A Year From Now...

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。

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.    

Daughter ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Shanghai

I am overwhelmed by the tragic news from Connecticut.  It makes us all appreciate our children that much more, even if they are no longer small.  I have been so blessed to finally spend some time with my daughter this week.  She doesn't understand this, but when I worry about her, it isn't because I lack confidence in her, it is because of the seemingly random nature of events that can dramatically change the course of life.  A life that is so precious.  So when I grab your arm crossing the street in Shanghai, put up with me, Monica.  We can't protect our children completely, but we still try.  Oh how we try.  And besides that, drivers here are crazy.

両親はいつも子供を守りたいので、大きくなった子供も同じ感じです。3ヶ月以上に、娘に会わなかったので、私はいつも考えて、ちょっと心配ですが、大丈夫です。一週間前に、上海に来たので、よい時間を過ごしました。

We did a lot together this week.  Yoga Ball and Zumba class, decorating the christmas tree, massage, manicure and pedicure, walking and talking and meals.  Now she gets a few days to spend with Joey and Jonah without me around worrying about her all the time.  

今週いろいろことを一緒にやったので、ジムのクラスとか、スパーとか、歩いて、話して、おいしい料理を食べまして。今から、ジョオイと言う特別友達とジョナも時間を過ごすできるので、私は少ない時間を留守です。
 

Memories and Old Stuff November 2012

Household goods from Tennessee were delivered yesterday.  They had been stored in a Nashville warehouse for 12 years.  In some cases, it was like seeing old friends.  In other cases, it was just old stuff.  Thank you Monica for helping!  テネシー州から家財は昨日配信されていました。 それは１２年間ナッシュビル倉庫に格納されていました。時々それは旧友に会うかのよかったです。他のは、それだけで古いものだな。モニカ、助けてくれてありがとう！

garage - before  ガラージ　先

garage - after 　　ガラージ　後

basement - before  地下　先

basement - after  地下　後

Martin, remember twelve years ago . . . . . Franklin

To Martin> Yesterday, with Monica's help, you dealt with the return of our stored items from when we moved to Japan away from Tennessee so long ago.  The fact is, that lately, you have had to deal with a lot of challenges, on top of significant travel and with little support.  I really feel like you've grown quite sturdy and capable, and I think I will keep you.  

Here's some pictures to remind you (and our friends) of how much has changed in twelve years.  These are photos taken over the course of our last week living in Franklin, including the Tennessee style Sayonara Bonfire.  

  マーティンへ、昨日モニカは手伝ったので、あなたたちは十二年間で家財ことを倉庫を保管をした貰いました。テネシー州から日本にまで飛行したときについて話します。最近、マーティンは色々難問を処理をしたので、私は感謝の感じがあります。よくなったと思います。そして、これはテネシー州に住んでいたの最後の週間の写真です。十二年間は長いですね。皆は変わりました。そして、テネシースタイルのさよなら大かがり火のパーティも。 

写真にクリークをしたら、ガレリーに行きます。

If you click on any of the pictures, it will take you to the gallery with a few more.  

 

 

Home Alone ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Shanghai

So, yesterday, Jonah traveled with members of his school's Cross Country team to attend the APAC competition in Guam.   There they will compete with athletes from many other schools in the Asia Pacific region, including Japan.  Jonah expects to meet up with some of his friends from ASIJ while in Guam.  There's even a friend who he knew in Tokyo who has since moved to Manila.  She'll be there too, making the reunion even more interesting.  I'm proud of Jonah for sticking with his cross country training during this busy time.  Getting involved in this kind of running while in your teens seems like a great way to acquire a life-long fitness habit.  昨日、ジョナとクロースカントリーチームと、一緒にグアムに飛行機で、行きました。沢山アシアの学生はグアムに集めます。特別ことは、前の調布の友達たちも行って、一緒に競争してから、楽しみにしていると思います。ラーニングはとてもいい活動と思うので、若い人は習慣を始まったら、全体の生活を元気になって、使えます。

Which leaves me home alone, with Toby.  As we have mentioned, this next year... until June, will be different, with Martin setting up house and working in Michigan, and us still here.  But I'm not just sitting around with my feet up.  Seems that the word has gotten out that I'm pretty capable at tutoring, and I have students every day.  Plus I'm still working on the school spirit store website, which is volunteer, but quite a job.  

そして、私とトビだけは家にいるので、マーティンは新しいミシガン州の家にいます。でも、忙しいです。毎日に、学生たちは来るので、英語とか教えます。そして、学校の店のウエブサイトを働きます。お金がないけど、仕事のようです。

 

Toby and I usually take three walks a day, and often stay right here in the compound where there are fewer crazy drivers, meaning fewer scooters and cars driving on the sidewalk, that sort of thing.  The weather has been so nice lately, right around 70 F.  When I'm walking, I think about where my novel is going, and it feels like productive time, even if it never ends up going anywhere.  I don't know what Toby thinks about...  Chasing balls?  Eating French Fries?  World Peace?  毎日に、三回に、トビと散歩をしてので、よく家の近くのいます。安心から。近所の外に、トビのために、ちょっと危ないと思うので、いつもバイクとか車とか、歩道で運転をします。最近の天気はよくよいので、２１Ｃです。静かな時間だから、考えます。創作について考えます。  トビは何について考えると思うので、ボールを追う？フレンチフライーを食べて？世界平和？

The kitchen is small, but it has a nice view.  And, bonus, it doesn't smell bad!  台所は小さいですが、窓はいいです。視界は満足です。ボーナスは匂いは悪くない！

Being home alone isn't so bad.  I finally got things the way I want them in our little apartment.  It's kind of an odd idea, but I decided to make the living room into a multi-purpose room by putting my desk and bookshelves next to the windows.  I kind of like it.  一人で家にいるので、家は大丈夫です。珍しいだけど、私の考えは大きい部屋は多く目的に用いるの部屋になりました。好きです。

 

Ann Arbor Fall Colors October 7, 2012

The trees in Ann Arbor are beginning to burn brightly with Fall colors.  It has been a long time since I saw such wonderful tree colors!  アン　アーバーの葉の色が濃くなっています。久しぶりにそのようなきれいな葉を見ました。

Ann Arbor Fall Colors September 30, 2012

Near our condo, the trees explode in beautiful colors. マンションの近くに美しい木々は火のような色が落ちる.