Bits from my weekend...

How's everyone been doing? I've been doing pretty good here. I had a really nice quiet weekend at home, last weekend. And I'll be blogging about it today. But, I must say first. I am having my period right now (sorry, TMI). And I'm just having major major cramps today. I started yesterday and was functional yesterday... meaning I could still clean my house... wash, dry and fold my laundry. Make dinner. But today...OMG! Good thing my house is clean right now, ya'll because as soon as I post this, I am going to go lay down on the couch and rest for today. I feel like death today! It's also raining quite badly today, gray overcast and a slightly chilly day. Maybe a long sleeve top and shorts type day. Not a day needing the heater... but you definitely feel a nice crispness to the air for sure. It should rain all day and stop at 7pm, where I live this evening, we're also getting mid-high winds. And good thing I made a huge pot of curry yesterday because we will be having curry spaghetti tonight and salads. Ugh. Very nice to have dinner 90% done...as a leftover from yesterday. Awesome and surely saves me for today, since I'm having TOM issues today. : ) Anyways...back to the post. These couple backyard pics were snapped last Friday. June 16th. I had just swept and mopped the heck out of the kitchen floor. And washed the kitchen mats, 2 toilet mats one from each of the bathrooms and our stripey bath math that we dry our feet on... after shower time. The weather has been just beautiful all month. Warm in the day about 78-79 F in the day time and 64 degrees F at night. So very comfortable weather. : ) I wish Japan's weather could be like this year round. : ) I'd love it. 

Update on the "hot pink" ahem...although they called these light red? @_@ Remember that? These were duds this year and we took them out of the hanging baskets weeks and weeks ago and transplanted them into the earth to see..if they live...then great and if not...well at least we tried. They still look...meh! Ykwim? Like..they are not dead yet... but they're not thriving either or growing at all. 

They're in this corner. And we do water them once a day. But honestly...I think once the brutal sauna-like unforgiving HEAT that is Japanese summer hits...these flowers will be resting in peace. :( I'll keep you posted. 

Meanwhile the serrano chilis. That are supposedly hotter than jalapenos. Are thriving and getting bigger each and everyday. : ) Yay! : )

These replacement flowers are thriving and growing. They're in the backyard catching as much sun as they can... but since the weathers been considerably colder than in years past. They're not growing as fast...however they are growing and healthy plants!!! 

Flowers on the chili plants. Which is a good sign. And this lets us know...baby chili's will be growing very soon. : )

Noboru liked his last black drone, but he was unsatisfied with the quality of the camera. He felt the camera for making movies...he said they looked rather shaky and he didn't like that at all. So he sent it back to Amazon and got a refund. Meanwhile he now has this drone and he loves this one. 

Noah had a kodomo-kai (kids club) event Saturday at 9:30am. Good thing we could have a gorgeous sit down breakfast beforehand. And Noboru dropped off Noah at the plaza at 9:30am and swung around and picked him back up at 11:20am. It ended at 11:30am. But after going to these for years... we know how the parking lot gets hella full at 11:30am. Noah had a blast, he enjoyed popcorn, soda and all these treats and played games with his classmates. This is only open to first to 6th graders. So this will be his last time going to this one. Which is fine for us. We always have plenty to enjoy at home...plus it saves us a drive. But..I was happy Noah could enjoy this summer event. : ) Noah does have  a few more kids club events this year to attend though. : ) 

Koh Gen Do. It's a high end Japanese brand. Quality makeup. That's super popular in the United States right now and being sold at Sephora. It's also popular and well known here in Japan for people who prefer high end quality cosmetics that are good for your skin. It's also cheaper for us in Japan than you can get it in the states. I first bought a foundation by Koh Gen Do last....was it last October or November? I think last November. Anyway...I really enjoy it. And I saw a bunch of their products at The Loft when we were in the city for Bran's parent teacher conference thing. A week or so ago. I also saw/noticed a brand new product that they just came out with...Koh Gen Do has made a cushion. But there's really no cushion...so maybe we should just call it a liquid foundation in a compact... because there's no cushion with foundation inside at all. Anyway...while I was killing time in Loft...I noticed the brand new compact foundation that just was released in Japan June 1st, 2017. And is not even available for those of you in the states yet. Anyways...I wasn't impressed because the amount of foundation you get is so little. Not worth it. So, no I am not interested in their new foundation pact. However...their powder foundation caught my eye and the fact they had the color 213 which is my color in their range. Which matches me perfectly and I am a MAC NC25. Fwiw. I didn't buy it that day at Loft. But, I did go home and a few days later, I ordered from Koh Gen Do online. It arrived on Saturday morning. The same day Noah had his kodomokai event and the same day we had another barbecue. 

They also gave me a $10 dollars off/ 1,000 yen off coupon and I seriously might use it. But...I'm also biding my time until I hit Sephora in person and Target in person so ...maybe I won't use this coupon after all...yeah maybe not. : ) 

Nicely packed. However I was sad they sent no free samples. In a day in age where... everyone and their mama...gives free samples. It was definitely noted by me. So, I am mentioning it here too. Give samples Koh Gen Do!!! 

