Index of Stories

  • Note: I have had trouble keeping up with the weekly schedule since opening the new Mokuhankan shop in Asakusa. I have no idea when I'll be able to get to doing these little stories. Until then, please enjoy these 'back issues' ...
  • Each story has an audio version to accompany it. [Note: Stories after #461 have no audio ... I just lost control of my time management after opening the Asakusa shop ... sorry!]
  • Small numbers at the right side of these tables indicate the presence of comments on that story. (Everybody is welcome to leave comments on any of the stories ...)

 

Volume 19 : January ~ June 2015

Story# Title
491 Visit to a Barber - I was pleased to hear the arrival of an old favourite ... 4
490 Transplants - I suppose the reverse might also be true ... 6
489 Ethics (and other liabilities) - … pretty expensive goodwill! 5
488 Out on the Street - Long arc of my career ... 2
487 Shoes on! - … sends an extremely strong signal 3
486 Responsible shopping ... - … how they should be using their money 2
485 Snap! - … miss by just a couple of hours! 2
484 New for Old ... - … and law-abiding citizens alike
483 Clamming Up - … how to train the rest of the world 3
482 Warm in Here (II) ... - … everybody knows we can't handle it ... 2
481 Benched - … looking for ways to free up some space 8
480 Warm in Here ... - … the culture does still survive
479 Down and Up! - … no other frills at all
478 A Little Tipple ... - … that maybe wouldn't be such a good idea 1
477 Ranking - … thinking about my own future 2
476 Who's Who? - ... two in a row!
475 Calling Mr. Holmes ... - ... lest I begin to ignore the evidence 4
474 Guess Who! - Too simple a question! 1
473 Time to Deliver ... - … now or never ... 2
472 Truthiness ... - ... will be snapped up by eager buyers! 1
471 Dave Dreams of Sushi ... - … this wonderfully exotic holiday

 

Volume 18 : July ~ December 2014

Story# Title
470 Rats! - This far, and no farther!
469 Here and There ... - … my head would explode! 1
468 Ho Hum ... - … just went to the Post Office ...
467 Getting Railroaded ... - Head straight down that track! 1
466 Sunny Sunday - ... a sub-culture here that many of us know nothing about
465 Was it tasty? - ... are looking forward to the experience 3
464 Location, location, location ... - … the history of this famous old street!
463 Opening Week ... - that part of the business has not gone as planned 6
462 Opening Day ... - ... should have seen this coming. 4
461 Time to Split Up! - Might the printers have any use for them? 1
460 ♫ Going Home ... ♫ - 24 hours a day of work waiting for us ... 2
459 Up Against the Wall ... - We've had a ton of fun ... 5
458 Out of sight ... - Cross our legs and wait! 1
457 Seeing is ... - ... the chance to take a time travel journey ... 5
456 Causing no Trouble ... - Dissatisfied with the boring bath back home ...
455 Dave, the Ogre ... - … and the waterworks began ...
454 Top Dog - I need all the help I can get! 1
453 With fresh eyes ... - Explore the place from a visitor's point of view ...
452 ♫ Lean on Me ... ♫ - Don't worry about it ... 3
451 ♫ Put Your Head on my Shoulder ♫ - .. imitating what we had seen in the movies
450 Convenience - Surely, this is broken?
449 In the Wet ... - You do what you have to do to stay alive ...
448 Time ladies, please! - ... a major retail presence in a global capital city
447 Coming Home? - a psychological game I am playing ... 1
446 Plus ça change ... - I couldn't believe what I was hearing ...
445 In the Wilderness ... - All I can remember now ... is that I actually did do that thing 2

 

