Just a quick "catch up"....

Okay...so really...this has nothing to do with anything...I just think it is really funny!! The "Wireless" catalogue has this on a t-shirt and, seriously, if I win the lottery, I am buying so many of my friends (you know who you are!!) one so we can all wear them together!!!

So, it has come to my attention that I need to let people know that *yes, Lila got here. (but her luggage took the scenic route and arrived 2 days later!!) *yes, we had a great Christmas. The boys got too much stuff, but isn't that really how it usually goes!! *no, I'm not really getting to rest YET during the holiday as, we have been going pretty strong since Lila landed!! People to meet, places to visit, omiyage ("souveniers"...how the heck do you spell that?? the spellchecker won't work!! sorry!!) she has to buy...there are just not enough hours in a day!!

I promise to post some pictures as soon as "the K-man" can get them downloaded....I depend on him to do that as our camera is Japanese and my computer is a "native speaker of English"!!

I hope that you, wherever you are, are having a great day! It's now 1:05 am and time for this camper to be "hitting the hay". *** Good night to you all..."and have a pleasant tomorrow"!!

Have a wonderful holiday...family and friends...

From the Kuroiwa Family to all of you....we wish you a very happy and safe Christmas! We hope that you all have at least one of those "Oh my gosh....this is JUST what I wanted" kind of moments on Christmas morning!! May you surround yourselves with love and happiness and laughter.
God Bless you all....lot's of hugs and kisses being sent your way from us!!

A white Christmas in Colorado!!

Here is a picture my mom sent today...Colorado got "dumped on" a few days ago & Mom said it didn't look like it would melt off any time soon!! This is Mom's patio, where many a "Patio Time" has been spent...of course, it was in the summer and much warmer and not as white!!
But...after so many years of not really getting snow like this, I have to admit, it looks really nice!! I can sing the song till the proverbial "cows come home", but unless I come "home", I don't think I will have a "White Christmas"...must be content to having them "in my dreams"!!

Good night everyone....sweet dreams to you all!!

It's just so darn confusing sometimes...

So...yesterday, my friend Kana and I were at a trendy little cake shop that is actually really good and when I got my little bag of goodies, I couldn't help but notice the English on the bag. Now...because my English is quite good, I recognize when strange words or phrases are used., but can't always figure out what they might possibly want to say. (Last year, Issei and I both laughed at the sign that said,"We wish you a happy Christmas story." Okay....and so I can have my own story?!?!?!)

Anyway...yesterday's "contribution" to the on-going "What do you suppose they meant by that?" silly English competition is:

" A gift has no great meaning. Its only object is to express a caring heart."

And so with that, I will say....... Smiles and hugs to you all! Hope you had a good weekend.

A bit of sadness today....

Probably one of my all-time favorite movies is Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein"...it is a classic that if you haven't seen, and you enjoy really good comedy, you need to watch this movie!!

Peter Boyle, who played Frankenstein, and did a really funny tap dance scene as the monstor to "Puttin' on the Ritz" with Gene Wilder, passed away today. He spent 10 years doing and saying things that made me laugh oh so very hard on "Everyone Loves Raymond"...the man was perfect in the role of Frank Barone!

As someone put up on the web..."The world is a little less funny today."

Happy Birthday Bo and Todd!!

(These are my nephews.)
As Todd's birthday is Dec. 1 and Bo's is Dec. 15, today (the 8th) I will send them our birthday 'good wishes' (you know, that ole "2 birds, one stone" idea!!)
This picture was taken by Kiyoshi, the first time he went to America. Bo (in the hat!) was 2 and a few, Todd (the 'peeker') was 1 and a few. I think that even though they are now 13 and 14, this is the image that Uncle Kiyoshi will always have of them!! Having not ever been around kids, he wasn't really sure what to do with them...but...they got along just great!!

So....from your family in Japan...Happy Birthdays, boys!!
We love ya!!


*A note....this is one of those "one of my favorites" and I am sure that there will be many more of "my favorites" to pop up on this blog. But...I come by this naturally...one of my favorite days with my mom has to be watching the "Elvis....Aloha From Hawaii" concert....before almost every song, she would (sometimes clutching her heart) say, "Oh....this is my favorite." Then....the next song..."Oh my...THIS is my favorite song." ....and on and on it went!!! You gotta love a woman who loves Elvis!! Thanks for the memory, Linda!! Love ya!! (...and yes, I love him too!! *smile*)

..a newer version of the boys...

