Whatever Befall...

Quote

2010-02-26T12:35:00.002-07:00

A wonderful quote shared by Sarah.

"By living well, by observing as you live, by reading well and observing as you read, you have fed your Most Original Self. By training yourself in writing, by repetitious exercise, imitation, good example, you have made a clean, well-lighted place to keep the Muse. You have given her, him, it, or whatever, room to turn around in. And through training, you have relaxed yourself enough not to stare discourteously when inspiration comes into the room."

Ray Bradbury

Snaps

2010-02-11T14:49:00.003-07:00

I've been trying to do writing exercises regularly. Sometimes I post them here. Lately I've been participating in Sarah Salway's "Snaps" over on her blog. The goal is to write a 50 word story based on a photo. It's been a good way to stretch the writing muscles, and I've really enjoyed Sarah's creativity while stirring my own. So take a peek over there if you haven't already! And if you've the inkling, try your hand at a Snap :)

Surprise

2010-01-22T11:50:00.002-07:00

He felt a twinge of regret. It surprised him right after the door was shut and he surveyed his now quiet domain. Devoid of annoyance, demands and concessions. Devoid too of life flitting to and fro from room to room, filling it with a presence much more solid than something intangible had any right to be. The pressure pent up had been released. Instead of feeling relieved, he felt empty and lonely. But he shook it off, as he always did, and began his week-long interrupted routine to fill the gap.

Displacement

2010-01-07T14:21:00.003-07:00

Something's not right. Her restless stalking around in circles does nothing to reassure him. He asks what's wrong. She stares at him, furious. Furious that she doesn't know. Furious that he expects a response to a question she can't answer. And that fury strikes the point of least resistance. Inwardly he flinches even as he adopts a bored expression and turns his attention back to the newspaper. Something much easier to understand.

The Sun and I

2010-01-06T11:08:00.003-07:00

The sun is playing hide and seek with me. Just when I think I've caught it, it darts behind another cloud, peeks out, then flees to another, and another. Before long I tire of the game and turn back towards the building. But it has one ambush left. In a flash of bright laughter it sweeps me up in an embrace that tingles through a body raw with cold. I carry this warmth with me the rest of the day.

Stompy

2009-12-30T13:57:00.001-07:00

*creak*

*stomp stomp*

*creeeeak*

***STOMPSTOMPSTOMPSTOMP***

The sounds of a restless soul in an old building.

Luke 2:8-14 (ESV)

2009-12-24T17:57:00.006-07:00

"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.

And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.'

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!' ”

Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the hope of a fallen world. Merry Christmas everyone, may your day be full of joy and the glory of God.

. . .

2009-12-15T12:28:00.006-07:00

She pauses, distracted. Forgotten is the trash bag now dangling limply from her hand. The air's heavy touch brushes across her face. Its perfume surrounds her. She tries to decipher it, but can only think of the word organic. Woefully overused, but she can't think of anything else to describe the smell of abundant growth and life underneath, despite and perhaps even because of the damp.

She's been here before. Somewhere that's not here.

Pigeon: Impossible

2009-12-14T14:03:00.003-07:00

Supremely amusing. The curiosity of pigeons will ruin us all!

A Fall Poem

2009-12-03T17:20:00.005-07:00

berries like cherries
but little and small
they fit on a bit
of my fingertip
to be crushed by my shoe when they fall

birds cry as they fly
and swoop on down low
keening with hunger
split air asunder
but ignore the red bounty that flows...

...down from the trees
red berries and leaves
to be crushed by my shoe in the fall

Healthy Eating

2009-07-02T11:59:00.003-06:00

Most of us can agree that fresh fruits and veggies are a good thing. Here's a neat post I stumbled across today that gives even more incentive to indulge in natural goodness, as well as clue us in on how to remember the specific benefits of each.

The picture and explanation about figs made me giggle.

That is all.

Strength

2009-07-01T17:13:00.003-06:00

Deep rumbles of thunder tear across the flat gray sky before burying themselves into the foundations of the house. Rain begins its determined assault against the windows, splattering and pattering with an insistence that cannot be ignored. I follow the siren's call and gaze out at the storm raging outside.

And then I am blinded. The sun pierces the clouds and all becomes unbearably bright, raindrops transformed into drops of iridescence against the glass. Through pained eyes I see shards of sunlight fall and form auras around trees and grass. The shards fall harder even as, by force of sheer will, the sun burns away the gloom. Clouds part, and suddenly all is blue. And wet. And the rain no longer falls on the west side of the house, but on the east instead in a slow, steady march. It cannot bear the face of the sun for long.

How strange. I can actually hear the storm moving off into the distance. How strange, that it was here at all, I think, as I turn back to gaze at the sky.

It seems impossible. But the glistening moisture saturating the land says otherwise. And I'm reminded that being caught in the rain is always more bearable, even joyous, when blue skies and the sun are present.

Hmm...

2009-06-07T12:00:00.003-06:00

I'm beginning to think that I need a "Baby" label on my email account. The good news and subsequent updates just continue to pour in :)

Reviewing the Kanji

2009-03-03T10:39:00.003-07:00

For the past couple of weeks I've been trying to do something related to Japanese for at least an hour every day. My activities bounce around from Rosetta Stone and shadowing to laughable attempts at writing and watching J-dorama (for the listening and comprehension practice, I swear!). And to be honest, I really enjoy each aspect.

Lately though, I've had an itch to practice reading... which means assessing my love-hate relationship with kanji. On the one hand, it's absolutely fascinating and rather fun to gather and convey meaning through the use of symbols. On the other, who in their right mind isn't intimidated by memorizing over 3,000 symbols and trying to make sense of them? Thus, finding the right approach is crucial... along with finding a way to push these little bundles of lines over to the love side.

The method I'd found a while ago: James Heisig's "Remembering the Kanji". Associating images with the correct kanji seemed like an instant win for someone who would much rather concoct stories to memorize than sit down for endless repetition with pen and paper that provide no context and thus get lost to the wind the next day.

But there was a slight problem. How to efficiently review the kanji and their stories once I'd gone to the trouble of memorizing them. Hand flashcards became unwieldy at the 50 mark,
and because of the way stories build on themselves, it was impossible to find the card that held the kanji I needed a refresher on to build another kanji 150 cards later. And let's face it, organization for study and randomness for testing's sake are not very friendly bedfellows.

So my attention drifted off at around the 300 mark... until I made a very important discovery. A website dedicated to those of us following Mr. Heisig's method. Not only can you imput your own stories, you can find them. Easily. Before a randomized review session and after. Instantly. Even better, the review system is set up to help get those kanji into your long-term memory, assigning cards to a scheduled review time that get progressively longer. Provided you're successful at recalling them, of course. Otherwise, back to the front of the line they go, for more study. And finally, if you're having trouble coming up with a story that works for you, you can look at stories that other users have posted to spark some ideas. Brilliant.

As for the ease of reviewing on the move... well, stacks of flashcards are your only choice if you're not that into technology. For the rest of us, having a mobile device that can take advantage of wireless connection means the site is only a click away.

Kanji has become fun again. Now it's a matter of not neglecting the other elements of my studies :)

Snow caps...

2009-02-23T12:12:00.004-07:00

snow hats
snow peaks
snow dust
snow blush
snow shine
snow struck
snow covered
snow blanketed
snow shrouded
snow touched
snow wrapped
snow strangled
snow embraced
snow whipped
snow blown

Quick Gratification, In 3-D, Done and Done!

2009-02-09T23:05:00.003-07:00

1. Frothy hot chocolate springs to life with instant hot water.

2. The mountains seem gruff today, shaking off their cloaks of haze to reveal their immensity with earth tones and depth-defining shadow.

3. Checking off all the tasks on today's To Do list! Huzzah!

The Earth & The Heavens

2009-02-08T13:00:00.005-07:00

The sky shines colorlessly, bright against the lavender hues fading and darkening along the eastern horizon. To the west the mountains absorb ambient light, becoming blue and purple shadows. They are hazy in the distance and appear to have been painted by a young artist still caught in the thralls of the flat, 2-dimensional realm of his canvas.