I use foundation and always pat my face with powder after wards. I use Mac Mineralize Skinfinish (this powder doesn't make you look too powdery) and I love this. But...the thing that caught my eye is this also is supposed to make your skin look silky and moist and not all dry and powdery. This reminded me exactly of the Mac one I am using. Except this is technically a foundation but a super light coverage one. And I'll use it as a powder anyways. But given the fact that it's sold in color 213...I lovelovelove 213 perfect for me. And so...since they also had this in 213 too...I wanted to try it. And I do like it. And the color is so perfect. Now I can bounce between this and my Mac powder. : )

I like that it's black and sleek and has the KGD initials there. I love good quality makeup, especially if it's going on my face, I don't want to get any breakouts or anything. 

It has a really big mirror. So anyways long story short...bought a new powder. 

This is a pic that I took especially for you guys. This is not available for you in the states yet..but you can at least say you have seen it now. Before anyone else has got to see it. : ) This is what their liquid compact looks like. It's the same formula exactly that's super famous in the US right now. It's their Aqua Foundation. But in compact form. And according to what I read..it's limited edition. So maybe...you in the US won't get this at all? Hmm. If it's limited edition so maybe not. Hopefully they keep in this their permanent line. But they do have shade 213 and all the other shades too. I use the popular... liquid Aqua Foundation (in the bottle) almost every single day... that I do wear makeup (only wear makeup 3 times a week). However that's 30ml. Where this aqua foundation pact in the compact is only like 7 or 9ml. Or something super teeny tiny like that. So...imo. The compact liquid one...is not worth it at all. But oh well...just thought I'd share the pic. It's in a cute red compact though.

Saturdays BBQ. June 17th, This day... we again kept things super simple. If you try to make things super duper fancy. Then...BBQs become a stressful thing or a once in a while thing... where they should be the opposite and low key. But...we BBQ every single week. We don't aim for fancy at all. If we just throw burgers and hot dogs on the grill then that's enough and fine. If we just want yakiniku awesome. But we keep it super *super* simple. Super scaled back. That way no pressure. 

The kids had very nicely marinated beef/very lean rosu. I had chicken breast and veggies. And Noboru picked 2 giant pork steaks in a garlic sauce/marinade. They were already marinated at the store on Friday when we bought our meat for the BBQ. And he really loves that type of meat. Basically...whatever everyone loves...we made for them. I prefer chicken and veggies...the kids prefer beef and Noboru has a strong preference for pork. Every time Noboru eats beef, he tells us how much he prefers pork. Hahaha. LOL. @_@ So...it's okay...just whatever everyone prefers is what we made. The kids meat.. took Noboru a grand total of 5 minutes to grill. Mine took about 7 minutes to grill. And Noboru's took about 5 minutes. We ate quickly! We had flat lettuce for wrapping our meats. We had Garigari for dessert. Again just super simple. I was busy in the morning marinating the kids beef after breakfast. And slicing my chicken after breakfast too. Plus cleaning up the kitchen from breakfast. Which is why Noboru dropped off Noah at the kodomokai and I didn't. I was pretty busy trying to do some house stuff here. Plus I was waiting for my Koh Gen Do shipment from Kuroneko that morning too. : ) 

My chicken and veggies. Again our meal is super quick and easy. Super relaxed and chill. If you're the type who wants the perfect meal. Strives for perfection. That's so *not* us....we just want a chill weekend BBQ. Just us. Just chillin' at home. Not perfect...if you ask me...there's no such thing as perfect and I wouldn't ever want to be. We just wanna be chill. And enjoy the weekend. : ) Just walking barefoot back and forth from the backyard to the inside of the kitchen. *happy sigh* : )

Noboru's meal of choice. He was quite happy about it.  And we just sat and talked and laughed, all 4 of us. And enjoyed the inaka/Japanese countryside views out our backyard. The trickling sounds from the rice fields that filter water from field to field. Croaking frogs. A few birds that had not went to sleep yet! That you could hear off and on. And yeah...a very good Saturday. 

And a 58 yen treat for each of us. About 50 cents American each. A yummy popsicle. And time to close our blinds and then taking turns for a shower for us all. And then time to turn on the TV and just enjoy Saturday night. : )  How was our weekend, last weekend? Very quiet...very low key. Very *us* as usual. Very chill. We love quiet weekends at home. Maybe that's because our weekdays are all so busy, for all of us. That we really need our weekends to just be spent together...recharging our batteries so to speak...and just enjoy our time together. I love these nerds!!! And I know thye love me too! Hahaha. Anyway that was our weekend in a nutshell. Oh and fwiw. How was Sunday? Super chill and nice too. Noboru enjoyed Father's Day here at home being spoiled by us all.  : )

Anyway...anything new to add? Not really. It's Wednesday here. Hump Day. We are coasting down towards the weekend after today. Woohoo. : ) Swimming for Noah was postponed from Monday (because of rain) to yesterday...so Noah swam yesterday... since it was such a nice and beautiful sunny day.  Today is raining crazy hard right now... it's really picked up steam since I started this post. Curry spaghetti tonight for supper with a side salad, I already told you all that. I have Downward Dog tonight, a TV show I really like and American Housewife tonight too. : ) Anyway...I wanna take an Advil right now and rest a bit. Have a good Wednesday everyone. : )  

The handover meeting. My last official day as vice prez/fuku kaicho for the Kids Club/Kodomo Kai...