Volume 17 : January ~ June 2014

Story# Title
444 Screening ... - ... a job that they see as quintessentially Japanese.
443 Plus ... and minus ... - ... there is no Mercedes outside my front door!
442 One out of Three ... - ... there are three general types of position 1
441 A Mouthful - ... dirt dripping from his chin
440 Homeless! - ... with my legs stretched into the warm kotatsu 2
439 Did you know ...? - Amaze your Japanese friends!
438 Growing up, after 1200 years? - ... would happily return again tomorrow
437 Don't call me, I'll call you ... - Take me out behind the barn ...
436 Fore! - ... it wasn't going to work.
435 Rip Van ... - I'll have plenty of questions ...
434 Ahh ... Ahh ... Choo! - She turned out to be a real trouper ... 3
433 Battlefield - ... aware of a subtle change in the room
432 Getting to know you ... - Let's start our own such tradition!
431 Breaking the shell ... - I agreed that we would cease those activities ...
430 An Evening Stroll - ... the ground undulating in visible waves 2
429 Call my Bookie! - It's time to do it again!
428 Best Laid Plans ... Part II - ... back out on the street. 1
427 Best Laid Plans ... - I would be 'set' for life!
426 Tanks for the Memories! - ... he'll find a few things of interest!
425 Once was Enough! - We've never had it like this before ... 2
424 When I'm Sixty ... Two! - She will look up and smile ...
423 Topsy-Turvy - Don't ask me; I've pretty much forgotten how!
422 Early Days - ... controlled millions of dollars in business 1
421 Floating Along ... - One man's treasure ...
420 Confessions - ... is the librarian Catholic? 3
419 Numbers - There are no limits ...

 

Volume 16 : July ~ December 2013

Story# Title
418 The Road not Taken - Came to his senses in time ...
417 Picture Perfect? - It doesn't hurt to listen ... 2
416 My Turn ... - Hollywood wasn't 'calling' anymore ...
415 Nihongo Jouzu desu ne! - ... a long way from where it should be!
414 Heaven Is ... - ... in this neighbourhood since 1450 2
413 Belt Up! - ... memory that exponentially grows in the telling
412 Funklickity - they must have sold it! 1
411 Greedy - I find none in there and feel disappointment ...
410 Will You ... - ... I made a young lady an offer 1
409 BGM - I get out the score and put on the CD ...
408 Who's Who? - ... and smash it against the wall
407 Again ... - ... becoming that old guy ...
406 You Really Can Go Back! - ... awful taste in wallpaper 2
405 A Physics Lesson - ... my bike was no longer useable 2
404 Untethered - I could create something that would appeal ...
403 Let me in! - Why was she doing this? 1
402 Countdown! - No; please wait a minute!
401 A-Team - ... one of the most difficult conversations ... 4
400 Si Si Si ... - ... a work in progress ...
399 Dog Days ... - ... cheering loudly when they come!
398 In a Pinch - ... the incredible sacrifice their father made 3
397 Bang! - ... feel the earth shaking!
396 End of an Era ... - ... looking out the window all day
395 Et Viola! - ... we could change things around 4
394 The Price of Success - It had been wonderfully effective! 2
393 Getting Totalled ... - An accurate figure ... but ... 1

 

Volume 15 : January ~ June 2013

Story# Title
392 Say it Ain't So! - ... not enough to make up for it. 1
391 Number One - We're having a ton of fun ... 1
390 Take Two! - Back in front of the cameras again ... 2
389 No, not much ... - You can stomp those flat!
388 Borrowed time ... - Duct tape - my biggest purchase recently!
387 Open House ... - stops me from taking shortcuts ...
386 Trained - ... falling asleep to exactly that same sound.
385 In the Wings - ... wait to see what happens 2
384 Relief! - Just stand back ... 2
383 How are You? - ... you become that person. 2
382 Best of Friends! - This sounded like a pretty good plan ... 2
381 A Short Stroll - ... very lucky ... 1
380 Quick, Call an Ambulance! - ... the surgery might have been scary 1
379 Marshmallows - ... more fulfilling lives than most of the population 2
378 A Rose by any other Name ... - I created my job out of thin air 1
377 Meow! - ... like walking through a movie set
376 "Call Me Irresponsible" - What could go wrong?
375 Where's the Beef? - iPhone levels of precision 2
374 I Wonder - ... would collapse instantly
373 Mr. Jack Meek - 32 of the planes were lost in a single night 1
372 Legacy ... - ... two people to get their arms around ...
371 Waving an Antenna - Only time will tell! 3
370 A Short Career ... - What's the statute of limitations? 2
369 Time to Leave - ... as though it were yesterday 1
368 Influence - 60 matching sleek limousines ... 1
367 Need a Trimming? - his most prized possession ... 1

