Yep, Hana got involved in local politics.  She had a great time meeting and greeting.  And since we are near Nashville, the candidate had a concert at his election night party!  So take a look at Hana's adventures and let us know what you think.  (this report is brought to you by Jellybean, Hana still hasn't gotten up yet due to the late night.....)

Hana backstage preparing to go on

Hana's publicity shot advertising the party

Hana double checking the sound guy's work before going on....

Hana waiting for election results....

Hana waiting for the band to get on stage.

Getting a good look at all the snacks on the snack table-she ended up with some grapes.

Hana stumping for the candidate.

(BTW:  Bill lost, but not due to Hana's efforts!)

Hana has been settling in very well.  The little beans escorted Hana to the guest quarters. She is staying in her own cabana on the property.  Here is a close up by her door, as you can see there is a theme to the decor. ;)
(brownie points if you can identify the theme)

Hana then relaxed on the outdoor recliner with the  oldest Bean. Hanging out can be wearing on a person!

Then it was mealtime.  The youngest Bean offered to seat Hana next to  him.  It's a messy place to be, but Hana managed nicely.  

NEXT:  Hana participates tonight in a mayorial candidate's election night party!  Pictures follow soon....

Woo hoo (as SG would say)!!!!  Hana made it to Murfreesoboro.  I'll turn the story telling over to her...

Well, Jo3 sent me on to Jellybean.  I understand I'm somewhere south of Nashville this time.  It was a pretty quick trip and I was lucky this time, Jellybean was at home when I was delivered and liberated me quickly.

I decided to nose around and found out that Jellybean and her family have a thing for books.  What's with all this fuss about reading??? Sheesh!

Then I mentioned I was a tad thirsty so I was shown to the  refreshments. Jellybean was nice enough to boost me up and let me pick what I wanted.  

Then I realized I was pretty tired from my trip.  So Jellybean set me up on the couch to watch some tv and relax.  She said something about it being my job while I'm here to watch for the oldest bean get off the bus.  So eventually I had to hang out here. (what's with this making me work theory???)

I'm not sure what is planned for the rest of my visit.  Something was mentioned about taking the little beans to the park tomorrow and maybe dinner out.  I'll let you know.........

After Hana missed out on the beer after the brewery tour, she had the option of having a beer at home.  Hana sank into the easy chair, with a clicker for the game (and another for the surround sound system) and a good old fashion Bud Light.  The next day, Hana packed up her box with all her gifts and was ready to visit Jellybean!  Jellybean will be her last stop on the way back to Japan.

See Ya, Jo3!  Wouldn't want to be ya!

Also, I took the challenge extended over the weekend to capture your own image:  Jo1   Jo2   Jo3

Seeing Double Entry:Help Me!

On Saturday, Jo2 also took me on the Budweiser Tour.  You get a bunch of history of the company and learn how they make and package the beer.

I'm HERE!

The first thing we did was go on the tour.  We saw Clydesdales, then we saw the mash tanks, where they age the beer and finally the packaging plant.  We learned how the company stayed alive during Prohibition.

Tour Guide Bevo Packaging Plant

At the end of the tour is the "Hospitality Room".  Everyone gets to try two drinks!  I took my ID that loweho made me...but they still wouldn't let me have my two free samples..and they were 12 oz samples, too!!  Jo said she would let me have a Mich Ultra when we got home.

No Go

And then off to the gift shop!

I want one of everything!

After the tour, I was hungry.  Jo2 then took me to Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.  It is on the Historic Route 66...she said there was a Nat "King" Cole song all about that Highway.  Ted Drewes had a walk-up window - the the frozen custard was GREAT!  I had a "concrete" and I could even turn my cup completely upside down and nothing fell out!

Ted Drewes

We drove home...and we saw lots of destruction the storm caused.  (On Thursday night, a huge storm rocked St. Louis - over 700,000 people were out of electricity.  On Saturday there were tree down all over the place and we had to take a few detours to get home.)  Did you know that in Missouri on Friday the temperature was 102F, and on Saturday the high was 88F!  Jo2 said in Missouri "If you don't like the weather, wait two minutes."

