Konbonwa
Karla here and I finally had a minute to check up on my friend Randee's daughter Lauren Molitor. Remember when I told you about the girl who got squashed between the two trucks at her sorority car wash and was left in critical condition with two crushed lungs. Well she walked out of the hospital on her own this week only 41 days after her freak accident and is now back home with her family and continuing her recovery and months of therapy from there.
WOW!!! I am once again amazed at this family and the strength, grace and miracle they have once more been blessed with.
If you would like to check out the news articles about Lauren and videos from TV coverage near Milwaukee WI..... see these web sites or type in Blackle Lauren Molitor Milwakee WI and hit search
http://www.examiner.com/r-2937187~Crash_victim_walks_out_of_hospital.html
http://www.examiner.com/r-2936776~Lauren_Molitor_Goes_Home_From_Hospital.html
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/31161634.html
So with that good news in mind Jean and I headed out today on our own leisurely walk along the Yokohama Harbor. It was another gorgeous fall day here in Japan and there were many people out enjoying the warm temps and time with each other.
We first stopped to tour the Yokohama Doll Museum and it was very interesting to see dolls from all over the world and also to learn how the Japanese make their dolls. They mold them with pressed wood shavings and then paint them.
Got a few "illegal pics" before I realized I was not supposed to be snaping away in the building. We had a nice chat with a lady volunteer who was very eager to explain what some of the Japanese words meant and she too, was quite impressed that I was actually taking notes and writing stuff down. They had a teddy bear exhibit too, but were missing a very important one in their collection. Smokey the Bear of which I have one from my childhood...perhaps I could sell it to them for some BIG $yen$? :-)
We took some more legal photos in the doll making classroom and had fun chatting with two little older ladies. They even gave us each a little tassle cloth ball charm they were making.
Everyone keeps thinking JEan and I are good friends. They are VERY surprised when I tell them Jean is my mother in law, and they can't believe she is 71yrs old. I am beginning to wonder if my gray hair makes me look older and if I too should color mine?
I doubt if I will, but I sure would like to cut it..I feel like a bush woman with this long manging mess.
We then walked along the waters edge and over to the Landmark Tower in the Minato Mirai area of town.
Stopped for a bite to eat along the way and people watched. It was fun to observe all the different fall styles now days. Many of the young girls are wearing 1001 different kinds of boots with either black leggings or knee socks of some variety and then jean shorts with vests with fur trim and knit hats with big tassle balls of yarn on top. Jean and I are sweating to death and we can't figure out why they aren't with so much heavy stuff on already and it is not even cold yet. I wonder what they wear when it gets cold and snowy ??
Saw a young girl with long black straight hair down to her knees. Some man was busy taking pics of her as she flipped her hair about. She said she hadn't cut it in 13 years. WOW! You don't see that much any more.
I took pics of the metal sculpture I think looks like a roller coaster and we peeked inside the tower to see what it was inside and found it to be more shopping stores. Thankfully Jean doesn't like to shop either and so we avoided all that and went to Chinatown to eat some supper before coming back home.
We have had another quiet relaxing night reading, watching TV, doing computer work and waiting for CJ to come home. He just now showed up at 10:30pm and so I had better go and check up with him on his workday and to see how the big product launch went. More tomorrow from Tokyo perhaps?
Karla
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Oct 20, 2008 .....Sankeien Gardens
Jean and I were off to check out the craft shops and then Sankeien Gardens today. She was so happy to find the Japanese cloth squares of material to give as little gifts to her quilting friends. We then stopped at the market for fresh mandarin oranges and some delicious cranberry creamcheese and pumpkin pastries. Got a chicken salad sandwich as well, for our picnic lunch.
We walked all along the mom and pop shopping street and Jean got to met Charlie the produce guy who is constantly moving about like a busy bumble bee. When we sat at a corner park for a quick rest and a bite to eat we were joined by a mom Hiromi and here little girl Rioghna (pronounced Rihanna)who werer passing by. They just moved here from Wash DC and had lived in Guatemala prior to that for 2 years. Her husband is American and was in the Navy but now works for the state dept in the Embassy.
Hiromi is Japan down by Nagaski.
We then made our way toward the Garden, but first stopped to deliver realtor John his packet of extra large size socks. He had told us when helping find an apartment that he too has big feet and he had a hard time finding socks to fit him and so CJ got him some size 12's when he was back in MN. He smiled and was very happy to get them. John too commented on how all the office employees are loving the Caribou Coffee we gave him as well.
We made it to the garden and had a very leisurly day meandering through wooded paths,over the numerous different style bridges, through the bamboo tunnel up to the 3 story pagoda high up on the hill. Saw a few folks walking in the park who were dressed in their traditonal colorful Kimonos and also enjoyed viewing some live and very funky art displays and photo exhibits. A couple intimately rolling intertwined on the floor, fog and mist being sprayed through different parts of the woods, and a voice talking from a speaker behind some bushes along the pond banks?
Back home we ate an early supper and then I got caught up on these blogs while Jean did some more reading, relaxing and she checked out the english news broadcast. CJ made it home late and then we waited to hear from Graham who was going to the urgent care as he may have separated his shoulder in his Rugby tourney this weekend?
I am now caught up and we will see how early we wake up in the am. We may go to Tokyo depending on how our legs feel and what our energy level is like, and if we are too tired, then perhaps a local visit to the Doll Museum and a walk not a ride through Chinatown.
It is now 12:20 am and so I will say Good Night or Good Morning..whichever you prefer
Karla CJ and Jean
We walked all along the mom and pop shopping street and Jean got to met Charlie the produce guy who is constantly moving about like a busy bumble bee. When we sat at a corner park for a quick rest and a bite to eat we were joined by a mom Hiromi and here little girl Rioghna (pronounced Rihanna)who werer passing by. They just moved here from Wash DC and had lived in Guatemala prior to that for 2 years. Her husband is American and was in the Navy but now works for the state dept in the Embassy.
Hiromi is Japan down by Nagaski.
We then made our way toward the Garden, but first stopped to deliver realtor John his packet of extra large size socks. He had told us when helping find an apartment that he too has big feet and he had a hard time finding socks to fit him and so CJ got him some size 12's when he was back in MN. He smiled and was very happy to get them. John too commented on how all the office employees are loving the Caribou Coffee we gave him as well.
We made it to the garden and had a very leisurly day meandering through wooded paths,over the numerous different style bridges, through the bamboo tunnel up to the 3 story pagoda high up on the hill. Saw a few folks walking in the park who were dressed in their traditonal colorful Kimonos and also enjoyed viewing some live and very funky art displays and photo exhibits. A couple intimately rolling intertwined on the floor, fog and mist being sprayed through different parts of the woods, and a voice talking from a speaker behind some bushes along the pond banks?
Back home we ate an early supper and then I got caught up on these blogs while Jean did some more reading, relaxing and she checked out the english news broadcast. CJ made it home late and then we waited to hear from Graham who was going to the urgent care as he may have separated his shoulder in his Rugby tourney this weekend?
I am now caught up and we will see how early we wake up in the am. We may go to Tokyo depending on how our legs feel and what our energy level is like, and if we are too tired, then perhaps a local visit to the Doll Museum and a walk not a ride through Chinatown.
It is now 12:20 am and so I will say Good Night or Good Morning..whichever you prefer
Karla CJ and Jean
Saturday Oct 18, 2008 Hakone and Mt Fuji-san
Happy 82nd Birthday to my mom Solvei.
CJ was able to join his mom and I today on our exploration to Hakone. It was a day of trains, subways, taxis, gondola, boats, busses... We left early and took the train and subway to Shin Yokohama. There we boarded the Shinkansen (bullet train) which averages 200mph. It took us about 20 minutes it seemed to get to Hakone. Jean said she was glad she didn't go to the bathroom, or she would have missed the whole trip.
When we got to Hakone we then transferred to the electric train and rode that back and forth up the mountain switchbacks to the Chokokunomori stop and the Hakone Open Air Museum. We enjoyed a nice relaxing walk looking at the numerous statues and art works by Picasso. Jean and I after hitching our long flowing skirts up and around our legs, stepped in and sat down to enjoy a hot and very soothing foot bath. We then made our way through the rest of the park and up into the stain glass tower with so many beautiful colors glowing brightly in the sun.
We walked back to the train and rode it further up the mountain to the cable car platform. We stood in line for quite some time and then it seemed to be growing longer and longer and we were not going anywhere, so finally CJ went and asked what was up and we were told the doors were broken and so we could either go back down on the train and by pass the rest of the tour, or walk 30 minutes up the mountain side to get to the ropeway or gondola ride over the sulfer pits.