 

Volume 14 : July ~ December 2012

Story# Title
366 No balloons! - ... inject a bit of fun into the process 1
365 In Stitches - ... extra nervous, or extra careful? 2
364 Choices, choices ... - How would I make an informed decision?
363 Goodbye, Bill! - Sayonara to an old friend ... 2
362 Now You See it ... Now You Don't! - ... any aspect that doesn't look right 1
361 By Mine Own Hand - ... nobody seems to care. 1
360 Up Up and Away ... - ... created a monster 2
359 A Miss is as Good as a Mile - ... and not a few miles further south 1
358 Fit to Print ... - How did I miss him!
357 What a Relief! - embossed deeply into a rich paper
356 Cough Cough - there is no possible response I can make ...
355 Cut! Print! - a steady stream of encouragement and compliments 3
354 Play Time - ... flattened by a hundred car train ... 2
353 Don't Look Back? - .... enveloped inside the dark cavern
352 Fickle Finger ... - ... none of us wants to even think about that!
351 Mr. Personality - ... it'll get you to the front door!
350 Common Sense - ... at the insurance counter I got a shock 1
349 Another trip to the airport ... - ... all the plans I have been saving up.
348 Key Man - ... she is not so happy. 3
347 Roast Turkey! - ... rivers of sweat 3
346 Doin' What Comes Naturally ... - If I remain still enough ... 2
345 Accepted at Last! - ... it's because they smell better! 1
344 Bilingual Fun! - ... he would certainly die laughing!
343 I'm Fine! - ... while looking back pointedly at her 1
342 A 'Just So' story ... - The crowd broke into sustained applause ...
341 Silver lining ... - ... hung in the most airy part of the building 2
340 JSR $F266 - ... the sort of thing that lived in its own room. 3

 

Volume 13 : January ~ June 2012

Story# Title
339 Ukiyo-e Heroes - Put your quarter in the slot! 1
338 Big Brother - Any more of them hidden? 1
337 The Better Half - Well, that's about what you would expect ... 7
336 Double Trouble ... - ... said that exact same thing!
335 Down 'n Dirty - ... imagine myself being stuck under there
334 Coming out of the closet ... - ... the rich bass sound ...
333 One out of Five! - ... completely of no interest to me.
332 A House is not a Home - ... masterpieces in miniature 1
331 At the Bus Stop (II) - Got it!
330 Untrustworthy Foreigners! - ... not even looking back as they sink ... 2
329 Take me Home, Country Roads ... - We live and (sometimes) learn ...
328 Wheeling and dealing ... - ... it had lasted only about an hour.
327 Collaboration - ... a feeling of expectation that I will see something new.
326 Poor, and Rich! - A real professional instrument!
325 Music, Maestro Please! - ... took the experiment all the way to its conclusion.
324 Stimulating the Economy - Lambs to the slaughter ... 1
323 At the Midnight Hour - Don't nag me!
322 Ad Sense - ... soon reach that 'dream' level.
321 Judgement Day - They were playing to win!
320 The Art of Conversation ... - ... I had better ride by in silence!
319 Second in Command ... - ... training of a corporate raider
318 Calling All Workers! - They didn't mind that one at all! 2
317 On a Knife Edge - ... a terrible race to the bottom
316 Once Upon a Time ... - ... was perhaps committing a crime.
315 Playing for Keeps - ... a necessary part of a healthy psychology 1
314 Praise be! - ... most relieved when there was no comment.

