Michael E.
@elverboser.bsky.social
american immigrant in japan | gay, latino, dad | he/him | posts mostly about putting off doing the dishes and fatherhood
Just sent my request for my absentee ballot (FPCA). Should be easy enough to receive (via email), but returning it is always a crapshoot. It's really difficult to even know when/if mail to the US from Japan even arrives.
September 13, 2026 at 6:49 AM
Just sent my request for my absentee ballot (FPCA). Should be easy enough to receive (via email), but returning it is always a crapshoot. It's really difficult to even know when/if mail to the US from Japan even arrives.
3 things about my 8yo daughter:
1. Her Frida Kahlo drawings are amazing.
2. Watched Jurassic Park for the first time tonight. Loved it but now terrified of dilophosaurus spit.
3. Got really upset because we thought she was joking, but she actually thought Philippines was pronounced "Philip's Penis."
1. Her Frida Kahlo drawings are amazing.
2. Watched Jurassic Park for the first time tonight. Loved it but now terrified of dilophosaurus spit.
3. Got really upset because we thought she was joking, but she actually thought Philippines was pronounced "Philip's Penis."
September 12, 2026 at 3:03 PM
3 things about my 8yo daughter:
1. Her Frida Kahlo drawings are amazing.
2. Watched Jurassic Park for the first time tonight. Loved it but now terrified of dilophosaurus spit.
3. Got really upset because we thought she was joking, but she actually thought Philippines was pronounced "Philip's Penis."
1. Her Frida Kahlo drawings are amazing.
2. Watched Jurassic Park for the first time tonight. Loved it but now terrified of dilophosaurus spit.
3. Got really upset because we thought she was joking, but she actually thought Philippines was pronounced "Philip's Penis."
Also, I was FINALLY able to submit my visa extension application online (after weeks of errors and incomplete info, and nearly three hours of attempting to fill out the form). So I'm a little cranky. Anyway, fingers crossed there are no more issues.
September 12, 2026 at 3:35 AM
Also, I was FINALLY able to submit my visa extension application online (after weeks of errors and incomplete info, and nearly three hours of attempting to fill out the form). So I'm a little cranky. Anyway, fingers crossed there are no more issues.
Outside temperature dipped to below 80ºF (26ºC), so of course they are running the heat in this cafe. Effing bonkers—but not surprising at all. There are probably people who already have their parkas aired out and kotatsu ready to go.
September 12, 2026 at 3:33 AM
Outside temperature dipped to below 80ºF (26ºC), so of course they are running the heat in this cafe. Effing bonkers—but not surprising at all. There are probably people who already have their parkas aired out and kotatsu ready to go.
Guess I'm going to have to buy a Switch 2.
ゼルダの伝説 時のオカリナ [ゼルダの伝説40周年 Direct 2026.9.8]
YouTube video by Nintendo 公式チャンネル
www.youtube.com
September 8, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Guess I'm going to have to buy a Switch 2.
Meant to go to bed over two hours ago, but here I am listening to Thompson Twins at 1:47 a.m.
September 7, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Meant to go to bed over two hours ago, but here I am listening to Thompson Twins at 1:47 a.m.
Was falling asleep over my work, so I got ready for bed and went to lie down. But the rain hitting our balcony is so loud, I decided to come downstairs and sleep on the couch. And now, I’m wide awake. 😤
September 6, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Was falling asleep over my work, so I got ready for bed and went to lie down. But the rain hitting our balcony is so loud, I decided to come downstairs and sleep on the couch. And now, I’m wide awake. 😤
Listening to the audiobook of The Midnight Library. I know the narrator is Carey Mulligan, but I cannot help but picture Hannah Fry.
September 3, 2026 at 5:24 AM
Listening to the audiobook of The Midnight Library. I know the narrator is Carey Mulligan, but I cannot help but picture Hannah Fry.
First day of school done!
I only had 2 classes (6ème & 3ème) & it was pretty much just syllabus+introductions. Tomorrow will be 2 hours with 6ème in the afternoon. Friday will be 1 hour with 6ème & (unfortunately) 4 hours with the other 3ème section.
