Reagan in Christening Gown

Our upcoming adventures in Japan

Though I'm about to drive myself insane over the details, it's looking like we're almost ready to take our big trip to Japan to see my Tall Japanese Boy. Nick, Neal and I are leaving in on March 8 and we're going to stay till March 18 for Neal, and March 25 for Nick and I. We're hitting some big cities - Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo, then hitting some small towns like Hakone (near Mt. Fuji) and Takayama (up in the Japan Alps). I'm thrilled we're getting to do this, though technically, my grasp of the Japanese language is still a bit iffy. I'm hoping the Japanese people are really very polite, like they are alleged to be.

We're also in the midst of repairing all the damage from our interior flood. The week after Thanksgiving, some drain from our flat roof lost it's commitment and flooded Neal's room, then leaked through his floor and flooded the kitchen below. We're ending up with new ceilings in both room, new floors in both rooms, paint everywhere, new lighting, new furniture for Neal's room (and a new mattress - apparently gallons of rain water does not help a mattress). We put off making the repairs since it was close to Christmas and we didn't have the intestinal fortitude to put up with all the chaos at that time. So the worker bees have been sheetrocking and mudding said sheetrock and installing lights. They will paint and install floors in the next few weeks, so I'll come home to a house that is in better shape than currently. That is a very good thing, because currently it's sort of a wreck.

OK, let me get back to obsessing about hotels in Japan. A girl has got to have a hobby.

Love to each and every Clark, Walker, Adams, Bailey, Bentley, and Anderson out there. And for the record, Julia Clark would have been 92 years old yesterday. And wouldn't SHE have been surprised!

bb's writing published on the world wide web

109 shallowford rd, circa 2010.  and that ol widder's house next door, looking good.

Another Clark/Walker/Anderson

It looks like we aren't going to be able to make it to Clarkmas this year. We will miss you all dearly and if plans change and we're able to make it we certainly will. With that being said, we won't be able to make our announcement in person, so I figured the Blark was as good a place as any. We found out we're expecting baby #2 in June. We're super excited! Clark of course doesn't really know what's going on, although we talk about the baby all the time. He loves babies and points them out every time we're in a store. He doesn't even have to see the actual baby, just the infant car seat is enough. He gets so excited and says, "baby, baby, mama, baby." Hopefully this is a good sign for when we bring home a baby of our own :)

Here's the only picture we have so far of our little one. It was taken three weeks ago at my first doctor's appointment. It kind of looks like a little cocoon, but in the last few weeks he/she now has arms, legs, and facial features. It was awesome to see there actually is a little baby and to hear he/her heartbeat so loud and clear.

At last I'm in!

I've been trying to figure out how to get onto the blog, and I've finally managed it. Life is difficult in this 21st century for a Luddite such as myself, but it's done and I can now chatter away at will.

Murry and I are heading off in a couple of weeks for south Alabama to spend Thanksgiving with the Bentleys. We always have a fine time, and I'm sure this will be no different. We'll be staying with Bud and Sharon in Pensacola, so there will be walking on the beach for us. Eat your hearts out the rest of you.

The kitchen remodel planning continues apace. In fact a contractor is supposed to come by this afternoon to discuss the project so he can give me a bid. Stay posted.

Bass Lofts

 See the gym floor - they put residences in the gym.  Apparently they have very tall ceilings.

Courtyard behind the bleachers.  They've created this cool little pedestrian street and people have their patio furniture out there.  It's very community oriented and cool.  I'm sure it's been the scene of countless high school transgressions over the years.

 "hey, who are you and why are you taking a picture of me outside my condo!"

 signage on the steps leading up the gym. 

"hey - you again; and how'd you get inside.  We will cross our arms and judge you.  Well, ok, you seem to be a good guy, take your pictures and stay with us.  We will go buy retro t-shirts and puma tennis shoes.  And wear our sunglasses when it's not very sunny outside." 
You can see the sloped ceiling under the bleachers above.  the ceilings at the tall end were about 18' and then more like 7' over at the short end.  Very cool place.

Hey folks - long time no post.  I took these pictures back in the spring/summer when I went to visit a friend in Atlanta who lives under the bleachers of the old Bass School, of which I believe several of you Blarkers are alumni.  Enjoy.