I see that my old friend Craig has finally started writing again, and I quite enjoyed reading his blog. He has a quite a nice writing style when he is not writing about computers. That is not a diss. It's just that not everyone can understand all that techno-babble.
I am still working on various projects, and because I am spread too thin, I am afraid to say that my projects are not making much progress. Slowly but surely - well, a better way to describe it would be "1 step forward, 2 steps back." I probably shouldn't commit myself to so much stuff. What is funny though is when my husband questions my "busy schedule" saying he can't imagine what could possibly keep me so busy in the evenings.
Well, let me just say that I am way to busy to even sit down and write a list of all the tasks I have to accomplish each night while trying to squeeze in just a little bit of project time each day as well. Even though he seems to have no idea what I've been up to, I want to slap him when he says such things.
Well, here is what I have been up to:
1. Volunteering for AFWJ as their newsletter editor for the Kanto District
2. Volunteering for the Convention 2009 committee which will take place in Chiba
3. Still working on creating the Bilingual Kids Club
4. Still trying to develop the on-line magazine, which is much much harder than I thought.
5. Updatng my 2008 Chronological family scrapbook each month
6. Planning this summer's trip to Wisconsin
7. Exercising to shed some baby weight - (of course, this doesn't work well when your husband buys a huge bag of chocolate at Costco and then leaves it on the table...)
8. Watching the first season dvd of Beverly Hills 90210 (Hey, I remember wearing flourescent biker shorts and thinking I was so cool.)
I would advise myself to drop something from the list, but I know that some of this will end at some point.
Of course, there is also daily chores like laundry (Japan with its obsession of using balconies merely as places to hang ones laundry!), preparing Ailin's stuff for daycare, dinner-related chores, etc.
Well, I have a beef with TV shows that I grew up with such as the Cosby Show. Okay, Claire was a lawyer who always left work at work and each night she came home at the same time to a perfectly kept home, a stocked fridge & a present husband. Cliff was a doctor who only worked the occasional odd shift when delivering a baby in the middle of the night, but that never took long and he was always back home for the next scene. He never seemed stressed out, and the family had plenty of time to banter (or communicate) and deal with their daily issues (however big or small). I have a few questions.
Where was their cleaning lady? How come we never saw her? When & how often did she come to clean the house?
Who did the grocery shopping for all those kids? How did Claire always know what to make for dinner?
What about laundry? They must have gone through a lot! Did the invisible cleaning woman take care of that too?
The 80's really pisses me off. Where do they get off portraying the working woman as someone who could do it all without the help of, well, a paid staff.
And, just one more thing...I was complaining to my mom one day about how I needed someone to come in and help with laundry and cleaning - there are always things that just never get done. I said I wanted to spend my weekends enjoying my time with my family - why should I have to be down on my knees cleaning out bathroom drains with a toothbrush? And, putting away a week's worth of laundry that has been piling up on my bedroom floor?
She said, "You need a wife. Those are the things that wives do, and that's what you need."
Ha ha, Mom.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
GWL Challenge - Weigh in & Scores for Week 6
Though we continued to weigh in each week, we were unable to do the sports challenges consistently. For one thing, Jeff had a family emergency and had to go back to the USA for a week or two. We couldn't possibly perform challenges and keep score without him, however we did "play" some tennis once. I put play in quotes because Karl and I both su-u-u-uck when it comes to playing tennis, and we got more exercise from chasing balls around the court.
Week 6 results meant that a winner would be declared. Here are the results:
Jeff - down 2 kg
Karl - down 6 kg
Paul - down 7 kg
Mande - down 200 grams
Last week, we also went to the batting cages. It was my first time, and admittedly, I do suck at this sport as well. It was fun though. I have no form when it comes to hitting a ball with a bat.
