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Showing posts from November 1, 2009

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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My mom is doing better. She is still in the hospital, but somewhat better. This week has yielded several insprirational elements. Let's focus on a few. Look for inspiration. Look! It is all around you all the time. We forget to do that. It is easy to be distracted by the everyday events and moments. Every element of nature is inspirational. They are all miracles. Everything is internal. Choose your character. Choose. Changes aren't easy. Choose, and move towards the target. "If you haven't ever have been at least a little embarassed by your past you don't understand growth and development. For goodness is made of that stuff." ---Charles Dowdell My friend and co-worker Clark Wallin passed away very suddenly Saturday Night-Sunday Morning. He was in good shape Friday. We didn't have a lot of discussion or contact Friday, but we talked. He seemed a little pre-occupied, but nothing much out of the ordinary. Clark and his wife were fellow llama/alpaca...
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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 e...
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