She's Turning Into Jed

me: Ariana, how was school today?

her: fine

me: what did you do?

her: (blank stare and silence, then) huh??

More Birthday Pictures

Tess keeps watch as Ariana opens a present...
gently placing the Oreo's on the roof......
Ryder couldn't wait.......
"happy birthday to you".....
Baba made it home just in time.......

Ariana's Fourth Birthday or The Day I Went Insane

It actually began a few days before when I decided to make gingerbread houses for Ariana and her friends to decorate. It took me two days to make the gingerbread and another to put them together into what could only generously called houses - they were actually more like tenement houses or more realistically - outhouses.

The recipe itself was easy - the mixing wore me out as the batter is really hard and with only a hand mixer, very tiring. The putting together was frustrating as the walls kept coming down, which required an enormous amount of icing glue to make stick.


They all stood up on the day of decorating though which made me very happy. A thin film of flour is still on the counters after many scrubbings and I am still finding bits of gingerbread batter stuck to everything with a 10 foot range of the mixer. And Ariana's creation is on the counter waiting to be eaten.

Then, in an additional fit of "creativity" in the wake of the "no sugar" policy at her school (don't even get me started on this one!!) I decided to make a "fruit" cake. While at the store to buy a piece of Styrofoam to stick the fruit on, my friend Darla encouraged me to get creative and actually make something. The something turned into a truck, since Ariana is big into Bob the Builder these days, shouting with excitement every time we see a truck, or a mixer, or actually anything resembling anything Bob the Builderish.



At school, the kids liked the truck and the fruit, but were still disappointed there was no cake (I found out that morning at the mom's meeting that I could have made a cake with honey or another "natural" sweetener, but really, that just gets me more irate- sugar is sugar!!!)

At home, the kids arrived and were having a fine time......

The Bob the Builder Lego Crane Set went over well...........
and Ariana had fun showing everyone how the elevator worked in her new doll house..



running laps around the apartment was fun for everyone............
.....here is Ariana showing Darla how old she is now........4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And Now, A Brief Pause From This Blog For A Political Announcement

During my time in Japan, I have learned to enjoy living in peace. Peace from fear, anger and just plain nastiness. These things being absent in my life lead me to be drawn to a candidate who proposed real change, who spoke of hope. For a long time, these words were absent from politics and to hear them again was refreshing. I have been away long enough to believe real change is possible and to understand how much US citizens live in an environment of “fear” without even knowing it.

What I have seen the past few days reminded me that sometimes we have to fight for a change in the way people look at things. Rather than offer real plans, Mr. McCain, Ms. Palin and their supporters offered sarcasm, insults and fear – yet again.

How can someone with more homes he remembers call a couple who recently paid off their student loans elitist?

How can someone rail against government in peoples lives while trying to ban books in the library in her hometown for being “controversial”.

How can you uphold a Bill of Rights that talks about separation of church and state and then propose teaching creationism in the public schools?

How can the most prosperous country in the world be one holdout for providing healthcare to all of it’s’ citizens? This is the question I am asked about the most when I am talking to people from other countries and it is frankly, embarrassing to have to answer. We are on the Japanese healthcare system and it works for me just fine.

Yes, I agree, families and especially children should be off limits in politics, but what about the policies involved. Ms. Palin is for abstinence education and against any sort of comprehensive sex education when study after study (not to mention her own personal experience) shows that abstinence education alone just does not work.

For those interested in the economy, read this article from the Washington Monthly www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2005_05/006282.php. If you don’t want to read it, just ask yourself if you are better now than you were eight years ago? Are we better off? Eight years ago we had billion of dollars in surplus; now we have a deficit even larger.

All of the anger, the sarcasm, and the insults mask the fact that just a few weeks ago, the Republicans were mocking Obama’s call for change – now they have co-opted the message as their own. But so far, I have heard no details about what they will do different, but more importantly seen anything in their methods and behavior to believe they are sincere.

for more on ms. palin - http://my2bucks.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/a-letter-from-someone-who-has-known-sarah-palin-since-1992/

My New SUV

...Japanese style. Otherwise known as a mama-chari, these motorized bikes can be seen all over Tokyo. Since Ariana's new school is a few miles away, this seemed the best way to get her back and forth. She and I, both with helmets securely fastened and with shouts of "mama, be careful" from the little back seat driver, made our way carefully through the quiet streets and up the steep hills (hence the need for the motor) to school.
Unscathed.
So far.
Most adults here don't wear helmets and only some of the kids do, so I was quite relieved to see one of the other mothers pulling up to the school in a helmet. "I'm from Chicago", she said when I commented how we seemed to be the only two who were risking looking silly. True, in any big city in America, all you see are people in helmets and for kids, it's the law.
Since the bike "rules of the road" are fluid here (ride on the street unless you can't and then ride on the sidewalk) , you are competing with cars, motorcycles or pedestrians at any given moment. I wonder why more people don't"risk looking silly" as the potential for an accident is pretty good.
I am happy to say that our trips to school have so far been incident free.
So far.

