I had my semiannual check-up today and found out I've lost 7 lbs. since the last one and had the best cholesterol numbers I've put up in over a decade (total of 166, a drop of over 45, woot!). Also very good blood pressure numbers and almost everything else except a borderline A1C.

Excellent, Matt!

We're having room service breakfast and packing up to go to Kyoto.

Glad I checked with the most fluent staff member last night and she clarified that we cannot take the Shinkansen from Shimbashi station (right near the hotel) but we need to go out of the main Tokyo Station. Fortunately that's a five minute cab ride and that will be easier to haul all of Matilda's too-much luggage into the station.

We're going to get there plenty early so we can get bento boxes for our trip, and settle on our platform without running.

We're on the Pacific Ocean side of the train, which normally would be a plus, but Mt. Fuji is on the other side. However, if the train isn't crowded we can just slide over. I'm hoping a Tuesday train at 12:48 is not going to be packed.

I made a mistake yesterday by planning the morning about walking over to the Emperor's Palace and grounds, with the idea of taking another outing after noon to an outlying neighborhood that looked cool (as we did with our Kishijoji outing).

First of all the Emporor's Palace burned down centuries ago and all that's left are the (admittedly impressive) moats and some gates. It might be because it's January but the surrounding gardens were...not garden like. Rather huge paved sections and open areas of no plants, just sand. Really a fucking waste of time. No owls whatsover!

Do Not Recommend.

Anyway, came back to the hotel because Matilda's phone was supposed to be cleared to activate its ESim (finally) and we did that at the hotel with the strong wifi.

And it worked! For her. My data is still not forthcoming. Oh well, she's the one that needs a working phone in Japan through April.

Then we got stuck out of our room because housecleaning had to wait to do it, so we loitered in the Premium Lounge and had tea and macarons.

We managed to salvage the evening by going to the fancy Teppen restaurant in the hotel (top floor! Great view!) and got front row seats in front of the chef while he made us our glorious kobe steak meal.

After, I dragged Matilda out into the night and across the tracks to the fancy Ginza neighborhood where we tracked down a Don Quijote store (aka, Donki) on a side quest to find an eyeshadow palette for Jilli.

Monday night at the Donki store was a madhouse on a par with shoping at the mall on the last Saturday before xmas. Absolutely packed and kind of claustrophobic. Also, we found the brand Jilli wanted (Flower Knows) but they were out of eyeshadow.

Nonetheless another fun outing, and Matilda picked up some souvenirs and skincare for herself. Just going out into a busy Tokyo neighborhood at night is like Vegas/Xmas Lights/Disney Electrical Parade. Everything's lit up and every alley seemed to have a dinky food counter of some sort that totally pinged my Bladerunner fantasies.

I wish I had focused more on the plan that had worked with Kichijoji - which is pick one neighborhood to explore each day. Just find a restaurant when you're out and focus more on the living vibe of the city.

I've been watching How To Take The Shinkansen From Tokyo to Kyoto videos on YouTube in prep of our our leaving. Just need to shove the room service cart out of the room so we can finish packing. I sure wish Matilda had brought less.

Timelines All

I have a situation that has me vibrating with anxiety. I managed to run my little Yaris into a bigger vehicle. My insurance company wants to junk it, because it;s a 2010, the drivers door is blocked by the ajar fender. Damages estimate is 4K and something and the value of the car is 6K and change. at first I was aghast that I could lose my free, well maintained birthday car and wanted it fixed. So, I have to take it to a different collision place to get it fixed. they estimate they can keep the repairs under the 6k I;m getting from the insurance. So, I went on the website of the new collision shop, and it is part of a new and used car sales shop. So, just to see what prices would be if I decided to get a different vehicle instead of fixing mine. They have a 2013 Prius for about the same amount as i am getting from the insurance. this got the brain weasels turning and now I'm wondering if that is the route to go. It might not be available for too long so I have to make a decision soon. I haven't seen it except in pictures but Consumer Reports says it's a good year. I'm having the Yaris towed to the collision center on Wed, after I clear it out. Am I crazy?

Sweet Jebus, it’s Belinda’s Victorian ancestor. [link]

(You’ve been warned)

There are others much more educated in Prius than me, but it seems like it would be worth going to see right away.

I am henceforth going to measure vacations in terms of owls and other borderline mythological creatures

I hate car stuff and can’t say if you’re crazy or not but we have a 2013 Prius and it has been a real champ of a car.

David, be sure to ask Matilda if she packed her traveling bricks which is what Bob always says to me when we travel. Hardy har har

...and here's the train that hits me: [link]

WaPo headline: White House pauses all federal grants, sparking confusion

Jesus.

Is the Prius one that has a battery that has to eventually be replaced? That would be my concern with one of that age, if it is. But I am not a car person.

I went up a dose in meds yesterday and between that and PMS I have felt sick all day. Headache, nausea, etc. Booo. Really hoping I feel better tomorrow.

I can’t believe we are only a week in to four years of this. Jesus.