Woke Up This Morning in Memphis

Put Your Money (and Teeth) Where Your Mouth Is

2008-08-28T12:00:00.002-05:00

I saw this link on my friend Ben's blog and thought I'd put it up here by way of interest. Maybe the tooth fairy can start doing even more with our teeth than we thought.

Japanese scientists create stem cells from wisdom teeth

A team of scientists in Japan have devised a method of creating stem cells from wisdom teeth that would otherwise have been discarded, enabling them to seek cures to diseases without the controversy inherent in using embryos.

By Julian Ryall in Tokyo
Last Updated: 3:52PM BST 22 Aug 2008

"I hope this will prove to be a major breakthrough," said Dr Hajime Ogushi, from his Osaka laboratory of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.

Dr Ogushi's team was able to extract dental pulp from wisdom teeth removed from a 10-year-old girl three years ago and had been stored in a freezer. From that, stem cells with the ability to develop into replacement human organs or nerves can be grown.

To date, research on stem cells taken from human foetuses has attracted criticism, notably from the Vatican, for destroying human life.

The research has been seeking cures to a range of illnesses, including diabetes and cancer.

"These teeth were extracted three years ago and would have simply been thrown in the rubbish," said. Dr Ogushi. "Skin or bone marrow for this sort of research is quite difficult to obtain but this sort of operation is routine and very straightforward."

The cells were extracted from the wisdom teeth and encouraged to develop for a period of 35 days. Tests then confirmed they were in fact stem cells.

Dr Oguchi added that it is also easy to store the cells and he plans to develop a tissue bank - as long as the funding is forthcoming. He estimates that will take a decade to achieve, but will give future scientists a range of genetic codes that can be matched to a patient to minimise the risk of transplanted organs of tissue being rejected.

Dr Ogushi said that people who have their wisdom teeth removed as youngsters could have them frozen and use them later in life for treatment.

http://www.topix.net/world/japan/2008/08/japanese-scientists-create-stem-cells-from-wisdom-teeth

Tuesdays Are the Worst

2008-08-19T21:34:00.000-05:00

Who said Mondays are bad? Give me a Monday anytime, just let me skip Tuesdays! A day in the life of my kindergarten class:

8:45 Circle time comes to an early close...too many wiggles to sit still.
9:45 Kids dropped off at music class. (Praise the Lord!) Only I discover there is no cream for the much needed cup of coffee, must resort to hot chocolate.
11:35 Tamara spills cup of milk on Ju'Cariun's lunch.
12:00 Demont pees on Myreuntay's left pant leg and shoe. (It is discovered by vice principal that Demont is just trying to be silly and pee sideways...Myreuntay was on the wrong side.)
2:00 Tiffany puts playdough in her ear and it is thoroughly smashed "into the depths".
2:10 All children resting on mats, Mrs. Woods takes a breather and tries to nurse the headache that is TUESDAY.

Can't Sleep, Why Not Blog....for the First Time in Six Months?!

2008-01-25T23:57:00.000-06:00

Sorry to interrupt the complete absence of blogging. However, tonight I couldn't sleep thinking over the last year and half or so since Rachel and I have been back from Japan. When we came back from to Memphis my plan was to pretty much get my degree and get out of town ASAP! I grew up in West Tennessee outside of Memphis. No one who grows up in this area outside of Memphis wants to live here. Its the news stations' default mode to tell our area everything that is wrong in Memphis unless a cat is occasionally pulled down from a tree limb by a good fireman (by far the exception to the rule in news).

However, after a pretty severe bout with doubts in my faith in Japan and deciding I am indeed sold on the Christian faith I decided to come back and finish at Harding Grad School. We began worshipping at Sycamore View where we learned what the kingdom of God is and what that means for our occupations as Christians. This has really molded Rachel into taking a job in a private inner city Memphis school (something we really never dreamed would happen). Through this study I also learned that all those things we had perceived as reasons to leave Memphis were, for Christians, the exact reasons we should stay. Luke's gospel is like the Century 21 pamphlet for Christians. After seeing how many times Jesus ministry is directed toward the sick, oppressed, slaves, poor, risque, and other fringe people it seems that Memphis is just the kind of place Jesus would breaking all kinds of social norms. What better advertisement for figuring out where your home should be as Christians than amongst those broken people Jesus desires(ed) so badly to heal!

Last summer I got the chance to go on two life-altering trips. First was a Holy Lands tour of Egypt, Jordan and Israel (maybe we'll get those Israel pics up someday). There faith and sight intersected in some new ways for me although I still have a long way to go in my formation. Second, and probably one of the most pivotal trips of my life, was a trip to Ghana to the Village of Hope. I had no idea that an unexpected call from Courtney, a White Station youth minister, would lead me to the really amazing point which I now dwell. That trip connected me to some great people I had no idea were in Memphis and also touched me in ways words don't really do service. However, the burden I felt to love on the kids at the orphanage translates well to ministering to the hurting and hopeless students at the University of Memphis. The kingdom of God motif continues to chisel my understanding of ministry.

I can't tell you the whole story but this is one time where I have seen convergence! Things that have played out to bring myself and others to this point is blatant. I usually shy away from this kind of talk but I can't and shouldn't be so timid in this convergence. The confirmation of being in this place at this time is clear. I write this now to remember it and have you remember for me as well lest I need some reminding as the psalmist notes is the case with the Israelites so often. Anyway, I've rambled enough even though I've included so little of the story. God is good and he continues to help me understand the many layers of what 'good' means in a world that doesn't look the kind of 'good' I and especially He wants it to look.

Flashback to May: Part Two

2007-09-29T19:58:00.000-05:00

We ended our adventure in Egypt with a camel ride up to Mt. Sinai and a tour of St. Catherine's Monastery, where incidentally we saw the "Burning Bush" (Exodus 3:2-3) and Moses' sandals. (Just kidding...surely Moses put his shoes back on. He needed them to lead his people out of Egypt.)

This is the Burning Bush inside the monastery.

Part Two began with a ferry ride to Jordan. Once there we met Omar our guide.

We were in Jordan for only one day. So what do you do if you only have 24 hours? You visit the site where Indiana Jones found the Holy Grail of course, Petra!

The main attraction of Petra is the treasury. It's the first "building" seen as you enter the city.

It was quite a walk into Petra. It is nice that there is an easy slope going down to the city, but it made the hike out seem double in length. The colors in the rock are gorgeous. All along the road into the city are carvings. Parts of the original road have been restored, but it didn't mean an easier walk because it was like large scale cobblestones about the size of cinder blocks.

The coliseum: It seated approximately 3000 people.

There were many tombs in the city. Bedouins lived in these up until Petra became a major tourist attraction.
The Roman Road: This part of the road used to have Roman columns all along it.

Other sites in Petra:

Dr. Lewis on his trusty steed.

This was the water system used to get water into the city back in the day. This trench goes all through the city.

Our final destination on the tour was the Promised Land and it definitely lives up to the name.

Flashback to May

2007-08-19T14:49:00.000-05:00

Our summer adventures began early when all the planets aligned to create an alternate universe where Rusty no longer was the recipient of random acts of bad things happening to him. Instead, as many of you know, his name was randomly drawn from a hat to receive the trip of a lifetime to the Holy Lands. And due to the fact that we have been graciously blessed with generous friends and family, I was able to go too, thus effectively preventing any marital discord between myself and Rusty. (Just kidding...kind of. Cut me some slack, he did after all get a second free trip this summer.)

So can you guess which country was our first stop? Can you name the object in the picture below? Can you find Waldo?

Here are some facts about Egypt from various sources:

- The Sphinx was cut from natural rock.

- The lion's body is symbolic of bravery and strength.

