31 March 2005, wee hours Kumiko and I watched about half of National Lampoons Vacation tonight before sleep took her. We'll finish it up tomorrow. It's one of my all-time favorites. My family used to have it on beta video, recorded off Dallas Cube Cable. I remember both our VCR and cable box having wired remotes. They were always strung across the floor to the sofa, and one or another of us were always tripping over them and sending them crashing to the floor. Amazing they never broke. The VCR (a top-loading Sanyo Betacord) remote was just one button: <pause> in a kind of thumb trigger. We thought it was pretty hi-tech at the time. Eventually, the video rental places stopped carrying beta format movies, so we were stuck watching whatever we'd recorded, over and over. I probably saw Vacation a dozen times back then, as well as The Jerk and Time Bandits. Later, my family updated to VHS, and I got the Sanyo for my bedroom. I would set the timer to record Slam Bang Theater every morning, which was just the name channel 11 used for The Three Stooges. Since I was President of my own Three Stooges fan club, I would watch the tapes for any interesting trivia or details which I could quiz my other two club members on in study hall. I wrote out daily quizzes for them on notebook paper, based on that morning's episodes, which they invariably hadn't watched. I think questions were mostly fill in the blank on dialogue, for example: #9 "I'll tear out your __________, and tie them around your _________ for a bowtie." I was really crazy about the Stooges, and I knew all about their history, and the names of supporting cast and everything. I still remember a lot. I was excited to pick up my first pinhole pictures this afternoon, and pleased to see that most of the exposures looked fine. I can't wait to take more. Here are pinhole pics #1 and 8, first and last on the roll:
plants and boxes on our exciting veranda
a peak under our living room curtains28 March 2005, late night I got the rows dug, and applied some kind of fertilizer. I really have no idea what anything is at the garden shop. I just buy whatever looks like something I've seen other people use, and doesn't cost much. I made big wide beds this time to maximize the planting space. I'll probably go for less variety this year as well. I'm not planning on doing tomatoes this year because I found it was so hard to harvest them before the birds got to them. I want to concentrate more on root vegetables, and I'll do more cucumbers of course. They were the most rewarding. Last night I met Paul and Jenny and John and Tomo for dinner at Outback Grill. It's an American-owned, Australia-themed restaurant in Osaka. Kumiko had to work late, which was too bad, but her last working day is the 31st, so she'll have the last laugh. Paul and Jenny and I decided on our dates/agency for Guam in May. The fantasy trip is quickly becoming reality. We can even buy advance tickets on the internet, so there will be no worry about that in Guam (tickets to see Star Wars, episode 3, for those who don't know what I'm talking about). We'll arrive on the 23rd, and I'm sure we'll see it that evening. Paul wants to see it twice while we're there. I hadn't thought of that possibility, but I'm in. After all, you only go to Guam to see Star Wars twice once in this crazy life, so why not go for it? How often do you see "twice" and "once" side by side for that matter? Perhaps the answer is twice: once in the original concept, and once in the write-up. Anyway, I had a New York strip, with a side of pork ribs, and while it wasn't anything like Ruth's Chris Steakhouse quality, it all hit the spot with aplomb. We went to a karaoke place after that, and I must say, I wowed them all with "Sister Christian" by Night Ranger. I hate to sing my own praises, but the truth sometimes needs voicing. These low-quality puns are in honor of Tom, a top-flight punster, whom I won't be working with after this week. He's transfering and I'll miss his daily barrage of high-quality puns. As you can see, I changed the color-scheme of this page. Too many old folks complained that purple on purple was hard to read. In other news, Kumiko and I received the packages we mailed ourselves from Texas. It was all stuff we couldn't fit in our suitcases: houseshoes, Avengers DVDs, a pepper grinder, 6 boxes of breakfast cereal, books, candles...the list goes on. More junk for the house with no more room for junk. I'm planning to participate in the next flea market at Ryokuchi Park. Old crud out, new crud in.
