K: So, lately I’ve been thinking about the Olympics, and at first I wasn’t into it, but now I kinda am. I’m like getting amped. I’m catching Olympic fever, and I’ve been watching like the American finals. I haven’t been able to watch Japanese finals, but I know what I’m rooting for the Japanese to win. And I know what I’m rooting for the Americans to win, and I’m feeling kind of torn like – which country – I can’t go all in on either country.
C: It would be wrong to go all in on a country, your birth country, your adoptive country. But, I got a lot more excited for the Olympics when they said “eh we’re not actually gonna let anybody watch them”.
K: But they changed their mind on that and they are letting people watch them.
C: A few times but, the last that I read they were not going to allow any spectators from the public. So you could like watch if you’re a coach or another athlete cuz they had been saying –
K: So, I just wanna have a break from like the pandemic and have this be a pandemic free episode.
C: Okay.
K: And just focus on the majesty, and the sports, and just enjoy it because nobody’s allowing themselves to enjoy the Olympics.
C: Yeah.
K: And I think about the athletes. They’ve trained their whole life for the moment. Like their entire existence – and their parents were obsessed because their parents had to start young. So I wanna talk a little bit about my own personal Olympic journey, and I wanna talk about what Rasta did.
C: Okay. Toward your Olympic dream?
K: Yes, Rasta crushed my Olympic dream by refusing to take any sports seriously.
C: That is so rude.
K: And he knew I wanted him to be in the Olympics.
C: Yes.
K: He knew it. I told him “mommy wants you to be in the Olympics, go get in the pool” and then he would be like “I’m gonna do a deadman float” and I’d be like “no, swim. Swim” I taught him to swim when he was an infant. Now he’s 5 foot 5. So, when I realized that he wasn’t gonna get to at least 5 foot 7 I was like “okay, swimming isn’t the way to go here”.
C: Yeah, I think like the top men are like 6 foot 12 or something.
K: Yeah, and that and you gotta be really fast. I’m not saying it’s impossible but you gotta be really dedicated, and really fast, and you’ve gotta have one hell of a push off. Or one hell of a dive. And Rasta had a pretty good dive, and a pretty good swimming under the water. But at the Olympics you have to break water at a certain point. There’s a rule, so you can’t like –
C: Just swim underneath the whole way.
K: Yeah. So, that’s where he was fastest because he had the least amount of surface area. And then with tennis again he like started showing some promise at tennis, crushed my dreams. Stopped doing tennis.
C: Yeah, I was taking him to those tennis lessons, and he was much better than me.
K: Yeah, not saying a lot.
C: (laughs)
K: So looking at America vs Japan… where’s your loyalties lie? Who you rooting for?
C: I’m rooting for spectacle.
K: (laughs)
C: Like let’s have the gold medal be a tie.
K: That couldn’t happen.
C: I know it couldn’t, and then they’d have to flip a coin, and the drama.
K: What are you talking about, is that the rule?
C: Like what if – I don’t know actually what the rule is.
(laughter)
K: You so could’ve got me cuz I was like “that sounds like some crazy Olympics, some sorry – some wild Olympics stuff.” I’m trying to drop crazy from my vocabulary. I’m a work in progress, I’m sorry. As a therapist, you would think I wouldn’t say that but, you know. I’m imperfect. In case y’all thought I was perfect –
C: I don’t – I don’t know that.
K: Yeah, in case – sorry to break hearts, and shatter dreams, and this illusion, but I’m not perfect. Sorry about it.
C: So that’s why you’re not winning at the Olympics.
K: That, and I’m fat and disabled.
C: Well yeah but, if you were perfect, you could win anyway. I could totally see you dominating like –
K: I’m perfectly bed-ridden. Like I literally get out of bed to cook, and use the restroom, and that’s it cuz I’m bed-ridden.
C: So if there were that as an Olympic sport and then –
K: Medalling. I’m a gold medal – I don’t know –
C: And then deadman float as an Olympic sport like, could Rasta still medal? I don’t think so.
K: No he can’t. The last time he went to the pool – he’s not going to the pool anymore because last time he went to the pool he got athlete’s feet and found out he couldn’t swim anymore. So he’s done, he’s done with the pool.
C: (laughs) It’s rough to get both of those at once.
K: Yeah. And so, he was so mad at me. And then I fixed it, and I told him “why did you take your flip flops off?”
C: Okay.
K: I told – and he said “I was walking around the pool.” and I said “I told you don’t take your flip flops off until you get in the pool or you’re gonna get athlete’s feet.”
C: I feel like that is so miss named cuz I got it from swimming when I was a kid, and it did not make me any better of an athlete. It was like –
K: It didn’t give you the feet of an athlete?
C: It did not.
K: You weren’t dunking like Jordan?
C: I was not. Jordan wasn’t dunking yet, but I wasn’t dunking like anybody.
K: Yeah see, because you weren’t even born yet.
C: Exactly, I wasn’t even born yet when I got athlete’s foot.
