Category Archives: Daily Living

Honesty Over Harmony

March 28, 2013 By in Baseball, Chase, Cliff, Daily Living, Family, Kathryn, Pearls of wisdom Tags: , , , , 5 Comments
Wish I lived here

Wish I lived here

“Honesty over Harmony” was something a woman in Colorado once told me. You know how there are quotes that echo in your mind for the rest of your life? This was one of those. It was the title of a course she and her husband took after an episode of infidelity. I can’t say I agree on that front, but I do believe it has a purpose (more on that later, probably).

After my last blog, I received some “honest” comments and by that, I mean death threats… mostly from family members (aka Crazy Middle Sister). This, I expected and understood, but this is my blog, and if the truth hurts, I can only suggest some personal introspection. If anyone should be sending me nasty messages, it should be Cliff and Chase. They have oft been the inspiration for my blog and usually don’t know about it until I’ve posted. I always appreciate their feedback, listen to their pleading, but if sugar-coated family times are what they are looking for, I suggest they start viewing old Leave it to Beaver or Brady Bunch episodes. To their credit, they have an amazing sense of humor and surrender about the whole thing. It also means I can count on at least a few days of super “good behaviour” after I roast them in a blog. I love them for putting up with my rants in person and in Blogsphere.

Not Us

Not Us

I like to think I am most honest about myself. People I know who read this blog tell me how much they laugh sometimes. Do I get offended? No. I never know what makes people laugh, but if my life-adventures bring a chuckle or two, call me Mother Theresa. If you’re the type of person who is offended by everything, Freakin’ A, let me be the one to tell you, no one likes you or wants to spend time with you… and YOU WILL NEVER FIND A HUSBAND. Back to me. The other day, I went out, in my usual Brazilian, spandex workout uniform, thinking I looked pretty good. I was wearing the one pair of capri pants that weren’t black (this pair was actually a sky blue). I go to spin, do some yoga, run errands, then I get home. To my horror, I realize these capris give me camel toe to the degree that would make a camel’s podiatrist blush. I’ve been walking around, visiting my fishman (who did give me a good deal on some wild Sea Bass), looking like a Smurfette with no panties! Well, needless to say, I peeled off those pants and they were retired in the trash can.

I don't get it.

I don’t get it.

SCHOOL HONESTY: Private school admissions letters are due to be mailed out April 5th. We can access the verdicts online by the 6th, but call me old-fashioned and superstitious, but I like the anticipation of trying to use my x-ray vision, waiting for Chase to come home, and ripping an envelope open. Good or Bad, I think Chase needs to experience that for himself. My other sister in Virginia, who is a super spy during the day and yet somehow manages to have time to raise 2 girls on her own and be my personal IT support, told me she thinks I’m too hard on Chase in the blogs and making him sound academically average. That made me a little sad, because that is absolutely not the impression I would ever want anyone to have. Nor would I want him to think I felt like that once he is older and diligently reading and savouring all of mommy’s precious blog posts. I apologize if I have not accurately portrayed my son’s awesomeness. As parents, it is a fine line between being motivational while belittling your child and crushing his spirit completely. I try to ease up when I see quivering chin action.

BASEBALL HONESTY: Little league sure has changed. We (and by we, I mean Chase) are in the Majors playing on the Texas Rangers. Chase has always been The Hitter. He usually plays clean up and hits it over the fence at least once every season. That being said, I told the new coach to please not put him at #4 (Clean Up Batter) early in the season because he puts a lot of pressure on himself and ends up choking at bat. Of course, during practices, Chase was killing the pitches. Really performing well, and by the time games started, they decided to start him at #4. Chase hasn’t had a hit in 6 games. After game 4 they finally put him at #8 which was a big relief to all of us, but I’m worried the damage has been done. We are trying to stay confident and upbeat for his sake, but he cries after every game because he feels like he’s let everyone down. To be honest. This may be our last season.

Chase is #1 in our book. Number 12 on the team.

Chase is #1 in our book. Number 12 on the team.

Net-Net, I’m sorry if feelings are hurt. I try to disguise names as much as possible (not really). With everything going on in my family right now, that phrase, “Honesty over Harmony” never rang more true. I’ve learned one thing: You can eventually have harmony with honesty, but you will NEVER have harmony through lies. Peace out.