This is what happens when you use a polarizer in conjunction with a yellow contrast filter. Looks like infrared.26 March 2005, morning I thought I knew olive oil, but I was wrong. Kumiko bought a bottle of oil at a special expo in Hankyu department store. It's "Dorian Lakonia" brand from Greece. Or maybe dorian lakonia just means "olive oil" in Greek. I can't figure out the bottle that well. The taste is so different from other olive oils I've tried. It tastes really "botanical" and earthy. We've been dipping bread into it at the table. It's fantastic. I think it's just very fresh. The label says it's the world's best, made from hand-picked olives. If you're in Japan, you can buy it from www.soramitu.com. It's not expensive. In camera news, I no longer believe that my light leak was actually just scattering. The negatives show more light, localized, not misty scattered light. My hope is that with all the tape I've stuck to the bellows, I'll have covered the leak by dumb luck, wherever it is. We've had rain for the past 4 days. I'm sick of it now, but today may be the break. No rain yet, and a bit of sun coming through. Still, my garden is going to be sopping wet when I work on it tomorrow.
25 March 2005, early morning I think I may have figured it out. The light leak really had me mystified. It still does, but there may be hope. I couldn't figure out how there could be a hole in the bellows besides the one I repaired, if I couldn't see it at all from inside the camera. No sign at all of the smallest pinhole or cut. What there was, however, was a slight flaw on the interior of the bellows, whereby some of the linen fibers of the backing paper were torn, and projecting out ever so slightly. I had an idea that perhaps these fibers were scattering light as it passed by. So I've used the gaffer tape to flatten down those fibers. If this doesn't work, I may have to give up on this particular Ikonta. But I do like the operation of it, so I could replace it with another of the same model. I'll run a test roll through tomorrow.
23 March 2005 Arghhh. My Ikonta still has the same light leak, even after taping over what I thought was the light leak. I'll have to apply a more liberal dose of tape. Maybe I just got the wrong spot, but there was definately a hole which I covered up. My entry into medium format has not been auspicious. Here's another problem I recently faced: In Los Angeles I shot 3 rolls of Kodak black and white film for color process, meaning it can be processed and printed in standard color chemistry and color paper, for much cheaper than regular black and white. I dropped two of those rolls at my normal cheapo spot for color prints, the 100 yen shop near my office. You get negs and a full set of prints for 473 yen. Only when I got them back, they'd charged me for black and white processing and printed all of the pics on true black and white paper at a much greater cost, 1200 yen per roll. So I complained, best I could, but the shop guy knows nothing about the photo service (they just send it out), and he called the lab and spoke to them, knowing nothing about this special film, and finally gave me the phone to talk to the lab guy. I explained the problem, in frustration, and obviously not very well. I thought he realized the fault at the end of the conversation. He told me that using color paper produced sepia prints, which I know to be true. I told him I'd only wanted color printing paper, and perfect grays didn't matter to me, and he offered to do them again, asking me many times if sepia was okay. I assured him it was. So I left those rolls at the shop, and when I came back the next day, I had the original prints, plus the sepia prints, and a different clerk working at the shop, and no understanding of the problem, except that I now owed the shop for the extra prints as well. I tried to argue, but it was vain. I left frustrated with nothing. I went back today, and yet a third clerk was manning the register, and I gave up and payed over 3000 yen ($30) total for these two 24 exposure rolls and prints that I didn't want at all. I only really wanted the negs, so I could scan them. I don't save prints anymore. Serves me right for dropping off weirdo film at a 100 yen shop. Oh, and the pictures are crappy, too.
22 March 2005, evening edition I made a gallery of photos from our recent trip to Kansas, Texas, and Los Angeles. They're all mixed together (in alphabetical order, rather than chronological), and someday, I plan to add explanatory captions. For now, please enjoy it as a random collection.
