Day Thirteen

We managed Proof of Life!



Of course, in the event of a real kidnapping, I wouldn't use a paper with a neighbour-subscribers address on the front.

After some disagreement about my ... state, I went along this morning as official photographer. It's very humid and wet, so we only went up to - and around - Sakura Park.



Click the image for the wide-screen version. We went into it from the bottom end



(yeah - weird loss of gravity just there, for a second. Very confusing for all concerned). Up the cool stairs



And onto what we learned, this morning, is a/the Passive Lawn.



We figured it was okay to break the rules, what with us being the only people there.

The building up the top right of the Google Maps photo is called International House. It is marked with the inscription "So that brotherhood may prevail". Over what I don't know. The tōrō






was a gift from Japan, apparently.

Layla is part Panda.



She doesn't so much like to carry/fetch/etc. sticks, as she does strip and chew them which, to my mind, is an altogether different enterprise. Yes, we feed her plenty.

What's more fun than a found tennis ball? Found chalk!






The 'w' in Olivia's name was, as you can plainly see, not my doing. Return on investment? Too cute by half (vomiting optional).

Group photo!



And I would, very much, have liked to have known where the tap for this sprinkler was.



I'm not saying I would have turned it on while Layla stood on top, but I would have turned it on while Layla stood on top. I would absolutely have turned it on while Layla stood on top.

Parks in New York are readable in funny ways. This one, for example



tells me that some gardening is about to be done (you have to live here a little while, to learn the language. It can be tricky, I know).

Speaking of language. In the corner opposite International House is a statue of a General Butterfield






According to my knowledge of psychology and body language (meaning my ability to look things up on the internet), that means he is 'closed'. It demonstrates anger, stubborness, assertiveness - all good traits to have in a General. Unless he's secretly a woman, in which case the posture is more to do with self-preservation. For the General, he'd have to have had his hands folded in front of his genitals to achieve the same effect (in case you're ever asked).

They did, however, do a good job on detail.



Nice spurs.

Just how reflective was that sign, by the by? Reflective enough for me to get in trouble for photographing Sonja fixing her hair in front of it.



All in all, a decently fun walk.