High School Reunion

There was a High School Reunion Party on November 22.

22 years have past since we graduated.

137 ex-students came to the party and everyone looked as they were!

It's very interesting to find that their tone and way of speaking was not change at all.

40

It is my birthday today.

I am 40 years old......gee.....

In general, Japanese women lives 80 years long. too much?

What should I do for the next 40 years?

for myself?
for my famly?
for my country?
for the world's peace? for the earth?

Happy birthday

I went to a party last night.

The party was held for my ex-boss who is also an actor.

He turned 80 years old and we celebrated and thanked his achievements.

I worked for him for almost 5 years and quitted when I got married fifteen years ago.

He inspired me a lot.

Thank you, Muta san ! I love you!

NE-YO

I sometimes go to a CD shop to check current music.

When I went the shop several days ago, I found a CD decorated at the main area.
The ad said "this is the best of R&B this year."
The name of the singer is NE-YO.

I didn't know his name and never listened R&B music.
I listened the trial CD and thought it's not bad at all. I like it!

Trying new things is always exciting, isn't it?

Output

Gee..... Long time no see...

Recently, I have opportunities to talk with a native English speaker once a week.
I realized that my speaking English isn't good at all.
Listening and reading English are easier than speaking for me.

I should study, I mean, SPEAK English more and more.
Writing is very important as well.

Output is the key to learn languages.

Beni-bana

We call this flower "beni-bana".
beni means 'red' and bana (hana) means 'flower'.

English name is 'safflower'.

It was used for coloring and making cloths and foods red and yellow.

You can see beni-bana fields here and there in this season.

My daughter colored white cotton handkerchief with beni-bana as a school program yesterday.

She said it turned pink and very beautiful.

I didn't see it because she dried it at school and will bring it back home today.

I am looking forward to seeing the handkerchief and

her big smile!

Birds are singing in the morning

We are in the rainy season here, in Japan.
It lasts almost one month.
After it ends (at mid July), a Real summer comes.
Geee...., I hate summer.

Anyway, a couple of swallows made mud nest for eggs by the front door. It is the first nest since our house had been built 6 years ago. Swallows are good animal so we don't bother them and see they're bringing mud hundreds times to make their nest. It's amazing!

One of the swallows has been still almost all day, so there must be eggs.

We have no pets and we are looking forward to seeing babies.

early summer days...

When you see dandelion clocks in the field,
just blow them!

Ski !!!!

We went to ski.
Yes, it is the middle of spring in Japan, but we have a lot of snow in high mountain area.

It was the first time for our kids to ski.
My husband can ski but can't teach well, so we send them to kid's school for beginners.

They had two lessons in one day and was able to ski a little.
They were still beginners but could ride lifts with no help and going down a slight slope.

I always want to make memories and share them with my kids.
You can't buy memories. You should MAKE them, right?

On the way home, I asked them "which one do you want to go next vacation, Tokyo Disney Land or Ski?" They answered aloud "Skiiiiiiiii !!!!!!"

I grinned.

Tempura

Grandpa, my father-in-law, came home from taking a morning walk with a basketful of edible herb called "Yomogi".

He said he found the good place a lot of Yomogi's sprouts were coming out, so he picked and brought them back home.

His main purpose was to make me cook "Yomogi Tempura", his favorite dish for dinner.

It was delicious! and we know the spring has come and we are in the middle of it!

Reading

I like reading books both in English and in Japanese on my bed.
Yes, I like reading especially BEFORE sleeping.

Reading (a little bit difficult) books makes me sleepy in half an hour or so.
I have no trouble with getting to sleep.

I am reading the book "The View from Saturday" written by E.L.Konigsburg.
They say she is a famous author of American literature for Children.
I didn't know her, but I found her books in the library. It was very rare there were English books at the CHLDREN's corner in LOCAL library. So I decided to read one.
They are great, well written. Through chldren's (characters') experiences, I can easily understand and imagine other culture, American culture.

a leap day

Long time no see!!!
It is a leap day today.

School year will be end in a month and a new school year begins from April.
My daughter is going to finish elementary school next month and go to junior high school.

My little girl will be a teenager this year....
I just can't believe it.

Lyuba

Lyuba is the name of the baby mammoth discovered in permafrost in Russia.
Lyuba means "love" in Russian.

She (baby-"girl") was discovered last summer and Japanese medical university examined her carefully with CT and MRI. Then, after they finished examining, there is a temporary exhibition in Tokyo.

I heard the news and thought of the baby mammoth in the refrigerator. So I went to see it with my daughter. She was only six months old and so small. It was as big as me, almost the same weight!

My daughter said "why weren't her mom and dad found with her? what happened to them?" Gee, the baby mammoth was alone for 380 million years!!!

Bon Jovi, the best band ever!

On January 14, I went to the concert.
Guess, whose concert I loved to go!

It's Bon Jovi !!!!!
It was exciting and I had very very very wonderful and enjoyable night!

John and his members always say they like Japan.
Because Japan was the first country that loved their debut song "Runaway"
and warm-welcomed them as a Big Band over twenty years ago!!
I am proud of that! ;-)

A Happy New Year! ......

I just want to say a New year's greeting....

This is a photo I took on January 2. on the First walking of this year.

I live in the Pacific ocean side of Honsyu island.
Here, we have cold but clear days in winter.