I wrote my first blog in 2003 as a way of keeping in touch with family and friends spread around the world.  I had just arrived in California after spending three years in Japan, and I felt dislocated and homesick.  The blog helped me work through some of these emotions and allowed me to share photos, stories and news.  Although I kept it going for a few years, eventually my output petered out and months would pass by without an update.