Haiku of the Week: Snow addition

White blanket of calm

The snow falls lazily down

Put your coat on, Sy!

Digital Nomads: Welcome to buuteeq

Welcome to buuteeq from forest key on Vimeo.

Digital Nomads: Great story on how buuteeq came to be by Forest Key

Hotel Websites "CBB" from forest key on Vimeo.

Haiku: Autumn Harvest Edition

Rustling autumn leaves

Pumpkins carved to perfection

Time for a flu shot

Mischief

 

Toast: Boudreaux Cellars

Had the pleasure of meeting Rob Newsome, the man behind Boudreaux, at a team offsite. A mensch and an incredible entrepreneur.

The vid is mildly cheezy, but it tells a nice story:

Wine Goers - Boudreaux Cellars from PDXposed TV on Vimeo.

Jewish Haiku: so long summer

Sand in my Sperry's
and lobster in my belly
next week we repent

Tribal Humor: From the Desk of Philly "Lu" Siegle

1. The fattest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.

2. I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian .

3. She was only a whiskey maker, but he loved her still.

4. A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class, because it was a weapon of math disruption.

5. No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

6. A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.

7. A grenade thrown into a kitchen in France would result in Linoleum Blownapart.

8. Two silk worms had a race. They ended up in a tie.

9. A hole has been found in the nudist camp wall.. The police are looking into it.

10. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

11. Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

12. Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other: 'You stay here; I'll go on a head.'

13. I wondered why the baseball kept getting bigger. Then it hit me.

14. A sign on the lawn at a drug rehab center said: 'Keep off the Grass.'

15. The midget fortune-teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

16. The soldier who survived mustard gas and pepper spray is now a seasoned veteran.

17. A backward poet writes inverse.

18. In a democracy it's your vote that counts. In feudalism it's your count that votes.

19. When cannibals ate a missionary, they got a taste of religion.

20. If you jumped off the bridge in Paris , you'd be in Seine ..

21. A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at him and says, 'I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger.'

22. Two fish swim into a concrete wall. One turns to the other and says 'Dam!'

23. Two Eskimos sitting in a kayak were chilly, so they lit a fire in the craft. Unsurprisingly it sank, proving once again that you can't have your kayak and heat it too.

24. Two hydrogen atoms meet. One says, 'I've lost my electron.' The other says 'Are you sure?' The first replies, 'Yes, I'm positive.'

25. Did you hear about the Buddhist who refused Novocain during a root canal? His goal: transcend dental medication.

26. There was the person who sent ten puns to friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.

Jewish Haiku: Pre Rosh Hashanah

Morning light pouring
on the apple tree outside
Doh! We need HONEY!

Haiku of the Week: Dog Days of August Edition

Entering my flat

The AC feels wonderful

. . . Stanley, you'll catch cold!

Auntie Em and Baby Emma: In 1991, Emily "Little Chief" Hamilton came into my life. I was 21, and what a trip to have a brand new little sister to brighten the day. Fast forward to 2010, and we have a much cuter visage of Auntie Em (19) and Emma (8 weeks).

Haiku of the Week: Summer Beach Holiday Edition

The sparkling blue sea

beckons me to wait one hour

after my sandwich

Tribal Humor: From the desk of Philly "Lu" Siegle

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream is now available in Israel in the following flavors:


Wailing Wallnut


Moishemellow


Mazel Toffee


Chazalnut


Oy Ge-malt


Mi Ka-mocha


Bernard Malamint


Berry Pr'i Hagafen


Choc-Eilat Chip


Simchas T'Oreo




It should be noted that all of these flavors come in either a cup or a Cohen.

Tribal Humor: From the desk of Neill H. Brownstein

A Jewish mother walks her son to the school bus corner on his first day of kindergarten.

"Behave, my Bubaleh. Take good care of yourself and think about your mother, Tataleh! Come right back home, Schein Kindaleh. Your Mommy loves you, my Ketsaleh!" At the end of the day she runs to her son and hugs him. "So what did my Pupaleh learn on his first day of school?"

The boy answers, "I learned that my name is Jerry."

WORLD WANDERER: Tokyo Must List

A recent spat of pings on things to do in Tokyo (and broader Japan) prompted this. Having traveled back and forth to Japan for more than a decade and lived there for three years, my list might be jaded. So use your own spirit of intuition and adventure!

