Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Ten Things on a Tuesday

Random latte photo, meant to evoke peace in advance of you perusing this random, long-winded witty, interesting post.  See underlined points for the short version, but I encourage you to take in all the details as your schedule allows.   
One: as of a couple days ago, this blog is officially SEVEN years old.  In blog years (similar to dog years, because it rhymes), this baby is ancient.  Rather than analyzing what I may perceive as lacking, let me instead congratulate myself, for lo, I am still posting here!  

Two: in case I haven't mentioned it already (hey, if I can't remember, then you probably can't either.  Right?!), I'm in a group called "Long Creative Project" right now.  It consists of people who are working on books, screenplays, documentaries, and other Creative Projects that are, well, Long.  You know, instead of the short ones like coloring and sand castles.  OK, those can be long too, never mind.  Anyway, I would like to thank the group for some encouragement it gave me the other week.  I wish I had written it down.  One point stuck: they called me a writer.  Someone even said I have a novel in me!  Wow!  I wonder if I will ever get it out.

Three: a complete change of topic, but then again, I have specified "ten things" so anything goes, I say.  As of Saturday, March 10th, my 2 year old daughter Misaki is potty trained.  This is worth mentioning primarily due to the angst I felt about it before it happened.  I would talk it up and try to make using the toilet sound like the most fun she'd ever had and she was utterly disinclined to agree or engage.

Four: so the way I trained her was as follows (OK, I know this doesn't seem like it should be a separate point, but it is, trust me)-- on the aforementioned date, as we were out to the market in the morning, against all the anti-sweets/candy/food dye convictions I've formed lately, I said to her, "Misaki, if Mama buys you some m&ms, will you go oshikko (yes, that's the Japanese word for "pee," and yes, I mix languages when I don't want to be perceived as talking about pee in public) in the potty?"  And she said yes.  We came home, and put her underwear on.  She had one accident.  Following which, she had a perfect record all day, and pretty much since then, doing her business in the toilet.  Hallelujah!

Five: which means that in two weeks, right after she turns three, my "baby" can go to preschool with Izumi for two months until school is out.

Six: and that will allow me time to work and perhaps break even on their school fees, which I don't want to think about too much, because how does that actually make sense?  My tentative plan for working is to teach some private English conversation lessons to Japanese ladies, and perhaps kids.  I don't mean to be elitist or snobbish by only accepting Japanese clients.  But it makes sense for me since I'm able to explain elusive points (which are many, have you ever stopped to think how difficult English is?  Try explaining it and you'll see) in their native language.

Seven: not only will I make the school fees I need help with, I will also make my clients smarter.  If I succeed at moving them closer to bilingualism.  The project will probably work out better if I lower the bar to "I will help my clients make an articulate order at the deli counter in their local market". 

Eight: this could be two points if I insisted on splitting it, but I'm started to run out so I'll do a twofer.  Aogu and Koji are in Tokyo right now, having a grand time.  I'm truly glad they are making lots of memories.  However, Aogu has another engagement there the week after he comes back here.  The other day I made the mistake of noting to myself the following: "Between March 19th and April 15th, Aogu will be home for six days".  In other words, nearly a month of parenting on my own.  Dear Single Moms, I must publicly acknowledge this: you are amazing, and I admire you and pray you get support and help from your community!  Seriously, because this can be rough and I'm only on Day Eight. and I only have two of the three kids here...

Nine: Nevertheless, I'm trying to enjoy the Matsuoka Girl Time I've been given.  But the downside of point #2 is, I must wake up in the night to take M to the potty.  Which causes me to take hours to get back to sleep.  Which increases my cortisol and makes me want to eat exceeding amounts of dark chocolate.  So I should be slimmer in no time.

Ten: yesterday I returned this family heirloom rocking chair to its rightful owner after using it pretty constantly and faithfully for nine years or so--two years longer than this blog's been around.  Believe it or not, I am extremely sentimental and I can literally make myself cry at any moment if I think the right "gooey" thoughts, particularly about my kids.  So though I'm not crying now, I could, would and might if I indulged in any memory lane walking around the hours and hours and hours I spent in this chair with them when they were babies.  Thanks for the memories, sweet rocking chair!

And now, since I am talking to my former chair's ghost, it must be time to go to bed.  Good night.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Daffodil Glade

Yesterday was Izumi's last {weekday} of spring break.  The previous four weekdays saw her and Misaki out in their swimsuits every day as we enjoyed a completely unprecedented warmest March on record.  It was fine, so fine with me! 
However, on the day I'm speaking of, things moved back from summer-like to spring-like with some showers.  My Oregon soul was not deterred from visiting the Daffodil Glade, as you see above.  In fact, the rain, the cheery blooms, the girls' umbrellas and rainjackets all made for a really sweet (OK, it was brief, but still sweet) stroll through the glade.  Let me mention here: I saw Izumi's weekly trips to the Forest Preserve with her preschool class paying off and even influencing Misaki.  Neither of them was bothered a bit by the rain or the mud, and they quite enjoyed examining the flowers and exclaiming how pretty they were.  Perhaps the moment would have been longer, but the girls' little friend wasn't as enthusiastic as they were...
Thanking CLC for another adventurous memory ('Cause it's not like the day was done there, we also went for some coffee at Grounds for Hope Cafe so the girls could play at the KidStreet space of Trinity Lutheran Church, which could charge admission, but doesn't.  Throw in a random trip to the doctor, a delicious abundance of pita crackers, muhammara, spinach artichoke dip, naps on the sofa for the girls, a providential gift of lightbulbs, and I have all I need to be sure I won't forget the Day of the Daffodils anytime soon).  And thanking God for making daffodils.  Seriously.  He didn't have to do it, but He's thoughtful like that. 
Happy Spring!

Monday, March 12, 2012

One Year Later

The Great Tohoku Triple Disaster hit one year ago today. 
As ever, I long to go and help, if there is anything at all I can do.  God, in His wisdom, has not sent me there yet.  Perhaps He never will.  If nothing else--though I truly believe there will be something else--I was given the privelege of fundraising on several occasions last spring.  I pray those funds are making life easier for someone in Tohoku even now. 
And I anticipate, almost with trembling: from this horrible tragedy will come opportunities, things, events and people so gloriously from God they will nearly blind us. 
So I say, go Jesus, go Holy Spirit, keep on with what You have begun from this.  
Amen.

Saturday, March 03, 2012

Expect Good Soup in Three Months

Betcha didn't make miso with your friends yesterday, but I did. Kinda weird for me to be all nanny nanny boo boo about it when the thought of making it or even the thought of eating it or even wondering what it is or even knowing that it exists has never even occurred to you before. So let me desist with lording it over and just say, if you've ever played with playdough or in a sandbox and thought that was a pretty good time, well, I think you would like this. But you might also agree that the part where you have to wait out the THREE MONTH LONG FERMENTATION PROCESS is not that great. Are you good at waiting? I guess anyone can be, as long as they really want the thing they are waiting for and believe the waiting is necessary. Who knew that miso could be such a philosophical topic?!