Sunday, March 29th at 10am was *the* handover meeting from the 2014/2015 members (us) to the 2015/2016 members. Also, a notice was given in the kids kairanban (information booklet) different from the adults kairanban booklet. The kids one, only goes to houses with elementary age kids in our housing community. Anyway about 2 weeks before March 29th the kids kairanban went around. Letting all parents of elementary school age know. #1, the term/year are over,  the people running the kids club are switching and if any of you would like to attend said meeting you are most welcome. Also it reminded everyone with a elementary aged kid to also pay their yearly dues on March 29th, the total for the year would be 700 yen. The reason I bring this up, in the first place is at the end of each kids kairanban message it says...sincerely and then lists the 7 people in the PTA. Our names were OFF and new names were on! I was so thrilled when I received that kairanban (information booklet) and my name was NOT on there anymore! So it was 2 weeks before, reading that, when I realized...wow, it is finally coming to an end. Also keep in mind, the kids were on Spring break. We were set to leave to Guam Monday March 30th, so the next day. Our bags were packed. And I just had 1 last thing to do before we left for Guam. Which was handing the gauntlet so to speak to the next set of PTA. So, I made sure Sunday, March 29th, I showered that morning, did my hair, makeup. I was dressed. And I was ready! I walked down to the building near the tennis courts. And I walked inside. 2 new members of the kids club were collecting fees for the yearly dues, they head bowed me and greeted me and I did the same (head bowed and greeted), they know I was fukukaicho and I know one is Branden's classmates mom and her youngest daughter is a 6th grader this year, we have known each other for ages, the other one, her youngest child is in Noah's class, so there is a connection between us as I pay them, meaning we all know exactly who each other is, in fact I didn't even need to give them my child's name, they knew already hahaha. Noah is in elementary school, so I opened my wallet and paid the ladies 700 yen for Noah's yearly dues. I then took off my shoes and went inside the main part of the building. The last years term members and the new members were gathering. My fellow fukukaicho was inside and said, we will sit here. 2 tables facing each other exactly like in this picture. Old prez was on one end of the table, new prez was on the opposite side of the table. And us 2 Vice prez people were facing our replacements. And the secretary from last year was facing her replacement and so on. 

The new members, our replacements served us senpai ladies coffee. These ladies were very kind. And in fact, I thought..."hmm we should have done this to our senpais last year" : ( We should have done this. Oh well. It is, what it is. Anyway, so we waited to see if anyone wanted to observe the handover. We knew nobody would want to and it is honestly best if we do this sort of stuff without looky-loos wanting to attend the meeting. So when the clock struck 10am and nobody entered the room, we closed the door. And began the handover. Us members from last year just wanted it OVER. And the new members, knew there was just no getting out of it, so they just wanted to get it started. The new heads each stood up and introduced themselves to us. You could tell some were nervous. I completely understood, because I hate public speaking too (when all eyes are on you) We last year members, didn't say who we were. They had been getting the kids kairanban all this past year with our names and next to each name it says...kaicho(prez) or fukukaicho (VP) so basically everyone knows. No need to say it again. The new prez, at the end of the long table, went through her paperwork and asked the old prez. A few questions about running things. When should they meet, how many times a month. Our prez, said at least twice a month but on months were there is an event, probably every week is best. And she added that the prez and 2 VPs need to meet, more often privately, because they have other things needing to go over, such as party games to set up. Prizes to buy, for said events. Basically the prez and 2 VPs will be run ragged most. She took notes. The new members listened. More questions were asked. And then we just went back and forth. Any questions for the new secretary, to ask the secretary from last year. So we just went back and forth. 

