I still remember the day the Lj's pointed the Jesthetic girl out to us. While appearing in this billboard to display super powers which she channels through her arm pit, she is actually only using some wonderful Jesthetic product which produces a delightful scent. I wish my Old Spice Anti-perspirant could display such incredible power. Anyway, that's one of many signs we can enjoy while we're hopping around town. However, this super-powered Jesthetic sign inspired me to throw a question out to all of you-if you could create your own super power, with the exception of the super-powered arm pit displayed above (sorry Jon, I know you really had your heart set on that one), what would you create? Just wondering who could create the most interesting one? Get those creative juices flowing.

Here she is folks. This is our new home for the time being. Its two stories, complete with not one, but two, heated toilet seats, a backyard, and a place to park our car. We definitely don't deserve such a place but want to use it for all the good fun stuff we can muster.

The Japanese are big on well-ventilated homes-if you hadn't noticed bye the 10 sliding windows/doors just on these two sides.

Back side-we have to learn to trim the hedges. Its a first for me.

Our yard, a rare possession on our tiny corner of this island.

I don't know why, but I just enjoy this pic. No other reason to put it on here. This is just after we belted out the best Christmas tunes you've ever heard at the Christmas show Mark Hankock, one of the Mito church elders who owns an English school in Mito, orchestrated. He does it every year and the participants are almost all Elementary school kids doing the whole thing in English, their second language. Pretty impressive. Anyway, this is Peter, Denver and I doing our best Abercrombe and Fitch pose at the top of the moat.

Enjoying the fall leaves near the Ibaraki Prefecture Library.

Why I Blog BUT Don't Like Blogging

I spent a little bit of time skimming blogs lately- some news related, some friend's blogs, and some that just kind of fell into my line of sight. I then realized something that I knew but hadn't thought about in a while-blogs are kind of strange. I don't say this as an insult to anyone (obviously not, since I'm currently doing what I'm expressing disdain for). While skimming the blogs I just kept feeling people were unleashing their inner thoughts to an audience they may or may not know. Not directly; not in any way you can see the reaction of the person receiving the message. No, in a much more removed way. I suppose this is an empowering way of connecting for the timid or those who need to vent but can't dot it directly to the source of whatever it is causing frustration or joy or whatever other emotion. The tendency seems to make the blogspot a soap box for whatever.

My proposal is that we just use our real life as the soap box. You know, the real life we live day in and day out. The one where we go to work and hang out with friends and read books and play football and all the other stuff that makes it real. While its a little, or a lot, more risky, its still more authentic. The reactions you get from the thoughts, concerns, displays of emotions or affections are direct and uninhibited.

The blog can be fun and used to communicate-but never should it replace real life communication. Sermons and soap boxes are better spoken than blogged. So whatever it is your needing to get out of that head and heart of yours today, call up your friend or foe and get it done. Don't blog about it. Blog about the stuff that blogging is about: goofy pix, communicating with large far away groups in one swipe of the keyboard, crazy experiences, etc. Don't use it as a way of avoiding the source of some strong emotion directly and referring to it in some passive way on a public domain. Don't demean or deface with it. Build up and bring a smile to someones face. While this is a bit cheesy, its my thought for today. I'll be sure to speak this too. I'm aware of the irony in blogging about that which I think is silly to blog about. However, thought the folks who need to see it would see it here.

Hope you're all well and having good times wherever you are.

Its late here now so I'll say good night until next time. Which, by the way, should bring some pics of the new house and other tid bits from our crazy life here.