After reading your comments and then worrying about the possibility of the pears rotting in their prettily wrapped box, and then also accidentally running in to the guy who owns that parking spot in the parking lot the other day, I decided to ... gulp ... swallow my pride and go down there bearing gifts for Mr 607 and apologize.
He answered the door in his boxer shorts and a t-shirt and his eyes were all bloodshot even though it was about 2pm. I think he had been sleeping...perhaps he works a night shift somewhere. He actually apologized for writing that nasty note! And, of course, he tried to refuse the gift, but that is so Japanese. He took it anyway...I mean, can you imagine if I had said, "Oh, well if you don't want it, I will gladly use it!"
Anyway, all is well and I called Suk to let him know right away. He was eternally grateful, so this weekend will be payback time in a major way. Haven't decided what I want out of him yet.
Well, I have yet another thing to add to my list of broken items - our washing machine! Now, we need to spend money on that, and soon...laundry piles build up very quickly in our house.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
WHAT JAPANESE WIVES APPARENTLY DO
If Suk knew how to use the phrase "Oops, my bad!" in English, I am sure that he would turn it around to say, "Oops, your bad" every time he does something that he doesn't want to own up to.
The latest thing is that he made a mistake and parked in someone else's spot in our condo's parking lot. Now, this wouldn't be such a big deal, but people pay about $30 a month for their spots, and the parking lot is elevated. This means that there are 4 levels - higher levels are cheaper because you have to wait several minute for the cars to shift over and for your car to come down to the ground level so you can get in it and drive away. It is such a hassle that we decided to pay more for a ground level spot.
Anyway, imagine this. I went out to use the car on Monday morning (to drive HIM to the station, no less!) and there was no car. My jaw dropped as I imagined all kinds of scenerios. Then, I looked up and saw it parked on the top level. When I realized what had happened, I immediately thought back to the previous day's events. I certainly didn't want to be blamed for mis-parking the car!
Fortunately, I had not gone out the day before due to a cold (and nasty pinkeye, but that is another story I have chosen not to tell here, but now you know, I have pinkeye!!!), so I had sent Suk out with my grocery list and he dutifully (if not begrudgingly) picked up all my required vegetables, meats and fishes for my new diet (yet another topic, perhaps). I guessed that he had come back and parked in the wrong spot.
So, while I tried to guess which numbers to punch into the code box so that our car would be brought down, I called Suk to tell him the news. (Did the TV say that Leos would have a bad day that day? Probably.) After two guesses, I got it right and the car did come down to the ground level...with a big note on the windshield. The man from 607 wanted us to contact him because we had parked in his spot and he was unable to park there since yesterday afternoon. Judging from his hastily written note, he was angry. I would be too! There are no other places to park in our neighborhood!!!
At first, I tried to be nice about it. Suk, it's just an honest mistake. I am surprised no one has done that to us before. Don't worry about it. I did that just the other day when I visited my friend's house and I parked in some other guy's spot rather than her husband's spot. I got a big note on the car too, but that was different. I left after 2 hours and it wasn't our condo, so chances were I would never see those people again. (and, I'm a foreigner so we are allowed a certain number of mistakes seeing as how we "can't read" or "can't speak" or "just don't understand Japanese culture."
Speaking of Japanese culture, Suk announced that we would have to go to their place, greet them and present them with a gift. I suggested he pick something up in Ginza and go and apologize to Mr 607 that evening after work. No, Suk insisted, this is the wife's job. As a wife, you must buy the present and go there and explain that your husband parked in the wrong spot. When I balked at this suggestion, he started to explain that this is how it's done in Japan, and that if I were Japanese, I would do this with no hesitation because THAT IS WHAT JAPANESE WIVES DO. (This is not in caps to represent yelling, it is in caps to show my disgust for something this is so often said to we who are not Japanese wives.) Of course, I refused because this was HIS mistake, not mine and he needed to deal with it. I would buy the present and have it gift wrapped, but that was it. (He told me it had to be seasonal fruit.)
That night he got home too late to go and see Mr 607. (In fact, he got home so late that I was already in bed, and he had forgotten in keys, so he was calling/ringing the doorbell repeatedly, but it took about 30 minutes for me to wake up and realize this, so like I said, Leos were having a bad day!) The next morning, I asked him if he would go, and he explained that people never do apologizing or greeting in the morning. Evening (early evening) is better and that is precisely why THE WIFE needs to do it. Um, no, not falling for that one. I told him that since it is seasonal fruit, he would have to get it to them sooner rather than later.
Okay, so do Japanese pears (nashi) taste good in fruit smoothies? I am just wondering because I have a feeling that I will be eating the entire box myself!
The latest thing is that he made a mistake and parked in someone else's spot in our condo's parking lot. Now, this wouldn't be such a big deal, but people pay about $30 a month for their spots, and the parking lot is elevated. This means that there are 4 levels - higher levels are cheaper because you have to wait several minute for the cars to shift over and for your car to come down to the ground level so you can get in it and drive away. It is such a hassle that we decided to pay more for a ground level spot.
Anyway, imagine this. I went out to use the car on Monday morning (to drive HIM to the station, no less!) and there was no car. My jaw dropped as I imagined all kinds of scenerios. Then, I looked up and saw it parked on the top level. When I realized what had happened, I immediately thought back to the previous day's events. I certainly didn't want to be blamed for mis-parking the car!
Fortunately, I had not gone out the day before due to a cold (and nasty pinkeye, but that is another story I have chosen not to tell here, but now you know, I have pinkeye!!!), so I had sent Suk out with my grocery list and he dutifully (if not begrudgingly) picked up all my required vegetables, meats and fishes for my new diet (yet another topic, perhaps). I guessed that he had come back and parked in the wrong spot.
So, while I tried to guess which numbers to punch into the code box so that our car would be brought down, I called Suk to tell him the news. (Did the TV say that Leos would have a bad day that day? Probably.) After two guesses, I got it right and the car did come down to the ground level...with a big note on the windshield. The man from 607 wanted us to contact him because we had parked in his spot and he was unable to park there since yesterday afternoon. Judging from his hastily written note, he was angry. I would be too! There are no other places to park in our neighborhood!!!
At first, I tried to be nice about it. Suk, it's just an honest mistake. I am surprised no one has done that to us before. Don't worry about it. I did that just the other day when I visited my friend's house and I parked in some other guy's spot rather than her husband's spot. I got a big note on the car too, but that was different. I left after 2 hours and it wasn't our condo, so chances were I would never see those people again. (and, I'm a foreigner so we are allowed a certain number of mistakes seeing as how we "can't read" or "can't speak" or "just don't understand Japanese culture."
Speaking of Japanese culture, Suk announced that we would have to go to their place, greet them and present them with a gift. I suggested he pick something up in Ginza and go and apologize to Mr 607 that evening after work. No, Suk insisted, this is the wife's job. As a wife, you must buy the present and go there and explain that your husband parked in the wrong spot. When I balked at this suggestion, he started to explain that this is how it's done in Japan, and that if I were Japanese, I would do this with no hesitation because THAT IS WHAT JAPANESE WIVES DO. (This is not in caps to represent yelling, it is in caps to show my disgust for something this is so often said to we who are not Japanese wives.) Of course, I refused because this was HIS mistake, not mine and he needed to deal with it. I would buy the present and have it gift wrapped, but that was it. (He told me it had to be seasonal fruit.)
That night he got home too late to go and see Mr 607. (In fact, he got home so late that I was already in bed, and he had forgotten in keys, so he was calling/ringing the doorbell repeatedly, but it took about 30 minutes for me to wake up and realize this, so like I said, Leos were having a bad day!) The next morning, I asked him if he would go, and he explained that people never do apologizing or greeting in the morning. Evening (early evening) is better and that is precisely why THE WIFE needs to do it. Um, no, not falling for that one. I told him that since it is seasonal fruit, he would have to get it to them sooner rather than later.
Okay, so do Japanese pears (nashi) taste good in fruit smoothies? I am just wondering because I have a feeling that I will be eating the entire box myself!
Friday, August 24, 2007
To Do Lists
Today my mom emailed me to tell me that my dad misses me since I left a couple weeks ago. She also said that he commented on how he misses all the stuff I had going on around me while I stayed there. By this, I guess he means all the 10 million things I seemed to be doing at any given moment.
I have an A-type personality and can't stop myself from making obsessive to-do lists which have 3 columns. One column is for shopping. One column is for things I have to do. The third is for people I must contact in the near future. Once in a while, I forget to put something on the to-do list, so I after I have done something slightly significant (like, "Clean out refridgerator"), I will actually go back to my list, write it in, and then check it off. I just like the satisfaction of checking it off.
So, updating my blog and writing about my trip back home along with several other topics I have been mulling over is definitely an item on my to-do list, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. I still have other more pressing things to do. Here's a sampling:
Clean used baby toy with toothbrush
Organize files/documents/paperwork in new file cabinet (hey, we finally bought a file cabinet so maybe I won't lose documents anymore!)
Update scrapbooking blog
Clean Max's ears
Convince Suk to help me put up artwork that I bought in the USA (he is refusing to drill holes in our cement walls...need to keep working on him.)
Clean and organize scrapbooking area
Finish Ailin's album - section for 3-6 months
Plan Ailin's album - section for 6-9 months
Email recent photos of Ailin to friends and family
It keeps going from there. So, now you know why I haven't gotten around to writing about my trip with Ailin to the States.
I have an A-type personality and can't stop myself from making obsessive to-do lists which have 3 columns. One column is for shopping. One column is for things I have to do. The third is for people I must contact in the near future. Once in a while, I forget to put something on the to-do list, so I after I have done something slightly significant (like, "Clean out refridgerator"), I will actually go back to my list, write it in, and then check it off. I just like the satisfaction of checking it off.
So, updating my blog and writing about my trip back home along with several other topics I have been mulling over is definitely an item on my to-do list, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. I still have other more pressing things to do. Here's a sampling:
Clean used baby toy with toothbrush
Organize files/documents/paperwork in new file cabinet (hey, we finally bought a file cabinet so maybe I won't lose documents anymore!)
