Cricket's Paw

Peter and the Wolf

2010-04-10T08:49:00.000-07:00

This week I was a chaperone at a field trip with Naters. We went to the symphony - downtown San Diego, to see Peter and the Wolf. The whole thing was amazing, and perfect for the kids. They narrated the whole thing slowly, and showed many many children's drawings by area elementary students, to illustrate the whole thing. They went over different parts of the orchestra and different concepts, like the "leitmotif" which was music to represent each character.

bird - flute

duck - oboe

cat - clarinet

Grandfather - bassoon

wolf - french horns

hunters - some woodwinds and some fabulous drums for the gunshots

Peter - a very chipper and sunny bunch of strings

The began by using popular and well-known music from the Harry Potter movie -the kids recognized the music representing Harry, his broom the Nimbus whatever, his friends. It was lots of fun and I noticed that Nate was smiling and attentive the whole time. I have to wonder, though, if Sergei Prokofiev meant for the wolf to be taken to the San Diego zoo at the end???

The Tea Leaves

2010-04-10T08:37:00.000-07:00

Soooo.....this is the sweater I tried to knit. Labor of lurve. I ordered some fabulous expensive yarn (well, expensive by my tastes). The yarn is Dream in Color Classy, in the color Beach Fog. Oh, so pretty and so soft! It was a dream to knit with. After almost three months I had finally finished the sweater. Not that it took the whole time, its just that I have knitting ADHD and was setting it aside alot. Anyway, I looked at it and realised that something was wrong with the back: it is almost two and a half feet wide. Sadly, the front and arms are perfect, so I could not find a five feet wide person and just give it away. I'm sure I'll take a picture of it but its just too painful right now. Ha! I just need to remember that its the knitting I really love, not the sweater-that-I made-showing off,and refocus.

This morning Jose kindly brought me a large cup of coffee while I stayed in bed with my calculator, a pencil and paper, the pattern, the sweater, a needle, and a book by Elizabeth Zimmerman until I figured out how easily a sweater can go south by ignoring gauge issues and then skipping a whole row of decreases by mistake. Back on track now and ready to unravel the whole thing and do over! Cowabunga!!!

Frankie makes Gyoza

2010-03-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

Last night my good pal Yuri came over, we went shopping for Japanese food at the Japanese market, and Indian at the Indian market. We came home and I made a big pot of Mulligatawny Soup with coconut milk, curry leaves, coriander seeds, cinnamon, cloves, turmeric, ginger, green hot peppers, garlic and onion, a potato, an apple, red lentils, oh, everything but the kitchen sink and we split it into Tupperware for ourselves. Then, Yuri taught Frankie how to make gyoza and we had a huge yummy batch of that. Good food, good friends, happy busy kids, and a wonderful way to spend a cool rainy Saturday!

The San Diego Dog Festival Thingamajig

2010-03-07T13:49:00.000-08:00

See the tiny little feeder that cricket is standing by? There is a gal who makes these food dishes. This one was the perfect size for Cricket and we picked it up at this dog festival thing here in an Diego. This gal apparently finds old wooden crates, Coke boxes, etc, and paints or stencils or finishes them, then routs out the perfect size hole to set a food dish inside. So cute! And, she makes some ceramic dishes to set inside. I absolutely could not resist getting one for Cricket even though most of the ones she had there were more cat sized really. We also picked up many treats for our spoiled pooches and almost, almost, a baby sister for them both. Jose had to try reasoning with me that we cannot handle any more dogs. We really cannot have more than two. We cannot. Really. Jose had to drag me away from this beautiful, sunny, happy Akita rescue girl who had been rescued from some situation or other, at one year of age had already had one litter of pups, and was in foster care. Look at that precious face!!! Instant love.

brunch

2010-03-07T13:45:00.000-08:00

Our two families - ourselves and Yuri, Matthew and Ashley, took the kids to a restaurant on the beach for a very good, kind of spendy brunch on the beach. It was sunny and beautiful!

this idea in my head

2010-03-07T13:34:00.000-08:00

So, I had this idea in my head that it might be fun to make one's own knitting needles. I got a few dowel rods at Lowe's, cut them up into 10 inch lengths or so, and sanded them. Here is a page ripped from the employee handbook at my latest job, covering the workbench whilst I put a coat of linseed oil on them. That handbook is great to have around for those times when I might need it! It was hard to figure out the best was to make the tapered ends. My lathe is slowly making its way over from Minnesota, but I tried using a pencil sharpener on the ends. It worked OK. Ideally the points would be long, sloping gently and dull at the ends. Later, I glued some little stones from Lake Superior on the ends. Sort of cute, but need to work on the points.

A few weeks ago, my neighbor's sister was visiting and saw us leaving the house, with me carrying a bag of knitting.

She asked me if I would ever consider teaching some girl scouts, as a volunteer, so that they could earn their knitting badge.

What a blast that was! The girls were about 10 or so, and were all pumped up about making scarves. I made each girl a little canvas bag, stamped with a hot pink heart of yarn and needles, and made a little list of local shops and cool websites for them to check out. The first class was tiring, with me running back and forth between each girl to explain over and over how each stitch goes. I cast on several and did one row for each of them so they could just start right out knitting. For the second class I did, some of them had made some progress and a couple had the most adorable things: a scarf with so many picked up stitches on the end it was on its was to becoming a neckerchief, and one with holes, loops and unintentional bobbles. Cute.

The great part about the class was that they had cookies for sale afterward, and who am I if not a supporter of my local troop?

a little San Diego in February...

2010-03-07T13:32:00.000-08:00

Ice Cream on Coronado

2010-03-07T13:26:00.000-08:00

These pictures are about a month old. About a month ago, unlike today which is cold and rainy, it was a warm, breezy night. We went with our friends Yuri and Matthew and their daughter Yuri to dinner on Coronado Island, then looked around for this great ice cream shop for dessert.

messy room of the month

2010-01-27T09:09:00.000-08:00

This is our messy pre-teen boy's room of the month. Can anyone top this mess??

a couple of knuckleheads

2010-01-27T08:57:00.000-08:00

So, I have finally found the camera after months of looking. Who knew it was in our 11-year-old's upper nightstand drawer? Now I will have to take some pics and find something pithy to say.

The boys are doing well over here. Frankie has gotten straight A's for the second quarter in a row - this school here has been an excellent fit for him. I pray we can keep him here in this school until he graduates. He is now in 9th grade. We will see. Naters is responding to our attentive monitoring of his homework. Heh heh. He responds to colorful threats, like Jose hanging a good Cuban machete from his belt and threatening to whop the side of his head with it like a good Cuban papa. I have promised to tie him up, but peanut butter on the bottoms of his feet, sprinkle bacon bits on top of that, and release the dogs.

Work is going well although I keep getting pulled away from my beloved sub acute unit and made to work on the surgery unit with joint replacement patients, fast discharges, where I do little or nothing of any life-affirming, meaningful stuff other than setting up discharge. I'd rather be at the mall, frankly. Although there is alot of social need, much of it I am powerless to change, which makes it less rewarding. Heeh hee, maybe someone from work will actually read this and I'll be relieved of all tasks entirely! Anywhoo...its good. One thing about being financially stable with a working spouse, and not dependent on my income anymore is that I feel more confident and more outspoken. I can be dedicated to my profession but at the same time, a bit sassy about it. It is a good place to be. I feel very blessed and lucky.

Jose, Frankie and I have been watching NCIS as much as possible. We agree that Abby is adorable. I agree with myself that Jethro is hot. Since Special Agent Gibbs works on a wooden boat in his basement, this has reminded Jose that he has projects to work on in the garage, involving sharpening his chisels and building a wooden container to hold his chisels, and putting a nice finish on his chisels. Other than that, I am not sure what he does in there. :)

a couple of scarfs only pink!

2010-01-27T08:51:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple of scarfs I made for a Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser. The buttons on this one are yummy black cherry buttons that I ordered on etsy. The above scarf is not as hideous as it looks in the pic - its very soft pink bamboo. Very pink - would not wear in all likelihood...

i love me some thanksgivin'

2009-11-26T07:54:00.000-08:00

It's been such a long time since I last posted. My blog is having an identity crisis. My new job has keep wonderful, but its sometimes occupying my mind on my off time and keeping me awake at night. The old heartburn flares up, and an occasional set of lovely hives on my neck when I get upset about someone's social injustice. My new job is meaningful, stimulating, challenging - everything I wished for when we were living a nice peaceful life in Japan. So, be careful what you wish for!

Basically, I work at a small hospital on a certain small island with a major base on it, which I'll call Shmarp. They are into a certain model of care which involves basically the same building with some minor coats of paint, but added details of some alternative therapies like massage, acupuncture and aromatherapy for the patients. It is very common for a troubled patient to get a bit of lavender lotion or a few soaked cotton balls in the corner of his room. Volunteers bake cookies on each unit, once a week, and the smell wafts through the rooms. It is the spirit of the care. People seem kind, and caring, and dedicated.

I come from experience with several other systems, several trends (google the Disney Model gag and the Eden Alternative Model they tried at a certain hospital for about five minutes, made us all sit through corporate babble and show signs of total buy-in, then abandoned the plan after five minutes). I've been through several sets of layoffs and phases of low census, and I've cultivated a careful, respectfully cynical attitude toward the hospital corporation in general. I will not be impressed by any package of 403 B and pet insurance I can purchase at some discount, or cheaper movie tickets. Yep, I've seen everyone's cafeterias and they are all just ok. Corporate casual and small tasteful stud earrings. Blaaaaah! But yet, I find myself really liking it there.

But it does interfere with my knitting time, and time with my doggies. Oh, yeah, and those kids.

For Thanksgiving we are joining another family that were our very dear neighbors in Ikego, then moved to San Diego several months before us and now are living a couple of miles away. Then, another family jumped into the plans and now it is going to be even more fun. Matthew and Yuri are doing the turkey and a pumpkin cheesecake. I have some cranberry sauce in the fridge that I made last night and a sweet potato casserole guaranteed to clog your last artery. My Gott, the butter. Today I'm going to whip up some stuffing from a mix and doctor it up with celery, onion and some toasted nuts. Then, whip up some potatoes with butter and salt and lots of half and half. Oh, and some fresh green beans. I think someone is bring a salad that no one will eat.

Oh, lord. Does anyone out there in cyberspace have any experience with people in San Diego being in general obsessed with their looks, what kind of house the live in, what neighborhood they live in, and stuff stuff stuff?? Man.

Some people are obsessed with how they look. People here are inundated with images and ads for plastic surgery. There are certain hot neighborhoods that no one can really afford, yet everyone must live in anyway. Shampoo costs more than the whole outfit - no - ensemble - I found at the thrift shop. Maybe it is an American thing and what this is is culture shock. I'd really like to move to an isolated rural area and raise sheep and sell the wool, possible in Minnesota. I'd drive a rusty old truck and really let myself go. I'd let the gray come it where it wants and just go ahead and sag where they will. We'd raise our own veggies and make our own clothes.

Things to be very very thankful for:

*the family, friends, pups, the gorgeous weather, the mountains, trees

fresh water!

*the way the cranberries look when they are sparkling with water after being rinsed

*Jose and the boys

*the way the Rug Doctor filled up with very dark water from the carpet last weekend, and now we can enjoy the new sense of clean

*the smell of beeswax candles

*they way Miss Peach sheds in little soft tufts, you can tug at one and it comes out in one piece. She lets me do it. Is is weird that I enjoy this?

*the look and feel of a certain silk-wool worsted velvety grape hand dyed yarn from Uruguay feels whilst making a little pressie for my sister in law. Pure heaven!

*the way that being forced by our stupid Homeowners Association to hire someone to work on our front yard has enabled us to meet a very nice family business. And adorable old Dad, who speaks mostly Spanish, wished me a happy Thanks-holiday

*the boys and I having persisted in the idea that one doesn't need to match their socks on a weekend day, which has simplified our lives tremendously

Well, I'm going to go surf the net now. Cause that's how I roll.

everyday life over here...

2009-10-08T07:16:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I last posted. I had been feeling so tired, so worn out, even though I wasn't depressed at all and in fact liking like here in San Diego and the prospect of a new job even. the boys were doing great, the weather is great here all the time. So why so droopy and craving the naps?

Well I didn't ponder too much on it, but then happened on an appointment for a physical and found out my iron was pretty low. Not tragically, but enough that I started on an iron supplement and you know, that pale looking, shadow under my eyes thing I haven't thought too much about this summer is pretty much going away also, and my energy is coming back. So, cool beans!! Female trouble, don't you know. Otherwise known by doctors as "God's Curse."

But enough about that, no one wants to know about that stuff, for gosh sakes!!