- Modern Egyptians don't walk like The Bangles suggest in their video of "Walk Like An Egyptian". I also suspect that ancient Egyptians didn't either.

- The lungs, stomach, liver, and intestines were the organs saved during the mummification process, the heart was left in the body.

- Everyone in the entire world has Egyptian blood in them because... everyone came from Egypt. (source- Haney, our tour guide in Egypt)

- The pyramids were 700 years old before Abraham came along. (source- Dr. Jack Lewis)

- The Nile flows south to north.

In the next installment, we will visit the country of Jordan. But for now, please enjoy a few more pictures from Egypt.

Rusty and Rachel are Separating

2007-07-05T11:21:00.000-05:00

Separating for two and a half weeks that is! I'll be going to Ghana to work at the Village of Hope and some other places. Rachel will be staying in Memphis. This is the longest number of days (by two weeks) we've been apart since getting married more than five years ago! Crazy. So, Rachel can have a much deserved vacation from me :)

The White Station Youth Group has a website for the trip if you'd like to follow along: http://www.wsyginghana.blogspot.com/. I think it will be updated daily depending upon electricity availability. I just met the group I'm going with a couple nights ago and they look like a great group of mini-missionaries. Teenagers have a certain energy that is great to have around so there should be some fun and crazy times ahead!

Here are some random thoughts about the trip:

Africa/Asia. This trip will be good in letting me balance my love for Asia with something else. I must admit I have been less interested in Africa because everyone and their mother in the Harding world talks about it. Not to mention the glaring imbalance of interest in Asia at the moment. So, this will give me a dose of Africa that I wouldn't have chosen otherwise but now am excited about having! While I'm certain this trip won't subtract from my Asian interests, it could give me a broader depth of interest and experience.
Adoption. Rachel and I have already thought about this option along with having our own biological children in the future. I wonder what this will do to my mindset in that regard.
Travel. I've gotten to travel more in the last two months than most have their whole lives. When we left Amsterdam from the Holy Lands trip I didn't expect to be back that way quite so soon. I'm sure my travel fix will be fulfilled by the end of this summer... for a while.

Hope you're all doing well. Grace and peace.

The Village of Hope

2007-06-27T16:27:00.000-05:00

Well, within the span of three or four days it has somehow worked out that I (Rusty) will be going to The Village of Hope in Ghana, West Africa. This trip is not about liesure travel and seeing sights. This is about humanity. It is about co-suffering to the extent possible with people who suffer. I'm a little overwhelmed about the trip, I know it will be demanding and hard. However, this trip puts many things in perspective. I haven't even gone yet and I'm already deeply touched by the web site: http://www.thevillageofhope.com/. It is a place where great light pierces intense darkness; where charity meets poverty; where compassion meets suffering. We need more places like this and through Rachel's interviewing process I'm learning Memphis has some visionary leaders making similar endeavors in our communities. There really are some remarkable people using there resources to do some great good in the world (I somehow missed that fact in my more angstful youth).

I still don't know the history of Village of Hope very well. However, I feel like the women and men who created the place should get a special jewel in their crown. The travel group leaves out on July 6th and returns July 24th. So, Rachel can finally have a vacation from me :)

Well, hope all of you are well. I'll try to keep you updated on the trip.

Quick Update

2007-06-06T15:01:00.000-05:00

Hello readership...we apologize for the sparse blog production as of late. Coming back from Japan in no way diminished the business of life for us. However, pictures from our trip to the Holy Lands will be coming soon. Until then, I'll just leave you with some things of note that I've (Rusty) come across as of late as food for thought:

Met an interesting guy at my friend Greg's wedding named Bret Raymond who is doing community development in Tibet working with wool, sheep farmers and Tibetan rugs. You should check out the business site: http://www.admgllc.com/.

Being in Jerusalem really opened our eyes to some sketchy stuff (which I admittedly don't have my mind fully around yet) regarding the Jews and Palestinians. Whose Land? Whose Promise?: What Christians Are Not Being Told About Israel and the Palestinians is a book a professor of mine recommended. It wrestles with the issue in a way most aren't touching these days: http://www.amazon.com/Whose-Land-Promise-Christians-Palestinians/dp/0829816607/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-2891125-7364842?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181160725&sr=1-1 (disclaimer: I'm no expert here, just trying to process what I saw with my own eyes that our government allows there with further material. I'd be glad to read other things you would recommend on the topic....after grad school, that is.)

Sir Garfield Todd: just an interesting little known discovery. Michael W. Casey just recently published a book regarding Todd called The Rhetoric of Sir Garfield Todd: Christian: Imagination and the Dream of An African Democracy. While I haven't had a chance to paruse the book myself, I recently did research on Todd's life for Dr. Huffard. He is a great discovery for myself and anyone interested in Restoration History or Zimbabwe's history as well as social justice issues regarding the two previous topics. You can find the book here: http://www.amazon.com/Rhetoric-Sir-Garfield-Todd-Imagination/dp/1932792864/ref=sr_1_1/002-2891125-7364842?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1181160951&sr=1-1.

Just Because

2007-05-10T14:40:00.000-05:00

Found this picture while going through some photos from a couple years ago. This was Rachel's first trip to the eye doctor to get glasses in Japan. She is accompanied by our friend Marianne. She and Marianne were asked to wait in the lobby for a while and try out these 'Trekky friendly' lenses. Luckily, she decided to go with some glasses a little less...well, you can use your own adjective.

Love you wife'o mine.

Sarcasm-Chasm

2007-04-08T22:41:00.000-05:00

Rachel recently observed something about myself that I hadn't particularly noticed. I'm becoming less sarcastic these days. I really have had little time for self-reflection on a number of things but this is at the top of the list for furture probing. I suppose Rachel is correct. I have no idea why though. While sarcasm is still a chunk of my persona, other things are moving in and taking up residency. Perhaps this is just leaving mid-twenties and to usher in the late twenties. Perhaps it is simply learning enough to know that I don't know enough to be as cynical as I thought was valid in times past.

Anyway, in the future I plan to probe the idea of 'sarcasm.' I hope it is as soon as this summer. I really want to wrestle with its value. What is its positive and negative effects? How can it be used productively and how can it cause set backs in social, theological, emotional, physical development? I ask because my generation loves sarcasm...but the one after mine seems to love it even moreso. This is not a rant-just an observation from my own personal experience. I want to know the good, bad and ugly for sarcasm. I throw this thought out there in a fairly nebulous way for the readers. What are your thoughts- sarcasm, yay or nay? How is it useful for you? Is it a useful took for you? In what ways? Does it have any unpleasant side-effects in your perception? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Catchy Title

2007-02-24T14:25:00.000-06:00

I've been meditating a lot on various verses lately. I'm not sure I've ever been challenged in the ways our interim preacher has challenged us lately but am thoroughly convinced his material, derived mostly from Luke and Isaiah, is primo, high end, old-fashioned good news stuff. Our slogan at Sycamore View is 'Helping People See Jesus,' taken from a play of the name of the road our building is situated interacting with a story from Luke's gospel about a wee little guy name Zacheus. I feel like Isaiah 58 would be a great sub-slogan (although it wouldn't be very easily placed on a T-shirt, PowerPoint, or street sign). I'd love to see it as a purpose statement for churches or individuals. Its in the context of fasting but I think inserting all kinds of service, or church, could give them greater depth of purpose. Here it is:

6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
13 "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
14 then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Verily, verily, Amen!

9 Years Baby!!!

2007-02-15T19:31:00.000-06:00

Yes, as of February 13th Rachel and I have kind of sort of been together nine years. Nine years ago to that day, I borrowed my friend Josh Allen's clunker of an old car (perhaps a Ford Tempo) to pick up Rachel at Hall-Roland Hall for some dinner at the Five and Diner in Jackson. I had the Phily cheese steak (I know this not b/c I have a great memory, but b/c that's just what I eat at grease pits if they have them). Since then, we've had a ball.

