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