Shibuya Girls

Tokyo: it's like the universe; it looks the same in every direction. It' about the same size as the universe, too. Today's plan was excellent: to visit various parks in Tokyo and read Murakami.

The day started off great. Tokyo has fabulous parks and it is a marvelous walking city. My book is terrific. I would read a chapter, then a new park, a new temple and a new chapter.

Towards the end of the day, I decided to see the famous teen fashion area: Shibuya. I wanted to get a present for my niece. OMG! I lasted about ten minutes in Shibuya 109. I was surrounded by thousands of teenage girls in ridiculous and revealing outfits. These girls spend an enormous amount of money and time on make-up, hairstlyes, salon tans, glittering eyelashes and fingernails that match their phones. They live for fashion. And here I am, an older man whose idea of fashion is not wearing yesterday's shirt. I could only be there as a voyeur; it was the time to just relax and enjoy the scenery but I couldn't because I was too self-conscious. By the time I rode up four levels of escalator and back down again, I was soaked in sweat.

What killed me was the number of older women who are dragged into it. I can't decide who looks more ridiculous: the older ladies in orange-blue hair, or the boys who spend all day in front of a mirror with a curling iron trying to cultivate the gangsta look.

Lily has protested that Live Earth will do some good: Lily, I hope you're right.

Kris is trying to track down the mental hospital where my hero work(ed). Kris, he is not a mathematician but a mental health counselor, but I think he is retired.