Las Vegas in 2012, Trip Diary

The news came to Dan-san that Dan-san’s uncle, Mike-san and Jimmy-san would be attending 2012 442 Reunion at Las Vegas, so Dan-san would like to see them, especially Mike-san, because he had just lost his wife last October.

All the problems about Dan-san’s car was settled on Saturday, and Dan-san and Hiroko left for Las Vegas Sunday (4/15) evening.

The following day, Monday, 16th, they went to see Mike-san and Jimmy-san at Down Town, Las Vegas Casino called California.

Mike-san and Jimmy-san were setting down in front of machines.
Mike-san was happy for winning, and Jimmy-san was unhappy for losing.





Mike-san, Mike-san’s daughter Janice, Jimmy-san, Jimmy-san’s wife Alice-san, Dan-san’s brother Tets-chan, his wife Saeru-san, Dan-san, and Hiroko, total 8 people went to the famous buffet in California casino. There are many delicious foods were line-up. Everyone carefully selected their foods except Jimmy-san. He said he loves meats

Auntie Alice/Tets-chan;

Auntie/Saeru

Tets-chan/Saeru;

Janice










These pictures were taken at Buffet, Mike-san and Jimmy-san were missing. They might already have gone to play the machine. Janice said Mike-san would be 93 years old one month later, so she has been visiting and taking care of Mike-san almost every day. She said she knew everything about Mike-san, because she has been the Papa’s daughter and loves him so much. Mike-san was so happy and thanking to Janice. Everyone was so glad to hear how Mike-san has been taken care by Janice.

There should be time limit to stay at Buffet Restaurant, so everyone greeted uncles and moved to see the hotel Jimmy-san and Untie Alice was staying called “Golden Nuggets.”

This is Down Town Las Vegas.

From one of these casinos this great town of La Vegas was started. Many artists were doing some shows on the streets. At evening every 30minutes from 8, there is the electronic show on the ceiling.

Long time ago, Frank Sinatra and his crews were staying almost every week-end at the hotel of “Golden Nuggets.”

The hotel’s Casino entrance

Everyone tired of walking through the downtown, so sun bathing by the Hotel’s pool.







At the buffet restaurant in this Hotel Jimmy-san bought the dinner for everyone, even though he was saying lost, and lost. Jimmy-san said this year would be the last year for 442 Reunion, and then we could to see each other so often. Everyone talked and talked until the late night.

Someone said the Electronic Ceiling Pageant 2nd show would be starting, so we too left the restaurant to see the show.

The photos of the pageant









After the pageant we promised to see Jimmy-san and Alice-san at the breakfast on Thursday the day they would be returning home in Georgia, and then, we returned to Tets/Saeru’s time-share premises.

The next day, 17th, Wednesday, Tets-chan and Saeru-san offered to take Dan-san and Hiroko to Lake Las Vegas. Before Lake Las Vegas, we attended some special meeting and obtained discount theater tickets.

We entered the Hotel built by the Lake Las Vegas, and took the photos and enjoyed the sceneries of the lake.

This is a man-made lake. Isn’t it big? We wondered from where all the water comes from in this dessert.

Mexican was the day’s dinner, because Tets-chan had a discount coupon in his guide book. Hiroko forgot to take photo, but we came to this restaurant couple of year ago. We all remembered that at the time Saeru-san and Hiroko ordered the Mexican drink called Margarita, and the price of drinks was more than the 4 people’s dinner.

After the dinner, we went to Luxor Hotel, at where the magic and illusion show would be held. We finally sat down and played the machine until the show starts. At the down town Casino, Saeru and Hiroko didn’t play any machines, but Tets-chan and Dan-san played, because Tets-chan said he was very happy to win some money in the Down Town casino. He was looking for the same kind of machine.

To the theater:

Hiroko knew that the photos taken in the dark theater could not be coming out well, but the performer said, “Now, you can take photos.” These are Hiroko’s photos in the theater.




The next day, 18th, Wednesday, Saeru wanted to take us again to Red-Rock Canyon, because closer to canyon there is interesting zoo.

From the running car, Hiroko took these Red Rock Canyon photos.

Hiroko found out interesting fact that from the moving car good photos were taken, if the scenery is not moving. Amazing! Aren’t these photos good?





The interesting zoo.

Lions, tigers, elephants, etc. are not in this zoo, but all the animals such as horses, buffalos, peacocks, turtles, roosters, chickens, etc. are walking around on the ground.

We saw the advertising that “Horseback riding inside the canyon for one hour $50.00.”







