Christmas Day 2008

On Christmas day our family enjoyed a study of Jesus' birth (from Matthew), prayers, and some simple gifts.

In the daytime we went to spend an abundant meal and fellowship with Georgette victor and some of her family and neighbors

Here are some pictures of Christmas day:

My Birthday 2008

In the daytime, my assistant Kanae San, together with our work colleague Keiko San, prepared for me a tea ceremony.

In the evening my kids prepared a birthday dinner (Lasagna), Hiroko's cake, and some gifts afterward.

Here are some pictures from that day:

Isael, December 17 - 13, 2008

I was in Israel on business at this end of the year. It turns out I experienced a great many profound and meaningful experiences, including a great many from the historical and spiritual figures of the area.

Here are some pictures from this visit:

Thanksgiving 2008

This year Marissa returned home from her STF travels, Frank Alipini a visiting scholar from Benin joined us, and Hiroko (above all) and Tanja cooked and put together a magnificent meal for all of us.

Here are a couple of shots from our day together:

London

These pictures and report in part show scenes from my professional activity and responsibilities. But they also touch upon time in which I was able to enjoy the beauty of London

The first three pictures in this slide show are from an orientation session with religious leaders as we prepared for the Ceremony for merging sacred waters, a part of the festival on the following day.

The next picture is with Julius Alexy with whom I collaborate for youth education in Europe. After that comes a picture of a steeple shot out of a bus en route to the convention center.

Three pictures are of a swan in the rivulet that flows beside London's Excel Center. Two pictures are with Maya and her mom (with whom I had the pleasure to meet and stay with throughout the festival).

The four most important pictures are from the sacred waters ceremony, and the final 4 are the young people celebrating during the music at the GPF.



For any interested, here is a video of the entire sacred waters ceremony, narrated by Mr. David Hannah:

Obama victory in Times Square

I had a good night on election night.

Sat in over a bite to watch the early returns, while the race was still anyone's to win.

Got to Times Square in time to see California called and the 270 cracked. President elect Obama.

In the live video you'll hear two sets of screams. Fox called Cali first, but only some caught that. The larger ABC screen then called Cali a touch later and the louder roar happened.

People lingered, hugged and sang in Times Square until the wee hours.

These first images here are still slides:





These second images are the live video I caught as the 21 month campaign finally came to an end:

My Visit with Steve in Chicago

On the weekend of October 31, following our work at the AAR, I had the lovely opportunity to visit Steve at his home.

As you can see from the 1st picture, Steve does not live in a very nice home. Nevertheless, he does have a lovely wife, and a darling little dog.

I had a wonderful and most relaxing time during my short stay. On the way home from our early morning nature walk, we stopped at a Walmart. To me it was like Disneyland!

Here are some pictures of our visit together:

An afternoon in Santa Fe

I spent the weekend of October 25 in New Mexico to lecture the American Leadership Conference material to Ambassadors for Peace. On Sunday afternoon, Mark and Corey Boitano took us up for a delightful stroll in Santa Fe.

Here are a few pictures



And here is a video I took in a little square:

Visit to Bad Camberg

I am invited to teach at the 2008, Settlement Age Workshop that takes place in Bad Camberg, near Frankfurt, Germany.

I had been here long ago, and returning here now brought back a flood of memories. Here is a quick walk around, capturing a couple of images from my first impressions, and some pictures from my time lecturing there:

Marissa joins Service Task Force (STF)

On August 26, Marissa completed her 3 week training and orientation, and was assigned to her mission area for her year of service.

Marissa decided to take a year off from college, and spend the year involved in service projects both in the United States and internationally.

Our family came up to see her off and say good bye. It was a pretty tearful and emotional time.

Here are a couple of shots from her send off:

Global Peace Festival, August 9, 2008

My family and I attended the August 9, Global Peace Festival in Washington DC. I'm over-dressed because I was on the job working with part of the program on stage. Frone is off and about with friends somewhere. Missed a shot with him.

