Just a hint of the coming spring....

I absolutely love this time of year in Japan. We are still in winter and for sure, it will get really cold again, at least one more time. But, until then....it's beautiful. There is a chill in the air that can almost be ignored....until about 5:00 in the late afternoon, but even then, it's not too bad.

If you are prone to allergies, then, maybe, it's not such a good time as we are surrounded, literally, by the most beautiful of flowering plants and trees. We rent our house and were incredibly lucky to get one with not one, but two small gardens and a backyard. Usually, homes here have a very small garden area, if any at all. We live in an area that is considered "country" to the people of Nagasaki....most of the houses around us have gardens and they are kept immaculate. (Not ours though...we lean toward the "jungle" look many times!!!)

In our garden....in the back yard, our "mokuren" (magnolia tree) has just started the blossoming process. We also have "natsu mikans" (summer tangerines that are a little larger than regular tangerines and much MUCH tarter to the taste), that are almost ready to be picked back there and the orange color is so vivid against the green of the trees. We have a couple more flowering trees, but they won't "do their thing" for a while yet....one tree has THE most beautiful smelling blossoms, so sweet with a hint of orange and something else...sorry, but it's too hard to describe.

In the front garden, our camellia tree's flowers are almost finished....the flowers falling apart and laying all around under the tree, in my herb garden. The dark pinkness looking like a blanket around my rosemary, lemon grass, and oregano.

But....my favorite of all things in our garden, sits surrounded by a variety of green trees....the color of the blossoms gives the whole garden a bit of a whimsical feel about it. It is an "ume" (plum) tree, but it is a special kind of ume tree....a "sudare ume", or hanging shade plum tree. The tree itself has weeping willow qualities, but with the most beautiful, delicate, pink flowers....hanging like a beaded curtain in our garden.

This picture was taken with my cell phone...I'll try to get a better one tomorrow, but...it's still good, I think. You can see the color of the flowers....aren't they just beautiful!?!

I hope that spring is in the air, wherever you are. Enjoy the colors around you...today, even doing the laundry wasn't so bad because I could walk amongst the "springness" as I took the clothes out to be hung outside in the cool, dry air.

The Friday Feast...plus a little extra on the side

It's Friday once again....and do you realize that it's March 1?!?!?
The month of February is....gone!!! Oh my!! That also means that the "Blog Februarie" is finished!! Wow!! That went by incredibly fast!!

I want to say a big "ARRIGATO" to Gina for asking us to join her in this challenge! I don't know about anyone else, but it really gave me the "kick in the pants" I needed to start taking this blogging a bit more seriously...but in a fun way!! (of course!!)

I started this blog to help family and friends in the States keep more in touch with us and aware of what was going on. I have had people send me e-mails telling me that this has been great and checking this blog is one of their daily things to do! Thank you so much for that!!!

What I didn't expect out of all this is the list of new friends I have made through this endeavor! Though my "blog reading" takes some time...if I'm gonna read, I'm probably also gonna comment....I look forward to my "personal time" here at my computer at the end of a day, reading what everyone has written, more often than not laughing~~~sometimes out loud~~at things!!! I hope that these "friendships" continue....it helps keep me in touch with what's going on back "home". I love my life here, don't get me wrong, it's just that sometimes being a foreigner here is just waaaayyy stressful...and having all of you here, helps me "keep it real"!!!

So...with that said...here's this week's feast: "Itadakimasu" (What we say here before we eat!!)


Appetizer
Who was the last person you hugged?
As for just hugging...it was a big banana pillow my friend Leah was looking at to buy AND I also hugged a really soft and smooshy bear pillow!!!
As for hugging a person...hmmmmm.....Koji about 10 minutes ago as he was going to bed (got a big 'ole smooch too!!!)

Soup
Share a beauty or grooming trick or tip with us.
(Seriously, if anyone could see me right now, NO ONE would be reading that answer! I'm soooo purdy!!!)
I'm going to repeat something I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago....if you have dry and yucky heels, elbows, knees...pretty much you can put this on any part of your body you want....mix olive oil and sugar...1:1 and massage into whichever area and then wash off! I do my heels and hands and I usually use 2 tablespoons of each. It really is great!!!

Salad
What does the color yellow make you think of?
Sunshine and VW Beetles ('cause the color I want of one!!)

Main Course
If you were to make your living as a photographer, what subject would your pictures revolve around?
Children

Dessert
What was the longest book you ever read?
Because of my schedule I haven't read any really long books lately....other than The Divinci Code...I can't think of anything....I read Light in August in high school...don't know if that one was really long or just seemed that way!!

"These are a few of my favorite things....."