Update scrapbooking blog
Clean Max's ears
Convince Suk to help me put up artwork that I bought in the USA (he is refusing to drill holes in our cement walls...need to keep working on him.)
Clean and organize scrapbooking area
Finish Ailin's album - section for 3-6 months
Plan Ailin's album - section for 6-9 months
Email recent photos of Ailin to friends and family
It keeps going from there. So, now you know why I haven't gotten around to writing about my trip with Ailin to the States.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Adult Plus Infant
It's always hit or miss with American Airlines. This time, I traveled back to the USA and stayed for nearly one month. A good thing when traveling with an infant. I had some time to recover before getting back on a plane.
Actually, it wasn't that bad. Ailin is only 5-6 months old, so kind of immobile. She is happiest as long as her mama and milk supply are within reach, so she barely cried on the plane or at the airport! I had been so nervous before the trip, but after a few hours on the plane, I realized that she couldn't have been happier.
On the way to USA, the flight attendants were so nice and sweet. No, no one offered to hold her while I go to the bathroom or eat my meal, but they were accommodating just the same. During the first meal service, I had put Ailin in her bassinette (provided by the airline) and received my meal, but it soon became apparent that she would not be patient until I finished eating. So I returned the meal and they offered to save it until later. After the meal service was over and I was able to settle her down to sleep, they brought me a brand new meal!
The way back to Japan was another story though. I was initially assigned a seat in the middle of a middle row. I didn't realize this until I was about to get on the plane. The machine wouldn't process my boarding pass. They realized it was because my pass said "Plus Infant." So, they issued a new boarding pass. Meanwhile, the flight attendant who had taken my passports had set them down behind her. She gave me the new boarding pass, but not the passports. Luckily, I realized this just after I walked away and I went back to retrieve them. I found them sitting on the ledge behind her and I tapped her on the shoulder to let her know I was taking (my own) passports, and her attitude was like, "Yeah, I put them there for you." Well, lady, aren't these documents pretty important? A little too important for you to flippantly set them on a ledge behind you and not give them back to me? Anyone could have reached them and taken them. I wanted to say this, but didn't.
Inside the airplane, the flight attendants in my section were quite the pair. An older woman who seemed to be trying very hard to be kind. Oh, she was nice, all right. I have no complaints about her. But, her partner was the clumsiest guy I had ever seen. He would ram his cart up and down the aisles (I was so afraid that Ailin's head would be bashed in were she to be nursing on my right side with her head slightly jutting out into the aisle. I always made sure to lean way left and protect her head when I heard him coming, with or without his cart.) He ran over his poor partner's foot with the cart once and she nearly died from the pain of it. I could see it on her face as she said, "Ow....oh...it's okay." as she gave him the look of death. Then, it so happened that their extra stash of beverages, hot water and coffee were in a little cubicle in front of my seat. So, Ailin was in her bassinette next to this cubicle, which makes a lot of noise when you slam the door. Klutzy Guy made sure to slam it each time. I was so afraid that he would spill hot tea or coffee on my Ailin's head as she lay sleeping.
And, the worst incident of scariness due to Klutzy Guy. We hit turbulance during the food service and the seat belt sign went on. The pilot announced that all flight attendants pause food service, take their seats and buckle up. So, what does Klutzy Guy do? He parks his cart in the space in front of my seat with the trays facing me and he runs off! My mouth dropped open and I looked at the couple sitting across the aisle from me and the woman said, "Wow, that seems incredibly dangerous." Luckily, KG came back to properly retrieve his cart.
Note to self: Bulkhead seats are great when you travel with a child but only if they are not near the bathrooms.
Okay, more about my trip in the next post. Photos to come.
Actually, it wasn't that bad. Ailin is only 5-6 months old, so kind of immobile. She is happiest as long as her mama and milk supply are within reach, so she barely cried on the plane or at the airport! I had been so nervous before the trip, but after a few hours on the plane, I realized that she couldn't have been happier.
On the way to USA, the flight attendants were so nice and sweet. No, no one offered to hold her while I go to the bathroom or eat my meal, but they were accommodating just the same. During the first meal service, I had put Ailin in her bassinette (provided by the airline) and received my meal, but it soon became apparent that she would not be patient until I finished eating. So I returned the meal and they offered to save it until later. After the meal service was over and I was able to settle her down to sleep, they brought me a brand new meal!
The way back to Japan was another story though. I was initially assigned a seat in the middle of a middle row. I didn't realize this until I was about to get on the plane. The machine wouldn't process my boarding pass. They realized it was because my pass said "Plus Infant." So, they issued a new boarding pass. Meanwhile, the flight attendant who had taken my passports had set them down behind her. She gave me the new boarding pass, but not the passports. Luckily, I realized this just after I walked away and I went back to retrieve them. I found them sitting on the ledge behind her and I tapped her on the shoulder to let her know I was taking (my own) passports, and her attitude was like, "Yeah, I put them there for you." Well, lady, aren't these documents pretty important? A little too important for you to flippantly set them on a ledge behind you and not give them back to me? Anyone could have reached them and taken them. I wanted to say this, but didn't.
Inside the airplane, the flight attendants in my section were quite the pair. An older woman who seemed to be trying very hard to be kind. Oh, she was nice, all right. I have no complaints about her. But, her partner was the clumsiest guy I had ever seen. He would ram his cart up and down the aisles (I was so afraid that Ailin's head would be bashed in were she to be nursing on my right side with her head slightly jutting out into the aisle. I always made sure to lean way left and protect her head when I heard him coming, with or without his cart.) He ran over his poor partner's foot with the cart once and she nearly died from the pain of it. I could see it on her face as she said, "Ow....oh...it's okay." as she gave him the look of death. Then, it so happened that their extra stash of beverages, hot water and coffee were in a little cubicle in front of my seat. So, Ailin was in her bassinette next to this cubicle, which makes a lot of noise when you slam the door. Klutzy Guy made sure to slam it each time. I was so afraid that he would spill hot tea or coffee on my Ailin's head as she lay sleeping.
And, the worst incident of scariness due to Klutzy Guy. We hit turbulance during the food service and the seat belt sign went on. The pilot announced that all flight attendants pause food service, take their seats and buckle up. So, what does Klutzy Guy do? He parks his cart in the space in front of my seat with the trays facing me and he runs off! My mouth dropped open and I looked at the couple sitting across the aisle from me and the woman said, "Wow, that seems incredibly dangerous." Luckily, KG came back to properly retrieve his cart.
Note to self: Bulkhead seats are great when you travel with a child but only if they are not near the bathrooms.
Okay, more about my trip in the next post. Photos to come.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Feeling Down
Thanks to those who commented about Ailin's photo. I am enjoying this time with her, and I didn't realize how much life would change with a baby. In most ways, these are good (great!) changes, so I am not complaining. I just wish I could get through my lunch at a restaurant without ... you know what I mean ... I just wish I could get through a whole meal sometimes.
Okay, this title is Feeling Down because in Japanese, they use the word "down" to describe feelings of slight depression...especially after a series of unfortunate events. This is exactly how I feel, and it sort of came to a peak today. Here is my list of events that contributed to my feeling down.
1. Our stroller was slightly broken and had to be sent back to the manufacturer. When we got it back a few weeks later, there was a note with a long explanation and illustrations describing how we had been using the stroller incorrectly. I guess it pays to read directions, even for something as mundane as a stroller. (We had lost the directions immediately after buying the stroller though!)
2. Our digital camera broke and had to be sent back to Canon. At first, we were told it would take 3 weeks and 14,000 yen to fix, but then we were able to prove that our warranty was still good and they fixed it for free. (We had lost the warranty somewhere along the way!)
3. Our car was recalled - no big deal - but it had to go in the shop for a couple of days. I still don't really understand what the problem was.
4. My computer totally and utterly crashed. I guess my iTunes was getting inundated with episodes of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and I didn't realize it. My hard disk became too full to function properly and I had to have everything cleared out and reinstalled. Fortunately, my files were saved, but it took 2 weeks to get it working. The guys down at PC Depot kept treating me like an idiot, but finally on the 3rd trip to the store lugging my computer and baby with me, they finally went ahead and did what I was asking them to from the beginning. I hated living without a computer for 2 weeks, and this is partly what prompted me to start blogging again.
5. My husband offered to buy a new cell phone for me - one that can be used for international calls as well. At the cell phone store, they attempted to take my old phone and transfer the phone book info to the new phone, but it broke mid-transfer and so they suggested I enter the info by hand later. When I got home, I found that my old phone couldn't be turned on at all, so I had lost all of my contacts' phone numbers! It's not like I had written anyone's numbers down!
6. And, the most recent of events - yesterday, I was driving through an intersection when a small child kicked a stone and it just happened to hit the windshield of my car. He was about 6, judging from his size, elementary school-style back pack and his apparent lack of understanding about what he had done. He was with 3 friends, and I could tell he hadn't done it on purpose. I got out of the car to confront them, but I neglected to ask him his full name, address, phone number, school's name, etc. It crossed my mind that he probably didn't know this information himself, or if he did, he had been taught not to tell it to strangers. However, after the fact, I have thought of several ways I could have handled the situation. However, I had stopped the car in kind of a bad place on the road and Ailin was asleep in her car seat. I couldn't leave the scene to follow the kid home and talk to his mom or force him to take me back to his school so I could speak with the teacher. It was terrible luck, really. The windshield is now cracked.
It dawned on me after this incident that although I had been able to handle the first 5 cases with relative ease - everything was fixed with no problem, apt cooperation from Suk, and I had a chance to demonstate my Japanese skills in a variety of situations. However, this last one left me feeling paralyzed. I realized that I don't know how to call the police, I didn't know how to describe the street corner we were on, and I wouldn't have known how to describe the situation to the police over the phone. I also didn't know exactly how to talk to the young child - which words do they understand? How polite do I have to be? What would be appropriate to say to him? And, if I had gotten into an accident with another car, I would definitely not know what to do, how to call the insurance co., how to describe anything. The whole incident left me quite humbled.