Highlights since then for me have been:

Cooking dinner for Rachel at other friend's homes in undergrad and using butter cups as the floral arrangement b/c the work study check had stretched as far as it possibly could already.
Popping the question in a beautiful ball room of the Peabody hotel!
Sitting on the beach together in Florida, Thailand, and Japan.
Helping orchestrate a beautiful and down right perfect romantic scene to help Damon and Amy get hitched. Just call us Love Doctors.
Books on CD during road trips.
Eating raw horse and other uncooked yumminess together.
Dinner at La Table de Izumi!!!! Oishii so!!!!!
Most recently, News Radio and Cosby Show on lunch break. One is just funny, the other just silly, both are pleasant during lunch with m'lady.

Okay, no more sappiness. Just thought I'd share the milestone. 9 years, crazy. Time to get started on the next 9!

What's Your Name?

2007-02-06T12:06:00.000-06:00

As most of you know Rusty and I have been in the States for almost a year now. While in Japan, we often frequented the downtown Starbucks. Every Sunday morning to be exact and sometimes in between. However, since being repatriated we have only visited a handful of times. (Although I have a sneaking suspicion that I have not been informed of some of the trips to Javaland.)
If you are living in the U.S. then you know that when you walk up to the counter and place your order, they proceed to ask your name and write it on your cup. One assumes this is to limit the amount of misgiven beverages. Well, I don't like to give my name to strangers who then yell it to a random crowd of more strangers. And... I don't have to. So Rusty and I decided to take a stand last weekend at a nearby Starbucks. Yes, that's Kiki and Tomas (long "o" and emphasis on the "mas").

A Saturday Breakfast

2007-02-06T11:26:00.000-06:00

I thought that when we left Japan, that we left natto(fermented soy beans) behind. No love was lost between natto and I in our parting. Imagine my shock and displeasure when it reappeared in our Memphis refrigerator.

Here is Rusty's stinky, stringy, gross to watch someone eat breakfast:

Here is my delicious blueberry cream cheese bagel:

やったああああ！！！　Sweeeeeet!!!

2006-12-18T11:15:00.000-06:00

Okay, some of you know about my almost subconscious worldview presupposition that the world is trying to 'jam me up,' as Caleb H. would so eloquently put it. Well, today I'm renigging on that life approach just a bit. Why, you may ask? Well, today the powers that be dealt me a much undeserved yet appreciated beyond words, literally-I was speechless, hand.

Turns out there is a very generous donor to HUGSR that wanted to pay the way for one student to travel through Israel, Jordan and Egypt for two weeks in May. Students were required to submit a short essay on why they desire to embark on such an adventure. Eight students were chosen as prospective participants on said trip. The second round was really just dumb luck. Those eight names were placed in a basket and one name was drawn as the lucky winner, following that an alternate was drawn. I was drawn as the alternate but through some twist of fate the first student draw was part-time (the requirement was the student must be full-time). Therefore, by one-part endeavoring to win the critical eye of a professor and one-part plain dumb-luck, I got selected to go to a land my life and faith are formed and inspired by all expenses paid. This is really an atypical Rusty occurence. Things like this don't usually happen in my world. So, with this occurence I'm recounting my blessings and just enjoying the honor. Basically, I'm totally stoked and blown away by some unknown person's generosity and just thought I'd share this with all you fine folks!

Now, how can I sneak Rachel into a suitcase...

Schoooool's Out for the Summer!

2006-12-15T21:25:00.000-06:00

No really, it feels like summer in Memphis! It was about 74 degrees today. The great thing about being done with finals is that it's so warm at the moment I spent the day after my last exam playing soccer and Ultimate Frisbee with some friends. Don't know if it's so warm from the unwelcome progress of greenhouse gases or if it's just a freak weather fluke. Whatever the reason, as I ran around the field with shorts and a T-shirt on I wasn't complaining. So, one more semester down and a (undisclosed and yet undetermined number) of semesters to go!!!!

CSI

2006-12-07T14:59:00.000-06:00

The penguins claimed they didn't see anything, but everyone knew Frosty had whacked Santa with his cane.

2006-11-29T13:43:00.000-06:00

I'm so excited! We're almost finished putting up our Christmas decorations!

Late Twenties Are Upon Me

2006-11-15T22:31:00.000-06:00

89 baby!!!

On the eve of my happy 28th, I took a life-span calculation quiz (http://www.livingto100.com/) which must be accurate since it’s on the internet right. I’m slated to live to the ripe old age of 89. Thanks to keeping to two or less cups of coffee daily (at this point the hardest struggle on the list), staying away from the smokes, nursing the runner’s high, and avoiding inheriting anything too terribly life-shortening from my ancestors gone before I’m doing pretty dang good.

Now, I just need to figure out what to do with those other 61 years. Any suggestions?

2006-11-08T21:59:00.000-06:00

Seeing this picture made my day. I hope it does the same for you. You're welcome. -Rachel.

Addendum to Rusty's Highlights (Post Immediately below)

2006-11-05T20:24:00.000-06:00

· This just in, I was just informed by Rachel that we’re a CREST family (yes, we’re talking about toothpaste) and should never stray from our allegiance. Certainly a new highlight in the Woods' home.
· And, Rachel and I both rode a bucking bronco a few weeks ago, being thrown head first onto the ground before us. It was awesome!

This concludes Rusty's Highlights addendum. See below for original list.

Rusty and His Highlights

2006-11-05T18:00:00.000-06:00

Well, time’s been limited to report to the reading base as of late. Tests, short courses, and papers have occupied a great deal of my time. However, just wanted to give you some highlight happenings from the last few months:

· Found a new church home: Sycamore View Church of Christ
· Won first place in the Fall Fest Chili Cookoff (Award included a sweet gift card for Chili’s or any sister restaurant…we’ll be dining at Macaroni Grill)
· Discovered I’m addicted to the ‘runner’s high.’ I’m loving it. Although I’m not as consistent as I’d like I crave that time with my thoughts and my God. Actually thinking of doing a half marathon soon.
· Observed the good side of discipline and have begun to engage it as a friend…although sometimes still a burden (work in progress).
· Began the process of appreciating the mistakes and accomplishments of folks who’ve lived a few, or many, more years than me.
· Following the last highlight, realized I’m only 27 and ONLY see things with 27 years of life experience (although I’m almost 28).
· Figured out koine Greek drools, Hebrew rules.
· Fall leaves have blown me away again! East Memphis is beautiful this time of year. If your reading this, go ahead, leave the computer, go outside and enjoy some nature, then you can come back and read this.
· Digressed, as opposed to progressed, in my Nertz abilities.
· Unexpectedly had reverse culture shock more intensely a month or so ago than I’ve ever had and survived it.
· Tried to find Garana (sp?), that sweet, sweet Brazilian drink I love so much, but just can’t track it down it my fair city.
· Realized Godliness is about the fatherless and the widow, trumping many things I once thought were more important
· Experienced my wife’s super cool new hair-do!
· Ate some good Japanese, Indian, and Mexican!
· Played soccer and volleyball, which are both great.
· Ate some of the worlds biggest pancakes in small town Ohio.

Well, most of these are ordinary but that’s life. The good stuff is in the mundane. There you have the highlights. Hope you’re having some good laughs, good friends, and good times wherever you are.

Addiction

2006-09-24T19:15:00.000-05:00

It's everywhere. It comes in the form of drugs, exercise, Dr. Pepper, and according to a famous song, "You're gonna have to face it you're addicted to love."