Until next time…

Trying To Do the Right Thing

January 29, 2013 By in Baseball, Chase, Cliff, Culture Shock, Daily Living, Family, Kathryn, Relocating, School, useful Tags: , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment
Getting my Yakult On!!!

Getting my Yakult On!!

It’s been about a month since we’ve been back. Things are just starting to feel “normal”. I say this after going to Buford Farmer’s Market today and practically having an orgasm after finding they have Yakult Yogurt! I must have put on some kind of show because a lady who was nearby asked me, “Is it that good?” and then picked up a case for herself.

I’m still not comfortable driving. I swear every other car is being driven by people on their phones talking or texting and it makes me so paranoid. I keep having to remind myself to STAY ON THE RIGHT! STAY ON THE RIGHT!!! And on top of all that,  I don’t know how Georgia code allows mailboxes to be placed so close to the roads. It’s life and death getting your mail here.

Oops!

Oops!

CHASE

The last couple of weeks it has been like DefCon 4 here at the house. We decided at the last minute to try to apply Chase to different middle school Fall 2013. This involved last-minute EVERYTHING. We are applying to 3 different schools. To be honest, I just couldn’t muster the energy to apply to any more than three. They are like college applications nowadays. So for each school, I have to fill out involved background information and write essays about our family and Chase in particular. We have to pay registrations fees to each school. I have to request transcripts and teacher evaluations for each school from all the schools Chase has attended. I also had to late-register Chase for the SSAT which is required by private schools in Atlanta for entry evaluation. His test date is February 2nd. And by the way, did I happen to mention he had Spring Baseball tryouts last Saturday? All the schools have called and we have scheduled the interviews. Why are we going through this madness when we are already at a school with an excellent reputation that he attended since he was 3 years old? As much as we love Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School and appreciate its loving and nurturing culture, things have changed, and Chase has changed.

Very shortly after Chase returned to school, a boy known for being the bully type came up to Chase in the playground and forced him and a friend to stop playing. This boy, then got in Chase’s face and said, “So what are you?!? Chinese or Japanese?”

Next incident: Same boy comes up to Chase at recess and says, “Hey Chase, since you’re so fat, I’ll bet you’re slow too. Wanna race?”

Today, Chase told me he was challenged by this boy to a tether ball game and after Chase won, the boy hit Chase with the ball bruising his arms.

He started school January 7th.

The bullying is horrible, but this boy was a bully before we moved and it is obvious he has suffered no consequences for it.

The other issue is homework. In Tokyo, we often had 3 or more hours of homework each night. Here, we have hardly any homework and much of the homework is extremely easy. It is very hard for me to sit by and watch while Chase re-calibrates his effort towards schoolwork. We practically had nightly exorcisms to get to the point when Chase could survive academically in Tokyo and now there are days when he has no homework because “there’s a test tomorrow”.

Unlike most Japanese, people in the South have opinions. Especially about things like private schools. I’ve heard enough good and bad stories about every school at this point, I feel like it’s God’s Will. Even if we end up staying at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, I will take it as a sign that it is just meant to be. The great thing about HIES is I know they will cater Chase’s program for his needs. Given the fact that Cliff doesn’t want Chase to go to Woodward Academy because it’s “in a terrible neighborhood” (and he doesn’t think Chase will get to play sports because of all the black students), and I don’t want Chase to go to Westminster because I want him to have a life, that only leaves Pace Academy. In case you are interested, tuition to these private schools: Woodward ($19,770), Westminster ($22,270), Pace Academy ($22,570). Applications have to be completed around March and early April is when decision letters will be mailed out.

Making the decision to explore other schools for 6th grade is heart-breaking for me. Chase has been at Holy Innocents’ since he was 3 years old. His best friend is there and we have great friends and memories of the school. I don’t know what is the right thing. All I know is I’m just trying to do the best thing and for some reason this felt like it needed to be done.

Until next time…

Reading is Good For You

December 5, 2012 By in Culture Shock, Daily Living, Grocery, Living in Tokyo, Relocating, useful Tags: , , , , , , , 2 Comments

The other day, I had some time, so I found myself on Freshly Pressed perusing a few other blogs. I was drawn to a blog titled “More Strange Book Covers” by Michael Bradley:

“Mom, why are you laughing so hard?”