Taking Photos From the running car

Plants in the dessert









For lunch, we went to Down Town, because there is very tasty Hawaiian Noodle at the Hawaiian restaurant. Many Hawaiians are coming to the Down Town Casino so there is the Hawaiian corner. We saw Mike-san and Janice-san were sitting down playing the machine. Jimmy-san and Alice-san were attending 442 Reunion Meeting that day, so we didn’t see them.

Surprising Technologies!! Janice took photos with her I-phone, and asked Hiroko’s cell phone number.

These two photos were taken by Janice’s I-phone, and came to Hiroko’s cell phone within 1 minute.










That evening, four of us played the machine at the casino called South Port near by the time share premise, and lost the money. Hiroko had usually played the poker machines but that night played many interesting different kind of machines and enjoyed, because Dan-san said we should just enjoy here without thinking losing or winning since we didn’t go to casino in Chicago any more. Win and lose, lose and win, at last Hiroko lost.

The next day, 19th, Thursday, Jimmy-san/Alice-san and Tets-chan/Saeru-san would be leaving that morning. Before everyone separating we had breakfast together at Down Town hotel. Jimmy-san told us that 200 people attended the 442 Reunion, but among the 200 only 18 were actually served in the United States Military as 442 soldiers, other 182 were their family members. All those family members wanted to continue to hold this reunion. Jimmy-san and Mike-san will be coming to Las Vegas again next March or April, Jimmy-san said. Please take care of yourself everyone, and see you all again.

After Tets-chan/Saeru-san left, Dan-san and Hiroko enjoyed the Jacuzzi and played the machine again. Dan-san and Hiroko won this time. Hiroko played Poker machine.

Give thanks to the Lord for letting us have enjoyable time with Uncles and Auntie, and Tets-chan and Saeru-san at Las Vegas.

There is couple of news:
After the breakfast Jimmy-san played again and he hit Royal Flush and won $1,000.00. He lost around $500.00 for the previous days, so at last he won $500.00.

At Jacuzzi Hiroko had very interesting conversation with the Canadian man. He told us he has to have under-go-knee operation after returning Canada, so Hiroko asked to pray for his operation for the Lord, Jesus. He said yes, so Hiroko prayed in the warm Jacuzzi for his knee operation.

Miracles in Our Life All the Time

Many things happened to Dan-san and Hiroko’s life last 30 days.

First of all, Dan-san’s car was hit from the back. Hiroko was in the car. We heard a loud noise “doo doon” and while we were looking at where the accident had occurred. Now, our car was hit and pushed forward and “doon” the noise we heard. Dan-san was trying not hitting the front car, but Dan-san’s car hit the expensive car, BMW. The car’s driver came out right away and checked his car. He didn’t find any scratches, so he said “Bye” and left.

This is Dan-san’s car with dents and damaged.

The car that was hit first had so many problems. The driver of the car said he had a chest pain and could not breathe, striking his chest to the steering wheel. Hiroko called 911 for him and us. While Hiroko was talking with 911 operator Ambulance car was passing by and stopped for us. Isn’t it good for us? The Ambulance driver took care of many things for us. It was one of the very cold day, with shivering Dan-san was trying to take the information from the driver who had hit two and BMW.

The policeman came from the 911. The policeman questioned the driver who had hit us. He didn’t have the regular driver’s license, but had a temporary driver’s license paper. Even the police didn’t know what that is. Of course he didn’t have insurance, but he presented his company’s insurance. We all wanted to know why he hit the front cars which were stopped for the stop light. Police didn’t ask him about that. We were guessing and talking among us that the driver might have been talking on cell phone, reading or sending TXT, or day dreaming.

Dan-san’s car was drivable and got the police report paper, so we could go to shopping, after spending for one hour.

However, Dan-san had little trouble with the Insurance Company presented by the man who had hit cars. Dan-san’s insurance agent suggested to him to take his claim to the Insurance Company for his future purpose. Dan-san called the Insurance Company right away and got the claim case number. He was told to wait for their phone call. No phone call for a week, so Dan-san called again, and then he found out his case agent was changed. Now he talked with the new agent again. One week later phone call came and said that a damage Evaluator would be sent in couple days after the Sunday evening. .

A car repair shop is located next door to our church. Even though on Saturday, one of the repairman was working. Dan-san saw him and asked him to estimate the damages on Dan-san’s car. The repairman’s evaluation of the damage was about $1,500, because the damages were not only on fender but also inside the trunk. The repairman noticed the damage without opening the trunk. Now, Dan-san was comfortable to see the Evaluator from the Insurance Company. The Sunday evening the Evaluator came and just took couple of the photos.