7. And, this is not related to electronics, but I have not been able to lose the pregnancy weight. All of my friends have been able to lose it already, but Ailin is almost 5 months, and I am as fat as ever...and getting fatter. I only have two pairs of pants - one pair is maternity pants - that I can wear, and I have to wear very large, loose-fitting t-shirts. I often ask Suk why the weight won't go away, and his response is usually something like "It's because you eat fatty, greasy foods all the time. Those other women are probably eating very healthily." or "It's because you don't exercise. You should take up jogging or something."
Frankly, I don't see how that can happen...the jogging thing I mean. My right foot hurts like hell, and I can't even sit in certain positions without getting these shooting pains up my foot. So, I am considering getting a pool membership somewhere and going for aqua-aerobics, but then I have to find someone to care for Ailin during these times. Not an easy task.
As for the eating fatty, greasy foods...no, I do not eat these types of foods constantly. Okay, I do/did have a daily craving for chocolate and coke, but that was it! His theory was blown out of the water today when I went out to eat lunch with a mom frmo my playgroup. She seems to be back down her pre-preggers weight as she is totally skinny! For lunch, guess what she ate?! Three donuts from Mr Donuts. That's it. This was her "lunch", not a snack! Meanwhile, I couldn't even get through my bowl of chilled udon noodles because Ailin was screaming her head off.
Okay, this title is Feeling Down because in Japanese, they use the word "down" to describe feelings of slight depression...especially after a series of unfortunate events. This is exactly how I feel, and it sort of came to a peak today. Here is my list of events that contributed to my feeling down.
1. Our stroller was slightly broken and had to be sent back to the manufacturer. When we got it back a few weeks later, there was a note with a long explanation and illustrations describing how we had been using the stroller incorrectly. I guess it pays to read directions, even for something as mundane as a stroller. (We had lost the directions immediately after buying the stroller though!)
2. Our digital camera broke and had to be sent back to Canon. At first, we were told it would take 3 weeks and 14,000 yen to fix, but then we were able to prove that our warranty was still good and they fixed it for free. (We had lost the warranty somewhere along the way!)
3. Our car was recalled - no big deal - but it had to go in the shop for a couple of days. I still don't really understand what the problem was.
4. My computer totally and utterly crashed. I guess my iTunes was getting inundated with episodes of the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and I didn't realize it. My hard disk became too full to function properly and I had to have everything cleared out and reinstalled. Fortunately, my files were saved, but it took 2 weeks to get it working. The guys down at PC Depot kept treating me like an idiot, but finally on the 3rd trip to the store lugging my computer and baby with me, they finally went ahead and did what I was asking them to from the beginning. I hated living without a computer for 2 weeks, and this is partly what prompted me to start blogging again.
5. My husband offered to buy a new cell phone for me - one that can be used for international calls as well. At the cell phone store, they attempted to take my old phone and transfer the phone book info to the new phone, but it broke mid-transfer and so they suggested I enter the info by hand later. When I got home, I found that my old phone couldn't be turned on at all, so I had lost all of my contacts' phone numbers! It's not like I had written anyone's numbers down!
6. And, the most recent of events - yesterday, I was driving through an intersection when a small child kicked a stone and it just happened to hit the windshield of my car. He was about 6, judging from his size, elementary school-style back pack and his apparent lack of understanding about what he had done. He was with 3 friends, and I could tell he hadn't done it on purpose. I got out of the car to confront them, but I neglected to ask him his full name, address, phone number, school's name, etc. It crossed my mind that he probably didn't know this information himself, or if he did, he had been taught not to tell it to strangers. However, after the fact, I have thought of several ways I could have handled the situation. However, I had stopped the car in kind of a bad place on the road and Ailin was asleep in her car seat. I couldn't leave the scene to follow the kid home and talk to his mom or force him to take me back to his school so I could speak with the teacher. It was terrible luck, really. The windshield is now cracked.
It dawned on me after this incident that although I had been able to handle the first 5 cases with relative ease - everything was fixed with no problem, apt cooperation from Suk, and I had a chance to demonstate my Japanese skills in a variety of situations. However, this last one left me feeling paralyzed. I realized that I don't know how to call the police, I didn't know how to describe the street corner we were on, and I wouldn't have known how to describe the situation to the police over the phone. I also didn't know exactly how to talk to the young child - which words do they understand? How polite do I have to be? What would be appropriate to say to him? And, if I had gotten into an accident with another car, I would definitely not know what to do, how to call the insurance co., how to describe anything. The whole incident left me quite humbled.
7. And, this is not related to electronics, but I have not been able to lose the pregnancy weight. All of my friends have been able to lose it already, but Ailin is almost 5 months, and I am as fat as ever...and getting fatter. I only have two pairs of pants - one pair is maternity pants - that I can wear, and I have to wear very large, loose-fitting t-shirts. I often ask Suk why the weight won't go away, and his response is usually something like "It's because you eat fatty, greasy foods all the time. Those other women are probably eating very healthily." or "It's because you don't exercise. You should take up jogging or something."
Frankly, I don't see how that can happen...the jogging thing I mean. My right foot hurts like hell, and I can't even sit in certain positions without getting these shooting pains up my foot. So, I am considering getting a pool membership somewhere and going for aqua-aerobics, but then I have to find someone to care for Ailin during these times. Not an easy task.
As for the eating fatty, greasy foods...no, I do not eat these types of foods constantly. Okay, I do/did have a daily craving for chocolate and coke, but that was it! His theory was blown out of the water today when I went out to eat lunch with a mom frmo my playgroup. She seems to be back down her pre-preggers weight as she is totally skinny! For lunch, guess what she ate?! Three donuts from Mr Donuts. That's it. This was her "lunch", not a snack! Meanwhile, I couldn't even get through my bowl of chilled udon noodles because Ailin was screaming her head off.
Martha Stewart Almost Saved My Marriage
I actually have something more pressing to write about, but this title has been knocking around in my head for days now.
I admit...I am a sucker for Martha Stewart's TV shows. They are shown on LaLa channel here, both her old one from the early 90's (pre-scandel) and the current one which began to air after she became a free-bird. Anyway, I love both for different reasons, and Suk sometimes comments on my hankering for Martha and her housewifey show.
Then, one day, for the first time, I made one of her recipes. I was just watching her make roast chicken with some young buck who had graduated from Yale (who now has his own show), and it looked easy so that night, I attempted to make the same thing.
Since then, Suk has been requesting "Martha-style" dinners. I didn't think pleasing him would be easy! And for days, I was on a high thinking that Martha Stewart saved my marriage, but then the inevitable happened.
I made roast chicken the following week, and it didn't turn out quite as good. Of course, keep in mind that he was eating it for breakfast since he had come home too late the night before. The chicken was dry and not quite as good. He didn't even eat all of it. I was disappointed, but haven't lost hope.
Now, Martha's web site is bookmarked at the top of my browser, so I can check for recipes every couple of days. (Not every day...mind you...you think I'm crazy?)
I admit...I am a sucker for Martha Stewart's TV shows. They are shown on LaLa channel here, both her old one from the early 90's (pre-scandel) and the current one which began to air after she became a free-bird. Anyway, I love both for different reasons, and Suk sometimes comments on my hankering for Martha and her housewifey show.
Then, one day, for the first time, I made one of her recipes. I was just watching her make roast chicken with some young buck who had graduated from Yale (who now has his own show), and it looked easy so that night, I attempted to make the same thing.
Since then, Suk has been requesting "Martha-style" dinners. I didn't think pleasing him would be easy! And for days, I was on a high thinking that Martha Stewart saved my marriage, but then the inevitable happened.
I made roast chicken the following week, and it didn't turn out quite as good. Of course, keep in mind that he was eating it for breakfast since he had come home too late the night before. The chicken was dry and not quite as good. He didn't even eat all of it. I was disappointed, but haven't lost hope.
Now, Martha's web site is bookmarked at the top of my browser, so I can check for recipes every couple of days. (Not every day...mind you...you think I'm crazy?)
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Update
Ailin at 4 Months Old
Since I haven't written much in so long, I will start with an update.
My daughter, Ailin, was born on February 15. She was two weeks early, but there were no complications and it was a completely natural delivery. (7 1/2 hours from start to finish, in case you were wondering.) She is a nice little baby - we were lucky to have an easy time with breastfeeding, at least. I felt blessed to have an easy baby after enduring such a hard marriage these past few years. I doubt I could have handled a really colicky baby and post partum depression on top of a difficult home life.
These days, at almost 5 months old, she is going to bed at 7:30 pm, so that leaves me some free time in the evenings to do my own thing. During the day though, she keeps me pretty busy. All household chores must be done in her presence or we have to listen to "complaining". I recently bought a bumbo chair so she can sit in it and watch me while I hang laundry or clean up the kitchen, but even that doesn't last too long. We try to go out at least once a day, and of course we take the dog for a walk every morning.
Today, we went to the Flower Museum, and she seemed to enjoy looking at all the colors of flowers. We also stopped at my workplace to visit them. They always enjoy seeing Ailin and of course, the high school kids go nuts over her.
In the afternoons, we try to nap together on the couch with Max. Max lies in the crook of my knees while she lies next to my chest so she can nurse herself to sleep. It works out well, and I either watch TV, read or sleep during these quiet times of the day.
But at around 4pm, she wakes up from her nap and I try to fend off "witching hour" by keeping her thoroughly entertained until her bathtime at 6:30. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. We used to go for walks with Max at this time of the day, but since summer hit, it is too hot at that time of the day to go outside. I am also pretty tired by that time, I have to admit.
At night, she goes to sleep around 7:30, but then starts to wake up from 11pm or 12am on. She wakes every 2 or 3 hours and nurses back to sleep. So, in order to get enough sleep myself, we bring her to bed with us from about 1 or 2 am and she nurses whenever she needs to during the night.
