Our beautiful cat passed away this morning. He blessed us with his fluffy, golden green-eyed presence for 20 years.

The wind begun to rock the grass With threatening tunes and low — Emily Dickinson, 1789

“Still running uphill, swimming against the current” - As I Am by Dream Theater, 2003

A patchwork of musical genius. #RIPDaveMason

“To rest my eyes on shades of green Under dreaming spires” - Itchykoo Park by The Small Faces, 1967

Tiny viola japonica. Flower head is barely 1.5 cm (5/8ths of an inch) tall. “There is nothing to save, now all is lost, but a tiny core of stillness in the heart like the eye of a violet.” — D.H. Lawrence

GLOBAL DAY OF DEFIANCE SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 2026 WHEN 02:30 PM Tokyo Time WHERE In front of Shimokitazawa Station, East Exit 2 Chome-24-2 Kitazawa Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 155-0031 Japan Wear GREEN. Bring a sign.

"Daffodils, That come before the swallow dares, and take The winds of March with beauty." — William Shakespeare

My 1-word comment, “Eww”, on a post supporting a man who fatally shot someone has prompted a blocklist backlash. I’ve ALWAYS been 100% anti gun violence, no matter who’s on the receiving end. Deeply disturbing to see users here who think murder is OK if it’s THEIR guy who shoots. Eww! 💩

Ramping up against tyranny.

Sakura, sky, moon.

New signs along a mixed-use path in 幕張海浜公園. Must’ve been translated by AI. #Engrish

Election day and snow day in one.

Supporting Deborah DeSnoo — director, screenwriter, and performer. Due to recent changes in Japan’s immigration policies, she is being forced to leave Tokyo on January 23, after more than 3 decades. She urgently needs help to be able to buy her plane ticket and face this transition.

Mobile musical bamboo art by Matsumoto Akinori. #Akinorium

“We must always keep fighting for what we know to be right, even when it seems impossible.” Author Katherine Grant, 2025

獅子舞 Lion dance & Ebisu blessing

Our greatest Christmas gift is becoming parents-in-law today. 2025/12/25

Winter Solstice sunset. #WinterSolstice #TokyoBay

Holiday hanabi at the beach now. We can ~just~ see some of it from our balcony.

#NoTyrants rally in Shinjuku, Tokyo just now.

La Festa Autonno this afternoon in Makuhari Baytown. Italy-Japan Friendship Society event. #LaFestaMilleMiliga #LaFestaAutonno #MakuhariBaytown #ClassicCars

'Just living is not enough', said the butterfly, 'one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower.' ~ Hans Christian Andersen, 1862 “Sommerfuglen”

Weekend in Shizuoka.

At Good Trouble Lives On food bank donation rally.

Hometown fireworks. Maybe the last I’ll see.

To the republic for which it stands- one nation, grossly misrepresented by the use of God's name, clearly divisible, with liberty and justice dependent on your skin color and country of origin.

Honk if you love Democracy! #NoKings Outside the Brockton, MA VA Medical Center.

#NoKings rally in Brockton, MA.

Southeastern MA friends, looking forward to seeing you at our No Kings rallies today! nokings.org Attleboro Bourne Bridgewater Brockton Canton Fairhaven Fall River Hingham Middletown Mills Milton New Bedford Norfolk Norwood Plymouth Quincy Scituate Stoughton Taunton Walpole Weymouth

I'm attending No Kings's event, “NO KINGS Brockton, MA” on Saturday. You’re welcome to sign up now to join me! www.mobilize.us/nokings/even...

My goddaughter’s Indian + American wedding was joyful and spectacular. Unfortunately, now both she (an adoptee) and her groom (an immigrant) have to worry about their citizenship and status remaining valid.

Riding in the back seat of a Mustang convertible with the top down on I-495 on this windy afternoon with my hair thoroughly beating me! Feeling like a mix of Fast Car/Roadrunner/Good Times Roll. Gotta enjoy these moments while we can.

My dad enlisted in the Navy immediately after his high school graduation in June 1945 with his best friend so they could train and serve together. They were Seamen aboard the USS Mindoro, CVE 120, aka “The Mighty Minnie”, from October 1945 to July 1946. #MemorialDay

My Uncle Russ was an Army MP during the Korean War, stationed in Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea. He served earlier in the Navy Reserve. He’s the one who lit my interest in Japan. #MemorialDay

My grand uncle was poisoned by mustard gas during WWI. He survived, but spent the remainder of his life (43 years) suffering its effects and from PTSD (shell shock) in the Soldiers’ Home in Chelsea. The cost of war. #MemorialDay

Happy Golden Week! Koi streamers for the Children’s Day holiday, 05/05. (Formerly Boys’ Day holiday.)

Visited the in-laws in Osaka again this week. So many changed neighborhoods. So many tourists. So many delicious meals.

We have never seen so many foreign visitors for any event in this area during the past 29 years. Star Wars Cosplayers around Kaihin Makuhari station. #SWCJ

Urban oasis. #MesseMall We’re enjoying it while we still can.

“Spring and daisies came apace.” - Robert Louis Stevenson, 1885

“The violet’s message was ‘Keep up your courage, stay true to what you believe in.’ ” - Jessica Stern

And Sorrow laid abed with Spring. - William Morris, 1896

Got those fire-hazard-tax office Blues again.

“In grief we must live.” Author A.L. Jackson - 2024

Narcissus; I don’t want a part in this. - Paris Paloma 2020

Viaduck? 🥸

Local residents walking their pig beside the Hanamigawa.

Early plum blossoms. #MakuhariKaihinKoen

Good night, Fuji-san. #Mt.Fuji #MakuhariBeach #TokyoBay