My new job pretty much rocks so far, but I know we are in the honeymoon phase of working. It feels so good to be back at something and feeling like I can make a difference and getting paid for it. The hours could not be better: part time, 9-2, four days a week. I can drive Frankie home from school and be back by the time Nate gets off the bus. They are hoping I get the CA license but hired me anyway. The pay would be what I was getting last time I worked, plus 3 years of cost of living. Sooo awesome. And, every morning I drive clutching my coffee and cruising over the long rollercoaster known as the Coronado bridge. Or whatever.

Knitting projects on the needles:

The Boneyard Shawl (free on ravelry, cool pattern, practical and warm)
The Sparkle Shawl (making with SWTC yarn, yin and yang the sequined yarn)
The Malvie Wrap (a Berrocco pattern, cannot say too much about this one...hee hee)

There are many many seeds of projects and balls of beautiful yarns that are just holding a spot in the closet. Lately I have been obsessed with shawls and wraps. I have decided that they are not just for old ladies anymore, at all. they are great for the beach when the sun goes down and it gets cooler, or something to throw on when walking the pups.

Must make:

The Little Colonnade (ravelry)
Ishbel (Isolda Teague)
the garter stitch cardi (on ravelry, a pattern on sale from $5 to $2.99

So that is my domestic life over here. Knitting, working, kids, dogs. And oh, yeah, that guy that goes in the fridge and eats stuff. Thank you so much Tara, Emily and the other Oakleaf girls for turning me on to knitting!! :)

Frankie update

2009-09-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

I have told and told Frankie not to put Miss Peach in a headlock.

Frankie is doing great lately, grandma. He loves school, and has a whole scoop of new friends over there which is a great relief to me knowing he has adjusted to another move and a new school. Half way between school and our house is a Krispy Kreme, which has his donuts and my fabulous iced coffee. Nuff said. He is actually getting straight A's so far in school. Cool Beans!!

He spends most of his time camped out in the living room where he has made a nest of controllers, papers, books, more papers, wrappers and have drained glasses and plastic bottles, and balled up dirtly socks. Yes, this is in the common living area.

Since I am the maid, I usually pick up all of that myself. I find it very rewarding to clean up after the boy. Grrrr....

Frankie has announced to the family that he is going by Francisco now at school, but we can call him Frank still if we want. But I like to call him Mama's little Frankie-Bear. It is nice to still have options.

lil Tater

2009-09-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

Here is little Tater wrestling with the Akita girl. They are like two puppies together. First, a pillow fight which includes one of the (smaller one) couch pillows that I made with my friend Yuri for our sofa. (You might notice that Cricket has the good sense to take his toy and hide under the coffee table) These is one of our little pillows that have already seen some hard times. We had the good sense to chose a machine washable cotton with batik-print dirt color for two of them, and a dark reddish-brown print for the other one, both envelope backs. Anyway, the dogs and boys really like these pillows. Grrr....

Nate has recently announced the household that he is expecting to commence puberty at any moment, being about eleven and a half. He has found a small red bump on his stomach and showed me, Jose, and my friend Yuri, what he declares to be his first pimple. He asked my if I would buy him some Axe deodorant spray, please, the next time I go to the store. He is getting some armpit odor, you see, since he is a big teenage boy now. Hee hee....not....but he wants to be :) I do wish he wouldn't grow up so fast!

just cleaning up around here

2009-09-07T10:08:00.000-07:00

Life around here has involved alot of cleaning up, including our furry friends. On more than a few occasions we have woken up to a fury of tiny red ants. One morning on going down to the kitchen, all Jose would say is "That. Is. Impressive." After promising me that if I just went to bed, he would take care of the dishes, then forgetting said dishes, we woke up to the mayhem.

Jose then, wanting to be on time for work, sprayed ant spray everywhere and left the carnage. It was fabulous. I vacuumed everything rather than wiping it in order to leave as much of the deadly stuff still sprayed around. There were ants all over the kitchen, in a trail around each window, leading across the stove, in a ring around the ceiling, into rivers down the walls, and around the living room pictures. Wow! Next time I would be tempted to call some pest control.

I washed the dishes, as usual, vacuumed the walls, floors, counters, etc, and then went to WalMart, or as we call it, Walm-Apart, to get some plastic bins for the food in the cupboards that I hadn't tossed away.

Apparently ants are a huge problem for people around here. They are desperately looking for water, trying to survive. Almost makes a person feel sorry for them. If only we could come to an arrangement. I'd gladly leave a bowl of water out if they would agree to stay out of the house.

Anyway after this excitement, I took Cricket to the groomers we found, who love Pekingese dogs and between the owners, have 6!! Here is Cricket, with a red scarf, with two other Pekes, including Dulce, his evil twin.

In the meantime Natsumi gets an old fashioned bath with a hose in the backyard.

the after and before of the old teabox

2009-08-21T08:20:00.000-07:00

Sooo. I picked up this teabox at a second hand shop in Kamakura, for about 1000 yen, or about $10. It was in good shape although there was glued on peeling paper all over the outside, and a bit dusty. The inside is lined with tin. I had this eyesore out in the living room holding bits of material for my various craft projects, and its roughly the size of a good lamp table also.

After living with this fellow as is for several months and moving him to San Diego, I decided it was time to have a little fun with it.

One thing that has been nice about being back home is that I can finally read labels when we go to the hardware store. So, I picked up some sandpaper, a scraper, some primer, some water-based paint and a water-based stain, and finally a nice matte finish spray on water-based finish for over the whole mess.

Cricket helped. Ha.

Whilst the boys were at school, I tried to peel off some of the paper. Too much elbow grease. After a while, I tried sanding it. Too much elbow grease. Finally, I tried spraying a bit of warm soapy water on it and then it scraped off easily and cleanly. Since the wood was unfinished underneath, I tried not to use too much water. Luckily as always, it was sunny, breezy and very dry in the backyard so this helped, and there was blessedly no warpage!

After stripping off the paper and drying it totally, the next day I sanded it just a bit and put on a coat of primer. By the end of that day, a coat of paint. That evening, I brushed stain over that and tried to be a bit artful about how I applied it, so it looked kind of grainy. Ha.

Anyway, that took a couple of days outside in the warm and sunny patio. After that, I used spray adhesive to position 4 cut up and trimmed grass placemats from Target, that I had cut up to fit around the thing, and quickly realized that a few staples were called for as well.

Taa daa.

casa de Gomez

2009-08-15T20:21:00.000-07:00

So, this is our house in San Diego. It is a pretty nice house with a big master bedroom and 3 other teensy tinsy little bedrooms. At the end of the block is this walking path, which is watered by the fabulous "reclaimed" water (wash hands after contact). I was relieved to hear that we are not wasting the city's precious freshwater supply on keeping a facade of greenery in the middle of the desert.
Can you believe that we are expected, by the various housing associations that beplague us, to have sprinkler system which uses our water, to keep a ridiculous green carpet in front of the house, while at the same time we are importing much of our drinking water from the Colorado River, since there isn't enough to supply the city?!?

There, I've had my soapbox. And it was a run-on sentence too.

Another thing. I have gotten a call about a part time social work position at a certain hospital, on a certain beautiful island which I love, doing exactly the kind of work I have loved in the past. The hours would be flexible and so I could be home for my boys after school most of the time. I am soooo excited for this interview and keeping my fingers crossed about it.

In the meantime, starting the Spanish class at night next week.

The boys are doing great - they both say that they like their new schools, and they both seem to be making new friends already. Yay!

fabulous dark and moody path

2009-08-15T20:11:00.000-07:00

Doesn't this path look moody and mysterious? There is some undeveloped land near our house, which the dogs love to walk around on - and it has great views of the mountains. While the sun is setting, they start thinking it is going to be walk time, and I start thinking this too. It is quiet, peaceful, and much cooler. There are also some most interesting holes all over as we get up to the top of the hill - they are deep, and about as wide as a fist. We are all wondering who is living in such arrangements, especially Miss Peach.

These ole boots...

2009-07-23T11:29:00.000-07:00

In retrospect, I should have paid more attention to the signs that read " sprinkler systems use reclaimed water, wash hands after contact..." I have really enjoyed some long sweaty walks with my Akita girl and Cricket, without a care in the world until the last couple of days.

We walked barefoot and barepawed through lush green grass, scrambled up dirt paths unto a beautiful patch of undeveloped land overlooking the housing developments, the mountains, and awe-inspiring sunsets. I've walked through thrift shops and flea markets and the sandy beach, the neighborhood pool, and my own backyard, wearing my trusty flip flops.

To make a long story short, I have an infected spot of a couple of sorts in one of my feet, leaving it very sore and icky in ways I will not describe here, but rest assured Jose has seen much worse. So I will be swilling a couple of potions for a bit and staying off the trails. Sigh. Hopefully not for long.

But I'm going to need a little bell, to ring in case I need the boys to fetch me something.... :)

has anyone seen my Pekie??

2009-06-24T08:52:00.000-07:00

Cricket went missing this afternoon and was gone several hours before he finally followed a nice man on a walk with his own little dog, right to our block. Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway since this is my blog, I panicked and went from door to door search and calling for him with his picture. I sent a email with his picture to all the California animal shelters, using petharbor.com. I updated the contacts on his microchip.
First we searched the palms and brush in the backyard in case he had gotten caught, screamed himself to sleep and was still there snoring loudly. But no. We searched to nooks of the house and yard where he may have chewed on the wrong cord. Thankfully, no. I looked under the sink where I hid the ant "discouragement." No.
I fretted about who might be cooking up a batch of Peke soup for dinner, with bean sprouts and fresh ginger. I add the two ingredients in my mind since he is, after all, a Chinese breed originally bred to entertain the young girls of the palace. Starting with the wolf, over two thousand years ago. Frankie went in his room and laid down on his bed.
We drove around and called for him and even took Miss Peach for her help. Help, ha. Hell, I was afraid maybe she finally ate him!
Anyway, the man who brought him back didn't stay to witness the tearful reunion. He had things to do.

male bonding road trip

2009-06-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Jose and Nate have decided to take a little male bonding road trip back to MN to see his folks, get his motorcycles license, and take in some cross-country scenery. Frankie and I, who have been lost in Tokyo and Yokohama, in the car with Jose and have been to Nikko and back with him (seems like just yesterday...) have elected to stay in our new home. Well, staying in our home isn't quite accurate...

Nevertheless, Jose and Nate stayed overnight at the Luxor and took in a Criss Angel show. They were, for some reason, given front row seats instead of their cheap seats, and were very excited and happy.

I miss the two of them so much, can't wait till they get home this weekend!

Life in the States

2009-06-24T08:03:00.000-07:00

Well, we are enjoying being back in the good ole U S of A. I love having things in English. However, we are having a bit of reverse culture shock over here, for example:

Why is everything centered around shopping at big stores that take up ungodly amounts of land, when another version of the same shops are a mile away? I mean, each little neighborhood is custom built around a little mall, like a Walt Disney planned neighborhood over here! The houses look the same, they are quite large and with small yards. So many were just bought to sell or rent.

These are not the family homes we saw in Japan, with the landlady who lives next door and built another house on her land to rent out. Everyone has a large master bedroom with a bathroom in it, and certain kinds of floors and counter tops. Everyone has HHA approved shrubs in the front yard, surrounded by a thick ring of sod. Why don't we have more open land? What has happened to the mom and pop stores?? It's a bit sad.

Why is everyone so loud when they talk? Why are they so rude and inconsiderate of eachother? I get struck by how strangers are not kind to eachother, they assume the worst and will mutter terrible things to people they don't know.

Why do people not smile at eachother, and they look tense and angry all the time when they are out in public. In front of their freshly watered sod washing suds into the street, they are relaxed and cheerful...

Ok, I have mostly noticed this phenomenon in parking lots and crowded shops. Ok, I have been learning to drive on the right side of the road again. People are in a hurry to get to a spot in a store or lot, and they will utter the most unspeakable things to eachother!

Why do people play music really loud, outside in the driveway, while they are washing their large gas-guzzling vehicles?

Why do people, who live in the desert basically, have plants that will not grow there normally and then have to waste good water in their underground sprinkler systems that the Home Owner's Association says we have to have, instead of putting desert-loving plants out?

Why is it so hard to get the short one into his neighborhood school, why is there a wait list for even the local kids, and why don't they hire more teachers? Why can't all schools everywhere be better? Why do the safer neighborhoods get good schools and the kids in the high crime areas get stuck? How are they suppossed to get a chance in life?

Why do people all over the world pay $3 for a cup of coffee, which costs Starbucks 50 cents to make? Which includes this writer.

On the plus side:

Whoa, the dessert here is huge!!! Whoo hoo! And the portions are huge, and cheap! Yay!!

San Diego is a cool and interesting melting pot. So many people and languages. One day Frankie, Yuri and I went to a Chinese supermarket, one day a mixed Asian market. Lemongrass, fish sauce, sweet rice, lime leaves, curry paste, live frogs!

