Familia

love this family!
Originally uploaded by ninapod

Since moving here in 2005--two and half years ago, people--last weekend was the first time I've been more than a few miles outside of Tokyo?? Shame.

There are people as wonderful as these--cousins Midori & So, cousin-in-law Shiori and mini-cousin Yurine--to visit, in a city as pleasant as Hiroshima. Shame.

There are forest lodges to spend weekends at, built by retired boat designers who raise St. Bernese pups and served grilled smoked chickens and conduct weddings in their log cabins. Shame!

So where to next? After Okayama next weekend (auntie extraordinaire Mari and cousin Takara, precious as his name suggests), there is skiing in Hokkaido, sand dunes and paragliding in Tottori, awamori and goya in Okinawa, onsen in Kyushu, udon in Shikoku, Koya-san in Wakayama. Yokoso Japan, your campaign is working.

I*heart*りんかい線

I*heart*りんかい線
Originally uploaded by ninapod

Expensive (380 yen one way) and inconvenient (who goes from Osaki to Shinonome? (except me)) though it may be, the 10 commuters in Tokyo who ride to and from work on the Rinkai Line get to ride a train that's nearly empty and free of the human zombie sardine cans that is JR, Metro and Toei!!! I LOVE you random private underused train line, you!

Happy Beau-day

Beau, Chris, Akiyo
Originally uploaded by ninapod

Beau's 25th at Junkadelic, the last day of a dizzyingly hot August and the end of the workweek, good friends, strangers who became new friends, guacamole and margaritas. Recipe for a perfect party.

Junkadelic!

Junkadelic!
Originally uploaded by ninapod

Akiyo and Jon, spreading the peace & love.

Blue steel and the ladies

Blue steel and the ladies
Originally uploaded by ninapod

"Have you ever wondered if there was more to life, other than being really, really, ridiculously good looking?"

more slurpees, please

more slurpees, please
Originally uploaded by ninapod

I liked the banana frozen margarita the best, but I would like to go back for a few more pitchers to confirm this.

spot the bug

spot the bug
Originally uploaded by ninapod

up on the 35th floor of our government-subsidized high rise, a surprising variety of critters find their way to the balcony plants. How did this twig worm make it up here? Inch by inch, floor by floor? Or was it chillin' as a wee larva in the basil/peppermint/parsley plant at the Viva Home garden center, not expecting such an uplifting experience once it came to?

Saturday afternoon clouds

Saturday afternoon clouds
Originally uploaded by ninapod

Rows and floes of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere...

obi

obi, originally uploaded by ninapod.

the three-day weekend started with a typhoon, followed by a wedding, Rocky Horror karaoke, new aquamarine earings, Harry Potter on the big screen, heavy-duty apartment cleaning, and ended on an earthquake.

the lovely bride, the dapper groom

the lovely bride, the dapper groom.
Originally uploaded by ninapod

introducing Mr. and Mrs. John Wood.

legato lounge II

legato lounge II
Originally uploaded by ninapod

chatting before the wedding.

rain drops, gardenia

rain drops, gardenia
Originally uploaded by ninapod

the first bloom of the summer.

dedicated to friends John and Akiyo, who are getting married today.

issue No. 1

issue No. 1
Originally uploaded by ninapod

my commute recently got longer by about thirty minutes.
Thirty extra minutes for me to enjoy my new subscription to the New Yorker!
Moms and early birthday presents are the best.

super good morning

, originally uploaded by ninapod.

good morning

shinonome sunrise, originally uploaded by ninapod.

it's the weekend♪

beer crawl

beer crawl
Originally uploaded by ninapod.

Have never been a beer drinker but could be converted with certain bottles.

my town

my town
Originally uploaded by ninapod.

Been almost a year since I and sisterpod moved to Shinonome.
Since then, one new high-rise condo has opened, another is built and awaiting its grand opening, and a third has broken ground.
It feels like Belltown, Seattle, circa 1997. Cranes everywhere!
Now all we need is a Starbucks on every corner♪ but to start with, just one is fine.
please....

new shoes

new shoes
Originally uploaded by ninapod.

luckily there is a store near by with shoes my size. More expensive than most, but shoes are something that I really do not mind spending a little extra on. Painful feet are not fun.

The red peep-toe pumps are mine; the rainboots are Ai's.

amazing winehouse

i just started listening to amy winehouse and now I can't stop. she's amazing.

sunrise, sunrise

ageha sunrise
Originally uploaded by ninapod.

view from the ageha pool deck.