We started to walk up the very steep hill, but after reaching the 3nd cable platform we figured it was just too much of a hike so CJ flagged down a taxi. We thankfully arrived very quickly to the ropeway station and then boarded the gondola. WOW....what a view and a drop off we saw when we reached the 1st summit and then swayed way high above the steaming yellow sulfer pits below us. In the distance we too, got a glimpse of the top of Mount FUJI. Yeah, so CJ and I finally got to see what it was that we climbed back in late August in the cold, wind and rain.
We continued on the gondola and down to Lake Ashi, where we then boarded a ship and sailed across the lake while the sun was beginning to set behind the mountian tops. Once we were across the lake we caught a bus back to the train station and then back on the Bullet train to Shin-Yokohama. It reminded me of the Norway in a Nutshell tour Jean and I took in Norway last August 2007.
We were all pretty tired and hungry and so we stopped at the Ramen Museum to have a quick bowl of soup for dinner. We tried out shop #3 veggie pork recipe and shop #7 which was quite a robust soup with as strong garlic flavor. Walking back home from Ishikowacho station we came upon crowds of people in the street at what looked to be something like a taste of Motomachi celebration. All kinds of cooking was going on and people were drinking, music bands were playing and it looked like a good time. Too bad we don't know enught Jpanese yet to decpiher the signs . We knew NOTHING about it before then :-( We continued on and made our way through the mass of people and then up the slope and Stairmaster...and back home where we all plopped on the couch and in the chair while we savored our reward for the long travel day...what else but our favorite Jumbo-cho.:-P
Sunday October 19th
CJ had to work as he has a big new product launch on Monday and Tuesday. Jean and I had planned to go to Tokyo and try to find the Harajuku Girls, but it was a cloudy and overcast day and I just woke up pooped. So we ended up taking a day off and we just hung around the house and I did some catch up work on the computer,while Jean read and watched TV, relaxed. In the late afternoon we walked down to the mom and pop stores for some fresh meat and to look at her craft shops, but they were all closed up. Thankfully the grocery store was still open and we able to get some burger to make spaghetti for supper.
CJ was able to join his mom and I today on our exploration to Hakone. It was a day of trains, subways, taxis, gondola, boats, busses... We left early and took the train and subway to Shin Yokohama. There we boarded the Shinkansen (bullet train) which averages 200mph. It took us about 20 minutes it seemed to get to Hakone. Jean said she was glad she didn't go to the bathroom, or she would have missed the whole trip.
When we got to Hakone we then transferred to the electric train and rode that back and forth up the mountain switchbacks to the Chokokunomori stop and the Hakone Open Air Museum. We enjoyed a nice relaxing walk looking at the numerous statues and art works by Picasso. Jean and I after hitching our long flowing skirts up and around our legs, stepped in and sat down to enjoy a hot and very soothing foot bath. We then made our way through the rest of the park and up into the stain glass tower with so many beautiful colors glowing brightly in the sun.
We walked back to the train and rode it further up the mountain to the cable car platform. We stood in line for quite some time and then it seemed to be growing longer and longer and we were not going anywhere, so finally CJ went and asked what was up and we were told the doors were broken and so we could either go back down on the train and by pass the rest of the tour, or walk 30 minutes up the mountain side to get to the ropeway or gondola ride over the sulfer pits.
We started to walk up the very steep hill, but after reaching the 3nd cable platform we figured it was just too much of a hike so CJ flagged down a taxi. We thankfully arrived very quickly to the ropeway station and then boarded the gondola. WOW....what a view and a drop off we saw when we reached the 1st summit and then swayed way high above the steaming yellow sulfer pits below us. In the distance we too, got a glimpse of the top of Mount FUJI. Yeah, so CJ and I finally got to see what it was that we climbed back in late August in the cold, wind and rain.
We continued on the gondola and down to Lake Ashi, where we then boarded a ship and sailed across the lake while the sun was beginning to set behind the mountian tops. Once we were across the lake we caught a bus back to the train station and then back on the Bullet train to Shin-Yokohama. It reminded me of the Norway in a Nutshell tour Jean and I took in Norway last August 2007.
We were all pretty tired and hungry and so we stopped at the Ramen Museum to have a quick bowl of soup for dinner. We tried out shop #3 veggie pork recipe and shop #7 which was quite a robust soup with as strong garlic flavor. Walking back home from Ishikowacho station we came upon crowds of people in the street at what looked to be something like a taste of Motomachi celebration. All kinds of cooking was going on and people were drinking, music bands were playing and it looked like a good time. Too bad we don't know enught Jpanese yet to decpiher the signs . We knew NOTHING about it before then :-( We continued on and made our way through the mass of people and then up the slope and Stairmaster...and back home where we all plopped on the couch and in the chair while we savored our reward for the long travel day...what else but our favorite Jumbo-cho.:-P
Sunday October 19th
CJ had to work as he has a big new product launch on Monday and Tuesday. Jean and I had planned to go to Tokyo and try to find the Harajuku Girls, but it was a cloudy and overcast day and I just woke up pooped. So we ended up taking a day off and we just hung around the house and I did some catch up work on the computer,while Jean read and watched TV, relaxed. In the late afternoon we walked down to the mom and pop stores for some fresh meat and to look at her craft shops, but they were all closed up. Thankfully the grocery store was still open and we able to get some burger to make spaghetti for supper.
Friday Oct 17, 2008 Shrines and Temples in Kamakura
Hi all
Sorry these blog updates are loooooooong over due. Jean and I have been very busy and seeing lots of stuff here in Japan. We are walking a ton and enjoying absolutely beautiful indian summer fall weather. Hum..I wonder if they call it that here or if they have a different name for beautiful warm fall days?
On Friday Jean and I took the train down to Kamakura south of here about 20 minutes. When we got to Kamakura we transferred to an electric train that took us a bit further to Hase and there we walked down to the Yugihama Beach on Sagami Bay and had a little picnic lunch while we watched some kids on a field trip playing in the water. The beach looked very different from July in the heat of the summer when it was packed with people and multi colored umbrellas, restaurants...
There were a few different preschool groups there and then some kids from high school walked by and were looking at a dead ray ?(bat or sting) of some sort with me. A few people were sunbathing there faces only as they sat up against the stone wall,while a few fisherman were working on their nets and another one had several trays of sardines drying in the sunlight.
We then made our way to check out a few of the different Shinto Shrines and Buddhist Temples in the city. There are over 30 some there I believe and we made it to just 6
of them. We passed a few little ones near the beach and a cemetary before we went to the Hasedera Temple. This temple is best known for its statue of Kannon "the goddess of mercy". No Photos allowed. We saw many little stones figures all over the grounds and people were lighting candles, bying bouquersts of flowers, writing wishes on rocks, and wood tablets .... We did see some very tired, but happy elderly pilgrims arriving in their white outfits. There is a pilgrimage route that takes people to over 80 different sites throughout Japan and they wear all white clothes while walking along the path. We walked past a bamboo grove and then climbed up some steep steps for a view of the coast and Kamakura shoreline.
After leaving this temple and on our way to the Great Buddha, we stopped to have a baked rice cracker dipped in soy sauce, but this time no tea was given with it.
The BIG Buddha was very crowded with many school kids there on field trip. Lots of buisness men and toursits as well. It was fun just to sit and watch the children. One guy we asked to take our photo thought I was danish by my size and with my yellow shirt on.
We then got on the bus and rode to the center of town to see the BIG Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shinto Shrine.It surprised me to see all the leaves had already fallen off the cherry trees that line the long boulevard. When we entered under the large red tori gates and walked up over the arched red bridges we found the two ponds were all empty of plants and only had men at work pulling out the last of the lotus roots and putting the roots into the boats they were pulling behind them. It was a very different site than the big lushious green plants with pink lotus blossoms CJ and I saw in July.
We made our way back to the train station and headed back to Yokohama. It was a very warm day and we were pretty tired out by the time we got back home.
Sorry these blog updates are loooooooong over due. Jean and I have been very busy and seeing lots of stuff here in Japan. We are walking a ton and enjoying absolutely beautiful indian summer fall weather. Hum..I wonder if they call it that here or if they have a different name for beautiful warm fall days?
On Friday Jean and I took the train down to Kamakura south of here about 20 minutes. When we got to Kamakura we transferred to an electric train that took us a bit further to Hase and there we walked down to the Yugihama Beach on Sagami Bay and had a little picnic lunch while we watched some kids on a field trip playing in the water. The beach looked very different from July in the heat of the summer when it was packed with people and multi colored umbrellas, restaurants...
