The Cigarette Hunter

Avid Reader, I almost titled this entry "DRIVE Japan", but then realized that you might be more inclined to read with what was to be the subtitle. Was I right?

I spent the day with the DRIVE Japan team at an all-day meeting. I was the guest speaker for the first 1.5 hours, then I sat through eight straight hours (yes, 8) of Japanese. Interestingly, I was starting to get it! Not the Japanese, mind you, but based on English words being thrown out every so often as well as gestures, I could actually follow along. Of course, my brain hurts now.

The other good thing about all-day meetings with dinner in the same building? No need to go outside! I walked the 20 minutes back to my hotel tonight... dripping with sweat. It's after 11PM here and the temp is showing 91 degrees... without humidity.

OK, back to the title as I know you're thinking I'm crazy. So, we got to talking tonight at dinner (Chinese. Where I enjoyed Shark Fin Soup for the first time)... the topic was where would you like to work if you didn't have to work from an office. "The Beach" was a popular retort. I surprised myself when I said "the mountains", thinking only of my parents stunning cabin in Crouch, ID. With that answer, and clarifying "in the woods with pine trees and deer", one of the sales guys engaged me in the following conversation:

"Do you hunt deers?"
"No, but my Dad does. Do you hunt?"
"I am hunter."
"Oh? What do you hunt?"
"I am Cigarette Hunter!"

I love Japan.


p.s. Another side story -- I watched TV the other night for the first time in Japan since I've started traveling here. Turns out, I caught the Japan women's volleyball team take on Brazil. And nearly fell out of my chair when I saw the setter's name. Yet another reason why I love this place.

Tokyo. is. H.O.T.

From dead of Sydney's winter (HA! Love Sydney winters!) to the middle of Tokyo's summer, a mere 10-hour flight and I am WORLDS away.

It's after 11PM here in Tokyo and the temp on the TV says its still well over 80 degrees tonight both in actual temperature and with the humidity index. This place is H-U-M-I-D. Blech!

The best point being, however, I made it! The flight went well today altogether and I'm settled in to my friendly hotel of trips past and ready to conquer two days in Tokyo (41 hour countdown!)!

The Last Day

I spent my final day in Sydney enjoying just that: Sydney!

I started the day with the aim of taking in Sydney and all her glory -- and started atop the Sydney Tower! Best, I could see out to the Pacific Ocean and Bondi Beach where I enjoyed adventures last weekend. I also caught Centennial Park -- home of the 2000 Olympics. I got a great shot of the DRIVE office such as to be able to show my colleague Saskia and by which I could remember my morning walk for the past couple of weeks. Of course, I caught photos of the Sydney Harbor -- interestingly, they have free telescopes on their viewing platform such that I could see all the way across the Taronga zoo... and watch the giraffes! INCREDIBLE! I also mapped out my walk for the day, including a tour of St. Mary's and around The Domain and the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Upon descending, I toured through Hyde Park to catch some day-in-the-life action. The city looks stunning in anticipation of World Youth Day -- St. Mary's is no exception as that is where many festivities are centered. They recently restored the marble floor as well as built a new altar. Interestingly, they also revealed a commissioned painting of the Virgin Mary & Baby Jesus that's stirred all kinds of controversy with its Australian portrayal of a young Sydneysider Mary and blue-eyed Jesus. Brilliant!

I stopped at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in The Domain to check out a few exhibits (note: I *love* free entry museums -- they're so accessible to all). My favorite work in the museum was by Jon Molvig. Not only did it remind me of my dear friends John Weaver and Amy McKenna who are marrying ONE WEEK FROM TODAY, it was simply my favorite in the place altogether!

I enjoyed a phone call with friend Jesse Paulson as I sat on a rock overlooking Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool and Woolloomooloo Bay, including Russell Crowe's alleged home. I caught Mrs. Macquaries Chair and more shots of downtown and the Sydney Opera House, this time from the East looking West. Awesome altogether.

I saw the infamous bats in the Botanic Gardens. Yes, Avid Reader, I just said BATS. No one really seemed to be bothered by the cat-sized vampires hanging from the trees overhead. Is it just me?! Am I CrAzY?!


Friends Jodie & Kai then met me and we went straight to The Australian Hotel where we dined on Australian pizzas. And not with just any toppings, Avid Reader, but with Emu and Kangaroo! Deelish! We walked around The Rocks and out on the Harbor Bridge where we caught more shots of the Harbor... and Sydney highlights.

