Christmas in Vegas 2008

Our family picture from Christmas 2008 while visiting Jeff's mom and step dad in Vegas.

New Zojirushi Water Dispenser!

This is one of those gotta have em items if Japanese. You can make green tea instantly. We were exposed to it my parent's house over the holidays and just had to get one. We've been using it to make cider and hot tea as well.

Toshi Koshi Soba

Black Friday, White Saturday

Finally, the first actual snowfall of the year. Of course the mountains have been getting snow already, but up there and down here are completely different.

Black Friday, White Saturday

Finally, the first actual snowfall of the year. Of course the mountains have been getting snow already, but up there and down here are completely different.

Monkey Munch Time

Time for some tasty tasties to start off the holiday season.

YUM.

More waiting!

Just a quick update on our adoption.

We have completed our homestudy, immigration paperwork and most of our dossier. We still have to receive our immigration approval before our dossier can be sent to the Japanese embassy. We are keeping our fingers crossed that our approval will come soon.

Yesterday we met with our Japan adoption coordinator in California. We were anticipating a long wait before our referral, but we were told that we need to be ready to travel soon after we receive the phone call, which could as soon as a couple months. We were really excited when we heard the news. We are now getting ready for our trip out to Japan and also starting our nursery for the new baby.

Our trip out to California was really short and we are both tired from lack of sleep but we feel that the trip was well worth it.

Today we had a long day of adoptive parenting class at our homestudy agency. It was long but we did learn a lot.

New dining room table and plant

Things are finally coming together after we got a new dining room table. We had a slightly more formal table in the kitchen and it just didn't seem right. We we got something more casual instead. Also we went to HomeDepot yesterday and found a plant for sale. So we just had to get one. Hopefully the kitchen looks a little bit better than it did before.

Boulder Falls

Another Lightning Shot

It's been a while since my last chance at capturing some lightning on camera, but this time I was able to. Sadly, it had to be from an upstairs window as it was pouring out.

For reference, here was my awesome, yes I said "Awesome!", shot from about 2 years ago.

4 Year Anniversary!

It was 4 years ago that Jeff and I got married. I can't believe how time flies!

The first year was really special and we went all out with our grooms cake and all but this year we're just going out to dinner. There is this place called The Keg in downtown Denver that serves great steaks. Gotta get the baked potato too!

New Homestudy Agency!

So we finally contracted with a new agency here in Colorado. Gosh, that was a really expensive lesson we just learned, but hopefully things will go smoother from here on out. We were so close to being done with the other agency so this sets us back a little, but not by much. Had we realized too late about the costs and issues related to the finalization, I think that would have set us back quite a bit.

So it's back to the paperwork again, but now that it's just retranscribing the information, it's not too bad.

Who done it?

Yesterday we went out shopping for 4 hours and got back just in time for a walk. Jeff got the dogs ready to go by putting on their collars and leashes. To our suprise the leather leash that we used on Ryder was split into two pieces. Someone sat in the dining room chewing the leash while we were gone.

Here is the leash:

Who was it? Bella or Ryder?

More Paperwork

Jeff and I managed to get our fingerprints to send to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation yesterday. That was fun. I can't remember the last time I had my fingerprints taken.
I think I had to get them before entering the school system. Anyways, so we should be ok for Colorado and now it's time to get clearances from California.

Lake Isabelle and Pawnee Pass

Here are some images from the hike I went on today to Lake Isabelle and Pawnee Pass in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. I accidentally left my camera memory card at home, doh. So I was limited to the in-camera memory available... a measly 8 Mb. That doesn't get you much.

Here is Isabelle Lake...

After the lake I decided to head up to Pawnee Pass. There is a lot of melt this year due to the record snowfall. You can see some of the results of that here...

And here looking down...

As I went up higher I took some shots as I approached the Continental Divide.

And decided to look back down upon Isabelle Lake.

