This Morning
The Trip Home
August 16th I headed back to the states for the last time before being done with Japan (I expect). It was a great yet busy time that left me a bit overwhelmed since I met up with so many people that I haven't seen in so long. More often than not they greeted me warmly and the greeting was often followed by a few tears of nostalgia. So many people left me a bit drained out emotionally.
I spent this trip home with family and only the friends that could come to me; I didn't have time to travel around to see people like I did when I was home for Christmas, which I'm sorry for, but there was nothing to be done for it. To the people the people that I did see I'm sorry if it seemed I was distant. Keep in mind that I came directly from a place where no one fluently speaks English, everyone has the same color hair (generalization of course) and variation is not the norm in anything. In fact some trivia for those not in the know: in Japanese the word for different is same word that is used for wrong. Seeing so many different people, faces, sizes and shapes was a bit much for this good ole' boy.
The highlights of the trip home were the first Friday night, and the few days that followed that
.That first Friday night I attempted to make a Japanese style BBQ (a.k.a. 焼肉 yakiniku). I brought a few liters of Japanese sauce with me to home both sweet and salty. We grilled meat (from Dad) veggies (peppers, onions, cabbage etc) and mushrooms. Everyone said it was great, my only disappointment was that I didn't set up the grills very well. Only one of them cooked close to the right way, but every said it was good so I hope we can do it again. For Friday night Dad, Boog, my best friend Al and I wore traditional picnic gear and I gifted all the girls with Japanese folding fans. I wish I could have gotten pictures of us dressed up. For the evening I have Dad to thank most for making it possible (getting the meat together which was excellent and the grill's parts together).
The next day we did the wedding starting fairly early everything that I came home for happened this day. I played Bocce! with the boys, drank some beers, ate and was merry. This was the day I was most blown away by people coming and going. I saw cousins from Canada that I hadn't seen in god knows when, the Kilde family and all that entails (big family now).. and the Smith family. I was sad not to have Scott n' Kori there along with the unsurpassable Cody Smith. I'll refrain from any comment on Al's slutty dog or Baily getting lucky ;) It was grand to see everyone again after so long. Kurt n' Sarah's little guy is a drooler just like Kurt but more handsome. Jeremy still has more rhymes than Jerry's got curl. Of course how can I forget Dad for trying to hook me up with the Halmark girls as they were leaving. Pity he was the only one that gave me a hungry look from across the way :)
Some shots from the party.
After the party we retired to the cottage on the lake and relaxed. Blayne and I woke early and headed up to Big Manitou Falls the home of Wisconsin's largest waterfall (50m). It was a good trip bright and early.
A view of the lake from the cottage.
A nice pan
A nice pan
From in and around the lake.
For Boog because he said he
liked it up close
I flew home and along the way got stranded in Chicago. The engine on my 777 decided to become inoperable so I ended up staying in a hotel (thanks to United). I've never stayed in such a huge bed! I met two girls (early 20s) heading for school in Kyoto for the winter. I s'pose it could have been much worse, the engine might have fallen off over Alaska! I was happy to be back to a normal generic life again. Now only 11 months left till I'm going somewhere else.
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My Baby and it's Big-headed Friend
After I got home I was still busy with this and that and catching up with school etcetera. The first weekend I was back in country I headed up to Wakayama city (the prefectural capital city) to pick up my baby.My Baby and it's Big-headed Friend
This is my new katana. There are
many like it, but this one is mine.
you know the rest.
The trip up to the city wasn't for the sword alone. I also did some sightseeing and stopped at a temple where the locals attempted to cast a large bronze Buddha, but only managed to make the head before money ran out. It was pretty cool to see just a head right there.
I saw the remaking of a wall while I was in town too which was pretty neat to see how the rubble is used to make the structure. I wonder if that sort of thing would be allowed in the states if you decided to make a stone wall around your house.
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The fearsome man-statue to the right is a horseman outside the modern museum. The little fellow to the right is a small statue of a buddha left below the giant head above. Perhaps they keep each other company. Both sharing in life's unfairness. One too small the other too big.Last but hardly a least ending to a fine day was my trip to Wakayama Castle. This castle is small, but the gardens and grounds are excellent. A bonus is that there is a good collection of weapons and armor which is cool.
A shot from the main tower of the castle.
Below are a few of the weapons on display.
I cring at the thought of implementation and
the marks that would left behind.
A view of the helmets at the castle. Of course there was the full suit of armor, but these were the coolest part.
They looked hot, heavy and in the time of battles they probably stank, stank, and stank.
They looked hot, heavy and in the time of battles they probably stank, stank, and stank.
I'll close up this long treacherous post with shots of this year's Track n' Field day. All the grades compete in various races, relays and field events. It was HOT. The school asked me to take photos for the school which I was proud to do. I took 467 pictures in total and edited about 40 for the school. Here's a few shots:
The 3rd grade class winning the day.
the agony of defeat
Thanks for stopping by come again soon :)
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