R.I.P. SAM

Dear Sam,

It is a shame I had not heard of you until after your passing, but if my words can in any way ease your transition from this world to the next, please know that you put a smile on my face, a chuckle in my heart, and you will forever be........ the ugliest damn dog in the entire world. Rest well, Buddy.

Scott

Drinking in the Park

Drinking in the Park on a November night in Tokyo. Although this city is revered for its cutting-edge style and elitist indulgences, never underestimate the sublime satisfaction of hunkering down with a tall boy of Green Apple Chu-Hi and pretending to be homeless for a few hours. BTW, thanks to the Tall Boy Ciffy for a much needed escape.


S

Workin on the Shink

This is how we get things done in Japan. Thanks to ""L$&%$ for the pic.

S

Week 13

We weren't scheduled for a trip to the Doctor this week, but the 5 bags of lime green bile purged from K's tummy forced us to go early. Luckily, Kotomi is feeling a bit better now (I think it was that curry I demanded we eat), and all of the important tests done at the end of the first trimester show we are in good shape for the challenges ahead. Baby P is a GIGANTIC 67 millimeters and growing rapidly, Mom is sick of being sick, and Dad is just trying to keep the apartment tidy.

On a different topic, Kotomi and I are faced with the decision of Kotomi's immigration next year. The ridiculously LARGE (100+ pages) application form is rife with hoops and hurdles of the severest inconvenience, even for those living in Tokyo. I don't know how I will get everything done living in Aomori.

OR, we could leave everything to a respected Canadian lawyer and his firm in Vancouver. All they would need from us is the various information and official papers (which would be translated from Japanese into the required English BY THEM). They can get cracking right away and are fairly confident that they can have everything done in time for an AUGUST homecoming.

But... There is the price tag, and a hefty one at that. I won't say how much, but let's just say that the 45 inch Plasma TV purchase will have to wait.

So here it is, a large weight off our shoulders at a large price. At least if we do it this way, we can be fairly confident there won't be any extra charges. If I do it myself, who knows how many times I'll need to buy a round-trip ticket to Tokyo for the honor of one official's signature at the Canadian Embassy.

Advice, anyone?



Scott, Kotomi and Baby

Hanging in there

I was going to publish a picture of Kotomi churling in the park. Everything considered, the photograph was a perfect balance of her inner gloom and turmoil reflected against a rainy, grey, soggy setting. After thinking about it, I decided to show you that my wife really is giving it her best during this crummy time. She can even manage a smile in between purgings. Ganbatte, Sweetie!!!

The Name Game

After several logic-based campaigns of reason, and numerous emotion-laced sorties of persuasion, it would appear that the Naming dispute is near an end. Kotomi and I have agreed on several names for the Baby... ALL of which will be kept a secret until the big day arrives. The only thing we can tell you is this: A girl will have a Japanese First Name and English Middle Name. A boy will have an English First Name and a Japanese Middle Name. Mums and Dads-to-be, we found this site to be a refreshing alternative to paying 10 bucks for a book of baby names (can you believe I actually saw a book in the shop entitled 10,000 Names You SHOULDN'T Call Your Child ?) Anyhoo, the site is www.behindthename.com . There is even a 100 Names Ranking for B.C. as late as 2004.

Baby Pike

The hounding paparazzi snooping daily through our trash has gotten to be too much for us, so K and I decided to go public with the VERY FIRST picture of BABY PIKE. This was taken yesterday at K's most recent trip to the Doctor. Everything still looks pretty routine, and as a proud Papa-to-be, I must say that is one FINE little LEG!!! We just need another one now, and the foundation to my PERFECT SUMO WRESTLER will be complete.

Scott and Kotomi

Welcome to my world...

To give you some idea of what it is like to work in a Japanese elementary school, imagine that after a busy morning you are settling down to lunch with a classful of bright, energetic 11 year olds. Half way through lunch, the cute little kid besides you finally works up the courage to try out some English he has been dying to use. "Do... do...... do you like HARD GAY?"

You wait for your eyes to stop watering from all that miso soup you accidentally snorted into your sinus cavities, and politely say "Pardon me?"

