shouldn't be doing this right now

but I still am. Writing in this blog.

Now why am I prohibiting myself from updating this update-hungry blog? It's because I should be doing more important things. Like preparing the percussions that I'm gonna do this weekend at church. Or at least moving my butt and burning some calories outside jogging.

But no. I'm here stuck in front of my laptop, doing my website rounds going through gmail, twitter, facebook, friendster, multiply, yahoo mail, and just now -- just to add to things that could distract me -- plurk. Then there's one more. Because I still can't pull myself away from my computer, I decide to revisit this blog.

Hopefully, this will be the last of them websites -- at least for the next hour! I really need to get moving. At least eat dinner.

Good luck to me.

Mogusaen park

Autumn is park visiting season. Here are pictures from Mogusaen, one park I visited with coworkers and friends. Thanks to its proximity, being just a few minutes away from where almost everyone lives, a pretty big group got to take part in this fun trip to the pretty park.

Almost everyone brought a camera, so more should be popping up!

Arlan's
Some of Justin's

a happy movie to end a happy day

After being at church the whole day playing percussions and meeting up with the Pinoys at the Filipino Christmas party, all I wanted was to crash into bed when I got home at around 7 PM last night. But last night also presented a rare opportunity for me and my roomies to do some in-house movie watching. (Roomie L actually still needed some convincing, but anyway...) so together, over potato chips and Boy Bawang, we watched Hairspray in my boom-box-connected laptop.

Loved loved Hairspray! Especially loved the music, the dancing, and the colors! Of course, can't help but compare it with the actual musical, which I watched here in Tokyo some months back. The movie was a few songs and scenes short, but it was still great.

princess mononoke

princess mononoke, originally uploaded by jemione.

I have been a fan of Ghibli movies ever since I chanced upon My Neighbor Totoro, which turned out to be my second Ghibli film, next to Graveyard of the Fireflies. Graveyard was too sad, and when I watched it I didn't know that it was from Studio Ghibli, so it didn't turn me into a fan. Anyway, thanks to my former roomie Tinats and her collector coworker, I was able to watch at least four more from the Ghibli camp. I loved all of them. So today, I decided to start my Ghibli film collection! My first purchase was Princess Mononoke. Bought it from Shinseido in Nagayama for around 4k yen. Got a 3-DVD set, with one DVD for the film and the other two as special add-ons!

Latest J-Drama: Proposal Daisakusen

I enjoyed this series a lot. It's a love story and a tale of friendship among five childhood buddies. It sure is a tearjerker but heavy drama it definitely isn't as it had lots of funny moments as well. I loved how its sweet and touching story made me cry and made me kilig at almost every episode! Hahaha!

And the casting was perfect.The lead guy Yamapi, aptly displaying much more emotion than other dramas of him that I watched before, was handsome as usual, and yes, sexier too! Chemistry with the pretty Nagasawa Masami was great. Everyone in the cast acted well.

Only one thing I didn't like was the ending, which was waay too abrupt for me. But that shouldn't stop you from watching this winner!

djembe

These were my "toys" last weekend. First time for the djembe to be on stage!

Last weekend was actually the second time in my whole life to play the djembe. (The first time was during choir rehearsal two weeks back.) I like its very deep bass sound.

In other news, tonight's Marimar was another fantastic episode (link to YouTube)! I actually cried out in disgust during a scene. The previews for the next episode looked exciting as well, but I have to wait until Monday.

Friday night

Just watched The Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift. It was awesome! Makes me wanna go back to my Need for Speed. Loved the cars, the chases, and the place. Shibuya looked great! Shibuya really is a fascinating place, especially at night with all the lights.

Also watched Marimar episode 15 through YouTube. What an unbelievably stupid episode! Is Marimar that dumb that she can't open car doors from the inside? And how does a vehicle whose engine is not even running get to emit smoke?

omiyage

Earlier today my manager brought this leaf wrapped goody from his recent trip to the Japanese countryside. He said it came from a church on top of a mountain named Ontake-san. I don't know what it's called though. But it was tasty! Inside the white ball was a sweet filling probably made from beans. Itadakimasu!

