Carne Asada is NOT a Crime

I'm no political-activist-guy, but that doesn't mean I don't care. I just have to come across the right cause. I came across two articles in the Los Angeles Times and Time.com that really got me fierd up.

It has to do with tacos, and taco trucks. Starting May 16, taco trucks in unincorporated parts of L.A. County will only be allowed to park in a particular spot for one hour at a time or face $1,000 fine or six months in jail...or both. This essentially detroys any loyal customer base.

As many of you know, I've been going to one particular taco truck for close to 20 years. (On Fair Oaks, just North of California in the Nishikawa Auto Service parking lot in Pasadena... affiliated with El Taquito #2 - also a good Pasadena restaurant.) These guys at the taco truck know my parents, my sisters, my wife, my son. I've gone there for dinner, second dinner, late night snack. I went there with my Dad, family, friends and dates. The food I miss the most being here in Tokyo? You got it, the taco truck. This is one of my favorite things to do in all of Los Angeles, and is so intertwined with my childhood that losing my taco truck would be in the general emotional vicinity of losing my childhood home.

Now maybe you think that's a little extreme...and you'd probably be closer to the truth. But, these are tacos after all. If you've had them, you'd know what I'm talking about. And I'm not talking about those sissy hard shell tacos with cheese and lettuce (I'm talking to you Tito's Tacos). Come on. Warm corn tortillas, meat, onions, cilantro, hot sauce, lime...you're done.

I bring this up not only because I'm hungry, but because I think it would be a cultural shame if somehow L.A. County became very un-taco-truck-friendly. I don't think my experiences with taco trucks is totally out of the ordinary, either. Obsessive? Yes. But one only has to see how long the lines are at a good taco truck at midnight to know that many people love their local taco truck. I only urge you to visit your local taco truck and enjoy a few tacos for your old pal Tony. You can also visit a website dedicated to preserving L.A. County taco trucks - http://saveourtacotrucks.org to sign a petition.

Flower Power

During my recent trip to San Francisco, I spent some time walking around the batteries that used to house bunkers which protected the entrance to the San Francisco Bay. Oddly enough they've devolved into late night hang out spots for vagrants and kids. Lots of broken bottles, grafiti, etc. Not too appealing.

This flower happened to be appealing, however. It was eagerly stretching out towards the sun in what seemed like full bloom.

Download the full photograph by clicking on the image below.

Etymology of Ella Nadine

A few of you have asked, so I thought I would explain how we got the name Ella Nadine. Family names, and names of personal significance, have always been important to me and Shelley. When it came time to think about a name for our first little girl, this was the first name that was on our list.

Ella is my grandmother's name. She turns 91 this year and is one of the most beautiful and classiest women I know. She lives on her own in Northern California with a busier social life than I ever had as a single person! As an aside whenever Shelley and I wanted to drive up to see her, we had to book her weeks and sometimes months in advance because her days would fill up with bridge parties, lunches or dinners out, etc. She has a beautiful singing voice and sang with my Mom in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. More than anything she has had to endure a lot of personal pain and trials - losing two husbands. One of my favorite gifts is a personal account of her life written in her own words and handwriting. I plan to share some of those stories to little Ella to let her know of her heritage...class and grace despite significant personal trials.

Nadine is a very special person in Shelley's life. She is often referred to as Shelley's "Fairy Godmother" - a name that I think really fits. Nadine was a good family friend, and former patient of her father's, who was so grateful of the care her father gave her, that she unofficially adopted Shelley (and subsequently her siblings) and would spoil her with jewelry or the latest fashion when Shelley was a teenager. With no close family of her own, Nadine became an important part of Shelley's life. Nadine is a naturally generous person - giving up her time to volunteer at the hospital to help relieve the suffering of the patients there.

Both of these women are important people in both of our lives and while we know that Ella Nadine has come with her own set of personality characteristics, we feel excited to teach her about the heritage that comes with her name. To that end, here is a quick little video of Shelly starting that "training" - telling Ella Nadine about both Ella and Nadine.

Ella Etymology

Here's Ella...

It's been a fast few days. Shelley checked out of the hospital today after a very U.S.-like stay of only two nights. Usually they like to keep you for 5 days. But I think she was ready to go. We are glad to have her back.

I've leave the details of the delivery to Shelley. But I can tell already that you're a different parent with number two than you are with number one. After Anthon was born we strapped him into the car seat we had purchased months before and Shelley was wheelchaired out of the hospital and we drove a good ten miles under the speed limit for the two mile drive. We were very careful. With Ella, we couldn't get out of the hospital soon enough and we hailed a cab, no car seat, and just hoped for a safe ride home. I'm sure Ella will be juggling knives in no time.

But she is certainly a sweet baby. She's a good sleeper and eater and best of all she's a snuggler...which Shelley really likes. (Who am I kidding, no one is reading this...you've already clicked on the links below to pictures and a two-minute video).

Pictures

Video

Ella Nadine Cannon is here

Ella Nadine Cannon was born Saturday, May 3rd at 4:45 PM. Both Shelley and
Ella are doing great. She weighed in at 6 lbs 14 ounces and was 49 cms...if
someone wants to convert that for us, go ahead! She came out with lots of
dark hair, cute round head and big eyes. We think we'll keep her.

I will provide more information, including pictures, when I can.

--sent from my blackberry

Asakusa Shrine

On one of our outings, we went to Asakusa Shrine here in Tokyo. I found myself having a hard time shooting because there were so many people and ultimately I couldn't get a good shot without people in the way. I sort of gave in and shot anyway.

I turned this shot into black and white and tried to darken the photograph a bit to lessen the prominence of the people. And as I have done a lot, I colorized the middle lantern.

Download the full photograph by clicking on the image below.

Golden Week

I always felt that in the U.S. I got ripped off for not having enough national holidays...real national holidays...not like Columbus Day. We don't even get one a month there. It seems as if everyone else in the developed world gets far more days off. And it's true. In Japan, on top of getting about one national holiday a month, there are two times a year when there is basically a week's worth of holidays right in a row. One happens over the new year and one happens in the last week of April / first week of May. It's called Golden Week. This isn't to imply I don't like working. But I just like having time off more.

Our Golden Week was a bit early and a bit short, since our baby girl is hopefully due any day now. Shelley's Mom is en route and we have a backstop date to induce Shelley in case it gets to that point. So the end is near. Stay tuned, we'll post pictures and let everyone know when Ella arrives.

Anyway, we spent the time off doing things locally - zoo's and parks. In retrospect, a very animal-centric long weekend. You can see pictures by clicking here. My favorite of these pictures is of Anthon trying to feed the goat and the goat getting too hungry and nipping at Anthon's fingers. The look on Anthon's face is priceless.



In other updates...
I've uploaded a few more videos from recent outings - mostly of Anthon during cherry blossom season.