 

Volume 12 : July ~ December 2011

Story# Title
313 Use it, or ... - ... rolling their eyes at this chestnut
312 To the Rescue ... - This one wasn't a false alarm! 1
311 Breaking and Entering - ... use the crowbar to smash my way in. 4
310 Back in Hot Water - What is the world coming to ... 1
309 Muffins Redux ... - Who can be the 'bad cop'?
308 Dave Bull, Early Billionaire! - ... trying to avoid breaking down in laughter!
307 Against the Grain - Analysis of the answers led to the one job ... 2
306 Please Come Back! - ... it just didn't seem necessary to notate it. 3
305 Sign Here! - ... he had never known who made it. 1
304 Double or Nothing ... - Should I put on my consultant's hat? 2
303 Early one Morning - I know which one I would favour!
302 Boys will be ... - I decided not to take a toy this time ...
301 While the Cat's Away ... - ... the strangest kind of flashback.
300 The Goal ... - The worst printer in the building
299 Repeat after me ... - Exhausted from speaking English!
298 Time to Move on ... - ... drew a line under everything. 1
297 On Being a Blood Donor ... - A moment later it was 'game over' ...
296 How Convenient! - ... she moved to pick up the next item 1
295 That Bothersome Ethical Stuff! - A rocket from the sky ... 1
294 That's Mine! - Then she will learn how it feels ...
293 How Charming! - They are not an aggressive species ...
292 Fill 'er Up! - They were suitably impressed!
291 Go Ahead - Switch it off! - I can't do it!
290 Saa-bisu! - How about tossing in something a little extra?
289 Disturbing the Peace - Ignoring your father's advice ...
288 The Garbageman Cometh! - Beard flying in the wind! 2

 

Volume 11 : January ~ June 2011

Story# Title
287 Man of the World - ... jetting around every few months. 4
286 I'm Innocent! - ... actually not suited for this work at all.
285 Character Analysis - ... I will tell you all about the man!
284 A Mystery (part II) - ... to one who is willing to understand!
283 A Mystery - The scene in the library!
282 Night Moves - ... burning the midnight oil
281 Legacy? - ... some don't quite measure up. 2
280 Crow Trouble - ... drawn the attention of the local crows
279 Somebody is watching! - Anybody on the planet can watch me ... 2
278 1951 Again - ... it is posed for effect. 1
277 My Year! - It hardly seems credible ... 2
276 Garçon! - ... a tall drink for each of us. 1
275 The Inner Me! - Am I that evil? 3
274 O Canada - What if I were to be tested?
273 Blackout - ... a whitish band across the sky
272 My Word - If ever something should go wrong ... 1
271 Hang on! - ... never had a chance to land with the plane. 1
270 Oops! - ... a very strained atmosphere! 1
269 Cheese Toast - The undisputed king! 2
268 Planting Seeds - ... make it self-directed 2
267 Forbidden Fruit - ... a good idea at the time! 1
266 I Should Be! - It felt like a thick wad of money! 1
265 On Ice - ... something is definitely wrong!
264 Eating Egg ... and Dust! - rendered pretty much completely irrelevant! 3
263 By the Book - How many years it will take ...
262 Second Time Around - But more hands means more mouths ...

 

Volume 10 : July ~ December 2010

Story# Title
261 Out of Touch? - ... my afternoon took a different turn. 3
260 Set 'em Up! - Filling a frustrating gap ...
259 Sayonara - Pleasure and smiles to all who met her! 3
258 By the Left ... - ... in very good company
257 May I Not Have the Envelope, Please ... - ... the 'moment of truth'!
256 You Paid for Lunch ... - Shovelling money into the machine ...
255 Second Chance - ... four shiny silver discs
254 Blocked Memory - This was 'mission impossible'! 5
253 King of the Castle - Mine, all mine! 1
252 School Daze - ... with a very 'proper' British English accent
251 Hello Oscar! - I love you! Come to me now! 3
250 A Holiday - ... he hears the sound of a cat bell
249 Garbage out ... - the more you dispose, the more you pay
248 Garbage in ... - ... most things just don't last all that long.
247 Take Note! - I tensed up in 'anticipation'
246 In the Middle - ... names had to be taken from the bible 5
245 Topless! - ... had been caught in some illicit activity! 1
244 Homeward Bound - ... there are some things greater
243 Sit Down - for what you believe in! - ... no further escalation of hostilities 5
242 Out to Lunch - You had better be prepared ... 1
241 Route Finding ... - If everything goes exactly according to plan!
240 Evening Soundscape - ... a rice cooker closing.
239 X - Alpha - I'll make a complete report to you ...
238 X + Alpha - I sometimes had 'nothing to do'!
237 Go for the Golden! - The gods slipped up a bit ... 3
236 Yuck! Don't Touch! - Very realistic pictures! 1

