Japan Government Panel Looking Into New Rules For Rentals of Private Lodgings

Above, Godzilla in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan's Regulatory Reform Council is looking into new rules involving private rentals to foreign tourists and anti-terrorism measures.

The Asahi Shimbun reported:

New rules to govern rental properties for tourists in Japan that may include anti-terrorism measures are being hashed out by the government’s Regulatory Reform Council. 

One idea is to establish a notification system or licensing system for agents or renters of private accommodation due to a growing number of complaints made about such services. 

Motoyuki Oka, chair of the council, also said anti-terror measures should be considered during a meeting on Nov. 19. Oka, also an adviser to Sumitomo Corp., noted that the suspects behind the terror attacks in Paris were believed to have rented long-stay accommodation. 

The administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to expand the rented private lodging sector as the nation does not have enough hotel rooms to accommodate the steep rise in foreign tourists.

Since the influx in foreign tourists is straining the availability of hotel accommodations, it would be my recommendation to go visit now before the strain worsens and prices are hiked (remember the law of supply & demand).

To read more, go here. 

Abe Urges Strengthening of Border Controls

Above, the meeting point for arrivals at Narita International Airport's Terminal One. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Unlike President Obama, who seems to run to the nearest golf course in the aftermath of a terrorist attack and who allows refugees into the United States which may include ISIS terrorists, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to beef up border controls.

According to The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun):

It is urgently required to establish a system to gather intelligence on foreign terrorists, and to prevent terrorist attacks in Japan. 

Immediately after returning from a summit meeting of the Group of 20 major economies, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended a meeting of the National Security Council. “I want all of you to implement every possible measure to prevent a terrorist attack from occurring,” Abe told the council. 

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) extremist group, which carried out the simultaneous terrorist attacks in Paris last week, has named Japan as one of its targets. Given that Japan will host the Ise-Shima summit meeting of Group of Seven nations next year and the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, the implementation of effective countermeasures cannot be put off any longer.

To read more, go here. 

Japan May Reach 20 Million Tourist Goal Five Years Early

Above, the Dotonbori restaurant district of Osaka. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japan Times reported that foreign tourism numbers in Japan for the month of October hit a new record, which was blogged previously.

Along with October's figures, it appears that Japan is on track to meeting its annual goal of 20 million foreign visitors, five years ahead of schedule. All this is due to the huge influx of Chinese tourists.

As we were in Japan in October, we did notice quite a number of Chinese tourists. I met a Chinese fertilizer salesman from Shanghai at the Narita International Airport. He said he travels to a number of foreign countries, including the U.S.

The Wall Street Journal reported:

TOKYO—Chinese tourists have pushed Japan within reach of its ambitious tourism target—five years ahead of schedule. 

Japan has attracted 16.3 million foreign tourists already this year, beating its previous full-year record of 13.4 million as the number of Chinese visitors has more than doubled, according to data released Wednesday by the Japan National Tourism Organization.

It will be interesting to see if Japan does indeed reach 20 million foreign visitors this year.

To read more, go here.

Japan Sees Record Number of Foreign Tourists In October

Above, Shibuya Crossing. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan's foreign tourism numbers for October are now in and it hit a new record, according to an article in the Japan Times.

They wrote:

A total of 1.82 million people arrived in Japan in October, a record high and up 43.8 percent from the same period a year ago, the Japan National Tourism Organization announced Wednesday. 

The increase was aided in part by the continued depreciation of the yen and a surge in the number of Chinese visitors. 

During the 10-months through the end of October, the number of arrivals reached 16.31 million, also a record high, which means arrivals for 2015 could hit the 20 million mark, the highest annual number ever.

When we went to Japan in October, we did notice quite a number of Chinese tourists. I spoke with one at the Narita International Airport, a fertilizer salesman, and was in Japan on business.

To read more, go here.

RocketNews 24: 10 Factors That Make Japan A Safe Country

Above, an Asakusa convenience store. They are always operated by two workers. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For years, people have been hearing that Japan is either crime-free (not true) or safe (true). There is some crime in Japan, but compared to other first world countries, it is a pretty safe place.

There are several reasons for this and RocketNews 24 has posted an article with ten of them.

