Exasperating, frustrating, and ridiculous circumstances of late have woken my inner
cartoonist...
I knew she was in there somewhere...
My 3-2011 iPod update :
My Father's Favourite (Sense & Sensibility) - Robert Ziegler, Tony Hymas, Patrick Doyle Lotus Flower - Radiohead Watermelon Man - Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters Don't Go To Strangers - Etta Jones Time (Inception) - Hans Zimmer Alice's Theme (Alice In Wonderland) - Danny Elfman Faded From Winter - Iron & Wine Four Strong Winds - Neil Young, Nicolette Larsen Streams of Whiskey - The Pogues Women Of Ireland (Mná na hÉireann) - The Chieftains Miss Misery - Elliott Smith The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game - Grace Jones Vicious Delicious - Infected Mushroom I Get Along Without You Very Well - Nina Simone All The Better For Her (Sense & Sensibility) - Robert Ziegler, Tony Hymas, Patrick Doyle
I have been following instructions
as everyone else has been
in trying to deal with things post earthquake/tsunami/nuclear emergency/aftershocks/radiation exposure, etc.,
here in Tokyo.
The most recent issue is Tokyo tap water.
I don't dread the water,
as much as I do the lack of information
that I can get my head around.
I just got back from the early trek to the supermarkets.
I am in good shape, so far,
but bread is tough to come by, for now.
No sooner it hits the shelves, and it's sold out!
If you think rice is the main staple in Japan,
I'd say bread was running a close second...
The American Embassy in Tokyo
concurs that we are not in danger, at present.
I keep checking regularly for reputable news updates...
Last night, another earthquake, not aftershock, hit;
a little nearer to us than the big one on Friday.
A magnitude 6.1, epicenter in Shizuoka Prefecture...
We are all contacting each other,
keeping the support going, while weathering this.
I'm going to meet with my girlfriends today,
for a cuppa and exchanging of info.
Everything's strange Recalibrating balance; Friends, coffee, and talk!
Yesterday, Michio and I
took the bike ride to the supermarket.
I was dreading it, to be honest.
The last time I shopped was Saturday,
and I stocked up for a couple of days, then.
But that was before the planned power outage messages
broadcast in the streets, and on local TV.
I didn't know what to expect.
Luckily, Michio's university canceled classes for 2 days,
so far, so he was able to help out at home...
We got to the market, and a long line was waiting.
People on it were orderly, calm, and low-key,
except this one old dude who must have Tourette's syndrome,
or something,
as he kept uttering a loud "bakayaro!"
at no one in particular...
People in line paid him no mind,
and it gave this surreal situation a quirky human quality...
2 women stood on the sidelines,
and in between their utterances of "sugoi",
they took turns taking photos of all of us standing in the long line.
Rather than lose my place in line to go smash their cellphones,
I let it be.
More trouble, I don't need.
But I felt it annoyingly in bad taste.
There was a man standing at the entrance informing people
that bread and CUP NOODLES was sold out.
Once we got inside, there was produce,
some meats, and most other items were still on the shelves,
and we stocked up for a few days.
The long lines were due to crowd control,
so that the shopping experience was not a mob scene of panic,
but calm, where you could have a list, pick up your items,
and split.
I was very relieved of that,
and would like to commend the supermarket employees
for their consideration of peoples' frazzled nerves...
I have water stored, for a precaution.
Power outages that were supposed to happen yesterday,
and early this morning, did not.
But an aftershock woke me up at 5am.
It's day to day, for the time being.
But about now, 2 weeks on a beach that doesn't move,
would'nt suck!
2 three hours blocks, where I live.
They announced it on local TV last night.
It's different times for every area, but most areas
from Kanto up, are affected...
It is going to take some adapting, to cope with this.
Electricity runs everything, here...
I'll post more tomorrow.
Michio has no school today,
we're going to buy candles and things...
So far, there has been a fair degree of normalcy;
I've been able to shop in the supermarket,
the phones & email working,The Internet, etc...
The trains are running slow;
no express, only local, which means slow going.
Cedar-pollen hay fever masks have been prevalent,
for some time now,
this is street "normal"-
But the prospect of wearing
a wet face mask, and covering up exposed skin
to go out today, for radiation protection
is quickly losing its "tee hee" factor.
I'm trying to keep perspective
and mindful of how lucky we are to have survived
when so many others have not...
My concert for tonight has been cancelled due to the earthquake
this afternoon...
I was riding my bike to my station, to get to my gig for an early rehearsal.
About 2:40pm,
the ground started weaving, then shaking violently.
I got off my bike and just stood in the street,
watching the swaying electric wires, as they clanged back and forth.
I felt a little scared, standing there.
Soon after, I was able to contact my son, at his school;
he is fine, but unable to commute home.
Then, my mobile phone service went out.
Trains were stopped, so no way to leave,
or return, or contact anyone!
I am greatly disappointed to cancel my show,
but thankful to God
we survived.
Photo: Michio Yves Ueda
