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Truly Out Of This World!

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New approach! I am now going to do my best to include Japanese translations for all of our Japanese-speaking guests who do not speak English. I hope those translations work well! I do not think my command of the English language is sufficient to describe the resplendence of the shrines and temples at Tosho-gu in Nikko.  There were so many times when no matter what direction I turned, there was a scene of exquisite beauty.  I just cannot imagine the hours and days and months and dedication it took to construct object after object of such immense aesthetic quality! We left our home early Friday morning and were home by 4:15 on Saturday. It was a day of unbelievable photography! We stayed at the Nikko Kanaya Hotel, which is amazing in and of itself. Their list of prior guests include Frank Lloyd Wright and Albert Einstein. I guess we traveled in good company! In future posts, I will include additional photos and details from that trip. Believe it or not, there were other scenes t...
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Are We Having Fun Yet?

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  These are all photos from my recent trip with Stuart to Oshima Island. It really could have been more gorgeous! I continually remind myself how important it is to have a sense of humor! When I am struggling, I love to ask myself, "Am I having fun yet"? Last night gave me plenty of opportunities to apply these lessons!  The evening started innocently enough as I was thoroughly enjoying the bike ride home on my new bike. Despite the very strong headwind, I was making good time using the electric assist. That was until I felt the dreaded feel of a tire going flat. Sure enough, in no time at all, I came to an abrupt stop with no air in the back tire. Well, no problem! I had a spare tube and I have changed plenty of flat tires. I proceeded to remove the back wheel and then spent 30 minutes pulling my hair out as I tried to remove the damn tire! Unfortunately, the tire was so tight up against the rim that I was not able to remove that tire, no matter what I tried to do. OK, round...
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Oshima Island and the New Bike!

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 These are some of my favorite photos from the recent trip I took with my friend Stuart to Oshima Island. A big thanks to Stuart as he made all the arrangements. Thank heavens he speaks good Japanese! It truly was an amazing trip! Highlights included going to the top of the crater and getting the most amazing panoramic views of the water and Mt. Fuji and some gorgeous islands.  We rented electric assist bikes two days and used those to go to the Oshima Zoo and hot spots around the island. What a treat! The pictured boat is the same model as the boat we took to make the two hour trip to Oshima Island.  Although it was chilly with temperatures getting down into the 30's, it was very sunny and warmed up during the day. The last morning I got up early and was out the door by 5:45. The views from the top of the crater were out of this world!   This experience gave me an opportunity to jump into the world of electric assist bikes for the first time. The day I returned from...
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Hikone Castle and Personal Improvement

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 The Japanese love their castles! These castle shots are all from Hikone Castle, one of the highlights from Lake Biwako. This is the final part of my five part series. The best for last? You decide! Those of you who know me well know that I am very committed to becoming a better and better person. This is definitely a work in progress as I will be the first to admit that I have a long ways to go! Below are the primary categories for my ongoing efforts. RELATIONSHIPS In many ways, this may be the most challenging area for me. I recently started re-reading the engaging book, Atomic Habits. The author, James Clear, has started an app that helps with the development and implementation of habits. One of the habits I am working on is keeping my cool when I get frustrated, especially when interacting with those closest to me. Sound familiar? BODY FAT PERCENTAGE With all the exercise I get, you would think I would not have to worry about what and when I eat. No such luck! I have had a tend...
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