Posts

Showing posts from October 19, 2008

Honshu and Okinawa

Image
I am back. I spent 10 days in Japan, 5 days for work on the main island of Honshu and 5 days of solo adventure in Okinawa. Travel is so invigorating dispite the uncomfortableness. Jetlag, anxiety, crowds, and other discomforts aside, it is mind-expanding and rewarding. Work went well. I flew a new airline (Skymark) from Tokyo to Naha. I am always wary of strange discount airlines and all the traps they set. However, I had a great expereince with "Sky". I was actually shocked. Super easy checkin at the airport, no extra fees even with extra luggage. The primary mission in Okinawa was to visit the Peace Park and the suicide cliffs of Okinawa. From what I understand, at the end of WW2 the inhabitants were encouraged to commit suicide rather than surrender to the Americans and get tortured and eaten. Besides other types of suicide, they jumped off the cliffs at the Southern end of the main island. If you have seen the original color footage taken at the time, I am sure you ...
Image
It is a cool rainy Saturday morning. I need to be out splitting wood. It won't be doing much drying today but splitting is a step in the right direction. I probably have about 6 face cord put up, but I want to get some cushion. Next year's use is fine. I always go through a bit more than I plan. I guess it is like eating what is in the pot. If it is there you consume it. I got a promotion at work. I was getting pretty bored. It will be good to have some new challenges. My flight instructor gave me some kudos the other night. I did my best landing ever. A "greaser" is what you call it. The flying experience is really a great one. It pulls from all corners of the mind. It really makes you feel alive. We were commenting that it is a strange calling. It is stressful and enjoyable all at the same time. It was great the other night. We were using runway 7 which is unusual because of the prevailing winds. There is a road that crosses the grass runway on the runway 7 appr...
Image
My friend Dennis took these great pics of a screech owl in his wood duck house in Williamson, NY. I heard one of these guys out in my woods a couple weeks back. These things are loud. The first time you hear one you really can't figure out what it is, a mammal, human, bird?
Image
The weather was great this weekend. It was cool, ok cold in the morning, but it was truly great Fall weather. I skidded more trees, cut and chopped. I cut the log out of the beautiful maple that blew over. It will go to the mill this week, hopefully. I have a lot of work to do. This weekend it didn't seem as important as it often does. I snapped this pic of a red tail hawk over Owasco lake Saturday.