The Whole Erk Catalogue Tales of a Geek Abroad

These pictures are intended for Daniel, who'll be taking over the apartment soon, but they seem an appropriate thing to blog about. We have a pretty nice apartment, I think!

TV stand: The TV, under it is the region free DVD player, and under that is the VCR; because of the stand, the VCR is really not obtrusive. Beside the TV is a bookshelf with the VHS collection on the bottom shelf.

Couch: The loveseat in front of the sliding glass doors in the living room. The skinny lamp is the broken lamp. You can also see the living room rug under the sofa, and the stool that we normally use as an endtable. Note that is a small corner of the living room, the actual room is quite spacious as later pictures show.

The table and Living Room: This is taken from sitting on the couch. On the bookshelf is the printer. This bookshelf contains Japanese language and cultural books on the bottom two shelves, and local maps and printer paper on the top shelf. The round table is a nice kneeling table, the usual centerpiece to our living room.

Computer Desk: This is the computer desk, computer chair and desk organiser as we set them up.

Stove area: The gas stove has two big burners and a small one in the back for keeping warm. The fridge is small but good for one or two people, the microwave on top, and the toaster oven on top of the microwave. So far even through the big earthquake they've stayed stable that way... heh. The yellow and blue lidded containers are the recycling bins, of a set of three. Japanese recycling requires a lot of sorting and waiting for the right garbage day. This picture shows a little less than half of the main counterspace; the wooden cabinet in the corner is the hutch storage unit that's been added to the kitchen. It's about a meter and a half long.

Bikes: These are the city bikes, the one in front is 3 speeds, and the one behind is 6 speeds and newer. They both come with 2 baskets - great for hauling groceries.

Newer Bike: 6 speeds newer bike. It has a nifty mechanism where riding the bike automatically pumps the tires! I know everyone has always wished they had this.

Folding Bike: Chevrolet brand, tiny tiny tires and good to take on the trains or into the hills. This bike is, apparently, the heartbeat of America. Given that it's in Japan, I think that bodes poorly for America's health.

Folding Bike VS City Bike: As you can see the tires are tiny compared to the bigger bikes, but the seat can go to the same height, makes it easy to ride. Also comical.

Bedroom/Tatami Room: This is the bedroom, it is set up as another room now with the bedding in the closet, as we like to use this room during the day. In the background is the dresser, and the sliding glass windows leading to the balcony. There's a bed/futon rack thingummy that can be set up to take up the whole bedroom; it is nice in the winter, but not in the summertime as it is too hot in the warm weather. Having the whole room openable as an entertainment/relaxation space is also invaluable.

That's the apartment. We're going to miss it.