So what are we to do? How do we fight our cravings? Well, my solution is not to fight, but to get your own addiction. That's right...I said it. Go with the flow because I have. I'm addicted to makeover shows. Yeah, I can get my fix from Trading Spaces, Clean House, and Extreme Makeover: Home Edition AND People Edition.

However, I soon may be experiencing withdrawal as the Harding powers that be exchange the fabulous enabling cable for fast action DSL. I know lame, right? Well since my source is being ripped away from me I decided to take action. Rusty and I rescued a long lost settee. With the help of my skillful friend Erin our bottoms will enjoy this new addition to our home.
So...if you'll just put on a blindfold...
Before

During

After

I've heard stories about people finding hidden treasure in the old homes they've invested in. We too found our own treasure!

Okay, so not really. But now that I have a hook I'm well on my way to getting some.

Tagged

2006-09-19T09:49:00.000-05:00

I’ve been tagged by Jared. I shall comply to the power of the tag. Although I’m not really sure if you’re supposed to answer on their website or your own. I choose my own as it seems the way others are going about it.

A book that changed my life besides the Bible:
Unfinished Reconciliation (Kenneth Green); The Holy Trinity (Robert Letham)

A book I’ve read more than once:
Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak) [Japanese and English, hours of practice at my desk in Japan]; Momo Tarou [Peach Boy-Japanese fairly tale] (Nakjima Hiroyuki)

A book I would take with me if I were stuck on a desert island:
John’s Gospel

A book that made me laugh:
Alice in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll)
Catch 22 (Joseph Heller)

A book that I wish I had written:
To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)

A book that I wish had never been written:
Harry Potter Book 6…the death of our beloved (character's name withheld as not to ruin the book for those who might not have read it yet or the movie for wimps who only wait for the movie to come out) is more than I could bare yet such is the stuff of great story telling

A book I’ve been meaning to read:
The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
Acts of Faith (Philip Caputo)

I’m currently reading:
The Trivialization of God: The Dangerous Illusion of a Manageable Deity (Donald W. McCullough
Vinegar: Over 400 Various, Versatile & Very Good Uses You’ve Probably Never Thought of (Vicki Lansky)
Eight Million God’s and Demons (Hiroko Sherwin)

The New 'Do

2006-09-14T21:35:00.000-05:00

Well, here are the new hair pics in order of my initial reaction, shock and submission to the do, and finally warm acceptance of the do.

What if You Were Your Own Twin?

2006-08-17T23:32:00.000-05:00

Every now and then you find out some new possibility this world offers that really leaves you speechless. Rachel and I were watching some ABC 20/20-esque program last night about medical abnormalities. In this segment, a woman had given birth to two or three children over the last few years and for some arbitrary and unimportant reason DNA tests were run on both the children and the mom. It was discovered that the DNA from the mother did not match that of the children. It seemed that there was foul play afoot. Perhaps the mom had stolen children or perhaps had an illegal surrogate mom business going on the side. The courts threatened to remove the children from her custody. However, after some serious medical detective work, it was discovered that mom had at one time, very soon after her own parents conceived her, been one of two twins. The abnormality is that one of the twins was actually absorbed into the other, mixing the DNA of the individual twins!

This means that her twin's DNA is literally existing inside herself and that in some way she is her own twin!!! This means that certain bodily organs are from her original DNA and others are from that of her twins and thus explains the DNA issue with her children. Such a condition is known in slang medical terms as chimera. I'm not really shocked about most things I hear in the world but I must admit this bit of news took me off my game for a moment. Anyway, the case of the mismatched DNA was solved, the mothers were cleared off all speculation and life was back to as close to normal as possible after hearing such uncanny news. Just thought you might enjoy this tid bit. I once again stand in awe of the creative process.

PS. For more information, see: http:www.m-w.com/dictionary/chimera

いいおもいでね！！！/ Good Memories!!!

2006-08-08T10:07:00.000-05:00

While rummaging through some stuff from Japan, I found a list of things Caleb (Holsey) graciously copied for me. So, many thanks for the cheer up during paper writing week. I share a few from a long list in hopes of cheering up other current/ex-AET types who need something to laugh about these days. Without further ado:

You might be an AET...

If your indoor shoes at one school are your outdoor shoes at another.
If you say 'hello' more than 200 times a day.
If you've ever gone to K's Denki with no intention to purchase anything, just to sit in the massagine chairs.
If you have ever pretended not to understand Japanese to avoid explaining an awkward subject.
If you've ever taken a nap while sitting on your school's 'western' toilet (for sake of sempai, not encouraging this behavior:) .
If you have a teacher you still call 'sensei' becasue you honestly don't know her name.
If you have ever told a bad kid exactly what you think of him in fast English with a big smile on your face.
If you have ever carried on an hour long conversation via C-mail...
If you have a set path that you walk through every corridor in your school from 4:30-5:00. (I started on the third floor and worked out to the tennis courts.)
If you think 'Ne?!' is a complete sentence in Japanese. (Still using that in my head.)
If you've ever answered the question "How are you?" with "I'm super!"
If you've ever ordered at a restaurant without using words.

Hope that brightens your day. Now, back to the books...

An Oklahoma Wedding

2006-07-24T13:35:00.000-05:00

Rusty, Damon & Greg a.k.a. Cart Supervisor, Groom & Justice of the Peace

Practicing for their futures as male models OR pointing to something stuck on the ceiling. You be the judge.

Beautiful.

Who are these gorgeous people?!

2006-07-24T12:32:00.000-05:00

Well...who knew that while Rusty and I were making a respectable living in Japan, my Mom went all rocker. No, she doesn't sit on her rocker. She punked herself out! Needless to say we had to give her a good talkin' to and she was grounded from her Harley for a week. I just hope that she has learned her lesson. So I'm publishing this post for the benefit of all those children out there whose mothers are on the edge. Don't let this happen to you.

On the Eternal Burrito

2006-05-31T16:15:00.000-05:00

I (Rusty) must admit I had a moment of weakness just over three weeks ago. This event happening over three weeks ago, alone, makes this entry all the more unnerving. Rachel and I were making the long trek up from Tennessee to Indiana to visit some family there before heading over to Ohio to finish up our summer-o-visitation. We stopped in at a gas station just outside Evansville, Indiana to get some lunch for the road. I saw the ham and cheese burritos setting out and, in a moment of reminisence about the great 7/11 burritos in Japan, grabbed one.

I must admit that I only had one or two of them in Japan but connect the thought of them with good friends in Japan who seemed to be sustained by them when they were single. I've tried to be much more health concious lately so I've tried to vere from such microwavable heart attacks as of late. However, as stated for reasons earlier, I grabbed the nearest one and headed to the car. I ate about six bites before I began to worry about my own demise from the greasy-fat content I read on the nutritional information included on the packaging. I then stuck it in the bag and during the rest of our traveling managed to forget that I stuck the bag in the glove compartment at some point. Well, we left Indiana after a day and headed up to Ohio where, almost upon arrival, our car was placed in a body shop because a truck backed into it and it took a while to finish all the repairs. Anyway, today, about three weeks after enjoying the six bites of the gas station burrito, we got a car back from the body shop. Rachel was exploring the car and found the burrito in the glove compartment.

Here is the kicker, the burrito looks almost brand new!!! No mold! No degeneration of any kind. I'm not sure if I accidentaly grabbed the wax display burrito for the shop but somehow I doubt that's the case. Anyway, that was quite a shock. However, if this burrito will last forever, and 'you are what you eat,' then perhaps I should buy the whole box. Or, maybe I should find out what miraculous chemicals they treated these eternal burritos with and just inject it directly into my veins to live long and prosper.

