Merry Christmas

Dear KosNet Friends

Merry Christmas!!  Well, this year's biggest Christmas present for me was my roof!!  No, not that I got new roof (I did it in 2010), but my roof was saved. Look at this picture!!  This is what happened a week ago on December 17th.  My neighbor's big pine tree fell.  It was a pure luck that it did not hit my house by few inches. It was a big pine tree and my neighbor was kind to get rid of the branch hanging over my roof this summer. If it had not done, my house would have been really damaged. So, I am very grateful for that. Look at how much dirt come up due to the fall.

It appears that because of the draught in California, the root went shallow on surface. And because of all the rain it got too soft and came down. It actually took couple other trees. I heard the thundering noise in the evening, and it was because of this fall. It crashed my neighbor's garage and I am very sorry for that. At the same time, we are in many ways lucky that it did not fall onto our main houses.  And thanks to the fact it happened a week before Christmas, tree man came to get rid of the debris over weekend. They brought big crane car to get rid of the tree. That was actually a bit scary because the big chunk of trunks swung by above my roof to the ground. Anyway, bottom line was no one was heart. It could have been a lot worse. I feel I was saved by my God and Kos. It is nice to have roof over my head. I again realized that you never know what happens so we need to live each moment to the fullest!!

Naomi

Visit to Japan

Dear KosNet Friends

OK, it is already December. Before I give you year end update, let me inform you what happened in October and November. I spent October in Japan. On November 1st, I gave Kos's 6th year memorial (nanakaiki) in Japan. It is a big Buddhist commemoration and I am happy to inform you that about 20 of family members got together including Kos's parents. I arrived in Japan early October, and my visit went very quickly including preparation for the memorial. Fortunately, I was able to put some fun events, too. Attending Prof. Maeno's workshop was one of them. The title of the workshop is "cultivate happiness through positive thinking".  Prof. Maeno is now teaching "how to become happy using systems thinking". I totally agree with him. There is a systematic way to become happy and create win win scenario no matter what the situation is. I attached Prof. Maeno's blog. Sorry, it is in Japanese. It was wonderful to see more than hundred very enthusiastic people (some young some old, male and female) who are seeking to build "truly happy society".

Needless to say November went so quickly catching up with work!! So, now coming into December, it is time to write holiday notes!!  Well, I am working on, so please give me couple days. This is the busy time of the year. Hope everyone is having good holiday season. Take care.

Naomi

http://takashimaeno.blog.fc2.com/

September update

Hi KosNet Friends

Wow, it is already October, but let me do September update. September was busy month with various house projects and guests and work. I got new insulation to attic. I went up to attic and walked on the beam for the first time!! OK, good news is no mice and no bats. Just a lot of debris. Now, I got "pink" insulation and I am ready for winter. Another big project is replacing the fence. This is really a good project to use ME317 tools. Well, first we got to have some process map. There are a lot of steps to be done. Talk to neighbors, clean up fence areas, cut down trees, getting estimates, compare estimates, talk with neighbors again.... I am fortunate to have such a wonderful backdoor neighbor. She is also a widow (a year after me), and we tackled this project together and we did it!! We learned a lot about fence and I think we chose the right company to do the work. We are both very happy so far. Look at our new fence!!

So, now I am into landscaping. It will be a long process and I intend to enjoy it!! One ambition I have is to make front yard to be a putting green with artificial lawn. Well, I think I have to do the cost worth analysis, since it is quite expensive. We'll see.

So from tomorrow, I will visit Japan. I am so looking forward to MML reunion. If you are MMLer and somehow you did not receive about reunion information in Japan, please e-mail me.

OK. I think I need to start packing.