(laughter)
K: But seriously, there are certain sports that I’m rooting for the Japanese to medal in. And there are certain sports that I’m rooting for the Americans to medal in. So with track and field, I’m pissed off at the Americans but the Japanese don’t have track and field. That’s not their sport –
C: Yeah no, that’s not their sport.
K: That’s not their lane. So I don’t know who I’m rooting for, for track and field. But I am rooting for the U.S in volleyball. And I could be wrong, let me know if I am but I think the Americans invented volleyball.
C: I don’t actually know. I know the Japanese did not invent volleyball.
K: Yeah, but I’m rooting for the Japanese to medal in badminton.
C: Okay, I think that would be a first for them –
K: Cuz the Japanese play some badminton.
C: They do.
K: Like y’all don’t hear me though. The Japanese are so for real about badminton. It’s a thing – it’s like a huge thing here.
C: It is.
K: Yeah, there are whole meetup groups in Japan that all they do is get together once a week and play badminton together.
C: And the word shuttlecock isn’t even like the least bit dirty in Japanese.
K: No, it’s not. And so, I was surprised to find out how serious badminton is here. I thought – cuz like in the U.S – I don’t know maybe it’s serious for some people in the U.S, but for me when we played badminton that was cool for drinking.
C: Okay.
K: So that’s how I was living.
C: See I was 12 when I was playing badminton.
K: You were 4?
C: I was 12. It was still code for drinking for some people, but I wasn’t one of those people.
K: Okay, So when somebody said badminton I was like “mm, I don’t really drink anymore but I’ll go chill”.
C: (laughs)
K: And no they were like, seriously – they were like “you are terrible” and like telling – like basically cursing me in Japanese and being like “I thought you’d be good at it as an American” like what does that have to do with anything?
C: Okay, what does that have to do with anything?
K: Do you not see me? I’m like 5 foot 4 and I am – I’m 5 foot 4 around and tall. I’m as round as I am tall.
C: (laughs)
K: What about you is – you’ve never seen me run. So, I was on a fitness kick when I was first in Japan. I was like walking and stuff, and I had lost a bunch of weight, and I was being really really healthy. So they were like “but your fitness”, and I was like “that has nothing to do with being able to play badminton”.
C: Okay.
K: And they love tennis but, I don’t think they’re gonna medal in tennis.
C: I don’t think so, but that expectation like – now I wanna just go up to like skinny Japanese guys, and be like “perform on the vault for me, you must be good at it.”
K: (laughs) Right.
C: Cuz I think anything when you get competitive, it kinda changes how things are. Cuz for badminton I remember a few years ago there was a scandal because there was some tournament where for their team to win, they had to lose a match, like both teams had to lose the match in order to advance correctly in the rankings to have the best chance –
K: Yeah, Japanese advancement is a whole thing. It’s so complicated to win at Japanese sports.
C: And then everybody got fined because both teams were trying to lose, but it’s against the rules to lose on purpose. So they were just tryna play bad- it was very very strange.
K: It was a very Japanese happening.
C: Yeah.
K: Very Japanese event. So what- so I’m wanting them to do – to medal in badminton.
C: Okay, So I think they deserve to medal in Judo, and they usually do medal in Judo. Usually with the gold.
K: Okay they would want to medal in Judo, just like the Americans would want to medal in volleyball –
C: That’s what I’m saying. Right. And Japan has never medalled in taekwondo. I looked this up cuz I was curious.
K: They’ve – but taekwondo is not Japanese.
C: No, it’s Korean, that’s why I’m like “okay, they know their lane.”
K: (laughs) Yeah, I want the Koreans to medal in taekwondo.
C: Exactly.
K: So basically like if something comes from your country, I want that country to medal in it.
C: See, I feel like I want – I want the Japanese baseball team to get their gold.
K: Oh yeah, I do too. I do too.
C: They’ve never won gold, and they announced that any player on the team is gonna get what, 10 million yen if they win gold.Which I found out that I did not know that only 5 million yen of that is new, that the athletes get paid if they win.
K: In Japan?
C: Yeah, they get –
K: Thank you.
C: On the baseball team if they win gold, each player gets 5 million yen.
K: But only gold?
C: I think they get paid lesser amounts for – I think if they medal they get paid. And if they don’t just like – well did you really do anything anyway?
K: My microphone is wiggling and Chad’s giving me the eye. I do not believe y’all can see the wiggling.
C: I don’t think you can see the wiggling either cuz this is just –
(laughter)
K: They can hear the wiggling.
C: Probably not.
K: But why are you eyeing my wiggle? Like leave me alone.
C: I always like it when you wiggle.
K: No, you don’t. You’re harassing me with your eyes.
C: Uh-oh.
K: (laughs) Sorry.
C: Do you wanna pick it up and swivel the base to see if you can tighten it?
K: No, I want you to leave me alone.
C: Okay. I will.
K: Stop picking on me about it. He picks on me with his eyes, he knows –
C: With my – I thought – I’m not picking on you with my eyes, but you’re gonna say that I am.
K: No he was picking on me with his eyes.