Update on our GWL challenge:
I started this entry in May, and am now finishing it up. Our wonderful plan sort of lost it's potency when some people didn't want try out certain activities, such as ice skating and running. (Okay, I admit that I was the one who didn't want to go running, but I could have wiped the floor with them in the ice rink!!) Anyway, it sort of started to fizzle out, but the guys were doing so well on their own. Each of them made extra time to exercise each day, and they were really watching their diets. Each of the guys was steadily losing weight each week while I stayed the same.
The only things I lost were my drive, my confidence and finally, my interest. I knew that I needed more, but felt frustrated that I couldn't make more time for exercise. Meanwhile, the guys decided to start working on their muscles now that they had more control of their "fat." They did the 2-week trial period at Gold's Gym (yes, we have one right here in Makuhari!) and fell in love with the place. Now, they have bought memberships and are well on their way to becoming muscle men.
(Meanwhile, I have fallen off the wagon and am back to eating chips and drinking coke. But, that is a story for another time.)
Saturday, April 26, 2008
GWL Challenge - Weigh in & Scores for Week 1
It was suggested that I actually post the weigh-in results and scores each week. Okay, if you insist...JEFF!!!
Week One - Weigh-in
Karl - lost 2 kg
Jeff - lost 2 kg
Mande - no change
Paul - lost 3 kg
Week One - Golf Challenge Competition
Karl - 20 points
Jeff - 14 points
Mande - 14 points
Paul - 8 points
Next challenge - Batting cages!!!!
Week One - Weigh-in
Karl - lost 2 kg
Jeff - lost 2 kg
Mande - no change
Paul - lost 3 kg
Week One - Golf Challenge Competition
Karl - 20 points
Jeff - 14 points
Mande - 14 points
Paul - 8 points
Next challenge - Batting cages!!!!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
GWL Challenge #1 - Golf
From front to back: Jeff, Paul, Mande & Karl
The Gaijin Weight Loss Challenge kicked off last night with our first Wednesday activity. We went to the driving range in Makuhari to hit golf balls. I used to do this as a stress reliever back in my bachelorette days, but I had not touched a golf club in 8 years! To be honest, I had to ask Jeff for some pointers on how to hold the club and how to swing properly.
While Paul had never swung a club in his life (Tennis is his sport of choice.), and Karl apparently had gone to driving ranges in the past, Jeff was the pro among us. He used to be really into golf and he actually owns a set of clubs.
Jeff in all his glory
Let's get down to business here. Makuhari's driving range has free parking and charges 500 yen for unlimited usage. You can rent a club for 200 yen. And, you can fill your basket with golf balls - 600 yen for 55 balls if you use the 2nd floor, and 50 balls if you use the 1st floor.
The weather was perfect, the company was swell, and a good time was had by all, except maybe Paul, who hit the golf ball machine more times than he hit the ball, and who took longer to get through his basket because he kept missing. Even though we gave him shit for sucking so bad, we assured him that he would kick our asses in tennis.
Paul - wishing it was a tennis racket
Boys will be boys, so as you can imagine, they wanted to use the last of our balls to make a competition. We could earn points based on the "straightness" of our drives, first using a wood, and then using an iron. Being the only girl, I couldn't care less about points and was much more worried about relationships and how everyone is "feeling." But, screw that, I won 2nd place in the wood compe, and 3rd place in the iron compe. I have no idea what we are earning these points for...but we'll have to think of something. They are already brainstorming about good competitions for upcoming sports.
Mande getting ready to go pro
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The Gaijin Weight Loss Challenge
Last week, we gaijin (a.k.a my colleagues and I) were sitting around complaining about our weight and lack of control when we suddenly decided to start a group challenge, similar to that on the TV show, The Biggest Loser. I have never seen this show, but Karl has, and I suppose that is how this idea came about.
First, we had a "weigh in" and everyone got weighed and Karl put our weights on a chart. Each Thursday will be our "weigh in" day. On Wednesdays, after school, we will challenge ourselves to a fun, but active sport. Our first will be a driving range - hitting golf balls for an hour will be a good workout, but not too strenuous for us fatties.