The new VPs asked us last year VPs. Any advice? That honestly was a tough one. How to answer that, hmm. On 1 hand, if it were my friend, or cousin, I would say...much like the sign when they were about to head to the Wicked Witch's castle on the Wizard of Oz....I'd give my real life friend or relative the advice of "I'd turn back if I were you!!!" "Avoid it if you can, and good luck if you can't avoid it." However...this is Japan. The country of Gambatte and Gaman. And in truth, my term is over. So no need to stir the pot and make the new members have nightmares and panic attacks before it has even began. Do you know what I mean. I appreciate you reading this blog...going through the entire last year with me, going through all this fukukaicho craziness. And knowing somehow I wasn't going through it alone, all by myself helped. So thank you. : ) But now back to the question asked of me that day. Let's be sensible, there is no need to cause hysteria. I know what's acceptable to say here and what's not. I know I shouldn't say anything negative about the kids club. Because the kids do enjoy it. And believe me...I know how these ladies weren't really all too "gung ho" about being picked in the first place. So if we think about this rationally. It is best to not say anything too terribly bad, no need to cause a panic in that room, obviously. If I were to say for example..."yes it sucked, don't do it." That would cause everyone to freak out, that morning. Perhaps they wouldn't want the job after all. I can't just throw that wrench in there, like that. So, I do my best. And give the most diplomatic answer I can. The safest answer, I can think of. So, they asked us....the new 2 fukukaicho turn to us and ask..."any advice?" We both turn to each other and I let the Jinbei boy's mom answer first. She answers with a very diplomatic answer. And then she turns to me for my answer. I have all my year/fellow members and the new members all eyes on me for my answer. And while I didn't lie. I just spoke the truth, albeit a very sanitized version. And I said. "best thing for fukukaicho to do is, support the kaicho because she is doing the hardest job, and support the other ladies too, because they are also doing very important jobs like the accountant and secretary are responsible for making the papers and notices in all the kids kairanbans. So, my best advice is... try to support the whole team best you can. It will be hard work, but we got through it and I have no doubt....that you will get through it too." I think I gave an honest and yet diplomatic answer, safe yes, but I'm not really here to cause trouble, I just wanted the "handover" to go as easy as possible. And I gave a safe answer. I didn't step on any toes. I don't need to be the one to deflate their balloon. They will find out soon enough...how stressful the job is. And you know what though...to be fair, maybe they won't find it so stressful. Maybe these ladies will be rockin' and rollin' right through every challenge they face. Maybe it won't be so hard for them. We are all different, we all have different personalities. So while it was grueling for me, maybe they won't find it so bad. Does that make sense, do you know what I mean. So, yeah, no need for me to muddy the waters. So again, I just gave the safest answer possible. No need to go out in flames and with a bad reputation...saying..."oh it was horrible..nothing but absolute pain and misery. I cried 500 tears daily." LOL, know what I mean (and for the record I did not cry any tears over this at all) What I mean to say is this....Look, it's over. The meeting was simply.... passing the gauntlet to them. And I am sure they can figure out for themselves...if it's going to be hard....they most certainly don't need me, to tell them that. This way I leave on a good and positive note. So, we question and answered back and forth. Because they knew as soon as we left, we were gone. So any last questions for us. Anyone, anyone, Bueller, Bueller. They asked. And then it was done. We last years 7 members stood and we bowed and we all said...good luck for this year. And we left! And they began their planning of the "welcoming the new ichinensei"...kids club meeting for the party taking place in April. We exited and slipped off our slippers and put back on our shoes. And we last years members all waved good bye to one another. And that was that. How long did the meeting last? Honestly somewhere between 15-20 minutes tops. It went by super quickly. I walked back home...I felt like I was bouncing home, walking on air...truly walking on air...I was so happy. Absolute pure happy as can be, type happiness. I Line messaged Noboru on my walk home...I said...I am done! And gave a sunshine face pic. And I also skype messaged my dad and I said...I am done and gave him a happy dance pic. I went home. The kids were like...wow that was fast. And I asked the kids..."who's fukukaicho this year?" They said..."who?" I said...NOT ME!!! Hahaha : ). And I turned the music on in the kitchen and I danced around for 2 songs. Just pure joy. This year, I have no title and I don't want or need one, I am just a simple normal citizen this year. They can make all the rules. I'll just follow them. : ) I hope to never have to do anything like that again. But yep...it is done, it is over with. woot woot! Who's vice prez, this year? Not, me! : ) I'm just... a SAHM, face in the crowd, normal standard audience member. Phew. And relief! : ) 

Sunday, February 22nd, my last Kodomo Kai/Kids Club event and Branden's Eiken level 2 interview done...

