From two years ago, in San Diego, on your birthday.

I can't write anything here that will do my feelings or this situation any justice. I will try:

"Happy (Re)Birth Day. See you soon, dear friend. Peace."

my life in pictures... 4th set

Richard, Shintani sensei and I went to Yufuin for a relaxing overnight at this famous Kyushu onsen area. It was a nice way to unwind and share some laughs away from the office.

On a stroll around town we saw this famous ex-sumo star who was filming some advertising commercials for Yufuin. We had to get a picture with him. I am standing on a slope, he is enormous.

We stayed in a traditional ryokan. This particular one had a private outside onsen that we used and this restaurant also. Yes we are eating Shabu shabu while our feet are immersed in hot water... a foot onsen at the table... amazing!

Us in Yukata... and what the hell is a huge moose doing in this place?

Richard and Shintani in front of the Kouyo... changing leaves! I think these happened to be momiji!

Same place, different time and reason:

I went for a day hike in Yufuin. I hiked the city's famous twin peaks, called Yufu-dake. And had a nice onsen afterwards (just following in Eric's footsteps!)

Nice leaves that I saw that day

At at the summit junction

View of Kuju-san (volcano) rising above the clouds

The approach, from the junction, to Nishi-dake (the west peak), using chains

Me at the top of a windy Higashi-dake (east peak)

The twin peak from a lower level, on the descent

The peak from a smaller, hidden trail that had me bushwhacking for 30 minutes!

And another update later

what snows around, comes around....

I laughed at my friend Vinnie, though he doesn't know it, when I read on his blog that it will snow in northern Japan, where he lives. I thought... ha, sucker. This was yesterday.

It snowed on me on the way to work this morning. Serves me right. Not flakes, but certainly solid water-based items (read: ice or hail) got me wet on the trip. Serves me right. Sorry I laughed at you Vin!

Yeah, it has gotten cold... welcome winter! A little early this year, ne?

my life in pictures... 3rd set so far

Here are some pictures from Halloween. Yes, I dressed up like a cowboy again. Call it a cop-out, but I had on better jeans and I remembered the bandana this time! Grouped up some American, Japanese, English and Indian friends; dressed up; and went bowling.



Group picture

Captain hook takes a bite out of Santa while Bond bowls a strike!

The Devil and the Cowgirl

The ballerina and the turkey

Backup costumes found at the bowlling alley!

"The Devil went down to Georgia..."

Chuck Norris and James Bond-- there were two funny, impromptu Chuck Norris jokes made during the two rounds of bowling... I don't remember them now but one of them had to do with roundhouse kicking the pin in order to pick up the spare. Another one alluded to the pins knocking themselves down because they are afraid of Chuck Norris.

And for a change of holidays:

Celebrating Diwali: October 29th was the Indian New Year. It is a festival of lights among other things… so we lit a lot of candles and ate a lot of (amazing Indian) food. Cheers to Prema and Praju (Projecktor!) for setting it up and teaching us about their tradition.

Lighting candles and eating small pieces of fry bread. おいしいかったです！

Candles and flowers. Praju had the idea to float them all in water and it turned out rather pretty I think.

The feast! Daal, curry, fried bread goodness, chicken... mmm so good, and of course, I practiced using my hands to eat (with rice of course, but not pictured)

These were some autumn holidays. Up next are some autumn naturey pictures (I think I promised these last time, but I obvisouly was wrong)

Congrats Hill and Sam and Lilly!!!! Arrived a little bit late for the party, dear!