July 2003 Archives

I've added 2 new phrases that are going to be important to the Gaijin. I like to us the first on my wife...Sorry!!!! Well I just learned it and I was excitted to try it our.

shikata ga nai

daikoku bashira

These pictures are from last friday when we went to get Ivy at the Human Rescue Society.

The above picture is a wonderful sandwich that my wife, Yuko made for me. I wasn't planning to have lunch, but she was so thoughtful.

This is a picture of me standing out in front of the Northwoods Humane Soceity. I am in my work "getup."

Hello! I have uploaded a massive Ivy gallery. Please take a look if you have time. She is the light of our lives and I want to show her off a little. I think she is a runt, so of speak, being 10 weeks old and 1.5 pounds. She is eating like a horse, so we are hopping that she can recover some lost ground on her other kitten siblings.

Here are some of my favorite shots.

This is a famous Yuko shot, just in case you weren't aware.

I have added the following links for your perusal. If you have a site and you would like to see on my list, please e-mail me.

New Links:

I-Sako.com

See the Donkey

Pure Land Mountain

Joi Ito's Web

Meladramas

Random Martin

Vazdot

Life in Japan

Last night we watched "Gangs of New York" Staring: Leonardo Dicaprio, Daneil Day-Lewis and Cameron Diaz. It was all brought together by Martin Scorsese and hammered into a good, but violent story.

The story involves Irish immigrants and how they are abused by gangs and poverty and most notably, the goverment as they are conscripted into the army to fight the Southern Army durning the Civil War.

The movie depicts the Irish immigrants stepping of the boat and hurdded into the conscription lines. I don't know how realistic this is, but it is ashame to think that it is true. The movie shows us how racist the north really was, even though the North was fighting the South over the issue of slavery.

Overall I would give this movie a C based on the graphic violence. I think I could do without it, but on second thought I don't think this movie would be able to be told without it.

Here are some more pictures of Ivy. She is such a wonderful kitten to have in the house. We are truely in love with her.

I just got home and I have pictures of Ivy to Post. Here she is. Now don't be jealous and try to come and take her home, ok?

Well the day as finally arrived. Ivy is in her new hone, our house. She is a very happy active kitty.

Yuko Marquis

Today is the big day for us and we are full of excitement! This is a shot of Ivy's new home. I know we are in the 'hood, but I know she'll love it here. We are prepared with some cat toys and a new litter box. "COME ON IVY," Yuko is saying every hour. We can't wait the last few hours....

We have prepared to welcome the new member of our family, Ivy into our hearts. Last Saturday on the way to Taylor's Falls we passed the Northwoods Humane Soceity and it has been Yulo's dream to have a dog or cat so we thought we would stop and take a look at the animals up for adoption and we fell in love with a grey and white tabby. Yuko has picked out the name of Ivy and now we are waiting to bring her home. She is waiting to get spayed and then she is ours!

The Humane Society did loss the paperwork and Ivy, but after a few calls we got it all strightened out. Now the countdown begains....

Yuko Marquis

Yuko took this picture of me as we were headed back to our apartment in the 'hood. I have since shaved off my goatee at the wishing of my wife. It was a very sunny day as you can see from the photo. We were hot and sweating from the heat and we were forced to drive with the windows down. The A/C in the blue pea splitter is broken and I refuse to spend the cash to get it fixed.

Here is a pic of my dad and my neice Jillian we took last weekend.

Tomorrow is a big day for Yuko and I. We will find out if we can get our new kitten, Ivy. Yesterday we went to the Northwoods Humane Society to see if they had any suittable kittens and we fell in love with a grey and white tabbty. We had just visited the cute city of Taylor's Falls.

We will find out if we can adopt Ivy as soon as they call to make sure we can have a cat at our apartment, which will be tomorrow!!!

I saw this over at apple.com and I thought you might want to abuse me until I get my satisfaction. I think I like the concret breaker....

