Why are we still using so much paper? It has been estimated that worldwide we cut down 15 billion trees per year. What’s wrong with other sources such as hemp, cotton, or bamboo? The education industry in which I toiled for the better part of two decades is the biggest user of paper, but IContinue reading “Paper”
Category Archives: Japan
Military Brat
For most of my early life on this planet, I was the step-son of a good military man, my stepfather Vern McConnell. Vern was the consummate father and he was the head of three households when all was said and done. He was a good man who did things the right way. My first memoriesContinue reading “Military Brat”
I Thought I’d Seen it All
But evidently not. For those of you who have checked out a few of my blogs and know I have had (to put it very mildly) a pretty harrowing couple of months since leaving Arizona. Massive heart attack. Trouble closing on our house. Caring for our two Cocker Spaniels Bruiser and Murphy whilst staying atContinue reading “I Thought I’d Seen it All”
Flowers
I love flowers. Always have. Growing up I absorbed many cultures but seemed to gravitate to Eastern philosophies in regard to man and his role on Earth, including stewardship of the planet and her resources. I was a serious young student of ikebana, the art and philosophies entailed in flower arranging. It is much moreContinue reading “Flowers”
Bubble Gum
Remember the big row of bubble gum machines that used to make one last money grab from kids as they would depart the market? For a quarter you could get anything from sour cherry gum balls, mini super balls, and Boston Baked Beans to SweetTarts. The toys in the little plastic balls was cheap, butContinue reading “Bubble Gum”
Noodles
We call different things noodles: An adolescent kid’s under-developed arms. The human head. Brains. Top Ramen. I grew up eating bowls of them chocked full of God-knows-what. Osoba and Yakisoba were staples growing up in Japan and when I say God-knew-what, only he (or she) knew what found their ways into our bowls. Seriously. VariouslyContinue reading “Noodles”
Flies
My mother hated them like nobody’s business. If she saw one in the house, all activity immediately ceased until the intruder was vanquished. Snakes, no problem. Spiders, bugs? No problem. Flies? Big problem. Her hatred of the little buggers prompted her to promise me a bounty on the head of each of the little pestsContinue reading “Flies”
Yokoso
Welcome. To Japan. We flew out of San Francisco on a Pan Am jet and that was quite the adventure for a six-year old. Despite my youth I still remember noticing the shapely legs of the stewardesses in their distinctive outfits. It was a long flight and I remember leaving at around 11am and weContinue reading “Yokoso”
Reverence
I speak about respect and how I feel reverence is respect to the nth degree. I felt reverence when I went to my first ever Catholic church and mass. I still get the same feelings on Sundays. I felt reverence when I got my first glance of Wrigley Field, all striped and ready for aContinue reading “Reverence”
Haru
Japanese for Spring. Having been self-quarantined since last September, our first little foray out of the house was to the Japanese Friendship Garden in downtown Phoenix on Saturday. I know, a trip downtown? But this is to one of my favorite little parks in Phoenix and it was for Haru, the celebration of the SpringContinue reading “Haru”