Naomi

August update

Dear KosNet Friends

My ukulele

Wow, it is already the last day of August. August has been very busy with work starting (yes, I am back at Oracle), trip to Yosemite (it is always so beautiful there!!), various visitors, house projects and my new hobby Ukulele!! Yes, I started learning Ukulele and I love this instrument!! It is so cute and the sound is so lovely, though I am struggling to learn codes. So why did I pick up Ukulele? Because I love Jake Shimabukuro!!   I cannot remember how many years ago, but I saw Jake on TV and that left me strong inspiration in my mind, yet I forgot about him and Ukulele for a long time. It somehow just came back again to me this year. So, here I am, now fell in love learning Ukulele. I brought my Ukulele to Yosemite and practiced every day. Not that I got any better, but I enjoyed sound in beautiful nature. 

This time in Yosemite,I went to Saddlebag Lake area with my widow friend. This place is just outside of Yosemite park towards Mono Lake.

 You will get there by boat and can hike above 10,000 feet (above tree zone) visiting many beautiful lakes, looking at Glacier. Yes, we had to be careful with high altitude sickness. As soon as I landed, I felt like stepping into the different world, spiritual world. It was sublime beauty. It was really the world as it was made. I felt the cycle of birth and death. If I look at each item, it is not necessarily beautiful: rubbles, dead tree, yet I found tiny wild flower, gushing water from glacier running into lake... I realized that we need all to make this world.... 

So, I am now back work at Oracle. It is really rewarding to hear "welcome back".  Couple new things. Now, I have a roommate. She is my friend's friend and I am really enjoying her as my younger sister. I also finally started working on the "beautification project" of my yard. Many people are providing me great ideas and I am using ME317 Design Methods to put priorities to the projects. My first project will be replacing backyard fence. Hope in September, I can show the picture of my new fence. 

Naomi 

Trip to east coast

Dear KosNet Friends

From June 22nd to July 6th, I visited east coast. I first visited my friend who is running Bed & Breakfast in New Hampshire with her family. Isn't this a beautiful home?

B&B in NH

 This is a newly restored Victorian mansion overlooking the lake built in the 1860s for Eben and Eliza Sutton, who were early pioneers. My friend Thais, current inn keeper, is my friend from University of Massachusetts Amherst days, that means 35 years ago!! She came to our wedding. Well, it was my first experience to help B&B operation. It starts early in the morning, and we serve full breakfast. Fruit smoothie, eggs benedict florentine, and freshly made blueberry scone (I made this for the first time!) was the breakfast menu. After breakfast, of course we are busy cleaning up the rooms. Good news is usually things are done by 11:00 am or so. So, I enjoyed kayak in the lake. This is a beautiful lake district, where the famous movie "golden pond" was filmed. After spending one week in NH,  I moved to Cape Cod, visiting Kos's first project sponsor at GE 25 years ago. He and his wife are now happily retired and spend half year in Florida and half year in Cape Cod. What a life!! This is the view from their cottage.

Cape Cod ocean is so beautiful, calm, peaceful and more than anything warm!! I enjoyed swimming every day!! Well, in addition, there are a lot of things to do in Cape Cod. I enjoyed visiting Provincetown to watch Portuguese festival, boating, kayaking, musical, parade, ice cream, lobster and clamming!!  We caught 30 Quahog clams (I caught 6 of them). They are so big (as you can see), and so delicious.  We enjoyed Clam Casino. 

Yey, we got clams

So now I am back in California from this "dream come true" vacation. Couple more quiet weeks and will start working again. Hope you are all having good summer. 

Naomi 

It's summer

Hi KosNet Friends

Wow, it is already mid June. May went so fast.  Attending ME317 classes, playing golf, enjoying hiking, visitors, etc. Sad news is that I could not make a cut to Handicap Tournament. I shot 44 for front 9 and deteriorated for back 9 to end up 102. So, I participated in first flight (not Championship flight) of the tournament. It was a great opportunity to learn about mental part of golf. ME317 final presentation was great!!  It is always wonderful to see students enthusiastically participate in project and come up with many creative ideas to apply design methods to tackle the problems. What I like about ME317 design methods is that it allows everyone to participate in constructive discussion. That's why I use to ME317 design methods to design my life, too.