 

Volume 9 : January ~ June 2010

Story# Title
235 Lies, I Tell You! - ... collapsed onto the sofa. 1
234 Let the Drums Roll Out! - Today was the fifth day running ...
233 Kampai! - They saw a different possible future for themselves 1
232 Contemporaries - If I just reach out my arm and stretch a bit ...
231 On Air - ... an animation of shopping carts
230 Quick Study ... - What did I want to be when I grew up?
229 Hi Yo Silver! - The question went to the other team ...
228 In the Doghouse - Boots is not listening! 2
227 tl;dr - Only a few dozen people have ever seen it! 1
226 Analog vs Digital - Steal these prints ... please!
225 His Best Work - ... we know what happens to athletes
224 Hear Me Roar! - Headed for the entrance, looking neither left nor right
223 Friends, Customers, Collectors! - ... lend me your ears! 1
222 Practice Makes ... Perfect? - ... on stage all day!
221 When Old Acquaintance ... - ... completely on the outside looking in ...
220 One Size Fits All! - I do not want to do this! 2
219 A Date With Data - ... a mess of corrections and unreadable scribbles
218 Do not Fold ... - ... a 'labour-saving' device in my workshop
217 Take Your Turn! - .. it sometimes happens automatically! 1
216 No Sweat - I must have been in fantastic condition!
215 Off to Market - I didn't recognize most of the foods ...
214 Method Acting - Well, I don't really know ... 1
213 A Little Story about a Bee and a Fly - The environment has somehow changed ...
212 First it is Warm ... - Keeping my shame completely private!
211 A Story With a Wrinkle - I wasn't quite ready just to pull the plug ...
210 Moshi Moshi - His language was really quite strange to me ... 1

 

Volume 8 : July ~ December 2009

Story# Title
209 ... the Best of Times ... - ... lessons taught, and lessons learned. 2
208 Darwin and Me - I intend to be part of it!
207 A Little Something from Santa - She never wears the clothes that we get for her ...
206 In Hot Water - I'll be soaking ... down at the Post Office!
205 O-Furo - ... a deep rumble, and water begins to spurt into the tub 1
204 A Patch of Sun - The sun streams into the room ... 2
203 The Next Big Thing! - a present from my mother when we first started a family
202 The Sweet Smell of International Amity! - Recipe time today!
201 By the Slice - ... the conflict has been resolved. 1
200 Get Busy! - Which of these approaches makes more sense?
199 A Brush with Fate - Side by side they look identical, but ...
198 Join the Club - He tricked us this year ...
197 Off the Shelf - Do you think that this is an easy job?
196 Six-string Challenge - Not such a crazy idea? 1
195 Beauty Sleep - This weakling needs a re-charge!
194 Never! - Does this tell you how boring my life must be? 3
193 Birthday Suits - Look at the wimpy white guy! 3
192 Roving Eye - I remember her as though it were yesterday!
191 Home Sweet (?) Home - ... became the butt of shouted curses and imprecations
190 Gone With the Wind - Some of the new words that he had learned ...
189 Don't Sweat! - I've got it down pat now!
188 Carpe Momentum! - ... coming through such a 'trial by fire'
187 Take it Away, Dave! - ... a long improvised solo for the tenor sax!
186 Three's Company - ... stuffed it into his pocket with no break in the music.
185 Ahoy there! Open your wallet! - My beard is real!
184 Multi-tasking - It's just a matter of time ...

