September 11 in New York City with Irene

Thursday, September 11 2008

Though she told me she'd be returning in June of next year, I thought I had better go and see my friend Irene before she left for "Down Under". Irene and her New Zealander boyfriend Anthony had decided for the time being that they'd reside in Anthony's second home, Australia. As it turned out Irene was leaving to join Anthony in Australia on Monday. I had gotten back to New York 6 days before, but Irene had been visiting her brother in Denver, Colorado. So now I had a small window of opportunity to meet and catch up with the always fun and interesting Irene Hwang, so I seized that opportunity.

As it were, the day we decided to meet up in Manhattan was coincidentally

Fashion Week -

a time when top designers meet and display their work in hopes of expanding their careers. It has also, within the last few years, become the climax to a reality Television show called

Project Runway.

Here is Irene with other fashionable New Yorkers in front of the great tent in Bryant Park, inside which the models strut their stuff.
Michael Kors!!!

(one of the judges on Project Runway)

Atsuko and I got into this silly show for a while

Only in NEW YORK baby!

ONLY in New York!!!

I had only been back in America for 6 days, but Irene concerned that I might have been suffering from some sort of withdrawals, took me to a Japanese restaurant called

Yakitori Taisho

We got grilled chicken, TAKO YAKI (Octopus balls), beer and other yummy things.
I attempted a conversation in Japanese with one of the waitresses, but she put me OUT! She fired back at me in some very curt English - which inevitably led to me putting any decent

tips for her OUT!! Zannen! (TOO BAD!)

The joint was jumpin', so we were pushed by the staff to eat and leave basically.

Though I like this place, it certainly isn't much like a Japanese restaurant in Japan. Not that it mattered much anyway though; I was just enjoying being with my friend in a very cool town. For all I cared, we could have been eating dog **** in a junk yard

and I would have enjoyed myself!

Irene took us to the most incredible toy shop I had ever been in.

This shop actually had a "Good Guy Doll" based on the "Chucky" character from the movie Child's Play!

Irene bought a funky T-shirt.

Fashion week wasn't the only big thing going on in New York town. It just so happened that it was September 11, the 7th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the

World Trade Center.

Where the Twin Towers once stood, this night there were two blue beams comprised of dozens of intense blue lights shooting up into the night sky. I heard that these were literally costing millions of dollars per day to do what they were doing. What was so fantastic though, was the illusion the luminescent pillars in conglomeration with a few clouds created. The blue beams didn't appear to be coming from the ground at all. Rather, it seemed as though they were blasting into the ground below from some sort of space craft - the clouds.

It was mysterious and awesome, and all the while very somber.

It wasn't completely full, but the moon was big and bright.

It only added to the surreality of this night.

Irene and I were able to see the "September 11 Lights" from many angles

I felt very nostalgic as we used the subways. During my late teens and early twenties, "the college years", I had lived in and around Manhattan. These were my stomping grounds.
This man was sleeping deeply on a subway train. I could tell by his big, calloused hands, that this man was a physical laborer and was probably exhausted from another hard day's work. I remember often falling into very deep and peaceful sleeps on the subways on my way home from school.

What New York City scene would be complete without a mountain range of garbage piled along a sidewalk?!





We ultimately got directly under the beams of light. It was truly spectacular.

Ladder Company 10 was the closest fire department to the World Trade Center, and therefor it's firefighters were the first to the scene after the Trade Centers were hit. Many people were in tears at this sight, just next to "Ground Zero"
Here Irene and I are riding a subway back to Penn Station where we parted; Irene for Flushing, Queens, and me for Saint James, Long Island.

Thank you for a wonderful night Irene.

Take it easy in Oz!

Home-Coming King

Sunday, September 7 2008

My sister Amanda, whom I call Mandy, my brother in law John, whom I call John, Hank, everyone's favorite Cocker Spaniel, and last but most certainly not least, Alice Mary, whom we call Allie -

my 4 month old niece, came over to welcome me home!

There was a DELICIOUS and very decedent chocolate cake on which

"Welcome Home Bill"

was inscribed in frosted lettering!