California poppies

Right after ME317 ended, I went for my first long driving trip to south California. On the way going there, I had a perfect friend to drive with me, Jeannie!! We talked so much in the car (of course all about her receiving theory), so before we noticed, we were already in LA. We went to Universal Studio one day and did EVERYTHING!! I dropped her off at Seal Beach where she attended her relative's wedding, and I headed to my friend's place in Newport Beach. They are my Sophian friends, and I enjoyed participating in Southern California 23 Japanese universities golf tournament.  By pure luck, I got nearest to the pin award!!

Naomi in air

Then I went to La Jolla, beautiful coast resort near San Diego. Do you know what I did? Yes, I tried paragliding for the first time in my life. It was a bit scary first, but after the initial shock, it became the most wonderful and spectacular experience for me!! I also visited couple other friends. I enjoyed watching my friend's daughter's tennis match, my friend's son's baseball match and my friend's daughter's softball match. It is nice to be "aunt", since being parents is a lot of work!!  I respect all parents who are working hard (in many ways) and who are giving so much love to their children. Thank you for including me to be a part of your family life.

OK, enjoy your summer break, whatever you do.

Cherry Blossom

Dear KosNet Friends

Wow, it is already the last day of April. Before May hits, I would like to share the scent of spring with you. I went to Japan for two weeks at the end of March, and I was fortunate to enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms for the first time after 29 years!! When I arrived Japan on March 21st, all cherry blossoms are still in tight buds and no sign of opening up. But in two weeks, it went full bloom. I totally forgot how beautiful cherry blossoms are in Japan. It happens all of a sudden as if spring fairy touched every tree!! Since it was a short trip, I did not have chance to see many friends, but enjoyed time with my family and Kos's family.

So, now back in California, and it was really cold for a while, and finally I feel spring is here. Now my golf season starts!! On April 15th, I had three birdies in one round!! In May, I will have big tournament coming up, so wish me good luck.

Naomi

5 years has passed

Dear KosNet Friends

Wow, time flies and now already March 3rd. Amazing!! January and February passed so fast. I was working full time, had many guests, attended many study groups, went to see ballet and theater play, so no wonder when I realized it was already March. Good news is that my project at Oracle ended, so I will have couple months break. On March 2nd, I went to see ballet with my widow friend. Programs were The Kingdom of the Shades from La Bayadere, Ghosts and Firebird. All of them had deep spiritual meanings. Choreographer of Firebird, Yuri Possokhov, wrote "The Firebird appears in Russian folklore and fairy tales as different images with different motivations. However, one constant was that the Firebird was always a symbol of light and fire associated with natural power and would fight and defeat the demonic, dark side of life." Five years has passed since Kos passed away. And in many amazing way, he helped me like Firebird in every situation when I had difficulty. So, I am grateful that I was able to see this ballet on his memorial day. This Saturday, I will have MML reunion at my house. Looking forward to seeing some of KosNet friends!!

Naomi

A Happy New Year

Dear KosNet Friends

Can you see?

Hope you had a great new year's day. After spending wonderful new year's eve with my friend's family from OSU days, I enjoyed luncheon with my California parents (Dr. A who picked up Kos at SF airport at the very first time he came to US) and then I went to my KPMG friend's place to watch Rose Bowl. I was sad to see Stanford lost, but I know couple Michigan fun friends, so I am happy for them. On 2nd and 3rd, I went to Lodi California to watch Sandhill Crane with my friend. It was the very first time for me to go to that area of California and I was amazed with the completely different scenery, very flat,

With sunrise

some flooded area and many wineries. Cranes are active at sunset and sunrise, so we got up very early, dressed up warmly and waited. We saw thousands of birds, cranes, swans, geese, ducks.... It was amazing to see them flying out into the sky at sunrise. In Japan crane is a symbol of happiness, prosperity, and anything good, so this was a wonderful way to start 2014 and I am happy to share these pictures with you. I was able to see more clearly with binoculars, but this is the best I could do with my iPone.  OK, one more rest day and work starts from Monday.  

