Long life

HI, ladies!!

Today is June 30, 2008, the end of this month and of the half of this year. Recently, thinking back to the past makes me comfortable because I have had a lot of well-filled days. When I was young, I often used to be annoyed with some problems that accompanies youth. I can remember those beautiful but bitter days with a feeling of regret. Though I have now less freshness and youthfulness, instead of that, I can imagine many things which would come to my life through my experience.

When my kids are concerned about easy things, (actually, they seems to be pessimistic) I feel pity and give advice to them that they don’t have to worry so much. Anyway, they have to tackle with a lot of problems to be solved on their long life. Life is so hard…

I also have to tackle with my task, yes, my essay! I’ll do my best. Don’t give up!
Well, see you. Bye!

That event

Hi, ladies!!

June will come to the end, we will meet July soon, and that event is nearly upon us! Wow! Time fries. Now I am trying to copy the video which was recorded at last year’s seminar, on a new tape so that everyone could see it. Thanks to Alice’s advice, I feel I can do it by the rehearsal for this year’s seminar. Unfortunately I had some mistakes at that time, and my turn couldn’t be recorded. How stupid I was…Anyway you can see that we were enjoying those presentations in it!

Plum has sent us this year’s paper so that we can check it at the very end, and I am surprised that how many times we should carefully examine the paper. Since I was not sure about such a patient job, I’ve almost forgotten my work??? I have to be ready for good finish.

Well, see you tomorrow, bye!!

Staying fit

Hi, ladies!!

Magnolia, I’m glad to hear that your cute puppies have new owner. Watching such tiny, lovely dogs running around on a garden must be a kind of healing for everyone.

It has been hot today, and when I just walked around 2 hours to go to the library, I felt heavy-footed. Only 3 months ago, I was staying fit because of my regular training at a gym. At that time my physical age was below average, I guess. Very sad… Toward hot summer, I have to walk and run!

So, see you later. Bye!

Strange dream

HI, everyone!!

Last night I had a strange dream. In it presidential candidate Obama was appearing in somewhere like his office, talking to me that he could meet me later because my paper, or something, was good. I hesitated, but got excited by real Obama, and doubted his promise…What an unrealistic dream?! This is probably because my father spoke to us about him, related with stocks in America two days ago, and it was so impressive for me.

As for this victory, it seems very interesting why he could win against Clinton, doesn’t it? In TIME, he said that what he didn’t anticipate was how effectively they could use the internet. By using it, he admitted, their message powerfully merged with the social networking and the power of the Internet. There seem a lot of younger supporters behind the net. I wonder which candidate will win the final election at the end of this year.

Well, see you tomorrow. Good bye!

My father

Hi, ladies!!

It has been raining since last night, but the sky is becoming clear now, though the rainy season will continue for a while.

How did you enjoy this weekend?
As for me, my father was coming to our house for the first time, after his visit to his former company’s gathering at Sakae. He is almost 80 years old, but rather healthy and wasn't tired after a journey from Osaka. He is a very talkative person, and during this stay he had endless things to talk about to us. I’ve been familiar to such a situation with him, but my DH and kids were not and just had to listen to his long stories.

Usually we have a meeting with a lot of relatives, about 20 members, and so we don’t have to deal with him all the time. From his acquaintance to several books he was reading, to my cousin’s recent news, he freely spoke to us. On reflection, when I was a girl, he used to always get angry with children because of our bad attitude. He was a very short-tempered. All what I can recall now is his displeased face.

And yet he was always laughing and trying to please us, even if a bit noisy. Now I can imagine his difficulties on job at that time, and he was tired due to them. Last afternoon, when I saw him off, looking at his retreating figure, I felt inexpressible warm feeling and sadness. I hope he will be doing well as long as possible.

So, see you later. Good bye!

Logial thinking

Hi, ladies!

I’m really pleased to receive your warm comments. Thank you very much!

Now I am standing at a new start line, which can lead a world of more improved English. If you don’t mind, I’d like to keep writing in this Blog everyday, though I’ve felt somewhat ashamed of many mistakes in it. Still, I can get more comfortable feelings in writing in English than a year ago. I hope I can think and express in English more smoothly.

By learning some speaking, a kind of presentation, I found that I am so short of logical thinking. I’ve never have chance to argue or discuss various social issues so seriously. Actually, in such a narrow full-time homemaker’s world, there was no need to ‘discuss.’On the contrary, some peaceful chat was most needed. Sometimes it might be comfortable for each other, but it was often bored.

Through learning, I found I like thinking of gender issues and don’t like such a gender-biased expression ‘Courage is what makes a man, and charm is what makes a woman.’ I wonder why only women have to be so attractive, and so passive. Recently on TV, there are a number of women who used to be men. They are more charming than original women(?). I think it’s almost OK, and women also can show their own personality more freely, whether womanly or not womanly. Japanese Wa, or harmony may be important wisdom for our life, but we can live freer lives. How about you?