When I first made this blog, back in May, 2006, I wasn't really very sure as to what it was that I was supposed to do. So...I posted a couple of times and then....waited...until October and started again. It took me awhile, but, I finally got the hang of things and especially, in the last 6 or 7 months, have been posting quite regularly.

Not only have I been writing my stuff...but, I have "met" a whole slew of new friends from reading their blogs and commenting. Sometimes, I will find myself on a new blog and really, have no freakin' clue as to how I got there. But, the reading is usually good, so I usually stay and have added many a site to my "bookmarks".

One of those people(and I do know how I got to her blog) is Karen Meg and she has tagged me with a "Favorite Posts" meme.
Here are the rules to this particular meme:

Rules: Go back through your archives and post the links to your five favorite blog posts that you’ve written.

Link one must be about family
Link two must be about friends
Link three must be about yourself
Link four must be about something you love
Link five can be about anything you choose

Post your five links and then tag five other people. At least two of the people you tag must be newer acquaintances so that you get to know each other better.

Okay...so here we go: (Click on the links if you want to read the post.)
1) As in most of the blogs I read, I, too, seem to post more about my family than anything. As I was going through my posts (seriously hadn't realized there would be so many!!!) I found one particular one that I really do like. Ever since the K-man and I started dating, going for drives and hikes has been something we do...a lot. Now that the boys are older, we can pretty much make a day of it. This particular day, we climbed a mountain here in Nagasaki. It was a great day.....and just a quick note...the shirt that the K-man is wearing in the pictures was one that my late father gave him...Daddy was a "Texas-kind-of cowboy" and when the K-man wears that shirt, it really just makes me smile and remember....

2) I have made some incredibly wonderful friends in the last 17 years. Sadly, most of them have moved back to their respective home-countries. But, there are 2 people here that, even though we don't see each other nearly as often as we should, remain two of my dearest friends. When we get together, it's always fun and we make up for the time between getting together.

3)I tried to find a post about me that was 're-post-worthy'....this one was just something I did one night when there was nothing else to write about!!

4) It would be obvious to find a post about my family, as they are who I love the most...but, to learn more about me, I thought that this montage, of sorts, would be best. There are people and things I love and some other important stuff thrown in.

5) I added this one just 'cause when I think of it, it just makes me smile!!!

As for the tagging of others....I think I will leave that option up to you....if you want to do this, then I encourage you to do it (it was kind of fun going through the older posts to see what crap I had actually posted!!!)!!! But...you have to let me know...so I can make sure to read what you have chosen!!

**Please ignore any/all spelling and/or grammar and/or any other mistakes...I took some cold medicine and I'm starting to feel a little "hoojie"...they should include "you should not undertake any major internet writing" along with not "operating large machinery" on the label...and no, you won't find hoojie in any dictionary...it's an original word...or at least, that's what I tell people. :-D

Oh...but to find the perfect present...

The Japanese people are known for their gift-giving abilities. They give summer and winter "special" gift boxes (of soap, oils, ham, fruit, beer and juice to name a few of the selections) to those people they want to say a special "thank you" or "I appreciate your kindness" or "you're a great teacher/boss, please accept this present as a total suck up to you".
When you move into a house or apartment, you are expected to give small gifts to your neighbors to introduce yourself and say "yoroshiku"...which is kind of like saying "please, be nice to me".

Weddings, births of babies and funerals are all situations where we give money...no flowers or presents...but cold cash....and in a week or two, there will be a "thank you" present delivered.

Even among my neighbors, I almost want to say "stop the madness!! Just take the damn cookies...I don't want anything in return!!!" But sure as anything, in a day or two, the container which contained the cookies I made and delivered, will be delivered back to me full of something...chocolates, candies, etc.

It just never stops. And I have found myself almost brain washed to behave the same...last week a bag of oranges were brought to the house by the lady next door and I sent the boys over later with some apples we had received....as a sort of payback!!! (I'm turning Japanese, oh yes, I'm turning Japanese, I really think so!" sing with me now!!!)

So, now...another gift giving situation is soon upon me...and one that , I may not like the whole situation, but I don't mind participating in. The "sayonara" gift.

Three very good friends are now in the process of moving back to the States. Though the three of them are all much younger than myself, and our lives are completely different...I have found myself drawn to them in a very fun and crazy way!! I have known one for a few years now...the other two are relatively new....but, I will miss them all oh so very much and am in total denial about accepting their inevitable departure.

Any time a friend leaves, I like to give them something that will help them to remember me and their time in Japan and to remember me!! :-D Over the years, I have picked out pieces of handmade pottery....or old kimonos....an obi or two (the belt for the kimono)...it really depends on the person.

Today...the boys and I went to one of our favorite shopping establishments (Mr. Max does a very good impersonation of a Wal-Mart or Target!!). As I was shopping around, I was drawn to something that I immediately recognized as THE PERFECT GIFT for the girls.....it was a bit whimsical so maybe it will keep me in their memory....AND it captures the whole Japanese "spirit" of life....on just one...simple....t-shirt....