Please Stay Tuned...We're Experiencing Technical Difficulty

2006-05-16T11:51:00.000-05:00

Friends and Fam,

Many of you have been asking for some updates and new bloggage. While we never want to dissapoint our viewing audience, we must ask you to bear with us as we transition from a life in Mito to a life in Memphis. Blogging, and internet in general are not quite as easy as the days of Yahoo Broad Band (BB). However, we'll be back on the air shortly with more updates on a good 5-10% of our lives we share on the public domain. Until then, if you have any catchy titles for our blog to sum up our new life in Memphis, shoot them our way! TTFN! BFF! TGIF! LYLAS/B!

P.S. For those interested, after a long and strenuous bout with allergies (I forgot how wicked they were this time of year for me in the States) and moving, I believe the 06-Pack challenge is up and running again:)!

Raw Hide!!! ...Nope, Raw Horse!!!

2006-03-24T03:02:00.000-06:00

Well, part of saying goodbye in Japanese culture is the Sayonara Enkai, or Goodbye Party. Rachel's teachers threw her a great one and asked that we come as a couple. The restaraunt was really cool, a marriage of modern and traditonal Japanese, with some great food and fun. Part of the dining experience included a first for us... horse sashimi. That's right, raw, uncooked horse meat. It was surprisingly good and tender, so, if you can't find Mr. Ed...

Anyway, tons of fun had by all and a great way to say goodbye to Rachel's great English teaching partners.

メガネがきれいですね!!! でも、レイチェルさんはもっときれいですね。

2006-03-24T02:48:00.000-06:00

That's right. My wife has glasses!!! I suppose it only made a good thing better (a very loose translation of the Japanese title.) Anyway, after realizing it just wasn't kosher to wonder what those fun, brightly colored shapes with scribbly-doodles that are always on the side of the road (i.e. street signs) really looked like, she decided to take the plunge and got her some hip new glasses to accentuate an already stunning profile (man I'm scoring big browny points with this one). Anyway, just thought we'd prep folks back home for the new Rachel.

ぼくたちは二しゅ間のあとにアメリカにかえります。　(We're Returning to the States in Two Weeks.)

2006-03-24T02:29:00.000-06:00

Well, the Ume (plum) blossoms are blooming and the Sakura (cherry) blossoms are hinting that they will arrive shortly. Spring in Japan is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen on God’s vast creation. Like no other place, the flowers and trees here in spring really give a sense of new beginnings and refreshing. I suppose this is a good parallel for Rachel and I. Time has come for us to make changes. Perhaps Japan has been a time of incubation for whatever God is preparing us for. I wonder what that will be. Perhaps it won’t be a blooming quite as beautiful as the cherry blossoms, in fact I am certain our lives can’t match that kind of grandeur this side of heaven. However, we are in the process of new beginnings as we return to the States for whatever God is preparing us to do. Please keep us in prayer as we do all the things we need to before we head back as well as facing whatever lies ahead of us in the States.

Evil-Doers Beware!!!

2006-02-07T06:53:00.000-06:00

Every now and then when teachers are thinking they just aren’t getting through, their best efforts are being wasted on the swirl of hyper-changes and gusts of emotional whirlwinds that is the junior high school student, a tiny ray of light will shine through to illuminate the true impact they truly have on children. One of those rays recently beamed down on me from two ninth graders.

We were doing a textbook class on Rachel Carson and her research on the danger of farm chemicals. I know, yawn right? Who even knows much about this champion of the environment in the States much less junior high kids on the far side of the world from Carson’s hometown. Anyway, the key vocabulary word was “dangerous.” Of course, the class seemed as exciting as, well, fill in the blank with a highly boring and nap-inducing activity. Anyway, eyes were glazed, heads were on desks, and those who weren't sleeping found teenage topics to keep them entertained so the “Shizuka nishite’s” and “Hana shinai’s” (loosely, I mean really, loosely translated, “For the love of all that’s good, please stop talking kids.”) were flying every five minutes or so. So, you assume no one got anything out of the class of course.

Well, after class, two bright beams of light came up to talk to me. They said they had decided to give me a nickname. They even made it in English. It was directly after what I thought was an abysmal failure of a mandatory text book lesson, too. So I was bestowed the name “DangerRusty”. That’s right ‘Dangerous’+’Rusty’. Brilliant! Why had I never thought of it myself? What a great codename!! Anyway, I will now wear this new name with pride and dignity. Not because it is necessarily completely descriptive of my personality (although I hope more so now that I sport the name in various adventurous situations). I proudly don the title because it meant my work got through. They were listening through the façade of teen flippantness. Not only could the kids get the meaning, they made it their tool in creating new thoughts. That’s a teacher’s dream.

So now, if you need a helping hand, if danger has surrounded you, just call up your friendly neighborhood ‘DangerRusty’ and I’ll be there.

Memoir of an Umbrella

2006-01-14T07:26:00.000-06:00

Thursday, January 12, 2006

I (Rachel) just wanted to write down a memory from my first year.

It was the first month of my employment. School had begun and we had hit a bit of a rainy spell. Rusty and I didn’t have a car yet so I was still riding the bus to school. Well, the bus stops that I used were not close to our apartment or my school, so I had a bit of a walk in the mornings and evenings. Naturally, I bought an umbrella. It was my first cutesy umbrella. I never did much walking in rainy weather in the States so I always had a plain, compactible, one. Nothing cute or fancy about it. But in Japan, most people use the full size umbrella. Stores even provide long, slender plastic bags to put your umbrellas in, in order to save on the puddle and squeaky shoe factor on rainy days. So… I made an investment into a light blue color accented with a dragon fly pattern for my new umbrella. I was very protective of it and since I had paid $3.00 for it could you blame me?

Well as you can guess one day it rained. So, I grabbed my umbrella and went. At school I gracefully placed it into the umbrella holder in the entrance of the school, and promptly began my work day. As I got ready to leave school that afternoon I had happy thoughts of walking in the rain with my cute umbrella. As I walked to the umbrella stands I didn’t immediately see mine. But didnn’t worry as there was a plethera of umbrellas. However, as I begain searching for it, the horror of the truth took hold. Someone had stolen my umbrella! I was crushed and shocked that someone would do such a cruel thing to me, a newcomer at school, a foreigner in a strange land, and a person who has never stolen. Then I got angry. I marched back into the teacher’s room and declared that my umbrella was missing and someone had taken it. The teachers could clearly see that I was distraught, so being the kind and helpful people they are, some began to help me search. They asked for a description and the location of the last sighting. I told them and we searched. And you know what happened? I went home with a dumpy brown umbrella. One I didn’t even know. A stranger if you will.

The next day at school an investigation was in full swing. Our school’s handyman asked again for a full description of my precious umbrella. As I told him, like a police sketch artist, he drew my umbrella. The picture came to life! I thought he had drawn it for his own search. After all, I was beginning to realize, that I wasn’t as attached as I thought to my umbrella. I could find a new one. But I thought it was nice of him to keep an eye out for it.

Later that day I went to a class. While looking around the classroom I noticed a missing poster on the board. Then I realized it was a missing poster for my umbrella! As I went to other classes that day I saw the same poster in every one of them…much to my embarassment.

As I returned to the teacher’s room after my last class I thought about how silly I had been. Then to my further embarassment and humbling lesson a sweet teacher came up to me to explain that she had taken my umbrella home with her. And that she would promptly return it the next day. I thanked her as graciously as my dumb founded thoughts would allow as she apologized repeatidly.

Of course the next day she brought the umbrella with more apologies. However the joy and satisfaction of having my umbrella didn’t come. Instead embarassment of my attitude toward the incident replaced it.