 

Volume 7 : January ~ June 2009

Story# Title
183 George Burns and my House - He lived to be 100 ...
182 Cat Flap Redux - It would be nice to see you a bit more active ... 3
181 In the Dark - ... a pity we didn't learn more about manners!
180 Soundscapes - I was rewarded with beginner's luck!
179 Aches and Pains - Am I getting that old? 3
178 Weeds - ... while he had his back turned, up they came again.
177 One is Enough! - ... flowers on each side as far as the eye can see
176 I Spy - My fresh loaf arrived in the nick of time!
175 In Retrospect - Now my kids will believe me!
174 Smile for the Camera - ... grow up to become more confident in their behaviour
173 Birthday Girl - a better sense of how to organize and enjoy one's life ...
172 Semi Double - ... others are waiting to pounce and take over
171 Benched! - He lived alone, but had frequent visitors ...
170 Getting Coached - It's behind you!
169 Saying Goodbye - ... saying 'good-bye' to a man who I will never forget
168 Read all about it! - ... launching each one from the sidewalk.
167 Little Pleasures ... - I would never have dreamed of separating them!
166 An Open and Shut Case - This conversation has been a good lesson for me! 1
165 Prompt Results! - Good evening, this is woodblock printmaker David Bull ...
164 Commentary - ... that 'freewheeling' approach would not do for this program.
163 Halt! What's the Password?? - ... a real problem keeping things in memory
162 He Who Seeks, Shall Find ... Something! - ... off on a tangent ...
161 Buttermilk - ... my full, nearly untouched, glass of buttermilk ...
160 If the Jacket Fits ... - Money obviously well spent!
159 Don't Look Back! - thinking about things that happened to us years ago
158 New Year Greetings - "lovingly prepared using traditional techniques" 1

 

Volume 6 : July ~ December 2008

Story# Title
157 Will I Make It? - Nobody but yourself can answer that ... 2
156 Chopin and Santa Claus - Their father would never lie to them ...
155 Walter Mitty and I - Heroic adventures!
154 Woody Friend (II) - The joyride lasted about a year ...
153 Woody Friend (I) - I picked up a few simple tools, and set to work ...
152 An International Triumvirate - ... one became transformed into the other ...
151 Cat Flap - A lady never tells ...
150 A Loose Thread - Don't you have any common sense?
149 And the Winner is ... - It could be a lot worse ...
148 Final Curtain - All he had to do was direct our enthusiasm into sensible directions
147 Basket Case - I much prefer the woodblock printed colours!
146 The Jig's Up! - ... a better fate than to be hidden away in a box
145 Getting Ahead! - ... my future life was decided that afternoon in that workshop
144 Pass the Vinegar! - the wind could blow as it would, you would feel nothing!
143 A Little Bit of Bach - Fine playing, and fine company!
142 Good Enough for Jazz ... - ... stable under the rain of blows from his mallet
141 A Day's Work at the Beach - "Just wasting my time here, it seems ..."
140 Now you See it ... - A moment later, she understood what she was looking at
139 Take a Number, Please! - Something to chew on, and keep my brain in shape ...
138 Pardon my French! - ... nothing more than a series of illegible scribbles 1
137 All Shook Up! - He felt nervous being in the place for even a few minutes
136 Like, Whatever! - ... their visit had some unintended consequences!
135 Big Feet, Light Steps ... - Nothing left in this river, anyway ...
134 Evening River - These lovers will pick up where I leave off
133 Rice Dreams - How do you think I'd look with mud between my toes?
132 Is God Green? - there he stands, silently watching them

(The matching book for this volume - or an eBook - can be ordered here.)

 

Volume 5 : January ~ June 2008

Story# Title
131 Ten Year Old Spaghetti - I will never be able to 'escape' from that work!
130 March to the Scaffold! - I could only sit there, awaiting my inevitable fate.
129 Contemporaries - Building one little room shouldn't take most of a person's life! 2
128 An Inside Job ... - ... a lesson that needs to be repeated ...
127 Cap and Gown - Now let's see what she goes on to make with it!
126 In Labour - .. the other people in the car thought that I was a wino!
125 Bags of Fun! - Say, I've got a little problem here ...
124 You Want a Story? - Part Two - That would be the end of this journey, and of me.
123 You Want a Story? - ... constantly vigilant to stay on the road safely.
122 Share and Share Alike! - ... these were the jobs we would all have to do.
121 A Suspicious Character! - ... some kind of criminal activity
120 Accounting for Time - He will study it ... for a few minutes
119 Thumbs Up! - ... hardly the 'life or death' situation that the gladiators faced 4
118 Pipe Dreams - ... the usual peaceful mood of my printmaking work 1
117 Out to Pasture - I've got to get busy in the workshop! 1
116 Greenhouse People - ...a clear analogy to our personal habits
115 Do you Dare? - It was high stakes gambling, and not for everybody
114 Boots Chimes In - It just makes me want to slide back into sleep! 1
113 How Far is 'Too Far'? - ... it's not just the errand that is the point
112 Forget Me Not ... - ... those who remember too much 1
111 Commuter Life - ... the answer is just as clear ...
110 If the Shoe Fits ... - ... pretty much everybody is barefoot ...
109 On the Support Desk - ... a problem on the other side of the world.
108 Case Study - ... his face fell in disappointment
107 Liquid Heaven - ... I had not the slightest idea what to order
106 Radio Times - ... creating images in our own minds

