Soon after I started blogging here, I found myself in the top-ten for both "user score" and "Joe's top-ten."  I had spent most of the past year in Joe's top-ten (usually between number 2 and 5), and I have remained steadily within the top-twenty users.

Recently, my "Joe's" ranking has fallen out of the top-ten.  In a way, I am relieved.  From now on, I can be as boring as I want to be without worrying whether I can at least occasionally publish a popular article.  (Maybe I will continue sliding down the list until the next season of American Idol starts.)

Until then I will enjoy the freedom of being as interesting or boring as I want to be, considering that my audience will be a lot smaller than it used to be.

*********Here goes************

MAN!  It is hot here in Japan!  The current record-breaking heatwave has been causing many people to suffer.  Thank goodness that we have air conditioning at my in-laws' house that can keep us comfortable while we're here.

This afternoon Kazuko, Kenny, and I met some old friends from a former job at a Thai restaurant.  It was fun to see all of our old friends.  Unfortunately Kenny wasn't his usual self.  He cried and cried as long as we were in the restaurant.  There was something in there that apparently he didn't like.

After the restaurant, we went to Toys R Us with our friend Kaoru.  At that time Kenny cheered up.  (Of course any kid cheers up when they're in a toy store, right?)  It was fun to ride around in Kaoru's car with her, Kenny, and my wife.  She seems like an interesting person.

After we got home, we ordered a pizza from "Pizza San Marino."  It was good.  I really like Japanese delivery pizza. 

Earlier in the day when we were at Toys R Us, we were able to find Gerber baby food.  (They had sweet potatoes, carrots, and green peas.)  We bought a few bottles for Kenny.  He really enjoyed the sweet peas that I gave him at dinner.  It seems that he doesn't really care for Japanese baby food.  I was suprised at how quickly and happily he ate the Gerber's peas.  He'll have to work on developing a taste for Japanese food.

Here are a few pictures that we've taken recently:

Kenny and his great-grandmother:

Kenny by himself:

Kenny and his cousin Daiki playing "together."  (Actually, Daiki is still a bit unsure about Kenny.  They watch each other at dinnertime, but don't play together much as of yet.)

Baby standing:

I suppose that's about it for today.