Easter Bunny Luncheon

Today, I once again had the opportunity to hang out with some great ladies and share some culture. We had a luncheon with OIWC and I decided that we definitely needed the Easter bunny to make an appearance!!

So I dressed up in an Easter bunny suit and took gobs of pictures with all my Okinawan friends. It was great fun to see all the smiles and excitement. We tried to host a meal that was traditional for Easter dinner and I know that everyone had a good time.

We had a flamenco dance troupe perform (not Eastery but really awesome anyhow). The ladies were beautiful in their dresses and we were all completely impressed by their abilities.

I am going to miss OIWC like crazy when I leave here...it has been a very rewarding experience and I highly recommend it to any of my friends. It has been a great way to get to know the local people and share our cultures.

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Three Years Ago on In My Words...Friends

Konan Highschool, National Champions!!

I was able to catch most of the last game of the highschool national championships for baseball here in Japan. One of Okinawa's highschool, Konan, was in the final game with a team from Tokyo. They were winning in the 5th inning 5-3 but then the other team caught up and it stayed tied until the 12th, when Konan was able to score 5 runs in the top of the inning. Bottom of the 12th, the put the other team out of their misery and the game was over.

What was absolutely amazing was:

1. The pitcher pitched the entire game.

2. After winning, the team ran to the pitcher mound to congratulate each other but then quickly ran to the center of the field to stand across from their competitors, and bow to both them and then the crowd before shaking hands with the other team. Once completely this, they listened to the National Anthem of Japan, and then headed over to the foul line to bow to the crowd that supported them. The celebration was very subdued and mature. No fans on the field, no crying by either team, and long drawn out celebration on the field itself. They quickly interviewed the coach and team captains.

3. In Japan, players go from highschool baseball to the pros if they are selected. They don't have college baseball to pave the way to the pros like we do in the States so it was pretty cool to think that this game might have sealed the deal for a few of these young men to pursue a career doing something they really love at a very young age.

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Four Years Ago on In My Words...Cleaning House

Car Crash

Okay, it isn't like I don't have tons to write about...it is just that I keep putting my writing on the back burner because other things jump to the front and need immediate attention. So I guess I will be putting together a few posts and scheduling some of them to be published later this week.

Anyhow, first off, I was in a traffic accident last week. A speeding moped driver tboned my car in the driver's side door while I was on my way to geocache on Sunday. I haven't been in an accident like that before, and it really rattled me. I found myself thinking about it the next two days all the time.

I was only cut up a bit and the moped driver broke his leg. It could have been a million times worse in so many ways so we are both pretty lucky, but it still is an unnerving experience. I was shaking so bad, I couldn't dial my phone when it first happened.

More than likely, the driver's side door will have to be replaced. I have to go through our safety inspection required here every two years, in April so I need to get this fixed as soon as possible.

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Two Years Ago on In My Words...Nekid as a Jaybird

The Negative of Facebook

While to most of us, it seems like Facebook gives us more opportunity to stay in touch and keep family and friends up to date...I sometimes have to wonder if it is the exact opposite.

Yes, I do check in with Facebook regularly (too regularly probably) and when I do post something new on my main blog, it does feed into my Facebook Notes to update my friends and family there. The problem is that because I feel like I am so connected, I have completely slacked off on any real correspondence, and believe me, I am a corresponder. I don't write emails much, I don't write snail mails much, and I definitely don't make phone calls. I have gotten so used to providing little "bites" of info, that I really feel like I don't have much to say that would be worth spending time writing an email,letter or even a blog post for that matter.

Reality is that I am providing "tidbits" to hundreds of friends on Facebook daily and to those that read my blog when I update it, but nothing really personal and definitely nothing to those that don't use computers, like our grandparents. Due to my need to maintain a bit of anonymonity I have to keep things a bit vague and inpersonal on the web, so that dictates a certain level of correspondence on Facebook and Blogger.

There is no excuse though, for emails, letters and phone calls that I am just not making to those close to me. I need to get back to writing personal, real correspondence to those I love. It has been too long.