We have plans for each Wednesday for the next 6 weeks, and they include going to a batting cage, rock wall climbing, ice skating, swimming, throwing frisbee, etc. (We do have some alternative activities in mind as well.) Then, we decided to do mini-challenges on Mondays after school as well. These are less extreme, but basically consist of activities like ping pong, tennis, basketball, brisk walk along the beach, etc...basically, anything we can do on or near the school premise.
Each person has to manage their diets individually, be together we will try out these challenges. I have never tried some of these sports before, so it will be fun to do with a group of people.
At the 6 week check point, we are going to determine who is the biggest loser at that point. Then, we plan to go out to lunch at a nearby restaurant - one of those healthy buffet places - and we will treat the biggest loser to lunch.
Then, if things are going well and we are up for it, we will continue on with another 6 week round.
One of the great benefits of this weight loss challenge is the opporunity to try out some activities that I would never have the guts to do on my own. Of course, my over-worked husband is usually not interested in trying these things with me, and even if he was, weekends are nearly impossible with the crowds! Plus, if I go about these activities with my colleagues (for example, going to a driving range for the first time in Japan), it gives me a chance to find out where it is, how to get there, details like cost and rental fees, etc. So, next time, if I want to go there alone or with my husband, it won't seem so daunting.
Doing things for the first time in a foreign country is often daunting, and I think this will be a good way to break down some barriers which have existed in my life since moving to Japan. In fact, just in the last week, through our quick research and pooling of resources, we realized that there is a driving range, a batting cage, an ice rink, a rock climbing wall, and ping pong courts right in the area where our school is located!! We never realized this before!!! Plus, our school is one block from the beach and sea-side park - perfect for jogs, brisk walks and frisbee-throwing.
Well, let's see if I can manage to lose the 10 kg I have yet to lose since getting pregnant. (I have only lost 8 kg so far since having the baby over a year ago!)
First, we had a "weigh in" and everyone got weighed and Karl put our weights on a chart. Each Thursday will be our "weigh in" day. On Wednesdays, after school, we will challenge ourselves to a fun, but active sport. Our first will be a driving range - hitting golf balls for an hour will be a good workout, but not too strenuous for us fatties.
We have plans for each Wednesday for the next 6 weeks, and they include going to a batting cage, rock wall climbing, ice skating, swimming, throwing frisbee, etc. (We do have some alternative activities in mind as well.) Then, we decided to do mini-challenges on Mondays after school as well. These are less extreme, but basically consist of activities like ping pong, tennis, basketball, brisk walk along the beach, etc...basically, anything we can do on or near the school premise.
Each person has to manage their diets individually, be together we will try out these challenges. I have never tried some of these sports before, so it will be fun to do with a group of people.
At the 6 week check point, we are going to determine who is the biggest loser at that point. Then, we plan to go out to lunch at a nearby restaurant - one of those healthy buffet places - and we will treat the biggest loser to lunch.
Then, if things are going well and we are up for it, we will continue on with another 6 week round.
One of the great benefits of this weight loss challenge is the opporunity to try out some activities that I would never have the guts to do on my own. Of course, my over-worked husband is usually not interested in trying these things with me, and even if he was, weekends are nearly impossible with the crowds! Plus, if I go about these activities with my colleagues (for example, going to a driving range for the first time in Japan), it gives me a chance to find out where it is, how to get there, details like cost and rental fees, etc. So, next time, if I want to go there alone or with my husband, it won't seem so daunting.
Doing things for the first time in a foreign country is often daunting, and I think this will be a good way to break down some barriers which have existed in my life since moving to Japan. In fact, just in the last week, through our quick research and pooling of resources, we realized that there is a driving range, a batting cage, an ice rink, a rock climbing wall, and ping pong courts right in the area where our school is located!! We never realized this before!!! Plus, our school is one block from the beach and sea-side park - perfect for jogs, brisk walks and frisbee-throwing.
Well, let's see if I can manage to lose the 10 kg I have yet to lose since getting pregnant. (I have only lost 8 kg so far since having the baby over a year ago!)
