The split weekend - Mom style

To ensure Mom stayed sane for a few more months, we put here on a train down to Tokyo. She got to go to the temple and immerse herself in the energy of a big, BIG city. I don't have to commentary to go with each of these picture and video but it looked like she had a great time. Take a look.

The Fish Market

Rose brought this fish home and mounted it on our wall

Tokyo has been referred to as the Paris of Asia, I am sure the copycat tower adds to that description.

Rose got to see several traditional wedding processions in the park on Saturday morning

Shibuya station is an experience that your really have to see but this video does a pretty good job.

Leia Mais…

The split weekend - Kid style

Last week, Mom was just about ready to go crazy so we put here on a train to Tokyo for a little R&R. The rest of here decided to make a weekend of it so we went to Osorezan. This is the mountain of Hell, I don't know if there was a subliminal message in all this but it was actually a really good time.

The terrain around the lush mountain is what gives rise to the myths and legends that this is the gates of hell. Every year itakos, women who have given up there sight to see the spirits, will communicate with the dead at these spots.

Both the terrain and the stench coming from it is evidence that something is dead

It is rather beautiful though

After Osorezan, we went to Yagen Valley, a magnificent gorge through the mountains on the other side of the lake. I am not sure but I think Tally is peeing in the background.

Good times with all the kids

Truman and Tenny have become very good friends through out this summer. They have really started to pal around in the neighborhood and with other friends.

Truman is the boy who gets tired easily, but he tries hard.

Tenny would have thrown every rock in that valley into the stream if I would have let him. He was very disappointed when we had to leave.

Leia Mais…

Tally puts the Player in Baseball Player

A couple of days ago we got Tally baseball pictures back. They all look like fine upstanding young boys. Then you examine it closer...scroll down


It always has to be my kid doesn't it. It can't be the coaches kid or our neighbors, no it has to be mine.

Talmage apparently thought some ladies might get a hold of these photos so he was prepared. This is classic Tally, the boy would rather eat glass than take a picture with a normal expression on his face. Now we have it for all posterity.

Leia Mais…

Chlöe vs The Mountains: Enter the Dragon

Chlöe and I have been working on this ambitious and at times masochistic goal of hiking the highest peak in every state. Well, since we're not in a state right now we had to spread our wings a bit. At 12, 387 ft, Mt Fuji or Fujisan, is the highest peak in all of Japan, so we thought what the heck.

As we left the hotel the day looked very overcast and poopy. We got in the bus at 0300 and made the 2 hr trip from Tokyo to the 5 Lakes Region that encircles Fujisan. The farther we drove up to the base of the mountain the better the conditions above us looked.

You can see as we made it to the base camp, the clouds were below us with nothing but goals and high aspirations above us. It was a little cool as we started but once we got in the sun and started powering up the mountain we were nice and toasty


I was amazed at what a difficult climb it was up the mountain. Chlöe and I have traversed some fairly steep terrain but this was definitely up there on the difficulty scale. One of the things, beside the steep grade, that made it so tricky was the composition of the trails. They were covered in volcanic sand which made each step harder than the next.

All along the way were little huts that you could buy some noodles or stay for the night (for ridiculously high prices, $50 per/person for a mat to sleep on.) They did make for great little pit stops along the way and gave us good targets to shoot for up the mountain.

Just a few feet from the summit! The torii gates on the mountain magnify the experience of hiking in Japan

As we were hiking we were going at a parallel speed as a group of teenage boys who would talk and joke with us in our limited communications abilities. Once we got to the top, they ripped off all their clothes to reveal Power Ranger costumes. There is nothing like being on top of the world with the Pink Power Ranger.

The actual summit looking down on the little "village" below

The pose of triumph!

We did put together a video, hopefully I can get it edited and posted soon. Check back in a few days.

Leia Mais…