Cherry Blossom Adventures

Conversation with Shun the other night- it was in Japanese but this is the jist of it in English.

me: Maybe once we have kids I could work part-time on a Saturday, teaching, and you could watch them. Especially if I am not working part-time during the week. I think we will need the money.

Shun: Sunday`s would be better don`t you think?

me: No, I figure that should be a family day. What is wrong with Saturday`s? Sunday`s are hard to get teaching gigs with children.

Shun: Well we both like to sleep in on the first day of the weekend….

me: *gobsmacked*………….Shun, you do realize there will be no more sleeping in, ANY TIME, once we have kids right?

Shun: huh? I guess so, but I figured we could sometimes.

me: Nope, pretty sure it will be never.

He was quiet after that…probably rethinking the idea about starting a family I bet. Sometimes I worry about what goes on in his head?!? hehe.

Well nablopomo ends today…I have successfully posted everyday for another month. Will probably need a bit of a break now!

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In recent weeks I have been tagged with a couple of meme`s which I am now, finally getting around to doing.

First, Illahee tagged me for this meme (and then someone else did also I think and I can not for the life of me remember who, sorry!)- and I need to respond in one word. Any of you who know me know that using a one word answer is extremely difficult for me as I prefer to use lots of words to answer even the simplest of questions.

1. Where is your cell phone?bed

2. Where is your significant other? living

3. Your hair colo? brownyred

4. Your mother? generous

5. Your father? unwell

6. Your favorite thing? Shun

7. Your dream last night? oboetenai

8. Your dream/goal? happiness

9. The room you’re in? bedroom

10. Your hobby? reading

11. Your fear? spiders

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? mum

13. Where were you last night? out

14. What you’re not? rich

15. One of your wish-list items? DSLR

16. Where you grew up? Brisbane

17. The last thing you did? shower

18. What are you wearing? PJ`s

19. Your TV? Crap

20. Your pet? Outside

21. Your computer? mac

22. Your mood?sleepy

23. Missing someone? Cat

24. Your car? crap

25. Something you’re not wearing? shoes

26. Favorite store? borders

27. Your summer? starting

28. Love someone? yes

29. Your favorite color? pink

30. When is the last time you laughed? today

31. Last time you cried? Wednesday

The other meme I was tagged for was the following (which I have done before I think!?) by Ami from Writing: My Life . The five things meme…

Five Things I Was Doing 10 Years Ago:

1. Starting highschool
2. Running
3. Dreaming of my future.
4. Living with my parents in Capalaba
5. Making new friends, only several of whom I am still in contact with.

Five Things On My To Do List:

1. Sew a bag
2. Finish my christmas shopping
3. Update my “books read” list
4. Finalize everything for the wedding which is now less than six months away
5. Return the DVDs we took out today so that we can avoid the late fees we ALWAYS get

Five Things I Like To Snack On:

1. Cheesy rice crisp thingies
2. Green apples
3. Chocolate
4. Allen`s pineapple lollies
5. cheese

Five Things I Would Do If I Was A Millionaire:

1. Give money to my parents, brother & friends
2. Buy a house in Japan & Australia (am I several million dollar millionaire?)
3. Put money in a high interest savings account for our future kids
4. Travel to Egypt, Vietnam, New York & somewhere in South America
5. Open a bookstore in Japan & write a lot more…

Five Places I Have Lived:

1. Capalaba
2. Lota
3. Manly
4. Kichijoji
5. Nakano

Five Jobs I Have Had:

1. Check-out chick at K-mart
2. Tour liason officer for Japanese students
3. Preschool teacher
4. Assistant manager for a company helping foreign women in Japan
5. P.A/Administrator

Five People I Am Tagging:

 you, you, you, you & you -Anybody feel free to do thi!

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About to have a shower and go to sleep but I remembered just in time to post. Sunday will bring this months nablopomo to an end and I am actually glad. As much as I have enjoyed posting everyday again it is a draining hobby!!!

Today marked the start of my dad`s cancer treatment. I didn`t explain the other day that the reason dad would have treatment on Christmas Day if he was in a certain group is that he is actually involved in a medical trial. Due to the fact he has had the same cancer before it made him eligible and he decided to go ahead with it.