One day we had Vietnamese for lunch, then authentic Mexican, then Greek, then Indian for dinner. We shopped in the Indian neighborhood and picked up spices I've never seen except on a recipe. From there some Toor Daal, cardamom, tamarind paste, frozen garlic naan for Frankie.

From the farmer's market, we got homemade Mexican pork and pepper tamales, hummus and pita bread, watermelon juice, and puppy treat samples.

Target is overwhelming, and so is Barnes and Noble. But in a good way.

We can see the lights of Mexico from my friend Yuri's house. Amazing!

There are no mosquitoes here, and I have not seen a centipede yet. But we do have a red ant issue in the kitchen. Whatever, I don't go in there anyway!

I worked on knitting a shawl on the beach in Coronado while Frankie jumped in the waves the with Ashely. The beach on the base is amazing...

I informed Jose that when we moved here, I would need a car with GPS, so that I would never be intimidated to drive here the way I was in Japan. Sure, I drove, but not with the spirit of freedom that I have now. GPS rocks, and all Navy wives should have one for when they move to a new area. In my humble opinion.

last days in Japan

2009-06-10T14:47:00.000-07:00

Over the last month, our family has been anxious and excited to return to the States, but now feeling very sentimental about leaving beautiful Japan.
My camera, unfortunately, is out of commission: someone in this house who shall remain nameless, a female, packed the charger out with the rest of the express shipment....
But here is what we have been up to, for the record:

Jose has been on leave, and up with the sun every morning, in a hurry to get on a train to Tokyo, which he has been exploring on foot.

I had a goodbye lunch at the Japanese buffet in the New Yokosuka Hotel, with the gals from the thrift shop: all you can eat of everything you can imagine...

Jose had a goodbye party at a Thai place in Yokosuka, hosted by his Japanese interns at the hospital, including all you can possible stuff yourself of delicious Thai food, complete with armploads of flowers and one fabulous model ship, the Mikasa, the parts of which will not be lying around my living room later in San Diego...

We had a wonderful dinner at Appu Ghar, the Indian place overlooking the beach in Kamakura, with Emily and Josh - complete with takeout naan and mutton curry for the chaps, and of course brilliant conversation...

One last field trip in which I chaperoned the short one, took a ferry across Tokyo bay, a walk through an old fishing town, a gondola ride up a mountain, a picnic, and more brilliant conversation with fifth grade boys...

One afternoon at the 7 or 8 building craft place in Kamata, complete with the most awesome Korean food (bee been ba ???) for lunch, with Jose, carrying home on the train one bag of yarn I don't need, yet do need...

One trip with the kids and Jose to the Enoshima aquarium, to see the unearthly beautiful Jellyfish Hall, dip our hands in a pool and have them nibbled by "doctor fish", a walk and shopping around Enoshima Island...

Taking off the shoes I wore to Enoshima Island and without remorse, throwing them in a bag to donate to the thrift shop, then reaching for a band aid...

one trip to Koppabashi street in Tokyo with hubby, to drool over shelves of pretend food, purchase one life size fake cappuccino with heart-shaped foam which makes me smile every time I see it...

finding a Japanese company, Nittsu Transport, who will bring out Pekingese to the States during the warm month of June, via Japan Air, for the small sum of about $1500 USD, or should I say our Pekinge$e dog...

one magical night with our dear Japanese friend, who served us sukiyaki at her house, which a groaning tableful of fresh vegetables, meat, whole grain rice, homemade pickles, two kinds of soup, smoked salmon and pickled garlic eggplant and huge breaded prawn and homemade garlic mayo appetizer, followed by custard, ice cream, homemade plum shochu...
then when the sun went down, a hike in the warm breezy evening up the mountain, across creeks, up the winding woods, to a place where the fireflies were blinking...

and one more week to say goodbye to this amazing place, to prepare to return to our country, where mom can read a map, ask for directions, start on a diet, and the new shoes will fit...

and don't ever, ever forget the sweet rice with mango

2009-05-18T22:10:00.000-07:00

Unforgettable. I didn't want to look like a pig, but I could have easily eaten several bowls of this dessert. Sue makes it for her children. I suppose at this stage I'm to old to be adopted....

Sweet Rice with Mango

sweet rice

mango

salt

sugar

coconut milk

coconut cream

Soak the short grain rice for at least 3 hours, then cook.

In a medium pan, add one can of coconut milk and one can of coconut cream, one cup of sugar and 1 tsp salt. Cook just shy of boiling, while stirring.

Pour out and save 1/2 of the liquid.

When the rice is cooked, add it to the remaining liquid and cover, give several minutes to absorb the liquid.

With the saved liquid, simmer on low, stirring, to make a sauce.

When the rice has soaked up all of the liquid, scoop a generous mound in a bowl. top with cut up fresh mango chunks and pour sauce on top.

Sue's better better Thom Yum Soup

2009-05-18T22:03:00.000-07:00

And her soup is better than the restaurants' around here. Yahoo! It's like food for your soul!

one 26 oz container of chicken stock

Thai soup flavor cubes

white onion, green onion, tomato

2 packs mushrooms, any kind

lemongrass, fish sauce, hot chili peppers, and Thai chili paste

half and half

shrimp

one lemon

Put the chicken stock in a pot. Add two cups of water and 3 Thai Thom Yum Soup flavor cubes

Chop and add white onion. Boil a couple of minutes.

Chop tomato and green onion and add this.

Add a couple of chopped stalks of lemongrass. Sue adds 1 Tbsp MSG but I would rather skip this since it tend to give me a mild dull headache.

Clean and chop mushrooms and add to the soup.

Add the shrimp.

Crush 3 red Thai chili peppers with the side of a knife, chop coarsely and add.

Add the juice of one lemon.

Add about 1/2 cup half and half.

Add a good splash of fish sauce to taste.

Garnish with cilantro.

Sue's Pad Thai

2009-05-18T21:49:00.000-07:00

Sue's Pad Thai - when Sue is ready to cook, drop whatever you have planned for the day and head over, its gonna be good!!!

You'll need:

vegetable oil

pad thai noodles soaked at least 1/2 hour

white and coconut sugars

tamarind paste and Thai beef powder

red shallots, 4

garlic cloves, 4

fish sauce

chicken and shrimp

3 eggs

bean sprouts and chives

peanuts and cilantro, for garnish

Saute the shallots and garlic in a generous dollop of oil.

Put in the noodles and stir fry until soft, adding water as needed to soften, by the 1/2 c increments.

Spoon in the coconut sugar, 2 Tbsp or so, then the white sugar, 1 cup, then 2-5 Tbsp of tamarind, and some pork powder. Add 3 to 5 Tbsp fish sauce and continue stirring.

Now push the noodles to the side, add a bit more oil, and cook the chicken pieces. Add shrimp and cook.

Make a few holes in the noodles and crack and egg into each hole, stirring with a chopstick to break up and mix.

Add one container of fresh bean sprouts and a handful of chopped fresh chives.

Before eating, sprinkle on some roasted salted peanuts and some chopped cilantro.

tea party

2009-05-18T16:19:00.000-07:00

After the lesson, the three mothers laid out a wonderful tea party, leaving me feeling quite honored and special. Here are three of the fancy cakes we had. Like most traditional desserts, it was not overly sweet, and was indeed filled with the insidious bean paste. But actually, I have grown to love mochi and the bean paste over the last few years. The little cakes were precious. Mine (not shown) was purple and had tiny petal flecks in it, and a shaped purple flower and leaf on the top. With the girls, we sat and enjoyed:

matcha cakes

pocky candy on a plate!

a bowl of assorted rice crackers

a new type of strawberry pocky
kit kats!

a bowl of chips!

bowls of fresh, frothy green tea that tasted fresh and like spring and all green things

generous glasses of iced coffee

my muffins

The girls ran around, played, compared their new felt pins and barrettes, twirled around, and sang a cute version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star repeatedly.

And at the end, I got paid! Can you believe I get paid to do this?!

one last private lesson

2009-05-18T16:13:00.000-07:00

Ok, ok...one last private lesson! They didn't have to twist my arm! Here are the three little cuties, modelling the felt pins and barrettes we made as a craft for class. In all fairness, it was a bit educational since the whole thing was done in English....

I made some samples as well but of course gave them away to the girls.

Today we sang songs, did a finger play, read two stories about mice, and touched on some prepositions, did some review. Then the felt, which was my favorite.

I made apple muffins, but then the mothers had a wonderful tea for us afterward. I will miss these girls!

musings while deconstructing a thrift shop scarf

2009-05-18T15:53:00.000-07:00

Well, its been a busy last couple of weeks and I know I haven't been blogging as much lately. I've been:

volunteering at the thrift shop with my buddies, and having a volunteer appreciation lunch where I was given a cool gift card for Chilis (!)

learning how to knit with Emily, Patty and Tara

hiking on the trails with Miss Peach

teaching English

making felt flower pins for three tiny Japanese girls

having tea with the girls and their mothers

being woken up at night by a Pekingese, who has a hematoma in his ear which has been drained by the base vet X4 and is slowly healing, from being dragged by said ear, by Miss Peach

driving said Peke to and from vet

having lunch at a Thai place in Zushi with Patty

having lunch at the Nepalese place in Yokosuka with Emily and my boys

having lunch in Yokohama with my husband, at a mall which we window shopped for hours and all I bought was bakery treats for the boys...

investigating arrangements to get my snub nosed fellow on a plane to the States in late June

looking at the ocean, just looking out into it...

listening to Eckhart Tolle on CD in the car

smelling some heavy spring tree smells and the scent of flowers from my neighbor's garden

catching up on gossip regarding all of the neighbors, from one Ms. Busybody

eating sushi and more sushi in Zushi!

feeling energized and happy after receiving some on-line career counselling through military one source, and after taking tests and writing back and forth, finding that my best fit for future career is what I have been doing all along, which is social work...with a fresh population and on my own, in private practice, using creativity and making my own schedule, my own day, my own interventions...using art, crafts, dogs, nature as therapy, whatever fits the person and situation...

talking with Jose over lunch, during long walks, late at night, about anything and everything, and enjoying time with my best friend

missing my Mom and sisters, and the rest of my family....and friends too

Felty Fun, or if After 10 Tries You Don't Succeed

2009-05-11T02:01:00.001-07:00

My friend Emily came over the other night and it was really nice to have her. Jose was working late as usual so it was nice to have plans with another adult! We knit, watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (very good movie, made my eyes water a bit), went out for Indian food with the Bear, and generally had a nice time. The next day, slowpoke here finished her bowl, which ended up looking like a hat, and tried my first stab at felting. The inside of the washer was all felted up nicely, I noticed, but it took many tries of running in the hot washer before it would felt up. Notice that it seems maybe possibly not totally felted, but after 10 tries, I decided enough was enough. We will just have to enjoy our fuzzy bowl the way it is. It is about 7 inches in diameter or so.

Club Apple Mother's Day Theme

2009-05-11T01:46:00.001-07:00

Here are me and my little cuties, on our last day of Club Apple. Yep, its my shortyshort new haircut.

It was bittersweet having this teaching come to an end: I always enjoy the children, but get wiped out with the process of planning the lesson, from scratch, trying to accommodate all of my learners and keeping them interested. Also, culturally relevant, educational, crafty and fun for all 10-25 of them.

At the end of class they had a gift for me, these beautiful flowers and a picture board of some pictures taken of me and the children through the last year, signed by the parents and with sweet notes that made my eyes water.

On this day we did:

Song: Hello, Hello

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes (I pretend I forget the words...then loud...then low)

Story: Are You My Mother

Song: If You're Happy and You Know it

Follow Directions (Play guitar, play drums, go fishing, wash hands motions...)

Story: We're Making Breakfast For Mother (What a weird idea?!?!?!)

flashcards and review

Coloring Worksheets with child's and mother's name and drawing a picture of both (These were very cute)

Craft: Making paper flowers. This was a big hit (see below)!

Fingerplays: Where is Thumpkin

Five Fat Peas

Stickers and Snacks

For fun, I brought both puppy and kitty stickers and let each child chose which kind they wanted.

I baked a vanilla cake with store bought chocolate frosting.

Last Club Apple Class - continued

2009-05-11T01:37:00.000-07:00

Cool Beans!

2009-05-06T20:40:00.000-07:00

I ordered this linoprint from etsy. I made two pots of coffee today. I put my bickering, snarling dogs in their respective crates, swept and mopped floors. I did a load of laundry and the dishes and baked some cookies. I got a (quite short) haircut. I rented The Curious Case of Benjamin Button from the Ikego minimart. My friend Emily is coming over and we are planning to get started on some felted , knitted wool bowls, maybe watch a movie, maybe dish some dirt on our husbands.
It is drizzling rain outside but inside, it smells like chocolate chips and peaceful, snoring dogs.
Cool beans!

last ones....

