Samurai!

Recently, I realized that when I look for gifts for the husband, they are not available. Why? Because they are limited releases and the only chance to snag them would be at a high mark-up from resellers. It is sooo frustrating. Jordans, NMDs, hats, jerseys and even watches.

So, when this handsome (or beauty), Seiko Prospex SRPB09 - Samurai,  came up while I was on the hubby gift hunt and it just so happened it was being released at the same time, I wasted no time. I immediately went on an online hunt for this product. I was getting deflated when it was turning up on the reseller market already. I did snag one from here: River Edge Jewlers. The good news, no state tax (from where I am at)! And it seemed like a legitimate and an authorized seller. I am so happy I didn't have to resort to the gray market to be able to purchase one. It seems that the demand in Asia and my home country was driving the price up. I managed to get it at a lower price than the reseller I got in touch with. Luckily, it didn't seem like this was as popular here so I had less competition and plenty of chances to buy it. Also, I don't think there would be fakes in the market already for a model that was just released. It made it easier buying it online.

 

 

It's supposed to be an anniversary gift but I couldn't contain my excitement so I ended up showing it to him anyway. It was a success of course! He loved it! Big points for the wifey! :)

This is not an apple watch review

When I learned of those smart wearable devices, I contemplated on getting one for me or for my parents but it felt too expensive for me. The stingy side of me prevailed. While I could see some benefits, I thought rather than depending on technology for monitoring my step count etc, I should just try harder to lead a healthier and active lifestyle. I also became a technophobic with thoughts of exploding cellphones and now to actually attach one to the wrist might be a bad idea. So, I thought to myself, I don't need one and I will not be a slave of these "innovations". To some extent, don't you feel that if we become too dependent on them, the future as shown in the futuristic/fictional movies Wall-E or I-Robot will soon become our reality. 

 

Fast forward to December, my friends gave me a fitbit Flex2 as a prewedding gift (I trust that they were not subtly hinting for me to lose weight.) and then my now husband gave me an apple watch. So, of course I had to use it. I wanted the fitbit because I got jealous and envied my friends who were trying to one-up each other in terms of the number of steps taken. Anyway, since I couldn't use both so the fitbit was left for my mom to use. I have but used my apple watch almost everyday since. I have configured my watch in a way that it displays a lot of info on screen including: step count, date, time, temp in Celsius or Fahrenheit (still trying to get used to the temps units...), and my hometown time. Although I am able to track my step count, I don't think my habits have changed to actually conscientously meet a daily goal. I have gotten used to seeing this explosion of data when I glance at my wrist that on the occasions I end up wearing my other watches (mostly because I failed to charge the watch), I feel that the information I am told is insufficient, as if my wrist is lacking and naked. Sure, it tells me the time, which is what a watch is supposed to be for in the first place. But what's the temp (which is quite good to know especially winters where I am at can jump from lows of 40's to highs of 90's the next day.)?, How many steps do I have (as if it mattered and makes any difference)?, I need to know! I have yet to maximize the watch so other than that, it has been just handy for quick reading of messages while teaching or driving, for doing one minute planks, and camera timer functions. My main deal is that wish I could pick up calls from VoIP apps such as viber, FB messenger etc. without having a bluetooth headphones with me. I am still resisting those Airpods which again are chargeable devices. My carbon footprint is just terrible with all these things and how much glued and hooked I am to them.

 

Now given that the watch has now become a staple, it makes me rethink if I should get that watch I've been eyeing on for a while now. Maybe I shouldn't and just get a D&G Sicily instead (no, that designer bag story still has no conclusion). 

Gundam at Diver City

photo taken by me Aug 2014

So as earlier announced, yesterday was the last day of the Giant Gundam to be on display at Diver City in Odaiba. However, not to fret it is supposedly going to be replaced by another one by 2019 that will supposedly walk this time, 40 years after and before the Tokyo Olympics (Article here). If the teaser during the last Olympics game was any hint on the theme for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics then having this robot as a showcase is not going to be a surprise. 

Had the chance to visit the statue and watch G-Party 35 "RISE!" show back in 2014. I was not a big fan of Gundam so I didn't know what to expect from the show but my brother was. I am not sure if he was exactly a fan in the truest sense of the word but he would save all his lunch money back then just so he can keep on buying those Gundam Robots that he could build himself (so did my cousin). I did watch some episodes of them back then when it was aired at a local tv station. Nonetheless, robots are robots so the geek in me was thrilled to watch the show. I was pleasantly surprised to see that at least it turns its head and some other light/laser projections as well. My research obviously went as far as knowing the show schedule but not what was in the show actually. Nonetheless, sometimes it's better to see for yourself right?