"Everything changes... except maybe you."

I got up early and caught the 8:20 bus. It's not the train, but it'll do. The man who sat next to me for half the trip told me all about everything along Michigan Ave that's not there anymore. When i got off the bus, i walked up the block to a nice cafe for an americano and read a bit while i waited for my friend to meet me.

When he got there, we went to the bookstore and i got a new Sweet Valley High book. I also found out something interesting about Nancy Drew that i'd like to investigate. We had Italian food for lunch and went to the market.

It's only natural that while wearing the most expensive piece of clothing i own (with the exception of Yukari's yukata), i would order spaghetti for lunch and then decide to climb a tree. But all the spots came out, or are small enough to hide in the shirring, and what good are pretty dresses if they keep you from having fun? No good!! Godzillas agree!!

one kanji short of sense

Today was mainly without adventure. I changed to a summer bedspread and did laundry. Here's a nice picture that was emailed to me yesterday:

o-kaa-san he: gute reise!

Today i had black tea at breakfast and then read for a while, and took a very long time getting dressed and ready and ironing, i suppose because i was on the phone with my mom. Then, Gramma and i played Scrabble but it's a little harder with just two and we quit before it was over. By then, it was already 5:45 so i went to youth group. During "duct tape ball," Brianna, Hannah and i talked about mysteries, mystery stories, and how to find a real mystery. Small group was good, though we went into some rather complex theological issues and i'm afraid nobody left feeling any more sorted out about them, since we don't have quite that much time; also i had to cut it a touch short so i wouldn't keep Mom waiting all night. It's too bad, because it's something rather important that really should be sorted out, i think. But also the girls were about as distracted as they were interested, if that makes sense. They were interested. But they were also distracted and all of our prayer requests had to do with boys.

Mom was here when i got home and had just made BLTs for her and Gramma. She stayed for a while and i lent her a suitcase, gave her a purse (although she gave me two), and sold her a foundation. I hope she has a wonderful trip ♥ ♥

Unusually Typical

Memorial Day

Today i slept late, then got up and had green tea and a yogurt mix. I went grocery shopping, planted flowers, and made this meal of burgers, potato salad, watermelon, and coke.

quietish

Today in church the message continued on the demise of the house of Eli, and in Sunday school we studied two Psalms -- i want to say 41 and 42 but i haven't checked. "Why are you downcast, oh my soul?" Then we had a missions trip meeting which was quite interesting. I came home and expected to spend the afternoon reading, but soon found myself rearranging furniture and washing windows. Then i printed out a few things, finished my book, and started cleaning my own room. I cleaned for hours but it really doesn't look much different. My closet looks much neater, but it's about as packed as can be. I think i would like for my room to be like an upscale clothing store, with everything as if it's on display. Then i wouldn't lose track of purses, shoes, and articles of clothing for months and years at a time. But i'd need a lot of space for that, i suppose. Or perhaps the answer is to have less clothes.

please enjoy this pirate themed event

Today we did a road rally. Look at the great guides we were given! Setting mine on fire was in no way intended as a sign of disrespect, because i thought they looked really good. And they came in a fancy treasure chest too! I don't really recall if i've ever done a road rally before. Anyway our team won. Go team.

le temps des cerises

Today i went to the movies with Hannah and Lanka. After buying our tickets we went to Pastry House Hippo for delicious baked goods. I got a fruit danish. It was so cute, i wish i had taken a picture. At the very least, i wish i had not eaten it in a dark movie theater so i could have enjoyed its prettiness more. I also got a couple melon pans and a croquette. I wish that place was down the street from my house. I think i'd go every day. We have a few bakeries nearby but it's not the same... there's an "Italian bakery" which does mostly bread. I got an eclair once but it was way too sweet. And there's another bakery on the other side that seems to specialize more in wedding cakes and baklava trays. Come to think of it, there are quite a lot of bakeries around here. But my impression is that most specialize in special occasion cakes. And i'm sure none of them make "Japanese style" pastries.

Anyway after the movie, i discovered i had left my headlights on, so we walked to Starbucks in hopes that my battery would recharge enough by the time we got back. I wore my new dress and Laura and Hannah enjoyed watching the looks people gave me as they drove by. The girl at Starbucks gave us a free brownie (and the girl at the movie theater gave us a free Mt. Dew slushee). We walked back to the car and rejoiced that the plan had been granted success.

