Tony becomes a Teen / images from Texas

Tony received an email greeting card from his friends Nori-chan, Tori-chan and Niji-chan back in Japan.  today is his birthday.  according to his "tag" he was "born" on 1/21/96 which makes him 13 years old.  actually it is Tori-chan and Niji-chan's birthday also. (and all the other "Nuts" out there)

this is how Tony looked when he arrived

and this is Tony a few days ago with my Mother's dog Buster

and here he is with the dog that followed me back to my Mother's home.

Tony and his shadow on The River Walk

i think you can see from these photos and past photos that . . . Tony leads an exciting life.  if you remember there was a time when he had his own website. and then we were told by the company "hosting" the website that he was ... underage. i did not have the heart to tell them that, well, Tony is...not real...ly... as young as he looks.  tonikaku, Happy Birthday to Tony and to all who share his birthday.

Tony and i taking a break along the Medina River just outside of Bandera.

and here are a few more moments from my recent visit to Texas

Medina River cypress trees in winter

reflections along the Medina River

the Guadalupe River as it passes thru Kerrville in the Texas hill country

oak tree in my Mother's town of Somerset ... population around 1500

Casa Rio (Mexican restaurant) on The River Walk in downtown San Antonio

tour boat along The Venice of America (i think i read that is what it was called in the 1930's when the River Walk was first started).

peaceful walkway along The River Walk

hotels, bridges, cafes, shops, trees, flowers and more 

River Walk cascades

River Walk reflections from under Alamo Street

Happy Obama Day

home again.  nice and easy flight on Southwest Airlines, just under three hours.  we were early even with the extra 10 minutes of flying over LAX, over the ocean and then circling back around for a "second try".  apparently we were "too high" on the first landing "attempt".  i think i was able to take a few good photos of the Santa Monica coastline, Hollywood Hills, downtown LA as we circled around.  the ride to the airport was uneventful but there is a lot of traffic in San Antonio around 830a.  not so much traffic on my bus ride home.  now i think i will have a sandwich and then walk to the beach on this summer-like Inauguration Day.

more with photos from my trip later.

Loop 410 and I-10 interchange . . . after the traffic jam on the way to SAT

looking north towards Malibu after "not landing" at LAX

downtown LA heading east before turning back to land to the west at LAX

home again sunset

still here 2

add a drive to Hill Country, a movie about dogs, a new computer, a dog that followed me back to my Mother's home, some Chinese food cooked by my Father's wife and you have my last few days. i should be home tomorrow.

still here

still in my hometown. Mother's 70th birthday on tuesday went well. lots of family, good Mexican food and presents. yesterday we went downtown to The Riverwalk. and today i am visiting with my Father and checking email. more with photos when i return to LA

My Hometown

yes, My Hometown is one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite singers, Oda Kazumasa.  if all goes as scheduled i will be there in a few hours give or take with the time change and all that. tomorrow is my Mother's 70th birthday . . . it's ok, she already knows.

looking in different directions

*Toshi, もう一度　かいてください。

i heard something very interesting on radio show from Scotland this morning on my sunday walk to the beach (no, not on the Tom Morton Show but on Ian Anderson's Celtic Connections).  the comment was about music but i think it can be applied to various topics, for example religion: "we are all on the top of the same mountain . . . just looking in different directions"  or something close to those words but with a wee Scottish accent.

here a few photos as i continue to look and photograph in different directions.

walking (standing) tall and wee bit distorted due to the rising morning sun

which came first?

tanpopo and hackberry

busy bee

a shadow with subtitles

looking for Katsu

Papa and Daughter #1

Papa and Daughter #2

Papa and Daughter #3

busy bees

more present

looks like a nice day for a long walk.  i will be taking some Hayden with me.  and some water and a couple of clementines.  Tony is waiting by the door.  i think i still have a Trader Joe's energy bar leftover from my last walk although i don't think i will be gone that long but one never knows. the first football game is on at 130p (i think) so i will be back by then (probably).  for sure i will have some photos and videos to share but until then check out Hayden.  his website's name is actually a title for how i spend my days :  )  he was on a wonderful Vinyl Cafe Show this morning and i can't stop thinking of his song about the Origami Security Guard.  of course the story about "birthdays" was heartwarming especially since i will be returning to my hometown on monday for my Mother's 70th birthday on tuesday. and the Dave story was even more special...since i will be returning to my hometown on monday. . . two and half (not men) years since i was last there.

