First Supper

We passed on the skewered chicken cartilage and chicken tails.

Loosing it in translation

YOU figure this one out

Hot Tubs’ Hot Competition

Thank heavens I brought a bathing suit.

Politeness Pays

While nothing is cheap, coffee is far less expensive for those who are proper, patient and ever so polite.

Bowing, yes. Tipping, no.

Packing is complete!!

No, this is NOT a skyscraper in Tokyo. It's our checked luggage.

We have friends that suggest "Travel Light. Borrow Heavy." We, on the other hand, were encouraged to bring gifts. In the spirit of improving international relations, we are soooo ready to invade the archipelago with love. As you know, if you say "Isle of Japan" fast, it sounds like "I love Japan".

The formality of it all

EveryONE gives and takes with BOTH hands and with great ceremony, patience and humility. EveryTHING has a reverse side.
So good to know BEFORE we get to Japan. I learned so much about etiquette from Kiyo Okazaki right here at Santa Rosa Junior College. Arigato!

Eda-mommy

From the Red Carpet to Rashomonland. Getting ready to go to Japan. It will be the trip of a lifetime. This variation of the Garden Gnome is so excited to venture into the land of Seven Samurai and (more relevant) seven ways to say "thank you."

Re: T-day 400 years ago

Love it!

On Thu, Nov 23, 2017 at 11:14 PM Tina Hittenberger <freckle469@comcast.net> wrote:

It's a BIT easier nowadays with Safeway, microwaves, refrigerators, paper plates and Bev Mo! It's all about gratitude.
Enjoy every minute!
Tina and Chuck

Micro T-day

Dinner for two: Petite, mini or pearl sized everything.

T-day 400 years ago

It's a BIT easier nowadays with Safeway, microwaves, refrigerators, paper plates and Bev Mo! It's all about gratitude.
Enjoy every minute!
Tina and Chuck

WHAAAT!? No way!!!

What five word phrase could almost ruin a traditional Thanksgiving?
"Let's do it on Saturday"

Martha Stewart would be appalled!!! However, we awarded each one of us PERSONAL GROWTH POINTS for flexibility as we gathered together, took a great hike, warmed up a cabin in the tallest of redwoods, ate a perfect picnic, sang a few songs, told stories and enjoyed all the glorious colors of Fall.
Our friend in the center of the photo is a wine-maker; his red-headed wife a chef, so they will be family forever.
Drew (in Peruvian hat) is doing well, Taj is now living in our downstairs apartment, Lauren is so happy with her boyfriend, Ben, and Clarke and Lisa (her Mom, Pat, to the far right of the "Smokin' Sisters") are as solid as ever. We are soooo fortunate and enormously grateful.
The invite is open for next year's "ThanksSaturday" if you want to join us.
Love,
Tina and Chuck

Path of Totality

In the path just outside Sublimity, Oregon

And then upstairs...

Rodin (and all the subtext of HIS behavior) meets a British "modern invader" Sarah Lucas. Makes a person laugh, think and look at panty hose differently from now on.

Degas, Impressionism and the Paris Millinery Trade

Confections of feathers, ribbons, straw, velvet and lace surrounded by marvelous paintings, drawings and posters will remain at the Legion of Honor through the summer. It will transport you to another age of elegance.

Circling the Bay

We circled the San Francisco Bay a few times this weekend. A small circle in the North and East Bay on Saturday (with a pause on Grizzly Peak) and a complete Petaluma to South San Jose circle on Sunday.
There's certainly a lot of water, beauty and brainpower.

Sort of scary....

Chuck gets his Doctorate and an AAU Trinity looms larger than life in the background. A Renaissance composition for sure. Or maybe something from those dark Dutch Masters?

Memories of a day with the B's