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Five Years Ago on In My Words...Procrastination Has Taken Over

Curiousity

I am wondering why:

- there is a lanyard hole on my tv and dvd remote controls? Does anyone really put a lanyard on their remote? And if they do, do they then wear it around their neck?

- FBI warnings on DVDs are only in English and French? Are we the only people that might illegal copy and distribute movies?

- is the only reason that George Constanza can tell so many lies is because he lives in NYC where he is unlikely to run into the same person twice?

- are George and Jerry the only guys in history that fret about stuff as much as they do, or do all guys do it and we women just don't know about it?

- my DVD player doesn't believe me when I push the open button? Does it think I am joking when I push the button?

- is wondering how anything I want to do can be "prohibited by disc"? Isn't it my disc? Don't I get to say?

Note: this was written while I was on bed rest with vertigo and my only amusement was my Seinfeld DVDs.

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One Year Ago on In My Words...Observations

Tea Ceremony

Tomorrow, I get to go to another tea ceremony but this time, I am wearing my kimono that I wore to a luncheon a few months ago. I am excited that I get to wear it again before I leave here...all those pieces and parts need to be used more than once, right?

I have another kimono that I recently acquired at a luncheon auction, and I need to find the pieces and parts for it as well since it is less formal than the one I have all the parts for, so it requires its own set. I will need new cords, new undergarments, a new obi, and new shoes...but then I can wear those things with any other "non-formal" kimono I get.

I hoping that there will be people in Hawaii that can help me wear it once in a while. I know there is an Okinawan community there...perhaps, they will let me bug them every so often.

We'll see. Anyhow, climbing through the little door in kimono should be interesting...I'll let you know how it goes...

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6 Months Ago on In My Words...Kimono Adventure

Doing Something Good

Today was a nice day. I was able to participate in a great thing. An organization I am part of, was able to award a significant amount of money to an orphan here so that she might go to an ESL school in Minnesota this summer.

I know that doesn't sound like much, but kids in orphanages here don't have the same opportunities that regular kids have. Not only that, but she is a girl and this makes this event an even more unusual opportunity.

So we met at the orphanage, had a tour, met the director, talked with some of the kids and took a lot of pictures. We presented Ryoko with a oppportunity. She responded with a handwritten thank you speech that she delivered perfectly.

Reality is, the ESL school is not very long, and she won't come back fluent in English, but with any luck at all, she will discover a desire and interest in English, and the opportunities that speaking English along with her own language might provide her in the future.

Maybe we gave her a chance today...we'll see what she does with it. It was an honor to be part of it.

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Last Year on In My Words...Peek-a-boo

Just A Little Shake

Okay, so we had this little earthquake that hit our small island this morning, and woke us all from a deep slumber. It was definitely the longest shaker I have ever experienced (and I had a few quakes in So Cal in college). I fortunately had no damage, although a few of my friends did have some breakage of shelved items (mostly those living in multifloored buildings). We almost immediately went into a tsunami warning which was lifted within the hour.

I was able to get on Facebook almost immediately via my cellphone in my bedroom, and then I came out to the computer so I could get connected to JMA website to check the magnitude, location and depth. Everyone else here was awake and on Facebook as well, so we all let each other know we were okay, and by updating our own status', hoped that our families back home would also know we were okay.

It seems that due to the earthquake in Haiti, the news is very sensitive to earthquakes, because this is the first one I have ever been in here, that made CNN. Of course, most of you know that Chile had an 8.8 hit them this afternoon (JST), and probably is experiencing some of the devastation that Haiti did so our news is mild in comparison.

We are lucky here. Japan sits on the "ring of fire" and in "typhoon alley" so our structures here are built to withstand earthquakes and typhoons (something a few places in the States could learn from). Only those in rural areas, living in traditional homes that were built before earthquake standards, were enacted would be at risk of really losing much. Obviously, a tsunami would be dangerous for any of us living close to the water regardless of the structure.

So while our earthquake here definitely was the topic of conversation today, I am thrilled to say we are all okay and that our thoughts are now for those suffering in both Haiti and Chile.

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Five Years Ago on In My Words...Birds

Olympic Coverage Woes

Let me start of by staying that I am thankful for the amount of coverage I have been able to see so far away from home. Between the US coverage and the Japanese coverage we are able to see just about anything we want regarding the Olympics.