Thank you everyone for this scrumptious welcome!

NOTE: The oil lamp on the kitchen table was actually NOT there for ambient light. We were forced to use it as a faulty switch for the kitchen light caused the kitchen light to flicker uncontrollably. Fearing that we may all perish in the flames of a raging electrical fire, we opted to use the oil lamp.

Exhasted in Vancouver

Friday, September 5 2008 (crossed over the date line)

About 9 hours after leaving Osaka,

here I am in Vancouver Airport feeling rather shagged

Great Friends and Family

Friday, September 5 2008

While Atsuko was at her last day of work,

my mother and father in law drove me to Kansai Airport in Osaka.

They insisted on seeing me off there. Though I told them that it wouldn't be necessary, there was no stopping them! Thank goodness they did bring me down to the airport. I don't know how I would have managed lugging my big bulky load down there on a train without their help.

I also knew that my sister in law Michiko san, and my two nephews Takuto and Ryoto would be meeting us at the terminal to say goodbye - a very touching gesture indeed. However, what I did not know was that a group of friends would also be there to see me off!

As I walked toward my check in counter I saw, as if in a strange dream, my good friend Kazuya walking up to me. I couldn't believe it! This was SO SPECIAL. Kazuya notified me that he was not alone either. He had taken the day off, and the handsome 27 year old father of 4 had made the trek to Kansai Airport with his beautiful wife and all their gorgeous children.

Then, after receiving my boarding pass, I walked over to the now large crowd to join all my loved ones. Once again I was thrown a surprise! This time by my great friend Kayoko san. I have never felt more loved in all my life. It was a bittersweet farewell at best!

Otousan, Okaasan, Michiko san, Taku chan, Ryo chan, Kazuya and Okusan, Karina chan, Sakura chan, Nagomi chan, and Haruchika........

HONTONI ARIGATO GOZAIMASU!!!!!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH MY FRIENDS!!!!!!!

I can't wait to see you all next time!

ＫＹＯＴＯ！

昨日は秋晴れの一日！
友達の藤原と二人で京都の嵐山と金閣寺に行って来ました　ヾ(*ﾟ▽ﾟ)ﾉ



嵐山にある渡月橋。
山々がキレイでした。
それにしても観光客（中国人がいっぱい）が多くて、町もすっかりキレイな観光地に変わっていました。

えらい可愛いお地蔵さんたち。一気にほのぼのモードに。
人力車は嵐山の観光名物の一つ

Charms ・ お守りもいっぱい。どうやら今年は私は後厄らしく、そういったものにはほんとに興味がない私ですが（もちろん厄払いも行ってません）、一応厄除けのお守りを購入。　

" Peace on Earth! "

そしてかの有名な観光スポットである金閣寺（The Golden Pavilon）。足利義満らしいですよ。すっかり日本史から遠ざかっていますが、そういえば、テストの必須項目だったな～・・・。

Yoshimitsu, the 3rd Shogun of Ashikaga, abdicated the throne in 1394. After three years, he began to build Kitayamaden and he made a special effort to make it a breath-taking site. He indulged in his peaceful life in his serene setting. This Rokuon-ji temple was inscribed as World Cultural Heritage in 1994.

そして夜はカニの食べ放題に行ってきて、たらふく良い思いをしました。カニ尽くしの贅沢な時間やった～　ε= o(´～｀;)o ﾀﾍﾞｽｷﾞｰ

My Last Days In Wakayama

I took the following pictures on my last full day in Japan before departing for New York.

The remnants of "Mr. Kitchen", my homemade percussion set which included stands for my djembe and bongo drums as well as an array of pots and kitchen gear. When I went to put it out with the garbage, my mother in law stopped me.

She said she wanted to keep it as a reminder of me.

Here I am in my stripped room

with a mountain of boxes, duffel bags, and "Atsuko" my 15 year old backpack companion.

Friday, September 5 "tomorrow" was to be my D-Day (departure day!)

Mr. Green packed in pieces in his big black travelling bag.

Next stop Vancouver, and finally onto New York!

