Japanese sign

Japanese sign, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Walking anywhere in Japan and you will pass some wonderful, fun, cute,
and sometimes very strange signs. They are everywhere, telling you
what you need to know. . . but for me. . . in a really fun way. Gets
my attention.
Not just the arrows, numbers, silhouette shapes of America. Japanese
signs have people, police, flowers. trees, octopus, dogs, cats,
birds, steaming bowls of food and even my favorite. . . Scotty Dogs on
them. I remember one construction sign that was a "road worker"
waving his slow-down sign, which also lit- up at night.

This really cute dog sign ( guess what it is talking about ? ) was
next to the river in Sanda, Japan.

Very warm, 104. . . parsnip
Music. . . Eyes Open. . . Snow Patrol

Platypuses

Two things I love about Japan (out of 100) are Vending Machines and " ICOCA JR West Rail Service Mascot for the smart card. The letters are a play on the phrase "IKO KA" an informal... "shall we go" It is a FABULOUS Blue Platypus. The mascot is everywhere in the train station. All I wanted to do was rip one poster off the wall where "She" is carrying a purse and has a "don't mess with me attitude on her face.

The vending machines another big favorite of mine. . . they have everything and I really mean everything and anything you could need. They pop up everywhere. I remember walking home late one night in the very quiet countryside and a little beacon of light came from the vending maching. The lemon water is really great too !

So thanks to my son "sleepytako" ( great blog on Japan by the way) for this picture and memories.

A very happy. . . parsnip
music. . . " Ride On Time ". . . Tatsu Yamashita

Street with Storm Clouds

Street with Storm Clouds, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

My street in Tucson with storm clouds building in the west. It was
only 98 today but tomorrow 106. . . we shall see !
The green trees are Palo Verde and Mesquite.

A rather cool. . . parsnip
Music. . . Rain by Tatsu Yamashita

Another day another storm

Another day another storm, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Cold snap only 94 today. . . . but another day another storm. We need
the rain so no complaint from me. Every morning the clouds start to
build up and by late afternoon . . . rain.

This picture is taken from my front door facing south.

Only two forest fires as of today, knock on wood, the biggest one is
near Kitt Peak ( Kitt Peak pictures in earlier blog ) and I hope
that above storm helps with the containment !

A very dry. . . . parsnip
Music. . . Sky. . . Takuya Ohashi

wine

wine, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Stocking up on white wine for when my friend comes to stay. I usually
buy wine by how much I love the artwork and have found some great
wines that way.

As I am feeling quite Japanese this week I thought I would post one
wine label that really is quite well done, at lest for me. Great type,
drawing and a charming sense of humor. I have no idea what a Wasabi
White taste like and I don't drink, so I will have to wait till my
friend comes to give a review.

I am feeling quite like the man in the boat this week !

A drenched . . . parsnip
Music. . . . not Japanese today but Korean, ost for Palace

Firefly Card

Firefly Card, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Because it is Summer, I received this Fabulous card from my Son and
Daughter In Law.
Japan has wonderful greeting cards, three dimensional fold-out with
music. . . fabulous cards! This one you push the top button and the
sound of running water, crickets and also has fluttering lights of the
fireflies.

They know how crazy I am about Fireflies. . .
On my last visit to Japan they took me to the Firefly Bridge over the
Arima-Gawa in Yamaguchi-cho, Nishinomiya, Japan. The small bridge goes
over a river filled with Fireflies, reeds, flowers with trees on the
river bank.

What is so very sweet and tugs at my heart, is the Local School
Children take care of this area/bridge and there are pictures drawn
from the children framed all over the bridge.

We got there very late one evening, I had just flown in and was quite
tired, but so glad they took me to see this lovely site. Even though
it was late people were strolling around enjoying the evening sound
and sights. This was one of the most lovely evenings I have ever spent.

A thank you also to Hayao Miyazaki and Stuido Ghibli for all the
wonderful Japanese Animation Movies that I adore and of course the
fireflies that he puts in them.

A very warm. . . parsnip. . . it is 104 today.
Music. . . The Soundtrack to Totoro, feeling very Japanese today ! ! !

Fast moving storm

Fast moving storm, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

At 6PM on Friday 17 July 2009 this really scary storm zoomed in to the
Tucson area. This view is North-East towards the Catalina Foothills.

