In memoriam

Our beloved Bobik passed away today.

Bobik was special in every way. He was everything every great dog should be. He could brighten your day with a just a single glance. He could make you smile with his silly antics. He was great!

As long as I live, there will always be a special place in my heart where Bobik resides.

Farewell sweet pup, I'll see you on the other side!

Sakura

Sakura is the Japanese word for cherry blossom.

Boobs

So, this weekend we went to an Escoffier dinner (basically we stuffed ourselves silly with a 6 course, gourmet meal), and we had to get all dressed up for the event. This is what we looked like. Husband looked handsome and dashing in his suit. And me, well, all I see is boobs. I look like I have giant knockers!

Well, some people pay good money for these. Luckily, mine were free!

Me

This is my new profile picture. I took it while I was sitting at the computer.

This is how I look when I'm blogging. What do you think?

Cherry Blossoms

So, I downloaded this really cool ap for my iPhone, and now I've been taking tons of pictures. Here are a few I took of the cherry blossoms down the street from my place.

Cherry blossom petals covering the street...
Cherry blossoms...

The view looking down the street...

The same view. This picture was taken last year by my friend.

His first day

Today is Jude's first day of K5-- that's kindergarten for 5 year olds. He'll start real kindergarten in the fall.

Walking to the bus...
Sitting on the bus, looking sad and pathetic...

My baby is growing up way too fast. I wish I could stop the hands of time and keep him at this age forever.

Being 5 years old is so amazing. The world is a wondrous place when you're 5, especially if you get to live in Tokyo, Japan.

Dreams do come true

So, I'm sitting here on the computer listening to all the clangs, bangs and plops going on in the other room. And, no, it's not Jude making a ruckus. No, it's my cleaning lady. She's making all kinds of noise doing whatever it is cleaning ladies do, and then, poof, she walks out of the room carrying a bag of trash, some cleaning fluids and a couple of dirty rags. The result is astonishing. It's like she can do magic and make everything clean and perfect.

As you know, I've really wanted a cleaning lady for a while now. And, as luck would have it, I found someone who would be willing to clean up after us for an affordable fee. So now I'm sitting here, just as happy as a clam. I'm getting warm fuzzies just thinking about all the cleaning and organizing I don't have to do.

I even like her smell. It's somewhere between Clorox bleach mixed with potpourri with a hint of noodles and rice. I love it! (She's a Filipino cleaning lady and that's probably where the noodle and rice smell comes from. Shit, was that racist?! You can send your angry hate mail to my tech support or to my secretary (neither of which I have).)

All the husbands out there, listen to me. If you want your wife to love you and do naughty things to you on a regular basis, then hire someone to clean your house! Your wife will be energized, thankful and up for anything. I know I am!

Cleaning ladies make me hot, especially ones that smell like bleach and noodles!

Boobs are best

Okay, if you know me, you know that I'm type-A all the way. I don't do anything a little bit. If I run, I run marathons. If I don't eat meat, I become vegan. If I become a member of something, I want to take over. That's just how I roll.

And, not only do I do things all the way, but I do them to the best of my ability. That's another type-A trait. Granted, on the outside it might seem I'm mediocre, but I know I have tried to the best of my ability--never understanding why the rest of the world doesn't do the same.

With that said, I breast fed my son. FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS! For those of you without children, this means nothing to you. For those of you that have actually pooped out a kid, you are now in awe. That's right, this little, midget, Mexican, momma had her kid on her boob for 18 months. AND I ENJOYED IT--not in a pervert kind of way, the way most of you are thinking right now, but in a motherly kind of way. I knew that I was providing my son with the best I could possibly give him. And the best was MY milk, and not some fabricated milk product created in a lab by a bunch a scientists trying to replicate my milk. My milk!

In the beginning it sucked big, fat, donkey balls. Seriously! It hurt like hell. My boobs were bigger than Al Gore's head! My boobs leaked, leaving a trail around my house with my dogs following me!

It wasn't easy to nurse my son, but I endured the pain and the sleepless nights, because I wanted to give my baby the best, and because I'm type-A. When I decide to do something, I do it all the way and then some, regardless of how much it hurts or how much time it takes or how much effort it requires...I give it my all. Again, that's just how I work, and how I function. Yes, it's exhausting to be me, but I don't know how else to be. I just do everything ALL the way. But, if you know me, you already know this.

So 10 years from now, when my kid is in therapy complaining to his therapist how I screwed him up, I can say, Ha, I gave you what was recommended!

You can read the article on breastfeeding here.

Azul's baby: the next Beastie Boy

Dear Future Beastie Boy,

Even though you aren't born yet, you will be one of the lucky ones.

You have been loved since the day your mommy and daddy discovered you. Your abuela is anxiously waiting for your arrival, as is the rest of your huge Mexican family.

You have been loved since creation. You are a lucky one!

You are also very special. Your mother and father are two very passionate, artistic, and creative people. You will grow and flourish in an environment different than most. Your world will be filled with creativity, art, music, love, and healthy, organic foods-- considering both of your parents work for that hippie grocery store.

Your life will be more grand that most. Your ears will be filled with the sultry sounds of the greatest music ever created. Your father will see to that. Your eyes will constantly capture glimpses of your father's intriguing and grand artwork. You will live in a world with vibrant colors and mysterious melodies. You are one of the lucky ones!

Because you are a product of your father, you will be strong but compassionate. You will be artistic but grounded. You will be understanding but feisty. You will never want for anything. Your father will grant your every wish. He is already preparing to be your little league coach in just a few short years.

Even though I won't get to meet you when you arrive (because I live in Japan), know that I'm thinking of you. And, I'm sure your proud Papa will send me countless pictures of you. And, I can't wait for the day when I can meet you in person.

Until then, remember, you are one of the lucky ones!

To my lovely readers

Yes, I know, I've been neglecting you. I've pushed you down to the bottom of my list of things to do.

My life has been getting in the way of this useless blog.

However, that is about to end. My mundane, boring life is about to be back, and I can't wait.

So, with the boring-ness comes free time, and free time equals time to blog. So, I'm back. I'm back in the blogosphere.