Thank you for reading, see you tomorrow. Bye!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

CONGRATULATIONS!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!
Today, June 18, 2008, is the Memorial Day we started this Blog.

The whole past year is almost miracle for me. Since Plum suggested us a new plan to improve our writing ability and skill a year ago, we have had this fantastic experience along with a lot of encouragement, inspiration, and courage. They have deeply impressed me, charmed me, and changed me. I’ve never had such wonderful days in my life.

I would appreciate you very, very much, Plum.
And all of you, dearest friends!!!

The blue ocean

Hi, ladies!

Gloriosa, I haven’t seen you, and I was pleased by your comment. You are having so busy days for going into a hospital. I’m sorry for your absence on the summer seminar, but if we can record our presentation at that day, let’s enjoy it after you come back.

It has been too hot today, hasn’t it?? I don’t like wet weather at rainy season, but I am fed up with this summer-like climate. For about three months from now, we have to put up with such a severe heat in Nagoya…Now I am only finding comfort in watching beautiful photos putting on a wall, which includes cool greenery highland and the blue ocean in Hawaii. It’s excellent!

Well, please take care of you, dear friends. See you tomorrow.

On Sunday night

Hi, everyone!!
It has been a comfortable warm day today, and I hope such weather continued forever!

Last night I was asked to get in bed together by my kids in their bedroom, complaining about unwillingness to go to school next morning. They sometimes ask me to do so especially on Sunday night, and I always feel it a childish idea. But they requested me to comfort them so eagerly that I couldn’t reject it. They managed to get sleep calmly last night, but I had a problem. I don’t know why I do so, but I always can’t help waking up many times during the night, even though on another futon. Though they were almost sleeping soundly, I woke up at every one hour from two o’clock…

Is it probably because I was caring about them without intention at night?? I had to recall the days when my kids were little babies, been wakening for milk. I think my kids are fairy nervous because they are often concerned about next day’s event. When I was a girl, I was barely afraid of tomorrow’s school time… Or am I too easygoing? Maybe so. I’m a happier person.

So, see you later, good bye!

A long travel

HI, ladies!
It has been unbelievably hot today, hasn’t it? It seems like the summer season.

Magnolia, how cute your puppies are!! I’m sorry that you’ve not found a new owner yet and got tired now. I’d like to have one for my kids, but we can’t afford to do so because of our rented apartment. Most friends of mine also live in such a flat…I hope a nice person would come to your home as soon as possible.

By the way, have you finished reading a book beio kairan jikki Plum recommended us before? Though I began to read it long ago, it has taken a long time to read on due to its classic katakana. At first it was really hard to read for me, but gradually I have become familiar with this style, and recently it seems like giving me an atmosphere of the old Meiji era comfortably. In this first section, those people were riding on train to cross over huge American continents for a long, long time. I like such a way of traveling, which might make me a total traveler.

There were writer’s impressions at intervals, and they also impressed me. Their big impact must have created a power of the beginning of the Meiji era.
I’m enjoying reading this. Thank you.

So, it’s time to go back my housework. Sweet dreams, dear friends. Good night…

Beautiful impressions

HI, ladies!!

I’m glad to hear your beautiful impressions about Prince Edward Island. I envy you because I’ve been to neither that island nor Canada. Since I eagerly read a series of books of Anne when I was thirteen years old or so, Canada has been a symbol of this charming girly novel for me. Though I almost forgot that sense for a long time, this TV program about Anne reminds me of dear old memory at once. It is probably because a recall of my best time is closely linked to the novel.

On the program, actress Keiko Matsuzaka visited the island with a commentator, introducing its wonderful scenery in a bit too much pretty dress. Her teenage daughters were sometimes appearing on it, and I was surprised by their fluent English. Though Mrs.Matsuzaka’s one was a kind of Japanese, theirs were completely native’s since they once lived in New York.

So, see you tomorrow, bye.

The bend in the road

Hi, ladies!

Plum, I also feel sorry for your fearful memory in your childhood. Any molester and abuse against children should not be allowed in our society. Protect children is our important duty. I just hope my kids and all children to live healthy, safely, and happily.

This afternoon I found a nice expression in Anne of green gables. You would already know this, but I’ll write it for myself.
(Anne said to Marilla)　
When I left Queen’s (college) my future seemed to stretch out before me like a straight road. I thought I could see along it for many a milestone. Now, there is a bend in it. I don’t know what lies around the bend, but I’m going to believe that the best does…

Our life, too, has had a lot of bends, hasn’t it? I’d like to believe, like Anne, the best lies around the bend in our future. It’s really fantastic.

Well, see you tomorrow. Bye!

The terrifying case

Hi, everyone!

Thank you for letting us know about the newest event in France, Plum.　It is said that the French are very proud of their language, and aren’t fond of English. Is this a sort of globalization?

By the way, there was a cruel crime in Akihabara last Sunday. This accident made me very depressed, because I have received a lot of information about some suspicious people from kids’ school these days. One of the news told us about a man with something like a knife, stalking some kids in the nearest park two weeks ago. I am afraid of such a terrifying case.

