Traveling is one of my favorite things to do. The feeling of being on move is exhilarating and addictive, and I never tire of exploring new places. Our planet is full of incredible, awe-inspiring sights and endless possibilities; you never run out of places to go. Here are eight places I can’t wait to get to…

1.  South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

This is a group of islands in the Southern Ocean, not far off the coast of Argentina, that is known for being extremely cold. However, a few of the islands in the chain are prime birding and wildlife watching spots.

2. Seychelles

Seychelles is spectacular. Try looking it up on Google image search! Just the beaches, the crystal clear water, the gargantuan granite rocks, look so amazing! The language, too, sounds really unique and I’d be interested in learning a bit. The prospect of spotting rare endemic birds there is pretty enticing as well.

3. Papua New Guinea

Birds of Paradise. Enough said. Birding-wise, Papua New Guinea is an absolute goldmine.

4. Japan

Where to even begin? The food is some of the best on earth (it’s gonna be sushi every day when I’m there), the culture is fascinating and alluring, and the language is challenging! Many of my friends have already been there, but I’ve yet to. I’d like to visit hot springs and see snow monkeys; see Mount Fuji; do a little tour of Okinawa, eat for real kine andagi, bird for the Okinawan Woodpecker, and maybe learn a bit of Okinawan; try some legit Japanese sushi in Japan; go grocery shopping and find all kinds of bizarre foods; and perfect my Japanese.

5.  Lake Baikal

The oldest, deepest, and biggest freshwater lake the world, the crescent-shaped Lake Baikal is located in southern Siberia, almost on the border with Mongolia. I admit, my main reason for wanting to go here is to see the rotund, endearing Baikal seal, which is one of only three freshwater seal species in the world.

6. Lapland

Lapland is fantastically frigid region in northern Scandanavia that spans across Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia. My friends and I often joke about going there to search for Santa Claus (HE EXISTS..haha maybe) and ride flying reindeer. I really want to try reindeer milk. Birding, I hear, is marvelous in the summer and wolves are found here, too. The Sami languages are also intriguing–I’d like to meet some native speakers, if possible, and pick up a few words. The main reason I want visit, though, is because of the northern lights.

7. Mount Everest, Nepal

Everest is a wonder. Just the thought of seeing it makes my heart pound. I cannot wait to go there.

8. The Andes

The spine of South America! Ever since I saw a Nature program on the Andes, I’ve been dead set on traveling to them. There are a lot of places I guess I’d like to see within the Andes, including Mt. Aconcagua, Torres del Paine, Lake Titicaca, and Machu Picchu. Wildlife I’d like to see is the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Andean Hillstar, Andean Condor, quetzal, and the guanaco. Also, for some reason, whenever I think of the Andes, llamas come to mind.

Whew, long list Fresh-baked cookies to anyone who read the whole thing.

Here’s a lovely picture of a mountain in Argentina from flickr

Raising grandchildren in this day and age is difficult!  Don’t hit or spank them is the general belief NOW!  When they were little, 2 years or 3, we used to spank their hand or give a wack on  the butt.  But you can’t do this anymore without people looking at you like you are abusing the child.

One day when my grandson was 7 years old, I sat him down and had a heart to heart talk.  He was being naughty refusing to do homework and throwing tantrums, lies, screaming, crying and etc.  First I told him that he was very smart.  This was to get his attention.  Then I explained that his brain has 2 answers,  on the left side of him was a bad outcome and on the right was good.  Listening to the bad, which was, don’t do homework, watch TV, play and waste time. Or to listen to the good side, which is,do homework quickly not waste any time, finish, then play, relax, watch TV and not have to worry the next day, his work was done! Now, which was better having fun for the moment only and then all the while knowing that his homework was not done and suffering through the night till the next morning or JUST doing the work, finishing it and have a free and clear mind for the rest of day, free to do whatever.

To reconfirm, I stressed that he could lie all he wanted to, but his BRAIN would always know the truth and in the end, by choosing the good thing to do he’d be very very happy, instead of being sad, crying, and very very unhappy cause things were so hard and difficult for him.

With this, I’ve witnessed him using his brains more, to get good results and being very happy as a child growing up.

Tornade direction, by Yoko K 

陽子

方向を決めぬ竜巻次は何処

ほうこうを　きめぬたつまき　つぎはどこ

Tornado
Direction uncertain
Where next?