"Dreaming of the last hurrah."

Isn't this perfect!?!?!? I remember about 15 years ago, some friends and I had a contest to find the most stupid best Japanese-English t-shirts. This one would have placed in the top 5!!!

I'm going back in a day or two to check sizes...the color selection was awesome!!! I think they are going to love having one!!!

Tired Tuesday.....

Mondays and Tuesdays are the days that kick my butt exhaust me the most....but, it's a good kind of exhaustion! Each of these days, I have 3 classes...and each of those classes are such high energy that I find myself really drained on Tuesday nights! I've had my bath (it was lovely!!)...a couple of beers...and now for a quick blog...and then, I am going to bed.

How are YOU feeling this morning/afternoon/evening?

This is me......or, not me really, but how I'm feeling!!

(I love this...I have it on our fridge with a "frame" to put on the "feeling" so everyone will know the climate of the kitchen!!)

I could use some of these again.....

But...tomorrow I get to go and do this....so I will feel "re-energized" and ready for the rest of the week!!!

What do YOU do when you need to get some energy?!?!

Random Questions + Interesting Concept = Youza! That's a bit close, don't ya think??!?!

When I have the time, I like doing some of the quizzes you can find on people's blogs and other different sites....answer a few seemingly random questions and "they" will decide, just from your answers, what kind of person you are.

I used to go into those quizzes with a big 'ole block grain of salt....but, I started realizing that they. were. hitting. just. a. little. too. close. How the hell can "they" figure stuff out about me just by my answers to questions about what I do in my free time or what kind of condiment I use on my sandwich or how I eat an Oreo cookie!!

I got this one from Grandy....this one is "What's your power color?"
Mine....was GOLD!!!
(such a pretty, shiny color!!)

Your Power Color Is Gold

At Your Highest: You are engrossed in passions that mentally stimulate you. At Your Lowest: You seek thrills and neglect what's important in your life. In Love: You see dating as adventure and approach it with an open attitude. How You're Attractive: You passion for life makes others passionate about you. Your Eternal Question: "Am I Having Fun?"

What's" Your Power Color?

Okay.....so....let's see...."highest point"~~~maybe....."lowest point"~~it's really a good thing I'm not "low" very often, that one is kind of scary.....

I see "dating as an adventure and approach it with an open attitude"....yeah...well...that works for pretty much everything for me!! Life in general is best when faced like that, don't you think? ~~~"attractive point"....isn't that all a part of what being the best teacher you can be is all about?~~~

"Am I having fun?".....I want this on my gravestone when I finally pass on!!! This is much of what my philosophy of life is all about.....

..........If I ever get to a point in a situation where I can no longer see the fun in things, then, my friends, it's time for some kind of change in that situation!!!

Or maybe....this is all just a load of crap and I've wasted 20 minutes going through it?!?!?!

You take the test....tell me what YOU think!!!

I'm going to bed.....oyasumi nasai.....good night!! Sweet dreams!!!

Sunday, 2/24....Part Dos!!

Did you ever have one of "those days" where the night before, you went to sleep with the idea that, even though the next day was going to be busy, it was okay, because there was enough time to get everything done? And then, in one phone call, it all goes to 'hell in a hand basket'?
That was today. I woke up around 9:00....and after getting the coffee started, breakfast for the boys done and actually read the paper, I was ready to start my day. Then....the phone call at about 10:30 that changed everything!
The owner of our house was here in Nagasaki and wanted to take a look at the repairs that were done a couple of weeks ago....and she would be here at 1:30.
My mind started racing....there was a cake to decorate, a "Mt. Fuji" of laundry to be done, the entrance-way resembled a war zone and there were piles of stuff that needed to be hidden organized into other parts of the house.
Must. make. more. coffee.

Then I needed to get over being angry....she lives in Osaka (which is an almost 2 hour plane ride to get here!) so she didn't just wake up this morning and say "Gosh, maybe I'll go to Nagasaki and check out the house." A little bit more than 3 hours warning would have been really nice!!!

Okay....Oh...and did I mention that there were about 8 or 10 little boys coming to the house to play and have cake at 1:00?!?!?! MORE COFFEE....WHERE'S THE WHISKEY?? :-D

Because I work very well under pressure....the laundry got done (without whiskey, thank you very much!!)...the cake got decorated (not as well as what I had planned, but the boys loved it!!!)...and the stuff that was in piles got put into various closets around the house...and the genkan (entrance-way) was as good as it gets with 10 extra pairs of shoes all around!!

So before I show you the cake....

Some flowers for me....'cause I deserve them!!!