But I think it is not surprising now that there seems to be a lot of depressing men in Japan.（women, too, may be depressed in some extent）Though everyone manages to live their lives with little dissatisfaction on the face of our society, in fact, there must be a surprising, unexpected power against the outside world in younger people. It is really sad….

Sorry for writing a bid blue topic. Thank you, see you!

About Kanno Sugako 3

HI, ladies!

Today I’ll introduce you the most important work of Kanno Sugako, Shide no michikusa, the diary on my deathbed. This was written in prison after receiving a death sentence 1911. So to say, this is her last will. She was executed on a charge of high treason. In present Japan, I can’t imagine such a crime, for there is a big difference on the status of Emperor between now and a prewar period. But I was just surprised when I read this.

Firstly, she was completely keeping calm all through her diary. On the beginning it, she writes:
I am going to note myself from today, just being sentenced to death, to the day I will mount the gallows. I will write this naturally, honestly, and truly.

After writing this, she silently continued her diary for seven days, not knowing when her execution day would be. What a brave woman she was! As I mentioned before, she must have already accepted this sentence as her destiny, because this way of death was her ideal for a long time.

I have to research her backgrounds deeply.

So, see you later. Bye!

This summer vacation

Hi, ladies!

Yes, it’s a wonderful afternoon now. I like such a nice weather.

Are you going to anywhere nice for this summer vacation? I haven’t decided yet, but I had vaguely planned to go some foreign countries until this spring. But when I suggested that plan to my kids, they strongly opposed it. Why?? If I were in their position, I’d have been glad to hear that. They complained that Japan was so safer that they didn’t want to go abroad.

It seems only natural for younger daughter that she had some awful experience on a plane bound for Hokkaido last summer. (She was quick to feel motion sickness) I was also that kind of kid, always feeling bad on train and in a car. But I think they are too careful. I wonder why they are so reluctant to go where they don’t know. Since I had never been to abroad until I became an adult, I envy them… When I was a child like my kids, there was no chance to visit a foreign country.

I want them to feel a lot of beauty of unknown places with breathtaking scenery as soon as possible. So, for a while I’m going to think about a good plan.

Well, see you later. Bye.

Gardening detectives

Hi, everyone!

I already enjoyed a DVD titled Rosemary&Thyme that Plum lent me about one month ago, but I couldn’t write anything about it until now, because I could hardly understand those English… In my notebook, there were some writings of basic expression, such as ‘What would I do for you?’ ‘I need you talk’ ‘Please laid-back (relax)’ ‘She is not that kind of woman’ ‘There is a proposition I’ll put on you’ …That’s all.

Firstly, I couldn’t catch words I don’t know, and secondly, I couldn’t catch their pronunciation even if I know those meanings. I found it’s not easy for me. But that drama itself was so enjoyable that I managed to watch them to the end. I was happy to check those beautiful English gardens, mysterious characters, and attractive main actresses. Are they gardening detectives? It’s really fantastic. Thank you very much, Plum. If you don’t mind, I’d like to watch more.

So, see you later. Bye!

Challenging work

Hi, everyone!

Plum, Magnolia, thank you for letting me know about euthanasia in Holland and USA. I think European countries have too many aspects to understand, and Christianity make them so more complicated. Even though I don’t have any idea about Buddhism, our own religion, I am learning about other religions. It seems difficult for me, but also challenging work.

This morning, I went to an annual medical check. I don’t like it because I have to fast for half a day. Even if I can endure it, thirsty is unbearable for me. What is worse, today’s reservation was 10:30, two hours later than a usual year. While waiting for my turn at a health facility, I was getting a headache due to water shortage…

So, see you tomorrow. Bye!

Holland's euthanasia

Hi, ladies!

I'm interested to know more about Holland’s euthanasia, because I have wondered for a long time why Holland is so unique nation, which permit her people not only euthanasia but also prostitute and the same-sex marriage since early times. They are all controversial issues, and I’d like to know how they are controlling such problems. Peach, have you ever asked your guests about it? Anyway, if I were in his position, I‘d have no idea about it. I think it’s very important but hard for me…

By the way, these days there is a serious problem about food price rising around the world. I heard that story last night.
1) Why those problems arose?...Demand for grains is increasing more and more mainly because of strong needs in India and China, of bio-ethanol in USA, and of a series of droughts in Australia. So, more investors have put their money into grains.
2) What is Japan doing about it?...It is said that Japanese government has had no policy about agricultures even about a reduction of rice acreage. In present condition, wheat and dairy farms are now suffering from price rising.
It is most urgent that we should do something proper. 　

Thank you for reading. See you tomorrow.
Bye!

The Victorian tutorial

HI, everyone!

Yesterday we could enjoy a lot of meaningful studies on the Victorian tutorial. These materials and notebooks will be valuable to me. I also found the importance of religious prospects. I’d like to visit some churches some day.

Talk later. See you!