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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 am trying to update it and improve its appearance while I'm at it.

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 - August 2006
Light at the End of the Tunnel: September 1, 2006 - July 2007
Total Conversion: August 2007 - June 2009
Take that, Darwin!: July 2009 - 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 while watching anime and my sister posts, twice!
Sept. 26 - Oct. 2 - oops, this page is missing. Will fix ASAP
Oct. 3 - 9 - Switched to Weekly Archives. 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?

Dec. 19 - 25 - I party with friends. Kazu comes to New York for Christmas.
Dec. 26, 2004 - Jan. 1, 2005 - I have an incredible amount of fun but I puke my guts out.
Jan. 2 - 8 - I begin my musical career (so to speak) and visit Mom in Florida.
Jan. 9 - 15 - I watch Mike perform and visit the new MoMA.

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 Noh 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 Kyoto 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 Kobe 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 Kyoto.

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 and 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 - I consider the ramifications of embracing Christmas then accept Time's Person of the Year award.
Dec. 30, 2006 - My last post of year features a video love-letter to natto. No, I'm not joking.
Jan. 1 - 6, 2007 - New Year's in New York, with lots of eating and some chill out time with Hyde.
Jan. 7 - 13, 2007 - More food (chocolate pizza??) and a new, inscrutible video is created.
Jan. 14 - 20, 2007 - Even more food, Dad's birthday, and I return to frozen Albany (but I am not welcomed).
Jan. 21 - 27, 2007 - I get word that I will be interviewed for JET. One of my videos is made light of by strangers.
Jan. 28 - 31, 2007 - My new HD DVR cable box has me watching (and talking) movies. Two weeks until my interview!
February 2007 - Super Bowl! JET Interview! Mako and I go to Florida! But my blogging is almost non-existent.
March 2007 - I break my nose, fail at impressing an employer and take my fortune cookies seriously.
April 2007 - I land the JET position, enjoy Spring Break in New York and watch a ton of great movies.
May 2007 - I graduate and bid farewell to Albany. I learn I will going to Osaka, which is almost perfect.
June 2007 - As I receive a few more details about my future, I try to work out and lose weight.
July 2007 - Mako comes to New York for another visit and I propose. I get tortured by a dentist and by packing for Japan.

Total Conversion

New job, getting married, moving to Japan - I change just about everything there is to change about my life.

August 2007 - I've made it! I don't write much as I struggle to adjust to my new environs. My blog slips into disarray.
December 31, 2007 - First post in months, so I have to recap everything, including my marriage. That's right, we did it!
January 23, 2008 - Random, belated update featuring a story of shocking behavior at school.
February 2008 - Not much to report. I get a new contract, the Giants win the Super Bowl and I receive my first kancho.
April 1, 2008 - Anniversary post! I kid about a pregnancy and discuss all the latest changes (new coworkers, new TV, big stuff).
June 9, 2008 - I buy myself a PS3 as I get back into video games. The new Rambo film and GTA IV are high on my list.
July 2008 - I gradually get back into blogging, thanks to Twitter. Long posts discuss the lives of Japanese children and some bug-related adventures.
Aug. 3 - 9 - I start moblogging and discuss lots of technical issues, like RSS and the bothersome habits of modern websites.
Aug. 10 - 16 - IKEA and my stagnant social life vex me. I post my first video via moblogging.
Aug. 21 - On a bit of a break, so my only post is a geeky "flowchart of fandom."
Aug. 24 - 30 - I put myself out there for some social activities in between private activites like movies & games. Mako decides to leave her job.
Aug. 31 - Sep. 6 - I go back to work and find myself putting up with a lot of crap I hoped was behind me. I contemplate what coming to Japan has "cost" me.
Sep. 7 - 13 - Cloverfield sparks a lot of writing and introspection. I chicken out of applying for the JLPT and bid farewell to my our Wii.
Sep. 14 - 20 - Wanted sparks a lot of writing but not much else because it's so stupid. On our one/three-year anniversary, I write about Mako and I.
Sep. 21 - 27 - I am in a great mood after attending my first ever "sports day" and seeing Chad's video tribute to ME.
Sep. 28 - Oct. 4 - I feel as if major changes are afoot and I am very excited about writing, all thanks to a taste of BioShock.
Oct. 5 - 11 - English classes are going great and quite poorly at the same time. I debate what I need to motivate my own writing.
Oct. 12 - 18 - Tokyo! After a three-day visit, I write about the city itself and how I spent Tokyo Game Show 2008.
Oct. 19 - 25 - A bit more about Tokyo, plus tales of fantastic service and the dreaded washiki toire.
Oct. 26 - Nov. 1 - My DS breaks and I feel extremely disappointed. Chad's visit and our trip to Kansai Gaidai cheers me up quickly though!
Nov. 2 - 8 - Sick again, I reflect on the election and my new domestic situation now that Mako is unemployed (by choice).
Nov. 9 - 15 - During a long week at work, I worry about the pressures of gaming and admit the past failures of my website.
Nov. 18, 2008 - My birthday and the last post for the month as I begin my Vacation of Awesome.
December 2008 - I finally reveal that Mako is pregnant (for reals this time) and I close out the year recapping my vacation.
January 2009 - My gaming leads to trouble at home but things at work are going very smoothly - so much so I ask for another year.
February 2009 - So many fun distractions in a busy month! Serial TV dramas, James Bond, video games and Alex's birthday party...plus I renewed my contract!
March 2009 - I find myself writing a ton thanks to Write or Die and finally add tags to help organize my posts, because this archives pages is a mess.
April 2009 - Work (or lack thereof) drives me nuts. Buying a Xbox finally happens. Friends of mine are on the move.
May 2009 - I spend one entire week with a close friend and another week watching Japan panic over the "new flu."
June 2009 - BioShock, Star Trek, Internet "privacy" and the death of Michael Jackson. Oh, and there's this baby that looks like me.

Take that, Darwin!

Against all odds, my son is born. I'm somebody's father - now what do I do???

July 2009 - I do my best not to write about the new baby, instead addressing Japanese food habits and lots of video game talk. Then I fall ill.
August 2009 - visiting family and my nagging illness (not the flu!) leave me with little time or energy to write. Sorry.
September 2009 - my month is dominated by the Tokyo Game Show because I am hired as a freelance writer to cover the event!
October 2009 - Dad meets Go while I write about TGS, a number of video games, The Fountainhead and Fight Club's 10th anniversary.
November 2009 - Yanks win the World Series, I get to appear on Alex's podcast and I see Inglourious Basterds, my favorite film of 2009
December 2009 - I begin a countdown of my favorite things from the 2000s and go on vacation to the United States, baby in tow.
January 2010 - no new posts, sorry
February 2010 - coming soon!