one year today

June 18, 2013. Had a riveting conversation last night with our small group about evolution and creation, gap theories, literal translations versus literary forms, intelligent design, random selection, old versus young earth and all that. Most of the people in our group believe there's a God, but there's every flavor of ideas about creation and how things here on earth got underway. Good talks, but I need to dig out my books and brush up on that stuff again. These days, my time is spent studying for teacher certification tests; I have a lot to learn this summer. And the big news- today marks one year since we've been in the States.

best birthday again

June 16, 2013. It's my birthday, and it was a good one, (and Father's Day to boot!) Breakfast in bed- lots of great cards and a deep sea fishing pole and net. Had both my kids here to enjoy. Then off to church, where they had root beer floats to celebrate all the dads. My family then treated me to lunch at "My Favorite Indian" in Hayward, where we indulged in naan, curry chicken, rice, lentils, lamb, and lots of other mouth-watering dishes I couldn't define. Home for a Sunday nap before a riveting game of doubles tennis, then home for this quick sketch of one of my favorite aritsts, and finally sitting around the table for banana cream pie. Wonderful. Thank God for my amazing family.

just down the road

June 15, 2013. Here's a commission piece today of a house in Hayward. The house holds a lot of memories for someone who grew up here. I am also selling prints on Etsy now for $15 to help pay my kids' dentist bills! [ETSY]

fond memories

June 12, 2013. As you can see, I was daydreaming a bit today about Germany. But, I have to say, one of the great things about California is the beautiful year-round sunshine. We have certainly enjoyed the warm and bright days this past year. As a family, we took advantage of the warm weather, getting outside as much as we could to play tennis and walk along the bay. But I still look back with fondness on those glorious summer days in Germany, sitting out in the garden with friends and taking walks in the forest.

the night stand

June 11, 2013. Here's the night stand next to my bed. What more can one say about that? I suppose I can say that we paid 5 euros for it at a used furniture store in France, if you're interested. The thing on the floor there is my portable sketching stool, an invaluable tool for an urban sketcher of course.

down the tracks again

June 10, 2013. And so ends another year of teaching. This summer we'll be leaving the Bay area and moving to Fresno, to be near family there. We leave behind a host of new friends, and many great memories. Here's a sketch of the A Street overpass, looking down on the Amtrak line below. This is right by our place.

back to Japan

June 9, 2013. I had to do a sketch of Kento tonight before he leaves for Japan tomorrow. He has lived with us for the past five months, and it will be hard to say goodbye. He has a very serious look on his face for the sketch, but most of the day he was laughing. We had a great last weekend with him, as we went to Golden State Park yesterday for the "Cultivate" festival featuring live music, Chipotle exhibits, live cooking shows, and thousands of people, many of whom in shorts and t-shirts, like myself, shivering in the cool temperatures. Kento took a giant bite of tabasco mash and had to run for the milk booth; very reminiscent of his birthday wasabi incident.