22 March 2005 I turned over the rest of the soil in my our garden yesterday afternoon, and then scattered some white powder on the surface and left it there. I don't know what it is. I just know that everyone else does it, so it must be something good. One of the kanji on the bag is "stone". That's all I know. I was really impressed with my friend Mike's photo of Ernesto (another friend in Austin) on the train in New York. It's the best I've seen, natural and unposed, but Ernesto always has a great pose up his sleeve if you ask him for one. Ernesto is one of the most talented people I know. He played tenor sax in The Day Jobs (our swing jazz pentet), and now plays with two or three bands of various genres. He's also appeared in a few stage productions in Austin, and never fails to entertain wherever he goes. He's also an excellent cook, especially of enchiladas and baked chicken. I'm declaring March 22 to be Ernesto Appreciation Day. Maybe it's his birthday soon or recently. I can never remember my friends' birthdays. Here's my latest picture of Ernesto at Town Lake in Austin.
Ernesto Marquez. Zeiss Super Ikonta / Fujicolor Superia 10021 March 2005 Yesterday marked my triumphant return to the community gardens. To be truthful, there was more shame than triumph, since I neglected it all winter, and now it's overgrown with weeds and flowering turnips, but still surrounded by the well-tended, neat gardens of my peers. They obviolusly remained steadfast during the winter, whereas I just got tired of it and left. Anyway, I was the only one out there yesterday, so I didn't have to face questioning or reproach of any kind. I just started digging up everything and tearing down the rows in a total start-over bid. Today I'll go again, and finish leveling everything, and put some fertilizer out to weather into the soil before I create new rows and start planting. I'll get a later start to planting than I had last year, but I'm determined to be patient and do it right, following the examples of all the old men. I really wore myself out yesterday. At 7, I went to a sayonara/welcome dinner for several new and exiting instructors at my office. It was a good time, but so smokey. I just don't understand the allure of smoking. It stinks, it's bad for your health, it annoys people all around you. The worst situation for me though, is going to a smokey place in winter, and having the overhead air conditioner blow hot, stale smoke in your face. That makes me feel sick. Anyway, I did manage to have fun, and this morning I feel some distinct after-effects. That's okay, though, because I have another happy toy to make everything better. Yesterday, my pinhole camera arrived, and it looks fantastic. The quality of workmanship is much higher than I'd imagined it would be. It's really well-made and a thing of beauty. I took the first two shots this morning on the balcony, and today I'll finish the first roll as a test. I'm keeping a complete log of exposure times and light conditions for every frame, so I can perfect my technique. I'm using 6x9 framing for the first roll. That gives me only 8 shots.
A drug store in Ozona, Texas. Zeiss Distagon 35mm lens / Kodachrome 6419 March 2005 It's Saturday morning, and soon I'll be heading in to work. Kumiko and I went to the REM concert in Osaka last night. I had the day off, thanks to Linda, and spent it very memorably: breakfast (egg and cheese on toast) with Kumiko, a brief visit with my in-laws, a walk in Ryokuchi park, then Kumi and I went to Umeda and followed our own paths. She went to apply for a training school in the Sky Building, and I picked up photos from Yodobashi, bought a money order at the post office, wired money to Germany to pay for my watch repair, ate beef curry, and finally met up with Kumi again to go to the concert. It was at the convention center in Fukushima, the same place where Glenn, Chiemi, and I saw Robofesta three years ago. This concert was much better than Robofesta though. REM haven't missed a beat in their old age. Well, Michael Stipe hasn't, but the other guys don't do much of anything on-stage. Kumiko payed for my ticket and bought me dinner, sice she knew I didn't really want to go to a concert. I usually dislike big shows, and get sick of the same group after about 6 songs. But I loved this concert. Thank you, Kumiko, for an excellent evening! On the way home we stopped at Ahoya and picked up takoyaki. We had it with a special edition of Suntory Malts beer, brewed with different waters from around Japan. We got Kyoto and Gunma last night, and of course, they tasted exactly the same, but delicious nonetheless.
