Our Christmas tree and First Gift for Soba!

One Saturday after playing the piano for Ballet class, I was driving and found this store that was selling Christmas tree!

Last year I went to Lowe's with my future Japanese sister in-law to pick Christmas tree!

This time I was absolutely by myself and was nervous driving highway back home with tree on top of my car! But I picked very small cute one then the guy said

"Oh it will fit IN YOUR CAR!"

I was shocked but he forced the tree into my trunk! I put my back seats down and he just pushed and pushed that tree!

Then when I came home my husband was not there and I had to leave to my job number two of the day so I tried to remove that tree from my trunk as quickly as possible!!! But the brunches got spread open in my back seat and the resistance level was very high! I could not pull that Christmas tree out!! I struggled and struggle and carefully closed each brunches towards back of the truck from my back seat!!

PAIN!!

But finally I did it by myself and I felt the true American moment!

Yes! Japanese woman can survive in America and have some Christmas tree and Christmas spirit!

(In Japanese tradition on Christmas day lots of people eat KFC and Sushi and I miss that! That's the real spirit to me!)

My car smelled nice after a while!

That tree was $20 and was about my height 5'4. My husband told me we have been such a good boy and girl that is why we have so much presents under our tree! I really don't know if that's true since I am already in my early 30's!

The other day since his brother in-law and his cute Japanese wife had to leave to Japan for Christmas we opened their present and it was actually for Soba!

Before opening It says "Everything is Better in Dedham"

We could not believe they found such a unique gift!

King of Dedham Moment

Soba started to show her interest in her present!

Now she is going nuts that JP has to use her Japanese Discipline words!

Dame Dame Dame! Which means No No NO! My husband's least favorite Japanese word!

Snow's taller than Soba!

We are not welcoming our snow storm number 2 here in Dedham!!!

A lots of things got canceled such as my craft show on Friday, ballet classes and teaching etc.

One thing that's not cancelled is shoveling our drive way and path way.

We learned as our 1st year being home owner lesson as if you don't shovel when it snows it turns into hard cold ice which won't melt till March! So we are out there at least twice a day to shovel and shovel!

I am glad I am not paying anymore to sports club for $100 a month! The real work out is right here in our drive way! Plus our elderly neighbor who is not having their best health condition this winter, my husband started to shovel their drive way also! So I could not watch him help out their drive way, I joined the force and now my back is aching crazy!!


Here's some picture of our snow pictures!
Now snow is absolutely taller than Soba!

Snow is taller than Soba!

Charity

Two of my 9 years old and 11 years old piano students told me about an idea to donate some animals to needed country during this holiday season.

I was very touched by their awareness of the world and took charge of the idea and made Holiday Gift Registry and decided to pass around to my piano students and other friends.

http://www.heifer.org/siteapps/personalpage/ShowPage.aspx?c=edJRKQNiFiG&b=477011&sid=bgKRLYMtEfKNLQNzFqH

It is through Heifer International.

I already bought 1 chick, a share of goat and geese.
Here's the Thank you card that I received! How cute!!

I also became a sponsor for a child in Guatemala through Plan USA
http://www.planusa.org/

I sponsored her for one full year and planning to visit her next summer in Guatemala!!

Here's the picture of the 8 years old girl who I became a sponsor for!

To me it is the best way to learn Spanish instead of paying for school!
I donate $24 a month and sponsor a child from Spanish speaking country and exchange letters in Spanish and of course to visit her can also horn my Spanish skill!

I am not at all wealthy but I just couldn't sit and listen to my piano students being so generous and aware of the world and here I am 32 years old making OK money to support myself doing nothing to help others!!

I felt I learned some life lesson from them instead of giving some piano lesson to them : D

I wish I can give them Super A plus!!(But I am just a piano teacher. Can't give them a grade but hug for that!)

Italy 12/26-1/1

Last night I was struggling with Delta.com to use my mileage to go visit my best friend in Italy. I bought enough mileage for round trip (60,000) to Italy from Boston but what I really didn't realize was the choice was narrow.

I was able to find good timing on the way but on the way back there was 18 hours lay over in Amsterdam on 12/31 which means I have to stay somewhere in Amsterdam by myself and party with super happy Dutch people and be happy on new years eve...

