Category: Slice of Life

Summer Mode and Running Shoes

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"Summer Evening Sun" Cedar Park, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/100 sec, ISO1250
 “Summer Evening Sun” Cedar Park, 2018

こんばんは。How’s it going?

Well, it’s August and we are in full summer mode here in Texas. The temperatures are in the mid to upper 90s so not too bad yet. I actually love the heat, but it makes it a little more difficult to go running. 🏃 Today I went out when the temperature was 92° F and it was kind of tough. Usually, that kind of heat doesn’t bother me too much, but since I just wasn’t feeling it, and also I just started running more consistently last month, I took it easy and walked for the second half of my 2-miler.

Walking around the neighborhood is fun though – I like seeing how everyone takes care of/neglects their yards and lawns. 😝 Exercising is a lot more fun if I don’t think about calories/working out, but just enjoy being outdoors.

Speaking of running, it’s time (long overdue, actually) to replace my On Cloud running shoes. 👟 These have been the best running shoes I’ve ever owned, so I think I will just get a new pair of them. Instead of my light grey/orange/white, I am getting the navy/white color scheme. I think they look nice!

I took my Converse High Tops and On Cloud running shoes to New York, and of course the running shoes were way more comfortable. So I am looking forward to using the new ones not only for running, but for traveling. Yay!

Today’s photo is of the evening sun coming into the kitchen. The sun sets after 8 pm now, so we get a lovely light to end the day. 😀

I hope you had a nice Saturday!

またね～

Liberty Bottleworks Navi-Cap

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"Navi-Cap" Cedar Park, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2.5, 1/30 sec, ISO800
 “Navi-Cap” Cedar Park, 2018

こんばんは。How’s it going?

I just received a brand new Liberty Bottleworks Navi-Cap, and I couldn’t be happier! I’ve had my Liberty Bottleworks metal water bottle for a few years now, and it has been great. I love the 16 oz. size which is not too big nor heavy, and fits in most stretchy mesh holders on bags and backpacks. When I originally purchased it, I opted for the Sport Cap which is very convienent because you can just flip up the spout and drink. But the problem is that the Sport Cap is not completely water-tight, and it would often leak a little bit.

I’ve wanted to replace it for a while now, but the price has always been really expensive for the cap, but when I recently checked, the price and availablity had come down to a reasonable level. This time I wanted to get the Standard Cap (which won’t leak), but I noticed that they also have a “Navi-Cap”, which has a built-in compass. This is great, I thought, because just last week when exploring New York City, we could have used a regular compass (our phones don’t have a magnet compass) to point us in the right direction when using Google Maps Navigation.

The Standard Cap costs $6 for a color version, and the Navi-Cap is $12. So, it’s a bit of a premium for the compass, plus the Navi-Cap only comes in black. It’s kind of odd, but the compass is not fixed to the cap. In fact, when I opened the box, I just saw the standard cap and I thought they sent the wrong thing. But also in the package was the compass… whew! Anyways, it just fits on top, wedging into the space between the handles. It’s not super-tight, but it should be secure enough to stay put. I think it’s a nice solution, since you can pop it out when you wash the cap.

The cap itself appears to just be a standard one. When I look at the photos of the color standard caps, they also have the little circular indentations where the compass would rest. I guess that’s cool because I can buy another standard cap when I need to, and just pop the compass on that.

"Navi-Cap" Cedar Park, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/100 sec, ISO1250
 “Navi-Cap” Cedar Park, 2018
"Navi-Cap" Cedar Park, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/100 sec, ISO1250
 “Navi-Cap” Cedar Park, 2018
"Navi-Cap" Cedar Park, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/100 sec, ISO1250
 “Navi-Cap” Cedar Park, 2018

Anyway, I am happy with the new Liberty Bottleworks Navi-Cap, and can’t wait to use the compass in conjunction with Google Maps. I guess I need to book another trip to New York City? 😝

またね～

Takoyaki and a Creature

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"Takoyaki" Cedar Park, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 35mm, f/2, 1/70 sec, ISO200
 “Takoyaki” Cedar Park, 2018

こんばんは。How’s it going?

