Ichi, ni, so-re!: Productivity at Work and a Really Good Fish Story

In preparing for last year's big concert, I found myself playing a lot of "desk taiko." Desk taiko is wonderful because you can compose solos and work on the sequence of those complicated songs and when someone walks in and asks you if so and so's final high school transcript came in, you just stop tapping and look up innocently and no one will know that what you've been doing is playing a wonderful, error-free version of Kai to Ryu or whatnot. In one of my rare flashes of brilliance, I decided to improve on the whole desk taiko idea and designate certain sections of my desk with post-it's. I'm working on a 2-shime, 2-josuke song, so each post-it symbolizes each. Brilliant! I love post-its! Disclaimer: Oh, and of course I only play desk taiko on breaks and at lunch.

Last night we went to the new space with drums and played there for the first time. It was boomy and the old broken-out windows rattled, but there was good energy there. Just put up some curtains and finish the construction, and what you'll have is a wonderful community center.

And because this post is turning out to be so random, here's a really great fish-story my Dad told me:

Just got back with a dorado (Mahi-Mahi) fish. It was a great trip; Eloise, the lady who invited Mom and I to go on the Lake Powell trip [a week-long houseboating adventure] was there. This was the first time she came out fishing with us because of back trouble. Anyway [a neighbor of ours] was celebrating his 50th wedding anniversary. I ordered Hawaiian Leis for his family. It really added a nice touch especially when they decided to go informal--Hawaiian shirts. They gave me one of the leis to wear, and later when I went fishing I took it to give to Eloise. She liked it very much and later suggested we throw it in the ocean for Mom. We did just that and guess what? Later I watched as a really big fish bit her line. It was a 101 pound Striped Marlin. With the aid of the deckhands and the skipper she was able to land it. I can't believe she took it home whole; it was about 6' tall and barely fit in her mini-wagon.While she was fighting the fish everyone stoppped fishing to watch her battle this big fish--what a show. Remember she's around 65 years or older.

Did I ever tell you about how my Mom had these strange powers? Like if she really wanted something to happen, she could will it. Or if she really disliked someone or a situation, her powers somehow found a way to rectify the situation or (gulp) the person. For instance, when I was waiting for college acceptance letters, I really wanted to get into UCSC, and my Mom told me that she was working on it, and guess what? I got in. And stranger things too. Ok, so you don't have to believe me, but I think her powers are still at work, and she's not really that far away. She was probably thanking Eloise for inviting her to go on that houseboating trip. Sometimes I can't help but wonder if my life is going so well because my Mom is pulling some strings up there or what. I know it's far-fetched, but I believe it.

And here's some pics. Warning: graphic images. Do not look if you are offended by sashimi.