C: Mkay, everybody witnessed this. Did any of you see me picking on her with my eyes. –
K: They all heard it, they heard your eyes click. They heard it, they heard it. That’s all I’m saying.
C: (laughs)
K: Everybody knows you pick on me with your eyes. All the Musick Notes say it.
C: Yeah.
(laughter)
C: People say – (laughs)
K: Yes, everybody’s saying it. All the best people say it, all the smartest people. (laughs)
C: So the Japanese Olympic Delegation was saying “we’re gonna win 30 golds this Olympics”
K: Oh man, why?
C: I don’t know cuz I looked it up and they won 12 in the 2016 summer games.
K: Yes.
C: But they’re like “we’re gonna win 30”. And then they printed the newspaper “although we could still win 30, we’re not gonna focus on that cuz we have more important things” like okay, so you looked at the numbers and you can’t do 30. You’re just tryna distract us.
K: (laughs) So, does Japan pay their athletes to train cuz the U.S does not. Which I think is wrong. I think that every country should pay their Olympic athletes to train –
C: I think they should yeah –
K: And give them like room and board because to me it just breaks my heart that they’re like working menial jobs because they have such a rigorous training routine that they have to take a job that supports –
C: Right.
K: And I remember – I don’t know if they still do it but, what was that place that was hiring Olympians and giving them time off to train? Home Depot.
C: Okay.
K: Home Depot was hiring Olympians and giving them time off to train, and giving them a little something extra on the side –
C: Mm-hmm. In terms of money right?
K: Yeah.
C: Okay.
K: And I don’t know it feels like – I don’t know if they’re paying like part of their training or something, I didn’t pay attention.
C: No you just say like, they’re giving them a little something extra on the side I was like “I hope we’re talking about money or compensation or something.”
K: Yeah, compensation.
C: Okay.
K: So, I don’t like – I don’t know if they still do it. I obviously clearly don’t know any details except I heard something one time about some company doing something.
C: Yeah, I remember I think it was 92 but, somebody who knows the Olympics better than I – when they decided “oh okay professional athletes can compete in the Olympics” –
K: Yeah.
C: Cuz that was like a huge scandal in my part of my life. People were like –
K: Well and I remember was chick-a-mole when they didn’t win. Like a few Olympics afterwards.
C: Later? Yeah.
K: Yeah because all of the international baseball players, all the of international soccer players, and all of the international basketball players went and played for their country because I remember the U.S being outraged.
C: Yes.
K: Like furious. Like “how dare they go play for their country”.
C: Okay. (laughs)
K: And I’m like “hmm” but they can’t – they’re not American citizens.
C: Right.
K: They can’t play for the U.S. I don’t know, is that a rule? Did I just make up an Olympic rule?
C: You made up an Olympic rule yeah.
K: Cuz I’m a boss.
C: You are a boss. You should be the Olympic – the International Olympics Committee. You could tell them “uh-uh. Uh-uh, in badminton whoever shouts the loudest gets a point”
K: So what is that game where they slide – oh this is the summer Olympics.
C: I think you’re thinking of curling.
K: Yes, I so want the Japanese to like medal in curling.
C: I think they do relatively well in curling most Olympics.
K: Yeah? But they don’t medal.
C: I think they’ve medalled in curling. I don’t know, I looked up – cuz I knew we were gonna talk about this cuz you’ve been talking about the Olympics.
K: Yeah, I have been.
C: Everybody’s been talking about the Olympics. So –
K: And I’ve been watching the – I’ve watched all of the American competitions.
C: So, I looked up the summer Olympics. And I looked up kind of general stuff like, did you know that at least according to Wikipedia which is always correct; Japan has won 497 medals since the modern Olympics started in 1912. So this Olympics, they should pass 500 medals. That’s not golds, that’s like gold, silver, bronze.
K: So I would love it if the Japanese would medal in diving.
C: It’s happened a few times.
K: Yeah. So, I want the Japanese to medal in diving, wrestling, judo, archery, they’re not getting anything in track and field. I’m sorry Japan, you’re just not.
C: Yeah.
K: They’re just, I – but they can clean up for the men’s – because I’m super mad, so mad at the men’s gymnastics team from the U.S.
C: Yeah.
K: Ugh, I was watching the finals and I was just so mad at the favouritism in the scoring. I’m sorry, I’m not gonna say their name in case you don’t know cuz I don’t like telling other people’s stories. But, there were 2 athletes in particular that were getting points deducted for ridiculous things. And so, one of them was like “you know what, you guys are gonna say the pommel horse isn’t my event. So I’m gonna add 6 points of difficulty to every single move I do on this horse so that I can win my event that I’ve always won.”
C: Yeah.
K: And they did it, and they nailed it, and then they dismounted perfectly with no wobble. And I was like “Okay, that’s awesome”. Then I was watching the men’s floor routine and I was like “you guys are some wobbly wobblers.” They were like “we will wobble but they don’t fall down” it was – none of them were landing with any firmness.
C: Yeah like, not falling down is kind of the minimum. Of a world class athlete?
