My THIRD Earthquake

Yesterday, we had another earthquake.
Here they would classify it as "a little one"...6.6


Some people didn't even know we had one.  (how that's possible is BEYOND me)  - Do they just walk around on "shaky legs" throughout their regular day?  Like someone who has the wobbly - I might be drunk walk? I just don't see how its possible not to feel these earthquakes. Or how its possible to not feel the building you are in slowly start to sway, or to hear the walls creak as they start to move?  Its creepy - period.


Anyway,
yesterday, 12:15pm...I was in the car on the top floor of a parking garage and I had finished loading my wares and just happened to be backing out of the parking spot.  As most people do - I was backing out SLOWLY, looking for other cars...and all of a sudden  - my car started shaking side-to-side and I thought "I've hit a HUGE pothole".  And I mean car shaking to the point that my head would have bounced off one shoulder pad to the other (had it been the 80s and had I been wearing them)!
So I slowed down trying to "look" at what I had run over.  Nothing.
Then I saw the car beside me rocking side-to-side.  It looked like someone was behind it, pushing it, trying to tip it over.  Yes, it was rocking that much. 


So I stopped and waited.
All of about 10 seconds ~ and it was over.


Nothing more.  No tsunami.  No panicked people running & screaming.  Basically - no one even acted like anything happened. 
So I parked the car, got out, walked over to the side rail and just looked out over the water (yes, the only place to see the water is from the top of a building because of all the industry on the coastline).
I watched and waited.  NOTHING.  


I got back in the car and started my journey home.
All the while thinking to myself...I REALLY hope I am not here when the next BIG ONE hits.  And yes, they are predicting Japan is due to get one, a BIG one,  within the next few years!

The view from my shaky earthquake perch.  
Extremely thankful that this wasn't the last thing I ever saw!!!...the top of a Costco parking garage!!!




Rockin' and Rollin' (literally) in Japan~
Deeds

Looks Can be Deceiving

So as you might guess, things here in Japan are different.  Not only in the obvious (culture, looks, schools, cars, houses) but also in the little things.

Since my son is only 3 1/2 ~ there are still certain things that he likes that are only for little kids. And whenever possible - I go through every means possible to get him the comforts of home that he wants (Cheetos, Marshmellows and even the ever elusive Cinnamon Graham Crackers).
As you can imagine, some of the things he is use to are hard to find.  Sometimes it will take a whole days search & journey around town to find what I am looking for.
One British lady I met recently explained the expat wife's daily searches for the normal as:
"We hunt and we gather.  And when we find it, we gather as much as bloody possible because you never know when you will see it again."  I thought she was joking...she wasn't.

So in my quest to be a great mom, I went on the hunt for Bubble Bath.  We brought over an ENORMOUS bottle when we moved but since we have lived here - my son has decided that he likes bubbles in his bath more than he doesn't.  So starts the search - or so I think!

The first store I hit had this display of the cutest Winnie the Pooh bottles right up front by the register.  I thought - My lucky Day!
I grab, open, smell...PERFECT.

Get home and use the sweet honey-smelling stuff in my son's bath.  It looked a little runny-ier than usual, but I thought - hey, its Japan.  It didn't bubble very much and it made the water a little cloudy.  But none-the-less, my son smelled sweet and his skin felt like butter!

One afternoon when my Japanese teacher was here, I asked her to read a bunch of labels for me, tell me what my answering machine ACTUALLY said in Japanese and to read me the contents of the new Bubble Bath.

She said it was milk & honey scent.  She said to use a capful every-time.  And she said it was FABRIC SOFTENER!!!  Yes, I have been bathing my son in fabric softener!!

Poor kid.  Luckily I have only been washing his hair with fresh water from the spout.
Once again...life changes, and things DO NOT stay the same.
Still figuring it out - one LABEL at a time!

Deeds

THREADING

Recently I was with my friend W and she told me that if I ever needed to have my eyebrows "THREADED" - she had been introduced to this great lady here in Yokohama who was really good!

First and foremost - I had NO IDEA what she was talking about.  As we drove I thought, do I tell her that? because  the way she said it...it really seems like I should have SOME clue as to what she is talking about.  Then I thought, well the WAY she said it - she seemed to have so much confidence that I DID know EXACTLY what she was talking about - meant that I should lie and say "okay, Thanks"!
After about a minute of thought I said, W - I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about!!!


Of course she laughed at me, then looked at me and said "you're serious?" (in her great Welsh accent)  I said, well, yeah.
She said, 'oh, dahling...what hav' you been doin' with your hair?" - or something along those lines.

So a little farther into the conversation she informs me that THREADING is the Indian (dot not feather) way of removing "hair" with a piece of THREAD.
 - - OK, first and foremost, anything that requires hair AND thread - - scares the hell outta me!

