Christmas 2011

So like a lot of other people, we celebrated Christmas yesterday and are spending today recovering. It's a gorgeous day outside and I am inside writing this post.

Oh, no I'm not. See ya later.

So If

I were to post to my blog would the world care? would google plus notice?

Pizza at Crostatas

This last Thursday night Arisa and I, just the two of us, went out for dinner. This is not an occurrence that happens often. In fact, it's been pretty rare. Though I expect it will start happening a lot more than it has in the past since Elly and Ken are off at college and George isn't far behind.

In particular, on Thursday during the day at work Arisa had her OBP1 certification test at Hyland Software. Yes, Arisa and I now both work at Hyland. Anyway, Hyland has a fairly extensive training program for new employees with "certification" tests afterward. Needless to say all the training is in English as are the tests. So for Arisa it was a very long and mentally tiring day. George wanted to go see the Mayfield Varsity Soccer team play Shaker in the District Finals at Brush High School so we dropped him off and went to eat.

Official Google Reader Blog: Upcoming changes to Reader: a new look, new Google...

Hattip to John Hardy for this Google+ post.

Official Google Reader Blog: Upcoming changes to Reader: a new look, new Google...: Posted by Alan Green, Software Engineer In the next week, we’ll be making some highly requested changes to Google Reader. First, we’re goi...

If you read through that article it seems like a pretty cool thing in that there will be tighter integration between Google Reader and Google+. I like that idea. However,
Google continues, unless there is something left out of the article that we don't know about, to ignore Google Apps. There "improvement" for Google Reader is nothing of the sort, at least for me since I use it with my Google Apps account.

Here is what they said:

Reader's social features will soon be available via Google+, so in a week's time we'll be retiring things like friending, following and shared link blogs inside of Reader.
We think the end result is better than what's available today, and you can sign up for Google+ ...

So what they are doing is taking away functionality from Reader. That functionality will be replaced with Google+. So far so good. Read that next line though which says "you can sign up for Google+".

Well, no I can't. I have a Google Apps account and Google Apps cannot sign up with Google+ or anything else that requires a Google profile.

Neohawk's New Homestead

Most of you know that the Northeast Ohio Hawkins Family moved to a new house at the end of June.  For the first time ever, Arisa and I have purchased a house!

Our new homestead is only 5 or 10 minutes away from our previous residence, so George will be attending the same school - Mayfield High School.  We did move to a new city though and we are now in Highland Heights, but Mayfield City School District includes both Mayfields (Heights and Village), Gates Mills and Highland Heights.  The house is about a 5-10 minute bike ride to and from the school.

The house is not that much bigger than the house we were in previously, but the layout is much, much better.  The house overall is in much better shape and incredibly higher quality of any house we've lived in so far.  We bought it with the idea that it'll be really for just Arisa and I as we'll be empty nesters soon.  George has three more years of high school, but beginning this fall both Ken and Elly will spend most of their lives away from home.  Elly, of course, is a sophomore at American University while Ken is a freshman at Villanova University.

While the house isn't that big we have close to one and a half acres (約6000平方メートル). Which for me means alot of gardening space.  As you know, in our previous residence we did some gardening.  Unfortunately, last year I was traveling too much to take much care of it and this year too much flooding to even start.  And then when it dried up some we had already decided to move so I never did plant a garden this year regardless of this post that indicates otherwise.

This summer for me was mostly be about planning and preparing for next year.  I will be planting at least two gardens and a third one eventually.  For the most part, these will be vegetable gardens, though I may throw in some flowers for variety.  In fact, we have a little "hill" that's up against the Euclid Creek where I am planting some native flowers such as the purple cone flower and some others.  Hopefully, these flowers will fill up the area instead of the weeds that were there until Elly and I ripped them out.   In addition to this area, I will be building a raised garden in front of our shed. The plan is for it to be fairly big but we are building it in halves. The first half I'll do this fall, the second half next fall. There is no reason to rush any of this since we'll be here for a while (knock on wood).