Hairspray in my head

My song of the week is Without Love, from the Broadway musical, Hairspray. And it was stuck in my head because 1) I watched the musical last Sunday (starring the Broadway cast! Coolness!) and 2) After watching it, I searched for Hairspray videos in YouTube and the first videos that I chanced upon were performances for Without Love. I never had time anymore to watch any other number, and this was one fine number anyway, so I got stuck with it.

By the way, last Sunday's Hairspray was like wow! I really enjoyed it! The music was great and the dialogue was very funny! The performances were excellent too. Link was hunkalicious. I also found last Sunday's Seaweed better than the Seaweeds that I watched from YouTube (some of which featured the original one from Broadway).

It was also interesting how they got the audience involved for the last performance. During the intermission, they taught the audience some dance steps and so during the last performance, everyone was asked to stand up and join the cast in dancing. It was fun!

The movie is not yet here but I heard it's good, so I'll try not to miss it.

Without love
Life is like the seasons with
No summer
Without love
Life is rock 'n' roll without
A drummer

Darling, I'll be yours forever
'Cause I never wanna be
Without love
So darling, throw away the key...

--Hairspray

Harry Potter reading mode is currently paused at chapter 6 because...

My roommate Laiza and I went salsa dancing tonight! Headed to Roppongi right after work, and were able to catch the ending minutes of the dance lessons at the salsa club. When the lessons ended, the lights were dimmed and the music started. Laiza and I were almost immediately on the dance floor, as two guys offered to spin us to the pulsating Latin music.

It was a fun night of hip shakin' with different dance partners. It was also some three hours of trying not to step on other people's toes. I was such terrible salsa dancer! I don't think I really got the moves right. But at least, I think I kinda got the feel of it...

Anyway, I'd love to go dancing again. I'll master that twirl!

Taking advantage of clear weather after many rainy nights

Just got back from jogging around the nearby track oval. But was too absorbed listening to music that I can't remember if I jogged nine or ten rounds! (It was 630 m per round.) Anyway, that was a good 40 minute workout.

Gonna have dinner now!

sushi happy at the tsukiji fish market

sushi happy at the tsukiji fish market, originally uploaded by jemione.

Had breakfast last Saturday at Daiwa inside the famous (world's largest) Tsukiji fish market. Nothing like the freshest sushi! Mmm-mmm-mmm! Ordered the sushi set and discovered my new favorite, the eel (anago) sushi. Waited in line for ten years but it was all worth it!

P.S. As usual, more pics to come later. ;D
Seems like Ramil has uploaded his Tsukiji set. Enjoy the pics! link

adventure in my new kitchen

the tofu added in, originally uploaded by jemione.

last saturday, i cooked tokyo-style adobo. i called it tokyo-style because all the ingredients were from here. i followed a recipe given to me by a filipino friend who loves to cook, kuya ian. i rarely cook and have never made adobo before, but decided to give it a try as some friends were staying over for dinner at my house. i think it turned out OK. But i want to try it again, adding my own tweaks next time. for now, here's version 1.

Ingredients:
1/2 kilo chicken lollipop (or desired chicken or pork part)
1 cup regular kikoman soy sauce (or other soy sauce if not avlbl)
1 cup mizukan vinegar (or other vinegar if not avlbl)
1 cup mirin (japanese sweet cooking wine; or replace with water with 2 Tablespoons sugar if not available)
1 large clove of garlic (skinned, not chopped)
1 tablespoon chopped basil
1 tablespoon whole pepper corns
5-7 pieces Laurel leaves.
5-7 small dried chili (optional)
1 block of Tofu (about 1/4 Kilo) (optional)

Directions:
Pour everything in a pan. Simmer for 1 hour. Remove chicken pieces from stew and fry. Pour back the stew on the chicken just before serving. Add garnish if desired. Serve with rice, salad, or vegetable dish.