"You know HARD GAY? You like HARD GAY?!! WHOOOOOO!!!!!!" Of course this would mean nothing unless the student starts to violently jerk his pelvis back and forth. He does, and you take another gallon of miso up the wrong pipe. Naturally every student in a ten desk radius is listening, giggling, and eventually imitating their bold trailblazer, so in a matter of seconds, there are easily 2 dozen students grinding each other and screaming "You like HARD GAY?"

Hopefully this link will clear things up for you. http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/face/archive/news/2005/20050720p2g00m0dm024000c.html

If any of you are thinking about teaching in Japanese schools, please, for the sake of your sanity, do a little homework first and watch some Japanese TV.

The hardest videogame EVER?

Ok, since my carefree days of sitting in front of my TV - playing hours of video games while eating a baloney sandwich off my naked stomach-turn-TV tray - are almost over, I decided to treat myself for my 30th Birthday and buy myself a Nintendo Micro.

I had my eyes on a Sony PSP for the longest time, but in the end it was my wife's love for the classic games that won me over to Mario's side. Can I just say now that I completely forgot how BLOODY HARD old-school Nintendo games were?! What's going on?? I bought the original ancestor to the flying / shooting genre, Twin Bee, and I can't pass the first level 9 times out of 10!! It's like this sick, computerized DEMON of a program relishes in letting my missiles pass right through my enemies, while at the same time locking onto my slowly moving position for a kill shot from all the way across the screen. And those bells...... THOSE DAMN BELLS!!!! As far as I am concerned, I don't need a Playstation 3 or Xbox 360. I am gonna be busy with the Micro for a while.

P.S. Ghosts and Goblins and Dig Dug are quitely sitting on my Christmas wish list.... wink wink.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Hi Gang! Everybody have a good Halloween? I know I said I would be henceforth devoting my blog to Everything Baby, but I had to just slip in a few Halloween greetings first.

Halloween in Saitama was creeeepy this year. There was a weak, chill wind blowing in from the north as the horizon silently turned from pink to purple to black. There were no children Trick or Treating on our street this year, but if I was a kid, and I heard the terrible sounds coming from our apartment, I wouldn't go near our building to save my life.

The sounds that were coming from my wife.... my god. Demonic Possession would have been the easy answer, but the noises she was making as she emptied the contents of her stomach into a flimsy plastic bag were something different. It sounded like... like... like she was screaming underwater. I have heard and done enough puking in my day to develop a thick hide to this natural act, but my wife was GURGLING for GOD's SAKE! She would pant heavily into her bag for a few seconds before sharply arching her back and spewing air, water, and apple. It was as if whatever beast was trying to squeeze its way out of her mouth was also trying to folder her in half like a napkin. I tried my best to soothe and comfort her, but my touch only made her want to chuff more. All I could do was watch as the invisible baby-making forces had their way with my wife. Finally, just as her eyeballs were about to pop from all the heaving, Kotomi abruptly stopped and collapsed on the futon. I got her some water, wiped her face, and we sat there in the dark, silently praying that whatever was raging inside her had finally found its way out. Somehow, I don't think it has...

Spooky, eh? As harsh as it sounds, Kotomi is really hanging in there like a champ. In honor of my Queen of Morning Sickness, I found this little quiz on the net. Take it when you have the time and see how you do! http://www.filmwise.com/visual/puke_01.shtml


Scott and Kotomi

The first officially published picture of the New Pike Family. No, the baby is not camping out in MY tummy. Since Kotomi's morning sicknes started I have had to either watch Kotomi's unwanted dinners go to waste, or bravely take one for the family and force them down my own gullet. Being a Dad-to-be is HARD work!!

AKACHAN ga DEKIMASHITA!!!!

Well, we all knew this day was coming, but even Scott and Kotomi didn't think it would be this soon...

Daylight is starting to fade on 2005, and I know there are at least a few Pikes who could use a break from all the bad news this year. First our beloved Grandma Eileen passed away, then sadly, her sister, our Auntie Nora, followed just a few months later. Both women were treasured and irreplaceable, and even though I am this far away, my life feels emptier for the loss.