Not an Update
And, I was doing so well for a while! Time really gets away from you when you suddenly go back to work and have a million other things going on. I really don't want to turn this into an update, but I'll just write briefly about what is currently happening.
1. Ailin loves her new day care. She has been there for almost one month and she seemed to like it from the first day.
2. Work is going splendidly...classes started a couple weeks ago, and most of them are going well. One class is giving me a bit of trouble, but I am not sure of the reason yet. Either the kids are "dumbasses" or I am making several small mistakes which lead to lesson plans not going as well as expected. I am sure it is a mixture of both.
3. A friend and I are are getting ready to launch a co-operative learning group called Bilingual Kids Club. We are planning to meet on Saturday mornings each week, and are still in the process of gathering enough members and finding the best location for the group. We are hoping to start meeting in May after Golden Week. Fingers crossed. It's harder to find members than I thought. I imagined that people would jump at the chance to join the BKC, as other groups like this exist throughout Japan, and some even have waiting lists. I think that once we get going, more people might be interested in joining...well, I hope that's what will happen.
4. I am also preparing to launch an on-line magazine, but am still working on the technical aspect of building my web site. I also need to recruit more writers, but have not been so active in doing that lately. I have so little time at night to work on my personal stuff, and I am often too tired to do much - I mean, everything takes a back seat to laundry these days. Anyway, as I get this web site built, I would like to put an open call out there to potential writers - if you live in Japan and want to write for this magazine which will be geared towards "gaijin", especially men and women who are in a relationship with Japanese, please contact me. I would like to see writing samples or a reference to other things you have written, and I will send information to you about my plans for the magazine along with the types of columns and articles I am looking for. Just email me privately!
5. The Gaijin Weight Loss Challenge - this topic deserves its own entry, so I will wait until later. But, in your mind, just imagine something like the TV Show, The Biggest Loser.
6. This is it for now. Like I said, this is not an update!
1. Ailin loves her new day care. She has been there for almost one month and she seemed to like it from the first day.
2. Work is going splendidly...classes started a couple weeks ago, and most of them are going well. One class is giving me a bit of trouble, but I am not sure of the reason yet. Either the kids are "dumbasses" or I am making several small mistakes which lead to lesson plans not going as well as expected. I am sure it is a mixture of both.
3. A friend and I are are getting ready to launch a co-operative learning group called Bilingual Kids Club. We are planning to meet on Saturday mornings each week, and are still in the process of gathering enough members and finding the best location for the group. We are hoping to start meeting in May after Golden Week. Fingers crossed. It's harder to find members than I thought. I imagined that people would jump at the chance to join the BKC, as other groups like this exist throughout Japan, and some even have waiting lists. I think that once we get going, more people might be interested in joining...well, I hope that's what will happen.
4. I am also preparing to launch an on-line magazine, but am still working on the technical aspect of building my web site. I also need to recruit more writers, but have not been so active in doing that lately. I have so little time at night to work on my personal stuff, and I am often too tired to do much - I mean, everything takes a back seat to laundry these days. Anyway, as I get this web site built, I would like to put an open call out there to potential writers - if you live in Japan and want to write for this magazine which will be geared towards "gaijin", especially men and women who are in a relationship with Japanese, please contact me. I would like to see writing samples or a reference to other things you have written, and I will send information to you about my plans for the magazine along with the types of columns and articles I am looking for. Just email me privately!
5. The Gaijin Weight Loss Challenge - this topic deserves its own entry, so I will wait until later. But, in your mind, just imagine something like the TV Show, The Biggest Loser.
