My mother got back to Canada after a great week and a half spent with Frankie, Masako and I. She wrote this in her email the other day.
I'm amazed that doesn't happen more often. Right from the time you board the plane you listen to announcements, "this is a no smoking flight" "no smoking on this flight" "welcome aboard our smoke-free cabin" all the while you have a mini ash tray built into your arm rest on most flights, and no smoking signs are absolutely everywhere. This leads smokers to, well... think about smoking! As an ex-smoker I remember how hard it was to keep smoking out of my mind for the 10 hour journey across the pacific and could really have done with out all the little reminders.

First off, sorry it has been some time since my last post but we have been busy with our house guest. My mother has come from Victoria, Canada to be with her new grandchild. On Wednesday we attended a small ceremony at Minomiya Shrine in Odawara for Frances that marks the first month of her life called Omiya mairi.

I have a lot more stories floating around in me head but will close with these photos for now.

I've noticed a decline in smoking lately inside our station, as least when I'm there. Maybe I have the reputation of being the crazy gaijin that yells at you when you smoke inside the station... I don't blame them. The last guy I had a word with was actually reading a poster inside the station promoting the new "no smoking" rules while sucking on a ciggy! He quickly distinguished the butt and that was it, no confrontation. I'm beginning to notice not only surprise when I confront the rule benders but also a little fear as well. This is great news because the last thing I want to do when out with Frances is have to get into a confrontation with some salary-man over his smelly habit.

A small typhoon hit yesterday when Masako, her parents, Frances and I were on our way to Masako's grandparent's home to show off Frankie. Some hairy moments while on the Tomei Expressway with visibility almost zero.

Not too often do you see a photo with 4 generations together in one shot. This is one to go on the wall. Also some photos of during and after the rains taken from the car and from their front yard.

Frankie is recently started making cute little noises like she is trying to talk and she is also smiling more often... I'm tying hard not to seem like an "oya baka" I really am, trust me on this. I fill my mom's email inbox every couple of days with the days cutest photos.

seems my site has just turned from mostly text and only a few images to mostly images and little text. No big deal, nobody was listening anyway. enjoy the photos

Tomorrow Frances (aka. Frankie, Fran-chan, Franco) will be one month old. She is such a joy. We will celebrate with a hug, kiss and trip to Costco while Jiji (aka. Oto-san, Toshi) and Baba (aka. Oka-san, Machi) babysit for us.

*black and white shots taken with Toshi's Canon New EOS Kiss