Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Best holiday wishes

Got our Christmas package from the little brother today.  If he were any cooler I'd keep my beers in him!  Thanks Ben, and bonus points for keeping with the reason for the season. Can't wait to use them!

Friday, December 25, 2009

Christmas!

Phase one is in the can...K's stocking duly stuffed and gleefully unstuffed, a fine Tennessee breakfast of grits sausage and eggs consumed.  Presents have been opened and appreciated (excellent work mom and dad! ) and we are now preparing to take our new Christmas shoes for a Christmas walk.
This afternoon we have to pick up Christmas cakes at the French bakery and then its tripartite family Christmas party time! There will be Christmas champagne, Christmas crab, and the traditional (in Japan) Christmas bucket 'o KFC!  Big fun for all and a rough Saturday for many. 
  To all of you out there, have a fine family Christmas and remember that we here in the Land of the Rising Son are thinking of you!
Merry Christmas everyone.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Deep Breath

Just finished teaching my last lesson of the year. Feels good to be done, if only till January. All I have to do now is wait for the imminent arrival of the big S, and I don't mean Santa. K is literally dreaming about labor now, which is good because the blessed event could come any day now and visualization is good practice. Everyone is excited here, a little anxious as well, especially me. Tense with anticipation...deep breaths...deep breaths.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Getting closer

Things are coming to a head here in the land of the rising sun. K has about a month left until her due date, and is getting less and less comfortable with each passing day. She's a trooper though, and is trying not to let it get the best of her. she's not above using her condition to wheedle favors out of me tho.
To wit, last weekend we put up our (fake plastic ) Christmas tree. At her insistence, it was put not in the living room as I suggested but in the dining room. The living room is a Japanese style room, while the dining room is western style, and she prefers western. Huh.
Its getting colder here, which is made painfully evident by the lack of central heating. Its COLD in the house in the mornings, so cold in fact that I've begun insisting on a hot breakfast. Miso soup and rice? Okay! I made sausage eggs and grits this morning, damn fine Too.
Stay warm folks!

Monday, December 07, 2009

Rust in peace

Came across this nugget while cleaning out my studio.  Sounds like theres an overabundance of iron in the groundwater...

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Firey fall foliage

Had to turn around and go back for another look at this scene. The way the setting sun sets off the rich scarlet of the maples made them seem illuminated from within. A very pleasant break from the evening commute!