Overall, I think I'm happy to get back to it.
I only had 2 classes (6ème & 3ème) & it was pretty much just syllabus+introductions. Tomorrow will be 2 hours with 6ème in the afternoon. Friday will be 1 hour with 6ème & (unfortunately) 4 hours with the other 3ème section.
Overall, I think I'm happy to get back to it.
September 2, 2026 at 3:26 AM
First day of school done!
I only had 2 classes (6ème & 3ème) & it was pretty much just syllabus+introductions. Tomorrow will be 2 hours with 6ème in the afternoon. Friday will be 1 hour with 6ème & (unfortunately) 4 hours with the other 3ème section.
Overall, I think I'm happy to get back to it.
I only had 2 classes (6ème & 3ème) & it was pretty much just syllabus+introductions. Tomorrow will be 2 hours with 6ème in the afternoon. Friday will be 1 hour with 6ème & (unfortunately) 4 hours with the other 3ème section.
Overall, I think I'm happy to get back to it.
Just discovered the leak in our crawlspace from over a year ago had also infiltrated the storage space beneath our hall closet. The entire contents is covered in mold and our winter coats that are stored in the closet smell like mildew.
August 30, 2026 at 10:51 AM
Just discovered the leak in our crawlspace from over a year ago had also infiltrated the storage space beneath our hall closet. The entire contents is covered in mold and our winter coats that are stored in the closet smell like mildew.
A good movie is what I really needed at the end of this awful week. Too much heartache with the loss of Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and Yayoi Kusama. Not to mention the scary medical stuff. But now there's just one weekend left until school starts up again, and it's back to work.
August 28, 2026 at 1:19 PM
A good movie is what I really needed at the end of this awful week. Too much heartache with the loss of Dolly Parton, Tim Curry, and Yayoi Kusama. Not to mention the scary medical stuff. But now there's just one weekend left until school starts up again, and it's back to work.
I just watched Princess Mononoke for the umpteenth time, and it never fails to give me the feels. Of course, these days I watch it in Japanese, but I remember sitting in my college Mac lab 27 years ago downloading the Quicktime trailer for the US version. And damn, it still holds up.
Princess Mononoke - Official Trailer
YouTube video by Crunchyroll Store Australia
www.youtube.com
August 28, 2026 at 1:16 PM
I just watched Princess Mononoke for the umpteenth time, and it never fails to give me the feels. Of course, these days I watch it in Japanese, but I remember sitting in my college Mac lab 27 years ago downloading the Quicktime trailer for the US version. And damn, it still holds up.
Spent all day at the hospital getting tests/doctor consultations. The good news is there’s nothing serious. Despite the issue I’m having, everything came back normal. Doctor prescribed meds for the issue but said it might not work. Bad news, there’s no other treatment & I just have to monitor it.
August 26, 2026 at 6:51 AM
Spent all day at the hospital getting tests/doctor consultations. The good news is there’s nothing serious. Despite the issue I’m having, everything came back normal. Doctor prescribed meds for the issue but said it might not work. Bad news, there’s no other treatment & I just have to monitor it.
Just got an erection during my testicular ultrasound. Can this day get worse? 😭
August 26, 2026 at 3:03 AM
Just got an erection during my testicular ultrasound. Can this day get worse? 😭
Reposted by Michael E.
It’s true that Dolly Parton was a country music icon. But far more importantly, she was a human decency, kindness, empathy & generosity icon. And we lose her at a time when those traits are more urgently needed than ever, especially in the USA.
As we honour her remarkable life, honour those traits.
As we honour her remarkable life, honour those traits.
Dolly Parton, country music icon, dies at 80
In May, she announced she was canceling a Las Vegas show and said she’d been undergoing treatment for kidney stones for several years.
www.nbcnews.com
August 25, 2026 at 10:34 PM
It’s true that Dolly Parton was a country music icon. But far more importantly, she was a human decency, kindness, empathy & generosity icon. And we lose her at a time when those traits are more urgently needed than ever, especially in the USA.