I'm glad I saw St. Louis and can't wait to get to my next destination!!

On Satuday - I took Jojames2 took me to St. Louis.  We did a few touristy things.  First she took me to the Gateway Arch.  She said were going to go to the top.  I told her she was crazier than jo3!!

To get to the top, we ride in the glorified bucket that seats five people.  Anyone over 5'5" has to slump to fit into this bullet shapped "tram".  I did meet a nice couple there.  They are from San Diego (but did not know SurferGuy) and they have a daughter that lives in Japan!  I didn't know her, though.

At the top, I could see for miles and miles.  Jo2 had a complete stranger (a guy from England!) take our picture.  

1. Jo2 told me the Arch is made out of stainless steel.  
   
2. In a 50 mile per hour wind, the arch can sway about 1-1/2 inches....at a wind speed of 150 miles per hour the Arch would sway 18 inches!!  
   
3. It took 2-1/2 years to complete the building of the Arch.  (Jo's mom saw it before the center piece was put into place!)
   
4. 6400 people can travel to the top on the busiest of days.
   
5. Inside the Arch, there is the Museum of Westward Expansion.
   
6. The Arch is actually named the "Gateway Arch" because St. Louis  was once called the Gateway to the West.  
   
7.  The architect won a competition by turning in a small "matchstick" model.  And the Arch was built for UNDER $15 million.
   
8.  There is a Grand Staircase that leads up to the Arch from the Mississippi River.  And during the floods of 1993, the river came up to step 23 (of about 70 that Jo could count).  
   
9.  This October, the Gateway Arch will be 40 years old.
   
10. Did you know that the Arch is 630 feet tall (or 63 stories high)?  (That is 2/3rd the height of the Eiffel Tower, 1/2 the height of the Empire State Building and 2 times the height of the Statue of Liberty!!)  
    
11. On one side we could see the city of St. Louis and the other side was the Mississippi River and Illinios...but I couldn't see RobinG, either.  You can see 30 miles in both directions!
    
12. When building the Arch, each of the legs were built first.  As they built toward each other a "brace" was used to keep them from moving away from each other.  The final piece was put in in October 28 of 1965 and there was a HUGE party in St. Louis to celebrate!!

I took one last look and realized this was a beautiful structure and the pride of St. Louis!!

Next:  Beer!!

Hana got to take a trip to Tom Sauk Mountain...the highest point in Missouri.  From there you can see miles and miles of the Mark Twain Forest and several towns (including the town Hana is currently staying.  Tom Sauk Tourist

Hana also traveled to a local State Campsite - Silver Mines (which was about 20 miles south of Tom Sauk).
Generally there are kayak races...but with it being such a rainy day and water being so low, there wasn't much action, but she had fun on the hiking path.  

Hana loved all the fresh air...but would like to see some of St. Louis!!

It all started so innocently.

KayN, in an effort to help the Photographica community and aid in the safety of Hana, gave Jo1 some protection Snickers, in case of the arrival of Jo3 during Hana's visit.

The problem began, when Hana...a naturally curious daruma...found the Snickers and decided to have a little snack.

Hana had never had a full-size candy bar before...the sugar did not have a positive effect.

Unfortunately, Hana3 had been born...and the world of Photographica would never be the same.

Hana3, being new to evil, underestimated her host-cat.

Hana3 regretted her actions almost immediately.

The unfortunate news is that Hana3 had lost the battle, but had only began the war.

On a lazy afternoon, Hana2 was looking for something exciting to do.  After Hana3 bound the cat up in hair scrunchies, and Hana1 cooked a gourmet meal...Hana2 wanted to get outside and away from the craziness.

Out in the yard, Hana2 found a  rock ready for the climbing!!  Hana2 had nothing but her wits and great sense of balance to get her climbing up the rock of death.  It took nearly two hours for Hana2 to get to the top of the mountain.  

