Pictures

We have taken so many pictures during our short time in America. Many of those are found in our new blog (or here), but there are so many more pictures, we have started to move many of them to a new Flickr account that you can find here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hitomikanna/

Please visit us and take part in the community of photographers found there.

Cheers,
ptervin

An Update

Just a quick update and a picture. Hitomi and Kanna pose for a picture at the Getty Museum.

Blog Moved

This blog has been moved to my .mac address. You can find it at:

http://web.mac.com/ptervin/

or press the link above. Hope to see you there.

Winter Stew

The temperature is slowly dropping and it's time to do a little slow cooking. On top of everyone's list, of course, is oden. A popular slow food dish, I'm worried if there will be enough. Even with four pots, I don't think it will last long.

So, I'm also planning to make a porridge with the stock. That should fill 'em up!

Coincidental Genius

Like the similarities of Mendelssohn's and Tchaikovsky's Violin Concertos, the similarities of customs like Halloween from various cultures around the world, there are also similarities in art. Today we visit the Huntington Library, home of the famous Blue Boy and Pinkie paintings (and much, much more). Two painters, two different settings, two different times, and yet they are brought together here as a perfect pair. Coincidental genius.

The students boo and ah at having to go to a library, but the Huntington is much more. How many of them will come away seeing things differently? How many of them will come away with open eyes? How many of them will have a different perspective on genius? I hope all.

Goblins and Ghosts

The Halloween season and something is not quite right. Was it a ghost? With that expression from both mother and daughter, it could only be one thing. And it wasn't a pumkin. Apparently this frightening scare called for several showers just to clear the air. The human body, regardless of size, is an amazing thing. Beware of the goblins!

Speaking of Halloween, it is interesting to note that though there may be local variations, similar customs appear throughout the world. Halloween was originally the same as today's Obon in Japan, a time when the spirits of the ancestors return to the family. So what brings the variations? Why all the candy along with the goblins and ghosts? Do the spirits have a sweet tooth? We'll find out tonight.

By the way, what is that smell?

Birthday Shoes

Hitomi's birthday is a couple of days away. What do you get a new mother? A day off from changing diapers is a good bet. I gave Victoria's Secret a try, but they have very little in a French line. Shoes? I'd love to find a great looking pair of shoes for her, but one should always try on shoes before buying them so that is not a very good choice. What to buy?

Well, what I *did* buy is already on its way to Japan. It should arrive today or tomorrow. Probably not the most romantic gift one could buy, but when I saw it, Hitomi was the first thought to come to mind. It's her! I hope she likes it.