Sketch of Auntie Barbara's dog Dudley drawn by Naomi.
Saturday, December 06, 2014
Wednesday, November 05, 2014
Life in a Walk
Last year, a new show ran on the Pac-12 network called "The Drive." In the show, two Pac-12 football teams were followed for the entire season and the Cal Bears was one of those teams. Unfortunately for Cal, they were featured in a season where they only won a single game and had a historically poor season by anyone's definition. The person responsible for the show was a former assistant coach with USC from back in the Pete Carroll days, Yogi Roth.
His latest creation is a film called "Life in a Walk" based on a trip that he took with his father, the premise being that life is too short to not spend more time with the people that mean the most to you. From this has sprouted a movement based on this same theme. Check it out.
His latest creation is a film called "Life in a Walk" based on a trip that he took with his father, the premise being that life is too short to not spend more time with the people that mean the most to you. From this has sprouted a movement based on this same theme. Check it out.
Friday, September 05, 2014
Time to Defend...
Listen to what they were saying about the Seahawks before their Super Bowl win. Wonder what the pundits have to say this year?
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Photos of People Taking Photos!
Check out these photos. It's a picture of Yuki taking a selfie with kids, but in the background you can see a picture of me taking a photo of them taking their selfie. In the second photo you can see the photo that was taken by me!
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Saturday, July 05, 2014
Off to Camp Chawanakee
Ethan off to his third boy scout summer camp at Camp Chawanakee. His troop shoved off at about 1pm today leaving their scout shack, 15 or so boys with three adult chaperones in three vehicles.
Having attended with Ethan his first year, the mystery that might exist with many of the parents regarding boy scout summer camp does not exist for us. The complications of summer vacation means that not everyone will be traveling to camp together and returning together, making travel logistics somewhat challenging. Almost every seat in each of the three vehicles was completely filled today by a person or gear as they headed out.
After autographing the trailer, they were soon off for a week of adventure, learning and making memories. Ethan's classes this year are Cooking and First Aid. The week will go by too fast and they will be home for the rest of the summer.
Having attended with Ethan his first year, the mystery that might exist with many of the parents regarding boy scout summer camp does not exist for us. The complications of summer vacation means that not everyone will be traveling to camp together and returning together, making travel logistics somewhat challenging. Almost every seat in each of the three vehicles was completely filled today by a person or gear as they headed out.
After autographing the trailer, they were soon off for a week of adventure, learning and making memories. Ethan's classes this year are Cooking and First Aid. The week will go by too fast and they will be home for the rest of the summer.
Fireworks in Concord!
This year we didn't have very far to go for fireworks once again as the City of Concord owing to funding from several private partners put on a terrific show. On a last minute decision after finishing eating we drove towards downtown and ended up on the top of a parking structure. Turns out that we were not the only ones with the same idea.
The following is a video of the finale of the firework show shot by another YouTube user. The best part was that the show had two finales. It was a great show!
The following is a video of the finale of the firework show shot by another YouTube user. The best part was that the show had two finales. It was a great show!
Friday, July 04, 2014
Happy Fourth of July!
Happy Fourth of July! Enjoying a quiet BBQ at home with family!
Also here's a salute to the Fourth with some of the lighter moments from our recent trip to Disney World!
Also here's a salute to the Fourth with some of the lighter moments from our recent trip to Disney World!
Thursday, July 03, 2014
Good Times in Orlando: Days One and Two
It was more than a family vacation. It was an extended family vacation with 12 of us on the trip. The Seid family graciously arranged for all of us to stay at their time share near Disney World. And although the time share had a pool fully decked out with water cannons, oversized inner tubes and a river-like loop through the pool, the kids were only able to enjoy the pool twice because of the late nights that we spent at the theme parks. This was even though the pool was open until midnight.
We flew into Orlando on different flights. The Seids and our family flew in on US Airways from Oakland via Phoenix. The flight was uneventful, but the baggage claim process was like a Disney ride with an hour long wait. This "ride" was followed by another hour long wait at the Budget rental counter. In this time, both the Tam and So families who were on two separate flights were able to catch up to meet us at the rental car counter.
That night at the time share, we ordered out for pizza and kids were able to go swimming at the pool. The evening sky was a reddish, purplish hue which could've meant that good weather was in store for us based no the fisherman's adage: red sky at night is a sailor's delight, but it was not meant to be.
The next day started out fine. We made our way to Disney World by car, tram and ferry, stopping along the way to pick up our tickets. That's Alden at the window picking up our tickets.
But by later that day the weather had changed and rain ponchos and umbrellas were in order for most of the rest of the day.
The plan was to make it over to Hollywood Studios so we could see the Symphony in the Stars fireworks show. At Hollywood Studios, we checked out The Great Movie Ride, Star Tours, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, and The Tower of Terror. Must have to say that the fireworks show was terrific with the fireworks exploding almost directly over where we stood.
We flew into Orlando on different flights. The Seids and our family flew in on US Airways from Oakland via Phoenix. The flight was uneventful, but the baggage claim process was like a Disney ride with an hour long wait. This "ride" was followed by another hour long wait at the Budget rental counter. In this time, both the Tam and So families who were on two separate flights were able to catch up to meet us at the rental car counter.
That night at the time share, we ordered out for pizza and kids were able to go swimming at the pool. The evening sky was a reddish, purplish hue which could've meant that good weather was in store for us based no the fisherman's adage: red sky at night is a sailor's delight, but it was not meant to be.