Hana2 was happy with her accomplishment, but took on the dangerous climb to the top of the summit.  The rocks here were loose and could topple at any time....but Hana2 perservered and proclaimed the rock in Jojames2's yard as Mount St. Hana.

Afterward, Hana1 & Jo1 celebrated with a box of Pop Rocks.  Hana3 & Jo3 offered them some Dr. Pepper.

Hana has been enjoying her time at the jojames' household and has become essentially one of the family.

The New and Improved Hana

jo3

So much for Independance.  When jo3 is in charge, you just hope to make it through the day.  

When I arrived at jo1's house, I enjoyed the fireworks and had a few beers.  When jo3 found out I was drinking her Mich-Ultra, I was doomed to "earn" my keep.

First there was the housework.  After I finished vaccuming and washing dishes, I thought I would get a break and a shower.  There was no break but....

After I mowed the yard, I did get forced to water the garden.  (I snuck in a quick shower then!)  jo3 told me that once the veggies were the same size as me, I could stop working the yard.  (My only hope is that I get jo2 or jo1 to remind Mrs. Mean Jeans I am a guest!)

Jo3 walked away...Kazu, I've been thinking of you, too!  You are looking good...as you can tell most of my decorative striping has faded and I am a little tired from all my travel.  I hope that bullshoals is a great host and I can't wait to see you again in a few months!!  PS:  Please mail me the Snickers...they may be a good bargaining piece - kind of like cigarettes in prison.

Hi, old friend!

Hana arrived on Monday, July 3rd.  She was very upset, because she was not let out of the box until July 4th.  (She said she had to go since leaving Lowe's house, but he wouldn't let her.)  

Once Hana was comfortable again, I introduced her to the family, the Jo's and Claude.  Hana seemed a little shaken.  She asked me why a person with three personalities would have a cat.  I told her Claude was the team mascot.  She did say she preferred Claude over jo3.  (Jo3 is now pouting because she says she hasn't even done anything wrong yet!)

I took Hana outside for the fireworks.  Hana got a little too excited.  She thought this was how we greeted guests in my neighborhood.  She was a little disappointed the hot dogs and beer weren't for her.  She did get into the spirit when she learned it was USA's 220th Birthday Party.  She was afraid we were going to light 220 candles on a cake, though.

  Well, today I had to tell Hana that she would be going to a new family in Missouri.  She took it badly.  She  ran at the mention of the person's name. I searched all over for her and finally found her hiding under the bed, the same place the cats used to hide. When I confronted her she turned my old single shot 12 gauge on me. When I told her it wasn't loaded she ran out the other end of the bed and escaped again, just like the cats used to. I'm going to have to work on that.
  I searched high and low and finally found a broken, despondent, Hana ready to end it all .  Luckily, I was able to talk her down... told her the new family was nice and friendly and she'd have great fun there, no matter what she'd heard or read. Told her this person was misunderstood and was really kind and gentle and easy to get along with.  In other words, I lied through my teeth. But, as is usually the case, it's easier to believe a lie than the truth and she believed. She came down and was ready to climb into the box for her journey to Missouri when she had second thoughts and began kicking and screaming . I forced her into the box anyway though the screams were terrible and much worse than the kicking. Because, let's face it, without legs kicking is highly ineffective.
  She's finally quieted down and I feel it's safe to take her to the post office and ship her without arousing suspicion from Homeland Security.  Goodbye, Hana, it's been fun and I'm sorry but Jojames1 was next on the list. I hope someday you'll find it in your heart to forgive me.

We took Hana to a wedding Saturday of friends of ours, Eric and Michelle, from Roadhouse. I forgot she was there though, luckily one of the girls remembered her. She asked me, "Don, where's your little doll?" which kinda threw me. "It's not a doll it's a daruma. Guys don't have dolls we have action figures and daruma is japanese for action figure!", I lied to her, trying vainly to defend my manhood. Apologies to our Japanese members.  Here's Hana...

