I Got Tired of Flipping the Bird

So I Went and Flipped a Fish

There was so much excitement today, I didn't have much time to prepare a blog.

Shortly after I woke up this morning, an earthquake hit in Mainland Japan.

From the news, I saw on TV, everything seems to be alright.

Next, the wife woke up and came into the kitchen. Usually, I escape before that happens.

We greet each other, just like most people, who are married. Good morning.

Then, she has to grab my smartphone, to look a Facebook stuff.

She still has one of those anique flip-phones and, is learning, to swipe, on mine.

Once she masters the art, I'll let her keep the thing and, buy me an iPhone 7 Plus.

She's getting fairly good at it. Even swipes newspaper and magazine stuff, to enlarge it.

While she's checking everything on Facebook, I have another cup of coffee.

Knowing, the battery of the android, will drop to 40%, I take my time getting ready for work.

Pretty soon the smartphone has 17 apps running in the background and it's overheating.

She hasn't learned how to fix that, yet. That's a good thing. I put the phone in the charger.

By the time, I get showered and ready to leave the house, it's past 9 AM.

Beautiful Blue Sky with White Clouds

After the miserable grey skies and rain, we had yesterday, I was ecstatic.

Taking a photo with the android, I thought it would be a good idea, to post it on Facebook.

That way, everybody, following me, could see Okinawa, wasn't affected by the earthquake.

Some errands, had to be run and, I considered going shooting with the camera.

The best outdoor photography, is usually done before 9 AM and, after 3 PM.

Getting a late start, I decided there was enough office work, to keep me busy.

If, enough was accomplished by early afternoon, I'd do some walking and shooting.

The Office Routine

There are two computers on my desk, a Big Mac and a Sony laptop.

Processing photos (developing and editing) keeps one computer fairly busy.

While images are cooking (batch processing) I play around on the other machine.

Emails, social networks and, various other office chores, get done that way.

When the real important things get caught up, I entertain myself, with Facebook.

People are still riled-up over the elections in the USA.  It's over folks.

Some folks are rioting, protesting, disowning and unfriending, each other over an election !

They should find some good music or, hilarious funny stuff to share.

Office Work Not My Cup of Tea

Being at a desk, staring at monitors for long periods of time probably, isn't good for your health.

So, I take breaks every once in awhile, to go outside, where I smoke and stretch.

Sunshine, gives me vitamin D and recharges my solar battery, I swear I was born with.

Each time, I went out, I wished there wasn't so much administrative stuff to do.

I shake off the office blues by doing some exercises, while soaking up some sun.

Once, I read that elderly people, should lift something over their head, 10 time daily.

It doesn't have to be heavy, just lift anything and, it's good for your circulation.

Well, I found a cement block out back and, that's what I use. Ten repetitions each time.

One thing I learned, is don't try doing it too fast.  It makes bumps on your noggin and, hurts.

Weather Changed in Late Afternoon

Once, I had something to run, down to the printing office and, took my break that way.

Instead of going to the guy on the street corner, near my work, I went for a long walk.

The sun was shining brightly on the way down there and, I was happy.

No sooner than the printing got done, the sky turned grey and, I shuffled on back.

Fooling around all day in this office can dampen a guy's mood.

Customers are waiting for some important photos, from the weekend; I'm trying to get caught up.

When times get rough, it's best to maintain a sense of humor.

Demonstrating, rioting in the streets and, flipping the bird, don't solve problems.

So, I flipped a fish, for you, instead !


Aquarium Fish Photos from Seaside Ristorante

NOTE for Those Concerned About Family in Okinawa

Okinawa is far away from any disaster area in Mainland Japan

Okinawan Folktale: Legend of Divorce Rock

A Folk Story May Vary

Depending on where it's heard and, who is telling the tale.

Several sources were checked in researching this one and, there are many different variations.

One thing for certain is, they are all, talking about this rock formation.

Wutu Fui Ishi

Traveling north on HWY 58, this outcropping may be seen with Kouri-jima in the background.

It is too far from the shores of this island or Kouri island, for the average person, to swim.

Back in the days of the Ryukyu Dynasty, marriages were often arranged by parents.

If, things didn't seem to be working out, between the couple, something drastic, had to be done.

The parents would hold, sort of a council and, try to get the wedded couple agreeing.

Whenever the stubborn rascals, couldn't see eye to eye, mom and pop, had a solution.

Daughter would go in her family boat and, the son would, ride with his family.

The group paddled their sabani boats out to Divorce Rock for a meeting.

At low tide, there's a nice little cove of a beach with a shaded area in the rocks nearby.

It's a great place, to picnic, negotiate peace and maybe, drink some spirits.

If the couple, hasn't resolved differences, by the end of the day, they get left behind.

The extended families, take the sabani boats and, row back to Okinawa.

Pretty soon the sun goes down, tide rises and the chilly ocean breeze starts blowing, out there.

The couple starts shaking and feeling miserable because, i Phones weren't invented yet.

They only way to get warm, seems to be, hug each other and get that good feeling.

When mothers and fathers, came back, to check on the couple, they were lovers, again.

And, if they hadn't solved their marital issues, they would get to spend another evening, free.

More Versions of the Story

Otofuishi posted by Brad

THE INFAMOUS "DIVORCE ROCK" by Okinawa Soba (Rob)

He gives you the Okinawan dialect "Wutu Fui Ishi" name for this Rejected Husband Rock.

And, don't pass up, reading his text, along with the interesting comments.

There's an Ugly Guy and Pretty Girl rendition of the tale.


Yokohama Toshi:

Gives a list containing nine resources, used in researching this story.

