My middle child, Tom

Tom is another guy that got overlooked this year as he came at a busy time.  Also, we didn't write/talk about him for awhile because we thought people would judge us for getting a new dog so slow close to my due date. 

Actually in September we came close to buying a little dog that was on sale but changed our minds because we thought it would be too much with the baby.  And then when we kind of changed our minds back and wanted to buy it, we looked online but the dog had been sold.  It was a maltese/dachund mix that was adorable and would have been a good size, but we weren't terribly crushed when it was sold.  Anyway, while looking online to see if the dog was still available we saw that there were four cairn terriers in Osaka.  A female for $1800 and three males for $1400.  That was definitely too much money, but we decided to check now and then in case the price went down.  At the beginning of October  the female was gone but the males were down to $1200.  Then $800.  Again, I was just looking.  My family had cairns almost my whole life and they are great dogs.  I never thought I would find one in Japan but here they were.  At the same time, it was mostly just dreaming on my part.

Then one Saturday Motoaki and I were on our way to Osaka to go to Costco and a big electronics store and I thought I would just check.  There was a male left and he was down to $400.  Since the store is close to Costco and since we needed dog food for Finn anyway, we thought we would go look.  We got there and he was asleep so we looked at some of the other dogs.  Motoaki asked if I wanted to get the cairn out of the cage, but I said we needed to think about it.  Motoaki was like, we wouldn't have come if we didn't think we were getting a dog.  This surprised me as I thought I was the only one who had been thinking about him.

Of course you can't hold a puppy and then say no.  Well, maybe some people can, but I can't.  So we got Tom Sawyer, a 5 month old cairn terrier.   We realized that this was a little dumb and that we were probably taking on too much.  But, he came potty trained for the pee sheet/litter box thing they have in Japan like Finn.  And living in the pet store he was crate trained as well.

Finn started out being absolutely terrified of Tom which was quite funny since Finn probably has 10 or 12 pounds on him.  We thought Finn would be growling and chasing him , but it was the opposite.  Tom wasn't growling at Finn at first but he wanted to play with him and so he followed Finn, but Finn would run away.  For the first week it stayed like this.  Then they started wrestling the second week.  By the third week they were full on playing together.  They still get angry at each other and can be competetive with food/toys/treats, but for the most part they get along.

Motoaki always says that Finn has a glass heart, and it's true.  He gets nervous easily and though he will kind of put up  a fight with Tom, he usually backs down pretty easily.  He likes to cuddle and gets upset if you leave him alone in a room.  As a puppy he was afraid of everything and it took him forever to get up the courage to jump up and down from furniture or to walk too far ahead of us on the leash.

Tom couldn't be more different.  He is very scrappy and couragous and was never really afraid of anything in the house.  He is actually pretty good with keeping himself occupied.  You can leave him in a room or in his cage with some chew toys and he will play happily for hours.  Unfortunately Finn always interupts this play.  He is pretty good at controlling his pee but does have a bad habit of chewing on things like the carpet or wires.  He doesn't really seem to notice Robin yet (while Finn loves to sniff her and will try to lick her head when I feed her).  I feel bad as he sometimes gets looked over when we are taking care of Robin's needs, but he doesn't seem to notice.  And I justify it (somewhat) by thinking that if we didn't have Robin I would be at work all day anyway.

I'm glad we got Tom as he definitely keeps Finn occupied.  And he is very sweet with me (Motoaki prefers Finn since he is easier to train).  I can't wait for two years to pass when all three of my babies are old enough to play together.  I can just imagine the three of them chasing each other in our big hallway or going for long walks.  I am so excited for Robin to have playmates in the dogs, and the same for Finn.  Even though he sometimes gets a little upset that I am paying attention to the other two, he also seems to be less bored than he was with Motoaki and I.

My Dad

So as you may have seen in my previous post that my dad passed away in November.  I figure I owe him more than just a blurb in a review of the year.  He was 62 years old and they found him sitting in the basement of one of our rental properties.  We never got an autopsy but they think it could have been a stroke, heart attack, or complications from the insulin he had just started taking for diabeties.  He looked peaceful and so we can pretty much say that he didn't suffer.  In some ways it is comforting to know that he is with my mom now (who passed away in March of 2011).  Whether you believe in that kind of thing or not, it is nice to think about.  They had met in JHS and started dating in high school.  They married their Jr year of college and were pretty much inseparable until she died.

