japan was the best time I know that I have had in years. The activities that we had the prviledge to participate in while in Tokyo and in Nagoya made the entire trip worth all of the time and expense it took to get there. The time afterward was icing on the cake in my view
The real meaningful part of the trip for me was being able to see and spend time with my wifes family. while we were there I felt like I haven't felt on a long time. Like I was home. We got drunk like skunks almost everynight but with the exception of one massive hangover after I made the mistake of mixing sake with sho chu one night, we didn't get too far out of control.
We did a lot of running around while we were there because it has been ten years since we were there and we don't know when we can get back. We didn't get to do everything that we wanted to do because there was just not enough time. Even with the lack of time we spent the last couple of days lazing about the house soaking in the slended feelings of happiness that can only come from people you truly care about.
On the day that we were supposed to leave, we had called the cab to take us to the train station. Trust me when I say it was excruciatingly hard to get into that cab. Not only were we not wanting to leave but we knew what to expect when we got back. Anyway, we had the dogs and cats to worry about so there was no way we were going to miss our flight.
We made it to the train station in good time and also to Narita Airport. While there we ate lunch at a little resteraunt inside the terminal. I had what was probably the best soba noodle I have ever had in my life. They were absolutely out of this world. We also killed quite a bit of time looking for reading materials for the plane ride home. I found this really interesting book about a man named Tokugawa Ieyasu. He was one of the most famous if not the most famous Shogun in Japanese history.
The book did not help the flight home however. We got stuck behind some woman who would not shut up to save her life. For almost the entire flight she would yap, yap, yap, just like a barcking chihuahua. I wanted to scream but hey, it was a confined space.
What was even worse was after we got back into the U.S. We had a layover in L.A. and the only seat available was next to these Austrailian women that had to have overdosed on caffine because all they did was talk. They talked about everything from their trips to Europe to what they had for dinner on their last flight. Unfortunately for us they were flying through Texas on their way somewhere else. We hoped that they would not have seats anywhere near us but we were hoping in vain. Luckily for us, Dallas was our last stop. When we finally made it home around 8:30 p.m. we had to find all of the cats and dogs and make sure they were all there and in one piece. They are our little children you know.
Anyway, if you ever get to go overseas, Japan comes highly recommended from yours truly.
Rock On
06/18/2009 Japan
Well, I am back from the beyond in the blogdom world. It has only been 6 months since my last blog entry and a lot has happened. It all started in early February when my wife found out that her favorite band was coming to Fort Worth. We got our tickets as soon as they went on sale and since my wife had been waiting for 22 years to see this band, all I heard for the next four months was, "are we really going to see Destruction".
So finally the day of the show comes and we make it down to Ft. Worth where we eat Vietnamese, and really good Vietnamese at that, and then went to the venue. Now being how it was a bar and it opened at 11:00 am we made it in plenty of time to belly up to the bar before the show. This is when it really started to get interesting. I go into the restroom to take a leak when Mike, the guitarist, comes into the restroom behind me and hits me in the rear with the toilet stall door. he says he is sorry and I say there is no problem and that is that. I don't even know who I am talking to at this point because I am really new to the band. I go out and my wife is sitting there saying "did you see Mike". I'm like, "Mike who", and she says,"the guitarist from Destruction, he followed you into the restroom", and I told her that he hit me with the door too the toilet stall".
Anyway, when Mike comes out of the restroom, I go and offer him a beer which he regretfully declines because he had just gotten up and had an upset stomach. Then I see Schmier, the bassist and lead singer walk in so Mike said I could give that beer to him if I wanted. If I'd had known the Mike likes red wine as opposed to beer then I would have offered him a a glass of wine instead. Oh well, he was gracious enough to stand around and talk to us for a few minutes along with Schmier before they performed their sound check. And afte a couple of minute, Marcus, the drummer, came off of the stage where he was preparing for the sound check and he started talking to us as well and so all five of us where standing around before the sound check bullshitting about beer and after I bought Marcus a beer he gave what was left of the beer he was drinking to my wife. How cool is that. After we talked for a while they did there sound check and we went outside and my wife and me got pictures with with Schmier. It was too cool.