I could go on and on about the day; in short, it was a '10' and the perfect ending to my Sydney fling. I leave knowing I'll miss her as I would a familiar & comfortable friend.

Good bye, my friend. And thank you!

Barefoot Bowling!

What an adventure had! Last night was the office's End-Of-Year Celebration -- which was a total & complete HOOT!

After a quick all-hands meeting (well done Australia on hitting 120% of budget!), we loaded into a huge bus and ventured to the Balmain Bowling Club for barefoot bowling! Why barefoot, you ask? Well, one has to wear flat-soled shoes in order not to mess up the playing area (the "rink", as they say), so folks would typically play without shoes.

Regardless of footwear, the game is a hoot. It's very much a combo of shuffleboard and curling, but with round-ish bowling balls (22 cm in diameter) that have a weight on one side such that they curve when bowled! It's quite a tricky little game!

Being uber comptetitive, I opted to captain a team (Go 8's!) and Terry the Instructor offered me his spare Balmain Tigers Bolwing Club shirt to wear for the event! We went heard-to-head for four rounds vs. other teams... and finished with 6 points with scores of 1-4-1-0. Unfortunately, we failed to make the final as two teams tied with 11 points on the afternoon. The 8s finished tied for 3rd out of the eight teams. We did well!

After adventures in Balmain, we boarded up the bus again and went back to Pyrmont to Blue Eye Dragon, a B.Y.O. place near the office. And did we ever B.Y.O.! (Speaking of, this place is heaps in to the B.Y.O. concept such that places actually post this on their doors and placards. I guess it's difficult to get a liquor license around here, so they've gone to Bring Your Own as standard restaurant policy -- pretty awesome!).

The team presented the Barefoot Bowling Championship tropy as well as Employee of the Quarter awards. I had the opportunity to speak and thanked the Aussies for their warm hospitality toward me & the DRIVE Japan team as well as commented on how amazing it is for me to see a fully-functional and profitable office in Australia after starting DRIVE nearly five years ago. Avid Reader, it truly is amazing to me!

More events and adventures transpired after with a quick venture up the street to a local pub where more adult beverages and live music awaited. We took over the upstairs and dominated the pin ball machine and lounge area. Knowing when is when, I ventured back to the hotel and smiled at the realization that Thursdays in Australia surely are the Nights Out of choice by Sydneysiders as all of the bars and clubs were hoppin'. Good times!

Update

Dear Avid Reader,

I realize you may be utterly stunned and confused by that last post. You may be thinking to yourself, "Self, what is Walsh? Who is Liam? And what in the world is a whinjing girlie?" If any of those questions crossed your mind, then you are wonderfully inquisitive and will be duly rewarded.

Short story, I am learning all kinds of good language differences here in Sydney, my favorites to date being "useless" (always was a fave when said by an Aussie), "budgie smuggler", "bugger" & its cousin, "bugger off", and "whinjing". The latter is a favorite of my colleague Liam Walsh who daily challenges me to use what I've learned. In return, he's mastered his ability to say "Hey Todd", but more like "Hey, T-aah-d" like it should be pronounced.

On the update front, not so much news to report. As for a brief update:

Monday -- Japanese colleagues arrived. Long work day. Dined at Nick's, a seafood restaurant on Cockle Bay Wharf.

Tuesday -- Full work day. Dinner at Rockpool in The Rocks with DRIVE Sales team and clients from Starcom Media.

Tonight -- Full work day. Dinner with Japan colleagues and DRIVE/Amnesia (AARF Australia) at Pony Lounge in The Rocks.

I'm back at the hotel now -- just having had to log on to finish up some work for the day, but wanted to provide some background on the last post as well as a quick, picture-free update.

I hope you're well!

Todd

p.s. my return to the states may be delayed. I was due to fly back to Seattle on Saturday, 7/12, but I may instead have to go to Tokyo for a couple of days. I'll know tomorrow and make the call!

Walsh

Liam is heaps of a whinjing girlie.

Welcome Riley Patrick!

Good news from Boise, Idaho, today: my dear cousin Tracy gave birth to her 2nd son: Riley Patrick Scherer!

Born 7/4 @ 11:30AM, he was a couple weeks early, but still hit the scales at a whopping 7lbs.9oz.! Riley joins older brother Brady who's first birthday is in two weeks! Yes, Tracy & Jason are now the proud parents of two little ones under a year old!

CONGRATS COUSINS!
(And Good Luck!)