PC Woes.

I was lamenting my lack of an operable computer when I thought, let’s see if I can use my phone. 

So here we go!

Well, look at that. It worked! I brought a half dozen sweet potatoes in and encouraged my students to go nuts. They all* did a great job if I do say so. 

*Except one. Not only did he hog all the carving from his partners, he also drained all the gas on my candle lighter trying to heat up some yam. Sigh. 

In the other class of 18, I gave them a choice of six DVDs and they wanted to see the American version of Ring. Unfortunately it took too long trying to get it set up that we couldn’t watch a 115 minute flick. So we watched “Lost Boys” instead. About only six were interested, the rest snoozed or played on their phones. Sigh. 

Last Friday when I played volleyball (my knees are still aching), I wore this mask and a couple of different kids said, “Spider-man!”  I couldn’t figure out why. I took a few selfies and noticed that I need to adjust the eyeholes properly or it loses its appeal. Take a look. 

It’s a generic Jack o’lantern mask though I suppose since it covers my entire face it could be construed as Spidey. Or maybe they’re mixing it up with Green Goblin. A mystery. 

Speaking of Jack, I carved up a Colin Key Melon to a pretty good result. 

Oops. I should’ve cropped that. 

Okay I’m going to try a link to a brief video. 

Nope, that didn’t work. You’ll have to copy and Google it yourself. https://youtu.be/4w5LQNCUYuc?si=3_gJuw1wf24Yn8n_

Here are some Mall Minions. I think there’s a Stamp Rally but I was rushed for time. 

I’m still working out the bugs of a phone entry, so I’ll call it a night for now. 

(Hmm not sure how to add labels. Never mind.) I have a computer again!

Spiraling out.

Let's get the preliminaries out of the way, "Welcome to the 2024 Edition of the Countdown to Halloween!" As soon as I figure out how to do so (gadgets?!?) I'll add a little sidebar to my bloggy thing so you don't have to click the above link and can just click the badge to check out all the participating bloggers.

Since it's October 1st, I'll add a page from my calendar to prove it. According to this, Godzilla's 50th anniversary was 20 years ago in October with the release of Final Wars. I'll let you do the math to figure out what anniversary 2024 is. 

During the Countdown, I'll keep my Godzilla references to a minimum. I will need to save something for Govember! (Gojira + November, duh.) So instead, let's give a shoutout to my estranged and very strange sister who celebrates a birthday today! This Puffy tune showed up in my Facebook memories ten years ago when she was less estranged and less strange.

So let's get to the meat of the Countdown. Several days ago, I received a Facebook ad for a Popup store featuring Junji Ito. (Click there to zoom to his website.) I thought to myself, "Hey, why don't I feature Junji daily on my blog?" Here are the highlights of that ad.

I'd love a couple of these standees.

So, I spent the past week scouring stores for some Junji goodies, mostly to no avail. What I did find, I'll share later...

Today I watched the first episode of UZUMAKI, a creepy little anime about Spirals. 

I'll let you watch the show yourselves and not spoil anything (Except for this pic.)

If I can find it for a reasonable price, I might pick up the Manga.

Less likely, I'll find a cheap copy of the Colouring Book.

This clip of the ending tune (Dojoji no Kotoriuta) won't spoil much, so give it a listen.

I've amassed enough Gatcha-capsules and UFO Catcher Crap over the last while to showcase one daily.

Since this hebi (Snake) is Spirally, that's what I'll start with.

Check out the little caveat that they give you. I wouldn't dream of causing mischief with this.

UPDATE! I scored the green snake today. These are pretty nice for two bucks.

I'm trying to diet (not very hard it seems) so the Treats part of Trick or Treat will be a minimum.

I saw this today at 31 (Baskin Robbins) but didn't indulge.

I also plan to feature a Yokai from my Prefecture (Miyagi), going alphabetically, we have Amazake Baba, an elderly hag who goes door to door asking for Sweet Sake (amazake). Whether you give her any or not, should you answer the door, those within the household will fall ill. (That's putting the Trick in Trick or Treat!) For some historical significance, check out the link above. Just don't answer the door!

On my way back from the local Shrine on New Year's Day, I am often offered a free cup of amazaki. I shall be a bit more discerning about accepting now.

I'd be neglectful if I didn't mention the Yokai, Rokurokubi, who has a long spirally neck. For more, go to previous blog entries here or here.

Before I go, I had a difficult time finding someone who has already started their October blog yet (pesky time difference), but I did discover one by Alexis so go check them out.

Be back tomorrow, Same Bat-time, Same Bat-Channel for more Halloween hijinks.

UPDATE 2! I forgot that I had intended to showcase some of my spooky comic books that I have with me or at a friend's place (or for sale on consignment.)

I chose this one because Mera's hair is spiraling.

I Beached Myself.

I often go to Shichigahama for an evening lesson; yesterday, I had one there in the afternoon. Sooo, afterwards I head to nearby Shobutahama or Shobuta Beach.

Not a bad looking beach. It formally closed last weekend though there were a few stragglers like me wondering around.

I saw a colony of seagulls (above) and a few cormorants (I think) below.

A couple of wacky pano shots.

There were of course a few body surfers and you can see them if you squint.

The only action was parasailer (?) who took a few passengers up for a birds-eye view. (I wasn't brave enough to try it.)

A huge tanker and if you look way up, you can see our flyboy.

I strolled along the beach (as seen in the video) until I came upon an upsetting sight.

As cool as it is to see a sea turtle up close, the only reason is because this dude has eaten his last plastic bag. According to the lifeguard, he was probably killed in last night's nasty waves for they also found a dolphin beached earlier that day. The authorities had been called to haul him away.

If you look at that top picture, there's a little restaurant there in which I ate lunch. I splurged and had a canny kani pasta with a nori salad. 

The place is called SeaSaw and it's worth checking out if you're in the neighbourhood.

Since I'm talking about the Sea, I saw a movie called, Meg: the Monsters 2 which you may have guessed is the Japanese title for Meg 2: The Trench-mouth (or something like that.) It has more Megalodon-sharks, dinosaurs called Snappers, and a Kraken yet is somehow really boring since it focuses on the Humans for far too long. But don't worry, it'll do really well in China so we're certain to get a third one.

While there, I saw a couple of nice posters for the new TMNT movie. I liked the preview, so I might just check it out in a few weeks.

Here's a copy of the flyer.

 

Finally, last weekend I ventured out to Morioka to sell a few items (I actually made a profit!) and en route there, stopped off in Kurihara for a mini-Matsuri. The area has one of my favourite mascots, this big anthropomorphized stack of hay.

I knew it'd be stuck in a hot car all day, so I didn't even attempt to catch one of these imori (newts).

I'll finish off with me consuming a fish on a stick...

Sea you later...

UPDATE! I just discovered that August 30th is National Beach Day. So that seems apropos.