I'm baaaaaacccckkkkkkk!!!

.....and I do apologize for the delay....and I'm sorry you had to keep coming back to see that damn rug!!! :-D The only excuse I have that might possibly work is "temporary insanity brought about by having too much to do and not enough hours of the day in which do all of it in".

There. That said. I would like to let you know that I have downloaded about 40 or so pictures onto my Flickr account and will attempt to share them here. I'm not sure if they will let you in with this link, but let's give it a try, shall we?
Click on: http://www.flickr.com/photos/loladivine/ and see what happens!!
I downloaded photos from May....we have our one-day trip to some incredible caverns....the Boys' Day celebration and what-not...Issei's sports festival at school...some birthday cakes that I made (and actually got paid for!!!)....a cooking class that I just did with some really great people...and...well....maybe that is it.

I will add more explanations in a day or two....I'm more concerned about the link being one you can actually view.....So....If anyone out there is actually reading this and would click on it for me...let me know what you can or cannot see....I would appreciate the help!!!
IF you can get into the account (and yes, the account's name is for "Lola Divine"...that is my 'stage name'!!!), make sure that you read the explanations for each picture. If you view them in a "slideshow", you miss on the information!!!

**FYI....plans and schedules are about to be finalized for our trip "home" this summer. Plan on us being in Colorado on July 18....and leaving out around August 17th or so.
Nothing has been "set in stone" as of yet, but....we have 3 different travel companies working on getting us the best deal!!!

Speaking of which....I just have to share this with you....one of the travel companies here in Nagasaki, has been the reason that I just have to giggle sometimes. I explained why I thought the name was so funny to most of my classes and it is so silly, even the lowest of levels get it.
So what's so funny???
Well....in Japan, many areas are given special names....the Kanto region, for example....and then there is the Kinki area.....(are you with me?!?!)....one travel company's name is...."Kinki Tourist Company".
Seriously....need I say more?!?!?!
One of my old students works there and I asked her if they had T-shirts, because I really want one that says "KINKI TOURIST" right across the front!!!!! I would even take a name tag!!!
Just one more reason that this country just makes me laugh sometimes!!! :-D

Okay....better go....have spent way too much time sitting here at the computer.
Oh...before I close this up....
I want to say a big Thank You to my Aunt Marcia for her advice and input on the cakes and the Buffalo Wings (for the cooking class!!) and to Trenda's man, Dave...for his advice on the BBQ sauce (what I came up with was awesome!!!). It's nice to have family and friends I can call up for advice!!! Love you!!

You all have a wonderful day.
I'll write more later.....
Toodle-oooooo

A very nice Mother's Day, indeed...

And "Why do you have a picture of a rug here, Debbie?" , you might be asking yourself....maybe....anyway...this was one of my Mother's Day presents!! This is in the kitchen, in front of the sink....isn't it great!! I told Kiyoshi that we may have to re-think our "theme" (mainly chili peppers!!) in the kitchen...we are getting a Hawaii/Mexico mix going on and I'm not really sure that it works!! Oh, well....we like it!!

I was very surprised to get this, along with presents that the boys picked out last weekend when Kiyoshi took them out for the day (from Issei---a decorative box with drawers for my desk that we have to make, and from Koji---air freshener....really nice "mixed berries" smell). Then, when we went to the grocery store, I gave the boys some money and left them at the flower shop (I just ran to the bank machines!!) and they picked out a very nice flower arrangement. (I do this on my birthday and Mother's Day...Issei has gotten really good at picking the flowers I like!!!)

I hope that you had a good Mother's day....if you're a mom...I hope you got lot's of good stuff and your family treated you extra-special...if you're not a mom, then...I hope you called your own mom or someone 'like' a mom and told her that you loved her!!! Share the love, everyone...share the love!!! *smile*

Oh...by the way...in case anyone is wondering about the "door" in the floor or our kitchen....many houses in Japan have a special storage compartment in the floor. There are actually 2 pretty big storage bins on rollers under there....lot's of stuff that we don't use very often is in there....very good idea for houses with very little "visible" storage!!

Yes...I am still here....