Fast moving, lots of thunder, lighting and winds 45 to 60 mph with a
blowing Dust storm. The temperature is still 102.

That is my favorite Orange Tree, a cross between a Tangerine and
Valencia Orange, on the right.
Last night we also had lots of thunder and lighting strikes, thank
goodness no forest fires started.

very warm. . . parsnip
listing to. . . . .Boz Scaggs, Speak Low

Santa Cruz Sand Trout

Santa Cruz Sand Trout, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

The Santa Cruz Sand Trout is Arizona's most reclusive life-form.
Living in the dry washes of Tucson this fish can stand extreme heat
and the absence of water ! ! !

The story goes . . . at one time the Sand Trout lived in Southern
Arizona when the rivers were still filled with water. As the rivers
dried up the Sand Trout developed the ability to live in the sand and
breath air.
"This fish is Tucson's local version of mythical creatures. You can
find more info in the book "Southern Arizona Folk Arts"

I pass this FABULOUS metal sculpture aquatic rotating weather vane
over the Rose Hill Wash along Tanque Verde Road. Right now the wash is
empty ( very pretty and green ) but with the Monsoon and later the
winter rains there will be lots water rushing here.

This wonderful art piece was designed by local architect Paul Edwards
and local artist Chris Tanz.
Tucson has a really great city funded public art program and I will be
showing many art pieces on this blog, from the well designed inter-
state highway art to the many pieces of art that just appear as you
drive by.
Tucson is rather small city but they really know how to use city
funded art, unlike some cities I have lived in.

A very warm . . . . parsnip
music. . . Antonio Carlos Jobim songbook

Officially Monsoon

Officially Monsoon, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

It is Official. . . on Thursday 9 July the Monsoon season started for
me !

The first car of the rainy season has gotten stuck in the Stone Street
underpass in the City of Tucson. This is the older section of Tucson
and this street is one lane each way as it drops down under the
Railroad tracks. Every year there are several people who drive their
car into the flooded underpass and say... " but I thought I could
make it " as The Fire department and Police have to rescue them...
never mind the sign that says. . . Do Not enter When Flooded.

Every year before the monsoons hit all over the news is "don't go into
any flooded, running water and every year people try to drive through
the washes and underpasses and never make it.

I tried to find a picture of the truck but couldn't. So instead the
latest rain storm picture from my home looking towards the East.

Oh and as I was out and about running errands, driving in the city,
my car temp was 117. . . at my home it was a chilly 102.

Cheers, parsnip

Monsoon storm !

Monsoon storm !, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Another sunset and another storm.

Somedays the whole valley seems to be covered in clouds and other days
it is bright sunlight and clouds on just one side of Tucson. This
storm is passing through the valley on the west side.

It's raining ! ! ! parsnip

Monsoon Sunset

Monsoon Sunset, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

When I took this picture every where in Tucson was colored a rosy-
pink and huge blue-gray cloud covered the valley. Very Beautiful, the
white dots are rain drops

In July humidity increases dramatically, when the dew point reaches 54
degrees or higher for 3 consecutive days with temperatures of 100,
105 seems to be the perfect number we have Monsoon Season. It starts
early July through September.

Or my explanation. . . when the Summer days get really hot and the
heated air rises to met the colder moisture laden air pushing
north. . . boom ! we have Thunder and Lighting storms, or Monsoon !

Most days start out with very clear blue skies with big fluffy white
clouds building up over the mountains and by the afternoon you start
to hear thunder the clouds get darker then the rains storm come. There
is some wind, lighting and the air smells of sage and ozone. There is
humidity but not like your walking around in a sunna.
Somedays it will rain like crazy at my home but 40 minutes away at the
Tucson International Airport, the official weather station, they will
get only trace of rain. You can watch the clouds pull the storm
thunder and lighting, across the valley and be standing in sunshine
watching it.

Summer is very interesting here, HOT but interesting something new
everyday!

Cheers. . . parsnip

Monsoon

Monsoon, originally uploaded by angryparsnip.

Yea !

It is Monsoon time again, weather that can and will change in 60
seconds. Stand on one side of a street and be drenched but the other
side will be dry.

This is a picture of a fast moving storm from last Summer that zoomed
across the Tucson valley and left downed power lines, trees, flooded
streets and cars.
This storm took about 5 minutes to cross the Tucson Valley.

More Monsoon photos to come ! cheers, parsnip