Last week, I think I posted only once last week? I'm actually proud of myself for finding an available moment to post because last week was quite possibly the busiest and most stressful weeks for me out of the whole past year. It was pure crazy town, last week. Let's catch up. : ) Okay, so you know Bran did the Eiken level 2 right? At the end of January. Anyway, so the paperwork said if your child passes, they would be doing a verbal interview approximately 1 month afterwards. They also said we'd be getting the Eiken passing test shortly however, ours never came. Also each child is supposed to have a 2 number password code, but the rules at our particular JHS they only give you 1 of those and they don't want students to know the other. @_@ So we couldn't even check online, if Branden passed. Which yes he did, but we didn't know. When I had finally had enough waiting (meaning my friend already had her daughters results, that goes to a JHS in the small city near us) I said enough is enough. Had Noboru call the JHS. He phoned them and they said they had given the results back eons ago. @_@ I knew Branden didn't have it, because he also wanted his results. Turns out they were given out during bukatsu (sports club time) and nobody bothered to check if perhaps Branden did or didn't get his results. Really irritating. But anyways so when we finally get the long awaited results... the yes he passed part...then we read and on the form said...your interview is February 22nd. Insert panic now! That's the date of my very last yakuin "good bye to the 6th graders" how can I be at 2 different places at once. Okay let's be sensible about this...can we think of an alternative? Can Noboru take Branden for his Eiken interview? Sadly no he can't, he has work that day.  Noboru's family is in Osaka. Uncle Jun worked that day. My family is in America. And I'm most certainly not about to let Branden ride the train alone...Lester the Molester could snatch my son and I'd never see him again. Okay granted my son is now probably just as tall, if not taller than most Japanese male adults. And quite muscular but still, to me...for my sake of mind, he is my son and I worry about him. All last week, I thought and I thought. I have a duty to the yakuin. It is my last task. My last yakuin job and then I am done. However, my duty for my son... for both my children trumps the yakuin. I am sorry...but if you are a mama you will understand. Heck if you are a papa you will "get that" too. I just couldn't see anyway around it. So, I emailed the VP. I said very honestly and truthfully. "I apologize, we found out rather last minute when the next Eiken test would be...it happens to fall on the same day. I will be happy to come, but I will *have* to leave at the latest at 10:30am." There's just no other way around it...she wrote me back in less than 10 minutes saying...absolutely no problem at all. She totally understands. And sure...I should leave at 10:30am. And she also said...tell Branden CONGRATULATIONS. This by the way is the Jinbei Boy's mom, one of Branden's closest friends. And remember we went to the Indian restaurant together a few weeks back. So it is good to have a personal relationship. And plus they know...I have never been late to a meeting ever. I have never missed an event. So I'm no flake...let's just put it that way. But really... there was no other way around it. So anyway problem 1 was solved. Now problem 2. Do we take the train or do we drive? The test was to be at Narita International High School. However I had no idea where in Narita it was/is located. I do know that Narita on weekends gets lots/tons of car traffic...parking is scarce. Especially since we come from a puny tiny rural town. So last Thursday, Noboru and I took a trial/practice run in the car. I wanted to see for myself, where the school is located #1 and #2 I wanted to see for myself if there would be parking or not. Friday was the plan for taking the train from my town to the school. So Thursday we drove there. Here are the basics. Narita International High School has ZERO parking! There are 3 pay parking places near but the fee/rate on the signs said 1000 yen. $10US basically. There was 2 free parking spaces, the park across the street, but Noboru said to me to expect the parking there to be taken because many people go to the park on Sundays, he specifically mentioned grandpa's practicing their golf swing. @_@ However the good part and positive is...I felt me driving to the school was pretty easy. So, I decided to drive and hope for the best on the parking. My #1 worry was now...parking...would I get one? Or would we be screwed and I'd be driving around the block like 100 laps. So that was my biggest concern and worry. So Friday February 20th. I didn't need to take the train to the school for practice because I had already decided to drive. My gifts for the kids club arrived via Rakuten. I did managed to find a bit of time to post, also last Friday. And I made pizza dough that morning also and let it sit and rise all day. Finished cleaning the house and after school, swung around and picked up both the boys from school. It has been raining buckets off and on this whole past week. The 4 of us enjoyed some homemade from scratch pizza and we had salads too. So that was Friday evening. February 20th.

Saturday, I made a simple chicken curry with veggies. We also had a side salad. It was a low key chill day, February 21st.  Granted I was a tad worried how the next day would go down. Would I find my way back to the school? I have my kiddo depending on me! Would I get a parking? Sigh, that parking was making me a ball of nerves. Please say I get a parking spot! 

While the kids were in the shower and getting their PJs on, I meanwhile got the kodomokai gifts packed up. I had to buy 5 gifts for boys and 3 gifts for girls. I was reimbursed. The price on Amazon was 900 yen each. Which is sky high. But I found them half cheaper on Rakuten. Because of my savings, each child could now get 2 boxed eraser making kits, versus just 1. Every boy received a hamburger combo/set eraser making kit and a sushi eraser making kit. The girls received a donut and a chocolate eraser making kit. : ) 

I found really nice cloth gift bags from the Daiso. : )

Two presents per package. I hope they liked them. Since I left 30 minutes after it began, I have no idea if they liked them or not. I hope whoever received them, liked them. : )

Because the Bingo game would be the 2nd to last event, they let Noah pick a gift before we left. Noah wanted the eraser making kit, basically the present I picked for the kids. Fair enough, he knew what was inside and liked them. : ) I mentioned to the ladies, not to worry about getting any snacks or drink for Noah. However, that night...after the Eiken, after everything the prez showed up at my door with an additional gift for Noah and snacks and a drink. I mentioned...Noah has his gift remember? She said..."so many kids didn't show today...please give this to Noah-chan." And she smiled. I head bowed her and I said thank you. What a good friend. : ) 

She also gave me these drinks...yakuin members usually get drinks afterwards. again I told her...I barely did anything. She said...you did plenty and gave these to me. : ) She's a very good lady. And I am lucky she is my friend. : ) 

Two eraser making kits and a chocolate fondue type a set. I know what Noah will be doing now (he says he will share with his brother). : )  Anyway so let's get to the bare bones of that day. Sunday February 22nd.

