Rakugo

 

Rakugo - a form of Japanese verbal entertainment, specifically comedic storytelling. Performers, known as rakugo-ka, sit on a cushion and narrate stories, often acting out multiple characters with only a fan and a hand towel as props.

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I've been looking to see this show in Manhattan for a while.  Last month, I could have seen it when RQS was in Philadelphia visiting her cousin.  I decided not to do so for 2 reasons: (1) It was too hot last month, and (2) RQS could get the tickets cheaper than I could get them.  So, why not wait a month, and both of us could have a great day in the city?

This weekend, the weather was expected to be in the mid 80's, and that meant that the subways would be miserable. (That prediction was spot-on.)  But we had tickets, and I braved the heat in my feminine best (I'm not talking about the formality of what I was wearing, only the attitude that women take in regarding to making no excuses when things have to get done.) Around 5 pm, RQS and I prepared to go to Manhattan, and we went to the subway station at 6:10.  It was warm, but we were tolerably comfortable in the air-conditioned train.

When we arrived in Manhattan, we had to change trains at an overcrowded station.  If it was 85 degrees above ground, it was easily 100 degrees underground.  And when the train came, it was overcrowded. Making it to 50th street, we went above ground with 2 1/2 blocks to walk, and RQS was exhausted.  Although I have more stamina than she does, I knew I had to take a break and down the bottle of seltzer I had with me.  Thankfully, we made it to the theater with 30 minutes to spare before the show.

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Sitting down at our seats (thankfully we were on the aisle), I noticed that every tune played on the PA system before the show was a version of "You are my sunshine."  (How Appropriate!)   The setting was sparse as one would expect, and I knew we'd be entertained given the reviews that RQS had read about this show.

First, an apprentice Rakugo-ka came on stage and told her story.  Then Katsura Sunshine came on to tell his stories.  (This video clip from YouTube should give you an idea about what Rakugo is all about.)  After one story was told in English, he noted that he was learning both Italian and Chinese, then told the same story in both languages, Italian used for "the apprentice" and Chinese used for "the master".  This time, it was language and mannerisms from the storyteller that made one laugh.  Truly, Rakugo is an art which was a worldwide art.

Eventually, the show ended, and we had to go home.  First, we stopped for some cheesecake before going underground.  We missed the train by 30 seconds and would have to wait 12 minutes for the next one.  I remembered that an express train was coming, and that we might overtake the local.  But that didn't happen.  Again, we missed the local by 30 seconds.  So we still ended up waiting those 12 minutes, and then had to transfer one more time.  At least, we found seats on the train to RQS's place.

We were both exhausted by the time we returned to RQS's place, and I needed to take a shower before going to bed.  At least, I had the forethought to leave some pretty night wear at her place for me to wear that evening....
 

 

Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes it eats you.

 

If there's flashing lights in the middle of a NYC street, one has to wonder: Do I risk doing down that narrow one-way street, or do I take my chances on finding a parking spot on another street.  Today, I made the wrong decision, and got stuck behind an ambulance for 45 minutes waiting for them to clear the street and allow traffic to pass.

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Summer is one of those times where it is much easier for me to reach RQS's place.  I was on schedule for a 3 pm arrival at her place, and turned onto her street and noticed an ambulance going down the street.  When I could have backed out of the street and tried my luck elsewhere, I didn't.  And just before the corner, the ambulance stopped, blocking traffic for 45 minutes on a hot summer's day.

If one looks closely at the above photo, there was not enough room to squeeze around the ambulance into the open parking spot, and I didn't want to leave my car to relieve myself before the EMT people came back and freed up traffic.  Immediately behind me were 4 or 5 buses, all stuck on their route to the terminal, as well as some cars who had no way to escape the log jam. The rescue efforts seemed to take forever, and a fire truck came with more personnel to help take someone out to the ambulance. I had to feel sorry for the woman being carried out to the ambulance, she looked like death warmed over, but she was still alive. At least, once the woman was in the ambulance (and in stable condition) they moved the ambulance out of the way, and I grabbed the free parking spot before anyone else came by to take it.

Finally making it to RQS's apartment, I brought my changes of clothes into the apartment.  This weekend, I'd be in full Marian mode, and it was nice to be able to wear dresses for the entire weekend.  Since I was not in the mood to stay inside for dinner, we walked over to a nearby Thai restaurant for dinner before checking in for the night.

It's nice to have a girlfriend/partner who accepts me for who I am, and whatever way I choose to present myself. 

How things have changed

 

Last year, I wouldn't think twice about going on a cruise dressed like this.  Today, given what we're seeing on TV (mostly YouTube video blogs), I'm not so sure about how I'd be treated by federal authorities.  The DOJ is going after medical records of Transgender Youth, and we've seen erasures from the Federal record of all things that celebrate or recognize the contributions of people in American society other than Straight, Cisgender, White Christian males.  The rest of us don't count for anything these days.

