Honshu and Okinawa

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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 ...
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This time of year is always busy getting ready for Winter. I spent most of the weekend working on the solar system. I had some successes as well as a set back. The heat exchanger is broken! I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I charged/filled the the domestic side of brand new unit (although waiting for me to install for almost a year) and water started coming out the loop. I plugged the loop and I am planning on some interesting conversations with the Rheem people. It was a good thing that I didn't have the loop connections tight. I wouldn't have noticed the defect and the cross contamination would have put antifreeze in my hot water supply and regular water in the loop possibly breaking my collector. I have just a couple more fittings and some control wiring. This was a bigger project (still not done) than expected (usual). I look forward to the next project at this point.

The basement partially flooded this week (drainage issue). What a drag. I mean my advice is to everyone I know. "It is not if your basement floods it is a matter of when." My basement has been very dry for the last 8 years; it is a walkout basement and no sump or anything. These things happen, even if only by a leaking pipe.

My FAA medical should be back (this week for sure). What a complete hassle. The FAA medical process is the means to take away General Aviation privileges. My general physician and everyone else knows I am perfectly fit to fly a plane. A typo screws it all up.

My Mom is in the hospital in Florida. That sucks.

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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 ...
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One of the strangest processes I go through is setting priorities of what I need to work on. I can't say I finish one project and start on another. I often take a project to "a stable place" and then start on another "comprehensive" project that ends up as many smaller projects with their own lifecycle. The good news (and what allows me to be proud) is that I finish projects. Finishing is a big deal to me. I enjoy that part. A lot of folks get joy out of starting projects, but then get beaten down by setbacks and reality. Real progress (and growth) comes in steps. The stair rise is seeing and knowing progress. The stair step is when you dont see progress. You have to have faith you will get to the next rise. It will happen. In my latest "comprehensive" project "zoom room improvements" includes deep cleaning (inside and out), new electric, ethernet, and flooring. In addition, some foundation repairs. The original posts were set poorly and th...
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Gracie decided to give us a presentation regarding current world shipping issues. She thinks she is so smart. But she is wrong about port congestion. If we allow anyone to drive commercial trucks there will be no backup of containers moving inland. Gracie, a tip for public speaking, Never turn your back to the audience. We had "Demo Days" at work again this past week. I was busy on most of the days, but I went up to the demo site after the event was over on Friday and took a look at machines we have on site.
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I broke my new kodak digital camera. What a drag. It didn't take much. I got it for 80 bucks but still. The LCD got broke somehow. Renning's Maxim: Man is the highest animal. Man does the classifying.
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