The Ohmarts

new blog link

2010-03-27T02:12:00.001-07:00

Please update your links to this blog - and go here: http://www.theohmarts.com

That's the new and current blog link. No more posts will be made here. Thanks!

my feet in the fish

2010-03-05T00:41:00.000-08:00

To take a break from San Francisco, take a look at my feet. They're being eaten by fish! We went to a spa yesterday, and after 30 minutes laying on a hot stone, I had little fish eat the dead skin off my feet. It wasn't the torture you might think - in fact, it was fun! Though I had to make a fist sometimes because it did tickle.

the rest of the meal

2010-03-04T06:44:00.000-08:00

Swanky, eh? You eat well when you eat in SF. Today is March 4th, we went there in November, and we still talk about the great food, the city, so much to do. As my wife rightly says, if it wasn't for the beggars (really too many, Mr. Mayor; what are you doing?), it'd be the perfect place!

our lunch on the Wharf!

2010-03-02T17:53:00.000-08:00

To me, ain't no better clam chowder in the world than in SF - particularly Fisherman's Wharf. Here we went to a bread place for lunch. I'm not a big bread fan, I prefer just the soup, but it was soup-er!

sometimes

2010-02-16T23:47:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I think the only person who reads this blog is my wife - so I don't update as often as I used to!

More pictures of San Francisco.....!

It's a real 3rd world, ain't it?

this is not fake

2010-01-28T01:04:00.000-08:00

Once I got my wife out of jail, we ambled down the pier and found a bunch of sea lions. No joke. Tons and tons of them. Loud and smelly and incredibly funny! Worth coming to SF just for them!

back at the jail

2010-01-24T20:48:00.000-08:00

A great view of the bay. Too bad you had to be locked up to see it. Or not see it.

oh no!!!!

2010-01-21T18:07:00.000-08:00

They got my wife!!

listening to jail

2010-01-20T21:48:00.000-08:00

Everyone gets an audio tour of Alcatraz, so that's what you see on my head here. You have to walk and time it so that what he's saying is right in front of you. A bit strange, but it was fun to jaunt without having to stay there forever.

our time in jail

2010-01-19T20:20:00.000-08:00

We took the boat to Alcatraz and it was a hoot. No one ever tells you how hilly it is on that island, but it really is!

getting back to SF

2010-01-10T20:44:00.000-08:00

It was Nov. when we were there, so lots of great Christmas decorations were going up in store windows daily. This is Macy's, I think.

our boat to Alcatraz

2009-12-27T14:33:00.000-08:00

Christmas in SF!

2009-12-24T23:43:00.000-08:00

Here we are at Macy's on our first day. Before the tree across the street was put up.

we were there on Veteran's Day

2009-12-23T20:01:00.000-08:00

And saw this parade.

my wife the crab head

2009-12-22T17:32:00.000-08:00

like, bread, man

2009-12-21T18:12:00.000-08:00

One of the greatest areas - which we went to several times - in SF was Fisherman's Wharf. It's a big tourist area full of shops and good restaurants and clam chowder and tours and boat rides and sealions and lights and beauty. Here we passed a great bread maker - a big chain, in fact - and if you've ever wondered what an alligator and teddy bear look like made out of bread, here ya go!

crab or lobster, you decide

2009-12-20T18:28:00.000-08:00

They called me Mister Lobsterhead!

our first lovely meal

2009-12-19T17:16:00.000-08:00

Ever been to a McCormick's Seafood? It's a national chain (first one we went to was in Boston). It's great. And man, their clam chowder was perfect. That's one thing I always think of when I think of SF - clam chowder. So of course we had it at every opportunity!

That other glob is Atlantic salmon. In fact, we had that just last night too. It's CHEAP here in Japan, just a couple dollars for a good size piece! Guess it helps living on an island.

the first day in SF

2009-12-16T00:24:00.000-08:00

And our first view at the amazing amount of pelicans around there!

ridin' the trolley!

2009-12-13T21:47:00.000-08:00

clang clang clang!

2009-12-09T16:05:00.000-08:00

Our room, and our trolley in the great SF.

our SF trip

2009-12-07T16:30:00.000-08:00

Last month we took a trip to San Francisco. It was great! More soon!

speaking of the rainbow connection

2009-11-25T23:27:00.000-08:00

We snapped this in Kyoto a few weeks ago...

Biggest rainbow I've seen in person.

the Muppets do Queen

2009-11-25T16:20:00.001-08:00

I just had to post this - it's great!

Christmas Time Is Here!