Kumiko in repose at Mike's house / The El Paisano Hotel in Marfa, where James Dean stayed17 March 2005 Last night I fell back into old habits and stayed awake until 2am. The trip to America reset my clock, so I'd been going to bed and waking up earlier, but working until 9pm, and getting home at 10 takes a toll. I can't get into bed after only a couple of hours at home. But I should. The morning is much more enjoyable. Anyway, I stayed up to scan some pictures from the trip. They've started coming back now. I'll put up a slide show pretty soon, but there are still loads to scan. I'll get black and white 120s back today (with light leak), and some black and white 35mm I'm not so excited about. If anyone is still interested in what I eat, last night's dinner was a tuna onigiri (rice ball) from the convenience store, and then some delicious gyudon (beef on rice) Kumiko's mom made, and some tofu that Kumiko served with sesame seed, spring onion, and tsuyu (like soy sauce). It was great! Happy St.Patrick's Day to anyone who's concerned.
This is a great way to "camp out". Joshua Trees National Park in So.California.15 March 2005 I went commercial. I mentioned yesterday that I wanted to make way to a pinhole camera. This morning I did some research on design considerations, and found a company in Hong Kong that makes just what I want, much better than I could build it, and for not too much money. I'll make a camera when I'm living in the States again. The problem with doing it in Japan is that everything costs too much. I would need to buy a drill, and I'd get ripped off. I'd need some simple machined parts, but I wouldn't know where to get them, and then I'd get ripped off. The roll of black tape I bought to fix my light leak cost ¥1100. Anyway, I was still considering doing it, when I found this beautiful teak wood pinhole that takes 120 film rolls, and which can be used in a variety of formats (6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, and 6x9), so I just ordered it with my existing Paypal balance, which is like getting it for free anyway. And they've already shipped it! I'll be pinhole imaging in no time. In the meantime, here's another 6x6 from my Super Ikonta. The light leak hardly effects this one since it's in the overexposed sky.
The same bank in Marfa. Fujifilm Provia 100F14 March 2005 I watched the trailers (official and unofficial) for the new Star Wars movie today, and I must say I'm impressed. It was disturbing to see all those Jedi getting slashed. I studied the Jedi ways and was persecuted for it when I was a boy on Naboo, so there's some real empathy there. Today is White Day. White Day is a holiday created, I believe, by Japanese department stores. They took Valentine's Day and cut out the mutual exchange element, so that only girls give gifts to their significant others. White Day (one month later) is the day for men to reciprocate. According to my students, the proper level of expenditure is three times whatever your girl spent on you. I don't know what Kumiko is expecting, but I bought her a tea kettle from Finland. I'm not known for my romantic gift selections, but I believe I'm pretty good at remembering what someone really wants. I fixed the light leak on my Zeiss Super Ikonta today. I had to buy a huge roll of black tape called "permacel", when I only needed a 5mm square. I can use more of that roll when I build a pin-hole camera. That seems to be in vogue in photo circles now. I think I'll join the movement. Looks like fun. I remember making one from an oatmeal canister in my highschool photography class, but I want to make a fancy wood one now.
You can see the light leak in the upper left of this image of a bank in Marfa, Texas. Some images are worse than others depending on the direction of sunlight striking the bellows.11 March 2005 Kumiko pointed out that I missed rating one movie we saw, and I also forgot to put in the ones I saw on the plane, so here are the forgotten movies, rated:
I survived work today, but I'm so glad to be back home again.