I don’t want to steal Mr. Bradley’s thunder, so, I’m just gonna highly encourage you all to check it out. Make sure you aren’t drinking any hot liquids. It’s that hilarious.

When we first arrived in Tokyo, I started taking cooking classes. Specifically, Vegan Japanese cooking which has subsequently led to Vegan Indian cooking. My eyes were suddenly open to the world of satisfying, flavorful vegan dishes. Being the primary cook in our home, I soon declared, “You! Carnivores! From now on, we will have at least 1 vegetarian meal a WEEK!”  They groaned and moaned, but no one else was volunteering for the primary cook position.

Must Read

I’ve been deeply entrenched in the Omnivore’s Dilemma (aka Satanic Verses according to Cliff) and it has re-ignited my feelings about the industrial food system in America. After a few chapters, I made another declaration and announced, “You! Omnivores! We will from hence forth, eat salad every other day and intersperse fish & meat dishes on the other!”  Meatless Monday had arrived. Cliff and I had many heated discussions regarding Pastured Animals and I could tell Chase was ripe for picking. I knew then, I needed to get out the big guns.  I rented Forks Over Knives:

Must Watch!

After watching Forks Over Knives (speaking of Chase & myself only, Cliff fell asleep), I informed Cliff I was no longer buying milk for consumption “because it isn’t natural” but, I would buy it for him and cooking purposes. Judging from the whites of Cliff’s eyeballs and his comments, I know he thinks I’ve gone all Nick Nolte on him.

aka Health nut

I don’t want to substitute real food for capsules, powdered shakes and tablets! I love food. But I want to have good food for myself and my family. Moving back to the land of the Golden Arches, I am determined to do my best to support this lifestyle change and “opt out” of the industrialized food system as much as possible. Living in Japan, I have tasted and benefitted from eating fresh produce which has been driven to me and not flown. In Japan, my family eats meat that is pastured, properly massaged and kept inebriated,  as opposed to mutilated and abused. I looked into farmers markets around Sandy Springs, Georgia, but they are a mixed bag and as I recall, seem to be more about buying beaded jewelry than an assortment of fresh produce.

Must Order!

Then I came across Nature’s Garden Delivered. This is an organic food delivery service that will deliver Organic/Natural/Local goods right to your door! They won’t deliver goods from anywhere farther than one day’s drive. The Yelp! reviews for NGD are terrific so I am definitely planning to sign up as soon as we get settled in.

I know I may seem a bit nutty for all of this. Change is always perceived as insanity in the beginning. Not so long ago, I was begging for 1 vegetarian meal a week. Now, we have  “Meat Meals” once or twice a week.  But then I reflect: It wasn’t so long ago when having meat at the table signified a special evening. When everyone didn’t seem so fat. When kids didn’t have to stand in line to take their meds at lunch. When cows ate grass. These are the simple things that get swept away in the world’s attempts to make things easier but in the end they only complicate and make matters worse. I never expected living in Tokyo, I’d experience a simpler way of life, and I like it.

Allow me to encourage you to read more as well:

Another Classic

Until next time…

“Facing” the Situation

November 19, 2012 By in Daily Living, Girlfriends, useful Tags: , , 6 Comments

I understand. People want to stay in touch. Share a few photos. Know that “I got up on the wrong side of the bed today…” People will ask me, “Why aren’t you on Facebook Kathryn?” The truth is, I do have an account, but I only use it to get discounts. I used to have a real account and it went through several different evolutions as my “friends” started to evolve. In the end, I just started to question the whole situation:

  1. My sister, who is the Sydney Bristow of computer security does not have a Facebook page.
  2. If I call you a ”friend”, I do not want to qualify that with “Friend-Friend” or “Facebook Friend”
  3. Facebook Friend. What do it mean?!?
  4. I watched “The Social Network” and found Mark Zuckerberg was himself not such a good friend and no longer wanted to support his endeavors. I have heard he has Ass-pergers, but I still do not excuse this. He needs to go Gluten-free.