Okay....the cake....Issei is very much into his Nintendo DS and Dragon Quest. (Click on that and you can learn all you would ever need to know thanks to Wikipedia!!) In the Dragon Quest game, there is a character called suraimu or Slime, that Issei and his friends really, really like!
There are many variations on the Slime character...as seen above. But the one that Issei requested for his cake was this guy.....
And here is how it turned out.....

The blue was much prettier in "real life"....the picture makes it look kind of gray, but, it was actually a very pretty blue. I didn't let them see it until it was time to eat and they were all very excited!!! The look on Issei's face when he saw it was one of almost disbelief....like he wasn't sure what I was going to do, even though he told me what he wanted and he was very happy with the way it turned out!!!
Here is 1/2 of the group that was here....and Issei and Koji (on the left). Three of the mothers called me earlier this evening to thank them for the cake and to ask why we didn't say it was a birthday party....I explained that it wasn't a "party", per se...just cake and playing!! One mom jokingly said something on the lines of me making the same cake for her son's birthday coming up in April....hmmmm....this might turn into a little business venture!!!
Anyway....it turned out to be an okay day after all...but now...I'm knackered exhausted and it's almost my turn in the bath. I really need to soak my tired 'ole bones tonight.

Have a great Sunday!!

You know you're from a small town when.....

First of all....thanks everyone for the great comments on my hometown post!! I do admit that I got a bit homesick...not for "home" exactly, but for my family and friends!!! It was great to go through all those pictures!!

As I was writing that post, I kept thinking of an e-mail that I got a few months ago that had a list of criteria to see if you had lived in what would qualify as a "small town".
Today...in the cleaning out of the "in-box", I found the message and thought that I would share with you!!
It's a little long....but a quick read!!

Those of you from my hometown or from any small town will read these, shake your head, do a little reminiscing, and probably laugh a bit.

SMALL TOWNS...aren't they wonderful...
1) You can name everyone you graduated with. All 44 of them.
2) You know what 4-H means. Head, Hands, Heart, Health
3) You went to parties at a pasture, barn, gravel pit, or in the middle of a dirt road. On Monday you could always tell who was at the party because of the scratches on their legs from running through the woods when the party was busted. (See #7.) No woods, but corn/wheat fields.
4) You used to 'drag' Main !!!!!!!!!!!!
5) You scheduled parties around the schedules of different police officers,because you knew which ones would bust you and which ones wouldn't. Benson was the coolest!!
6) You could never buy cigarettes because all the store clerks knew how old you were (and if you were old enough, they'd tell your parents anyhow.) Besides, where would you get the money?
7) When you did find somebody old enough and brave enough to buy cigarettes, you still had to go out into the country and drive on back road sto smoke them. No..never did this..uh-uh.
8) You knew which section of the ditch you would find the beer your buyer dropped off.
9) It was cool to date somebody from the neighboring town. Those Mustangs and Eagles...man some of those guys were hawt!!!
10) The whole school went to the same party after graduation. Klipfels house.
11) You didn't give directions by street names but rather by references. Turn by Nelson's house, go 2 blocks to Anderson's, and it's four houses left of the track field.
12) The golf course had only 9 holes. Rattlesnake Open!!
13) You couldn't help but date a friend's ex-boyfriend/girlfriend.
14) Your car stayed filthy because of the dirt roads, and you will never own a dark vehicle for this reason.
15) The town next to you was considered 'trashy' or 'snooty,' but was actually just like your town.
16) You referred to anyone with a house newer then 1955 as the 'rich' people.
17) The people in the 'big city' dressed funny, and then you picked up the trend 2 years later.
18) Anyone you wanted could be found at the local gas station or the dairy bar. Bowling Alley, Napa parking lot, or the grocery store parking lot
19) You saw at least one friend a week driving a tractor through town or one of your friends driving a grain truck to school occasionally.
20) The gym teacher suggested you haul hay for the summer to get stronger. Not me...but my brothers!!!
21) Directions were given using the stop light as a reference. No stop lights...places on Main Street were used...but everyone pretty much new where everyone lived anyway!
22) When you decided to walk somewhere for exercise, 5 people would pull over and ask if you wanted a ride
23) Your teachers called you by your older siblings' names.
24) Your teachers remembered when they taught your parents.
25) You could charge at any local store or write checks without any ID.
26) There was no McDonalds. But we did have a Taco John's!!
27) The closest mall was over an hour away.Try 3 1/2, if you drove fast and didn't get stopped!
28) It was normal to see an old man riding through town on a riding lawn mower. Or bicycle!!
29) You've peed in a cornfield. or wheat field, someone's garden, side of a dirt road....
30) Most people went by a nickname. "Hutch" (my whole family will answer to this name!!)

There were very few that I didn't say "yes" to!!!