July 2, 2011 - Independence Day Party. This
was now our second year for this party making it an annual
event. We had a good turnout and of course lit fireworks
which are still legal in Japan....you can purchase them at
the local Walmart, AKA Seiyu. Still plenty of Summer within
the next few months for more fun in the sun.
July 2, 2011 - Email
Message -
Ayumi.
Hey I really enjoyed the party last night. Many friends from FB came and brought
kids. It was crazy. Lit off fireworks and drank a lot. It would be really cool
to talk with you. Send email when you can.
July 2, 2011 - Email
Message -
Ikuko.
Hey I think you already know about the BBQ pot luck tonight. Please bring your
entire family. Plenty of cow. Maybe a side dish is good and alcohol if you want.
See you tonight.
July 2, 2011 -
Facebook Event -
American Independence Day Pot Luck Party -
Saturday, July 2, 2011 at 1:00 PM
July 2, 2011 -
Facebook Event -
HAFLA Bellydance Party -
Dessy School,Mochidono Center,Nara-shi,Nara,Japan -
Saturday, July 2, 2011 at 9 PM UTC+09 – 12 AM UTC+09 |
July 3, 2011 - Impromptu BBQ Party. Hey
best way to get rid of all the food from a party....make
another. Invited family and a few friends to join us for a
feast of basically old food from the day before.
July 5, 2011 -
Facebook Post -
ANOTHER AFTER PARTY.
Plenty of extra food in the refrigerator from the Independence Day party turned
into another get together on Sunday. Nice to hang out with the neighbors again.
Next event is in a few weeks. See you then.
July 7, 2011 - Email
Message -
Ayumi.
Finally decided what the fuck now. Wife does not give a shit and will not
change. Really enjoying Japan this Summer. Who is the man? You know the answer.
July 7, 2011 - Email
Message -
Ayumi.
Hey you might live to eat your words someday. Difficult for anyone, including
you, to understand the situation unless you are stuck in the middle of it.
Sometimes simply better for both to get what they need outside the relationship.
A friend who came to the party last time is going thru divorce now. A couple
kids and the husband probably found another girl. A reason for wanting divorce
is he does not like the food his wife makes for breakfast. Go figure. Which is
better? Screwing up the kids and splitting up or simply looking the other way
and letting both do what they need to do to be happy. Tough choice. Something
for you to think about as you continue your search for a decent guy. You will
find out someday marriage is the most difficult thing you will ever attempt.
Ganbatte.
July 7, 2011 - Email
Message -
Ayumi.
Hey then try not to judge me so much. You know most out of all my friends the
importance of being with someone who has the same passion and desires,
especially for sex and intimacy. I really tried for many years to get the things
I need from my wife. She simply cannot do it or maybe does not give a shit to
try now. Either way it does not change my thinking and feeling about these
things. I am making the choice to be happy and do not want to be held back from
someone anymore, even my wife. You should be a little more understanding. Would
be happy to accept from my wife the things I am now receiving from other women.
Again something for you to think about.
July 7, 2011 -
Facebook Post -
GARDEN OUT OF CONTROL.
With all the warm temperatures and rain the front yard is a total jungle. Now
the grapes, cucumbers and Japanese kabocha pretty much took over what used to be
the carport. Sunflowers are at least 8 feet tall. Take a look at this album if
you want to see more. Thanks.
July 9, 2011 -
Facebook Event -
Small BBQ Party -
Saturday, July 9, 2011 at 2:00 PM |
July 11, 2011 -
Facebook Comment - Yup and a pretty good yield this year for sure.
Planning to make wine. Actually put in more in another section of the property.
July 11, 2011 -
Facebook Post -
It was 105 in Osaka yesterday. Rainy season is over. Can expect these
temperatures for the next couple months. Crap. |
July 17, 2011 - Kyoto - Gion Matsuri. Woke
up at 4:00 am and was out of the house at 5:15 am in order
to get a good spot on the street to watch the parade of
yamaboko (floats) which begin at 9:00 am. Found a nice spot
on the shaded side of the street in front of a jazz themed
coffee shop. Watched the entire four hour event. We walked
around Kyoto for hours then went to Osaka for dinner and
shopping.
July 19, 2011 - Email
Message - Jim, Linda.
Hey guys. I really want to apologize for not writing sooner. Kind of a lot going
on these days and rarely online.
We spent over 18 hours out on Sunday at the Gion Festival in Kyoto and then went
shopping and out to eat in Osaka. Was really wiped out and now my knee is pretty
messed up. Putting ice and taking it easy the next few days.
Cancelled classes this upcoming weekend in order to take Shai to the beach in
Kobe. The train station is almost on the beach and easy to get to. This city has
a nice Jewish community and a synagogue. We are thinking about moving there
someday.
We put in an offer on the property next door last week. Still no word if the
offer was accepted. The property was listed for $48,000. Recently the agent said
the owners will accept almost any price now. In Japan houses retain almost
little value over time. The house is over 30 years old and the value is only in
the land. Japanese people do not remodel homes unless they plan to keep the
property in the family for many years. This house is almost identical to ours
without the back bedroom and second floor veranda. Actually three identical
houses were built on a single lot. Because of this the house can be knocked down
but not rebuilt. This is not a good selling point for the house as Japanese
typically take out the house and build new. In addition the house is the middle
house. Considering all this we offered $4000 which the agent thinks the owners
might accept. We are planning to use the property for parking and possibly a bed
and breakfast. It depends if I am able to work with Akiko. Recently we are doing
more and more thinks separately including business.
