No News is...

just that.  No news. 

Having Jesse gone for last week was a little traumatic.  Then this week with the earthquake in Japan, I got over myself pretty quick.  Thank you Facebook for keeping me in touch with all of my Tokyo friends.  They're all ok.  But under a lot of stress with all the aftershocks.  Most are taking off to parts unshaken.  My heart goes out to all those who are suffering.

We still don't know what will happen next year for us.  Lots of nibbles, no bites.  And after having yet another cryfest about poor me, I think I'm done.  I think I'm really lucky to have two great kids.  They're not healthy, but a cough and sore throat seem minor.  I have a great husband who agrees with me that doing something grand for our anniversary this year seems more like a headache than a celebration.  We've planned a lunch date.  Somewhere nice (come on Groupon, help me out with this one).   I cleaned up my pantry today and I have plenty of food and toilet paper (1971 Honolulu dock strike, not that I was there but my dad was).  And the house is clean because someone came to look at it so I finally took a load to the recycling center, put empty jars down cellar, and cleaned my room.  I have a lot of big and small things to be grateful for.  So that's the news.  We are well.  We are safe.  We are happy.  We are lucky.  How are you?

Classic Japan

Going through photos and came across this gem. M's graduation from kindergarten, April 2008. Feeling the nationalistic pride.

Nakameguro

Here's a NYTimes article about one of our old stomping grounds, Nakameguro. I really just discovered it right before we left because my friend Michelle lived in that neighborhood. We could ride our bikes through Ebisu to the Meguro river and then ride along it to Nakameguro.

The shops lining the river were super quaint and fun. I can't wait to make it back.

I heart you Muji

I'm having muji withdrawals. I ran out of my 600 yen face scrub and have spent three times as much trying to find an american replacement. It's time for a new calendar. I like the ones sans kittens. I need some new tops, not tshirts. The kids need leggings for winter. And those groovy short tights. Ok, so I actually go to akachan honpo for those, but still. I might make a trip to NYC, just to go to soho and their muji. I might have to make a Mitsuwa run soon, and see what they've got there.

Sayonara

This is my last post from Japan. I'm so sad. Especially since Jesse is not coming to the states for another 3 weeks. We do this to ourselves often enough you'd think we'd learn that we really hate being separated. And to make matters worse, he was really funny and sweet today. aaargh! It would be so much easier if he were a jerk.

I would probably be even sadder if Japan hadn't been giving me hints that it's time to go. On Sunday, we walked to a traditional Japanese garden park that's close to our house. It seemed like a good idea, to do something Japanese-y our last Sunday. Wrong. Koi pond = mosquito heaven. We left after 10 minutes. Then on our way home a crow pooped on Jesse's and my head. Thanks Mr. Crow. I hope you liked the rock Jesse threw at you.

On Monday, we took the kids to the pool and Monkey promised "to try not to poop in it this time." She didn't, because we weren't there long enough. The lifeguards kicked us out after 30 minutes because of distant thunder. Abunai desu yo! No problem. We were planning on going to sushi, so we'd just get there a little earlier.

Got to the sushi place and it was pretty good. Accidentally got fried oysters for the kids. I thought it was fried chicken. Ooops. And we were sitting right in front of the chef, so we couldn't slip it back on the conveyor belt (we wouldn't really do that). I ate them, because that's what a good mom does. And that could have been my mistake. Because later that night as Jesse and I are perusing Craigslist, trying to find a car, I shove him out my way and run to the toilet. The last time I heaved so suddenly I was pregnant with Mermaid, so I said half jokingly "gee Jesse, maybe I'm pregnant." To which he responded, "Or maybe it's just all that raw fish you ate for dinner." Right. Forgot about that for a second.

And today, the Coop guy came to collect.

I'm still sad that we're leaving. Even though Japan hasn't been that good to me this week. We'll come back. Try again. Relationships take work, and sometimes a little space is good.
Ja Mata!

image from flickr

せみ, semi

Or cicada. 'tis the season. Here's a little video of Monkey with some background music.

Last Giveaway

Rena has persuaded me to have one last giveaway. I'm leaving on Wednesday (that's Tuesday in the states), so this one has to be quick. You have until Sunday midnight in Japan. So that's Sunday around 3 am in LA. And you have to get me your address quick like a bunny 'cause I'm going to the post office to send Mariko's taiyaki pan and a cool match game for Amy (got one for our kids, so you can come play August 26 in Irvine) and the cool giveaway to who?

So what's your prize? Well...
DOUG
HNUT socks
and
1/2 meter of Little Red
and
assorted dollar store goodies

Is that fun enough?

jyu, ni jyu, san jyu, yon jyu, go jyu...Hyaku!