Ailin has made a few friends already...actually I have made a few friends who just happen to have babies around the same age. Lani, a Canadian friend, and I started a playgroup in our area and we meet once a week. So far, there are only 5 members in this group, but we plan to expand in August. I love the women in the group even though they are Japanese and we have to communicate mostly in Japanese. It is good practice for us, at least. And, we can get a lot of information from them that we otherwise would not be privy to. In any case, starting this group was a great idea.
Ailin and I are going back to the USA next week for about one month. We will stay with my parents in Wisconsin most of the time, but then we are going to Colorado for Shannon's wedding for about 1 week. Going on this trip is nervewracking enough since Ailin and I are traveling alone, but Suk (my husband) is really resentful of the fact that we are going. So, every chance he gets to complain about it, he goes on and on about what a horrible thing I am doing. Well, in any case, I am really looking forward to introducing Ailin to her American family and to participating in Shannon's wedding.
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
New Directions
Now it is July...finally. I thought this month would never come. My birthday is this Saturday and I am turning 31. I am trying to convince my husband to allow me to commandeer my birthday plans since I always have to share the celebration with MIL whose birthday is one day before mine. Anyway, SIL used to plan these events and make all the arrangements, but since getting married, she no longer takes part in these piddly family - only the big ones like New Years. Rather than have a half-assed, last minute plan, I think I would like to make the arrangements myself. Oh, am I sounding bitter again?
Okay, well, let me explain. My last entry in this blog was in February, and I hadn't been writing much in the 2 months before that. I made the decision to take a break from blogging due to the faltering state of my marriage. A friend or two commented on how bitter I was sounding in my blogs, and I was slightly taken aback. Did I sound bitter? I was trying to find the humor in my unfortunate situations, but I guess it wasn't working. So, on that note, I abruptly stopped writing so that I could concentrate on improving my marriage.
I won't get into detail, but one of my tasks was to get MIL on my side rather than constantly allowing myself to be played against her. The other was to work on my reactions to him, and in other words, attempt to cultivate a calm, soothing environment rather than a volitile and bitter one. Sounds easy, right? No, we still have a long ways to go, but I am happy to announce that things are improving.
And, meanwhile, I kept getting the question from friends and family and readers, "what happened to your blog?" I wanted to start writing again, but if I can't write about my bitter-sweet problems, than what the hell do I write about??? So, I had to consider taking the blog in new direction. While updating friends and family about my life here, I still want to have a slightly entertaining blog. Though I have weighed several different options for directions, nothing spectacular comes to mind.
Here are some options I was considering:
1. My daughter's daily activities.
(boring...all she does is eat, sleep, cry, poop, play with her toys or with my face, smile her adorable smile and do the whole thing over again.)
2. My thoughts on Japan and life here
(not much to say...I have surrounded myself with everything American...my apartment has no tatami, I only listen to American music and radio stations, I hang out at Starbucks and go shopping at Costco and Ikea. How much more American can you get?)
3. A diary from my dog's perspective
(hard....I am already doing this in Japanese on a mixi. (Mixi is the Japanese version of blogger only way cooler.) It is not the easiest topic for a blog.)
4. My Daily Life in Japan...only less bitter
(this might be doable, and that is a big MIGHT. I don't want to seem like I am bragging here, but every day has some bitterness to it, and it would be hard to keep it out of this blog.)
Any thoughts? Anyone still there?
Okay, well, let me explain. My last entry in this blog was in February, and I hadn't been writing much in the 2 months before that. I made the decision to take a break from blogging due to the faltering state of my marriage. A friend or two commented on how bitter I was sounding in my blogs, and I was slightly taken aback. Did I sound bitter? I was trying to find the humor in my unfortunate situations, but I guess it wasn't working. So, on that note, I abruptly stopped writing so that I could concentrate on improving my marriage.
I won't get into detail, but one of my tasks was to get MIL on my side rather than constantly allowing myself to be played against her. The other was to work on my reactions to him, and in other words, attempt to cultivate a calm, soothing environment rather than a volitile and bitter one. Sounds easy, right? No, we still have a long ways to go, but I am happy to announce that things are improving.
And, meanwhile, I kept getting the question from friends and family and readers, "what happened to your blog?" I wanted to start writing again, but if I can't write about my bitter-sweet problems, than what the hell do I write about??? So, I had to consider taking the blog in new direction. While updating friends and family about my life here, I still want to have a slightly entertaining blog. Though I have weighed several different options for directions, nothing spectacular comes to mind.
Here are some options I was considering:
1. My daughter's daily activities.
(boring...all she does is eat, sleep, cry, poop, play with her toys or with my face, smile her adorable smile and do the whole thing over again.)
2. My thoughts on Japan and life here
(not much to say...I have surrounded myself with everything American...my apartment has no tatami, I only listen to American music and radio stations, I hang out at Starbucks and go shopping at Costco and Ikea. How much more American can you get?)
3. A diary from my dog's perspective
(hard....I am already doing this in Japanese on a mixi. (Mixi is the Japanese version of blogger only way cooler.) It is not the easiest topic for a blog.)
4. My Daily Life in Japan...only less bitter
(this might be doable, and that is a big MIGHT. I don't want to seem like I am bragging here, but every day has some bitterness to it, and it would be hard to keep it out of this blog.)
Any thoughts? Anyone still there?
Friday, January 12, 2007
Titles that would be of interest to the common woman
First, I must say that I just finished reading the book called "The Bitch in the House". One day after finishing it, I was paging through my Glamour magazine when I came across an article entitled "The Seven Levels of Love" with subtitles such as "Infatuation", "Free-fallin'", "Getting Emotionally Naked", "Call it ESP", "Breathing Room", "The Second Fall", and "As Good as it Gets".
Now, I did not bother to read this article, even the first paragraph. Why? Because I was too busy puking on my shoes.
Puh-lease!!!
I cannot remember the last time I felt any of these feelings for my husband of five years. This is not to say that I do not love him or that I want to get a divorce. But, I want to suggest some titles that would be of interest to people like me.
"How To Ignore Your Husband...Just Like He Ignores You."
"How To Get What You Want Without Having to Beg For It."
"What Makes a Man Think He Knows Everything When Actually He Doesn't Even Have a Clue."
"Giving a Man a Clue"
"Saying 'Uh huh, you're right' and Then Going and Doing What You Want To Anyway."
"Making Sure Your Man Doesn't Find Out What You Have Been Up To"
and finally...
"How To Sacrifice Your Need for Justification Without Sacrificing Your Dignity"
(Folks, as I write this, I am not in an angry or even a mildy irritated mood. This particular post is meant to make your nod your heads only...not to worry or fret over MandeJ's current situation. Don't we all feel this way sometimes? Oh come on...even you couples who claim to have never fought about anything...it never crossed your mind that your mate perhaps was clueless about something?)
Now, I did not bother to read this article, even the first paragraph. Why? Because I was too busy puking on my shoes.
Puh-lease!!!
I cannot remember the last time I felt any of these feelings for my husband of five years. This is not to say that I do not love him or that I want to get a divorce. But, I want to suggest some titles that would be of interest to people like me.
"How To Ignore Your Husband...Just Like He Ignores You."
"How To Get What You Want Without Having to Beg For It."
"What Makes a Man Think He Knows Everything When Actually He Doesn't Even Have a Clue."
"Giving a Man a Clue"
"Saying 'Uh huh, you're right' and Then Going and Doing What You Want To Anyway."
"Making Sure Your Man Doesn't Find Out What You Have Been Up To"
and finally...
"How To Sacrifice Your Need for Justification Without Sacrificing Your Dignity"
(Folks, as I write this, I am not in an angry or even a mildy irritated mood. This particular post is meant to make your nod your heads only...not to worry or fret over MandeJ's current situation. Don't we all feel this way sometimes? Oh come on...even you couples who claim to have never fought about anything...it never crossed your mind that your mate perhaps was clueless about something?)
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Workshops & Home Classes
For any of you who have expressed interest in scrapbooking, I want to let you know that I am starting to have workshops at my house every month. Each month, I will have a theme. This month's theme is "Let's Get Organized."
The hardest step to starting a photo album is to locate the photos you want to use! CM provides us with several photo-safe products to help us organize our photos. Once you organize your photos, you are on your way to making great albums. And whenever you need a certain photo from April 2004, you will know just where to go!
December dates are as follows:
Tuesday 12/12 2:00-6:00
Friday 12/15 10:00-2:00
Although both workshops are 4 hours long, you do not need to be there the whole time. Workshops are a come-and-go thing.
The cost of attending a workshop is 1000 yen. You get a workspace, free use of my tools and the chance to purchase some products individually as you work.
I do encourage you to bring stuff to work on. If there are certain things you need, please order them ahead of time so they can be ready for you when you arrive at the workshop. Otherwise, you can put in an order while at the workshop. Several things will be available for purchasing on the spot.
If you are an absolute beginner, I would encourage you to coordinate a home class or to attend a workshop especially for beginners. Of course, I will be able to teach you individually at a workshop, if one of the other options doesn't work for you.
For more details about what to bring and how to get here, please email me privately.
What is a home class?
A home class can take place at your house, another place of your choosing, or even at my house. If you act as a coordinator, you would be in charge of inviting people to the class, collecting 1000 yen from each participant, and "hosting" the class.
Home classes are 2 hours long, and participants are asked to bring 5-10 photos of the same theme (wedding, party, trip, etc), so that they can make 1 page. I will teach the step-by-step process of making the page by teaching how to use the cropping tools, lay out techniques & journaling. Plus, I will provide all the materials you need to make this page!
Participants are under no obligation to purchase any products from Creative Memories, but they do get a catalog to take home, in case they decide to purchase at a later date. The coordinator receives a couple of free gifts for hosting the class, and there is the opportunity to receive a free album depending on how much her particpants order.
The hardest step to starting a photo album is to locate the photos you want to use! CM provides us with several photo-safe products to help us organize our photos. Once you organize your photos, you are on your way to making great albums. And whenever you need a certain photo from April 2004, you will know just where to go!