Why is this important?

We are seeing the malicious destruction of the American way of life by a malignant few.  Even the people who once supported the Orange Snowflake are turning away from him, as he is keeping what would normally only be campaign promises - things that are said to make people happy before an election, and not to be delivered on when in power. 

Instead of stable trading relationships with our allies, we are using tariffs to kill these relationships.  Instead of looking the other way when illegal immigrants do the work that Americans don't want to do, we are seeing tens of thousands of jobs go unfilled affecting both rural and urban economies.  Instead of having a federal government who'd step in and help when natural disasters occur, we now have a central government that tells us that disaster recovery is only a state responsibility.  Instead of having a government which protects individual rights, we now have a central government overseeing the stripping away of these rights.  In short, instead of having relative peace, order, and a well-functioning government, we have a belligerent, capricious, poorly-functioning kleptocracy.

For the first time in my life, I wish I were born in a stable European country.  Yes, each major country in Europe has big problems.  But they remember what happens when a bombastic, hate-mongering, kleptocratic leader took control of Central Europe. And they fear what is happening with America, as they have long depended on a stable , democratic American superpower for their own prosperity and freedom.

Next week, I will file the paperwork to get my second passport.  I'm hoping that I won't need it for an escape from America.  But if that time comes, I want to be ready. 

I don't know where to start first....

 

If it weren't for the Orange Snowflake, I'd be going on one of my upcoming cruises as Marian.  However, his ill will towards transgenders, especially transgender youth made me choose to travel in stealth mode until this monster passes away from the scene.  In today's news reporting, his DOJ is sending out subpoenas to doctors treating transgender patients (especially youths) to get medical information which normally be privileged information under HIPAA.  The monster and his sycophants have no respect for the rule of law; they only want power.

Tomorrow, I'll be driving to RQS's place, and I'm not sure if I'll be traveling as Marian or as Mario.  I realize that I have to build a Marian "to-go" kit, including toiletries, makeup, shaving supplies, etc. if I'm going to do this often.  So, I went to Walmart and spent $90 to start building such a kit, and have more money to go.  And this is where the next disturbing issue of the day confronted me. 

Lately, many stores have been locking down much of their inventory behind glass to prevent losses from shrinkage. Today, I encountered this happening at the local Walmart, where deodorant, makeup and other goods were locked up and unavailable without the help of a store associate.  The problem - it took over 10 minutes for the 4 of us to get assistance.  AARGH!  I was almost ready to dump the stuff I was about to buy and go elsewhere.

Now, if this wasn't the worst, it would be close enough to it.  The master control unit (MCU) on my air conditioner has gone bad.  The display panel and controls aren't working, as the display is frozen on a setting made last night. The push buttons which control the fan speed, temperature, etc. didn't work as expected.  Instead, the only things that would affect the workings of the AC were the remote controls.  I know that getting this fixed is going to cost me several hundred bucks.  However, I'm lucky in one regard, as I have 2 "extra" MCUs ready for installation, as my 2 air conditioners (same product, different cooling powers) were delivered before the master control units were debugged and ready to ship.  I never installed the MCUs, as I knew that I'd screw things up.  So now, I can pay to have this done right.  Maybe I can have the unit pulled before I go on my next cruise, and have it reinstalled the day after I get back?  I'll have to call to find out.

At least, one good thing happened today - the printer I sent out for servicing was replaced by a brand new printer.  It took a while to get things set up, but it works like a charm.... 

 

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A warm day in NYC

 

Today, RQS and I met in the city to have a birthday lunch at a nice restaurant.  The company was perfect, but the weather was not - it was too damned hot for comfort.  This is why we chose the Grand Brasserie at Grand Central.  And it was the perfect setting for "Ladies who Lunch."  

We first heard of this place through the UA Eats YouTube channel.  The restaurant has a nice Prix-Fixe deal which set $35 as a base price for lunch there.  (Trust me, you WILL spend more!)  So, I got showered, made up, and dressed in a new dress from Universal Standard, then out the door I went.

It usually takes 15 minutes from the time I call for a taxi to the time it arrives.  So I knew that I had to be ready by 11:10 for a 11:42 train, as the cab could arrive any time within 20 minutes of the call. Luckily, the cab arrived when I expected it, and I was at the station in time to catch the train I wanted.  While on the train, I noticed that I had lost a good pair of reading glasses.  So I made it a point to call RQS to being my pair from her place AND to walk over to a drug store (assuming I had time) and buy an overpriced replacement pair.

Arriving at Grand Central at 12:35 (or so), I decided to brave the heat and walk over to either CVS or Walgreens/Duane Reade.  Since the latter was closest to Grand Central, I bought a replacement pair for $28 - easily twice the price I'd have paid for similar glasses at Walmart.  But I digress.  Walking back to Grand Central's waiting room, I passed through the food market wishing I could take some of the offerings home to cook.  Then, I reached the waiting room, and killed a few minutes before RQS met me around 1:10.

