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Shikoku Ranma
We have known Elizabeth and Atsunori Andoh for over 20 years; I have lost count. I took Elizabeth’s pickle workshop at A Taste of Culture in 2000, maybe? Shortly after that, Tod & I built her a website. And now we are all friends. Our wedding anniversaries are 20 years apart, and we celebrate the…
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Tobukuro
In Japan, storm shutters are a standard feature on homes. With typhoons an annual occurrence, it’s wise to protect the windows – especially the big expanses of glass in patio doors. Most people buy aluminum shutters along with their windows and doors. But in our case, that mass market option wasn’t even considered. From the…
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Designing built-ins
When we got the quotation for the house build, it didn’t include everything we’d need because I hadn’t decided yet on details like the bathroom sink or what I wanted for a kitchen island. Well, now’s the time to make those decisions. I opted to do it at 555 upstairs in the loft where I…
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Sleep anti-routine
Whoever manages good sleep hygiene probably lives alone in the city. Let me recount last night and see if there’s a clue about why I am usually tired in the daytime. 8:00 pm Beryl jumps off my lap and runs out of the living room. I look outside. There’s a raccoon peering towards the cat…
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What if everything’s a spectrum?
Neurodiversity, gender identity, sexual preference, politics, religion, mental illness, physical wellness. While we aim for some personal goal or societal endpoint, all of our lives seem to be lived on a spectrum. A sliding scale. A gradient. A tapestry. What if all points on any spectrum were acceptable? Grey areas, in. Black and white, out.…
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Before social media
This morning, I saw the headline of an article in The Atlantic, “The Age of Social Media is Ending” by Ian Bogost. It’s behind a paywall, so I didn’t read it, but… It got me thinking about the pre-platform days. How did we connect with people online? If social media dies, what will we turn…
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Nearly drowned
Three days ago, I nearly drowned in the shower. That sounds pretty dramatic, doesn’t it? But it’s true. A combination of hayfever, a lingering cold, and jala neti almost did me in. I came home from several joyous hours at 555 on Saturday afternoon covered in cedar pollen which was making me itch, so I…
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Kobayashi Mikan
Mrs. Kawasaki introduced me to the Kobayashi mikan tree on one of our early walks around 555 in spring of 2021. It’s a compact tree with low branches that sits to the west of the house. This was clearly a fruit she liked, because she lingered a while to admire it. “It’s good for jam,”…
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Kakishibu
What color is the house going to be? Since our Facebook group exercise in exterior colorways in March of 2022, I have visualised the exterior walls of the house as a medium-dark brown to contrast with the silver roof. The tonal change creates a visual bridge between the roof and the black window frames and…
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Rant on Vague Encouragements
I have to get this off my chest, and it’s a departure from my usual fare of cats, house building, and other projects. I won’t be offended if you don’t read or listen this one. I have had enough of vague encouragement on social media. I beg you, if you are going to share, please…
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