It is 4:12 PM on Tuesday, August 20th, 2024. It is a beautiful evening with a slight breeze, no fog or clouds and a cool 65 degrees. I’ll start off in that I remain astonished at how quickly time passes and how much the world has changed. The year 2016, or even 2010 do not…… Continue reading Journal Entry – 8.20.2024
SPQR – Mary Beard
I came across Mary Beard in YouTube and always enjoyed her videos on Ancient Rome. I then learned she had written a few books and this one in particular was especially popular. It took me a while to finish as it is a long one and renting it through the library app Libby I had…… Continue reading SPQR – Mary Beard
Japanese Folk Songs
I came across this music as I was searching for the song at the end of the movie Tokyo Story (東京物語). Tokyo Story is a movie from 1953 about an older couple who go to visit their children in Tokyo. What I most enjoyed about the film was its nod to the passage of time.…… Continue reading Japanese Folk Songs
LTMD – Politics of the Day – Biden and Trump
I’ve always wished that I could read the opinions of my grandfather, great-grandfather and so on about the politics of their day. What did my ancestors think about Lincoln? What were their thoughts on FDR, Eisenhower, Kennedy? Growing up politics was a bland affair and I was more interested in cartoons anyway. I knew Reagan…… Continue reading LTMD – Politics of the Day – Biden and Trump
Japan Trip – Difficulties
It is 9:45 AM on Sunday July 7th, 2024. I’m on the porch swing on a beautiful Pacifica morning. While the the rest of the West roasts under scorching heat, we enjoy slightly warmer than usual temperatures of 65 to 70. If it is relatively warm in the morning in Pacifica you know you’re in…… Continue reading Japan Trip – Difficulties
4th of July 2024 – Return from Japan
It is 12:56 AM on July 5th, 2024. I returned from Tokyo yesterday after an incredible 14 day trip. It is always sad to leave Japan but I accomplished everything I needed to and left very satisfied. I’ll write more about the trip in a later post. In this post I’ll write about the return…… Continue reading 4th of July 2024 – Return from Japan
Tokyo Trip 2024 – Day 2
It is 10:44 AM and I’m sitting at a Mister Donut near Yanaka Ginza. As usual I woke up very early, got my sento and was out the door. The first stop was Shinjuku to learn the station layout. With my family arriving I want to know where I am going and the station is…… Continue reading Tokyo Trip 2024 – Day 2
Tokyo Trip 2024 – Day 1
It is wonderful to be back in Tokyo again. It was a very long flight but my energy returned once I stepped off the plane. Even though I come here every summer there are always things I forget with the first being if I should take Skyliner or the Keisei line from Narita. Skyliner was…… Continue reading Tokyo Trip 2024 – Day 1