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