JREF meet in Shiga - May 2013

Petaris, Thomas, Davey, thanks for the warm greetings and notice. Yes, I have essentially been fine, as far as 'fine' can be expressed in the stretchy way that it can be. I have been quite busy with a bunch of stuff, and projects, and that will be going on for some good long while.

As for the really only reason to even coming 'round to posting here, in this particular thread when and I did, I guess nothing really be pointed out, other than... as I have opened up with, I am not so sure of just what to do. I could flip the coin, calling heads or tales, put it back in my pocket, or, spend it on another beer... hee, hee, hee... but then again, like the man said, what's the use in drinking alone, when you can have friends and darts and eats... I'm still stuck in pondering mode. BUT it is nice to hear from you folks ! (of course that includes you too, Mike, even though I know you'll understand... (can't recall the exact wording you had used when I had picked you up at the Akashina station a couple of months back, but you'll know what I'm getting at....hee, hee, hee...)

O.K. then, I want to just kind of see if anyone is interested in coming up to my place on a day during Golden Week to have a BBQ, and play a bunch of darts. I am not sure about the badminton scene... could do it, but... The ping-pong table could be set up, fairly easily, but that would depend too. Darts, of course, are just always there. It'll be the regular party. (Those not familiar should check out posts in this thread.)

One difference this year, is that it'll have to be a 'split the costs of food and drink' event. Or, we could think of it as a 'Bring Your Own Booze' and then 'split the food costs' to be more fair. (Not everyone drinks the more expensive stuff... as in BEER... yeah !! [although I'm drinking coffee now]) While I would only have to wait and see how many may be interested, who can really can come up (and know so at the present), I would make an educated (based on experience) guess, and say the per person food split percentage would be around 2,000 yen.

The food cost split would be per person, so all members of my family who join in, would of course be included in that per person splitting. Some small degree of 'drinks on the house' will be a natural too. It always happens, and I would never have any kind of party without that !!

So, the registration is now open. Even if only one person registers, the event will be on. I ask, please, for understanding, in that if a person is not really that sure of their plans, and due to not having so fully so a control over such, it would be recommendable to refrain from formally registering (so to speak). Registration should consist of marking the date on the calendar, and sticking to that plan by all means. The date will be either May 3rd or May 4th, but the 4th is the best candidate at the moment, I do believe. Those who can come may help influence that.

I apologize for having to fall back to such an arrangement, but the times simply do not allow me to carry on in exactly the same fashion as before. I'm sorry. MM

Put me down.

O.K. Mike, you're on the list and that means the party is on. I will wait another two weeks, then decide which day--but tend to think maybe the 4th is better? Do you have any input, or desires, on that?

I'm disappointed that I have to miss out on yet another one of your meets Mars Man! I would be around but because of work I have to miss this years Japan trip as well. I hope its a great get together and that everyone has a great time!

Thanks Petaris ! I hope you can make while it's still happening in the fairly regular way. I'd love to have the chance to meet you, as I know that all who do come, would too. I hope your work and all goes well ! Thanks !

Bump bump bump

Ouch... that felt good ! ... hee, hee, hee... YES FOLKS ... early May is a wonderful time of year in good ole Shinano (otherwise known as either Shinshu, or, NAGANO PREFECTURE (You know, where the '98 Winter Olympics had been held, where the Matsumoto Castle is, and the area where Kamikochi and the Northern Japan Alps are, and, where my house is.) It's not only a great time of year here, it is a both a time and a space where one can meditate with nature, with the vibrations of live and living most fully as living beings. At this time of the year, here, at my place, we have the whole universe aligned with our moment of reciprocal altruistic exchanges.

In other words, people, we always have a great time here on a day of fun and joy, food and drink, and laughter, music, and darts, here in Shiga, an outlaying district of Matsumoto city, here in Nagano... at the foothills of the Northern Japan Alps ! Please feel free to come on up, if you can !

MM

It's a BBQ PARTY !! That's right folks, a good-ole fashioned BBQ with all the works, trimmings, mood, music, drink, and laughing, talking, and towards evening, concentrating our energies on the dart board !! Although it will be as I had mentioned a bit earlier (see post number 277 above), it is open for those who wish to have the time of their lives in the liveliest section of Nagano !!

May 4th is the day... kicking off probably about mid-day (say between around 2 or 3 o'clock), and going on into the wee hours of the night. Plenty enough sleeping room. (and we can pitch a tent too, for those who want to rough it) The fun time always rolls and rolls and the laughter and drink are like fountains of our youthfulness... always there. For those who can... come on up ! The location is the Shiga area of Matsumoto City, in Nagano. In Japan, all roads lead to Shiga, so .... you'll find it. (Otherwise PM me)

Hi MM, it is always nice to see you here in JREF.
It's one year already?! I remember what a good time I had during the last year.
Unfortunately I cannot make it this year as I'll go to my colleagues wedding party, so I wish you and everyone you'll join your BBQ Party a great time and weather!

Yes, undrentide chan, it's been one year already... wow... Thanks for dropping by and letting me know. I really enjoy having you and your gang up last time. Perhaps again, some sunny May day, you all can make it again. Thanks for the best wishes... and I hope the weather will give us our usual sun for fun !

Dear MM, this is as close to Matsumoto as we could make it this year: in front of the remains of Ueda Castle on a coast-to-coast quickie to Niigata in the first days of GW.

As much as we want, unfortunately, we can't make it to the JREF gathering this year. Have a great time (no doubt about that!) and please post a few pics so that we know what we have missed! It seems that the weather gods will be on your side.

Hello there Thomas ! Nice photos on the trip there. Yep, Ueda is just over the hill from here, but, tis just big enough of a hill to make dropping by a whole day thing when one's in the saddle with pedal-pumping to do. Thanks for letting us know that you were at least in the area. (Although I did not see this until after the event.)

Well, we had a very calm, smooth event this year. It was only Mike Cash from JREF, and then some of the folks who had additionally come last time, as well. I don't think we have any photos, but the ones we've had in the post on this thread, probably will do the job. After getting enough to eat, and some for later on, too, we left the very cool air of being around the BBQ pit, and went back into the dozo to work on our dart throwing, and help out Asahi Beverage Industry with its annual sales results.

Mike Cash had me pinned down to a 'one-dart-win' a couple of times, if not three. Wow... made me break out in a sweat... too close for comfort. And just in case, a 'one-dart-win' setting is where one has to just hit one dart in the right place and the game is won. If that single dart does not find its target point on that one, or maybe two, throw(s) while the lead is still there with points (or closing something out), and the other team gets points, or closes that scoring slot, that 'one-dart-win' window is lost, and the game will go on, or, depending, be finished out by the other team.

I'm sure that next year, he's gonna be giving me a run for my money--if not outright ruling the board. Let's wait and see.

I didn't get close enough to winning a game this year to taste it, but I could certainly smell it. Close enough to make me think about putting in a little practice and maybe whip your butt next time!

We had a great time. Hope to see some past participants and some new faces next time around.

Dang you guys know how to party.

I think it's been a few years since the last get together. Having to fly from Maine to Japan made me miss the good times.

Dang I live in California so it's close for me