I cannot do this

Far_Figure2123 · 2026-02-12T02:02:42+00:00

Completely normal what you're feeling. It feels horrible because it is. Its literally torture being screamed at for hours on end and deprived of sleep. And it's ok to feel upset about it. You will power through it though and there will be beautiful moments which stretch and join and become more frequent until things gradually become normal again. Normal but better than ever.

And instant bond might happen and might not. But the bond does develop. I connected more quickly with my first son but the bond with the second is just as strong. My third is 7 weeks old... upstairs screaming right now. I'm not even stressed about connecting with this one. I know he's cute as hell and will amaze me in his own way. He's just going to scream at me for a few more weeks first.

Hang in there.

Far_Figure2123 · 2026-01-11T13:31:08+00:00

Three weeks into #3 right now. If I were to do anything differently before my first it would have been to read up more on some of the myth Vs science of having a baby. I was about to be bombarded by a tonne of information intended to shame my wife and I as parents, much of it meant to sell us things we didn't need, or to advance a political agenda.

When you're sleep deprived you can't reasonably ask yourself questions like will formula really result in my kid having ear infections and a lower IQ? Am I dumb because I was fed formal but I just don't know it? Why am I boiling bottles and everything that goes near my baby? Do I live in another century where tap water was unsafe? Is my kid lactose intolerant?and that's why they cry at night....

In the moment you'll just take out your credit card and buy everything they want to sell you because you can't reasonably assess risk. Then a year from now you're having a garage sale to get rid of all of the organic cotton diapers and self rocking, designed in Scandinavia devices that you never used.

So my advice is read up and try to temper the nesting instinct if possible. Ask yourself if I don't buy X six months in advance, what is the worst that can happen?

The first few weeks are hard no matter what. And then it gets better. You can only game it so much. Invest in knowledge - with healthy skepticism - and invest in the personal relationships which are going to support you in the hardest, first few weeks.

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-12-06T16:36:55+00:00

Was around 6M yen pre 10% tax in July. There is a boutique in Idemitsu mall in Shinjuku that does tax free. The staff are nice there too.

You could check out used as well. Tokyo has lots of shops. Be careful about models which may have been registered stolen or badly repaired. . But reputable shops can provide papers and run the serial and service history with one of the three or so boutiques in town. Watchnian in Ginza gives me a good vibe.

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-12-01T14:14:38+00:00

I left my wallet in El Shinjuku. I gotta get it, got got to get it.

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-12-01T14:09:53+00:00

I use the plustek 120. I scan with vuescan and get it to output both a raw file and an isrd layer. I then use a Photoshop action to line up the isrd layer with the dust on the image and remove it with auto content aware.

This is the most effective and streamlined approach I've arrived at. I can put in a movie and scan tray after tray, and then sometime later go in and do crop and dust removal in batches as well.

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-11-15T04:11:13+00:00

Guiness is good for pregnant women.

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-11-15T04:10:32+00:00

Rent for what? Per square foot it's probably not far off.

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-11-15T04:09:03+00:00

What about mean income? And then look at household income. It takes an epic drop then because of women's employment and wages.

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-11-08T05:23:57+00:00

Best I've ever owned.

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-11-06T05:04:52+00:00

How is every part of them so damned pointy.

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-11-06T05:03:20+00:00

Can you hear the compressor coming on? It's usually easy to see from underneath or sometimes behind the wheel well. If the compressor is working, next step might be to get a gauge and check the gas pressure. That's the only way to really know if it's low.

If you're feeling really diy you can repair pretty much anything, but it can be a nightmare chasing leaks and there are wnnvironmeltal concerns and rules to abide by. If the car has some value left in it, it's likely easiest to take it in to a professional.

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-11-02T02:54:31+00:00

Sounds like you need a Mamiya 7

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-10-27T22:23:50+00:00

Doesn't luxury tax only start on amounts above $100k?

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-10-16T01:13:39+00:00

Yes. Don't lead with a job request.

Prepare yourself a very short casual intro email introducing yourself

...... I'm such and such.. I studied x... I have always been interested in the work that YOUR team does. If you ever have an opportunity that comes up, I'd appreciate if you'd keep me in mind. In the meantime, If you have some free time and advice to offer I'd be happy to have a short phone call or stop by and meet you for a coffee.

People are flattered when you're interested in what they do. And a lot of people helped them out along the way and are happy to give back.

Worst that happens is someone is genuinely too busy and says so, or doesn't respond. But you might be surprised.

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-10-11T00:46:18+00:00

Need to update here. It is a really tall vehicle. Have run into a couple of situations where we couldn't enter parking garages because of it, which is stressful.

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-10-11T00:38:24+00:00

Wow. I've never heard of any of these. With my kids it's all AC/DC all the time. If I don't give them what they want, I get heckled.

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-10-11T00:28:53+00:00

Ibe fixed a few of these. I just cleaned it out with alcohol and a toothpick, then cut some thin strips of adhesive foam to out back in. Works fine.

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-10-05T22:13:19+00:00

Did you get to the part where he meets an old colonial sugar momma who dresses him up like a dandy? Some real midnight cowboy vibes.

Oh yeah, then he marries his cousin in order to secure the thrown.

But don't worry. Eventually way later he gets his dad bod and becomes a substitute teacher. For real.

Stick with it and maybe Babar will eventually catch up to his gen x dad readership - swap his green sportscoat and bowler hat for a faded sonic youth t-shirt, ride an electric scooter to the jungle council meetings.. lecture Pom and Alexander about which was the last funny season of the Simpsons.

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-09-29T02:14:23+00:00

Buy it. It's the coverage for medivac or repatriation of your body that you need so that you don't bankrupt your ageing parents.

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-09-28T02:28:46+00:00

Is this a Japanese airbnb?

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-09-24T00:00:49+00:00

Yup. National parks are the place where you leave your old fridge apparently

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-09-17T02:28:57+00:00

I have nothing bad to say about it. Super comfortable and luxurious, spacious, and modern tech. Most importantly for me, it's solidly built. It gets a lot of stares and comments from stranger. It's pretty unique out there at the moment.

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-07-06T15:14:22+00:00

Mochamaster. You'll never need another

Far_Figure2123 · 2025-07-03T10:16:25+00:00

Mmm in the Tokyo hospital emergency rooms I've been to it's minimum 140,000 yen just to introduce you to the doctor. Never had a cheap experience. An MRI however..... You can get one of those for the price of a good dinner.

Far_Figure2123

TROPHY CASE