We’re not Facebook Friends

Maybe you won’t “like” me anymore. I completely understand. Isn’t life so much simpler now that relationships are so quickly established and deleted?

PINTERESTED?

My friend Adonica recently turned me onto Pinterest. I love it. I’m still just feeling my way through, but I’ve figured out how to turn an old T-shirt into a fringe scarf, keep my cut fruit from turning brown using salt water, and how to turn an empty toilet roll into an iPhone speaker amplifier! It’s a lot like having a cyber file cabinet. With all the different ways there are to stay in touch with other people, Pinterest helps me stay in touch with myself. If you are interested in what I’m interested in, you can look me up as Kathryn Kim. I pin a lot of recipes, handy ideas, and random pictures.

WORDS WITH FRIENDS

I’m also an avid WWF player. If you feel like creating a game with me just look me up: Kathrinjapan11

Until next time…

Low Maintenance w/ a High Maintenance Look

November 16, 2012 By in Chase, Cliff, Daily Living, Japan, Kathryn, Living in Tokyo, Mini Schnauzer Tags: , , , , , , , , 4 Comments

On my first date with Cliff, I let him know, I was “a low maintenance girl with a high maintenance look.”

My Signature Handkerchief

Since moving to Tokyo I have started carrying:

  • My signature handkerchief
  • My own black cloth napkin in case restaurants only have the white variety
  • Black Prada flats to wear when my high-heels are killing me

I recently added to my Japanification

I Never Thought I Could… Go Figure!

  • Fedora
  • 2 Sunbrellas (Formal & Sporty)
  • UV gloves
  • Fur dingle dangle for my purse (Sorry Alexandra. I broke down)
  • 2 Fans (Formal & Sporty)

I still believe I can say I am low maintenance because I am often ready for a night out on the town before Cliff.

FUR PHRASES

Just hanging around the house

You know how “Kids Say the Darndest Things?” I was collecting similar quotes by Ex-Pat wives (ie., “I’m so sick of vacationing in Bali…” & “I wouldn’t wear this myself, but I’ll buy one for my gardener since it’s for charity.”), but then, I realized I could do a special section for just people who own furs.

  • I must take this fur off! I’m starting to sweat!
  • Do you think I’ll need my fur tonight? Please go upstairs and fetch my fur.
  • Is it possible to find a dog that will match my fur?
  • I don’t know what’s worse! Carrying or wearing this animal!
  • This fur isn’t in danger! I’m taking very good care of it.

On my last trip to Korea, I broke down and purchased a fur vest. It’s lavender, but I swear it doesn’t look hooker at all. Well, maybe high-end hooker. Owning a fur suddenly makes you appreciate all the nonsensical fur phrases uttered by my fellow fur fashionistas. It’s kind of like when you buy a Mercedes and then suddenly, every other car on the road is a Mercedes. You know what I mean? ;)

THE ULTIMATE JAPANESE ACCESSORY

Our baby girl!

Recently, I freaked out a few of my friends when I talked about expecting a baby girl. Cliff proves he is the ultimate head hunter and that he can even overcome species. He somehow learned who the “Breeder of the Year” was and managed to score a baby from their latest litter! She is about 2 weeks old and is coming from Regency Breeders. This little mini schnauzer is going to be very well-loved and very fashionably dressed. Chase is already threatening to brainwash the dog to love him best. The plan is for Chase and Cliff to take a Dad & Me trip to California in January (probably over MLK) and do some sight-seeing and pick up our new baby. I can’t wait! We have been talking names and I would like to call her Dokdo (after the island the Japanese and Koreans are fighting over), but we are also considering Stella. I have a gift for naming, so I will wait until I have her in my arms.

Until next time…

36 Days

November 13, 2012 By in bicycle, Daily Living, Dining out, Girlfriends, Japan, Living in Tokyo Tags: , , , 5 Comments

Ren & Stimpy

The last few days I’ve been feeling like a Ren & Stimpy character. Mostly because my left eye keeps twitching and I can’t bear to even look at people when I feel it happening. I know my body well enough to know that this is just one of the ways stress presents itself through me. Every time we move or something stressful happens my eye starts twitching and now I just have to wait for the move to be over. I guess I could start sporting an eye patch. It wouldn’t be the first time.