One of the big things we need to figure out is what trees to cut down and/or trim. There are three maples next to the house that need to go as they are pushing up against the foundations and will probably cause leaks. We also have two beautiful but massive oak trees in the yard. Both 50 - 70 years old. Unfortunately between the two of them they pretty much shade the whole yard making it very difficult to figure out where to put gardens. But it is more than that - we have probably 6 maples other than the first three I mentioned, 3 pines, another oak tree, an ash tree, a hickory tree and some spruce/evergreen trees and shrubs. Oh, and a dying cherry tree.

I intend to cut down some myself, others we are debating to keep them and, therefore, only trim them. Others we just aren't sure we want to pay to cut them down. So it's a problem we're trying to figure out. And in the meantime I am dreading the fall when all these trees shed their leaves.....

That's enough for now for this post as it has already taken me close to two months to write it. Time to get it out of the way and move on.

グーグルプラス（Google+)

最近、グーグルはグーグルプラスというソーシャルネットワークをリリースしました。最初は登録を限定していて、いまでも制御しているみたいですが、基本的にグーグルアカウントを持っていて招待があれば入れます。

フェースブックとある程度似ているけど、違う面もあります。僕は結構気に入ったところが携帯電話で握った写真を自動的にG＋にアップロードします。アップロードされている写真が最初は自分しか見えない状態で、どなたに見せるかを決めるわけです。

共有、公開などが一般公開（どなたでも見える）から一人のみということができます。g＋ではサーカル（輪）を他のグーグルプラスのメンバーを入れて整理します。例えば、僕の場合は「Japan」、「仕事同僚」、「グーグル」、「友達」、「家族」などのサーカルをとおして整理しています。

自分としてはがっかりした点がneohawk.orgの独自ドメインでブログ、メールなど、オンラインアイデンテティ（？Identity)を作っています。Neohawk.org はグーグル・アップスを利用しています。残念ながら、グーグルアップスのアカウントでグーグルアップスに参加することができないんです。これがグーグルBuzzと同じ問題です。

結局はプロフィルが問題になっていて、どのようにグーグルアップにプロフィルを提供するかは解決できてないままです。 AppsをBuzzのユーザーに提供するぞといったのが一年前ぐらいですが、まだできていない。同様にグーグルプラスに提供するぞと約束しているのですけど、一切いつごろ提供するかを一言も言っていません。

残念です。

Really, AT&T?

So as some of you may be aware, the Northeast Ohio Hawkins Family is changing residences once again. We had been renting a house for since 2008 or 2009 but that lease is up at the end of this month. Yes, in just a few days.

So I call up AT&T to have my Uverse service moved. We are shutting it off on the 29th and wanted service to start up as soon as possible. Unfortunately, "as soon as possible" meant July 11th for AT&T. Okay, so I can grasp they have full schedules of installing.

But what surprised me is this: 1) I need to return all of the equipment, 2) I will need to pay $36 activation fee for turning the service on on the 12th of July when the installer will bring new equipment.

Huh? I'm not cancelling service, I'm moving it. My equipment isn't broken why do I have to go to all the effort to take it to a UPS office? And pay $36 to activate the account? What!?

But most amazing of all is that they fully intend to charge me for the two weeks I will not have access to their service.

Really, AT&T? Really?

International Folk Festival - June 26

Upcoming Events at Arts Collinwood - Waterloo Arts Fest

Power Breakfast

 This is my favorite "power breakfast". The calories in this thing have to be huge. But it's not completely unhealthy either. In fact, take out the bacon (God No!) and the hash browns and it should be downright brilliantly healthy.

First off the omelette uses cholesterol free eggs subsititute. So while the calories may still be there no cholesterol from the eggs. I chopped and cooked up green onion, yellow onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, garlic clove, mushrooms and spinach. For the sauce on top, the same but cooked with one small tomato and other seasonings (basil, etc) Hell, even our egg-hater Ken likes this omelette.