The colors of the Colorado landscape are so very different than those of Japan. Not nearly as deep and rich, but possessing a more ethereal quality.

And the space... it always seems so much more vast and overwhelming after having spent some time on an island that doesn't have much.

Somehow, I love both.

From Desert to Sky

2009-02-07T22:24:00.008-07:00

It seems fitting, reacquainting myself with this space by bringing in a new look.

Solid, dusty browns give way to a vast blue expanse, where much is felt and thought, but refuses to be defined. And so we float, gently drifting along the will of Providence that knows where we're going, even if we do not.

A symbol of our passing into yet another uncertain time in our lives. Questions of what our future holds bob about, unanswered. It's another period of searching. And waiting.

To be honest, I'm not that fond of waiting.

Nevertheless, all we can do is pray.

And wait.

Inspiration

2008-03-29T22:21:00.003-06:00

It begins as a fluttering touch on the outermost edges of awareness, betraying nothing until it has roused more than a cursory acknowledgment. Demanding attention in the gentlest of ways, it draws out those buried elements left too long unattended- starlit dreams, air-breathed hopes, even the dangerous yearnings and beastly darkness all begin to stir. Still it teases until, able to bear it no longer, it’s reached for, grasped at.

It responds in a most peculiar manner: dodging, eluding, leaving fingers dusted with the silken touch of memory, fading into the realm of barely recollected what-ifs unless given some sort of form, be it in a painting, prose, or a song. Even then it’s rough, a poor reproduction. Rougher still is the clumsy ‘bringing together’ that occurs afterwards.

Strange indeed, is the first attempt of any artist to bring out the full beauty of the half-forgotten spark that tickled their senses. It produces embarrassment, which quickly spirals down to shame if left unchecked. The prudent let their work lie, a difficult feat after the frenzy of inspiration and grittiness-of-clenched-teeth tenacity to push through to the end.

It’s well worth the wait.

The next visit to this earliest of efforts is done, this time, with a shield of emotional distance in place. This detachment allows for an honest (as honest as anyone can be of their own creation) assessment. And more often than not, something astonishing is found.

The piece has begun to blossom. Difficult as a cactus to handle perhaps, but nevertheless, worth nurturing. Afterwards each shoot, each petal, each needle bursting forth (some from whimsy, others from careful deliberation) is either carefully placed to add to the whole or, with driving agony, discarded for its failure to contribute to the moment, the purpose. And yet this cascade of fallen whispers adds its ghost to the living composition, making it more vibrant, full of layers mostly hidden, yet as essential as the nerves underneath our skin that dictate this or that action.

So. The rough draft does have its place.

Jammin', Best-laid Plans and It's a Desk!

2008-03-10T22:16:00.006-06:00

1. Jammin' out to my iPod in an empty, temporarily-not-quite-24-hour fitness center.

2. Plans that transform into highly anticipated events... especially when they involve a caboose.

3. The top of my desk is once again visible after having been held hostage for far too long. The reign of paper has ended... for now. ::cue Twilight Zone music::

Stickers, Chat, Idea, Pressure

2008-02-29T21:23:00.006-07:00

1. Today I was given a task deemed tedious yet only suitable for someone detail-oriented. Much to my delight, it involved stickers, which always makes things better.

2. Stealing an hour's chat on the phone with a friend while her son is napping.

3. The first try at using our new pressure cooker was successful- fluffy jasmine rice for all!

Fresh Air Up High, Finished, Lazy Dinners

2008-02-27T21:30:00.005-07:00

1. Determined not to miss such a gorgeous spring day on account of homework, I put our balcony to good use by hauling out a camping chair and reading while enjoying the fresh air and cool breeze.

2. Getting my assigned reading out of the way so I can go onto more important things- like writing a scene* for class next week.

3. The fridge is positively overflowing with tasty left-overs from last weekend's cooking frenzy.

* Translation: multiple scenes and then choosing the one I'm least ashamed of to revise and edit and overall prepare to share with classmates (eek!).

Very Pleased Indeed

2008-02-22T18:07:00.002-07:00

I've been feeling rather dry and uninspired these past couple of weeks. We are beginning the 'short fiction' part of my writing class soon, and my daily exercises have been one dull disaster after another. Until this afternoon, when my mind seized today's writing prompt and ran merrily along with it.

Never mind the fact that the writing prompt, er, prompted me to write in a completely different direction. I wrestled with that a bit before saying, ah the heck with it, and just let the piece go where it would. The effort it takes to break out of the rules and constraints that you've unconsciously built up and simply let your creativity flow is substantial, especially for those of us with a perfectionist nature.

This unit is going to be quite a challenge since almost all of my writing up til now has been observational/experience based rather than character interaction and plot. To be completely honest, it's a little scary. Because there's no guarantee I'll be any good at it. The other side of the coin is that it's also exciting to be doing something new.

For now I take comfort in the fact that a major component of being a good writer is to keep writing (which I can certainly do)- practicing, exploring, figuring out what works and what doesn't. Our professor says that a lot of the time, new writers don't allow themselves enough 'play' (the writer equivalent of doodling), or don't write for a while and then expect to sit down and come up with something brilliant.

She would say something like that. Everything I come up with should be brilliant! Though admittedly, things that work shine brightly against all the scribbles on the page that don't. And when I consider that...

Happy doodling everyone!

Just an Opinion...

2008-02-21T14:56:00.004-07:00

... classes that meet once a week should never be scheduled on Monday. I'm very bummed out that my self-defense course has been canceled twice already because of holidays, which we all know absolutely adore Mondays.

It's been the equivalent of missing 6 hours of a regular class, only worse because SD is all technique and practice that isn't conveyed in a textbook and can only be sharpened so much when reviewed at home.

There are pads out there just begging to be smacked around!

Now my other once a week class is on Tuesdays, and I haven't missed one yet. And why is that? Because holidays hate the way Tuesday feels and only fall on it out of desperation.

Yessiree, Tuesdays are the way to go...

... said the student who actually wants to attend her classes.

Drat!

2008-02-20T18:04:00.002-07:00

Grand plans were made to capture the changing state of the moon tonight during the lunar eclipse.

Grand plans were dashed by opaque clouds rushing in to monopolize the view.

Grand plans have turned tentative in the hopes of said clouds dissipating due to insufficient moisture to retain fullness of body. Or the impatience of the wind to travel onward.

Chances are good that the tentative plans will turn into dutiful homework-completing ones.

Drat those clouds.

Today's Lesson...

2008-02-18T16:51:00.003-07:00

... just because it's a Monday doesn't mean that lines stretching to the hazy, cavernous ends of the warehouse don't exist. They do. Not only do they exist, but they are certain to exist if there's even the slightest chance that you thought yourself clever for out-waiting the weekend to do some shopping. Especially at Costco. On President's Day. When the newest round of coupons have lured out the bi-annual shoppers.

And thus I stand corrected- calendars beyond Outlook are there for a reason.

Completely Unpacked!

2008-02-17T21:22:00.003-07:00

It didn't happen as soon as I would have hoped, but I'm happy to report that it's now official.

The last remaining box, despite its best efforts to blend in with the surroundings, has been taken down. The scene was pretty gruesome with plastic bags and packing paper scattered everywhere. As usual, my timing was spot on, as I had made the mess minutes before the first visitor to our humble abode (not counting the weekend we moved) announced his arrival. Time to clean-up properly was nowhere to be found. He was kind enough not to mention it.

All has now been properly picked up and stowed away, so I guess it's safe to say that we're as fully settled into our apartment as we're going to be.

Hooray for a big check-mark off the list!