Considering other moves when you are prepping the house for sale, looking for a new home, and dealing with a myriad of other issues, this re-relocation back to the States seems almost effortless. In fact, it kind of is. We interviewed and selected a moving company and set a date: December 20th 2012. They will arrive a few days beforehand to carefully package all our belongings. We will fly into Columbia, South Carolina because of the holidays. My sister Mary & The Girlies, and Bess are all planning to meet at my parent’s home. Cliff & I are having our floors refinished before we move back in. School for Chase will start January 7th so we have a little time.

Safe enough for 5 year olds

Thirty-Six more days in Tokyo. Each day my mind seems to flip a coin. Heads: What I will miss. Tails: How excited I am to be going back. Today, it’s Heads. It’s easy to wax on about the incredible customer service and safety. But for me, it’s the lifestyle. Today I will have lunch with some girlfriends at a terrific local sushi place where they know us. We will play tennis at Arisugawa park. Afterwards, I will bike to the local Japanese farmer stall to buy fresh vegetables for dinner. I will miss the exhiliration I feel every morning as I speed down the hill on my bike listening to my music. The ease of getting around on my bike yelling “Ohayoooooo!” to strangers walking to work or tidying up their patch of asphalt. These are things I get to do every day. Things that have become a part of me.

Recovery Bar

Saturday night, Cliff and I were invited to go out with our friends Nicki and Stefan to a Jazz club to listen to one of their friends singing. The bar was called Recovery (so clever). For a cover of 10,000 yen, you got small plates of food and “nomihoodai” (all you can drink beer and wine!). I would be generous to estimate the number of chairs at 15. Nicki’s friend and her accompanist were positioned in a corner of the club at the very end of our long countertop.

The Band

When she was singing, everyone was very quiet and respectful of their perfomance. Imagine my surprise when she starts and I hear a beautifully soulful, raspy voice singing bossa nova! In Spanish! Stunning. And you know how every man looks better when you see he can play an instrument? Nicki and I were quite drunk at this point and found ourselves reminiscing about “that high school boyfriend” you knew your parents would hate who looked just like the guitarist. How soon can I take you home?

Remember when you could date the “artsy” guy?

Cliff and Stefan seemed to enjoy making fun of us, but the good thing about alcohol is… it’s just good. They finished singing around 11:30pm and by midnight, Cliff was giving me the “roll out” sign. Thank God Alexandra wasn’t there, because she would have totally shamed me into staying out later and going somewhere to karaoke until at least 4am.

This is a quintessential Japanese adult night out. You go to some club with 10-15 chairs. You wonder, “how does this place stay afloat?” but only for a little while, because it isn’t your bar. You sit with friends eating good food, drinking and listen to a couple people who are doing something you know they love. Happy to just express and share their art with anyone who will listen.

Going out in Atlanta: Dinner & A Movie.

Until next time…

Transitions

October 23, 2012 By in Chase, Daily Living, Family, Kathryn, Mom Tags: , , , , , Leave a comment

From our hike in Miyajima

BABY BLUES

These last few days have been kind of rough for me. Some possible reasons include:

  1. Change in season
  2. Upcoming holidays
  3. Mourning for my Mom
  4. Moving Melancholy
  5. Woman time
  6. I just bought L size panties from Uniqlo

I’ve been close to crying for days now and the combination of everything is just hard. The other day I received wonderful news about yet another friend getting pregnant. I am utterly and completely happy for her. However, as I continued to think about it, I realized: I’m Jealous! Anyone who knows me knows I am not a jealous person. My feelings were overwhelming and I found myself doubting who I am and where I am. This called for friend intervention, so I sent an SOS to my good friend Debra and I asked her to please tell me why I don’t want to be pregnant. She explained in her typical good-sense Michigan gal kind of way that I didn’t want to be pregnant, I just wanted to be that young mom again. I know she is right. I just happened to be surrounded by so many women in my group who are in the “it’s now or never phase” of our lives and they are choosing NOW. I don’t want to be pregnant and washing bottles and all that mess, but I feel like these arms aren’t done cuddling! The problem is, Chase is growing too big too fast and my arms feel under-utilized. I feel like it was over before I even had a chance to warm up! The other problem is Chase has spoiled me by being such a sweet and easy child. If I could clone him 100 times I would.

