Nihongo-a-Go-Go :: Mandy's Journal

Happy New Year!

First off, I hope everyone has a happy, healthy New Year, full of wishes, dreams, triumphs, laughter, and blessings. Welcome 2005! Farewell 2004; don't let the door hit you on the way out. I was thinking about the past year...it was a rough one. I lost people whom I loved very very dearly--Grandpa, Uncle Ray, Aunt Bert, Dr. Cooper. There were horrible tragedies, in our country, in Spain, in Iraq, and most recently in Southeast Asia. My heart goes out to all of those in the coastal regions whose new year began in tears. This year was also one of good, though. I fought for and obtained my master's degree. I had the courage to go to Japan. We landed on Mars (pretty awesome, that), I read James Joyce's 'Ulysses.' LOTR: Return of the King came out! :) I learned how lucky I am to have a family that loves me, even though I'm far away, and friends who support me through all sorts of rough times. But I'm ready for 2005! Welcome, oh chickenly chicken of the new year!

Yesterday I woke up to the sound of cars below driving on a wet road. Great, I thought, rain. Aimee was still sleeping, so I went out into the living room quietly and pulled open the curtains. This was what I saw!

Yes, that's right! It snowed. I couldn't believe it...I just take it with me wherever I go. It didn't last very long; by late afternoon there was sun and even the slush on the sidewalks had evaporated.

It was a pretty slow day, really. Aimee worked on her doll, I sewed some things and cleaned, did laundry. We watched a bunch of animated movies. I think my collection of Disney movies in Japan is bigger than the one I had at home in the States. Dinner was our favorite, grilled cheese and Campbell's tomato soup. I never would have imagined that I would pay so much for canned soup and just shrug about it. I'm an addict, practically! :) At 11, we put on the tv to watch some of the odd variety show that ended at quarter of midnight, with the entire cast singing "Auld Lang Syne" in Japanese. The next fifteen minutes was footage of many different shrines all over Japan, showing the ringing of the bells, 108 times. Some of the shrines were gorgeous! Kyoto was especially lovely, as was one shrine in the west coast. I'm not sure what city it was in, but it seemed that the shrine was all built in little caves along the mountainside. The snow covered trees, the quiet chanting...pretty cool. The new year came in pretty quietly. Aimee and I toasted with chanmery, children's non-alcholic champagne. Heh, I got it for Christmas.

It tasted vaguely like bubble gum. Carbonated bubble gum. :)

Today was also quiet. I vaccuumed and cleaned up some more, Aimee worked on her doll. Aimee made yaki soba for dinner, yay! Very tasty! I especially love it with mushrooms, sprouts, and onions. I'm contemplating some ice cream right now...hmm....

Oh, and since Aimee has finished working on Rory doll, it's Thomas doll's turn. So, I took him apart, got his eyes out (they were held in with hot glue, annoyingly), and got his face paint off. He looks so sad now, just pieces in a bucket.

Hopefully, Aimee can start on him tomorrow. I miss seeing him sitting by the Christmas tree!

Anyway, that's all for now. Tomorrow is mochi trying day, wow! And I'll try to post my New Year's resolutions, maybe...heheheh....Happy New Year!

Posted by Mandy at January 1, 2005 08:28 PM