Soaked Again!

What is up?  It was over cast when I left this morning so of course I made sure to take my umbrella.  Didn't need it at all the weather was beautiful all day, and when I left the house again to meet Jabby for dinner at 5:30 it was still beautiful. Then of course as we were just about finished the torrential rains hit again.  Well we hopped in a taxi and they dropped me at the station, and I thought well it will be another umbrella purchase at the convenience store, so as I jumped into the store and glanced over to find all the umbrellas were gone.  Well luckily I was wearing a wife-beater so I slipped my shirt of after walking a little ways stuck it in the little bag that I had, luckily or my cell would have been fried, and got drenched the rest of the way.  I did take my shoes off at one point because on Friday I remembered that it was like a river behind my house.  Well tonight it wasn't as bad, but still.  This has been the most unusual week of weather I have ever experienced in Japan.  You think we were being hit by a typhoon.

Rain, rain go away come again some other day.

So this is what the weather looks like in Japan today. There are heavy rain warnings over pretty much the whole country.  It is kind of freaky, I think it has rained everyday since I got back from Okinawa.

Yesterday it was nice most of the day even though the forecast called for rain all day. So when I left school the skies were beautiful and I totally forgot my umbrella.  Around the time I left Ginza the thunder and lightning had started. By the time I got to Nakameguro on the train it was pouring.  No umbrella but at least I had worn my crocs.  Take of the socks, roll up the pants, and stop at the convenience store right outside the subway exit. Even rolling up my pants up past my knees they still got wet, and so happy for the crocs because I had to wade down the little back street to my apartment. The water was flowing right around my ankles.  All this rain just make you want to stay inside. How much longer?

Zest

Met Shige in Ginza to go to Zest for dinner. I was showing him my new video camera and said, "It has a flash" at which time he decided to get a closer look, that is when I snapped the pic.


Probably the weirdest thing about the evening was there was an older probably in his 50's foreigner that was a waiter. Through out the evening he kept stopping at tables that were only young females and would spend a few minutes chatting them up. Or should I say trying to pick them up, it seemed rather blatant and maybe just barely tolerated by the Japanese staff. I guess you see all kinds here.

Apt

In my conversation with the Kingdom Ministries Team last night I was asked about my apt. so just in case any of you are curious hear is a picture of my living room, the bedroom is off to the right, smaller, and I am taking this from my kitchen. The living room is 6 mat, bedroom 4.5 mat, and I think the dining kitchen area is 8 or 9. Pretty big for one person when you consider that all the other apartments in this building which are all the same size are occupied by couples or families with 1 or 2 children.  And at 90,000 yen a month it is actually not that expensive.  I'll let you do the math, I think the yen was at 106 to the dollar yesterday.

Nakagusuku

This is the remains of an old castle, that had magnificent views of the ocean on both sides of the island. Basically it was right in the middle and pretty much what seemed to be the highest area around.  So the name actually means Center Castle. 

This was one place I had never seen before so I was glad that I found it.

I really wanted to get a picture of me standing in the gate above but there wasn't anyone around to ask when I thought about it.

Okinawa

These were taken with my new video camera, I thought that I might get some in the water shots but it was not an easy place to get in the water and I would have really needed my reef shoes. Anyway, this is Maeda Misaki. I had read that it was a secluded area great for snorkeling, and diving, but it is no longer secluded. There were a ton of people there which made me just want to get away.

I actually think this is the place we went snorkeling so many years ago.

It was very beautiful.

Eisa

This is the ending of Yamazato seinen kai's performance. they were one of the best groups.

Shinkansen?

So, on my way to Okinawa I say this at the airport and almost laughed out loud. I think the Japanese have cornered the market on cute. Too bad you can't here the cheesy music that it played as it transported people to the gates.

Shao Long Bau

Watching the olympics has been fun but I really enjoyed "The Today Show" while I was back and their segment "Today's Chow" was really fun. Here they make one of my favorite Chinese dishes, 小龍包.

Cool phone

As I stood in line I noticed this guy texting, nothing new everybody does it here. Then sitting down on the train he pulls out a foldable portable keyboard, hooks his cell up to it and wala his own PC! Those Japanese what will they think of next!