There were a few different preschool groups there and then some kids from high school walked by and were looking at a dead ray ?(bat or sting) of some sort with me. A few people were sunbathing there faces only as they sat up against the stone wall,while a few fisherman were working on their nets and another one had several trays of sardines drying in the sunlight.
We then made our way to check out a few of the different Shinto Shrines and Buddhist Temples in the city. There are over 30 some there I believe and we made it to just 6
of them. We passed a few little ones near the beach and a cemetary before we went to the Hasedera Temple. This temple is best known for its statue of Kannon "the goddess of mercy". No Photos allowed. We saw many little stones figures all over the grounds and people were lighting candles, bying bouquersts of flowers, writing wishes on rocks, and wood tablets .... We did see some very tired, but happy elderly pilgrims arriving in their white outfits. There is a pilgrimage route that takes people to over 80 different sites throughout Japan and they wear all white clothes while walking along the path. We walked past a bamboo grove and then climbed up some steep steps for a view of the coast and Kamakura shoreline.
After leaving this temple and on our way to the Great Buddha, we stopped to have a baked rice cracker dipped in soy sauce, but this time no tea was given with it.
The BIG Buddha was very crowded with many school kids there on field trip. Lots of buisness men and toursits as well. It was fun just to sit and watch the children. One guy we asked to take our photo thought I was danish by my size and with my yellow shirt on.
We then got on the bus and rode to the center of town to see the BIG Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shinto Shrine.It surprised me to see all the leaves had already fallen off the cherry trees that line the long boulevard. When we entered under the large red tori gates and walked up over the arched red bridges we found the two ponds were all empty of plants and only had men at work pulling out the last of the lotus roots and putting the roots into the boats they were pulling behind them. It was a very different site than the big lushious green plants with pink lotus blossoms CJ and I saw in July.
We made our way back to the train station and headed back to Yokohama. It was a very warm day and we were pretty tired out by the time we got back home.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Sunday Oct 12th Sports Day with YUMI and family
Wow ... I guess my mind is totally preoccupied with my dad and what is going on with him back home in MN. I just realized I totally forgot to tell about my fun day last weekend when I spent all day Sunday with my Costco friends Maggie, Toru and their little daughter Yumi at her schools sports day. It is a Catholic Preschool and Kindergarten center. It was GORGEOUS weather and a perfect Indian summer day with high 70 degree temps... I actually came home with a bit of a sunburn.
I enjoyed relay races, parent and tot games, dancing with the 78 year old lady principal and a game of musical chairs with all the moms.
We too enjoyed some good sticky rice treats Toru's mom made for us for lunch. Afterwards we went to Costco and then they dropped me off at home and we had some ramen soap, crackers, veggies and dessert before they went home
It was a great day.
I enjoyed relay races, parent and tot games, dancing with the 78 year old lady principal and a game of musical chairs with all the moms.
We too enjoyed some good sticky rice treats Toru's mom made for us for lunch. Afterwards we went to Costco and then they dropped me off at home and we had some ramen soap, crackers, veggies and dessert before they went home
It was a great day.
Oct 16, 2008 Mansions, Roses, Piano Concert
Good Evening
Gma Jean and CJ are both in bed after there 2 lil cups of sake and I am trying to catch up with a little book work before I too retire for the night. Talked with my brother briefly this am and he had just dropped by dad off at the rehab center and was then going to pick my mom up and bring her over to visit dad. Bernard has left Mercy Hospital and is now in residing for the next 2 weeks or so at Innsbruck Benedictine Health Center in New Brighton MN. I will call him in the am for another update on how things re going.
Gma Jean and I had a fun and rather relaxing day today looking at all the western style mansions up here on the bluff in Yamate-cho. Many were decorated for Halloween as they have a Halloween Walk Event on the 26th where kids can come dressed up and do trick or treat. They do NOT do it door to door in the neighborhoods here in Japan, like we do back in the states.
We stopped by the Tin Toy Museum and a Christmas shop that was loaded with ornaments of all kinds. Fun to see all the old toys the kids here in Japan have had over the past years.
The rose garden at Harbor View park was a rainbow of color today with roses blooming in every color imaginable... red, yellow, pink, orange, white, purple, fushisa,and various multi color ones too.
After touring 5 of the 7 houses on the bluff, we attended the first professional piano recital of a 25yr old young lady who just graduated from Ferris Univ in April 2008. Her name is Ariko Akiyama and she has been playing since she was 6yrs old. Her favorite composer is Mozart and she would love to go study some more in Germany or Austria. She was excellent and so kind to visit with Jean and I after the concert while we enjoyed a cup of tea and some pound cake. Ariko too, was very gracious and took a photo with us as well. We think she will have a very successful pro career. Amazing!!
We then went to the grocery for some more veggies and then back home to relax, and read up on Kamakura where we will go tomorrow. CJ is tied up with work tomorrow night and on Sunday, so Jean and I will head south to Kamakura tomorrow, Saturday to Hakone area with CJ and then Sunday when he is busy again we will head to Tokyo and the parks, Tokyo Tower, Harajuku, Yoyogi park...??
More soon
Karla CJ Gma Jean
Gma Jean and CJ are both in bed after there 2 lil cups of sake and I am trying to catch up with a little book work before I too retire for the night. Talked with my brother briefly this am and he had just dropped by dad off at the rehab center and was then going to pick my mom up and bring her over to visit dad. Bernard has left Mercy Hospital and is now in residing for the next 2 weeks or so at Innsbruck Benedictine Health Center in New Brighton MN. I will call him in the am for another update on how things re going.
Gma Jean and I had a fun and rather relaxing day today looking at all the western style mansions up here on the bluff in Yamate-cho. Many were decorated for Halloween as they have a Halloween Walk Event on the 26th where kids can come dressed up and do trick or treat. They do NOT do it door to door in the neighborhoods here in Japan, like we do back in the states.
We stopped by the Tin Toy Museum and a Christmas shop that was loaded with ornaments of all kinds. Fun to see all the old toys the kids here in Japan have had over the past years.
The rose garden at Harbor View park was a rainbow of color today with roses blooming in every color imaginable... red, yellow, pink, orange, white, purple, fushisa,and various multi color ones too.
After touring 5 of the 7 houses on the bluff, we attended the first professional piano recital of a 25yr old young lady who just graduated from Ferris Univ in April 2008. Her name is Ariko Akiyama and she has been playing since she was 6yrs old. Her favorite composer is Mozart and she would love to go study some more in Germany or Austria. She was excellent and so kind to visit with Jean and I after the concert while we enjoyed a cup of tea and some pound cake. Ariko too, was very gracious and took a photo with us as well. We think she will have a very successful pro career. Amazing!!
We then went to the grocery for some more veggies and then back home to relax, and read up on Kamakura where we will go tomorrow. CJ is tied up with work tomorrow night and on Sunday, so Jean and I will head south to Kamakura tomorrow, Saturday to Hakone area with CJ and then Sunday when he is busy again we will head to Tokyo and the parks, Tokyo Tower, Harajuku, Yoyogi park...??
More soon
Karla CJ Gma Jean
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Oct 13-15, 2008 Gma Jean is here in Japan
Ohayogozaimus..Good Morning
It is a bright, sunny, and very clear day here in Japan and Gma Jean and I will soon be out on another day of exploration.
Sorry I have not written on here much lately. I as you may or may not know have been busy trying to keep up with the happenings back in MN with my dad Bernard Slick.
See his Caring Bridge site http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bernardmslick
The news we got yesterday was a bit of a let down for all, as we were told my dad has Large B Cell Primary Lymphoma. This is in his blood stream and can cause tumors to reoccur in the brain, so you can imagine our lives have been turned a bit upside down.
Bernie will be undergoing chemo and radiation in the next few weeks and on. They were going to send him home yesterday from the hospital, but after meeting with the oncologist and getting this info, now they are keeping him there a few more days and hope to get him in to some type of rehab center for a week or so, before going home.
So with that news disturbing news, Jean and I went back yesterday to the forest in Negishi Park and I enjoyed a dance under the tree where I felt to close to my family the other day after I got news of the brain tumor. It helped to be there again and to see the now small area of bright yellow leaves changing in the canopy overhead. Before visiting the "family tree" Jean and I sat by the pond and watched the bright colored, orange and yellow coi fish swimming amongst the yellow Lilly pad blossoms. We also had quite a show by the numerous ducks who were going through their morning ritual bathing procedures while having a snack of various Japanese type eats and some veggies too. (potatoe patties, bean filled rice balls, lemon tea, juicy asian pears, rice crackers, carrots, cukes, nut and cranberry mix ...)
