mckib•in•nihon

no longer here...

2007-08-29T13:25:00.000+09:00

Well, as you might be able to tell from the gap in dates on the entries, I'm not really here much these days. If you want to keep up with Nico please go here. And if you'd like to keep up with my illustration work go here.

Thanks

Algorithm Taiso

2006-06-28T18:50:00.000+09:00

Last Sunday we did something really fun. We headed into Tokyo -Harajuku specifically- and met a bunch of fellow geeks for a bit of “Algorithm Taiso” or “algorithm exercise”.

Algorithm Taiso is a segment on morning kids TV over here, courtesy of NHK, the Japanese equivalent of the BBC, which produces some fantastic programming. It’s 2 guys doing a routine where they synchronize their movements as they do a kind of “march”. Oftentimes they include others in the march. Sometimes cooks, sometimes pro-wrestlers or in the example below, ninja’s.

Miyuki found these folks through one of her communities on mixi, which is a kind of Japanese friendster. It’s a huge community (just the Algorithm Taiso one), well over a thousand people. But for the “off” meeting only about 12 people showed. A real eclectic bunch too (including us as well, of course).

We weren’t very good (well I wasn’t at any rate), but it was an awful lot of fun. Too see us in action, watch the clip below.

We ate her....

2006-06-23T20:52:00.000+09:00

no, not really. But how else to explain my prolonged absence from here? Well, first there was the move and then the unpacking and then my computer broke and then... well you get the idea.

But the computer breaking thing is the relevant point. I retired my busted out old g4 (well, IT really decided to retire) and got one of them new Intel-on-the-inside iMac's. She's a beauty. She also came with some free blogging software to go along with my .mac account. So.... I've decided to give it a go.

So to follow all things Nico, please head over to the new blog.

Thanks

but damn that were some tasty baby.

stir fried baby

2006-04-07T18:42:00.000+09:00

stir fried baby, originally uploaded by mckibillo.

We found this enormous wok in our local home center. Just perfect for stir fried baby.

OK, OK, now I gotta get back to packing...

slackass...

2006-04-06T21:46:00.000+09:00

so, seems like we're gonna be moving in a week. at least that's when the movers are showing up to take our stuff.

guess we should really get packing, huh?

Funny hats for 7 months

2006-04-06T17:46:00.000+09:00

Funny hats for 7 months, originally uploaded by mckibillo.

Today is Nico's 7th month and also funny hat wearing day. A couple of days ago she went for checkup and here's the new stats:

weight: 7230g or 15.9lb
height: 653cm or 25.467inch

oh, and in case you wanted to know, she's now producing perfectly formed little people poo... so cute(!).

Regime change

2006-03-31T20:51:00.000+09:00

Well, I have to admit it. I can deny it no longer... Nico now owns this blog. I cede this bit of cyber space to her. Because I know that for the 5 people who regularly look here, it's really only the Nico pics y'all are interested in. So it shall be, from henceforth this blog is now "Operation Endearing Nico".

For rants and the occasional collected oddity, I set up another blog called "Not Nico". If sufficiently bored, please go check it out. Also, I've started a new blog just for my illustration related posts; that's over at Drawger. If you're at all interested in illustration you should check Drawger out as it's home to allot of really talented folk, fellow illustrators whose work I have admired for years.

OK, now back to Nico.

The actual shoot

2006-03-30T23:35:00.000+09:00

I've posted the shoot online. Please click here to view it.

Motoko did a REALLY good job.

Nico's 1st photoshoot

2006-03-29T21:23:00.000+09:00

Nico's 1st photoshoot, originally uploaded by mckibillo.

On Monday, Motoko, a friend of Yuichiro and Yumi's, came over to take some photo's of Nico. Motoko is a professional photographer and does some amazing work. And fast too... it's Wednesday and we already got the prints back today. I'll post some of those tomorrow.

In the meantime, you can check out my photos of the shoot by clicking here.

Princess Poncho-hontas

2006-03-27T19:20:00.000+09:00

Nico discovered a new way to wear her poncho today.

We had a little face time.

And said hello to our shadows.

Pignuts Butter

2006-03-27T19:17:00.000+09:00

Pignuts Butter, originally uploaded by mckibillo.

hot damn! them is some tasty pignuts!

...it should read as "peanut butter".

but this way it IS much funnier.

Found this in an otherwise perfectly charming little cafe down near the Miyagawa river.

A'-chan

2006-03-27T19:15:00.000+09:00

A'ko-chan, originally uploaded by mckibillo.

Meet "A'-chan, or "little alchoholic". This dependent lil' fellow clutching the beer bottle was found gracing the facade of a local liquor shop.

Spring has sprung

2006-03-26T20:24:00.000+09:00

The days continue to warm up and it's nice to be outside.