He was nominated a group today but it turns out that he will be in “group 1″ which means he will have treatment every Friday for 8 weeks. This means he will not have treatment on Christmas Day. This is a bit of a relief. He believes that the treatment won`t work but I live in hope…

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Tonight, on my way home I got train sick. And I still feel sick (I only got home half an hour ago)

I used to get carsick but have never been trainsick before. I almost had to get off the train to be physically sick and even now am still nauseous and feel as though I could be sick. After years and years of train travel, to and from school. to and from work, I have had my first bout of trainsickness. Considering I catch the train almost everyday I do hope it doesn`t start to happen often.

It was such a weird feeling.

That is all. Too tired to blog.

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How do you celebrate Christmas?

What do you do that makes it special and unique?

We will know on Thursdsay for sure, but my dad will be starting cancer treatment this Friday almost definitely, and one of the treatment days will fall on Christmas Day & Boxing Day more than likely. Usually, despite the fact my parents are seperated now (coming up to  3 years) we would usually have breakfast together at mum`s house to open presents and enjoy breakfast. Is it selfish of me to want Christmas breakfast to go ahead as it usually would so that Shunc an see how we do things or because I will need to take Dad to the hospital mid -morning is it cruel of me to be thinking of ways we could go to breakfast, then treatment and then on to my aunties`s place for family lunch.

It is so difficult to choose a way of thinking…

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Does anyone remember their first day of primary/elementary school? I do, well parts of it at least…I was excited because I had heard grade 1 would have lots of books I could read by myself and possibly take home to read then return and this appealed to me because even then I was an avid reader.

I know my teacher, Mr Kearney, had taught grade one for a long while and he knew what he was doing. Mum came with me on the first day obviously, with little brother in tail  and if the photos of that day are any indication he had a pretty good day himself. My uniform was blue checked dress with a white collar and white capped sleeves and my shoes were shined within an inch of their life. My pink school bag was all packed (including my lunch box with a popper in it) and I hadn`t been allowed to take bow, my favourite stuffed childhood toy but I left him at the enterance to our house so that he would be the first thing I saw when I returned home. I don`t remember been nervous but I might of been.

Each desk had a little ABC chart contacted to it and every girl had to sit next to a boy. I don`t remember who my neighbour was but my little brother stole my seat early on in the morning when we arrived and he quite possibly could of drawn all over the table. Luckily he didn`t stay long and it wasn`t long before I was saying goodbye to  mum.

I remember nothing else from my first day exactly but there are scattred memories of that year floating around in my head. The great chicken pox outbreak of 1991 for example in which my class of 30 when to 8. Learning to write although I don`t really remember much about this and have nothing to show of my writing from that time but I must have learn to write around that time although I could already read and write a little bit before I started.

One other memory I have of that year was the athletics carnival, which was not held at our school due to our lack of a school oval at that time but I remember running in the kids race that day. My mum tells the story of how my hat blew off halfway through the race, how I stopped, ran back and got it and still won the race by 10m or so. I have many blue ribbons from my primary school athletics carnivals although most of that changed when I went to highschool and started competing again 180 girls instead of 20.

Plus the school assemblies held every Wednesday held outside because I think when I was in year 1 we still didn`t have the church built where the assemblies were held in later years. I know in preschool they were definitely held outside. Mum would come most weeks and we would know she was there from the jingling of her bangles.

I know also that sometime in that year, during a parent teacher conference that my teacher, Mr Kearney, told my parents that I was a delight to teach but that I would be perfectly happy if I was the only person in the class with him and if all the other children disappeared. Apparently it didn`t mean that I didn`t like playing with the other kids just that I was an attention whore even at age 5!

The games we played in year one also play on my mind. Heads down thumbs up and catch and kiss (which was banned the year I was in year 2 or possibly year 1) and also learning our school song “This is our school”.

The friends I had included mainly boys I think…Michael D, Bryce G were a couple as well as one of my bridesmaids Mandy T!

The memories of that time are scattered around in my brain but it is amazing how much I remember from that time really. What do you remember from your early school years?

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In an effort to improve on my writing I have decided to sign up for Encyclopedia of me which started over at Bella Dia (and which I found out about by reading Laura`s blog here...)… participating in this hasn`t actually improved my writing at all but I still live in hope…

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Z is for Zero…

Well the encyclopedia of me series is coming to an end. I started originally to have mini writing goals to work towards but it never really worked out the way I planned. I also thought I would have finished blogging it all a lot sooner but life and other blog posts got in the way.