直撃されるはずでしたが、みごとはずれました（今回は）。
結局、来る来ないで２日間振り回されました。

The prediction was that Nebraska would be hit.
It wasn’t so (this time). At any rate, we were tossed around for two days.

Tornade warning, by Yoko K

陽子

竜巻の予報にともあれ水確保

たつまきの　よほうにともあれ　みずかくほ

Tornade warning
First thing to do
To secure drinking water

マーケットで大きな四角形のプラスチック入りの飲料水を買いました。
便利な世の中になったものです。

I purchased at a supermarket drinking water in a large square plastic container. Life is indeed getting easier.



寒と暖気流乱れてにわか霧

かんとだん　きりゅうみだれて　にわかぎり


Fronts, cold and warm
Intermixed
Sudden fog

そもそも竜巻はメキシコ湾から北上する暖気流が
カナダから南下する寒気流に衝突して発生すると聞きました。
そうすると、その初端を目撃したわけです。

I heard that tornado is created, when the warm front coming up from the Gulf of Mexico mixes with the cold front running down from Canada. If it’s so, I witnessed the beginning of a tornado.

この「健康コーナー」は、音声もお聞き頂けます。

I run at my own pace, by Dr. Yoko Kelley

ナコスホームページ
英語版 “Learn Japanese” の中の、NACOS Radio に、アーカイブもございます。





元気の出る健康コーナー It’s refreshing!

力まずに、マイペースでランニングをしています。
I run at my own pace without straining.

日の出前の涼しい時間に走ります。爽快です！
I run before sunrise. It’s cool and refreshing.

無理をしないで、適度に汗をかく程度の距離です。
The distance I run isn’t very far–just until I start sweating.

息が切れるほど早く走りません。
I don’t run fast enough to get short of breath.

まわりの景色を楽しみながら走ります。
While I run, I enjoy my surroundings.

走る前に、十分な準備体操をします。
Before starting to run, I prepare thoroughly by doing exercises.

太ももやふくらはぎを、よくストレッチします。
I stretch my thighs and calves a lot.

Illustration by Dr. Norman Kelley

Keep running daily, by Dr. Yoko Kelley


走る時の姿勢は、肩甲骨を心持ち引き寄せるようにします。
As for running posture, I pull my shoulder blades, back, slightly towards center.

かかとから着地して、つま先で地面を蹴るようにして走ります。
I run landing on my heel and touching off the ground with my toes.

手首と足首を軽く回し、柔らかくします。
I keep my wrists and ankles limber by rotating them.

まず、ウォーキングで、正しい姿勢を身につけます。
I master the correct posture first by walking.

無理に長い距離を走るのではなく、毎日続けることが大切です。
It is important to keep running daily, but not necessarily for long distances.

心も体もリフレッシュします。
It’s refreshing mentally as well as physically.

Read More… Medical Expressions

Doing business in Taiwan frequently requires dining out. On these occasions, there are usually many courses. The custom is to toast when each course arrives. Of course, if the hosts want to be really gracious, they will serve a lot of alcohol. The favorite is called Gao Liang. It is made of sorghum and the strongest type is about 60% alcohol by volume. Although the food is excellent, it takes a strong stomach to survive a business function in Taiwan once the drinking starts.

Since it is his birthday I figure it’s a good time to talk about him. His name is Daniel, he got his name from Daniel and the Lion’s Den in the Bible. He’s is 3 years younger than me, and a bit shorter too. He’s got a creative mind like me and can draw as well. He is quite obsessed with video games and watching sports. He can be short tempered and blunt when talking about his feelings. Which is often mistaken for rudness. But best of all, He’s probably one of the funniest people in the world.

ようやく、日常生活が戻ってきました。
震災後はどうなる事やら…と思いましたが、、、

まだまだ余震は続いてます。

いざ、という日の防災意識は更に高くなりました。

先日、地元百貨店の抽選会で当選した賞品です！
以前ならこんなの貰っても…と放り投げてましたが、今では大事な物です。
防災セット！です。

震災経験者なので、こんな防災セットが（しかも賞品で(笑)）ある、というのも皆さんにお伝え出来れば!

Today was my first lesson in Japanese. I am very excited to practice at work and with my friends from Japan!

One important technique that is always stressed by my master during Muay Thai practice is breathing. Breathing is incorporated in everything we do. For example when throwing a punch or a kick we breath out allowing more power to be put into each hit. When we get hit we breath out into to absorb the force. Our master also teaches us to breath when we feel pain because meditation and breathing helps heal.