K: All of them had hops at the end of their stuff and I was like “y’all aren’t gonna medal”
C: Okay cuz I don’t have any hops. Like when I hit the sand I am stuck. I might fall over.
K: You hit the sand.
C: Yeah.
K: So something I’ve noticed that’s different about Japan and the U.S, like it’s talked about in the news but there’s not a lot of merch.
C: Right.
K: Like in the U.S, I remember when the Olympics were in Atlanta. But even like right now, there are people wearing Olympic merchandise. And people wearing like jerseys and such with Olympic athlete’s names on them.
C: Well and, “eat your wheaties” has been a thing since before I was born.
K: Way before you were born.
C: You might remember when it started.
K: Yeah, I do. Back in my day – back in my hay day when Caitlyn Jenner was on the box… Cuz Caitlyn Jenner was an amazing Olympic athlete.
C: Mm-hmm.
K: Like horrible human being, horrible human being. Undeniable. But, I’m sorry that athleticism was amazing.
C: See, I didn’t care about the men’s gymnastics. I was all about Mary Lou Retton.
K: And you know that Caitlyn was not a gymnast. You know Caitlyn was track and field.
C: I thought Bruce Jenner like, before coming out as Caitlyn –
K: I don’t dead name anyone, why are you dead naming Caitlyn?
C: Cuz it’s the way my memories connect with the Olympics. So I thought Caitlyn was gymnastics.
K: You don’t remember Caitlyn running around that field? You don’t remember Caitlyn in those little shorts.
C: No.
K: Okay, my mom had a thing for Caitlyn –
C: Okay, cuz see I was never into the men’s Olympics and it might be that like, my dad was too worried that my mom would become impassioned if she saw men in shorts or something. I don’t know. I just never remember men’s Olympics being on T.V.
K: I don’t think that they give it equal coverage because I’ve had to hunt even on youtube to find male trials on things.
C: Yeah, I was surprised that the male gymnastics have an interpretive floor routine cuz when I was looking at Japan they won in 2016. The gold for both the team interpretive and the individual interpretive –
K: See, and that’s you being American because we suck at the interpretive floor routine. I don’t think we’ve ever medalled in it.
C: I think the women have? I remember –
K: I don’t – no not the interpretive. They do straight flips routines, but not the dance interpretive.
C: Like with the ribbon and such?
K: Yeah. So there’s the ribbon and then there’s this other one that’s just supposed to be more dancey with a couple of stuff –
C: Oh like rhythmic gymnastics or something like that?
K: Yeah, I don’t know what it’s called. We’re like the worst reporters on the Olympics. We might be making stuff up at this point.
C: And didn’t you have a cousin that was on the Wheaties box?
K: No, my cousin was not on the Wheaties box. My cousin was an alternate to the Olympic track team.
C: So that close, cuz my grandpa was gonna be in the Olympics too and then world war 2 happened.
K: Yeah no, my cousin wasn’t that close.
C: Oh okay.
K: He wasn’t going to, I – cuz if you’re an alternate come on. I think that has to be so painful –
C: Any given Sunday.
K: And then – no that’s for football.
C: (laughs)
K: And then he ended up being a truck driver, and everybody was still like super proud. But, after he did that they made us all run track.
C: Yeah, I know you ran track.
K: Yeah because my uncle made me. My uncle forced me to run track.
C: Well, who was your track coach?
K: My uncle.
C: Hmm, sounds like nepotism to me. (laughs)
K: No. No.
C: Is it like anti nepotism?
K: Yes.
C: Be like “Kisstopher you are sucking.” “I won” “But you didn’t win by enough”
K: No, he would put a board, he held a board – him and his assistant because you have to stay low for a certain amount when you’re sprinting.
C: Right.
K: To stay crouched. And if you did not, you would hit your head on that board. And it felt like “that’s what you get” and even if you were concussed he was like “run it off”
C: Wow, that’s what you get? That’s what you get for – I thought that –
K: That’s what you get. Doesn’t that sound like my family though? –
C: It does sound like your family.
K: It’s consistent right?
C: Yeah, I thought that’s what tape was for cuz like if you hit it and you break it –
K: You don’t learn.
C: Mm, okay yeah.
K: And so I did hurdles even though hurdles terrified me.
C: Uh-huh.
K: And I blew my knees out doing hurdles.
C: Yeah, I had a dream –
K: Hurdles are hard on the hips and knees.
C: I had a dream – okay. It was based on an Electronic Arts video game from 1984, but when I was living in Alaska –
K: Back up. An electronics what?
C: EA. Electronic Arts a game publisher, put out a game of winter Olympics –
K: What are you talking about, are you making something up?
C: No, I’m not making something up.
K: Okay. (laughs) When you make something up I totally believe it’s real. When you tell the truth I’m always like “are you lying, this doesn’t sound real. Is it relevant to my life?”
C: (laughs) So I moved to Alaska when i was like 9, and I thought “this is it, this is my chance.” There was an event where you ski from place to place, and then you shoot things at that place.
K: I remember you telling me this.
C: Yeah, and I was like “I’m gonna do this”. So I never actually went skiing. I went like once and I was really bad at it.