The following days in the different classrooms were spent taking down the missing posters. Of course, a few days later, it rained again. So I grabbed my umbrella and was on my way. I once again placed it in the stand and went about my day. While leaving that afternoon, I discovered that once again my umbrella was missing. It just doesn’t pay to have a cute umbrella. I never saw it again.

Doxology

2006-01-07T03:48:00.000-06:00

This afternoon I was driving home from Hitachi Naka, a town about twenty minutes from home. I was alone in the car on the expressway. It was one of those rare occasions when the beauty of creation overwhelmed me. In Japan it sometimes feels like the sky is only a few feet above and could swoop down and touch you at any moment. This was one of those times while driving on a road raised high up over rice fields and farmer’s simple homes. During my drive I could see the half-moon and sun blazing their ways across the sky simultaneously. I saw pink, purple and violet rays from the sun beams playing with the fluffy white clouds lazily floating in the not so distant sky. For just a moment I could get a glimpse of what the glory of creation must have been like before the fall. Maybe my sense of nature was heightened by spending the last two weeks under the dreary, grey skies of China. Whatever it was that made me catch this moment of grandeur in God’s authorship, I couldn’t help but well up with praise beyond words. I searched my mind for the right words to express my thoughts and feelings and just couldn’t find one that did justice the outflow of praise I sought to give the Creator. Two came to mind that brushed the surface of my intended expression. I leave you with one: “From the rising of the sun, to the going down of the same, the name of the Lord shall be praised!” Just wanted to share this glimpse of magnificince and glory with my friends and family. For a while this kind of praise has been a stranger to me. In simpler times I enjoyed this kind of uninhibited adoration more often. In the few older years I have experienced, my life has been a battle to keep that kind of untainted and unrestrained reverence for the Creator and King of all life. Today I got a little of that back and couldn’t help but share. God is good. His works are beyond description. Praise Him for all He has, is, and will do for the good of all who love and seek Him!!!

Rusty

Pay It Forward をしましょう!!!

2005-10-26T08:37:00.000-05:00

Okay, this has been in the back of my head and the bottom of my heart for a while now. Actually, just last week at cell group we talked about how we usually say how much we love and respect and will miss those we love only at the big 'goodbye parties' when AETs and other friends here leave and how it was sad and silly to save such great words for such great people for only that time. Why keep people waiting? So, I'm going to try and do something very un-Rusty like and put my emotional foot forward. So, here are a few things I'd usually reserve for the mushy-gushy goodbye nights at Mito church when we all end up in tears and swaying with arms around each other singing 'Kumbayah' or another of the 'doozies'. So here goes...

Rachel: I'm not sure what life would be like without you but I pray I never have to know. My greatest joy on Earth is knowing I can wake up next to you and end the day with you. No one makes me laugh or love life more than you.

Lj's: The most lovingly trash talking couple I've ever known. While Rachel and I can lovingly trash talk each other pretty dang well, we just haven't mastered the New York/'frickin' Boston attitude the way you guys have. Thanks for making here home for us.

Greg Sama: Dude, laughs, trips to Sendai, laughs, karaoke, laughs, good theolgical discourse, and laughs.

Marianne Sempai: Jolly good times with ya. No one can rock the 'I'm about to break' like you. Otsukare sama for all the work and good times.

'DAmy': Love having you guys around (2 times no less). Thanks for being wicked good easy-going travel buddies. Thanks for the friendship.

Pappaw (C. Rosser) and Heather: Of course, we never thank you guys enough. However, thanks for all the work behind the scenes and on the front lines.

Ranums: Servant hearts and sweet Chu Gakko CDs.

Gavin and Lindsey: You guys keep us laughing. I'm so glad you guys are here to keep thing light-hearted.

Baarrrrnechiiiie's!!! (Barneche): You guys are Godly and it shows. Thanks for the refreshing spirit and good times you bring to the table.

Arianne: You're not here at present but were part of the Fab Four that started together. We miss you and can't wait to hook up with you again so the good times with our Aussie bud can roll once more. Also, introducing us to Tim Tams solidified your place as one our favorite people in the world.

Chan's: Thanks for the passion you guys bring to our group. Its contagious and refreshing.

Huddleston's: You've been guides and pillars to pretty much everyone in Mito. Japan has been blessed by your service and so have I.

Denver: My favorite color blind friend. Just good hearted and looks great in purple.

Peter: Although my Engish abilities are failing at a rapid pace, its good to have your mind to bounce things off of.

Okay, this list is not exhaustive at all. And it is only limited to folks in Mito, Japan at present but certainly doesn't contain even all the folks here I'd like to reference. However, its 11:00 at night and I'm sleepy. So, I'll write more another time. But, if you've seen Pay it Forward, I'd like to give out the same challenge in a sense. Don't wait for some special 'goodbye' time to tell people the ways you love and appreciate them. Go ahead and do that now. Carpe some Diem. Tomorrow may or may not be there. Go ahead and get it done. Who knows who needs to hear something good today? As the great philosophers 'The Black Eyed Peas' once asked 'Where is the Love?' I suppose the answer is within the person who hasn't expressed it yet. So, that's your challenge.

Okay, I'm off to slumber land. Nighty night.

Rusty

Ch-ch-ch-changes

2005-09-19T05:19:00.000-05:00

Mom and dad, bet you never thought you'd see this. Over summer vacation I decided to change things up a bit. I stopped shaving for a month. I must tell you there is no freedom quite like the 15 extra bits of free time I gained every two to three days in the morning by not frantically looking for a new Mach 3 blade of considering just how many quarts of blood I'd lose by using an old one. My kids at school also greeted me with cheers and dubbed me "Wild-o" or "Rusty Sensei is very Wild-o!!!" It was fun for about a week and then was just hot. Here is the transformation.

The mustache is my personal fave.

Rachel's Entry (hajimete)

2005-09-14T07:32:00.000-05:00

School lunch. Omoshiroi (interesting) times. Today I walked into the big conference room to help serve lunch. A debate was in progress between the school secretary, nutritionist, and handy-man. "Do you think Rachel wants seaweed on top of her spaghetti?." "Maybe not. Maybe yes." "Rachel, do you want seaweed? Yes, no?" Me: (About a ten second pause.) "Onegaishimasu (yes please/ sure/ sounds tasty)." Handy-man, "Oh great!" Secretary, "Okay, but only a little." So, my secretary proceeds to put 5 pieces of shredded seaweed on top of my bowl of spaghetti. Eventually I sat down to discover this was no ordinary spaghetti. It was squid spaghetti with fish eggs. Normally I would have been a bit taken aback. However, two months into my job at school, I experienced this same lunch. That time the shock of it went straight to my core. Not wanting to offend, I did the only thing I could. I pretended the fish eggs were parmesan cheese and ate around the squid. This time however, I not only didn't flinch at the sight, but I dug in and didn't have to pretend the parmesan into existence. The fish eggs sufficed.
On top of the excellent menu selection, the ambiance was set with the addition of a musical masterpiece. As I began eating my meal the song request of Ni nen Ni kumi (eighth grade class 2) began and the falsetto of a man's voice echoed through the loud speaker. "Mailahee, Mailahu, Mailaha, Mailahaha...hallo, salute..."
Ah...lunch at a Japanese Junior High School...does it get any better?
http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/206373
click on watch movie (Numa Numa Dance with subtitles recommended)

Living Around

2005-08-17T02:30:00.000-05:00

Mito AETs often find themselves longing for their homeland, be it the US, Australia, or Canada. Not that most don’t enjoy Mito and their Japanese experience. Sometimes we just dream of all the possibilities of places to live if or when we settle back in our country of origin. Mine is the US and recently Rachel and I discovered this nifty website that lends itself to dreaming about places to call home. It is called Find Your Spot (www.findyourspot.com). You take a 20 minute questionairre and answer questions about your personal interests and hobbies, regional and geographic interests, religious preferences, economic ability, etc. and in return get a list of 20-something cities and towns that might be of interest. Anyway, here it is. Use it for light-hearted discussion or real life planning.

