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I hope you'll look around a bit, and check out some of the many things that amuse me. (It's good to be easily amused!) Be sure to watch out for the crazy armadillos. The little wise-guys have gotten onto every page, and each is armed with pop-up dillo dogma! |
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This site was last updated on 12/20/2003.
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Taihen kekko de gozimasu! (Huh?!) |
Have you noticed that I tend to develop "unusual" hobbies? Sono tori! <You're absolutely right!> I'm now studying Chado, which is "The Way of Tea." It's fascinating! At the basic level, I'm being trained in the Zen-based Urasenke style of Japanese tea ceremony. But at each Monday night class, our sensei also manages to teach us about Japanese philosophy, cultural values, art forms, and the Japanese language itself.
So what the heck
is "The Way of Tea?" Soshitsu Sen, the recently-retired Urasenke Grand Tea
Master describes it this way:
Chado is based on the simple act of boiling water, making tea, offering it to others,
and drinking of it ourselves. Served with a respectful heart and received with
gratitude, a bowl of tea satisfies both physical and spiritual thirst. The frenzied
world and our myriad dilemmas leave our bodies and minds exhausted. It is then that
we seek out a place where we can have a moment of peace and tranquility. In the
discipline of Chado such a place can be found. The four principles of harmony,
repect, purity, and tranquility, codified almost four hundred years ago, are timeless
guides to the practice of Chado. Incorporating them into daily life helps one to
find that unassailable place of tranquility that is within each of us.
No, it's not a
cult! It IS, however, very peaceful and calming, as well as educational, fun, and
tasty. If you'd like to learn more about Chado, just ask me! My tea ceremony
skills are very limited, but I'd be honored to prepare a bowl of tea for you. I am
extremely fortunate to be able to train at Japan House,
a true cultural treasure hidden here in central Illinois.
Gambatte! <Go for it!>
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Aunt Juno does it again! |
My Aunt Juno, who previously sent a wonderful armadillo lithograph, and won a mini-dillo in our Armadillo Roundup contest, has once again shown her unwaivering dillo support! She's given me a wonderful lifesize armadillo statue! Click on the photo to check it out! To commemorate this outstanding gift from Juno Sinykin, the armadillo has graciously consented to be named "Juno Dillykin!" Thank you so much, Aunt Juno!
I may not be Captain Kirk, but I get around. Here's proof! |
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No, you won't need "Adult Check" to see these pictures! |
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All of life's problems solved in one neat and tidy package. |
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Norman is in Ireland! (Or is that "No man is an island"?) |
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Believe it or not, I have one! Go here to be pragmatic. |
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Just like it says, silly! |
After you've had a chance to browse a bit, I'd love to hear from you! It seems like we never talk anymore. How are the wife and kids? Did you ever get that gazelle out of your back yard? Click below (or use the following address) to E-mail me your greetings, suggestions, requests, or other general ramblings. Thanks!
Jeff (Tongo Rad) Wallace
tongor@aol.com
Care to know what
else the two loonies have been up to?
Catch up with us at our Jeff & Jill Fun Site!
HERE
ARE A FEW PREVIOUS
STORIES AND FEATURES:
My engineering career has exposed me to some wonderfully diverse industries over the years, but now I've joined the microscopic world of bioscience! Care to learn more about how I spend my workdays? Click here to visit my career page.
Believe it or not, the wedding, reception, and honeymoon photos have been added to the Jeff & Jill Wedding Site! They're a hoot! (Especially the reception photos!) Click here to check out the fun pictures of us and our guests.
Our friend Albert recently sent us a fantastic set of four custom-made acrylic armadillo beverage coasters! Wow! They're great! Thank you so much! Click here to check them out! They did arrive, however, with a tragic tale of dillo disaster. Click here to read Albert's first-hand account of armadillos out of control!
Thanks, Aunt Juno!
We received a beautiful full-size lithograph of the noble armadillo shown above. It
was sent in by my Aunt Juno, a mini-dillo winner in our Armadillo Roundup contest! Thank
you for your thoughtfulness! I invite everyone to click
here to view the full-size art. (It makes a great Windows wallpaper!)
Save the Stress Cows!! 
Are you a Gateway computer owner? Did you receive a free squeeze-cow with your
PC? Click here to fight for their freedom!
Did
you enter the Armadillo Roundup contest?
If not, you missed an easy prize! 
We had quite a few entries, but even more kissing up to the judges! So everyone who entered was declared a winner and received a prize! Click here to see what they won and to check out the official armadillo count.
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