December dates are as follows:
Tuesday 12/12 2:00-6:00
Friday 12/15 10:00-2:00
Although both workshops are 4 hours long, you do not need to be there the whole time. Workshops are a come-and-go thing.
The cost of attending a workshop is 1000 yen. You get a workspace, free use of my tools and the chance to purchase some products individually as you work.
I do encourage you to bring stuff to work on. If there are certain things you need, please order them ahead of time so they can be ready for you when you arrive at the workshop. Otherwise, you can put in an order while at the workshop. Several things will be available for purchasing on the spot.
If you are an absolute beginner, I would encourage you to coordinate a home class or to attend a workshop especially for beginners. Of course, I will be able to teach you individually at a workshop, if one of the other options doesn't work for you.
For more details about what to bring and how to get here, please email me privately.
What is a home class?
A home class can take place at your house, another place of your choosing, or even at my house. If you act as a coordinator, you would be in charge of inviting people to the class, collecting 1000 yen from each participant, and "hosting" the class.
Home classes are 2 hours long, and participants are asked to bring 5-10 photos of the same theme (wedding, party, trip, etc), so that they can make 1 page. I will teach the step-by-step process of making the page by teaching how to use the cropping tools, lay out techniques & journaling. Plus, I will provide all the materials you need to make this page!
Participants are under no obligation to purchase any products from Creative Memories, but they do get a catalog to take home, in case they decide to purchase at a later date. The coordinator receives a couple of free gifts for hosting the class, and there is the opportunity to receive a free album depending on how much her particpants order.
Friday, December 01, 2006
MIL Back Again; Steals Thunder
Ah, another story about my MIL.
Last week was our 5-year wedding anniversary. I wasn't expecting anything special, but my husband and I had plans to eat dinner at a fancy-schmancy restaurant on the weekend. We were intending to use the gift certificates we had received from someone last Christmas.
Anywho, just after I got home on Thursday night, the night in question, I received a very rare phone call from my MIL. She said she would be dropping something off in a few minutes. I assumed that it had something do with our anniversary, as in the years past, she has always left something on our doorstep.
Let's see, one year, I believe it was the red-bean rice stuff, which my husband loves, but I refuse to make. Honestly, I don't remember the other gifts, but I know she has always acknowledged the day in some way.
So, this time, she dropped off a bag, but did not come into the house. As usual, she refused to come past the genkan (so Max was really peeved about that. He thought Grandma had come over to play with him!), and she came and left in a whirlwind.
I opened the bag to find a bouquet of flowers and a cake. The cake had one of those little signs which says "Happy Wedding Anniversary" on it. Touching. It suddenly occurred to me that I, myself, should be giving Suk some kind of gift, but I had not prepared anything. Oh well. (He is getting an iPod for Christmas, so I am doing my part, at least.)
Then, a couple of hours later, I get a phone call from Suk. He wants to come home early to eat dinner together and celebrate our anniversary. How rare! He informs me that he is stopping at a bakery in Ginza to pick up ... you guessed it ... a cake.
Now, I did not mention the fact that his mom had already dropped off a cake. I was just so flattered that he had thought ahead, and that he was actually going to get a cake BEFORE getting on a train. There's a first time for everything, and to be perfectly honest, I would much rather receive a cake from my husband on our anniversary than from my MIL. I did not avoid telling him just so I could eat 2 cakes. That was the LAST thing I wanted.
Suk came home and was quite proud of himself for getting the cake. I made a Japanese-style dinner, and after eating, it was time for dessert. I let him know that his mom had brought over a gift and he should open it. Guess what! A cake!
Guess what his reaction was?
Anger.
Somehow, all of this became my fault because now we would have to eat TWO cakes. Well, I was thinking, but did not say, that it was quite strange that his mom brought over flowers and a cake. I mean, isn't that supposed to be HIS job as the husband? Does she think he is married to her? Does she think that giving us romantic gifts is appropriate?
Immediately, Suk called his mom to thank her for the gifts and tell her how delicious the cake was. But, as soon as he got off the phone, he tore me a new ass because I had been so "selfish" not to tell him. And then, he said we would have to eat BOTH of cakes and how terrible that is.
While eating the cake from her, I asked him if he even likes this kind of cake. "No!" Well, me either. As soon as that cake was eaten, he opened up the box of cakes he had brought from Tokyo. There were 4 pieces in there, and he demanded that I eat at least one of them and save the other for breakfast.
I tried to tell him about how my stomach has decreased in size and I really can't eat as much as I used to. I am so full. Please don't make me eat this, but the look on his face told me to just shut up and eat it.
Then, he said in a sarcastic tone (inherited from me, I am sure), "You should just be happy that my mom remembers our anniversary every year. So, what did your parents give us for our anniversary?"
"A card with $20 in it. Remember?"
"Oh."
Last week was our 5-year wedding anniversary. I wasn't expecting anything special, but my husband and I had plans to eat dinner at a fancy-schmancy restaurant on the weekend. We were intending to use the gift certificates we had received from someone last Christmas.
Anywho, just after I got home on Thursday night, the night in question, I received a very rare phone call from my MIL. She said she would be dropping something off in a few minutes. I assumed that it had something do with our anniversary, as in the years past, she has always left something on our doorstep.
Let's see, one year, I believe it was the red-bean rice stuff, which my husband loves, but I refuse to make. Honestly, I don't remember the other gifts, but I know she has always acknowledged the day in some way.
So, this time, she dropped off a bag, but did not come into the house. As usual, she refused to come past the genkan (so Max was really peeved about that. He thought Grandma had come over to play with him!), and she came and left in a whirlwind.
I opened the bag to find a bouquet of flowers and a cake. The cake had one of those little signs which says "Happy Wedding Anniversary" on it. Touching. It suddenly occurred to me that I, myself, should be giving Suk some kind of gift, but I had not prepared anything. Oh well. (He is getting an iPod for Christmas, so I am doing my part, at least.)
Then, a couple of hours later, I get a phone call from Suk. He wants to come home early to eat dinner together and celebrate our anniversary. How rare! He informs me that he is stopping at a bakery in Ginza to pick up ... you guessed it ... a cake.
Now, I did not mention the fact that his mom had already dropped off a cake. I was just so flattered that he had thought ahead, and that he was actually going to get a cake BEFORE getting on a train. There's a first time for everything, and to be perfectly honest, I would much rather receive a cake from my husband on our anniversary than from my MIL. I did not avoid telling him just so I could eat 2 cakes. That was the LAST thing I wanted.
Suk came home and was quite proud of himself for getting the cake. I made a Japanese-style dinner, and after eating, it was time for dessert. I let him know that his mom had brought over a gift and he should open it. Guess what! A cake!
Guess what his reaction was?
Anger.
Somehow, all of this became my fault because now we would have to eat TWO cakes. Well, I was thinking, but did not say, that it was quite strange that his mom brought over flowers and a cake. I mean, isn't that supposed to be HIS job as the husband? Does she think he is married to her? Does she think that giving us romantic gifts is appropriate?
Immediately, Suk called his mom to thank her for the gifts and tell her how delicious the cake was. But, as soon as he got off the phone, he tore me a new ass because I had been so "selfish" not to tell him. And then, he said we would have to eat BOTH of cakes and how terrible that is.
While eating the cake from her, I asked him if he even likes this kind of cake. "No!" Well, me either. As soon as that cake was eaten, he opened up the box of cakes he had brought from Tokyo. There were 4 pieces in there, and he demanded that I eat at least one of them and save the other for breakfast.
I tried to tell him about how my stomach has decreased in size and I really can't eat as much as I used to. I am so full. Please don't make me eat this, but the look on his face told me to just shut up and eat it.
Then, he said in a sarcastic tone (inherited from me, I am sure), "You should just be happy that my mom remembers our anniversary every year. So, what did your parents give us for our anniversary?"
"A card with $20 in it. Remember?"
"Oh."
Thursday, November 09, 2006
True Irony at home
Here is a weird chain of events that occurred just the other night.
Went out to dinner with a friend and her husband.
Came home at 8pm.
Intended to feed and walk dog immediately.
Phone rang. It was a relatively new friend.
(By the way, any phone call from a friend is such a rarity that I find it impossible to say to that person, "Look, I am really busy right now. Can I call you back later?")
So, we chatted for an hour, while became so engrossed in the conversation that I paid no attention to Max.
Hung up the phone.
Fed the dog.
Went to bedroom to change into more comfy clothes for walking.
Noticed that tennis shoe was sitting on the center of the bed.
Hmmm.
Noticed that there was a large puddle underneath the shoe.
Realized that Max had peed on the bed.
(By the way, this is not the first time. It happens if I neglect to take him outside when he is expecting it. And, this is the precise reason why I usually keep the bedroom door shut.)
Stripped the bed of its quilt and winter blankets.
Threw the quilt in the washer.
Realized that we would have no blankets, lest I wash and dry them before bedtime.
Took Max outside for walk.
Decided to take blankets to local laundromat so they could be properly washed and dried quickly.
I had 90 minutes to accomplish this since the place closes at 11pm.
I packed the blankets up in my huge Costco bags and loaded them up in the car.
I drove the car (for the first time by myself) to the laundromat.
(By the way, in the past, I would have loaded the blankets onto my bicycle, but my bicycle no longer has working breaks...plus, I am pregnant. Pregnant ladies shouldn't be riding bikes with heavy loads tied onto the back, especially with no breaks.)
I drove without incident.
At the laundromat, while waiting, I sat down to enjoy a good book and to drink a Pocari Sweat (sports drink) from the vending machine.
I called my husband. He asked me where I was. I told him where. He asked me how I got there. I told him how.
He got really angry and tore me a new ass.
I told him I couldn't talk right now, and hung up the phone.
When the blankets had dried, I packed them up in the Costco bags along with my Pocari Sweat, and loaded them into the car.
I drove home without incident.
I took the blankets back up to our place.
I removed them from the bags and re-made the bed.
I noticed a big wet spot on the quilt.
The culprit, this time, was my pocari sweat which had not been closed tightly.
The puddle was in the exact same place that the pee puddle had been.