Don and Barb took me to the wedding I was invited to by Michelle, one of my friends from Roadhouse.  The church was very pretty and there were a lot of people there but a lot of them were my friends.  I had a  seat of my own to watch from.  Michelle had a very beautiful dress and she cried a lot until it was over and then she was very happy . Don said brides cry during the wedding and grooms cry during the marriage. After the wedding was over we were going to a reception and we had to leave early to setup a slide show Don made for them. There were decorations on all the tables and a big wedding cake that looked like a stack of presents. There was a lot of good food and beer.  Barb and Don knew the cook and they took home a bunch of leftovers.
I didn't drink any beer, I learned my lesson last time, but Don did.  Once when Barb was putting some money in his wallet, he yelled for everyone to look and he took a picture of the first time Barb ever put money INTO his wallet. He thought it was funny until Barb reminded him that in the picture you couldn't tell if the money was going in or out.
I got to dance. I danced with Don and Barb's son Donnie & Michelle and also with Barb and Eric.  I danced so much I got tired and had to go sit with Don.  I had a great time, dancing and meeting everyone's family. Everyone wanted to know about me... I told them "I'm a daruma, that's japanese for girl's doll... and Don brought me"!  Everyone thought that was funny, except Don. Barb told me to do it. hee hee

  First off, Hana is alive and well, contrary to some published rumors. Secondly, I want to apologize for the number of pics this time and for neglecting everybody lately. We've been having a bad week and running our butts off and I haven't been on as often as normal. We did manage to get out Sunday for an outing, naturally, it rained! Anyway, here's Hana...
  Hi, everybody! Barb and Don finally got time to take me someplace new. We are going to Cataract Falls. While we waited for Barb, Don showed me this little apple tree by the driveway where deer come to eat.  No deer today but he took a picture of a little green apple. Don and I loaded the car and he helped me into my seat. It looked like a cupholder to me but Don said it was a Daruma Restraint Device, or DRD, that he had installed. Barb's here and we're off!
  It took about 45 minutes to get here and nobody else was here, because of the rain, I guess. They have an old hand pump water fountain by the parking lot and a covered bridge.  Barb took a picture of me and Don by the covered bridge.  Then Don took one of Barb walking inside the bridge and one of me looking out the window above the falls. It was scary but fun. Don warned Barb that if I fell, she'd have to jump in to save me.
  We walked down to a place above the falls but the water was so high we couldn't get down beside the falls. Don said we would walk downstream and come back up below the falls and see if we can get close that way.  Don took my picture above the falls on this little dam. He kept telling me to step further back but I didn't fall for it cause I was right on the edge.  We did get a picture of the Upper Falls from the viewing platform.  Don said when the water is down you can get right beside it, even out under it, and there is a little cave.  We went up along the trail, by this big tree and back down to where we could see the Upper Falls from the creek.  Don went up closer, jumping on rocks to get another picture, but not as close as he wanted.  I tried to follow but I can't jump very far and got stuck on the rocks.  Don said he was going to leave me there but I knew he was joking, and Barb wouldn't let him anyway.
  I was tired of walking when we got to the Lower Falls. I seen a sand bar with a picnic table on it.  It looked like the table had been moving. Don went over on top of the falls but he wouldn't take me cause he said it was real slippery. He got some pictures of the cliffs, the initials FH, more water above the falls, and some holes worn in the rock.  When he came back, Don said he almost fell on his butt on the rocks.  The only thing that saved him was, he has the agility of a cat and the speed of a mongoose.  When I asked him why the seat of his pants was all muddy he said "Darumas should be seen and not heard"! Barb thought it was funny and said "Way to go, Hana"! I fell asleep on the drive back cause I was tired and Don carried me in and tucked me in for a little snooze.  We had great fun even if it rained all morning.

