Andthensome

Another Saturday..hah.

Smoking the Upmann Mangum 46.  Quite a nice cigar and goes with a brew quite nicely.  OK.

1997 Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages

I finally got around to opening a wine I had bought some time ago. Some years ago, my open gambit into wine enthusiasm was to buy a subscription to the wine spectator. One of their recommendations was to buy St. Jean.  And I did.  I talked myself down before opening it.  Robert Parker did not recommend or even write about this particular wine, so I figured I had goofed.  On opening, it presented a nice, meaty nose with plum and apricot overtones.  It drank well, and opened up after a while.  I needs cellaring.  Four more years would have been nice.  It turns out it is quite a nice wine and well respected.

Running Again

September is here and the weather in Tokyo is beautiful. For the first time
in a long time, I took a morning run out to Komazawa Park. Trying to keep
it simple, but have started to ramp up in case I make it into the Tokyo
Marathon again this year. Did 10K this morning at a leisurely pace. Keep
it going.

Miscellaneous:

Congratulations Otoo-san on your retirement. After 45 years of the same or
basically the same commute, he gets to take a break and use the Ginza sen.

Healthcare..

Read this:
How American Health Care Killed My Father

It is probably one of the most thoughtful, well-written, articles I have read in a long time. The author goes through a personal account of losing his father to a infection he acquired in a hospital. He uses this experience as a springboard to a deep analysis of medical care in the US. Long, but gripping, it is a must-read.

The Big 42

Need to pick up Sawako and the kids today from the airport. It was a great
summer with a lot of variety. HK with the guys, two weeks in the US and
multiple trips to the golf course. Not bad. The kids are growing up fast;
really fast. I hit the big 42 this summer. Life has been good, when I was
twenty, I could have never imagined where I would be when I was 42. Yet 42
brings the reminders with it that you are not getting any younger. If I
live to 84, which is statistically quite old for guys, I am half done with
my life. Still, you don't want to dwell on life's eventualities and instead
focus on who good things are. I have two wonderful kids, a good job and my
health. I should not get wrapped up in where I think I should be or what I
think I have should have done by now. Its a fool game. Live it right. Be
positive. There are still many good things to come.

Great Weekend

Took the kids up to karuizawa for the weekend sans mom. Great time. A day of golf yesterday followed by fireworks in the evening. Emilie was able to watch, but a little too scary for Ewan.

Yes, my golf score was horrible. After shooting a 47 the previous day on 9 that could have been a 45 easily, I shot a 51 and 59. The 59 was largely attributed to my stubborness to use my driver, even when it does not work for me. Must go with what does work as it is more fun. Take the three off all but the longest of holes. Keep the swing working - stay lose and natural.

Next weekend is the big golf. Don't blow it.

Rainy Dayz

Saturday morning and nothing special planned. I have a lot of reading I would like to catch up on, a box to varnish and I believe the architect is coming over to suggest some fixes for the house. Red Sox are not on TV - damn. If I am lucky, I will hit some golf balls. Damn I hit a total snag trying to get my fricking boating license in this country. Hey, it is Saturday.

Trashing it up

Well, last night was a complete blow out. With Sunday ahead of me, here is what is on my mind.

Wine: I need to get a subscription to eRobertParker.com so that I can start reading more about wines. Paul and I just landed in a case and 1/2 of Northern Rhone - mostly hermitage - and all I can say about it is "Wow". Well, there is a little more that I can say, but I promised myself last year I would read more.

Passport: Need to get it renewed. Next week!

Cigars: JC owes me a small fortune for the cigars I have been buying. My inventory is most improved and the majority is in HK. I can't wait to grab a few stoggies this summer. I am definitely lightin' up today.

1. Red Sox: Really are not impressive as the one-two punch they should
have. There pitching is top notch and they have some of the best hitters in
the league.

A nice way to say it

At least someone is making some cake :

``The Black Swan Protection Protocol is designed to break even 90 to 95 percent of the time, We happen to be in that other 5 to 10 percent environment.''

Mark Spitznagel, Taleb's former trading partner

Two Days Left

Well, two days left before the big run and well, I am definitely up for it. I went to pick up my number today and it all sunk in. Forty-two kilometers. Well, I am taking it easy for the weekend. My biggest fear was that I would catch one of those colds that hit you like a sack of potatos in Tokyo. So far, so good - knock on wood. A little wine tonight while I watch Tonari no Totoro with the kids. No cigars until I finish the race!