On the other hand it wasn't a comfort to know that he was alone.  To know that over the past year he had a somewhat strained relationship with us kids due to his choice to get engaged to a woman none of us really knew.  For me personally we were on good terms at the moment but had been up and down over the past year.  I had never really fought with my dad until all of this came about.  Sure, he had been mad at me before (and I at him) but usually over things like slamming the doors too hard or forgetting to change the oil in my car.  In our house dad was always the peacekeeper and it was mom we were at war with.  Well, at least for my sister and me.  It was hard to know that I never truly said that I was sorry and that I wouldn't get the chance to say it.

It was even more of a blow to not be at his funeral.  I was able to watch part of it via an internet connection but not all of it.  I am sure my dad understood but it still made me feel bad.  It made me feel worse that only hymns were sung at his service.  Not that I blame anyone who set up the order of events (that is never easy and this is the second time I hadn't really been able to help- I made it back for my mother's service the day before so while I had made suggestions, I hadn't done any of the leg work).  It's just that, if you knew my dad, then you knew that one thing he loved more than anything else was to sing along to the radio.  Actually, he and my mom both were big fans of pretty much singing non-stop (unfortunately for Morgan, Motoaki, and David this is something my siblings and I have inherited).  They both loved musicals and "oldies" the best and on Saturdays dad would be in "the back room" singing along to the radio or his record player while mom would be in the kitchen singing along to the TV.  I sent home suggestions for the service but none of them really worked as he liked sentimental love stuff best, such as The Lovin Spoonful's "Do You Believe in Magic," or The Fleetwoods "Mr. Blue."  We thought about some stuff from Camelot, but his "fiance" turned it down...

On the other hand, we know that dad was happy with where his children were at in their lives.  He had a ticket booked to come see Robin, his first grandchild, and was happy to know that my brother and his wife are expecting in July.  He was also relieved to see my sister settled with a stable guy and didn't have to worry now that pretty much all three of his kids had houses and incomes.




I am thankful that I did get the chance to travel with him this summer to DC and NYC.  It sounds bad but we were really lucky that my sister, brother, and dad's fiance didn't come along.  It would have been great to have them, but it also would have meant that my dad and I would have talked less, and that Motoaki and my dad wouldn't have talked as much.  As social as my dad was, he could be kind of quiet and if someone else had been there, he probably wouldn't have joined in on the conversation.  I see that in Motoaki and that is one reason why we work so well.

It sounds weird, considering my husband is a Japanese social worker/surfer, but I do see a lot of my dad in him.  They say that you marry your father and I think I did in some odd way.  Motoaki is a lot of fun and can be really funny, but is often quiet with larger groups.  Like my dad, he is a big dreamer, but needs someone to be there to get him to actually follow those dreams.  My dad said that my mom would think of a destination and my dad would figure out how to get there.  Motoaki and I are the same.  And like my dad, Motoaki doesn't mind driving (which is kind of weird for a Japanese person- we went to Kyushu, the southern island in Japan, back when I didn't have a liscense so Motoaki was doing all of the long hours behind the wheel while I talked, sang, or read).

I hate that my dad won't get to meet Robin and or Toby's baby or that he won't be here to walk Maggie down the aisle.  I hate that we will never have a chance to fully clear all of the tension we felt with each other this past year.  But I am in some ways glad that I will never have to see him suffer, that I will never have to see him become old and unable to do the things he loved doing.  He and my mom will both be remembered as the jet setters that they were, rather than as some senile great great relative that makes great grandchildren and nursing home staff uncomfortable.

Do You Believe in Magic

The Wedding

August 11, 2012 was the big day.  Although it didn't feel quite like a wedding considering how busy we were.

To start with we had a baby shower for me in the morning.  I know- what a selfish b*tch!  But to be fair I had planned on having it on the Sunday after the wedding.  Only a lot of people said that they would be leaving EARLY so they would miss it.  Then we thought about Friday night after the rehearsal dinner (since the girls ended up hanging out anyway) but that became a bit of drama between my sister (who was planning the shower) and the bride.  So we decided to have a quick one in my sister's room.

Despite the time change it was really fun.  We did a Sock Monkey theme and the main focus (besides presents) was on a gender reveal.  The night before a lot of rumors and been circulating about what it was but no one knew for sure until they had picked a team (by choosing a ribbon or a mustache) and had put together a puzzle that announced the winner or the looser (the ribbon team had a girl sock monkey and the mustache team had a boy sock monkey).  The girls won (so my grandmother and the Chinese gender predictor were right)! The only one who seemed upset was Maggie as she really wanted to go shopping for little boy things.  I will admit that I think boy clothing is cuter as well (there just seems to be more options for colors).  I got absolutely spoiled with gifts and had a fun time talking with all of the BTDT women.

