Refilling my energy tank.

In a vacuum of my own creative thoughts, I offer some foods for thought from a movie, radio guest, and Vincent:

Its not how much you love a person, but who you are when you are with that person.

If you believe you are lucky, you will be.

If this life is a losing battle, I want to fight the battle worth winning.


The best way to know God is to love many things.

For my part, I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.

One must work and dare if one really wants to live.

Family Trip

Finally, school is out. I still have loads of papers to check and grades to turn in by the end of the month, but we get to sleep in an extra hour and I can spend the day in my shorts and t-shirt! After camping, our next summer venture was a road trip and stay in Miyazaki with Eiji's family. We rented a car, stopped and played along the way, then relaxed in a cool condo by the beach! The three cousin-kids had a blast, and the adults enjoyed getting a break from housework and cooking!

Puppy love

(Sorry about the fuzzy picture, but the puppy is in his doggy-years terrible twos and wouldn't sit still!) Next adventure was to visit cousin Amanda in Fukuoka last weekend. I was impressed with her new, huge apartment, but Lucy was taken by her new puppy, UNME (which means "Fate"). She was afraid of him at first, but after I threw him on her lap enough times, she realized he as just a living, breathing, licking teddy bear, and all she wanted to do was play with him. On the way home, I asked her if she wanted a puppy like Amanda's, and she said, "No, I don't want one like it, I want HERS! I wish I had been fast and got to the pet shop before her to buy it." We also went to the beach and polished up our suntans. Lucy lost her goggles and swim cap somewhere in a wave of water and sand that caught her by surprise. Great fun! We will try to get back to Amanda's place again before the summer is over!

Next, Karaoke!

Its not very often that Ai-chan lets us take her photo, but for Lucy, she is quite vulnerable, or gullible! We fininshed dinner with friends the other night, but it was still early, so we decided to see if the local karaoke had Lucy's favorite High School Musical songs. They had just one, but she sang it twice!

AAAAAAA!

Most of Lucy's photos at karaoke where in-your-face photos of everyone singing. This was everyone's favorite though, the screen showing lyrics AAAAAAAA!

Lots of tears this week in Kumamoto!

Today, three beautiful English babes left Kumamoto to return to England. Tyler, Sophia and Millie, we already miss you dearly! This past few weeks, I can't count the number of times Lucy and I have been to the house, sometimes to help clear out some of the excess belongings, but mostly to hang out and stock up on the positive energy that fills their house. As we mingled with the countless friends that came to their farewell party this past weekend, I vowed to myself that my own house has to become like theirs...a place where everyone is welcome anytime. On any given Saturday night, there was often a handful of girls over for a pajama party, and their house was always a place where, at the last minute, you could call up and say, "Can I come over?" and you wouldn't expect anything else but, "Of course you can," for an answer. Now, I hope when I email them in England in a couple years and say, "Can we come over and crash on your sofa?" we will get the same answer! Until then, Tyler, we await news of your new adventures and look forward to when we can get a refill of your happy juice!

A great escape!

We managed to escape the heat and paperwork this past weekend. We joined 2 of our friends' families for a weekend camp-out. We drove far enough into the country to feel like we were going camping, but the campground itself so beautiful, well equipped and crowded, that you almost forgot you weren't just out in your own backyard. Each campsite was on plush grass, with a sink and running water at each site, showers and toilets a few minutes walk away, and loads of playground equipment for the kids to play. Had a bit of tent and tool envy as we walked around and saw what elaborate gear everyone else had, but between our 3 families, we had everything we needed. Barbecue, bug spray and beer...it works! Can't wait to go again!