Oh Sado Mio

One of my favorite places anywhere is the island of Sado, off the western coast of Japan. We went for the Earth Celebration, a festival started by Kodo, a famous Taiko drumming group. After arriving on Friday and getting settled in our room, we enjoyed the dinner prepared by the hotel - a typical Japanese one made up of many little dishes. This being Sado, an island known for its seafood, most of the dishes came from the sea, most were recognizable and most were delicious.

Saturday morning we made our way down to Ogi, the port town where the festival was being held. Meeting our friends Ryan, Darla and Ryder, we spent the mostly rainy day listening to drumming, walking around the festival market and marveling at the amazingly relaxed crowd.

Kanatsuryu Yanagawa Shishi Odori (Deer Dance)

A Brazilian group called Bloco Barravento, made up of both Japanese and Brazilian drummers.
Waiting patiently to get into the gym to hear the next group....

A very relaxed group waiting for the main band, Olodum, to perform. I have never seen such an orderly group. Before we got to our spot, we had to line up according to the color card we got earlier in the day. Even within the green group, we had numbers - this was the chart:



Can you believe anyone would pay attention to this in the states? - NO WAY. But here, everyone did. We had a very steep climb up to the clearing for the concert and everyone sat down very nicely. No pushing, no shoving, no fights. An announcement was made about the venue and the concert, what was allowed and what wasn't and a special note that if you wanted to dance, to please move to the side as to not disturb the people behind you who may not want to stand. This lasted all of about 30 seconds once the main band Oludum came out. As they are Brazilian and not used to sitting still during a musical performance, they immediately called out for everyone to stand, which we all did - and danced for almost the entire two hour performance, through rain and everything. Even Baba san was dancing - and Ariana, well let me just show you. Mind you, this was shot earlier in the day as we were listening to Bloco Barravento, but you get the idea:

"Oh My Gosh"

Ariana exclaimed as we arrived at Hello Kitty Land. And with good reason. An enormous amusement park/shopping arcade filled with various Hello Kittys posing for pictures, performers with ridiculously happy smiles and enormous reserves of energy and little children squealing in delight made for a child's ecstasy and a mother's hell.


I did get a decorating tip from the "Hello Kitty House" as Ariana seemed to like the Hello Kitty bed and since we are thinking of retiring the toddler bed, this would be easy since we already have a day bed. The rest of the house was filled with all things Kitty - from light fixtures to free standing fireplace. And yes, lots of pink.

Ariana seemed to like this one the best...
she was a little creeped out by this one...
(Shoot me now!!!)

By the end of the day, we had ridden on the Hello Kitty boat ride ( a total rip off of Disney World's "It's a Small World" but cute nonetheless) seen two shows, eaten Hello Kitty lollipops, cookies and Bento boxes. Ariana's friend Rhianna said she liked it better than Disneyland. Ariana has been wearing the Hello Kitty water bottle around her neck since we got home. I have decided that since we have now been to Hello Hell Land, WE NEVER HAVE TO GO AGAIN!!!!

This weekend...off to Sado Island and the Earth Festival!!

Only In Japan

1) Yesterday after dropping Ariana off at her gym class, I headed back to the apartment. When I got there, I realized I had left the keys in the stroller, which was still outside in front of the gym about a mile and a half away. Rather than freaking out, I went across the street to the bookstore, had a coffee and strolled back in time to pick Ariana up. Keys were still there. This being Japan, I had no doubt they would be.

2) Before reaching the apartment, I stopped at the pharmacy to pick up some medication for Ariana, as our doctor had called the night before telling us she would call in a prescription. I was supposed to get 5 days worth, but for some reason they only gave me 2. After explaining how to take it, the pharmacist explained something else, but I was not sure what. I had a feeling it was about the other 3 days, but couldn't figure out exactly what. Since I would be at the doctor's today, I figured I would find out the details from the doctor.

