Caps Game 11-11

Ger invited me to a Capitals game last minute and so I ran home from work to change into something warmer for the ice filled arena. As I ran in the door, Joe ran in behind me and I yelled "I'm late! I'm late!" and he yelled as he ran right behind me "for what?!" and I yelled "For the hockey game!!!!" and went to change. When I came back down stairs he said "Want a ride?!"

Yep, my roommates and I were going to the same game! Its not surprising seeing as how they are both HUGE Hockey fans and Shaun is especially a big Caps fan! I got lucky and they gave me a ride to the game and I made it there on time! It was also a good bonding time in the car ride there and back!

The game was amazing! Not only was it an exciting game, but it also went into overtime and then into Shoot Out overtime!!!! NOT ONLY THAT!! It wasn't until almost everyone on each team had taken a shot that the Caps won! E-X-C-I-T-I-N-G!! EXCITING!!

Ger and I at the Caps Game 11-11-09

Halloween was a success!!

Roommate was excited and did some bonding. Friends came and enjoyed eachothers company! Asked for an encore. Food was amazing, if I do say so myself! And all in all it was a great night! Most at home that Ive felt since I moved to the east coast! YAY!

Our new teacher, Allyson and her husband Connor

Julie, from mad mad men

Fabi's boyfriend Lane, the bloody hand prints on the wall add the right touch

The food, half gone before I could get a picture

The pumpkin cake

Some of the ladies (the important ones) Me, Fabi, Julie, Gina and Allyson

Airi-Chan

Congradulations to Gamou and Maki who had a beautiful baby girl named Airi on October 20, 2009 in Japan! She is beautiful!

Ren Fair

When I was in the 7th grade, there was a class field trip to the Renaissance Fair. There was a dinner for parents and all kinds of other events planned around the time period. This was the start of a great friendship. This was when I asked Jennifer Poe's mom to help me make a costume. She was a great sewer and made us beautiful period costumes. Wish I still had the photos so I could show you all.... but ever since then I have had a special place in my heart for the Ren Fair. Over the years Jennifer and I went to the Ren Fair many times, sometimes with my family and sometimes with hers, but one thing was for sure...WE LOVED IT!

Its been years since I have been to one and it wasn't until my friend Lane mentioned that he went while I was in Japan and had a great time that I thought of how much going to them meant to me and how much I enjoyed them.

So Andrea and I decided to go! We rented a car and went on a Sunday during Shakespeare week. We didn't dress up in period costume, but did get a little gussied up. We were like little girls on Halloween! And this time I could enjoy the BEER! We got our faces painted, tried things, on, watched the silly and attractive people. We ate good food and drank great beer! It was an amazing day that brought back all kinds of memories! Thanks to Andrea for going with me.... I look forward to going again next year!

A quick update...AGAIN!

Oh my.

It seems as if every time I get caught up on my blogging, I end up busy and full of procrastination putting me behind again. Its a never ending battle like most things in life.

Sorry fast forwarding though the end of my trip to Japan.....

The wedding was great! I met up with many good friends! Nathaniel left. I met up with Takako many times. Joined Chat Room at Lesley School, Spent the day at Takahata Winery with Yoshi and Chikako. Went drinking with Chiaki and many other friends....yes and ate tons of GREAT JAPANESE FOOD!

So there is the gist.


Since I have been back things have been busy and crazy.


I was offered a job back at Lesley English School. As much as I would have loved to have taken it and moved back to Japan and all my friends, I knew in the end I would have felt as if I were moving backward in life instead of forward. So I took that opportunity to go to my current bosses at Huckleberry and talk to them about a raise. They said that as soon as I enroll in the CDA classes I will have the title and pay of Head Teacher in our room. YAY!! A raise within 9 months of working there! Finally!! A step in the right direction!



Love life is moving forward, keeps having a few road bumps, but I will keep you posted.

Have decided to have a house warming/Halloween dinner/party thingy. You know me peeps, I'm always cooking and having people over and finally live in a place where I am comfortable and happy to have people over again!

Jessica, my little sister, just moved into a new apartment by herself. She is happy to have her independence again and is playing house decorator! She also got the cutest Siamese cat that she calls Baby Girl.

Mom is writing an auto-biography with my grandmother (who wrote, edited and bound hers years ago). I am very happy to hear this because it gives her reflection, a sense of self worth and inspiration for years to come...oh and keeps her busy for the time being. I believe everyone in this world should write an auto-biography... there is so much to learn about people we love! We only every see such a small glimpse of them.

Since Dad has been cancer free and healthy, he has been back to Work... he is working harder than ever and feels as if he has to make up for lost time I think. I worry he works too hard, but what can I do?! On a happy note, I think Dad and Jeanne (my step mother) will be visiting DC in the spring and I am very happy to have them come and visit.

Besides all this and work, I am focused on my good friends Ger and Dave's wedding over Thanksgiving weekend! Ger looks classically beautiful in her wedding dress and I think she is stressed and very excited knowing its only a month away!

So there is a quick update... I will do my best to keep up on my blog for a while! Hope all you readers are doing fantastic this fall and keeping warm!

Konno Wedding

Youhei and Asami Konno's Wedding

The main reason why I went to Japan was to attend Youhei and Asami's wedding. Youhei and Asami were our first Japanese friends. They showed us a lot of places and we had some really good times with them. We were even asked to give a speech during their reception. I don't have any pictures of Nathaniel and I, but we were there. My camera gave out so I didn't really get any good shots... will ask Nathaniel for a copy of his.

The wedding was beautiful. It was a TAS hotel and there was probably around 150 guests there. Most of the guests were people Nathaniel and I knew from different drinking establishments around Nagai. This was because Youhei's family owns an Izakaya in Nagai. All us Gaijin sat at the same table; Nathaniel, I, Nathaniel's step-brother Andrew, Andrew's friend Wess and Will (the teacher who took my place when I left Nagai). Also at our table was one of Youhei's close friends and his wife and a Ramen shop worker who is super kind.

The wedding started with an explanation of how Youhei and Asami met. Then a speech from their parents. Then speeches from old family friends. Then a toast. Then speeches from friends (and Nathaniel and I). Karaoke. A fruit raffle. Cutting of cake. LOTS AND LOTS OF DRINKING! (there was Beer, Sake, Shouchou....)Then they had this lighting of flowers on each table and then a larger tube on stage that ended with fireworks! YES FIREWORKS! Then it all ended with a Thank you speech from Youhei and Asami. We were really impressed because Youhei and his father both took the time to incorporate English into their speeches!

Asami looked amazingly beautiful and Youhei very handsome! I was very glad I could be there and be a part of the celebration!

Youhei and Asami in their American Wedding Wear


Asami's Parents

Youhei's Parents

Gamou and I

Nathaniel, Wess and Andrew

Youhei and Asami in Japanese Wedding Kimonos

Asami

Youhei

Chikako's Birthday

Chikako's Birthday Party!

We had Chikako's Birthday Party at Sushi Tetsu! Yoshi, Nathaniel, Takako and I had a great time laughing and talking about the old days and about our future plans. During dinner another Shishi festival was going on and we went outside to see it with the owner of the Sushi shop and had a great time talking with Nagai locals and taking pictures. We ended the night with drunken Karaoke and good times at the Snack Shop Doremi. All in all it was a great night and I was very happy to be there to help celebrate another year of Chikakoness!