Birthday Bliss

ONE

So hard to choose pics to post, as there are so many from the big weekend. Have emailed a few to a few. Here is Jackson in his very own chair, as he was waking up on his birthday morning.

Shocker

I bought a roll of wrapping paper (for Jackson's First Birthday!) at Office Depot - I live in Japan... To my surpirse, it wasn't a roll. It was two sheets, with wrapping instructions and diagram, rolled around a tube. So I had far less paper than I thought, although it was sufficient for his little pressies. :) In case you are curious, it had jelly beans all over it. Best I could do.

It's a Wrapper

Jackson and I just took a quick journey to the shops to acquire a few little necessities. I am always amazed when I come home to put my purchases away at how they were packaged when I checked out. I am usually sorting through my Yen and not paying too much attention to the goings-ons behind the counter. On this trip, I received two paper bags, each sealed with store-labeled tape, among my other goods all in one plastic sack. One of the paper sacks had a few cosmetic items (lipgloss, nail enamel, eye liner - it is moi...), the other paper sack was hiding some cotton swabs, and in the bigger plastic sack was a rollof paper towel, some hand wipes, a few jars of baby food, and some baby sunscreen.

All of this unnecessary packaging just creates a bigger issue for me at home, as I have to seperate and sort all my rubbish. Japan is a small island, and trash has to be segregated into burnable and non-burnable trash. Most trash cans around town take this one (or more) step further and have openings designed for glass bottles, PET bottles, paper, etc. only. Sometimes it gets really specific. At a fast food joint (like McDonald's for example), when you take your tray to the trash can, you are directed with symbols to empty your beverage/ice in a drain, put the lid and straw in one bin, the cups in a shoot, and the other trash in another bin. I am always a bit intimidated, especially if there are locals standing behind me. What will happen to me if I goof up this specific trash system??? (Did you see that last night I watched Midnight Express? Different country, time, crime - but scary none the less...)

TVLottery

We have a few channels that are sometimes in English. Which is to say that the main programs are sometimes in English; the commercials and program information are all Japanese. But, one channel has a movie every evening. I never know what I'm going to get, and I usually have missed the title. imdb and I have become well acquainted.

Tonight's selection is Midnight Express. Very scary stuff.

I miss my dog. Heaps. *sad*

Big Boy!

Jackson is asleep for his mid-day nap. I am organizing his gifts and decorations for the big birthday weekend!

Friday we will take an assortment of bakery sweets to "Daddy's" office (no cupcake anywhere to be found in Tokyo...). Friday night we will go to Teppanyaki for Jackson's first birthday! This is a tradition for Eric on his birthday, and I guess we're starting it for Jackson. He loves Chicken, and he loves the chef's undivided attention, so it will be fun! It's also only about a block from the apt, which is nice.

Saturday is the day! I am assembling a cake. No oven here, so I will buy a chiffon cake tomorrow from Takashimaya, and ice/decorate myself. There of course will be gifts as well. The girls from the front desk (of our serviced apt) will come up to cheer on their little friend. Hiroshi (Eric's work mate) ordered a traditional rice cake, and will come over to help celebrate! He's going to show us how to make bean paste and rice cakes? Then who knows.

Sunday we will go to the aquarium and have a quiet family day. I can't believe he is going to be ONE. *sigh* :)

Been busy navigating Facebook - so much better than MySpace...
Jackson is currently playing in the sheer curtains. "Scary Ghoooooost!!!"

Shenanigans

Two more pics for you:
Eric had an itch. Fortunately, he found this small back scratcher at the park...


Here comes Trouble!

City Views

The mouse-house is actually an Oakwood Apartment Property. As such, we are able to visit their sister property in Shinjuku. That location has a 32nd floor "sky lounge". Sometimes when we've been out and about in Shinjuku, we will stop there for a mini-break. It's like coming back to the apt, without the walk. The facilities are state of the art, Jackson can crawl around, and we can enjoy the Honour Bar. The view is pretty incredible; a sea of buildings to the horizon. I think I mentioned before that most buildings here are not more than 20 stories, although there are plenty of them!

We were here...

These pics are from stores in Kappa Bashi, a shopping district in Asakusa where you can find all sorts of kitchen items. I swear this is how the stores looked BEFORE we got there. We had nothing to do with this particular clutter! :) It was too overwhelming to shop, even for me!