 

 

 

Our next stop was the Grand Brasserie.  We were both a little warm from our travails, and sat down to eat.  We looked at the Prix-Fixe menu, and noticed that two of the courses had surcharges: The Oysters and the Steak Frites.  Couple this with 2 iced teas each, and the base bill was roughly $140.  (I made sure to take care of the tip, as RQS was treating me to lunch.)   Although the service was a little spotty, we would go here again.  

The oysters were some of the best I've ever had.  Their taste was strong, as if fresh from the sea an hour ago. The steak was good, but not exactly what I was looking for.  (Next time, I'll try the salmon, as I was not impressed with the idea of having an omelette for lunch.)  Too bad that I didn't get pictures of the Ice Cream that RQS had or the Sorbet that I had.  Both were perfect ways to end the meal.

Just after leaving the restaurant, we encountered a photo shoot in progress.  Who and why we did not know.  But it was one of the typical things visitors to Grand Central will see while in the terminal.  I kissed RQS goodbye, and we were off to our respective houses.  I could have used more time to nap on the train, but that's another story for another day....
 

The Doctor, the car and the board

 

The last things I wanted to do today were to visit my doctor, to get my car serviced, and to be at my co-op's board meeting.  Yet, I scheduled all 3 things for today, as I'd avoid having to switch back and forth between male and female presentations.  

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The day started with a visit to my doctor.  Every month or two, he monitors my vitals and adjust my prescriptions as needed. My alarms were set for 60-90 minutes before the appointment, so that I could dash into the shower, shower and dress, then make it to the doctor's office by 10 am.  I did just that, and made it to the office by 10 am.  Just one hitch - my appointment was for 10:30 am.  At least, I was out of the office by 11 am, and had time to relax at home before my next appointment for the day - car service.

I was semi-conscious between 11:30 am and 1 pm, and didn't get out of the house until 1:15 pm.  Luckily, I wasn't kept waiting at the dealership for service.  However, I had to wait until 3 pm to get my car and make a stop at Walmart before going home for the day.  There was still some time to kill before the co-op board meeting, and I killed it well.

Around 5:30 pm, I fired up the co-op's zoom account, and started our zoom meeting.  The board's president brought us up to date on events, and then we interviewed an applicant to purchase an apartment.  After this, the general business part of the meeting started, and I made it a point to make sure that the rest of the board look at a document of mine and review it ASAP, as we need to send it to our managing agent. 

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Good news came to me today - I received an email from Fed-Ex telling me that the printer I sent in for servicing will arrive on my doorstep on two days.  YAY!  Although I expect to be having a late lunch with a friend, I will finally be able to be back to normal in things requiring the use of a computer.

Tomorrow, I'll be heading into NYC to have lunch with RQS at the French Restaurant in Grand Central Terminal, the Grand Brasserie. RQS and I first heard of this place while viewing a video on the YouTube UA Eats channel.  This reviewer does not enter restaurants looking for ultimate experiences. Instead, he is an "every man" reviewer, experiencing each restaurant from the point of view of someone who rarely dines at fancy restaurants, who wants to get a really enjoyable meal for money spent.  Like him or hate him, his appeal is his personality, and not a well educated taste palette. He's one of the rare content creators who I might pay to see his videos.  Let's hope that his review of this restaurant is on target....

 

RQS Had to go home today (a short post)

 

RQS and I have a nice routine.  One of us will go to the other's homes on weekends and return when the weekend ends.  We've found it to be a good routine for us.  We have our "We Time" and each of us has our "Me Time."  We enjoy being with each other, and miss each other when we're apart.

Today, RQS had a doctor's appointment at 1 pm, so I got dressed in a comfortable dress appropriate for the weather (it was expected to be hot and humid) and drove her to the station.  (These are the times I'm glad to be able to wear dresses instead of the trousers expected for me to wear in boy mode. When the weather is hot, humid, and sticky, the last thing I want is something clinging to my legs.)  By the time the train left for NYC, the heavens opened up in Croton, and took 20 minutes for the rain to ease off.  Strangely enough, she didn't hit any rain, and it was very uncomfortable for her to get to her doctor's office.  

I went home for a while to rest (I didn't get enough sleep last night), then got dressed again to go to Costco and Stew Leonard's in Yonkers.  Roughly $120 later, I was done with both stores, with dinner enough to last the week. Did I get everything I wanted?  No.  But I got everything I needed.

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On other matters.... 

Unfortunately, I still haven't been able to fix the co-op web site yet, and I think I'll have to buy a new domain for what I have built.  I'll deal with that in the afternoon, so I can have something to report before the co-op board meeting begins. 

The "repair" shop where I dropped off the printer last week contacted me in response to my email.  They asked whether I wanted Epson to ship my printer directly to me instead of me picking it up on Long Island - and I said YES!  Hopefully, it will be here before the end of the week.