 We went to Texas Roadhouse last night.  I was scared cause I had to use a Fake ID and I didn't know if it would work. Don made it for me and I told him my photo didn't look good but he said license photos are supposed to look bad... it's a state law.
  I sat at the bar with my ID and showed it to the bartender, Melissa, when she carded me.  It was the first time I've ever been "carded" but Don said it happens to him all the time...everyone laughed at that but I don't know why. It must have worked cause Melissa poured me some beer in a glass my own size.  The beer tasted bad at first but tasted a lot better after a while.  We were going to eat here but Barb had a migraine headache and so me and Don just drank some beers and went home.  Don said we will go back soon and eat.
  Everyone came up and said hi and Don had to explain what a daruma was. Everyone asked Barb what was wrong and she'd say she had a bad headache and then they would look at Don and laugh.  I didn't understand but I laughed too... I laughed a lot! Everytime Don went to the bathroom the kids would sneak his camera and take pictures.  Here's one of Amber, Melissa, and Me, here's one Michael took of me and my ID, and here's one of me climbing in Don's glass while Michael gives a Thumbs up. Everyone thought that was funny but Don said it was time to take me home.  I said goodbye to everyone and Michelle invited me to her wedding next week and said I could do the dollar dance with her.  Don and Barb are going and said I could go too. It will be fun and they are going to have beer there.

  This morning, I didn't feel very good when I woke up.  Don said I had a hangover and looked "green around the gills".  He made me an ice pack and let me sleep in. He said I was a lighweight! I am never going to drink beer again!

  Don and Barb have been very nice to me but they had to leave me home alone. Don told me I had the run of the house and could take all the pictures I wanted. So I looked around a little and then watched tv till they came back. Don told  me I could play on Barb's exercise machine, a Gazelle, but he told me it might be too rusty for me to operate...it was. Next to the gazelle is one of Don's desks. He's started working on a project , he said it is lilbit's fault for getting him in project mode. I climbed up and took a look but I had no idea what all the lines and squiggles were. I looked in the fridge to see what there was to eat but there were just leftovers from roadhouse and some yogurt smoothies. I had one... I dribbled some on my chin it was yummy. I went in Don's room and got on the computer  and checked out my friends at Photographica. Then I went in and jumped up and down on Barb and Don's bed. I jumped higher and higher till ooops! These will be good for the action theme I seen on Photographica. I was getting tired from all the climbing around and jumping, and dizzy too, so I went in and got on the Couch to watch tv.
  Don and Barb came  home later and they said we would go to the Roadhouse tomorrow and maybe this weekend we would go somewhere special cause Barb won $1100 at bingo last night. Then Barb made me get off her spot on the couch.

Since our last post, Hana and I have done things and gone places. I'll let Hana tell you about them.

Pyro told me to fill you in on what we did since our last visit with you. Pyro's sister and brother-in-law were here from South Carolina, so I got to meet them and enjoy their company. Some of the things we did was eat some dancing beer chickens that Pyro cooked on the grill. Pyro's brother-in law let me taste his wine. It was  Merlot, and it was tasty. Another day, we ate some snacks and guess who came by to give me a sloppy kiss. The next day we went to Paul's house (that's Pyro's brother) and we ate some brats. It took three to fill me up. The next day, wouldn't you know, we ate again! This time it was yummybacon wrapped filets. Pyro hopes Tomi-san doesn't see this, cause he told Pyro I should only eat healthy Japanese food.

Hey! I finally got to go on a fire engine. It was at the firemen's practice. I got to have myblood pressure checked by one of the EMTs. And a really cool thing was when I got to try out some of thoseheart listen-to-thingys.

This past weekend, we got to go to Crivitz. Pyro and I had a cup of coffee on the deck Saturday morning, and I got to meet Pyro's puppy. He looks fake, but Pyro says he is a "genuine artificial puppy", so I guess he's not fake after all. Later in the day, I got to sit at the campfire and eat peanuts on a chair that Pyro made from a log.

I have really liked being with Pyro, but the time has arrived. Yes, it's time for me to move on and visit another one of Tomi-san's friends at Photographica. So now I must leave you, Pyro. Farewell, I will miss you, Pyro. (Sniff)

Farewell, Hana. I have enjoyed your visit very much. I will miss you too, {{{Hana}}}.

