The Little Graduate

Ariana "graduated" from the Blue team yesterday, complete with a diploma and class photo. Actually, we had an early ceremony since we will be in Florida when the official one happens next week. The kids sang songs and then the director called Ariana up and gave her the certificate. She seemed less than thrilled as if she already knows that a diploma from the Blue team is only the beginning of a long a frustrating journey through kindergarten, elementary, middle, high school and then college and grad school, if she is so inclined.

We are off tomorrow for Florida - and then up to Maryland to see Jed graduate and meet more of baba-san's family. Ariana will be meeting cousins she hasn't met before - come to think of it, we will all be doing that as long lost cousins will be joining us for a celebratory lunch. It is very exciting.

The 13 hour plane ride is not so exciting, but we are staying overnight in NY and will be getting a visit from Ariana's Godmother, who Ariana enjoys very much.

I will spend this last day getting last minute gifts and attending yet another May birthday party for Ryder, one of Ariana's friends. Luckily, the timing coincides with the time we must be out of the apartment due to some electrical work being done on the building. And most importantly, packing. Trying to get a month's worth of stuff for Ariana and I into one suitcase is always a challenge. It's not so much the clothes, but all of the other little things - wires and chargers, cosmetics and swim stuff. And shoes, shoes, shoes............

Picture Update

The computer is back. Only in Japan would the delivery man show up with the computer unannounced and when asked to come back in a half an hour, giving me time to run to the bank to get the money to pay him, would agree. What a country!!

I am busy getting ready as we leave for the US in a week. In Lieu of a long entry on what we have been up to, here are some pictures to keep you busy:

Ariana had the week off from school so we went to visit her old playgroup. She has decided she likes various types of head gear, preferably worn together. We call this picture "Porky, the pig train conductor, carry purse".
Baba san and I registered voters at one of the international school festivals. Can you tell who we are voting for?? (note to nanna and gramps - I swear, I did not influence him in any way!!)

Ariana now likes to carry every stuffed animal she can hold to school.......
My first attempt at Ikebana - Japanese flower arranging. I like this because rather than buying plants that are sure to die under my "black thumb of death" and feeling guilty, these flowers are supposed to die at some point anyway...

yes, Ariana can fall asleep standing up...at least part way......

China

As you know, the earthquake that hit China has been devastating. Months ago I sent out an email asking you to vote for Jenny Bowen as she was entering a contest to run with the Olympic torch in China, where she lives. She made it and will be running in June. She is a wonderful woman who runs this organization and needs your help. Please take a minute to go on line and make a donation.

It's Gone...

My computer left today for a hopefully brief vacation where it will be gently massaged back into working order. In the meantime, baba san and I will be sharing his - I get to use it while he is at work and whenever I can pry it out of his hands on weekends. I will also get to do other things on my "to do" list, like clean out closets, start crocheting again and of course looking for butter.

Yes, for all of those wondering, we did feel the earthquake very early this morning. It seemed to go on forever, shaking lampshades, nudging drawers open and toppling pictures. We laid in bed wondering if it was serious enough to get up (we are getting jaded), finally getting up and standing in Ariana's doorway, with her in my arms. She was not happy, the "dead to the world" sleeper that she is. When it was all over, she moaned and whined as if to say "you woke me up for this!!", but settled down fairly quickly. I on the other hand took awhile to fall asleep, listening to Tess, who apparently was not having an easy time getting back to sleep. I kept thinking that since animals have a special sense about these things, perhaps she was sensing another one and I should stay awake just in case. That lasted only a little while as it was after 2 in the morning and I was tired.

Walking Tess this morning, it was as if nothing happened. That's the funny thing about earthquakes here in Japan. As breezily as one would ask "how are you?", we ask each other "did you feel the earthquake last night?" - we actually have them every couple of days; some barely noticeable and some, like last night, definitively earth moving.

what fun....................

Butter???

The phone rings.
"There's butter at The Garden" Celine says, apologizing for not letting me know sooner. "I was there yesterday and got 5 - they don't have a limit". "Ariana" I yell, "get dressed now, we need to go out". We rush down to the store, but no luck, they are all out. I have already scheduled a trip next week at the same time - hopefully, I'll be able to get some then.

Ariana and Violette playing

eating cupcakes at the disco
watching her friend Ezra do a dance on his mamma's knee
she and I dancing...ok, so she is checking out the other girl's outfit...
"Baba, you are not John Travolta, please put your arm down"
bubbles, bubbles, bubbles.......

Still No Butter

Every day I search, but no butter. There are rumors of butter that prove false, a half butter half margarine product that thanks to baba san is sitting in our fridge and one stick left in the freezer.