There are now zero posts left in the series as all 26 letters for it have been completed. I thought a recap from A-Z would be a good idea as some of you who read my blog now might not have been reading my blog back when I originally started this way back in February. (You can start here to read from A, or click on the links below for each individual post)

A is for Ashley

B is for Beliefs

C is for Cancer

D is for Depression

E is for Exchange

F is for Future

G is for Growing up

H is for Happy times (announced engagement)

I is for Internet & Blogging

J is for Japanese

K is for Kokyo

L is for Life List

M is for Mother

N is for Nancy Drew

O is for Occupation

P is for Possum Magic

Q is for Questions & Queries

R is for Rainbow Bright

S is for Sandalot Kids

T is for Travel

U is for Unbelievable

V is for Vicious Cycle

W is for Wedding News

X is for X-rays

Y is for Young

Z is for Zero

I enjoyed participating in this encyclopedia of me “meme”, and am a little sad to see it end. Some people have participated in it more than once (for example gone from A-Z twice!).

Ps: Had to add this, so far Shun has had ZERO smokes today!!! Yay!

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In an effort to improve on my writing I have decided to sign up for Encyclopedia of me which started over at Bella Dia (and which I found out about by reading Laura`s blog here...)… participating in this hasn`t actually improved my writing at all but I still live in hope…

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Y is for young…

23 is not that young but it isn`t exactly old either. Some people have commented on the fact that I am so young to be getting married but I don`t see it that way….in fact I will be 24 when I get married and I will have known Shun for 4 & a half years by then and we will have lived together for more than 3 years. Getting married at this age was never the plan I had growing up but life moves in mysterious ways and I met my soulmate at 19 instead of say 25. Shun will be almost 28 when we get married in May….and he was 23 when I met him- the age I am now…and he wanted to get married and have kids then and I was like “What? Your 23, are you crazy?” and I turned down his proposal (he asked me to marry him the second time we met- the night of our first real date)

And here I am, at the same age, preparing to get married and thinking about starting a family.

A friend has announced her pregnancy (Hi S!) and another would like to have a baby sometime next year and Shun & I have been talking more and more about when we would like to start a family. If he had his way I would already be pregnant (well actually if he had had his way we`d already have had two kids!) but I never felt I was ready (or that we were financially stable enough to have a child) and I guess I am a bit traditional and would prefer to be married before having kids (although I have absolutely nothing against those who have kids out of marriage) and now that our wedding is coming up, the talk of the future, children and having babies is on our minds and something we have been talking about a lot.

I know that some would think I am too young to start a family and others will say we should wait a couple of years and enjoy been married and time for the two of us(and this post might open myself up to some of these comments) but Shun & I have lived together and had a lot of time for the two of us over the years and I have studied, travelled & done the kinds of things people say you should do before starting a family.

We would like a couple of kids and I think I would like to be a younger mum- In fact I would like to have two kids (most likely) and I think I would like to be done by the time I am 30. I used to worry so much that I would be a crap mother, in fact as a teenager I was so scared of having kids as I was so worried I would screw them up but I know that Shun & I, together, would be able to handle it and I am confident we could raise beautiful well adjusted kids!

With the complications people can have trying to get pregnant these days as well I figure the sooner we start trying then at least if we do have any issues we can go see someone  about them while we are still relatively young.

So we are thinking we will start trying sometime next year, after the wedding and we return to Japan, and if all goes according to plan we would be welcoming a bub sometime in 2010. It`s funny, when I was in China I had my fortune told and they wanted Shun`s name, kanji, date of birth etc to see if we were a good match (we were) and I was also told that the most amazing thing would happen to me in 2010 and that I would become unbelievably happy. I didn`t think much of it at the time but recently when we were talking Shun brought it up and said “maybe the baby is what they meant” and maybe he is right- maybe that is what they meant.

I may be young (to some) but Shun & I know what we want and I don`t think it matters what age we are because it is the kind of thing that you know, deep in your heart, when the time is right. I want to be a mum, and Shun wants to be a papa and we want to have a baby together.

I tossed up whether I should post about something like this on my blog as I know it might open myself up to some critism but honestly I have written about other things in recent months that I never thought I would write about on here, in such a public form, but I have found writing about it and getting it out there has always made things so much better.

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While somethings have not been going our way in recent weeks and months I felt the need today to talk about what it is I am grateful for and how lucky I really am.

Shun & I both have our health and for that I am grateful.

I am grateful for the fact there are treatment options available to my dad.

I am lucky to have found such a great guy in Shun, somebody that loves me and who wants to be with me forever, I am so grateful for this.

I am grateful for how lucky I am that I could return to Australia to be with my family and that Shun choose to come with me.

I am grateful for all my lovely friends both online and offline. And the power of the internet so I can keep in contact with all of them that live so far away.