I took the girls home and stopped at the grocery store for milk and, i suddenly decided, ingredients for potato salad. I wasn't very hungry but it was fun to cook. By the time it was done though, i was a little hungry and had a bowl. The onion is a bit much. It was Grandma's request, and i didn't see the white onion until after i put the red one in. I also put in cucumbers, boiled egg, mayonnaise of course, and a little garlic. I think this is my first time ever making potato salad.

I also bought cherries, which i'd been craving. They are delicious and pretty! Now, i think i'll make another cup of tea.

fairy tales, poems, and legends

Sah ein Knab ein Röslein stehn;
Roslein auf der Heiden,
War so jung und morgenschön,
Lief er schnell, es nah zu sehn,
Sah's mit vielen Freuden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot,
Röslein auf der Heiden.

Knabe sprach; ich breche dich,
Röslein auf der Heiden!
Röslein sprach; ich steche dich,
Dass du ewig denkst an mich,
Und ich will's nicht leiden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot,
Röslein auf der Heiden.

Und der wilde Knabe brach
S'Röslein auf der Heiden;
Röslein wehrte sich und stach,
Half ihr doch kein Weh und Ach.
Musst es eben leiden.
Röslein, Röslein, Röslein rot,
Röslein auf der Heiden.

gramma turns 85

youtube squashed it.

tuesday

...went by so fast i couldn't believe it. mostly i drank tea, club soda, got dressed, read a psalm, read a novel. i really can't imagine where the day went so quickly. i also painted my nails. before i knew it it was time to get hannah, sam, and go to youth group. gramma got a fun birthday card from my mom. the weather was nice. i wore my macy's dress.

angelic pretty

Aha! Angelic Pretty, the store that does not ship to the US, has come through! It's not a cardigan but it doesn't have ears, either.

I found an Angelic Pretty dress at Close Child that was designed like a school dress sort of (well, it had a school-like crest on it) and i thought about trying it on but i was tired and i thought i might go back there so i didn't.

And, i looked in all their shops i happened to go to (that might have been only one, i can't remember. maybe two if they have one at marui young) for this favorite bag but they didn't have it there. i don't know how i would have decided which color to get anyway.

Today has been 100% uneventful. My sister called and asked me to show something to Gramma on the computer, which Gramma then asked me (ultimately) to print out for her, which i did, and that's really all that's happened.

Monday BABY Report

<--This is the bag i was considering buying but then i recalled that whole brand accessories/apparel conversation on the way to La Shish (also it looks a bit purpley) and bought a certain jumperskirt instead. This is the bag i have since wished i'd bought (since it's rather more affordable) in either pink or black white, but i've found ways around it. Most of my bags are very tiny so i've been liking these bigger ones.

I'm not sure how big this--> is but it's super super adorable.

All of Baby's hoodies seem to have bunny ears on them. I don't want bunny ears. Or cat ears either... why not bear ears?

Speaking of hoodies, i saw a picture of the Brilliant Green yesterday and Tommy is wearing a red hoodie and i thought "i want a red hood." It could be a sweater or a hoodie or cloak or whatever, so long as it has a red hood. Don't i have any red hoods? I don't think i do.

Meanwhile over at Metamorphose i like this dress, and also in white. The skirt looks unusually not full. (Is there a better way i could have phrased that? I don't know.) Also i've always liked this kimono print dress.

If only this cardigan had a hood. I like the school look of it.

sunday shoe report

i was browsing around zappos looking for something like the white shoes to the left, or possibly the ones on the right (they are slightly different....) but then i started looking at the betsey johnson and the irregular choice shoes and even though what i really want is something simple and versatile i also would like to be able to walk in these:


and then i almost decided these were perfect:but then i re-thought the super high heel + ankle strap; i'm not sure about that look. excepting that, they are the dream.


these are super cute... yellow and ladiesbugs and gingham... but on the bottom they're even more super cute!! i would not even want to walk on them.


and although i can't imagine her wearing them... these shoes, being purple and named "gypsey girl," reminded me of lanka.




i think that's it for my shoe report. now it's bed time for me.

cocolatte

Aw, Gramma just came in and thanked me for making "din-din." I don't cook often because i figure she doesn't eat much and i'm too lazy to cook for myself sometimes, since most of it usually goes to waste anyway, but today i wanted to make dinner because i have been so bored and purposeless the past few days that i thought it would at least give me some little project to work on for a few hours. And look at the All American dinner i made! Chicken (with teriyaki sauce ok not so all american), green beans, and biscuits. I should have included a potato dish! In school i sometimes used to doodle little dinner plates in my notes with chicken legs, peas, and mashed potatoes; so i guess that's my true image of the All American dinner.