I went to bed by 9pm the night before. I knew how important Sunday was for me. I knew I had my yakuin duties. I also had to drive B to the Eiken and I had to be on my A game. I couldn't get lost. I need a parking...even a pay 1000 yen type a parking. But most important thing I needed to get some sort of parking. I woke up at 5:30am on Sunday. I had 1 hot coffee. Read my emails. Sadly had no time to reply to any of them. Read some online news. Went upstairs, washed my face, brushed my teeth. Some face lotion. Waited a few minutes, put my make up on. Flat ironed my hair. Woke up the kids. I told them this exactly...because I am honest to my kids...they need to know what's up.

"Today is going to be *crazy* busy...we have a few tiny hoops we have to jump through today kids. But if we can clear all the hoops... at the end of the day...we're going to be done. And I don't mean slightly done. I'm talking..."mama's done with the yakuin kids club duties FOREVER" type done. Okay so hoop #1 we gotta go and do mom's kids club duty first. Step #2, mom needs to find her way to Narita International High School. Step #3 is the most important step of the day kids...mom needs a parking. If mom gets a parking, you can all let out a huge sigh of relief. Most important step of the day, get a parking. Step 4 Branden do your Eiken...you got this kiddo and that's up to you. Step 5 we need to find our way back home. LOL. Once we are done. We will be doing the booty dance, the happy dance...the... we did it dance, yay us. Does everyone understand the goals of today? Any questions? Anyone anyone...Bueller Bueller?" They understood. They ate some cereal real quick. I ate nothing. Call it nerves or what. But I had 1 cup of coffee and that is it for me, all day long. The kids took 1 long tube of Pringles sour cream and onion chips in the car for just in case. Our day did not allow lunch. Sorry. It was just gonna be one of those days. I also had two 500ml yuzu drinks in the car half frozen. In case anyone was dying of thirst that day. Everyone got dressed and ready. Set and go! Off to place #1. I was the first to arrive at the plaza. Probably because I felt so guilty and bad about having to leave the kids club event so early. We all started setting up right away. Branden unloaded the speaker and microphone stuff out of the prez's car. Noah and I carried things into the big gymnasium type area. I also carried my gifts inside as well. Oh how was the weather Sunday? Freezing cold...gray overcast and raining super hard all day long. I also traded cars with Noboru that day. Because the mini minivan is super tiny and can fit anywhere and again I was already worried about parking, so taking the smallest slimmest car was sorta important for that day. Us yakuin was there at the plaza. The new replacement yakuin was supposed to also show up however out of 7 of them, only 1 showed. The one who showed has a son is Branden's grade and a daughter who is a 5th grader right now and will be a 6th grader in April. And we also asked any current 6th grade mom's who are not yakuin to also come and help... out of a bunch, only 3 came and helped. 2 of them came from my street. So I was happy. : )  Yay boy next door's mom and also yay for R's mama. : )  I made 2 paper mache carnations while waiting. We all needed about 6, I made 2 of them while others helped too. The kids all arrived at 10am. It was fun. I watched and helped 2 different games. The last game I watched, I was laughing so hard. The kids were running in a hamster wheel type thing...handmade out of cardboard boxes. It was hilarious. It was so funny I was crying...happy tears. And this was good because it took my mind on the busy-ness of the day. By the time I looked...it was time to leave. I waved Noah to come to me and we went and grabbed Branden out of the library and I waved at my fellow yakuin members and they all told Branden good luck!!! We hopped in the gray/silver mini mini van and we hit the road. I told the boys. Okay kids...task #1 is completed. Now we must all keep our eyes on the road and make sure mom gets to Narita International High School. Having only driven there once before in my life. I didn't miss a beat! I got us there absolutely no problem. No trouble at all actually. Before we were about to arrive though...I started to worry about the parking spot. My stomach was in knots, you guys. As we turned the corner, I see every parking space available in the first parking for the park. Relief. However as I got to the entrance the entrance was closed. It was gated. Duh, no wonder every space was available...it's closed! Remain calm Gina...remain calm. I know there is another similar size parking up ahead, but my odds of it being closed is high. I see a small parking spot between the 2 public park parking spots and I pull in. What is this place? I don't know. I see 5 open parking spots. The Eiken interview for everyone and about a bazillion kids getting there is 12:50am. It is now currently 11:05am. Yes I purposely left freakishly early to hopefully give me an advantage of finding a parking. I quickly park my car in a spot. The spots are so narrow, thank goodness I traded cars for the day. I do not want to get too overly happy though. I ask Branden to read the sign of this place. He says it's a sports center. I trust Branden. But to make sure my car won't be towed away. I take a picture via LINE. Send it to Noboru. he calls me back saying the same exact thing Branden did...and Noboru says...you are allowed to park there for free! Huge sigh of relief. I thanked Noboru hung up. And exhaled really big again. I did it!!! I found a parking space. I now know...it is only because I wisely came freakishly early. By the way... there was a mother and JHS daughter also waiting for the Eiken test, 2 cars away. They were there even earlier than us. The kids and I sat in the car for almost an hour. Until noon. At noon we hopped across the street and stood in line. Sign in was at 12:15. The lady hopped out of her car 2 cars down, when I opened my car. So she and her daughter and me and the boys hopped the street together. And made out way to Narita International High School together. At the entrance, there was 4 eighth graders from our town JHS. They all in unison greeted me and bowed. I greeted them. The lady and her JHS daughter now turned around and looked at me and she asked me, if I was one of the Eiken examiners. @_@ No, I am not...they live in the same town as us, I told her. "Ohhh" she said. : ) That made me smile. We stood in line. There was 2 kids in front of me and the kids. We were 3rd. But the first signing in for the level 2. I had told both boys that morning not to forget their inside shoes. That we would obviously be needing them at the high school. I packed Branden's in the Adidas bag. I packed up Noah's and I packed my slippers too. The note said this school has no slippers to borrow anyone. @_@ As we were 3rd standing in line. Branden tells me...."I forgot my inside shoes at home"..."you forgot your shoes...how on earth could you forget your inside shoes, I packed them in a bag for you and everything" Given the fact I have a western face...and someone just mistaken me for the examiner. @_@ I do stick out. And given I am now speaking at super speeds to my son, well because I am slightly irritated. I stop and remind myself something, that usually helps me. "It is, what it is" So, I immediately stop. I breath deeply and I just say in a quiet voice. "I love you honey...I wish you would have brought your shoes. It's clearly too late to do anything about it now. Would you like to borrow my slippers" He looks at me beyond mortified and says. "Mom your slippers look like ballet shoes." I said..."yes, well because I'm a girl." Yeah I know, he says...no thanks. "Alrighty suit yourself sweet pea."...By now I am just glad I got there... glad I found a parking. And sure I wish he had his shoes...but you know what...it is, what it is. My getting all riled up about it... is gonna do nothing, except perhaps give me a stress heart attack. Am I right or what? Hahaha. So, I just chill and stand next to my child...mellow and feeling relief.

