Of Many Meetings and a Sub Tropical New Year

Greetings and salutations!

Over the new year, I finally had the opportunity to visit Okinawa with Takako. While most of our time was spent visiting my new extended family, we were able to do some traveling throughout the main island. Unfortunately it's winter so, while the temperatures were comfortably in the 20s, it was not swimming or sunbathing weather. Facebook friends can view some of the photos from this trip online. Highlights included the Manzamo coast, the Churaumi Aquarium (world's largest indoor tank), Nago Pineapple Park, Shikinaen Garden, and more.

The trip was fantastic all around but of course the whole point of it was to spend time with my new extended family. Initially nerve-rattling, it was a welcome relief to finally spend some time with Takako's parents and siblings. My mother in-law in particular, along with her mother, really made our time in Okinawa so much better due to their kindness and hospitality. In fact, I felt generally welcomed by everyone we met (aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends) and enjoyed their company a great deal. It was the best possible way to bring in the new year (that's our post card at the top - we could only send out 200 physical ones so apologies to those who didn't get one).

Finally, as it is indeed a new year, I thought I would add my voice to the countless others putting their Top 10 lists for 2009; more specifically - my Top 10 Movies:

1. The Hurt Locker
2. District 9
3. Star Trek
4. Avatar
5. Inglorious Basterds
6. Watchmen
7. Up
8. Moon
9. This is It
10. Taken

With Hope,
Joseph