Marrying Up

 Ok, I never said I was a genius.  Whenever the discussion with the wife drifts to intelligence, It is always assumed that I married up.  It takes me a longer time to figure things out where the wife seems to get things instantaneously.  She claims that the intelligence of the children are determined by the mother.  You can see where this is going.  I am unable to label any of the sons as mediocre in smarts.

I got into film making as something to keep me occupied during chemo therapy.  A friend was gracious to invite me to join him in the class.  He would drive me to chemo sessions and every week to our film class downtown.  I should add he has produced some great films.

I never thought of me being a storyteller.  I don't tell jokes, Im not a conversationalist, nor outgoing.  I hate sitting in theaters for long periods of time in the midst of strangers.  I don't see movies (yes, that means I am culturally ignorant) and have a disdain for actors who believe they are a gift of the gods for the ability to essentially lie for a living.

But then last night after my last post, it occurred to me, this blog was my way of telling stories in the short form.  This led to film making.  Their structure is the same, and are not preplanned.  They just occur.  When I create a film, they are short (thank goodness), and I admit the result of hours of research and film (interviews).  Yet when I sit down to the computer, I pretty much know how it all is going to fit.  I can remember sections of the interview from the numerous clips that I stitch together.

Now I'm not saying that I am a genius at film making (I'm not Kurasawa or Miyazaki).  Far from it.  I am an amateur student film maker with no plans to make a living out of this.  My films follow a familiar structure with an unintended message.  Yeah, I don't go in with a pre planned message in mind, but hopefully let the subject tell their story.  The film just happens.

Going back to intelligence in the marriage, her response is always "I married you".  Interpret that any way you want.  

Venice Gakkuen

 I always thought that Japanese Language school was a waste of my time.  My precious Sat. time, Sat. morning cartoons, sleeping in late, and any other normal Sat. stuff like mowing the lawn. 

You would think 5 years of 9am to 3pm I would be somewhat literate in Japanese.  The reality is that of the 5 years, I learned the basic alphabet (hiragana) and some of katakana.  And that was in the first grade because Kikuno sensei would not let me out to recess until I learned it.  To this day, I still can read hiragana.  

The rest of the 5 years (you do see a pattern here....) being bored.  Mainly because most of the instruction (95%) was in Japanese.  All the teachers were from Japan.  To say I didn't understand what was going on in class is a understatement.  Boredom usually means finding ways to get in trouble.  Whistling, drawing, and watching the clock as recess was every hour.  Lunch was usually an hour and the afternoons more tolerant.

I have been in front of the class holding a chair, scolded, and been called Wada Kun (not an endearing term when being shouted across the room of at all school assemblies.  My saving grace was that the principal Yamanaka Sensei knew my family.  Not to mention an older sister that did well and graduated.  

What I didn't realize was the cultural value of my education.  There was Radio Taisho (morning exercise before school), lining up in class, cleaning up at the end of the day (sweeping, mopping, general cleaning), Ohanashikai (speech contest on a stage in front of family and friends), Ondokai (athletic competition between white and red teams), etiquette, Omiyage (gift giving) we used to get a box of Hershey chocolate bars for Christmas, Community events being part of the Venice Community Center, and things I never recognized.  The faculty office was a small room where the principle was at the head desk,  the teachers desks were lined up in front, similar to Japanese business setups in TV shows.   

I can instinctively bow when required with my hands at my side and mutter a response.  I understand the hierarchy of Japanese authority, and on the other hand I don't know a lot.  As I watch NHK TV, I see things that are oddly familiar.  I still don't understand the language, but I can somehow tell if the subtitles are not accurate. 

These are things that I learned before my two stints teaching English in Japan and my 1 yr. of Japanese in college.  What all this means, I don't know.  Other than I now don't despise the 5 years of Saturdays.

Driven to Drink

Previous forgotten to post.

Im under the gun to finish (start) my annual video for the Digital Histories class sponsored by Visual Communications.  It has become expected of me to turn in a late film.  This usually means sporadic periods of research, inspiration, memory loss, and a lot of drinking.

