Wow what a trip...we have had 2 earthquakes, a typhoon and my younget son, Kenji broke his right arm yesterday on a slide for life (that's what we called it in the Army). He broke his radius and ulna in his right arm. I spent 3 hours yesterday evening at an emergency room...I broke down and wept like a baby as I had to hold my beautiful little boy down while the doctor reset his arm. If anyone of you ever broke a bone you know it hurts more to reset it then it did to break it. To hear his screams as the doctor reset it broke me down. He came through like a trooper in true Samurai spirit..not so sure about myself though...I am majorly bummed. The roller coaster ride of having kids...anyone ever see "Parenthood"? I was like so mad at my wife...I was 50/50 on having kids because I am a natural born worrier...I was like "thanks for putting me through this". Now I know its just a broken arm, but to see my son in pain like that...just tore me up.Slim got your PM..thanks for the tip.Dave

 

Sorry to hear about your son. I hope he is feeling better and has a speedy recovery. I could only imagine how difficult it could have been.

Matt

 

Thanks Matt..We are going to the river today and now he cant swim or play while his older brother Sean and his cousins get to play and swim. Dave

 

Dave sorry to hear about your son. I know exactly what you mean, my son split open his head running into a tall table that was at just above eye level when he was 3. I would have taken the hit for him!

How old is your son?

 

Thanks man..my youngest, Kenji just turned 5. My oldest son, Sean 7, did the same thing yours did when he was 3 as well...something about those tables at that height when they are 3. Its amazing as there is no scar...not only was it gashed open but he had a black eye for about 2 weeks after. This happened just 3 days before we left to Japan on another trip 4 years ago.Thats what I kept telling Kenji when we were in the emergency room...give the pain to daddy, let daddy have the broken arm. I broke bones before but it wasnt until I was an adult.Kenji said, Dad I want to go home to America...I miss my room and I dont want to break anymore bones..The broken arm is kind of his own doing as he was told countless times not to do the slide for life but my sister in law was loading up the car he ran to the slide for life and did it anyway..fell and broke his arm. Kids think we are just being mean, they dont understand why we are telling them these things...now he knows. Unfortunately he had to break his arm to learn this lesson.Dave

 

If only we could absorb the pain in the child's stead...when my boy was only 2 yrs of age, he reached up for a boiling hot cup of water which was for his nanny's morning tea and horror of horrors spilled all over his chest through his shirt...good thing it did not spill on his face. I was out that morning, but they had to peel off his shirt gingerly as some top layer skin went with it...it was three weeks of agony for us as we had to change bandages daily. He is now 12 and the scars have all gone and the incident a forgotten if not distant memory.

Dave, wishing your son a fast recovery.

Slim

 

Thanks slim, and once again thanks for the tip.Dave

 

Sorry to hear about your son, Dave. Hope he recovers quickly.

I was in Tokyo myself for the past few days, and I did feel the earthquake on Sunday night while I was at dinner, which seemed to last a good 8-10 seconds. I was surprised at how un-phased the Japanese patrons at the restaurant were....as opposed to the native Texan who was admittedly rather awestruck by the whole event. :-)

 

Being from Los Angeles and visting Japan at least 20 times now...I dont even get out of bed anymore..they dont even phase me. I know that is probably a bad thing to be complacent like that...Off to Tokyo today to meet my wifes uncle and we are going to Tokyo Tower, Ginza and Shibuya.My oldest son, Sean is going with his cousins to Ibaragi near Chiba. My youngest Kenji, who broke his arm, is stuck with us. My wife and I wanted to go to the Shinjuku Park Tower where the bar scenes from Lost in Translation was filmed. We love that movie...now it may not happen as we have our poor, bored 5yr. old with us.Dave

 

Keep an eye out for Godzilla when you're visiting the tower.

 

The view from the top of Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills is fantastic and my favorite, better than Tokyo Tower IMHO. If you have time, take the kiddos there. The view can't be beat.

 

Is the Hard Rock Cafe still in business in Roppongi?

 

We went to Tokyo yesterday and I love Tokyo. One of the most amazing cities in the world. Unfortunately we didn't go to Roppongi. We hung out most of the time in Ginza. Ginza reminded me of home as there were a ton of 997s and I saw 3 Ferraris and one Murcielago (SP). To own anyone of these cars here in Japan requires serious funding. The girls in Japan are so fashionable, especially in Ginza. My wife and I dragged our wounded warrior Kenji with us, he must have walked over 3 miles yesterday through the Edo Castle area as well as the Emperors Palace. It was over 90deg F and 90% humidity...ouch. I miss the weather in Playa..Hard Rock Cafes have been going out of business all over, the one in Los Angeles at the Beverly Center is gone.Dave

 

You should have stayed underground in the center of Tokyo. I recall a day like yours (high temp & humidity). My wife and I spent the better part of the day just cruising the subway underground. It was like there was another city beneath Tokyo.

Those steamy days are not good for us So Cal beach guys.

 

Man it was brutal yesterday...I didnt want to get off of the subways. I did two deployments to the Phillipines in the mid 80s when I was in the US Army, and it felt like that yesterday. Just a big, scorching hot wet blanket put over you. You almost couldnt breath. I actually went for a run last night after we got home around 9PM and it was still brutally hot. To make matters worse the room I am staying in at my wifes parents home the AC broke...YIKES. We had to sleep in the tatami room where the AC did work.All in all I am having a very good time but when Dorothy says..theres no place like home, I know what she meant.Dave