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Canada Day 2007

After the soccer game with Kotomi, Max, Shane, Allison, Byrant, and Deanna.

Victoria - World Cup U-20

Scotland vs. Japan on Canada Day. We thumped the Tartans and their army. Max loved being there, and could hardly contain himself when everyone started cheering. He thought they were cheering for him. BTW, that is supposed to be a Hinomaru on his nose.

Butchart Gardens

Poised and dignified. A fine picture of my Japanese family taken in the Japanese Garden.

Cabin Getaway

Maybe it was a mistake going up to the top level of the ferry for a look around. All that funky tobacco they were smoking apparently had an adverse effect on my son.

Airplane Rides at the Airport

Max LOVES airplanes. Can't wait to blow his little mind at the Abbotsford Air Show next week!!

Father's Day 2007

Nobody wanted to wear the paper hats we made for the Dads.

First Haircut

Sharp... now we just need to give Papa a little trim along the sides.

Pic-Nic Fun

Max lunchin' and laughin' in Deifenbaker Field.

Kotomi and Max . . .

. . . in the early summer sunshine of 2007.

Cloverdale Rodeo 2007

Max getting his rodeo-on in his sweet Harley Davidson jumper, courtesy of Uncle Bryant.

Cloverdale Rodeo 2007

Don't move, and don't look him in the eyes... the child can smell fear.

First Birthday Pics

Gimme more cake!!!!

First Birthday Pics

Aw yeah... he knows when it's party time.

Happy First Birthday, Max!!

I realize I am posting this almost three months after the big day, but better late than never. Here is my boy enjoying his FIRST birthday cake.

What Can You Do?

Just to show you all what a terribly wonderful thing Parenthood is, I could take about 20 pictures like this on any given day. What can you do but just let your heart melt?

Easter 2007

Grandma's idea, not mine.

Max and Great Grandad

Max and his Great Grandad at Len's birthday luncheon. Happy Birthday, Grandad!!

Very Victoria

The family and I took off for a little day trip to Victoria last month. Mama and Max and I had a blast acting like Japanese tourists. Can't wait till Max is old enough to hit up the Royal Museum.

Spring Bling

Max and Me taking the time to go for a ride in our family car and bask in some nostalgia.

Baby Love

It was almost love at first sight, Max and genki Fuka here. Nothing could make Max giggle more in the morning than the sight of his favorite kiddie show hostess. Too bad NHK canned her two weeks ago. I am sure his heart will go on. At least he no longer rushes to the tv and pulls himself up onto the tv stand, sending Reg's 42 inch Aquous teetering dangerously over our infant son.

Did I Mention I Like Sumo?

It is on!!!! The 2007 Haru (Spring) Basho kicks off tomorrow, and I am stoked!! This time, the S&K produced Sumo Pool has nearly 30 contestants from 4 countries, making the winner's spoils no small amount. While I have nothing but respect for Asashoryu, I do believe the sport needs another champion, and I also believe that it is time for Hakuho to step up and be that champion.

In other Sumo storylines, I hope for good things from Ama, Roho (that's right, Roho), and while I didn't pick him this time around, I always have a soft spot in my heart for the lightly touched Takamisakari. Let's get ready to ruuuuuuuumble!!!!

Job Interview

Ok, so I had a job interview today. Nothing too severe, it was just for some tutoring work, but still, you want to make a good impression, right? So an hour before I go in I hop in the shower and get cleaned up. After the shower I have a shave, and while I am shaving, I decide I will just get rid of the peach fuzz I have growing on my ear lobes. Carelessly, I go to shave my lobe, and I nick my ear, just above the lobe on the rubbery cartilage.

I didn't see the blood until it was running down the back of my jaw, heading towards my throat. I called in Kotomi and Barb to help, but the only thing there was to do was to apply pressure and hope the bleeding stopped before my interview.

It didn't stop. I bled during lunch. I bled in the car on the way to the interview. I bled waiting for the interview. I even bled while answering questions in the interview. How well do you interview? I really don't think I interview well under normal circumstances. I can only imagine how attractive this applicant looked holding a bloody tissue to his ear during the whole 30 minute Q and A. Now I know why she never offered to shake my hand; my fingers were COVERED IN BLOOD!!!!

The worst thing was I lied about it. Thinking anyone would make me out to be retarded for trying to shave my own ears, I made up a story when the interviewer asked me about it. I said Max, my son, scratched me there while we were playing earlier. I am sorry Buddy,I didn't know what else to say. I hope that if this post is still around when you are old enough to read, you will understand that Daddy didn't have that much blood left in his head at that time. He would have said that he had just escaped from a P.O.W. camp earlier that morning if he had lost anymore blood. Anyways, the moral of the story is that I am an idiot. The perfect reminder for an unemployed Dad, and hopefully my "rock bottom". Nowhere to go from here but UP!!!

First Indiscretion

Pen + Unsupervised Child = This.

Whistler Moments

Another great time at the Alpine Lakes Retreat. Ryan definitely had good wood down there, and Kumi's massages are matched only by Cat's outstanding cooking. Thanks for a great time, Everyone!

Me and Max

Last weekend (02/24-25/07) at Uncle Ryan's condo in Whistler.

Poor but Happy

I am sticking a patent on this sucker and selling it to Fisher Price. Parents, you should be able to buy it in time for Christmas at a reasonable $85.00.

Me and Max

Taking in the fresh Spring air at Gary Point.

Riding Grandad

I won't try to embed the video again, but we posted another piece of cinematic genius on YouTube. This time, Grandad finds out who the real lord of the Manor is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0t9M2TpkGo

Aomori Weather Lady

AhGooo's YouTube Debut

Family Date VI

The first month of 2007 has been pretty good to us. I managed to get a couple of jobs, and some teaching experience, under my belt. Kotomi is finding there is more to Canadian life than changing dirty diapers, and Max's teething is so trouble-free, I think he has decided to just go ahead and sprout them all at once.

Things have been so good that we decided to take a day off and go on a Family Date. Sorry, the date ends with this entry... you need to go back a few to the beginning.

Family Date V

Mama and Max stop for a chilly photo session along the Seawall.

Family Date IV

Had to give a shout out to all this crazy fog we have been getting lately.

Samui ne...

Rakko meets Itazura ko. HAHAHAHAHA!!!! It keeps getting funnier everytime I say it!!! HAHAHAHA!!!..... sorry, I guess you need to speak Japanese to understand... even if you did speak Japanese, I would give the chances of getting that joke at about 35%.

Family Date III

I hear other parents already have their kids on a 3 year waiting list to get into the most prestigious Fishbowl Immersion programs.

Family Date II

After the plane crash, we stopped by Uncle Dave's store (www.second-wave.ca) for lunch and some shopping. After that, off to the Aquarium!!! For Max, the stars of the show weren't the Belugas, but these gooey little critters.

Family Date

What better way to start a family date (and it's my fault we haven't had one in a while) than to view the scorched, twisted remains of a horrific plane crash on Spanish Banks... that's right, a plane crash. You didn't hear about that?

Christmas Carnage

My house was the target of a road-side bomb of presents.