She is mine

So long have I waited. I don't know when it happened, but the other day I checked to see if Nelly McKay's new cd was out on iTunes (one year ago this month I was lamenting the non-release). Now she is mine, she is mine. Some of the songs sound like they are just recycled from her previous album, but the more I listen to it the more distinctive they become. So far I really love the two duets with Cyndi Lauper and K.D. Lang. I look forward to a duet album - and Nelly, if you still read this blog, I encourage you to do something with Regina Spector.

(the link above is to a YouTube video of Nelly on David Letterman promoting her new album. Also of interest is her first TV appearance also on Letterman a few years ago.)

Wasting time web-surfing today I came across this photo that goes in my list of "what if it was me?" situations for self-examination. This one is double because I find myself wondering what I would do/feel if I were her or him - though I know I can never know.

Must appologize to mom and dad as I have done little to prepare for their arrival. I will be away for three weeks in March and only have three days to clean the house before they get here. (If I clean it now it will be all filled with bird poop again by the time they arrive anyway.)

Also, I heard today that the cherry blossoms are scheduled to open on March 22nd - a few weeks before they get here... As you can see in the photo above, the plum blossoms are already starting to bloom now - a month ahead of time.

As I mentioned I am planning a grand bike trip with a friend/co-worker (co-intern actually) from his home in Nagoya to Nagano. It should be great. Unfortunately Tomoe had to back out as she has to be in Tokyo on the 12th and there are just no buses from the remote (yet famous) village we plan to be in at that time.

I will be taking the night bus to Nagoya this Thursday to meet him early Friday morning. From there it is a long day's ride to Gujyo, famous for hosting one of the three big dance festivals of Japan. The next day we head up to world heritage site Shirakawago and Gokayama for a peak at traditional Japanese village life. Then we have a nice 150km ride to Itoigawa on the Japan Sea so we can wake up early the next morning to report for work at Oami (Hirawiwa) on the Nagano-Nigata border.

The hope is that Tomoe will be able to make it to Oami when my two weeks of work are done. Sure everyone in the village is nice and open and eager to talk to new-comers, and sure it is in a beautiful mountain setting, but the "best" part is that with the aging population and lack ofyoungsters in the town, un-occupied houses are plentiful and rent is CHEAP if not free. I just have to convince Tomoe to give up her life of luxury in out tiny Tokyo apartment for a life of pain an misery in a spacious farm house in the mountains complete with field.

The photos are from a short half-day trip to Takao for trail running this weekend. No, Tomoe was not really that happy.