Monday 21, 2008 Remembering CJ's Chichi Harley

Woke up after a restless night of sleep and CJ and I just hung out in the house most of the day while talking with his mom "haha", siblings and also in touch with our son "musuko" Grambo who went down to Chetek to be with the rest of the family for the afternoon. Glad he could be with all of them and represent CJ and our family. Thanks Mr Wood. Talked with our daughter "musume" Kalen too, and helped get her travel plans and ours arranged so we can all be there with Grandma "sobo" or "obasan" Jean and the gang on the 26th to bid Grandpa "sofu" or "ojisan" Harley a fond farewell.
CJ and I decided to get out of the house for a bit, so we took the subway up to Yokohama station and to the 10 story Yotobashi Camera and electronics store to get a computer printer. CJ Mr. Electronic Gadget Man that he is, was of course in hog heaven and I was just literally confused by it all?#$* It was so loud in there as they are all yelling advertisements and sales through megaphones. Naturally there were Japanese signs everywhere of which I could read none. :-( They had jump drives in the shapes of sushi rolls and shrimp,3 rows of computer mice, $1,000.00 rice cookers, one whole floor just of cell phones in a rainbow of colors and styles,a 32GB scan disk for $648.00..how would you like one of those Graham?
Now really, is this all necessary? That is the thought that kept running over and over in my head? CRAZY !! The place was as neat and clean as could be and everything was done with such precision and efficiency. They don't let any of the racks get messed up or perhaps it's that the shoppers are much more respectful here than in the US. That was very nice to see.
We then looked for a place to eat and CJ was hoping I am sure, that I would go for sushi, but we sadly ended up stopping to eat at a pasta noodle restaurant, as I am still having a hard time chewing and savoring all these very colorful, but very strong flavored, chewy and often times slimy varieties of seaweed. Had some very bitter chinese jasmin flavored tea as well. The prima vera type ramen noodle dish I ordered was EXCELLENT thankfully, as well as, the fresh berry cheesecake. Of course I licked my platter clean.:-)
We were both kind of walking in a fog as can be expected with the events of the last 24 hours and so we of course had to first stop and get 1 regular whip cream and 1 strawberry filled jambo-shu before we came back home. We hung out together working in the office again and enjoyed looking at old photos of Harley and family. We took a Jambo-shu break in the late eve and this time they were more like the cream puffs I had at the annual WI state fair back when I was a kid in Milwaukee. We liked them and they were delicious, but I personally liked the one with the pudding like filling better than this whipped cream variety.
We are off to bed now and I will be busy this week, packing my things for our trip back to MN and WI, cleaning the house a bit, and waiting for delivery of our dining room table and chairs on Wednesday of this week. CJ may have a work trip to Nagoya on Wednesday and then we will be headed home on Thursday and hope all goes well at the alien registration office in the am.
Here's hoping you are all well and enjoying hot, sunny summer weather and relaxing days with friends and families, on vacations or at home.
Thanks "domo arigato" to all of you who have written us such loving and supportive notes of condolences on our recent loss. We do appreciate more than you know the caring, prayers, love and support your sending our way. Yes we can feel it way over here across the big blue pond. It will be good to be home for a week and be close to all our family once again.
Love you all
KJ and CJ