Serves 5-6 people.

pictures here :)

finally got to do my laundry last night

actually, it wasn't like there was a big mountain of clothes waiting to be washed already, but i'm a bit relieved my laundry pile got flattened last night. i just don't want any clothes piling up on me. so yeah, i'm glad i finally had some free time to do my laundry, because these past few nights (and days) were just one activity after the next.

started last friday. my office had a welcome party for our new employees. it was actually just dinner, but was filled with enough drinks and food we got to go home a little past the last train's schedule already, which was around 12:30.


me with friends from church

then on saturday, i had to get up early to attend a church mate's wedding. it was a very nice wedding. it wasn't fancy and with only the couple's closest family and friends present, was really simple, but was a beautiful wedding nonetheless. All of the music, except the exit march because the musician was suddenly nowhere to be found, were played and sang live. At the reception, which was at the church hall downstairs, there wasn't any waiters so i helped a little with the drinks preparation. the food preparation was also through the efforts of some church friends. but the food was wonderful. there weren't many dishes to choose from, but everything served was great. there were the most intricate hors d'oeuvres and an actual sushi bar, where you can pick your sushi topping and the sushi man will scoop a fistful of rice and whip up your sushi for you.


a quick pose on the dance floor

then saturday night was dancing night, my first time to go clubbing in hip roppongi. my friends and i went to a hip-hop place, so i guess that's why there were many blacks. the place got packed by around 2AM, and even around 5AM when we finally called it quits, there were still a handful of people on the dance floor. dancing was lots of fun. my feet were sore for two days after that but i guess it comes with being on the dance floor for almost five hours straight.

then sunday, i just went to bed as soon as i got home. but actually i got home around 9PM already, because the whole day i was at church. in the afternoon, i attended the singles fellowship for the first time. met lots of new people. during the rest of the day, i tried to catch some sleep, but mostly failed. so i was dead tired when i got home.

then monday. the house was kinda busy with a guest. i guess i just forgot to do my laundry.

then tuesday, the house was very busy because we had peejay's farewell party.

so finally wednesday, everything was back to normal.

red hot chili peppered

Last night's RHCP concert in Tokyo Dome was my first (and hopefully, not last) concert here in Japan. I love RHCP, so i absolutely enjoyed it! I never thought I could hear Higher Ground live with so much energy. It was my first time in Tokyo dome, and it was surprisingly huge inside (probably at least 4 Araneta Coliseums could fit in there). And it was packed, so you could only imagine the energy with everyone jumping to Can't Stop and Around the World among other songs. There were some pleasant surprises too, when Chad Smith played jazz and Flea accompanied on the trumpet; and when Flea joined in at the drum set to soup up a drum solo during Hump de Bump. The video screens and the lights were also fantastic. Rockin' night!

ghibli goodness set in my hometown

That's the anime 耳をすませば (Mimi wo sumaseba/Whisper of the Heart). I loved it! It's a sweet love story. Great artwork too, with very detailed renderings of buildings and streets. The setting was also quite interesting for me, because it was set in Tama City, and that's where I live now. The town part of the city shown in the film was in Seiseki-Sakuragaoka, and that's my town! Although there were of course a lot of differences already, because the movie is more than ten years old, it was cool to be able to identify some of the places and say that they actually looked very familiar. I can even relate to the difficulty one character was having with biking up the hills around here. And I could totally identify with the ever-present Keio train in the movie, which actually hasn't changed much.

On to the next ghibli!

found a friend!

Stumbled upon my college buddy Finley while filming the costumed people in Harajuku around two months ago. What a nice surprise! Last time I saw Fin was maybe around three years ago so it was really cool to meet him here! :-)

now i know how to put back the chains on a bike

This morning i was very late for work because my bike got dechained. I tried standing up while pedalling on an uphill road and just as the road was about to level off the pedals lost power. It was my first time to be dechained so i didn't really know what to do, but after a few minutes of tinkering with the chains i was back on my wheels again. I'm just glad i was wearing gloves (can't go biking these cold winter days without them!) so my hands stayed clean!