It’s amazing to me how Mariko can seemingly easily create a delicious dinner for the whole family without even thinking about it. I would have to plan way in advance, and then my cooking repertoire is limited to just a few things. But tonight Mariko made takoyaki using our takoyaki pan, and since we don’t have octopus, she used cubes of bratwurst that we had in the freezer, corn, and cheese. And it was delicious!!!

Takoyaki is really special, and to be able to whip this up for dinner is amazing to me. Thank you Mariko!

In other news, I was playing around with the Fujifilm X-T10 and took this photo. It’s a cat toy, but what is it supposed to be? A mouse? A snowball with tail? Whatever it is, the sunlight illuminating it from behind is what caught my attention.

"Creature" Cedar Park, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 35mm, f/2, 1/400 sec, ISO400
 “Creature” Cedar Park, 2018

I hope you had a nice day!

またね～

Karaage and a Quick Physical

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"Karaage Dinner" Cedar Park, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/45 sec, ISO3200
 “Karaage Dinner” Cedar Park, 2018

こんばんは。How’s it going?

Koa has started his marching band high school career but we forgot to get his required physical exam from the doctor… but luckily Mariko found out that the CareNow urgent care near us offers physicals, and they are only $20! So Koa and I headed over there after band practice today and sure enough, there was a sign in the window stating, “School Physicals – $20”! Plus, we were the only ones there when we arrived so we were in and out of there in just half an hour. Super convenient, and much cheaper than a visit to the regular doctor.

Tonight’s photo is of the dinner that Mariko prepared. Once again it is the family favorite, karaage (Japanese fried chicken). Of course there were no leftovers! 😄

I hope you had a nice Tuesday!

またね～

Sailor Moon Movies

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"Make Up!" Austin, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.6, 1/100 sec, ISO2500
 “Make Up!” Austin, 2018

こんばんは。How’s it going?

This evening I went to see Sailor Moon R: The Movie and Sailor Moon S: The Movie with my good friend Mikey. He’s a huge fan of Sailor Moon, and I enjoy the anime and live action as well, but have only scratched the surface of the franchise.

Both movies were in theaters for a special one-night-only showing, with a short intermission in between and since they are each about an hour long, it was a perfect format. I liked the short intermission between so we could chat about the previous movie and then Mikey could tell me what I needed to know about the next one.

Sailor Moon is a lot of fun, and the movies had some good action scenes and battles and the animation was impressive for the time (mid 90s). Both were great, but I liked S a little better because the story focused on Luna, the cat. It was cool to see her turn into human form at the end!

Next week is another Sailor Moon night at the theater, this time they will show Sailor Moon Super S: The Movie. I’m really looking forward to it!

I hope you had a nice day!

またね～

Shopping, Cooking, and Driving

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”Three Girls" Cedar Park, 2018
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.2, 1/20 sec, ISO3200
 ”Three Girls” Cedar Park, 2018

こんばんは。How’s it going?

Today went by so quickly! Even though I woke up fairly early (before 8 am), there was so much to do.

First, opening the mail that had collected for me the past week, a little freelance work, vacuuming, and breaking down cardboard boxes kept me busy before the kids woke up. Next, it was off to the market to buy ingredients for dinner, then to the mall to find some black slacks for Koa. Who knew it could be so difficult! We went to five stores before finding a pair that fit and wasn’t crazy expensive.

By that time it was early afternoon and time to get cooking! Mariko was going to a potluck and requested I make barbacoa meat for tacos. It was fairly easy to make, and with the Instant Pot, it was fast too. I love that pressure cooker!

But before dinner, I went out driving with Bay. We need to really finish up and get him his license soon (hopefully before September). He has to finish some online classes, and we just need a few more hours of driving (and parallel parking) before he can take his driving test. So we are on a fast track to get it done. On the plus side, Bay is a really good driver, so I’m not too worried about him on the road.

After we returned home, it was taco time! The barbacoa meat was tender and yummy, but honestly, I’d take carnitas over barbacoa any day of the week.

In the evening, I had three large piles of laundry to fold, and that brings us up to the present. It’s 11:24 and I need to wrap this up.

I hope you had a nice Sunday!

おやすみ！