Howie Hayman
 
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Home - Story - 2010 - July
July 4, 2010 - Independence Day party at our house, Ando Town, Nara, Japan.Hanging out before the party.
Hanging out with the neighbors.
Really fun party.
Getting ready to do fireworks.
Fireworks.
Timeline
Kenmore New York
Story 1960 - 1979
San Diego California
1980 1981 1982 1983
1984 1985 1986 1987
1988 1989 1990 1991
1992 1993 1994 1995
1996 1997 1998 1999
2000 2001 2002 2003
2004 2005 2006 2007
2008 2009
Nara Japan
2010 2011 2012 2013
2014
Tanegashima Japan
2014 2015 2016 2017
Julian California
2017
Tanegashima Japan
2018 2019 2020 2021
2022 2023 2024 2025
Setouchi Japan
2025
July 12, 2010 - Happy Anniversary. Yup, today is the seven month anniversary since we purchased this piece of crap property. With the exception of a few flooring projects scheduled for after Summer when temperatures are cooler, much of the work is now finished. All the rooms are usable and looking pretty good. I plan to post tons of pictures showing the progress over the last few months. It might take some time to set this all up so hang in there.
July 21, 2010 - Earthquake. Rock and roll. The quake, which occurred at 6:19 in the morning local time, measured 5.0 and was enough to wake us up and throw the Einstein coffee cups off the shelves in the second floor classroom. The roof of the newly constructed outside laundry room was shaking pretty good.
July 23, 2010 - Shai's Birthday at our house. This party was for only us.Shai became a year old today.
Happy Birthday to you.
Yeah cake.
Go ahead and make a mess.
July 24, 2010 - Shai's Birthday party at our house. Akiko made two cakes. An American style cake and a Japanese style cake representing both cultures. Pretty much all the neighbors showed up. It was a really nice party.Shai playing with new toys before the party.
Shai playing again.
Shai playing again.
Shai playing again.
My family was with us in spirit.
Party room.
Akiko made two cakes. An American style cake and a Japanese style cake representing both cultures.
Us with family.
Us.
Us with family.
Pretty much all the neighbors showed up.
It was a really nice party.
Onbara Festival and Fireworks

July 31, 2010 - Onbara Festival and Fireworks at Mimoro Mountain, Miwa, Sakurai, Nara, Japan.
Shai on the train.
Shai thinks he is driving the train.
Us on the train.
Heading to the small town on a one line track.
Train was packed with people.
Small town train station.
Walking in the small town on the way to the fireworks.
Yup we bought beer from this vending machine.
Packed with people.
A few girls trying to hit on Shai.
Yatai (food stand) selling octopus balls, um not what you think. These are little batter balls with a chunk of octopus inside. Pretty much a standard sale item at these events. You can see the octopus in the foreground.
Sun setting in the background.
Some food we bought.
Shai getting ready to watch the fireworks.
We found our watching spot.
Us.
Me and the little dude.
Me and the little dude.
Akiko and the little dude.
Akiko and the little dude.
Us.
Us.
Grand finale.
Shai on the train ride home.
Shai on the train ride home.
Some people we met on the train.
Shai really enjoyed himself.
July 31, 2010 - Nara Park Light Up Event (Tokae). This is the fifth time to stay in Japan but the first time to go to this event. Called Tokae, this nighttime event features the lighting of 10,000 candles throughout Nara Park with a stage at one end of the park where a jazz band performed. As usual many yatai (food stalls) were set up selling anything from takoyaki (fried octopus) to French fries. Nice event, but while eating, spent half of the time pushing away a few of the estimated 1,200 deer roaming the park looking for an easy meal.