Since I last wrote we’ve had some nice-ish days, not rainy but very humid and hot.  All week there’s been a threat of a typhoon on it’s way – Typhoon Halong.  Since July 28, as it works it’s way towards Japan, it’s been called a Tropical Depression, a Tropical Storm, a Typhoon, a Super Typhoon, and back to a Typhoon.  There’s no way of knowing exactly when it will hit or how bad it will be but it’s predicted for today, Saturday with strong winds and lots of rain all day Saturday and Sunday.  Most people who have been here for awhile say the storms always veer off to the east right before they get here – but you never know.  We’re in Category 3 mode now which is like stay tuned.  Chris is on-call this weekend in case anything major happens.  So we’re spending a quiet day in our temporary lodge.

So as for flowers, here’s my first attempt at ikebana (Japanese flower arranging).

I like this better.  It’s some left over leaves stuck in our favorite sake bottle.

Many of you have asked if Chris is working.  We arrived very late on July 15 and Chris started work very early on July 16.  Here is his brand new office building.  It houses all of the Facilities Group of which Chris is the Director if Environmental Services.  Note the perfectly manicured trees and the interesting grass pattern.

And here he is, hard at work even without a computer.