I
currently have a couple of e-mail inquiries out to some
Ryokan in Takeyama to see if I can snag a room for a
few nights next week. If I get no response soon I'll
just start calling (or beg my wife to do the calling
for me) to secure a room for a few nights.
Originally I was planning to go there
this coming winter to get some shots of the snow covering
the old buildings, but the changing of the leaves and
the crisp autumn air has lit a fire under me to go out
and take some pictures. I'll just have to get
to go there twice I guess.
--
Last week I received a package from
Denmark in the mail. At first I had no idea what it
could be, but as I opened it and pulled out the contents
the image on the cover of the two enclosed books brought
it all back to me.
Last fall a publishing company in
Denmark bought one of my photos to use on the cover
of a new book that was to be published in November of
2005. Seeing that it is now November 2005, the book
has been published, and they were kind enough to send
me a couple of complimentary copies.
It is some sort of thriller or crime
drama, but it is written in German, so I can't read
a lick of it. Too bad, because it looks like an interesting
read, especially with such a cool photo on the cover
and all... :P
--
Like I said before, the recent influx
of crisp fall air has reminded me about just how much
I love this time of year. Growing up in Northern Michigan,
Fall as always a nice time.
Things I miss about Upper Michigan
in the Fall:
The spicy-sweet smell of apples ripening on the
tree.
The dry splashing sound as you walk through fields
of thigh high brown grass.
Wood smoke.
Vegetable gardens overflowing with summers bounty.
Carpets of wet brown leaves.
The distant rattle of two Buck deer battling for
mating rights.
First frost.
Stars so bright you could almost read a book by
their light.
Color. Eye ripping, mind numbing, all out assault
on your senses, natures last defiant stand of life before
a long winter sleep explosions of color.
Thin skins of ice on mud puddles.
Partridges drumming in the forest.
Steam rising from ponds in the morning.
The dry rattle of naked branches blowing in the
wind.
The fact that by this time of the year, you realize
that Upper Michigan has only a handful of nice days
remaining for the season. This means you appreciate
the ones you have that much more. It lends an urgency
to the time. You squeeze out all you can before the
snow starts to fly and the surrounding countryside slips
into the long sleep of winter.
--
OK, time to get to the point of this update.
The 10 Japanese Men's Commandments
1. Thou shalt not talk on the train during your morning
commute. (But feel free to make a ton of noise by kung
fu fighting with your newspaper)
2. Thou shalt not play grab-ass with women on the train
during the morning commute.
3. Thou shalt not buy products made by any direct competitor
to the company at which you are employed.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, but don't bitch when you
have to work on it.
5. Honor thy father and thy mother, and thy Shachou
(president of the company), and thy oba-san, and thy
ogi-san, and thy neighbor, and thy neighbors wife, and
the people who work at the corner combini, and thy prime
minister, and thy Emperor, and just about EVERYONE else
you meet while going about your daily business. (Bosuzoku,
and unwashed gaijin excluded)
6. Thou shalt not mix thy burnable trash with thy non-burnable
trash.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. (Although technically,
if you don't get caught, and nobody else ever finds
out about it, then we can all agree that it never really
happened.)
8. Thou shalt not take beer vending machines for granted.
(Honor them, see # 5)
9. Thou shalt not leave thy place of work before your
direct supervisor. (See #4)
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors loose-socks-wearing,
plaid-skirt-hiked-up-to-her-butt-cheeks-so-you-can-see-her-Hello-Kitty-panties
daughter. (At least not openly, but feel free to take
great satisfaction in openly perusing pornographic manga
regarding that very same subject while you contemplate
playing grab-ass with the women in front of you on the
train during your daily commute.
Comment 37
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