(laughter)
K: But was this like cross country? Did you atleast go shooting?
C: Yeah, I went shooting. I was really good at shooting.
K: So what did you do? Did you walk from place to place and then cook up the ski? And why didn’t you just go for marksmanship? That’s an Olympic sport.
C: Yeah, but I didn’t know that cuz I only played the Winter Games version of the video game.
K: So you’re saying all your Olympic knowledge comes from a video game.
C: Yes. I am Saying –
K: That’s very American.
C: Yes. I’m saying most of my knowledge. Not all of it.
K: That’s very American. Actually, I don’t know how educated the Japanese are about the Olympics and how well they do. I’ve – for some reason, and I know this is not the first time the Olympics have been here. But, it’s the first time since we’ve been here, and it just feels like the people don’t care.
C: They’re trying to make them care. So, I read in the newspaper that for every Japanese Olympian who gets a gold medal, the Olympic committee is gonna pick a mailbox in their town and replace it with a golden mailbox that has their name on it and what sport they won in.
K: Okay see, this is a cultural thing. In America you’d be like “what?”
C: (laughs)
K: But, in Japan that’s like huge.
C: Yeah.
K: That’d be a huge thing. So, but what would they do if it was our mailbox? Would they just give us a gold door?
C: No, the red public postal boxes.
K: Oh they’re gonna give the town the gold –
C: Yeah, yeah.
K: Oh, that’s not gonna motivate people if they’re not getting the gold mailbox themselves.
C: Well, I think you could install it yourself. Like, we have a centralized mailbox but we could paint ours gold.
K: So, Japan is really big on celebrating things after the fact.
C: Yeah.
K: And so, they’re not gonna get hyped until after the fact.
C: Well, it would be embarrassing to hype them if they didn’t win.
K: Right. And so, they’re like “we hope it goes well, we hope we win” very Simone Biles.
C: (laughs)
K: Cuz Simone Biles’s like “I think I’m gonna win but” –
C: “I hope I get another gold”
K: “I did just get a new move named after me but, you know, that’s like what 8 moves names after me?” And then another person on the team got a move named after them. Which, I think is kind of bs because 3 other people in that gym can do it, but they’ve never done it in competition. So, this person did it in the competition and fell 3 of the times that they did it.
C: But, how many trials do they get? Cuz I know some –
K: 5
C: Okay.
K: And they completed it successfully twice. And then I don’t even know if they made the team because I don’t know who the team is. So, I don’t even know who won. I watched all of it but, on the youtube channel I watched it on, it cut off right before they did the winners.
C: That is so rude. Do you think that was intentional?
K: No, I think it was just whatever. I think it was just sloppy uploading on the part of the person. I could google it but y’all know we don’t google. I’m so busy with work. I like research work and then after that I don’t care. So, now I’m back to being apathetic.
C: Wow, just that fast?
K: Right. I talked myself out of being excited.
C: (laughs)
K: So, I think I’m more excited about Japan in the Olympics than I am about America.
C: Uh-huh.
K: And then I feel like such a child of the 80’s cuz I don’t know what the Russians are doing, but I’m sure they’re up to no good.
C: (laughs) I remember learning that the Russians were up to no good from Saturday Night Live.
K: Right.
C: They had all those skits about how the Russians were doping.
K: And I remember the Russian doping scandal. And I remember seeing the Russians, and I remember the Russians having a positive impact cuz if it hadn’t been for Russian doping, I feel like the world wouldn’t have got – would not have acclimated to seeing strong women.
C: Mm, yeah.
K: Strong muscular women physiques. And I think that allowed entry for a lot of women that didn’t have stereotypical tiny bodies.
C: Yeah, like the Russian doping and the east German.
K: The east Germans were the worst at doping –
C: So many of our listeners –
K: They were not good at it. They got so busted. They had the whole entire team for something.
C: Well, the Russians got busted in the last Olympics. They were excluded from the Olympics because they got caught doping. So, I think they’re hoping to make a comeback now without the doping.
K: Are they in it this year?
C: I don’t know if they’re in it to win it. But, I think that they are competing.
K: I have no idea who’s competing. So I don’t know, maybe I’m not into the Olympics? So, in the United States I was completely not into the Olympics. Like, even when the Olympics came to Atlanta, I didn’t care. And the only time I’ve ever legitimately – the only time I’ve ever watched the Olympics as they were occurring, was when I was hospitalized and my roommate was obsessed with the Olympics. And I didn’t care cuz I was you know, hospitalized and sick –
C: Yeah, you were like a captive audience at that point.
K: Yeah, and I was like “there’s nothing better to watch.” And it was the year that the volleyball team came back and just won. There was 2 chicks whose names I don’t know who won back to back golds in 2 Olympics.
C: In the beach volleyball?
K: In the beach volleyball.
C: I find that such a strange sport cuz like they have rules about how tiny their swimsuits have to be.
K: Yeah, it’s totally a thirst trap.
C: Yeah.
K: They’re thirst trapping.
