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! 😄
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!
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.
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2.5, 1/100 sec, ISO3200 “New Animal” Cedar Park, 2018
こんばんは。How’s it going?
Bay and I are back home after a nice travel day. It started pretty early, with us leaving our Airbnb at 5:45 am to catch the A-train to JFK. As I was expecting, the train was delayed a bit but I had padded our travel time to account for delays so we arrived at the airport with enough time to get coffee. The flight itself was uneventful and we reached Austin before noon and were home right after lunch.
It’s good to be home!
Tonight’s photo is of a new Buc-ee beaver that is invading the cat tree. Ah, domestic life. ☺️
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/1400 sec, ISO200 “One World Trade Center” New York City, 2018
こんばんは。How’s it going?
Today is our last day in New York City, as we are flying home early tomorrow morning. For this final day, we stayed towards the end of Manhattan Island. Our first stop was the 9/11 Memorial and its reflecting pools. These memorials are quite impressive and somber, with the names of the people who lost their lives etched all along the edge.
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/110 sec, ISO200 “Reflecting Pool” New York City, 2018
We sat for quite a while near the memorial, I think partly because of the nature of the space, and also that we just needed a break from the hustle and bustle of the city. So after a quiet hour or so, we then headed to the top of One World Trade Center to the observation deck.
The elevator ride to the top is very interesting because the walls of the elevator are large screens which not only replicate the rising altitude but how the city changed all the way from its founding until the present day. It was an incredible show. Please check out this video, which will give you and idea.
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/8, 1/680 sec, ISO200 “The City” New York City, 2018
As you might guess, the view from the top of One World Trade Center is stunning. But even though you are at the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, both Bay and I agreed that the view from Top of the Rock was more impressive, mostly because you are outdoors. But I think the observation deck of One World Trade Center is a must see. With this trip, I’ve now been to the top of Rockefeller Center, The Empire State Building, One World Trade Center, and the original WTC.
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/8, 1/210 sec, ISO200 “Looking Uptown” New York City, 2018Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/8, 1/350 sec, ISO200 “Towards Brooklyn” New York City, 2018
Next, we visited the 9/11 Museum, which is below ground. You can see the original steel foundation beams and slurry wall and many tributes in the forms of murals and paintings, but the heart of the museum has to be the historical exhibits that chronicle the timeline of September 11, 2001. It was shocking to relive that day, and there were several times when I felt tears welling up.
There was one exhibit/film in particular that describes the timeline of Flight 93 which crashed in Pennsylvania after the passengers stormed the cockpit of the hijacked jet. It was heartbreaking to hear the voicemail messages of passengers to their loved ones and families… That was extremely difficult to hear. 😢
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/70 sec, ISO3200 “Memorial” New York City, 2018
I have to admit that I was not really looking forward to visiting this museum, but I am very glad I did. When we exited the museum I gave Bay a little hug. 😥
After the museum, I really needed to get some caffeine so we searched The Oculus building for the Starbucks. Unfortunately, we didn’t find one, but the building itself is really cool:
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/5.6, 1/240 sec, ISO200 “Oculus” New York City, 2018
Luckily there was a Starbucks on the way to Wall Street, so we had a short rest, I got my caffeine fix, we were ready to go. From the coffee shop, it was just a short walk to the Charging Bull statue. It was pretty cool, but I really enjoyed seeing the Fearless Girl. I wasn’t sure if it was a permanent sculpture or would be there, but it was! I admire what this statue stands for. Resiliency and the strength of the underdog, the less-privileged.
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.2, 1/100 sec, ISO800 “Fearless Girl” New York City, 2018
A couple blocks away are the New York Stock Exchange and the Federal Hall National Memorial. It was cool to be in the same place where George Washington was sworn in as the first president. You can actually see the floor that he stood upon to receive the oath.
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.2, 1/100 sec, ISO320 “NYSE” New York City, 2018Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/5, 1/100 sec, ISO2500 “George Washington” New York City, 2018Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/5, 1/100 sec, ISO2500 “George Washington and NYSE” New York City, 2018
After Wall Street, we headed back to SoHo for last-minute gift-shopping and then to our last dinner in NYC. And it had to be… pizza! 😆🍕
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2.5, 1/60 sec, ISO3200 “Pizza Dinner” New York City, 2018
One the way back to our Airbnb I snapped a photo of this wall-art. I like to think of it as Bay and I enjoying our travel together. 😀
Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2.5, 1/100 sec, ISO1000 “Together” New York City, 2018
