So...here it is...another Saturday night....("and I ain't got nobody...I got some money 'cause I just got paid...")....and though I really should be in bed, here I sit.
Have done enough perusing on YouTube, I'm sure that my count of "videos watched" is getting pretty high!!!
Thought I would share something with you....
My youngest sister, Anna, sent me this video that she did for class (she's going to grad. school out if Vegas, baby!!). It's really good...of course, I am a bit biased, just watch....what else are you gonna do for the next 5 minutes or so?!?!
And, hey....if it gets famous...remember that you saw it here first!!!
Oh...and by the way....she IS the main character (in the green t-shirt) and her husband, Joe is the "man in black"!! It's funny AND makes a point at the same time!!
**The picture on this "screen" makes it look like some kind of porno or slasher flick, or something, but....it's not...maybe!!!
***Oh...if you happened to watch to the end of the credits...No, Joe is not going by the Willson name...the director just put his name down as that...It should be Joe Goble.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Some silliness on a Saturday nite
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Here We Are....
...and THERE is where I wanna be!!!
So I'm playing around with YouTube...taking some advice from friends...let's see if this will download......
"this" is a video from "the man I love yet have NEVER seen in person"....and it's a crying shame, I tell you!!!
Lila...Dena...Trenda...our mission is to see this man...the sooner the better...I don't even care if it's NOT in Colorado....WE...MUST...GO.
Seriously...look at these people in the video...WE BELONG THERE!!! :-D
(and anyone else who wants to join us, may...but...there may be some criteria you have to meet!!!)
"I'm growing older just not up."
HEY!!! It worked!!! Thanks Lauren!!!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!
MAY YOU BE SURROUNDED BY THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE!
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas....and good night/morning!!
Sunday, December 23, 2007
A very important public announcement....
Once again...as I was perusing the videos on YouTube (yes, I know...so much more that needs to be done before Santa gets here...but....*sigh*)...ANyway....I came across this and, really....you NEED to see this.
It's an announcement about COOTIES....
"speak to your kids about cooties...before cooties speaks to them first".
Go to http://youtube.com/watch?v=w6ylxWcwkUM and prepare to have a really great laugh today!!!
And after watching....I'm wondering....just how long do the inoculations last?? I can remember getting a shot or two in 2nd or 3rd grade...am I still protected?!?!?!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Dan Fogelberg, Aug. 13, 1951-Dec. 16, 2007
I'm very sad this evening...in the newspaper today was the blurb that one of my all-time favorite singer/ song-writers has passed away. I have been in YouTube for the last hour or so just watching and listening to his songs.
I started listening to him when I was in high school...and his words and music made such an impression on me. Dan and I went through so much together...his music was the one constant in my life for a very long time. Looking through his album list, I have every one... though I love them all, my favorites are Home Free ('72), Captured Angel ('75) and Nether Lands ('77). His voice was pure, his words were moving and his music will live in my heart forever.
Rest in peace, Dan...you will be missed.
"I love to laugh, it's my main thing. I love to abuse the English language."
D. Fogelberg
Dan had oh so many wonderful songs...here is one of my favorites...a live performance..just a man, his guitar and a voice that is just beautiful. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMfv9HALUro
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Don't judge a meatball recipe by it's ingredients
So...'tis the season for "end of the year parties", or "bonenkais" as they are called in Japanese. I have been on a "bonenkai marathon", of sorts....thank God not all of them have included lots and lots of (insert favorite alcoholic beverage name here).
Evening ones (Friday, Monday and tomorrow) will have booze, ones held in the afternoon (Tuesday, Today, Tomorrow, and next Thursday) may have a bit of wine, but usually the people are there for the food (first!) and good conversation!!!
(yes, tomorrow is going to be a busy day!!!)
During the evening ones, a group of people will usually go to a nice place and for 2 hours...no more, no less...2 hours..eat, drink and carry on nice and friendly conversations. Then, it is on to the "ni-jikai", or "second party", where things get a bit louder and 8 times out of 10, there WILL be karaoke involved!!! The great thing about these parties is the underlying reason for this get-together...and that is to "forgive and forget" any kind of tension in relationships...feelings that have been hurt..those kind of things. It's the end of the year, let's drink, get drunk, sing some songs and in January, when we meet again, it's a new year so let's start with a clean slate!!!