Noting this example of true irony, I finished making the bed.
A puddle of Pocari Sweat is better than a puddle of pee.
I lay down on the couch to rest a bit before going to bed.
Suk called. He seemed to want to continue tearing me a new ass.
It got ugly...real ugly.
Had I been more careful in the first place, none of this would have happened.
Went out to dinner with a friend and her husband.
Came home at 8pm.
Intended to feed and walk dog immediately.
Phone rang. It was a relatively new friend.
(By the way, any phone call from a friend is such a rarity that I find it impossible to say to that person, "Look, I am really busy right now. Can I call you back later?")
So, we chatted for an hour, while became so engrossed in the conversation that I paid no attention to Max.
Hung up the phone.
Fed the dog.
Went to bedroom to change into more comfy clothes for walking.
Noticed that tennis shoe was sitting on the center of the bed.
Hmmm.
Noticed that there was a large puddle underneath the shoe.
Realized that Max had peed on the bed.
(By the way, this is not the first time. It happens if I neglect to take him outside when he is expecting it. And, this is the precise reason why I usually keep the bedroom door shut.)
Stripped the bed of its quilt and winter blankets.
Threw the quilt in the washer.
Realized that we would have no blankets, lest I wash and dry them before bedtime.
Took Max outside for walk.
Decided to take blankets to local laundromat so they could be properly washed and dried quickly.
I had 90 minutes to accomplish this since the place closes at 11pm.
I packed the blankets up in my huge Costco bags and loaded them up in the car.
I drove the car (for the first time by myself) to the laundromat.
(By the way, in the past, I would have loaded the blankets onto my bicycle, but my bicycle no longer has working breaks...plus, I am pregnant. Pregnant ladies shouldn't be riding bikes with heavy loads tied onto the back, especially with no breaks.)
I drove without incident.
At the laundromat, while waiting, I sat down to enjoy a good book and to drink a Pocari Sweat (sports drink) from the vending machine.
I called my husband. He asked me where I was. I told him where. He asked me how I got there. I told him how.
He got really angry and tore me a new ass.
I told him I couldn't talk right now, and hung up the phone.
When the blankets had dried, I packed them up in the Costco bags along with my Pocari Sweat, and loaded them into the car.
I drove home without incident.
I took the blankets back up to our place.
I removed them from the bags and re-made the bed.
I noticed a big wet spot on the quilt.
The culprit, this time, was my pocari sweat which had not been closed tightly.
The puddle was in the exact same place that the pee puddle had been.
Noting this example of true irony, I finished making the bed.
A puddle of Pocari Sweat is better than a puddle of pee.
I lay down on the couch to rest a bit before going to bed.
Suk called. He seemed to want to continue tearing me a new ass.
It got ugly...real ugly.
Had I been more careful in the first place, none of this would have happened.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Dwarfed Body Parts
This weekend, Suk and I took what we like to think of as our last "getaway". We spent one night in Kamakura at a hotel called The Society. We go there every year, and it had been about 18 months since our last visit.
I made the mistake of not packing any maternity clothes, when I am, in fact, at the point where I need to be wearing maternity, lest I get mistaken for someone who doesn't know how to dress herself.
Since we have a digital camera, I was able to immediately view any photos taken of me among the scenery of Kamakura. Well, to my surprise, I have now developed these humongous boobs, which sort of spread out to each side making way for a little round belly and beneath that, wide hips and big thighs. If I am not mistaken, the wide hips and thighs were there before, but they were not quite as "out there." I started to feel sorry for myself, and I began asking Suk questions like, "Do you think people realize that I am pregnant? Or do you think they just assume I am fat?" Well, I suppose he didn't quite know how to answer this, so he said, "If you had super skinny legs and small breasts, then of course you would look pregnant. But, you don't have super skinny legs and small breasts." Thanks. Ever heard of the simple answer, "Of course you look pregnant, honey? How could people NOT realize that?"
Later that night, we went our separate ways to bathe in the hotel's bath. Suk is lucky because every where you go, there are LESS men around. Sometimes, he is the only one bathing. As for me, there are always lots of women. There are just more of us in this world.
Right away, I started to feel more uncomfortable than usual. I thought the fact that I am pregnant would mean that people would do double-takes at my huger than huge breasts. As if that thought wasn't bad enough. When I got to the changing room, there was a mom with her teenage daughter and (what looked to be) 9-year old son. Okay, 4 or 5 years old is understandable. But 9?
The bath itself was so full that all the shower stalls were occupied, and after my initial rinse, I had to wait over an hour for a shower stall so I could actually wash myself. I waited in the baths, but could only submerge my body in the coolest bath (pregnant women have to take care not to let their bodies get too hot), which was usually full. I finally secured a spot in there after waiting for about 40 minutes. So, I sat on the edge of the other bath with my big boobs hanging around my stomach while that 9-year old boy's mom helped him to shower 4 times. This last sentence will make more sense later in the story.
Now, this whole time, I was not feeling relaxed at all. I should have just left and gone back to the room. But, I was determined to follow through because I like the soap and shampoo that the hotel provides for the showers. Instead, I sat there watching everyone like a hawk until a shower stall opened up. I was practically seething.
Here is what I noticed. These people sure like to waste water. They wash their hair for 20 minutes. Then, they wash their bodies for 20 more minutes. Then, they rinse off and putter around for several more minutes. Finally, they get up and make their way over to the bath for a soak. Before they leave their shower stall, one of their cronies (perhaps a family member or a friend) comes and waits until they're done, and they take over the shower stall. This happened over and over, and often the original water-hog returned to her shower stall after a short soak, and repeated the process all over again. This is what I meant about that 9-year old boy getting washed down by his mom 4 times. While they soaked in the tub together, the teenage daughter was tediously washing her hair and body.
So, finally, I got a shower stall and I tried to take my time, but I just can't seem to stretch a good hair-washing into 20 minutes. And, here is the part where I finally say something funny about the size of my boobs. When naked in a room full of naked women, you cannot help but compare yourself a bit. These Japanese women have breasts about the same size as my husband's. Meanwhile, when I wash, I actually have to lift my breast up in order to wash beneath it. This was not an issue for me before. Now, my breasts have not only grown, but they are also quite heavy, and they dwarf my pregnant belly, which makes me feel even more self-conscious. Okay, back to the ofuro dilemma.
I left the ofuro and went to the changing room, where the little family was still changing their clothes. The 9-year old boy was all dressed and ready to go, but his sister was taking her time. I thought to myself, "Why in the hell is he still hangin' around?" There are about 10 other women in the dressing room all in various states of nakedness, and he is just standing there. Why doesn't his mom tell him to go and wait out by the vending machines?
I made the mistake of not packing any maternity clothes, when I am, in fact, at the point where I need to be wearing maternity, lest I get mistaken for someone who doesn't know how to dress herself.
Since we have a digital camera, I was able to immediately view any photos taken of me among the scenery of Kamakura. Well, to my surprise, I have now developed these humongous boobs, which sort of spread out to each side making way for a little round belly and beneath that, wide hips and big thighs. If I am not mistaken, the wide hips and thighs were there before, but they were not quite as "out there." I started to feel sorry for myself, and I began asking Suk questions like, "Do you think people realize that I am pregnant? Or do you think they just assume I am fat?" Well, I suppose he didn't quite know how to answer this, so he said, "If you had super skinny legs and small breasts, then of course you would look pregnant. But, you don't have super skinny legs and small breasts." Thanks. Ever heard of the simple answer, "Of course you look pregnant, honey? How could people NOT realize that?"
Later that night, we went our separate ways to bathe in the hotel's bath. Suk is lucky because every where you go, there are LESS men around. Sometimes, he is the only one bathing. As for me, there are always lots of women. There are just more of us in this world.
Right away, I started to feel more uncomfortable than usual. I thought the fact that I am pregnant would mean that people would do double-takes at my huger than huge breasts. As if that thought wasn't bad enough. When I got to the changing room, there was a mom with her teenage daughter and (what looked to be) 9-year old son. Okay, 4 or 5 years old is understandable. But 9?
The bath itself was so full that all the shower stalls were occupied, and after my initial rinse, I had to wait over an hour for a shower stall so I could actually wash myself. I waited in the baths, but could only submerge my body in the coolest bath (pregnant women have to take care not to let their bodies get too hot), which was usually full. I finally secured a spot in there after waiting for about 40 minutes. So, I sat on the edge of the other bath with my big boobs hanging around my stomach while that 9-year old boy's mom helped him to shower 4 times. This last sentence will make more sense later in the story.
Now, this whole time, I was not feeling relaxed at all. I should have just left and gone back to the room. But, I was determined to follow through because I like the soap and shampoo that the hotel provides for the showers. Instead, I sat there watching everyone like a hawk until a shower stall opened up. I was practically seething.
Here is what I noticed. These people sure like to waste water. They wash their hair for 20 minutes. Then, they wash their bodies for 20 more minutes. Then, they rinse off and putter around for several more minutes. Finally, they get up and make their way over to the bath for a soak. Before they leave their shower stall, one of their cronies (perhaps a family member or a friend) comes and waits until they're done, and they take over the shower stall. This happened over and over, and often the original water-hog returned to her shower stall after a short soak, and repeated the process all over again. This is what I meant about that 9-year old boy getting washed down by his mom 4 times. While they soaked in the tub together, the teenage daughter was tediously washing her hair and body.
So, finally, I got a shower stall and I tried to take my time, but I just can't seem to stretch a good hair-washing into 20 minutes. And, here is the part where I finally say something funny about the size of my boobs. When naked in a room full of naked women, you cannot help but compare yourself a bit. These Japanese women have breasts about the same size as my husband's. Meanwhile, when I wash, I actually have to lift my breast up in order to wash beneath it. This was not an issue for me before. Now, my breasts have not only grown, but they are also quite heavy, and they dwarf my pregnant belly, which makes me feel even more self-conscious. Okay, back to the ofuro dilemma.
