Back in California February '09

I returned to the U.S. to a new home.
Taka and Zen moved into the condominium I found before I left.
It's in this town Capitola.
Obama's in the Capitol and we are now in CapitolA!


This seagull scared us off the patio of my favorite Capitola coffee shop, Toots.

Back to California

Passing Mt. Fuji on the way to Tokyo.

The last night in Japan a few friends came by AFTER we finally finished the tax work!

A quick high paced trip to Tokyo

All I cared about was to be with Naomi~
The darling has the pace of Tokyo, and old ol' me barely kept up (asthma making breathing difficult didn't help).

My first night in, Naomi took me to an Okonomiyaki restaurant which was great- I hardly noticed ANY KAGOME sauce on it (which is one Japanese food-sauce- I pretty much hate).

Naomi tried a sip of my beer~


my daughter didn't get my taste for it!


Naomi's been sharing her pad with long time friend Yukari.
I met Yukari when she was a mere babe, and her mom Miiriko when I first got together with my kid's father.


And one main event was to catch up with, and intorduce Naomi to my Aunt and Uncle-in-laws who live very close to Naomi. I also got to meet one of Taka's cool cousins, Yoshiko (her brother Yota is in the town neighboring Santa Cruz, with his family).

I didn't take photos of the Kyoto style meal they treated us to~ but just imagine the most scrumptious Japanese meals, and that was it!

Some school kids in Japan~

I got to teach these classes this past month.(I had the teacher working at my school for me join me) It's the sixth year I've been asked by the high school "Kakujogaoka" to teach a little bit for them. Sometimes these students are too shy, but then there are a few who want to speak, but only quietly do so to their neighbors- sharing the answers- and I can overhear, and know they know, but they can't raise their hands to answer.


It's about not wanting to show off too, or make classmates feel badly for not knowing the answers. So though it's frustrating to not have students volunteer answers or anything, it's also out of their consideration for the others.

The tall boy played basketball with Zen, and one of the girls in the class above also remembers Zen in basketball. As a matter of fact, in the top photo, the girl next to me, hiding behind another, she grew up across the street from my kids, and I recognized her.

I was walking along a busy road when these cute little lads came biking by. I didn't want to distract them... but they were so adorable with their little helmets on and school uniforms I had to shoot shots for you!!

Here is a sight often seen in Japan. An elderly woman tending her garden- likely not ever standing up striaght. (please click on the photo to see a close up of her there in the middle of the photo) A modern home made of manmade materials looms next to an old wooden home. And the well tended trees~

A Lunch Date in Nishio, Japan

Food!!! Yummy, delicious, naturally made, traditional Japanese delicacies~ there's nothing like it~ that I have ever experienced!!
(food wise that is!!)


And perfectly cooked Brown Rice!!

With my dear old friends Minako and Ryoji Inagaki

At the newly opened sister restaurant to Hatoya (photographed here on this blog before)

See the rocks back there? I used to walk these back roads for many years wondering whatever were people doing with those piles of nicely oval rocks.
This is how they're using them! For miso and soy sauce!!!

The owners of these restaurants have been long time makers of shoyu and miso! ahhh, makes me hungry again thinking about how scrumptious that lunch was!

一心's 25th Birthday!

A toast to Ischin-kun!


Yuriko and Sheon-chan


Celebrating February 1st with Ischin's father, his girlfriend, Yaari and Ischin's girlfriend Kahori!!

The other day I began thinking about how having children has affected me.

Being pregnant, I went from feeling like I had a little alien in my belly, to holding this gorgeous creation in my hands.
He would feel comfort, and peace, in my arms, near my heart, nourished and content- with me. He needed me. They all needed me as none other.

When Ischin was first born, I suddenly understood how my mother loves me.
Yet I don't love her the same way, and I know that's how it is for my children with me now too. Naturally.

Children's love for their parents is of another... another... essence.
Anyway, I'd been contemplating how my children have helped me. They were the reason for me to do my best, to do my best for them.
Love for children is, like, all encompassing... deeper than deep.
Love for a lover means having passion in another way. That passion may not last until "the end".
But for kids~ parents can't help but always want to do what they can.
Well, me anyway.
I can't help it!
And I give supreme thanks my kids reciprocate the caring and a love I couldn't ask more of!

Thank you!
And I thank them for choosing me!

Jan. 20th 2009

Not only was it the first day of the presidency of Barack Obama, but it was the same day that the website for our school went "live"!

http://nacenglish.com/





See, even our 16 year old stylish-conscious 16 year old son bought this shirt to "speak" the mind of one of many youths!