A Possible Resurrection

I know well that when someone posts to their blog after an extremely long silence, it's passe or boring or some kind of uncool to apologize or make excuses for one's absence.  Nevertheless, I have to note the hold up, if only for my own sake in posterity: we got a new computer.

One would expect that getting a new computer would likely lead to MORE posting, not less.  Erm.  That goes for people who know how to operate their sparkly machine.  Let's suppose the old one was a PC and the new one is a Mac and against better judgment, no help articles or manuals or anything that might actually explain what to do have been used.  At all.  Ever.

That is why I did not know how to resize a photo to post to the blog.  Though I'm sometimes pompous enough to rather enjoy my own blathering, I know better than to presume the same of you.  In other words, no pictures means no posting.

But now, ever so fortuitously and accidentally, I have discovered how to resize a photo.  And thus, I hope to revive this blog.  I hope.  I hope.  When I post next time, maybe I will arrive at informing you of Koji's school Sports Day, pictures above.  Wait for it.

"Outfit Post"

Short Term Short Distance Exchange

Last Wednesday Jan. 26 the 1st grade class from an elementary school across the road came to visit Koji and his classmates for the day. They had a full program of activities, including some very creative games. A highlight for me was when one American kid asked how to play "Rock Paper Scissors". Know that Japanese society would not function (seriously!) without RPS. Consider that at 21 months, Misaki has some grasp of RPS.... Anyway, here is Koji and his partner for the day.

Courtesy of Aliyah's Hope Chest and Grandma

In 2011, I will

Play more Bananagrams. Find more people who want to do the same, and/or use this banana shaped game as an excuse--that is, perfectly legitimate reason--to reunite with the like-minded. Along the way, learn more words that start with "Q" and "Z".

Snow + Nobu = Good Times

If a Tree Falls in the Forest, No One Hears a Thing

Another mark of the extreme nature of my extroverted (extraverted?  is there a "right" way to spell this word?) is that I often feel things haven't properly happened unless I've experienced them with someone else.  Thus, when I have "incidents" and I'm alone, their status seems debateable.  That is, maybe nothing happened after all, unless I told someone.  Note that I do understand and believe that God is always with me, but I confess here that I don't always get cozy feelings from that reality.

So the flip side: if something embarrassing occurs, bonus, it needn't have as long as I don't make it reality by telling someone....except, I can't help myself.  And I mean, really, I can't help myself.  You'll see what I mean. 

Spent this afternoon jumping ahead of a rare fire under the bum for the cleaning and organizing that I usually can't be bothered with.  Which is why it takes soooo long whenever I do hop to it.  Well, the pleasant end of the run around the house was six bags of stuff for Salvation Army, three for the moms at Izumi's preschool and one more for a friend's house.  Just before I was to pick Izumi and Koji up, I unlocked the van from inside the house and then made several runs to get it all loaded. 

I then ran back into the house, grabbed Misaki and all of our luggage, and ran back out.  And closed the locked door.  Note I did not say "picked up my keys".  Because I didn't.  Pick up my keys.  Feeling ever so relieved and thankful that at the least the van was unlocked, I got Misaki and myself settled in to what I was sure would be our temporary home for the next hour or two.  Then I started making the incident real by calling and reporting; first to the friend who had Izumi, next to the friend that could pick up Koji. 

Finally, I called Aogu and asked him to please hurry home so he could unlock the door.  I explained the entire incident, including why it was so great that at least we could sit in the van.  That's why he said, "Why can't you use the lockbox?". 

Right.  That thing with the key in it that we bought because I am prone to locking myself out of the house. 

Please picture me with a sheepish look on my face.  And please note that I was on time to pick up Koji.

This is What She Does When We Say...

....Bikkuri Gao (make a surprised face)!

Dinner @ Hardys'

During which, as with all old friends, we had to discuss when we saw one another last and how we can't or at least shouldn't let that much time pass before we meet again. Hope to see you in less than eight years!

Even If the Shoe Doesn't Fit, Wear It

Lincolnwood Turkey Trot 5K Successfully Completed

The Wonders of Mama's Powder

Because everything is more interesting right before bedtime.

Breaking All the Rules

Though I like to think of myself as a free and easy person, the truth is that I have a lot of rules. 

For example, "no talking on the phone at night".  There's nothing inherently wrong with talking on the phone at night, of course, but I would much rather connect in person than on the phone.  And by the evening, I have usually expended my energy for the day already.  So all I'm good for is holding a book in front of my face.  Or looking at the computer for way too many hours on end.  Which is another topic for another time. 

At any rate, last night a long time and long lost friend got ahold of me at around 9:30 pm.  I made an exception to my rule for her.  And then, then, after that, before I knew it, when we finally said good-bye, it was 1: 20 am and my rule was blown to all kinds of tiny smithereens. 

Lesson: talk to long lost friends, in the evening or otherwise, more often than once in four months.  Two birds with one stone effect: long lost friends will be found, and rules will be obeyed.   

Misaki's First Date

with Minato at Bravo Italian Restaurant.

Hail Holy Queen

Back in April after Koji started going to the Japanese elementary school, I joined the chorus for moms that is associated with the school. I love it. The only thing I don't love is that we only practice once a week. I would be up for more, that's how much I enjoy singing in a group! "Hail Holy Queen" is a song that we're practicing now. I hope I can get all that tricky clapping down.

In Five Days Izumi Will Be Four and a Half

Which is a HUGE deal to her. Should we have a half-birthday party?

Music Class

Today was observation day at Koji's school.

Ryuichi Sakamoto

Last week, or maybe it was the week before? we went to see Ryuichi Sakamoto perform at the Vic Theatre with Erik and Jan.  We were still jet lagged, as were the kids, so it was pretty traumatic for us just getting out of the house.  But once we extracted ourselves, once we found somewhere to park, once we met Erik and Jan and once Mr. Sakamoto stopped making strange noises while cleaning the inside of the piano, we had a wonderful time.  The above is meant to be a picture of the front of the theatre with Mr. Sakamoto's name on it, but alas, the backlighting was too much, so you'll just have to take my word for it.  At some point, maybe I'll replace this with the photo that actually has us in it.  Until then, please use your imagination. 

Thanks very much to Erik and Jan for a wonderful night out!  I hope we can do it again soon!

Dearest Misaki

Please sleep this soundly at night, all night, in your crib. I know you can do it. Love, Mama

Yearly Kick

Oops, I'm already one day late for that yearly kick in the trousers of this blog

*pause to imagine a blog wearing trousers*

nablopomo

Which brings me to discuss, am I the only one who thinks Americans, when referring to split-legged garments worn on the bottom halves of their persons that aren't jeans, should really give up "pants" and switch to "trousers"?  Please?  Anyone?  Perhaps it sounds a tad hoity-toity on its first trip off the tongue, but one can get used to it.  Meanwhile, the word pants is entirely too close to "panties," and it in fact means just that in numerous other languages that aren't American English. 

If you're not following me entirely but you're female and feeling a bit confused, another idea is to just switch to dresses and skirts.  It's working for me. 

No, I am not planning to use this space to blather endlessly about whatever I want for every single day this month.  But then again, even if I do, won't that be better than the lengthy silence that was here before?  I shall tell myself so.  Talk to you (whoever "you" are, if in fact "you" are still out there somewhere) tomorrow.