I thought that image is kind of wild so I decided to pay for tickets instead of using the mileage this time. May be I will use it next year!

I am going there from 12/26-1/1.

I really really wanted to go to my friend's wedding in Malaysia (she is a keyboard player for Beyonce) before Italy but the timing and job didn't work out so I had to give up on that trip.... Very sad.....

But at least I got this trip straight!!!

No husband nor dog are with me.
I asked him to come with me many many times but he seems to like his home and dog better than traveling around the world....

But it's OK. We are married about 6 years. Nothing can fade our love at this point : D


My best friend who I have been her best friend since we were 17 years old.

People sometimes say I have accomplished a lot but compare to this friend, I am absolutely nothing!

She is just the most talented, smartest and kindest person I have ever met in my life and she always makes me realize that I can do more!

She told me while I am in Italy, I am going to stay at some castle with Japanese consulate general and some Italian royal person who owns that castle.

Here's the link to the castle!
http://www.castelpietraio.it/index.htm


Also my another best friend who is a guitar player for Herbie Hancock is in Italy while I am there so I will go see his concert on 12/30.

My friend's name is

Lionel Loueke
http://www.lionelloueke.com/


In just 5 nights I think we will be staying in 4 different towns in Italy.

Blogna
Firenze
Siena
Orvieto

I am spending girls night on New years eve in Italy!

What an exciting start of 2009!

I can't wait to see her!

6th Anniversary

12/3 was our 6th Anniversary!

We have a tradition to go to same Japanese Restaurant we went after we got married.

I dressed up and we were gonna go out.

Then my husband asked me...

Which car are we going to take?

He never asked me that question because when we go out together he is the one who drives, so I said

What kind of question is that??
(Yes, I am a little spunky even on anniversary)

Then we went to his car!

This is one of my favorite day of the year because I don't have to open the car door!
(I wish that happens more often but once a year is good)

Then there was a huge flower sitting on the passenger seat!!!

I was sooo impressed!!

So I asked him to capture this happiest moment!


We ate at the restaurant called Fuagkyu

Happy Couple (Little tired after work)


Spicy Tuna Salad
Spider and Shrimp Tempura Roll
Sukiyaki

After the feast we continued our special moment to go to Finale (dessert restaurant)

We told out waitress that today is our anniversary and she gave us a free dessert!

After 6th years of marriage to a wonderful man, my life has been just so happy than ever! It's just like my dog Soba, I can't believe I didn't have her before and now that I can't go back to the life without her!

I called my mom to Japan and said it was our 6th anniversary.

She had only one comment.

It was not congratulations.

It was.....

It lasted! ........


Just remembering the moment of 12/3/02
I thought I would share this photo with the moment we became a couple!


After the anniversary date, the gorgeous flower has been smelling so great in my kitchen!! More happy meals for the married man ; D

My First ever Craft Show

After Celtics game, I made more jewelry than ever.

My last burst for my craft show debut as a jeweler.
(I am sorry I don't have picture of my perspiration)

I found this event on Craigslist and booked for the first time.

For playing piano in front of many people, my butterfly doesn't seem to appear anymore but for this day of my first craft show, I was really nervous!

It was a fundraiser for Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem, MA.
I was one of their few vendors and I got the best spot as close to the door!
(I have no idea what's the best anyway...)

This was the event for pets to take picture with Santa!

The event was from 11AM to 4 PM.

I had pretty good sales but one thing. Absolutely, mine looked very inexperienced and Japanese.

My First Sign

The ladies were confused with my engrish.com sign

?????
http://www.engrish.com/

So I made new one

Here's the pictures of my table

Happy Jeweler JP

My friend who lives close to the event came to visit me with their dog!!
It was sooo nice to see my friends there : D

Then my highlight of the day!

My lovely husband and Soba came to visit me.

Soba got a chance to meet Santa and take photo with him.

THEN while I was taking photo with Santa and Soba,,,

My husband was forced to watch my table...

When I came back, he gave me this hard cold cash!!!

He sold 3 sets of earrings!! WOW! I should have invited him earlier.


Please don't come after me and rob me but.....

I made almost $130 that day! : D