Reader, this week - in an entirely positive way - was rather a lot. It was cyclical. It had highs and lows. And I unlocked some unactualised-but-latent personal growth.
This week in data:
Distance walked: 112,780 steps
Conversations: 14 phone-calls
Jitter: 10ms
The internet saga has concluded: For reasons unclear to anyone, I’m on a VDSL line which runs parallel to the gigabit ethernet already in my building. It doesn’t matter much since the central switch is still capped. But it’s enough: I can now finally take video-calls at home.
The week begins with two high stakes conversations. For both, I believed that I was not equipped, so I assembled a brain trust. And reader, the brain trust really came through.
Both conversations are call-backs to previous conversations from my past, and despite being completely thematically unrelated, I have tactlessly avoided both for the longest time. But this week I saw the avoidant link, and decided to change that. Equipped with advice, second-opinions and vibes: both actually went well. I surprised myself with the tools and ideas I had collected, as well as reasoning about which advice I got was good - and which was not. Scary things are not so scary. And asking for help isn’t either.
Relatedly, the facet5 continues to be one of the most useful things I’ve ever done. At the time I said “We live in our blind-spots” and ever since then, (combined with older psychometric tests) it has been like a power-torch.
Connected to both conversations, I also reconnected with an old-friend. I'm pretty happy with that.
One evening in a cellar in Kanda, after far too many years, I met the venerable JS for some Okonomiyaki. Probably the biggest meal I’ve had since the big move — because I only accidentally went and ordered the bajillion-course prix-fixe nomihoudai didn't I? Anyway: The way things are going, there’s a very real chance that SC ends up happening in Tokyo in a year or so.
To drown our related sorrows, we met up near Sanchome to visit a snack bar for delicious crab, followed by a spiritual experience in a Buddhist bar. We made friends with a nearby table, recited some prayers and drew some characters from the Taishō Tripiṭaka. I picked 願. Did OK for someone who has never done calligraphy before.
Spent a bit of time exploring LB’s old yard, including the gallery which didn’t exist this time two years ago.
On Saturday afternoon, we met at Ueno park to go to the Taiwan festival, where I was introduced to a lot of very delicious food and drink. With the exception of mystery meat in my beef bowl, everything was delightful. I don’t pretend to understand Taiwan: From the outside it seems to be a place of contradictions, but good lord do these contradictions taste and sound great. I want to visit there.
Closing the weekend NH & I met in Shinjuku and quickly found Michelin-star mapo doufu, before an impromptu deep-dive introduction into Pachinko and slot-machines from an actual expert. For the low price of losing 一千円 I tried several machines and while I don’t feel the pull to return, I now understand the mechanics, regulation and community much better.
BTW, I’ve updated this blog’s style-guide. Use of the royal “we” is still banned.