Nils over at Alive in Kyoto got the oppertunity to attent the Gion Matsuri. I wish I could have gone. Well maybe I will get the chance as the in-laws live about 30-45 minutes by train from Kyoto.

Head on over to Alive in Kyoto to catch up on this wonderful festival.
alive in kyoto

We went to the new Tanpopo Location tonight. I have to say that it is very different in a good way. There is lots of space and I love the food. Yuko says that their soup base is from the Tokyo area and is very different than the one she normally has in Osaka. Please check out my review here.

I of course went for the Saba Teishoko and Yuko had Tenpura Udon with shrimp.

I have started to scan some of the photos that I took when I was last in Osaka in August of 2002.

This is a picture of a common shot in the less crowd parts of Osaka. The bugs are really bad around the paddys at night.

This is a small tile relief that I found on the top of a temple.

This is my in-laws manson building. There are a lot of small bars and resturants on the same street. It seems that my wife has never been to any of them and I was surprised.

Yuko and I just got back from the wilds of Iowa and the family. We both had a great time! It is nice to see the folk and bothers and sisters. I have pictures to show all of you and I will do so tomorrow as I am tired.....

Yuko is here!!! Well I have only a few monents before we head to Des Moines.

Well tonight I am so tired. I ahve cleaned the place and now I wait. It will be quiet here for a couple of days. So please cruise the Gallery, or the archives and I will be back at ya on Sunday night or Monday. I am headed to Des Moines with Yuko to see the family.

Tonight is the white tornado cleaning night. This is what my mom used to tell my when we would wait until the last minute to tiddy up. Yuko is on the way here from Japan as she has gotten the visa.

I have added links to 3 cool blogs that I think you should check out. I love moblogs because they are able to give us views of Japan that otherwise might not be had by us views.

Kris Corner

Mikan Moblog

Mikan Chronicles

Yuko Marquis

My wife took this picture of the Docomo Building in Shinjuku, Tokyo when she was there to visit one of her dearest friends. I guess I missed out in the fun and excitment of Shinjuku, but I am sure that we will get to make another trip there someday soon.

In the foreground you can see the scourge of Japan right now, Starbucks. They really are hurting the little coffee shops.

I just realized that in this picture we have two scourges, Docomo and Starbucks. I guess it is ironic, or if you perfer, coincidence for all of the anti-alanis people.

I scanned a pack of postcards that I got when I was at the Umeda Sky Building. Please enjoy them...

Last Year when I was in Osaka with my wife, I got the chance to visit the Umeda Sky Building. This is one tall building! If I remember correctly there are 110 floors. All I know is that it is one long way up. My ears were popping several times on the elevator ride. When I got to the top the view was awesome.

If you are not familiar with Japan weather, August is the hottest month. The wind was like a hair dryer and only made us hotter as we walked from the subway station to the Umemd Sky Building. I think the temperture that day was about 101F or so and 100% humidity.

Head on over to my gallery to look at more pictures of the Umeda Sky Building.

I am saddened to hear about the death of Barry white. He died of complications of high blod pressure that caused his kidneys to fail. He song quite a few songs that made it to the top of the charts in the 70's and he is credited with the dawn of my favorite genre, disco. He is also known as the man of love. There hasn't been anyone that has achived his status as a love singer.

Can you sing one last love song for us Barry as we head to bed room?

I have added a new feature for everyone to use. You know have the ability to e-mail an archive to a friend. I hope that soem of my visitors will find it useful.

On other news, it is so hot here in the land of 10,000 lakes! I am melted as my wife says.

I have been busy tonight getting ready to send out invitations to our wedding reception here in the US. It isn't going to be a formal affair, but hopefully we will have fun in the heart of corn country.

Here is a Preview....

I finally got the Fort Snelling gallery up and online. Please cruise on over and take a gander.

I took both black and white and color photos. Please let me know what you think in the comments section. I am looking forward to you ideas.

Here is a preview.