Victory Manual

Dear Pacific-right-siders and others interested in our humble existence,
We recently acquired a tool that enables us to document images and sound. We’ve put the mechanism through a series of tests and would like to share a few of the results with you here.

I created a new dish this evening: Sun-dried tomato and gnocchi [...]

The over-pious think that unbelievers are in the dark, and the over-skeptical think that believers are misguided. Neither is right.

Art.
People often muse over the connotations of the term.
“What is art?” they ask themselves in quiet reserve, and their answers often lie in their own assessment of beauty; in their own favorite pieces.
“This is the pinnacle of art,” they conclude. They express themselves.
Expression is met with disagreement. They lash out in defense. [...]

Got my Japanese license. It took 3 hours of paperwork and explanations of my driving history in California and Korea, an eye exam, a picture, and ￥4000 (about $40 USD). There were no written or driving tests because of the exchange agreement between Korea and Japan, and I was lucky enough to have [...]

Victory Manual!!!(?)!
I’ve got a list to make of black eyes and feathers in my cap. Sometimes, the feathers in my cap turn out to be black eyes, but I’d prefer it the other way around.
I’ve got a hankering for some Mister Donut coffee before I head in to the ol’ 9 to 5 (or [...]

The Victory Manual will be out of service for a while (possibly up to a month!) as we’re moving back to Japan tomorrow and it’ll take a bit to get settled in. (Finding an apartment, buying a new computer [*hee hee hee*] and getting internet service up and running)
いよいよ出発！
(Finally, we depart!)

It’s best to forgive, but never forget.
That’s, perhaps, one of the best traits of the culture I was raised in - Our stubborn insistance on remembering the past, but always expressing gratitude for our current lot in life.
(Note: “The culture I was raised in,” does not refer to the U.S.)

For those of you on the other side of the ocean, here are a couple of videos put together of Lani that we shot this weekend while we lounged around the house.

喜びは心から心へ、胸から胸へと伝わるものだ。
これから、私の心、私の胸は、その喜びの原因だ。