These are the faces we know and love!! In August, 2005, when we went to the States with our Japanese friends, the boys treated us to a 'mini-concert' on the patio after dinner. Bo, on sax, and Todd on guitar entertained the Japanese guests and the rest of the family. It was a great night!! Uncle Kiyoshi, being the "music man" that he is, was so disappointed we didn't get a video.....next time!!!

"Debbie"...on a keychain...

What does ones keychain say about that person?
Not something you think about very often is it...but, after seeing what some of my students have on theirs, I started thinking about how much of ourselves we hang our keys on....I find myself contemplating a variety of topics as I sit in traffic!!

So...my keychain....let's see...well first of all, I have less keys than keychains!! So, from the top....A replica of the Colorado car tag (the newer version...still prefer the older version...just the mountains, man, just the mountains)....then a Gap one with palm trees and ocean...next is my favorite..actually when I got this particular keychain over 17 years ago, I thought it was just hilarious...still do!! It says "Lenny's Keys"... "Who is Lenny?", you ask. I have no clue....but the friends who gave it to me for my birthday (Sue and "Whatta"Robb Peterson from Weslaco Texas) thought it was funny too....they couldn't find "Debbie", so figured that "Lenny" would do!!! And it has...for all these years!! There is my all-time favorite bird...the flamingo....And then, the newest keychain has a dove and says "faith"....it reminds me to have faith in myself and in a higher being, even when times are hard....someone once told me that "what you are doing right now is what you are supposed to be doing"....I guess I have to have faith that everything will all work out.

So....what's on your keychain?

Have a nice weekend....

Whether we are ready or not....'Tis the season.....

And...yes, it is the Christmas season over here too!!
Last night, we went to a "light up" ceremony at a seaside park....and it was really nice! A bit chilly and windy, but still....nice. There was Christmas music, lots of decorations and even a Santa Claus...a bit lacking on the "ho-ho-ho's", but...probably I am the only one that noticed.
This is the picture we took in front of the tree....the snowman-looking things in the back were part of a contest for the kids....not sure what they were made of, but even up close, they looked like marshmallows! Issei made a comment about needing "alot of hot chocolate"!! Funny kid!!
*Special note...just in case anyone was wondering...
"Winter Debbie" hair plus wind equals Big Hair all over the place...*sigh*.

Christmas is always so....surreal almost, over here. I hear people in the States saying how it gets more and more commercial there every
year....well..."commercial" is about 90% of it here.
Yes, we have the trees, the music in every store, the decorations, the lights and everything that goes with the holiday....but, it never ceases to amaze me that, how more often than not, in the midst of all that, in a store when you get your change back how a "Thank you. Merry Christmas!" will get you one of those 'deer caught in the headlights' kind of look from the person at the register!!
And if you get a "Huh?" along with it....well...that's just a bonus!! I think that this year I will keep a count of "the looks" and the "huh's?".....the results may be scary!!

One other thing that cracks me up.... someone planted the idea that westerners, on Christmas Eve, celebrate by eating chicken....not just any chicken, mind you...but...Kentucky Fried Chicken!! You can buy these lavishly decorated buckets....that many people 'pre-order', to make sure that they celebrate in a "traditional" way. Someone at KFC earned their bonus that year!!!
There are always a few students every year that are so surprised that this is not the case....my job here will never be done...this may be more that I can handle alone!!


Anyway...we will try to get the tree and decorations of our own out sometime in the next week or so...and then I will try to convince Kiyoshi that, yes, we do need to hang the outdoor lights up this year....he grumbles every damn year, and tells people that he does it for me...but, I know that he actually likes doing it....the grumbling is all just part of the dance we do every December...Music, please!!! *smile*
(Lila coming is going to be my "secret weapon"....we need to put them up for her and I think that even though she is Jewish, the girl will like the lights!!!......and now there are only 16 days until she is here...I better get busy!!!)

Good night everyone....sweet dreams...muchos o'smooches to you all!!

Yes...I'm still here....

