Random Monday kind of stuff......and I think I had a small explosion in my head last night (I really do!)

The colors that can be seen in our garden, in any given season, still never cease to amaze me.  Now...the cherry and peach blossoms are fading, the azaleas are coming in their full-bloomyness

(and yes, I know that is not a real word, work with me here, you know what I mean!),

but probably one of my favorite flowers this time of year is the kunshiran (clivia) that sits in a big pot by the front door.  It's bright orange and yellow flowers are so beautiful....and even when it's rainy, like it was most of the day, seeing those flowers brings sunshine to my day.

*And if you noticed the flamingo-designed welcome mat, give yourself a couple of points, okay? okay.*

********

A couple of weeks ago, in my Friday chatting class, we got to talking about (of all things) heels....mainly the dryness and yuckiness that our heels can sometimes suffer and with the warmer weather soon upon us, how we do not want to have anyone see that disgusing stuff on our feet.

One of the ladies mentioned some "miracle sox" that she uses and we were all very interested.  She swore that they worked.  Though the rest of us were a bit skeptical....we were curious and wanted to know where she got them.  (I mean, really...where does one go to buy a miracle, these days?)  She mentioned a particular catalogue and I made a note to check it out the next time I saw it. 

Fast forward a few days.....a small package from my student comes in the mail.

In the package....a miracle....and a note...

"Please try these sox....they will make your heels look like they did when you

were a teenager."

What did I have to lose, right?

So...here they are....they are a bit like support sox for your feet (but not as tight.....and did you notice the color?? Yeah...uh-huh...pink!)

I did like the instructions said and put on cream before putting on the sox (not a must, but something they recommended) and then....waited for the miracle.

After three evenings of wearing these sox to bed....

I have to tell you that

I now....believe in miracles!!

Holy moly..... my heels, where once I was embarrassed to take off my sox,

are smooth....and yes...almost like when I was a teenager.

(But back then, who really cared about what your heels looked like, right?!)

Hmmmm...I'm going back to that catalogue...

since the sox worked so well,

I wonder what they have that would help

my boobs...I'd LOVE for them to be like when I was 17!!!

**************
So...the other day, we went to a new HUGE discount store that opened lately... it's all shiny and bright and is full of so many wonderful things and as we were oohing and aaaahing over all the fun stuff we realized that our youngest was not longer oohing and aaaahing with us, so we split up and went in search of him...all three of us making our way to the pet department where the lady there was cleaning the bunny cages and the sweet little furry bunnies were hopping all over the floor and this is what we found....

~~sigh~~
Goofy kid....I think we'll keep him...
but not the bunny.
Sorry, honey.

**********
And then...yep...I think my head just might have tried to explode....
This morning was like any other day...
after getting the boys on their merry little ways
(and by "merry" I mean 'grumbling-why-do-I-have-to-go-to-school'),
I went about my morning routine....
wash hair...check.
cleanse face....check.
moisturizer, a little foundation....check. check.
right contact....check.
left contack....AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHWHAT THE HELL????

Oh, yeah. Broken blood vessel (s) in my eye.

Doesn't hurt....but looks like hell.

One of my students cringed and then said, "Oh this has happened to me a couple of times."

Really? Well....this is a first for me and it kind of freaked me out.

Has this ever happened to you?

How long does this last?

I feel like this is just the beginning and it can really happen....

you know that whole

"and then my head exploded" idea!!!!

Like being a tall, blond, not-so-small foreign woman

surrounded by much-shorter/smalerl-than-me is not enough...

now....NOW....I look like I'm bleeding out of my eyes.

Oh yes...this is very attractive.

Thank God I was having a good hair day or it would have been really bad.

~~sigh~~

I'm going to bed, now....I fully expect the other eye to blow any minute

and I really think I need to be in a horizontal position for this.

Good night, my dears.....I hope your day is a good one.

Something I could use for a "Laverne moment"...you know...if....when....I have one

No....not Laverne as in

"Laverne & Shirley"

(though I have had a few Laverne Difazio moments)...

no...

I'm thinking more of this Laverne...

Yesterday, one of my neighbors came over and and brought me a bag that her friend had made.