After a quite walk through the park and watching other picnicking, looking at flowers and leaves Jean and I then walked back through Yamatch-cho and down the long slope to Ishikawacho and then thru the Motomachi shopping district. We stopped and got a pastry for our lunch dessert and took a few photos with a cute and funky girl at a clothing shop. We went over the bridge across the canal and into Chinatown. There we stopped and looked at one of the shrines and then we took a Rick saw ride with Hoshi as our diver or runner ? He was so friendly, fun and had a great BIG smile
He stopped and took pics of us at each the the special locations with out even being asked..now that is a good tour guide. :-)
Jean and I then looked around the gardens at Yamashita Park near the waters edge at Yokohama Harbor. There were lots of people out enjoying a beautiful fall day here in Japan. We then stopped at Don's for a resupply of juices and then made our way back home up the slope and the dreaded StairMaster in our backyard. Had a nice meal with CJ here at home and enjoyed just hanging out in the house and visiting with one another. It was a very nice day and one which had many elements of which my dad would have enjoyed if he was here with us. I feel as if he was in spirit.
Today Thursday 10/16 Jean and I are headed to Harbor View Park, a few of the old western mansions and maybe a craft shop or two along my mom and pop street. Tomorrow we are planning to go south to check out Kamakura, the beach and the numerous shrines and temples there.
I will now bid you farewell so we can be off and into the streets. Hope to fill you in on more adventures soon
Love ya
Karla ,Jean and CJ too
It is a bright, sunny, and very clear day here in Japan and Gma Jean and I will soon be out on another day of exploration.
Sorry I have not written on here much lately. I as you may or may not know have been busy trying to keep up with the happenings back in MN with my dad Bernard Slick.
See his Caring Bridge site http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bernardmslick
The news we got yesterday was a bit of a let down for all, as we were told my dad has Large B Cell Primary Lymphoma. This is in his blood stream and can cause tumors to reoccur in the brain, so you can imagine our lives have been turned a bit upside down.
Bernie will be undergoing chemo and radiation in the next few weeks and on. They were going to send him home yesterday from the hospital, but after meeting with the oncologist and getting this info, now they are keeping him there a few more days and hope to get him in to some type of rehab center for a week or so, before going home.
So with that news disturbing news, Jean and I went back yesterday to the forest in Negishi Park and I enjoyed a dance under the tree where I felt to close to my family the other day after I got news of the brain tumor. It helped to be there again and to see the now small area of bright yellow leaves changing in the canopy overhead. Before visiting the "family tree" Jean and I sat by the pond and watched the bright colored, orange and yellow coi fish swimming amongst the yellow Lilly pad blossoms. We also had quite a show by the numerous ducks who were going through their morning ritual bathing procedures while having a snack of various Japanese type eats and some veggies too. (potatoe patties, bean filled rice balls, lemon tea, juicy asian pears, rice crackers, carrots, cukes, nut and cranberry mix ...)
After a quite walk through the park and watching other picnicking, looking at flowers and leaves Jean and I then walked back through Yamatch-cho and down the long slope to Ishikawacho and then thru the Motomachi shopping district. We stopped and got a pastry for our lunch dessert and took a few photos with a cute and funky girl at a clothing shop. We went over the bridge across the canal and into Chinatown. There we stopped and looked at one of the shrines and then we took a Rick saw ride with Hoshi as our diver or runner ? He was so friendly, fun and had a great BIG smile
He stopped and took pics of us at each the the special locations with out even being asked..now that is a good tour guide. :-)
Jean and I then looked around the gardens at Yamashita Park near the waters edge at Yokohama Harbor. There were lots of people out enjoying a beautiful fall day here in Japan. We then stopped at Don's for a resupply of juices and then made our way back home up the slope and the dreaded StairMaster in our backyard. Had a nice meal with CJ here at home and enjoyed just hanging out in the house and visiting with one another. It was a very nice day and one which had many elements of which my dad would have enjoyed if he was here with us. I feel as if he was in spirit.
Today Thursday 10/16 Jean and I are headed to Harbor View Park, a few of the old western mansions and maybe a craft shop or two along my mom and pop street. Tomorrow we are planning to go south to check out Kamakura, the beach and the numerous shrines and temples there.
I will now bid you farewell so we can be off and into the streets. Hope to fill you in on more adventures soon
Love ya
Karla ,Jean and CJ too
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Oct 10-12, 2008 See Caring Bridge Site on Bernie Slick
Hi All
It is 1:30 am here in Japan in the wee hours of the morning on 10/13 08 and I have got to get to bed, so this will be short and sweet for now. I had plans to be in bed by 10pm, but as you can see that did not happen.:-)
As I think most of you know, my dad Bernard Slick had brain surgery on Oct 10th in MN to remove what was found to be a cancerous tumor. They found it to also be in his blood stream as well, but at this point he is doing great and seems to be talking quite normal to me via the phone.
Please check out this new Caring Bridge site I started for him, per his request.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bernardmslick
Thanks to all of you for your emails and notes of support, prayers and good thoughts. It makes my dad and family feel very good to know that so many people are praying for him and in touch with all of us at this trying time.
I hope to get back to this sight in the next week when CJ and is mom get here to Japan. I am looking forward to doing something different for awhile and to explore more of the local sights. I have literally been house bound most of the week and on this computer trying to communicate what is going on. I thank you for listening to all my ramblings, as it really has helped me to deal with all of this from afar, and I hope it has not been too burdensome for you.
Nighty night
Karla
It is 1:30 am here in Japan in the wee hours of the morning on 10/13 08 and I have got to get to bed, so this will be short and sweet for now. I had plans to be in bed by 10pm, but as you can see that did not happen.:-)
As I think most of you know, my dad Bernard Slick had brain surgery on Oct 10th in MN to remove what was found to be a cancerous tumor. They found it to also be in his blood stream as well, but at this point he is doing great and seems to be talking quite normal to me via the phone.
Please check out this new Caring Bridge site I started for him, per his request.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bernardmslick
Thanks to all of you for your emails and notes of support, prayers and good thoughts. It makes my dad and family feel very good to know that so many people are praying for him and in touch with all of us at this trying time.
I hope to get back to this sight in the next week when CJ and is mom get here to Japan. I am looking forward to doing something different for awhile and to explore more of the local sights. I have literally been house bound most of the week and on this computer trying to communicate what is going on. I thank you for listening to all my ramblings, as it really has helped me to deal with all of this from afar, and I hope it has not been too burdensome for you.
Nighty night
Karla
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Oct 8-9, 2008 A walk in the woods with thoughts of my dad
Konbanwa
Seems like I finally get time to update this blog in the evenings lately.
Hope this finds you all well and perhaps you too enjoyed a day in the park like I?
Yesterday I stayed in the house all day again as it rained, rained and rained some more. I kept very busy with updating and cleaning up more Honduras files,lists, the website photos, logging in deposits, writing letters to friends and family about my dad....
Speaking of him,Bernie is doing well and just waiting for surgery on Friday.
The Full Cat Scan proved to show the tumor is of primary origin, which is good, and he is on a steroid now to help reduce the swelling and inflamation. Then they will do another Cat Scan Friday morning to make sure that it is down and that will be the road map for the extraction that will take place around 1pm on the 10th.
CJ spent some time with him last night and now he is headed for Chicago to see Kalen and Mike for a day and 1/2 before returning to WI and then MN on Saturday and back home on Sunday to Japan with his mom Jean. I have decided to stay here and possibly go back to MN when my dad gets back home from the hospital. I will see what they find on Friday once they remove the tumor and do a biopsy.
We want to Thank all of you who have been sending Emails of prayers and get well wishes. My mom,dad and brother appreciate them alot and it helps to know many are thinking of us as we go through this trying time. Thanks
October 9, 2008
So there is light at the end of the tunnel. YAHOO...I actually woke to SUNSHINE here in Japan and it has not yet rained one drop today and it is almost 10pm. YEAH!!
So this is the next crazy twist to life here in Japan.
I got a phone call this morning from my Chinese friend Maggie. Remember her, the lady and family CJ and I met at Costco that one day. Well she called to ask me if I would like to teach English classes to the engineers at her work. Really ? Hum ?
She said they would pay me per hour and also for my transportation. They would like me to teach 2 classes a week from 4-6 pm. WOW? I was flattered,and would LOVE too, but I feel like I really can't commit with my dad's health issues right now. Darn!