About 10 minutes later, my really good friend comes to say "hey!!!" Her daughter rocked the level 2. She has experience taking the other tests. So, she is a pro at knowing this stuff. She tells me, "let's go sit in the parents room. There is a heater and stuff in there and we can't go where the kids are anyways" So, I told Branden I would be in the parents room and I told him good luck. She is honestly one of my *very* best friends here in Japan. We go to movies together, out to lunch together. We have a plan to go to the movie in March. We went to Coco's together a while back. She has 2 beautiful daughters. Her oldest daughter is an 8th grader, but I knew her oldest daughter since she was a blue badge/nencho of yochien. And she knew Bran since he was a 2nd to last year of yochien, a nenchu. I knew her youngest daughter since she was 3 years old and she knew Noah since he was a baby!!! We've been friends for years. So we went in the parents room. Everyone sorta sat separated from each other, the other parents and nobody talked to another, except us, hahaha.  We just chit chatted and non stop talked the entire time. It was so nice to be there with a friend.  The Eiken was to start at 1pm and given Branden was first in line for the level 2 and the test was only 5-7 minutes. By now it's 1:45pm, and my friend and I are still chatting. I did open the door and saw Bran at the end of the hallway still standing in the first place spot. So we were wondering, what...why? A man came and spoke so loudly in the hall, that all us parents heard. He said...sorry but the morning group testing/taking the interview ran way over time so that's why they are delayed. Also apparently there was a whole other group testing at 4pm-ish. @_@  Okay...now that we knew it would be delayed. We just kept talking. Noah was meanwhile using his tablet. So he was occupied. But he was right near us 2 mamas. : )  As soon as the afternoon kids got moving Branden came out fairly quick. I waved and said good-bye to my friend and we left. I looked for her daughter because I wanted to tell her..."good luck and gambatte" but Branden apparently talked to her upstairs, he told me...she was upstairs. So I could not say hi! 

