Ouch.

Well, I think I get it now. After expressing my bewilderment at Packer fans incensed by Brett Favre’s jump to Minnesota and writing back in July that I thought Favre in purple would make the Packers-Vikings rivalry more fun to watch, I can now officially eat my words. I watched the Packers get beat up by the Vikings last night, and it wasn’t fun to watch at all.

The football fan in me has trouble discerning why that is. The indisputable fact – the one that both Vikings and Packers fans should be able to agree on – is that the NFL is a much more interesting league with Favre than without him. From an objective standout, watching a near 40-year-old carving up a defense and throwing bullets (not to mention blocks) downfield is exhilarating – inspiring even. But as I found out last night, watching him do that to your team, the very team he defined for so long, is flat out depressing.

I guess now I know how it feels.

It's gonna get windy

Typhoon Melor on its way soon. Never to fear, though - I've got my board shorts ready.

Heading down stream

Fourth time out on the Yoshino River, but each ride is just as enjoyable as the first. Thanks to the people at Happy Raft for showing us a great time.

Getting excited

I may not be able to watch the Packers-Vikings game until Tuesday night here, but that doesn't mean my amp isn't still turned up to 11. I can't say I really hold any hard feelings against Brett Favre, but this video was too good to pass up. Fine work once again from the folks at sconnie.com.


(that last one still makes me wince)

Bali'in

Here's a true statement - as much as the busyness/laziness cocktail I've been consuming lately has kept me away from this blog, I'm simply not a big enough person to resist popping on for the sole purpose of showing off my vacation pictures. I've got two words regarding Bali: Go there. In seven days I ate fresh seafood on the beach, rode a horse to the mouth of a bat cave, learned to cook Balinese food, stumbled upon an Indiana Jones-like temple overrun by monkeys, drank about every fruit juice known to man, and received a 90 minute massage and body scrub for 10 dollars.

If that's not enough to persuade you, take a look at these. And if that's still not enough...well then I'm just not sure we can be friends anymore.


enjoying a long-awaited getaway


the single manliest picture ever taken of me


Lindsey checks out action, monkey checks out Lindsey


veranda at hotel #2


Indonesian fire dance


fresh ingredients for our cooking class


the results


boats out for early dolphin viewing


sunrise


and sunset


perfection

Checking in

When I first walked into my apartment here two years ago, I took one look at the shoddy TV I was inheriting and the sparse collection of Japanese PS2 games left for me and nodded my approval. I was afraid that any upgrade from my existing undesirable set up would take up too much of my time, and after all, I was in Japan. I had things to do.

Two years later, I've grown comfortable enough with my experiences to upgrade both the TV and the PS2, and appropriately I've found that my original fears were justified. Being able to watch SportsCenter in the morning and unwind with The Dark Knight in HD at night has left me contented but admittedly distracted. Hence, 9 days, 0 blog posts. My bad.

I'm turning my head around now, however, and am happy to report that I've got some exciting projects coming up that should kick this "final year" into gear. In the meantime I'm just enjoying the dying breaths of summer and readjusting the output on my computer so you can all hear me again. Hope all's well, and I hope you're still there to listen.

The good kind of fat

The quickest way to put calories in your body after a rugby practice? Eat one of these:



After the Mega Mac, this might be my favorite McDonalds sandwich ever. Take two all-beef patties, throw on a slice of cheese, one poached egg, a couple strips of bacon, and some pepper sauce, and you've got the Tamago Double Mac with cheese (tamago = egg in Japanese).

Calorie count? 652, but if you're eating one then I'm guessing you're not really counting.



Only in Japan, and only for two more blissful days.