The granola bar is a creation of Arisa's. It is really good actually and feels more like a candy bar. It contains over 15 different ingredients including oatmeal, peanuts, quinoa, almosts, and various dried fruit. It probably has too much sugar for it to actually be considered "healthy", but I'll tell you what it's really good. Arisa's work mates are asking for the recipe but she won't give it out - but that's more because I think she's still trying different balances of all the ingredients.

Last but not least is the smoothy. This smoothie is truly a power drink, exceedingly high in protein and vitamin C. I have been experimenting with various fruits and in various proportions. This particular drink includes 1 quarter lime, 1 half lemon, 1 apple, 1 bannana, 1 orange, 1 kiwi, 20 blueberries, 10 blackberries, 10 raspberries, 4 strawberries, 4 large spoonfuls of nonfat yogurt, one scoop whey protein, and 5 cubes of ice. One word for this conoction - DELICIOUS.

I've mentioned in other posts this year, I am not on a diet, nor am I truly trying to lose weight - though I should. My focus this year is to remain cigarette and smoke free. I am no 146 days without a cigarette - or in different terms I have not smoked 2929 cigarettes since January 4th.

On the other hand, I am putting on weight since I tend to eat food as a substitute. I've tried simply eating carrots, for example, but that's boring. So I end up cooking something as well. Since that's the way it's working out I've decided to try and make healthy items. Relatively healthy mind you.

Neohawk Cherry Tree in Full Blossom

The other day I posted about the cherry trees donated by JANO to the Brookside Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks being in full blossom. Well, our own cherry tree is in full blossom as well.

Our tree actually produces cherries as you may remember from last year(see my posts here and here). If I recall directly, the number of cherries is directly related to the number of blossoms on the tree. If so, then we will have a bumper crop this year. Of course weather and birds will most likely reduce the actual number of cherries we get, but still I think it will be a lot.

Wheat Germ Meatballs and Pasta

Last night's dinner. A meatball pasta dish. The meatballs had added nutrients because we used a wheat germ recipe that we found here (third one) on the internet - Thanks Shirley!

If you are curious, the drink is raspberry tea. I may have to sweeten that tea a little bit next time.

2011 Sakura Mankai

Yesterday on the way home from work, I stopped by the Brookside Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks to check out the Cherry Trees that JANO has donated in full blossom.

Rain, rain go away

The rain is getting to be too much.  I can't prepare my garden

Tragic Disasters in Japan, the Japanese Response,And What Can Be Done to Help

I just this over on JANO's blog but apparently the Kuninori Matsuda the Consulate General will be presenting remarks on the Tragic Disasters in Japan, the Japanese Response,And What Can Be Done to Help at the Law Offices of Margret Wong (MAP) on May 5th, 2011 from 5pm to 7pm.

Invite PDF

Tragic Disasters in Japan, the Japanese Response,And What Can Be Done to Help (PDF)

Running Late but It's seeding time

Okay, I guess I'm technically supposed to start at the end of March. So I'm running a little late, but it's still early April and it's been a cold March. And a cold start to April too. Heck, just a few days ago it was still in the 20s and 30s.

Though I'm not sure if it's still on the blog since I transitioned to blogger, but last year I got an offer from Hometown Seeds to give there seeds a try. I am getting the seeds for free for writing about them on my blog. So yes, you may want to take what I write with a grain of salt because even if I intend to write objectively, chances are unbeknown to myself, I'll be cutting them a break. I just wanted to get that out there upfront.

JANO 2011 Sakura Picnic

JANO's annual picnic will be held on Sunday June 16th at the Brookside Reservation of the Cleveland Metroparks. Check out the flyer and set aside the date.

JANO 2011 Sakura Picnic(PDF opens in new window)

Looking forward to it this year and hoping the weather will hold.

