Money money money, or

The cold weather outside and inside has been a giant deterrent from getting anything done, being half frozen most of the time and all that, and I have not gone out much either, which makes up for the lack of postings and also of new images.   Even for today's number, I had to go into my back catalogue from last year- finding something amusing, but which I cannot remember what were the contents.  If I had to venture an uneducated guess, I would have to say that inside are not stacks of green bills, but rather some knick-knacks such as mini toys, which depending on which ones they are, beats money any day.

The catch of the day

Although cold and merciless winter seems to be upon this corner of the world now, the past weekend was quite lovely and I took the opportunity to snoop around at one stream nearby (where in the summer I saw people fishing, from a distance).  Summer of course has passed, and autumn I am not sure ever came, but I wanted to go there before the water froze (and I froze, whichever comes first).  It was a lovely enough experience, quiet (of course), but who would thought I would have such early dreams of spring?

I can see clearly now

The long weekend was mostly kind to me, except for my not finding anything good at the monthly flea market (intent as I was to locate some vintage toys, fountain pens, tea bowls and other "necessities"), but that search is often a case of chance and luck and timing, so I won't cry over that and just have fingers crossed for the next one (which will be when I visit Japanese Babylon aka tokyo next month, although I haven't much hope for that one, because big city flea markets are more picked over than a turkey at the hobos' salvation army dinner).

Anyway, given my old age, having reached a new lowlight (a certain age which I will not disclose here), I finally decided (or decided again, having done this already twice in my life, although that was over 20 years ago and then about 4 years ago) to get a pair of glasses.  My eyes have been getting weaker, and you know me, I like reading, so it is a hassle and a half.  Now, I am not trying to wear this all the time, but it does help.  Such is middle age, with old age and death around the next corner.

I had been scouting ebay and researching places in hong kong (which i intend to visit soon) to look for vintage frames, but I felt I needed the glasses pronto, despite having my pair from four years ago (which seem to have a similar prescription, although I did not know it at the time- since only my right eye has gone down a little, which was essentially what I used to see with- an imbalance, I know)

When I picked up my glasses, I was given a choice of lens case.  Being of a rather unattractive plastic coated material, only pink seemed a good choice (rather than muddy brown, blase bad mix of black, and a lukewarm light blue).  Probably the clerk was surprised by my choice, but what's the diff?  The black frames really pop out when seen against the pink, no?

p.s. Please don't call me Four Eyes when you see me next time.  Thanks in advance.

The night was not night

The night was cold, the night was rain, the night was dark, but the night was joy and it was light and it was my family (that is, my family here) and it was wonderful, the light-up festival at the temple in Matsushima, that cold, rain and dark could not take away from a wonderful experience.

It was night, it was Matsushima.

Sometimes the days and nights, the weekdays and the weekends drag on mercilessly, even with the help of drink and maybe food and perhaps amusements of all sorts, but they do drag on, and at other times there are so many things to do (not to be done) that my limits are often pushed, and pushed and pushed even more, but curiosity always takes hold and I don't mind the pushing at all.

The other evening, rainy and cold, found me at the pier of Matsushima, where the water was ever so close, the sound of the darkness rushing forth and I remembered the words of Joseph Conrad about the age of the earth being reflected in the face of the ocean (or some such).  The green lights cast their spooky shadows over that part of the world, and the end loomed near.

A couple emerges from darkness.

I am there, in the middle, standing as ever alone.

Flying High

Many years ago, I read a quote, "If home is where the heart is, where is the heart when there is no home?" and this has followed me for years upon years as I tried to find the answer.

Here are two flags which I love.

To the left

I haven't written for almost a week now, which is entirely my fault, but not really, or is it, as I have been off doing other things- more mundane things, ordinary things that take up a lot of one's time, and the truth of the matter is that recently I have not been taking many photographs of things.  Often it is the case that what I do want to photograph, such as artwork, crafts, etc, are not allowed to be photographed, which is a shame in terms of keeping a digital memory but all so much better in that the mind and eye is forced to remember them (that is, if they are worth remembering).

So, with nothing really to write on, I backtracked through my images (and forgive me if you have seen this before, memory not being what it was), here is a road sign where the animated fellow bows and politely asks you to walk to the side.  The system of manners that is in place here, or was in place (as the younger generations seem to have begun the process of dismantling even that noble tradition) is quite a thing, a bit overblown at times, but for the most part a healthy way of life long forgotten in many other increasingly savage places.

Lacquered reflections

From a distance, I had always thought that Japanese products when done right (which is most of the time, when there is no compromise on quality or morals) are rather great, and this runs the gamut across every single discipline.  How this is so must be a reflection of a certain kind of mindset, one that embraces aesthetics as ethics, and which can be seen in any number of things.  My current (growing) infatuation with traditional handcrafts has included the addition of a set of chopsticks for daily use (the blue one which is mine), lacquered in the traditional urushi, adding to the pleasure of eating and of life.

Tied to them am I, or, Beyond all other dreams

Every week or so, at one of the luxury department stores, they have a floor devoted to some theme, or region, wherein said place or thing is represented in full force.  Often, this is devoted to the varied foods of the area, which are delightful to look at and of course wonderful to taste (and drink, alcohol and tea also being represented).  The crafts, though, are what I always go for myself, often just to learn and appreciate (sometimes to have my eyes pop out for, such as the beyond beautiful hand carved wood cups from a few weeks ago that I have been thinking about again and again).

Another such example, although one where I actually did buy something (and how could I not after looking closely) was a tie maker.  I had with my usual style walked by the booth once and then twice and then right before I almost left, decided to return to it again but to take a closer look.  This was well worth it, because only upon closer inspection could I see the amazing magic of its colors and materials, which I have not seen in any other tie (and you know I often spend idle hours admiring ties, for their color, textures and et cetera).  I was quite confused as I was thinking of buying at least three styles, and most of the colors in those styles, but refrained myself as it would have drained an already running near empty wallet.  Nevertheless, I bought the most expensive one, gold threaded through, delicate, subtle, and just extraordinary.  I had intended to wear it at the reading I was supposed to take part in this thursday, but life being what it is, and the storm being what it was, I will be wearing that tie at home, home sweet home.

packaging, superb and sweet.

close up, with the picture doing it only a little justice.

Drinks for the blues and other times as well

The ups and downs of the weekend were mostly of my own doing (in reaction to the storm that sent new york reeling for a little bit), as I was supposed to do a reading at a literary event this thursday.  Alas, with many reports on ground indicating that it would be foolish to return, and I looking with both eyes on the grim reports of transit and availabilities, it was with a heavy heart that I decided that to go would be too much of a hassle.  A damned shame, as I had been planning this for four months now, and had lists of places to go, things to buy, people to see (friends and family) as well as the event itself.

The small consolation is that I have three bottles of some nice drinks of the alcoholic variety (whisky, wine and sake all Japanese made) to warm me up during the next so and so days.

cheers!

Hail, Yes

Never knowing what the future holds is something that is often interesting and amusing, sometimes surprising and some of the time quite unwanted.  Last night, though, as evening started to fall, I was quite shocked at being surrounded (in sound, almost 4 dimensional was its reality) when rain and then hail descended upon this part of the earth.  I had no idea it was hail until a little later on, when I saw a facebook posting from my cousin who lives nearby, and I (being my naturally curious and snooping self) went out for a look-see in the dark, and found evidence.

Mother Nature looks to be continuing its havoc on the planet's inhabitants which paid her no mind.