Siliconchef by Brian Richardson

Yes! I got my new camcorder yesterday. The Sharp VL-WD450U isn’t fancy, but it does the job (and it has a rebate). Not bad for a birthday present.
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Saturday was my birthday party … Sunday is the cleanup.

I didn’t have many people over, but they were all good friends. Most of the recovery was due to Jody’s cooking … very tasty, but it touched the surface of many dishes. Jody splurged and made his champagne chicken for the guests. This is the dish he says made his wife marry him.

Jody is a great friend … but I don’t think he could do anything to a chicken that would make me want to marry him. But that’s just me.
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Yes, I’m 30. It happens to the best of us. It hasn’t started out as a grand day yet, but I’m hoping it will improve. I’m still fighting my cold, thinking of Amy’s dad, and looking out on a cool foggy morning.

I’m not normally big on presents, but I did have an item on the wish list this year. I just ordered a DV camcorder (nothing fancy, basic model from Costco.com with a $100 rebate). I hope to use it on my next trip to Asia (mid-April).

My friends have a chance to mock me in person for my thirty-ness. I am having a small party this weekend. I know some friends may not make it due to distance or prior commitments, but it’s no big deal. I just have to wait and see if 30 changes me any.

Okay, so I haven’t posted the rest of my Japan journal yet. But I have a good excuse.

I have a cold. A nasty cold. The cold I picked up while on business travel is obviously Japanese, working harder and more efficiently than out poorly build American colds. I am just now getting over it. I have missed two days of work and been a slug on the couch.

Well, not a total slug … I did some laundry, cleaned the living room, loaned the van to my car-less brother and kept up with my business related e-mail.

Since misery loves company, I gave Suzan the cold as well. Needless to say, she’s thrilled.

Even though I haven’t finished posting the details of my Japan journey, I did want to post a note indicating that I safely made it home. Friday was a long day of travel, with a star studded flight from LA. Saturday was a day intended for sleep and recovery, which involved some laundry and a burning van (no, not my van).

I’ll fill you all in later. I’m a bit tired now.

Wednesday, March 12, 2002. 6:05pm.
Tokyo Central Rail Station. Tokyo, Japan.

“Brian, wake up! We’re here.”

It figures … the minute I get comfortable and fall asleep, we get to the end of the train line. Today was another eventful travel day within Japan. The trip to Yonezawa takes three hours by train. Since we didn’t get seat reservations, much of the trip was spent standing in a crowded “general admission” car. I managed to find a seat about two hours into the return trip, squeezing myself between an older Japanese gentleman and the window. I guess I dozed off somewhere between Ueno and Tokyo Station.
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Wednesday, March 13, 2002. 11:58am.
JR Train Line, Somewhere between Tokyo and Yoenzawa.

Yes, I’m on a train in Japan. Try and act surprised.
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