I actually went to the store to get pop, but came home with club soda instead. I made it with lime juice and sugar, which is really a lot more refreshing than pop. I always think i want a cold, fresh pop but after the first few sips i don't really want it anymore. But i have a hard time getting through the mental block of thinking i want it...like Starbucks.

When shopping i'm usually quite good about not buying much junk food, aside from Gramma's cookies and Hershey's Kisses, but i usually regret being so good when i get home. I'm actually fine now because i got two boxes of tea, and when i'm finished with the cup i'm drinking now i'm going to make another soda. Also this afternoon i finished off a box of strawberry whoppers (the malt candies of course) i found under my bed.

That was when i was trying to clean my room. I moved a lot of things around, but i can't say it looks any better. I just don't know how to do it. Yukari's room is so much tinier than mine but it's so much cleaner. I'm sure i don't have all that much more stuff than she does. I think i just don't know how to process it as well.

And that brings me to the beginning of the day. I woke up at ten, so good!! I was awake (though i can't say "up") for a few hours and then took a shower, and then i got back in bed again and slept till 3:30. Oh no! I'm very scared about waking up tomorrow morning for that 8:00 meeting. I'm hoping that my excitement about the probability of coffee being there will work its way into my subconscious and it will jolt me awake around 7:00 am. I haven't seen 7:00 am EST for nearly a month, i think.

I got tired of scouring youtube for Star Trek episodes and then staying up all night waiting for them to load so i decided to rent a movie from the DVD rental machine at the grocery store. My personal DVD collection is very very small and 60% foreign 20% yoga and 20% old nancy drew episodes but that's ok because i don't usually watch movies more than once anyway.

Fairy Tale

It was a quiet spring day and i had just begun organizing photographs from a recent holiday when i received a letter from my friend Toxy. She asked me to come over for a light meal of potato soup, corn biscuits, and tea. The road from my house to hers could be a perilous and expensive one but since i hadn't been out for days, i decided right away to go.

I put on a pair of socks and my cherry slippers and took a parasol and my handbag. It took longer than expected to get there, but i was only robbed of $5. When i arrived, dinner was ready so we ate immediately. I enjoyed the tea especially because i am all out of Earl Gray and i miss it.

After we ate, we decided to take a walk. When we realized we'd forgotten our parasols, we knew we were in for an adventure. After successfully braving a meadow filled with a number of gnomes engaged in some rowdy sport of theirs, we stopped by the river to rest. Toxy informed me that it is one of the few rivers known to go "back and forth" and is quite a natural wonder.

We felt compelled to go into town, which meant climbing a great tower of stairs in order to get through the city gate. Unfortunately the bottom of these stairs is guarded by a gang of angry youth with brutish weapons.

But, we conquered the gang and continued on our way up the stairs, looking down on them with great triumph. However we decided to take a different way home.

As we entered the town, we passed a number of shops and sat down near a gazebo. By now, i realized that our encounter with the gang of angry youth hadn't been as triumphant as i thought: clearly, one of them had slipped Toxy some devious potion or cast a spell on her during the battle... for she fell in love with the first lamp post she saw.

We went immediately to visit our friend the Tiger, who suggested a remedy available at a nearby shop, which we frequented and knew well. But we didn't have any money with us, so he then suggested we try the nectar of a certain purple flower that grew profusely on School Ethelda Street. This did the trick, so we waved our thanks to the Tiger and went on to the church. Everything was still in place from the last time we visited. We didn't go to the Convent that day and only stopped briefly by the Narnia Door, but we spent quite a lot of time sitting under the tower. We wondered if there might be someone held captive up there but never really got to investigating. When the bell tolled, we thought we had better leave.

As we stood up, we suddenly realized we'd grown much smaller than before. We looked around in wonder, but since there didn't seem to be anything we could do about this, we kept going until we found the red brick path that would lead us home.

When we were almost there, i pointed out a mysterious looking pathway that led down under the city gate. Toxy had seen it before, but had never seen it without a heavy gate blocking the way. That day, it was wide open.