At about 8:30pm the bell rang downstairs. Not expecting anyone, I figured it was the occasional Jehovah's witness and was all prepared to ignore it. Baba san answered and as I came walking towards the phone, heard "DiLaura medicine" coming from the speaker. As it turns out, the pharmacist herself came to deliver the other 3 days worth - earlier they only had enough for two days, but got more later that day.

Like I said, only in Japan.

The only way to really stay cool in August in Tokyo is to stay submerged in water. With the "real fee" temperature above 100 (106 today!!!) and the humidity index in the 90s, other than staying indoors, the only alternative is to sweat, continuously - and just as continuously dab at yourself with the tiny little towel you carry with you at all times. Or if you are like me, just drip and watch as the perspiration stains appear in the most embarrassing places, because you constantly forget to put the little towel in your bag - being otherwise pre-occupied with remembering the keys, the wallet, the sunscreen, the extra pair of underpants, the extra pair of pants, the juice cup, the crayons and paper for waiting. Oh yes, the glasses, the garage clicker, the cell phone....the list goes on and on.

On Tuesday Ariana and I went to Meguro, a town about 20 minutes on foot from where we live. Along the river is a complex with pools, a library, children's center and museum - not to mention tennis courts. The pools open at 10am and there is usually a line to get in. We park the stroller in the little "stroller lot" and wait as we are also a few minutes early. Promptly (this is Japan after all) at 10, the doors are open and everyone politely files in, stopping to remove shoes at the benches. Depending on what pool you want to go to, you buy a ticket. (100yen - less than a dollar) gets us two hours at the baby pool - extra time is a big 70 yen. Possessions get placed in a locker and then after a quick stop at the toilet and showers, we are ready.

The pool has two lifeguards - one at either end. The guard at the far end has the more difficult job as he is in charge of the slide. Imagine a line of children between the ages of 1 and 4, waiting for a chance to hurl themselves down a very fast slide into the water. Yes, the lifeguard has an abundance of patience.


Not that the guard on the other, more quiet end has it much easier. It is there where the water and eye fountains are. What you see below may look like water fountains, but they are actually little fountains with dual sprays for washing ones eyes out. However, the aforementioned 1 -4 year olds think it is much more fun to just turn the faucets on and play in the fine spray that comes out. The poor lifeguard has to gently and politely tell the children not to do that.

Just like he politely told me yesterday, when we went back with friends Rhianna, Tom and Clare, that I had to take my necklace off, as Japanese pools are jewelry free zones. I can't tell you why, but they are. I can tell you I am still trying to untie my necklace from my hat, where I had put it for safekeeping.

Not that there is really reason for that. I ended up leaving my keys and cellphone in the stroller pocket for the entire time I was in the pool and they were both there when I got back. Not that I am in the habit of doing that (ok, I admit, I am) but this is what happens when you are busy remembering the bathing suit, the goggles, the towel, the sunscreen, the water...........

She Runs, She Jumps, She Spins

Since we've been back, Ariana has spent a large amount of time climbing on everything in the apartment, including us. We finally got the hint that perhaps she needed an outlet for this rather new physical need so last week Ariana went to her gym class every morning.

We normally go just on Sunday mornings, but during the summer months, the school holds week long sessions as people are usually looking for things for their children to do inside where it is cool.

A man named Lance Lee runs the class and his four sons, ranging in age from 15 to 21 are the teachers. They are patient and really work with the kids. Ariana was the youngest and was very hesitant at first, but as you can see, she really got into the swing of things.

Here she is attempting a back bend. At the beginning, she couldn't hold herself up, but at the last session, she could almost do it without help.

At lunch she hung out with the older girls, who seemed to like having a "little sister" to take care of.

The week before, we tried a swim class, which Ariana liked a lot. She especially liked the goggles, so much so........................
.................that she fell asleep wearing the ones I bought her. After that day, we went to a public pool in the next town over, where she splashed around until she was all wrinkled like a prune. It is good she likes the water, because it has been so hot here, hanging out in the pool is a good way to spend the day.

It is very quiet, friend wise, during July and August as that is when many expats go back to their native countries for the summer. Add to that several friends who moved back, and both Ariana and I have not had that many people to play with.

It has given us time to catch up with some people we rarely see. And I have had a couple of dinners with my working girl friends, which is always much fun. Baba san and I went to dinner to celebrate my friend Gill's publication of her new book, one she wrote with her friend Sherrie. ' They are both professors - Gill's subject is political economics here in Japan and Sherrie's is political science and women's studies in the states. There was a great mix of people and we all had a great time until it was time to go home. In the cab I got really sad because it was the kind of night my mother would have loved hearing about.

But I can't call anymore.