I too, don't even know if it is legal for me, since I don't have a work visa. CJ will have to check on that at work I guess. It sounds very interesting and FUN, yet I wonder if I really have the credentials to do it,or the teaching experience?
I would give it a shot if it is even possible though, so we shall see?
So with my head spinning from that and some frustration too as the timing seems to be off...I decided I need to get out and go snap a few pics..heck it has been 3 days since I ahve been out and baout. So I left the house at 10am and went to the right at the end of the street and just kept walking to see where it took me. I was so surprised when I ended up by the Negishi US Navy Base. Remember that night back in August when we went the wrong way and we walked forever and ever almost all the way around the whole base to find the Obon festival. Well I found the other 1/2 of that walk the one we should have took:-)
It was an absolutely gorgeous early fall day here and the Negishi Forest Park I ended up at was full of school children on field trips or perhaps doing some sport day activities as well. On Monday October 13th it is actually a national holiday Health and Sports Day here in Japan. So there will be many different schools and organizations having health fairs and activities this weekend as well. Maggie may call me,to join them at Yumi's school sports celebration on Sunday?
So down the long set of steps in the park there was a pond with colorful coi fish, turtles sunbathing on an island, lilly pads with yellow blossoms and many a mom and her little one out for a walk and enjoying the weather.
I saw some cute little preschool aged boys with some fall head dresses which were decorated with colored leaves and acorns. I am not so sure where they got the leaves though, as so few are just starting to turn colors? I asked permission to take their photo and then when they were doing a group shot I offered to take it so all the adults could be in it too. Then they had me get in with the kids and took one of me. Of course when this big white lady came and sat down,I scared one of the little ones and he ran crying to his momma. You can see him being comforted by her a few rows behind me. When they took the picture I was trying to tell the kids I really was nice and wouldn't hurt them. :-( When I was going to leave they gave me a little bag with some crackers and a sucker. How sweet! I talked a little bit to the one lady that spoke english and told her about my work and travels to Honduras. I gave her one of my HTS/TSSI business cards and told her to Email me for my blog site, as I asked if I could put their picture here for all of you to see and they said "YES" with very big smiles.:-)
I had all I could do to not hang around and talk some more and take pics of the other cute kids, but I sadly bid them farewell and made my way off into the woods. It was really nice for me to be there amongst the trees and it made me think alot about my dad and mom and how we spent so much time in the woods and camping when I was samll. My dad worked for the US Forest Service for more than 30 years where he designed campgrounds, bath houses, firepits, toilets...It was good, it made me feel close to them even though I am 1000s of miles away. I watched butterflies flitting about,observed a few more spider webs, saw a boys gym class doing warm up exercises before their run around the circle path and sat on a bench and soaked up some sunshine for a few minutes before making my way further down the road. I walked through the Equestrian Horse Museum gardens areas and said hello to a few ponies and an old gray mare. It was nice to see BIG animals again other than all the little dressed up dogs riding in fancy strollers or shopping carts.
I walked past many a fruit and veggie stand, some new mom and pop old japanese shopping areas and took many a flower picture along the way as well. There are so many flowers around with all the container gardens these folks have. Amazing.
I then strolled back home passing kids coming home from school in all their different style uniforms. Made a late lunch, downloaded my pics and have been on the computer again tonight. I will give my dad a call here quick before I go to bed and then again tomorrow when I wake up before he goes to bed. I really do have to use my calendar here alot so to keep track of the days.
More soon
Karla
Seems like I finally get time to update this blog in the evenings lately.
Hope this finds you all well and perhaps you too enjoyed a day in the park like I?
Yesterday I stayed in the house all day again as it rained, rained and rained some more. I kept very busy with updating and cleaning up more Honduras files,lists, the website photos, logging in deposits, writing letters to friends and family about my dad....
Speaking of him,Bernie is doing well and just waiting for surgery on Friday.
The Full Cat Scan proved to show the tumor is of primary origin, which is good, and he is on a steroid now to help reduce the swelling and inflamation. Then they will do another Cat Scan Friday morning to make sure that it is down and that will be the road map for the extraction that will take place around 1pm on the 10th.
CJ spent some time with him last night and now he is headed for Chicago to see Kalen and Mike for a day and 1/2 before returning to WI and then MN on Saturday and back home on Sunday to Japan with his mom Jean. I have decided to stay here and possibly go back to MN when my dad gets back home from the hospital. I will see what they find on Friday once they remove the tumor and do a biopsy.
We want to Thank all of you who have been sending Emails of prayers and get well wishes. My mom,dad and brother appreciate them alot and it helps to know many are thinking of us as we go through this trying time. Thanks
October 9, 2008
So there is light at the end of the tunnel. YAHOO...I actually woke to SUNSHINE here in Japan and it has not yet rained one drop today and it is almost 10pm. YEAH!!
So this is the next crazy twist to life here in Japan.
I got a phone call this morning from my Chinese friend Maggie. Remember her, the lady and family CJ and I met at Costco that one day. Well she called to ask me if I would like to teach English classes to the engineers at her work. Really ? Hum ?
She said they would pay me per hour and also for my transportation. They would like me to teach 2 classes a week from 4-6 pm. WOW? I was flattered,and would LOVE too, but I feel like I really can't commit with my dad's health issues right now. Darn!
I too, don't even know if it is legal for me, since I don't have a work visa. CJ will have to check on that at work I guess. It sounds very interesting and FUN, yet I wonder if I really have the credentials to do it,or the teaching experience?
I would give it a shot if it is even possible though, so we shall see?
So with my head spinning from that and some frustration too as the timing seems to be off...I decided I need to get out and go snap a few pics..heck it has been 3 days since I ahve been out and baout. So I left the house at 10am and went to the right at the end of the street and just kept walking to see where it took me. I was so surprised when I ended up by the Negishi US Navy Base. Remember that night back in August when we went the wrong way and we walked forever and ever almost all the way around the whole base to find the Obon festival. Well I found the other 1/2 of that walk the one we should have took:-)
It was an absolutely gorgeous early fall day here and the Negishi Forest Park I ended up at was full of school children on field trips or perhaps doing some sport day activities as well. On Monday October 13th it is actually a national holiday Health and Sports Day here in Japan. So there will be many different schools and organizations having health fairs and activities this weekend as well. Maggie may call me,to join them at Yumi's school sports celebration on Sunday?
So down the long set of steps in the park there was a pond with colorful coi fish, turtles sunbathing on an island, lilly pads with yellow blossoms and many a mom and her little one out for a walk and enjoying the weather.
I saw some cute little preschool aged boys with some fall head dresses which were decorated with colored leaves and acorns. I am not so sure where they got the leaves though, as so few are just starting to turn colors? I asked permission to take their photo and then when they were doing a group shot I offered to take it so all the adults could be in it too. Then they had me get in with the kids and took one of me. Of course when this big white lady came and sat down,I scared one of the little ones and he ran crying to his momma. You can see him being comforted by her a few rows behind me. When they took the picture I was trying to tell the kids I really was nice and wouldn't hurt them. :-( When I was going to leave they gave me a little bag with some crackers and a sucker. How sweet! I talked a little bit to the one lady that spoke english and told her about my work and travels to Honduras. I gave her one of my HTS/TSSI business cards and told her to Email me for my blog site, as I asked if I could put their picture here for all of you to see and they said "YES" with very big smiles.:-)
I had all I could do to not hang around and talk some more and take pics of the other cute kids, but I sadly bid them farewell and made my way off into the woods. It was really nice for me to be there amongst the trees and it made me think alot about my dad and mom and how we spent so much time in the woods and camping when I was samll. My dad worked for the US Forest Service for more than 30 years where he designed campgrounds, bath houses, firepits, toilets...It was good, it made me feel close to them even though I am 1000s of miles away. I watched butterflies flitting about,observed a few more spider webs, saw a boys gym class doing warm up exercises before their run around the circle path and sat on a bench and soaked up some sunshine for a few minutes before making my way further down the road. I walked through the Equestrian Horse Museum gardens areas and said hello to a few ponies and an old gray mare. It was nice to see BIG animals again other than all the little dressed up dogs riding in fancy strollers or shopping carts.
I walked past many a fruit and veggie stand, some new mom and pop old japanese shopping areas and took many a flower picture along the way as well. There are so many flowers around with all the container gardens these folks have. Amazing.
I then strolled back home passing kids coming home from school in all their different style uniforms. Made a late lunch, downloaded my pics and have been on the computer again tonight. I will give my dad a call here quick before I go to bed and then again tomorrow when I wake up before he goes to bed. I really do have to use my calendar here alot so to keep track of the days.