"We should go down there," she said. We set off in that direction right away. When we had not walked very far down the road, we found ourselves in a mysterious, ancient forest. Behind us, we could still see sunlight at the entrance, but we kept going. We realized we were approaching another branch of the back-and-forth river. On the far bank, an elf boy sang as he walked along, carrying a couple buckets on a pole. We avoided attracting his attention.

When we reached the river, we crossed over on an old bridge. I'm afraid my friend is a bit of a vandal, and could not resist writing her name on it with the juice of some berries she found nearby.

By continuing on that same path, we soon left the ancient, enchanted forest and entered the cluster of estates just outside the city wall; only a few odd trees scattered here and there, with twisted trunks or jet black leaves, were left to give any indication of the strange forest nearby.

Upon arriving safely home, we realized that we'd somehow returned to normal size. So we treated ourselves to some delicious ice cream and called it a day.

The End

and so i did

this caused quite a bit of reminiscence by my grandmother about her husband, her in-laws, etc.

and as for you?

Today i walked to the market and bought a bunch of lovely, small yellow apples. It was chilly outside but i warmed up enough as i walked. In fact the sun came out, though since coming home it went away again.

I think i'll make pierogies for dinner.

Alas

the explorer. . .

luncheons

Today started off sunny and then got stormy. A kind friend made me a very delicious sandwich and a great big cup of coffee. I was so happy.




My sister has finally sent me the pictures she took at our Easter tea party.

The Event

The Dessert

mother's day

Unfortunately i slept till 10:00 today and missed church. This put me in a bad mood so i just stayed in bed till 2:00. Finally i thought "my family will probably be coming over soon, so i should get up."

Nicki called so Gramma and i both talked to her for a bit. Then Laura and Bethany got here about 2:30. I showed them some of the things i got in Japan. They made me put on the pink dress. It was the first time i've worn it aside from trying it on. I left it on till Mom and BJ got here, then i changed back.

We ate garlic bread and little sandwich rolls and exchanged gifts and souvenirs for various reasons, then ate the cake mom brought. It was a Bisquick velvet crumb cake (she said that seemed Mom-ish) with strawberries and cool whip.

Naturally, we played Scrabble. I won, but only because i went out first and Grandma got stuck with the Q. Laura, Bethany, and i, and later Mom, went outside and took pictures. It was super nice out. Then, inside, we even got Gramma to pose for some. Shokku!

Puppies and Parasols

Today Hannah and i went to visit Lanka at who has been suffering from a migraine and is now dog sitting. She looks like a gypsy these days. The dog owners have a self-playing piano. The black parasol is Hannah's souvenier from Japan. Now we're drinking root beer.

friday

we went to the park
i had an omelet for supper
we threw a football

i didn't mean for that to be haiku

kaeru

I woke up super sleepy but at least before Yukari left for work. She showed me where to leave her key, etc., and we said goodbye. I drank a juice and ate a melon pan with raisins in it. Then i took a shower, got dressed and made up, and finalized packing. Then i was thirsty and nervous about carrying my suitcases, carrying-on my parasols, catching the bus, and the rain forecast -- so i decided to go for the 10:00 bus to the airport instead of the 12:20. 12:20 would have been basically perfect timing, since it takes about an hour and a half to get there, and my flight was at 4:30. But i figured there would be more to do in the airport the Yukari's house and then i could get my bags out of the way.

At the bus stop i asked a man with a suitcase if he were going to Narita, so that i would know for sure i was getting on the right bus, and he started talking to me. He was actually Chinese and had lived in Japan for 15 years. His Japanese was really easy for me to understand. So we talked for part of the bus ride and i also emailed with Yukari. I used my last 1500 yen on the bus, although i did exchange $1 at the airport so i could buy a tea from the vending machine.

Things went smoothly at the airport, even as early as i was, and nobody minded my umbrellas once i told them what they were. I browsed in shops (as expected, there were many) and bought my last meal in Japan at Lawsons. I forgot to take a photo but it was sort of strange:
-a sushi roll like i used to eat in Hikone
-curry pan, which i tried once 5 years ago and didn't like
-pudding
-cafe latte
and a melon pan but i saved that till i got home.

Our flight time was moved up twenty minutes. I read some, watched part of each movie, and slept only enough to ensure i wouldn't be able to fall asleep again for the rest of the flight. Mostly i was restless and anxious to get home. And right after we left Tokyo, we flew through a scary thunderstorm! There was thunder and lightning outside the plane, and turbulence that bounced us right out of our seats and made everybody say "Whoo!" I didn't like it.

