Saturday, March 22, 2008

Busy, busy, busy

It's getting warm outside in Okinawa. You know what that means? It's time to go to the beach again!!!
It's been awhile since my last post and there is a perfectly good reason. I've been working too much and have had little time to myself. Good news is though, I've secured myself a relatively large scale 2-3 year project (I can say that with 99% certainty - not 100). Its big enough to cover my salary plus overhead and maybe even some profit on the side for the next few years. The main point is, the Okinawa office is making it and I feel secure. The Okinawa office is actually doing too well as I am working on 3 to 4 projects at one time. I currently have some people from Tokyo down here helping me out on my work load.
Enough about work though, right now life is too stressful and busy. But in just three weeks, I've managed to get used to my new environment and adapt to my new work requirements. Things should get easier from here (I'm hoping anyways). I told my boss that I can do this for awhile but I can't sacrifice my life over my job. Like I said, I think things will get more manageable once I finish a few little side projects that are taking up time that I don't have.


(Beautiful Little Hamahiga Beach - 20 minutes away by car)

The kids and Akemi are doing well. We received our household goods finally from our move from California. So Akemi has been reunited with her valuable books and sewing equipment, Audrey and Emma with their numerous toys and princess tent, and me with my reclining chair (a gift from my father). We did manage to get ripped off by our international mover. Actual costs were about twice what they quoted us. We had to take care of all costs for transport within Japan. They avoided making any reinbursements despite the fact that I paid for "door-to-door" transport. The money isn't a big deal, I'm just happy all our stuff arrived and in one piece. Especially those items that have sentimental value like my Dad's blue Miyata road bike and all those photo albums.

(Audrey, Emma, and new friend Ari at Manta Park)



Let's see what else. A lot has happened, too much to remember. All I know is I've been working like crazy and trying to get my company in a good place. So far, I think I'm suceeding. Audrey will be starting school in about two weeks. Her pre-school is a five minute walk from the house. She's very very excited. That and we recently met up with Aunt Hiroko and family. She was quite sick for a month or so but she feels better now. She invited us to come over and eat with the Matsuda Family. Audrey and Emma have a second cousin that's about Audrey's age named Kankichi. Here they are posing together. Kankichi and Audrey are exactly the same height. Every time we eat dinner at Hiroko's house, we mark their respective heights on the column you see behind them.

(Kankichi, Emma, Audrey)


Well, I'll keep trying to post on this thing regularly. And I'll try to work on involving myself in something in life other than work. Until next time, sayonara and otsukare sama desu!

6 comments:

MB said...

Ken,

You should take the opportunity on gathering information on your mother's family tree with the Matsuda family right there. I'd be delighted to have it on my MyFamily website.

Mike

Unknown said...

Hey Ken, You make the Okinawa life-style seem almost perfect. Just a little too much work, work, work. It also seems like living 20 minutes from an ocean beach with warm water is a little like cheating. I'm so glad you're posting the pictures and sharing the stories. Terri

Unknown said...

Ken,

I am very glad to hear that you are doing well in Okinawa as well as your kids and wife.
(Kodomo wa O-kiku natta ne!)

Please take care of your self, and we wish your business continuously very well.

Kaoru, Hiroki

Kristine said...

HI Ken,

I can't believe how much I miss your kids. It was so nice having you guys right here so close....but I'm happy for Akemi. I'm glad she's spending time with her family and the kids are getting to know more family on Akemi's side and mom's side for that matter. Anyway, give them a big hug from me and when you slow down a little you'll have to explain how to hook up this monitor you got me at Christmas! I'd love to talk with the girls soon!!

deb said...

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the update. It looks like fun times at the park and the beach. My mom used to say it was great to raise kids in California (in the late 60s early 70s) near the beach. All she had to do was take us to the beach and we were entertained, and she didn't have to put clothes or shoes on us 'til we were 5... something like that. The earliest memories I have are of my childhood at the beach with Jesse and Kristine and Barbara. I never minded being covered with sand until it was time to get into the car and we had to brush it all off. Then I'd cry because it stung. We're really going to miss you at the beach in Oregon this summer. But we'll send pictures. :)

Deb

bobbie said...

Ken-
We've been busy traveling again (to Peru to visit Greta and her family) , so haven't had time to check in with you. What fun to catch up with your life via your posts. Your life looks pretty idyllic from our end, clearly removed from the stress of adjusting to a new job and home. So glad to hear that everything arrived from the states...that should help. Hope things settle down for you soon. It's too bad that some of the more important times in our careers overlap with some pretty important times in the life of our family. But that's life! We wish you well. bobbie