blog
essays
archives
links
look back
Archives
Here is a complete archive of all blog posts, from the beginning. I have attempted to group them into interesting chronological divisions and offer some commentary regarding major events.
I know this page looks a little uneven, I believe there will be a major aesthetic overall in the near future.
- The Beginning and The End: April 1 - July 31, 2004
- Roll Out!: August 1 - November 6, 2004
- High Life: November 7 - December 18, 2004
- The Big Break: December 19, 2004 - January 15, 2005
- Happy Returns?: January 16 - March 19, 2005
- What the Fuck?: March 20 - May 14, 2005
- Red Hot Summer: May 15 - August 20, 2005
- Change of Venue: August 20 - October 8, 2005
- Hitting My Stride: October 9, 2005 - January 28, 2006
- Back to the Books: January 29 - May 20, 2006
- Again, Legendary Men Return: May 21, 2006 - August 2006
- Light at the End of the Tunnel: September 1, 2006 - January 13, 2007
- The Final Countdown: January 14 - present
The Beginning and The End
I begin writing and stop working.
- April 2004 - Blog Start! I attend a strange seder and a Minibosses show.
- May 2004 - Still "finding my voice," most posts are just links or rants about the news.
- June 2004 - Now more like a diary, I start complaining about my job and visit UAlbany.
- July 2004 - I read lots of comics, take an extended vacation and visit Boston for the DNC.
Roll Out!
My postal career ends and life as a student begins.
- August 2004 - Joe freaks out, I visit Philadelphia, quit my job and move to Albany.
- September 2004 - Classes begin, I try to make friends and my sister posts, twice!
- Sept. 26 - Oct. 2 - Switched to Weekly Archives. Watched some anime.
- Oct. 3 - 9 - Rodney Dangerfield and a former bully from my childhood die.
- Oct. 10 - 16 - My "Iron Thursdays" end on a very high note. I feel pretty good about myself.
- Oct. 17 - 23 - I rock two finals & a midterm. The Yankees choke and lose four straight.
- Oct. 24 - 30 - I get two A's (^_^) and go to two different Halloween parties (>_<).
- Oct. 31 - Nov. 6 - I get introspective and W wins the election. Perhaps the two are related?
High Life
I settle in and have some fun for a change. Then I get sick.
- Nov. 7 - 13 - First snow and a trip to Cooperstown with my new Japanese friends.
- Nov. 14 - 20 - My birthday comes and goes. I agree to give a speech and stress myself out.
- Nov. 21 - 27 - Thanksgiving Break! My 10-Year High School Reunion too!
- Nov. 28 - Dec. 4 - I get sick and spend all week doped up. Not as fun as it sounds.
- Dec. 5 - 11 - See last week. Classes end but I still have work to do.
- Dec. 12 - 18 - I take my finals and break the fuck out of Albany.
The Big Break
I enjoy maximum relaxation in New York. Perhaps a little too much?
Happy Returns?
Longing for something to do, I return to Albany for the Spring semester.
- Jan. 16 - 22 - Back at school, I get together with the same crowd again.
- Jan. 23 - 29 - I find myself with a lot to do. Why was I so eager to get back to work?
- Jan. 30 - Feb. 5 - I throw up (again). My roommate moves out! Hyde makes her debut!!
- Feb. 6 - 12 - I host a quiet Super Bowl party and question my blogging objectives.
- Feb. 13 - 19 - I don't have TB but I get very stressed about studying abroad.
- Feb. 20 - 26 - I complete the study abroad application but receive more applications.
- Feb. 27 - Mar. 5 - Visiting Nô masters put on a demonstration. I am in "excellent" health.
- Mar. 6 - 12 - Midterms and bitterly cold weather put me in a bad mood.
- Mar. 13 - 19 - More midterms to take. A few games distract me and I return to NYC.
What The Fuck?
I begin to degrade physically and get super stressed.
- Mar. 20 - 26 - Spring Break! I relax in Florida and first notice my "lesion" (off the record).
- Mar. 27 - Apr. 2 - I first mention the "infection." Medication is ineffective and a drag to take.
- Apr. 3 - 9 - Sin City brightens my mood but bureaucracy smacks me down again.
- Apr. 10 - 16 - Between the "furuncle" and the lack of word on Japan, I'm unhappy.