And here is another shot of the Continental Divide. It was a bit cooler and windy once you get up into the open tundra above tree line. I think Isabelle Glacier is there somewhere.

Till another hiking day...

Shino Goes Back To Work

The day has finally arrived. I will be starting a new job as of Monday the 28th of July. It's been quite nice to be able to stay at home and get tons of lab testing and doctor's appointments whenever I wanted. I'm really grateful for that. I don't think I would have had the opportunity without being laid off.

Now it's time to make some money so that we're not butt poor to do anything. I will be working as a Regulatory Associate (contractor) at a company called Covidien. They market and distribute medical products and my division will be concentrating on respiratory solutions. I hope this job will open new doors and perhaps even meet some cool people. The company is located in Boulder so it's quite nice. The commute isn't all that bad, no freeway traffic just local roads. I did encounter a tractor at one point which slowed me down but it didn't bother me too much.

Here is the website for Covidien: http://www.covidien.com

I think this will be a big transition for me, Jeff and the dogs. The dogs will not like the fact that they can't go out to the backyard whenever they feel like it.

Finally, A New Start for the Neimas!

Hi everyone! Sorry we've been out of touch. We have been going through many fertility issues causing us pain, emotionally and physically. We never thought that we would encounter such issues nor did we ever imagine that we would end up adopting. Adoption is great, but the idea never crossed our minds till now. Throughout our journey we've cried, screamed and pitched fits, but now we've attained closure. So we're finally ready to take the next step. Finally!

We have decided to adopt from Japan through a small agency in CA. Adopting from Japan is pretty rare since the birthrate in Japan is pretty low and there are few agencies that have a Japan program. I hear the process can have emotional ups and downs, but after all that we have been through, I think we'll be able to handle it and can't wait!

We just started the application process and have a long way to go with the homestudy and dossier. Overall, looking at the big picture, paperwork and documentation is not that big a deal.

Thanks to all that have been supportive and understanding.

Shino and Jeff

Jack Russell Saves Kids

Here's a heart breaker of a story... This Jack Russell in New Zealand named George died saving 5 kids from a couple of pit bulls that were about to attack the kids. I can totally understand and feel for the family of the Jack. Our Jack Russell Ryder will take on a Great Dane no problem to put the dominance smack down. I just hope we never run into pit bulls on the loose.

Here's a shot of George.


What sucks even more is that the owner of the two pit bulls had surrendered the pair to dog control officers and demanded they be destroyed, claiming they had launched unprovoked attacks previously.

Dude! If they attacked people or pets previously, they should have been put down or impounded then. What they hell were they doing on the loose. The owner should be put in jail for a bit to teach him a lesson.

Happy Birthday to the Dogs

Happy Birthday to our dogs Ryder and Bella. 3 and 2. Time for not-very-tasty-to-humans cake with some plain yogurt, and the only thing I would glady eat, bacon bits sprinkled on top. Mmmmm.... bacon.

An Artful Weekend

With it snowing and all, what better time than to finally hang some pictures that've been sitting on the floor for a month.

Check out the cool wooden vase Shino decorated with fake cherry blossoms from Michaels. Thanks Greg and Aki. Then we have 4 pictures I printed out and framed myself. Two of the dogs, and two of the most recent backpacking trip in the Sierras.

And third, check out the prints we purchased from Global Gallery. They are a couple of Ken Bailey prints that were put onto a hard board and framed nicely. Great web site to purchase art from, but I bet it doesn't match Scott White.

Lastly, Cost Plus is currently having a 40% sale on everything, including furniture. We picked up a mirror and will also pick up some wooden trunks. Photos of those to follow. Hey, you can't beat a 40% off sale!

I think that is the most amount of links I've ever included in a post.

String Avoider

Bored at work? Bored at home?

Check out this flash game I came across called String Avoider. It's pretty fun and addicting, although once you get through all the levels, it's over. Too bad there couldn't be more levels.

The 2006 Denver Holiday Blizzard

Well folks, it came, it dumped, and it left. Click on the shot of our house below for a slideshow with videos of the blizzard.