Another Day, Another Box

2008-01-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

We've made significant progress regarding our relocation to AZ, not the least of which included making it here in one piece. The 17 hour drive was more beautiful than I'd expected, replacing recollections of the 8 hours of misery experienced driving down to Albuquerque a few years back. I suspect traveling in blackness with heavy rain lashing at the windshield didn't help, although I didn't remember that crucial bit of information until my husband mentioned it.

Way better than Kansas. Red rocks and smoke stacks featured in programs my brother watches beat dusty nothingness any day.

Many thanks to the one and only C of J for his help, both in the unloading of the U-Haul and the astute discovery of the option to hire movers to unload your U-Haul for you. Something worth checking out next time as our belongings, now officially in three places across the country, will no doubt multiply.

The apartment affords more storage than we've ever had (besides parental abodes), and after living in a bread box overseas, it's accommodations are positively HUGE. It's our hope that we'll be completely unpacked by the time Monday dawns... and classes begin.

We're students again! And this time, we're not compelled to take those general education courses that typically round out an undergraduate degree but hold little interest beyond keeping the GPA up. I've even gone and secured my first override of the year.

Here's looking forward to 2008.

God with Us

2007-12-25T09:06:00.000-07:00

Morning Meditation for December 25th, by C.H. Spurgeon.

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."—Isaiah 7:14.

Let us to-day go down to Bethlehem, and in company with wondering shepherds and adoring Magi, let us see Him who was born King of the Jews, for we by faith can claim an interest in Him, and can sing, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." Jesus is Jehovah incarnate, our Lord and our God, and yet our brother and friend; let us adore and admire.

Let us notice at the very first glance His miraculous conception. It was a thing unheard of before, and unparalleled since, that a virgin should conceive and bear a Son. The first promise ran thus, "The seed of the woman," not the offspring of the man. Since venturous woman led the way in the sin which brought forth Paradise lost, she, and she alone, ushers in the Regainer of Paradise.

Our Saviour, although truly man, was as to His human nature the Holy One of God. Let us reverently bow before the holy Child whose innocence restores to manhood its ancient glory; and let us pray that He may be formed in us, the hope of glory. Fail not to note His humble parentage. His mother has been described simply as "a virgin," not a princess, or prophetess, nor a matron of large estate. True the blood of kings ran in her veins; nor was her mind a weak and untaught one, for she could sing most sweetly a song of praise; but yet how humble her position, how poor the man to whom she stood affianced, and how miserable the accommodation afforded to the new-born King!

Immanuel, God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our lifework, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us, or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendour.

BBQ, Memories, Refinement You Can Taste,

2007-11-14T22:03:00.000-07:00

1. Enjoying a family dinner of Korean BBQ with a cousin passing through on business. It was her first time having this type of meal, and her adventurous spirit seemed to make everything taste even better.

2. Pulling out the wedding album and going through it with someone who wasn't there but wished she was.

3. Seattle mint chocolate truffles in all their satiny smoothness and rich, just-sweet-enough flavor.

I Can Hardly Tell, Weather Man, Basketball

2007-11-12T17:57:00.000-07:00

1. Sugar-free jawbreakers.

2. Having my own personal weather man in the form of my dad.

3. Catching a Nuggets game live with my husband. I've already gone with my dad, and I will go in the future with my brother, all of which bring back fond memories and create new ones.

Spice, Stand Together, Tempting

2007-11-07T18:41:00.000-07:00

1. The munchability of gingerbread men.

2. A cluster of aspen trees down the street have finally shed their leaves. After weeks of stubbornly holding on while those around them succumbed to the invasion of old man winter, it's as if they dropped their colors precisely at the same time at a predetermined signal.

3. The domain of the aforementioned trees is now completely covered with crinkly leaves just begging to be crunched underfoot.

Oooh, Surprise, Level Up

2007-11-02T21:28:00.000-06:00

1. A luminous full moon set like an opal in a lavender sky.

2. As dusk settles we discover a care package sitting on the porch. It's from a friend in Japan, filled to the brim with items that either delight or confound.

3. Increasing the difficulty on the exercise bike. I now feel like I'm at a respectable level.

Order, Christ Alone, Together

2007-10-28T23:34:00.000-06:00

1. A clean & organized workspace.

2. An awesome sermon at CCC that gets to the heart of my faith. When everything is stripped away, it all comes down to one simple thing: Jesus Christ.

3. Listening to the above with my brother.

One of Life's Mysteries, Safe, Proper Equipment

2007-10-25T19:12:00.000-06:00

1. A good cry.

2. Being encircled by strong arms.

3. A proper bed from which I can hang my head backwards, a certain neck stretch unsuitable for futon-users.

In Her Element, Well Met, It's On Us

2007-10-23T22:39:00.000-06:00

1. While waiting to speak with a friend after dropping by her workplace to say hello, we watch her manage her area, customers, and the phone with grace and competence.

2. Meeting the newest member of the R clan and playing catch up with his mother in the process.

3. We treat my aunt & uncle to a farewell dinner before they disappear into the swirling northern winds of Vancouver... WA.

Just as I Remember, Perfect Excuse, Fuzzy

2007-10-21T10:03:00.000-06:00

1. Fat flakes of white float down from a soft gray sky, thickly carpeting the landscape in the wonder of a sparkling monochromatic dreamland. It's the first true snow I've seen in 2 years.

2. Deciding to remain all warm and cozy indoors for the day.

3. Soft fuzzy sweaters.

You Rock Honey!, Nevermind, Press da Button

2007-10-17T21:41:00.000-06:00

1. After a month of focused studying, my husband took the GMAT and received a healthy score of 680, a good 30 points over his goal. I'm so proud of his diligence, perseverance, and discipline in a rather limboesque time of our lives.

2. Returning unused study guides to the bookstore.

3. Re-discovering the little button on my toolbar that returns me to my desktop by automatically closing every open window, regardless of whether there's 2 or 20.

Feeling Good, Keeping in Touch, Do I Have To?

2007-10-12T21:37:00.000-06:00

1. The way morning aches and pains dissipate in a surge of exercise-induced endorphins.

2. Letters from friends in Japan, both in digital form and the old-fashioned way.

3. Studying for several hours before closing up shop with some reluctance and a hunger to continue. The only other time I feel this way is when I’m reading a good book.

Silvery, Spicy & I See You

2007-10-08T20:23:00.000-06:00

1. The first frost glistening on the grass.

2. A burrito smothered with sauce containing just the right amount of heat.

3. Catching my husband looking at me from across the room with a fond smile on his face.

Check, I Belong, TiVo

2007-10-04T15:47:00.000-06:00

1. Finally got my hands on "Bridget Jones' Diary", which I've been meaning to read for a while now but refused to purchase with covers sporting movie shots.

2. Pocky boxes nestle against other munchies at our local supermarket, looking for all the world as if they've always been considered a mainstream snack here in CO.

3. The ability to watch "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" whenever we have time instead of its actual time slot beginning at 10:00pm.

The Wait is Over, Connected and Wild Card Champs

2007-10-02T11:34:00.000-06:00

1. After two long years of frustration battling with patience, I triumphantly pull my hair back into a ponytail.

2. A restored internet connection after a weekend of spotty misery.

3. Re-living the highlights of last night's baseball game with Dad as we share in the satisfaction of the Rockies clinching the wild card spot and advancing to the play-offs, ending a 12 year slump.

Happy Birthday, Lemon Chiffon and Run em off!

2007-09-29T10:54:00.000-06:00

1. Imagining the look on Grandma's face as she beholds the marvels of a digital picture frame and all the photos jostling for their turn on the screen.

2. Lemon chiffon yogurt mixed with fresh blueberries, appealing to both sight and taste.

3. Finally moving the "robbers" off my ore mine and onto some enemy wheat fields instead.

Mountains, Autumn, Drops of Gold

2007-09-26T20:22:00.000-06:00

1. For half a day we lose ourselves in the vastness of the Rocky Mountains, surrounded by the golden shimmer of sleepy aspen nestled against the forest green of brooding pines.