Anyway...back to the real reason for this post....a few days ago, I was talking to my good friend Lila, who like all good Jewish girls, had just gotten back from a Christmas party...and we were talking about foods to take to parties. She told me about a recipe for "Sweet and Sour Meatballs II" (obviously, there is a "I" out there, may have to find that one too!!) that her sister had told her about. I needed something for my little get-together with students (15 of them!) at my house yesterday....I needed something quick and delicious...I am going to share with you this recipe...now at first, when you read the ingredients, I'm sure I'll almost be able to hear you mumbling to yourself..."are you serious? no way is this going to be good!!" But believe me, 15 Japanese ladies, one Japanese husband, one American woman ('stay away from me') and 2 small boys will vouch that these. are. delicious!!!
The ingredients are:
1 (16 ounce) can sauerkraut
1 (16 ounce) can jellied cranberry sauce
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 (16 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
3 pounds small meatballs
Okay...now mix the first 4 ingredients together in a bowl. (at this point, I was thinking "yech"...but please continue!!)
Put the meatballs in a crock pot, pour the "sauce" over them and put the crockpot on low. Let it cook for 3-4 hours. (It said to "stir often" but I actually left the house for about 2 1/2 hours and it was no problem!!)
Put out some toothpicks and let the eating begin!!!
The men in my house ate them for dinner with rice!!!
So...to Lila...her sister Miriam and the lady at AllRecipes.com....THANK YOU!!!
Oh...and for anyone who has been here in Japan when Japanese ladies come for a party 1)out of the 15 women, 8 brought aprons and 2) Yes, my kitchen was cleaner when they left than before they came and 3) NO, of course I didn't have to do anything but tell them where to put things!!! It was an absolutely wonderful day!!!
I hope you are all having good days...and if you need something to take to a party, try the meatballs....mmmmmmmgood!!!
Monday, December 10, 2007
The end of a very long week....
Though I love my life here (usually) and really can't imagine living anywhere else (except maybe Hawaii or back in Colorado!), there are times that expats, like myself, really don't look forward to...and this week we had one of those times.
My father called early Tuesday morning....around 7:00, which is almost never a good thing...and told me that my Grandma Neva had passed away early on Monday morning. From what they can gather, she had a massive heart attack...and hopefully, she went quickly and without any pain.
Saturday morning was the funeral and after seriously debating with myself about making the trip, I decided to not make the 27 hour trip home, staying only a day or two before doing that 27 hours again back...as much as I dearly love my grandmother, I couldn't see myself doing that...it would have been emotionally / physically / and financially stressful...and as it was pointed out to me that Grandma herself was not a big one for flying so she would probably understand.
That decided....I still felt (and even now!) like crap.
I've been living in Japan long enough for some of the "responsibility"-guilt trips to attach themselves to my psyche....I am the oldest of my grandmother's grandchildren...I feel as if I have let the others down by not being there.
Silly...I know...but still...that feeling is running around my head, along with some others.
Silly thought #2....did she know how much I loved her? Did she know how bad I felt that I hadn't called her or written to her as much as I probably should have?
Yes, I know...the family understands why I wasn't there....and the guilt-trip is one I am taking all by myself, compliments of me.....
Anyway...enough of that...I thought that I would include a couple pictures of Grandma...she was such a "spiffy" little lady...
My brother-in-law (on the far right) took this picture this summer when we were home.
From the left...Uncle Dan-O, Aunt Janice (my dad's sister), Me, Koji and Issei. Then, my dad, Ron (looking like he just came from a Papa Hemingway-lookalike contest!!! He could win, I think!!), Grandma Neva, my sister Sara and her hubby of almost one year, Jarrett!
My youngest sister, Anna, got married and had a reception in October in Georgia. Grandma went out for the festivities with my aunt and uncle. This is one of my favorite pictures...Sara (on the left), Grandma (great example of her "spiffiness"), Anna (looking absolutely gorgeous!) and once again Papa R.
This was Grandma's last big trip...mom said today that she had actually gotten her application turned in for a passport so she could go to my cousin's wedding, which will be held (possibly) in Belize sometime next year.
So....dear friends, a piece of advice from me....call someone today and tell them that you love them. You never know when it might be your last time. Just pick up the phone and say "hey, I was thinking about you".
I know that Grandma knows how I feel about her...she was such an important person in my life...I'm glad I was a part of her life.
May she rest in eternal peace and watch over us and guide us.