They begin with:

We’ve all heard about how safe Japan is. But unless you live here, you may not understand why Japan is considered so safe. The uninitiated may presume that safety is enforced through a rigid society that doesn’t allow freedom of expression, that Japanese people are too worried about losing face to commit a crime, or that the government comes down unnecessarily hard on people who step out of line. In reality, none of these rings true. 

But we can’t deny that there’s one thing that Japan does better than anyone else. Join us after the jump for some insights and our own observations.

The one thing Japan does better than anyone else is that it puts a strong focus on crime prevention. In addition, safety of its citizens is paramount. Here is a list of some factors that we believe help Japan be free from danger.

To read more, go here. 

Asakusa Sushizanmai

Above, the Sushizanmai Asakusa restaurant. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in December 2010, I paid a visit to the Tsukiji Fish Market and, following that, had breakfast at a restaurant in the Jogai marketplace next to it.

The restaurant I had my meal was the Sushizanmai restaurant. There, I had a platter of assorted tuna sushi. That was the best sushi meal I've ever eaten.

During last month's trip to Japan, I spotted Sushizanmai's Asakusa restaurant as we were leaving the Studio Nanairo after Denise's photo shoot. It was directly across the street from the studio. I made a mental note to go there for dinner.

Well, I did go there for dinner and, following that, had lunch there the next day. I wasn't disappointed. The meals were great!

So, if you are in Asakusa and want to partake in a great sushi meal, Sushizanmai is the place to go!

Japan Info's "3 Must-Visit Places"

Above, Mori Tower in Roppongi Hills. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan Info has posted their list of three must-visit places in Tokyo for a cultural experience.

They begin with:

Tokyo is without a doubt one of the top tourist destinations in the world. It’s not just the rich and vibrant culture of the Japanese that makes it such an alluring tourist destination but also has plenty of exciting scenery, including a plethora of places with significant historical importance. Whether you love nature, art or history, you will find something to satisfy your thirst for a new experience as a traveler in Tokyo.

To see what the three must-visit places, go here. 

RocketNews 24 Article On Studio Nanairo

Above, Studio Nanairo's front windows. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

RocketNews 24 must be following this blog for story ideas (admittedly, I follow them for blog ideas) as they recently sent their Mr. Sato to the Asakusa, Tokyo photo studio where Denise Santos and I had our photo shoots done last month and he posted an article on his experience in becoming a samurai. Either that or we're just trend-setters.

They begin with:

If you’ve ever wanted to turn back time and step into the clothes of a well-dressed geisha, a pipe-smoking courtesan or a sword-wielding samurai warrior, we’ve found the perfect place for you!

Located in Asakusa, Tokyo, Studio Nanairo offers customers a wide range of settings and photographic options, and is so large it’s spread out over eight floors of a high-rise building. Our reporter Mr Sato paid a visit to the studio to try out their services, and while he was impressed by their geisha, maiko and oiran (courtesan) packages, he decided to forgo the ladylike styles this time and instead opt for the samurai experience.

Above, Aiden and Denise. Photo by Studio Nanairo.

If you visit Japan (Tokyo specifically) and would like to be photographed in traditional or ancient Japanese settings, Studio Nanairo is the place for you. We had a good time during our photo shoots.

To read more, go here. 

Yosemite, Here I Come!

Above, the selected campsite.

Today is the first day that the National Park Service starts taking reservations for campsites in Yosemite National Park for 2016.

Knowing this, I had my phone's calendar set to alert me and I made my reservations in the nick of time. They go fast!

It has been over 25 years since I was last in Yosemite and I have the urge to visit the park. I have never camped in Yosemite itself, so this will be a new experience. I got on to the National Park Service's reservations website and reserved three nights in April. I will be staying at the North Pines Campground in Yosemite Valley. I even was able to select the specific site from their list of available sites. Pretty nifty!

Above, map of Yosemite Valley.

The site is within easy walking distance from the Merced River. The park has a free shuttle service on the valley floor. One of the stops is near our campground.

Although the Sierras are cool during the spring months, at least there won't be so many hordes of people as in the summer months.

