Thursday, August 26, 2010

cool jeans

Kids grow in summer, especially their height. So I cut off my kids' last year jeans. They turned out damaged-cut-off-in-style shorts.

I wonder since when this kind of style had become "cool".

When I was in college, a friend of mine told me that her grandma sewed up her damaged Levi's 501 when she visited her house. Granny must have taken pity on her grand daughter's frugal student life and ruined her special pair.

Being "cool" means rebel. When tradition says yes, it's uncool all the time. I bet if damaged style became school uniform, it wouldn't be cool anymore. Young peole always need to oppose something.

BTW, my husband said "home-made-Abercrombie" when he saw the shorts. Unfortunately my master pieces aren't cool enough when I tried to recycle them.

hamsters

Hi my name is Fluffy. I'm shy and reserved. I've been tail-less ever since my friend/enemy Cotton bit it off. She had been chasing me all the time before my owner family separated us into different cages. Now I'm free from her and enjoy alone time.

Hey, I'm Cotton. Ooops, sorry you can't see me, cuz I'm so fast. My less favorite thing to do is sitting still. I wonder where Fluffy is these days. I miss her, we used to have great time together, mainly tagging tails..well as I recall I tagged her most of the time though.

Do I look cute when my owner girl is holding me?
It has been a year since we were adopted by Iyah's daughters. I enjoy to see people's reaction when they see us. Some says "Owww, sooo cuute", some says " Eww...mice...".

Roman Holiday

We watched this movie for our upcoming big trip to Italy.

Every time I see this movie, I found Audry so stunning. The story was lovely. This is the king of chick-flick for me or every girls. My girls and I are so looking forward to going to Rome now.

For our trip, my husband and I watched "Angel and Demon" the other day. That cast a cloud on my expectation. Every place Dr. Langdon visited, there was a murder. Stone paved streets and ancient churches looked scary in there.

Well, I know everything has both bright side and dark side. It so depends on your point of view, doesn't it? I'm so glad I saw "Roman Holiday" after
"Angel and Demon".

Saturday, August 21, 2010

home practice


I practice yoga at home with DVD when I can't go to the studio.

David and Shannon's instruction of Jivamukti is the hardest and longest, for an hour, on the other hand, Rodney's is the most gentle and relaxing. Cindy from OM teaches step by step with funny description.

This summer I have a company, my daughters. My younger one's favorite is David for some reason. She chants well without knowing the meaning.

"Lokah..Samasuta..Sukino...Bavantu....Oooom Shanti Shanti shanti hari.....Ooooommmm...."

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Don't be mean..


This is the shirts my younger one has selected for today's Japanese reading/writing tutoring.
Since the teacher has been torturing her by picking up tiny little mistakes of her Japanese reading constantly in really mean way, she hates him so badly now.
Well.., I taught her that there is no fairly tale which doesn't have mean enemy. She can survive and will conquer someday. Only she can do is working hard, then nobody can pick her up.
Since all the teachers my girls have met before were understandable, sugar-coated type, this encounter was a shock to them.
They've learned life is tougher than they used to think it was in this summer. I hope my girls' hearts grew stronger as well as their tanned bodies. Never give up!!

Monday, August 16, 2010

karaoke evening

I went to the city to sing songs in karaoke box with my neighbors and kids, 10 of us!

Then I realized that only latest songs I knew was kid's songs such as Hanna Montana or Serena Gomes. Also, there are too much words in such a short time! Even I had the lyric showing TV in front of me, I wasn't able to sing along with songs. When friend of mine put Carpenters on, it was so comforting, finally I felt like singing but chanting..

However, despite of my tune deaf about music and slow reading about lyrics, it was so much fun!!

Friday, August 13, 2010

the founder of anusara yoga

New york times magazine published this big article about one yogi who founded anusara yoga. It can be read more critical rather than favorable.

Some must have been disappointed by the fact their "guru" was a shrewd entrepreneur, some must have felt themselves as decoy ducks of him.