Just yesterday:

Chase’s 1st birthday at my parent’s home

Cliff is in Defcon 4 trying to find a mini schnauzer to fulfill my cuddling needs. The other day I found myself at Joker. Joker is the designer pet boutique in Roppongi Hills. I ended up eyeing a couple of really cute doggie jackets and a pet snuggie. I don’t even have the new puppy yet! I feel a little like those crazy women who have fake pregnancies or buy wedding dresses before they have a boyfriend, but the nice thing about crazy is, you don’t care!

Retail Therapy

MOTHERLAND

I’ve also been feeling very anxious about going back to Korea. It’s the first time I’ll be there without my mom and every time I think about it I feel like I’m melting inside. Sometimes I wish I had time to just stay at home and cry all day, but then I think if I did that would I know when to stop? Everyone says what I’m feeling is normal and I don’t need to make excuses to anyone and I’m not, I’m just so damn sad. At this point, I can’t help but wonder if I shouldn’t be medicated? I don’t feel like I could get counseling here in Japan because suffering is just normal for them. I know my friends in Tokyo are probably thinking, “What?!? I had no idea! She looks so genki and beautiful all the time!” I know. It’s a curse to be so beautiful. No one sees the real pain behind the perfect teeth and flawless skin.

2011 On our way to Seoul

Last night, I lay in bed and listened to a podcast about grief. The psychotherapist said grief is a process of adjustment. A mental & emotional relocation. He also said it can take a long time to figure out where you are. Wednesday evening, I’ll be back in Korea and I know it will be hard. Hell, it’s hard now and I’m in Japan.

Until next time…

Age of Exploration

October 12, 2012 By in Chase, Cliff, Daily Living, Getting there, Relocating, useful Tags: , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria

GREAT EXPLORERS

Chase is studying the great explorers in school. You remember, Columbus? De Gama? Marco Polo? Anyhow, the teacher has divided the boys into 4-5 small groups in the class and asked that they think of themselves as shipmates. The other night, Chase asked us to help him with part of his homework: Come up with a list of possible names for his ship. The next day, the shipmates would get together and decide which one they all liked the best.

Here were our suggestions (who contributed):

  • Sea Quest (Dad)
  • Horizon (Dad)
  • North Star (Me)
  • Bloody Vessel (Me)
  • Dinghy Dongs (Me)
  • Mama’s Buoys (Me)
  • Poop Patrol (Me)
  • Booty Chasers (Me)

It’s amazing how this assignment really got my creative juices flowing. I didn’t list any of Chase’s suggestions because, frankly, they weren’t as good as mine. I did emphasize to him that there would be no shame in really fighting for Mama’s Buoys as the name for the ship.

The final verdict: Devil Cannons… whatever :(

Am I so old that historians have discovered new information about the old information I learned in school? Chase had to read a journal from one of Christopher Columbus’s shipmates and in order to help him with his assignments I found I needed to read it too. Did you know Christopher Columbus was an asshole? How the hell did he get a national holiday? As a student, history was not one of my strongest subjects, because, well, I was young and I didn’t want to read about old people. Now I find them fascinating. Karma.

GREAT TIES

By the time Chase hit 2nd Grade, Cliff decided he couldn’t help with homework anymore. WTH?!?! All I know, is those checks better keep getting deposited. Cliff used to try to “help with homework” when Chase and I were in the kitchen by yelling from the family room, “Listen to your mother!!!” and then going back to whatever was on TV. I have since asked Cliff to refrain from talking while we are focused on homework. I did find a use for Cliff  when I decided Chase was too big to wear the school-issued pre-knotted tie. The pre-knotted tie is meant for boys from 3 years old to 6th Grade! Needless to say, that tie on Chase looked ridiculous. He looked like The Colonel from KFC. I informed Cliff that he needed to teach his son how to tie a proper tie. I said I could do it, but then it would be a “girl’s tie” and be all loose and fashionable. He practically burned a path in the carpet getting to Chase. Wouldn’t you know, anything having to do with men’s haberdashery would inspire Cliff to get off the chair.