After that we had just enough time for a quick lunch (Panera) before we had to get ready for the big event.  We got to the church and I visited with Morgan's family before the show started.  Her grandmother (or possibly her great-grandmother or even a great-aunt) was especially excited to talk to Motoaki and I since she does ikebana (Japanese flower arrangement) and Japanese tea-service.  I felt bad because her voice was so soft I could barely hear her (Motoaki didn't even realize when she spoke some Japanese, LOL) and because we didn't have much time.

The actual service was very beautiful but very short.  I am not the sentimental type so I don't really get worked up over weddings (even my own was kind of just like another day for me).  I will say that I was surprised that the only music was a folk rendition of The Lord's Prayer.  A big part of my brother's life has been choir and I would have thought that he would have chosen at least one more song, but I guess it is really the bride's day (lord knows Motoaki didn't really get a choice for our wedding- but part of that was because in Japan they don't usually choose special music for the service).  But it was a nice service and the church was pretty.

The reception was also held at the church and was also short but fun.  They only had two hours for dinner, cake, toasts, and dancing.  Being seven months pregnant only dampened my fun a little bit. My favorite part of any wedding would have to be the dancing but I was afraid to do too much as I didn't want to hurt myself.  If it had been a longer reception I might have been bummed but as it was they only had time for about 7 songs of dancing.  The same with alcohol- I might have felt left out but the church didn't allow alcohol anyway so everyone joined me in sparkling juice.

My brother's old college roommate, Drew, had the best toast, and the bride's step-mother stole the show with her baking of the cake, cupcakes, and cake balls (I am not sure what to call it when you have a small piece of cake on a stick).  Because it was so short there wasn't time for any crazy stories or any big mishaps.  Probably the guest who got the wildest was my cousin Anne's daughter, Betsy.  She is normally a little shy (well, when she is with people she doesn't know) but she was running around on the dance floor like a wild woman with some cute little boy.  I even think she got a kiss.

After the reception we went back to the hotel for drinks in the hotel bar.  Again, nothing crazy.  I spent most of my time with my cousin Johnny, his wife, and their teenage boys.  A lot of people had to get up early for flights or drives the next day so most people turned in early.  I guess when looking back I will always think of my brother's wedding as "short and sweet."

The Visit Pt. 4

I took a one day break and let the group go off on their own.  I would have loved to have gone with them to Kyoto but I had an observation that I couldn't get out of (actually, I didn't try- I figure if they are going to give me extra money then I should do the job).  I would love to write about the observation as it was interesting, but I don't think that would be very responsible of me.  I didn't worry too much as both Maggie and Dad have been to Japan about five times between them.  And I had also given them very specific maps/directions/etc

On Thursday as soon as I had finished work at the elementary school I raced to catch the train to Tokyo.  I think some people might be bothered by long journeys but I rather enjoy them.  I don't like the price in Japan (about $200 for one way) but I do like the ease of the trains (though I think Europe has Japan beat).  Even when alone I don't mind the almost five since I like to read and have a smart phone.  I had King Rat for book club and being on a train for about five hours actually allowed me to finally get into it.

I made it to Tokyo at about 10:30 and was relieved to see that it wasn't raining (forgot my umbrella at school) and that the hotel was really easy to find (I highly recommend the Comfort Inn in Tokyo Higashi if you have family in town- super easy to find and decent breakfast, though if you are just with a bunch of mates a hostel s better).  I was also relieved to see that the others had made it and that they were ready for the next day.

We had a day and a half in Tokyo and tried to take in a lot.  We made it to Asakusa but it was raining so that put a bit of a damper on doing any shopping at the stalls leading up to the temples.  We then made it to the Imperial Palace where it wasn't raining but cool, which is nice since there isn't any shade there.  We stopped for lunch at Hard Rock Cafe ( a little cliche but so good- I had this California burger with avocado, cucumbers, bacon, and cheese) and then made it to Harajuku for shopping and the Meji Jingu Shrine.  The Shrine is one of my favorites as it isn't red but left in it's natural wood.  It is really cool how you are literally steps away from the craziness that is Harajuku ( a major shopping street) and yet you feel like you are in the woods.  Sheila enjoyed the flowers there (note to self for future gift ideas- gardening tools) and the rest of the group enjoyed the peace. 

We window shopped in Harajuku and then made big purchases at the 100 yen store (aka the $ store).  I had assumed that Maggie had already taken the group to one but this was Dave's first time and he floored by the selection and quality of goods.  I was happy to be there for his "first time."