2. The crisp, sunny days of a Colorado autumn.

3. Aureate aspen leaves pirouetting on the wind in an intricate dance.

Community, Marketing, Perfect Match

2007-09-23T13:49:00.000-06:00

1. Running into a slew of long lost friends & acquaintances at a Sunday morning service.

2. Overseas marketing in action; we had gone to a specialty shop to pick up some Japanese snacks and stumbled across a drink labeled “Calpico”. Our curiosity broke out into full-blown amusement at the katakana reading directly underneath. Perhaps they figure that anyone who can read Japanese won’t care that its true name is “Calpis”, no matter how unappetizing it may sound in English.

3. A balanced checkbook.

Stake my Claim, Don't Blink, Home-made Sauce

2007-09-20T18:42:00.000-06:00

1. The “reserve book” list at the local library.

2. We’re buried up to our ears in home-grown cucumbers. While the piles of them in the kitchen are quite a sight to behold, the really amazing thing is the alacrity with which they disappear, thanks to the creative dishes concocted by my mother.

3. Home-made enchilada sauce that blows the canned stuff out of the water.

Looking Good, Hanging Out, Catch-up

2007-09-18T22:40:00.000-06:00

1. My husband looking every inch the debonair gentleman in his suit.

2. Old haunts, good friends, and adorable 2-year old antics such as burrowing under the couch cushions.

3. Playing catch-up with my aunt and uncle over a dinner of sushi, tonkatsu, and surprisingly decent udon noodles.

Worship, Time Out, and the Thunder Rolls

2007-09-16T19:49:00.000-06:00

1. Remembering that freedom in Christ means the freedom to worship God every single day in whatever action my body can perform, from scrubbing the bathtub to engaging in prayer.

2. Seeing the wonders of an effectively utilized time out by the Denver Broncos, leading to possession of the ball and ultimately, a win in overtime.

3. Peals of thunder rolling over the mountains to rumble directly overhead. The answering vibrations in my chest feel like an instinctual declaration that I'm alive and well.

Multi-colored, Useful, Classics

2007-09-14T18:15:00.000-06:00

1. My arsenal of multi-colored gel pens neatly lined up, ready to mark up some study notes in an orderly fashion.

2. Whipping up a quick math quiz to help my husband in his studies.

3. Meandering through a bookstore noting all the classics I've read and those still awaiting my attention.

Fluency

2007-09-12T15:23:00.000-06:00

I saw it today, a sign announcing mind-boggling fluency of a non-native language. Or rather, I heard it today as it bounced off the walls of the house in sharp bursts full of commanding resonance. A little *click* brought some things together as I moodily sat at the kitchen counter, contemplating my chances of becoming successfully fluent in a second language amid occasional jumps at particularly piercing points in the phone conversation raging down the hall.

This is a normal practice around the house, as it seems that a typical, even friendly conversation in my mother's native tongue appears to be full of passion to those of us who've lived in the U.S. most of our lives.

While it may seem odd that I would be able to mostly ignore a discourse cranked up as loud as the human vocal cords can produce, something intruded upon my brooding thoughts during one of my mother's animated responses to her friend on the other end of the line.

She was speaking in two languages almost simultaneously. One moment she was speaking in English, the next switching to her native speech mid-sentence, and vice versa. The stunned astonishment of this discovery stopped me right in my mental tracks as I listened to the seamless melding of two completely different tongues.

And as I watched my mother effortlessly banter with her counterpart without the slightest indication that she was conscious of what she was doing, I realized that fluency isn't just the ability to communicate effectively in a certain language. It's the complete absorption of a language to the point where conscious effort is poured into what to say in the context of relationship and situation rather than into the mechanics and structure of how to say something.

This is a tall task to be sure. Children of bilingual homes often do this "mixing" of languages as they're learning to speak, because both are such a normal part of their environment. It doesn't seem to be so common in adults though, perhaps because it's not so often that you find yourself speaking to someone who's just as familiar with the same languages as you are. A few of my bilingual friends have said that there's a switch that flips when they're speaking, and that it's very hard to switch back to their other language very quickly. It's as if they have to mentally rearrange things to fully understand one or the other, and it doesn't mix very well.

For whatever reason, my mother can do it. And I'm profoundly grateful that she can, because it brings my dreams down into the area of "possible" in a very personal way.

Sometimes you just need some encouragement.

First Meal

2007-09-09T16:55:00.000-06:00

Last Thursday heralded the triumphant return of yours truly to the kitchen to prepare a meal that delights the senses and makes use of that fabulous appliance known as the oven, which just barely beats out the Kitchen Aid for the title of "most missed cooking implement".

Tried a few new things, including using fresh tomatoes that pushed prep time to new heights thanks to the diminutive size of the fruits of the garden and peeling the skins off (oddly satisfying in its own way), getting more than a little splattered on the light blue shirt I was so intelligently wearing without any protection while simmering the sauce, and whipping up something unusual to dress the salad with.

Many things remained the same, due to the core recipe graciously shared by my mother-in-law being so dang delicious in and of itself, and the undeniable truth that homemade lasagna is, quite simply, fabulous.

Warm fuzzy feelings were had watching everything disappear quite rapidly, seeing the bliss on my husband's face, and knowing that my brother had made a special point of coming home from his college apartment just to partake of my cooking.

Best of all was the glow of certainty that I'm not so bad at this whole cooking thing and that it can actually be fun, something almost forgotten amid the frustrations of few implements and non-existent workspace in a land far, far away.

And so we wait...

2007-09-05T20:21:00.000-06:00

We wait for responses to resumes and interviews...
We wait to see how the experiences of the last two years will influence future ones...
We wait while the lives of friends and family move on...
We wait to discover the changes wrought within ourselves...
We wait to see what this new season back in the US will bring...

We wait.

It's All a Blur

2007-05-23T00:34:00.000-06:00

As usual, there’s so much I’d like to share and so little time to sit down and write any of it out. At least laziness isn’t part of the picture at the moment- Ash & I are ramping up our packing efforts now that we have a firm shipping deadline in place, I’m trying to squeeze the last drops of nourishment from my Japanese studies while still on its native soil, settlement of accounts and paperwork are clamoring for attention, a whirlwind of planned farewell get-togethers is gathering steam, and in order to boost the energy I need for all of the above and everything I haven’t mentioned, I am making a concentrated effort to exercise in the mornings.

Weekends no longer exist for us, which is bad news for things like sleep, but such is the price one pays for planning some last-minute excursions… like the one we just took to Kyoto. I’m definitely planning to expound on this as time permits, but for now…

Go there. Just go. Regret will never enter your mind, especially if you tread the pathways of Arashi-yama (mountain). It ranks right up there with our first foray into Nikko and exploits in Hokkaido.

That said, consider this my disclaimer on the sporadic (or lack thereof) posting, which will hopefully resolve itself into something more orderly once the merry-go-round stops spinning and I can collapse on the soft grass below.

The $10,000 Question

2007-05-12T22:20:00.000-06:00

What would you do for 100 万円?

A. Go on a snake hunt and then brush your teeth with the fine still-living specimen you’ve just captured.

B. Sink a hole-in-one on a Par 3 with no prior golfing experience. Time limit: 2 days.

C. Clean the country’s nastiest public restroom and then lick a urinal glistening from your labor.

D. Travel to Paris and solicit a kiss from a complete stranger.

Who thinks up these things??

Mii, TV Champion, Helper

2007-05-12T04:58:00.000-06:00

1. A dear friend shared her Mii creations with me the other day. Every time I look at the pictures, I’m flattered that while creating a little Mii-her and little Mii-her family, she would also include a little Mii-me as a matter of course.

2. During a question round that would eventually determine NHK’s Ultimate Gamer, “buzzing in” entails using a trampoline to jump and grab a lone coin suspended in the air, complete with Mario Bros. sound effects. It was more amusing than beautiful, but it did make me smile.

3. Working with my husband as a team in the packing process. One reward for actively shouldering part of the burden is watching stress dissipate into thin air.

