shosho from los angeles

Thanks for the welcome! I'm actually not a transplant, I just majored in Japanese during college. I've spent some time over there studying and definitely want to go back one day.

Hi Shosho - very beautiful music! I know you love out multi-coloured birds (of the feathered variety!! Don't want anyone else to get the wrong idea!!) so I'm leaving you a link to some: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cskk/sets/72157601696198453/detail/
There are about four pages for you to peruse! If that's not enough there are a couple more sets of different Aussie birds (still feathered!) for you to look at if you want to!!

I thought you'd like them! Looks like your comments have been jumbled too!!!

I typed that when I was on Page 14!!

Sharon, for taking the time to wish my son Robert a Happy 22nd Birthday

Hi shosho! I know you're at school right now, but I hope you'll find this message as soon as you get home. Please check out comment #899 on Keith's Page 23. With all that bonus money you're looking to spend, maybe you can plan a weekend trip to San Francisco in Nov.?? That would sure add to our fun!!!

Your little flying dog is adorable! I don't know where you folks find all the cute smilies you come up with! It's too bad there aren't many bargain airfares like there used to be. But maybe you'll get lucky & find a good one to SF. It would be great to have you at the SA Meeting. I'll keep my fingers crossed.

I can always do with Hope you get to OZ!

Shosho - we had a budgie when I was growing up (centuries ago). Even though, and possibly because, he was out of the cage a good part of the time, he started being raucous whenever we didn't let him out. We found 2 fairly good methods to get him under control when he got too vocal. At first, covering the cage would get him to settle down. This was a "cause and effect" training proceedure. The other was to put a mirror in the cage. He would sit on the perch with him head leaning on his mirror image and make soft budgie noises. It broke our hearts to see just how lonesome he was for constant companionship. Also, this latter method lessened his desire for our companionship, so we only put the mirror in when we went to school or knew we would be gone for a long period of time.

Shosho (hurredly):
Of course I accept your olive branch because there is no big problem. I like the praise from my 'fans' as well - but only for any quality work I have done - and not so much for the work of other people!!

Shosho... Thanks for the YouTube of "We Will Rock You".! I love anything originally by Queen. Freddy Mercury is missed.

Hi Shosho:
To continue our discussion on talents and skills:
I am unsure whether your comment on my page was about me personally or (more likely) about the British generally - [the remark about lack of technical expertise and computer skills].
Personally, I am a trained Scientist, but my main expertise there is analytic (meant logically) pure Science; rather than technological. My poems, art-work and photos are from cathartic hobbies - for relaxation. I do not closely identify myself with the Nation in which I reside.

Hi again shosho:
Initially I was a field botanist. This led me to study complex statistics used in Quantitative Ecology (for many years); and also into practical analytical Geochemistry (with some Geology). More recently I have applied my developed statistical abilities to data analysis of a superb Immunological experimenter's (my best friend's) results, with considerable success towards developing methods of prevention and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and all other auto-immune diseases. Our work (especially mine) is not properly acknowledged or rewarded by the strange society in which we live.

Sharon, my little man (also known around home as Shortie) is doing quite well. His fine motor skills, unfortunately are stuck at about age 2.5. He starts K tomorrow. He did not qualify for an IEP last winter, so they will retest him after school starts. Physically, he can do most of what his peers do. Cerebral Palsy is a tricky disability. No two children suffer the same way. He is spastic, which means he is very tight. His speech is at about age 4, though his vocab is around age 8. He just turned 5 at the beginning of summer. His teachers think he is a delightful child who is very entertaining and smart as a whip. Those qualities are great to have, as he wears out within minutes of a game of kickball, tag, or red rover. He can feed himself with a fork, though it's very messy and he usually ends up just holding the utensils with one hand and shovels it in with the empty hand. Not looking forward to the lunch room monitors calling me. He can barely grasp a pencil, so I have bought some special grips and a tilt board to aid him. These items cost me dearly in money we don't have, but are worth it for him. As if these issues don't set him apart far enough from his peers, he also suffers from an Oats allergy and can not have the same snack foods as his friends. How's he doing, you asked? He's doing great for a child they said may not walk until age 8 and may never be toilet trained and he's doing both. I still do PT on him daily, as his father refuses to allow me to bring him to a therapist. I lucked out last year and got a really good one for him for about 8 weeks and she taught me everything she was doing. He has spunk and I have instilled in him a love for learning. He knows things are harder for him to do, but to keep plugging away. And he does! Thanks for asking about him!!

Instead of being prodded and poked I ended up having a big lunch with Gail. The hospital ran out of beds, but there should be one for me tomorrow. I am sure your kind thoughts will last till then

shosho, I am happy to be able to tell you that my surgery only involved an overnight in hospital and that I am back home - a little battered and bruised, but home.
I was lucky enough to have some sort of miracle performed on my body which appears to have been successful.
Thank you for your kind thoughts.

Hi Shosho
Thank you for the lovely birthday song! I didn’t actually have a cake on my birthday, but the lots of presents was correct!

Shosho, I saw your question today on ?EASY. I make rectangular smilies using the PAINT program that is resident on my puter. If you send me the full sized graphic you want reduced, chicken and snail espically, I can shrink to smilie size in rectangular format. NOPE, the avatar site is not censoring your Smilies hehehe

I think on forums, Members helping or somethng like that, someone has written directions on how to use PAINT, Angie or might even be me, I can't remember at the moment. Mind foggy , pain meds post a bit of surgery early this week. Might take me a bit longer to get your graphic back to you, I am not at computer as much now, but I can do it during my alloted time at the puter one day soon.