To end the evening we went to Shibuya to see the Hachi Statue (though it was really crowded) and the major cross walk that is similar to Times Square and that is featured in a lot of movies.  To fully enjoy the amount of people without being overtaken by them, we went to the Starbucks that sits at one end of the cross and people watched.  I so wanted a white chocolate mocha but I played by the rules and got a vanilla frappe (which is supposedly free of caffeine).

I had hoped to shop in Shibuya (English book store) or at least get a bite to eat at one of the dozens of restaurants there, but the group decided to head back to the hotel and look for food there.  My dad doesn't do well with jet lag and had been up by about 4 or 5 every morning, and Sheila was tired from walking.  I think Maggie and David wanted to keep the peace.

Unfortunately there wasn't really a lot of selection near the hotel.  The staff had directed us to a lovely "sticks" place that had cheap beer (to David's delight), but it was one of those whole in the walls that only sits about 7 and it was full.  The lovely restaurant below it that sat us right away unfortunately only really served fish (not for Dave and Sheila- and probably Maggie either).  So we started wandering and ended up at a cheapo Chinese restaurant.  Everyone seemed to like it, but again I was upset that I couldn't show everyone a nice meal.

The following morning we slept in a bit and then hit up Tokyo Tower for our final site.  I myself hadn't been there but enjoyed it.  I mean, it was your typical tower, but it didn't have a long wait and it had nice areas for sitting once you got up into the tower.  I feel bad that Sky Tree will steal its thunder...

Afterward we had what was going to be a quick lunch at a Chinese place (David picked on the basis that they had chicken) and unfortunately it took quite a long time.  It was good, but the place only had two workers and was popular with other diners.  Thus we ended up having to pretty much run back to the hotel to pick up luggage and then catch the train to Narita (I just escorted them).  Good-byes were quick but not sad as I am going home this August.

Overall it was an ok trip.  Maybe not as good as others we have had in the past (last summer was fun taking Dad and Maggie to Nagoya and Tokyo Disney) but I really enjoyed getting to know David better (he is perfect for the family) and it was nice to finally put a person behind the name that is Shelia.  I could get into some of the drama that was had, but I don't know who reads this and there has been enough drama this year.

The Visit Pt 3

continued from before...

This being Japan and June the next day was extremely rainy.  I felt bad because the same thing had happened in March when my sister and dad had visited.  So like last time, instead of sending them to some tourist place like Kurashiki old town or Okayama Castle, I put them on the train to the mall.  It's a nice mall and it is a little different than US malls, but for the most part it is just a mall...

I did my day of work and then picked up the travelers around 5pm during which it was quite sunny.  In fact, I had only done a little bit of work because the kids had been sent home early due to Typhoon warnings.  Teachers of course stayed at school while the children battled the winds and water on their bikes.  Poor things.  I know it was in the name of safety, but like I said it was pretty clear by 5, the time when kids usually go home.  And oddly enough we never get out early or delayed for snow, and snow actually accumulates so it is better to beat the big storm as opposed to rain that passes by.  Oh well, the group I met had enjoyed the mall and the scenery on the train (if you live around here, they went via Nimi and Takahashi which goes through mountains and along a big river).

We rushed home to meet Motoaki and then met Motoaki's family at a local Italian restaurant.  We had wanted to do something more traditional, but the only places that had space for our group also only had floor seating, which I didn't think would work (my dad and Sheila have bad knees and David is a bigger guy).  But the Italian food was high end so I think everyone enjoyed.  We split it up so that Maggie and David were sitting by Motoaki's sister and that my dad and Sheila were by Motoaki's parents.  This meant that Maggie and the sister communicated in broken conversation and I translated for the parents.  I think Motoaki's family is a little surprised that my dad is engaged but they were very polite.

As usual we did the gift exchange.  Maggie giving Motoaki's family photo albums, soap, and deluxe Oreoes (mint) and Motoaki's family giving Sheila and my dad snacks, Maggie hand towels, and David socks (out of nowhere).  I think that they would like to get my dad something else but aren't sure on sizes.

Anyway, after dinner the in-laws headed home and we headed for karaoke.  If you think I am a mic hog you should see my sister.  Her and David both put in about a billion songs.  My dad sang the ones we put in for him, and Sheila joined in on one or two.  It was pretty low key as the older folks and myself were tired.  I think this was the first time ever that I requested to go home when we got the warning call from the front desk.  I felt bad because David and Maggie were having fun, but I was exhausted and we all had to be up early to get to the train station so that the tourists could go to Osaka/Kyoto.