Naomi  

Happy Holidays

Dear KosNet Friends

Wow, I cannot believe that 2013 is about to end. This year has passed so quickly, started working hard and ended working hard at Oracle. In addition, I experienced many new things, made new friends, while keeping the wonderful relationship with my old friends. Let me first share my experience in September to date.

From the end of September, I spent a month in Japan. This trip was fruitful in many ways. It started with attending the final presentation of Design Project (formerly known as ALPS) at Keio University. It was so nice to see many familiar faces and new energetic faces who are working on to learn applying many design tools in innovative ways. I was grateful for being invited to this wonderful presentation. The trip continued with one day escape to Hakone with Kos's family, trip to Gifu with my friend to enjoy Ukai (sweetfish fishing), golf with my parents and many more fun meetings with my friends. Highlight in November was Halloween Party (that was on November 1st). I dressed up as a fairy, and because the party was so good, before I noticed, I welcomed my birthday (November 2nd) as a fairy!!   What a way to start new year!! Maybe a bit too much watching of "once upon a time". December, the most memorable party was emeritus party at Stanford. No, I am not an emeriti, but thanks to Kos, I get invited to the party as a widow. So, this is the fifth year I go to this party with my super extravert friend Jeannie. Yes, she is the one who taught me her receiving theory. Wonderful thing is that President Hennessy remembered my name!! I met some of my professors from MS days, too. Now, I am busy cooking "osechi ryori (traditional Japanese New Year's dishes)".

Hope 2013 has been a good year for you and hope 2014 will be another wonderful year for all of us. May peace be with us all.

Naomi
   

Work Hard Play Hard

Hi KosNet Friends

 Well August theme was "work hard play hard".  Yes, I restarted working at Oracle. It is wonderful that everyone welcomes me. I really enjoy working there as a contractor. What is wonderful is that my schedule is so flexible. So, I worked Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and quickly went to Yosemite to enjoy hiking with my widow friend, just before fire kicked us out.  OK, which picture do I enjoy more? Well, actually I enjoy both. ....well, maybe more of Yosemite at 10,000 feet.

Camping trip

Hi KosNet Friends

 From August 1st to 4th, I went to my first camping trip after 25 years!! I still clearly remember my first camping trip with Kos to Big Sir. I have never slept in the tent, so I had to wake Kos up three times during the night to take me to restroom. I was afraid of moth!! So, this camping I went with my young friends. It was great!! I did not have to drive and they set up the tent for me. I went to REI to get nice sleeping pad, so no problem for sleeping.

This was abalone hunting camp and of course we enjoyed "all you can eat" abalone dinner every night!!  Sashimi, yubiki, deep fried, pizza, ....  Abalone was sooo big yet tender and so yammy. Yes, I enjoyed kayaking and also hiking. Stars were amazing. Did I see moth? Yes, unfortunately, but I did not scream. I guess I am growing...  Oh, I forgot to tell you one important thing. I got my first i-Phone!!  Yes, finally coming out of the cave to get my first smart phone. Fortunately, I have many young friends who are so good with tech-things, so got crash course. These are my first pictures taken on i-phone. Well, still not get used to take photo with phone... Now I will be back working, so good bye to summer for now.

Naomi

Happy Summer

Hi KosNet Friends

Glacier Bay National Park

Wow, it is already after mid July. OK, June went by so quickly. On June 3rd, I shared my talk again at Stanford about how I am using ME317 design methods in my life to build my best and the happiest life system. Of course I made improvements from last year. Kos never gave same lecture, so I am trying to follow his steps. June 5th was the ME317 final presentation day and we enjoyed going to Gordon Biersch afterwards to celebrate another successful ME317 year. Then from mid June, I enjoyed three weeks vacation including visiting Alaska. Nature in Alaska was so beautiful, powerful and healing. We were fortunate to have great weather and were able to see the glacier and heard the profound sound of ice melting into the ocean. I somehow feel that I will visit there again.

