kintaro

Last couple of days it's been Jboog and Katchafire sprinkled with some Bob Marley.

Me!

I used to tell my wife frequently. Growing up it was never said in the house. I always found it odd that my parents didn't say it?!? Both my brother and sister say it to their kids. Never - ever - heard the Japanese in-laws say it!

Great pics!

Honolulu Honolulu

I can't wait to see him defeat Floyd Mayweather Jr.....hopefully he won't go into a singing career after boxing!

Ng... is a farely common Vietnamese name here in Hawaii. It's pronounced like 'new.'

Very sad.

Social Networking - the story about Facebook. I love true stories like that. I hadn't known the Napster guy, Shawn Fanning got in on that. It says the company is worth around 25 US $Billion today and it's main founder owns about 25%. Sugoi!

1 banana, 1 nectarine, a little oatmeal, a little fresh ginger, 1 scoop whey protein (vanilla), and about 8 ounces carrot juice blended. Delicious!

The trend for SUPs seems to be sub 10'. I think that will be a fad. SUP riders that surfed first don't seem to be 'jama' for surfers here in Hawaii. At least not on Oahu. Most beginner's just stay in waveless beach areas paddling around annoying the swimmers. A waterman named Kainoa McGee desinged our boards to be surfed but I'm sure a lot of our customers simply paddle around and get their 'core workouts.' Thursday, J-wife and the local Harley-Davidson dealer and customer of mine in Sendai started seeing each other. That was that. How's that for entertainment?

Oh how I miss my days at Zao!!!

The ukulele biz is alive and kicking but the ex is running it.

I checked with the Japanese Consulate in Honolulu yesterday. Just to confirm what's already been mentioned, if I don't get a new or extended Re-entry permit my permenant resident visa will expire. The consulate will give me a one year extension if I can prove a good reason for them to do so. You have to support your reason with a doctor's note or work requirements, etc., whatever the case may be. Upon learning that I had divorced my Japanese wife the worker at the consulate asked, "Well, then what are you going to do in Japan, stalk her?" Huh?!? Idiot. The benefit to keeping

Anyone know if you can get a re-entry renewal from abroad (like at a Japan consulate)? I do have PR status. I'll check with the Japan consulate here in Honolulu soon and post back what they tell me.

Divorce drove me away but I often think of returning. I have been gone for about two years now and don't know what will happen with my lifetime Japan visa if I don't return kind of soon. Gaijin card ends in two weeks. I still speak Japanese everyday living and working in Hawaii but miss a lot about J-life. ã©ã†ã—ょã†ï¼Ÿ

TB - good book. Very interesting. The book convinced me that I have no desire to climb Everest. I think they mentioned the IMAX crew in that book. Was that movie completed? I forgot.

Vacation: New Zealand Dubai Egypt Boarding Only: Alyeska (next March) Whistler Niseko

The US is out of control with tipping. Tipping is expected for the waiter/waitress 15-20% of bill, bartender or cocktail waitress, barber/hair stylist, cab driver, bell boy, valet, porter, pizza delivery guy.....I'm probably missing a bunch. I'm surpised the Fed Ex guys haven't tried to get on board. It sucks.

Matsumoto shave ice is a tiny little shave ice (snow cone, ice shave....) on the North Shore of Oahu. For whatever reason it attracts celebreties from Tom Hanks to Konishiki.. favorite among local people as well. Da ling hing mui one stay onolicious!

Shizuoka is also known for mikan. And Fujinomiya, Shizuoka is known for yakisoba. Out of the MANY places I've lived in Japan, the only place I can't think of a single local specialty is Saitama.....maybe that's why it's nickmaned "dasai-tama."

Got be! Matsumoto shaved ice!

Just in the past 12 months here in Honolulu: 1- 6 mountain bikes each properly locked (2 directly next to the police station in Waikiki in broad daylight. 2- Car stereo (they broke my window) 3- $500 cash from a hidden location in my suitcase in my locked hotel room. (Had to be a maid?) 4- My house was robbed and they took a bunch of my clothes, all of my shoes, some alcohol, and my entire CD collection - very strange. 11 years of living in Japan: Nothing stolen from me. I kept an 80,000 yen mountain bike unlocked for 4 years...no problem.

Sendai, my long time home is known for gyutan and it's super oishii! Here in Hawaii Maui onions are quite good but I don't really know of other islands' "famous local products." I've heard Kaua'i has their manju.

The Big Lebowski. It's worth a watch at least once a year.