1. The Basement at Takeshima Department Store (Shinjuku): If you don't believe that a perfect portion of gelato in a cone can be gift-wrapped, visit the Chika (basement) of Takeshima. It's the Disney World of food where the visual and olfactory experience sets you on a whimsical tour of tasty treats.

2. Tsukiji Market: Anything that has ever lived in the sea finds its way to Tsukiji. Take advantage of jet-lag and hit the tuna auction around 4:30 AM!

3. Uniqlo & Muji: "Unique Clothing" Co., where you can score hipster flannels and designer t-shirts for about $10. Locations all over Tokyo. Muji: minimalist, cool, oh-so Japanese.

4. Ramen bars: Heaven in a bowl. Rich broth based in soy, pork or chicken is laddled over hand crafted noodles for one of Life's most slurpy dreams. Use the powers of Search to find "yummy ramen" + "near my hotel". Recommendations: Jangara Ramen in Harujuku, Ichiran in Roppongi, Ippudo in Ebisu.

5. Tokyo Giants game: Feel the fanaticism of 10's of thousands of energized fans. Bring ear plugs if you are not cheerful or into baseball!

6. Studio Ghibli Museum: Home of Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away/Sento chi Hiro, and dozens of other films by the Animation master Miyazaki. Creative energy and beauty for ages four to 104!

7. Gear, Gizmos and Gadgets: Invest a morning or afternoon in a trip to Akihabara to take in all of the uber cool electronics that are the pulse of the Tokyo lifestyle.

8. National Museum: See the original woodblock print masters Hokusai and Hiroshige + wonders of the Imperial collection. "Hanga" (hanging dreams art) will inspire ideas about why Japan makes some of the coolest video games ever!

9. Starbucks: Experience a global favorite with a Japanese twist; super polite customer service. "Sho-to ca-pu-CHINO de-su!"

10. Ride the train; if you have time, take a bullet train to a hot springs town outside of Tokyo for a night. Nagano and Niigata Prefectures are great!

A Good Joke from the desk of Uncle Bernard Katz

An old Chicago gangster dies, and he drifts down to the underworld.

When he arrives, the Devil welcomes him and shows him around.

"You know," comments the Dark One, "it gets pretty hot down here."

"No problem," responds the gangster.

So the Devil turns up the heat, and gangster doesn't really seem to mind.

"It's just like Chicago," he quips.

The Devil is flummoxed, and cranks it up several notches.

"Still very pleasant," notes the gangster. "Just like Chicago."

Flustered by all of this, the Devil tries something different. He turns the heat OFF, and it becomes dreadfully cold, literally freezing the whole place over.

"How do you like it NOW?" chortles the Devil.

"Do I like it?" counters the gangster. " I don't like it. I LOVE it! The Cubs have won the World Series!!!"

Sweet photo of Emma, Aj, Baba and Mama

 

"Grandmother" (sung to the tune of "Popular")

For Lindy’s Birthday!

“GRANDMOTHER”  by Emma, Megumu and Adam Brownstein

(adapted to the song “Popular” from Wicked)

When you go to Torah Study with Rabbi Janet and Neill,

It’s time to count your blessings and how wonderful you feel,

With Footprint, family and all that jazz,

And when your family needs you,

There is nothing that you won’t do,

You feel so lucky to have all that you have

But until now you’ve missed out,

On something your friends know all about

Don’t worry, that’s all about to be

Different you see,

Be-cause you’re going to be . . .

A GRANDMOTHER!

You’re gonna be a GRANDMOTHER!

Kvelling nachus, ooh!

“I’ll take one, no, TWO!”

Little girls to hold and sooth. . .

You spoil them with stuff,

(Adam) it took long enough!

But now you don’t need to be blue

Cuz’ you’re a GRANDMOTHER!
Yes, you’re a GRANDMOTHER!
You’ll lead family trips,
Teach them piano tricks,
Neill, upload the pho-tooooOOs!
So let's start,
‘Cuz we’ve got a lot of people to show!

Don’t be offended by the term “Granny”,
If you prefer, we can call you “Nanny”,
Now that we’ve supplied you with the next generation, 
There's no hesitation,
To proclaim yourself . . .

