I'm going to Japan in May for the Embedded Systems Expo and to visit some customers. I was hoping my boss, Dave, or Betsy would be traveling with me, but I'll be alone this time. (Anyone wanna go to Japan with me?)

It'll be mostly work, but I'm taking a few days before the conference to do something relaxing in the mountains, possibly hike up Mt. Fuji.

There's a Japanese TV show called Sasuke in which contestants run an intricate and challenging obstacle course, with excitable running commentary. It's American Gladiators without the opponents. And with ninjas instead of WWF rejects and ex-bodybuilders.

Videos of the action here: http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=1414

Seeing this show reminded me of the pencil-and-paper obstacle courses I used to doodle in school, with pits of spikes and sweet jumps 'n stuff.

My friends Nic and Anna, who've played soccer with me for a few years now, just had a healthy baby boy, Leo. He's growing like a weed and Nic's already begun the subliminal soccer training. I'm very happy for them.

Photos and videos of Leo here.

My brother Chris is moving to DC to immerse himself in the political stew as it comes to a boil in '08. (He's too busy to blog about it, so I've got to take up the slack.)

I finally got the results from the Japanese Language Proficiency Test I took back in December. You only have to get 60% to pass, and I did. Passing Level 4 means you've demonstrated very basic proficiency. I don't speak as well as most Japanese 4-year-olds, I'm sure.

There's some talk of a work-related trip to Japan again this May. Stay tuned.

I really miss my camera lately. It was in my lifejacket when I went for a swim in Puget Sound and died a corrosive death. Anyone have suggestions for good compact digitals? I want to take short videos, like a good zoom, and need something somewhat durable and easy to handle so I can take it climbing/skiing.

I'll have to dig up old photos to post to flickr in the meantime.

Last weekend my friend Doug held his bachelor party at Lake Tahoe and a small bunch of us skied at Heavenly and Squaw Valley for three days. It was sunny and lovely, a great time even if there was little new snow.

Thursday morning, a few buddies and I (The Gong Show Crew) did a "dawn patrol" near Snoqualmie Pass, getting in a couple runs before the ski area opened. Deep, heavy, and fresh snow—what the Cascades are known for.

Today, the Gong Show traveled to Crystal Mountain and got dumped on all day. We skied waist-deep powder at times, all fluffy and soft, cushioning my numerous flying landings.

All in one week, enough skiing to beat most of the seasons I've had lately.

Today was hectic. I had a lunch of three crackers and Nutella. At 4pm. That was my first break since 10am.

And they say working from home is relaxing.

I went sea kayaking a few weekends back and thoroughly enjoyed it: sun, water, views of the mountains.

It turned into a multi-sport event, though, when a pod of bloodthirsty orcas overturned my boat and quickly devoured it, forcing me to slay the Alpha male with my penknife and fashion a raft out of his blubber, which I then paddled leisurely to shore.

Josh, Tim, Jim, and I skied up to Red Mountain near Snoqualmie Pass last Saturday. The weather kinda crapped out in the afternoon and the ski conditions were terrible hard crust, but as they say, "it was good to get out".

Josh, who takes great photos but never posts them online, actually did this time (Josh's Red Mountain photos).