  

My inspirations come from the late nights of calm, quietness, and the timing my bathroom breaks. 

2021 LA Asian Pacific Film Festival

 This years photos from the festival

   2021 Digital Histories fellow film makers

                                                 This years subject of my film Tu Le

 My neighbor Dave from across the street died early this morning.  Dave was one of those guys who everybody in the neighborhood knew. He was friendly and generally a good guy. He had been having back issues for a few years to the point where he had trouble walking. 

One of his passions was ocean fishing, he would always bring by some of his catch of the day.  He was one of those guys where any day was a good day as long as he was on the boat.

Dave was also our designated watchdog.  After his next door neighbor Tommy moved to Washington, he became the guy who always knew what was occurring in the neighborhood.  I wish I had a picture to post.

Rest In Peace Dave.

Finished

 I'm known in my Digital Histories Video class for submitting late films, past the deadline.  Well this year I exceeded all expectations.  I started late (one month ago) and finished late (one week before showing).

Timing was impeccable, as I was getting desperate, the US pulled out of Afghanistan and the news was plastered with pictures that reminded a lot of us of age of the fall of Vietnam.  The classic photo is the helicopter on top of a building with people lined up to escape.  The picture that kicked it all off:

I have a co worker that escaped from Vietnam.  I should qualify that.  Over the years I have worked with a lot of American Vietnamese of an older age, and each one of them had a story of escape and acculturating to American society.  Tu's story hit me when I saw the picture.  When I called him, he had been thinking of how to express those haunting photos and the associated personal memories.  He jumped at the opportunity to tell his story.

2.5 hrs. later, I think both of us were emotionally exhausted.  Listening to details of his life in Vietnam, his escape, his family both here and in Vietnam.  The film does not do it justice of how many times he and his brothers barely escaped death. 

So how do you trim down 2.5 hours of gut wrenching experiences that I will never comprehend into 9 minutes. It got to the point where I hated the film.  I hated searching through hundreds of photos of the Vietnam war.  I hated filtering out the death, desperation, and horror of war.  I have a hard time reconciling the Vietnamese experience and the US Vietnam war veterans experience.  I have a hard time comprehending it all.  How do we as God' (spoiled) children comprehend mankind's' inhumanity to each other.  It never seems to end.

Re Opening

Studio Wada was closed earlier this year when LAUSD reopened their schools to students.  The curtain was kept as Zoom meetings were still standard procedure for teacher meetings.  If you recall, Studio Wada was created in the early days of the pandemic as the wife taught Kindergarten from our living room, while I was exiled outdoors in the patio under the umbrellas.  I not only built up Studio Wada (upgrade of the internet speed, hard wire instead of wifi to ensure reliability, ceiling curtain rods to hang photo backdrop, external mics and additional lighting).  The only problem was the noise from construction next door.

My office was outdoors to avoid the noise and distraction of Mrs. Wada's room 2 classroom.  Two umbrellas and a shade cloth provided protection and comfort, the picnic bench with stadium seating chair for back support, purchasing a mesh office chair to withstand the outdoors temperature fluctuations, a heavy duty tool cart to house my laptop and external monitor, and yes I did run an ethernet line outdoors.  The issues were the noise from next door that seemed to increase when I had my meetings, dew from the night before and unexpected coastal rain, and the cold mornings and hot afternoons.  Patio heaters, patio lights and moving my coffee station outside helped.  

Bathroom breaks and heating snacks in the microwave were timed to coincide with recess.  Avoiding being seen on Zoom required a trip down the driveway and through the front door just out of sight.  At times, urgency required sneaking behind the curtain and over the couch,  In the afternoon, I sometimes gave up and there were sightings of an old guy in t-shirts and shorts in the background of her faculty meetings.

It is the second week of school and the number of Covid cases increasing.  Today's LA Times reported over 6,500 cases.  The rule of thumb is 3 separate cases of Covid at the school site will close the school down.  So we are preparing to revive Studio Wada and the chaos of Zoom teaching, just in case.