6. This is it for now. Like I said, this is not an update!
Friday, March 07, 2008
Miso Pork Butt and Other Things
My new scheme of weekly menu planning and cooking American and Japanese on alternate weeks is working all right. Not as much food is wasted, and less complaining from Suk. However, many of the recipes I have been using are brand new to me. I got a recipe from the AFWJ cookbook called Miso Pork Butt. It sounded appetizing...I mean, who doesn't want to eat Pig Butt? Suk thought it was hilarious that I was going around the meat section of the store asking them where the pork butt is located. They corrected me by telling me it was actually the pork thigh. So what? Pork Butt is much funner to say. So, anyway, I made the pork butt for the first ... and last ... time. Remember this, folks. Never ever cook miso. There is a reason why miso is always added last when cooking soup or miso based sauces. In fact, it is added last, after the heat has been turned off. In this case, according to said recipe, I was supposed to make a sauce using miso, pour it over the pork butt, and then let it simmer in the pot for 2 hours. 2 hours? I went into the livingroom to nurse the Ailin while the pork butt was simmering, and ten minutes later, it was burned to a crisp and there was a thick layer of black, charred something on the bottom of the pan. Need I describe to you the horrendous smell coming from the pot as well? This horrendous smell filled my house and stuck to everything - the clothes, the curtains, my hair, etc. I could not get rid of it easily, and my nose burned all night. Suk was not pleased when he got home and was welcomed by that miso stench. I really learned something new here. No more pork butt in this house, and definitely no more cooking of miso.
Other news: Suk and I are going on a date in Ginza tomorrow. Just shopping for electronics and then dinner. Yeah. Grandma will be taking care of Ailin.
I am now posting on my teaching blog, which I started last year just before going on maternity leave. I started working on it again, so please check it out if you are interested in English teaching. It is called "It's time for coffee talk" and you'll see the link at the top of my blog roll.
Ailin can now eat with a spoon. I am not sure, but she may have learned that at the daycare. You'd think they would write about such an accomplishment in her diary, but I haven't seen any references to spoons. She seems to be doing well there, but is very happy when I pick her up.
Other news: Suk and I are going on a date in Ginza tomorrow. Just shopping for electronics and then dinner. Yeah. Grandma will be taking care of Ailin.
I am now posting on my teaching blog, which I started last year just before going on maternity leave. I started working on it again, so please check it out if you are interested in English teaching. It is called "It's time for coffee talk" and you'll see the link at the top of my blog roll.
Ailin can now eat with a spoon. I am not sure, but she may have learned that at the daycare. You'd think they would write about such an accomplishment in her diary, but I haven't seen any references to spoons. She seems to be doing well there, but is very happy when I pick her up.
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Mandeland
Things are going fine in Mandeland. Sorry I haven't gotten back here to update the saga of Supermom.
I went back to work on February 15 and was sick as a dog. I was even wearing a mask so as not to pass my then-unnamed disease onto my unsuspecting co-workers. I went to the doctor after school and demanded a diagnosis. I forced him to test me for influenza even though I had had an influenza shot back in November. I was negative and he insisted and I did not have bronchitis, pneumonia or anything else related to the lungs. I had what he termed "an especially bad cold." Hmmm. He gave me "especially strong drugs" and told me not to nurse for 5 days.
Okay, I'm not a doctor, but I have read some books, and I am acquainted with Dr Sears. According to Dr Sears, prescription and OTC drugs for things like colds are not going to do your baby in should you choose to take them while nursing. In fact, refusing to nurse your baby just because you are taking a little cold medicine is likely to piss your baby off and leave you feeling even worse. Nursing should be avoided, or at least carefully monitored, if you are on psycho drugs like Lithium, or cancer drugs. And, nursing should be avoided altogether if you are smoking (the) pot, snorting cocaine or injecting herione. So, I went home and nursed Ailin through the weekend and both us felt much better by Monday. Thank the lord.
After a bit of adjustment, she is doing well in day care. They love her, and she is happily playing, eating and sleeping there all day.
At work, I am busy with class-planning for the next school year, chatting with my colleagues, drinking coffee, going out for lunch occasionally and working on a few personal projects here and there. I have no classes right now since it is nearly the end of the school year, and my replacement has stayed on to finish out the year.
