Thank You

"Finished" is never a word that a homeowner can use. On June 1st, we moved out of the temporary apartment, and began sleeping at our new house on San Pedro Lane. The next few months were spent de-cluttering, unpacking, packing, and arranging. When people ask me how the house is coming, I tell them that we are finally at a point that most normal homeowners reach, which is having a list of projects that don't necessarily need to be completed this minute. We still have to put in a closet door here, a window there, and fix a patio, deck, re-do the stairs...but we don't have to think about that now.

It feels great to have a house, but the feeling of accomplishment after completing so much work is more satisfying than can be described. I cannot say that I would do everything over again if I knew what lay ahead, but I can definitely say now that I am glad we went through what we did. This house was not built by me, but knowing almost every inch of the inside makes me feel like I did. I love that over the next few years, as Hiro and his sister, as well as other family and friends spend time here, almost everything they see, touch, or walk on, was acquired by, built, installed, or fixed by me or someone closeby either related or practically related.

With that in mind, here is a list of people who helped us get here, in no order, except for Larry and cousin Davey, who need to be at the top of the list. I wish I could include every single task, but everyone knows how much they helped!

--Larry Potts (and wife Megan, for putting up with all this!): I will never be able to properly acknowedge everything Larry contributed, from time, experience, tools, knowledge, resources including vehicles and music, to good company every day we worked together. We could not have done this without you, Larry!

--Cousin Davey, my 'big brother,' an expert in all things. If I had a "MacGyver" award to give, David would get it. Any question about ANYthing, and David has an answer. He knows it and can do it. We love you, Daveboy!

--My Dad, Papa Joe, and Mom, Julie, not only for some labor, but endless generosity of time, resources, and emotional support.

--Sampson, for working a wicked nail gun, and always keeping Larry and I entertained.

--My neighbors Dan, Marty, and Brian, for their time, tools, and expertise (plus the Friday bonfires!)

--My brother Mark; we fulfilled a lifelong dream of epic destruction while tearing down my walls, and we had fun building them back up.

--My sister Katie and her husband Mike; the way you two handled the disposal of the dry wall bags with the wheelbarrow would make any mafia boss happy to use you. Mike worked and worked, then worked some more--he did a little of everything. Also, Mike's parents let us use their van to move, which was crucial.

--My sister Lynn and her family, for labor, emotional support, and babysitting.

--THE UNGERS!!! Dave came over and helped out on some cold nights, and the family helped us move not once, but twice. You guys are the best.

--my co-worker and friend Ted, for making the drive from Olivette and painting with us while my house was freezing.

--"Oh My Gosh!" Josh, my good friend with impeccable timing, for showing up and getting some serious paint up downstairs when I needed it most.

--Nancy Linder, our realtor, who provided feedback and expertise on a number of areas.

--Molly and her family, for several key babysitting days.

--Uncle Dave, also for key babysitting days.

--Michiyo's sister Masae, for coming all the way from Kumamoto to help me measure the closets.

--Peggy's fiancee Nick, for plumbing expertise.

--Alex for dental work

--Dale for computer assistance

--George Carlin, Dennis Miller, Larry the Cable Guy, Eddie Izzard, Dr. Drew, Brad Paisley, and Ira Glass. Each of these entities made the time fly, and kept our mind off of choking on dry wall dust.

If I have forgotten anyone, I did not do it intentionally. Send me an email, or comment, and I will edit this to include you.

Most of all, of course, my family. Michiyo could not have been more patient and supportive the whole time, and Hiroki has enjoyed the ride, even when sleeping on a blanket on the unfinished floor downstairs while Mommy and Daddy painted. I love you, and I love living in our 'new' house together!

November, 2009

I have dropped off the grid somewhat over the past few weeks. Here’s a quick update and some pictures.

We are back from Japan. The month of September was supremely relaxing. We loved being in Japan, and I doubt I will ever get around to posting all the pictures and stories from our trip. We did get on TV twice, if I ever can get them on line, I'll definitely share them. Also, the epic adventure of arranging my Dad to meet Larry Bird made the NBA pages of ESPN.com; check it out here.

We arrived back in St. Louis at the beginning of October, and immediately closed on a house. Our street is called San Pedro, in Fenton, MO, about 20 minutes from downtown St. Louis.

We got the house just in time for a beautiful fall, although we won't be living there for a few more weeks. My friend Larry and I are basically re-doing the entire inside before we can move in. My cousin, David, is providing tremendous expertise; he is an expert on everything from plumbing to electric concerns. Other family members such as my brother Mark are contributing valuable labor; Mark and I had some fun demolishing the basement carpet and floor. Mom and Michiyo have, of course been providing the all-important meals, and Papa Joe raked the leaves and gave us tools.

In this next picture, the tree in our front yard glows with golden leaves, while Larry, talking on a cell phone, takes a break from directing the entire rehab of the inside of our house. Larry is as amazing as the tree in our front yard!