Stay safe.

Texas Notes

There is a housing shortage in the Plano general area.  Apparently a lot of Californians (and other folks) are moving to Dallas.  House prices a shooting upward, and there are waiting lists for new homes. 

Asian food is not in short supply, some restaurants are great, a lot are somewhat altered in taste to adjust. We did have a hard time finding decent spaghetti.

30 minutes is the usual travel time to anywhere.

Gas is about $1.50 cheaper.  that's including tax.

In and Out is still my favorite.  Texas BBQ is OK, but I still prefer Santa Maria style.

Dallas has traffic issues like any large metropolitan areas, rush hour traffic is typical, just throw in large semi trucks that not restricted to the slow lanes and large pick up trucks that weave in and out like BMWs in LA.

Green clippings are put into large brown Costco bags for pick up (unlike our green bins) and recyclables are picked up once every two weeks.  They don't like piling trash as high as you can go, you need to ensure the lid can be closed.  Im assuming the winds and storms have an impact on flying trash.

Brick is the material of choice for exterior buildings.  Wood fences with metal posts are the norm.

Mexican food is not the same as Tex Mex.  

Attached garages are like ovens.  The house may be cool, but the garage is not a suitable refuge.

It is not unusual to sit in your car with the engine and air conditioning running when parked.

Bugs and critters are the norm.  Bunny rabbits seem to be plentiful, the wild kind.  Did I mention the bugs??  

The UT system seems to rival our UC system of universities.

Stories of Plano becoming a mini Torrance in terms of Japanese Culture and stores are overblown.

If anything, there appears to. be a burgeoning Asian American culture being formed.  Not specific to any one culture, with a strong Texan influence

Stories of Texas being a renegade state ore overblown.  They have their reasons and a lot of people are moving there because of it.  There seems to be a method to their madness.

It is still hot in the summer.  

And no, we are not moving there.  

Searching

 I am in the last hours of deciding whether or not to submit a film this year.  It has been difficult following through with interviews due to the Corona virus.  So I sit at night hoping for a late night inspiration.  So im sitting here Sat. morning minutes before my class and Im watching Looney Toons.  And I am trying to figure out how to make a short film in one week using the story telling of cartoons.  Buggs is my hero.

Two weeks later:

But sometimes things fall into place.  I work with a lot of folks of Vietnamese Heritage.  If you take the time to talk to them, almost all have a story of escaping Vietnam.  Stories you hear about, but then actually meet the people who experienced the horrors and desperation to escape, then the tortuous journey of assimilation into a completely foreign culture and language.  

They are similar to the JA in that their present lives, their children are living the American life oblivious to what their parents experienced.  Glimpses occur when dealing with grandparents, family still in Vietnam.  My parents did not talk much about the Incarceration Camps and definitely not about their re assimilation back into American Society.  The similarity ends there.  

As President Biden pulled the American Troops out of Afghanistan, photos appeared in the newspapers that suddenly shocked me into remembrances of the fall of South Vietnam.  The iconic photo of a helicopter on top of a building and lines of people trying to get aboard.  If it jarred my memory, how did it affect those who actually experienced it and seeing it again 45 years later.

I took a chance and called a friend from work remembering the stories he told me years ago of his journey out of Vietnam.  Those images did affect him.  It brought back, not just memories, but a need to express what happened.  He was waking up a night trying to figure out how to deal with this, then I called.

How do you convert 2.5 hrs of interview of heart wrenching stories of near misses, desperation, separation, death, suffering, perseverance into a short 10 minute film.  Im not sure, but we will find out in about three weeks.  I definitely feel I am way over my head.  

Dreams of the Future

 The question that is often asked at my age is what is the one thing you always wanted to do but haven't been able to.  I always thought that was a strange question.  It never hit home.  When I need inspiration in creating my videos, I sit on the computer playing You Tube performances.  I am able to pick songs of my youth, newer cover versions, obscure songs and stuff I never had the time to pursue.  County Road is one of my favorite sites.  Country music somehow always appeals to my soul.  But I tend to replay a series of songs, Fool on the Hlll by Sergio Mendes, So Far Away by Reba, One less Bell to Answer by the 5th Dimension, How Deep is Your Love by The Bee Gees, Im so Lonesome I could Cry by BJ Thomas, and Classical GAS by Mason Williams.