"She made a bunch of them and gave me some....I don't need but one or two so I'm giving them to everyone around here. I don't know if you'll like it or not but...if you want it, you can have it."

When I looked down and saw the bag in her hands, I really had to concentrate so as not to burst into laughter.  At first glance, yeah...it isn't really something I would carry everyday for shopping.
To be nice and thinking I could give it to my MIL,
I accepted the bag.

But...after looking at it, hanging on the back of the chair,

I have to admit...it's starting to kind of grow on me.

I may be having a "Laverne moment" soon, so I better be keeping it handy.

Oh...and the flamingos?

Being, well....flamingos (!!)...

they love it...of course, they do.

Silly birds.

**And just for the record...that's gold, shiny material on the inside....and

it's reversable ya'll!!!**

**********************

A quick math word problem:

If 6 Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs
are delivered to a house
with 4 people who love such eggs,
how can they be divided
so that everyone gets an equal share?

Answer:
The package is opened up, very quickly and each person is given an egg to
enjoy (some a little more excitedly than others).
Then, as 3 of the people in the house
go about their merry, unsuspecting way, the 4th person, being the
total be-yatch that she is, hides the remaining
2 eggs in the freezer.
Screw "equal share".
The remaining 2 eggs..now safely hidden among
the frozen spinach and tofu burgers...
belong to the 4th person.
The 4th person doesn't believe in "equal share"
when it comes to Reese's.
She's just saying.

***********
Thanks smalltownmom for the great surprise....
{{hugs}} to you for sharing your Easter basket!!

I wish you all little surprises today....I hope that some
you can use eat
immediately...and some you can save...for later.

In my humble opinion.....

....next to yellow or sterling roses, these are probably my most favorite of flowers....

...this 'green curry' and nan are really quite delicious and

we do so love a good dippin' dinner...

...this baby is in possession of some num-num-numable cheeks

*Her momma was my student about 12 years ago*

....it totally makes my day when a student's daughter, who went to America for spring holiday, brings back some delicious See's Easter Eggs for me......

....and this....

this right here....

is

178 yen (about $1.90)

 and 145 calories worth of

Oh My God Bless America

deliciousness!!

*That would be a Creme Brulee Caffe Latte*

And what about you, my friends...what kind of IMHOs are you tossing about?

a sign....

...that someone up there truly loves me and wants me to be happy!

Thanks Mom...you rawk the leftover Halloween Easter candy.

**************

We've had a really hectic week and I'm we're beginning to feel it.
Tiredness is running rampant among the Kuroiwa's.
So....some pictures..a bit of a "Few Words Friday", if you will.,
***************
Mom exhibiting her mad Anne Geddes' style picture taking.
Ms. Geddes has absolutely nothing to worry about. 
No really. 
She doesn't.

****************

There is a very tall wall on one side of our garden...in the wall, the K-man has stuck

Rose Cactus (Cactus Rose?) in the cracks and they are actually

thriving in those cracks.

Something beautiful, surviving and growing in a really difficult location...

I told Issei,

"That is kind of like Mommy."

He snorted...then agreed.  I ♥ that kid!!

**************

One of my all-time favorite sandwiches is a peanut butter and banana with honey sandwich.

Heaven on a slice of bread....Elvis style.

I have been scoffed at for this many times by the main man in this house.

He has, just as many times, refused to eat this creation.

And that's okay.

To each his (or her) own.

Imagine my surprise when I walked into the kitchen one morning...and there sat the K-man

at the table..

happily munching on this:

It seems that some semi-famous talent (tv entertainer, to you and me) introduced this particular sandwich on a talk show as her favorite thing to eat.

K:  "This is great!  Have you ever had a peanut butter and banana sandwich?"

D:  ........................................

The K-man now has one 2 or 3 mornings a week.

Oh....now I get it....We're only going to believe something if someone on TV says it...otherwise what is being said is...a load of crap....ignorable, even. 

Wow. 

Had I learned this interesting little tidbit of info about 16 years ago, we could have avoided

a lot of pain and heartache. 

I'm going to have to start paying more attention to those talk shows from now on.

***************

At the lighthouse, at the southernmost tip of Nagasaki.

I wish you all a weekend of clear skies, warm breezes, avoidable aggravations and spending time with the
ones you love most!!