GRANDMOTHER, 

A full-fledged GRANDMOTHER
with an assist from Emma-ruu,
and her cousin too,
What fun, oh Boy!

(you mean “girls!”)
Nothing’s gonna’ stop you from
being the hippest Nanny in the world!

la la, la la!
We’re gonna make you a grand-mo-ther

When you see you all your friends,

Coddling their grandchildren,

You can inform them on your own
They have . . . to. . . wish . . . you

Mazel tov, congratulations!

They’ll feel your elation!

Time for birthday celebrations.
YOU CAN SAY IT AGAIN. . .

You are a GRANDMOTHER!
Bubbe!
Yes, you are a GRANDMOTHER!
You’ll take them to Broadway plays,
And on sunny days
. . . play with them at the beach!
Now that you’re a Nanny,
All of this is within reach!


And as time goes on,
And we sing this song,
It’s no secret you see,
You're gonna really love it,
Your new found NANNY-larity!
Yea!

La la, la la!
You’re a GRANDMOTHER,
What a cool family!

THE CONSTANT GARDENER: July 4th Edition

There is an storied expression in the lore of Seattle Green Thumbs; summer begins in earnest on the 5th of July.

True to form, we enjoyed inclement weather that clutched at the mid-60's on both Saturday and Sunday.  I expect that the Fireworks Co. needed extra efforts to keep the powder dry for the show above Lake Union on Sunday evening.

On KIBBUTZ Ha'EMMA, we have noticed that our TOMATOES have crossed over into a mild red hue.  Although our plants are behind the 2009 Season in terms of color, the indeterminate are yielding more cherries.  Particularly supice and black cherry varietals are in good form.  The ARUGULA continues an uphill battle, while our KALE and CHARD continue to flourish.

I inquired about the arugula with a nice set of MASTER GARDENERS @ the U DISTRICT SATURDAY MARKET.  Apparently, according to the nice lade in a gardening smock, arugula needs heat.  OK.  I get it now.

MORE ON THE MARKET:  Strawberries have seeded their lone standing as the star of the early season to RASPBERRIES.  I secured a 1/2 flat at market rates of $18.00, and Megumu and I have been snacking on them hour for hour.  Also, we are beginning to enjoy STONE FRUITS, bringing home the FIRST OF THE SEASON PEACHES.

OT/OC-Index:  TOMATOES are pricing out at $5.49/lb for firsts and $2.49 for seconds.  Organic bings are going for $4.99, and rainiers for $5.99.

HAIKU OF THE WEEK: Parental Theme

By Eric Bader. . . 

The mother sparrow 

brings home some worms for her young 

"Force yourself!" she chirps

DIGITAL MUSINGS: The Power of Time by P. Zimbardo

THE CONSTANT GARDENER: Innaugural Post

In the THE CONSTANT GARDNER, I aim to share weekly observations that adhere to Thomas Jefferson's words, "Though an old man, I am but a young gardener." 

In the Beginning. . . 
Three years ago, Megumu and I purchased a home in the cozy Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle.  The whole "mortgage" experience brought to our attention that we had a new asset in our Lives.

As our closing was in Winter, we took advantage of all the typical indoor activities of a Pacific Northwest Winter in an old house.  Scrabble games by the fire (Megumu almost always won!), rich stews and roasts in the kitchen, and lazy Sundays with coffee and the Times in the Eames lounger.

Spring came around, and I noticed something; we had a yard.  Lush, green and unkempt, our environs cried out to me like a horticultural siren.  I began to explore, not fully understanding the journey I was undertaking.  In May, Megumu dragged me to the Wallingford Community Edible Plant Sale.  Soothing latte in one hand and boxes of cherry roma tomato plants in the other, we clamored with our sisters and brothers of the Fleece Brigade to bring home just the right arrangement to begin the Seattle tradition of the Vegetable Garden. 

With our tomatoes inside anxiously awaiting the final frost of the season, I began to read a bit about gardening.  As it turns out, these little plants would need big space.  As it turns out, for about $35 of pine wood and soil, a junior varsity, scratch that, "waterboy" green thumb like me could produce a lovely 5x7 raised bed. 