The typhoon which was pretty strong before has pretty much fizzled out.
Practically no rain and wind even though the storm is coming within a hundred
miles of this house. Then temperatures will go back up towards the end of the
week.
Shai will be two years old on the 23rd as you know. He is beginning to talk a
lot now. Would be nice to chat soon like maybe Sunday. Hopefully you guys are
doing good. Send email when you can.
Howie, Akiko, Shai.
July 19, 2011 -
Facebook Post -
Typhoon Coming.
Put away all of the yard stuff in anticipation of the arrival of Typhoon Ma-On
which is scheduled to hit this location almost directly sometime tomorrow
morning Japan time.
Gion Festival.
Taking it easy after spending 18 hours out and about on Sunday. Went to Kyoto
for the Gion Festival and then shopping and out for dinner in Osaka. This is the
oldest and most famous festival in Japan. Planning to post pictures soon.
July 20, 2011 - Email
Message - Jim, Linda.
Hey guys. Everything is settled today. Typhoon moved away and really not much to
talk about. Pretty much hanging out at home today and online. Send email when
you can.
July 20, 2011 -
Facebook Post -
Heading to Suma Beach in Kobe, Japan this weekend. Any information, suggestions,
and recommendations from friends in Japan would be appreciated. Thanks.
July 21, 2011 -
Facebook Post -
Lake Biwa and World Record Bass.
Planning a fishing trip to Lake Biwa in a few weeks. Located about 40 miles from
the house. This is the largest lake in Japan and the site of the world record
largemouth bass. Japanese government considers the bass to be an invasive
species. It is actually illegal to catch and release any bass caught. You need
to keep them. This translates into quite a fish BBQ upon returning home. |
July 23, 2011 - Kobe - Suma Beach. Today
was a special day. Shai turned 2 years old and it was the
first time for all of us to visit Kobe and a beach in Japan.
This place was really cool and reminded me of Ocean Beach
back in San Diego, California. The sand was pretty course
compared to California beaches but it was still nice. Really
nice to be able to drink on the beach. Shai
was really getting a lot of attention from all the young
pretty girls on the beach. He seemed very happy to make a
lot of new friends. He spent the entire day playing in the
ocean and on the sand.
July 23, 2011 -
Facebook Post -
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHAI.
Hey. Shai is celebrating his birthday today. Little guy is turning two years
old. He will spend the day in Kobe and play at the beach. Then at night go out
to eat. Should be fun.
July 23, 2011 - Email
Message -
Ayumi.
Hey really enjoyed hanging out at the beach in Kobe. It was awesome. Planning to
upload a lot of pictures to FB tonight. Send email when you can.
Howie
July 23, 2011 - Email
Message -
Ayumi.
Yeah we made some pretty cool friends. Was normal during daytime but became
crazy towards the evening. It was like OB in SD. Was some foreigners hanging
out. Really would be cool to go there with you. Send email when you can. |
July 24, 2011 - BBQ Party With Family. Another
BBQ Party, this time with family to celebrate Shai turning 2
years old. We finished barbecuing minutes before a mega
thunderstorm. Thanks to the new patio cover we were able to
hang outside during the storm before coming in the house. Shai really liked the
thunder and lightning. Seems like he is on the road to
becoming a little science geek.
July 24, 2011 - Email
Message -
Hi. I wanted to meet you. Tonight family came for BBQ. Want to know if you are
doing good. Send email when you can.
July 24, 2011 - Email
Message -
About Sakura Girl.
Hey I think you are learning now. Actually met someone this weekend on the
beach. Kind of a long story. Recently getting more and more attention from
women. Think because I really changed a lot these days. Would be nice to get
same attention from wife. Send email when you can.
July 25, 2011 -
Facebook Post -
Spent last weekend at the beach. Shai really enjoyed his birthday and played in
the sand for hours. Suma Beach really seemed like Ocean Beach in San Diego
except in Japan you can still drink on the beach. Pretty quiet during the day
but early evening was another story. Made a few new friends. Thinking about
going back again in a few weeks. |
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July 28, 2011 -
Facebook Comment - Hey no problem. Many friends will not be coming until
after 6 pm and some late in the evening. Usually parties go until the next day
anyway. Your friend Dessy is planning to come. Should be a lot of fun. See you
then. |
July 30, 2011 - Summer BBQ Party. Another
monthly party....um this month. The theme this time was
Summer BBQ which got off to a rough beginning. It was
pouring rain for hours. Because of the rain, a train
accident, and a few friends working, the turnout was a bit
less than expected but still managed about 25 people
including those who went home before the customary group
picture.
July 30, 2011 -
Facebook Event -
Summer BBQ Party -
Saturday, July 30, 2011 at 1:00 PM
July 30, 2011 - Email
Message -
Hi. Actually we made another house party yesterday. Tonight we are going to
another town to see the fireworks. Next weekend is camping and the following
couple weekends there is no plan and maybe we can meet. On the 27th of next
month is another house party. It would be really nice if you could make it.
Please send email when you can.
July 30, 2011 - Email
Message -
Pretty wiped out. Going to see some fireworks tonight. Send email when you can. |
July 31, 2011 - Sakurai - Onbara
Fireworks Festival. Today
the three of us went to a fireworks festival which is pretty
famous in Nara, Japan. We ate a lot of food, drank a lot of
beer, and met many cool people.
July 31, 2011 -
Facebook Post -
Another Fun Party.
Thanks to everyone for coming last night. It was a lot of fun and went until
1:30 am. Some new friends came who will probably become party regulars. Next
month planning to do it all again. Enjoy the pictures. |
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