Waiting for the letter from the Insurance Company, finally the letter came on Saturday which is the day before we were planning to go to Las Vegas. Dan-san took the letter to the repairman right away, and the repairman called his friend who is working for the Insurance Company as an evaluator. In the beginning the evaluator said he could come on Monday, but the evaluator came while Dan-san was talking with the repairman. The evaluator said that this damage would be $1,800, and called the Insurance Company to negotiate for Dan-san car’s damages. The Insurance Company accepted his evaluation.

WOW! We could go to Las Vegas with clear mind!

Can you see the God’s hand working on this incident many places?

We gave thanks to the Lord God with joyful and peaceful heart.

Thanks! Arigato!

Holy Week - Junan-shu, Christian Thoughts

It was very important week from April 1 to April 7 in 2012 that Jesus’ final suffering week. During this “Holy Week” in English, many churches have held the Worship Service every day. In Japanese the week is called the “Junan-shu” which means Suffering Week.

This week is started on Palm Sunday and ended on Easter Sunday. In the Palm Sunday Jesus went into Jerusalem because the final suffering happened to him during the Passover celebration, but the Israelites in Jerusalem thought Jesus could be the king of Israel and would be fighting with Roman who was oppressing Israel in those days. People were so excited to see their king coming to Jerusalem that welcome Him with waving palm leaves.

Palm leaves and cross made with Palm leaves

During the week of suffering, Jesus taught the people in the temple, cleansed the temple, had dinner with His followers and at this dinner table washed their feet to teach them humbleness and held Communion with them to remember Him, and went to the Gethsemane garden to pray. At the garden Jesus was arrested. Now the final day of the Good Friday came.

The Lent is concluded on the day before the Good Friday.

Devon Church Lent Pulpit

Lent has been starting on the Ash Wednesday* and continuing for 40 days. Many Christians fast and give up things, for concentrating their thought on Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross.

Devon Church Good Friday Pulpit

The black pulpit displays the death of Jesus. Jesus only appease God’s wrath for people’s sin by His death. Jesus gave His life for saving us and frees us. Our good works, how much we do good works, it could never save us from our sin.

Ephesians 2:8-9 said, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”





The Easter is here!

Devon Church Easter Pulpit









Puppet show was presented on the day of 2012 Easter.
Story about puppet show is:
“Jesus died on the cross. His followers and especially disciples didn’t know what to do and scared of the Roman soldiers, so they hid. Mary Magdalene came to the hiding place and said Jesus was not in the tomb. Angels said that Jesus came alive, resurrected from the dead. After that His disciples and followers met Jesus and were given the instruction from Jesus, that He told them to spread this good news to the end of the world.”

Since then the Good News has been spreading all over the world for over 2,000 years.

Those who accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord believe this salvation comes by the grace of God and faith. More than ever Christians are waiting for the second coming the Lord Jesus Christ.

At the Devon Church the Combine Easter Worship Service was held with Japanese Section, Children Church and English Section. After the Worship Service the congregation enjoyed with our annual Pot Luck Luncheon, and spent and talked to many people and had a very joyful, peaceful, and wonderful time.

Give thanks to our Lord for letting us have this wonderful time on the Easter Sunday.

Many foods served at Easter Luncheon. Hiroko was busy eating so forgot to take photos of food.
----------------------------------------------------------
*The information of Ash Wednesday is taken from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Ash Wednesday, in the calendar of Western Christianity, is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days before Easter. It is a moveable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter. It can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10.

According to the canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke; Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, during which he endured temptation by Satan. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of this 40-day liturgical period of prayer and fasting.

Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes used are typically gathered after the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned.

Chicago's Crazy Weather in 2012 March

Chicago’s Crazy Weather in March

Those who are living in the warm weather place don’t understand why Hiroko has been exciting. She has been seeing many, many flowers and Robins, Cardinals and many other birds that usually come in May. Hiroko wants to post about this crazy weather in her blog.

It is averagely 30 to 40 degree and snowy street in Chicago’s March weather. However, 2012 Chicago’s March weathers make Meteorologist surprised and said that it is the historical record by meteorologically.

This is March 18 (Sunday) weather report for the following weeks. The previous week, 7 days (March 12 to 18) were over 80 degree. 80 degree is over 25 degree by Celsius.

This is March 21 weather report. Chicago is warmer than Florida and southern California. WOW!

Please see the unnatural nature in Chicago’s March.

Many, many flowers.
These flowers usually bloom in April.

The date of photos taken:
On March 9 – Crocuses
On March 14 - Daffodils and Freesias

 

White Magnolia

Purple Magnolia

On March 18 - Forsythias, Freesias, Tulips, greens, and many other flowers which Hiroko does not know the names

It is very difficult to take a picture of birds.