In 1968 a friend of mine and I would climb into his dad's VW and be driven to summer school at Mark Twain Jr. High.  For some reason, the timing was always impeccable.  As we approached the front of the school, the number one song of the week on KHJ Boss Radio would play.  This was the time of Stepponwolf and Born to be Wild, the Doors, etc.  But during a series of consecutive weeks, Mason Williams Classical Gas was on top of the charts.  I loved that version, always waiting for the brass section to come on mid way through.

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour was by far my favorite show.  Most of my peers were into the Monkeys and Laugh In.  Me, it was satire and music.  I was enthralled with the Video that accompanied Classical Gas.  A series of quick cuts of various pictures.  I masterful feat of editing and timing.  It was my dream to create a similar video using that song.  Now that I am in video production, it occurs to me that I may be able to fulfill my dream.  Technology has made the process a lot easier (still a pain staking, difficult task) .  The problem with writing it down is that I can be held to it.  #1 project when I retire.  

Parenthood Is For the Young

 Just got back from Texas to watch the grandkids while the son and wife celebrated their 10th anniversary.

They entrusted us to watch the three kids (ages 8, 6 and 3) for six days.  To say the least, we did not know what to expect.  

We all know, you can have 3 kids and they will all be different, that was the case for our 3 boys, and still holds true for the 3 grand kids.

Don't care what any one says, there is a difference between the genders.  We are not used to girls.The grand daughter was an experience.  As she and I picked out her clothes each morning, (she did actually choose) I was quickly questioned about our choices of combinations by grandma.  They boys choices were never questioned.

Hair.  There is a reason why my boys didn't have long hair until  high school. I don't braid and I don't even understand the basics of a pony tail.  I examine a hair clip and for the life of me still don't understand how they work.  They are somehow seem to be a distant reletive of the paper clip, yet function quite differently.  It took two of us 3o minutes each night to treat, dry and brush her hair.  Tiff came home and did it by herself in five.  One the course of a day, we did leave a trail of hair clips all over the house.  Grandma made us collect them at the end of each night.

I won't even get into potty training (she did great).  Grandpa just waited in the next room until she was done and needed to wash her hands.  

One does not like tomatoes, the other avocados, the youngest will eat almost anything. Surprisingly they had no issues with vegetables or fruit.  Ice Cream is the universal choice for desert.

Note 1:   do not put two boys in the back seat of the van (yes I did that all the time with my boys).  Don't make grandpa pull the car over and make one sit in the middle row.

Note 2:  When denying a request, "mom said no" always seemed  to work.

Note 3: Hone your negotiating skills.  Number 2 is a future lawyer.

Note 4: "Grandpa is tired" does not work, it is usually followed by "Grandpa get up!" and a yank of the arm.

Note 5: Pouting does not work with Grandpa, that is the one area he will not give in to.

It's been two days and we miss them dearly. But not enough to move to Texas.

Panda Express

 My theory at one time was that no matter where you go in the United States, even in the back country roads, there will be a Chinese restaurant, and if there are no asians running it, it is usually labeled Chop Suey.  Well, times have changed and now they are being replaced by Panda Express.  This is the one in Lahaina on Maui.  It was one of many on the Island.

And no, we did not eat there.  No comparison to Sam Sato's.  Thanks to all who recommended places to eat and shop.  All were dead on. 

Netflx

 Ever since I subscribed to Netflix, I haven't used it much, but my password has made the rounds in the family.  No one wanted to spend the $8 a month subscription fee.  Now I admit it does not bother me, until I scrolled through the selections tonight.  Under the heading Top Picks for George, these are the suggested films:

    Selena

    Crazy Stupid Love

    Collateral Beauty

    What a Girl Wants

    Windsor

What are people watching using my password?????  Really?  