Maggie gave me things that night and then stayed up playing with Finn for a little while.  He loves her and is pretty obedient when she is around.

The Visit pt 2

The next day we went to Miyajima, or the island with the temples and the deer just outside of Hiroshima.  I have been there a dozen times (probably more like only 8) but I don't mind going as it is pretty calm and peaceful.  This time wasn't too crowded due to it being a Monday and light rain, so that was really nice as well.  We made a quick stop at McDonald's for breakfast which was nice for me as I never do it regularly.  The visitors would have probably gone for anything but McDonald's is quick and has coffee.

On the island we did the usual thing of walking to see the red gate in the water and then visiting the various temples.  I was a little tired and winded from all of the steps so I didn't go into all of the temples but everyone else enjoyed themselves.  My dad's fiance is a big gardener so she really enjoyed the care that has been taken to all of nature on the island.

We ate okonomiyaki for lunch at a place where they cook it right in front of you.  Not like you get in the states though.  The chef doesn't throw the knives in the air or light the grill with a big flash of fire.  Instead he just cooks quietly.  Okonomiyaki is made from a thin pancake/crepe that is salty not sweet.  You can add various things to it but we had it with noodles, egg, bacon, cabbage, and cheese.  My dad also got oysters with his.  I recommend it to anyone who wants to eat Japanese food but who doesn't like seafood.

We did the obligatory souvenir shopping and then went back to see the gate when the tide was out.  Our guests walked down to it but again, being tired, Motoaki and I gave it a miss. 

We then left the island and headed to Iwakuni, the city with a US Naval Base that our first home stay student, Nana, came from.  The main site there is the Kintai bridge which is a wooden arch bridge.  This is also a peaceful place that was a little deserted due to the late time of day and it being not a holiday.  We also took time to tour the iris gardens and temples which were a big hit for Shelia and my sister.  I am not the biggest flower fan (I prefer greens) but this was my first time to see the iris and they were impressive.

We got on the road at about 6 pm for the long ride home.  Unfortunately we got back too late to Maniwa and none of the good restaurants were open, so we ended up getting Joyfull.  Joyfull is similar to Denny's in that it serves sit-down fast food.  It is good for foreigners because it is cheap and has a colored menu (as well as a mix of things like hamburgers, spaghetti, chicken, etc), but I felt a little embarrassed at the quality of it.

The Visit pt 1

Last week my dad, his new fiance, my sister, and her boyfriend David came to Japan.   This was about the 6th time for both my dad and sister to come but it was a first for Shelia (the fiance) and David.  It was also my first time to meet Shelia (I met David last winter and drove to Colorado with him).  Though I am sure they felt like they were here forever, for me it was really busy and thus went really fast.

We started out the trip meeting up in Hiroshima.  They had flown into Tokyo and spent the night there before coming down.  Tokyo is about 7 hours from our house (by car) and Hiroshima is only 3.  They also had JR passes (pretty cheap and a good deal if you want to see a lot) so they were able to take the bullet trains to us.

Since we met at lunch time we decided to get food first, and as I had bet Motoaki, my dad wanted ramen.  This actually worked out well as David is a picky eater and ramen is noodles, broth, and meat.  A lot of you are probably thinking "instant ramen?" but I would say that instant ramen to real ramen is like Little Debbies to real cake.  Both are delicious, but they can't really compare.

The restaurant was crowded so we had to split up.  I gave Maggie and David Motoaki and I sat with my dad and Shelia.  It was a little weird meeting someone my dad is going to marry, but I think we were able to avoid any awkwardness.  Luckily we had things like Japanese culture and my baby to distract from any tension.

After lunch we checked into our hotel which is actually a big communtiy center.  It is very near the Peace Museum in Hiroshima and foreigners get a discount for staying there.  Though it serves as a hostel you can also rent it out for retreats and tour groups.  The center also has a concert hall, bath house, and meeting/conference rooms.  Anyway, when we were pulling up we were surprised to see tour buses for Monkey Majik parked beside the building.  Monkey Majik is a half Japanese, Half Canadian band that Motoaki and I like.  We used one of their songs for our dance at our wedding.  I like them because they sing in English and Japanese.  In the past I have included them on cds I have had made for Maggie and she likes them too.