Sumo Trivia 101

2007-05-11T06:39:00.000-06:00

Myth or Fact?: Sumo wrestlers have bigger toilet seats than the average person.

Fact: Determined while watching an hour-long special touring a sumo stable, 10 minutes of which were spent on certain facilities complete with measuring tape and comparison components.

It’s a little sad this is the main thing I remember from this show aired a few months ago… mostly because it seemed like such an odd thing to focus on with such a great deal of energy.

Pre-emptive Measures

2007-05-08T08:17:00.000-06:00

It has begun, earlier than I expected. It’s not much, but there’s a world of satisfaction hidden in the two boxes occupying a corner of our humble abode. What it means… is that there are twenty less things to concern ourselves with when crunch time arrives and the last-minute scramble that is the inevitable fate of all movers ensues. This is our attempt to ease the stress of those seemingly endless yet perilously short hours, less than two months away. In my humble opinion we’re off to a good start, thanks in no small part to my husband.

I feel funny saying this, especially since I have a sinking feeling that I will regret it later on when eggs can fry on our kitchen counter simply by existing, but I’m actually a little impatient for warm weather to make itself comfortable enough where it has no intention of disappearing into a pocket of cold. With this invisible line drawn, another good portion of packing can be done, and thick bundles of winter attire can slumber in the moisture-proofed darkness it knows for six months of the year.

Despite all this rather definitive mental and physical activity, our pending adieu to Japan still hasn’t registered emotionally. I’d say the odds are pretty good on the side of bittersweet, what with the farewells and homecoming and new beginnings and all of that… which I’m okay with, as I’d prefer it to feelings of “meh” and instant adjustment. I guess I’d like to feel something, rather than nothing at all.

Explore, Etiquette, Spring Finery

2007-04-29T05:47:00.000-06:00

1. A spur-of-the-moment decision to take advantage of the beautiful day and explore, with camera in hand, the back streets of our neighborhood.

2. A little girl sitting in a tiny alleyway is told to bow to her mother’s friend in greeting. She does this with a big smile… sideways, while sitting. It was the cutest side bend I have ever seen.

3. Bushes and shrubs forgettable for three seasons have burst forth sweet-smelling flowers blushing pink on ivory petals.

Please Show Us Favor

2007-04-26T23:52:00.000-06:00

It’s finally over. After two weeks of unceasing political campaigning for 1 of 24 city council seats against 31 other candidates, a welcome silence has settled over our fishing town once more. Instead of inundating the public with phone calls and television commercials, candidates drive around town in pre-approved vehicles set-up with a speaker system to loudly solicit votes, with the occasional parking at a street corner to wave and smile at passer-bys.

In general, these slow-moving vans and pleas for consideration have generated nothing but eye-rolling and headaches from us unedumicated non-voters. What little we do understand boils down to the phrases “Thank you very much!” and “Please show us favor!”, with a heavy dose of the candidate’s name thrown in.

But what do the local people think? Ever vigilant for conversation topics, I threw this question out to my friends one day. It turns out our understanding comprised about 95% of what information was actually being imparted, and my husband’s dry commentary on the whole Japanese campaigning system was highly accurate. There’s no chance of getting deep into issues or giving insightful speeches when you’re constantly on the move, something the residents look upon with dissatisfaction. If anything, it appears like you’re heavily banking on the belief that your name will stick in people’s minds if you say it enough, eventually leading to a vote based on familiarity. Nor does it seem to matter how genuine a city council hopeful might be, the rules of the game are firmly established. Kind of a shame really, especially considering there are people who actually want to listen to speeches and understand each candidate’s position more in depth.

Plus it’s noisy as all get out.

Fortunately, good can come out of such things. It turns out that the lone candidate we have an acquaintanceship with ended up winning a place on the council. Here’s hoping he can make a difference by serving the city in a way he’s been yearning to for years.

Two Sides

2007-04-25T00:55:00.000-06:00

The day is coming… when chicken breasts of the skinless variety will be readily available once more. The notion of no longer peeling the limp epidermis off my protein pleases me greatly.

The arrival of the aforementioned day also means I will no longer hear the peals of a deep-toned bell reverberating through the air at precisely 7am every morning. Housed in a shrine around the corner, my husband uses it to judge if he’s running behind schedule in the mornings. I’ve visited it a few times, and it’s as serious-faced as its somber, dutiful morning announcement would have you believe. Today, with a small pang, I realized that I will miss it, especially now that I’ve finally begun to wake up naturally about ten minutes before the rope is pulled with measured strokes.

Glitzy Upstart

2007-04-24T07:18:00.000-06:00

The unexpected has happened… something that is quite impressive considering my relative indifference to things of this nature. Still, even I possess that certain special place buried deep in every girl’s heart where Wonka’s rivers flow in homage to the throne of choco-dom, upon which a certain diva has sat uncontested for years. Allow me to elaborate.

This is where self-control trembles violently.

And this is where self-control implodes, explodes, and then morphs into a voracious black-hole all the while wailing “Curse you Reeses! Curse you and your bite-sized peanut-buttery goodness!!”

I can’t tell you how happy I am that there are only five left… 95% of which have been devoured by yours truly. Ash, thanks to his keen instincts, has observed the way my eyes glint at the mention of certain brightly foiled eggs and prefers to munch on other goodies rather than risk a raid on the “nest”.

Did I say five? I meant two.

It’ll all be over soon, and then I can go back to being indifferent to chocolate again…

Pocky!

2007-04-19T03:13:00.000-06:00

Brother-dearest, you crazy zombie-lover, this is for you.

I don't know why, but this commercial amuses me to no end.

Okinawa 2007

2007-04-14T02:57:00.000-06:00

In keeping with the tradition established not so long ago, I've added some 3BT entries written during our time in Okinawa under their respective dates, beginning March 24th and ending March 30th. The easiest ways to view them would be by going to "Journal Archives" on the side panel and choosing March 2007, or by clicking on the 3BT link under "Labels".

Enjoy!

Mitsuketa!, Sensation, Mother-Daughter Time

2007-03-30T02:44:00.000-06:00

1. After weeks of fruitless searching, we finally find the almost-mythical item requested by a friend for the pleasure of his spouse in the most random of places on our last day in the area.

2. The sensation of warm to cold to almost hot across my feet as my husband and I laughingly wade through a low-tide channel to comb a small island for shells.

3. Going to the spa for a massage and some quiet girl time with my mother…

…which was a perfect end to an incredibly restful vacation. Farewell Oki (as my father affectionately calls you), until we meet again.

Dark & Light, Good Soak, Night Cap

2007-03-29T07:24:00.000-06:00

1. Dark volcanic cliffs floating upon tranquil crystalline water.

2. Our bathtub is actually long enough to lounge in comfortably, which I take advantage of to ease the ache in my shoulders.

3. Having a night cap and chatting in the bar with “the guys”. The fact that we’re family keeps me from feeling outnumbered.

Champion, Book with a View, Affection

2007-03-28T08:11:00.000-06:00

1. A deserted beach hidden away from tour bus patrons with hermit crabs skittering here and there. It isn’t long before my husband, my brother and I are keeping our eyes open to find a hermit crab bigger than the last “champion”.

2. Curling up on the couch in our nook to read a novel purely for the sake of enjoyment, heightened by the fact that every time I lift my head, I am treated to a sweeping vision of the island.

3. Embarrassing both my dad and my brother in turn by soliciting a good-night hug and the use of the “L” word.

Glass Nook, Downy Soft, Shark Fin

2007-03-27T04:08:00.000-06:00

1. Our hotel room has a nook with two walls made entirely of glass, affording a wonderful view of the ocean and horizon beyond.

2. Down pillows and comforters that mold themselves to the body.

3. Shark fin soup so chock-full of vegetables it’s hard to discern what is shark fin and what’s not. This leads to an impromptu hunt bent on isolating the elusive ingredient.

