Jude's first time at bat, at his very first tee ball game. The poor kid forgot which way to run! I'm so proud!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Books I'm currently reading
Have you ever wanted to know what a midget, Mexican momma does in her spare time? Well, I read.
I read not to gain knowledge or to learn the secrets of the world. I don't read to analyze or theorize. I read because I like to be transported into someone else's reality. I like to disappear from my world and get caught up in someone else's.
Right now I'm reading these books:
Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger.
This is an easy read about 3 single women in New York. It's fun and reminds me of my single life.
Multiple Blessings by Jon & Kate Gosselin and Beth Carson.
This is a book I found in the trash. Because I can't stand to see books thrown away, I picked it up and started reading it. It's an interesting book about how Jon & Kate Plus 8 came to be.
Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe.
This is a children's book about a vampire bunny. I'm using it as a teaching tool for my Japanese students.
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer.
This is the second book in the Twilight series. I'm reading this with my private Japanese student.
I read not to gain knowledge or to learn the secrets of the world. I don't read to analyze or theorize. I read because I like to be transported into someone else's reality. I like to disappear from my world and get caught up in someone else's.
Right now I'm reading these books:
Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger.
This is an easy read about 3 single women in New York. It's fun and reminds me of my single life.
Multiple Blessings by Jon & Kate Gosselin and Beth Carson.
This is a book I found in the trash. Because I can't stand to see books thrown away, I picked it up and started reading it. It's an interesting book about how Jon & Kate Plus 8 came to be.
Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe.
This is a children's book about a vampire bunny. I'm using it as a teaching tool for my Japanese students.
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer.
This is the second book in the Twilight series. I'm reading this with my private Japanese student.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Monkeys in Nagano
This is the only place in the world where monkeys relax in a hot, steamy bath.
Yes, I took these pictures.
Yes, I took these pictures. On ironing
When I graduated from college in 2000, I swore to myself that as a college graduate I would never, ever wash windows or iron again. It was my way of congratulating myself for all my hard work in undergrad.
Unfortunately, the congratulations is over, and I spent 7 fucking hours ironing everything that needed ironing.
Next time, I'll just sit my fat ass on my clothes and hope the wrinkles are blasted away when I fart.
Yes, that sounds much better than ironing!
Unfortunately, the congratulations is over, and I spent 7 fucking hours ironing everything that needed ironing.
Next time, I'll just sit my fat ass on my clothes and hope the wrinkles are blasted away when I fart.
Yes, that sounds much better than ironing!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Life through song
My son sings. All the time. All. The. Time!
He sings at the park. He sings while he's eating. He sings when he's on the toilet. That's just how he rolls.
He loves to sing. He really loves to sing! (Maybe we've been spending too much time singing karaoke, and now it's rubbing off on him?)
He isn't a very good singer, but he's better than most. He can carry a tune, and you definitely know what song he's singing.
And when he has a song in his head, he sings it. All the time.
Currently, he's stuck on Avril Lavigne's song I'm With You. He sings it night and day.
I usually join him for the chorus.
He sings at the park. He sings while he's eating. He sings when he's on the toilet. That's just how he rolls.
He loves to sing. He really loves to sing! (Maybe we've been spending too much time singing karaoke, and now it's rubbing off on him?)
He isn't a very good singer, but he's better than most. He can carry a tune, and you definitely know what song he's singing.
And when he has a song in his head, he sings it. All the time.
Currently, he's stuck on Avril Lavigne's song I'm With You. He sings it night and day.
I usually join him for the chorus.
Monday, May 3, 2010
The weirdness around me
I live in a weird, weird world.
In my world, men carry purses, and it's okay. Women still wear leg warmers, and no one thinks anything of it. People have orange, green, purple and blue hair, and no one stares at them. People eat lots of raw things, and it's totally okay.
Sometimes I forget how weird my world actually is. I guess I'm getting used to the weirdness. The weirdness is now common place.
And I love the weirdness and the absurdity of it all. My senses are constantly teased and tempted when I walk around Tokyo. I see amazing sites, taste amazing foods, and smell amazing things.
However, I'm afraid to move back to the mundane and the boring. In Japan, my mind is constantly in motion, trying to wrap my head around the bizarre-ness that is Tokyo, Japan. I am never bored here, that's for sure.
But when I move back to America, my senses will be dulled, and instead of witnessing bizarre and amazing things, I'll be in self preservation mode. I'll be looking over my shoulder in the parking lot, with my keys in hand, making sure I'm not being followed. I'll be leery of parking in dark, secluded areas. I'll be leery of lots of things, like the meth-head down the road or the weirdo looking at me like I'm lunch. I'll also have to watch over Jude like a hawk, something I'm not used to doing.
In Japan, I never have to worry about those things. No! Because there is hardly any crime in Japan, my mind can focus on other things. I never have to feel restricted, scared or worried. Instead, I take in the sights, sounds and weirdness of it all.