Good Dad

Now Cliff has proof he participated in Chase’s upbringing. According to Chase, he is currently working on creating the perfect dimple in his knot.

GREAT MOVERS

Appraiser from Crown Movers

Today we started the first step of our great journey back to the Motherland: the Moving Company appraisals. According to our concierge, the two best moving companies he’s seen are Nippon Express & Crown Moving Service. Having moved a few times in my life, I have come to the conclusion I hate moving companies because they are completely two-faced. In the beginning, they all want your business  and everything you own must be very expensive and insured to the maximum. Then,  when your table gets chipped or your mirror is cracked they tell you that type of damage isn’t covered or to go find the replacement at IKEA. Maybe the Japanese moving industry will prove me wrong. There is always some collateral damage coming and going. At least moving today doesn’t involve scurvy and lice.

Until next time…

Spinning & Lucky Lunch

October 11, 2012 By in Aesthetics, bicycle, Daily Living, Girlfriends, Living in Tokyo Tags: , , , , , 5 Comments

Microderm Update:

Yesterday, I did a little microderming. This morning when I woke up, I looked in the mirror and I swear, it looked like someone beat me with a rubber hose. I think I’m still on the first part of the learning curve, but don’t think I’m giving up. Like all good tools, I just have to get the technique right. Again Friends, learn from my mistakes. Evidently, decolletage is quite delicate.

SPIN CLASS

Despite my self-mutilation, I had to get to my spinning class at 8:40am. I have been meaning to blog about spinning for a while. Eventually, every woman will find themselves on a spinning bike. Not just to say we’re spinners, but because:

  • Low impact cardio
  • Lots of sweat production
  • High Calorie Burn
  • Perhaps you aren’t spinning enough at home ;)

After spin, I’m going to make kimchee!

Normally, I am wearing my sexy Brazilian workout clothes, but if I had exposed all that bruised chest area today, somebody might have assumed I was in an abusive relationship… which I am, but I don’t want to involve the police yet. We have a new spin instructor from Germany. She looks to be in her 20′s and when she teaches, I hate that I can’t tell the difference between her “15 seconds!” and “50 seconds!”. Like all exercise instructors, she has her catch phrases (imagine these spoken with a thick female German accent):

  • Ziss is NOT a Brhhhhek!
  • You vill get a shoht von soon! (I assume she’s talking about rest)
  • Maybe you need a leetle vahtah?!?

On top of the translating, I have to listen to her German techno disco music circa 1980. This has gotten better over the last few classes. But she always manages to play at least one song that seems interminable. Whenever it plays, I keep picturing guys named “Dieter” walking into the studio in black unitards doing modern dance moves.

Icon of the 80′s

Anyone who knows me, knows I used to say, “I only bike in Mexico.” This was true. Now, I bicycle everyday and I know I am better for it. I would love to bike when I’m back in the States. Google Maps tells me the distance between my home and Kroger (supermarket) is only 2 1/2 miles. Somehow though, I think biking my ass everyday to get a “basketful” of groceries in Atlanta will somehow get old.

POTLUCK

After spin, I rushed home to prepare for Nghi’s potluck lunch. I was bringing Corn Malabari and Cheese nan. I cooked the curry myself, but I bought the nan from Priya because it’s so yummy and making Indian breads still intimidates me. I admire Nghi because despite being so young, she is fiercely independent and self-contained. She and Michael (her husband) are on such an adventure, and it is nice to see the joie de vivre they have for life.

Feeling lucky!

This was just some of the offering at today’s lunch. As we settled down and sat around her low table to chat and share, I couldn’t help but think back to when I was a kid. My parents used to always have people over for dinners, drinks and games. The men would always end up in one room and the women in another with the kids just running around.

My Ex-Pat parents with some of their oldest friends

Those were such good times. Almost everyday I cook for my family with love and care. Today I shared some of my cooking with these strange women and surprisingly, it felt good. I sat around thinking how here we all are. Each one of us coming from different parts of the world sharing our food and our experiences, and yet, common in our endeavors to love through our food. Itadakimasu!