Wound Up, Curve Ahead, Okinawan Music

2007-03-26T07:56:00.000-06:00

1. My brother proudly demonstrating a fascinating discovery; food isn’t necessary to attract the attention of koi. All one needs to do is stretch a hand over the water, provoking a kind of frenzy that culminates in one daring carp “body surfing” over the exposed backs of its rivals.

2. The wonders of a navigation system, which helps us traverse the confusing jumble that makes up city roads despite chirping a little too cheerfully in 100% Japanese.

3. Listening to Okinawan music during dinner. The upbeat, playful feel somehow transforms the high-pitched singing (which usually makes me cringe a little) normally found in traditional Japanese songs into something quaint and whimsical.

Armed, Feed Me!, TLC

2007-03-25T00:12:00.000-06:00

1. Coming away from the concierge desk armed with an English map and some activity ideas for the week.

2. Sitting and watching whale sharks being fed in their massive tank at the aquarium. One of them hovers vertically, its giant form still except for minute movements of tail and fin, nose almost breaking the surface of the water as it hungrily inhales water and food bits into its mouth.

3. Tropical orchids of all sizes blooming in a riot of color. Their sheer abundance belies the quiet and constant care it must take for them to flourish.

Domestic, I Know You, Floor 13

2007-03-24T02:38:00.000-06:00

1. I love flying domestic in Japan. It was nice to exchange genuine smiles with the staff attending to security and walk away without being made to feel like a suspicious person who just barely escaped being detained for some obscure reason.

2. Instinctively responding to the sense of familiarity around someone even before you consciously identify them. It’s there, amidst the swirling crowd in baggage claim, that I find my mother.

3. The novelty of having a room on the 13th floor of the hotel. It appears that certain superstitions don’t necessarily cross international boundaries.

What's in a Name?

2007-03-22T21:45:00.000-06:00

Despite what you might think, I was actually quite cheerful when writing this. At the very least, it gave me something else to put in my little bamboo grove, which is definitely a plus! While I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to shake the less-than-flattering first impression school buildings here have imparted, seeing photos of my husband posing with his beaming graduating students helps to bring some warmth that’s otherwise lacking.

In other news, we will soon dare to challenge the status quo once more. Only time will tell whether the forecasts are right and we will see nothing more than a smattering of sun. Happily, predictions of seeing certain family members are overwhelmingly positive and will make up for it... as long as cactus juice doesn't find its way into our glasses.

The Time Has Come

2007-03-15T23:22:00.000-06:00

Just an FYI that I finally got around to shaking the dust off of my other space and actually posted something new! Many thanks to those of you who still check it once in a while, I hope you (and any new readers) like what you find.

There's Something in the Air...

2007-03-14T06:45:00.000-06:00

A seasonal change is at hand. I’m still not sure what magical device furtively sends a signal to every restaurant across the land, but an unspoken consensus has been met, and it is only communicated to a patron such as myself by the altered companion to the regular steaming mug of green tea that comes with every meal.

The towels given for the purpose of wiping one’s hands before eating are ice cold, instead of the steaming comfort they once were in a land wrapped in Jack Frost’s embrace.

This can only mean one thing.

Spring is near!

This is good news for certain students, whose teachers I hear tell steadfastly refuse to turn on the heater until the room thermometer dips under 12 degrees C, and then maybe they’d entertain the idea. On the rare occasion that the pleas from the shivering bundles writing on worksheets are heeded, relief is had for only 20 minutes before being shut down. This relief would probably be longer due to residual heat if the windows weren’t almost immediately thrown open afterwards to disperse potentially dangerous fumes from the kerosene heater.

On a completely unrelated note, the teacher’s room is a super-popular area to request for daily cleaning duty during the winter. Something about it being nice and toasty all day long…

Name That Tune, Mochi, English Please

2007-03-09T21:48:00.000-07:00

1. Intently pounding on the arcade version of Taiko Drummer with surprising accuracy amidst the loud cacophony of UFO catchers singing and beeping behind us. The 100 seconds allowed at the beginning of the round to choose a song is spent with gleeful utterances elicited by the recognition of a large number of the latest J-pop songs.

2. I must confess that I’m not normally a fan of mochi in any form. A mother’s touch often produces an exception, which is the case when observing my weakness for her delectable “rice cake soup”, but Japan has so far been unable to offer anything remotely equal. While this remains the case in the area of soup, and I am unmoved in my stance regarding its popular status as a dessert when combined with the grainy, overpowering sweetness of anko, today a friend served a dish combining crispy mochi, soy sauce, and nori that made me vow to reconsider my disdain for the glutinous rice mixture.

3. Accessing Blogger after clearing my cookie catch shows me that all the links and options are now written in Japanese. After scanning the page to see if I can comprehend more than before, it only takes a few seconds to navigate to the bottom of the page, recognize the kanji for “language”, and restore my settings to English. It’s always nice to experience a moment where studies become functional.

A Band of Grands

2007-03-07T00:03:00.000-07:00

Grand pianos, that is. 7 of them, to be precise. Arranged in a circle on a stage with nothing but their respective players and dramatic lighting. At a sign from the conductor practiced hands lifted to lightly rest on the ivory keys. Silence was observed as each musician became, for a moment, indistinguishable from graceful marble statues reposing in a museum. Thus composed, the performance began.

Our television, an ancient relic passed down to countless numbers of ALTs upon their arrival at City Hall, doesn’t do much in terms of a breathtaking auditory experience. And yet… as the pianists began their work of reproducing everything from swing to famous pieces featured in the cinematic world, the white drywall around me fell away as I stood, captivated, by the power of those grands. The rich notes that poured from the seven giants, black polish glistening, produced a fullness and astonishing depth in their music that I’ve rarely experienced.

It was a fabulous, first class hour of Japanese programming :)

A Life Without Left Turns

2007-03-05T04:16:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while, it’s nice to read a charming story of remembrance. A thanks goes out to my mother-in-law, who originally brought this article to my attention.

Day at Home, Seize the Moment, Consideration

2007-03-03T07:18:00.000-07:00

1. Having an entire day to myself. This included a lazy morning, lunch at my favorite café with a good book, catching up on a certain dorama, and finishing a long overdue letter.

2. Finding all the J-pop CDs on my wish list and having saved enough of my fun money to take advantage of the moment.

3. My husband’s consideration in allowing me to have a day to myself instead of accompanying him to Tokyo, and then helping me finish up the previously mentioned letter by volunteering to shop for and cook dinner.

Toast, Repaired, Thanks Honey!

2007-03-01T05:01:00.000-07:00

1. I’m ever hopeful that grocery stores here will add something to their deli meat selection that isn’t derived of pork, but until then, toasted bread adds that special something to an otherwise tired ham sandwich. Here’s to the wonders of a toaster oven :)

2. Driving away from the Toyopet with a newly repaired wheel free of charge. The rear passenger-side tire of our Corolla had begun an inexplicable but alarming collapse earlier in the day. We were relieved to see that the culprit was only a quarter-inch nail.

3. A wonderful husband who is willing to do the dishes with little complaint.

Mario Kart

2007-02-27T04:23:00.000-07:00

This clip is for those of you who have fond memories of Mario Kart, whether it be nostalgic or consisting of fierce head-to-head combat in the bid for roommate superiority. I will never forget the sound of shells dropping, cries of outrage, and *ping*ing of airsoft gun pellets floating up from the basement of the Del Clair house in my attempts to drop in on my fiance-now-husband. It's clear that the spirit of competition lives on to this day.

Alarm Clock, Something New, Tea Time

2007-02-25T20:59:00.000-07:00

1. Waking up to morning kisses from my husband.

2. Sitting down and taking the time to learn about feeds. This prompts me to give Google Reader a try, and I love it. I hope to become more proficient at utilizing its capabilities as time goes on.

