A Year From Now...

May 2013 - Honolulu Triathlon

Due to the generosity of friends from Japan and the support of my family, I was able to join a team for the Honolulu Triathlon last month.  日本人の友人の寛大さと家族の支援があるので、先月ホノルルトライアスロンのためにチームに参加することができました。

Swimming practice at Ala Moana Park was great preparation for race day. アラモアナ公園で水泳の練習は、レース当日のために偉大な準備だった。

The event began before the Waikiki sunrise – 5:45 AM start!  イベントはワイキキ日の出の前を始めた - 5:45のスタート！

Due to an excellent course and ideal conditions, I was able to enjoy a good pace and finish in 2:43.  Very nice!  優れたコースと理想的な天気のために、2時43分には良いペースと仕上がりを楽しむことができました。非常に素晴らしい！

Gaining support and advice from experienced teammates was a unique and rewarding experience.  I am very grateful to everyone for their kind support!  I am looking forward to the next event!  経験豊富なチームメイトからのサポートやアドバイスを得ることは、ユニークでやりがいのある経験だった。皆さん、心から、深く感謝いたします！次のイベントを楽しみにしています！

Commencement into the future ~ - ~ - ~ - ~ Shanghai, China, World

Hats off! to Concordia International School Shanghai for their wonderful contribuation to Jonah's education. Actually, to all the high schools who have been busy preparing our youngsters for their next steps in life.  We need these educators to help us raise these children to be responsible global citizens. And happy, sucessful people. 

最近ジョナは高校から卒業しました。学校はすばらしいだので、新しい生活をできると思います。

After the weird year that we just completed, I'm super glad to celebrate the graduation from high school of my youngest child. Hand in hand with that joy, is the bittersweet feeling of watching these friends greet change and all of its scary and exciting elements at once.  Jonah had several good solid friendships develop during his two years in Shanghai.

一年間は少しい難しかったので、卒業することから、うれしいです。この四人友達たちは一人で怖いチャレンジをやってみるので、大丈夫と思います。

I love the energy and positive vibes you get around people this age, nothing is impossible to them. I think that their world view, and diverse experiences could lead to solving some of its problems some day, or averting disasters, such as war and poverty. But at least, and at best, I want them to enjoy a happy future, and keep in touch with their friends. 

Writers' Anarchy

This month, I went from being an "unpublished writer working on her first novel" to a "published author"! Taking a break from my novel for a few weeks, I got involved with this terrific project, a multi-genre short story anthology by a group of writers from several parts of the world, many of whom were previously unpublished like myself.  

                                                                                   WRITERS' ANARCHY

書く作家のクラブに参加しています。作家のクラブは書いてことを好きです。皆は色々創造が持つので、そして、一緒に本を書きました。は今月によく努力着いたの本は主版させた。

"Knoejaun Knows" was written by , Earl Chessher who is the creative guru and major workhorse behind the bold and innovative Writers' Anarchy Series. Besides being a prolific writer, Earl  produces personalized videos for a living, and when he invited me to participate in the project, I couldn't resist.

一番人の仕事はビデオを作ってとか本を書いて、とても忙しいですが、プロジェクトも始まりました。この本は連続の最初の本です。彼は招待を貰ったから、うれしくなりました。

We read, critiqued and edited each other's work. Several fellow contributers helped me with my story, but certainly the one who suffered through the most revisions with me was Renee' La Viness, who writes mysteries, young adult, and children's books, as well as non-fiction.  

皆は他の人人の書いたことを読んだので、考えを告げました。そして、皆の物語はよくなりました。読んで続ける人も学んだ。私の物語の編集したの者はすばらしいです。子供の本とか、若い大人とか神秘も聞いたの経験があります。

Several others critiqued my work, and I theirs. Alex Hurst's first draft (that I saw) was so tight I had only a few edits to suggest. She found many small issues with mine, however, and it was a big help. She also became Earl's right hand man for special projects on the book.

この若い女の本を読んだは、まだ殆ど完璧と思いました。彼女はアメリカ人が、現在に日本に住んでいるので、京都の近くと思います。若いですが、頭がよいので、才能が多いです。私の物語を読んだが、たくさん間違いを見つけ出してくれました。笑。

Here's one of the stories that I helped to edit, by Scott Kelly. It felt a little strange for me to offer advice to such a knowledgeable writer, but we only use the suggestions that we agree with, and often the advice will spark additional edits that we hadn't thought of before.

彼の物語も読んだので、多い文学的な人から、忠告を上げてころをちゅうちょしまたので、いつも学びます。書いているについてはとても楽しいです。スケートを止めたから、はじめて楽しい趣味を発見しました。他の人は私より長い時間を書いて練習しました。

The MULTI-GENRE aspect of this anthology collection is fascinating. Writers' Anarchy is not totally unique in that regard, but it is the largest and most diverse that we know of. This is a great way to sample genres that you have never read. Besides realistic fiction, there is fantasy, horror, comedy, young adult, historical fiction, romance, mystery,and more.