....I'm just not very motivated to do much of anything! :-D Today is the last day of a holiday for us...."Golden Week"....it was actually only Monday, Thursday and Friday, but many companies just take the whole week off. Issei and I were neither one very happy campers when we had to go to school/work on Tuesday and Wednesday!!! Yesterday, Saturday, was "Boys Day"....Issei thought he and Koji should get some extra "fun" stuff....he didn't really understand my humor when I told him that I thought that "everyday was boys' day"!!! Oh well....I hope he doesn't suddenly understand the joke in a few days when I remind him that Mother's Day is coming soon!!!

I will try to get some more pictures and "stuff" up soon....but right now, I'm going to go to bed. Mondays and Tuesdays are my busiest days and pretty much kick my butt so I need to get some "re-energizing" before I have to "seize the day"!!

You all have a good week...OH...and yes, the VW....STILL my "dream car"....*sigh*....the only thing better would be a convertible VW....double *sigh*!

Just 3 more reasons I really like Mexico...

So....Lila and her good friend (our friend, too!!) went to Mexico during the Spring vacation. She was kind enough to send me copies of these pictures which made me really "homesick" for (even though I only lived there for 5 years) South Texas and Mexico.
What a great shot this is....can't you almost hear the wind rustling the leaves of the palm tree....I can picture this would be what I would see as I looked up from my beach chair to try and get a "cabana boy" to bring me another margaritta!!
("Blew out my flip flops...stepped on a pop top....")







Reason #2....the great beaches...and look at that sky!!! *sigh*













THIS CRACKS ME UP!!
Cheaper than Wal-Mart AND you get a free shot of Tequila?!?!?! No way!!! And with the perfect broken English I'm thinking this would be the place to just hang out!!

**Thanks Lila for the pictures....you can thank me later for NOT putting the one of you sitting at the bar IN the pool!!! That looked like soooo much fun!!! Please find one of those in Denver!! I'm thinking that would be a great place to be...and we could probably find people to join us!!! :-D

April 17....here or there...not a very good day.

As I left the house around 8:00 this morning and was gone until early evening, I didn't hear the news that came from Virginia until late this afternoon. What a tragedy. And one that will probably never be completely explained.
I first heard about it when I went into the small grocery store that I have been going to for the past 10 years....three or four people stopped me to comment on the situation...but, since that was the first time to hear of it, I wasn't sure that I was hearing correctly. I could understand the main details and then the comments of how America is such a dangerous place...all the guns..."abunai" ("danger").
I think that, when something like this happens (think the Oklahoma bombings, Columbine, 9-11, any shopping center/random shooting, just to name a few) the American government should give us 'ex-patriots' a stipend for our "damage control" that we do. I found myself, once again, defending the United States, saying that it really isn't that dangerous, there ARE very safe places to go....etc. etc. etc.
Then...tonight...around 8:00...as he was returning to his campaign headquarters, the Mayor of Nagasaki was shot...two times, in the back...and is now, as I write this, still in critical condition.
Mr. Iccho Itoh, is running for his fourth term as our Mayor....he has devoted so much of his time to the cause of getting rid of all nuclear weapons...but, as Kiyoshi reminded me...not everyone agrees with him everytime he talks. Seems as if, the shooter was someone with a grudge with the city over an accident...but also has yakuza ties. Other stories, true or not I don't know, are coming out....but still....the fact is...people were hurt today and people died...not a good day.
I pray for those in Virginia...and for Mr. Itoh and his family....

A great day for the park...

Today the boys and I went to our friend Laryssa's 4th birthday party. The day was a bit overcast at first, so it was perfect for the kids to play in the park...they had a pretty good time doing bubbles and just being outside. The boys were such "troopers"....it was mainly a bunch of little girls...Issei was a bit grumbly about it until the cake and ice cream came out and Koji was just being Koji....I think he kind of liked the little girls, but as that really isn't very "cool" (according to Big Brother!!), he bonked a couple on the head with the big plastic hammer just to make it look like he didn't care!!! :-D

(yes, we apologized and even let one bonk him back!!)