2009-05-04T20:56:00.000-07:00

more real Zushi City

2009-05-04T20:48:00.000-07:00

Real Life Zushi City

2009-05-04T20:31:00.000-07:00

I'm not the best photographer in the world, but I tried to capture some images from real life Zushi. Not the romanticized version of Japan I had in my mind when we first arrived here, but the real time version that I first saw outside the windows of the bus flashing through Yokota: the rusting, molding, steaming, sweeping the dried cherry blossoms out of the road, green-tea-out-of-plastic-bottle-swilling, cigarette smoking hulk of an island that has been my home for the last three years.
I'll miss the compact, wiry young workers having their noodles out of styrofoam cups inside of their tiny rusting trucks.

I'll miss the fiercely intelligent crows that tear apart the garbage bags and spread the contents everywhere (I know I have mentioned this before).

I'll miss the bows and the "dozo's" and the subtle social cues that I as a gaijin, sometimes miss.

I'll miss ordering ??? in a restaurant, not knowing how to read Katakana, and being surprised by the dish I am served.

Buying a skein of ??? yarn in Zushi city from a woman who also runs a dry cleaner's, finding out later that it is the most exotic eastern acrylic.

I'll miss the vending machines on every corner.

I'll miss the sight of a molting Shiba taking his elderly woman for a walk, carrying her ecobag and sensible shoes, her white roots peeking through the thinning black of her hair, and tufts of his fur blowing in her windy wake.

Young men with pretty groomed and styled hair, carrying man purses on the train.

And the site of the delivery motorbikes darting through traffic, with the rusting, swing contraption swinging from a hook on the back end, clamped tightly over bowls of rice and miso soup.

Tater has a Birthday!

2009-05-03T21:51:00.000-07:00

Well, we had another birthday party for the Potato, and it seems like he just had one. Or, possible that is just because he has been thinking about it for about a year now. He had everything that he wanted - almost all of his buddies from Sullivan's Elementary, no girls allowed except Mom, his ice cream cake with chocolate cake and frosting and vanilla chocolate chip ice cream, the base bowling alley,and lots of presents. Daddy wasn't here for this birthday (still in San Diego) but it was still a fun day.

I just can't believe he is 11 years old already. Well, yes, he is very 11 years old actually...

As a bonus, while chatting with his friend Mason's Mom, I found a loving home for our Beta fish. And of course his tank and food. The boys and I have now found homes and delivered all of our fish: the beta and the five Zushi matsuri fish which the kids won (much to my shock and dismay). I just couldn't face the thought of flushing them all!

Easy Arroz con Gandules

2009-05-03T21:32:00.000-07:00

So this week at the thrift shop one of the gals, Brunnie, made the best batch of a Puerto Rican dish called Arroz con Gandules, or Rice with Pigeon Peas. It was absolutely to die for!! When we asked her about the recipe, she replied that she made it the old Puerto Rican way: she read it off the back of a can of Goya Brand Pigeon Peas from the commissary. I have it simmering on the stove at the moment and it smells delicious, so here it is (minus the olives in the pic):

2 slices of bacon
1/2 c chopped onion
1/2 green pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic
1 15-oz can pigeon peas, undrained
1 packet Sazon Goya con Culantro y Achiote
1/2 c tomato sauce (or, spaghetti sauce)
3 cups water
2 cups rice

Heat large skillet over medium heat. Add bacon, onions and peppers, cook 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 2 minutes longer. Add remaining ingredients except rice. Bring to a boil. Stir in rice and cover. Reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Serves 8.

English Club Apple - Picnic Theme

2009-04-19T14:59:00.000-07:00

This weekend for the English class I decided on a picnic theme - teaching about picnics and picnic words. the format of the class went like this:

Sing: Hello, hello

I'm a little teapot

Lesson: picnics and picnic foods

I showed crayon drawings of foods and was impressed with how some of the children were already familiar with some of the words, like "sandwich" "spoon" and "fork"

We did a little review where I tried to encourage each child to speak aloud, by giving them each a try with the cards, and asking them to "Please pass...." and saying "thank you" and having them say "you're welcome". They are very comfortable with basic niceties like thank you and you welcome, and I was hoping this would be a little confidence booster. Most of the kidlets are quite shy at speaking out loud until we loosen them up! Then we reversed it and I had them ask me to pass things.

Game: What did bear take?

I had my little puppet bear (from etsy.com by the way) steal something from the picnic scene and the children guess what it was that he took. For the most part, they were right on. :)

Songs: Two picnic songs I borrowed from a website called "Pete's Yakaberry".

The Picnic Basket (sung to the Mulberry Bush)

Here we go round the picnic basket

" " " "

So early in the morning

Ants at the Picnic (sung to Skip to My Lou)

Ants at the picnic, what'll I do?

" " " "

Guess I'll eat very quickly

Craft: had them color picnic foods on their own paper plate. I loved this part of it, just seeing what they would out on the plates. Lots of strawberries, grapes, bananas! Onigiri! (Mom always makes rice balls wrapped in seaweed and stuffs them with goodies for a picnic!). Adorable!! then I collected the plates just for kicks and went over each one with the English words of what they had drawn. It started out as a bit of review and time filler, but I noticed one very shy young boy who had refused to speak earlier, really brightened up when I showed his work. They liked having their art shown and discussed.

Story: Picnic, by Emily Arnold McCully. It was a very cute book. It was what they had at the base library.

Snack: I bought some cut up oranges, grapes and chips and we had a picnic on the floor. Usually Mio like to have them line up and get their snacks in an orderly manner, but I thought we'd get some speaking practice out of asking for each snack and saying please and thank you. This was cute.

Stickers! the ever loving stickers. This time ladybug stickers. It was what they had at the NEX. I think if I ever forgot the stickers we would have an international incident.

Anyway, I wrote in some detail this last class because I guess I'm feeling a little sentimental about getting ready to leave Japan and the class. This time we had a new teacher, Sarah, who is actually quite experienced in teaching and is going to take over after I, sniff sniff, leave.

After class I went home, had lunch with the boys, loafed out in the backyard with the dogs, popped open a Chu-hi (sho-chu and grapefuit, sold in cans at 7-11), and refused to act perky for several hours.

and one for Jeanne

2009-04-19T14:53:00.000-07:00

This one is for my little sister Jeanne. The colors look quite faded in this picture, and it is really a blend of deep and brighter purples, with some sparkly gold flecks sprinkled in. The yarn was soft and reminded me of her. It is bit long so she can wrap it around her neck and have some fun with it. It is a simple knit-purl-knit over and over until you have made a million freaky little knots of yarn - one of my very first projects :). I guess we can call this one "The Amethyst Stripe."

Cherry Blossom Scarf

2009-04-19T14:49:00.000-07:00

Here is the Cherry Blossom Scarf that I finished for my Mom. First, I knitted a frothy mohair confection that turned out a most unattractive pinkish grey and was also scratchy on the neck. I pulled it apart and saved the yarn to make something else with, then packed it out already. Then, I found a thin pink yarn that, translated from the Japanese, was part acrylic, part "hair". I hope this will be softer and wear more nicely. The stitch is actually a beginner lace pattern, called the "feather and fan" stitch.

spring has sprung, the grass has riz...

2009-04-14T02:53:00.000-07:00

Finding this website, http://hdt.typepad.com/henrys_blog/ has added another dimension of brightness to our morning coffee here at the Casa de Gomez. You can click on, and read what Henry David Thoreau wrote on that date, in his journal.
That and this brilliant Japanese spring has left us feeling a bit sentimental over here. When the sun comes up, we can hear new songbirds calling and when it goes down, we hear the tiny new crickets at our feet. The cherry blossoms have graced us with their pale show and already blown into drifts along trails and roads and sidewalks.
Yep, I found my first centipede in the bathroom at an inopportune moment, and I'm still not sure what became of him but I think he is in the closet waiting for me.
Our mole friend has left his calling card of fresh tunnels in the yard but I think he has retreated to the forest, so we've sprinkled grass seed once again.
It's t-shirt weather over here, and we've been out enjoying it.
Have a happy spring everyone!

lots of class

2009-04-14T00:53:00.000-07:00

I just taught private English lesson for three girls aged 4, 5, and 6. I tend to like the private lessons because I can splurge on better materials for the girls, than I can for a class of 26. This time we worked on what I am going to call "The Book of Me": a book the girls are working on about themselves, there names in English, birthdays, families, favorite foods, toys, friends, addresses and phone numbers. The covers will be construction paper and the ever loving yarn strung through the punched holes.

One of the craft blogs I like to read recommended the book "Ed Emberley's Great Thumbprint Drawing Book" and it finally came in the mail from amazon, used, for 11 cents. And $3 shipping and handling. Anyway, making little pictures from the thumbprints was the highlight of the class. Practicing writing English letters most decidedly was not the highlight. I live and learn.

Next, I need to plan another large class/party/free for all for the big group of about 20 to 30 or so little tikes. The theme will depend on what books are available to check out at the base library. Ha!

housework

2009-03-22T14:59:00.001-07:00

I have to confess, I'm not a very good housekeeper. For that, I blame my mother. My Mom, who is not only my mother but also my dear friend, not only had six children but works as an emergency room nurse. She rarely had time to do the sort of things people do around the house when they "clean". Sure, she had days off where she cleaned, and we had chores and we all tried, when forced by our parents, to pick up and keep things neat. But it was always a losing, continuous battle.

My dear husband lives in the world of daydreams and lofty thoughts. He could stumble over a pile of clutter that I left at the foot of the stairs for someone to bring up, and live peacefully with it. He has a high tolerance for obstacles blocking his path to the computer or his model Japanese castle. He doesn't notice crumbs on the counter when he goes to make his green tea, or that the cups are all dirty except the one he finds, or perhaps that it takes the grimy bathroom sink five minutes to drain when he shaves or washes his hands. He happily drives a car with empty plastic bottles piled high in the passenger side: they don't obstruct his view of the road, after all.

And yes, I know....my husband is working here in Japan and I am not. So what is my excuse for not embracing this role and fulfilling it properly? I'm just not good at it. Housework just doesn't occur to me.

I blame Mom....but wait a minute, shouldn't I blame Dad too?!?

Irish Soda Bread with Raisins

2009-03-19T15:22:00.001-07:00

Irish Soda Bread

3 cups flour

1 Tbsp bkg powder

1/3 cup white sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 egg

2 cups buttermilk

1/4 cup butter, melted

2/3 cup raisins

Preheat the oven to 350 and grease a 9X5 loaf pan.

Mix ingredients just enough.

Bake about an hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

This bread is from an old old recipe handed down from....ok, I found it on allrecipes.com. It's good - it doesn't need any butter or anything.

Ahm num num num.....ahm num num....this one took me off South Beach permanently! Oh, what I was missing!!!

Saint Patrick's Day Lesson

2009-03-19T14:41:00.001-07:00

I sometimes refer to my English classes as my English club/party/free for all, since that's what they often end up being. There are just so many things to do in one hour and a half lesson, sooo many tiny little ones to herd into place, each time we form a circle or a line of children. I work up a bit of a sweat and end up worn out but happy every time.

This last lesson was right before St Patrick's Day, with around 20 children, I think. We did this:

Sing "Hello, Hello"

Sing "If you're happy and you know it" : Wendy's extra special extended version

Lesson:

Gather in a circle and I give a wee talk on St. Patrick's Day, food, the map, the traditions, the shamrock, the leprechaun, etc, for about 6 minutes or so until I see that their wee attention spans are wandering. Gleaned heavily from Wikipedia, except the picture of the Chicago River dyed green which is from flicker. I talk about how all of the children were born in Japan, and have Japanese parents and heritage, but how most Americans have ancestors that were from another country, and so have different kinds of heritage - a melting pot. I talk about how we all like to imagine that we have a little Irish in us, on this day.

Does. Not. Compute. :)

The mothers get quiet and thoughtful. Hmm... Americans....??

Book:

Then I read a story which was really lame but a free printable book from an online preschool source, called "I am a leprechaun". Dumb. But that's ok, they still crowd around, practically on my lap, to see this book. I often spend time at the library scouring the limited book selection on the base, looking for just that interesting, smart, well-illustrated children's book that will interest them and make them laugh, while teaching them. Ha! That is asking alot of a book. Perhaps unreasonable. All of the 3 Saint Patrick's day books on the base were checked out for two weeks ahead of time.

At the end of the book it tells the children how, if they catch a leprechaun, he will be forced to tell them of his secret stash of gold, which he keeps under a rainbow.

Game: find the leprechaun!

I photocopied 30 pics of ugly, wry little leprechauns and hid them around the room. I knew that I good and well better have one for each child, or there was going to be an international incident. When they all found one, I lined them up and gave them each a little certificate that I made up that said Good Job, etc etc and had a little pic of one on it, a rainbow and a pot of gold. There is a website for preschoolers where you can make your own awards papers. Cute! They were so excited and cute about this.