Taro and Wild Bill

I miss my walks with Taro, but feel happy just thinking about him walking around Otani with Otousan (father). Taro put a spell on me. I fell in love with his breed; Shiba, and would love to have a Taro II for Atsuko and my kids to grow up with someday!

Taro and the Belly Rub

Rice Season Nears It's Harvest

I took these pictures on

Thursday, September 4 2008

This is a rice paddy in Otani still green, but with actual grains of rice now on the stalks.

By now (today is October 2) the rice paddies must be yellow and many harvested.

The TANBO (rice paddy) is beautiful in all it's stages.

引越前の準備として

今週の月曜に、海外引越専門の引越業者に私たちの荷物を引き取りに来てもらいました。

ビルは3年しか日本に住んでいないというのに、ビルの荷物だけで、なんとスーツケースが３個と段ボールが14箱と、「何で！！？？何が入ってんの？？！！」　

ﾉ(￣０￣;)＼ｵｰ!!ﾉｰ!!!!　ということになってしまっていて、中を確認させてもらうと、生徒さんからの手紙やら頂いたプレゼントやらが何箱もあって、ビルはホンマにみんなから慕われてたな～と感心　^(ﾉﾟｰﾟ)ﾉ☆ﾊﾟﾁﾊﾟﾁ☆ヾ(ﾟｰﾟヾ)^　

結局いくつかの箱にはデッドスペースがあったので、詰め直し、最終的には私の荷物を入れて、スーツケース３個と段ボール１7箱になりました。

こういう海外引越の船便になると、１立方メートルあたりのパレット計算（容積）になるので容量（重さ）は関係ない（普通の船便の郵便だと重さ計算）。ということで、重いもの中心にアルバムやら本やらCDやら楽器やら、とにかく詰め込んだ。アメリカでは寂しくなるやろうと、ブックオフで古本をいっぱい買い込んだものも入れた　ヾ(;´▽｀A``アセアセ

大手引越業者は値段も高めなので、ネット検索をしてて人目でひらめいた大阪江坂にあるパックメールという会社で見積りをお願いした。対応してくれた人の第一印象も500％良く、ここ１本で決めてしまった。

他社と違ってこのパックメールは、とにかくアメリカ式というか、梱包は各自がすることになっていて、しかも梱包する前の訪問見積りもせずに、小まめな連絡をもとにシュミレーションしてくれるというサービスなので、値段もまだ良心的。言ったらぶっつけ本番。でも、担当者が丁寧且つ迅速に対応してくれるので、とても心強かった。結局担当者がいろいろ積み方をいろんな方向からシュミレーションしてくれて、当初の見積りよりも４万も安くなった、という親切ぶり。

こういう荷物も本人が引越をするという前提の別送品なので、私の飛行機チケット・パスポート・ビザの提示を求められる。なので、海外へ引越する人は少ないやろうけど、私はこのパックメールをかなり！推しますよ！！！！　

d(ﾟ-^*) ﾅｲｽ♪　（注：サクラじゃないですよ　ヾ('o'ヾ('o'ヾ('o';)ｫｨｫｨｫｨ）

*★*―――*★**★*―――*★**★*―――*★**★*―――*★*

そしてその後に、うちのネコのハイディのための狂犬病ワクチンをうちに、動物病院へ行ってきました　

((≡ﾟ♀ﾟ≡))　ネコに狂犬病？って感じですけど、アメリカは狂犬病保持国なので、そういう国行きにはペットであっても、これから住む州の規則に従わないと入国許可されないのです。アメリカは州単位で統治されてるので、法律とかルールも州によって異なってしまう。面倒くさい！！（ペットの為に飛行機も前もって予約・確認が要ったり、健康診断証明書も発行してもらわないといけないし）

ハイディをアメリカから日本に連れてきた経験がありますが、この時はもっと大変で、なんせ狂犬病保持国からペットを連れてくるとあって、関空の検疫所で２週間検査のためにお泊りする羽目になったり（用意した書類に不備があると６ヶ月お泊りになってしまう）。なかなか国際的なネコです。生まれはメキシコのエンセナーダというところやし。

ただいま８歳。ガンバレ、飛行機！　p( ｀o´ )q