It’s hard to know where to even start a post about this trip to Japan. We have been here a week, here for one more, but even as early as this morning we are feeling sad that we leave so soon. I’ve never had a trip as great, as meaningful, as eventful as this one. If it was easy, Johan and I would move here in a second.

Tokyo is such a COOL city. There’s no other word to adequately describe it. You walk down a street, or a small alley that looks like the back of many apartment buildings, but then you happen upon an amazing shop, some beautiful Japanese brand of clothing, or home goods or something even more special, and you can’t help wonder how the shop is in business, or how people know about it. But the most incredible thing is, this happens on EVERY tiny back street. There’s stuff to blow your mind around every single corner. It never stops. But that really only scratches the surface of the coolness here. People are amazing also. The girls dress really sexy, they walk, bike, shlep through the rain in high, high heels. They wear tons of makeup, even the girls who aren’t into the harajuku scene. The young business men wear nicely cut suits, very slim. They carry cell phones with tons of charms on them. Johan and I wondered if the older, stern and serious businessmen think they are crazy. Everyone sleeps on trains, no problem. Personal space is always respected. The efficiency is astounding. The trains run quietly, always on time. We’ve never waited more than a few minutes for one. You can use your train card at the vending machines. The vending machines deserve a post of their own! Everywhere and super clean, always working. We’ve even got one outside our hotel room door. Water, coffee, beer, always available. The city is so clean, there are no trash cans anywhere but when you do find one, good luck trying to decipher which part to throw your garbage in. Recycling is at a new level here. The packaging of everything is beautiful. Every great store is usually 8 stories. People are also incredibly kind and helpful. Cuteness is serious business here. Cartoon things are everywhere. And the food! I can’t say enough about it. It’s like works of art, even the simplest bowl of ramen. Next week we’ll have sashimi at the Tsukiji fish market in the morning, I can only imagine that it will be a highlight of the trip.

I could go on and on, but I feel like it’s so impossible to describe. It’s hard to believe that Danish people are the happiest people in the world. Being here makes me think that Japanese people must follow close behind.

As an addendum, all our most special experiences have been FAR away from the very touristy areas. Roppongi and Shibuya were the least exciting and interesting things on our trip so far. And both places were filled with gaijin. Even the shrine in Asakusa was a touristy nightmare. See once, then avoid!

So, after four and a half years of marriage, Johan and I are finally going on our honeymoon! Our first attempt, shortly after marriage, failed miserably due to the INS, and we ended up using our cancelled tickets to go to Sweden the following year (on the very last date we could have used them!). But, in retrospect, I’m glad we’ve waited until now, when we can properly afford to enjoy Tokyo. Going there as poor newlyweds would have been torture! Almost every day we are adding things to our google map, and feeling so excited that we can hardly stand to wait the next month out. Which is so silly because time moves in this city like nowhere else, and October 3rd will be here before I can blink, I’m sure of it. We’ve splurged and booked the night of Johan’s 30th at the Park Hyatt, and plan to spend that day in the pool and spa, and later, drinks in the famous bar. Mostly, I just can’t wait to walk around and look at every crazy and overwhelming thing. And I’m happy we’ll take some day trips to visit shrines, and see the beautiful foliage changing colors. I’ve never been more excited to go anywhere in my whole life!

Music: Ryo Kawaga – こんばんは お月さん (Out of Time, 1974)

It’s been forever since I updated here! Not really sure why, maybe a lack of inspiration? I think that will change real soon. This summer has been funny, lots of odd changes in the weather, not much going on my life. Time is whizzing by, but at the same time, things can’t come fast enough. Every day Johan and I think, talk, dream about Tokyo and October. Feels so far. I’m trying to enjoy the time now, finally be more productive and creative. Short of a really nice but brief trip home to California, not much else. All I can do is hope that these next two months see a spark in myself, but I’m not worried!

Last night Johan, Gabrielle, and I all went to the wedding of my good friend Lisa and her husband Shaun. It was so spectacularly beautiful, visually and emotionally, I felt so moved the whole evening. At times, when Johan and I looked over the incredible view from the Hotel on Rivington, we kept saying to ourselves, and each other, “New York is the greatest city”. And we felt so lucky to share in the amazing evening with our good friends.

Music: Smog – “Let Me See The Colts” ( A River Ain’t Too Much Love, 2005)

Cucumber aquavit, dry vermouth, salted cucumber martini.

Today is our fourth wedding anniversary, I can’t believe how the time has gone by, but how much has happened. We had dinner at Aquavit last night, finally. It was a pretty great meal, my oysters alone, with caviar and fennel cream, were so delicious. I opted for venison, Johan had the lobster roll and grilled rib eye with marrow. So yummy. Fine dining has been really great for expanding our palettes, this being the first time I ever had caviar, and definitely not the last (much to Johan’s dismay)! I’m even more excited to eat at Per Se next month with my sister. We finally got a reservation and I’m beyond excited to say the least.

During the afternoon we walked down to the Ferry Park near the Brooklyn Bridge, and over to Dumbo, to the Brooklyn Flea. There is tons of great stuff, food and otherwise to be found there. I hope I’ll have another weekend day off before they relocate back to Fort Greene.

Music: Bob Hund – “Tinnitus i Hjärtat” ( Tinnitus i Hjärtat, 2009)

Last week we went to see our friend Jeremy play with Tony Conrad. It was fun, if not a little bit of a throwback to my early twenties, going to a show in a gross warehouse, full of smelly indie rockers and crazy people. I guess I’m just too old for that, though I did enjoy the music very much.