The fact I am now on a better salary and have added benefits with my job makes me extremely grateful as it allows me the chance to save more than I thought I could.

I am grateful for the fact I have parents that care about me so much, and want me to be happy. Especially a big mention to my mum here who while I know it kills her to know I will move back to Japan she knows it makes me happy so she can let me go.

I am grateful that now the weekend has started and that I have the whole weekend to do things that make me happy like sew, write, cook & play with Abbey- not to mention spend the days with Shun & Dad.

I am grateful that tonight, I could relax with a couple of friends over some sushi, buta kakuni & karage and convere in a mix of Japanese, English & the few Korean words I know.

I know that Japan is there waiting for my return and as much as I miss it I am grateful for the fact it will still be there when I return and has probably remained pretty much unchanged.

I am glad & grateful that Shun & I share many late night chats together and that we are on the same page for our dreams and wants for our future.

I am grateful and so happy that Shun is here with me in Australia and getting the opportunity to work on his English and also spend time with my family, getting to know them & loving them as much as I do.

I am grateful that my brother has found the time to visit my Dad everyday this week as I know how happy it makes him to see my brother most days.

I am so grateful when I see the sheer joy my dad gets from having Abbey around and I am happy that I made him get her because it makes him so happy and I know he would not have it any other way now.

I am grateful for the fact that Shun & I can spend Christmas with my family and I can show him what it is all about.

I am grateful for the life I have and the life we are making together.

It is easy to forget what we are happy and grateful for sometimes but we should always try to remember.

What are you grateful for?

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I have been tagged by Kim from City on the River & Jess from In the Burrow to do this meme!

Outside my window… a storm is rolling in and I can see Abbey running around the house because she knows it is coming (outside Kitchen window) but outside my bedroom window I can see the park & the wet mudflats as the tide has been in and is on its way out again…

I am thinking… how nice it is that my father and fiance get on so well despite their communication issues. As Shun`s english gets better and the more time they spend together it is so lovely to see. They have jsut finished preparing dinner and it is in the oven and now they have sat down to play a game of chess. I love seeing my two favourite men spend time together and enjoying each others company.

I am thankful for… the fact this week is almost over. I am also thankful for the fact I am now on the books at work meaning that even though I am sick today and will have to take dad to an appointment on Monday I can use flex time and sick days to cover for it even though it will mean working longer hours Tues-Fri of next week. I also very thankful for the fact I am able to spend time with my family this year and that Shun came with me and that he is enjoying his time here so much.

From the kitchen… well I can smell the chicken stew the boys have prepared for dinner but the last thing I made was Thai Beef Salad on Tuesday night when mum came for dinner. I have been inspired by Nay to create a recipe book and have got the book and hope to get started this weekend- might even inspire me to do some baking although the oven here is kind of a little bit old and dodgy!!

I am wearing… my pajamas. Grey 3/4 pants and a burnt orange/red singlet. Also glasses, watch, bracelet, engagement ring & jade bangle.

I am creating…. plans for the future and a life for Shun & I. I am also creating a recipe book as mentioned and also doing some sewing when I get the chance. I am also creating ideas for a Christmas to show Shun what Christmas in Australia is all about!

I am going… spend at least half an hour writing after dinner, completing some of my homework for the writing workshop I am participating in. I need to stop procrastinating and worrying so much about whether or not what I write is any good and just let it all out.

I am reading…“The Salaryman`s wife”  by Sujata Massey and am loving it. Thank you so much to Sara for recommending it and I can not wait to get started on the next one. I am also reading and flicking through “The Pocket Muse” and looking for good christmas recipes in a recent Donna Hay magazine.

I am hoping… that my father lives until 80 at the least. Also, hoping I feel better tomorrow and that Shun can manage to give up smoking.

I am hearing… the rain come down and the thunder booming.

Around the house… are books, magazines, journals, clothes and windows that I should probably close.

One of my favourite things… is having late night chats with Shun and giggling together. Another favourite thing…to wander around bookshops and breathe in the smell of the books and touch them!!! I could live in a bookstore (if I had a pillow, blanket, fridge, computer & Shun)

A few plans for the rest of the week… Supposed to have dinner tomorrow night with a friend of Shun`s frm language school if I am feeling better. For the rest of the weekend? Might catch a movie otherwise just some sewing, writing, playing with Abbey and a walk!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing…

BRIGHT

I am tagging… Jen, Nooh, Suzy, Mandy & Katie.

I think this is getting published JUST before the power goes out. The storm is big!

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