At Least One Paris Terrorist Was Registered As A Fake Refugee

Europe was asking for trouble when they allowed in refugees from the Middle East.

One of the Paris terrorists entered Greece as a phony refugee. Another is having his fingerprints checked.

According to Yahoo News:

Athens (AFP) - Greek police on Saturday said at least one man with a possible connection to the Paris attacks had registered as a refugee with Greek authorities earlier this year. 

French authorities had asked their Greek counterparts to check the fingerprints of one man who died in the attacks, with a Syrian passport found next to him, in addition to the fingerprints of another man.

This calls to question on how many refugees President Obama is letting into the U.S. are also fake refugees. We are also asking for trouble.

To read more, go here. 

Reaction To My Retirement

I'm bored. I'm going back to work.

Not!

Since I announced my FTS*, I received a number of well-wishes.

Here's a sample of them:

"Congratulations!!!!!! I retired five years ago and while I miss the people I worked with, I do not miss the 'rat race'! Take a little time for your self and get into a new 'groove' and routine. I go to the gym three days a week and do 'free' work locally. We do travel a little and have gotten to take longer trips from our home in Alaska to the 'lower 48'.

***

Congrats on the retirement! We did it back in 2010 and have loved every minute of it!
Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

***

I got fed up of all the travel I had to do, mostly to the Islamic world. I asked for an alternative assignment and was refused. After one particularly hard trip, I checked my BP on a machine in the company cafeteria Friday lunchtime and got a reading of 225/160. After the following 3-day weekend it was 135/75. Stress-related hypertension? - sure as eggs are eggs! 

Retired 2 weeks later, 3 weeks short of my 58th birthday. No regrets at all after 16 years!

***

Wow! You really did it! I'm having trouble wrapping my mind around that!. Retired. . . Wow. Congrats!

***

Retired just a little under 122 months ago but who's keeping count. One thing I have never missed is WORK. Once out the door I never looked back. Enjoy your time traveling, with family, whatever you want, just ENJOY.

***

AWESOME!!! 

Not only will you be able to spend time with your aunts but with all the important people in your life.  

Wife and I both retired six months ago, (62) and one thing that drove me is how many times you see where people pass away so early in life, her mother recently passed away and although she was 82 her family history had her living to about mid 90,s. 

I don't live scared but I don't know what my experation date is........ so here we go.  

Good luck with your retirement make the most of it.

***

In my past life I had a job I loved, but when they offered a small retirement window with added and sweetened benefits I leaped through the window and landed in retirement bliss. Being a "type A" I thought I would find it hard to adjust, but with traveling, house and grand kids I can't fine the time to do it all.  

My better half worked about a year longer. Every morning I would get up, make her breakfast, scrape the frost off the car windshield, turn the car around in the driveway and open the door for her as she prepared to travel to work. Then as she drove off I would high five my dog and we would go back to bed! Ah, retirement is grand!

***

You are three weeks ahead of me. I officially retire on Dec 4 after 29 years with the same organization. Really looking forward to it - my wife retired 8 years ago at 55 from a career as a registered nurse. Since that time she has been traveling with me - 4 or 5 international trips a year and 10 or 12 trips in the USA. Nearly all of those trips were flying, then rental car and hotel.  

Now we will be in our new motor home - if we want to go 200 miles in a day we will or if we want to go more we can try for that or if we decide to do less we'll do that! We're both 63 and in relatively good health so we want to travel while we can. I'm a CPA and read a lot about finances. I recently read a good article that said you can break your retirement into three phases: 

1. The go go years
2. The slow go years
3. The no go years 

We definitely are in phase 1 for now - we'll have to see how long it takes us to get to phase 2.

***

*FTS = F*CK THIS SH*T!

I Can't Say I Disagree With Vlad

The "P.C. crowd" won't like this, but Vladimir Putin is totally correct:

Retirement

Above, a scenic view at Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This is my first full day of retirement.

Once I settle in and get a normal sleep pattern after nearly three years working the graveyard shift, I can concentrate on projects and things that I want to accomplish.

Topping the list is the new edition of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. Now that I have about 99% of the material I want to include in it, I can begin work on it. (I also have to find the right desktop publishing program.)