Now, three years later, after over performing zucchini flowers, jaded San Marzanos, cute as a button Japanese eggplant, faithfully prolific kale and finicky herbs, there is no turning back.

All under one roof: A tour of multi-generational living

Each December, Megumu and I return to Tokyo for a kind of grand home coming combined with epicurean delight tour. Days are spent stocking up on Uniqlo must-have items (2009 was the year of the Heat-tec™ Underwear and loud flannels), browsing the galleries and coffee houses that are so whimsical and touring outside the city on bullet trains. Evenings find us out and about, soaking up the good humors of the bars (whiskey and sushi alike), generally catching up with old friends.

And we also gather at home quite a bit. Dinner is marked by certain continuities that I have grown to adore; my father-in-law ravenous to try to get to the end of whatever Oregon Pinot Noir I’ve muled over, my mother-in-law proudly slinging out multi-course feats of brilliance (can you say “gently fried pork cutlet”?).

One of my most beloved rituals is checking out the mind-blowing fun offered by primetime Japanese TV networks. From the “Ultimate Challenge” obstacle course to the Shou-gatsu Year End Talent show, the energy and idiosyncrasies keep my eyes open amidst the heavy pull of jet lag. Occasionally, we all turn our attention to some human interest piece produced by NHK. One such episode depicted the sei-ka-tsu (daily life) of a family with FIVE GENERATIONS living under one (very happy) roof. There was something so raw and alluring about a baby just sprung from the womb in the caring hands of a great-great grandmother born a century before.

Our own experience: The Seattle Four

With Emma’s birth, we’ve been blessed to have our own venture into multi-generational living. Megumu’s grandmother, Sumiko Imamura, hopped aboard the big bird from Narita to come and bet with us for nearly three weeks. In tow she brought her daughter, Emiko, my excellent mother-in-law (if there is such a term that avoids being oxymoronic). Better known as “Baba”, she has lavished her imprint upon our lives on many levels the precious days we’ve enjoyed. Emma (Two weeks), Megumu (30), Emiko (55) and Baba (89) comprise our “Seattle Four”.

Here is a list of observations, not such much exhaustive, as what has impacted me along the way:

Help = Energy

Six days after Emma’s birth (Father’s Day, curiously), Baba took a fall down the stairs. Yeah, I know, “89 year-old + fall = Oh sh*t!”. Baba was actually trying to get breakfast going for the whole house, including some hits of Stumptown Hairbender (maybe she and I are related by more than marriage?).

At 11:00 AM I found myself playing interpreter at the Emergency room for Baba as a nice young MD explained that she had suffered a fracture to her fibula (FYI, it’s the tibia that you really don’t want to fracture). Net-net, it could have been a lot worse.

While waiting to be discharged, I asked her “what were you thinking, going up and down the stairs like that?” She shared an interesting idea, that by helping us, so derived energy “genki ku naru yo!”. She ment that, she really did.

Over the course of the last week, Baba has been limited in moving around, yet her passion for helping us grows. She soothes Emma between feedings and soothes me when the U.S. chokes (well, maybe Ghana was really the best team. They are the ones who whip out the Israeli flag, after all).

Common Ground

Four generations of women have taught me about continuity in a big way. Here are a few of their favorite things that I know that Emma will cherish the fullness of time.

· Noshing: Specifically chocolate. Baba had me mule 24 Theo Milk Chocolate bars for her under the guise of o-mi-ya-ge (gifts for friends back home). Some of the bars have gone missing already. Hmmmm.

· Soccer: Well, Megumu is mildly impartial, but Emiko and Baba are rabid fans. This Tuesday Japan will face Paraguay in the round of 16, and I expect that our home will be at a stand-still from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM Pacific.

· Flicks: As I type this post, all three women are engrossed with the Godfather Part I. I am watching them watching the Five Families Summit Scene. They have a look of total attention.

Little Victories

Baba and Emiko set sail for Tokyo this Friday. I will be sad to see them leave and filled with ganas to return to Tokyo later this year to continue the Story. Yes, it’s been a handful to care for a two week old and an 89-year-old. I can understand why there are homes for those in the sunset of Life. But personally, I’ve enjoyed a helping of inspiration through all of this. There is something marvelous about the little victories we can all enjoy an any day at any age.