And I love all the weirdness!
In my world, men carry purses, and it's okay. Women still wear leg warmers, and no one thinks anything of it. People have orange, green, purple and blue hair, and no one stares at them. People eat lots of raw things, and it's totally okay.
Sometimes I forget how weird my world actually is. I guess I'm getting used to the weirdness. The weirdness is now common place.
And I love the weirdness and the absurdity of it all. My senses are constantly teased and tempted when I walk around Tokyo. I see amazing sites, taste amazing foods, and smell amazing things.
However, I'm afraid to move back to the mundane and the boring. In Japan, my mind is constantly in motion, trying to wrap my head around the bizarre-ness that is Tokyo, Japan. I am never bored here, that's for sure.
But when I move back to America, my senses will be dulled, and instead of witnessing bizarre and amazing things, I'll be in self preservation mode. I'll be looking over my shoulder in the parking lot, with my keys in hand, making sure I'm not being followed. I'll be leery of parking in dark, secluded areas. I'll be leery of lots of things, like the meth-head down the road or the weirdo looking at me like I'm lunch. I'll also have to watch over Jude like a hawk, something I'm not used to doing.
In Japan, I never have to worry about those things. No! Because there is hardly any crime in Japan, my mind can focus on other things. I never have to feel restricted, scared or worried. Instead, I take in the sights, sounds and weirdness of it all.
And I love all the weirdness!
Saturday, May 1, 2010
So blessed
I am so incredibly lucky to have a job I absolutely love. I honestly love to wake up in the morning, get dressed, and head to work. I'm happiest when I'm working, when I'm teaching and discussing the language I love.
When I was in college, I studied what I liked: English. I was always told that I should do what I'm good at, and, well, I'm good at writing 20 page papers with 25 different sources in about 6 hours, and I'm good at analyzing various literary works and comparing them to shampoo commercials. I'm also quite good at creating elaborate grammar trees that take up 2 sheets of paper. And, I like it. That's right! I like to create grammar trees. I know I'm weird.
I also love to sit around and think about how the words we say are created in our mouths. I love to think about how we articulate words and create them with the simplest movements of our tongues and lips. Diphthongs, glottal stops, and schwas turn me on! I know I'm really, really weird!
I also love to read books and catch grammatical errors in them. I love it when an editor misses something. It really does make my day, almost as much as finding an M&M on the floor!
When I do stumble across a mistake, I'm so tempted to correct the mistake with a huge, red pen, and then return the book, flagged and highlighted, back to the editor, charging them a fee for my services. I know it's rude, but someday I will do it.
Now, that's not to say this blog isn't littered with countless mistakes. I know it is. I try to correct the mistakes when I find them, but sometimes I write an entry in 5 minutes and then run out the door, never taking the time to really edit myself. I know I'm lazy.
But, all I know is that I'm one lucky bitch. I'm lucky because I get to do what I love! I get to teach English to people who are eager to learn.
It's great to be me!
When I was in college, I studied what I liked: English. I was always told that I should do what I'm good at, and, well, I'm good at writing 20 page papers with 25 different sources in about 6 hours, and I'm good at analyzing various literary works and comparing them to shampoo commercials. I'm also quite good at creating elaborate grammar trees that take up 2 sheets of paper. And, I like it. That's right! I like to create grammar trees. I know I'm weird.
I also love to sit around and think about how the words we say are created in our mouths. I love to think about how we articulate words and create them with the simplest movements of our tongues and lips. Diphthongs, glottal stops, and schwas turn me on! I know I'm really, really weird!
I also love to read books and catch grammatical errors in them. I love it when an editor misses something. It really does make my day, almost as much as finding an M&M on the floor!
When I do stumble across a mistake, I'm so tempted to correct the mistake with a huge, red pen, and then return the book, flagged and highlighted, back to the editor, charging them a fee for my services. I know it's rude, but someday I will do it.
Now, that's not to say this blog isn't littered with countless mistakes. I know it is. I try to correct the mistakes when I find them, but sometimes I write an entry in 5 minutes and then run out the door, never taking the time to really edit myself. I know I'm lazy.
But, all I know is that I'm one lucky bitch. I'm lucky because I get to do what I love! I get to teach English to people who are eager to learn.
It's great to be me!
Mother Nature, you don't suck!
The last 2 weekends have been glorious. The kind where you think you've died and gone to heaven. It's been a crisp 70 degrees with a nice breeze and a cloudless sky.
Because of the nice weather, we've been outside soaking up the sun's rays, and enjoying ourselves at the zoo and the park.
Dear Mother Nature,
I take back all the nasty things I said about you!
~Weenie
Because of the nice weather, we've been outside soaking up the sun's rays, and enjoying ourselves at the zoo and the park.
Dear Mother Nature,
I take back all the nasty things I said about you!
~Weenie
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