So I got final confirmation of my trip to Japan yesterday afternoon when the tickets were finally purchased. Of course, I guess it isn’t final until I’m actually on a plane, but it’s a lot further knowing the tickets are ‘in hand.’ My company is known to be rather flexible in regards to travel plans… sometimes you think you’re going and your not… sometimes you don’t know you’re going and your are… sometimes you think you know how long, but it’s more.
I headed into my closet, dug out out my remaining ‘nice’ pants and found they all fit – a perk of travelling while under the influence of PCP. I also discovered that I only had a couple of dress shirts that I’d care to wear, so today was spent in discount stores grabbing a few more, plus some dress shoes that are better than I have today. My wardrobe in the US office isn’t going to fly in the Japan office.
I plan on crashing the Team Orange Crush party there in Tokyo by inserting my Team Cookie Monster self into their homebase. Honestly, I’m quite excited to have a chance to meet both Patrick as well as some contingent of the other half of our project! It’s been a blast telling people around the office that I’ve got 10 people to meet when I get to Japan. (Bill thanks for the invite, as I will take you up… but do you commonly invite people to JBlo’s flat?)
I don’t know that I’ll get much free time in the country, but I’m planning on sneaking out to the studio in Yokohama at least once, preferably on Wednesday for the meditation class. I’ll be in Roppongi, apparently a bit of party place, but Patrick and Bill have both said it shouldn’t be hard for me to keep the diet going. At this point I land on Tuesday around 2p, so I should get to experience a couple of eating times pretty quickly. Oh… and apparently Wednesday is a holiday, so I’ll get a nice quiet start to my work in that office.
We’ve rallied the local friends to make sure they can help support Susan and Olivia while I’m away – we only have an aunt that’s local when it comes to family, so the easy babysitters like grandparents aren’t really available to us. They are, of course, on standby and will drive up if required.
In other news…
*** Warning – Disgusting Digestive Stuff Ahead ***
… it seems my guts are rebelling at the moment. I’ve been enjoying the expected easy and regular bowel movements that come along with our diet, but within the last day or so I’ve become rather unsettled. Firm has moved to softer. Calm and happy guts have shifted to roiled and gassy. I had to make a brand shift on my Greek yogurt, and it’s the prime suspect. I’m lactose intolerant, but I’ve not had any problems so far with the Fage brand, but Dannon… they may have gotten me.
Speaking of shifting brands of yogurt… I had to switch because the closer grocery store doesn’t carry Fage and I was out. I initially pulled “Greek Gods” (or something similar) from the cooler, only to discover that they had basically no protein in there. I don’t understand what the heck they did to screw that up, but luckily I read it before purchase, otherwise it would have been a general waste of time and money.
*** End disgusting stuff ***
I haven’t gotten to my exercise for the day, so I’m going to try and knock that out amongst my upset stomach and the sleepiness creeping up. Tomorrow I have to dress up as Shaggy (from Scooby-Doo) for the office Halloween trick-or-treat for the local elementary school. After that I’m judging the office costume contest. And finally, I take Olivia to the doctor to catch up her immunizations so she can stay in daycare beyond tomorrow… a small detail.
Saturday we’ll drive halfway to Chattanooga to meet my mom so I can borrow my sister’s nice luggage for my trip. We’ll likely head to the zoo that evening for the Halloween party there with some friends. Sunday will be my mad scramble to get prepared for the Monday 6:45a flight… busy, busy.
So… off to JFD. Keep it up Cookie Monsters.
Go, Ian, Go! Don't forget to set up iChat (if you're on a mac) or Skype, so you can have some good facetime with Susan and Oliva when you're away.
ReplyDeleteDid you see Brian's post about Greek Gods yogurt? He is the Greek God's doppleganger!
Hope the next couple of days run smoothly for you. And just think - 2 months ago you would have gone to Japan knowing no one, now you know 10 people!!! Safe travels!
Skype is all set up and Olivia is actually familiar with it - we used it when I went to India. She was a bit confused, looking behind the laptop after a few minutes of chatting. It's been a year, so I'm hoping it'll go better this time.
ReplyDeleteI did see the doppleganger photo... now to warn him about the lack of protein!
I invite myself there from time to time, so figured me, you, what's the difference.
ReplyDeleteJBlo is a great cook...Happy Halloween & safe travels.
The Dannon probably has some weird enzyme in it that liquified your stomach contents real good.
ReplyDeleteWe don't need a lot of protein in the dairy, just the fats!
JBlo... snicker.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with it all Ian. Interesting comment from Patrick about the yogurt. I thought we were aiming for the high protein of Greek yogurt. But man, that stuff is nasty (except the Fage, which is just discovered, and is palatable).
Man crazy times indeed. It's great that you are getting a chance to meet Patrick and members of Team Orange in person! Best of luck with it all!
ReplyDeleteI live 5 minutes from Roppongi, you're welcome over at my place for lunch or dinner also. Foundation diet is pretty much identical to PCP so my place is loaded up with PCP friendly stuff.
ReplyDelete