Nisei Legacy

 Last Friday I was priveliedged to be asked to help out filming the Go For Broke Stamp unveiling at the Japanese American National Museum.  One of the founding members of the group of three ladies was the Miyoshi next door neighbor Chiz Ohira.  She passed before the stamp was issued.  

You can view the program and learn about the stamp at this link:  https://niseistamp.org. 

Be aware that the program is 2 hrs. in length. June Kuramoto and Kimo Cornwell of Hiroshima plays a Thousand Cranes at the end.

I am Camera #2.  So if you see the video shake, it's the equipment, not the operator accidentally hitting the tripod.  It was a great learning experience as a friend took me through the whole video through a zoom meeting for 3 hours, showing me the ins and outs of Live Action Camera 101.  Or, these are the things you did wrong and can improve upon.  Did I mention that I had fun? And, as one of the younger guys. I got to crawl amongst the tiered theater seating laying cable.

Wada Legacy

Growing up, our two car garage never housed a car that I remember.  It was filled to the brim with stuff.  I used to make pathways through the pile of treasures.  Well, I somehow inherited the trait.  I can either pass on my stuff or leave enough money for them to rent a huge trash bin.

Deja Vu All Over Again

 I saw this in the recent Discover Nikkei monthly publication.  It brought back memories of my high school days in Vancouver, Washington.  And now over 4o years later it has become relevant.  While others are currently outraged, I am more from the point of view of "Whats new?"  And this attitude existed long before me.

My Name is Neal by Neal Yamamoto

By the way, my favorite substitute host is still Ken Jennings.

'First born" Syndrome

"It’s fun if you are young. Strange if you are old."   

                                                                                                       Gayle M Wada

I found my stash of old albums above my son's closet today. When I say my old albums, I am referring to those magnetic sheet albums of the 70s. With time, they are no longer "magnetic". My albums are filled with comics I clipped during college and early adult hood. They bring back memories like the songs of the 70s. So I spent the afternoon perusing them while listening to oldies on You Tube.

Out of about 10 albums, half of one, was photos. I found the picture that captured my heart many years ago. I also found the Peanuts cartoon that described our relationship that still rings true to this day. 'First born" syndrome.

I Know

Everyone believes they are the only person who puts new toilet paper on the roller.  Which is impossible since I am the one who always does it.

Mary McNamara (LATimes)

This line in a recent LA Times column hit me. I can validate the quote as I am sure I am the only one in the household that recognizes the difference between the different brands of toilet paper and it's cost per roll. There was one exception during the pandemic, I bought the industrial, individually wrapped single ply Scott toilet paper. Everyone noticed the difference. But all things considered, it lasted through most of the pandemic. We are now just using the good stuff.

By the way, I am the only person in the household that knows where the TP is stashed.

Quote of the Day

 I collect cartoons as a hobby.  I have those magnetic albums from the 70s full of them from my college days.  That is why occasionally see a cartoon posted that probably gets the message across more effectively than me yammering on in print.   

I also collect quotes.  But like my selection of cartoons, my collection of quotes are just as esoterica and non sensical.  I am erratic at best at entering at keeping up the blog and decided to post a quote when I have nothing rattling in my brain.

Today's quote is from Mary McNamara of the LA Times on Covid isolation

"Everyone believes they are the only person who puts new toilet paper on the roller.  Which is impossible since I am the one who always does it."

He's Still At It

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtjceaknzHQ

Skipping and Scratches

 When it rains, I sometimes end up in Jared's room in the back.  It is a strange room.  He has been complaining for years that  it is either too cold or too hot.  Well after 20 something years, I admit he is right.  No wonder why we moved to the front bedroom years ago.  As I sit here and look around, I remembered I put my old stereo and turntable in his room.  After dusting it off, cleaning the connections of years of tarnish, I got it working again.   Since the return of vinyl records, the industry is re publishing old records.  I have bought some artists that I never got around to listening to.