Hiroko finally took this picture of a cardinal. This cardinal came to sit on the wire every morning. Hopefully the red on the chest of cardinal catch your eyes. No bird can be seen in these small photos – Regretting! Regretting!
The Cardinals, the Robins, other birds usually seen in May came to Chicago in March.

It is very much appreciated for this warm/hot weather, and seeing many beautiful flowers and birds in March.

It is saying that this warm/hot weather in March contributed for the Chicago’s economy, because many people are coming out for shopping.

Well, Hroko didn’t want to say negative things for this wonderful weather, but all those flowers are not as usual. Crocus and Daffodils are definitely not tall and big as usual. The colors of the flowers are not deep and colorful, Hiroko thinks. Hiroko wonders why the Tulips are not blooming, yet.

Going through the colder and harder weather, any flowers would be blooming much beautiful and colorful

This truth applies for the mental and spiritual growth of a human being. Japanese sayings said: “It is better to buy any hardship at your youth” and “Any suffering makes you a gem.”

The Bible talks about this truth in Roman 5:3-5.
“3Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Hope gives us Joy and Peace in our heart.

Dan-san and Hiroko are hoping the year of 2012 to go to Japan and meeting our friends and relatives. This hopeful thought gives us joy and happy feeling.

Further than the things in this world, Christians have hope in our future. One verse before the verses mentioned says in verse 3b “we also glory in our sufferings.” Thinking about our hope to see Jesus face to face in the Heaven our heart is jumping with joy and filling with peace in the midst of hardship.

Sorry for Those Buds, Chicago

It has been warm 2011 - 2012 winter in Chicago. During November and December days were like late autumn. Only for the two days of January 21 and 22, we had snow fall 5 to 6 inches, and the temperature was cold like 20 to 25degree. In February there were couple of cold days but overall most days have been unusually warm like early spring in Chicago.

Can you tell what all this photo shows you? Yes, there are buds, buds, buds, and buds. Hiroko noticed and took these buds photos from the beginning of February. In those photos the trees put forth the buds are White Birch trees, Magnolia trees on the warm Foster Street, and other trees, Hiroko couldn’t identify the name.

Daffodil buds have sprung out.

Magnolia put forth the buds

In January and February months, there have been continued 40 to 50 degree temperature days. It causes many natures showing strange phenomenon.

TV News announced that these migrating birds were moving to north because those birds might have been confused that Chicago is getting warm.

The another News is that the Eagles came to Chicago. Eagles are usually staying in warm place like Texas,

One day in February, the snow fell less than 1 inch, and the temperature was 25 degree. However, those States north of Chicago were very cold under 0 degrees. Those birds that flew to north must have been very surprised. Hiroko fell so sorry for them.

One snowy and cold day in February

Hopefully those buds would not be damaged.

Ice and snow was on the buds.
The natures are getting destructed by the hands of human being. God made human being as the image of God, and let them manage the whole nature. The human being couldn’t manage the nature, because of our endless desire to live for our daily lives comfortably and gorgeously. What do you think of these progressed technologies to make us live comfortably? The technologies are not bad.

Hiroko had a conversation with her daughter who is working law firm.

“I’m not happy to change my work place, but soon I have to. At a new place I have to start all over again to learn how to use telephone, copy machine, etc.”
“Mom changed many jobs in my youth, but I didn’t have such problems.”
“Why?”
“There weren’t any other machines but typewriter. 50 or 60 years ago, all the telephone was same. There was no different from home use or office use.”
“You were in Japan at the time.”
“Well, it wasn’t so. I heard at Baker & McKenzie Law Firm, many old secretaries told me they had to type the entire pages of Agreement if some addition or change occurred in the first page. The Agreement couldn’t use any eraser, or type twice.”
“Well, use a white out to change and copy them, no one can tell it’s original or copy.”
“There wasn’t any white out or a copy machine.”
“Without any white out, how could you erase any mistakes?”
“I remember that the erasers of pencil were used with licking it, and later a hard eraser was invented as typewriter eraser.”
“Without copy machine, how can you make many copies?”
“Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha…! You don’t know the carbon paper.”
“What is that?”
“It was black thin paper, and put the carbon paper between each paper. Well, I could make 10 copies by onion skin paper with carbon paper between.”
“What are you talking about? Are you speaking Japanese or English, or any other languages? I don’t understand at all… Well, one of the old-timers Partner in the firm called me and said that this machine (computer) was broken, so I checked it. It wasn’t broken, he had not started the computer, yet. I couldn’t laugh, and felt sorry for the Partner. It is a true story”
“I understand. It is very scary to see these progressed technologies.”

We had talked about fax machine, E-mail, cel-phone, I-phone, etc. and sighed.