Back Home

For whatever reason I never got around to posting the deer pictures I took with Brenda's camera. I couldn't risk going back in the cabin and getting mine because this guy would have bolted. I mean they got spooked from the crunch of me eating my cereal.

Anyway, I arrived home last night and had a relatively good sleep last night. I think almost everyone that was on my flight had an international connection. There wasn't even a line at immigration I was so surprised so getting my bag was the only thing that took any time. Then I had a good connection for the Narita express and then smooth tranfers back home. I was at my apt. by 8pm. Not so bad.

The most interesting thing about the whole trip was how it started. Dieter took me to the Dublin/Pleasanton station and I had about an hour and a half trip from there into the airport with one transfer at Balboa Park. The most frustrating thing was not knowing how to buy a ticket when I got there. When I put in my Debit card it automatically starts you off with a $20 ticket, and doesn't show you how to choose the fare that you want. I went to the ticket window to see if the person in there could help me out, but she just told me the price and there was a sign that said you can not purchase tickets from that person. How stupid is that! Anyway I went back to the machine and thought that I would try cash but for the $7.65 ticket they want you to have the exact amount. So it was back to the debit card and I asked two ladies standing a couple of machines over what I had to do and they told me when the $20 ticket comes up you adjust it by pressing an add or subtract $1 button, and then the same thing with a five cent button. They definitely need a better system.

Off to the Mountains

Day 1
Arrived early into San Francisco about 9:35 Immigrations and customs were no problems, then it was off to pick up the rental car. There is a shuttle train that goes around to the different terminals and then out to the car rental area. I was really surprised at all the people. Every counter had a long line, luckily it seemed that Budget’s line was the smallest. When I got up to the line the lady commented on the price that I got saying that most people that were renting were paying 3 times the price that I was and they were returning to the same location. She said I had a choice between and Mustang, and a Hyundai SUV. I decided to take the SUV since I was stopping in Sacramento to pick up Dieter’s mom and a friend. It was a good choice, by the time that we got all their stuff in the car we were filled to the rim. The drive to Sacramento wasn’t too bad I was a little tired just after I got out of SF, but after a Starbucks break the rest of the drive wasn’t so bad. After Irene arrived we set off for Redding a good 2 1/2 hour drive further. It was god to have the company in the car to keep me awake. Also even though I had excellent directions it was good to have Christa along to give directions to the cabin. When we got into Redding we stopped into the Black Bear Diner and had a great breakfast dinner. Then it was off for some grocery shopping then on to the cabin. We were greeted at the cabin by 3 deer, and after setting out some food, they were joind by 4 others. We sat on the deck and just enjoyed the cool evening. Finally about 8:30 I gave into the sleep, took a shower and then headed to bed.

Here are some pictures from the 3 days in the Mountains.

Some of the deer that dropped by the cabin everyday.

From left to right

Me, Brenda, Dieter, Irene, and Christa
Need to teach them how to pose.

View from the cabin.

You can see how low the water is, full it is up to the tree line.

Group shot, no need to lean Dieter.

Off & Away

Off to CA hope to have a relaxing time.
Checkin took all of about 5 min. Then I ran into Kretlows on their way back to Portland. The biggest surprise was being @ gate 26 which isin the new remodeled wing, it has a much nicer feel as hopefully you can see.

Laid Back

Photo by Kenshin, @ least he didnt make any changes to this. He wanted to add hair, but that wasn't an option.

Tozanso

On the last day of the Church of God 100th anniversary camp meeting at Tozanso.
All in all it was a good meeting, but there were still many unorganized areas. I think I am so used to all the preparation and detail that goes into everything at Tamasei that when things don't go smoothly and you can't find out who is in charge of anything it really does become really frustrating.

Just a few of us waiting to leave.

Karate

On the last day of the church camp at Tozanso I ate breakfast with the students from Wheaton and Nerima. Kenshin was sitting next to me and I asked him if he would do a karate performance for them. He agreed and after talking to his dad they went and changed and came back and gave a short demonstration. Everyone was really impressed.

Bling

Having fun @ tennis camp.