So, it is for this reason (and the fact that Pikes seem to be notoriously TERRIBLE at keeping secrets) that Kotomi and I are very please to bring you the following announcement:
Kotomi is pregnant!! hahaha!! I am gonna be a Papa!!! Kotomi is gonna be a Mama! And NO! this isn't some kinda cutesy blog entry heralding the purchase of a new BUG. This is the real deal here, folks.

Kotomi is 12 weeks along, and for the most part, it has been 12 LONG weeks. Morning Sickness hit my wife like a big sack of rice, but thanks to some extra effort on both our parts, we are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. For the first time in about 6 weeks, both Husband AND Wife were able to enjoy a nice dinner out last night.

Baby seems to be getting along ok. Bi-weekly check-ups are uneventful (a good thing), and if the sailing is smooth right through till the end, we will have a birthday to celebrate on May 21st of next year.

So, please sit back and enjoy the forthcoming entries to this blog devoted to EVERYTHING BABY. If there are any of you out there with some sound advice, I welcome it all!

Lastly, news this big can't help but alter existing plans in the Simple Life of S and K. The NON-Baby Homecoming plan had us returning to Canada in the Spring of next year. Now that it will soon be the three of us, the best forecast I can give is that we will move to Aomori in April, wait for Pike Jr., then as soon as Mom and Baby are healthy enough, we make our way over. I don't want to get anyone's hopes up, so I will hesitate to give specific time frames. For now, lets just join Scott and Kotomi in giddy anticipation of the day when you will all be new (Great) Grandpas and Grandmas and Aunts and Uncles!

Love,


Scott and Kotomi and Baby.

The drooling idiot that took this picture forgot to give it some scale. Hmmm.... buy a car or buy a TV. The choice is obvious, no?

With the excitement of the wedding fast becoming a pale memory, we have to find other ways to occupy our time.

Ouch!

The Fruit of Godzilla's loins.... literally.

Scott and Kotomi take in a fun-filled day of Sumo - September 19th, 2005

Kotomi loves TAKAMISAKARI!!!!

Yokozuna Asashoryu

Asashoryu gets ready to mash his opponents face into the dirt while the procession of sponsors circles around the ring. Each sponsor coughs up between 300 and 500 bucks to the winner of this bout.

I can't stop taking pictures of food!!! This was at Asakusa. Mom, Dad, Brenda..... I am soooo sorry I didn't take you here!! We only found out about it last week on TV. This KakiAge Don was a bit steep at 2,200 yen...... but with all the soft, juicy, shrimpy, scallopy, squidy goodness inside, it was sooooo worth it!!!

Grand Champion Asashoryu doing his thing. This guy is awesome.

Procession of upper-level fighters..... Aomori local Takamisakari at the bottom in white.

Practice Dojo for aspiring Sumo greats.

Kotomi eyes the delicious tsukune-chiken ball at the Chanko Nabe Cafe. Good Stuff!!

Had a chance for some up-close shots during the earlier matches.

K and I in our "box" seats at the September Tokyo Sumo Tournament

Sports Day - I also do birthdays and Bar Mitzvahs

Mmmm...... mashed Otoro.....

Those PRADA glasses make even this fool look sexy!!!

"Fight" Gyoza - Nishi Sugamo

Wedding photos aside, my favorite pic of Mrs. Pike. Taken on a trolley in Ikebukuro

Taking time off from the Vans Warped Tour, Little Dude wows the crowd at Sunshine City, Ikebukuro. He then went on to jump these blocks on rollerskates!

Ok, now what????

HAHAHAHAHA!!!! I have the day off today. What better way to spend it than to watch crappy movies. In today's case, it is FLASH GORDON entertaining the guilty-pleasure centers in my brain. That's right.......... FLASH!!!!!!! AAAH HAAAAAA!!!!! This movie is so crappy, but it is hard to get angry at a film that doesn't take itself too seriously. You want a movie to get angry at? Try last year's Casshern. Two hours of "Swiss Cheese" plot and literally painfully confusing visuals and all I get to take away from it is "war is bad". Thanks. The best thing from this movie was the title song by Utada "Hiki-chan" Hikaru.

