My arm hurts, but I had a fun day today.

This morning, I played real, indoor volleyball for the first time in 10+ years. (I'd occasionally played sand volleyball at Yahoo's corporate headquarters during my 8-year stint as a Yahoo, but that doesn't really count.)

Apparently, there's a little Mommy League for volleyball, of moms at various Kyoto preschools. I don't know many details except that I'm not allowed to actually play in the games (I lack appropriate Mommyness), but I can still practice with them. Anthony's preschool doesn't have a lot of volleyball moms, so they [...]
View full post »

I do a lot of stupid things, but it's been a long time since I've been as shocked with myself as I was last night when I read the comment by Sam on the post about Anthony's new bike. Sam suggested we consider getting him a helmet. Prior to his comment, I hadn't even thought of it this time. (We had a couple of years ago.)

Thanks Sam. We got a helmet today.

This is the tracklog for his second bike trip, yesterday.

He was much more adventurous than the first time, and enjoyed using the bike [...]

Fumie's folks have been wanting for some to get Anthony his first bicycle as a present for his starting preschool (which is a "big boy" milestone). Fumie's Dad was in town (from Malaysia, where he's stationed for work), so today was the day.

We went to the store, and Anthony picked out his present. He had a choice of silver, yellow, and red, and had not a moment's hesitation when picking red.

We went to a park near the house, and gave it a try. The seat came a bit too low. It was much easier for [...]

What a pleasant surprise! The morally reprehensible ballot proposition (California's Proposition 82) that I feared was certain to pass was soundly defeated by a 39/61 ratio. Only two of California's 58 counties passed it (one by less than 350 votes).

As a bonus, the other proposition (a bond measure) was also defeated. I have a "guilty until proven innocent" attitude toward Statewide bond measures, as a state with one of the highest tax rates in the country has some very large means and should be able live within them. (Local bonds measures are a different story.)

Despite [...]
View full post »

Californians (and expatriates like me whose last US residence was in California) vote tomorrow on a number of things, including Proposition 82. Proposition 82 would create a special income-tax increase to pay for universal preschool throughout the state.

Even as much as the general citizen might like young children, few will want to fork over more in taxes specifically to pay for it.... especially those without children. That's why one might suspect this proposition to be doomed from the start, but no, it won't fail. I predict it will pass with the force of a mandate.

It [...]
View full post »