- Friday Night Lights (on the plane) (5/10 - good West Texas flavor)
- Cellular (in Wichita) (2/10 - loud and stupid)
- Finding Neverland (on the way home) (8/10 - This was a great one. I want to watch/read Peter Pan now)
10 March 2005 Where do I begin? I spent 4 days in Wichita, 4 days in Dallas, 6 days in Austin, 3 days traveling to and from Big Bend National Park, and 1 day in and around Los Angeles, plus assorted flying and driving, but not exactly in that order. Kumiko was with me for the first 9 days. We had a great time everywhere. So nice to spend time with my mom, my sister and nieces and brother-in-law, and friends Mike, Ernesto, Dae, Jonathan, Lisa, Chris, Eliza, and a dozen others courtesy of Mike's great network of friends. I'd never had such a long vacation before, but it still wasn't nearly long enough to satisfy when you see your family and friends so rarely. I'm ready to be back, living in Austin again. Even my long lost friend, Matt Willard, emailed me from Berlin, while I was in Austin. Amazing coincidence. I'm sure I took more photos than I'd ever taken in a 3 week period. I had some of them processed in Austin, but I still have 17 assorted rolls to get processed over here. Grand total: 33 rolls (35mm and 120). I received my new used medium format camera in Dallas, and gave it a too thorough test in Austin and Big Bend National Park. The lens is really sharp and the shutter accurate, but the bellows has a light leak. Should have figured that out on one roll rather than nine. I can fix it with tape. Here are some culinary highlights of the trip: my sister's enchiladas, my sister's "sugared bacon", which is baked with brown sugar and rosemary (a subject of some pre-trip speculation), a 1/2 pound burger from Timbuktu in Wichita, a much-anticipated steak dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Austin, courtesy of Mike, Eliza's baked brie at the Academy Awards Party at Mike's house, Frito chili cheese pie, prepared by Kumiko and me, a chili cheese dog from Lucky Dog in Austin, a Chicago-style dog at O'Hare airport on the way in, the bacon cheeseburger at the Chisos Mountain Lodge in Big Bend (honestly the best hamburger I've ever eaten), Ernesto's patented, tried, trusted and truly tasty Hoisan Chicken, another excellent cheeseburger from Fran's in Austin, delicious crisy tacos from Chipotle on North Lamar and from Tamale House on Airport Blvd, both in Austin, carne guisada, prepared by my mom, sandwiches on the back porch in Dallas, barbecued chicken and sausages at Art's Rib House in Austin, a great steak sandwich, courtesy of Dae, at Austin Java Company, a wonderful egg and bacon bagel sandwich at Dae's local bagel joint in Los Angeles, and finally some excellent beef jerkey from Albertson's, courtesy of Dae. I'm probably forgetting some other excellent meals, but you get the picture. This was an incredibly taco and burger-filled vacation. I count from memory 12 individual tacos plus 2 tostadas, and 6 hamburgers personally consumed. Here's the burger list in order of consumption.
I certainly gained weight, but that was expected. Here are the games I played, in chronological order:
- Timbuktu
- Braum's
- Chisos Lodge
- Dairy Queen
- Fran's
- In and Out
Most of the kids' games were played with rules made up by my nieces. Here's a list of movies/videos I watched, in approximate chronological order, and rated.
- My Little Pony
- Bingo (about 4 games)
- Hi Ho Cherry-o (about 9 million times)
- Barney Memory Cards
- Hungry Caterpillar jigsaw puzzle
- Strawberry Shortcake jigsaw puzzle
- Bean Bag Toss Tic-Tac-Toe
- Mike's original cartoon game
- Scrabble
I'll leave it at that for now. Too much to describe, so I'll let the pictures do the talking as I get them developed and scanned. I'm sick now. I developed a fever on Monday in California, and it's being compounded by jet-lag now. On the bright side, that's one more day off work. Here are a few pics to start the ball rolling:
- The Village (7/10)
- Napoleon Dynamite (8/10)
- Mary Kate and Ashley's Ballet Party (1/10)
- Troy (6/10)
- Constantine (5/10)
- Gold Diggers of 1935 (4/10)
- National Lampoon's Vacation (7/10)
- Austin Powers: Goldmember (8/10)
- A Night at the Roxbury (5/10)
- Young Frankenstein (10/10)
Funny ducks near my sister's house. Don't they look like bowling pins from the front?
Mom and Kumiko posing in north Texas.
Ernesto on his way home after a successful cartoon party.
Typical roadside cactus at Big Bend.
Figures in the yard at my motel in Marathon, Texas, early morning.