C: And, I feel like when I see the volleyball I just think “but they’re barefoot and they’re all covered in sand and that looks uncomfortable” and that –
K: Yeah, it looks like the most un-fun thing to do. Like, when I see people playing volleyball at the beach I’m like “what are you doing?”
C: Okay cuz I’ve played volleyball at the beach, and like I didn’t like it cuz when you go to bump the ball you just get a face full of sand. If the ball has hit the sand.
K: Yeah, I didn’t like it at all. I’ve only done it once, and I quit. I was like “uh-uh”. I served and then I did a move, I’ve never been one to dive. I’m sorry. I’m not a diver. Like, that –
C: Okay, that ball is just gonna have to bounce.
K: Yes.
C: I always felt good when it bounced out of bounds, and I was like “oh good” cuz I was gonna go after that but I totally knew it was gonna go out of bounds.
K: I was good at calling out on my line.
C: Did you wait till it actually went out or did you just call it like –
K: No, I would call it “out” before it bounced out.
C: No, I know what you mean cuz when I’m –
K: And people were like – and, I was one to argue with the ref.
C: I had to take sports in highschool, so I took volleyball several times cuz I wasn’t too bad. And there were people who’d be like standing on the back line leaping to try and swat it back in – like it’s out just let it go.
K: Right. Why are you keeping that ball in play? You get a point. Getcha point.
C: Mh-hmm. (laughs)
K: And so, for me I admired gymnastics. I can’t even do a cartwheel. Did you know I can’t do a somersault?
C: I was just thinking “I wonder if she could do a somersault.” cuz I suspected you couldn’t but this is –
K: I can’t do a somersault.
C: Y’all heard it here first. She admits, Kisstopher admits no somersault possible.
K: Yeah, I can’t do a somersault. But I can do like the “buh buh” at the end.
C: With the “buh buh”?
K: Yeah, “buh buh” that’s the sound in my head when they make the perfect –
C: Oh, like the pose? Like –
K: Yeah.
C: Got it.
K: Arms up, didn’t bobble.
C: Nailed it.
K: Yeah. So how patriotic, and how pumped for the Olympics are you?
C: Okay, so I feel like it’s probably no surprise to our listeners that I am 0 percent patriotic.
K: Yeah, they know that.
C: Yeah.
K: Traitorous bastard.
C: Right.
(laughter)
C: So. I’m excited about the Olympics actually bringing… something. I don’t know what, but I feel like once they happen they will be over…
K: Yeah.
C: Because when it – when Tokyo won the bid then I was working as an editor at that point, and we got calls to like train people in english, and do – write like – edit all this stuff related to the Olympics. It’s been like 5 years since all that stuff. I feel like every time I went to tokyo it was like “2020. Tokyo 2020” it was like “it’s 2015 stop. You’re really gonna have that poster up for 5 years?”. So, when it got delayed I was like “dang, I am still looking forward to not hearing about the Olympics anymore”.
K: Okay, that’s how you felt 5 years ago.
C: Yeah, and now I feel like I have been hearing about them for a year longer than I intended to. And so, my image was that now I would be focusing on ignoring the winter Olympics which are happening next year. Rather than focusing on ignoring the summer Olympics.
K: Something I think is kind of a bummer is that the Paralympics are being completely overshadowed by the Olympics.
C: Yeah.
K: And I think that the Paralympics are important for morale.
C: Mm-hmm.
K: And, they’re all veterans right.
C: No.
K: They’re all amputees?
C: They’re all disabled.
K: Physically?
C: Physically, yeah.
K: So, I thought they were all – no that’s the iviticus games.
C: Yeah, that’s the invictus games.
K: Yeah. How do you say it?
C: Invictus.
K: Invictus. So the Paralympics, I’m kind of bummed that they’re being overshadowed. Is murderball a Paralympic sport?
C: I don’t actually know. I don’t think so. I think that they’re still on like wheelchair basketball; I know is one of them. I don’t think murderball is. I think murderball is like a sport that wheelchair users participate in, but that it hasn’t been made into an Olympic sport yet.
K: And it’s really dangerous.
C: Oh, I could not do it.
K: Cuz they could get a blood clot – anybody could get a blood clot.
C: Yes.
K: And that’s not good. So, a friend of ours is really interested in the Paralympics, and I feel like – on Twitter, And I feel like they’re kind of keeping me involved and aware. But, I don’t know any of the events, I’ve never watched it and I’ve never really paid attention, and I feel like this year I should. But like, I should tune it but we don’t have a T.V.
C: No, we don’t have a T.V. – NHK if you’re listening we do not have a T.V. and have not had a T.V. ever in this apartment.
K: And there’s no way for me to watch. There’s – I have no device NHK, that would allow me to watch Japanese T.V. and that’s true.
C: (laughs) You can’t watch it on your flip clamshell phone?
K: No, I can not watch it on my flip phone.
C: But then –
K: You know, some flip phones you can watch T.V. on but not mine.
C: No, I know not yours. I know they notified you –
K: That’s how old my flip phone is. My flip phone is, yeah.-
C: But, they notified you that – that they’re gonna cancel it. That your flip phone is no longer gonna work after 2024.