Until next time…

Crack in the Universe

October 9, 2012 By in Aesthetics, cell phones, Daily Living, useful Tags: , , , , , , , 2 Comments

Minecraft Nether Region

Yesterday was “Sports Celebration” Holiday, so my Me Monday had to be shifted to Tuesday. I received a disturbing email from a dear friend who just purchased her microderm kit and evidently got too close to the eyes. Remember, this is nothing to mess around with. There is real power in that wand! Granted, new owners will be tempted to over-exfoliate but please, be careful. As I get older, I have grown to understand the purpose for pubic hair. For all you girls thinking “going bald-eagle” might be a good idea, trust me when I tell you, 20 years later plus a baby or 2, you don’t want to see what happens to your Nether Regions (That’s my homage to Minecraft). FYI, don’t try to microderm “down there” either. Just trust me on this. A friend told me…

So over the weekend, Chase had a friend over named Aaron. Very sweet boy from Germany who is in Chase’s class this year. They are so cute together.

Aaron & Chase at St Mary’s Sports Day

I don’t know why, but when Chase has a friend over, he turns into a different person. He turns into someone I want to medicate or bitch slap. I understand that he gets excited and desperately wants people to like him and be accepted, but what he doesn’t seem to realize is that no where in the definition for “Cool” is the word Spaz. I don’t like to humiliate Chase by chastising him in front of people, so before Aaron came over, we agreed on a safeword which when uttered would signify: Spaz Alert! You are acting mentally challenged! I am about to embarrass you! Our word was Narwhal. Why Narwhal? Because it isn’t a common word, and it’s something Chase just started saying a lot since camp. So now we are walking through Azabu Juban to have dinner at one of my favorite vegetarian restaurants (Aaron is vegetarian! Yay!). Well, just as I was saying Nar— Chase’s wildly gesticulating hand hits my hand and my iPhone hits the cobblestone. It’s one of those moments where it feels like even the birds have stopped chirping. Either I was in total shock, or my self-hypnosis is REALLY good, but I swear, I didn’t even raise my voice. I did shoot Chase some fiery eyes and he did cower and beg forgiveness.

Moment of silence please.

At first, I thought about just toughing it out and using it until we left (yes, it was still working). Then I heard about people cutting their faces while talking on their cracked phones and me without my epidermis already, I decided I must fix my screen.

Opt 1: APPLE STORE/SHIBUYA

You can go to the Apple Store in Shibuya which is supposedly less crowded than in Omotesando/Ginza. First you must go online and make an appointment for the Genius Bar or walk-in and expect to wait around for hours. I always hate going into ANY Apple Store because I feel so weirded out by all the techies and white polo shirts. At Apple Store, to replace a screen on iPhone 4 you should expect to pay 12,000 yen ($154.00).

Opt 2: DO IT YOURSELF

For $49.97 I found a website that provides a kit so you could technically replace a screen yourself. Before I went ahead and ordered it, I researched on YouTube the how-to instructions:

http://youtu.be/wp8wv8TYBfI

At some point, I heard the instructor say, “So 26 micro-screws later… you’re done!” I am a pretty confident girl, but that video just said to me, “You’re screwed.”

Opt 3: QUICK/SHIBUYA

The option I decided to take was the 3rd option to go to a “shop” called Quick Shibuya. A very pleasant lady at Tokyo American Club recommended I go there. Most of the recommendations from the Club tend to be very high-end establishments and I always assume it’s going to be expensive. The “shop” is very close to the Shibuya station and you start walking towards LABI Shibuya & Yamada Denki. It was a little confusing finding the “store” because it is in fact a night club. During the day hours, there is some Japanese guy (who luckily happened to be very cute) waiting in the lounge area with a bunch of tiny repair tools and a box of unbroken iPhone screens. I’m a sucker for good-looking people, so I signed a bunch of papers and handed over my phone (by the way, don’t forget to back up your phone before you go!).

ONE HOUR LATER…

Plus New case!

Even though the “store” was actually the inside of a nightclub, I got over it. Especially given there was no wait, and it only took 1 hour.

Total: 7800 yen = $100 priceless

Until next time…

Upcoming events:

  • October 10th Potluck lunch at Nghi’s
  • October 13th-15th Trip to Hiroshima & Miyajima
  • October 17th Book Club for Shogun (only 1/2 through)
  • October 24th-28th Trip to Korea!
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