More soon
Karla
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Oct 6-7, 2008 Please send Prayers to Karla's dad
Konbanwa
How is everyone this evening? Good I hope. I spent most of yesterday in the house again, as it was pouring rain almost all day. I did get out to my japanese class where I learned about numbers, money, and counting and had a refresher on greetings with Rosalie. She is a pretty,young 16 yr old girl from Phillipians(sp) that moved here with her sister for her work. She is very quiet and almost timid.
After class I stopped and bought a longer handled broom so I can sweep all the leaves that are starting to fall and blow outside onto the driveway, front porch and back patio. I felt a bit like a Halloween witch walking back home carrying it (no I did not ride it) and tried to smile when the school kids passed me so as not to scare them. haha
I then made my way to the Homes Department store once the rain had ceased, to stock up on a few household items and a couple groceries. I enjoyed a very fragrant smelling baked sweet potatoe that they had cooking on some kind of stove. It was tasty, but I think I like mine better at home, when I cut them up and steam them. Not as dried out. The evening was spent on the computer and working on Japanese.
Heard from CJ that he had a nice visit with Graham up in Duluth and got to meet all Graham's rugby friends, see where he works and enjoyed a few different mexican meals with Kendra,Tyler,Z and Mr Wood. He is now back in Mpls and had some different workman coming to the house and also some doct appts to go to. Kalen and Mike were in Spring Green WI this past weekend to see some friends in a drama production, and Kalen starts her last semester of massage school on Oct 7th in Chicago, so my guess is they are very busy.
Today Oct 7,2008 in the AM here in Japan...and Oct 6th in the eve in MN (I know it is very confusing) I woke to a phone call from CJ with news that my bother Mark just took my 80 yr old dad(Sept 30th) Bernard Slick into the hospital for some tests. He had fallen 3 times this weekend and so they went to see what was going on. They thought he might have had a stroke, but once they did a CAT scan they realized he has an inflammed mass about the size of a deck of cards on the right side of his brain which is pressurized and affecting his motor skills on the left side of his body. He recently had a pacemaker put in and so they can not do an MRI as I guess the device is magnetized and it would tear it up. He will have a FULL CAT Scan tomorrow and then we should know more. He too had prostrate cancer a few years back and so they want to see if this is a primary origin cancer or if it has matastizied from some other area?
I talked with my dad, mom and brother around Monday Night Football time and they all seemed to be doing well as can be expected and a bit relieved to actually know something was wrong and now they can at least look into it and see what is going on. My dad too, had been having lots of night terrors and flailing his arms in his sleep for about a year or so and was scheduled for a sleep disorder visit on Oct 8th to see what that was all about. I guess all the other medications and therapies they tried did not seem to help him. They were speculating that this tumor may have had something to do with that as well? So we shall see.
I will wait to find out more and then decide when I will go back to MN. I asked if there was anything I could do for him, from far away in Japan and they said they liked the idea of prayer chains and so I told them I would be sure and ask all my friends to please include him in their prayers.
So thank you from all of us Slicks for your caring and support.
Karla
How is everyone this evening? Good I hope. I spent most of yesterday in the house again, as it was pouring rain almost all day. I did get out to my japanese class where I learned about numbers, money, and counting and had a refresher on greetings with Rosalie. She is a pretty,young 16 yr old girl from Phillipians(sp) that moved here with her sister for her work. She is very quiet and almost timid.
After class I stopped and bought a longer handled broom so I can sweep all the leaves that are starting to fall and blow outside onto the driveway, front porch and back patio. I felt a bit like a Halloween witch walking back home carrying it (no I did not ride it) and tried to smile when the school kids passed me so as not to scare them. haha
I then made my way to the Homes Department store once the rain had ceased, to stock up on a few household items and a couple groceries. I enjoyed a very fragrant smelling baked sweet potatoe that they had cooking on some kind of stove. It was tasty, but I think I like mine better at home, when I cut them up and steam them. Not as dried out. The evening was spent on the computer and working on Japanese.
Heard from CJ that he had a nice visit with Graham up in Duluth and got to meet all Graham's rugby friends, see where he works and enjoyed a few different mexican meals with Kendra,Tyler,Z and Mr Wood. He is now back in Mpls and had some different workman coming to the house and also some doct appts to go to. Kalen and Mike were in Spring Green WI this past weekend to see some friends in a drama production, and Kalen starts her last semester of massage school on Oct 7th in Chicago, so my guess is they are very busy.
Today Oct 7,2008 in the AM here in Japan...and Oct 6th in the eve in MN (I know it is very confusing) I woke to a phone call from CJ with news that my bother Mark just took my 80 yr old dad(Sept 30th) Bernard Slick into the hospital for some tests. He had fallen 3 times this weekend and so they went to see what was going on. They thought he might have had a stroke, but once they did a CAT scan they realized he has an inflammed mass about the size of a deck of cards on the right side of his brain which is pressurized and affecting his motor skills on the left side of his body. He recently had a pacemaker put in and so they can not do an MRI as I guess the device is magnetized and it would tear it up. He will have a FULL CAT Scan tomorrow and then we should know more. He too had prostrate cancer a few years back and so they want to see if this is a primary origin cancer or if it has matastizied from some other area?
I talked with my dad, mom and brother around Monday Night Football time and they all seemed to be doing well as can be expected and a bit relieved to actually know something was wrong and now they can at least look into it and see what is going on. My dad too, had been having lots of night terrors and flailing his arms in his sleep for about a year or so and was scheduled for a sleep disorder visit on Oct 8th to see what that was all about. I guess all the other medications and therapies they tried did not seem to help him. They were speculating that this tumor may have had something to do with that as well? So we shall see.
I will wait to find out more and then decide when I will go back to MN. I asked if there was anything I could do for him, from far away in Japan and they said they liked the idea of prayer chains and so I told them I would be sure and ask all my friends to please include him in their prayers.
So thank you from all of us Slicks for your caring and support.
Karla
Sunday, October 5, 2008
October 5, 2008 Nishimoto-sans what a sweet family
Konbanwa
How is everyone enjoying their autumn weekend? Suppose many people are out looking at fall colors back in the north parts of the USA? Still no colored leaves yet here in Japan. But many pretty roses in bloom at the park where I met Kousuke and family this afternoon.
This morning I slept in and then worked around the house and in my office filing, organizing papers, reading up on Kyoto and then off to the park to meet my new friends. What fun we had together. I met them at the Harbor View Park, because that is what they do here in Japan. Keiko the wife was very sweet and Hikari their 2 year old son was so darn cute and full of energy. He loved to run and ran all around the park plaza while we talked there for a 1/2 hour or so.
Then it started to drizzle a bit so I invited them to our house. They were not so sure that was ok to do, on only our first meeting, but I said I don't care if you don't and then they said "OK". So we all walked back to the house along the very busy western mansion road that was very full of Japanese tourists out looking around and enjoying the weather which was nice up until then.
We got back to the house and I gave them a tour of the place and then we sat at the dining room table and visited over apple cinnamon cookies and pineapple juice. I gave Hikari a little M&M decorated metal can earlier at the park,with a bag of M&M candies inside so he was occupied with that for a short while. I then scrounged up some playing cards for him to shuffle around a bit. He was sure very well behaved for 2 1/2 years old. I guess I probably should buy a few little toys to have around here for him to play with when he comes back again? His Bday is in February a day after Graham's.
We had a nice chat and Kousuke explained alot about his work as an animator. He is going to ask his boss if I can come and visit one day and see his workplace. That would be so fun. Tommorrow the company he works for Itoon has a new commercial coming out, so I will have to watch for that on TV. He also showed me channels on TV where I can see some kids cartoons his company has made. FUN!
They are both from Japan, and speak english pretty good for only having it in high school back in the early 1990's and not really using it much since then. I was very impressed. Kousuke was born in Kyoto and then moved to Tokyo when he was 3. He is an only child. Keiko came from the area near Narita airport and she has i sister I think she said. They met in Germany at the university where he studied animation and she real estate. Keiko is a house wife "shufu" like I. She likes hippos too and enjoys making ceramics, she would like to be a potter.
I asked how they happened to go to school in Germany and they said because it was free. I did not know that,did you? I told them we should have sent our kids there...I am surprised alot more people don't take advantage of that? Or then again, maybe they do?
They were here for about 3 hours or so and then they headed home and said next time they would have me over to their home. Yeah! I told them I would love that, and will look forward to it, once they have the new baby and get settled into another new routine. Keiko is due next Sunday October 12th and they are having a little boy.