Mendenhall Glacier

I met a very attractive naturalist. His name is Michael Modzelewski and he was a lecturer on Princess Cruise. I was so moved by his lecture so I bought his book, Inside Passage, and read this book in three days!! That is a record speed for me to read an English book. Literally, I could not put it down. If you are interested in visiting Alaska in future, I highly recommend this book. So, now back from long vacation, and I am still day dreaming about Alaska. Hope you are all enjoying your summer.

Naomi

Wow, it is almost end of May

Hi KosNet friends

Wow, it is almost end of May!!  I was intending to update Blog monthly, but was not successful. So, let me look back these two months. In April, I went to Yosemite again with my widow friend. This year, we did not have enough rain, so California poppies were not as beautiful as last year, but blue lupines were in full bloom. We also enjoyed hiking to Vernal Fall. We saw many rainbows over the falls.

My project at Oracle ended on April 26th and the next day my friends came to visit me from Japan. They are old friends from Stanford days, and we had great time going to Napa and Monterey.

Then I was geared myself up to defend my trophy for Handicap Tournament at Stanford. I went all the way to the final, but unfortunately, I lost. So sad that I had to give up my trophy, but I know the champion well and she deserved to win. I did not play well and that was the sad part. Golf is such a mental game!!

So, I am now at Newport Beach staying at my friend's place who introduced Kos to me. Yes, my matchmaker, and enjoying playing golf and Southern California sunshine. Hope you all have good memorial weekend.

Naomi

Happy Easter

Dear KosNet Friends

Kos's tree last year

Kos's tree March 2013

OK, I am determined to update BLOG before April starts!! On March 2nd, I played golf at Stanford, and I got Birdie on 8th hall!! Thank you Kos for wonderful present. For the rest of the game, I will be silent.  On March 3rd, I went to see ballett with my girlfriend. Well, for this, I don't know if Kos enjoyed or not. Then after that, I was down with cold for almost a week, which is unusual. Well, maybe I needed a rest. So, today, I would like to share the picture of Kos's tree, white birch. It did grow from last year. Don't look at the lawn, please. I have to say Kos was better at taking care of the yard than me.... So today is Easter and I had good gathering at Kurt's place. Easter lunch and egg hunting!! So, I am now ready to welcome April.  Hope you all had wonderful Easter.  

Naomi

ME317 goes on.

Dear KosNet Friends

Wow, it is already February 24th!!  I have been extremely busy until February 15th working on tax return project for my corporate client. Thanks to Kurt, Edith, Mark and many other ex-students of Kos, ME317 is going on smoothly this year. Cisco and Medtronics came back as project sponsors. This year, to our surprise, a young Japanese entrepreneur showed up in the first class and he decided to be a sponsor and a student of ME317. Nishio is a food trading company which sells various tofu and other food products. The project is to design the strategy to promote Oden using Yatai, including design of Yatai. So, those who are not familier with Oden, it is a Japanese soul food and very delicious. It is an exciting project!! We also have about 40 GM students and 4 Toyota students through SCPD. Both GM and Toyota projects are through ex-student of Kos. So, I am VERY grateful to KOSNET!!

I expect this week and next week to be a tough time. Even though four years has passed, it is still hard to recall these two weeks. My body automatically gets stiff. I am making a progress each year, though.  This year, using ME317 design methods, I am carefully making a plan. Updating the Blog will be one of them. Playing golf in Kos's memory will be another plan. I will go to see ballett, with my friend, too. Well, regarding with ballet, I don't know if Kos would approve. He always said "I don't wanna see guys in tights":))

So life goes on and we'll try to make it to be a good one.

Naomi      

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to KosNet Friends

A bit delayed greeting to KosNet Friends. I hope all of you had good holidays. I had quiet, peaceful and fun holidays with my friends in California.