Craft: Shamrocks

As luck would have it, the boss lady didn't bring any scissors and neither did I, except for one pair. So, I hurriedly cut out 25+ and got the babes into mini groups and had them decorate with glitter, crayons, etc. Cute Cute! They are so creative and each one is so different. Some are slow and precise, some are exuberant and colorful, some are slow, sloppy and sweet. Some use exorbitant amounts of glitter and make a four leaf clover that looks more like a coin. At this point I want to scoop them all up and hug them.

Sing Happy Birthday: on their birthday month, they get a card and a present. Play dough, always with the play dough.

Little Treasures: I have the children write their name in English on a little yellow paper circle coin I have cut out in advance. I have taped up a big black paper kettle. They line up, and each one puts their coin on the kettle. I drew a rainbow with marker also. They have an air of solemnity as they put their names in. They like this exercise. They are so sweet, and as I look at all of their names in the pot I feel a little pang: I am going to miss this!

How Many Shamrocks: I quiz them on their numbers from one to ten, with some colored shamrock sheets I made in a big hurry two hours before. I am surprised and pleased that they seem to know their numbers very well. Yay!

Review Flashcards: I showed them some flashcards and again, pleased that one or two of them retained a few words from the lesson. After a bit of review, most of them can put the word to a flashcard. Putting together a sentence is for the next teacher! I guess if there is one thing we can accomplish in this monthly club, it is a feeling of fun, excitement and confidence that can come with learning a new language. Plus, some cool crafts for mom to hang on the little Japanese refrigerators.

Snack: Irish Soda Bread with Raisins (baked Fri night, with 2 eggs I had to beg from my neighbor in a panic!!)

This was funny - one boy refused to eat it, one picked out the raisins and let mom eat the bread, most ate it and wanted seconds. I went home with an empty pan, I brought two loaves and this was a good amount.

So anyway, that was my lesson plan. I try to always have those elements in some combination. that way we keep each part of the class short, for their wee attention spans, and break it up into interesting parts, accomodate different types of learner: the visual, the auditory, the kinesthetic (?). It is a bit of work planning, so I fully take the money they pay me and don't feel bad accepting it. This time, I promptly spent it all on yarn and lunch out with Jose.

new keychain

2009-03-08T15:41:00.000-07:00

I got this keychain from etsy.com. Kinda self explanatory, eh? :)

Here he is!

2009-03-06T19:47:00.000-08:00

He is a cute little fellow, and gentle even though timid. Who couldn't love him! Those ears! When I found him I was wearing the lucky sweatshirt from my good friend Laura. She gave it to me when she worked at an animal shelter in Wisconsin as a vet student. That shirt is something like 15 years old. Still lucky.

Ikego woods

2009-03-06T19:30:00.000-08:00

I put on my lucky sweatshirt this morning and set out to find Tikki, the little lost dog from PAWS. My heart ached for the timid little fellow, who was outside over two rainy nights, somewhere int he woods. If I was a lost dog, I would certainly hunker down in a nice dry den, like a small cave, hollow beneath an overturned tree, underneath the porches of the MWR cabins, or in the rusting hulks of the area I call "the graveyard of the anchors".

After about an hour it was pretty clear that he wasn't strolling along the main hiking trails (ha!). I heard human voices calling for him from the distance, and neighborhood dogs barking, crows calling and the occasional shriek of a hawk overhead. There was a dog toward Zushi and one further in the hills. Squirrels were rustling in the brush.

I tried to stay away from the human sounds, because he is a timid fellow, and the humans were noisy. I can be a solitary gal myself, at times.

I met a couple from PAWS who were out searching as well, and apparently security had seen him but he ran away and they were unable to catch him.

I was wandering around the anchor and chain graveyard, looking for a sign of him. I don't know where all of the caves and little dens are yet, I have not pent enough time there. But I was getting thirsty and tired. I stood for a long time staring at the bamboo beyond the rusting piles, breathing in the sweet organic scent of the breeze.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a sweet little, dirty little white face peeking around a rusty pile at me. Tikki!!!

I came over and saw that he had his leash on, and it was caught, and that he was very timid. He was not aggressive thankfully, and I quickly had him on our trusty green 100 yen leash, eating treats and trotting back to the main campground.

What a rush.

That is my story for the day.

Nate makes pancakes.

2009-03-06T19:25:00.000-08:00

Nate made his first batch of pancakes with Daddy. A man has to learn to cook, after all. He is a pretty good little flipper after all! Frankie has been cooking for a couple of years and now it's Nate's turn to learn his way around a griddle. Next stop: peanut butter cookies!

Matsumoto Castle

2009-03-02T17:10:00.000-08:00

Matsumoto behind the plum blossoms.

It is also called "the Crow" because of all of the black exterior.

We also enjoyed seeing Matsumoto Castle, which happens to have a huge collection of old weapons, including ammunition and armor. The boys enjoyed this more than anything, but I like to see the old castles too. Huge thick beams of cypress, fir, spruce and cedar, worn and polished by hands and feet...the walls were thick and the interior was dark and cold.

Each castle has its own feeling and history, of course. But they all have the obligatory gift shop with local candies, treats, coins with the imprint fo the castle (which the boys must always have) and special ink stamp. We have seen several castles in Japan, the closest being Odawara Castle. The boys and I saw Himeji Castle "the White Heron" without Daddy when he was deployed, so he missed out on that one.

Since we are moving in a few months, we are a bit sad that more than likely, we will not get to see all of the castles of Japan while we are here.

Snow Monkey Park

2009-03-02T16:55:00.000-08:00

That was a relief, just picking up some nuggets by Frankie, no plans to nip at him in the immediate future! (pic #2)

Aw, poor Frankie was a bit nervous in this one - we had just gotten there and he wasn't sure what the monkey was going to do! (pic #1)

Methinks this one senses some kindred spirits!

This weekend we took the boys on a tour of Matsumoto Castle and Wild Snow Monkey park in Nagano.

The park was amazing - here was a place up in the mountains of Nagano, where wild, free snow monkey come in the winter to enjoy the natural hot springs. They are plentiful (several hundred!!) and not afraid of humans. To tempt them down, workers scattered buckets of barley seeds. There just are not words for this experience - being so close to these monkeys and being able to watch their behavior...

There are more pics on facebook because honestly, it is alot easier to load them up.

Most of the monkeys were a bit shy, and avoided eye contact. A very few bigger ones made more aggressive challenging stares, and the key was not to stare back. Yep, people have certainly been bitten, pinched, pushed at, and had snacks taken away by the little critters. So we were cautious, but wouldn't have missed the experience for the world. the monkeys were having a blast eating the treats, soaking in the hot springs...

It was great to watch the behaviors and interactions, and our time at the park whipped by too fast. The babies were sooo cute, especially their delicate little ears that stuck out from the sides of their heads. I had a strong ache to pick them up and hold them, but I know I'd get in big trouble if I tried :)

leaving Japan...

2009-02-25T15:19:00.000-08:00

Now that we are getting ready to leave Japan in a few short months - Jose got his orders and we will be in San Diego sometime in June - I have been reminiscing about all of the things I have loved in Japan, and all of the things I'm going to miss.

First, the landscape here is so beautiful, with the mountains and forests and little creeks everywhere, not to mention the beaches.

The people are sooo kind, gracious and considerate, even on the road.

Customer service here is beyond anything I've experienced anywhere...

the food is delicious - even types of food we do not have much of back home in MN, like Thai and Indian, have become my frequent treats

Navy spouses, Oakleaf, a group of supportive friends...

having time to learn new crafts from my friends here

teaching English, something that if I could do over, I would have done more of, with more age groups

lingering after classes and having tea/coffee with the mothers of the students

having the time and freedom to just hop on a train and go anywhere...

having the beautiful hiking trails here, and being able to feel the serenity of the forest

the huge and highly entertaining mammoth crows here, I love them :)

getting our Japanese akita girl, and having her fit so perfectly into our family

I am going to miss her kindly older Japanese vet from Hayama :)

I am going to miss the kind gray-haired woman from the yarn shop

I am going to miss my preschool age English students and their mothers

....our book club

...the thrift shop

...the thai place in Zushi and the young man who brings cilantro for our soup

...the beautful windy hilly toll road from Ikego to Yokosuka

...getting packed in the train at rush hour like sardines :)

...having people nod and let me go first on the road even though they have the right of way, just to be nice

...the awesome variety of delicious mushrooms here that are always fresh and abundant...mmmmm shitake....like rich nutty yumminess....

...the nutty game shows

...the 100 yen stores

...the Shonan Villiage flea market on Sundays

...Frankie's wonderful culinary club and robotics club, he has enjoyed so much and they have helped bring him out of his shell and build his confidence and make more friends...

...the pottery teacher at the Yokosuka base who only speaks a smidge of English but who is very kind and gentle fellow who hums as he works

...sushi! especially 100 yen sushi!

...the beach in Hayama where all the blue and white pottery pieces wash up

...the old guys who wave you out of the parking ramps, past construction sights and take your money at the toll booths

...

And so many more things, but this morning I am headed to Kamakura with some Oakleaf ladies for some lunch and shopping...

stuff I made on a rainy Monday

2009-02-23T14:35:00.000-08:00

Monday was chilly and rainy all day.

The boys hopped off to school with their new lunch tickets and Nate with his grudgingly combed hair. Frankie had gotten himself up at 5 am for some reason and was dressed, ready and having toast when I woke up. After threatening Nate a bit, he also got himself up and dressed, even though he was suffering from various somatic complaints and if I cared at all as a mother, I would have let him sleep in and miss school. Since I was mean and callous, he was sent off and left a quiet peace with me, my coffee, two snoring pups, and the sound of rain.

So I dug out some pieces of material I got from the thrift shop. One was a pair of grey wool Benneton pants with an ink stain featured prominently on the back pocket. This I turned into the plastic bag holder shown above and a pillow.

For the plastic bag holder, I also used a piece of white felt trimmed with craft scallopy scissors and a little hedgehog fellow from the 100 yen store.

For the house pillow, I had lots of old Amy Butler scraps that honestly, I am getting a bit tired of looking at. I embroidered the words, No place like home, but it is hard to see in this picture. It was really modelled after a pillow on etsy.com that I wanted but couldn't justify buying.

Then there was a pair of green velvet capri pants that were cute, but with some places where the velvet had scraped bare, and made me look like a moldy Swedish meatball. So I patchworked up some more scraps and made another pillow cover. Actually that was my first attempt at the envelope back and it is a bit loose and lumpy. Ah, well, the kids really do not mind when they throw it around and sit on it.

Orders...Uh, waiter..waiter...waiter!!!

2009-02-23T14:32:00.000-08:00

Ahhh, this week Jose will get his next orders.

Like a man, he had emailed the detailer asking what his situation was going to be this summer, when orders coming out. After I had wondered about it for a month or two.

What I want to know is, when are we going to move???

Anyway, like a man, he waited a week and then emailed that they would be out sometime this week. Argh,
So, sometime this summer we will go to San Diego, but I'm not sure when.

Toshiba Science Museum

2009-02-18T17:20:00.000-08:00

Monday was President's Day and both the boys and Jose were off, so we decided to go to a little science museum that we saw in the paper. We took a train (actually two) and a bus to the place in Kawasaki. It was a very nice place, with lots of personalized attention from a tour guide who spoke English. It was a treat for us, because she actually unlocked some exhibits for us and turned on the brightest light bulb in the world: talk about feeling like you are at the beach looking up into a hot sun. there were some fun old things including a very old mechanical wind up doll that would bring you your cup of tea and then return to its spot. There was a spot for broadcasting the weather and you could choose from many different backgrounds. There was a spot where your avatar (?) would mimic your movements as you cast fireballs at some kind of monster.

It was a nice change of pace to get the kids out of the house and having some family fun (we're going to have some fun as a family, dangnabit, and you'll all freakin like it...)

Afterward we ate a late lunch at an Indian place in the mall near the Kawasaki train station. the mall had a 100 yen store, so we had to pick up a back of treasures there.

All in all, a good President's Day.

Gomez boys hold hands - stop the presses!

2009-02-18T17:18:00.000-08:00

Rare footage - the boys holding hands! They had some giggles at the static generator.

and of course, Cricket...

2009-02-18T17:14:00.000-08:00

This little boys is spoiled rotten. He sits in my lap every time, I mean every single time, I sit down to knit. He has been pretty good, but then one night got really excited about the mohair yarn I had and proceeded to snarl at it and then ran off biting it. I had to clean it a bit and let it dry. Oops. He is almost three year old.

Mama's baby girl!