(The matching book for this volume - or an eBook - can be ordered here.)

 

Volume 4 : July ~ December 2007

Story# Title
105 Another turn of the wheel ... - See you next year ... next week!
104 Sleigh Ride - my very first appearance on TV ... in my pajamas!
103 Treasure Trove - ... squirm around while waiting for everybody to be ready 4
102 England to India in Two Months : (2) - ... we got into a typhoon ...
101 England to India in Two Months : (1) - ... danger of being torpedoed ...
100 Footsteps in the Night - Shhh ... keep quiet or they'll hear us!
99 Any Volunteers ... Please? - ... everybody else always avoided eye contact
98 Still a Child? - I missed the chance to become an adult! 5
97 What are they Thinking? - ... watching that African Webcam again! 2
96 On the Beach - ... doing a good job of keeping our environment clean?
95 A Very Special Veranda - ... providing the breakfast for the crocodile ... 1
94 Talkin' 'bout my Generation - I will just nod sagely ... 1
93 I Should Have Danced all Night - ... doing most of the dipping and twirling
92 In High Gear - ... slowly plodding their way up the hill
91 Hold Tight! - ... what amazing skills those old conductors had!
90 The Man in the Brown Shoes - I had no other clothes ... 1
89 Don't Move! - ... quickly wrapped up and accepted for dinner.
88 A Date, with Chopin - The pool will be closing in five minutes ...
87 Quotable Quotes ... - To see her photos, I would have to become a member.
86 Alexandru ... the great? - ... the most important topic there could possibly be!
85 Who will Bell the Cat? - ... jingling with every step! 3
84 Thanks Elvis! - The handwriting was on the wall for the dance bands ...
83 Getting Better ... - ... every square inch of this entire planet
82 Radio Exercising - Compulsory exercising has never been my favorite
81 Wooden School - ... burnished clean until it glows
80 Don't Bug Me! - ... surprises lurk behind bathroom doors
79 Climbing up the Ladder - This plant just doesn't know when to stop!

(The matching book for this volume - or an eBook - can be ordered here.)

 

Volume 3 : January ~ June 2007

Story# Title
78 A Close Game! - ... yet another huge roar comes from the crowd! 1
77 Great Expectations! - ... looking forward to this all night!
76 Salad Days - ... able to finish the entire bowl?
75 Not so Super Markets ... - ... it nearly makes me cry!
74 Keeping up with the Joneses - no guards hovering at your elbow 4
73 Bath Time - ... you dipped your head into the tub 1
72 Sweetie Pie - What a perfect combination!
71 Merry Xmas! - ... to show up with a sack full of presents!
70 Rusting Away - I knew what I was getting into ...
69 The Early Bird Catches ... - ... a dollop of jam ... and a dollop of fan mail!
68 How Long Has This Been Going On? - it really could happen
67 Unbelievable! - ... Boots is curious about my beliefs ...
66 Turning the Tables - dusted off the first disc, and started it playing
65 Off the Record - an interesting analogy to my own printmaking work
64 London Debut - ... every note seemed to hang in the air
63 First Days in London - ... seeing what was around every corner
62 Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall - ... the entire course of my life changed
61 Once a Year ... - ... wade through the complicated calculations.
60 Mom's the Word! - ... leaving behind everything and everybody she knew
59 Scraping by ... - ... do something foolish to make her angry ...
58 Speaker of the House - ... unwanted at some point in the future
57 Bargain Hunting - she will remember the fun she had while buying them
56 Opening Day - the next one will be still faster and still cheaper!
55 My Short-Lived Advertising Career - Mmmmm ... Good!
54 Here we go Again! - the reason for the existence of a spider 1

(The matching book for this volume - or an eBook - can be ordered here.)