- Apr. 17 - 23 - I get some sun on "Fountain Day" and I call Japan to hear good news.
- Apr. 24 - 30 - I pontificate about various subjects. My "furuncle" is still irksome.
- May 1 - 7 - I hit NYC for a day trip and some careless doctor says I might have cancer.
- May 8 - 14 - The school year finally ends. Health fears make me decide to stop drinking.
Red Hot Summer
I spend the summer in New York City, visit tons of doctors and finally meet Hyde.
- May 15 - 21 - The doctors don't tell me much as I begin the Medicaid application process.
- May 22 - 28 - Mom visits me. I run into Kazu. Ointments clear up my problems temporarily.
- May 29 - June 4 - I resume drinking, meet Chuck Palahniuk again and look for work.
- June 5 - 11 - In a busy movie week, Super Size Me entertains & spooks me.
- June 12 - 18 - Kazu leaves. I blow a few job interviews. The doctor tells me I'm fat.
- June 19 - 25 - I become a CL junkie, looking for work and a date. Neither turns out well.
- June 26 - July 2 - Two dates don't go well. A nutrionist gives me advice. I meet Hyde!
- July 3 - 9 - I go to Coney Island and party in Chelsea on the 4th. My mood is not so hot.
- July 10 - 16 - Hyde and I take a tour, I begin working out and I have two CL adventures!
- July 17 - 23 - Another very social week, including a whole day with Hyde and two parties.
- July 24 - 30 - Hyde meets my friends and I fall in love with her. Then I go to Dan's wedding!
- July 31 - Aug. 6 - Hyde leaves as my Mom comes to visit. I meet with a trainer and it hurts.
- Aug. 7 - 13 - I try to see my friends as much as possible, attending a series of BBQs.
- Aug. 14 - 20 - I party with Joe, my camera arrives and Hyde and I finally sing together.
Change of Venue
I fly to
Osaka to begin the school year.
- Aug. 21 - 27 - Confused and humbled by my new environment, I explore Kyôto and Osaka.
- Aug. 28 - Sep. 3 - Classes start without incident. I meet some new people and marvel at famous scenery.
- Sep. 4 - 10 - I finally get my mobile phone and ponder my reasons for coming here.
- Sep. 11 - 17 - I get deep, analyze my behavior and I make some big talk about improving.
- Sep. 18 - 24 - I enjoy a memorable day in Kôbe as I meet Mako for the first time.
- Sep. 25 - Oct. 1 - I do quite a bit of partying and start to forget my self-imposed shyness.
- Oct. 2 - 8 - The party boat continues as I sing my head off and see more beauty in Kyôto.
Hitting My Stride
I find myself feeling less anxious about everything, dating included.
- Oct. 9 - 15 - Midterms and two more dates with Mako fill me with confidence.
- Oct. 16 - 22 - Blogging takes a back seat as things start to "heat up" between Mako and I.
- Oct. 23 - 29 - We become a "couple" and I feel genuine happiness for the first time in years.
- Oct. 30 - Nov. 5 - As we get closer, I really appreciate how crazy happy I am with Mako.
- Nov. 6 - 12 - Acting in school is fun and rewarding. Plus, Mako and I are officially "in love!"
- Nov. 13 - 19 - Big plans go down on my birthday. I am still extremely happy.
- Nov. 20 - 26 - Thanksgiving reminds me I am lonely but I still have much joy in my life.
- Nov. 27 - Dec. 3 - I complete my work as classes end. Dare I attempt the Jump Test?
- Dec. 4 - 10 - I tear through five final exams in an explosion of power, ending on a high note.
- Dec. 11 - 17 - Mako's birthday is a happy one, plus I make my professional acting debut!
- Dec. 18 - 24 - Being an extra is hard work! Thankfully, Dylan arrives and lifts my spirits.
- Dec. 25 - 31 - Christmas with Mako! New Year's with the boys (in Tokyo)! Fun, fun, fun!
- Jan. 1 - 7, 2006 - Dylan returns home and Mako and I go to a distant onsen together.
- Jan. 8 - 14, 2006 - A quiet week where little of consequence occured (except for a roach).
- Jan. 15 - 21, 2006 - Dad comes to visit, so little time for blogging. Salena picks up the slack.
- Jan. 22 - 28, 2006 - Dad leaves but Salena and Brendan arrive that very day.