Not much going on...but thought I had better put something up as it has almost been a week since I last posted. Wednesday today....I have only one class and that is in the morning. Even though I have other days where there are 4 and sometimes 5 classes, Wednesdays it seems I am the most tired....it's a "good" kind of tired, but still 'tired' nontheless.
My class in the morning is...well...a bit on the crazy side! (imagine that?!) There are 24 students and they are all so excited to get together, learn English, and have a fun time, but, it really does sometimes wear me out (in a wonderfully good way!!)! I love them and look forward to their class every week.

There are the "hens"...the group that sits in the back and talks....and talks....
There are the ones that, like today, made it seem, in a good way, like class of elementary school students...questions (so many questions some days!! love that!!), comments, talking....HellLLLlloooOOo....I really did plan something for today!!!

Almost every week, someone brings omiyage ("souvenirs", or sweets from some place they have traveled)...sometimes someone just goes shopping and buys cookies for us to eat....we have to have our morning snack!! :-D
And there is always laughter...lots and lots of laughter!!

The name of the class is "Sunshine" by the way....thought that was a great name for such a genki ("energetic") group!!

So now...I am going to put down the futons, turn on the heater for a bit and maybe read before I go to sleep...tomorrow is another day, she said raising her fist to the sky. (Move over Scarlet...!!)

Good night...oyasumi nasai....

A movie...and a group of men...you should see!!

(Okay....so first...let me say that NO (dammit!) I did not COULD NOT get a picture of Mr. Watanabe, she said with tears in her eyes.)

Tonight, was a very memorable evening. First of all...I met my friend Hiroko at the movie theater...we stood in line with all the other ticket holders and waited as each person's bags were inspected....no cameras!! *Mine was hidden at the bottom of my bag, but I just didn't have the guts to get it out later on!!

We watched the movie...which was incredible!! Despite the fact that there were no English sub-titles, I could understand about 50% of the dialogue. After the movie, Hiroko was quizzing me about things and I pretty much understood what was going on. I'm actually glad I saw it this way first...if I had had to read all the sub-titles at the bottom of the screen, I would have missed some of the action, I think. I will get the movie on DVD when it comes out and watch again.

At the end of the movie...the audience was...hmmm..."blown away" would be a good way to describe the feeling in the theater. It is common for Japanese movie-goers to sit until the final credits have finished, but even after the lights came on a bit, no one talked...it was quit strange. THEN....the spotlight came on and out came Ken Watanabe and another actor, Tsuyoshi Ihara. I have to admit that when I saw them, I had them in my mind as their characters in the movie, and almost started to cry...again!

*A note about Ken...he was dressed all in black...Hiroko speculated that he was wearing suede...both he and Tsuyoshi looked great!! (handsome...sexy..."kakuii"...any similiar adjective will work here!!).

Both seemed very moved, themselves about the movie...answered a few questions...It seems that both men visited families of the people they portrayed (Ken was Gen. Kuribayashi and Tsuyoshi was Baron Nishi, who was actually an Olympic equestrian rider). The time was a bit short, but...as the unwritten Japanese rule of entertainment goes, "things must be finished within 2-3 hours"...and so, they left.

BUT....as they were leaving, I do believe that I made eye contact with Ken...got a bit of a head nod...I'll take it!! *smile* !! I mean....it's not like he could miss me or anything...picture if you will a theater filled with about 300 Japanese people and there....right there in the middle...is a blonde foreign woman....COME ON!! HE HAD TO HAVE SEEN ME!!!

It was a good evening....thanks Hiroko for sharing the evening with me!!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

So....here it is...yet another Thanksgiving that has come and gone...and me NOT feeling too stuffed to go to bed! (I had caramel popcorn and a beer at the movie!!)Actually, today was a holiday here also...not sure actually which one...maybe something like "labor day"...that is what I could gather from the explanations I got!!

As I sometimes do...I start thinking about food...the turkey, dressing (a little sticky, please!), the cranberry sauce, candied yams, and oh! the desserts!! Yes...the feeling of being homesick hits kind of hard.

No, no no...this is not a "pity party" invitation...But...I do want to say

that even though I am far away, I still think about oh so many of you and am thankful everyday for your love, friendship and support.

I hope that you all had a wonderful day.

**Oh...and please go and eat a turkey sandwich (warmed up with cheese and Miracle Whip) for me, will ya?!?!?!

Thanks!

Guess who's coming to Nagasaki!!!!