It was a most enjoyable day and I felt so comfortable and at ease with them, like I have known them forever. I told them, they will have to come back and meet our kids when they are here for Christmas too. They were excited about that. :-)
Well I am for some reason pooped tonight, so I am going to go and try to read some more about Kyoto and then I think I will head to bed early. CJ got to Duluth and was hanging out with Graham and the rugby boys when he Emailed me earlier today. I suppose they are going to be waking soon in MN and will probably make a BIG MAN SIZE breakfast..a thing they enjoy having when together.
I have not heard a word from Kalen and Mike this week, and my guess is they are very busy getting moved in and then settling into their new Chicago apartment.
Our niece Sarah Slick just moved from MN to New York City this week as well, as she recently signed a modeling contract with Wilhemenia Agency. So who knows where we might see her face popping up in the near future? Exciting times for her I am sure.
Well it sounds like it has started to rain here again, and so I hope it does not knock off all the leaves before they get bright and colorful. I should probably turn on the TV one of these days and see what is happening in the world outside my little bubble here on the bluff?
Take Care and hopefully I'll have more things to share later this week. I really have nothing planned but to get things organized around the house, some plans in order for sightseeing when Jean is here and what ever else happens to come about
Oyahosuminasi
Karla
How is everyone enjoying their autumn weekend? Suppose many people are out looking at fall colors back in the north parts of the USA? Still no colored leaves yet here in Japan. But many pretty roses in bloom at the park where I met Kousuke and family this afternoon.
This morning I slept in and then worked around the house and in my office filing, organizing papers, reading up on Kyoto and then off to the park to meet my new friends. What fun we had together. I met them at the Harbor View Park, because that is what they do here in Japan. Keiko the wife was very sweet and Hikari their 2 year old son was so darn cute and full of energy. He loved to run and ran all around the park plaza while we talked there for a 1/2 hour or so.
Then it started to drizzle a bit so I invited them to our house. They were not so sure that was ok to do, on only our first meeting, but I said I don't care if you don't and then they said "OK". So we all walked back to the house along the very busy western mansion road that was very full of Japanese tourists out looking around and enjoying the weather which was nice up until then.
We got back to the house and I gave them a tour of the place and then we sat at the dining room table and visited over apple cinnamon cookies and pineapple juice. I gave Hikari a little M&M decorated metal can earlier at the park,with a bag of M&M candies inside so he was occupied with that for a short while. I then scrounged up some playing cards for him to shuffle around a bit. He was sure very well behaved for 2 1/2 years old. I guess I probably should buy a few little toys to have around here for him to play with when he comes back again? His Bday is in February a day after Graham's.
We had a nice chat and Kousuke explained alot about his work as an animator. He is going to ask his boss if I can come and visit one day and see his workplace. That would be so fun. Tommorrow the company he works for Itoon has a new commercial coming out, so I will have to watch for that on TV. He also showed me channels on TV where I can see some kids cartoons his company has made. FUN!
They are both from Japan, and speak english pretty good for only having it in high school back in the early 1990's and not really using it much since then. I was very impressed. Kousuke was born in Kyoto and then moved to Tokyo when he was 3. He is an only child. Keiko came from the area near Narita airport and she has i sister I think she said. They met in Germany at the university where he studied animation and she real estate. Keiko is a house wife "shufu" like I. She likes hippos too and enjoys making ceramics, she would like to be a potter.
I asked how they happened to go to school in Germany and they said because it was free. I did not know that,did you? I told them we should have sent our kids there...I am surprised alot more people don't take advantage of that? Or then again, maybe they do?
They were here for about 3 hours or so and then they headed home and said next time they would have me over to their home. Yeah! I told them I would love that, and will look forward to it, once they have the new baby and get settled into another new routine. Keiko is due next Sunday October 12th and they are having a little boy.
It was a most enjoyable day and I felt so comfortable and at ease with them, like I have known them forever. I told them, they will have to come back and meet our kids when they are here for Christmas too. They were excited about that. :-)
Well I am for some reason pooped tonight, so I am going to go and try to read some more about Kyoto and then I think I will head to bed early. CJ got to Duluth and was hanging out with Graham and the rugby boys when he Emailed me earlier today. I suppose they are going to be waking soon in MN and will probably make a BIG MAN SIZE breakfast..a thing they enjoy having when together.
I have not heard a word from Kalen and Mike this week, and my guess is they are very busy getting moved in and then settling into their new Chicago apartment.
Our niece Sarah Slick just moved from MN to New York City this week as well, as she recently signed a modeling contract with Wilhemenia Agency. So who knows where we might see her face popping up in the near future? Exciting times for her I am sure.
Well it sounds like it has started to rain here again, and so I hope it does not knock off all the leaves before they get bright and colorful. I should probably turn on the TV one of these days and see what is happening in the world outside my little bubble here on the bluff?
Take Care and hopefully I'll have more things to share later this week. I really have nothing planned but to get things organized around the house, some plans in order for sightseeing when Jean is here and what ever else happens to come about
Oyahosuminasi
Karla
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Oct 3-4th, 2008 ...too much information !!! ?%$@#
It is almost 11pm here on Saturday night 10/4 and I am just about ready for bed as soon as I log in the latest happenings here in Yamate-cho.
I had class yesterday and had a brain freeze, or I was on overload and could NOT take in any more new information:-( I just could not make any connections it seemed, so I just tried to listen to Lee-san read. She did very well.
On my way home from class, I stopped to check out and rent another CD for the week, this is my new Friday ritual and a nice way to get familiar with the Japanese artists and the different styles of music here. I find I like the ballad type easy listening singers so far.
CJ and I did end up going to china town for supper last night and I had some great Cashew chicken, white rice, mango juice,and tea. We shared some of our favorite potsickers and CJ had some beef ramen soup and a beer. We stopped and got some really good coconut macaroon tarts on the way home for dessert. They were awesome!!!
Saturday October 4th
This morning we got up and CJ did some work phone calls and then packed for his trip back to the states. He will work a few days and then go see the kids in Duluth, Chicago and then back to WI to get his mom so she can come back here to Japan with him.
After CJ left I cleaned the house and did more Hogar bookwork and then had my class at the church in the late afternoon.We have lots of young engineers in that class from Korea and the Phillipines. We learned all about the days of the month, and different buildings in the city. Next week we will not have class as they are having their 5th Anniversary Language Fair at a local park and then a free lunch at one of the western mansions just down the street and through the park from our house. If we don't go to Kyoto that weekend with Gma Jean, then we will most likely attend?
After class I came back home, did more computer billing and some emails, met a new guy from Belgium on Facebook and am now getting ready for bed.
Tomorrow I am meeting my new friend Kousuke and his pregnant wife and 2yr old son at the park. I too have some errands to run after, so I will be busy and hopeful that the weather is nice.
Osuminasai
I had class yesterday and had a brain freeze, or I was on overload and could NOT take in any more new information:-( I just could not make any connections it seemed, so I just tried to listen to Lee-san read. She did very well.
On my way home from class, I stopped to check out and rent another CD for the week, this is my new Friday ritual and a nice way to get familiar with the Japanese artists and the different styles of music here. I find I like the ballad type easy listening singers so far.
CJ and I did end up going to china town for supper last night and I had some great Cashew chicken, white rice, mango juice,and tea. We shared some of our favorite potsickers and CJ had some beef ramen soup and a beer. We stopped and got some really good coconut macaroon tarts on the way home for dessert. They were awesome!!!
Saturday October 4th
This morning we got up and CJ did some work phone calls and then packed for his trip back to the states. He will work a few days and then go see the kids in Duluth, Chicago and then back to WI to get his mom so she can come back here to Japan with him.
After CJ left I cleaned the house and did more Hogar bookwork and then had my class at the church in the late afternoon.We have lots of young engineers in that class from Korea and the Phillipines. We learned all about the days of the month, and different buildings in the city. Next week we will not have class as they are having their 5th Anniversary Language Fair at a local park and then a free lunch at one of the western mansions just down the street and through the park from our house. If we don't go to Kyoto that weekend with Gma Jean, then we will most likely attend?
After class I came back home, did more computer billing and some emails, met a new guy from Belgium on Facebook and am now getting ready for bed.
Tomorrow I am meeting my new friend Kousuke and his pregnant wife and 2yr old son at the park. I too have some errands to run after, so I will be busy and hopeful that the weather is nice.
Osuminasai
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
October 1-2, 2008 ...the itsy bitsy spider......