So believe or not, ME317 goes on again in 2013!! This year, more than 20 students signed up and about 6 companies are interested in sponsoring ME317. Two of them are BIG US companies. Yesterday, we had project offering meeting and it was a great one with many enthusiastic students. Yes, our regular Pizza party. One difference is that we no longer have MML space so we did in the classroom. Nonetheless, it was a very successful event. Actually, this classroom was where MML conference room used to be. So, I am sure Kos was watching us with big smile. Well, students are still shopping (since this is the first week of the quarter), so we do not know the final count, but as soon as I find out, I will let you know!! Of course, many students from GM will participate through SCPD. I am grateful that there are many students and many companies who are interested in ME317 design methods. It's true. All of them are universal tools that can be applied to any projects, including designing life. I am using these tools everyday to add value to my life.  I am looking forward to another chance to share my experience in using ME317 methods.

Naomi

Happy Holidays

Dear KosNet Friends

It is hard to believe it is already December. 2012 has been a good year for me in many ways. I would like to inform you good news. Kos Ishii Graduate Fellowship Fund at Stanford is now supporting two students in ME department in this year. I received lovely letters from two recipients. That was a great gift to me!! 

So, at the end of the year, I would like to share my goal statement with you. Using ME 317 Design Tools, following is my goal statement.

TO Design the Best and the Happiest Life System that brings mental, physical, and financial happiness to me

BY living each moment to the fullest, being open in choosing the most value added action

USING ME317 design methods with “Receiving Theory” as an operating system

WHILE also exploring other methods

AS MEASURED BY the quality of my situational emotional state of being and the length of it

TO exceed beyond my own expectation

“Receiving Theory” is my best friend Dr. Jeannie Kahwajy’s theory. I hope I will have another chance to share her theory with you, but if I do not have such a chance, following is her web site and you can google her to see many presentations she made.  And indeed, this year has been “beyond my own expectation”. Have a wonderful holiday season!! Thank you for your friendship.

Naomi

http://www.effectiveinteractions.com/

Visit to Japan

Dear KosNet Friends

I spent October in Japan. It started with very hot days and ended with beautiful fall days. I had great time meeting many friends and family members. This time I traveled to Kyushu to visit Kos's friend and my cousin, then visited Hiroshima for the first time. I have to confess that I never fully realized the magnitude of atomic bomb until I visited peace memorial museum. My head may have collected a lot of knowledge about atomic bomb but my heart has not really understood. I have to say that I am still digesting what I saw and learned. I also visited Osaka and went to Expo park. Let me share the picture of Taiyo-no To I took in Japan. I also enjoyed attending MML VIA Alumni luncheon. It was really heart warming to know that Kos's spirit is still alive in many people.

Summer went by quickly

Hi KosNet Friend

Again, sorry for the long silence. It was not that I have not done anything, but rather I did so much and too busy to organize myself to update Blog.

From mid June, I spent one month in Sydney Australia, visiting John's family. John is Kos's best friend from high school. We went to his wedding and John and Robyn came to our wedding. They have four wonderful boys and I had no problem finding my date for jogging, hiking, shopping and various other activities. John's hobby is Kayaking, and I fell in love with it!! Kayaking is a wonderful sport to enjoy beautiful nature. Only thing is that it was winter in Australia, so it was COLD!! I visited many memorable places; Kos's school, Kos's house where he grew up and various other places we went together in 2006.... I have to admit that it was not easy. Tears came out without reason. At the same time, I am grateful that Kos left me so many great memories and great friends. Let me share with you couple pictures from Australia.

Then after I came back, I had another MML student wedding. It was wonderful to catch up with other MMLers. Summer was busy with parties, visitors, golf etc. Most memorable visitor was my best friend Akko from Sophia and her daughter. We felt like we were still teens, but the reality is that we met each other at her daughter's age!! So, I had wonderful summer.

Now, I am spending October in Japan. I will share with you about this trip in couple weeks!!

Naomi