Today I am off, and feeling like a cold is coming on. Having just been sick a couple of weeks ago, I hope its not happening again. I was feeling pretty good after getting over the bronchitis too!

I always spend a lot of time thinking about food, but it feels like I’m doing it even more lately. I suppose there are a few reasons for this, re-reading some food literature, new food books coming out, exciting issues of food magazines (to me anyway). But I also think the economy is a huge factor as well, or, its making me think differently about food. There’s been an onslaught of articles and forum topics dedicated to cooking during a recession and wasting little food. Inspired by these, I am trying to cook what I have and not shop too much. The folks over at egullet are doing a little challenge which has been covered in many other places, not to grocery shop for a week, which has subsequently turned into a month. Not only is it so interesting to see what people have stockpiled in their fridges and pantries, but what they are able to cook with what’s on hand. Personally, between the three people in our household, we don’t have too much piled up and generally tend to use most of what we buy. However, there is a picky eater here, so being creative can sometimes be more of a challenge. Me, I’m happy to eat a poached egg on top of some roasted vegetables and call it a day. That sort of eating even excites me. But I am inspired by everyone’s ideas for dinner and such, and after reading some of the estimates on american households, even makes me think this should be a nationwide priority. “Let’s say there are 111,162,259 households in the US. And let’s say each one has an average of $100 of food in inventory that’s being carried unnecessarily. That’s $11,116,225,900 (eleven billion dollars). I’m guessing the real number is much higher.” Thats just scary and probably a very modest estimate. In any case, its an interesting and money saving idea, something I could personally benefit from.

In other news, the nice weather over the weekend got me way too happy about spring coming, seeing as it won’t be here for a few more weeks. Oh well, its 35 today and feels like a nice enough day. I’m sure I’ll be complaining soon enough about the heat and humidity!

Music: Simon and Garfunkel – “The Sounds of Silence” ( The Sounds of Silence, 1965)

My new specs, first laughed at, then photographed by Johan.

Its been far too long since I last posted, I guess I feel like not much has been happening. Then, when I wanted to post a couple weeks ago, my blog was having some problems, which since have been fixed (thanks Johan!).

This new year has been interesting so far. It feels like the ups and downs are coming more frequently than in the last year, but I expected that, what with uncertain times. I think we’ll really see if New York is a success by the fall. Both Johan and I will be quite hurt though, if some force other than ourselves makes us leave. We both have some sense of stability at work, but who knows what could happen. I try to stay optimistic, as usual. I’ve set some good resolutions this year, some attainable ones! First, start learning swedish. I’ve already started my classes, only had two so far. I think they are going okay, though I haven’t been practicing as much as I should be. Week 1 was easy, counting and basic sentences. Now I’m on actual structure and phrasing of a question vs. a statement, hard stuff! There are people in my class who have learned other languages and are taking to swedish rather well, but I’m definitely not the worst one in the class, haha. I’ve also downloaded a good application for my iphone which has a large vocabulary of swedish words, pronunciation and all. Its very good for the subway rides.

My second and third are somewhat tied together. They are, to start working out (of course), and to use up all the food I buy. Which will result in healthier eating and saving money, by taking more lunches to work with me. I guess I should have added being better with money, but thats really been an ongoing struggle for me. But I do think I’m getting a little better at that too. We are gearing up to be paying quite a chunk more in rent come May, when my sister relocates. But I’m optimistic about that too and think we’ll be able to be successful staying in our current apartment, which I am in love with. We’ve planned a few furniture purchases, and some simple renovations and I think it will be much nicer here.

Upcoming things that make me happy are, my friend Lisa’s wedding in April (must find a pretty long dress and some heels!). Various friends and family visiting. Our anniversary in March, has it really been four years?! Trips we hope to take, big and small. Our new dresser, arriving Friday (solid walnut, yay for good quality furniture!). And of course spring coming again! And vegetables from the farmers markets. I’m dreaming of THOSE already!

Music: Happy End – “Fuuraibou” (Happy End 1973)

Last night Johan and I went to see the first ever U.S screening of “Les Idoles”, the crazy yé-yé film from 1968. I feel lucky that we got to see this, and sad that I likely won’t be able to view it again for a long time. I hope that the good turnout from last night enables a subtitled copy to be released in the states. In the meantime, I found some nice stills to look at.

Music: Hiro Yanagida – “Nothing” (Hiro, 1972)

This morning, Gab and I woke up late, and lazed around with cappuccinos before we decided to go to midtown for tea and shopping. And even the rain couldn’t stop a nice afternoon.

Fall comes to our street. The Ginkgo trees are lovely, but the fruit is truly awful!

The map is painted on. Security is heightened. My sister was interviewed for the the channel 4 news, they mostly asked about Obama’s safety.

Tea and Christmas window shopping at Takashimaya. I opted for assam, Gab had passionfruit.

Home to a simple dinner. Roasted the potatoes for Johan, and he finished off the lamb from election night. We had bodega beans. It’s a steamed vegetable kick right now, reverting back to our childhood. Unfortunately it’s also a roasted veg kick, and I am joining the gym this week, as a result.

It was a great day.

Cards from my sister and I, bought unknowingly.

Today my love turned 29, and it was a really nice day. We had brunch down the street at our little italian place with our friend Gwen (in town for a styling gig), a truly lazy afternoon, and a nice, home cooked meal and scrumptious dessert. I’m lucky enough to get two days off with Johan, something that hasn’t occurred since our vacation in June. It’s a luxury and tomorrow I think we might go to the Bronx Zoo, something I’ve been itching to do for a while now.

Music: Jody Grind – “We’ve Had It” (Far Canal, 1970)