3. The smooth taste of milk tea accompanied by some sort of sweet… in this case, Pocky.

Re-Discovery

2007-02-25T05:01:00.000-07:00

I peeked my head through the side door, glancing around the familiar earth-toned workroom. Debbie was busy at her desk the next room over, or at least, I assumed she was busy as the sound of typing drifted from her direction. The copy machine/printer/book producer/hovercraft-if-we-could-just-figure-out-the-secret-code was quietly humming to itself, every-so-often spitting out a page sent by someone around the office.

My eyes lingered on the mammoth CM for a moment before coming to rest on a little machine that would never know the joys of flight. Nevertheless, it had its own gravitational pull and I was soon standing in front of it, papers clutched to my side and left pointer finger flexing in anticipation. A slight smile formed as I indulged in one of my favorite occupations during my stint as an assistant admin at the church.

In another land far far away…

I had been working diligently on preparing materials for my husband’s upcoming elementary school lesson while he was away at a conference. Mostly though, I was getting a cramp from hunching over large rigid plastic sheets painstakingly transforming them into giant BINGO cards. It was time to give my screaming back muscles a rest, and besides, the machine was ready. Moments later I was doing my best to sing along to a Japanese pop song on my iPod as a familiar aroma tickled my nose and the first toasty warm sheet depicting the letter “A” peeked out the other side.

The truth is, I’ve always secretly enjoyed laminating. The first place I did it with any regularity was at the church, and although it was always done in a brisk and efficient manner, I could have happily laminated all day if there were that many things to laminate. While I like tasks that engage my brain, there are some repetitious jobs that serve the important function of helping you unwind while still accomplishing something useful.

Now, my husband hates laminating, which is unfortunate considering the nature of his job here. Teaching just seems to be one of those professions that require the transformation of fragile paper materials into a virtually non-destructible representation. It appears that Providence brings people together for a myriad of reasons, for I am exactly the opposite (although I must point out that I’m not a compulsive laminator. There has to be a purpose behind the madness).

For some strange, undefined reason, it’s actually fun for me. There’s something soothing about going through the motions, that brief second before the plastic becomes unyielding, the jerk of the page at the rollers’ release. The slow, steady, and meticulous work reminds me of other instances when I worked to bring chaos under control, resolving it into order… like finding a place for a mountain of Christmas ornaments that didn’t equate to being shoved in a corner or placing every picture and sticker “just so” in a scrapbook. It’s a good feeling, one of accomplishment.

I also happen to think that the distinct scent of the laminating machine melting plastic together must be what the process of transforming chaos into order smells like… at least a little bit. There’s a tang to it that just smacks of conflict- two opposing ideologies battling it out with one slowly succumbing to the other.

The truth is, I’d forgotten about this little joy until the need arose to engage in it once more. Discovering the little quirks that make a person unique is interesting in and of itself, and re-discovering my own connects me once again to the fact that we’re all so similar, in completely different ways.

Fruitful, Shared Pleasures, Indomitable Helios

2007-02-24T01:51:00.000-07:00

1. Last night I spent a fruitless hour in front of the computer, unable to make any headway in my writing efforts. Then today I sat down and found the words flowing easily, as if the blockage slowing things to a mere trickle had been whisked away by some unknown benefactor.

2. Stealing glances at my husband as he’s curled up with a book. It’s lovely to see him find just as much enjoyment in reading as I do.

3. Even though the wind outside is strong enough to shake the doors around the apartment with a loud clatter, the sun streams through the west window undeterred. Its calm and steady warmth makes the loud gusts seem less menacing somehow.

Anything Else Would Be Uncivilized

2007-02-22T02:19:00.000-07:00

Acquired Japanese Habit #346:

Using a fork and spoon together to eat pasta.

Although awkward at first, I have come to appreciate both the aesthetic and logical reasons for using both utensils to enjoy the multitude of spaghetti dishes available. Twirling pasta with a fork on one’s spoon makes for a neat, flavor-filled bite without a mess of noodles wiggling their way out of sight to satisfy hunger. It’s also a practical way to cut down on sauce flying all over the white blouse you’re inevitably wearing and anyone else within a 100 yard distance.

But mostly… I finally feel like I’m able to eat pasta in a dignified manner, which I never achieved in the time-honored way of “going solo” that I grew up with. Not to say that there aren’t places or people in the U.S. that came up with this mannerism on their own, I just never witnessed it. As for Japan… I’ve seen it everywhere. It’s just how things are done.

Except in that odd pasta restaurant where you’re required to eat with chopsticks instead, which everyone including your Japanese friends find strange given the slippery nature of Italian spaghetti, yet is endured because the taste is fantastic.

It wasn’t by choice though, there just wasn’t a Western utensil in sight.

Final Verdict: This is one habit I fully intend to bring back to American soil.

Mystified

2007-02-20T05:44:00.000-07:00

I’ve been mystified by two things lately.

1. The Japanese health care system. It’s a strange land where general practitioners are all but extinct, having been displaced by specialists who refuse to do anything about anything unless it’s directly related to their field of practice. A medical degree seems lacking somehow when the doctor on duty can’t even check your throat or ears for infection because he’s not an eye/ear/throat degree carrying expert.

2. The issuing of “dry air warnings” during the news hour. The last time one went out, I hopped online and looked at the current humidity levels. Curiosity and all that. It was at 85 percent.

I guess the sensation of swimming through the air has lessened of late… I had been mistakenly attributing it to climate acclimation.

...raindrops keep falling on my head...

Under the Sea

2007-02-08T00:45:00.000-07:00

Now don’t get me wrong… I have nothing against cats. In all actuality, I’m rather fond of them. And as I hear tell, the person who owns a certain orange and white kitty also likes them. Nevertheless, this video is incredibly hilarious and makes me glad I haven’t yet had the dubious pleasure of washing a member of the feline persuasion. Make sure you read the member’s explanation of how this particular adventure came about before letting it offend your moral sensibilities.

Ninja Algorithm March

2007-02-03T04:47:00.001-07:00

This has got to be one of my favorite things to watch on Mondays when the children’s show “Pitagora Suicchi” (also known as Pythagorean Switch) airs. It’s just fascinating.

The fact that this particular clip features ninjas just makes it that much better. I predict it will be forcibly taken down from YouTube before too long, so enjoy it while it lasts!

dangerous to talk to kyle about ninja it is, hooked you become

Tinkering

2007-02-02T01:27:00.000-07:00

So… I’ve been busy tinkering with the website lately, spending perhaps far too much time on minute details and placing things “just so”. I’m really liking the new features being offered here on Blogger, but I refused to switch to the newer version until recently for the very reasons that have come to pass… the whole ‘spending too much time tinkering’ and all.

At first, I shuddered to think about the precious morsels of time that would be consumed if I attempted to switch over my other space in the same manner… but I did it anyway. Some features were lost that I may not be able to bring back, but I hardly noticed as something sparked within me upon perusing some of my past postings.

There are many stories yet to be told over there.

Gun vs. Japanese Sword

2007-01-26T23:33:00.000-07:00

We saw the oddest thing today. Somehow someone somewhere got the bright idea of pitting an American military-issued .45 caliber handgun against an exquisitely made Japanese sword. Granted, the lead bullet didn’t have the metal casing the military requires nowadays, but that doesn’t make it any less of a bullet, which was being aimed at the edge of the aforementioned samurai weapon.

Many slow-motion playbacks later revealed an astonishing thing. The blade was so insanely sharp that, upon impact, it sliced the bullet completely in half.

The question of whether or not a sword would be able to survive being shot at from any angle other than dead-on the business end will be saved for another day. What matters now is we have undeniable proof that the samurai who is able to wield his blade fast enough to slice bullets in mid-air while simultaneously dodging the fragments would be a) invincible and b) able to obtain a real-life bullet-slicing weapon for all his bullet-slicing needs.

To My Husband

2007-01-24T06:08:00.000-07:00

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
~Ephesians 5:1-2

Thank you, dear husband, for lavishing me with love unrestrained, unaffected by storm or sun, but held constant by the simple fact that you chose me to share this life with you.

