Kokochi

Heading back to S.F.

I have more to update, but been a bit busy. Already it's time to head back. I am *so* looking forward to seeing Dav and Tesla. Thanks to skype, however, I got my daily fix of them. Folks at the office caught me talking to T on my laptop : )

Here is when Dav and I left skype running one evening (there)/morning (here) while I worked on my laptop, and he cooked dinner. T played by the TV screen, sang, etc. It was Mama TV. This pic is when Dav pointed out she could see herself, and she had fun posing for herself. While I worked, Dav hopped by to ask if we had tomato sauce or parmesan cheese. Although half way around the world, it was a bit like I was sitting there. Of course, T thinks this is perfectly normal to "hang out" with mama via the TV screen.

p.s. Just got this cute mobile pic of T waiting for the bus with Dav on their way home from preschool...just as I was posting here. I know exactly what she's wearing right now : )

2 time world yo-yo champion

"Black" came to perform at the SAKK office, and teach everyone some yo-yo basics. He's a 2 time world champion, and just got accepted to perform in Cirque du Soleil's Silk show that is being prepared now. Dav and I just saw Ovo, and one of the performers who did an outstanding performance with what looked like a gigantic yo-yo was one of his friends. Anyway, got to sit next to him, drinking lovely champagne. Was a great night!

Videos of Six Aparters yo-yo-ing, and Black's performance to follow.

Settling in, going out

I always arrive on Sunday (late), so I have a full day to get over jet-lag before starting work on Tuesday. Since I didn't have Tesla, my mom and I enjoyed some quality time on Monday. We went shopping, and in the evening, found a neighborhood bar right at the suburban station my parents live at (Hiyoshi). The bartender was very professional, and made the most elegant (and tiny) drinks that cost, er, $20 each. My mom and I loved sharing the experience, albeit a bit spendy. I had a Blue Moon.

 

 

Below is my first lunch, a traditional miso-saba meal. Later that night, after the bar, my dad met up with us, and we went to a tiny Italian restaurant. Very special to be able to share these moments with my parents.

  

Today I got caught up with regular work at the office. And did Skype with Dav and Tesla. She seems to totally understand I'm over at Grandpa/Grandma's over in Japan.

Tomorrow, meetings start.

To Tokyo...

These pics are actually from my last trip in October, taken by my good friend Kotori Piyopiyo. It was from a hotel lobby that was on something like the 55th floor. Crisp and clear pics of the giant city.

As always, I'm just looking forward to hearing Japanese all around me, and just being back. Tesla will stay home. Being away for a week is about all I can handle as she is so cute these days, and mama and her love being together. But it's good to change things so she and daddy have their own routine. Daddy will take her to preschool everyday, which is something she said she wanted in her Valentine's to us so that's good. Mama won't be around to fuss over this and that. She and daddy will have fun. Plus Gran Marie is staying today and Sunday to help out.

Dav and I spent 3 or so hours snuggling on the sofa last night, just enjoying an evening of nothing much, hanging out. It was perfect. Although I miss Dav too when away, I love our email exchanges, and then coming home to him.

Anyhow, it'll good to be back in my other home!

 

Dav cooked an amazing dish!

Chez nous, I cook the majority of time. Last night, Dav busted it out and cooked an amazing dish. He used a wonderful cookbook I have. It's vegan, and from the Millennium Restaurant in S.F. It's quite amazing, but each recipe has 20 ingredients with countless steps, so I've actually been intimidated. Dav chose a burdock root with gently fried oyster mushroom dish, with a wasabi cream sauce along with some other molasses sauce. It took him 2 hours...but oh my; it was just lovely.

I am so proud that he cooked this!! And now I'm inspired to dive into this cookbook, no matter how many ingredients : )

Cool dinos at preschool

I dropped Tesla off at preschool a bit late on Thursday, and found that they had Mr. Dino Man come to show the kids dino bones and foot prints. He even set up sand so the kids could dig out tiny bones. And apparently they got to touch dino poo poo.

Tesla didn't say much about the dino event when I picked her up that day, but later the teacher told me she had started sitting in the back of the group, and by the end of the presentation, she was up front. 

I'm glad to have stumbled upon it; I rather wanted to stay for the presentation!

 

Tea House heated by compost

Now this is cool. Harnessing heat from compost. Brilliant in many ways.

Growing up in S.F.

Taken by Daddy-o while I was getting my make-up done on Sat.

T wearing her favorite dress, on her beloved tricycle, enjoying the open space by the Bay Bridge. I hope T keeps these memories as she grows up in S.F., just like her grandma Marie.

While watching the Olympic ice skating pairs Shen/Zhao...

Since we went ice-skating, I thought I'd show Tesla some high-level ice-skating and found the winning couple's free style performance online. Half way through, T asked, "are they going to stop??" After I giggled at her, while the couple still skated on my laptop, she then said, "that's not ballet...."

I then offered, "do you want to watch some skiing?" to which she replied, "no, I want to watch trains."

Nice weekend

Didn't go anywhere this long weekend, which is actually the kind of weekend I love most. Just hanging around, unhurried. Sat. started rather glamorous. Vicki and I went and got our make-up done at Shu Uemura at Nordstroms, so I learned some new techniques, and bought some nice eye shadow. We got dolled up because Vicki's husband is a camera buff, and Dav joined with his camera to take some fun pics of us (with a wink towards Valentine's). As I get older, I know I'll later be happy to have some really sweet pictures of me even though I'm not comfortable in front of the camera. Most will stay private, but here's one I like.

Other than that, it was regular stuff, which lately, I'm thankful for. I'm in love with my husband, Tesla is awesome, we're healthy, happily employed, and live in a beautiful city. And I get to head back to Tokyo next weekend and see my folks. I'm even thankful (and mention this to Dav rather often) that our bed is super comfortable, and that I got 2 hours to read a book while T napped. Oh, and I almost forgot; we finally got to see Avatar in 3D at IMAX. Loved it!...even though I got seriously queasy during the action scenes with the 3D effects.

Here is T excited that I allowed her to have a tootsie roll lollypop. Hearing her bite that sugar made me cringe, but boy, she loved it. With the weather so amazing, we spent lots of time at the park...this 2nd pic angle was requested by Tesla. Came out well! On Sunday, we hung out at Delores Park, which is such a center of SF city life. Everyone was out. It was so nice we walked home. On the right below here is the line of fake eyelashes Shu Uemura has. I know fake lashes have been a huge thing in Tokyo, and here was just a part of the selection at the store. I have to say, fake lashes are fun. And now, I'm heading off to the gym with Elida (without her I just don't go), and Dav is making dinner tonight. Perfect weekend for moi! Happy Valentine's!