Shosho, Nope, not really serious, but perhaps prevented something very serious later in my life. I had a pre cancerous polyp removed from colon, they found it on colonoscopy but could not remove it totally with the snare on the scope. Lucky it was very low, so no abdominal incision needed. Doc said surgery was more like a extreme hemroidectomy, so I was lucky on many counts on this one. thanks for good thoughts, appreciate it, and love your little angel smilie! I do have lots of " free" time now, no housework for 2 weeks and I shall be sure to comply, since I hate housework anyway hehehe. So send on the graphics, and I can play with them for you.

I do like cats and dogs. I have a photo in my gallery of a cat that I took in my backyard!

http://sudoku.com.au/PhotosBig.aspx?PID=957&UID=9623&Go=N22-2-1992

It is a longstanding joke (since 2006, forever on the internet) on the Sudoku website that most of the photos are of dogs, cats, and other family members, like grandchildren. I like to grouse about it a bit, because I prefer the "wildlife, landscapes, and buildings" type of photos. But it is fake fussing. I had a dog as a child for 15 years.

Shosho - I keep meaning to tell you how I LOVE your mode of transportation up to the SF meet! Be sure to take a flea bath - hehehe! So excited to see you!

Shosho - I do know who Mutt and Jeff are - and that's just PERFECT! I think we'll be a great team!!! I'm really excited about hooking up with you all. Should we bring boas and tiaras for pictures to post, or is that just a "down-under" thingy?

LOL - Shosho! Keith in a tiara...I'll bet he'll put it on for a pic - he seems game!

I'll check out party boas on-line, Sharon...those tiaras sound perfect for the occassion!

Hey Shosho - I know Keith has the count because he is needing it for the restaurant reservation.
I don't think he'll be gone too long, will he?

Hi Shosho, hope your cold improves soon.
Just letting you know my travel plans have had another setback, was back in hospital last week and looks like more tests, so they can finally figure out what is wrong with me eeek! Only setback not cancelled!

Saw the little germ carriers got you...so sorry Shosho. Better now than in December. Wouldn't want anything to keep you from getting to SF. Hope you wake up to find yourself feeling much better. Take care of yourself, dear one. {{{{{big hug}}}}}

meant NOVEMBER, of course!

Bless you and Gesundheit! Take care my wee Jeff! Would like to lose a few lbs myself before our meet.

I'm keeping my cap hidden after last weeks defeat of 59-0, Noon - Arizona. By 3, I will have a better idea of if I will be at the SF meet-up (will I go to Seattle or SF that weekend). My cousin was here for a couple of days and wants me to come down for the Cal game a couple of weeks earlier, if I did that - it would be 2 trips south. The other part of the problem is that my Mom may be coming up that week - for the dedication (11/11) of a memorial recognizing her brother and all Oregonians who died in service to our country.

Thanks for your wonderful welcome to Zeke! Aren't grandsons wonderful? I can't wait to have the kind of fun with Zeke that you have been having with Brandon. Hope to see you soon! XO

Hey Shosho! I hope you are feeling better. I know we'll probably be on-site at the same time this weekend, but wanted to let you know that I have ordered a dozen boas (44" - small size). I would have liked to buy the 6' ones, but they were $10 each!

Thank you for the birthday good wishes.

Shosho, as of now, the list of "for sures" is myself and Lynne, Kathy and Rob, you, Linda(MN), Mamacita, and Vici. Maybes are Judy (and Tom), Dorthea, Martha (Saratoga), and Eve. Of spouses or other family members and friends, nobody's told me much, yet. Now, you know as much as I do. My guess ... they'll all get little presents like you gave me when we met Dino. That is such a nice and considerate thing to do.

Dear SHOSHO.
for your very kind words and appologise for my too late response .Sure You know that I stoped to use the computer while I was in USA for Eyes problems till my return back home only last 2 weeks.
and .
My best wishes to You.

Shosho I saw your comment on medium today and realised I had missed something. I went back to yesterday's easy and found it. How depressing!! I think that qualifies as a bad bad day... I hope your trip is only delayed and not cancelled.

Shosho, there are some things you can cut out of a holiday budget (souvenirs, expensive sight seeing detours etc), but hotels and food don't count among them... Sigh. Hopefully the delay won't be too long!

"Ahhh, someone made a mistake. 1975 wasn't the year of the Rat. It was 1972! I know because that's the birth year of my older son and he's the year of the Rat."

Who made a mistake? Who said 1975 was the Year of the Rat? I can't see any in the comments so I assume you mean the photo comment. However the photo comment says: 2008 Year of the Rat: Rabbit float for babies of 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939 etc etc. All of those years were indeed Years of the Rabbit (without getting into the detail of the exact date of the Chinese New Year which would make for a very long comment). So, this Rabbit Float - and I am sure the babies of 1975 would be happy to see their own float - featured in the 2008 Chinese New Year Parade. 2008 is the Year of the Rat as stated. So we have a Rabbit Float in the 2008 Year of the Rat Parade which the 1975 year of the Rabbit babies will be happy to see.

Can't find any mistake in that.

Ku-ring-gai is a Sydney District. My loyalties finally caught up with my location. I still love Lane Cove.

Yes. The Aboriginal tribe - or nation - in these parts was the Guringgai. The name was misheard by the settlers but at least it was not completely ignored.