When time is free, I will also do some traveling around in the RV. This will involve short trips and trips of longer duration. It will be nice to be able to do what I want.

The security company I was working for (my parachute job) wants me to work as a rover, filling in where people have called off or going on vacation. I will probably do some, but not until about February. I have to limit it so that I don't get penalized by Social Security. You can only make so much per year without being penalized when one is collecting Social Security. I will continue to work claims as they come in. But that, too, will have to be limited. I now have the freedom to pick and choose what I want to do.

Last night, Denise and I went out for a massage. If you haven't tried it, you're missing something that is beneficial. It is a great stress-reliever. No, it is not the kind that includes a "happy ending".

Tsukiji's Jogai Retail Market Faces Uncertain Future

Above, one of the many shops in the Jogai marketplace in Tsukiji. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Next year's closure of the historic Tsukiji Fish Market is causing the retail area next door to wonder about its future after the fish market is gone.

The New York Times reported:

Tokyo is known for its neon lights and armies of salarymen who spill out of office towers in often indistinct neighborhoods.

But amid that giant urban crush is Tsukiji fish market, the world’s largest. In a city in a rush to wipe away its history, the market is a gem that evokes Japan’s pre-World War II past and its love of food. 

The wholesale market on the banks of the Sumida River several minutes from Ginza opened in 1935 and is best known for its predawn tuna auction. But navigating the market’s cramped and slippery corridors can be treacherous and, while fascinating, is primarily for viewing, not sampling. 

The retail market next door is more inviting. Roughly eight square blocks, the outer market, or Jogai (pronounced JOE-guy), is chockablock with small, family-owned retail shops selling fish and meat, seaweed and sweets, knickknacks and kitchen supplies. 

Shopkeepers with raspy voices invite passers-by to look at their goods or eat in their restaurants, some of which are tucked away in alleys. 

In my dozen years working in Tokyo, including several at The New York Times bureau across the street, and on my annual visits since then, my wife and I have never grown tired of wandering the market’s mazelike streets. We stock up on dried seaweed, Japanese snacks and other sundries, and dine at surprisingly affordable restaurants. We love the shopkeepers and their gravely voices, quick wit and candid opinions. 

Yet this gustatory wonderland is in danger. Next year, the Tokyo government will move the wholesale market a few miles away to Toyosu. 

I visited the Tsukiji Fish Market and Jogai in 2010 and enjoyed browsing around its many shops and a sushi meal. If you are planning to visit Japan, I recommend that you visit Jogai before the Tsukiji Fish Market closes so you can get a taste of historical Tokyo.

To read more, go here. 

Yummy Japan Opens Portal For Visitors

For those who are contemplating a vacation to Japan, a new portal has been launched for information on all things related to Japan.

Japan Today reported:

TOKYO —Yummy Japan Inc, based in Tokyo, which manages a YouTube multichannel network, has released their brand new portal for visitors regarding all things to Japan. 

Since the number of the tourists in Japan is increasing every year, and there has been a huge need for resources of information about Japanese culture and food, Yummy Japan said it decided to launch a portal where all the information is introduced through its creators’ videos. 

The portal is easy to use and has more than 1,000 videos. A 1-minute video has more than 1.8 million words which is the same amount as 3,600 web pages.

To read more, go here. 

Amber Meets Sierra

Last evening, Amber came by after work to meet Sierra:

Above, the meeting. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

What Do Coins Left At Military Headstones Mean?

On this Veteran's Day, here's something I read on a forum I follow:

While visiting some cemeteries you may notice that headstones marking certain graves have coins on them, left by previous visitors to the grave.  

These coins have distinct meanings when left on the headstones of those who gave their life while serving in America's military, and these meanings vary depending on the denomination of coin.  

A coin left on a headstone or at the grave site is meant as a message to the deceased soldier's family that someone else has visited the grave to pay respect. Leaving a penny at the grave means simply that you visited.  

A nickel indicates that you and the deceased trained at boot camp together, while a dime means you served with him in some capacity. By leaving a quarter at the grave, you are telling the family that you were with the soldier when he was killed. 