______________ 6pm _____________

it was truly a beautiful day for a long walk to the beach.  and for a hour long dip in the ocean.  

here are a few photos from my walk . . . you never know what you might see if you take the time to be more present (Vinyl Cafe reference).

the beginning/the end of my walk

let my bar stools go

third (if you are counting)

rose highlights

i can't remember the name of this flower but i will never forget the color

this is where the orange flower begins

happy family of 4

the view looking east from waist-deep 

one of my recent (as of 1pm today) favorite images . . . a dolphin surfing . . . and that beautiful green color

Toshi from Kanagawa, Japan.  and from Australia.  now living in Redondo Beach.   はじめまちて。どうぞ　よろしく。Hey Toshi... send an email to get your photos and videos.

Toshi shreds

Toshi and Tony

i just heard (email) from a old friend.  actually, it was my second "old friend" that i heard from today.  the first was a phone call was from Mike out in Tampa and now from and even older

(but not in age) friend Katsu.  i think there is a young Katsu and a young me in a photo back in an early december blog posting.  Katsu and his wife and son are doing well up in Canada.  it would be nice to see them again.  and his Father.  maybe this will be the year of "reunions"

and speaking of Canada, here is Canadian singer/songwriter Hayden.  this song was one that Hayden sang on today's CBC Radio 2 (internet version) Vinyl Cafe and is called Weight Of The World.

Redondo Roundabout

not sure when my area got it's first roundabout but i can tell you when i first noticed and walked around the roundabout...today.  and why did i walk around the roundabout?  to take photos and videos, of course (and because i don't have a car)(but when i do have access to one, i will be sure to try out the roundabout). it was another cloudy day at the beach.  normally you could see the ocean from this view but not today.  it was a little cool today on my walk to the beach.  perhaps, that was because i was in shorts and a t-shirt.

this sign may be a bit confusing as it doesn't really apply to the roundabout . . .  but basically yield and stay right.  i am sure it will be interesting to watch in the summer when there are more cars and people enjoying this road by the sea.

no cars, bicyclists, pedestrians, seagulls, dogs or squirrels were harmed in the making of this wee short film

2nd dandelion (tanpopo) of the new year 

possibly here today, gone tomorrow

much ado about much to do

finally, a nice sunrise.

actually this was a good hour before the sunrise.  yesterday was the first day of the new year that it was clear from early morning.  and today looks like it will be a sunny day as well.

i am hoping to get many things done today or at least continue on the things i have started.  i don't think i will ever get as organized as i want but i will definitely make some progress today... if not today, tomorrow.  or the next day.

Steve's van.  this is a photo from yesterday's blue sky day.

i took this photo to remind me of a photo i did not take.  two days ago, i was sitting at my computer looking out the window when i noticed a hummingbird looking in at me. i wanted to take a photo and video of him but didn't want to scare him away.  i think he thought the christmas ornament was a flower as he was hovering around it for what seemed like 5 minutes.  another thing to do today. . . get a hummingbird feeder.

First Tanpopo (dandelion) of the new year

kevin no uta (kevin's song)

not sure if this will work but i received a nice "music video" in my email yesterday from my friend Akemi's keitai (cell phone) in Kobe.  the song was written and sung by her 5 year old son Daigo and his 2 year old sister Misa.  you may have to turn down the volume.  very cute!  ありがとうDai-chan and Misa-chan!  ahh, the wonders of technology, the sweetness of youth.

Oshogatsu, Ne'er Day and the first sunrise of 2009

well, so much for actually seeing the first sunrise.  here is the view from my window when the morning sun should have been shining in 

 初日が見えへん

 walking down my street towards the ocean

 south bay snowflake

 first walk self-portrait

 modern sea art  (you either get it or you don't)

 similar weather to yesterday but about 40 miles difference

 first surfer and that color green i like

 exactly!  who is driving?

 i didn't get to see the Shishimai Lion dance.  maybe tomorrow as they will have a repeat  performance.  but, i did get to see my first concert event of the new year . . .

 koto at Mitsuwa Market's New Year's Festival

 書道の先生 shodo sensei (teacher).  she was very kind and gave me two of her calligraphy. and also drew (wrote) a special one by request.