Back to the Books
My second semester abroad begins and somehow everything is different.
- Jan. 29 - Feb. 4 - Salena and Brendan go home, my classes begin again. So far, so good?
- Feb. 5 - 11 - A quiet week of contemplation except for the fertility festival, which was nuts.
- Feb. 12 - 18 - Mako & I have a wonderful day together and I spend days grappling with it.
- Feb. 19 - 25 - I finally get to buying and preparing instant food like a regular student.
- Feb. 26 - Mar. 4 - Schoolwork starts to add up but my free time is as fun as ever.
- Mar. 5 - 11 - Hyperreality and happiness are the thoughts of the week.
- Mar. 12 - 18 - White Day lifts my spirits, midterms bring me down.
- Mar. 19 - 25 - SPRING BREAK featuring live sumo action and a trip to Singapore.
- Mar. 26 - Apr. 1 - The story moves towards its final chapter...April Fool's!
- Apr. 2 - 8 - I meet Mako's parents, she meets my Mom. The flower viewing party begins.
- Apr. 9 - 15 - Mom and Mako get along great. Tampopo leads to a revelation of sorts.
- Apr. 16 - 22 - Mako and I see some baseball and I complete my Japanese textbook.
- Apr. 23 - 29 - I climb a mountain and perform my skit but barely write a thing all week.
- Apr. 30 - May 6 - Golden Week with Mako leads me to openly wonder if this is "it."
- May 7 - 13 - Classes end as I write a lot, some of it for my own amusement.
- May 14 - 20 - I defeat my exams and endure a ceremony as the Final Countdown begins.
Again, Legendary Men Return
Making the awkward transition back to America and summer vacation.
- May 21 - 27 - I bid farewell to Mako and Japan and am greeted warmly upon my return.
- May 28 - June 3 - My new job is a tough one, so I quickly retire to Florida.
- June 4 - 10 - Tennis, golf, great food and South Beach are all a part of my vacation.
- June 11 - 17 - Hyde, Yankees, and a big family party are great fun, but blogging is not.
- June 18 - 24 - Global warming apparently drives me to take it easy...
- July 2006 - ...because I barely make any posts over the next six weeks
- Aug. 2006 - Blogging still a low priority as I land an apartment, pack up and return to school.
Light at the End of the Tunnel
Back at school, I can almost see my future heading towards me.
- Sep. 3 - 9 - Just settling in, getting used to classes. And beer. And football!
- Sep. 10 - 16 - A disturbing dream puts me in a philosophical quandry. Mako cheers me up!
- Sep. 17 - 23 - A long weekend allows for a trip to New York for a special film premiere event.
- Sep. 24 - 30 - I fail in the kitchen and prattle on about some movies.
- Oct. 1 - 7 - More movies and sentimentality because playoff baseball sucks ass (Yankees got thrashed).
- Oct. 8 - 14 - Iron Monday is tougher than usual. Anime club is more fun than usual. Video blogging begins!
- Oct. 15 - 21 - First midterm comes and goes and I send Japan an important message (with snacks for Mako).
- Oct. 22 - 28 - Movies delight and Mako and I exchange tasty treats via mail. Cratz!
- Oct. 29 - Nov. 4 - Halloween means a party and zombies on my mind, yet there's always room for Borat.
- Nov. 5 - 11 - Work puts me a little on edge and I reflect on my sister's birthday.
- Nov. 12 - 18 - Things get extra-stressful as my own birthday (and adulthood?) arrives.
- Nov. 19 - 25 - Too busy and too happy to blog
- Nov. 26 - Dec. 2 - Pictures from my happy week and I complete my JET application.
- Dec. 2 - 9 - Ummm, sorry, just a picture of my new socks.
- Dec. 10 - 16 - Classes end, Finals begin and I offer a video treat to celebrate.
- Dec. 17 - 23 - Finals are a wrap. I offer you a sweet video treat as I head back to NY.
- Dec. 24 - 30 - I see four films in four days and offer two videos of my own.
- Dec. 31, 2006 - Jan. 6, 2007 - New Year's is amusing, Hyde and I eat lunch and Mako sends more chocolates.
- Jan. 7 - 13 - Nachos, chocolate pizza, and videos galore. A nice way to end my vacation.
The Final Countdown
My final college semester, at long last.