2009-02-18T17:09:00.000-08:00

Aw, Mama's pretty little girl! About 8 months old now.

another good yarn

2009-02-09T23:50:00.000-08:00

Again I am bowled over by the kind helpfulness of a Japanese person. Yesterday when Jose was off of work, he decided that he still needed to have some sort of case presentation/lunch with the interns. We spent the morning together and then I walked up Blue Street in Yokosuka while he stayed with the interns.
On the left side of Blue Street, headed toward Yokosuka Chuo train station, is a great store called "Sakuma" which has knitting supplies, cross stitch, embroidery, felting and quilting supplies also. While I was looking at the gorgeous Noro Silk Garden yarn, thinking about the scarf I have lying on the kitchen table still in the form of balls of yarn, an older woman approached me and asked if I needed any help.
She said that if there was anything special I wanted to make, the samples hanging around the store has patterns available. I spent a good half hour wandering around the store and then asked her if she could suggest a good project for a beginner.
She chose a fluffy mohair scarf and helped me chose the right yarn and needles, then went to find the pattern which she would give me.
Well, of course all of her patterns were in Japanese and I really didn't understand how to read the charts either.
She said that she would teach me the pattern - then proceed to sit down with me and knit with me until I memorized how to do it: knit, purl, knit, purl, until it is a good long scarf.
She was very patient and did not appear to be in any hurry.
Of course, I thanked her profusely and promised to be back soon, wearing the project and looking for more yarn and the next project.
Now, if only I can figure out how to get the yarn back on the needle correctly, I could get back on track with the loops that just flopped off the needle.
Ah, well.

to protect your ipod from flying guava paste

2009-02-07T17:01:00.000-08:00

Jose is working a twelve hour shift today and the boys and I are puttering around the house. There are two loaves of wheat bread rising on the counter and here is one of my latest projects - the ipod dock cover. The front and back are made from a piece of Amy Butler fabric from my friend Yuri, the sides are some linen that I cut out from a pair of old men's pants I found at the thrift shop. You can see I perched the dock on top of a tea box, and the cover is a little big and hangs a bit over the sides. But I imagine that it'll shrink after its been washed and dried a bit. This is in the corner of the kitchen.

The thrift shop is a fun place, with a good group of volunteers. Last year at this time, I could hear Tagalog back and forth in the halls. Right now with this mix of gals, it is equally noisy Spanish I hear. I can understand a bit - mostly it is teasing each other in a fun way, treating each other like sisters and making sure everyone has lots of things to snack on, all day long. Last time, someone brought in an entire pizza to snack on and cooked it in a tiny donated toaster oven. There were some crunchy coconut lard nuggets someone brought from Guam that tasted like a donut. There were cut up chunks of Guava paste someone had mailed from home. I had to eat some, or else risk hurting some feelings and stirring some drama across generations and continents! Ay ay ay, it was the least I could do.

First (finished) kntting project

2009-02-07T16:44:00.000-08:00

Knitting is very tricky to learn, in my opinion. I was the only one in the knitting group who so far did not seem to absorb or retain anything of each lesson. I was the slow and special one. I considered asking if anyone minded if I just came and did some cross stitch - just for socialize and work on a craft with the gals.
This week, however, my neighbor took pity on me and sat patiently by my side until things finally sunk in. This lumpy bumpy holey fabulous dishcloth is the result. Its not perfect, but I'm ecstatic - I am learning. Yay!

Since this one I have made two more almost done cloths. The neighbor who I lovingly refer to as Miss Busybody, since she always has the dirtiest dirt on everyone, and loves to dish it out to everyone else, happened to have a husband gone on TAD this month and was looking for a project. And I made a great teaching project, thankfully.
We noshed on cheese and crackers and I carefully spun neutral tales of domestic satisfaction, studious and respectful children, attentive and romantic spouse, dogs just imperfect enough and house just messy enough to be interesting.
She gave me a cone of cotton yarn that she didn't plan to use. It is cream colored, with some green and red. The color is called "Victorian Christmas". For these purposes, this author has renamed it "Strawberries and Cream Fern." I am sure Jose will be washing dishes with this all year round. Ha!

dreaming of Thom Yum soup

2009-02-01T14:32:00.000-08:00

It has been ages since I posted last. Little Elf was running with my camera and yup, it fell on the floor and doesn't work anymore. I have taken a few pics with my older son's great little camera, which I bought for him when he announced he was joining the photography club and that he needed one really really bad. His life would be over and he would be the laughingstock of the club, unless he had his own digital camera. Well, the club lasted two weeks and now it is mostly my new camera, except that I have to find out where Frankie put all of the attachments.

I have a neighbor whose husband is going to be in Korea for a while. We have been spending more time together and found an awesome Thai place in Zushi that has very reasonable lunches. She got a chicken basil dish (flavorful but not too spicy) and I got a pork stir fry. With that, we ordered a spicy soup which had shrimp floating in it and took the edge off of our winter blahs! I told Jose that I would like to find the cook and kiss him on the lips once. He didn't think that was as funny as Patty found it that day at lunch.

It would seem that the cook is an older Thai man who really does not come out of the kitchen but we can hear his gruff voice calling to the waiter once in a while. The waiter was a young fellow with bleached tips of spiky hair, who appeared to speak Japanese and Thai, and a few words of English, and offered us a small bowl of fresh cilantro for our soup. He remembered people's orders and did not write anything down, and when it came time to pay, he had it all in his head, for both customers in line.

Anyway, the soup was to die for. I dreamed last night, that I was eating the soup at our kitchen table.

Jose and I went back this weekend. The kids refused to come with us so we had a nice lunch together without them.

The place is on the corner, at the end of the "Zushi Ginza" street, at the end of the street where the King's Store and the sushi takeout place and the 100 yen store and bakery are. It is across from another 100 yen store.

Oh, we will be back. We certainly will.

lego inauguration

2009-01-21T14:56:00.000-08:00

Ok, someone had lots of spare time - this is cute!!

Nate was home sick again yesterday with his wheezy cough thing, and his teacher was nice enough to email his homework for the week. We loafed around together and he did a week's worth of homework in one day. One of the assignments was to imagine you are the president's child, at the big inauguration day parade, and write about the thoughts that are going through your head.

Nate was thinking about he probably had to wear a suit, and probably, we made him take a shower, wash his hair, and get a nice haircut. He thought about living in the white house and going to a different school. He likes Sullivan's elementary just fine but if he had to leave, he'd rather go to Westwood in Blaine, MN. Other than that he thinks the experience would be "a bit cool."

He was looking much better this morning. A little albuterol on top of prying him out of bed with a crowbar, and he was good to go. Thank you, Lord.

Frankie made funnel cakes yesterday in Culinary Club, and came home all excited about making some for us at home. We were forced to get some funnel cake mix at the commissary, and some pie filling. His plan is to sleep in on Fri am, yet another day off for DOD schools, make the funnel cakes, pour cherry pie filling on top and sprinkle the whole thing with powdered sugar.

Since Jose will have Fri off after working some 12 hour shifts, I think it would be most prudent if I stayed in bed until after the cakes were done and the kitchen cleaned. Ha!

book learnin'

2009-01-20T15:05:00.000-08:00

Wow, transferring a person's social work license from MN to CA is not anything like "automatic"!!!

I now understand why it so hard for Navy Wives to keep a decent career. It's great review, but it would be nuts getting up the energy to take the clinical licencing exam and all of the required continuing ed every time we moved to a new state.

For California, I have to re-take the clinical license exam which in MN, was a four-hour grind that left me having to pee really really bad and with a smashing headache. Which I took after two years of full-time supervision, after college, waaay back in....well....a while back.

Then there is another California exam, the "clinical vignette," which sounds like some sort of yummy french baked good. But not.

I will take, mostly in on-line courses:

Human Sexuality (10 hours)

Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency (15 hours)

Spousal/Intimate Partner Abuse Assessment, Detection and Intervention Strategies (15 hours)

Aging and Long Term Care (10 hours)

Child Abuse Assessment and Reporting (7 hours, taken in the State of CA)

Then after all of those courses which I will of course pay for, I'll study up on things I know will be on the exam, like the ole biopsychosocial assessment, formulating your diagnosis and developing treatment plans, legal issues in California and ethical stuff.

My first on-line course was fascinating: social work with gay, bisexual and transgender adolescents. It showed the profound sense of isolation the teens feel and some of the experience. I want to learn more, and to reach out and help these kids.

Then I snored my way through a few hours on aging and let me tell you, those are three hours of my life, I'll never get back. Dry as toast!!!

To make a long story short, I'm back in school.

My mother and my grandmother had careers and nurses, and they defined themselves that way, and as wives and mothers. I defined myself as a mother, wife, and social worker until we came to Japan. Then I became a stay at home mom and homemaker.

It's been wonderful to be home for the boys in many ways, and to take care of them and our dogs and now that they are in school, have lots of time for myself also, to explore this country, and meet new people and develop new hobbies.

I'm not going to lie, though, sometimes I'm envious of my wonderful husband for going out into the world every day and helping sick people, and making a living. I know he has a world outside of the family, and when he is quiet, he is usually daydreaming about things he left at work: some intern he spoke with at work, some rash or lab value or other he saw, someone with a fever who is waiting for him to come back. I know he has a whole other life outside of our little family and dogs and our little townhouse in Ikego Hills Navy Family Housing, Japan.

So I'm excited to be back in school, now if I can just find some notebook paper and a pen that isn't chewed up by a dog...

Thurs morning knitting

2009-01-14T20:00:00.000-08:00

Today I joined a group of Oakleafers to try to learn how to knit. The highlight of the day was spending a bit of time with Tara's little munchkin, about 7 months old and big brown eyes! I have fantasies of one day in the future, making a small square dishcloth or scrubbie. I don't know if that is going to happen, though. I need constant assist at this point.

Kim whose husband is off in the hot sandy place was there, and it was good to meet up with Diane and Kathleen too. I have not seen them in a while and they all looked wonderful! I have been a bit of a hermit since Jose left and we moved to Ikego. Then again, since he came back I am still in my hermit ways, and having a bunch of cold bugs in a row doesn't help. So it was very nice to get out and socialize with other humans besides the short ones.

I have read "The Friday Night Knitting Club", so I figure I know enough to join a club. Ha! Somebody bring the wine, I'll bring the trash talk!

Speaking of trash talk, has anyone out there seen the show "Army Wives"?? I got a few discs from Netflix and found it kind of amusing. Like a Desperate Housewives for wives living on a base.

I got glued to it, waiting to see who was going to cheat on their spouse, when were the guys getting deployed, what crazy outfit would that little cutie Roxy show up in next, etc. It was like eating chocolates that you know are not good for you in mass quantities but just can't help yourself. A few times I also teared up and was forced out of my seat to find some kleenex.

That is when I knew I had to get out of the house and get another hobby!

More Brad, just to look at...

2009-01-14T16:02:00.000-08:00

Hey there, kitten. Why don't we head down to the minimart and just grab a pizza?

***Addendum***

Now, does Jose get jealous when I post about hotties like Brad Pitt or say, George Clooney or the Soccer Guy?? No, I don't think so. Just to be nice I might cut back though, now that you mention it, I'd be mad if it was him!

First, I'm pretty sure he never reads my blog. Especially now that he is working 12 hour shifts in the ER for a bit, instead of Internal Medicine Clinic. But now that he is doing that for a while, he will have entire days off, and might sneak a peek then just to make sure I'm not embarrassing him. He does roll his eyes actually but doesn't feel threatened at all. I could be insulted! :) Hey, it could happen!?!?

The thing about these guys is that they are just beautiful. It is like appreciating a nice piece of art. Yep, really appreciating it. But I'm sure that once they open their mouths and begin to voice opinions, the thrill will be over. And, they probably have a very complex and time consuming beauty routine that would put me to shame.

Ah...Jose is the only guy in the world that would put up with my eccentricities, I think. He knows how much I love him. Plus, he never ever hogs the bathroom getting ready in the morning.

Technical help...

2009-01-08T20:12:00.001-08:00

Uhhh....yeah...the best way to blow this up into 8' X 12" and use it to wallpaper the livingroom??

I got mail!

2009-01-08T15:35:00.000-08:00

Cool beans! A surprise care package in the mail for my buddy Yuri. She sent a cookbook of Cuban cooking which looks like a great book, a cookbook of pumpkins and squashes, with gorgeous pics in it, very inspiring, some Amy Butler quarter yard pieces. The fabric is so pretty I can't cut into it just yet. The colors are much brighter than they look in this picture, for some reason. Then, since they were in Washington DC, she sent me a Starbucks cup from there. So sweet. They are in San Diego probably moving into their new house over the next couple of days, if the signing went according to plan. They are waiting for us!
I miss Yuri - she lived next door and was constantly knocking on the door, or lets face it, opening the door and just coming in! It has been awfully quiet around here since she moved. Ok, peaceful, but awfully quiet. Today I'm going to try to make her husband's most awesome cappuccino cheesecake and see how it goes. With a spring form pan, no less.
Now, to find some fun Japanese treats to send her, and probably from Swany's...

morning at the Gomez manor

2009-01-08T15:01:00.000-08:00

This picture of Miss Peach is actually a few weeks old, from after she got spayed (poor Peach) at the Hayama animal hospital. Giving Daddy lots of love. Luuurve.