 According to tradition, the money left at graves in national cemeteries and state veterans cemeteries is eventually collected, and the funds are put toward maintaining the cemetery or paying burial costs for indigent veterans.  

In the US, this practice became common during the Vietnam war, due to the political divide in the country over the war; leaving a coin was seen as a more practical way to communicate that you had visited the grave than contacting the soldier's family, which could devolve into an uncomfortable argument over politics relating to the war. 

Some Vietnam veterans would leave coins as a "down payment" to buy their fallen comrades a beer or play a hand of cards when they would finally be reunited.  

The tradition of leaving coins on the headstones of military men and women can be traced to as far back as the Roman Empire. 

http://militarysalute.proboards.com/thread/864/placing-coins-on-headstones

Sierra is home!

Sierra is home!

She caught a "kitty cold" from one of the other kittens at the shelter, so they felt that it would be better to spay her after it's over. So she's home a day early. They gave me some anti-biotics drops. As they released her without spaying, I had to pay a $75 deposit. I'll get it back when the spaying is done. She should be ready in about two weeks.

She's exploring around the apartment now. She likes her new cat tree. 

Retirement, Etc.

In the excitement over our new arrival, I am forgetting that as of this Friday, I am retired from the grime of working nights.

The Social Security end of it begins next March (it starts the following month after your birthday).

My task of late, besides getting things ready for Sierra, is to find an affordable healthcare plan to replace the one I got through work.

"The Affordable Care Act" is a total lie as medical coverage costs have gone through the roof and the lowest one I found for 2016 was through AMAC for $509 a month. Yes, you read that right. A month!

Some people are paying $800+ per month. That's almost the cost of my current rent. I don't see how they can do it unless they have a subsidy or have the income of a Bill Gates.

A lot of them say, "Oh, this is a Godsend as my wife has a re-existing condition and it covers it." Well, that's nice. But your're robbing Peter to pay for Paul's (or Pauline's) medical bills. Socialism is great until you run out of other people's money.

I will dig around to see if a cheaper one can be found. As a retiree, I may qualify for a subsidy on the exchanges. I will be checking that out.

You can thank Barack Obama and the Democrat Party for making a total mess of things! Many already have by voting quite a number of Democrats out of office.

Ready For The New Arrival!

Above, the water pagoda and food bowls. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, I am now ready for our new arrival, Sierra.

On the way to picking up Denise from work (her Ford was in the shop with sensor problems), I stopped at Camping World in Newhall to pick up a couple of pet bowl sets (one for the house and one for the RV) that are pretty much mess-resistant, at least on the floors.

Although I have pet bowls already, and in good shape, they are old and were used by Buttons and Siren. As Sierra is a kitten, I thought I'd start things off on a fresh note with new things for her. She won't be "Hand-Me-Down Sierra". The new bowls are the same type so Sierra won't have any issues about different food bowls when she goes from the house to the RV.

Food and cat litter were bought a few nights ago.

Tomorrow is the day that I pick her up from the vet to bring her home for the first time. I don't know who is more excited, Amber or me.

It will be nice to have a cat running around the place again. 

Japan Attraction Vendor Photos

Many, if not most, attractions in Japan have vendors who, for a price, take visitors' photos.

I've seen some at the Tokyo Skytree, Kyoto Castle, Tokyo DisneySea and elsewhere. We purchased photos from Kyoto Castle and from the tour company in Kyoto. The dates that the photos were taken are printed on the photos.

These we bought along with the photos that we did at the Asakusa photo studio.

Here they are:

Above, yours truly at Osaka Castle. Note that a bird flew into
the picture for its own "photo bomb". The vendor allowed
people to take their own photos after agreeing to buy theirs..

Above, this shot (and a couple of others) was taken while I was still on the "stage".

Above, the Kyoto tour group photo at Kyomizu-dera. The photos were waiting for
 us at Kyoto Station upon our return outside of the bus door. For purchase, of course.

The average cost per vendor photo was around ¥1,500.

Possible Plan Change

The plan was to go this coming weekend out to the Gen. George S. Patton Memorial Museum out in Chiriaco Summit in the desert to look for my dad's memorial brick and do some camping.