A few more fun pics: Hiro playing on heavy equipment in July.
Hiroki was a lion for Halloween; this was one of the few good photos we got; he did not like wearing it.
Halloween with my sibs: Katie (with her husband of three months) Mike, as the Princess Bride pair, I am sporting a 4-utter cow suit. While this costume got rave reviews, my brother Mark took home the title of costume of the year—an accurate rendition of the death of the 2009 Cardinal Baseball season. Confused? Watch this and you’ll understand.

Engrish in Japan, 2009

Nagasaki Road Trip '09

Nagasaki
As always when we visit Japan, we took a weekend trip to Nagasaki to spend time with the siblings of Michiyo’s parents. The siblings of her Mom, Chieko, live in Nagasaki city, which is always an afternoon visit involving tea and snacks. The bulk of our time was spent in the countryside in the house where Michiyo’s Dad, Minoru, grew up.

The trip started with a ferry ride from Kumamoto. This year, we didn’t encounter many seagulls; rather I spent a bit of time talking to a group of sixth graders from Ubuyama, a country town, on a field trip, and entertaining them with English and gags such as magic and fake cockroaches.
We spent the afternoon at the home of Taiske and Sachiko, Chieko’s younger sister and her husband. They have several shrines, statues, and antiques that captured Hiro’s attention.

Chieko’s older sister, Toshie, has a daughter, Yoshie, who has a new daughter, Manami.

Then it was off to the countryside.
I learned that this house was built in 1909, making it an even 100 years old. While they did add a second floor at some point, it’s the same house. Also, this year, I noticed that the corner of the roof contains the first part of Michiyo’s family last name, Ishizuka. The Kanji for Ishi means rock, and even Michiyo and Masae had never noticed this before.

Hiroki wasted no time showing off his baseball skills for Uncle Kanji.

Hiro and Daddy took a much-needed nap.
We took a walk around the area; I love these views! Barbecue time—one of my favorite parts of the Nagasaki trip.
Hiroki regaled us with stories of his adventures, and we were riveted.

Hiro loves motorcycles and scooters, so he posed with (but DID NOT ride!) with Mommy.

Highlight of the Nagasaki road trip:
Hiroki’s Grandpa Minoru woke us up for the sunrise, and what we saw was pretty incredible. A steady rain the day before had created a mist that settled over the valley where the Ishizuka house is. What a beautiful scene!
Uncle Hitoshi, Minoru’s younger brother, and his family did not make it to the Nagasaki house this year; instead, they paid us a visit in Kumamoto after we arrived home. I told him I missed the delicious squid he usually brings.

We enjoyed some pool time around Hiroki (he was the only one naked), he enjoyed the family Chihuahua. Aki, the younger sister was heading off to Malawi, Africa, at the end of the month to begin two years of Peace Corps-type work.

Mohican Extinction

9/9/09
Minoru began the week on Monday morning by informing me that he would be taking me to the barber to get shaved. He got no argument from me—I had had my fun, and the “maintenance” of it had grown tiresome. So we went for another epic “before/after” sequence.
Funny last note on the Mohawk: even though my Japanese father-in-law explained to the barber clearly what we wanted, i.e., everything shaved, the guy asked me three different ways to communicate that all of my hair would be gone. Please let the hair be natural to the floor in beauty. Arigatou.
Just so my Mom knows, I did not cut off bits of this and put it in an envelope for your Christmas present.

Mohawk Salad Days

9/8/09
Upon arriving in Kumamoto for our stay here, the grueling schedule of the first few days wore us out: lying around, eating, taking naps, going for walks, relaxing, taking more naps, eating more, and finishing the day by watching Japanese League baseball with Michiyo`s Dad Minoru while drinking sake. When the weekend came, we finally got out and about. Saturday night, I met up with Jason, my good friend from our JET days together, and we hit the town just like (well, sort of like) the good old days, going first to Charlie’s Country Bar, then on to Karaoke, and ending the night at Tapas, a Mexican restaurant with salsa music playing, and outside chairs to enjoy Corona`s on the street. Interestingly, I learned that “mohawk” is not a common word in Japan; they use the word “Mohican” to describe this hairstyle, because it resemblies an Indian. While Jason was understandably not a fan of the Mohican, numerous Japanese strangers let me know it was, among other things, “wonderful,” “cool,” and “handsome.” Love this country!

Sunday, Grandpa Minoru took us to Yabe-machi, a mountain town in the countryside having a festival. After enduring choppy, winding mountain roads, we arrived in time for the procession of, um, tsukurimono—sculptures people made. Hiroki had a lot of fun at this festival. He was fawned over by obaachans (Japanese Elderly ladies), and held tight to Mommy and me when the big sculptures passed.
Since I was probably the only foreigner within a few dozen miles, and had the ugliest Mohawk within a few islands, in addition to the fact that we were toting an American-Asian boy, we drew lots of attention. I wish I could explain these pictures. Really, I do.

But I cannot.
The best was the photographers. Apparently, there is some photo contest, and happily obliged several camera-people.