Okay, so my peeve has to do with the fact that NBC is spending WAY too much time talking to people that are NOT competing!! I want to see the events, not watch Bob Costas try to get athletes to fight each other through the media while sitting near a fireplace. I was able to ignore it for a while but the other day when Evan (from the US) won the Men's Figure Skating gold medal and then had not just one but two different interviews with Bob Costas and all Bob did was try to get him to say bad things about his competitors. Congrats to go to Evan for not only providing a gold medal performance on the ice but being an outstanding person and not getting sucked into whatever drama Bob was trying to get started. Bob even went so far as to try to get Dick Button to talk smack against the silver medalist since obviously Evan wasn't going to. I know that is not just Bob Costas but NBC as a whole. Regardless it pisses me off.

Now today, I am watching Olympics that I recorded earlier, since I was volunteering during the airing of it. And I only have one question for NBC....was there really nothing else you could have been showing us that you had time to interview a SUMMER olympic athlete for twenty minutes???? He is just a spectator here, and I could give a crap what he thinks about being a spectator...I want to see the current OLYMPICS...that means the sports that are being done at that moment. Get off the sofa and away from the fireplace and show me some damn sports!!!

(Note too, that Bob tried to get Micheal Phelps to talk smack about one of his competitors too....grrr)

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Three Years Ago on In My Words...Sounds Like...

Today

It didn't start off that great...I woke up feeling worse than the day before physically and had slept in much later than I wanted (which always makes me mad) even though my body probably needed it (not to mention that I didn't even get to bed until 1am).

As it progressed, I did start to feel better. I think when you have a cold, you always feel terrible when you first get out of bed anyhow. I took some tylenol so my throat would stop throbbing and I weighed my options on whether to take any other cold medicine. This head cold has been a bit different than most in that I am not stuffed up (at least my nose is not stuffed up) so I really don't want to take a decongestant if I don't have to...my ears do feel stuffy though. So I might break down and take a decongestant tomorrow if I am not starting to feel a change.

Enough about the cold. Anyway, I didn't get a lot accomplished today since I was trying to take it easy. I did help some people on Google's help board for Blogger, along with knocking out the dusting around here (it was bugging me). I managed to sit outside for a bit when the sun was peaking out and that felt terrific.

Tonight, I managed to soak in our jet tub in some nice hot water, with the window open putting cool air on my face. It reminded me so much of sitting in our hot tub in North Carolina in the winter time. It was very nice and definitely a good way to end the day.

So overall, in the normal Mishka definition of a good day (one with lots of check marks off the to do list), it wasn't a good day, but in reality, I don't have a lot to complain about...sun on my face and nice soaks to wrap it up is not too bad. I think I will have to call it a good one even with the head cold.

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Two Years Ago on In My Words...Making Soup

Olympics Are Here

For the last three days, I have been watching the Winter Olympics in the morning, and recording it in the afternoon. We get a broadcast in the middle of the night too which I have not yet tried to record for viewing later but will probably have to do as events come on that I am most interested in.

The winter olympics always seem so much harsher to me...probably the ice and cold is what gives me that feeling. When people fall, get hurt or injured, it just seems harder. I love many of the events in Winter Olympics...but I find myself squinting my eyes at the TV when they are doing something particularly difficult so I won't see if they fall and hurt themselves pushing themselves to the limit and beyond.

The passion and drive of all of these athletes always amazes me. I feel for them if they are not able to acheive their dreams. I realize that everyone is not going to win gold but when an athlete fails to do their best, is injured qualifying or weather takes them out, it makes me sad because you want to compete at your best and then the scores are what they are. When someone who has worked so hard for this moment loses it because of something outside their own control, that is when I feel bad for them.

Another thing that just amazes me is how comfortable all the athletes are with their sports. Skaters walk on skates is if they have always been attached to their feets and skiers and snowboarders do the same...I have never had that comfort level on my own two feet much less on something foreign and I think I envy them that a bit. I have to tell myself that it is from weeks, months and years of time being spent using that skate or ski that they get that comfort level, but they still all look so relaxed and comfortable in their elements.