Since the spay went too well, the slight limping she has had has gotten progressively more noticeable and I had to take her back to the vet yet again. I think she is spending entirely too much time over there even if he is a kind and very handsome fellow. Apparently she has some problem in large boned puppies where the growing bones put stress on the joints and cause some swelling and soreness, otherwise called "growing pains".

They put her on a supplement, glucose amine condroitin, which seems to help a bit. She is supposed to rest and not do anything crazy (ha!). She is supposed to live on a carpeted surface (ha! I don't have any left with two dogs in the townhouse, at least not downstairs, but I will keep an eye out for a rug of some sort that can be washed in some way).

Miss Peach's favorite thing to do is be let loose in the football field to tear around (until Mom gets busted by security - who knew it was against the rules?), scramble up the little hills, jump in the narrow little stream and lay in the mud until I lure her out with some sort of biscuit. She has a hard life.

Then there is Little Toot having cereal. He has had a good week. Yesterday the class had a tour of the ship, Sullivans. Guns and missile stuff everywhere, sooo cool. And the sailors were, like, really cool, and with guns. And cool tatoos, one guy. Yeah. Ahem.

Big Boy is contributing to science by volunteering his time playing video games with his best pal, Sam.

I realised that this buddy is the kid who's Dad got deployed and when that happened the Navy moved their family on to the main base in a townhouse, yet when it happened to us, the housing office was all, well, noooooo...anyway, this boy is a sweet and very intelligent kid.

Anyway his parents as well, they are good people. You can't hold it against someone that they had a good experience with housing! Anyway, we are happily settled now...

Frankie is playing Halo or something on the X box, for two hours, then having his reflexes tested, for a research project that Sam is doing. So far, interestingly, playing video games appears to slow one's reflexes / or response time at first, then after a time they return to normal. Perhaps because the boys minds are so focused on a narrow pattern or responses for a while??

Anyway, I know what a hardship it is for Frank to help with this project.

something I don't need...

2009-01-08T14:56:00.000-08:00

Ok, I have just gotten something I don't need on line, from Ann Taylor Loft. I have lusted after this jacket for a while and can longer resist the lure - today it went on big sale. I don't know how it will work with the jeans and sweatshirts I normally wear, but its so cute, and sweet, and sunny yellow! I'll hang it in the closet and look at it once in a while, probably. Jose will be so glad I got this when we are really saving for a down payment on a house in San Diego. :)
Now, if only I would look just like the model when I wear it!

new years resolutions from cricket's paw

2009-01-03T16:56:00.000-08:00

Wendy's New Years Resolutions

Drink coffee every morning.

Go to most book club meetings, and when I go, try to read the book beforehand.

When Natsumi-chan barks, let her outside before she pees on the floor.

Keep those last ten pounds to celebrate being almost 40.

keep the white linoleum floors at least a light grey.

finish some of my craft projects, and leave some of them in piles in boxes

do the dishes once in a while

do some laundry once in a while

family game night once a week

embrace the idea that socks do not have to match - it will take out much of the stress of our mornings

try to speak straight from the heart most of the time, and be kind

keep the car a bit messy

stop trying to wear white tops and go for mixed prints that will not show stains

exercise at least once a month

lay an the floor and wrestle with the dogs every night

get the boys doing more household chores!!!

buy handmade as much as possible, recycle, donate stuff and declutter the house

get to know some of the local crows a bit better, and have some fun with hawks, hot dog pieces, and the boy's slingshot

learn the constellations and spend time outside at night looking at them, with the boys

cricket's paw style family newsletter

2009-01-03T16:08:00.000-08:00

Wow, things have been happening around here. I mean, besides that fact that Jose and I have been passing some nasty cold bugs back and forth and I lounge around late in the am in pajamas, coughing and blowing my nose.

The boys are doing well. Nate has misplaced his Nintendo DS but I'm sure he'll find it soon. His hair is getting long and shaggy, a shiny, gorgeous shade of chestnut brown. It hangs directly in front of his eyes and makes me nuts. I always brush it to the side when I'm talking to him. He sometimes cops an attitude which has prompted the kindly Mrs. Davidson, 5th grade teacher at Sullivan's Elementary, to call him "Mr. Cool." He make home videos involving his plastic figures, and Mom's camera. He reads mainly comics, Ripley's, and the Guinness Book.

Frankie seems glued to the sofa where he pounds away on the laptop, going by names like "Immortal One" and "Thief Lord". He speaks in one or two mumbled words at a time. He goes through many books at a rapid pace and is always coming home from school with new piles of books to go through. Periodically, he will jump up and go outside, where I will hear him chasing and shrieking and running with fabulous long pointed sticks. Frankie may need to start shaving soon!!

We had a peaceful Christmas but were also a bit homesick for Minnesota, where our families got together and had, I'm pretty sure, a white Christmas.

I mentioned some months ago that Jose applied for a pulmonary fellowship in San Diego. I was dead set against this at first - I had enough of being a Navy wife, wanted to go back to MN, my friends, my family, my old job. What I wanted was My life, not this crazy life where a wife has to up control of her destiny and let go to this huge thing called the Navy. Where she becomes a dependent, a spouse, unaccompanied baggage, nonessential equipment.

Well, my husband is a really really nice guy. I mean, he is one of the kindest and most wonderful people I've ever met. And this means an awful lot to him. He wanted to do this fellowship very badly but was willing to sacrifice it for my happiness. We prepared in our minds, to return to our home state, find a house, get jobs, etc and leave this Navy life behind.

But then I stewed over it and thought, ehhh, life is what you make of it, even this crazy Navy life. And the fellowship would be in San Diego. Jose would be over the moon. What's not to love? No icy sleet and frigid grey landscape 6 months of the year. Let's just go for it.

And so we are planning to move to San Diego this summer and Jose will begin his fellowship. He of course, got accepted. My husband is the golden boy of luck - I swear he has a shining silver aura around him. He tells me that his life is just perfect now. A house to live in, food to eat, a car to drive, his family and friends. He is living in the most fascinating country in the world, that he studied for years in undergraduate. He came back from a humanitarian mission where he was able to speak Spanish and meet interesting people, explore jungles and small towns and eat strange food and have adventures. Now he is back in Japan with his boys and - ahem - fabulous wife, his Japanese interns and the dogs. His joy, his kindness, his go-with the flow attitude rubs off on me. It pulls me to him, its why I wanted to come here with him. For me, there is no better life than going on adventures with Jose.

As for myself, I'll be excited and nervous to get back into doing social work, which I fervently hope to do when we get back to the states.

For now, I'll keep busy teaching a bit of English, volunteering at the Second Hand Rose, doing crafts, and spending time with the boys and our dogs. Not a bad life, really, although I do miss my old career somewhat.

Of course, we don't know exactly when we leave this summer, or where we will live, where the boys will go to school, etc, but that is Navy life. And I guess we will stay in it for a while longer.

So here in Japan, in the beginning of January, in our pajamas with the smell of coffee and leftover cornbread around us, the sounds of cartoons and barking dogs, Jose and I are poised at the top or a roller coaster. And where it ends up we don't know yet!

Christmas Eve, Knock Knock

2008-12-24T18:35:00.000-08:00

It was Christmas Eve, and a balmy 50 degrees. Candles were lit and the tree was blinking in all its three foot tall fiberoptic glory. The scent of vanilla spice soy filled the air. Homemade egg nog waited in the fridge and molasses cookies were cooling on the counter. Strains of Christmas guitar wafted across the house. Suddenly, there is a knock at the door.

Santa?

Yeah, sort of. Its my neighbor bearing the world's most awesome Thai beef salad. Whoohoot!!! Jose and the kids don't like it as much as me because its so spicy, it makes your nose run. It is one of my favorite things to eat in the world.

Merry Christmas everybody!

the final copy

2008-12-24T18:31:00.000-08:00

Here are the two little things that I made for the neighbors. I made the pocket for the notepad a bit bigger so its easier to slide in, and generally went more slow and careful. They are fun to make, actually!

The "Palm Pilot"

2008-12-24T18:11:00.000-08:00

Well, one of the neighbors, actually a middle school teacher, came over with a gift for each boy :) a couple of nights ago. Now, I felt a bit bad, since we did not have anything planned to give them and they are actually a nice couple. (Ahem - she is a nice person even though she once yelled that she would like to take a rifle and shoot all of the stray cats here in Ikego, and who in the double hockeysticks is feeding the damn things anyway - oops!)

Anyway, I decided to make this "Palm Pilot", one for her and her husband, using some scraps I had around, and throw them into a gift bag with some treats. Whew.

I can see that I posted the pics backwards, but you can see how I made it if you see the bottom pic first.

1) Cut out two rectangles 8x10.5. Use a water soluble ink pen to draw the lines.

2) Cut out one piece 5x1.75 and one 6.5x5.25 inches. Make sure the fabric print is aligned the way you want it, bot like I never did :)

3) Press a tiny fold around the edges of each small piece and sew onto inside facing fabric

4) Place the two large rectangles right sides together, and sew with a 1/4 inch seam allowance most of the way around leaving 3 or 4 inches.

5) Turn it inside out, iron and hand sew the gap with a blind stitch.

6) Sew on the ties - use bias tape for a shortcut.

pilot palm pilot

2008-12-24T18:05:00.000-08:00

The first one I made was a bit crude. You can see in the top pic, the print of the pen holder is sideways! So, that is my new one. I've been carrying it around everywhere in case I get a thought or grocery list to write down in it. And, I don't have a real palm pilot.

Passion Tea

2008-12-21T15:57:00.000-08:00

They call it Passion Tea. It is made from various herbs and fruits....it is red like blood...drink it slowly and with intent....wish me luck!

goofy gals

2008-12-21T15:52:00.000-08:00

Silly girls throw on a pair of donated skirts over their clothes and do a little salsa!

More Second Hand Rose

2008-12-21T15:40:00.000-08:00

Somebody found a beautiful watercolor painting that took the letter's of Jenny's name and painted them with birds, colorful flowers and bamboo stalks. It was perfect for her office. Her son Sammy has been a fixture at the shop as well. They are quite strict Baptist actually and also home-school him - he is a sweet and usually quiet little fellow, who will sometimes spend days with us, watching educational DVD's or curled up with some donated books about his latest topic of interest: right now, sharks.

Second Hand Rose

2008-12-21T15:25:00.000-08:00

I love to volunteer at the Second Hand Rose. Lately, we have had a wonderful bunch of women who have gotten to be a nice group of friends. Over the past few years. employees and volunteers have come and went, and the ambiance changes with each group. But one thing has stayed the same: Jenny, the tiny, sweet little Filipina who has been the manager.

We just had a potluck Christmas lunch and party and with the mix of people we have now, we had an awesome bunch of food: Filipino dishes, Puerto Rican, an awesome coconut flan from Zonie (I don't know where she's from but she speaks Spanish with Brunnie, and most of the time I can understand what they are saying unbeknowst to them - ha ha), a fabulous bunch of desserts along with some ole American classics like baked ham and bean dip.

I was a "secret Santa" for Mari - here she is holding up the table runner I made for her. The rules were that we couldn't spend much on our gifts - they had to be something we bought from the shop or something we made or whatall. Mari has just recently moved here and craving something red, or something Asian-themed for her place.
It was nice to have everyone together at one time, decorate the shop more than usual, and see everyone dressed up a bit - more than the usual jeans and sweatshirts we wear to the shop!

gaijin sweater hijinks

2008-12-21T15:18:00.000-08:00

So I had this fabulous red sweater that I found at a thrift or "recycle" shop here in Japan. It was on sale for only 300 Yen. I can't read of course but I saw the "wool" picture on one of the tags, and it was a very soft and bright red sweater.

The little thing hung in the closet for a few months because I realized that as much as I loved it, the darn thing was just too tight across the shoulders and very short on the arms as many Japanese tops are, at least for me.

Ok, it was not going to button across the waist either.

So I finally cut the poor thing up and made a pillow cover out of it.

puppy chow

2008-12-21T15:08:00.000-08:00

Looks like puppy chow, but tastes so awesome that our whole family was scarfing it down constantly and making the real puppies whine, bed and even dance on their hind legs!

Puppy Chow

1 box of Chex Cereal

1/2 jar or about 1 cup peanut butter

1 pkg semi sweet chocolate chips

as much powdered sugar as you like

We microwaved the chips until melty and stirred in the peanut butter. There were a few chips left whole but they soon melted as we were stirring. Then drizzle over the chex mix which is waiting in a huge bowl. Mix with your hands. Gently nudge the dog away with your foot and say "No Beg" gently but firmly. Toss with powdered sugar to coat.

While you are stirring, accidentally flick a big chunk of the mixture on to the floor and watch as the dog takes off running to the farthest corner of the house and the little Peke trails after her.

Let it cool completely and put in an airtight container.

I got this from my mom years ago.