Anyhoo, K-chan and I have just been hanging out and working hard this last little bit. Nothing spectacular to report, just that the wonderfully frustrating process of obtaining K's visa has started. More horror stories on that later. For now, enjoy our pics from Roaming Tokyo. HEBA-NA!!

Candle Service

Awww.....

Disco Inferno, let's go!

My name is Scott, and I will be your Beer Boy for this evening.

"Beer Time!! Get your Ice Cold Beer!!"

Cool Shot, Bry.

The Seiryu Room at Oirase Keiryu Grand Hotel

Cutting the Cake

The Ladies in my life.... Kotomi and Barb on stage.

Skottomi is presented before the world.... (nice shot, Takahiro!)

Scott, Kotomi, and Mums and Dads greet guests at the start of the reception.

"OK! Everybody into the picture!"

Thats it! We be hitched!! The ceremony had a noticeable LACK of shutterbug action. I think guests were either creeped out by the strange music, or trying hard not to trip on the wrinkly carpet. Kotomi looks blissfully happy; I think I look drunk from all that sake I had to drink!

Mom, Dad, and a nervous Scott before the ceremony.

Finally, Scott looks relaxed!

Wedding Portrait

Scott and his Homies, pre-ceremony.

Even when being draped in pounds of Kimono, a bride is never far from her Keitai.

Mr. and Mrs. Pike

Finished!!! Its all done and over. The guests have come and gone, the unpacking is proceeding at a lax pace, and there are now TWO Pikes living at Bijogi 2-16-9, Apartment 101. Kotomi and I were married on Sunday, August 21st in her home prefecture of Aomori. Early reviews told us that the ceremony and reception were "wonderful", "beautiful" and "tear-jerking", but rather than sit too high on our horse, we will just say that K and I worked hard to make it a fun time for all.

No doubt this little contribution to the blog will be lost in the sea of pictures I am about to post, but Mrs. Pike and I would again like to thank all of our friends and family who attended, as well as those who passed along their warm wished and kind words. Like I said at the wedding, our happiness is largely due to the love and support of you all.... THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!

Lastly, here is a brief re-cap of how the wedding went down, as seen from the perspective of the Gaijin Groom....

5:00am... Solitary onsen and mental preparation.
5:30 - 7:55am... Feverishly writing the speeches I had so far put off.
8:00am... Kotomi's Wardrobe and Make-up... Scott was still writing the speeches...
9:15am.... Scott slips into his Kimono
10:00am... Final wedding portrait (The heavens were kind and we got our wish of an outdoor shot)
11:00am... Ceremony rehearsal.... "Wait, wait... what was that middle part he said?"
11:07am... Ceremony - The 9 shots of sake helped to steady the nerves.... Dad, you did great!!!
11:30am... Group Wedding Photo.... again, outside.
12:30pm... Reception rehearsal.... "Ok, now explain it all to me one more time..."
1:00 - 4:00pm Wedding Reception including:
- Fantastic entrance with a rising stage and lush backdrop overlooking an outside fountain
- Wonderful speeches
- "Beer service" from Scott and the 20 kg. keg mounted on his back.
- Guest Karaoke, Janken Tournament (for MONEY!!), Video Tribute (a la Meaux), and Prize Giveaway!
- Special Yosakoi Dance from our dance troop friends... Special Dancer - Scott in his TUX!
- Canada Flag Cake
- Kotomi's Letter to her Parents
-AWESOME FOOD......... or so we were told (no time to eat for the Bride and Groom!)
5:15-7:30pm... The AFTER Party.... good friends and great singing at the local karaoke bar. Scott and Kotomi looked pooped but happy.
8:00pm-12:00am... The AFTER AFTER Party... our beautiful friends proceeded to cultivate memorable hangovers while the newlyweds proceeded to their suite for some much needed downtime. We ate the leftovers of our reception dinner and sipped Dom on our bed, replayed the day over and over in our heads, and passed out around ten.