Anyway, didn't think too much of it as we checked in and then headed to the peace museum.  This is the one dedicated to the atomic bomb.  I have been there numerous times so Motoaki and I sat in the small cafe they have while the others went in.  Afterwards we walked through the gardens to see all of the various memorials.  The most famous one is the statue of Sadako and her paper cranes.  It is stated in an old Japanese story that anyone who folds 1000 cranes will be granted a wish by the gods, so Sadako and her friends folded cranes in order to cure Sadako's leukemia.  Sadako had been 2 at the time of the bomb and she, like other children exposed to the radiation, fell sick when she was only 11.  Now children all around Japan fold cranes and send them to be put into glass cases to remember Sadako and others who died as a result of the bomb.

The other famous spot in the gardens is Genbaku Dome, one of the only structures to survive the blast.  It has been left as is, a gutted structure, as part of the memorial.

After that we headed back to the hotel and found out that Monkey Majik was playing in the hotel's concert hall that night.  Though I felt bad ditching my dad, Maggie, Motoaki, David, and I decided to go.  Though I didn't know a lot of their songs, it was fun to see them and a good experience for Maggie and David.  Japanese concerts are slightly tame compared to western ones, though you do get a lot of enthusiastic fans.  Part of the thing that is interesting about them is the trend of fans to do choreographed moves for different songs.  Like during one song EVERYONE pulled out a towel to wave around their head.  During another song everyone did specific hand movements.  It was a good concert for Maggie and Dave as there was a good mix of Englisha and Japanese.

The concert finished early (maybe around 7:30) so we went to a major shopping street in Hiroshima to find food.  Again, my sister's boyfriend is a little picky so we ended up findng a family restaurant (like Denny's or Perkins) that served pasta and pizza.  For being cheap, it was really good.  We stayed for a long time and caught up on a lot.  I really like my sister's boyfriend- we have similar humors and we are the same age so we get along well.  That's great as they are the family I will probably see the most.

Maggie and Dad: Part Two

So the next few days were quite laid back with my sister gone and with me back at work.  My dad walked around town and hung out with my dog while I was at work, and we got dinner together at night.  Maggie came back from Korea and they spent the next day at the mall.  They were going to go to a park and different places, but it was pouring down rain all day.

That night we got dinner with Motoaki's family and then went to Karaoke.  That is always fun, although I feel bad because Maggie and I are such Mic Hogs.

The next morning we got up early and headed to Shikoku, an island of Japan that Maggie and Dad had never been to.  To get there we had to pass the Seto Ohashi, or a really long bridge.  Actually, I checked wiki and it is the world's largest two-tiered bridge.  I had been over it a lot of times but for some reason never realized how close it was to our house.

Shikoku is known for udon noodles, a thick noodle usually paired with tempura or a soy sauce-type broth.  We went to an "Udon Making School," where we made noodles and then ate them.  I had done this before and it is a lot of fun.  The presenters are very energetic and at one point you are made to "dance" on the noodles.  They play J-Pop and the whole room really gets into the art of stomping on dough that is in a plastic bag.

I didn't get pictures of us making the dough, but this is Maggie and Motoaki cooking the noodles.

The school is at the base of flights and flights of stone steps that take you up to a temple.  All along the steps are shops with all sorts of souvenirs.  I wish I remembered the name of it, but that is the problem of going around with my Japanese husband- I don't actually have to know where we are going.  We had a nice bit of exercise and enjoyed looking in the shops.

All of us climbing the stairs.

 I was very surprised when I ran into my coworker from my Jr high school.  I was surprised because we were a little far from home and because teachers are usually busy on weekends with club and things.  He was also surprised to see me, and we got a picture to document our meeting.

With my coworker and his family.

And, not to be mean, but Maggie and I were delighted to get a glimpse of this fashionable young Japanese boy.  Seriously, this boy has fabulous written all over him.  Can you tell which one I am talking about??

That is a boy and yes, his bag is rainbow and his BRIGHT blue jeans are tucked into his brown leather boots!  FABULOUS!!!  I am not really that big of a stalker so I refrained from taking the picture of him smiling, jutting his hip out, and throwing up peace signs while he posed for a picture taken by his mom.

After all of that we headed back to Okayama and made a quick stop at the mall for last minute souvenirs (tea and stuff from the dollar store as well as a quick stop at G.U.- the discount version of UniQlo).  We were going to try and make it back for Karaoke in Yubara, but Maggie and Dad still had to pack and they had to be up EARLY the next day to catch a train to Narita, so sadly our last night was kind of boring.  We visited Motoaki's family and then just went back to our house.

The next morning we went to the Okayama train station, and after getting tickets and a quick McDonald's breakfast (we didn't have time for anything else) they were off and the trip was over.  I might have been sad but a) they are coming again in June and then I am going home in August for my brother's wedding, and b) I get to go to Vietnam in two days!!!  I think Finn will miss them the most as he got a lot of attention and snacks from them.