This past year has most certainly been an adventure, with all the highlights and challenges the word implies. We’ve somehow spent more of our married life abroad than we have back home! And yet, I feel I’ve gained much more than I’ve lost, for my understanding of the Lord’s love has deepened as I’ve watched you strive to follow Him.

Here’s to an unforgettable year and the hope of those to come as we journey this life together! I love you, my beloved.

Hawaii 2007

2007-01-22T03:08:00.000-07:00

For those interested, I’ve added a bunch of 3BT entries that I wrote during our lovely Hawaiian vacation under their respective dates, beginning December 22nd and ending January 1st. The easiest way to see most of them would be by clicking on the December 2006 link on the side panel under “Archives”.

Enjoy!

You Know It's Cold When...

2007-01-20T23:47:00.000-07:00

… it’s been three hours since you returned home from running errands, and the thought of removing your scarf and coat still hasn’t crossed your mind.

… you are sitting at your desk, take a drink of your tea, and breathe steam when you exhale.

… the words “typing gloves” catch your attention, immediately transporting you to that dreamy world of warm hands and an unhindered keyboard manipulation ability. The style of these particular ones is nice, although a little more digit coverage would be welcome… perhaps extending to the knuckle where the finger itself bends instead of leaving the entire thing to the mercy of the arctic air.

… you re-fill your mug with piping hot liquid and immediately take a big mouthful, forgetting that just because it takes mere minutes to cool down to sippable levels doesn’t mean it won’t burn your tongue fresh from the teakettle.

… you run cold faucet water over your injured tongue and shiver, not from the decidedly strange sensation of such an act, but from having to be in the uncivilized portion of the apartment (i.e. no heater) longer than originally anticipated.

... the Minnesotan in the neighborhood appears mildly pleased that his package from the states containing a light jacket has finally arrived.

Caught Up, Yearly Ritual, Laundry's Done

2007-01-20T01:36:00.000-07:00

1. Staring at an empty inbox for the first time in ages. A warm sense of satisfaction wells up in my chest at the realization that I have actually managed to answer everyone who took the time to send me a hello.

2. Going through the yearly ritual of mistakenly writing the old year in my dates instead of the new one. It has the nice effect of reminding me not to take myself too seriously.

3. Catching a glimpse of the clothes hanging to dry in the laundry room. I worked extra hard yesterday so I wouldn’t have to bother with it today. Delayed gratification is sweet.

Luggage Swap, Shades of Blue, Reading Material

2007-01-01T05:11:00.000-07:00

1. Watching my husband and his mother work together to effectively find a place for all the things brought here from opposite ends of the earth that are not supposed to return from whence they originally came.

2. As darkness began to settle itself across the land, I gazed up at an ink blue expanse where the first few stars of the night began to show themselves with the gentle shyness of a new-born fawn. Scattered clouds painted faint patches of another deep blue, which I can only describe as a shade or two off the color of midnight, across the sky. I found myself thinking about the peculiar beauty in monochromatic color schemes and wishing I had access to the incredible palette the Lord paints the world with.

3. Finishing my book and having a small library to choose from for tomorrow’s return flight home, thanks to an earlier visit to the local bookstore. Our bags will be heavier and our wallets lighter, but it’s a worthwhile trade.

Pizza Hut, Frozen Drinks, 2007

2006-12-31T07:58:00.000-07:00

1. Four words: Sausage and Pineapple Pizza. There wasn’t a shrimp, crab, or raw egg in sight, just as it should be.

2. After some searching we found a blender, resulting in tasty homemade strawberry daiquiris. I thought they went well with our evening game of cards.

3. Everyone managed to stay awake until midnight rang across the island, which meant we got to share the first few minutes of the new year with each other.

Footprints, Preening, Bali Hai

2006-12-30T04:35:00.000-07:00

1. Walking along the beach and coming across tiny, perfectly formed footprints in the silky sand. When I close my eyes, I can almost see a little boy or girl hand-in-hand with daddy, toddling wide-eyed and laughing along the shoreline.

2. Our condo has a full-length mirror in the living room, which was the perfect place to pose and model a pretty outfit made up of all newly purchase things, with the exception of my wedding ring.

3. Ash & I are treated to an amazing restaurant with a gorgeous view of the mountains of Kaua’i to one side and the ocean beyond. We feasted on shrimp and prawns while watching the clouds above the mountains burst into flame from the setting sun before smoldering into smoky purples & blues.

Snorkeling, Nice View, Christmas Aroma

2006-12-29T03:58:00.000-07:00

1. Swimming along the coral reef and suddenly finding yourself surrounded by a silvery school of fish while you were preoccupied with squinting at the rocks below. My favorites were the perch-like fish with red-tipped fins and crest resembling a mohawk, which I nicknamed Punks of the Sea.

2. Gazing out from a balcony at the deep green-ridged mountains rising from the center of the island, with swirling clouds ever present around the peaks. It makes for an incredible backdrop to the clear emerald and aqua sea.

3. The pleasing scents of cinnamon and pine filling the air from the flickering candles strategically placed around the family room.

Jungle Fowl, Tree Tunnel, Pomegranate

2006-12-28T02:49:00.000-07:00

1. Watching the "Kings of the Road" proudly strutting up and down the windy stretch through Waimea Canyon as if they truly do own the place. This doesn’t stop the mothers from keeping a close eye on their chicks.

2. Driving through the “Tree Tunnel” a fellow at our dinner table last night couldn’t say enough good things about. While far from the magical experience described, I couldn’t help but chuckle at the memory of his enthusiasm. I suspect it had something to do with having his girlfriend snuggled up behind him on a motorbike.

3. Peeling a ripe pomegranate in record time and feeling the thrill a treasure hunter must when coaxing precious ruby red jewels out of their pithy nests with a gentle but firm touch.

Hot Stones, By the Sea, South Pacific

2006-12-27T07:39:00.000-07:00

1. The hot stone massage I enjoyed burned away any stiffness lingering from the long flight over. But the absolute best part was watching my mother-in-law emerge from hers with a serene smile on her face and a gentle glide in her step.

2. Coming across a wonderful store we had overlooked yesterday, nestled in the corner of a marketplace in Kapa’a. It was here I found what I had been searching for in the way of sundresses, along with lovely unique jewelry and a friendly sales lady who was interesting to chat with.

3. It seemed appropriate to see a dinner theater performance of “South Pacific” on the same island where the 1958 movie was shot. There’s nothing more delightful than seeing a charming portrayal of a character that could easily fall into one-dimensionality.

No Smoking, Perfect, Luau

2006-12-26T06:07:00.000-07:00

1. I’d forgotten that there were places where a “No Smoking” policy is carried out by every establishment in the city, or in this case, on the island. It’s a breath of fresh air to eat without being in a constant cloud of smoke wafting over from the next table.

2. The climate reminds me of my cousin’s cabin in WA, which I had once declared to be absolutely perfect and ideal for yours truly. The air is balmy, crisp and clear with no hint of dampness, and carries a mellow breeze to soften the kisses streaming down from the bright sun above.

3. Having my expectations of the evening luau shattered wasn’t pleasant at first, until I realized the reason for the (apparently) poor planning that led to us eating the buffet in a ballroom filled with red and green Christmas décor instead of on the beach. The main building had burned down quite recently (with its charred remains still visible and yellow caution tape all around). This new piece of information changed the evening from one of disappointment into an opportunity to observe a flurry of improvisation in action. All things considering, I was quite impressed with their efforts.

Christmas Story, Puzzle, Fireworks, Bonus-Example

2006-12-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

1. Listening to Pop read Luke 2 and reflecting on the incredible day when God became a man to be a Savior to all.

2. All four of us working together to complete a 500 piece puzzle in a single day.

3. Oceanic fireworks displayed by roaring waves throwing themselves at a cliff against the backdrop of the fiery setting sun.

Bonus (since it is Christmas after all): My husband's parents never cease to be an example of the love, generosity and thoughtfulness we are called upon to display by our Creator each and every day.