During the show my wife got into a fight with some guy and wooped the shit out of him. She just made him look bad. He tried to play it off but the damage was done. Schmier gave her a fist bump after the show when he saw her. It was the coolest thing. What was even cooler than that was we were invited to the Destruction concert in Japan if we were to make it.
After some hard thinking we had decided that it was time to go back to Japan and to see my wifes family. We made the concert, don't get me wrong, but if that was all we were going for it would have been a pretty dumb thing to do to go half way around the world just for a concert. Anyway, we made the concert in Nagoya and met Schmier about half an hour before the show started. We talked a little and explained who we were and reminded him of his invitation and he was good enough to ask let us come back stage with him. That was absolutely amazing. So we hung out backstage and talked a little to the band before the show. My wife was in heaven, not to mention that the band got her drunk 30 minutes before the show. I managed to stay somewhat sober that night. it was a good night. After Destruction took the stage it was an amazing show and right off the bat Schmier referenced us and made a joke about the swine flu, telling everyone that they needed to drink more alcohol to kill those swine flu germs. Who'd have ever thought that I would ever be referenced by a world famous musician. After the set was over we were invited backstage again and we talked to the band and just hung out until it was time for them to go. We almost got to party with them that night but was blocked by the promoters.
Not to be deterred from seeing Destruction one more time, we made our way from Nagoya to Tokyo. My wife, understanding how things work decided she was not even going to try to find the venue, she just followed a guy with a heavy metal t-shirt on and he took us right to it. Way to go Tomomi. Well, we made it to the venue and was waiting for the doors to open when Destructions tour manager came out and personally got our names to be put on the guest list for the nights show. Tomomi couldn't help but notice the look oneveryones faces when that happened. She was too excited. Well this time we actually went into the show to see the other bands. There was a band from Boston MA and another from Denver CO that were into Black/Death Metal. Iguess they were ok if you like that genre of metal. The only problem I have with it is they were saying the songs were about really cool subjects like tyranny and how people are becoming more anarchistic and lawless but as soon as the song starts you don't know what they have to say because they don't sing, they belch into the mic. I was really pissed off though when the "lead vocals" guy from one of the other bands started talking shit about Schmier. I then thought it was too funny that the guy didn't hang around long enough for the aftershow party. That's right, my wife and I got to meet the guys backstage again after that show and Mike invited us to hang out with them after the the show at their end of tour party. It was the best time we both had ever had just hanging out doing nothing. We were at this kareoke bar and I got to sing a duet with Schmier. My wife was amazed that this happened and that was all she could talk about for two weeks. After staying up partying with the band until we were asked to leave because the place was closing, we made our way back to the bands hotel (at 5:30 in the morning) and said our fare the wells. Hugs were given and we were told to stay in touch and then we left for our hotel.
After getting back to our hotel we showered and rested for about an hour and then checked out. While we were waiting for a friend of my wife to show up and to take us around we were waiting outside of our hotel and Bob Sapp who used to be a pro football player but turned to MMA Pride fighting walked right past us and checked into the hotel that we had just left.
After leaving our hotel we spent the day walking around Tokyo and we had the best time we have had since we had been married.
So finally the day of the show comes and we make it down to Ft. Worth where we eat Vietnamese, and really good Vietnamese at that, and then went to the venue. Now being how it was a bar and it opened at 11:00 am we made it in plenty of time to belly up to the bar before the show. This is when it really started to get interesting. I go into the restroom to take a leak when Mike, the guitarist, comes into the restroom behind me and hits me in the rear with the toilet stall door. he says he is sorry and I say there is no problem and that is that. I don't even know who I am talking to at this point because I am really new to the band. I go out and my wife is sitting there saying "did you see Mike". I'm like, "Mike who", and she says,"the guitarist from Destruction, he followed you into the restroom", and I told her that he hit me with the door too the toilet stall".