Guess I don't really have to do any winter watering of the trees and grass this month.

It's Winter... Foot Warmer Time

The Neima annual tradition is back in time for the cold nights of winter in Colorado. Down to the basement I went to drag up the Kotatsu, or in other words, the foot warmer. While it may not be a great idea for us humans to bake our melons under the table, the dogs have no such worry.

While I'm writing this, they are both probably under there at the moment. Yes, our lives revolve around our dogs, get over it.

Oh Boy...

So I haven't updated the site lately because, well, I just didn't feel like it.
Anyway, here I am reading this article about an airplane on a treadmill, and it gets me afraid that some of these folks will undoubtedly be in positions of power in the future. Read on and you'll understand why.

I won't tell you my opinion on this because I don't want to lean your decision one way or the either, but if you're a smart person like I am, you'll know where I stand.

Here's one for you all...

"John's mom has three sons, Nickel, Dime, and who? What is the name of the third son?"

Comment your answers.

Backpacking Where Art Thou?

Man I miss backpacking. I was just looking at some random trip logs today of the JMT (John Muir Trail) and it brough back many fun memories. Drat winter. Must... wait.... 10... months...

Maybe next summer I can somehow get out to the Tetons to do a trip, or even the JMT one day.

Comments from fellow sufferers?

Happy Halloween!

Boo! Boo! Boo! Boo! Boo! Boo! Boo!

Happy Halloween!

Blizzard Watch!!

So there was this blizzard watch, but it wasn't for our county. However, we did get about 5" of snow over night. Breck got about 18", sweet! Here is some morning snow in the backyard, as you can see, the clocks haven't had a chance to fall back yet.

With all the snow, we built a snowman. We never knew building a snowman was such hard work.

Our Maple Tree

The Autumn Blaze Maple that we planted a couple months ago seems to be doing well and has developed a great reddish color for fall. Decided to take a couple pictures before the rain and/or snow takes it all off. The pictures don't do it justice, as it looks very bright when the sun is hitting it.

Now only if it could magically grow 10 more feet we'd be happy. I think it will grow anywhere from 1' - 2' per year.

First Snow of the Winter

Well, here it is, the 1st snow of the season here in Denver. Should only be a few inches over night, and it will probably only stick on the grass. Time to wax the snowboard and get out the gear.

Checkin' Out the Fall Colors with Fumie

With Shino's mother in town, we of course had to show her the Rockies. And what a better time. The temps this weekend were in the mid 80s, in late September! Although the fall colors have almost ended, you could still see a lot of Aspen trees up in the mountains. We decided to take her up Guanella Pass, which peaks out at 11,669'.

Along the way we had to make a pit stop, and what better place to do it at than Loaf 'N Jug. Ha ha. Funny name, had to take a picture. Once we got onto the 22 mile dirt road, we stopped right away to take some pictures over a river with Aspens in the background.

Oohh, there's the river. And if you look closely, you can make out the matriarchal unit, Fumie. She's a lively one, crikey!

The Aspens at the lower elevations where very nice! Along the way we passed free roaming cattle. Had to stop, although I thought this bull was about to charge the Forester if I stayed any longer.

Finally we made it to the top of the pass. You can see the beginnings of winter starting to set in up top. There's my honey! The younger one, if you were confused.

On the way back down, and out of all places, road work! At 11,500'! We had to wait about 10 mintues as a pilot car escorted cars up and down the narrow road that they were doing work on. Telling you bro'... you can never escape it. All that time waiting put some pressure on Shino's bladder, so we found a hole in the ground on the way back down near a lake.

Fumie couldn't get enough of the yellow leaves. She had to collect some more to flatten out and take home. Very pretty time of year.

Boyyy, were we famished. Had to stop at the famous and yummy Beau Jo's pizza. You gotta eat here if you visit, best pizza around.

...and back to Denver we go. 'Till next year around this time.