Motoaki's sister, mother, father, my father, Motoaki, Maggie, and Finn

Maggie and Dad: Part One

So I have been MIA the past week or so because I was busy hosting my dad and sister in Japan.  They were off from work due to spring break in the US so they decided to make a quick visit.  This is probably not very interesting if you don't know them or me.

Anyway, they got in late on a Sunday because they came from Tokyo and then had to take a train down to where I live in Okayama.  We took Finn in the car to greet them and he behaved very well.  I always worry that he will either pee on someone or try to "have his way" with their leg, but he was really good and took to them right away.  My family are dog people so he didn't have to work too hard.

We stopped quick for some MOS Burger (the Japanese version of McDonalds- expensive but delicious) and then got them home so they could sleep.  Before bed my sister treated me to all of the things her and my dad had picked up for us.  Lots of cornbread mix and pudding, treats for Finn, and Old Navy Sundresses for me.

The next morning they were up early due to jet lag and we all headed to my elementary school.  My dad and sister hadn't been to see my work before and they were as excited as the kids were to see them.  I must say that my dad and sis are on the bigger size, both in height and weight, so some of the kids were quite shocked by them.  But the day went well.  We attended a morning assembly and then got to watch 6th grade graduation rehearsal.  This was cute as the kids sang different songs and made speeches.  The elementary is really small- only six graduating kids- so we got to hear a lot about each of the 6th graders.

After that they got to come to two lessons.  The first was the 6th graders and since we were basically done with the book, we just had a game day that involved a lot of conversation between the kids and my family.  The kids are pretty nerdy and sometimes shy, but they were really good about asking my dad and sister things.

The second lesson was with the rowdy 5th graders who are a little rude.  Their lesson was on food menus so we did "restaurants" where half of the kids were "serving" and the other half were "ordering."  It was pretty chaotic, but went better than I thought.

My dad and sister were invited to lunch, but since Japanese school lunches are "hit or miss," I used jet lag as an excuse to take them back to my house.  In all reality, I think they were pretty tired.  My sister said they played with Finn a bit and then both napped.

That night Motoaki drove us to Yonago which is in Tottori prefecture to stay at a Ryokan.  A Ryokan is the Japanese version of a resort.  They have big, traditional Japanese style rooms where all of your meals are served to you.  They also have bath houses, but we ended up not making it to those because dinner lasted a long time and we played cards after.  Our balcony was right out over the ocean and at night we could see squid boats out on the water.  We had a wonderful meal of sashimi (raw fish) with roast beef for Maggie followed by Shabu Shabu, or a boiling pot of water that you add meat and vegetables to.  We also got noodles and rice with this.

After dinner we played Phase Ten ( a card game like UNO- I highly recommend it) and watched, I am sad to admit, American Idol.  I was quite shocked that the Ryokan had TV.  I didn't realize that the one I've been watching is the current one that is on in America- only about 2 weeks behind.

The next morning Motoaki and my sister got up EARLY (5am) to go to the Okayama airport so she could go to Korea (she used to live there).  We had a bit of a misunderstanding and I had booked the ryokan thinking she would be going on Wednesday, not Tuesday.  My dad and I slept in before waking to breakfast.

Not as good as dinner, but still nice.  Motoaki came back and managed to eat before we had to check out.

View from the hotel room.

Rock garden outside of the hotel lobby.

We met up with three friends, Janet, Johnny, and Ellie, in Yonago city and got ready to go to the Tottori Sand Dunes.  I am an idiot and thought they were closer to where we had stayed the night, but they were actually about two hours away.  Not to mention that the traffic was horrible.  We had fun chatting and what not in the car, but we didn't have much time at the dunes.  Added to that was a really strong wind.  Still, I'm glad I could show my dad and it was better than if we had gone in the middle of the hot, hot, hot Japanese summer.

We then had a quick lunch at a Ton Katsu (fried pork) place and then had to race back so I could make it to a night class.  I was a little upset because I had wanted to do a lot more that day (go to the Gei Gei Gei Kitaro museum, eat seafood, spend longer at the dunes, etc) but we just ran out of time...

To be continued...

And another thing...

Sorry to be so negative lately, but I need to vent about another thing.  Why do people (and this could be anyone anywhere) think it is perfectly all right to ask me if I am pregnant or if I plan to get pregnant soon?  I know I am overweight but it isn't that bad.