 

Volume 2 : July ~ December 2006

Story# Title
53 Staying in the Lines - having fun colouring my maps!
52 Insular Attitudes - ... these days, it's not so funny!
51 Hi Dad! - ... still 'only' a septuagenarian
50 Down, Down, Down ... - nobody would ever get lost again ...
49 Brickbats and Bouquets - have we done a good job or not?
48 Cross Words - serious and deep family conversations?
47 Dangerous River - setting off on their fabulous adventure 1
46 Where Have I Seen You Before? - an audience of millions of viewers
45 Magic Show - the little blue jet was gone in a flash
44 Too Much Volume! - part of my 'living memory'
43 Paper Trail - Just how much do I treasure this paper?
42 Really? - their 'boring' old dad ...
41 Stairway to Heaven - I could see his tiny tongue flickering
40 A Time For ... - To everything there is a season ...
39 Something on My Chest ... - the 'close' of another circle ...
38 Bring it on! - maintenance of old traditions is a giant business
37 Basket Case - Now this kind of gardening I can understand
36 Fresh Start - the world is his oyster
35 Cool of the Evening - Just another evening stroll ...
34 Prime Time - ... the 'top' of the arc of your life.
33 On my Soap Box - paying out, but receiving nothing in return!
32 Colour me Genki! - my small contribution to keeping Japan healthy
31 My Road Warrior! - ... with me for more than 15 years. 3
30 This Old Man - an impact on my way of thinking?
29 Musical Soiree - a comfortable place for a session of chamber music.
28 My Green Air-conditioner - by mid-summer my air-conditioner is ready
27 The Voice in my Pocket - I could trace my journey by the sounds
Bonus Level Playing Field - waste of time ... or wonderful 'brain training'?
Bonus Under Construction - building a log house in the country

(The matching book for this volume - or an eBook - can be ordered here.)

 

Volume 1 : January ~ June 2006

Story# Title
26 At the Bakery - Give me the usual, please! 2
25 A Plum Job - I have a ringside seat for this little drama!
24 My Turn! - I was next in line ...
23 On the Ropes - ... an insane din of drums and flutes ...
22 One Story About Four Stories! - This is me living in a factory!
21 The Collectors - ... papers and packages scattered in drifts 1
20 Turnabout is Fair Play! - ... I am a 'caretaker' of this knowledge ...
19 At the Movies - Next time, it's my turn to choose!
18 At Ease, Sailor! - ... the 'commander' of the SS Woodblock! 2
17 I Lost my Cherry! - ... enjoy what you still have ...
16 At the Bus Stop - He was so eager to join them! 1
15 The Grass is Always Greener ... - Which vacuum cleaner do you use? 1
14 Special Delivery - An extra year together!
13 Hibernation - ... 'wasting' so much time in my futon ...
12 Elevator Music - ... I was terrified ...
11 Something Fishy - ... an interesting example of how cultures differ
10 The Web - ... something a bit startling ...
9 Rescue in the Night - an adventure story? 1
8 Oh no! ... I Won! - Better luck next time! 2
7 Bookends ... - The start and finish of my day ...
6 Naturally ... - What is 'natural' for human beings?
5 I'm learning IM, I am ... - Confusing modern technology!
4 Of Course I can Speak Japanese! - More Japanese than a Japanese? 2
3 Peel Me a Grape! - "Aren't you going to eat the skin?" 3
2 Locked into a Routine ... - Am I such a boring person?
1 Introducing Boots the cat! - The 'lady' who 'lives' in my home! 1
Bonus At Last! - the experience every newcomer in Japan wants!
Bonus Do You Know Granola? - slow down a little! 2

(The matching book for this volume - or an eBook - can be ordered here.)