(....and when you read this next line, please kind of sing it)....and guess who has a ticket?!?! :-D

So...the deal is...Ken Watanabe is coming to United Cinema next Thursday to promote his new movie, "Letters From Iwo Jima" (the Japanese side of the American movie "Flags of our Fathers"...both directed by Clint Eastwood). Anyway...he will be at the theater before the preview of the movie and tickets are given out lottery style. Of course, I entered to get a ticket ....but...come to find out (and what a lucky girl am I!!), one of my students, now one of my best friends, works for the TV station that is one of the sponsors...and she gave me and my good friend Hiroko two tickets!!! (Seriously...I am just smiling and typing here!!!)

I'm sure that people think I am a bit crazy...I'm getting used to that....but, I really do like Ken Watanabe (and have, on ocassion, referred to him as "my next husband"...I'm joking!!!)...I first saw him in the classic "Tanpopo"...that is really a good movie and I thought even then that he was a good actor and well....he's hot!! :-)

One of my students was a bit concerned about me going to the movie. Here was the conversation:

student: But...Debbie sensei...the movie....it's Japanese.

Debbie: But....it's Watanabe!! :-D

student: (smiling) wakatta!! ("I understand!!")

I will try my best, without being 'stalker-like', to get a picture....and if I have to do a bit of stalking...well, then, so be it!! :-D I'll just say that it is "for my mother"!!! :-D

It's a crazy kind of world, huh?!?

This news item has been all over the TV here....along with the earthquake in Northern Japan, 8.1 on the Richter...and I'll just say this...yes, maybe he is good....but.....

Boston paid $51 million just to talk to Japanese star Daisuke Matsuzaka!?!?!?!
(I got that out of the article on Yahoo by Jeff Passan . You can read it here: Red Sox's winning bid Bold move )

**Thursday--Actually, in today's paper it said that the precise bid was $51,111,111.11.
(Am thinking they really didn't need all those 1's as the next bid was only $38 million!!)

Makes Ichiro's $13.125 million look a bit like 'chump change', doesn't it?!?!

I am amazed and am thinking that I REALLY need to get Issei and Koji out on the field....at least clubs could save money as they wouldn't need tranlsators 24 hours a day!!! hmmmmm...now where are their gloves...?!?! :-D

FINALLY....a bubble worth mentioning!

After what seems like weeks and weeks of practicing....Koji FINALLY produced a bubble....that even popped!! He was so excited...and so were we!!! He has been so incredibly jealous of Issei who has been doing a "bubble-gum superior dance" (so to speak) around Koji for quite awhile....but no longer, my friends!! Congratulations, Koji...a job well done.
*Not bad for a 4-year-old, I think!!

Christmas canNOT get here soon enough!!!

I am such a happy camper right now...and have been ever since I got an e-mail from my dear friend, Lila in Colorado. She is coming to Nagasaki for Christmas!!! (she sang as she typed on the keyboard!!) I told her this morning that I could say that she doesn't know how happy I am that she will be here....but she does know....and for that, I love her!! Not being able to come "home" for a vacation this summer was really hard....I didn't realize until much later,just how much I missed not being there. Coming to the States is such a time to regroup and re-energize...now with her coming and bringing a bit of Colorado with her (and maybe some Cocetti wine, if I can convince her that it is a good idea and can be packed so it won't break!)....I can make it to next summer!!

I have become friends with so many different people in my 15 years here...most have gone back to where they came from...but only a few do I keep in touch with regularly....Lila, Kim, Lauren and Eduardo, Assunta and Augie, Helena and Eli, Rachel....there are a few others, but these particular friends are the "special" ones. So...I am now already planning a Christmas party....not quite a blowout as in previous years (ahhh...nothing can beat that one with 65 people in a house the size of a large walk-in closet!!!), but it will be good and we will be thinking of all of you and wishing you were here!!!

So....we have started "X"-ing off the days on the calendar!!
Plus, I am hoping that I can get my house cleaned up a bit by then.....Gosh, but I do love a challenge!! This may call for large bottles of beer to help me meet this challenge!!!

Welcome to the family, Jarrett!!