We also passed this man while we were walking around. He was following a little neighborhood festival.

Happy Father's Day!

Here are the two Eric's on Father's Day. We went to our big park near our flat, Shinjuku Gyoen. It was gorgeous weather; we had a beautiful day!

Orchids to go

Obviously Master Jackson is taking a lengthy sleep...
This is a photo of a truck with beautiful orchids in tow at the intersection across from our (Yotsuya) train station. There is always something to see here.

Play Time

In response to the ones who ask me, "what DO you do all day?" I do the same thing here I did in Austin; I live the life of Riley! Just kidding. Here is an example...

• We wake up and kiss "Daddy" goodbye. He looks so handsome in his suit and tie!
• We change Jackson's drawers and get dressed. Sir gets in his highchair, and we eat breakfast.
• Jackson plays with his toy collection, empty 2L water bottle and Rubbermaid box (which he drives around the mouse house). Meanwhile I do my tediously small loads of laundry and other misc. chores around the apt.
  
• Jackson takes his mid-day nap, and I shower, etc while he is safely contained in his slumber (in his "Unicef crib" - seriously, it looks like it came from a Sally Struthers infomercial...).
• If it is Monday or Thursday, I pick up said toys in preparation for the cleaning crew. Ah clean sheets twice a week. Oprah would be comfortable here. Asleep, at least...
• We have lunch when Jackson wakes up.
  
• Baby gets his bath. Then if we need to pop to the shops, this is our window...
• Jackson takes his afternoon nap, and I check email and update blog (time permitting).
  
• I apply lip gloss, brush hair, and when Jackson wakes up we usually go meet Eric in Akasaka for a bite of dinner. 15 minute walk for both parties, and a selection of international venues to never tire of.
  
• We all walk home together like one big happy ex-pat family! The boys play, I finish some house-wife type chores, select tomorrow's tie and then lights out all around.
  

As someone very smart and gorgeous (more than) once said, "Life is a wonderful journey!"

In case you don't believe me about the crib:


Here is an aerial view of Akasaka, the district where Eric works. Looks different from this angle, hmmm.

Elizabeth - I miss you. See below and you will know why!

This is the scene when Jackson and I are walking to the market, etc.

These little cuties were walking in their school hats (no uniforms). The older one in front was whistling, and very happy! First time I've heard someone (other than Eric!) whistling on the street since we got here.

Sailor Fuku

Some little girls walking home in their school uniforms. Kawaii!

Here's lookin' at you, kid...

Fugu, anyone?

Lighted Curb-Feelers

Eric is in love with the blue lighted curb feelers of sorts that are on the front passenger-side corner of a lot of cars here. He always says, "Know the dimensions of your vehicle!" (Usually when someone can't park well...) This little antennae is for those of us who can't tell where the corner of the car is!

Menu Mural

Jackson and I were looking for a bakery for his first birthday cake (sad, but the mouse house has no oven. State of the art toilet, but no oven...) We didn't find a cake, but we did see this typical sign painted in a stairwell leading down to a restaurant. I don't know what they serve; I don't speak Japanese! ;)

Japanese Trees

This tree is around the corner from the mouse-house. It just looks so very Japanese to me. Notice the bamboo fencing around the bottom.
ps/ Dad - all this meticulous manicuring reminds us of you! Eric says if you were to have been someone else, you would have been Japanese-Gerald. Ha!!

Air your own dirty laundry...

I just love to hang my tea towels out to dry on bicycles, in an ally... You don't? (click photo to enlarge)

Uh-oh

Jackson has discovered his nostrils, and that his index finger just fits inside. I'm sorry I don't have a photo. I didn't want to encourage the fascination...

Sign Language

We passed this sign Sat., and all sorts of captions ran through our minds.
"Beware the man with the hat."
"Have you seen this man?"
"Businessman on loose"

These two are pretty self-explanatory, yet gave us a little chuckle.

Here you have a shot of our metro - for some reason on this trip all the doors between cars were open. Always a very quiet journey. This is a window into our transport; always interesting!

Hi!

Jackson is waving to you (even with half of his lunch on his outfit...)!

Mmmmm, Beeeeeer...