I will try to put a couple pictures from the party later....it was amazing to be surrounded by all that "girliness" and pink....Both Laryssa and her little sister, Juliana were wearing their "princess/ballerina" outfits....It was nice to play Aunt Debbie for a while...painting fingernails and stuff....As I can't do that sort of stuff with my boys, I get to "borrow" friends' little girls...Kayla, Kazune, Laryssa and Juliana, to name a few....Though I dearly love my boys...I do love "my girls". And thinking about it....I've done this for many years....we can add Lindsey, Whitney, and Ryleigh, (in Colorado) to that list..."little girls" who have grown up now, but will always have special places in my heart!!!

So....to all you "girly girls" out there....and every one else...I hope you had a great weekend. I hope you could enjoy being outside and being with friends and having fun!!

Spring has sprung......

Here are some pictures that I took around our garden today. After being "teased" with spring for the past few weeks....I'm thinking that it might be here to stay. Spring is my favorite time of year....not humid yet, cool mornings that move into warm and sunny afternoons and evenings that have just enough of a coolness that make sleeping really nice!!
The orange flowers above were a gift from our friend, Mrs. Kikutani. She has a few in her garden and after I lusted after them last year, she gave me one!! *smile*
Neither Kiyoshi nor I can remember the exact name of this plant, but it is a kind of orchid....when I remember the name, I will tell you!!! It just bloomed on Friday....am hoping the flowers last awhile as they are so pretty!!

This is my little part of the yard....the small white flowers came from a package of seeds I found a couple of years ago and they have multiplied like crazy. You can also see my rosemary....it has gone from a small plant to an actual tree!!! About time to cut some off and hang it to dry!!! I don't know if it will show up in the picture or not, but my "flamingo collection" is there, sort of in the middle!! Mom sent me a couple for Christmas a couple of years ago as did my brother Guy....gosh...it's almost like they know me, or something!!! :-)
Here are the first of the azaleas....in about 4 or 5 days, maybe, there will be many many more!! We have pink, red and white ones....it will be so pretty this weekend....

...and finally....the blueberry bush. Doesn't really look like much now, but, compared to what it was a couple of years ago....THIS is amazing!!! When the blueberries first came in, I laughed when Kiyoshi wanted me to make blueberry muffins....it was literally, one blueberry per muffin!!! Last year, there were enough for not only "multiple blueberry" blueberry muffins, but we also had some pancakes!!! This year's "crop" should be even better......yummmmmm....can't wait!!!

Chocolate, jelly beans, and goodies....in other words...

HAPPY EASTER!!

I hope that you are all enjoying today. (That is, those of you who celebrate this holiday!!) :-)
If you aren't celebrating, then I hope you are just enjoying the day!!
I spoke with my Mom earlier and she and a friend were going to the Easter Service in the city park. My brother and his family and a few "extras" were joining the others from the church in the annual "Two Buttes Mountain Climb and Sunrise Service". Everyone was getting up at 5:00 for the sunrise....and by now, I am assuming most are already back home and taking a rest.....well, the adults, anyway. The kids are probably eating their way to the bottoms of their Easter Baskets....one chocolate bunny bite at a time!!!




I thought these cartoons were just too funny...thought I would share them with you!!







I'm not sure when I started doing this, but it is something that we have done every year......In our entrance way, we have an "Easter Tree". The boys and I searched our yard for the perfect branch to use....this year the one we chose had little white flowers and is quite lovely....I have a small collection of wooden bunny ornaments that I bought on one of my trips home. There are also 2 ornaments I actually brought with me when I first came to Japan 16 years ago. Then, the wooden eggs....there are three of them...not sure where I got them, but after doing some research on the net, I'm thinking they are Russian. I wonder where I got those?!?! They are handpainted and the boys and I love them!!






Here is a closer picture....Issei also thought that the M&M Guys they got a couple of years ago in their Easter Baskets were a great touch!!
(In case you were wondering....the red cloth under the vase is actually an obi...wide silk belt used with kimono....the colors are so bright, I thought it was the perfect accent for the decorations!!)

I wish you all lots of chocolates, jelly beans, sunshine, and the feeling of "spring"...may it last all year long!
Peace...and lots of love!!