The next day started out fine. We made our way to Disney World by car, tram and ferry, stopping along the way to pick up our tickets. That's Alden at the window picking up our tickets.
But by later that day the weather had changed and rain ponchos and umbrellas were in order for most of the rest of the day.
The plan was to make it over to Hollywood Studios so we could see the Symphony in the Stars fireworks show. At Hollywood Studios, we checked out The Great Movie Ride, Star Tours, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, and The Tower of Terror. Must have to say that the fireworks show was terrific with the fireworks exploding almost directly over where we stood.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
There Were Rides at the End of Those Lines!
We made it on a few rides. Ethan and Ryan even rode on a few roller coasters. There were some rides that were the same as in Southern California. Others were new for some of us. Represented in these photos starting in the upper left corner and going clockwise are:
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster (in Universal's Islands of Adventure)
- Primeval Whirl (in Disney's Animal Kingdom)
- The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (in Disney's Hollywood Studios)
- Jurassic Park River Adventure (in Islands of Adventure - Ryan promised not to duck so we wouldn't get wet, but...)
- Test Track (in Epcot - family photo after the ride in one of the interactive stations)
- Test Track (in Epcot - the actual ride)
- The Incredible Hulk Coaster
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (in Disney's Magic Kingdom - Susan and Bill on the ride after a two-hour wait; Ryan didn't think it was worth the wait)
- Expedition Everest (in Animal Kingdom - this was a better version of the Matterhorn)
- Test Track (in Epcot)
- Spaceship Earth (in Epcot - Dorothy and Ryan in the future?)
- Dinosaur (in Animal Kingdom - yes, there were some loud dinos as you can see from Ethan)
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Ethan and Dorothy enjoying the ride - it was too short)
- Expedition Everest (Ryan and Dorothy)
Women Only
Here's compilation of photos that have a particular theme. You can probably figure out the theme.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Disney World Photographers
The count is in! Between our two cameras, we took over 1700 photos while in Disney World for a week. That averages out to over 240 photos per day. There were some instances when we had seven or eight cameras shooting at the same subject at the same time from our party of 12.
Here is the proof that we had a lot of photo taking that took place during our trip. Okay, some were of the "selfie" variety, but still photo taking.
Sunday, June 01, 2014
2014 Clayton Valley Charter High School Symphonic Band - Earth, Wind & Fire Medley
Naomi is on clarinet. You can see her in the foreground.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
2014 Sequoia Middle School Jazz Band - "Blue Train" by John Coltrane
Ethan continues to enjoy being in the band playing trumpet. He's finishing up playing in the 7th grade concert band.
He's also in the jazz band that is composed of both 7th and 8th graders. Here's their rendition of "Blue Train" by John Coltrane.
He's also in the jazz band that is composed of both 7th and 8th graders. Here's their rendition of "Blue Train" by John Coltrane.
Friday, March 07, 2014
Okay, So It's Not New Years or Graduation....
This is the Emoto Family Duet. If Uncle Chuck were here we could've made this a trio!
Ethan and Obaachan just started playing around with this song this evening. Not bad for the first time through, huh?
Obaachan is singing the song in Japanese (Hotaru no Hikari) although it's a little difficult to hear. In Japan, this song is played at graduations and the Japanese title can be translated to "The Glow of Fireflies":
By the glow of fireflies, and the moonlit snow by the window, Days and months spent reading, Years have even passed, through the cedar door, This morning, we leave.
Whether staying, or leaving, Remember each other, in the Depths of our hearts, in a word, Sing, "Good luck,"
蛍の光 (Hotaru no Hikari) The Glow of Fireflies
蛍の光、窓の雪、
書読む月日、重ねつゝ、
何時しか年も、すぎの戸を、
開けてぞ今朝は、別れ行く。
止まるも行くも、限りとて、
互に思ふ、千萬の、
心の端を、一言に、
幸くと許り、歌うなり。
Ethan and Obaachan just started playing around with this song this evening. Not bad for the first time through, huh?
Obaachan is singing the song in Japanese (Hotaru no Hikari) although it's a little difficult to hear. In Japan, this song is played at graduations and the Japanese title can be translated to "The Glow of Fireflies":
By the glow of fireflies, and the moonlit snow by the window, Days and months spent reading, Years have even passed, through the cedar door, This morning, we leave.
Whether staying, or leaving, Remember each other, in the Depths of our hearts, in a word, Sing, "Good luck,"
蛍の光 (Hotaru no Hikari) The Glow of Fireflies
蛍の光、窓の雪、
書読む月日、重ねつゝ、
何時しか年も、すぎの戸を、
開けてぞ今朝は、別れ行く。
止まるも行くも、限りとて、
互に思ふ、千萬の、
心の端を、一言に、
幸くと許り、歌うなり。
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Bay Bridge (Old and New)
This is a video clip of our last drive across the old eastern span of the Bay Bridge. Dorothy is the videographer. This was also taken the previous time that Obaachan visited us. She and the kids were all fast asleep on this drive.
Here are photos of the new eastern span from September after it opened as well as other photos from the same trip to SF.
Here are photos of the new eastern span from September after it opened as well as other photos from the same trip to SF.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Seahawks in a Romp?
Here's a Super Bowl prediction based on an outcome from the Madden video game that was made on December 12. This is the closest to the real outcome that we've seen.
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