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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I am back in Duluth, but in reality it might as well be a foreign country. It is all still so new and different. Some things are becoming more familiar, but I need the GPS to find my way around to all, but the simplest of destinations. After living in Berkshire, NY for 10 years, the city life really has shown the deprivation that exists in rural NY state. This week no travel. I am headed to South Dakota and rural Minnesota the week after. I am anxious to get back to Europe (England, France and Germany), but with the Europeans largely on holiday it really isn't practical for a few more weeks. I will be traveling a lot to get ahead of my objectives.

I bought a car, finally. The pic shows what the Mercedes (I was planning on buying) looks like after I have had a long chat with myself. I can certainly afford a new BMW or Mercedes. I just know spending money on a fancy car won't make me better. There are lots of opportunities to make myself better (I am looking at a Skip Barber driving class at Road Atlanta for example). So the 2004 Kia Optima LX is the ride of choice. I am planning on getting the car painted and having ALL of the emblems removed and generally de-branding it (except for the Georgia Tag on the back). Perhaps I am doing something similar to a "black bumper Amish" treatment.

I am looking forward to buying a really nice tractor and implements some day. I have seen many in the last few weeks.

I let the counter-offer on the lake front property go. I am still looking. I am not a distressed buyer. I plan on keeping it that way.

DJ is flying down to visit this coming weekend. It has been quite a while since we have seen each other; it has been at least a month. That will be good. The bakery is going strong. Significant business changes are the most important stuff in planning. I am flexible.

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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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