Konbanwa
Oct 1 Wednesday
Good evening everyone. What is new with all of you? I hope your enjoying fall days where ever you may be. There are NO colorful leaves here yet in Japan. It has been very rainy though since Sunday and so I have been in the house alot, except to go to my language classes. Didn't have any today so ended up doing lots of web honduras updates, address changes and logging in new info.
Tomorrow I think I need to go and take a walk around if the weather is nice. Should visit the Homes store and Don's too, for a few different things,since I have not been down that way in a couple of weeks. Maybe I will walk through Harbor View Park too and see what is in bloom now days over there in the gardens.
CJ should be home soon from China and then he leaves again Saturday for MN.
Oct 2 Thursday
Konbanwa again.
It is evening here again and I had a great day today walking out in the sunshine, amongst many a beautiful flower,spiders working in their webs,a big "kamakidi" insect, empty parks, lots of container gardens,....I met 2 new friends today and ran into Patti that I met at the school last weekend in the store. I thought her name was Penny, but when her friend Wendy was talking and said Patti, I got confused for a moment and then got corrected.Oops! Wendy is from Bloomfield ,MI and has lived here for 7 years. She is 1/2 Japanese and her husband is 100 percent Japanese he too works for the car industry so perhaps CJ may know of his company. She knew of Graco in Plymouth, MI.
When I was walking down a street I saw a man crouched over and looking at something on the sidewalk, and when I got up to him he was looking at a BIG bug! I stopped and looked at with him and then he told me it was a "kamakiri" bug. I thought it kind of looked like a cross between a walking stick and a praying mantis. It was pretty cool and probably the length of my middle finger at least.
We began talking a bit and introduced ourselves. His name was Kousuke and he has been an animator for 3 1/2 years. He is also a graphic artist and does digital designs on the web. He was on his way to work, so I didn't keep him too long as he had a ways to go on his bike. He did say he lived in Germany for 2 years and now is back here living with his family. We swapped emails so I could send him the bug pics I took, and I told him we could be email friends or if he would like to come visit and meet CJ one day too. My guess he was in his late 20 to early 30's.
It seemed all the people out walking down the streets today, were much friendlier today as well. They actually answered back when I said Ohayogozaimous in the morning and Konnichiwa in the afternoon. Perhaps we were all just happy to be outside and enjoying the fresh air after being confined to the house the last 4 days. As you can imagine many futons were hanging on the balcony railings of many houses and apartments, to air out in the fresh air and lots of ladies were doing laundry as well. I found it interesting how they hang their umbrellas out to dry as well.
As I walked along, I found myself singing "the itsy bitsy spider as there were webs gleaming in the sunlight everywhere. I stopped to watch many a different daddy long leg in his web. They too were probably very happy the sun came out and dried up all the rain, so they could continue on their advenuture as well. :-)
When I got home, I realized it is probably a good thing I get housebound for a day or two as I was quite trigger happy today taking many a photo. :-) There were so many colorful flowers, and lots of different objects making shadows, that I thought would make interesting photos.
I walked past a car garage and it was so cool how the sun was shining through the holes in the metal beams and it made all the cars look polka a dotted. Cool!
Stopped at the stores and got some more food of course and another loaf of fresh bread at the bakery. I can tell my fall/winter eating habits are starting to kick in as I am craving more bread, pasta and carbs. Salads just don't seem to satisfy me anymore when the weather gets colder.
I like to buy a different kind of fresh bread each week too, now that I figured out what was real butter and not margarine. Last week one bakery had some awesome rye bread and then this week I got the sesame one at another bakery. Today I got a new kind at yet a 3rd bakery..I know it sounds like a deadly habit, but they are all so good and fresh. YUM !!! Bread and butter seems to be my weakness, along with cookies especially when it gets cooler out.
Oh yea, I almost forgot..When I rounded the corner down by Motomachi station I was totally shocked to see a live pine tree up and fully decorated with Christmas Lights, ornaments and a gold star at the top. Oct 2...really? WOW..I don't think we even have stuff up in the states this early, do we? I did see a bunch of Hallowwen stuff in the store. Yikes!
CJ will be home soon, so I had better get downstairs and get the eggplant parmesean heated up,the salad made and the fresh bread sliced.
Tomorrow I have my language class at the library and then CJ and I might go to Chinatown for supper before he leaves for MN on Saturday.
"Oyasumi nasai" Goodnight
Karla
Oct 1 Wednesday
Good evening everyone. What is new with all of you? I hope your enjoying fall days where ever you may be. There are NO colorful leaves here yet in Japan. It has been very rainy though since Sunday and so I have been in the house alot, except to go to my language classes. Didn't have any today so ended up doing lots of web honduras updates, address changes and logging in new info.
Tomorrow I think I need to go and take a walk around if the weather is nice. Should visit the Homes store and Don's too, for a few different things,since I have not been down that way in a couple of weeks. Maybe I will walk through Harbor View Park too and see what is in bloom now days over there in the gardens.
CJ should be home soon from China and then he leaves again Saturday for MN.
Oct 2 Thursday
Konbanwa again.
It is evening here again and I had a great day today walking out in the sunshine, amongst many a beautiful flower,spiders working in their webs,a big "kamakidi" insect, empty parks, lots of container gardens,....I met 2 new friends today and ran into Patti that I met at the school last weekend in the store. I thought her name was Penny, but when her friend Wendy was talking and said Patti, I got confused for a moment and then got corrected.Oops! Wendy is from Bloomfield ,MI and has lived here for 7 years. She is 1/2 Japanese and her husband is 100 percent Japanese he too works for the car industry so perhaps CJ may know of his company. She knew of Graco in Plymouth, MI.
When I was walking down a street I saw a man crouched over and looking at something on the sidewalk, and when I got up to him he was looking at a BIG bug! I stopped and looked at with him and then he told me it was a "kamakiri" bug. I thought it kind of looked like a cross between a walking stick and a praying mantis. It was pretty cool and probably the length of my middle finger at least.
We began talking a bit and introduced ourselves. His name was Kousuke and he has been an animator for 3 1/2 years. He is also a graphic artist and does digital designs on the web. He was on his way to work, so I didn't keep him too long as he had a ways to go on his bike. He did say he lived in Germany for 2 years and now is back here living with his family. We swapped emails so I could send him the bug pics I took, and I told him we could be email friends or if he would like to come visit and meet CJ one day too. My guess he was in his late 20 to early 30's.
It seemed all the people out walking down the streets today, were much friendlier today as well. They actually answered back when I said Ohayogozaimous in the morning and Konnichiwa in the afternoon. Perhaps we were all just happy to be outside and enjoying the fresh air after being confined to the house the last 4 days. As you can imagine many futons were hanging on the balcony railings of many houses and apartments, to air out in the fresh air and lots of ladies were doing laundry as well. I found it interesting how they hang their umbrellas out to dry as well.
As I walked along, I found myself singing "the itsy bitsy spider as there were webs gleaming in the sunlight everywhere. I stopped to watch many a different daddy long leg in his web. They too were probably very happy the sun came out and dried up all the rain, so they could continue on their advenuture as well. :-)
When I got home, I realized it is probably a good thing I get housebound for a day or two as I was quite trigger happy today taking many a photo. :-) There were so many colorful flowers, and lots of different objects making shadows, that I thought would make interesting photos.
I walked past a car garage and it was so cool how the sun was shining through the holes in the metal beams and it made all the cars look polka a dotted. Cool!
Stopped at the stores and got some more food of course and another loaf of fresh bread at the bakery. I can tell my fall/winter eating habits are starting to kick in as I am craving more bread, pasta and carbs. Salads just don't seem to satisfy me anymore when the weather gets colder.
I like to buy a different kind of fresh bread each week too, now that I figured out what was real butter and not margarine. Last week one bakery had some awesome rye bread and then this week I got the sesame one at another bakery. Today I got a new kind at yet a 3rd bakery..I know it sounds like a deadly habit, but they are all so good and fresh. YUM !!! Bread and butter seems to be my weakness, along with cookies especially when it gets cooler out.
Oh yea, I almost forgot..When I rounded the corner down by Motomachi station I was totally shocked to see a live pine tree up and fully decorated with Christmas Lights, ornaments and a gold star at the top. Oct 2...really? WOW..I don't think we even have stuff up in the states this early, do we? I did see a bunch of Hallowwen stuff in the store. Yikes!
CJ will be home soon, so I had better get downstairs and get the eggplant parmesean heated up,the salad made and the fresh bread sliced.
Tomorrow I have my language class at the library and then CJ and I might go to Chinatown for supper before he leaves for MN on Saturday.
"Oyasumi nasai" Goodnight
Karla
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