Tokyo Travels

Posted on May 19, 2017 by loiswhitmanhess

We passed this odd looking sculpture in Tokyo a few times in the last few days. I finally got an explanation as to what it is.
“Plopped atop Tokyo’s Asahi Beer building is the famous kin no unchi, Japanese for “Golden Turd.” (Locals also call it the unchi biru, aka “poop building.”) The 300-ton stainless steel sculpture designed by French architect Philippe Stark was meant to look like foam rising from a beer mug. Ah, well”

Photo by Eliot Hess

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We went to Nikko today, a small city in the mountains, north of Tokyo. That’s where the famous Shinto shrine was established in 1617. All Shinto shrines are meant for happy times. The shrines were magnificent structures and the grounds were beautifully landscaped.

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Time For Lunch

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Candid Shots

We Almost Made It To The Top Of Mt. Fuji

Posted on May 18, 2017 by loiswhitmanhess

Eliot shot this photo during a few second clearing. The fog was intense.

8,000 feet up

HandL phone case makes it to Mt. Fuji.

A visit to the Mt. Fuji Shinto

I dropped in to say hello

Just outside our breakfast window. Dreamy.

One of the largest roller coasters in Japan

NHK TV Caught Up With Lois and Eliot

Posted on May 17, 2017 by loiswhitmanhess

Surprise, surprise. Eliot and I are being featured in a TV special on “How To Eat Sushi” which will appear on NHK TV Japan in a few weeks. We were having lunch at a tiny sushi restaurant (name is on video) just steps away from Japan’s most sacred Buddhist Temple, when Eliot whispers to me, “They are taping us.”

I was so involved in eating the most delicious sushi that I had no idea what he was saying. Then I looked up and saw cameras all round us. The TV station, NHK (official English name: Japan Broadcasting Corporation) Japan’s national public broadcasting organization, was taping a special on “How To Eat Sushi” and we are going to be one of the featured guests.

They interviewed us on our views on eating sushi and continued to tape us during our meal. They were a little shocked when I whipped out my DigiDame microphone and started to tape my own show.

Remember, I am new at this. My recording is quite rudimentary but that’s the nature of the video portion of my personal blog. All in all, it was a very exciting adventure on our first day in Tokyo.

The hostess

The restaurant

Tushy Cleaner

Posted on May 16, 2017 by loiswhitmanhess

Hello from Tokyo! We made it. It took us 24 hours to get here, but we made it without any drama. Everything went smoothly.

I had my first tushy cleaning experience tonight. I have been hearing about these butt cleaning toilets for years, but I never actually experienced one. Now, I don’t think I can’t live without it.
Whitney and Fredrick, who lived in Japan for three months, told me that everyone uses toilets with tushy cleaners here. Public bathrooms have them too. They warned me. Once your tush gets cleaned with a hot water spray, that hits just the right spot, you get hooked. I just don’t feel like toilet paper alone will do the complete job anymore.

My friend Steve gave us a tush cleaner accessory years ago, but we never used it. Now we are anxious to try it. Other friends, actually refurbished their bathrooms with Toto cleaning toilets. They all claim they have the cleanest rear ends in town. They are probably right.

I can’t wait for my next trip to the bathroom.

Japan Filler

Posted on May 15, 2017 by loiswhitmanhess

We are on our way to Japan. We are just about to land in LA. Trying not to miss a DigiDame day. I wouldn’t think of not taking a daily shower, or brushing my teeth. So why would I want to miss a DigiDame post? Hope this gets posted.

Camera Roll Search

Posted on May 14, 2017 by loiswhitmanhess

Many of you know this, but some of you probably forgot. I did. I want to remind you again. because if you know this trick, you will be able to search for a photo on your camera roll with greater ease.

If you go to “All Photos” on your camera roll and insert a word in the search bar, you can get all the photos instantly in that particular category. That’s good news for people like me who store over 10,000 photos on my camera roll.

It usually takes me a half hour to locate a photo. Now I’ll remember to use a search word like “Dog,” “Los Angeles,” “Manhattan.”

Check out the results below.

Happy searching.

Hoda Jumps Into Action On Today Show

Posted on May 13, 2017 by loiswhitmanhess

Hoda Kotb showed us what reality TV is really all about this past Friday on the Today Show. Not many TV hosts would have been as quick thinking as Hoda when she caught a pregnant model who fainted on air. Hoda knew something wasn’t quite right when the model was walking out in a flowy dress in a segment for stylist Lilliana Vazquez.
Bravo to Hoda on her first Mother’s Day. She adopted a baby girl a few months ago. Read about the baby here. She certainly demonstrated her compassion for others. Motherly instinct at its best. Watch it here.

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Posted On Facebook by Barbara Belmont. We both gave birth to our daughters within days of each other. Nine months earlier we were together celebrating Halloween at a costume party Barbara hosted in her West Hartford, CT home. Something was in the air. That’s me on the floor diapering Whitney months after both babies were born. Whitney cried to have her diaper changed every hour. Baby Veronica went for hours without complaining. Barbara jokes now that she withheld liquids from Veronica. That’s why she was so dry. Phooey, not true.

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From Whitney and Fredrick.

Happy Mother’s Day To All Women

Posted on May 13, 2017 by loiswhitmanhess

Great Aunts Count Too

Photo by Eliot Hess

A Selfie By Whitney

My Mother and Father

Happy Birthday Frank

Posted on May 11, 2017 by loiswhitmanhess

Frank O’Connell epitomizes what most American business people want for their own careers, respect, responsibility and, of course, financial rewards. Frank got all that, and more, because he was willing to take chances by going from new company to new company (see list below) and then leading them into uncharted waters where they never would have gone without him.

I was fortunate to witness a lot of these moves because he hired our agency to handle the PR at many of these companies. Each time, the creativity would get better and better as Frank tried new marketing and sales techniques. He took calculated risks that were exhilarating to experience. Frank was so good that many of the young executives who worked for him, and learned from him, went on to have brilliant careers. They all admit he was the guiding light and the inspiration.

The best part of this story is his wife Barbara. She was always ready for a new adventure. From moving to new cities every few years, to driving Harleys across the United States as one of their many hobbies, Barbara was the force that made it all look so easy.

Barbara’s words to wish Frank a happy birthday on Facebook today brought back so many memories. Frank on the run. For a few moments, I was 20 years younger. Then reality set in. We are in our senior years and our careers are mostly behind us.

Memo to Frank. “We still have plenty of tricks to show off.”

Happy Birthday Frank.

The O’Connell sons

The daughter-in-laws

Where’s Frank?

11 Quotes To Remember When You Feel Lost In Your Life

Posted on May 11, 2017 by loiswhitmanhess

This is dedicated to a few DigiDame readers who are struggling right now. This was adapted from a group of encouraging words from Daily Health Post on Facebook. I hope this helps.