Here's the Mermaid. We thought she was being difficult, not trying very hard to count by 10's. She can't count to 20, let alone 100. Could be a problem, seeing as she's going to be in first grade. Turns out, she can do all of it. Count to 20, count by tens, probably count to 100. All in Japanese. She adds and subtracts in Japanese as well.

Hanabi

Some Hanabi footage . We could only see a corner of the display. A view of everything must have been spectacular.

More Reasons to Heart Japan

I've been getting sick of Japan. It's sooooooo HOT. And HUMID. I sweat and sweat and take cold showers twice a day and still I'm sweaty and stinky. It's enough to get a girl homesick for socal.

But then, Japan does it again. It makes my heart pitter patter. How? Haircut and dentist. That's right. That's all it took. For $42 US, I got a totally awesome haircut, head and neck massage, and they put Dumbo on for G in a chair right next to me (with a complimentary glass of Calpis for her). No tip. I heart no tips. Sigh.

And who hearts the dentist? Well, I do love Rosie my hygienist in the burg, but I haven't seen her in ages. I haven't been to the dentist in ages, because who can afford to pay when you don't have insurance? With Japanese national health insurance, I finally got my choppers in to be cleaned and repaired. I knew I had at least one little cavity. Dr. Mountain House (Yamauchi) got me in Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I had a cleaning, 4 ancient mercury amalgam fillings changed for pretty white tooth-colored ones and two cavities filled. And the price tag? 100 smackeroos. I should see how much a boob job costs, it's gotta be a bargain. (that's a joke, btw.)

As much as I love the US, the only times I've had good health care since getting married were when I was Taiwan and now here in Japan. We pay $150 a month for all four of us here in Japan and get 70% of doctor, dentist, and eye exams covered.

Matsumoto

Matsuri
Castle
Old textbook.
Momo ecstasy

Tsumago

This is where we stayed.

Hike to Tsumago

8 fun kilometers. Plenty of shade, water, even the Monkey hiked a bit.

Magome

I'm not that great at narratives, so here's our vacation in pictures. We took the train to Hachioji for Ian's baptism (yup, he's 8), a bus to Magome, walked to Tsumago, took a train to Matsumoto and a bus home. Even if it's home for just another 10 days, it's still nice to be back.

For the Sabbath

I have often walked

Here's some views on our street.


The view from Tokyu Store

Happy Happy Melon Bread. Who can resist?
One of the many modern buildings on our street. I can never get a good photograph of this one.
$126 for a melon plant. Interested?
These machines are close to our house, so I've never bought anything from these particular ones. It's always reassuring to know there's mountain dew in case of emergencies.

ps, Who knows the name of the song that the blog title comes from?

School Matsuri

Today was the last day of school for Mermaid. The PTA had a matsuri to celebrate the end of the semester. There was the traditional watermelon whack, kiddie pool for younger siblings, fishing for balloons, water gun fight, and the fire hose. That's right, the fire department comes and hoses the kids down for a good twenty minutes. What a way to end the semester. Since school started in April, this is only the first semester. I wish I could be here to see what they do in March. It's got to be AMAZING!Mermaid with her teacher and asagao (morning glory plant).

The Mermaid is pretty sad to be leaving. She thinks we should go back to the states, pack up, and move back here permanently. Dad's not interested, but I could be persuaded.

Check out the video from the Matsuri below. FUN!

Fire Hose

Watermelon Whack

Sticky Summer

Summer is here. It's hot, sticky, and even J ran the AC during M's reading lessons. He's asking for popsicles.

And school is out on Friday. I know in the states everyone has been out for ages. But what do I do? I have to find a new pool for starters. And I have to pack, lest we forget move day is 3 weeks away.

So here's the plan:
*We have a 3-4 day trip planned for next week. Mountains. Hiking. Not camping. Should be good.
*Free AC at the Jidokan (children's center)-I can send M when she's bored. And G and I can play there, too.
*Trip to Costco for tortillas and Hokkaido softcreme. Seriously. That's all we're going to buy. AC on the train, bus and in the store. Softcreme is only 250 yen. Bargain. Jesse has bean burritos every day in August.
*G wants to go to the zoo again, to see if Ling Ling has been resurrected. She's "heard" that he's not dead anymore. Downside is that zoo does not have a/c, will be totally crowded, and seems miserable to me. Upside is that it's close to Nippori where I can get kirakira crocs for M and see if there's any new summer material.
*Invite ourselves over to other ex-pats homes where their company pays the electricity. Playdate anyone?