Good bye, Pyro!!

Again it's back.
The feel of dread is back.
The feel of death is back.
Again it's BLACK!

My sister and brother-in-law are here from South Carolina. Yesterday, May 26th, Mrs. Pyro and I took them and Hana to the Milwaukee Art Museum. Since I have yard work to do, I asked Hana to do this post for me. I also asked her to be less verbose than she has in the past, because I'm sure some of you get tired of reading her lengthy dissertations. Hana, you're on!

The Milwaukee Art Museum opened almost exactly five years ago on May 4, 2001. It was the first building in the United States designed by architect-artist Santiago Calatrava. The building features a 90-foot high glass-walled reception hall enclosed by the Burke Brise Soleil , a sunscreen that can be raised or lowered creating a unique moving sculpture. Here are more shots of the outside of the museum, and if you look real close, you can see me.
Toward the north east
Toward the east
Into the "wing"
East again East once more

Here's a picture looking west or away from the museum. It is a sculpture made with steel beams to represent the many manufacturing plants that are or have been in Milwaukee. Steel Beam Sculpture

Here are three shots from inside the museum.
Ceiling of Reception Hall
East end of Reception Hall
One of the corridors

Pyro shot this 3-masted sailboat through the window of the museum.

We saw art displays from all over the world. My favorites were 18 karat gold tea set and reminds me of Tomitake. Then we went home.

Good job, Hana! I bet they enjoyed your short story.

On Mother's Day 2006, Miss Pyro (Pam our daughter) took Mrs. Pyro (Karen my wife), Pyro43 (That's me, but you already knew that.) and of course Hana (Everybody's friend) to Miller Park to watch the Milwaukee Brewers host the New York Mets. What a day it was, and what a game it was! BTW, Hana also has noticed the secondary or sub-theme that is running this week. So, listen as Hana tells you about her first Mother's Day, her first visit to American Major League Baseball and her first sub-theme - PINK. Take it Hana...

Mother's Day started off cool and rainy. Pam picked us up and we drove to the ball park. By the time we got to the park it had stopped raining, and was I glad! Rain does strange things to my hair! This is me in the parking lot with Miller Park in the background. See? No matter where we looked, there were tailgaters. They were here, they were there, they were everywhere. Well we tailgated too. Pyro told me to sit on a chair while he cooked some hamburgers. Well they finally got done and we ate a whole bunch of stuff and had a drink too. It was all really good. Boy, that burger I ate almost seemed bigger than me, but I handled it. After we ate, we finally got into Miller Park. The park has a retractable roof so it wasn't going to rain on our parade, er I mean ballgame. This is me in Miller Park. This Mother's Day, the ballplayers were allowed to wear PINK wristbands and use PINK bats if they wanted to. At Miller Park they have a guy named Bernie Brewer. He kind of acts like a cheerleader and gets to slide down a big slide when a Brewer hits a homerun. I asked Pyro to take this picture for my friend Surferguy. I thought he would like it. Another exciting thing at the ballpark is the Klements Sausage Race. Pyro told me that Milwaukee was settled by many people of German, Italian and Polish descent who brought their sausage making skills from "the old country". In the seventh inning, we all stood up and sang some songs. I saw a man carrying beer on his head and a girl with a tree made of cotton candy. See? Well, after nine and a half innings the score was tied 5 to 5. In the bottom of the tenth inning, Milwaukee's Bill Hall hit a homerun with his PINK bat. Here he is being greeted by his team mates as he scores the winning run to make the score 6 to 5. After the game, we went outside and I had my picture taken withKaren and Pam and Hammerin' Hank Aaron the all time homerun hitter who played most of his career with the Milwaukee Braves. After I had my picture taken with Robin Yount the 2-time MVP, we went home and boy was I tired.

Hana fell asleep on the way home and had many wonderful things to dream about. I just hope Hana didn't put you to sleep. See ya next time.