The Great Equalizer

Mayah gives buttons an inferiority complex

First thing's first: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYAH!!! Mayah is now one years old. To celebrate, some interpretive art with the help of my cell phone.

This one's pretty self-explanatory

Lots of things to cover today. I went to a friend's hip-hop night last night in Ikebukuro. He was djing and played a pretty good set, though I was really hoping he'd mix in Ice Cube's "No Vaseline" after he dropped "Dazz" by Brick. I guess I've been on an Ice Cube binge lately. After downloading NWA's discography 'on a whim,' I developed a new appreciation for Ice Cube's writing and Dre's production. I made a "Classic Cube" mixtape that covers all his dope stuff before his 'rhymes' become synonymous with 'weight.' Let me know if you're interested in a copy and we can work out a file transfer.

Anyways, the party last night was a late one that started at midnight. I was planning just to take the first morning train back but then realized later that I couldn't tough it out all the way to 4:30am. After deciding at 3:30am to share a cab back to Koenji with some friends, we were all ready to go until I needed to retrieve my jacket. It was somewhere behind the stage and my dj friend didn't want to interrupt the rapper's show to get my jacket. So we basically waited another 45 minutes until their long-azzed set was complete before I got my jacket back and we could leave. My legs were so rickety from standing all night and my eyes where burning from the cigarette smoke. Ugh. There's always so much on-stage talking during live shows in Japan. I, on the other hand, was screaming inside. I think some of it leaked out. Iona would have called it an "Arturo moment."

Baby pandas have nothing on Mayah

I've been loving riding my bike. So far, I been able to bike to the following places (places that seemed so far away at first [as I would usually take the train]):
-Shinjuku
-Shibuya
-Daikanyama
-Takadanobaba
-Shimokitazawa

Usually the soundtrack greatly enhances the enjoyment of the ride. Today it was Songs in the Key of Life. I'm not sure why it took me so long to realize that that album existed. And guess what? A Japanese man asked me for directions today, in JAPANESE. And I replied, in JAPANESE. However, I'm a still little skeptical about the situation. We were both on bikes at an intersection. He looked a little confused and then asked me where Koenji station was. I pointed and said "this way, over there." I was skeptical because it wasn't very far at all and if he had ridden just a little further, he would have seen it himself. Plus, it's a pretty big station. So I followed him to see if he was bluffing. He ended up riding past the station down another street. His question still could have been legit, so maybe he's just stupid.

I just thought this template was funny

I'm going to try a new facial hair design. I think the 'handlebar-less goatee' is what's in right now, with some hair about halfway along the jaw from the chin. I'll keep you updated!