K: They’re taking my phone away from me. And then I’m just not gonna have a phone like Prince, rest in peace.
C: And then you’re gonna be like “my phone, my phone”
K: No it’d be like Prince where everybody asked him, “why don’t you have a phone?” and he’s like “everyone around me does?”
C: (laughs)
K: So, that’s what I feel like. I’m always with you or Rasta, and never on my own.
C: Yeah, you’re forever saying “hand me your phone.” like yes.
K: And then if I don’t like – if I am alone, I’m usually alone somewhere where I have my IPad.
C: Yeah.
K: And, I use my Ipad to talk cuz I use Line.
C: Well, and you –
K: I love calling on Line, that’s my favourite thing to do.
C: Yeah. And you and I have always shared devices, and like tried to have copies – back to when we met, we both had personal digital assistants to use in calculating our GPA’s.
K: Yes. And we shared those.
C: And we set the same passwords as each other, not every time. So that –
K: Yeah. Couple goals.
C: Okay, like if I forget my password I could just ask you –
K: Oh, I feel like starting fights.
C: Okay, start a fight.
K: I’m gonna start a fight –
C: Olympic boxing. Here we go.
K: Don’t do this, but I have to ask you legit. So something I do to – I used to do to couples in therapy is say “unlock your phone and give it to your partner”.
C: Mm.
K: But here’s the thing, when I was a therapist I worked with the couples one on one and then together –
C: So they knew it was coming, yeah.
K: And warned them in the one on one’s that the next session is going to be exchange phones.
C: Okay, you better delete your scandalous stuff.
K: Yeah. And that would like, tell me so much about the couple.
C: Uh-huh.
K: Like, the one who was like “okay.” and then we would just move on to something else. And another one who – and one who would be like “no”. And then I loved the couples, like my favourite couple that I worked with. I just loved their dynamic. Any exercise I was like – I’d see them one on one, I’d be like “hey I need you guys to -you know, we’re gonna do the phone thing”. They’re like “but we already do that”.
C: Uh-huh
K: Like “we know each other’s passwords. And I don’t wanna waste a session doing that.” And I was like “(gasp) couple goals.”
C: (laughs)
K: They were a really really happy couple that were – that they were coming to see me individually for their own stuff.
C: Yeah.
K: And then they would do a joint session to talk about their progress in therapy, to make sure I didn’t – they didn’t miss anything when they were saying how much they were growing.
C: Awe.
K: Right, it was so sweet. And they were so supportive, and they would like, sit and listen to each other’s growth and be like “I see that. I see that in you.” and just – they were so in love and so happy. I was like “I wish every couple would just like – when times are good, do therapy.” Cuz they would every now and then have a bumpy patch, and it was so easier to get through. It’d be like “hey do you remember when we did your couples session last month, and you guys were talking about this, that and the other” and they’re like “I don’t see it” like, but we’re gonna listen.
C: Mm.
K: Like “I’ll listen but I’m mad.”
C: I found that for us too, like having a solid foundation like, working on stuff during the good times to say “let’s make this even better” is helpful when it’s not good times.
K: Yes. And so, let’s talk about this before it becomes a problem.
C: Yeah.
K: Talk about problems before they become a problem cuz you know when somethings gonna irritate you.
C: Yeah, like sometimes – we share an Itunes account so if I download an app then Kisstopher sees it. And sometimes Kisstopher will be like “Chad, do you really need another sudoku app?” Like yes, tell me what’s different about this one.
K: This conver- he’s lying, Chad’s lying.
(laughter)
K: Sorry, I didn’t mean to misgender you. Chad’s – so Chad recently came out as non-binary so I’m working on not calling Chad “he” anymore. Even though Chad sometimes doesn’t mind and sometimes does.
C: I don’t mind “he”, I don’t like you telling me “hey man”. I’m like “woah woah woah”.
K: I don’t “hey man” you. You’ve never liked man.
C: I’ve never liked man.
K: (laughs) If you wanna stir Chad up – no I can’t tell them. Can I tell them?
C: Don’t call me Jesus Christ?
K: No, I was gonna say the real one.
C: Oh okay, yeah.
K: Mr.Man
C: Yeah. That’s just ew –
K: Ew. (laughs) You should have seen his face. Just knowing I was gonna say it he was just like, so through.
C: Okay, Mr.Man is wrong on both counts.
(laughter)
K: Cuz you are Dr.Musick.
C: Yeah, you could call me Dr.Person.
K: No, you randomly told me one – the other day. “You can call me Dr.Musick.” And I was like, “or I can call you babe.”
C: Yeah, that’s fine with me. I think I – I only remember telling you that when you called me Mr.Musick. When you’re like “Mr. Musick” I’m like “woah woah woah now.”.
K: There’s sometimes you just randomly tell me I can call you Dr.Musick.
C: That is so generous of me to let you call me that.
(laughter)
K: So, something that bugs you is when I digress so, back to the Olympics. What are your feelings about the Olympics overshadowing the Paralympics?