Here are a few shots of our brief time when most of us were all in one place:

Marissa's graduation

Marissa graduated from the Academy of American Studies yesterday (June 27). It was a delightful ceremony. Very creative, energetic, dignified, well timed, populated with interesting speakers, presentations, and sprinkled with art and entertainment. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it moved and held my interest.


After the ceremony, we came out to the court and had some pictures together. The final couple are with two of Marissa's teachers (economics and history).

Yungchen Lhamo at Joe's Pub

Hello Friends and old Friends,

Hope you are in good health and spirit.

On July 1st, I have a show at Joe's Pub

featuring

Will Calhoun and Jamshied Sharifi

Looking forward to seeing you.

Please visit web sites below for more information:

Details_____Tickets = $ 20

Yungchen Lhamo

yungchenlhamo@gmail.com

917 557 3645

Hiroko dances at the Sakura Matsuri

May 3 - May 4, 2008

Sakura Matsuri, New York City's "Rite of Spring," marks its 27th year with over 60 events and performances celebrating Japanese culture and the blossoming of BBG's 220 cherry trees. Visitors to the weekend-long Cherry Blossom Festival can enjoy J-pop concerts, traditional Japanese music and dance, taiko drumming, martial arts, bonsai pruning workshops, Japanese Manga art, tea ceremonies, and workshops for all ages. New this year is the Sakura J-Lounge, featuring some of the country's hippest DJ's spinning Japanese pop sounds. Free with Garden admission.

Marissa went along to help, and ended up conscripted to lead the parade!

Here are few pictures of our time together to cheer Hiroko on:

The beautiful gate

On the weekend of April 18 - 20, I traveled to San Francisco to attend the 5th National Witnessing Summit.

I had the good fortune to spend the day prior with the Hagen family.

By God's grace the day was glorious, and the meteorology blessed my efforts to take in the beauty of this eternal gateway.

Here are a few pictures of those couple of hours before the weekend's work.

Double Feature: A ballet in two acts

On Thursday, January 31 my sister Lois generously offered me the wonderful opportunity to attend Susan Stroman's silent movie-inspired Double Feature.

Though somewhat of a lout when it comes to haute couture, I had the time of my life.








The performance consisted of two separate acts. The first act, titled The Blue Necklace, is a about a distressed mother who gives up her baby but always longs for her. In the end they are reunited in a Cinderella like scene in the midst of grand choreography in a society ball.

The second part, Makin' Whoopee, is a comedy (a David Belasco play and then a Buster Keaton film) Seven Chances about a man who needs to marry to collect his inheritance. By the end of the show the stage is riddled with ballerinas in bridal gowns (including a couple of male dancers stomping around, equally after the star's 7 million inheritance) great dancing, yet genuinely funny.




























In all it was tremendous fun. And my sister survived dragging a lout to Lincoln Center.

Concert for One Korea

On Saturday evening February 2, I had the great joy of hearing probably my favorite classical performer, Ms. Elizabeth Woo.

The occasion was a symphony performance to benefit Korean Unification at Merkin Hall of the Kaufman theatre.

Elizabeth played two masterful pieces supported by the Ureuk Symphony under the leadership of conductor Christopher Lee, Tchaikovsky's Pezzo Capriccioso, and Rimsky-Korsakov's Fantasy on Russian Theme for Violin and Orchestra.

Other soloists for the evening included Soprano Kyong-Jin Lim, and cellist Jacques Lee Wood.

Special gratitude to Elizabeth and all the Happy Tao family together with Sabonim, Khan Bada.

Hiroko's recent birthday

Hiroko and the family enjoyed some time together on her birthday, first out at a local restaurant, and then home.

Frone's birthday, January 1, 2008

Frone was born on Januray 1

Today Frone turns 16

We had our prayers and cakes as always

Here are a couple of pictures: