I mentioned Kikkoman shoyu (soy sauce)
recently - it's really the
only choice, and I have a related anecdote which has
an oblique tie-in with this journal's name. After
my first fight to Japan, as I walked through a Narita
hallway with my fellow passengers, I noticed a message
board and the top name was Stevie Wonder! Could he
have been aboard, in the KAL 747's First Class upper
deck? Yes! Because here he came, near the head of an
entourage. At this point I was in one of the
queues to show my passport, standing directly in the
path of this oncoming group. I stepped back to give
them room, and the Wonder-man passed right before
me - I could've touched him (which would've probably
provoked an unpleasant reaction from the huge guy
with his hand on Stevie's elbow). I'd like to report
that I leaned forward and said
"Skyscrapers... & everthang" as he passed
within earshot, but I was hardly together enough
for such wit after the nine hours it takes to
cross the Pacific from LA. He was led away, through
a special door - later I heard that Kikkoman had
commissioned him to write their new corporate
song, which was just being premiered - I assume
that was the reason he was there.
Speaking of premieres, I see by the
advertising (esp. billboards) that
the "Dilbert" show's first telecast
happens on my birthday. Could be
terrible, but might be good, at
least initially.
Finished reading Clifford Simak's City. Previously
I mentioned the robots and the Dogs,
and what happened to Man; but I'd forgotten
all about the ants and the cobbly worlds,
and what happened to Geneva: like Diaspar
<1>,
another last and only city at the end of
human time.
Sounds:
Listening to this Harry James record, over and
over - especially the vocals: "I'm Beginning
to See the Light" and "It's Been a Long, Long
Time" by Kitty Kallen; and "I'll Get By"
by - Dick Haymes! That Harry James
was something else. I got this greatest
hits record years ago to dig his
horn-playing, but since then I've
grown to love its vocal tunes.
I wish I was in LA tonight, instead of being stuck up here.