JANO is having a really busy spring, particularly with volunteer activities related to raising money for the victims of the March 11th earthquake and tsunami. We have already participated in some, will be participating in some more. In addition, a hundred or so of us are off to watch Ichiro on May 15th.

With all of that activity, we are hoping that the picnic will be a little special this year.

ずっとうそだったのか？

知りませんでしが。

 

AHA - Japanese Food & Cultural Experience to Support Japan

Japanese Food & Cultural Experience to Support Earthquake and Tsunami Victims event will be hosted on Tuesday, April 12th at the American Heart Association in Cleveland.

Japanese Food and Cultural Experience (PDF, opens in new window)

AHA Cleveland Metro Map

The events to raise money for Japan keep coming in which is absolutely great. I know JANO had collected quite a bit of money and I'm assuming that the Red Cross has done very well too.

If you have donate, please consider it!

 

Saks Fifth Event for Japan

Another event to support the victims in Japan. Click on the image to enlarge it to see detailed information.

I have some more information coming, but also make sure to check out JANO's blog. In particular you'll want to see this category on the blog.

SCOOP: Coming Soon: The G-Slate with Google tablet

Got this from T-Mobile today. They have my interest...

More info HERE

Hodge Podge of Results - Google Profile

So the other day, Google announced it's "+1" service which sounds pretty much like any other "like" type of feature except that is provided for Google Search Results. Which is pretty big deal I guess since Google is close to monopoly status on search - at least in the U.S. Your plus ones are going to show up on your profile page - this one below is for my gmail google account.

Robert Hawkins - Google Profile

Various Blog Views

So I found something really interesting today - 5 different views for blogger blogs.

While I should be at work, my car broke down and is in the shop. I had to take a day off while it gets fixed. So I ended up poking around the various google sites and services I have. Particularly since that along with Google's "+1" announcement, that Google would be offering "Google Profiles" to Google App users finally. It's been a long time coming. So I was poking around to see what was what.

One thing lead to another, and I then stumbled on this view of my blog: robataka's blog. Soweeeeettt! Try the Flipcard view or the Snapshot view Maybe the more traditional Sidebar view is more to your liking. Or maybe Mosaic.

Pretty damn cool if you ask me. So the question is can I get it to work on the JANO blog. And will anybody even use 'em?

今日の気が付き 日が暮れる

I noticed this for the first time when listening to Twilight on Vangelis' The City album.

日が暮れる

それが時の魔法、

明日の同じ時違う魔法

それが色は香りに　

香りが色に変わるとき

そして、影は限りがない青にとける

                Twilight

                Vangelis The City

Android Blogging

So I just found this app for the android, an app that lets me blog from my droid phone.

National Cherry Blossom Festival: Stand with Japan

I just found this site today - National Cherry Blossom Festival which is kind of embarrassing since a friend of mine from JANO has been telling me about it for a couple of years. But I noticed Elly had linked to on facebook. So I checked it out.

More importantly, though, I noticed this event they are having - "Stand with Japan"

The Festival invites you to Stand With Japan at the Washington Monument, followed by a walk around the Tidal Basin in the spirit of hope and rebuilding.

Beginning at 6:30pm on March 24, people will gather at Sylvan Theater (15th Street and Independence Avenue, SW) before walking the Tidal Basin. All donations received throughout the fundraising effort will go directly to the National Cherry Blossom Festival Red Cross Online Donation Site, directly benefiting the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami fund.

FUNDRAISER/ HAPPY-HOUR for JAPAN - MONDAY MARCH 21

I received this today, so if you want to meet some great people and help a really worthy cause, feel free to attend the following fund raising party.

