Who's woods etc., etc...

My parents' woods....

Where I live....

Sheboygan County's economic development committee commissioned this video. Two young brothers from the area (Leclerc Brothers) have their own film production company, and made this. Pretty good:


The Promise of Sheboygan County from Leclerc Brothers Motion Pictures on Vimeo.


The Promise of Sheboygan County, from Leclerc Brothers Motion Pictures on Vimeo.

Makes me want to live here...

Nice day...

Various updates

Ivanna (2 weeks ago) and Val (last week) are doing great down at MD Anderson. Great results.

Kevin rode his cycle off into the sunset, so to speak...a well-earned peace, at last. Godspeed, Kevin! Thanks for all the advice you (and your lovely wife) gave me and countless others....

Terminally Illin' -- World's Awesomest Cancer Comic Book

Watch this video about this 23 year old woman's cancer comic book project, then go to the link to make a pledge to support it if you want! Just a buck or two if you can. Or just to watch additional interesting videos on the project....



Here's the link to pledge or see other materials on this project, through Kickstarter: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kaylinmarie/terminally-illin-worlds-awesomest-cancer-comic-boo

Thanks!

Dan

Elizabeth Edwards

When I was in the thick of it, I drew inspiration from where I could get it. That may sound sappy. But two sources in particular were very helpful--Lance Armstrong and Elizabeth Edwards. I've written about Lance Armstrong before, but not about Elizabeth Edwards. She passed away of cancer, rather suddenly it seems, after a long, long battle. If that makes sense. Armstrong wrote about survival and recovery, the "return;" Edwards became more of a model for temperance and grace when faced with a seemingly hopeless prognosis.

I listened to a segment about her on NPR on the way to work this morning, it was a recording of her talking about her childhood remembrance of the Japanese festival called Obon, which honors the deceased. She remembered in particular the custom of releasing floating lanterns into a river.

(Photo credit: http://martywalpole.wordpress.com/2010/04/07/superstition-in-japan/)

Sometimes I think we lack in good ritual ceremony to remember the deceased here in the U.S. Firing guns into the air doesn't quite cut it for me....

Anyhow, bon voyage, Ms. Edwards, enjoy your ride on the Cosmos Mariner, and thank you for your help. Here's a link to a more eloquent eulogy: http://cewilton.blogspot.com/2010/12/december-7-2010-remembering-elizabeth.html. You have to read the quotes about her philosophy in the face of cancer and the death of her son.

Speaking of class, please check out http://www.kevsupdate.blogspot.com/. Kevin is one of the original gangstas of PMP.

Okay, the best way to honor these people is to remember what they have taught you, incorporate those lessons into your life, and then to move onward, live fully, and enjoy! So, thank you Elizabeth, Kevin, Lance, and all the others, and on to the holiday season!

Leaving Tokyo...

...back to the little monsters...

But wait there's more...

It gets even better. Just bought a sake from the very pleasant train "stewardess." Suck it, Amtrak.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:５丁目,Edogawa,Japan

Wabash Cannonball

I am continually amazed at how good they are at moving people around in Japan--buses, taxis, trains. This is the Narita Express train from downtown Tokyo to the airport.


This and the bullet train I took to Kyoto last time here make me feel like the finest train ride in the U.S. should involve a hobo stick over my shoulder.


Yet U.S. politicians routinely block any train projects. Go figure.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:５丁目,Shibuya,Japan

Positive Attitude (xkcd)

http://xkcd.com/828/