So we had a little sit on the deck.

Tito joined us.

And so did Maru.

We even took a little stroll down to the furumachi and pointed out the sites.

The strawberries in Japan are reliably delicious.

So we gave Nico her first taste.

She really loved it and quickly gummed it down to a little red nubbin.

All in all, it was a really nice day.

Lil' Daredevil

2006-03-23T21:24:00.000+09:00

Today we took Nico for a spin at the local skatepark. She didn't grind any rails or catch any air but she comported herself in fine fashion.

The hungry monster

2006-03-18T17:22:00.000+09:00

The hungry monster, originally uploaded by mckibillo.

says "hello!"

The cafe life

2006-03-16T17:58:00.000+09:00

I got a haircut...

Nico got a closeup...

and a beauty shot...

and we took advantage of the nice weather and took a long stroll.

Life is good when you're not working every minute of it.

To see more cute pics of Nico go to my flickr page.

Shark head

2006-03-16T17:50:00.000+09:00

Shark head, originally uploaded by mckibillo.

This jolly fellow was staring back at me from the seafood section of my local supermarket.

Yummy! Shark tooth soup tonight!

Nico's 1st shot

2006-03-11T21:36:00.000+09:00

Last week Nico started her vaccination's. They start later than the States here in Japan. Here's a little movie I made to commemorate the event. Just click it to play.

Nice days...

2006-03-10T16:47:00.000+09:00

Finally(!), it's starting to thaw out around here. It's been nice weather for strolling.

Nico was happy.

The big 6

2006-03-07T20:47:00.000+09:00

Yesterday was Nico's 6 month mark. To celebrate we went to a cozy little restaurant nearby.

We had a great time... until Nico cried us out of the place. Oh well. But it was her birthday so she could cry if she wanted to... sorry.

But back home we shared some yummy birthday cake that Yuichiro and Yumi bought. As well as a bitchin' pair of lil' biker boots. For when Nico turns into a 1 year old riot grrrrl.

bad ass.

Almost there...

2006-03-05T19:58:00.000+09:00

Today, for like 5 seconds, Nico sat up. I'm not sure if it officially counts, but it's still awesome.

Back at it

2006-03-04T18:53:00.000+09:00

Hi

so, after a prolonged absence I'm back... was swamped with work (yeah! and boo... the freelance life is one of feast or famine and when the buffet is laid out ya gotta gorge on it till it hurts). Also, we took a nice little break down with the in-laws for a bit of a chill. Or actually, to warm up... we really needed to get away from the icy grip that is a Takayama winter. So it was nice to just hang out at Takashi and Kiyomi's place, eating Kiyomi's great cooking, watching CNN on cable and reading comics on our iBook.

But in fact, we were busy... apartment hunting. After going through a second frigid winter up here in the mountains, shovelling out the waist deep snow, shivering in a poorly insulated, drafty building that is the Japanese norm in homes and huddling next to dangerous, smelly kerosene heaters for warmth, I decided enough is enough. We're leaving the snowy heights of our mountain stronghold for the generally balmy climes of the Kanto plain. We found a place, a 2 storey house in Chigasaki with a little yard and a driveway just big enough for our lil' car, Champ. Chigasaki is about 40 minutes outside of Yokohama and an hour away from Tokyo. It's also just down the beach from Tsujido where the in-laws live... very convenient for baby sitting duty.

We didn't plan on moving so soon. We'll be moving down next month, April. WE had originally thought we'd be doing it in the Fall. But, y'know how it goes with apartment hunting... it's like potato chips, you see one, then you can't stop and pretty soon you've eaten the whole bag. Or in this case, signed a lease.

So the next few months are gonna be busy.

Ok, now for a Nico fix:

Blue skies and a smiling baby. More pix TK.

BTW, I'm thinking of starting a separate blog just for all things Nico.

To divide my already miniscule web traffic even further.

Chowhound

2006-02-10T19:31:00.000+09:00

Yesterday Nico tried solid food for the first time. We gave her a little rice porridge. She started slurping the stuff down the second the spoon touched her lips. She really went for it... kind of amazing. She chowed down like a lil' champ. So to celebrate, we'll be heading to Mickey D's tomorrow for her first double bacon with cheese.

Joking. joking.

OK, that's all for now. Work. Me. Up to eyeballs.

Latest Dailies

2006-02-08T12:36:00.000+09:00

Dailies

5 months

2006-02-07T19:35:00.000+09:00

Yesterday was Nico's 5 month birthday. Keep on keeping on baby girl.

She had some quality time with her 2 favorite bears.

And Mom wore a special hat just for the occasion.

I've got my nose back to the grindstone, so not much more to report (or recommend).