But, since we are about to acquire a new family member the day after tomorrow, I think I may postpone the trip a week or two so she can get used to her new environment.

Since I plan to take Sierra on RV trips, I am going to pick her up in The Beast to see how she takes to it. Since she is being spayed tomorrow, she will probably sleep in her carrier. We'll see. As such, I ordered a 12-volt fan from Camping World for the RV so that when we travel and she has to be left inside, she will have good air circulation and cooling during summer months.

I did pick up a few things at Pet Smart yesterday. First, I got her a "cat tree" (pictured above) to climb on and sharpen her claws. Then, I got her a watering pagoda that will supply her with constant filtered water. I put it together last night and have been running it. I like the sound of it.

Lastly, I got her some more toys. As I told Amber yesterday, this cat is going to be spoiled rotten (since I can afford to do so). 

Winnebago & TriMark Safety Recall #15V-510

Above, The Beast at Universal Studios Hollywood. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A letter from Winnebago Industries arrived in my mailbox Saturday about a safety recall involving main door locks on Winnebago RVs built in 2014 and 2015.

Since I bought a 2015 Minnie Winnie 22R motorhome that was built during that time, I received the letter which stated, in part:

Winnebago Industries, Inc. and TriMark Corporation has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists on certain 2014 and 2015 model year Winnebago Minnie Winnie®, Trend™, Brave™, and Vista® and Itasca Spirit®, Viva!™, Tribute™, and Sunstar® (Models: WC325B, WF322R, WF325B, WF327Q, WF327QP, WF331H, WF331HP, WF331K, WF331KP, WFA26A, WFA26B, WFE26HE, WFE31KE, WU623B, WU623L, IC325B, IF322R, IF325B, IF327Q, IF327QP, IF331H, IF331HP,
IF331K, IF331KP, IFA26A, IFA26B, IFE26HE, IFE31KE, IU623B, and IU623L) motorhomes. 

These motorhomes were manufactured March 18, 2013 through November 18, 2014. 

These vehicles may contain a potential defect with the TriMark® main entrance door latch. There is a possibility that the deadbolt plate is not fully staked and, in some cases, can allow the deadbolt to disconnect and extend beyond the door lock assembly. If this condition occurs, the door can become inoperable resulting in the possibility that people can become trapped inside the vehicle or locked out resulting in the possibility of
personal injury and/or vehicle damage.

Thus far, I have had no problems with the main entrance door latch or deadbolt. If a local Winnebago authorized repairer is unable to handle the recall, I will probably go down to La Mesa RV in San Diego to have it taken care of and make a fun weekend out of it.

If you have one of the affected vehicles, you may want to contact Winnebago.

To see the full letter, go here.

 

TripAdvisor's Top 20 'Free Attractions in Japan' in 2015

Above, the Asakusa Cultural Sightseeing Center in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Most attractions in Japan will cost visitors some yen to enjoy them. But, there are still some places around Japan that charge nothing.

TripAdvisor has ranked twenty free attractions that visitors can enjoy for free.

Japan Today has an article with the list of attractions.

They begin with:

TOKYO —Aren’t the words “free entry,” “costs nothing,” and “0 yen” exciting to hear? I think we can all agree that there’s nothing better than a good deal, especially when that deal happens to be completely, 100% free. 

While attractions marked as free may set warning bells ringing for some people, Japan has plenty of high-quality, worthwhile places to visit that are such a blast, you actually wouldn’t mind paying money for admission—except that they really do cost absolutely nothing to enter! 

Travel website TripAdvisor‘s rankings were calculated using some fancy algorithm based on user comments and number of listings, and all of these places are so well-liked that people are usually shocked to find out that they don’t have to pay any money to enjoy them.

To see the full list, go here. 

Almost Like Buying A Car

Above, Sierra in the "kitten room" at the South Bay Pet Adoptions. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday was the first time I've ever adopted a pet from the Humane Society, known as the South Bay Pet Adoption center. We came close in 1968 following the death of our year-old cat Mitty by a car.

We went to the shelter in Hawthorne to adopt another cat, but before we entered the front door, some people were bringing some kittens to the shelter. Rather than go through the shelter, we got one of the kittens from the people. We named him Smokey. He lived to age ten. He died due to toxins from flea collars. Since then, we would never put a flea collar on a pet.