Last week at the supermarket I ran into a woman who used to be part of the staff at my school.  I don't know her name and was never very close to her, but I recognized her and she recognized me so we said hello.  I asked her how she was doing, how her new job was, etc and she asked me how this year had been.  She then asked me if I had had a baby yet.  When I said no, she asked when I was planning on having one.  I really wanted to ask her when she was going to have her next (the woman is probably 60).

Now I don't mind when close friends or family ask.  I also don't mind when it comes up in conversation, like the time one of our coworkers announced she was pregnant and so everyone started asking the newlyweds if they were planning on having children.  But other then that, I think it is rude.

I know she was just wanting to be nice, but what if I am physically not able to have children or what if I had just miscarried?  What if I never planned on having kids?  And considering that having a baby involves sex, what makes people feel they have a right to ask me about my sex life?

This woman isn't the only one either.  I have a kindergarten teacher who, every time I go to her school, pats me on the stomach and asks if there is a baby in there.  And the choir ladies ask all the time.  Now of days when someone asks, I tell them I already have a baby and then show them a picture of Finn.  Because really, he is my baby.

I know they have good intentions, but seriously, stop asking me!  I'll let you know when their is news to tell, but until then it is my business!!!

A Year Ago pt 2

When it rains it pours.  Sorry I seem to write five blog posts a week but all on one day.  Wednesdays just seem to be so chill because on Monday and Tuesday I go to elem. schools and on Thursday and Friday I am out of ideas...  But anyway...

Seeing my sister post about my mom on facebook makes me feel a little guilty, especially since my facebook status is currently a picture of my dog, Finn, and a quote about dogs that was on my daily dog calendar:

~If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dogs biscuits in your pocket and then giving Fido only two of them.~

I will say that my mom would have loved that quote and it is a bit of an omen that it is the one for today, just like it was a sign that we learned the song "Nadasousou" on her birthday.  Or maybe I am just trying too hard to find meaning.

I must admit that while I did think about the fact that today is the one year anniversary of her death, it hasn't really effected me the way I thought it would.  I was much sadder on her birthday.  The same thing happened at Christmas- I prepared myself to be stricken with grief and yet I ended up not really feeling much...

Maybe it is due to distance or maybe it is due to time.  Maybe it is due to the fact that I have never been one to attatch too much feeling to dates.  I don't really celebrate my wedding anniversary (it was in summer and I was on a different continent than my husband) and I only bring up the fact that its my birthday in order to get something (as in, honey it's my birthday so you have to take me to a movie and pay for lunch).  On the other hand, my emotions are tied to things like books and songs.  I have had random moments over the past year when I have been brought to tears with Skeeter Davis's "End of the World" or by realizing that I can never lend my mother a copy of "The Mitford Sisters."

No offence to my sister, but she has always been the dramatic one.  As a child it was easy to get a dollar from her if I found a penny with her birth year on it, and to this day her room is still a pit because she doesn't throw things away. She plays things up and is quite sentimental.  Nothing wrong with that, just different (I really mean no offence if you read this, Maggie).  So it makes sense that her Facebook is a bit more dramatic today.

My brother on the other hand is an enigma when it comes to feeling.  There is nothing on his Facebook page yet, but that could be due to the fact that it is still the "day before" in America.  (While my sister is in America now, she was in Korea last year at this time so technically this is the time when she would have been getting the news).  It could also turn out that he doesn't write anything because he is not the type.

My father is not on "that Facebook thing" and thus there will be nothing from him.  He also isn't the type to email or call.  I will call him this weekend but will probably avoid the subject all together and instead focus on his upcoming trip to Japan.

On a random note I have a student whose father died last year on the same day as my mother, and I thought about saying something to him today.  But I figured that WOULD make me cry, or I was afraid that it would upset him.  He isn't a student I know well- I wasn't his teacher when this all happened- so I felt it was inappropriate and a bit selfish on my part.

But yeah, an odd day but I thought I better comment less anyone thinks I don't care or that I have forgotten. I guess, too, despite my previous post, it seems a bit selfish of me to go on about losing my mother when so much worse things happened in the Tohoku region of Japan last year.  I saw on TV about a little boy whose entire elementary school (as in all the students, all the teachers, all the staff) was washed away in the Tsunami.  When the wave came, he got pulled in too but his body lodged in a tree, saving his life.  But who am I to feel down about losing someone who, though somewhat young, lived a full life when there are parents who lost children?

I will close with this song.  It is a song about love so its a bit weird to leave it in rememberence of my mom.  But she used to sing it all the time, and while I was waiting to hear about the outcome of her surgery last year, it came on during an episode of Mad Men.

The End of the World

Now I'm the one being dramatic.  Back to pictures of puppies...