Anyway, when Mike comes out of the restroom, I go and offer him a beer which he regretfully declines because he had just gotten up and had an upset stomach. Then I see Schmier, the bassist and lead singer walk in so Mike said I could give that beer to him if I wanted. If I'd had known the Mike likes red wine as opposed to beer then I would have offered him a a glass of wine instead. Oh well, he was gracious enough to stand around and talk to us for a few minutes along with Schmier before they performed their sound check. And afte a couple of minute, Marcus, the drummer, came off of the stage where he was preparing for the sound check and he started talking to us as well and so all five of us where standing around before the sound check bullshitting about beer and after I bought Marcus a beer he gave what was left of the beer he was drinking to my wife. How cool is that. After we talked for a while they did there sound check and we went outside and my wife and me got pictures with with Schmier. It was too cool.
During the show my wife got into a fight with some guy and wooped the shit out of him. She just made him look bad. He tried to play it off but the damage was done. Schmier gave her a fist bump after the show when he saw her. It was the coolest thing. What was even cooler than that was we were invited to the Destruction concert in Japan if we were to make it.
After some hard thinking we had decided that it was time to go back to Japan and to see my wifes family. We made the concert, don't get me wrong, but if that was all we were going for it would have been a pretty dumb thing to do to go half way around the world just for a concert. Anyway, we made the concert in Nagoya and met Schmier about half an hour before the show started. We talked a little and explained who we were and reminded him of his invitation and he was good enough to ask let us come back stage with him. That was absolutely amazing. So we hung out backstage and talked a little to the band before the show. My wife was in heaven, not to mention that the band got her drunk 30 minutes before the show. I managed to stay somewhat sober that night. it was a good night. After Destruction took the stage it was an amazing show and right off the bat Schmier referenced us and made a joke about the swine flu, telling everyone that they needed to drink more alcohol to kill those swine flu germs. Who'd have ever thought that I would ever be referenced by a world famous musician. After the set was over we were invited backstage again and we talked to the band and just hung out until it was time for them to go. We almost got to party with them that night but was blocked by the promoters.
Not to be deterred from seeing Destruction one more time, we made our way from Nagoya to Tokyo. My wife, understanding how things work decided she was not even going to try to find the venue, she just followed a guy with a heavy metal t-shirt on and he took us right to it. Way to go Tomomi. Well, we made it to the venue and was waiting for the doors to open when Destructions tour manager came out and personally got our names to be put on the guest list for the nights show. Tomomi couldn't help but notice the look oneveryones faces when that happened. She was too excited. Well this time we actually went into the show to see the other bands. There was a band from Boston MA and another from Denver CO that were into Black/Death Metal. Iguess they were ok if you like that genre of metal. The only problem I have with it is they were saying the songs were about really cool subjects like tyranny and how people are becoming more anarchistic and lawless but as soon as the song starts you don't know what they have to say because they don't sing, they belch into the mic. I was really pissed off though when the "lead vocals" guy from one of the other bands started talking shit about Schmier. I then thought it was too funny that the guy didn't hang around long enough for the aftershow party. That's right, my wife and I got to meet the guys backstage again after that show and Mike invited us to hang out with them after the the show at their end of tour party. It was the best time we both had ever had just hanging out doing nothing. We were at this kareoke bar and I got to sing a duet with Schmier. My wife was amazed that this happened and that was all she could talk about for two weeks. After staying up partying with the band until we were asked to leave because the place was closing, we made our way back to the bands hotel (at 5:30 in the morning) and said our fare the wells. Hugs were given and we were told to stay in touch and then we left for our hotel.
After getting back to our hotel we showered and rested for about an hour and then checked out. While we were waiting for a friend of my wife to show up and to take us around we were waiting outside of our hotel and Bob Sapp who used to be a pro football player but turned to MMA Pride fighting walked right past us and checked into the hotel that we had just left.
After leaving our hotel we spent the day walking around Tokyo and we had the best time we have had since we had been married.
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