Birthday Lunch

My girlfriends organized a birthday party lunch for me. It was so sweet they arranged this occasion and to see the several girls altogether. It's been a long time now to go out only with girls and felt so comfortable.

We talked up a storm about 'how sloppy we act in everyday life', which is the very last thing to let the boys hear and which reminded of my girls' school day life. One goes like 'I don't bother peeling kiwi skin but bite it and spit out the skin', then another one goes like 'I always drink 500ml mineral water from bottle while my boyfriend pour it in a glass', 'I kick the door when I have to close the fridge', 'I swich off the fan with my toes', ... and it goes on forever...

When two girls talk their chat they don't need a third goose; when five girls gather they forget that they are girls.

French Radio

I was recruited by a company however under condition of being French media translator. A way to my goal as an English translator was easily neglected because of the saturation of English translators. I have to admit that my ears have stopped their function against French for nearly 10 years. With no choice I decided to download at last an internet radio player (actually you don't need to download; all you do is to click this link; the player will appear in a small window).

What I do is to turn on 'France Inter' everyday as a BGM rather than to 'listen' to it.

Better than nothing, let's start from what I can do.

Dueling Geniuses: The Greatest Highlights of Japanese Artists

On the last day of exhibition, we rushed to Ueno in the rain. Sunday museums in Tokyo on the last day of exhibition, you can never avoid crowd of people even in the bad weather. Nevertheless no one seemed to complain because of how much they long to see.

Each piece was very familiar to Japanese people; they've seen it somewhere in their text book when they've been to schools in Japan. The point was the presentation of work; the pieces were displayed to 'duel' with one another so that the audience can compare the difference of artists of a common subject. In many case they were master and pupil, but besides, not always have lived in the same period.

With the audio guide I had a different point of view from what I've seen during art class at school. Now I really see why museums cultivate our sensibility.

Little Tempo Live at Hibiya Park

Thanks to a friend I had an extraordinary Summer evening so called 'stress-free' I guess.
My first experience of dub, and my first experience of dancing in the rain.

Dub is a genre of Jamaican music which sounds a bit like reggae but rather soft. I recognized the melodious sound of steel pan which my old friend used to play.

No dance no life.

Uninvited Clients - 招かれざる客達

5 years ago a friend (59) of my parents made his bow as an actor while continuing his business as an architect. He appears not only in films or commercials, but also in a play once or twice each year.

This year I had a chance to be invited to see his play titled: 'Univited Clients' at Geinokadensha (a primary school was reformed to a littlle local theatre after its close down).

The story was about a Barista and his unfortunate client having lost his family during childhood, who killed themselves in a fire because of their debts caused by a certain former banker, who was actually the Barista himself. The client was there in the Barista's cafe for his vengeance. When the Batista heard this story, he was shamed of his innocence of the client's situation but could only tell him the fact that he remembered...

This piece reminded me of the importance of thanking the small happiness We don't realize its value, for it usually becomes a routine and is easily forgotten, until the rouine meet its end.
And I was the one who was about to forget the thankfulness towards every little thing that happens in every day life. What would it be like when ordinary happiness turns extraordinary...

Hydrangea

Hydrangea is a symbol of rainy season in Japan, which is July. It is one of my favourite flowers and I bought one 2 years ago, which the flower shop recommended me strongly because of its good quality and gave me 20% discount.

Last year it didn't bloom at all, so I thought that was why it had a discount and felt I was proberbly suckered.

However when it was moved into a larger planter with fertile soil, it suddenly grew faster this spring and finally, it had some beautiful flowers of reddish-purple in May! It was an announcement that again the rainy season was about to come. When the Tsuyuake (end of rainy season, this year around 20th July) the last flowers were about to fade so I cut the stem to arrange on my desk so that I can glance at it whenever I like.

I tried many places to find its right position to be seen in a most beautiful way, and at last I found its good place. The tone of its colour fits perfectly the painting and with the object beside. I only wish the flower will last but beauty never accompany eternity.

Emergency Supplies

There were already several earthquakes of magnitude 7-8 during these few months. Together with some prophets I finally decided to prepare emergency supplies and searched for a list on web:

water, instant food, chocolate, vitamins, radio, electric charger for mobile, leisure sheets, emergency toilet, tents, sleeping bag, credit cards, passport, copies of ID,towels, gloves, lighter, matches, candles,
medicine, bandadge, toothbrush, family photos, phone number list, whistle, etc, etc, etc...

We don't have all at home but it's better than nothing.
After all, forwarned is forearned.

Birthday Bottle

My first birthday present this year was just what I needed! It was a bottle of mango vinegar which can be used for dressing or making cocktails.

Especially because of the Summer heat I was addicted to hand made soda cocktail. All you have to do is to mix soda with all sorts of fruit vinegar such as:

apple vinegar
melon vinegar
lemon juice
ume (japanese plum) syrop
etc...

Just little tip about health & beauty:
Vinegar is very good for detox - I can feel that when I use it to clean the house by dissolating 3-5 times with water. It kills bacteria and bad smell - while soda stimulates stomach and helps digestion. For those who love sour taste, this is an ideal drink! but be aware of over consumption!

Another thing which made me happy was the happy birthday message printed on the bottle. Thanks☆