As of about 5:00 in the afternoon on November 11, my sister Sara and her boyfriend became "Sara and Jarrett....newleyweds"!! They live in Chattanooga ("choo choo") Tenn. and were married on the banks of the Tennessee (?) River. I received a short report from a very tired Dad, and he said it was beautiful, Sara was beautiful, Jarrett was handsome, Anna (my youngest sister) was beautiful, lots of dancing, possibly too much (if that is possible!) beer/wine/and other assorted "spirits"....it was just a great time!! (I, of course, was missed terribly...and was sad I couldn't be there...but that's the bad part about living half a world away!!) The happy couple are honeymooning in Canada and will also visit Niagra Falls....which leads me to believe that Sara and Jarrett truly are "old souls"!! We met Jarrett last summer...and we think that he is a "keeper"!! We wish them a lifetime of happiness!! I am looking forward to seeing some pictures....hint, hint, to any family member that was there!!! :-D

Hahaha....a laugh to share!

This was just too cute to pass up...and just in case maybe someone just really needed a giggle today.
Remember when it was okay to just laugh for no reason at all?!?! And...people actually encouraged that kind of behavior...Ahhhh...to be a kid again!!

Something new in Nagasaki....

Here is the new bridge that was opened up just a few months ago...it is called Megami Ohashi...megami means "goddess" in Japanese.

This photo was taken by the husband of one of my students....he and their son were flying their ultra-light over the city and took this incredible shot! We are looking north into the harbor...Mitsubishi and alot of its "stuff" is on the west side of the harbor. The bridge connects the west and east sides of the city....they have built a lot of housing areas on the west side and with most people working in the city, on the east, the bridge was a needed addition to the bay....plus it also makes coming into the city easier for those that live further down the coast....they can by-pass the morning traffic in the city! And....the bridge itself just looks really cool!! :-D

The bridge at night is so beautiful!! They have different colored lights on the bridge, so they can change the image a bit.
One of my students said that even though the name was "Goddess", it should have been named "Angel" because it looks almost like angel wings!!


**This particular post was not only for anyone who happens to read this, but mainly for those of you (and you know who you are!!) that used to live here......I will try to add more pictures....Nagasaki has changed so much....You really should come back and see!! :-D

A short note about the shirt....(See photo below )

Just in case anyone was wondering about the particular shirt that Kiyoshi was wearing on our hike today and before anyone sends in a comment I thought I'd give you a brief explanation...
A few years ago, either for Christmas or birthday, Dad and Carlene sent Kiyoshi this shirt...when they came to Japan, Daddy had quite a few of that style of shirt and Kiyoshi thought that they were kind of cool. So...after more birthdays and Christmases, we now have several, but this one is the *brightest*!!
So...along with many a cowboy and country/western singer, MOST of the Hutches men and the "Hutches men" by marriage, Kiyoshi looks pretty damn good in his cowboy shirt.
Daddy would be proud. :-D


*By the way...if you want to see a bigger picture, just click on the picture and a larger one should pop up!

"just another day in paradise....."

Yesterday was a national holiday here..."Bunka no hi" or "Cultural Day". It is a day that many schools, community centers, and various groups choose to have bazaars, festivals and whatever. Our day was spent at Koji's daycare...eating lots of good food, playing games and visiting with our friends. It's a good day especially, because, when most of us are dropping our kids off, it is "hiya, good morning, see ya" as we are all rushing to our respective places....so we have a day when we can actually talk to each other...or in my case, do the best I can!!! :-D

Today, Kiyoshi took a day off and we spent the day climbing a mountain....Nagasaki is surrounded by mountains, (not Rocky Mountain caliber, but still 'mountains' nontheless!!) all with trails going up and they offer a beautimus (yes, that's my own word!) view of the area. We climbed Mt. Konpira, altititude 363 meters...pretty good hike, but it was fun. The leaves haven't 'turned' yet, but it was still pretty.
There is a place up there where in the 1870's (I think that is what it said!), it was chosen as one of the best sights to see Venus as it was coming close to earth. Japan was the best place and there were 4 or 5 sights where people gathered and Nagasaki was one. Astronomers from many countries came to watch and there is a special monument on the mountain....quite cool, if you really think about it!!

Oh...and just in case anyone is wondering....Issei and Koji just got their hair cut this morning....Koji's hair is still too soft to go very short, but Issei's....personally, I think that he looks like a Buddhist monk! :-D It is quite short....but we love it!!!