But, life continues as I sit here listening to Ariana in the tub, singing and talking to herself. Every few minutes, I ask if she is finished. When she deems me important enough to actually answer, the answer is "no". If not, I get a resounding silence that gets me up off the chair to make sure she hasn't drowned.

My computer has been acting up, so I have been using Baba's, which prevents me from uploading the latest pictures. Most recently were shots of our adventures at "Baby Does Disco" on Sunday afternoon. An American import, it allows you, your spouse and child to dance to 80's music along with costumed "disco" dancers that bear a striking resemblance to John Travolta. Ok, so maybe not an exact double, but he did have the white suit and dance moves down.

We got there early, which turned out to be a good idea, because Ariana was slightly suspicious of the overly friendly people in purple afro wigs. It took her awhile (and several cupcakes) to relax and by then her friends had shown up, she was holding 3 balloons and one of those bracelets that lights up in the dark. Baba san and I got to see our friends and eat cupcakes as well....yummy.

I do hope to be able to download some pictures soon............

What, No Butter???

So I go out to Costco today to get our monthly supply of random items we just can't live without. My phone rings as I am sitting on the train - it was baba-san reminding me to get butter. "There's a shortage", he says. "What?" I say, vaguely remembering hearing something about it, but not really paying attention. "It's Costco, I'm sure there will be plenty" I say and hang up, slightly annoyed that he called while I was on the train, forcing me to answer and disturb my fellow passengers with my impolite "American-ness".

Well, I was wrong.
There was No Butter.
A sign, which I'm sure explained the reason for the "no butter" was taped up where the butter usually is. I left, feeling let down and slightly concerned. What does it mean when a country runs out of something like butter? How can a country like Japan actually do this?

I got home, having stopped at two of the local grocery stores and found their shelves empty, and went online to see what I could find. Apparently, the government told the dairy farmers to cut down production as there wasn't too much of a demand and now due to high prices and not enough cows, there is a shortage. People now hoard butter - as soon as it is put on the shelves, it is gone. At some stores, there is a limit on how many you can buy at one time.

I will have to become one of those people who scope out the stores every day and pounce as soon as I see it.

How weird.

Where's My Whip??

Ok, forgive me, but after 5 days stuck in the house with a 3 1/2 year old, one's mind starts to wander.....especially after said child decides to put on mama's black boots and parade around the house......
...... another fun activity during this time was moving her little step stool around to every light switch in every room and turning the switch on and off. Do you think she was getting a little stir crazy??

It seems like the past week was lost between sickness and rain. Ariana came down with a bug on Sunday and ended up staying home from school most of the week. We both made a trip to the doctor on Wednesday since I was suffering from what turned out to be allergies. It is convenient that we share the doctor - a general practitioner whose office is a ten minute walk from the house. It really is a family affair - her husband is Ariana's gymnastics teacher. We got our prescriptions, got them filled at the drug store and were on our way home, with this.....

Ariana's stash is in the back - 5 different liquids, patches and powder. Mine, in front is made up of 3 different pills - Japan doesn't do combinations, so for every symptom there is a antidote. For me it's easy; for Ariana not so. First, everything has to be measured out and then the really fun part - having her actually swallow it. For the most part, she is very agreeable - opening her mouth like a little bird. But sometimes.....SHE.....JUST.........
....DOESN'T.......WANT......IT. That's when I get creative. Her stuff has gone in her milk, juice, yogurt drink and water, with varying levels of success. The patch is definitely the easiest - she likes the new and different "boo boo band-aid".

Well enough about medication, the little miss is requesting pancakes and I better start making them before she morphs into "DeeDee" (as in Diva DiLaura, who makes an appearance when a certain someone doesn't get what she wants).

Am I Blue???

Living Pink

It's cherry blossom time here in Tokyo. Last year I was so preoccupied with the new people in my life (Jed and Ariana), I didn't pay much attention, but this year, with things more settled, I finally understood what all the fuss was about.

A few weeks ago, while it was still cold, I started seeing the beginnings of buds on all the trees. Every day they would open just a little bit more, until they burst out, seemingly all in one day. Where ever you look, there are trees - outside our front window, a single tree stands in all of its pink glory; outside the back - a number of trees scattered about. In the playground, two trees stand as all of the kids play around it, stopping to catch the leaves as they fall.

These pictures were taken on the Meguro river last Sunday....

It is a tradition to have a picnic under the trees. People reserve spots days in advance..

Yes, Ariana slept through most of the viewing, but did wake up to see some of the "pink flowers".