So she says she's going to see her friend and if I want - I can come with!
COOL! - I'm IN. Always up for something new.
Mind you I made sure that she knew I had no intentions, WHAT-SO-EVER, of letting the lady with the string anywhere near me.
Just so you know ~
My fear stems from a terrible experience many, many years ago with another friend who talked me into getting WAXED.  Worst pain EVER.  Probably only next to breaking my feet.  Seriously, it was TERRIBLE.  Maybe I have no threshold for pain?  But the idea of someone putting wax on me and then RIPPING it off...is NOT my idea of fun or my idea of a great way to rid the body of unwanted hair.
(Even though my best girls have always called me Mrs. Bigglesworth!) - yes, the hairless cat from Austin Powers.)

So back then I let her talk me into the waxing anyway.  Not only did I get my eyebrows RIPPED from my head, but after we had that little bonding experience with PAIN...we were in Target 30 minutes later and I called her over to look at something and she immediately starts laughing.  Hysterically laughing!  Tears start streaming from her face, she is bent over laughing so hard she can't talk.  So I turn around and look behind me - KNOWING that someone behind me is making a huge fool out of them-self.  No one there.
I'm like, What?  No seriously, What?  Alright dammit...WHAT?
She still can't talk from laughter so she grabs my arm and leads me to the nearest mirror...
and there I was ~
I looked like a little kid who was playing Indian (feather not dot) and had gotten into Mommie's make-up.
Okay ~ you know the post-it notes that are small but rectangle?...about 1" by 3"?  Well, I had 5 of those on my face...two under my eyebrows, two OVER my eyebrows, and one BIG one right down the middle of my forehead and nose, and all were BRIGHT, DEEP RED.  And under the florescent lights in Target...
yeah, I looked like a total FREAK.  So now you know why I was little leery about the "THREADING"

So - back to present day, W comes to get me, we go about 2 miles, ending up in these really nice condos.  The nice lady lets us in, shoes off, my camera out (yes, I was only going if I could take photos) and a few short minutes later the process begins.
W sits down, the THREAD comes out - a little baby powder for good measure and wa-la, thread into mouth, twisted around her fingers and into the other hand...and it begins.

W said, "it doesn't really hurt...normally."
Yeah ~ WHATEVER.

It was fast and it was simple, but it sounded a little like a tiny grinder in the room because the thread was rubbing together so fast.  It SOUNDED like it HUURRRRT!

She came away looking like new.  But I was amazed at the preciseness of it all.  How do you know where to aim with the thread and how do you know how much hair it'll grab?  It looked to me like one false move and  you're Aaron Lennon (of the Spurs).







W made it out fine that day...a little red...but fine.
But ultimately, no thanks sister.  I'll stick to my tweezers!  
At least that way I am the only one causing me pain!



Just another curious day - here in Japan!
Love,
Mrs. B

What's in a NAME?

• Since we have been trying to get life straight after our long journey back to the States - - I have decided that this post needs to be an easy one and the result is a list:     the names of some of the cars here.  (Since I have been keeping a list now for months - literally, a piece of paper in the glove box).

As you would guess - there are different TYPES of cars all over the world, but I have also learned that some of the same TYPE cars just have different NAMES in different countries.  I guess they sell better?!  In the States people are preferring the numbers & letters while here not so much.  Take a look!

As you will see below...some of the ones here are
ABSOLUTELY HYSTERICAL!
(all of these should probably be prefaced by "THE" - makes it even funnier!)

I have taken the liberty of highlighting MY favorites...

Enjoy ~ ~ ~

MOVE                                                                           CLIPPER RIO
TOYOACE                                                                    HIACE
LA FESTA                                                                     PINO
LEGRAND                                                                    PAJERO
FUGA                                                                           VELLFIRE
STAR                                                                            STREAM
GLORIA                                                                       SUCCEED
HINO                                                                           NV200
AIRWAVE                                                                   SKYLINE
STAGEA                                                                      SUNNY
ELF                                                                                SPACIO (which is SO tiny)
ROYAL SALOON                                                 FUSO
LIFE                                                                               TIIDA
NOTE                                                                            SIENTA
EXPERT                                                                        RACTIE
VOXY                                                                           WINGROAD
RETARDER (no kidding)                                         FIT
FREE                                                                               MARCH
OPA                                                                                CAMI
CHARIOT SUPER EXCEED                                      REGIUS ACE
CEDRIC                                                                     HOMY
SCRUM                                                                      
STARLET TURBO  - This one, I feel I should have been driving in high school!!!

AND THE OVERALL WINNERS:

• HIGH LUXE NAKED
• TOPPO - BJ
• JOY POP TURBO                                       

Ever since I started noticing the different names...I almost break my neck or wreck the car EVERY TIME I am out and about!...as if driving on the wrong side of the road isn't enough for me these days!!!!

Enjoy your day in your JOY POP TURBO!

Deeds

Halloween - Japanese Style

Well, we came back from the States a week early to experience our first Japanese Halloween.