BUT we made it to Detroit and it was hot and i was tired and we went to Target. My day was long but super lovely and i was the happiest girl ever.

more tokyo exploration, and curry soup

The bus arrived at Tokyo Station about 6:00 am, and thankfully the trains were not at all crowded yet. I made it back to Yukari's apartment easily despite my very heavy bag. She let me in and we left again about an hour later. We agreed to meet for lunch.

I went to the Imperial Gardens as they opened and it was already getting hot. I was feeling not particularly sleepy, but rather sluggish, so i decided to find some coffee. The first place i came across was Starbucks which is horribly boring but i went in anyway. (There were all sorts of more fun cafes down the street.) I got a lemon cake and a coffee frappuccino. I know, i didn't even get the matcha one!! I wanted to, but i also really wanted coffee. But cold coffee.

I browsed in a bookstore for a while and stopped in a small park, then went back to Yukari's building and met her for lunch. All the restaurants in the area were super crowded, but we found a few stools at a Korean spot.

After she went back to work, i walked for a long time but did not find Ginza. So i got on the subway and did it that way. I ordered a huge parfait at Fujiya and it was nice and fruity and ice creamy.

After Ginza, i went to Ebisu where i went to the Garden Place and stopped by the Metropolitan Photography Museum. Unfortunately only the exhibit in the basement was open that day. I'm not terribly into landscapes and super vibrant color but i enjoyed it, and learned about Sado island (with the help of my guidebook) which i had never heard of. There was also a beer museum at Garden Place but i didn't go.

I walked back to Ebisu station and then towards Daikanyama. I think i was actually in Daikanyama briefly, but the roads are so crazy that without even realizing i was going in a circle, i found myself back at Ebisu station. But, my impression is that it's cute, with narrow hilly streets and my image of a Tokyo cafe (so cute and tiny with room for only one table on the patio). An awful lot of hair salons, though. But, this may have been Ebisu and not Daikanyama. My guidebook said Daikanyama has an almost western vibe, but i didn't sense anything like that where i was.

So back at the station, i tried again, this time in the direction of Shibuya. That actually worked, though i didn't know it without asking the girl in the cafe after Yukari emailed me to find out where i was.

I looked around in Mark City and then took some purikura by myself (haha) in a smoky arcade , bought some socks, and exchanged $20 more into yen. She let me know when she was almost there. Then we went to Mizue's together. She made us delicious curry soup, a Hokkaido specialty it seems (her and her husband are both from Hokkaido), turmeric rice and her own plum wine. We also got to try cheese from her husband's family's dairy farm. It was all wonderful! Her husband brought home some (grape!) ice cream, and Yukari had made cheesecake. I hadn't seen Mizue in a long time.

We got home around midnight. I had to pack. :(

baby

Today i slept late and had rice, miso soup, and eggs for breakfast. When Michiyo's mom came home, she made maccha milk for us. Then, armed with Michiyo's specific maps and step-by-step instructions, i went out to Sakae by myself. I went to Baby, the Stars Shine Bright. There was a very pretty girl working there who is half English and did her best to speak English to me. She was sweet and helpful and i ended up with a pink jumperskirt, some tiny notebooks, a parasol, and a wallet for my friend.

When i was finished there, i took a walk in Central Park. I stopped under the TV Tour again for some melon flavored ice cream, and sat there and thought about how lucky the girl at BABY is to be able to get up every day and get all dressed up and go work there. Nearby some people with video cameras were interviewing some ladies at another table. I went and sat in the park. It was a VERY hot day. I ended up opening my nicely wrapped parasol to block some sun while i sat and rested. Then i walked underground a little, and stopped at Vie de France for another snack but mainly for a cold beverage. I was feeling a little guilty for spending so much money, but when i saw my pretty pink package it cheered me up. And i thought it would also be nice to work in a coffee shop.

At home, i was surprised to find Michiyo dressed. Later, i was asked to watch Yuma while Michiyo and her mom went to the grocery store to get some things for dinner.

He didn't cry at all till about the time his mom got back.

Dinner was cold noodles, which were really good, and some kind of mixed up sushi with eel, also good, and oyster soup. I took a shower, ate some watermelon while Mom wrapped up my parasols, then ate a cafe au lait ice cream bar. Finally Kazuma took me to Nagoya station where i boarded a bus called Ladies Dream for Tokyo.