So as the couple's short program in figure skating draws to a close for today, I look forward to what might be coming up in the next two weeks. I hope that some of you are able to tune in for your favorite events as well.

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Four Years Ago on In My Words...Guts and Determination

Focusing On The Good Things

Seems like every once in a while I find myself in a bit of a negative rut...where all I do is notice the bad things and tend to be perpetually peeved...usually after a bit of time, I realize this and take action to change my perspective/outlook.

This is one of those times...the negativity hasn't been too bad this time but I still have seen it there and I hate when it takes a good hold and I start seeing it reflected in the mirror. Being negative gives me wrinkles, causes me to get sick, and gives me excuses for being lazy in fitness, education, and overall task completing.

Focusing on the good things that happen everyday is one of the ways I get out of this rut...and it really does work. Instead of thinking about the issues that might have pissed me off throughout the day, I try to see each of the reason why the day should be labeled as good. Now this is not a matter of sugar-coating, I am not trying to say that everyday is a perfect day, but it is a way of seeing the glass is half full rather than half empty.

Everyone has their ups and downs and each day does too, but for the most part, unless you have been hit by a bus, the day should really end on a positive value than on a negative, right?

Have you ever noticed that only the bad news seems to make the news? Well, having a negative outlook seems to be the same thing but on a individual level. You can notice the few small things that might have sucked during the day and count the day as a loss overall, or you can look at the millions of positive things that happened that you really didn't even notice and call the day a positive one...it is for you to decide.

This all goes in hand with my plan to focus on me, getting things together, figuring out where I am at, and if I want to be there, and if not, making changes to get where I want to be. Spring is on its way and focusing on the positive is just the thing this new season needs.

Periodic self evaluation can be a good thing, it can help you stay on track and it can help you be more productive and determined. Being that I am in the midst of a few personal goals, this is perfect timing for me to have a new fresh outlook full of positive energy.

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Five Years Ago on In My Words...Tolerance is a 9 Letter Word

Shake Rattle and Roll

We had a little rumbler early this morning. I actually woke up while it was rolling to me because I could hear it. I find it so strange that we can hear earthquakes but I guess with all that land mass moving around, there has got to be some noise from it.

This guy was a little one so it really only felt like someone was trying to wake me up by shaking the bed a bit. Nothing dramatic but I do remember it and I remember looking at the clock so I could check it out on the web in the morning. The Japanese Meterological Agency's website is pretty thorough and up to date which is nice. I use it for typhoons as well.

Anyhow, all is well here, but it is strange for me to feel two earthquakes so close together...wonder if we'll be getting a decent sized one in the near future?

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Three Years Ago on In My Words...Grandma's Pillowcases

Down and Out

This is not news to some of you that know me on Facebook but over the last week or so, I have been dealing with a bit of vertigo from a probable inner/middle ear infection. It was really bad on Monday night but has steadily gotten better. I was able (with the help of some great friends) to get some medication on Tuesday morning to help with the dizziness and since then I have been taking it easy and trying to feel better.

Over the last couple of days, I have been able to start back to my usual activities, and I think tomorrow is going to be my first day trying to get some exercise. Nothing crazy, probably just a walk on the beach for some seaglass or something...but I need to do something.

We had friends move away recently and they left some food with us. Some of this food is very quick and easy to make, and being that I have been feeling crappy, quick and easy is the best mode. Unfortunately, quick and easy also means not so great for you. Being stuck in the house means that I have more time to munch on things and it just seems like I am eating all the time and most of it hasn't been good for me.

Tomorrow is my day to start back towards my previously heathly lifestyle...I will be working on the giftstore books for most of the day, but I am going to clean some things out of the cupboards so I am not tempted and then I will get a walk in, if nothing else. I want to get back to the Wii Fit Plus but I am not sure my balance is up for that just yet....haha.

During my week of rest and relaxation, my To Do list did nothing but grow but on Tuesday I was able to knock out a few tasks that had been lingering and this gave me such a great feeling. This great feeling should carry me on to more tasks but somehow, a few days get in between tasks and the feeling fades and I have to start from scratch all over again...ugh!! I wish I could find that great feeling and just bottle it for when I needed some motivation.

