May '11

Hi Everyone - Happy May!

We had a fun, busy month... starting with the Lodi Street Fair - it was fun to walk around, eat... and people-watch.

My co-workers and our new work-motto ;-)

Haruko and I went to the motorcycle races at Sear's Point (Infineon Raceway).

My favorite part was, of course, the electric bikes:

Should I buy this one?

Or this one?

So many bikes... so little money...

The electric-bike race begins.

The winner is.... Brammo!

A do-it-yourself electric motorcycle conversion.

Silent flight.

Dinner in Berkeley, after the races, at the Herbivore Restaurant.

Haruko's mom, Michiko, flew from Tokyo to San Francisco to visit! We picked her up at the airport.

We stopped on the way home for some Thai food.

Relaxing after a long flight.

Soon, we all hopped on an airplane and flew north to Seattle.

We went first to Haruko's sister's house.

It was nice to relax and enjoy the company of family.

Me and Micah.

Hanaka and Sakura.

Sakura, Taiga and Haruko (Aunt-chan).

Micah, Grandma (Baba), Hanaka.

From Seattle, we drove to the peninsula, where we boarded a ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria, Canada.

The world-famous Butchart Gardens.

Tiaga & Hanaka - squared.

Baba enjoyed the flowers.

After returning from Canada Haruko and I stayed on the peninsula another day - to visit with my dad and my sister. We went to the Salt Creek Recreation area - it was beautiful.

Me, my sister, Crystal, and the new Honda Rebel.

Dad, Haruko and me.

We also paid a visit to my mom - gone four years already.

Back across the Pugent Sound - Micah, Taiga and I went to a local brewery/restaurant for a snack in the rare sunshine.

While in Washington we drove north to Bellingham...
where Haruko's family's friend, Vonnie, lives.
Vonnie, and her late husband Malcom, were Kazumi's host-parents when she was an exchange student in the 1980's.

Jocelyn Graduated from Delta College!

At the Stockton Arena for the graduation ceremony.

She did it!

Jocelyn finished the last couple of classes (online) that she needed for her A.A. degree from Delta College, while she was deployed in Iraq. She flew from her base in Kansas for the graduation ceremony. Meanwhile, my dad flew down from Seattle to surprise Jocelyn and congratulate her.

We are all proud of you Jossy!

Before grandpa flew home we drove up to Uncle Jim's house and had lunch with Uncle Jim and Aunt Darlene.

Baba's visit to the U.S. included a dinner at The Olive Garden, with Jerod and Hayley.

We also went to Napa for lunch and wine tasting on the Napa Wine Train.

Baba's flight back to Tokyo wasn't until late, so we took advantage of the time to travel around San Francisco. First we went to the San Francisco Ferry Terminal.

Then on to the Fisherman's Wharf area, where they were filming a movie ;-)

And then to Ghirardelli Square. We then took Baba to the airport and said our goodbye's. Haruko talked to her mom after her flight landed in Tokyo - she made it home without any problems. Now we are counting the days until we can go to Japan again... just four more months!

Meanwhile, there's a new club in Stockton - check it out!
Until Next Month! Take care!

Videos

Lodi Street Faire

Sear's Point

Baba in USA Part I

Jossy Graduates!

Baba in the USA Part II