I had heard rumors and I had also been WARNED.  Some of the neighbors were ready and excited about the event - some neighbors were telling of how they were packing up and heading out for the evening.  All of this led me to be a little wary.

So we began the day with a trip to the Club so that my son can have a little early trick or treat without any hassles or hiccups in the process.  All went well with a little haunted house in the gym and a few games set up for "little kids" so that they had the opportunity to get some candy, with a little bit of ease!
Afterwards we had lunch and then off to the house to meet our friends and start the evening of Trick or Treat!

We started about 4:30 in the afternoon because here it gets dark about 5:30 now...the Japanese do NOT observe ANY TYPE of Daylight Savings Time.  Which blows because in the middle of winter - it will start getting light at 3:30 AM...yes...AM.  Which is a whole other story when you have a 3 year-old!
I digress.

So... We start our journey and end up walking through the maze of the neighborhood which is a bunch of U-shaped streets.  At one point we encountered a kindly Skeleton Man waving skulls on sticks at us, directing us to go towards his home.

At this house (which was clearly the best decorated house in the neighborhood) there were people, well, Power Rangers, and a random DUCK...standing out front directing you thru the awning that led to the garage. (wait - isn't Kim Kardashian dating one of these Power Ranger guys???) anyway ~

From there we went thru the awning and down into the garage where they had it set up to walk thru crepe paper and decor to get to the table with the treats!
Behind their Treat table they had THEIR Treat table set up...containing food, drinks, a grill and all sorts of items for a lovely evening of celebrating!
I tried to stay...but they, nor my husband, were having any part of that!!!

Needless to say - - - this house was a HIT!   A little strange how "into it" they all were but COOL none-the-less!  Maybe I'm just lazy!

After a few more houses, and losing the rest of our com-padres to sleepy little kids...I cut out early to head back and hand out the candy that we had at the house.
We didn't have any decorations out because we had been in the U.S. for 4 weeks, we only had the porch light on...
when I walked up to the house there were 3 little kids waiting (they must have rung the doorbell) and were a little shocked when I came out from behind the car.

After that - it was like someone let the flood gates loose...

There were kids EVERYWHERE!  It was complete MADNESS I tell you.  I guess the word got out that we had a HUGE bucket of sweets and they came in masses!
At one point there were 30-40 kids deep standing in my driveway and around the corner in front of the next house. My husband and son were still walking the neighborhood getting candy and here I was besieged by kids!
The only way to describe it is - try to imagine that you are at a new restaurant or bar that has just opened up and it is the newest hot-spot in town.  Everyone wants to be there RIGHT NOW!!!  You can't get a table and you can't get a drink because everywhere you turn there are 30 people in front of you trying to do the same thing.  Well, I was the maitre'd, the waiter and the bartender...totally in the weeds (restaurant lingo for those of you lucky enough to never have had such a job)!  So much so that I couldn't even get a picture of it all.
All I could hear was...Trick or Treat-O.  Trick or Treat-O, and the occasional Happy Trick or Treat!
It was great!

Finally after all the craziness died down a little, my husband and son show up to a 3/4 empty goodie bowl and a little bit of a frazzled wife.
My son immediately started handing out the candy - and immediately the girls that showed up were all giggly.  Now I'm not talking about little girls...I'm talking about TEENAGE girls.  Girls dressed in fishnets and short skirts!  There was even one set of girls who asked to take a picture with him because was dressed as Superman too (mind you she was in a short skirt and heels)!  It was a little baffling.  Me and my husband just looked at each other.
Me: proud Mama and a little in awe at my son's ability to remain calm, like he'd been doing that forever!
His Dad:  Proud Papa looking on as his son deals with the ladies, and also shaking his head in disbelief that his youngest of all three sons is STILL the only one who is picking up the women in Japan!!!!!

Anyway, my son handed out the rest of the candy...one piece at a time.  Which was pretty smart considering all the people that kept showing up.  They just kept coming in droves!
The park beside our house, which is in the shape of rectangle, had bicycles parked all along the perimeter - all the way around.  There were cabs dropping people off and masses getting off the buses.

Our neighborhood, which is known for having all the foreigners and expats...gets all the trick-or-treaters...because they know that we all celebrate the holiday and that we have the good SUGARY candy.  The candy here isn't very sweet....so they come to us for the good stuff! For the sugar rush!

All in all it was something to behold.  Something we will never forget.

At the end of our candy bowl - we had to turn off the lights and just go inside so that we wouldn't get stuck in the middle of another mad rush and run out of candy in the middle of the line.

It was all such a whirlwind and seemed to go on FOREVER...but to give you some idea of how many people there were...and how flip-flopped I was ~

it only took about 45 minutes to hand out the biggest bowl of candy we've ever had at Halloween!!!!


We hope yours was one to remember too~
xoxo
Deeds