2009-11-20T15:45:00.000-08:00

Ah, I'll miss going to Disneyworld this Christmas. But we're taking a 2 day jaunt to DisneySea, and that's just as good. End of next week. It's all decorated for Christmas, so it's gonna be great!

this turkey ain't in Japan

2009-11-19T16:19:00.000-08:00

No Thanksgiving here, kids. And not a turkey in the country! At least not that I've come across. Chicken and fish and squid, yes. But Japan isn't into the turkey bird.

However, my lovely wife has her Pepperidge Farm cornbread stuffing and spices ready and with garlic mashed potatoes, she is going to make us a Western feast soon!

we's back!

2009-11-17T15:25:00.000-08:00

Posting more pictures soon!

Calloway Gardens

2009-11-04T17:08:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving coming up again reminds me of the lovely drive we took to Calloway Gardens and drove through the multitude of lights. If you're in Georgia sometime, you'll want to do that!

dance class

2009-11-02T16:39:00.000-08:00

Mayu has her dance class today.

curry

2009-11-01T14:55:00.000-08:00

We eat curry. We like curry.

the cake shop

2009-10-31T16:52:00.000-07:00

Easy to find stores like this everywhere in Japan, even the most common of grocery stores.

from this past summer

2009-10-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

wow, it's been a while!

2009-10-29T18:27:00.001-07:00

I was in Georgia for 2 weeks. Just got back LATE last night. More soon!

the kid's birthday parfait

2009-10-07T21:43:00.000-07:00

A lovely surprise on my birthday from my wife, who called ahead to the restaurant to have them get it ready!

Kyoto Tower

2009-10-07T01:10:00.000-07:00

We were here today - passing through. I had to get my visa renewed since I'm going back to America next week.

Beautiful, isn't it? Japan is lovely.

our 3rd anniversary cruise

2009-10-04T17:33:00.000-07:00

Back on Kyoto's river, this boat ride took 100 minutes instead of 50 because it was a lot lower that day. Notice the turtles sunning themselves on the rocks.

today's our 3rd anniversary!

2009-09-30T17:47:00.000-07:00

So we're going on the boat again today. :)

is this the man?

2009-09-29T20:21:00.000-07:00

"Is this the one?"

"Yeah, that's him."

you must eat Pringles to survive

2009-09-28T17:39:00.000-07:00

Pictures from our local convenience store. You think there are a lot of kind of Pringles in America? Well, here there are a ton of seasonal and short-term flavors, only available in convenience stores. Oh, and same for Kit Kats.

this is your pizza

2009-09-27T17:40:00.000-07:00

It's the tomato pizza we had at a lovely restaurant on the river a couple weeks ago. Not the best tasting, but pretty to look at. And a nice rest. atmosphere.

Yesterday we went to see Charlie Chaplin's The Kid and A Dog's Life played with the Kyoto Orchestra. It was great! We're gonna do it again next year. It was a birthday present from my wife, who also very much enjoyed it. Our seats were super and right in the middle. Alas, we didn't take pictures, sorry!

another lunch

2009-09-25T17:15:00.000-07:00

The lighter image with the egg (I only eat the white part) on top is one of my favorite lunches - that spinach rice I mentioned before. The other is the something that Mayu had that day!

did someone say.... parfait?

2009-09-24T07:01:00.000-07:00

You might say too much whip cream. I might say too much whip cream. But here we go!

a new favorite lunch place

2009-09-18T17:45:00.000-07:00

This place serves a wonderful spinach rice fried in olive oil. When mixed with the bacon on the side, it's one of the greatest rices I've ever had in my life. And rice has always been my favorite food!

a big crab

2009-09-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

If you want crab in Japan, come to Kyoto.

my wife's mom's flowers

2009-09-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

Mayumi is always bringing home veggies from her mom's and grandpa's gardens, and this time, she brought some huge lilies. These are lilies, right? They are amazon size!

parfait!

2009-09-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

I forget where this was, but it's hard to go to a restaurant in Japan and not be offered a parfait on the menu.

Audrey is everywhere

2009-09-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

The Japanese do love Audrey Hepburn. Pictures of her are everywhere here, like this ad in a subway shows.

what a Creap!

2009-09-12T18:54:00.000-07:00

Yes, if you live in Japan, you can put a Creap in your coffee. That'll wake you up!

don't be scared, but

2009-09-11T01:16:00.000-07:00

Some octopus got into last night's salad...

our favorite meal

2009-09-09T18:58:00.000-07:00

Possibly the best meal we ever had in the USA. Chicken Marsala at Brio, in Atlanta.

Christmas dinner

2009-09-05T17:33:00.000-07:00

High calorie and delicious!