When I went to the South Bay Pet Adoption to pick up Sierra (they named her Claire), I was told that they wouldn't release her until she was spayed. The procedure will be done Wednesday and she would be released to me Thursday by the clinic.

That wasn't the end of it. I had to complete a form containing about 30-40 questions, such as: Will she be an indoor or outdoor pet? Are there other pets in the household? Do you have a roommate? If she should get lost, what would you do? And so on.

It asked if I had other pets during the past five years. I told them about Siren living to age 18 and that she died a little over a month ago. (Admittedly, I had to fight my emotions when talking about her.)

The form also had a spot to put the name and phone number of the landlord or building manager. Once I completed the form, they called my apartment manager to see if pets are allowed. Thank goodness she answered the phone and said yes. I kind of thought this was a bit invasive. But I can understand the questioning since there are so many irresponsible pet owners (my ex being one) who adopt animals and later take them back to the shelter or mistreat them.

But, once the form was competed and all, they give me an electronic toy. It is a revolving laser light that sends out a beam that a cat or dog can chase to their heart's content. (I am looking forward to seeing Sierra play with that!) Some food/treats. Toys and guide sheets on how to do this and that.

Along with all that, they gave me a form to bring to a veterinarian for her eight-day check-up. On the list was the clinic Amber works at. Also, she will be micro-chipped and there were forms for that.

The "processing session" ended when I paid the $110 adoption fee.

With all the paperwork involved, it almost seemed like I was buying a car. 

Jack Larson Memorial Service

Above, Jack Larson addresses the Superman plaque dedication audience last year. Photo by Steve Kirk.

If anyone was wondering about services for Jack Larson, we now know that there will be an upcoming memorial service.

Jim Nolt posted at Facebook:

I was also informed that a memorial service will be held on Sunday, December 6, at 5:00 at the James Bridges Theatre at UCLA in the Film School. 

Parking is at Lot 3. The doors open at 4:00.

I plan to attend.

Also, Jim Nolt also posted:

I've been informed that Jack's remains were put to rest beside his mother at the Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier, CA.

Meet Sierra!

Things happen for a reason, and today is a good illustration of that.

I got pissed off at someone this morning after work and I ended up going to bed earlier than usual. I woke up around 1:00 PM, about a couple of hours earlier than I usually do.

Amber sent me a Facebook link to a kitten up for adoption at the South Bay Pet Adoption center in Hawthorne (my hometown).

Here's what she sent:

I looked at it and then went about my business.

But, I kept thinking about it and thinking about it. And looking at the picture again and again.

I thought I would call the shelter to see if "Claire" was still there and available. She was. I told them I would be heading over from the Valley.

Once I got there, I found that I couldn't take her home until after she's spayed, which would be Thursday. 

I went into the kitten room and met "Claire". Immediately after picking her up, she began to purr. That settled it! I went to the main lobby and completed all the paperwork. She's ours! If I didn't wake up earlier than usual, I wouldn't have been able to rush down to adopt her.

She's a 3-month-old calico-colored domestic shorthair (I think her fur is longer).

Above, meeting "Claire".

We can't wait for Thursday to come so we can bring "Claire" home. There will be one change: her name. I am not fond of "Claire" for a pet's name, so I decided to rename her "Sierra". Amber likes "Claire", so I suppose we can formally name her "Sierra Claire Vaquer".

I decided on "Sierra" for a name weeks ago. The first two letters are in honor of Siren. And, since Sierra will be traveling in the RV and going into the mountains on trips, I figure that would be an appropriate name.

The Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show

My retirement date hasn't even arrived yet, but already plans are being made for things to see, to do and to travel.

In January, I plan to head to Quartzsite (yes, that's how it's spelled), Arizona for the annual The Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show.




Thousands of RVers head to Quartzsite in January for the RV show, Indian pow-wow and other hobby and craft shows (including ham radio enthusiasts).

Most people who attend camp in the neighboring BLM dry camps that surround the RV show grounds.

I've always wanted to attend this show. Come January, I can scratch that off from my "bucket list".

For information, go here.