October 17, 2004 - Walkabout
	Check out this picture of a giant spider. These 2"inch lovelies are quite common here. Tim walked straight into a web yesterday and nearly freaked out. Although it's still shorts and t-shirt weather, the locals don't walk around in shorts. (Perhaps it has something to do with the size of the spiders.) Each day, we hike all over the city and the local hillsides in corduroy pants, long-sleeve shirts, and sweaters. Instead of carrying backpacks, everyone here carries giant fashion purses. It's quite urban, even though just one mile up the hill, it is mostly forested and undeveloped. It's a nice place to live. I still miss my friends and my old neighborhood.
October 17, 2004 - Hiking and Remodeling
Diana and I went on a hike in the hills above Kobe City where we are staying. The city is sandwiched between a bay and a ridge of "mountains" (hills by Cascade standards). It keeps the city confined to a narrow strip of land and makes for a nice place to live. I can be in the woods much quicker than I could from my home in Seattle. About a 15 min. walk from my door, past the zoo, and above the ritzy housing is a fine trail that I have yet to fully explore. I have grand illusions that I will start taking morning trail runs up it. I bought a map of the hiking trails in the area.... The only other people from the US (that we know of) staying at our dormitory are a Mormon couple from Logan Utah. They are recently married... last June I think. The husband, Mike, served his mission on Okinawa a couple of years ago. He is back with a scholarship in Asian studies. The wife, Katie, is in the same situation as Diana - along for the ride and looking for work. I have the feeling that we will be spending allot of time with them... They are a neat couple and an evening of conversation in English is a rare and beautiful thing. Today I spent a bit of time reflecting on the process of remodeling our house in Seattle. Boy it sure looked nice the day we left. I think we made a mistake in letting the remodel go for so long (5 years). During our time in the house, we were unable to fully enjoy the fruits of our labor, we were burdened by the thought of unfinished projects every time we had "free" time, and we were living in a construction zone for the entire time we inhabited the house. I think that one factor that contributed to the delay was not being sure of what the "best" solution for any given project was. The counter between the kitchen and livingroom/diningroom is a perfect example. We were constantly rethinking what it should be, and as it didn't "have" to be decided yet, we kept putting it off. For years... In retrospect, any of the options we were considering would have been a nice solution - and if it wasn't, well, we could always tear it out and do it again. What I learned from the experience was to be on the look out for things that were on hold due to indecisiveness or fear of getting it wrong - and when you find you are in that situation - make a call that very moment and initiate the steps needed to get it done. Hiring someone is always a good motivator too, even if it is just as a "helper". It sucks working alone.
October 17, 2004 - Urban Greenery
Sumiyoshi River, creek restoration
Sumiyoshi River, multi-tiered transportation (elevated train, auto bridge, and pedestrian walk along the water)
This tree grows right through the roof... You can sip your coffee next to the trunk.

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