JANO Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund

JANO has announced the start of their Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund to help the victims of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11,2011. See the details here:

JANO Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund

JANO　東日本大震災義援金募集

東北地震

グーグルは東北地方太平洋沖地震の災害に関する情報や被害状況をリアルタイムで更新していきます。 それと、家族など、Person Finder (消息情報): 2011 日本地震を公開しています

これを書いているうちに日本海側に振動6強があったそうです。日本の皆様の安全を祈っています。

実はラジオやテレビからJANOあてに取材依頼が来ているんです。残念ながらJANOがそのような対応が出来ないんですね。　というのは、チャネル１９およびWKSUに返信したように心境的にテレビなんかでる場ではない気がします。岩手県などに親戚がいる方はテレビやラジオに出るわけがないと思います。だって、心配で心配で仕方がないるような気分になっていると思います。家族と友達の安全確認できている方も出たくないと気がします。

もし、テレビやラジオ取材を受けたい方がいるなら、メールをください。紹介します。

How to calculate calories?

As I mention in my long, slow quick update, I've been working out less to lose weight than to quit smoking.  So I haven't really been focused on losing weight.  The funny thing about exercise though is that almost by default you start to lose weight.  Well, actually not weight per se, since it seems that I have stayed pretty much the same weight, but I have certainly gotten thinner.  The jeans I wore yesterday are a testament to just how much I lost. Trust me on that.

Anyway, even though I haven't been focused on losing weight, I am more conscious of what I'm eating particularly since all of my numbers were elevated thought probably not death sentences yet.  So I've been eating items with more omega-3s, fiber, etc., etc., yada, yada, so forth and so on.  I've largely switched from drinking milk to soy milk, for example.  In fact, I'm probably drinking the soy milk more than I ever drank milk.  But I'm also replacing milk in recipes with soy milk, at least sometimes.  

I've also recently downloaded a bunch of 'droid apps that hook up with web sites that help you track your workouts, calorie intake, etc.  But the one thing I don't get is how to calculate calories for something home made.  Most of the apps have pre-defined calorie counts and other nutritional information available because the food they are referencing are commercial products and provide that nutritional information.  But  what about the omelett I made for breakfast this morning?

My Breakfast Omelette

• 1/4 cup egg substitute ( = 1 egg)
• dash of soy milk (1/4 cup? less?)
• 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
• 1 green onion chopped
• 1 slice of small onion chopped
• 1/4 green pepper chopped  (if you think of the green pepper as having 4 corners, the 1/4 is just one of the corners)
• 1 garlic clove chopped
• handful of shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 strips bacon cut in half
• 1 tablespoon Canola oil
• 1 slice of bread

So how do I calculate the calories contained in the above?  I know the cheese and the bacon are my real gotcha's on this ingredient list, but you just gotta have them or it's not a proper breakfast!

Note, along with this I would have some fruit and probably some yogurt.  Those I can figure out, particularly the yogurt.  But what about my omelette?  How do I get the nutritional information for that? 

So I'm headed off for a workout to burn off probably 300 calories(?).  I'm guessing, no hoping,  that'll use up the calories from my breakfast.  Then I'll be sitting pretty on the calorie count front today.

僕とケンも合格！

このあいだ、ジョージが日本語能力試験合格通知が届いたと投稿しました。そのときに僕とケンも試験を受けたにも関わらず、通知が届いていないことでちょっと気になっていたんです。　気にすることはなかったですね。　昨夜、仕事から帰ったら僕とケンの通知がとどいていたんです。

ジョージは日本語能力試験合格

ジョージょが合格しました！　12月にシカゴへの旅について記事をアップしましたが、主に旅の内容でした。 でも、もともとシカゴに行った理由は日本語能力試験を受けるためです。 ジョージだけではなく、僕とケンも試験を受けました。 ケンとジョージは同じN3レベルに挑戦しました。 僕はレベル１を挑戦しました。僕とケンはジョージが先にもらい合格ということで後で届くというのは不合格になるじゃないかと心配しています。　しかも、今日は大統領の日という祭日なので郵便配達がないわけで早くとも明日にならないと届かないので余計に結果を気になります。

ジョージ君、おめでとうございます！　

Bob's Red Mill 10 Grain Bread Mix

Today, I'll be making Bob's Red Mill 10 Grain Bread Mix. It's been kneaded and has been set aside to rise for the next 90 minutes.