I left the ofuro and went to the changing room, where the little family was still changing their clothes. The 9-year old boy was all dressed and ready to go, but his sister was taking her time. I thought to myself, "Why in the hell is he still hangin' around?" There are about 10 other women in the dressing room all in various states of nakedness, and he is just standing there. Why doesn't his mom tell him to go and wait out by the vending machines?
Thursday, November 02, 2006
New Endeavor
Okay, as promised I will now reveal my decision.
Not that it is a big deal.
For those who know me well or have been to my house, I am really into scrapbooking and have been for about 9 or 10 years.
I wanted to make a career of it somehow, but wasn't sure how to go about it and read some books to get ideas. Finally, though, I decided to take the easy route and join Creative Memories (CM) as an instructor. So, now I can host workshops or I can teach classes about scrapbooking, and I can sell the products.
So far, I have no workshops planned in the near future, but I would like to start having some after the holidays. I think people are getting too busy right about now, and I actually plan to attend three scrapbooking workshops (hosted by other people) in the next two months, so I'll be quite busy myself.
When I stop working in January, I thought that would be a good time to get started. For now, I have several projects I am working on, and I am planning to sign up for an on-line art class.
So, though I have considered grad school and getting a degree in TESOL, I haven't gone that route yet. Suk is not exactly supportive of continuing education. That is an understatement, by the way. He has asked me why I didn't major in art or graphic design in college though. Well, it was partly because I didn't know I was that interested in it at the time, but luckily I DO use my Communication Arts major every day for my job, so that was worth something.
Not that it is a big deal.
For those who know me well or have been to my house, I am really into scrapbooking and have been for about 9 or 10 years.
I wanted to make a career of it somehow, but wasn't sure how to go about it and read some books to get ideas. Finally, though, I decided to take the easy route and join Creative Memories (CM) as an instructor. So, now I can host workshops or I can teach classes about scrapbooking, and I can sell the products.
So far, I have no workshops planned in the near future, but I would like to start having some after the holidays. I think people are getting too busy right about now, and I actually plan to attend three scrapbooking workshops (hosted by other people) in the next two months, so I'll be quite busy myself.
When I stop working in January, I thought that would be a good time to get started. For now, I have several projects I am working on, and I am planning to sign up for an on-line art class.
So, though I have considered grad school and getting a degree in TESOL, I haven't gone that route yet. Suk is not exactly supportive of continuing education. That is an understatement, by the way. He has asked me why I didn't major in art or graphic design in college though. Well, it was partly because I didn't know I was that interested in it at the time, but luckily I DO use my Communication Arts major every day for my job, so that was worth something.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Well, I never...
This week has been busy with various activity.
I made friends with a girl in my neighborhood who is expecting her first baby in December. She came over and we mulled over our problems with daily life and pregnancy.
And, I just realized that in the previous paragragh, I referred to my friend as a "girl", when actually she is a grown woman, one year older than me. It reminds me of the time that I briefly considered joining an on-line community for pregnant women. You could join groups according to your due date, so that you'd be able to commisserate with other group members. Before actually joining, I previewed the latest messages, and I was surprised by what I found.
Of the several members who had already joined up for the early March due date group, 2 of them were 15-year olds "expecting their first" child, and another was a 16-year old. Well, I never...
I am certain that these young girls need lots of support throughout this experience, but I was not about to share my most intimate fears and concerns with some high school girls. So, I clicked off of that site immediately and decided that meeting people face to face would be better.
Other than that, I have been busy with the usual. Japanese class, exam week at school, Max & and my new endeavor. Which I will reveal to you soon. The guesses were close, and obviously the people who guessed know me quite well. It is more on the creative side than the academic side though.
I made friends with a girl in my neighborhood who is expecting her first baby in December. She came over and we mulled over our problems with daily life and pregnancy.
And, I just realized that in the previous paragragh, I referred to my friend as a "girl", when actually she is a grown woman, one year older than me. It reminds me of the time that I briefly considered joining an on-line community for pregnant women. You could join groups according to your due date, so that you'd be able to commisserate with other group members. Before actually joining, I previewed the latest messages, and I was surprised by what I found.
Of the several members who had already joined up for the early March due date group, 2 of them were 15-year olds "expecting their first" child, and another was a 16-year old. Well, I never...
I am certain that these young girls need lots of support throughout this experience, but I was not about to share my most intimate fears and concerns with some high school girls. So, I clicked off of that site immediately and decided that meeting people face to face would be better.
Other than that, I have been busy with the usual. Japanese class, exam week at school, Max & and my new endeavor. Which I will reveal to you soon. The guesses were close, and obviously the people who guessed know me quite well. It is more on the creative side than the academic side though.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
____head is History
I really have to control myself whenever I talk about this guy because a stream of expletives is likely to excape from my mouth (or from my fingers when typing.)
This week, my colleague, who recently put in his resignation and gave one month's notice completely stopped coming to school.
When they called him to ask what was wrong, he claimed that he has developed influenza. Now, both you and I know that influenza does not actually strike until December or January. And, since his wife is a doctor, I am sure that they are aware of this fact.
So, of course we thought it was strange, and so he was granted a personal visit by the vice-principal and a fellow teacher. Of course, he was found to be in perfect health and was told that his services are no longer needed.
Apparently, he and his wife carefully read over the contract and found that he would be eligible for 20 days of sick leave with pay if indeed has an illness. So, this was their (his) plan. To leave the rest of us hanging, just before an exam period with no files or information passed from him to us. This guy has no class!
And, like we said when we read the resignation letter, it seems like he is an old pro at this kind of thing.
Now, on the bright side (because I ALWAYS try to find the bright side of things), his sudden resignation kind of inspired me to change something in my own life.
Here is a guy who is 38 years old and has been teaching ESL for the past 15 or so years in 3 different Asian countries. And, he got to the point where he realized that he was burned out on it. (To be honest, judging from his abilities & personality, I really doubt that he ever went through a good phase before getting burned out.) Anyway, I asked what he planned to do after leaving this job, and I expected him to say that he would be a househusband, since his wife is a doctor and technically, he does not need to work. This is precisely what he told another co-worker. But, to me, he explained briefly that he would like to write a book. Hmmm...interesting. Though he wouldn't reveal what he planned to write, I imagine that he felt time was passing him by, and that he ought to do some of this stuff before he gets too old or misses the opportunity (like his wife divorcing him and then he would have to work again). In a way, this inspired me to do the thing that I have been wanting to do for the past 6 years but never took that step. So, I did finally make my decision to go ahead with it, and I am very excited about it. So perhaps, _____head coming into my life (and then leaving it again) did prompt me to take this step.
So, there you go. A Bright Side.
This week, my colleague, who recently put in his resignation and gave one month's notice completely stopped coming to school.
When they called him to ask what was wrong, he claimed that he has developed influenza. Now, both you and I know that influenza does not actually strike until December or January. And, since his wife is a doctor, I am sure that they are aware of this fact.
So, of course we thought it was strange, and so he was granted a personal visit by the vice-principal and a fellow teacher. Of course, he was found to be in perfect health and was told that his services are no longer needed.
Apparently, he and his wife carefully read over the contract and found that he would be eligible for 20 days of sick leave with pay if indeed has an illness. So, this was their (his) plan. To leave the rest of us hanging, just before an exam period with no files or information passed from him to us. This guy has no class!
And, like we said when we read the resignation letter, it seems like he is an old pro at this kind of thing.
Now, on the bright side (because I ALWAYS try to find the bright side of things), his sudden resignation kind of inspired me to change something in my own life.
Here is a guy who is 38 years old and has been teaching ESL for the past 15 or so years in 3 different Asian countries. And, he got to the point where he realized that he was burned out on it. (To be honest, judging from his abilities & personality, I really doubt that he ever went through a good phase before getting burned out.) Anyway, I asked what he planned to do after leaving this job, and I expected him to say that he would be a househusband, since his wife is a doctor and technically, he does not need to work. This is precisely what he told another co-worker. But, to me, he explained briefly that he would like to write a book. Hmmm...interesting. Though he wouldn't reveal what he planned to write, I imagine that he felt time was passing him by, and that he ought to do some of this stuff before he gets too old or misses the opportunity (like his wife divorcing him and then he would have to work again). In a way, this inspired me to do the thing that I have been wanting to do for the past 6 years but never took that step. So, I did finally make my decision to go ahead with it, and I am very excited about it. So perhaps, _____head coming into my life (and then leaving it again) did prompt me to take this step.
So, there you go. A Bright Side.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Life...laugh about it
Rather than call this entry "Update", I thought I would give it a cooler name. When weird things happen in your life, you should just laugh it off. Or like my colleague who says "Thank you!" and walks away every single time someone insults him. (I am NOT talking about my foreign colleague who recently resigned.)
Me
I am literally up to my ears in scrapbooking projects right now. After reading two books about design and planning, I felt inspired to get going on some new albums. But first, I need to finish my current project. Also, my friend Louise is coming to visit for the weekend mainly to work on scrapbooking with me. (She is also supposed to help put wallpaper borders up in the baby's room.) So, before Louise arrives, I need to get everything in order so that I will have plenty of scrapbooking stuff to do with her.
I am also updating all my files and making explanation sheets for all of my lesson and unit plans. This is for the next teacher who takes my place (and Dildo's place), so that they won't be left hanging. If only I had had something like this when I first started. My hair started falling out during my first year due to the stress of being at such a loss. Anyway, this is a big job and requires a lot of time, but I refuse to take work home these days! So, I am determined to get it all done AT school.
I have recently made a huge decision that will affect my life in a big way. It is really exciting for me, and I have been waiting 6 years to come to this point, so I am glad that I am finally taking this step. I think that the timing is right as I will have 14 months off of work, so despite Matt's appearance next March, I should probably have time to do this as well. I will announce it soon...very soon.
Max
He farts a lot. Really smelly farts that suddenly waft over in your direction. Also, now that the weather is cooling off, he has become much more cuddly. He wants to be right next to me at all times so we can share body heat. What a user! I am going to make an album dedicated to him called "The Many Personalities of Max". Well, that will be later, after my other projects get off the ground.