Ailin did have her birthday party with the Bilingual Baby Playgroup moms and their kids. Oh, I would have called it a first-class disaster, but according to some of the moms who attended, it was "really great." I don't know what impressed them more - the huge-ass Costco cake that would feed an army or the deflated baloon decorations that were hanging up since the originally planned birthday party two weeks before. Maybe it was the fact that Birthday Girl herself had decided to take a nap just before the guests arrived, and slept for most of the party. When she did awaken and I brought her out, she was in the worst mood ever. And, she got scared off by the living room full of people, so she cried and acted all clingy until everyone left. Then, she was in a fine mood. No, no, I think it was the horrible Star Wars-style sandstorm that was brewing outside during the party, and just when it was in full swing, I sent everyone home so they had to walk through the sand storm with their babies and strollers. Yes, yes, it had to be the last one. If I had been a guest, I would have really appreciated that thoughtful detail.
Well, moving on...it wasn't that bad. I was relieved to get it out of the way. I might avoid planning big birthday bashes in the future. You just never know when someone will get sick and all that prep time and food will go to waste. It's not really worth it.
Other than that, I am busy, but things are going smoother than I imagined they would. I really should be doing flylady-style housework right now, but instead, I am slacking on the computer. So, that's enough for now!
I went back to work on February 15 and was sick as a dog. I was even wearing a mask so as not to pass my then-unnamed disease onto my unsuspecting co-workers. I went to the doctor after school and demanded a diagnosis. I forced him to test me for influenza even though I had had an influenza shot back in November. I was negative and he insisted and I did not have bronchitis, pneumonia or anything else related to the lungs. I had what he termed "an especially bad cold." Hmmm. He gave me "especially strong drugs" and told me not to nurse for 5 days.
Okay, I'm not a doctor, but I have read some books, and I am acquainted with Dr Sears. According to Dr Sears, prescription and OTC drugs for things like colds are not going to do your baby in should you choose to take them while nursing. In fact, refusing to nurse your baby just because you are taking a little cold medicine is likely to piss your baby off and leave you feeling even worse. Nursing should be avoided, or at least carefully monitored, if you are on psycho drugs like Lithium, or cancer drugs. And, nursing should be avoided altogether if you are smoking (the) pot, snorting cocaine or injecting herione. So, I went home and nursed Ailin through the weekend and both us felt much better by Monday. Thank the lord.
After a bit of adjustment, she is doing well in day care. They love her, and she is happily playing, eating and sleeping there all day.
At work, I am busy with class-planning for the next school year, chatting with my colleagues, drinking coffee, going out for lunch occasionally and working on a few personal projects here and there. I have no classes right now since it is nearly the end of the school year, and my replacement has stayed on to finish out the year.
Ailin did have her birthday party with the Bilingual Baby Playgroup moms and their kids. Oh, I would have called it a first-class disaster, but according to some of the moms who attended, it was "really great." I don't know what impressed them more - the huge-ass Costco cake that would feed an army or the deflated baloon decorations that were hanging up since the originally planned birthday party two weeks before. Maybe it was the fact that Birthday Girl herself had decided to take a nap just before the guests arrived, and slept for most of the party. When she did awaken and I brought her out, she was in the worst mood ever. And, she got scared off by the living room full of people, so she cried and acted all clingy until everyone left. Then, she was in a fine mood. No, no, I think it was the horrible Star Wars-style sandstorm that was brewing outside during the party, and just when it was in full swing, I sent everyone home so they had to walk through the sand storm with their babies and strollers. Yes, yes, it had to be the last one. If I had been a guest, I would have really appreciated that thoughtful detail.
Well, moving on...it wasn't that bad. I was relieved to get it out of the way. I might avoid planning big birthday bashes in the future. You just never know when someone will get sick and all that prep time and food will go to waste. It's not really worth it.
Other than that, I am busy, but things are going smoother than I imagined they would. I really should be doing flylady-style housework right now, but instead, I am slacking on the computer. So, that's enough for now!
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