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~ last splash in the summer surf before school,

but we will be breathing in

the amazing sea air again soon... “My life is like a stroll on the beach...as near to the edge as I can go.”
...Thoreau

~ we've had a couple big guys'

skate board wipeouts

recently. maybe a trip on a

freebord - much like snowboard

maneuvering - would be

safer? maybe not.

here is a peek at

freedom on wheels...

freebording,

Freebord film produced for freebord

by Wil Tidman and Chip Rees.

Photographed by Stokes McIntyre,

Edited by Kyle Gray.

Freeborders ride the

steep streets of San Francisco.

~ a summer tradition is the Obon circuit. hot summer festivals of dancing, music, games, and good eats. Little Tokyo celebrated its 50th year of Obon dancing. through the years we have joined in for the traditional Odori dances. here is a little east-west fusion. these 2 are not only great Odori dancers; they really know how to rock Obon!

video by paulharuo. arigato!

~ everyone is back in school. a lot of new faces, routines, and adventures. as Dad believed, you never stop learning. it's not easy, & at times feels more like a sacrifice, but what a small price to pay to make your life better. give it your personal best. impress yourself. Gambare!

“Just as the wave cannot exist for itself, but is ever a part of the heaving surface of the ocean, so must I never live my life for itself, but always in the experience which is going on around me.”
...Albert Schweitzer

don't go breaking my heart...

I love Elton John & Kiki Dee's

"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" duet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWLpiPlJAA8

(originally recorded in 1976!)
So...

My rockin' Grandkids humored me with this:

"You put the light in my life

Oh, you put the sparks to the flame..."

b.q.

new sparkles in my mind…

~ recent happy moments..

• DD being accepted into a great RN program. I’ll never understand why it’s so hard to get into a nursing program. Excellent; a new chapter in her life. Congrats with love. Dream big! You can do it!
  
• KK officially becoming a Certified Personal Trainer at age 19 – Extraordinary!, & as her Uncle Dr B said, “ She‘s our Million Dollar Bebe!” ( just a lucrative part time job as she zips through college)
  
• BB enthusiastically pursuing both of her passions: art & animals. Who says you can’t do both? Exciting great things to come…gifted genius!
  
• C.F. getting down to business, seeking new ways to make a quantum leap in the worst economy of our lifetime; turning this depressing recession into a chance of a lifetime. WOW!
  
• M.A.N. being told by Mrs Puck, that she refuses to have any other contractor work on her home. Cool job, yummy Puck pizza for lunch – lucky! Also working on Mario’s new Mozza-To-Go. Yum again. Never mind that they are 2 of my favorite chefs.
  
• Enjoying the once a week little “date” that M.A.N. finds time for; usually a leisurely dinner, & an adventure. Treasured time together.
  
• Realizing how much I’ve learned in depth about real estate, stocks, & business in the past 5 years. Never too late to learn more! So different from nursing though; no level of conscience or ethics.
  
• Finding bliss, listening to MY music now, throughout the day, taking breaks at will, playing with my doggie-buddy, Bandit, planning a moss faerie garden under my young Jacaranda. Perks of working at home, with the Girls out & about; busy with college & work. Solitude can be golden!
  
• Enjoying every chance to soak up the love & youth from my 2 precious Grandkids. It's all about the circle of life.
  
• Beautiful orchids blooming on the little plant I bought 2 years ago at Thanksgiving, when we dedicated the celebration to Mom & Dad.

::love eternal::

• Life is good.
  b.q.

Super Summer Splash

With a late summer heat wave,

the young ones enjoyed a surprise soak & splash

play date with their “Popi”.

No, he’s not wearing a pink tee...

it’s just his hard working contractor’s tan line.

The kids had such a blast; they were so happy

that he joined them in the jacuzzi. Perfect .

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Sparkles in My Mind

...a glimpse of things I love.
~ My Family!
~ Our celebrations & feasts, with
music & laughter all day long.
~ Excellent Health.
~ Watching my Girls take flight,
& soar to greater heights.
~ Mindful meditation.
~ My 2 Grandkids bursting with love.
~ The way my Family, including Grandkids,
sign “I Love You”, when we part.
~ My loyal pal, our German Shepherd, Bandit.
~ Music ~ a variety of everything.
[now playing – Back Door To My Heart…
John Corbett]
~ Adventures to new places.
~ Sampling a different cuisine.
~ Watching any Family member perform.
~ Being an R.N. for 30 years, & still loving it.
~ Our secret cove.
~ Weathering the tsunamis of marriage & family,
and knowing that I can hold my head
above water…always.
~ Learning, always learning.
~ The intoxicating fragrance of
my gardenias & lavender,
as I walk up our weathered brick
entry steps, & unlock the front door.

I am home.

b.q.

A General Contractor deserves a few Happy Perks

SPLASH!

First off, My M.A.N. is an amazing General Contractor.

All his jobs are by referral,

or new jobs for previous customers.

We haven't had to advertise since 1994; the year of the big Northridge earthquake. Every now & then, the Family gets surprise perks from the jobs.

Such as, a brand new jacuzzi!

A young professional couple in a high-end beach house

decided that they didn't want this jacuzzi,

as we completed their home renovation.

Why? They didn't have time to use it.

So, if M.A.N. could get it out of their yard,

he could have it.

Oh... OK, he thought he could work something out.

Meanwhile, at home, why was he taking up his weekend to pour a concrete slab in our backyard? What is that big truck doing unloading a huge THING in our driveway? Wow, is that a jacuzzi? NO WAY! Electrician? Pool guy? What...it's already hooked up? Bubble, bubble, bubble. Heat. Light.

GRANDKIDS.

SPLASH! Ahhhhhh. Life is Great.

We love you, my M.A.N. Arigato.

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Dis & Dat

Dad loved watching SUMO. Here's one match he missed.

A taste of why I choose happiness

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SANSEI MOMS, where are you?

I have noticed a little controversy over the use of the name HAPA lately. Maybe this issue has cycles, because I remember the same dispute around 25 years ago. Our kids have always been proud & happy HAPA Girls, & they'd like to remain that way. Hopefully, the academic & emotional drama won't take that away from us. That being said, I've also become aware that there isn't a large presence of 3rd Generation Japanese MOMS blogging ~ at least not together in any widely used Sansei Moms blog group. Hmmmmm. HEY - any of you Sansei Moms interested in getting a blog together? If so, please e-mail me: machi30@aol.com.
Arigato!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LIFE of 5IVE

The Spirits pass on.
My Grandmother was born on May 5th (5-5).
I come from a Family of 5.
Our Mom had 5 brothers & sisters.
Dad had 5 brothers & sisters. Our 1st daughter was born 5 days after our Mom's birthday.
My Granddaughter was born 5 months
before Dad passed away.
Coincidentally, my Grandson was born 5 months
before Mom passed away.
Yes, many Spirits are passed on.
5IVE is now my lucky number.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

QUOTE:

"...I wish that I may never think the smiles of the great and powerful a sufficient inducement to turn aside from the straight path of honesty and the convictions of my own mind. "
--David Ricardo

b.q.