Toes

I was in desperate need of some new toe art after our hike!  I didn't go to my normal place, but I like these toes a lot.  This picture doesn't show it, but they are REALLY sparkly and I love it!

The Dreaded SEMI are Back!

It is that time of year again ... the time where we don't get to sleep in b/c of the noise outside.  The semi are back :(  At least during the week I am waking up before the semi to hit the gym so they aren't AS big of an annoyance as before.

Here is Bailey-cat hanging out...

... and then she saw THIS on our screen:

The semi are about 2-3 inches long and about 1.5 inches wide ... and gross.

She was then hooked.

Here's a video from our backyard.  Last year we tried to grill out at our neighbors and it ended up with Matt and Michael doing battle against the semi with fly-swatters for about 1/2 an hour.  I think they killed about 20 b/c they will dive-bomb when they get angry.  Its difficult to even talk on the phone in the house during the early morning/early evening time frames b/c that is when they are most active.

Tokyo Electronics and Shibuya Crosswalk

We got to the electronics section (Akihabara) of Tokyo and found some things we had been looking for forever!  Who could pass up little novelty flash drives??  Michael got a 16 GB flash drive for under $50!

Michael in front of the 103" Panasonic TV:

then we went down to the Shibuya crosswalk to watch the madness ensue:

It was insane!   I'm glad we went and saw it though :)

Ice Bar - Tokyo

After we hiked Mt. Fuji, we headed back to Tokyo for 2 nights.  We went back to the Garlic House Restaurant (we went there with Jan and Steve and LOVED it) ... they have the best baked escargot!

... we love some garlic dishes:

then we went and hit the Ice Bar.  Included with the cover charge is one free drink and the coat/gloves:

Michael and his drink (the glasses were made out of ice too!)

Its supposed to be -5 degrees C at all times - so cold!

Sitting on fur throws on top of ice benches:

The sculptures built into the walls were great:

the bartender looked like an eskimo:

Michael hanging out:

Together and having fun :)

Michael playing with the ice sculptures:

Me sitting in one of the ice sculptures:

Mt. Fuji 2009

We just got back from hiking Mt. Fuji!  We hiked up the Fujinomiya Trail in 4 hours 2 minutes on the 4th of July.  The mountain was absolutely breathtaking ... and I'm SO glad we did it.  But I'd never do it again :)  Here is the mountain the day before we hiked from Camp Fuji:

Us in front of the mountain:

This was from Station 5 (start of the hike):

This was right before station 6:

We had clear skies for a little while!  I had to get a hat because it was raining when we started:

We were able to get brands on our sticks at station 6 & new 7 (and at station 7 on the way down):

Michael at station 6:

On our way up to station 7:

Taking a rest and refueling at station 7:

Some nice Japanese boys took our picture:

... but I had to return the favor:

We got lucky it was so clear for awhile on our way up!!

Michael at station 8:

The trail was closed after station 8 ... but we went up anyway.  We weren't going to come back, and we weren't leaving without getting to the top!

This was where we hit the snow line.  From station 9.5 to the top it was a little scary.  I had a little bit of a breakdown ... but I pushed through!  We weren't prepared to hike through snow.

We made it to the top though!!!

Michael at the top:

Me at the top:

Nothing was open ... and it was COLD!

WE DID IT!

The crater at the top of Mt. Fuji:

There were a few markers at the summit:

Here is the weather station that conducts research at the top of Mt. Fuji:

It took us almost as long to get a taxi as it did to get to the top!  We waited for 3 hours before a cab could come pick us up.  Michael had this bus driver call a cab company.  We're still not sure what he said on the phone, b/c the cab company called back at least 8 times.

This was the gorgeous sunset after we got back.  Truly one of God's wonders ...