Come sail away

On the ferry to the little island where K's grandmother lives...our annual spring pilgrimage. The island, Shodoshima, is famous (in Japan) for its olive groves. We are planning to pick up an olive tree to plant in the front yard of the house we just bought...

field trip!

No classes for me today...instead I went with the younger kids on a cherry blossom viewing excursion. Beautiful weather and a natural hot spring foot bath made for a fine time. They were all over me in freeze tag tho...

Wedding 2.0

Yesterday was K and my second wedding anniversary. To celebrate the occasion, we decided to stay home and have a nice dinner and a relaxing evening. To that end, I prepared a very nice, yet simple, repast. Yellowtail steaks with a sesame/wasabi/black pepper crust, asparagus, and some lovely french bread. Accompanying the food was a very nice Reisling we picked up in the Finger Lakes last summer. If you ever head up that way, be sure to stop in at Lamoreaux Landing, excellent white wines!
She was impressed as was I, having never really cooked with fish before. If you want to try it, I recommend soaking the fish in sake for about 30 minutes prior to applying the crust...helps cut the fishiness and adds some sweetness to the fish. Nice.
There was cake and questionable champagne afterwards, then we curled up in front of the TV and promptly fell asleep. A good evening all around.
Today we are off to look at cherry blossoms with the Captain, then the family anniversary party this evening. Glad we took it easy last night!

mmm...

Yesterday was little
brother Shingo's wedding. I got pressed into service as best man at the last minute...twas a bit of a shock, but all went well. The reception was the usual stilted japanese affair complete with a running commentary from the hired MC. Apparently even parties require a system and instructions. The food was good tho...highlited by lobster sashimi. Yay!

more judo...

Wore my new black belt to judo practice for the first time today. It felt a bit strange...like wearing your dads shoes...I guess I need to grow into it.

Good News, Everyone!

On Sunday I had the test for my black belt in Judo, and I passed. I am officially a black belt now...on paper anyway. I still don`t own an actual black belt yet, but I gots mine on order.

It was a lot of work and a lot of fun pursuing the black belt dream...took about a year and a half, two to three days a week...but now it seems I`m really just beginning to really understand Judo. What seemed like an end has become a beginning. I`m looking forward to delving further into the Judo world and actually becoming proficient at some of the techniques I had to learn in order to perform the Nage no Kata.

In other news, its off to Gifu Prefecture this weekend for two days on the slopes and three nights in the hot springs...who`s a lucky boy?

The Japanese Elvis! He`s my father-in-law`s favorite, and pretty durn cool. Ladies and Gentlemen, the great Kayama Yuzo!

how to beat the winter blues...

Fried stuff on sticks and beer for lunch! Keeps you warm...

We went to the temple today to pay our respects to Ks ancestors. Nice day for it...

found art?