*and yes, Mother....this was yet another place that you haven't too....we will put it on our list for the next time you come!! (and that would be.....when??) :-D

This was the first time that I had actually been on this particular mountain...seems strange if you think about it 'cause, ever since I met Kiyoshi, we have been driving all over Kyushu and hiking up mountains...seems funny that we are just now getting to the ones close to home!!
It was a wonderful day....unseasonably warm for November...I think my arms even got a little sunburned!!
I hope you all had a great day too...

The Evolution of Dance

**I just checked to see if this worked and it doesn't look at if the connection was made...hmmmm....oh well...until I figure this out....try going to http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8919541964498299964&pr=goog-sl Maybe you can view it this way....... "Comedian dances to clips of music from the 60's to the 2000's" The Evolution of Dance AND Music!! This guy has waaaayy too much energy...and the 6 minutes spent watching this will be well spent!! Actually....I have some nephews that could probably do this....will be expecting a "show" next time we come 'home'!! Also...I had to laugh when I saw the T-shirt he was wearing....anyone who is a Bronco football fan will remember that shirt...or if you are like my brother, you are probably still wearing it!!! This particular post is a bit of a test for me...yes, another chapter in the continuing saga of "Debbie and her blog"!! I read other people's blogs and they always put links to other sites and videos....was wondering if I could do it to!! I'm thinking that I passed!!! *yeah!!* So...while I was typing this, a futon salesman came to our door...after recovering from the shock of having a foreigner answer the door, he proceeded to tell me that 1)I was very beautiful 2)my eyes were also very beautiful 3)I looked really young and 4)that my body was very nice (said as he was NOT looking at my eyes, but a bit more south....). The man really wanted to sell me a futon!! And if he had been an older salesman, I probably would have said something about his "unwanted advances" and shut the door....but because he was kind of cute and, let's face it...the flattery was great....I just listened to him talk. **I feel pretty...oh so pretty...** :-D

Happy Halloween and....

Happy Birthday, Doug!!
My brother is going to be celebrating his 40th birthday on Halloween, so I thought I would post this picture (one of my favorites!!) in his honor!! On the original picture on the back, Mom has written "4/67"...which means that I was 5 and Doug was 6 months old....which is almost exactly like the previous picture of Issei and Koji (4 1/2 and 3 months).
Koji actually saw the picture and said "Das Koji."....no, says I...that's "uncle Doug"...no...."Das Koji"....and the debate continued. But...one can see where the mistake could be made...round head, very little hair, sparkly eyes...."Das Koji"!! *smile*
Happy Birthday, Doug...I hope you have a great day!! Love ya, man! :-D

**Just one small comment about the "walker" that was used in 1967...obviously, the rules for "safety" were a bit, shall we say....lax!! That thing looks like an accident just waiting to happen...just goes to show that there truly might be something to that "guardian angel" idea!!

*sigh*

I was going through some old photo discs...taking a walk down the ole' proverbial "lane"...and found this picture...seems hard to believe that Koji was ever that little...It's funny, how, that in this picture, the four-year-gap between them, seems really big...and yet, now...they seem much closer in age.... It's also funny that, nowadays, if they are ever in this same kind of pose...Issei probably has Koji in some sort of headlock...and we wouldn't be able to get this still enough to take a picture!!

First post.....

Greetings everyone! This is a whole new world for me here...please be patient with me as I try to figure all this out! I have decided to join the seemingly rest of the the world and start a blog of my own. I figure this way, it would be easier for people to stay "in touch" with us...as time difference and cost of international phone calls has made it more difficult to actually "talk" to you.

Since making the decision to not come "home" this summer, I'm starting to feel a bit more comfortable with said decision. After spending the 3-day holiday we had last week with the boys, I am a bit relieved that I won't have to get on a plane with them...especially Koji. I love my boys, but they are, shall we say, a bit "spirited"!! :-D Not enough alcohol in the world, my firends, would make that a good flight!! So, will stay here...work...sweat...and dream of Mom's patio, Doug's bar-b-ques and hours upon hours of laughing and talking with everyone!! Next year will be so good!!!
Okay...will close this and hopefully it will show up when I check back!!
Hope all is well with everyone....
Later.....

A picture test...

Here is the picture we took of us on Issei's birthday in February. He wanted a 'beetle' cake....and this is what I came up with. The cake was chocolate, the bugs were plastic, and it was delicious yet a bit disturbing to eat!! Issei and Koji loved it!! Another cake to go into my file!!