~~sigh~~another ceremony...but..one we didn't mind attending

The other day, a good friend of mine in the States asked,

"Does Japan have a ceremony for everything?"

My answer: 

"It certainly seems like it, doesn't it?!"

The list of thing that Japanese have ceremony for is endless....it seems strange to say this,

but...it's the Japanese way.

 Japanese especially like to officially celebrate the beginnings and endings of things. 

The most obvious would be births and deaths.  After a child is born, there is the official visit to the shrine to be blessed when the child is a month old.  We have things we do (usually...but sometimes we forget) when a child turns 1, then 3,5 and 7 and then 20 with a few more to follow. 

=^-^=

When a person passes away, the funeral is just a mere part of the whole mourning process.  For 40 days after the funeral, there are periodical ceremonies and then in particular years after.....until 39 years have passed (sometimes longer depending on the temple) family members will gather for ceremonies celebrating the person who passed away..

In April, entrance ceremonies are very common....everywhere.  The beginning of the fiscal year and the welcoming of just-graduated workers and those transferring in are the main reasons for one at a company or business.  The end of the year will be one to say "arrigato" to everyone for working so hard, "good luck" to those have transferred and "congratulations" to those retiring.  Every school, from kindergarten to university has a ceremony at the beginning of the year and again at the end of the year. 

Again...it's the Japanese way.

Though I might complain (Who me?)  about having to go and find the right clothes (there are unwritten rules, here folks) and having to cancel classes for the day for any of these ceremonies, there is a part of me that sort of likes the whole process.  (But...keep in mind that the first years of elementary school, junior high, high school and university are most important and parents attend these, but not the others, usually.)

It's full of speeches that are pretty boring and kids that don't really understand the whole meaning but....it's something you can count on.  And really...in times where things are so uncertain, it's nice to know that there are things you know for certain are going to happen.

Plus...it makes the changes that are going to happen a bit more important to those involved.

That said....

on Wednesday

under the still-blooming cherry trees... 

in a gymnasium where the stage was set...

 parents waited patiently outside to enter and find their seats.

When the 8th grade and 9th grade students were in their seats and

all was ready....

the band began to play and

the new first year students of Nishiurakami Junior High entered.

The crowd cheered and clapped. 

When they were all seated, the principal made a short speech and then each homeroom announced the students in his or her class, one by one.

Upon hearing their names, the students stood up and answered in

a strong voice.

"Kuroiwa, Issei."

"HAI!"

After more speeches and some singing of songs, the students retired to their homeroom to get their first instruction from their teacher. 

They also got some of their textbooks.

It was a great day.

A proud day.

One that we will remember forever.

Welcome to Junior High, Issei.

You're going to do great things.

Of this....your mom is sure.

And a little something....just for fun....

Issei...April, 2010...

                          

Dad...April, 1970...

Today.....tomorrow....

Today was the first day of school for my little one.....

Today....he became

a 2nd grader.

*Yes...a man of "doin' it my way" fashion sense.

Today...

was the first time

(other than those times when 'older brother' was sick)

the 'little brother' had to walk to the big corner of

our neighborhood to meet the rest of the group

to walk to school...

alone.....

(Which totally explains the tummyache last night.)

Today....

was older brother's last day of his spring holiday...

Tomorrow...

older brother puts on his very expensive uniform

 that really needs to last the three years of junior high

and he will go with mom and dad

to the junior high school for a very official entrance ceremony.

Tomorrow....
a whole new education experience begins...
for all of us.

I hope he grows into the uniform...

(Well, maybe not grow that big...but you get my point...right?)

Some changes are happening here at Casa de Kuroiwa....

some changes that we will come through with flying colors..

of this...I am sure.

"So....are you two here just for the holiday, or planning on staying longer?"

************

A Proclamation:

Please let it be known that

those of us living in the House of Kuroiwa,

(especially Debbie) 

do proudly insist upon encourage the observance of,

what is known as, The Birthday Month.

Let the celebrations begin!!!

Actually...a little FYI for your reading pleasure....

Today, as my mom will tell you, is my real birthday.

You see....40-some-even years ago, I was born

on Good Friday.

(Ergo...the goodness that just oozes from my very being.)

