What I Miss the Most.....

People often ask me what I miss the most about San Jose. Besides being able to have my parents over for dinner once a week.....I really miss going to the Shark Tank to watch some good ol' hockey. I used to go see anywhere from 12 to 20 games a season. People in Sac don't understand the thrill and excitement of watching a live hockey game. There is no sport like it....I once heard that hockey players are considered the best conditioned players in all the sports...they need to skate at full speed both forward and backwards....control a 4" rubber puck....fight like a heavy weight....and hit like a football player...all while on a skates. Plus, we have had the opportunity to meet some of them in person and they are by far, the nicest, most down to earth athletes around. No Terrell Owens or Allen Iverson's here.....the 2008 / 2009 Sharks currently have the best record in the NHL and I am rooting them on from the comfort of my home.....go Sharks! I hope you bring the cup home to SJ, I'll be there in spirit!!

Sharks Highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dh0lqDbyvc

The Sharks also have the first Japanese Canadian professional hockey player, Devin Setoguchi, he currently leads the Sharks in goals and is tied for first in points. For those non-hockey folks out there.....he's a stud.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Wk5A_pRjo8

Political Fun

Either way you happened to vote this year, it would have been a first....the first African American presidential candidate and the real possibility of having a female vice president. Check out the video for some SNL fun with Sarah Palin....funny stuff!

The Perfect Co-Worker

I usually work from home 3 days a week....making calls, doing forecasts, reports...etc. When I am at home, I only have one co-worker....my dog. He is by far, the perfect co-worker. He sits around by my desk, doesn't like email or IM'ng, never complains about things and is generally a pretty happy guy. Some of his bad habits are.....snoring, bothering me for the occasional pat on the head and passing gas.....other than that.....he is the perfect co-worker and I really enjoy my days with him. Now if I could only get him to get me a cup of coffee........

Pat on the head break......

His usual position..........

A-R-G-U-M-E-N-T

Can you spell...."argument"? Cori won the honor of representing her 4th grade class in the spelling bee this year. She was eliminated with a word that she knows well. She should have asked the judge for a definition and he would have said, "something you do with your Dad and brothers all the time....". But, we are extremely proud of Cori for being one of the best in her school! Great job Cori!!

A VERY Cool Day With The US Navy.......

Today was a VERY special day. Thanks to my friend, LT. Marc Bumatay, our Cub Scout troop got to hang out with some US Navy fighter pilots from VX-9 (Vampires) out of China Lake. The pilots took the time to speak to the boys about staying in school, getting good grades and going for your dreams. The boys....and parents....had lots of questions for the pilots! We also got to get up and personal with the coolest planes on earth.....the F/A-18 Super Hornets. I felt like a kid at Christmas! Way cool........

Scottie and Dad.....Dad is thinking, I wish I can get one of these for Christmas....

Mitchell and Scottie on the "business" end of the F/A-18

Den 2 with LT. Marc Bumatay and some super cool fighter pilots.

Scottie and his new wing man

Talkin' fighters.....

Marissa and her new man......

Scottie with his survival vest and wing man

F/A-18 Super Hornet getting ready to take off

F/A-18 Super Hornet = $30 Million dollars for the base model, air conditioning and 30mm cannon is included.....missles are extra......

I really wanted to sneak into the cockpit......

Cool......

Taking off to go home......it will take the Super Hornets 30 minutes to get from Moffett Field back to China Lake, near Bakersfield, and that's just cruisin.......thank you to the pilots of VX-9 and all the service men and women who serve our country.......

Cori's Odori Performance - San Francisco

Cori had a big performance in San Francisco this past weekend. The performance was held near Japantown and the performance was based on how the Japanese Americans were able to keep the art of Japanese odori and koto alive during times where displaying such things could be considered "unpatriotic". The performance had live koto music along with beautiful displays of Japanese Odori (Traditional Japanese Dance). Some of the best performers in these prospective arts were performing and it was wonderful to see and hear them live. Grandma Kumamoto, Auntie Chiye and Uncle Bob were able to come from San Jose and Uncle Greg, Auntie Janie and Cousins Jason and Jared came from Elk Grove. Cori and some of the younger dancers reflect the new generation of kids who are carrying on the traditions that were set so long ago and will continue on for this generation and beyond.....

Bando Misayasu (Cori's Sensei), Jennie, Cori and Kiana

Is it a Chinese Restaurant......or a Japanese Restaurant?! Kind of like our kids.....are they Chinese or Japanese?! They're both!!

Jaredzilla and Sumo Scottie




Justinzilla and Sumo Cori

Justinzilla and Good Looking Sumo

Jared, Cori, Scott and Justin in Japantown

The kids in front of the Japantown Tower

BOO!! Part Two.....

Thanks to Lesly Ishisaka for more pictures from our Spooktacular Halloween Party.....

Since Renee always likes to hit your arm to emphasize what she is saying, the girls made t-shirts with a "no hitting" zone......from left to right, Teri Yasuda, Lesly Ishisaka and Shelley Takaha.

The Disco Man with his Hot Chick....must be the chest hair....there is a zoo keeper in the background.....

The Boyz...Scott, Trenton, Davis, Brian and Lil' Scott

Sacramento Samurai

Some our boys decided to go to the San Jose CYS basketball tournament this year. Usually this tournament is held too early on in our year to bring all the boys but we were able to come up with enough to join in the fun. They boys had a great time and a great tournament. We won our first two games against CYS and SF Taisho but lost today in the championship game against a very tough Fremont team. But the boys all played with heart and passion and left nothing on the table. We celebrated by eating dim sum!!!

Top row...left to right...Tanner Sasaki, Nick Sui, CJ Bumatay, Kevin Louie (behind Davis), Adam Wong

Bottom row...Ashton Quan, Scott Kumamoto, Davis Yasuda, Jonathan Louie

Chillin' and having some fun after two tough games.....