禁煙、ヘルシー食事、運動

昨年末には医者さんのアポがありました。ちょっと恥ずかしいんですが、本当はかなり久しぶりに医者さんのとこに行きました。でも、ありさに約束していたし、年末に余った有休の残りを使う必要がありましたのでアポを取りましたというのhが建前ですが、本当は一番メインな目的がタバコをやめるためにChantixのprescriptionをもらうためでした。それが出来ましたけど、やはり色々なテスト結果があって、もっと健康的な生活を送らないと危ないなと思い始めたのです。ありさに言わせれば、やっと大人になったって、この面に限っていえば。。。笑。

Bangkok Thai in Lyndhurst

昨日、ジョージがウインターフォーマルという学校主催ダンスパーティに行っていました。ケンがもうシニア（4年生）なのでウィンターフォーマルに行くと逆に恥ずかしいということで行かなかったです。ジョージはAlfredo's at the Innというレストランに12人で行ったそうです。半分はカープルですが、実際に「付き合っている」カープルが一つだけだったらしいです。残りのカーブルが「友達カープル」でその中でジョージが入るそうです。ありさがジョージから聞いたらしいですが、相手の女の子が他の男にシツコク誘われていて、その男と行くのが嫌でジョージに助けを求めたらしいです。可愛いインド系女の子に助けてあげるジョージが可愛い。

ということで、ありさ、ケン、と僕も外食すると決めました。

The Long, Slow, Quick Update

I started this post out as a quick update several weeks ago. I kept getting interrupted and it never made it out the door to be published out here on these internets. So I changed the title to The Long, Slow, Quick Update from simply Quick Update.

Tuesday, I officially enter my fifth>sixth seventh week of no smoking. 33 39 days ago I quit smoking and since then have not smoked 674 788 cigarettes. It's astounding to me to think of it in those types of numbers. It would have never crossed my mind. I have also saved $204 and 54 cents $239.66.

Almost 5 Days

This has been a tough week for me. Don't mistake me, it was not tough at work, or no more than usual anyway. Nor was it tough at home But it's still been a tough 5 days.

I have now gone over 4.5 days without smoking!

Mangini Fired

Okay, so Eric Mangini was fired. I'm not surprised really. Those last four or five games were just horrible. I trust Holmgren so far. At a minimum his insistence on getting Colt McCoy seems like it's going to pay off. So if Holmgren decided that Mangini isn't the answer that's okay by me. And some of the decisions Mangini made and what I understand about Holmgren's preferences offensively, I can see why he would decide that Eric is just not a coach that fits the desired mold.

Browns Blow in Season Finale

The Cleveland Browns were blown out by the Pittsburgh Steelers 41-9 in the final regular season game.  The Browns were putrid.  No other way to say it.  The number of drops by receivers today must have been like record breaking.   The defense, to give us fair warning on the quality of the rest of the game, allowed a 56 yard TD pass on the Steelers first offensive play. Believe it or not, it got worse from there.

Neohawk Tweaks

I am in the process of making some tweaks to the Neohawk.org. The first will hopefully be largely transparent to people. I realized that neohawk.org, the naked domain, wasn't actually being pointed to anywhere useful. So I made the DNS tweak to forward it to www.neohawk.org, which is the top level site on Google Sites.

The other change I made will be visible only to those folks accessing this blog from from a mobile phone. I have enabled Blogger in Draft, even though I'm not really sure what it is, and that gave me access to blogger templates just for mobile devices. The url for the mobile version of this blog is http://robataka.neohawk.org/?m=1.

Accordingly, I have changed the QR on the right sidebar to point to the mobile version as I'm guessing most folks would use their phones to scan it.
It may be a little bit until I figure out the final DNS changes that do what I want. So you may have only intermittent access to www.neohawk.org. It'll eventually settle down, so go do something and come back later. Or not. Whatever you decide is fine by me.