Okay, okay, okay...I know what you're probably thinking...

"Just another reason to celebrate, huh?"

Well......yeah.

Can you think of a better one?

(^-^)/*

"Good looking and sexy"?....hmmm...I have had my moments.

"Brainy"?....again....with the moments.

The rest?

Yeah.  I'm pretty good with the rest of it.

(I'd be even better with THIS.....)

~~swoooooon~~

a couple of things and a "shoot from the shoulder" (not hip...that wouldn't have been worth a post)

Issei had been needing to go to the doctor for quite awhile, but, since he was in school and I have classes and new patients are encouraged to go to the ENT on Monday and Wednesday mornings only...we had a hard time finding the time to be able to go.

He has been having a hard time breathing....it's almost as if he has allergies....every. single. day. all. day. long.  We knew it was getting serious when he commented one day that he had a hard time tasting certain flavors.  Yep...it was time.

So...on Monday...luckily, I didn't have my usual morning class and since Issei is on 'spring holiday', he and I ventured to the University Hospital (where a doctor friend of mine wrote a recommendation/introduction letter for us....THAT saved us about $35 in "new patient" fees).

It seems that we were not the only ones needing to go to the hospital that day......

...yeah...that line of cars? Uh-huh...waiting to get into the parking garage.  And just for the record...it kept going behind us about the same distance.

THAT should have been my first clue that it was going to be a long morning.

When you walk into the hospital, everyone must take a number.....

and here was my second clue.....this was Issei's number:

At 9:27 in the morning...there were that many patients in front of us.

Granted, not everyone was going to the ENT department....it's a HUGE hospital..but still...

we had to wait...and....Issei is NOT a good waiter!!

When we were up waiting at x-ray (on a whole 'nuther floor, mind you) and the guy sitting next to us was #1027, we both decided we were way better off than that guy!!

As we were about to go to sleep waiting....a young mother sat down next to me.

Her baby was sleeping (lucky kid!) and as I already had my camera out (checking the time...watching the seconds go by...slooooowly)....

I told Issei to "sneeze really loud when I wink at you, okay?"

Because he knows me and because this concept is not a new one to him, he sneezed...

really loud....

and I took this:

He and I both got a giggle and then.....the moment

was over and we went back to trying to not go crazy!!

By the way....after almost 4 hours, x-rays and a consultation with a specialist ("May I call you Dr. Doogie Houser?"  Oh my, but he was a young'in!!), we came out of there knowing that Issei's bones and what-not in his head (we both chuckled at that!) were fine....he has no problems with his adenoids..or sinuses....and... if his problem is not actually allergies, the trouble might possibly be with his "air tubes"---they might be too small, not allowing very much air in when he breathes.  If it is that, there is surgery to fix it, but....not until he is over his growth spurt.

When the doctor was explaining the surgery, I truly wish I had had the camera out...Issei...was white as a sheet.  I honestly believe that if he had been standing, he probably would have passed out. 

Yeah...we're hoping it's just allergies and the new meds will help.

Really...we are...we really, really, are! 

******************

If you take two really cute trolls in bunny slippers with baskets and eggs....

plus three Czechoslavikian handpainted wooden eggs (that a student brought back for me because she remembered that my great-grandmother was from there)...

...toss in those crazy M & M guys in funny hats...and a bunny in a basket just for fun...

...then make sure you have 3 ceramic bunnies (made by your friend and her special education students) that you have had for about 22 years...

...hang some blown-eggs that were done a couple of years ago from a couple of branches of azaleas (with really pretty little pink flowers).....

...oh...and hang some wooden bunnies on the branches, if you can....

...and you will have the Easter menagerie that we try to

put up every year in the entranceway.

We haven't really done Easter for a long time....the boys understand the whole Christian aspect since they went to a Christian daycare when they were younger, but...the chocolates, candies and egg hunts, for example, they don't really understand.  When they were younger, it was easier to do, but...now that they are older, it's harder. (I asked Issei about a basket and, I swear to you, he rolled his eyes...just a little.) And to be honest, finding the time to find the stores that actually sell chocolate Easter eggs and goodies without having to take out a small loan? Well...I'm too lazy that's just tiring.

But...

we do have the Easter tree/branch/twig....

and that works for us.