Don't worry, someday we'll get back to the present. But there are still a lot of photos in this just-discovered folder from last year's camera!

the day I gave gramma napkins for Christmas

2009-09-01T18:05:00.000-07:00

the day we saw the peacock

2009-08-31T17:28:00.000-07:00

After our Christmas trip to Disneyworld, we were driving around nice FL neighborhoods, and near a lake area, there was a peacock strutting down the driveway. Yep. Such a sight, we had to get out and take a snap!

when we were in Albany

2009-08-30T17:35:00.000-07:00

Walmart had classic Coke bottles which we'd buy (with the Coke still in them, of course) and Mayu would put some roses in them - when I surprised her with flowers. :)

Stitch Christmas

2009-08-29T23:23:00.000-07:00

oh Christmas tree!

2009-08-28T20:56:00.000-07:00

Nice display, huh?

the wife, the I, the old troll

2009-08-27T17:49:00.000-07:00

Here we are in Norway - via Epcot. Who's that old guy behind us? He leans to get in the picture...

more Christmas-Disney decorations from Epcot

2009-08-23T21:46:00.000-07:00

the lights at Epcot

2009-08-20T22:38:00.000-07:00

Beautiful, aren't they? This was my first time at Epcot during Christmas. They really go all out. And you wouldn't believe the amount of fireworks over the Magic Kingdom castle!

Epcot!

2009-08-20T01:08:00.000-07:00

I honestly don't remember these gingerbread Mickeys - what they tasted like or where they were from - but it must've been in Epcot, since the next photo is of the great harmony singers from the American Adventure. Even if you don't like the main AA show (Mayu fell asleep!), it's worth coming here for the preshow with these singers pitching out faultless American classics.

Mayu's favorite characters

2009-08-18T21:39:00.000-07:00

She's in heaven!

hmmmm

2009-08-17T18:05:00.000-07:00

This man did not get married at Disneyworld, but he's seen grooms wearing them around the park.

Have YOU seen this man?

WSS

2009-08-16T17:23:00.000-07:00

We saw West Side Story the other night, but I haven't downloaded the images from the camera yet. Until then.... enjoy more Christmas at Disneyworld!

Maria?

2009-08-12T23:42:00.000-07:00

In just a couple days, we're taking the train to go see the Broadway tour of West Side Story. I LOVE this show. Next to My Fair Lady, perhaps my favorite musical. Ah, if only Russ Tamblyn would pen an autobiography and let me publish it...

more in The Land, Epcot

2009-08-10T17:52:00.000-07:00

I think those are cucumbers hulking there.

oh them Mickey pumpkins

2009-08-09T18:20:00.000-07:00

Here's how you grow a pumpkin to look like Mickey Mouse, says Epcot's The Land...

we each get a pig

2009-08-06T18:06:00.000-07:00

Fantasmic finale!

2009-08-05T23:42:00.000-07:00

more Zorro!

2009-08-05T00:14:00.000-07:00

Zorro at Disneyworld!

2009-08-03T19:23:00.000-07:00

I wish I could remember where we saw all this stuff. I know it was very unusual. I mean, they should have a ride or fast food place or something for Zorro since it was important to them. But the Disney of then isn't the Disney of now.

me and the castle

2009-08-02T22:59:00.000-07:00

We treated ourselves to a nice buffet meal in a "character dining" restaurant on Main St. during that Christmas vacation. Of course it was bags of fun!

hmmmmm

2009-07-29T18:54:00.000-07:00

"I wonder..."

lunch at the Polynesian Hotel

2009-07-28T23:44:00.000-07:00

We both like the tropical look. And there's nothing better than a little lunch at the Polynesian Hotel!

the blurry water parade

2009-07-27T00:40:00.000-07:00

Well, it's not supposed to be blurry, but that was the best we could capture. The other view of the Contemporary from the monorail looks great tho, eh?

more trees!

2009-07-23T22:32:00.000-07:00

It must take forever to build these. I guess they work all night.

yet more gingerbread!

2009-07-22T20:45:00.000-07:00

Beautifully done, aren't they? They were all over the place in Disneyworld.

on the boat

2009-07-21T17:38:00.000-07:00

After visiting the hotels, the best way of getting back to the Magic Kingdom isn't the monorail. It's the boat, of course!

a lot of gingerbread

2009-07-20T20:52:00.000-07:00

When we were at Disneyworld for Christmas, there were a lot of gingerbread things around all the hotels. Great stuff. And some of the houses contained hidden Mickeys, which are always fun to pick out.

just walking around DD is nice

2009-07-17T21:38:00.000-07:00

It's beautiful to walk around Downtown Disney in FL. It's free - and it's almost like being in the park.