Miles Davis, Beach Boys Pet Sounds, and Dave Brubeck and currently the Beatles Sgt. Pepper album.  Granted I am not blasting my ears out, and the sound quality is improved with the Adrew Jones designed Pioneer speakers.  Im still surprised by the clarity.  I am trying to dig out my old collection from the garage to see if they have survived.  

I did experience the skipping of an old Association album and terrible recording of a Nat King Cole album.  Either I got a bad copy or the master was in terrible shape.  Occasionally I will hear scratches, but it is a welcome relief compared to flawless MP4.  The only issue was I picked out an old Carpenter album and it took me two songs in to figure out it was the Christmas album.  Didn't get to Merry Christmas Darling (OK, I admit it is one of my favorite Christmas songs).

As the evening wears on, I will relinquish the room and go watch the Bee Gees on PBS.  

That Bubble Age

 I continually find myself at that "bubble" age.  A bit too young and a bit too old.  I seem to be born in-between.  The recent advantage is that I am at the bottom end of qualifying for the Covid 19 vaccine.  Most I know who received it are quite a bit older and retired.  When we were applying for an appointment on line, I was trying to figure out who I can share the information with.  I came up with two names.  Most of those I know are on the upper end of not qualifying.

My experience today:

At the Crenshaw Faith Center in Inglewood, my appointment was for 9:20am.  Drive through only, no walk ins.  The line started on Vermont, snaking though the neighborhood for 1 hr.  Advice 1:  make sure you have enough gas.  The line does not move like the local Chick Fil A.  There is a lot of stopping and sitting.  Advice 2:  bring something to read.  Advice 3: ration your intake before leaving the house, there are no porta toilets in the neighborhood.  But a bottle of water would be helpful.  Be also aware occasionally a homeowner needs to get out of their driveway and every so often, someone tries to cut in line.  Sitting means 5 to 10 minutes at a time.

Once you get to the church parking lot, they mark your windshield with the number of people getting the vaccination.  The car ahead of me, the driver tried to wiggle a dose even though she didn't meet the requirements.  the response was they were allocated only 1200 doses a day and that they could try coming at 3pm to see if there were any doses not claimed.  She was not very encouraging.  They do check your ID and the email confirmation comparing names.  

In the parking lot, it was like lines at Disneyland.  Multiple lanes going back and forth with the attempted illusion of movement.  It didn't work.  You would move about 10 car lengths, then sit, for 30 minutes.  This is a large parking lot.  Refer to Advice 2.  I eventually found out why.  My line split into two lines, once you finally pull up to the front of the line (Imagine you are at the Jungle Cruise and you finally make it to the front and just miss making the boat.  Then wait because there are only two boats running) you wait. Did I mention you spend a lot time waiting?  The admin comes by holding a laptop (she does that all day, strong arms) and takes your info from your Drivers License.  She makes her way down the line.  She is followed by the Med staff and their assistant.  In my case, a young asian lady administered the shot.  She changed gloves after each patient.  The assistant follows holding the doses, sharps container and trash bag.  Again not cart, but strong arms.  Their shift was 8 hrs.  

Once they make their way down the 10 car lane, they start the 15 minute clock to see if there are any allergic reactions.  Interesting they don't say how to notify them if there is a problem.  I guess if you faint and hit the horn with your head, they know.  Once the clock is up, they come and give you your Vaccine card with today's date and the date when to get a second shot.

Maderna is plus or minus 4 days.  Second shot can be received at any where they are offering it.

Hope you are safe.

As you might be able to tell, cartoons have become a crutch to fill in the fruitful thoughts of a Wada Life (for the key to explain it all, scroll down to the last one).

Here are some that have been sitting in the background.

                                                         My favorite for obvious reasons.

Self inflicted, to protect me from myself

Im not a hugger

An occasional thought

A frequent occurrence

My creative process

The New Inclusion

 Recently published  cartoon after President Biden's inauguration.  Apparently the New Inclusion is similar to the old version.

Unless you are Asian......  Yeah, Im still a cynic.

Mrs. Wada Class Page 2

 Yes this resembles her set up in our living room.