I have included my (Rusty) top 10. Some were surprising and some were expected.

1. Salt Lake City, Utah (Never saw it coming but glad I could learn more about the place)
2. Denver, Colorado (Hoped this one would make the list-but maybe a bit chilly for my taste)
3. Norfolk, Virginia (About the size of Memphis but trades the muddy banks of the Mississippi for the sandy beaches of the Atlantic-a great new discovery-who’s with me?)
4. Ogden, Utah (I just can’t get past the word ‘Utah’)
5. Fort Collins, Colorado
6. Phoenix, Arizona (Could be fun but dag-nasty hot)
7. Provo-Orem, Utah (Dude, what’s up with all this Utah?)
8. Chesapeake-Virginia Beach, Virginia (Definitely a top choice)
9. Carlisle, Pennsylvania
10.Charlotte, North Carolina (Worth looking into-not too big or small with stuff to do)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blooded Prince Discussion

2005-07-22T21:44:00.000-05:00

Just finished reading the sixth installment of the Harry Potter books. I refused to go to sleep until I got it done. Anyway, I just wanted to throw a question out there for discussion. Which Harry Potter book do you think is the best? Why?

My own resolve lies with book 5. I think the story is the most developed and layered with character development. I also have to admit that the more difficult life gets for Harry, the more the story captivates me. Book 5 definitely doesn't hold back in life lessons and difficulty for Harry. I think also at this point we are all interested to see what the characters will be fleshed out as in the movies. This book has set the stage for the most interesting cinematic possibilities. Okay, friends, what do you think? Book 1-6? What's the best Ms. Rowling has produced?

2005-07-22T21:28:00.000-05:00

Rachel got to go to Tokyo Disney with her 7th graders. How can you not smile at the happiest place on Earth.

2005-07-22T21:20:00.000-05:00

So last Saturday night Rachel, Greg, Arianne and I went to this park in Kunita (way out in the sticks around Mito) to this park with an ancient Roman-esque courtyard area. We prepared the place for Damon to bring his unsuspecting girlfriend Amy to pop the big question. Within 30 minutes of starting, we transformed the place into quite possibly the most romantic place on Earth. We then quickly ran off and hid in the park to give time for Damon to bring Amy there after dinner and sweep Amy off her feet. After their mushy-gushy time was up and the proposal was accepted, they gave us a call on my cell phone telling us to join them for a toast to celebrate. Congratulations guys. I guess no one can resist a down-home boy from Wyoming.

2005-07-22T21:13:00.000-05:00

We lit about 300 candles all around the place to set the mood. I must say we did an excellent job.

2005-07-22T21:12:00.000-05:00

Rachel's 3rd graders at the Forum- Yuki and Mutsumi.

2005-07-22T21:11:00.000-05:00

Rachel with her 7th graders at the Forum: Kyonson and Keiko. Keiko place in the top 10 for this round and goes on to the next level in a couple of weeks.

2005-07-22T21:07:00.000-05:00

This is my crew for this years first level of the Interactive English Forum. From left to right: Saki, Aya, Kotoha, Takafumi and Kan. Five great kids who have excellent English ability. Good job and Omedetou!!!

2005-07-22T21:04:00.000-05:00

On the 5 Yen coin in Japan is wheat bowing. When Japanese wheat has grown to maturity it bows to the ground. This is a sign to the Japanese that the higher you become the more you should bow yourself in respect and service to others. Good idea for all I suppose.

2005-07-22T21:01:00.000-05:00

One of the great things about spring and summer here is watching the rice grow. Its really just beautiful and a lush green all the time. Our little suburb is surounded by fields that stretch to the coast.

2005-07-22T20:59:00.000-05:00

This is Satomi Fukuya, one of my EBC (English Bible Class) students who decided after about a year of study she wanted to become a Christian. Welcome to the family. The guy to the right is Yuki Obata, our preacher. He baptized her about a month ago. Thanks to all who were encouraging and a teacher to her and her family.

2005-07-22T20:55:00.000-05:00

This hopsital has a traditional celebratory fish for the happy new parents. Probably the most interesting way to celebrate new life I've seen in a while. Eat up Kari.

Nice to Meet You Stone.

2005-07-22T20:54:00.000-05:00

Welcome to our world Stone Littlejohn. This is our good friend's first child here in Japan. Omedetou!!!!

2005-07-22T20:52:00.000-05:00

Front view.

2005-07-22T20:51:00.000-05:00

Japanese Junior High classroom.

2005-07-22T20:50:00.001-05:00

Another one.

2005-07-22T20:50:00.000-05:00

These are taken at a play area at Hitachi Sea Side Park. They are just interesting to look at for me.

2005-07-22T20:45:00.000-05:00

Here is another shot. The cacti in the bottom right corner are my idea. Everything else is all Rachel's stroke of brilliance.

2005-07-22T20:42:00.000-05:00

Rachel has gone flower crazy. I had no idea she had the green thumb until this spring. What started off as a mild flower growth project above our kitchen sink has turned into a a kudzu(sp?)-like over taking of our window and sink area. They really are pretty beautiful though.

2005-07-22T20:39:00.000-05:00

A truly Japanese culrural phenomenon. The 'kancho'. Our students, especially in their younger hears (kindergarten, elementary schools) take great delight in this, the greatest expression of adolescent jest. The credit card swipe, while always humurous, pales in comparison. I have often tried to verbally paint a picture of the 'kancho' but fortunately a picture is worth a thousand words.

2005-07-22T20:35:00.000-05:00

Getting the welcome baskets ready for the Newbie Nami (wave of new AETs). Great to have you here.

2005-07-22T20:32:00.000-05:00

Our fearless leaders last walk from Soken as sempai. Natsukashii omoide!

2005-07-22T20:29:00.000-05:00

This is an incredible memory quilt made for our sempai (leaders) Lj and Kari. School shoes, uniforms, lunch, tests, AETs. What a life. Otsukaresama deshita Lj sama.

2005-07-22T20:22:00.000-05:00

Holly and I scrubbed in to serve up the grub for our departing friends. This is the typical attire for students serving lunch. There are no lunch ladies serving food at the schools. The students have that responsibility.

2005-07-22T20:18:00.000-05:00

Often, our wits are challenged to unearth the meaning of the vague Jenglish we encouter. Jessica stayed consistent while building on the 'Let's Eat Runch' theme.

2005-07-22T20:13:00.000-05:00

Okay, at the very end of last semester we had a crazy fun send off party at our place for some AET buds of ours. The theme was a last school lunch-or as Jessica so eloquently entitled it: 'Last School Runch'.

2005-07-22T20:09:00.000-05:00

Okay, I'll be the first to admit this blog has been somewhat neglected over the last few months. The Woods family in Mito has weathered many storms since our last post with the Jesthetic Super Powered Arm Pit Lady: an insane amount of new AETs (love you guys though) hopping off the bus April 1st, many changes in the format of our teaching schedules at our school(s), as well as changes at Mito church. However, that just means there are more adventures coming at us more rapidly. Anyway, with out further ado, Blog O Shimashoo (Let's get blogging!!!). This is from a Mito Hollyhock soccer game I (Rusty) went to recently. Not exactly my motto for life, but enough to get me pumped for our team-no matter how lousy they perform on the field. Thanks to 'Den-ba' for the ticket hook up.

2005-02-21T06:56:00.000-06:00

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.

2005-02-21T06:41:00.000-06:00

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.