There are vending machines everywhere. In fact, last I heard there is one for every 20 people here. There are over 12 milllion people in Tokyo. Lucky for everyone that many of these machines also sell beer (as previously discussed), and occasionally a hot meal!

"Beautiful! Wish you were here!"

It is so pretty here. Before we arrived I thought it might just be concrete and high rises everywhere. Although there are many buildings, they aren't all massive. Most in fact are less than 20 stories. And on nearly all shop/restaurant door steps you can find planters overflowing with all sorts of flowers. There are often poppies and pansies, a personal fave.

We took a nice walk Saturday near the "river", which is actually a moat. We passed a park with beautiful hydrangeas, which can also be seen all over town blooming like mad. Here is a pic. You can see me at the top center of the photo (as in all posts here, you can click the photo to enlarge). Notice how large the display is!


Also giving a nice show are the azaleas, which are planted in masses in front of buildings and line center medians around town. Here is a small grouping near our flat:


It is so pleasant going about town with the tree-lined streets and showy flowers. It'sawesome. :)

Shhh

Jackson must be hunting wabbits, because he's been whispering all day!

This is a riot. We LIVE here.
Domo-Kun: Xanadu! on Transbuddha

Congratulations!

My sister Rebecca finally has a BlackBerry. The Curve, no less (the new BlackBerry "smartphone that's brilliant and beautiful", just like my sisters...). Both of my parents have BlackBerry's, and my sister Lisa. So come on now, you get one!!

Jungle Crow

Here is a little funny for you.

I think I told you how when we first moved here Eric was very excited about a raven that kept following us around. It turned out to be a jungle crow. They are huge, and loud, and a little bit scary. I swear one is stalking us every time we leave the apt.

Yesterday Jackson and I were walking by the Yotsuya train station. It was crowded, a sea of black hair and black suits flowing in and out of the station in silence. (Phones are always set to vibrate; text messages are the norm, not phone conversations). There are giant evergreens around the station. In them were a few of the jungle crows. They were laughing, "Haaaaa, Haaaa". And then I heard him. My little mimicker. Jackson says, "Haaaaa, Haaaa". It was hysterical. He was talking back to the birds. My little gaijin. Just like the other day when a man on a bicycle passed us and was coughing. Jackson replied with his own fake cough. My little companion is so funny. ;)

Tokyo Samurai

Have you ever seen a bunch of naked Japanese boys swimming in a koi pond? Eric did!

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Toofin!

Here it is, a photo of Jackson's fitst tooth! it is finally visible; just in the nick of time before his first birthday!

Suga Jinjya Festival

This weekend we participated in the festival in our own neighborhood, the Ward of Chiyoda-ku. The Suga Jinjya Temple is very close to our flat, and was the center of the celebration. This was a much smaller festival than the Sanja Matsuri, although still very well attended with many joyful, friendly local folks! Many have seen us walking around our part of town with Jackson, and recognized us as we passed them this weekend. We were welcomed like everyone else! I don't remember seeing more than one other westerner all weekend (he was a JERK sitting outside Starbucks, of course, and talking so loudly you couldn't miss him...). It was awesome - we felt like we belonged, and we did!

Of course Jackson was as popular as ever, and a constant source of attention and admiration. Now, as his mom, I'm sure you might think I am exaggerating. Here is a picture of just one small crowd he commanded:

Hahaha. Okay, not really - but here is a true Jackson crowd:

Here is a pic of Jackson with his new little friend, both in their Happi Coats, as you can see.


Later in the day, Eric was asked to join the group carrying the shrine. It is considered very good luck just to touch the portable shrines! This was a big honor. Almost as big as when they asked me! haha. One of the locals gave Eric his patterned head band. Then two others lent us their Happi Coats so we would be legit. ;) We were both pretty darn excited, obviously! Good times!!
(It's okay, don't worry, my friend from the apartment was pushing Jackson's stroller for the brief moment I joined Eric! Safety First!!)

Jackson is on the move!

We bought Jackson a "Baby Walker Pipi" (that's what the box said!). He is mad for it, goes for it first thing when he wakes up, and shows his temper when he has to leave it behind to get in the high chair for a meal. He is getting so big! Here are a couple of pics from this am. Kawaii!