2008-12-17T15:30:00.000-08:00

Do you like green eggs and ham? Perhaps my young nephew will try them, in a box, with a fox, in a train, in the rain...you know...

A special guest at English Club

2008-12-17T15:23:00.001-08:00

Well, the pictures might be a bit blurry, but I couldn't resist posting them for the Dinosaur and Cookie Grandma! Frankie is such a good and dutiful son. Can you see him in these pics?? It only cost me 500 yen for his services. I must admit he fits the Japanese men's Santa Suit very well. He had a red sack with a present for each child: a glittery Japanese gift bag with three small playdoughs, a Christmas pencil from Vicki, some cute little treats from the moms. They loved it. And, he did admit that he had alot of fun. Dear Gott! What happened to my hair that day?!? Ah, well, the memories...

Christmas party at English Club Apple

2008-12-17T15:14:00.001-08:00

We made Christmas ornaments from some foam trees I picked up at Michael's when we went back to the States. Some of the Moms helped me set up a table so that 30 kids could each frost and decorate their own sugar cookie in the shape of a tree. Vicki team-taught with me and led them through a "Cake Walk" with pictures from that day's lesson, and the prize was a sticker, which they liked.

Of course, we sang songs!

So Fricken' Cute!

2008-12-17T15:06:00.000-08:00

Oh, I have fallen in love with this new crafty blog and have just stolen this pic from www.luckybeans.typepad.com I would have asked permission, but you know...that's not how I roll...Anyway, its her pic.
There are some cool things here. First, she and her children cut out the welcome letters and put them on their front door. Can I say, what a great door? The letters are made from the self-adhesive shelf paper, like they have at the NEX. Now, wouldn't that make a cute entry sign on a government house little metal door like ours? I thought so. Now for making the letters look good...another thing to think on...
Ok, then there is the little elf hat made form felt. A person can see how it could be cut out and easily sewn. I don't think my 13 year old or 10 year old would be caught wearing it.
Then the ole 1977 book, the Great Thumbprint Drawing Book. That was in my heyday. I mean, my peak years! I am thinking this would be a great idea for the English class.
Anywhoo, that is the pilfering and commentary for today.

rainy day blah!

2008-12-17T14:59:00.000-08:00

It's December now and time for the Gomez family to get the winter yucks - sore throat, cough and colds that we pass back and forth a while. Each boy has been home from school a day or two.
Frankie was the sickest but after some prednisone and albuterol is now back to his old self. Nate has a cough but is just fine for school the last couple of days.
Jose and I have had a bit of runny nose, headache and mild sore throat thing for the last week and a half. Not bad really, just bad enough to go about our normal activities but whine a bit and feel tired. Er, more tired that usual.
Its been a good excuse to curl up on the couch with some coffee, hot tea (Good Earth Original, my favorite and which I can't get here so brought from home - nice, hot and spicy - yum!) and my latest cross stitch.
This one is also all in sepia tones. I might end up going blind from all this brown brown brown! It is from an on line shop, the pattern is of a Dad holding a new baby. So sweet! It looks like a photograph but does not show the Dad's face, so it could be Jose.

Happy Birthday to me! Dec 10 in Japan

2008-12-09T14:29:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to me,

happy birthday to me,

happy birthday to meeeeeee,

happy birthday to me!

Whoo Ate the Roof?!?!?

2008-12-09T14:24:00.000-08:00

OK, whooo ate the roof off of one of my gingerbread houses??
I have my suspicions!

Dec 10 English Class

2008-12-09T14:15:00.000-08:00

Maybe I'm feeling a bit giddy because its my birthday today, but I'm so excited for my English class I can't stand it. We are going to read the story of the Little Gingerbread Man, and if the four tiny little girls in the class seem into it, I have some things ready to act out the story: a neckerchief, bowl and spoon for the little old woman, these pretend felt gingerbread men, a felt pig and horse and cow puppet...the only thing missing is the sly fox....hint hint....

And some mini gingerbread houses! And lots of candy! I may have gone overboard on the candy...

Ok, ok, I know. I have to remember that I'm there to teach the children some English, not play and go through my own second childhood!

funky etsy shirt madness

2008-12-09T14:04:00.000-08:00

Ok, so people who know me know that I looove thrift store shopping, and recycling and reusing things in general. I like finding the unique piece of clothing and the jeans that are already broken in, the cool old lamp or vintage obi from the recycle shops here in Japan. I love to shop but always want to keep my "consumerist" ways to a minimum and try doing something better for the environment. Heck, maybe I just have the "freak flag" and not afraid to fly it! (insert polite laughter here if you've ever seen The Family Stone).

Anyway, I was on www.etsy.com a couple of weeks ago looking for altered clothing, and couldn't believe the creativity that I saw there! People taking ordinary t-shirts and adding details of their own invention, or cool old collars and ruffles and embroidery and appliques. I ordered this top form Rebecca's Art Closet.

Please ignore the flab in the waist area!! I try to! This is the shirt that came, along with a hand-written note and a little wool pin she made in the shape of a teal colored flower. So cute!

Chistmas crafty goodness

2008-12-09T13:51:00.000-08:00

I am finding so much Christmas crafty goodness on the net its unbelievable. Yesterday I was home all day with the tall one, who has had allergy trouble here in Japan for ...oh...a year. He got a cold bug on top of it and was quite wheezy yesterday, and coughing. He spent the day on the watching Discovery channel and solving murder mysteries from the couch, eating cheese and crackers and drinking vast quantities of juice. Poor chap had a bit of a fever so in between solving homicides, he snored lightly. The dogs curled on alongside him.

In the meantime, I found a use for the christmas scraps I found at Swany's in Kamakura last year at this time, and never used. For a good fabric pennant tutorial, check out:

www.joyfulabode.com/blog

for some cute free embroidery patterns, check out: http://pimpstitch.typepad.com/

for more crayon roll madness, check out:

http://seebeckdesigns.wordpress.com/2008/02/01/crayon-roll-madness/

Poor little bear is on some medicine and feeling much better this morning!

Let's All Color!

2008-12-02T20:23:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I was on my favorite shopping website, www.etsy.com. when I ordered a crayon caddy for my sweet nephew Peter Henry, with his name sewn on it. I realized that I could probably make my own, so I found a free pattern on line and this material from Swany's, and here it is. I love the ones people make and there are many different variations that I've seen. It actually makes me want one although I haven't colored with crayons in years.

I made this one for Noah, who is three. I modified the pattern so it is thicker and holds a full 24 pack of crayons, plus the glue stick we always need. I made a few mistakes and a person can tell its homemade, but I think Noah would be ok with it. Even if the poor tyke doesn't like to color, he'd better like it!! Anyway, I looked for larger crayons for toddler age but the nex was all out of those.

Then I went nuts and bought some material thinking of the little boys and girls in my English class, some pink with little cakes and candies and berries on it, and some blue with teddy bears having a picnic on it. Now, I don't know what I'll do with that material...

everybody loves Shadow

2008-12-02T20:17:00.000-08:00

This is my latest little embroidery project. My neighbor L was in bed with some kind of virus - a fever, feeling cruddy all week. So I sent one of the boys over with cookies. I like to do kind things for other people but then get embarrassed when they are thanking me, so I often have one of the kids go over. Isn't that funny?

Her dog Shadow is really a role model for how I wish my dogs would act. I know Natsumi is only six months old and Cricket is a Pekingese and therefore the little prince of the house. But Shadow is such a big, gentle old soul. He is a chow-lab mix and has a fuzzy black bear head and tail, and the rest of him is kept neatly trimmed. He is our favorite early morning walking buddy here in Ikego.

owl just have another smidge of that dough

2008-12-02T20:07:00.000-08:00

Well, I have been on a bit of a diet this last month, and lost almost 12 pounds so far. My clothes fit much better and that has been great. I haven't even felt very deprived. I've been on the South Beach Diet base on the Internet and library book.

At this point, I've basically been eating lots of veggies, meats, dairy, fruit and some complex carbs: whole grains, etc.

There have been a few compromises I've felt necessary to make here, and one is cookie dough. No stay at home mom and navy wife can be expected to do this thing here without a bit of cookie dough. Today I made chocolate chip cookies and had to have some dough. Just a wee jumbo smidgen of dough.

I could eat it out of the tube with a spoon, I love it so much. Mmmm! So here I am surfing the net, feeling a bit full and gross actually, while the dogs watch the Fox Crime channel. Good times!

Well anyway, to celebrate the first ten pounds I made this little owl fellow. He is a bit lopsided, you can see. But hey, alot of "us" are!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T16:15:00.000-08:00

I was not looking forward to Thanksgiving especially much this year, but since we were planning on Jose finally coming home next week, I bought a small turkey and some trimmings to make a good Thanksgiving dinner a week after, so we could celebrate with him.
Its been a long time since he first left, in mid-April I think. I learned that I can read my own sewing machine manual and put thread on the bobbin myself. I learned that it is possible to be a single mom in Japan when you can't read or speak the language, and live across the globe from your family and still be ok.
You can take care of the kids, the house, the car, and the dogs, make friends, volunteer, go out, teach English, have fun and basically have a life.
But having Jose in my life just makes it richer and more fun. He is my best friend and the person who I always want to talk to at the end of the day. He understands me better than anyone. After 15 years of being married, I've discovered that having him around is definitely better than doing this life on my own!
So, when the Turkey came home early and surprised us, the night before Thanksgiving, we were so shocked and excited! All I could do is grab him and hug him. The kids and dogs danced around him and I didn't want to let him go.
Sure, my hair was a mess, the dishes weren't done, I had muddy paw marks on my jeans and the floor could use a sweep, but I couldn't have asked for a better homecoming!

Taz takes a walk

2008-11-23T14:59:00.000-08:00

Whew! I just got back from walking the dogs and let me tell you, I worked up a sweat. I gave up trying to make Natsumi heel, and focused on trying to break up fights! When I say fights, I mean fights to the death, where Natsumi tries to shake Cricket by the neck and Cricket turns into the Pekingese tasmanian devil. I do not speak dog very well, so I'm not sure what brings on the fights, but I have learned not to break them up using my naked furless human hands. Using the leashes, I held them apart as best as I could and we made a bee-line for home.

Doggone it.

Here are my two strategies: tell them a firm "no" and tug them apart roughly using their leash.

Frankie's favorite: tell them a firm "no" while squirting a strong stream of water directly in their evil little faces.

I am all for Frankie's strategy, except that I have noticed that after Frank made up the official dog separator and discouragement device from an old bottle of that 7th Generation counter and pee spot cleaner, he began having too much fun with it. He developed an evil glee about him as he began using the spray for such infractions as: looking at his guitar, sniffing the remote control, and yawning loudly.

English Club - Thanksgiving theme

2008-11-21T23:31:00.000-08:00

Aw, and I was worried that the kids wouldn't like my pumpkin bread! :) I think that is her fourth and fifth piece!!

A blurry shot by my Frankie, the helper of the day. Here, they are making their paper turkeys using their handprints for the feathers. It was fun, because they put alot of creativity into the turkeys, not just looking forward, etc. I showed them a couple of examples, including my make-up diva gal turkey and my running in the breeze turkey.

Here are some more cuties eating my pumpkin bread. Now, no one has to know it really came from Betty Crocker originally. The important thing is, I slaved over a hot oven for 25-35 minutes.

I also made some little turkey kabobs with a cube of turkey and a cube of cheddar cheese, on a toothpick. I made many many of these. Unfortunately, there is not any evidence left over to take a picture of. I heard cries of "is that real turkey?" "It's turkey!" and "Oishiiiiii!"

The Japanese are so sweet and polite, I think they will always tell me my cooking or treats are good, no matter what.

Today was my first day of teaching without a partner, and it was great fun. This time, I felt like a got to really do things my way and have fun with it. I made a fake thanksgiving table and gave each child a picture that I cut out of a magazine, and asked them to help me put the food onto he table.

For each child, we labelled what they were bringing to the table: all thanksgiving food. It was fun because I tried to make them yell out the name of the food after I told them what it was. I had my stuffed friend Tom the Turkey that I actually got in Duluth.

I explained that Tom is very hard of hearing, and needed the children to please speak loudly.

They can be very intimidated by speaking English out loud, but I have noticed that several of them know quite a few words and phrases and some are familiar with the alphabet. If they loosen up a bit, they can really belt out the words also.

Anyway, time to start thinking about the December classes. I am planning to make some gingerbread houses for the private lesson: "glue" graham crackers together with frosting to make the house. I have scads of candies hidden in the hall closet for this, just for the record. Just for that, not for me to seak bites of.

The boys and I rented a few movies to watch tonight while we snuggle on the couch, to celebrate the end of a long week of school and getting ready for the class. We've got popcorn in the cupboard, and I found a cinnamon apple soy candle at the commissary that smells pretty good. So even though we don't have Daddy home yet, we are going to have a good night together.