As we honour her remarkable life, honour those traits.
As we honour her remarkable life, honour those traits.
Reposted by Michael E.
Sometimes, when someone dies, what helps me is thinking about how wonderful it is that they were even alive in the first place.
Dolly was the closest you could get to an American saint. We all loved her.
Dolly was the closest you could get to an American saint. We all loved her.
August 25, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Sometimes, when someone dies, what helps me is thinking about how wonderful it is that they were even alive in the first place.
Dolly was the closest you could get to an American saint. We all loved her.
Dolly was the closest you could get to an American saint. We all loved her.
And guess whose visa is up for renewal in October?
The government has adopted an ordinance to raise fees for foreign nationals who renew or change the status of their residency in Japan, to up to ¥75,000 from a uniform ¥6,000 at present, effective from October.
Japan adopts ordinance to raise foreign nationals’ residency fees from October
The fee hikes were included in the revised immigration control and refugee recognition law enacted in May.
ebx.sh
August 25, 2026 at 12:19 PM
And guess whose visa is up for renewal in October?
Reposted by Michael E.
Just finished reading This is How You Lose the Time War, and... I think I missed something. So many people love this book, and sure, it's good. There's a lot I like about it, too, but NGL I found it a bit predictable and... thin? There were some great images, vivid moments, but they didn't last...
August 24, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Just finished reading This is How You Lose the Time War, and... I think I missed something. So many people love this book, and sure, it's good. There's a lot I like about it, too, but NGL I found it a bit predictable and... thin? There were some great images, vivid moments, but they didn't last...
Of course this little reminder would have to come up on my feed as I’m worrying about my health… Kon was my age when he died of pancreatic cancer.
August 23, 2026 at 5:47 PM
Of course this little reminder would have to come up on my feed as I’m worrying about my health… Kon was my age when he died of pancreatic cancer.
I have a feeling that there’s something wrong with me healthwise. I’ve had some concerning issues the past few months that my doctor assured me are normal. But it’s recently gotten worse, and now I’ve got some pain. I need to ask for a referral & get it checked before school starts… but I’m scared.
August 23, 2026 at 5:40 PM
I have a feeling that there’s something wrong with me healthwise. I’ve had some concerning issues the past few months that my doctor assured me are normal. But it’s recently gotten worse, and now I’ve got some pain. I need to ask for a referral & get it checked before school starts… but I’m scared.
It’s been just about a year since my sister’s leukemia diagnosis. She’s doing alright despite the close call early on & chemo has been hard. But she hasn’t had any treatments in the past several weeks. I thought the regimen was done—actually her insurance dropped her & she’s been without coverage. 🤬
August 23, 2026 at 4:19 PM
It’s been just about a year since my sister’s leukemia diagnosis. She’s doing alright despite the close call early on & chemo has been hard. But she hasn’t had any treatments in the past several weeks. I thought the regimen was done—actually her insurance dropped her & she’s been without coverage. 🤬
Big quake… alarms scared the shit out of me. But everything’s ok.
August 22, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Big quake… alarms scared the shit out of me. But everything’s ok.
It makes me sad to see how rundown my hometown has become. I really should've become a city planner... I'm just sitting here at 2 a.m. cruising down google street view imagining what I'd do to improve infrastructure, business opportunities, population growth, and quality of life. It's frustrating...
August 20, 2026 at 6:17 PM
It makes me sad to see how rundown my hometown has become. I really should've become a city planner... I'm just sitting here at 2 a.m. cruising down google street view imagining what I'd do to improve infrastructure, business opportunities, population growth, and quality of life. It's frustrating...
Is there some rule that says Amazon reviewers who post photos have to have the shittiest aesthetics ever? Like clean your room and at least try to style the product you're showing off.
August 18, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Is there some rule that says Amazon reviewers who post photos have to have the shittiest aesthetics ever? Like clean your room and at least try to style the product you're showing off.