I am thrilled though that all of this did get a blog post out of me (another item on the task list)...so all is not lost...hehe.

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Two Years Ago on In My Words...Musubi

Slacker

I hate that even when I KNOW I am getting a lot of others things done, there are certain things that will make me feel like a slacker if I don't accomplish them.

These things are exercise (which should be the highest priority), corresponding, and time doing all the little things that I am interested in but don't seem to find time for (Japanese studying, writing, guitar, piano, beading, cards, geocaching...etc). This third thing is a real bugger since I can see evidence of these interests all over the house...One of the few things I do devote time to regardless is my reading...have to have my reading.

Lately, corresponding and writing have been the top of the list of things that I have been slacking on. Writing is a release for me and I have always loved it, and used it to my benefit. I have kept a journal since I was in the 6th grade. Corresponding with family and friends has always been something I have enjoyed and taken time for but it seems in the last year, I haven't been very good at staying on top of it.

Part of why I am writing this post is because I hate that I haven't been blogging like I want to, but of course right now I am supposed to be out of the house in 25 minutes and I am still drinking my morning coffee and sitting in my pajamas so this will not be my best composition. I can't tell if it is better that I am writing something or if I should wait and write something better....catch 22 on that.

So here is an attempt to not be a slacker....hopefully I can keep it up.

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Two Years Ago on In My Words...Done Messing Around

Just Stuff

So, I guess if you don't know me on Facebook, you probably don't know that my PC went down the other day and I have not been able to get it back up. Looks like the motherboard is toast which I am trying to think of, in a positive light, as an opportunity to upgrade my system. Irritating part is that I can't just upgrade the motherboard since this computer has been so loyal and stable since I built in 2003 and nothing internally is the same now as it was. Turns out (big surprise) that technology has continued on and some of it is completely new to me...which means that I have been doing some research so that I can build something that we meet our needs and be "current" for at least a while. So I am looking at, a new power supply, new motherboard, new CPU, new RAM and new harddrive...the only thing I can salvage from the old system is the ATX box, the USB card readers, and the two DVD burners.

My old hard drive is not dead and fortunately, I did back it up recently, but I still have a few things on it that I don't have backed up (recent pictures and documents). So I bought this contraption the other day that I can use to turn an internal harddrive into an external harddrive. This means I can connect the old harddrive to a working computer and then hook my back up drive to the same computer and transfer the data I want off that old harddrive off. I also then need to wipe that drive if I want to use it on the new system as a back up since I really want to reuse my OS license on the new computer when I am done building it...

All of this of course couldn't fall at a worse time of the year for me...this is when I do my year end filing and get ready for tax season. Having my computer in pieces in my office is just not conducive to getting any other "year end" tasks done.

On another note, I am thoroughly enjoying my new Stephen King book. Usually I get one of his books (near Christmas), and I push everything else off to the side and read it in about 3 days (and am then bummed that it is over so quick). This time, the book is huge, and I have been so busy that I can only really read at night before bed. This means I am getting a lot more time out of this one and I love it. The story is set in a New England town (big surprise) and there are nice characters and not so nice characters in this town. All of them are so believable that I find myself getting mad at the not so nice characters when they do mean things to the others. I can picture them all, as well as the town itself, and the situation that they all find themselves in. This means that even after the book is done, I'll be wondering what the characters are doing for weeks.

Finally, besides looking for a paying job, I am also trying to write more (here, in my journal, and in my writing workbooks). I have had a few ideas and I want to get them down. I want to get back to my Japanese too because it really has been put off to the side in all the "busy-ness" I have encountered over the last few months. Since I am taking back some of my time, writing, creating, and studying are high on my list of things I want to focus on. Last but not least, exercising is back on the front burner for me....and it feels good to be able to find a routine again. I really has some good results before the holidays really got underway and I want to stay motivated.

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Three Years Ago on In My Words...My Towels Animals

I Believe

This is a guided freewriting exercise I did a while back, and just reread...I liked what it said and I thought it was appropriate for my current state of mind. Enjoy.

