Long time, no see...

Strangely enough (to me, anyway) this slangy phrase is actually one that many Japanese people seem to know quite well and like to use. I think it's kinda cute. So, it's been about a month since I updated this site and maybe just as long since I've communicated with many of you. Here are some more photos from recent adventures and otherwise. Still loving and missing most of you - the rest are prob'ly not bothering to look at this site. It's now 10:40 or something like that in the PM here, so I'm crawling into my futon and going to sleep. Good night!

Two more photos with our friends from the Hakone bluegrass festival that we went to on August 29th. They are a great band!

These next few are transportation photos from a day when Jonathan and I went shopping. This is at Chiba station, about an hour southeast of Tokyo.

This pic and the next one were semi-candid while Jonathan was trying out some undiscovered feature of his camera. But because of how they turned out, Jonathan says they'll be part of the album cover for our band's first record. Rock it!

Cute little shavers with their sleepy mama.

This is a pretty empty train because it's later in the evening. Between about 4pm and 7pm, it is standing room only and BARELY even that.

Watch this clip! It works now. This is a spider I spotted walking back to the station from the shopping mall. It was about two inches or so long with a big, juicy butt/belly area. And, wonder-of-wonders, we actually happened upon it at the very moment it was engaged in spinning its web. Jonathan got a short video clip of it, but I can't upload it here or I don't know how yet. Anyway, it was absolutely beautiful to watch. I was totally enthralled. The web was about two feet in diameter and this little guy kept running around in circles filling in the gaps. Occasionally, he'd pause for a few seconds to rest and then start again. It was incredible.

Fuchimotos invited us back for another dinner and to spend the night. (See other pix below. Mr. Fuchimoto is the retired monk who showed us his samurai moves...) This photo is from right after we arrived at their house and is a typical scene all over Japan. You take your shoes off before entering and then step backward into the house so your shoes will be ready in the right position for when you need to slip them back on as you leave. However, that's more difficult to do when you're worried if you might smack your head against a low doorway. =)

Here we are in their living room. I love how open their home is and how the light comes in from every direction. We are waiting for Jonathan to finish bathing. It is customary when visiting a Japanese home to take a bath before dinner.

Jonathan and the Fuchimotos on the front "porch" of their house. They are a truly lovely couple. We have experienced no END of their hospitality, including things like a small gift for Jonathan to include in a happy birthday package to his sister and a personal "how's it going" letter sent to my house by Mrs. Fuchimoto. Not to mention, of course, the two feasts she has now hosted us at. She also gave me a number of rare and out-of-print stamps from her collection that she has kept over many years. She wanted me to be able to share them with my family and friends when I send letters.

Picking persimmons with Fuchimoto-san from a tree across the road from the Fuchimoto house.

Here I am with their little yapper, Ko-chan. Not much bigger than an ant, this guy. But cute as heck in my opinion. Although Jonathan is still of the old school that such small canines are a sorry excuse for a dog. Sigh...

Yasuko Fuchimoto-san wanted me to try on this Indian sari. Not bad, eh?