もちろん、この本は英語ですが、たくさん類型の物語があります。私のは現実創作ですが、ファンタジーとか、ロマンスとか、歴史もあります。たぶん、他の類型を分からない、この本でやってみます。22物語があります。

Lulu.com is similar to Amazon, not as old or as big. It's a publisher that specializes in eBooks and paperbacks, with other options. Our eBook version can be downloaded for only $3.50, and the paperback version can be ordered for $17.50 plus shipping.  We are told that Amazon will pick up our book for their website when there is enough interest.

                                                                                       WRITERS' ANARCHY on Lulu

ルルドットコムはアマゾンに同系が、アマゾンより小さくて、１０近年から始まりました。興味があったら、ダウンロードしたら、安いです。ペーパーバックもあるので、シーピング値段わからない。

 

                                                                                                      Writers' Anarchy on Lulu

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Transitions Begin

It was almost a year ago, when Martin and I started this blog, to log this weird year, and now there are only six weeks left before Jonah, Toby and I will leave Shanghai. My friend asked me today, if I am looking forward to it, and I have to say, YES, I am excited to be moving back to America after 13 years abroad.  殆ど一年間前に、このブログを始まりました。今から、力週間だけ後に、ジョナとトビと上海から出ます。今日友達は行きたいと聞いたので、はいと言いた、アメリアに引っ越して、楽しみにしています。１３年間から、アメリカに住んでいませんでしたから。

Any change involves transitions, so lately I've been finishing some projects, buttoning things up, and turning things over.  One project that I undertook while living here in Shanghai was to create a new website for the school spirit store, the Phoenix Shop. It sells many clothing items with the school's name. The website isn't perfect, but I'm proud of my work, nonetheless, as I am completely self-taught.  In years past, I've volunteered on our previous school's site, and then completely renovated the website for our church in Tokyo. Each time, I learned by doing, and this time I got a chance to work on a dedicated server using WordPress.  I will definitely use WordPress to create my next blog.　

いつも変わりがあったら、移り変わりですね。最近、一つずつのプロジェクトを終わって、新しい人に上げます。２年間の上海に住んでいたのプロジェクトはジョナの学校のファンの店のウエブサイトを作りました。前の学校もウエブサイトを手伝ったので、教会のウエブサイトも全部に新しくなったに作りました。そして、ここにワードプレスを習得したので、次のブログはワードプレスを使うを思います。

In my next locatation, I will make a new blog, but I don't plan to volunteer for a school or church website. I plan to put more of my effort into writing fiction. 次の所に、新しいブログを作ったが、学校とか教会のウエブサイトをボレンチァをしたくない。フィクションを書くことをしたいです。

Guess who is my favorite model. たぶんジョナは私の一番好きなモデルですね。

These are "Heart to Heart Bears". The proceeds go to help children and babies get heart surgery here in China. あの、これは心と心の熊です。お金は中国の子供と赤ちゃんが心の外科を払います。

Here's the website section I made:  Phoenix Shop   ここに見たら、私は作ったのウエブサイト分です。

April 2013 - The machine that changed my life

When I was in elementary school, I helped my Dad maintain this Lawn Boy mower.  I was fascinated by the engine…so much power from such a small machine!  小学校にいたとき、私は父が芝刈り機を維持する助けました。私は、エンジンに魅了された...このような小さなマシンからそんなにパワーを！

That fascination led to my interest in engineering, and ultimately to the automotive propulsion industry. その魅力の影響、私はエンジニアになったことでした。今,自動車パワートレイン分野で働いっています。

Now, 40 years later, the fascination remains.  The machine that changed my life…and the Lawn Boy runs again! さて、40年後、魅力が残っている。私の人生を変えたマシンが...そしてLawn Boyがうなりを上げて始動しました！

 

Spring Break Continues - - - ~ ~ SE MI, Chicago, Wooster

Monica was the only one without jet-lag. We had a couple of days together, until the end of her college spring break.  モニカだけは時差ぼけがない人ので、二日間を過ごした。すぐにモニカの大学校の春休みは終わりました。

Back to Kalamazoo College for a great new semester.  モニカはカラマズ大学校に帰ったので、新しい間をがんばって！

Overnite trip to Chicago to look at universities again before the final decision.  シカゴ町に行って、二つか医学校をもう一回に見ます。ジョナは一ヶ月間しかがあるので、大学校を選びます。

DePaul University is right in the city, but Loyola Chicago isn't far out and it's right on the lake. The colleges both have great programs. Loyola is smaller and more of a residential college. DePaul has ambitious media programs, but now Jonah's leaning more toward psychology. シカゴはたくさん大学校があるので、二つだけはジョナの興味があります。違う学校はフィルムとか実業があるので、最近ジョナは心理学を興味があります。大学校はずっと隣に大きい湖水に立ちます。

The next day, we drove to a small town in Ohio and visited The College of Wooster. It is an excellent college with a great psychology department. 次の日、小さい町に運動をしたので、ウースターの大学校を見に行きました。すごい大学校はとてもいい心理学の部門があります。