Suk
Suk is practicing driving every weekend now, and he is making marked improvement. It is much better to drive with him WITHOUT his parents along. I have a whole list of stores that I want him to drive me to, but so far we have only made it to 3 of them. Okay, that is a start. I will probably never run out of stores that I want to go to. (BTW, I got my international license and will be practicing driving in Japan on the opposite side of the road in the coming weeks. My goal is to get my Japanese license before Christmas...or least before they bar me taking the driving test due to my impending largeness.)
Us
Suk and I are getting along much better since I came back from my trip to the USA. Our fights are much less frequent and they are becoming more "normal". Hey, I am not sure what a normal fight sounds like, but I do know what is NOT normal. And, after 2 years of really shitty, abnormal fights, we are finally over that hump, I think. This probably makes me the happiest of all.
My Family
What can I say? My mom and dad are doing fine. Mom is quilting her butt off. She whips them out faster than I can say Quilters Anonymous. I wish I could get a scrapbook done that quickly. I would like to get up the nerve to ask her to make a new quilt for our bed, but that is just because I want something that will match the new curtains, which I have not chosen or bought yet. Did you catch that stupid, complicated sentence?
My brother. Oh dear, what can I say? He is back in town. My best friends who have known me since childhood (and who have the pleasure of being acquainted with him as well) will know what I mean when I say, "he is back." Have you heard the news that the 22-year old guy in Iowa killed his entire family? Well, that is the reason why my husband always worries when my brother comes back to town. Now, you can get an idea of what we are dealing with.
Luckily though, my sister and I are getting along. She started a blog about her quilting, and I linked it up to my blog. She makes the coolest quilts. I don't know how my parents created such creative kids. Even my brother is creative in his own insanity-stricken way.
Okay, that is it for now. Probably boring to readers who don't know me personally, but I have to do this once in a while.
Me
I am literally up to my ears in scrapbooking projects right now. After reading two books about design and planning, I felt inspired to get going on some new albums. But first, I need to finish my current project. Also, my friend Louise is coming to visit for the weekend mainly to work on scrapbooking with me. (She is also supposed to help put wallpaper borders up in the baby's room.) So, before Louise arrives, I need to get everything in order so that I will have plenty of scrapbooking stuff to do with her.
I am also updating all my files and making explanation sheets for all of my lesson and unit plans. This is for the next teacher who takes my place (and Dildo's place), so that they won't be left hanging. If only I had had something like this when I first started. My hair started falling out during my first year due to the stress of being at such a loss. Anyway, this is a big job and requires a lot of time, but I refuse to take work home these days! So, I am determined to get it all done AT school.
I have recently made a huge decision that will affect my life in a big way. It is really exciting for me, and I have been waiting 6 years to come to this point, so I am glad that I am finally taking this step. I think that the timing is right as I will have 14 months off of work, so despite Matt's appearance next March, I should probably have time to do this as well. I will announce it soon...very soon.
Max
He farts a lot. Really smelly farts that suddenly waft over in your direction. Also, now that the weather is cooling off, he has become much more cuddly. He wants to be right next to me at all times so we can share body heat. What a user! I am going to make an album dedicated to him called "The Many Personalities of Max". Well, that will be later, after my other projects get off the ground.
Suk
Suk is practicing driving every weekend now, and he is making marked improvement. It is much better to drive with him WITHOUT his parents along. I have a whole list of stores that I want him to drive me to, but so far we have only made it to 3 of them. Okay, that is a start. I will probably never run out of stores that I want to go to. (BTW, I got my international license and will be practicing driving in Japan on the opposite side of the road in the coming weeks. My goal is to get my Japanese license before Christmas...or least before they bar me taking the driving test due to my impending largeness.)
Us
Suk and I are getting along much better since I came back from my trip to the USA. Our fights are much less frequent and they are becoming more "normal". Hey, I am not sure what a normal fight sounds like, but I do know what is NOT normal. And, after 2 years of really shitty, abnormal fights, we are finally over that hump, I think. This probably makes me the happiest of all.
My Family
What can I say? My mom and dad are doing fine. Mom is quilting her butt off. She whips them out faster than I can say Quilters Anonymous. I wish I could get a scrapbook done that quickly. I would like to get up the nerve to ask her to make a new quilt for our bed, but that is just because I want something that will match the new curtains, which I have not chosen or bought yet. Did you catch that stupid, complicated sentence?
My brother. Oh dear, what can I say? He is back in town. My best friends who have known me since childhood (and who have the pleasure of being acquainted with him as well) will know what I mean when I say, "he is back." Have you heard the news that the 22-year old guy in Iowa killed his entire family? Well, that is the reason why my husband always worries when my brother comes back to town. Now, you can get an idea of what we are dealing with.
Luckily though, my sister and I are getting along. She started a blog about her quilting, and I linked it up to my blog. She makes the coolest quilts. I don't know how my parents created such creative kids. Even my brother is creative in his own insanity-stricken way.
Okay, that is it for now. Probably boring to readers who don't know me personally, but I have to do this once in a while.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
To the Max
I know I should be working right now - correcting essays or whatever, but I want to write a little entry in honor of my dog, who is now 10 months old.
He has now graduated to a real dog bed. He seems to like it and has not soiled it (well, not since the very first day I presented it to him and then had to take it away for a month!).
He still doesn't like wearing a raincoat, and even if he does have one on, he won't move an inch once he gets outside. So, we do without, and we get wet. But, I could not pass up this one opportunity to take a picture.
Until my husband took this photo of us last weekend, I didn't realize how big Max had gotten.
When he runs around with his little football toy, I say, "Come on Reggie, over here!" in honor of Reggie White of NFL fame. If Max was human, he would definitely be a wide receiver.
He has now graduated to a real dog bed. He seems to like it and has not soiled it (well, not since the very first day I presented it to him and then had to take it away for a month!).
He still doesn't like wearing a raincoat, and even if he does have one on, he won't move an inch once he gets outside. So, we do without, and we get wet. But, I could not pass up this one opportunity to take a picture.
Until my husband took this photo of us last weekend, I didn't realize how big Max had gotten.
When he runs around with his little football toy, I say, "Come on Reggie, over here!" in honor of Reggie White of NFL fame. If Max was human, he would definitely be a wide receiver.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
When Christmas comes early
What would be the ultimate Christmas present for you?
Mine came today in the form of someone's resignation. My other colleague suggested getting a cake to celebrate and that we should have the words "Good-bye ---" decorated on the cake. Well, that won't happen until he actually walks out the door in one month, but we'll look forward to that day with all of our hearts.
Shocking as it is, we could not help but smile as we read the two-page resignation letter detailing his "issues" with this job...as if these issues were caused by us. Oh well, we know better.
I don't have to submit my typed document listing the 30 reasons why they should fire him, but my Japanese co-worker still wants me to, so that our bosses will understand that his resignation was not in fact "our fault."
I will do what I can, but for now, I will drink a coke to celebrate this one small victory.
Mine came today in the form of someone's resignation. My other colleague suggested getting a cake to celebrate and that we should have the words "Good-bye ---" decorated on the cake. Well, that won't happen until he actually walks out the door in one month, but we'll look forward to that day with all of our hearts.
Shocking as it is, we could not help but smile as we read the two-page resignation letter detailing his "issues" with this job...as if these issues were caused by us. Oh well, we know better.
I don't have to submit my typed document listing the 30 reasons why they should fire him, but my Japanese co-worker still wants me to, so that our bosses will understand that his resignation was not in fact "our fault."
I will do what I can, but for now, I will drink a coke to celebrate this one small victory.
Monday, October 02, 2006
iTunes Top 25 Songs
Sometimes, just for fun, I check out my 25 Most Played Songs List on iTunes. I am embarrassed that some of these songs are in fact in my Top 25, but I suppose that says something about my laziness to organize my iTunes better. What's on your Top 25?
(By the way, Chances Are sung by Bob Seger and Martina McBride is my all time favorite song...at least for right now.)
I Hope (Katrina Charity Version) Dixie Chicks
Tonight I Wanna Cry Keith Urban
Jesus, Take the Wheel Carrie Underwood
Cowboy Take Me Away Dixie Chicks
Independence Day Martina McBride
Bless the Broken Road Rascal Flatts
Bad Day Daniel Powter
Fast Cars and Freedom Rascal Flatts
These Are the Days Keith Urban
The Reason Hoobastank
Red Neck Woman Gretchen Wilson
Chances Are Bob Seger with Martina McBride
Seasons of Love Rent
Never Surrender Corey Hart
Mountain Music Alabama
Days Go By Keith Urban
Angel Sarah McLachlan
Kiss This Thing Goodbye Del Amitri
Sunglasses At Night Corey Hart
There is No Arizona Jamie O'Neal
The Flame Cheap Trick
The Cowboy In Me Tim McGraw
Should've Been A Cowboy Toby Keith
Fix You (Live) Coldplay
You're Beautiful James Blunt
(By the way, Chances Are sung by Bob Seger and Martina McBride is my all time favorite song...at least for right now.)
I Hope (Katrina Charity Version) Dixie Chicks
Tonight I Wanna Cry Keith Urban
Jesus, Take the Wheel Carrie Underwood
Cowboy Take Me Away Dixie Chicks
Independence Day Martina McBride
Bless the Broken Road Rascal Flatts
Bad Day Daniel Powter
Fast Cars and Freedom Rascal Flatts
These Are the Days Keith Urban
The Reason Hoobastank
Red Neck Woman Gretchen Wilson
Chances Are Bob Seger with Martina McBride
Seasons of Love Rent
Never Surrender Corey Hart
Mountain Music Alabama
Days Go By Keith Urban
Angel Sarah McLachlan
Kiss This Thing Goodbye Del Amitri
Sunglasses At Night Corey Hart
There is No Arizona Jamie O'Neal
The Flame Cheap Trick
The Cowboy In Me Tim McGraw
Should've Been A Cowboy Toby Keith
Fix You (Live) Coldplay
You're Beautiful James Blunt
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