This is a traditional Japanese brunch on new year's day at home w/ some extended family visiting. Off to the temple later....

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Although the temp was near zero, we walked about 5-10 minutes to the local Shinto shrine in the village. Lots of people there from the town. The festivities go all night and through tomorrow.

Before taking the stairs to the shrine to pray, you first wash your hands....

Then it's up the stairs...

Then you pray...

Then you warm yourself by the fire because it is *#@&%* freezing!!!....

Awesome drums!

Happy New Year, everyone!

It just became 2011 here in Japan. This is now the year of the rabbit (a good year for miffy too :-) ). Have a great 2011, everyone!

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Just before dark I went running up the mountain to visit the Hozanji Temple. There were a few people up there getting ready for all the festivities that begin there tomorrow. We plan on hiking up with our daughter on New Year's Day. This is a kind of tradition for us -- here are pics of us doing it five years ago (before child).

One of the little things that makes Japan such a great place to live are the ubiquitous vending machines -- they are everywhere! And, they work — always. I have never seen one vandalized. Halfway up the mountain at the Temple there are four vending machines with both hot and cold drinks (note that there are few sugary drinks). With cold hands from the run up to the temple, I selected a can of corn soup and a can of miso soup (left middle) -- very hot and not bad tasting at all. Just what I needed -- I could warm my hands and get something decent to warm my insides too. If I ever left Japan I'd miss the vending machines too much to stay away for long :-)

Running down the mountain...

This slide features a photo I took this summer in Cannon Beach, Oregon (USA). I've always been attracted to the ocean, perhaps because I grew up in a house right on the beach. But for me, natural settings like this beach above are spiritual places — there is just something there in nature that causes one to stop, pause, and reflect. Even in this picture you can see people in the distance who have ventured out for a walk and are now standing taking it all in. Like the runner, perhaps they have no thoughts in particular, but on some level they surely are thankful and touched by the majesty of nature. My favorite place to run is on this beach and others like it. Running is not just exercise -- those people who go for long walks alone or hike or jog in places like this are motivated not only by a desire to be fit physically, but also to feel more alive in the moment and to feel a stronger connection to the natural world. We feel energized by a strong connection with nature. This connection can become very tenuous, however, for most of us who are busy constantly with work (or looking for work) and dwelling in crowded urban centers—nature can seem very far removed.

I do not know the secret to success or happiness or to life in general, but to move -- literally and figuratively -- is certainly one of the keys. Natural environments like the one pictured above are good reminders of the need to keep ourselves moving while also remaining in the moment. When I run (or walk/hike, etc.) in places like this I am aware or the movement all around — the sound of my own foot steps and beating heart, the shifting of the sand, the roar of the ocean and the sight of its crashing waves, the feeling of the sea breeze, the gliding sea birds above, the swaying of the trees, the quickly changing cloud formations that let us sneak a peak at the sun — nothing is static is seems. To be alive is to search, explore, and discover. To be alive is to move.

The day after Christmas finds the house cats resting in any open box they can find. Here Luke fancies a box from The Gap which yesterday held an extra-large sweater, but the XL box is a tight squeeze for this porky feline. In time the baby comes over and Luke knows his role and assumes the position -- he is amazingly tolerant of the whack-a-mole treatment that our daughter dishes out, but she is learning to be more gentle.

Our Christmas tree in Japan (with a little memory of a snowy time in Paris).

Daughter's first Christmas ever!

A light snow was falling on Christmas day in our village, but it did not stick. So we drove about 15 min to a higher area near our home (about 600 meters in elevation) to find a place where snow was sticking to say we actually had a White Christmas (and indeed we did). My daughter did not really drive there (of course), but she took right to the wheel while we were parked high above Osaka City.

Daughter's first experience with snow. She found it quite cold....obviously.

A Japanese snow monster attacks a sleeping tiny Christmas snow man that appeared magically on our car. (2nd pic: a dry snow is hard to make a good snowball with...).

Today I gave a pen to my 8-month old daughter for the first time at the whiteboard (part of the wall is made of whiteboard in her room). Actually, she took it from me after I demonstrated a few squiggly lines and she then quickly drew a bunch of vertical lines which made her quite happy. The first lesson came to and end when she began to eat the pen - do'h! Still, she loved it, and as you can see she got a bit of her face as well. Very creative :-)

If you have never been to Japan during Christmas, you may wonder if the holiday is recognized here. Well, it is not a national holiday, of course, but more and more people seem to get in the spirit of things every year, beginning in November. Here are just a few snaps on Christmas eve as I walked through Osaka on the way home from a business meeting in Umeda. The pics above are from a Christmas village under the Umeda Sky Building -- this place was packed and had a very nice atmosphere.

The snaps above are from a walk down Midosuji Street, the main street in central Osaka.

Above is a short video I took on my iPhone to give you a feel of the street scene in Osaka on Christmas Eve.

Christmas parties and KFC takeout go hand in hand in Japan - have for more than a generation. They even have special Christmas takeaway deals for the season's home parties.

And you may be surprised to know that, yes, many Japanese homes do rival the efforts of Clark Griswold (in Christmas Vacation) with their home illuminations. These pics are from a house up the street from ours. Every year more and more houses get in the act with their LED displays.

Merry Christmas, everyone, wherever you are. And all the best for a fantastic 2011!

I hope your Holiday season is a total gas filled with loads of food, family, and fun (and lots of laughter, the world's best medicine). Thanks for all your support and sharing your comments this past year. Much appreciated!