America's Honor

Here’s what I believe: Honor is the core of American Freedom. Honor and Freedom are why our military serve and why they are willing to pay the ultimate price. Although it was natural to want revenge for the terrible atrocities of 9/11/01 on American soil, we cannot sink to the level of terrorists and dictators by euphemizing, condoning or justifying torture. If we do, then we’re no better than the basest terrorist or dictator! Torture is a war crime and we have historically ensured that those who are guilty of causing it, are severely punished. Our government’s behavior in recent years has made all Americans LESS safe, at home and abroad. It’s about time we admit our mistakes and cleanse our tarnished reputation. This does not, as some cry, make us look weak – just the contrary: those who admit their errors and take steps to correct them, are always viewed as stronger and more honorable than those who continue to deny and deceive. America is not above the law. As a free democracy, we honor and protect the law, and I’m extremely proud of our new administration for reminding us.

Birthday Party at Mario di Mare's 4/17

Ellie & Belinda (and Belinda's crutch) with a cute new friend on the train. He told us his name was "Joe Bob" -- hmm . . .


We got off the train at the Ajina exit (going toward Hiroshima). We walked across a sky walk into Fuji Grand, through a mall, and kept walking across Hwy 2 on more sky walk into the 2-level restaurant area, surrounded with beautiful high-rise apartments, facing the sea. I liked this cute child's dinner set in a restaurant window.


Ingrid & Japanese friends. I usually see these girls at the Halloween party, so they look different tonight!


Here we are - Mario di Mare.

And they are open -- actually, Ingrid has made reservations for us tonight.

Nancy, Ingrid & Eldon.

Some of Ingrid's Japanese students.

Jim & Margie.

I love this fish light fixture on the wall near us.

Kampai!


And Kampai, Belinda! This is her first outing since she returned from Okinawa where she had foot surgery in March. Can you see her great Elvis tie?


And the pin in her toe in the chair right next to me.


Stan & Ingrid are having fun across the table from me.

Stan the Walrus . . .

Delicious salad course with pieces of seafood.


My second course was Japanese pizza (instead of pasta). It's a lot thinner & healthier than typical American pizza -- more like original Italian, I'm told . . .


Oh, yes I'm enjoying my meal.


Next course was chicken with tomato sauce.

Paul, Betty, Nancy & Eldon having good dinner conversation.

Everyone's dessert plate was a little different. My sherbet was raspberry -- yum! My pie was persimmon, but my cake was chocolate -- perfect!


Here are the specials . . .


Nancy smiles, as Betty and the rest of us sing Happy Birthday. Nancy's birthday is 4/17, which is today!


Stan gets ready to blow out his candle -- his is 4/20.

And one of the Japanese girls also had a birthday this past week! All the birthday folks had a candle on their dessert plate. Thanks Ingrid for arranging all this!

Beautiful flowers along the walkway.


We're upstairs, but there are more restaurants downstairs. Guess we'll have to come back and try another one another time . . .


Back on the local train. Betsy, Belinda & Ellie are peeking at me.


Stan likes to sleep on the train.

Our new friend, Ellen departs the train at Iwakuni Station.

What a fun night! We all head out to take taxis back to the base. Trains & taxis allow everyone to have a drink with dinner!

Easter Sunday Train Trip

It's a beautiful day today -- perfect for a train ride with Nancy & Eldon. This train rides VERY close along the Seto Inland Sea as we head SW from Iwakuni. We planned to ride the trolley to Nishiki, but we arrived at Iwakuni Station just a few minutes too late, so Plan B was to head toward Yamaguchi. (The trolley doesn't run as often as the local trains.)


After checking our maps, we decided to ride to Tokuyama. I thought this was an interesting 3-piece restaurant door inside the covered shopping mall near the station. Wonder who uses the narrow panels?


Automatic Hello Kitty popcorn machine.

Manhole cover with firetruck.

Looking down the covered mall.

Cute chair with orange flowers.

Decoration in honor of Sakura.


Wow -- look at the fabulous fresh flower arrangements!


They smell as sweet as they look!


I don't think I've ever seen Asian mannikins before . . .

Eldon & Stan inside the covered mall.

Cat having a snack inside this mall area near a bicycle.


Pretty display near a restaurant.


Fresh flowers.


Oh, they're tiny, pale purple iris.

Cap for sale: "Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor."

It's lunchtime, so we head upstairs to the food court in a department store. This is Stan's curry.


Nancy's pork lunch set.

My ebi tempura set -- yum! I think Eldon had the same thing.

Back out on the street, I fine another pretty manhole cover.

In another covered shopping area, these cute sisters were very friendly.