at the Contemporary Hotel

2009-07-16T15:10:00.000-07:00

We made a round of the Disneyworld hotels at Christmas, and here's a pleasant surprise we found at the A-shaped Contemporary Hotel - Christmas carolers!

more from Downtown Disney at Christmas

2009-07-14T19:10:00.000-07:00

a lovely Pooh fan wife

2009-07-13T15:46:00.000-07:00

Here's my lovely wife Mayu in and outside the Pooh store in Downtown Disney, Orlando. Remember, you can walk around this section without needing a ticket to get in the park!

more Christmas in July

2009-07-13T00:04:00.000-07:00

I can't remember where this was. Perhaps still in the Animal Kingdom area. They must have tons of Christmas decorations in Disneyworld!

as we leave the Animal Kingdom lodge...

2009-07-09T18:37:00.000-07:00

We see the native doors and admire the new age jungle music that invades the lobby...

grandpa sits looking at AK

2009-07-09T01:15:00.000-07:00

There I'm is. Looking out at the backyard full of Animal Kingdom animals. Purty, anc'it?

oh, Christmas tree!

2009-07-07T17:45:00.000-07:00

Best decked out place in Disneyworld at Christmas - as far as hotels go - had to be the Animal Kingdom Lodge! Wow. More impressive that these little pics. Makes me want to stay there. You can sit on the porch and watch the giraffes and other animals in the backyard too!

a magor character in TDL

2009-07-05T17:29:00.000-07:00

At first I thought these were Tokyo Disneyland photos because Stitch is a very minor Disney character in America, but is right up there with Pooh and Mickey in Japan! Mainly because he looks like one of their popular dogs here, I gather. But - nope - this is Animal Kingdom still!

hmmmmm

2009-07-04T18:36:00.000-07:00

Ohmart has a cogitate in an Animal Kingdom store...

giving youse guys the boid!

2009-06-30T17:15:00.000-07:00

We're still at Animal Kingdom, folks! Well, 2 years ago.

the rhi knows...

2009-06-29T16:44:00.000-07:00

More safari - via Animal Kingdom - pics. Of course there are also lots of paths were you can walk around and see the animals. Doesn't look like Christmas time, does it?

yes, you can see them all!

2009-06-28T23:41:00.000-07:00

The safari ride at Animal Kingdom is actually better than most zoos I've been to. You do get close to the animals. I don't know how they manage it, but it's great. Of course it's a short ride, but not as short as the average Fantasyland one, so - go to it!

something wrong with blogger

2009-06-25T18:24:00.001-07:00

That's why I haven't posted in a while. I click on NEW POST and I get a blank page. Today it didn't happen!

Anyway, back to Christmas in Animal Kingdom....

me below ground

2009-06-18T18:00:00.000-07:00

Here I be with the bees and roaches and bugs waiting on the next show of A Bug's Life, the interesting (tho our favorite is Mickey's Philharmagic in Magic Kingdom) 4-D short film in which you are sprayed on, and surprised in several ways, and at the end, it feels like bugs are crawling in your seat. Yes, it is fun, I assure you.

Oh, and that's the popcorn box was got. Very nice to go at Christmas, for lots of reasons.

We're planning to take the Disney cruise for our 10th anniversary. Anyone done it?

Sorry for the delay of a couple days, but there was some glitch in blogger.com.

that's me!

2009-06-15T20:47:00.000-07:00

Finally, a Ben photo! Yep, that's me buying something. I forget what. And then we took that twirling water ride that, sadly, like a lot of rides, is just too short!

still in Animal Kingdom in Nov!

2009-06-14T17:50:00.000-07:00

Doesn't look like November, do it?

Christmas in Animal Kingdom

2009-06-12T02:17:00.000-07:00

Doesn't seem like it apart from the huge Christmas tree, eh? Well, actually the best hotel for Christmas decorations in DisneyWorld seemed to be the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Amazing there.

the All Stars hotel

2009-06-10T23:50:00.000-07:00

Here's our room at All Star Sports, and what greeted us.

Christmas in Disneyworld!

2009-06-09T21:50:00.000-07:00

Some photos I hadn't put up yet, when we went to Disneyworld in November 2007. Amazing trees and decorations everywhere.

further parfaits

2009-06-08T21:52:00.000-07:00

Not much ice cream in these - coffee and tea flavors - but they were good.

no longer gumballs!

2009-06-07T01:15:00.000-07:00

These gumball machines that don't contain gumballs are big biz these days. You can't walk around any public area or store and not find a great herd of these things congregating, offering figures, stickers, cell phone keychains and various collectibles. Most of the characters I don't recognize, but there're still lots of Mickey Mouse, Hello Kitty and etc.