I Believe

I believe in love at first sight. I believe in the calm before the storm. I believe in making wishes on dandelions. I believe in caring enough about the people around you that you overlook their flaws. I believe in being fair. I believe in the National Anthem. I believe in listening to kids when they talk. I believe in the love in a pet's eyes. I believe in hoping for the best and being willing to try. I believe in green. I believe in life. I believe in giving when its not expected of you. I believe in second chances. I believe in women. I believe in learning as much as you can. I believe in breathing fresh air. I believe that taking time for sun rises and sun sets is good for your heart. I believe in elderly people. I believe in veterans. I believe in having an open mind. I believe in keeping it simple. I believe in mountains, creeks, oceans, and trees. I believe in honesty.

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Four Years Ago on In My Words...Back At It

Happy New Year!!!

Okay, this has been a busy year for me. I have taken on new tasks and responsibilities but have also let some other things slide. I have enjoyed all the time I have been able to give back to the community in the last two years, but I do see that winding down as we prepare to move again. I have a limited amount of time left here in Japan and I want to make the most of it. I can't believe that we are already out of the first decade of the 2000's...wow, time flies.

I hate doing New Year's resolutions, especially with my perfectionist personality because it generally just means one more thing on my To Do list...that might or might not get done and then I might or might not feel bad about.

So let's just say this....I plan to be more flexible, both physically and mentally (and for those that know me the mental part will take some work). I plan to spend more time on myself and get back to some of the things that I love to do and have not had time for. I plan on trying to get some paid experience under my belt so I will be prepared to re-enter the workforce full steam after we leave here. I want to enjoy things that I will miss from here while I can and experience some new things before we go. I want to look in the mirror and admire the person I see there (both mentally and physically) and that means devoting some time to me (both mentally and physically).

There is a lot to be done and not much time to do it in so I am tackling the New Year with gusto and anticipation of all it holds. Tonight we are heading down to the beach for a party with our friends, some food and a bonfire. The wind is blowing fierce and it will be chilly I am sure.

I hope this finds everyone else enjoying their holidays, and staying safe and healthy!!! Happy New Year!!!

Old Family Friends

One great thing about the holidays is that you get to reconnect with people that you might not hear from on a day to day basis...especially when you live as far away as we do.

R has been a friend of our family since I was a little kid and lived in a commune in Compton, California...that translates to many, many years. We have been off and on in touch most of my life.

He recently recorded himself singing a duet with himself and wanted me to post his video....since it is a Christmas carol...I thought it nicely appropriate...so here goes!!!

Kitty Flu

Chase has all the symptoms of the kitty flu...weeping eyes, running nose, sneezing and what I think is also coughing. I have been trying to hold out from going to the vet because all my books and research say that it is viral and as long as she is not getting cloudy, white/green mucus coming out, she is still okay and that it can last 7 10 days just like it does with humans.

I have been keeping her indoors at night so far and giving her lots of pets and tons of food to keep her immune system humming. She acts pretty much normal so I am not too worried but I feel bad for her as I wipe her eyes and face a few times a day that I can't explain to her "blow" so she could just get some of it out...she knows I am trying to help her and she is a pretty tolerant cat anyhow so it hasn't been too bad.

One of the things recommended to make them more comfortable is to put saline drops in their eyes and nose to help break up the mucus....somehow I don't think she would enjoy this. Another one is to take them in the bathroom when you are showering so the humidity can help break it up...and I have considered running a hot bath and putting her in the room with it while it is steaming to see if it helps her at all (not in the bath itself though). We can't do the shower thing as the entire room is a shower and she would get soaked being in there while either of us was showering...but the bath is definitely a possibility for tonight.

If she stops eating or seems to get much worse, I will take her to a local vet here and see what they can do...thing is that antibiotics won't help her unless things get a lot worse...and since antibiotics also give her gastrial intestinal problems that neither of us want to deal with, I think we will wait and see how she feels in the next couple of days...poor kitty.

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Two Years Ago on In My Words...Chase's Catnip Christmas
Chase fully enjoying a little catnip toy at Christmas time.