I don't care how much money he makes out of practitioners as long as he gives something they want. He has a right to have his own life, doesn't he?

But I found him phony because the article said nonchalantly " he settled himself into an overstuffed leather chair in his living room....". Ooops, I heard " leather" !! Isn't no killing one of the important doctorine of yoga?

I smell the writer's malice in there more than any other critical comments.

horseback riding camp

Today was the last day of my kids' horseback riding summer camp. They learned from horsemanship to cantering. Though my younger one once fell off and got a big nasty bruise on her thigh, though after the end of the day they smell like horses, they love horses.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

a night at the Playland

It's such a good idea opening an amusement park until 11pm in this hot and humid summer. We had a really good time!

6 girls sleep over

Watching a movie, painting toe nails and endless chatting!!

Monday, August 9, 2010

kindle 2

My beloved kindle 2 has broken. It only showed this gray patchy display for any effort.

I made a phone call to the customer service, then after a few conversation, the operator diagnosed it couldn't be fixed. She said she is going to ship new one to me!!

I still don't have any idea about the cause. she didn't even ask me if I dropped or dipped in water or anything. But simply replace it for me.

How generous amazon is! or this happens all the time? Can I trust next one?

But anyway, I'm grateful the recent e-book war. Quality of customer service must be much nicer than it used to be.

I'm hoping they ship kindle 3 which is the latest and capable in Japanese also by mistake!! Cross my fingers!!

Thursday, August 5, 2010

dog sitting

My kids is taking care of Mystic while the owner family is out of town.

You'll never know how my girls got excited about this dream job! Right after they came home from their riding camp they went straight to hers, played with her and took her a walk.

I have to confess that I freaked out when Mystic got excited and gone "banana" in their living room. She didn't listen to me at all, I tried to command, scold or even threaten her, but none of them worked. All I did was only pour more fuel to her. I can't be a dog whisperer, never...

Eventually, my older one was able to manage the situation. She did a great job!! I'm so proud of her!!

fall already?


I found the window display has been changed for fall at almost every store now. We just got into August though. Take it easy..time flies anyway....

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

piano man

My older daughter and I did discuss whether the song "Piano Man" by Billy Joel is a happy song or a sad song.

I thought it's a happy song. On the other hand, she thought it's a sad song.

I asked my American friend's opinion. She thinks it's so sad.

I wonder if the piano man got stuck in that bar miserably or he found his happiness near himself surrounded by reality.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Robert Moses Beach

Friend of our family took us to this gorgeous beach with them on Sunday afternoon.

Basically I'm not a beach person but as I've stopped swimming for a few days for some reasons (swimming at the pool became my routine since the summer had started), I really really wanted to dive in. So I did.

That felt soo goood! We had a great time. Then I realized that was my first dip into the Atlantic Ocean!! Yey!

welcome back

Our nice friend/ former neighbor came to here for visiting all the way from Japan for two weeks. We met after a whole year.

We had a big neighbor party at my place. Even though we live on the same street we hardly have a chance like this big gathering.

Yes, she is the one who can bond people together. We really had a great time! Thanks!

the nice doggy

Her name is Mystic, not our dog unfortunately, but our neighbor's dog. They are generous enough to let my kids play, walk and water? with her these days. Now their dream comes true.

My kids have been dying for having a dog for 5 years.

At the first time they asked me if they can have a dog, we lived in small apartment, so tenants were not allowed to have pets.

Then we moved to our own house. But I was not comfortable with the thought that a dog would walk around our new house.

Then we moved here, but still there are a lot of what ifs. What if we would have to move soon, a puppy could be killed by a long flight. What if we wouldn't be able to train him/her well..etcetra..etcetra..

Hopefully we can have a nice doggy like Mystic in near future.

Arranged / movie


Does the restriction save you or tangle you? They found a balance in between. You'll never be free from everything but you can find happiness somewhere near you anytime. Also I found that, in this wave of globalism, keeping ethnicity is one of the virtue for everyone.