Jonah and student-guide in the Wooster Cafeteria.  ジョナは学生とランチを食べました。

Finally I got to see the house that Martin bought a few months ago. All the stuff that was stored for 13 years while we were overseas is now in the basement. Here Martin enjoys treating his leather motorcycle jacket from long ago.私は 中国にいたときに、マーティンは家を買ったので、初めて見ました。13年間に海外に物が貯蔵をしたので、新しい家の地下に入れました。懐かしいに、マーティンはバイクの皮のジャケットを処理を楽します。 

Spring Break Escape - - - - - - - - - - PVG > DTW

The worst thing about leaving China for 9 days, is we can't take Toby. The second worst thing is the 12 hours in Economy DIScomfort. But everything else is great. Can't wait to see Monica and Martin.　春の休みから、中国からアメリカまで旅行をするので、九日間だけが、とても楽しみにしています。娘と言うモニカとマーティンもよく会いたいです。でも、トビは行かないので、さびし。他の悪い事は飛行機の１２時間は一番やすいの椅子から、ひどい辛苦です。

No, we are not leaving him here alone, he is going to visit his friends at BARK. He loves them. They do his grooming. もちろん一人でいるので、グルミングの会社で泊まります。好きです。

Plus, I have a great traveling companion! Jonah, not Toby.

ボウナスはジョ名はいい旅行のコンパニオンです。

Hello. .. Goodbye. ~~~~~~~~ Shanghai

 

Martin had some business here in Shanghai, so he stopped by.  This is the part that we expected, when weeks and weeks would go by, with no travel in this direction.  Then he flies in and its nonstop action for a few days, then off to Korea he went.  It was short but sweet and fun.  It was Valentines Day, afterall.  Probably the next time we will be together is March in Michigan.

マーティンは主張から、上海に来ました。四日だけが、よかったです。いつも仕事をしてので、一緒にの時間は珍しいだので、貴重です。次に韓国に行ったので、今飛行機の中にアメリカの自宅に帰ります。ばれんたいんの日もすばらしかったです。次の一緒にの時間は私の計画は遅い３月にジョナとミシガン州に行きます。

Jonah took us for Pho.  序名の好きなレストランに行きました。フォです。

I went for the hotter Pho, and I was not disappointed.  私はもっと辛いフォを選んだので、とてもおいしかったです。

Hanging out, just the two of us Valentines.  バレンタインの日から、２人だけを要ると思います。

   Father and son time.  父と息子の時間。

Have a happy Chinese New Year, but don't breath . . . . . Shanghai

Yesterday morning at 8 AM, this was the view off my balcony here in Jinqiao, Shanghai.  Pretty hazy, don't you think?  I don't wonder why, as we were all listening to firecrackers and fireworks until after 2 AM.   Big change from last year on this day when it went on non-stop for about ten days.  I thought the decrease in NOISE might be because I had moved to a different part of Shanghai, to a foreigner enclave closer to Jonah's school and away from the more highly populated center.  Then I heard that the authorities had asked the residents to moderate their use of fireworks this year due to the air quality issue.  

Here's the graph for air quality taken on the first morning of the lunar year.  You can see that the level of pollutants hanging in the air went up, up and away well after midnight when the peak of the celebrations were heard and seen here.  By the time I finally got up after a good five hours of sleep, the air quality had improved dramatically to just "Unhealthy".  

In my humble opinion, there's nothing wrong with pretty fireworks and fun hand held sparklers to celebrate the hope and joy of a new year, but the incessant LOUD BOOMS that traditionally accompany this celebration add nothing to the quality of life, and certainly don't improve Shanghai's already compromised air quality.  

Here's a sample of what it was like to stand on our balcony at midnight, Chinese New Years Eve.    

Happy Anniversary ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ Waikiki, Hawaii

I've always wanted to visit Hawaii, so Martin came up with this plan to use up all of our accumulated airline and hotel points, and meet in Honolulu for our 25th wedding anniversary.  It was only for four days, but we totally made the best of it.  Now that January is here, I am finally able to reflect on some of the lovely experiences from those precious four days.  Here's some of the pix from my camera.  

長い間にハワイに行きたかったが、最近始めて行きました。マーティンの考えは全部の航空会社とかホテルのポイントを使ったら、できます。そして、２５の結婚記念日に、ハワイに会いました。マーティンはアメリカから来たので、私は上海から行きました。４日間はとても良い経験だので、最近忙しいから、ついに写真を見て、鑑賞的に思案した。カメラから写真です。

 

 

 

 

 It's not just about the food. Martin and I enjoyed hiking on Diamondhead, riding a Harley to Pearl Harbor and the other side of the island, swimming, and biking.  And we were lucky to explore the wildlife in a coral reef, including sea turtles, octipus, eel and big colorful fish.  料理は美味しかったが、ハワイはすばらしいです。一緒に時間に、ダイモンドヘドに上って、パールハーバーにハーレーバイクを乗って、泳いで、自転車も乗りました。そして、シュノーケルでザンごしょうを見たので、海カメ、タコ、ウナギとか大きいきれい魚も近い見ました。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Is living in Hawaii so pleasant that it turns everyone nice?  I don't know, but we sure met a lot of nice people there.  

Like Elizabeth, of Waikiki Mint Limeade.  She just opened this business, making delicious and natural fruit drinks.  I wish her all the luck in the world.