They range from wealthy man, ugly man, ugly girl, to unhappy couple and everything between.

The link comes from Google Translate and, possibly may be switched back to Japanese.

A Favorite Out of Fifty

Different Sort of Saturday Night Live

Last evening, I photographed in five different locations, using available lighting.

This wide angle scene was taken in a small bar, before it became overcrowded.

The gal, on the stage, sings Okinawan folk music, known as mineo.

It's a one person act, until someone decides to join in and sing, while she plays the sanshin.

The event, called the Ushina Live Matsuri, began at 6:PM .

Around six, I left the office and walked to Ushina, to arrive a few minutes early.

By midnight, I returned, with over 500 images and, just locked-up the camera.

After watching all the entertainment, it was my turn, to go and do some partying.

Crazy things happen, out in town, this time of year, when you go out late.

Lots of companies, have end-of-the-year parties, called bonenkai.

Some young lady came over and started petting my beard and, saying, it smelled good.

So, I figured the best thing to do, would be drink lots of beer and, catch-up with everyone.

This morning, when I woke up around nine, the wife asked me, what time I got home.

She said, she found me asleep, on the kitchen table, at 5AM. Maybe, I was hungry.

Somehow, I wound up, going to my room and, slept there, I guess.

Then, had to walk all the way back to the kitchen, for breakfast. Groan.

When I've been drinking, looking at clocks, doesn't make any sense, to me.

The best way, to see, what time I got home, is to ask a bartender. They know stuff like that.

It turned out, to be a long day of processing photos. Rainy and cloudy.

About 50 images, were loaded to a Facebook album Ushina Live Matsuri 2016.

This photo was special because, that's one heck of an act, singing and strumming.

And, she didn't go around stroking old guy's beards !

What's Better Airbnb or a Capsule Hotel ?

Both Are Inexpensive

Think of them as a notch above sleeping in a tent but, not quite five star hotels.

Over the past few months, I have experienced each of them, for the first time.

When traveling as a photographer, I carry lots of equipment, to get my business done.

Someone, who travels light, might enjoy the savings available at either, type of lodging.

Last weekend, this was my air-conditioned quarters in Itoman City.

My gracious host, told me, to make myself at home. So, that's what I did.

Went in the shower and, I liked her shampoo so much, I used it all over my hairy body

Then, got out of the house, to do some karaoke and beer drinking.

Everything was still there when I returned and, the place only cost about 30 bucks a night.

Back during the month of June, I stayed in this rabbit hutch-type of accommodations.

It was fairly cheap, too. About 12 bucks or, 1200 Yen in Japanese currency.

Here, my backpack, camera bags and equipment, were stored in a common area.

Had I been traveling, without photography gear, I wouldn't worry about theft.

Fortunately, nothing was missing, when I floated back to the place.

That, left me with around twenty more dollars, to spend on entertainment.

It Depends on Your Travel Style

I had heard of Airbnb before but, never experienced a stay at such a place.

Since returning from Itoman, I'm sold and, even opened an account with them.

It's not like, I'll quit camping, sleeping in caves, under the stars or, on park benches.

When toting a few thousand dollars of cameras and lenses, I don't mind spoiling myself.

So, I'd prefer a room, where the equipment is under lock and key.

If Narumi, keeps buying that Pantene Shampoo and Conditioner, I'll go back there, again.

If, I go down south without cameras, I might stop by and sleep in a rabbit hutch, instead !

My Reviews on Google Maps:

New Hands Airbnb

Guest House CamCam

5 Images Shot Under Sunny Skies in Kunigami

November Is Becoming a Favorite Month

The heat is tolerable and the typhoon threat should have ended for the year.

Ideal weather, for being outdoors, led to a trip on the northeast side of the island.

There was no plan, other than, get out of town and, shoot some cameras.

The first interesting subject that popped up was, this abandoned boat.

It's got to be the original, Queen Izena ferry. How cool is that ?

It makes you wonder, why no one thought of putting it on display in a museum.

Someone did, paint "Clean Yo Beach" on the side. That sounds like a good idea.

A little farther north, these rocks caught my attention.

During low tide fishermen, climb them and, sit out there, hoping to catch some big ones.

If, I had to go fishing for food, I'd starve to death. It's not in my bag of tricks.

But, some folks can stay out there all day, not catch any and, still be happy.

One of my friends says, "A bad day of fishing, beats a good day, stuck at home!"

The big lenses stayed home today and, that was a mistake.

The Osprey was perched on an offshore rock and, this photo was taken at 350MM.

If a larger lens was used, I believe, there was a fish in that guy's talons.

That's alright, a bad day with the camera, beats being stuck in my office.

This Japanese sign, cheered me up, when I spotted some funny English on it.

"Think Globally, Act Yanbarly" sounds like a nice thing to do. Don't you think ?

Yanbaru or, Yambaru, is what the northern area is called, in local dialect.

People around the globe should act like Yambaru folks and, the world could be a better place.

Somebody, coined a new phrase and, wants us all, to act Yanbarly.

Well, I'll drink to that as soon as, I get out of this office. Go out and be Yanbarly, to everybody.

This last photograph was taken, heading south on the highway, to get home.

Confirmation is pending but, I think it may be a special rock formation.

If, my suspicions are confirmed, there's a juicy story, I can tell you, later.

Unlike many news outlets, these days, I think, it's important to tell the truth.

So, we'll have to wait for an expert's opinion before, I can give you the details.

Giving some rock in the ocean, a false name, wouldn't be a very Yanbarly thing to do.

Don't you agree ?