2005-02-21T06:37:00.000-06:00

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

2005-02-21T06:35:00.000-06:00

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

2005-02-21T06:34:00.000-06:00

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

2005-02-21T06:25:00.000-06:00

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.

2005-02-21T06:21:00.000-06:00

Enjoying the fall leaves near the Ibaraki Prefecture Library.

Why I Blog BUT Don't Like Blogging

2005-02-12T08:27:00.000-06:00

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.

10 Things I Love About You

2004-12-27T01:18:00.000-06:00

At the end of this year its good to look back and think about all the things that have enhanced the quality of our experience here. Here's a top 10:

10. El Torito Salsa and Chips/Outrageous Chimichanga. いきましょう。
9. Sunday Morning at Starbucks.
8. Walking into a smiling 一年生　(7th grade) class and team teaching with my crazy co-teacher, Tsuda Sensei. Good laughs and good education. Also, enduring the ever-wicked 二年生　(8th grade) classes with my very hip team-teacher, Matsuda Sensei. Always a challeng and adventure.
7. Sitting under the kotatsu table (Japanese-style table with a heater underneath and blanket around the sides) and vegging after a long day of work.
6. Singing あああああああああめん ('Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamen') at the end of every song at church.
5. Thinking a class at school is going to bomb and being pleasantly surprised when it goes great, students had a good laugh, and got something out of it.
4. Karaoke. Who knew the Woods could rock the mike? Well, okay, we can belt out a mean 'Islands in the Streams'. Does that count as rocking the mike? Thoughts? Comments? Actually, Karaoke is really Rachel's time to shine.
3. When something clicks when I'm listening to Japanese. Our job makes it fairly difficult, teetering on impossible, to learn a great amount of Japanese. But there are a few moments when something clicks and I'm that much further along. Baby steps, baby steps.
2. EBC when something clicks in my students mind/heart. They seem to be more one in the same in Japan. Sunday can be a long day here with church and then EBC, but once a student gets some new fact that can potentialy change their lives, it let's me know something bigger than me is happening in the world and the long hours don't seems as long anymore.
1. Just knowing that we are at this point in our life where we've made so many friends in so many places and have so many possibilities to entertain. We're pretty freakin' lucky and blessed to be this young and have had so many incredible experiences with all the great people we've crossed paths with. Life is never perfect in the way we'd like but we're being perfected by this imperfect life. Working/living here is tough sometimes but when we stop to catch a breath (which is admittedly rare) we realize we don't have much to complain about. Good friends, good students, good church, good God, good times!!!

2004-12-26T08:41:00.000-06:00

Okay, hands down, this is the best holiday in Mito for the AETs and other foreigners associated with the Mito church. Football, food, fellowship all wrapped up into one day. Totally a day to be thankful.

2004-12-26T08:39:00.000-06:00

If you know Greg-but don't get this joke-trust me, its worth an email to him to find out the punch line.

2004-12-26T08:37:00.000-06:00

The food is totally worth the wait. No sushi, no natto, no sashimi, maybe not even any rice in sight. Is this really in Japan? This beautiful spread was devoured in no-time flat.

2004-12-26T08:35:00.000-06:00

The second floor of Mito church was miraculously transformed into a haven for turkey and talking all afternoon with friends/family. This is probably my favorite day of the whole year in Mito.

2004-12-26T08:31:00.000-06:00

Mark...well, just being Mark. He did the honors and carved one of the turkeys this year.

2004-12-26T08:28:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving started off as it should-with a wicked game of flag football at Kairakuen Park. The game took place in the very beautiful (and possibly my favorite place in Mito) Kairakuen Park. Both teams were evenly matched up by the very efficient Japanese decision making mechanism: Janken. This is the Japanese version of Rock-Paper-Scissors. People janken to make all sorts of decisions from kindergarten on up to adults. Anyway, the game was a great battle royal and turned out a tie by the end. All felt good about the results and raced home to change and get to the church building for a Thanksgiving feast that makes my mouth water just writing about it.

2004-12-26T08:23:00.001-06:00

The theme for this years AET Halloween party was 'Soup-er Stars.' Of course, the goal for this event is to dress up like a movie, music, or other kind of star. However, Rachel and I decided to stray from the formula a smidge and go as the time-honored arch-nemesis of the 'stars': Paparazzi.

2004-12-26T08:23:00.000-06:00

I don't know why, but everytime I see this picture I just laugh really hard. Paparazzi-Rachel is getting a taste of her own medicine.

2004-12-26T08:14:00.000-06:00

The painstakingly necessary group photo. This group can't escape them. Like many things in life, they are very painful while experiencing them but usually produce a good memory.

2004-09-08T08:16:00.000-05:00

Here is a pic of our greeter-'Totoro'. I'm convinced he'd give American children nightmares and I still haven't figured out his charm for the Japanese kids. Nonetheless, he is the pride and joy of Ghibli Studio.

2004-09-08T07:59:00.000-05:00

Okay, sorry the pics have been slow in coming lately. These pics are from Ghibli Studios. We went there a couple of weeks ago with the Sasaki family, Ami, and Miho. Here, we are posing with a robot on the roof of the studio with from Raputa ('I think in English its Castle in the Sky'). Afterwards, we ended our day in Tokyo with a stroll through Ginza and a sweet, sweet meal at TGI Fridays.

2004-08-22T08:42:00.000-05:00

A couple of weekends ago some of us took a trip to 高萩 (Takahagi) and explored some of the coastal area. We found some pretty cool caves and scenery.

2004-08-22T08:37:00.000-05:00

We went hiking along the cliffs. The path went along some pretty steep drops at times.

2004-08-22T08:35:00.000-05:00

The fireworks lasted about two hours and were pretty impressive. This show was held in Kairakuen Park in Mito. Its actually the third most beautiful park in Japan. This was part of the Mito Komon Festival. Mito Komon was the founding father of Mito City.

2004-08-22T08:32:00.000-05:00

There were vendors set up all around Kairakuen Park for the fireworks. I can't remember what all was on this food stand but I think there was some wicked looking squid in the mix.

2004-08-22T08:23:00.000-05:00

We had a really big festival in Mito recently. These girls are decked for the occasion in their traditional clothes called yukatas. These are some really nice elementary school girls we met on the sidewalk right outside our apartment. They weren't camera shy.

2004-08-22T08:21:00.000-05:00

Our fearless sempai (older leader type), Lj, tells us how to be super-AETs. This week has been full of training for new AETs that just arrived as well as a refresher course for the rest of us. Its been good to see how new AETs react to the culture to remind us of how much we learned about living in Japan. Its also been good to hear from other AETs who have been here a few years longer than us to realize how much more there is to learn.

2004-08-22T08:12:00.000-05:00

Working hard to train the new AET in the group (Can you guess which one is the new 'guy'?).

2004-08-03T07:29:00.000-05:00

This picture is actually a little more descriptive of our group persona. This is how we survived the wicked stressful days or the turbulent cultural immersion-a good laugh with an Aussie and an Okie.

2004-08-03T07:26:00.000-05:00

As of the close of July 31st, this group of four (Amy, Arianne, Rachel and Rusty) have lived in Japan for a year. We had to say goodbye to Amy but we're sure we'll bump into her along the way again. The other three of us will continue plucking away here in Mito.

2004-07-28T09:16:00.000-05:00

The trek begins. In two short days we conquered the highest peak in Japan.

2004-07-28T09:15:00.000-05:00

This is the greenest it got. Fuji is a volcanoe so not much in the way of vegetation. Beautiful in its own way, though.

2004-07-28T09:13:00.000-05:00

We conquered Fuji-but Fuji did its own share of conquering too.

2004-07-28T09:09:00.000-05:00

Truer words have never been spoken!