C: I feel like the Paralympics have always been overshadowed by the Olympics, and they’re always set at the same time. And I feel like without the Olympics the Paralympics wouldn’t exist.
K: So, I don’t understand why they do it at the same time.
C: Because I think they’re connected. So I think that like, the paralympians are, you know, incredible athletes.
K: Oh, absolutely.
C: I could not beat any of them at their sport, like not a single one.
K: No. Well, we’re also disabled.
C: Yes.
K: And have mobility issues.
C: Yes.
K: So we need to be clear. At the same level of disability I still could not beat them. Like if they matched me evenly.
C: I’m saying like, if they take the womens-
K: Unless it was being – dealing with being bedridden.
C: Mm, yeah.
K: I feel like I’m gold medalling in pots.
C: You are.
K: So, pots is not illicit drugs. Pots is – can you say it?
C: Yeah. Postural orthopedic tachycardia syndrome.
K: Yeah, so basically if I sit up I faint. Or if I’m upright for too long –
C: Orthostatic. It’s not orthopedic. Yeah, so if you – yeah your –
K: Thank you Lupus.
C: Yeah, your heart starts racing and you pass out.
K: Yeah. Fun times.
C: The gift that keeps on giving.
K: So, you don’t feel like the Paralympics should be held at a different time. I don’t care if they are attached cuz I remember when they used to hold the summer and winter Olympics in the same year, and then when they split them; I remember the scandal that was.
C: Yes.
K: So, moving the Paralympics at first might be quite shocking. But, if it gives the athletes their due, their focus, their shine, why not?
C: See, and I think it wouldn’t because I was reading about the like – the Olympic village is being built. It has been built already. But –
K: Yeah. It has been built for years.
C: Right. But, part of that is housing. And because the Paralympics are at the same time they build enough housing that’s accessible to make sure that the paralympians can use it because Tokyo itself has basically no accessible hotel rooms.
K: Yeah. None of the – and no accessible public restrooms.
C: So, I feel like –
K: A dear friend of ours has been posting on a regular basis, like just random pictures of toilets.
C: Yeah, cuz the ones that look accessible are often just slightly too small, or –
K: There’s no way to transfer.
C: Right.
K: There’s absolutely no way to transfer from a chair to the seat. There’s no room.
C: Yeah.
K: And some of the bathrooms that are supposed to be accessible won’t even fit a chair.
C: Right.
K: So, you can’t fit a wheelchair cuz in Japan they have these push cart chairs, I don’t know if they have them in the U.S now. When we first came I hadn’t seen any in the U.S. It’s a walker with a seat attached to it that you can use as a wheelchair.
C: Yeah, those are rollators.
K: Yeah.
C: They’re popular in the U.S now.
K: Okay, and so that’s what the bathrooms are built for. So they’re built for people that can actually stand and transfer.
C: Right.
K: So, they’re not built for…
C: Full time wheelchair users.
K: Yeah. So, that’s the main issue.
C: Yeah, so I think that if it weren’t connected to the Olympics, the funding wouldn’t be there to do it because people would be like “well this seems like a lot of hassle so, let’s not do it”
K: Yeah cuz the disabled always do get the dirty side of the stick.
C: Right.
K: Bummer. So, we hope that you enjoyed our conversation about the Olympics. It was just a little ramble of what I’ve been thinking about lately, as all of the episodes are. We appreciate your time and attention as we do every week and seriously, oh my gosh. Y’all are blowing us away with these ratings that we’re getting on Player FM. Every week we’re doing solid numbers and that’s awesome.
A few weeks back we made it into the top 10, we’d love to do that again. We’re usually always in the top 30 I wanna say –
C: That’s – yeah.
K: And sometimes we can drop down low – in between – cuz they calibrate it every couple of days, so in between episodes sometimes we can drop down to just being in the top 100, and that is a huge thrill. To be on Player FM’s top 100 podcasts about Japan. Huge honor to be in the top 10 and we tweeted out when that happened a few weeks back, and we’re just so grateful to all of you Musick Notes. And I wanna give a special shout out to Puddin cuz if we didn’t mention Puddin once…
C: But, he told me – he said “even on weeks I don’t have time to listen, I read the transcript to see if I was mentioned.”
K: Yeah, and now you can just control+f Puddin baby cuz we love you.
C: (laughs)
K: Everybody loves Puddin. Everybody does, we’ve talked about it.
C: Yeah.
K: Warm, creamy fresh Puddin, and I think that’s as far as I’m gonna go –
C: I think that is – yeah, as far as you should go.
K: So, this week on the Take-Two we’re gonna keep talking about the press because y’all seem to be into it. And la-la-la, I’m actually looking up what the topic’s going to be.
C: It’s gonna be, “is it the press that we wanted?” like “how’s it going as far as it being what we envisioned”
K: And if y’all wanna hear what it sounds like when Chad takes the lead on the conversation, that’s also gonna happen in – it happens every week in the Take-Two. So, we hope that you follow us on over to Patreon, and let’s keep the conversation going. If not, we’ll talk to you next week.
C: Bye.
K: Bye.
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