Anyway...so we we left the building and it was still raining. And there were cars all parking along the roads...even though there were huge..."don't park here" signs...just lots of parents sitting and waiting in cars for their kids. That made me so thankful we came early when we did. Also the line of kids...was HUGE. There were about 80-90 kids in the level 2 lane and over 100 in the level 3 lane. Not even counting the ones upstairs. And the morning group of kids and the evening group of kids. Huge mass amounts of kids basically.  We now get into the car. And I happily turn to the kids and I say...1 step left. That's just get ourselves home! Within 5 minutes of getting into the car. Noah was fast asleep in the back seat all nicely strapped into his booster seat and stuff though. Branden's now bigger than me, so he rides in the front seat with me. And we had the radio streaming from Denver playing. Kool 105 an oldies radio station. 70's and 80's. I'm driving in the rain. After we realize Noah is zonked out to the world in the back seat. Branden turns to me and says. "mom?" I said while driving "yes?"  "I'm really sorry I forgot my shoes today, that was pretty careless of me and I should have brought them"...I think for a few seconds. Because in that instant I realize...man what a good kid he is. So, I say..."that's okay Bran, sometimes people forget stuff, we're not perfect, we all forget stuff from time to time honey and I don't ever want you to think you have to be perfect okay...because you're already perfect to me" I forgot to take my camera today to the kodomo kai and my phone... I even forgot and left it in the car...right?" He said...yeah you're right. Then the conversation stops...the windshield wiper blade are going back and forth a mile a minute, because it is raining like crazy. We both sit buckled into our seats listening to the radio. A couple minutes later Branden said again.."mom?" I answered.."yes?" And he just simply said..."thank you for driving me today"...I pat his knee twice and I say.."oh honey, you are most welcome...I will always be there for you and your brother NO MATTER WHAT, okay? No matter what!!!" The car goes quiet again. Between Narita and our town we mostly have curvy roads with few stop lights. However about 10 minutes later at a red light, I turn and look at Branden and he's fast asleep. I turn my head and see a fast asleep Noah in the back seat too. At this instant I feel so happy. I took a deep sigh. Happy sigh. : ) I now drive a tad slower, because my 2 most important treasures in my whole life are strapped in the car with me and I want to keep them both safe. So, I watch my driving. And just quietly listen to the radio all the way back to our tiny town. It's around 3:05pm by the time we arrive home. Honestly I am dead exhausted and I am so freaking hungry! I had not 1 dot to eat all day long. We already had a plan the day ahead that for Sundays dinner we would be going to Saizeriya. Because well...I would be out all day long. I would be exhausted. Noboru was at work all day long too. I did *so* good Sunday, I tried so hard...I kicked major butt. : ) I had a bunch of tasks that needed to get scratched off the list and I did them all. And we were now home. I pulled into the drive way. Noboru was just arriving at home too. I woke the boys and we went into the house. Phew. What a day. It was not a horrible day. It was a good day actually. Just a *very* busy day. Slightly nerve wracking day... only because I was worried about parking. But other then that. It went pretty well. The fact that it was such a rainy day, played in my favor and that's probably the only reason there was parking available when I got there. So very happy it rained all day Sunday.

Dinner picture from that evening at Saizeriya. I had pasta and pizza. Noah and Bran both had a doria and a pizza each and Noboru had a hamburg meal. We all had the drink bar. Branden shared his Eiken test story. He said his examiner was Japanese. However the shocking part for Branden was he said that his tester looked EXACTLY like Noboru. He said, "dad he looked exactly like you...not similar, but exactly the same." Hahaha. So that sorta caught Branden by surprise. LOL.  We all had so many stories to share with one another during dinner. Branden's JHS tests are now over with until April! Branden's Eiken is done. So Branden is sorta free now ...sure he has regular homework, but he feels really good now. And me...A whole year, of a whole lotta busy. Just finished and completed. Granted I do have 1 last meeting March 29th but that is for us to go and report our end of service to the housing community committee. The 2  kids club accountants will do all the talking I will just stand there or sit there, same for the rest of us. Technically the accountants could go alone without the rest of us...but by us going it officially ends our term. And the new yakuin becomes official that day too. From what I hear, they will be there too. But besides the technical signing over part on March 29th, I am done ya'll. I am now free, free, free. My weekends now belong to me and my family. My time is now my own. And I have been a yakuin at the school before, but it's not nearly as time consuming as this kids club stuff is. Because  the kids club stuff is on weekends and evenings...that's why it gobbles up so much free time. The shogakko/elementary school yakuin stuff never took this much of my time. Whatever though...I am done. Phew. : )  Anyway that is the story of Sunday February 22nd for our family. Eiken level 2 is done and my yakuin duties are complete. Just 1 last meeting March 29th though. : )

Last weekend.The Ami Premium Outlet, Coco Ichiban Curry, and the big Kodomo Kai handover meeting...

Last Saturday, January 24th our plan was to head to the nearest factory outlet to get a pair of pants and a pair of sneakers for Branden. He's 13 years old and just growing like crazy, you guys! Which makes us happy that he is growing, so not a problem at all. : ) Growing right out of his clothes and his shoes. : ) The factory outlet has good quality and cheap prices. So, that's where we went Saturday. First stop the Gap. We ended up getting Branden 2 pair of pants. 1 olive green/army green cargo pants and a pair of jeans because he could use them and plus they were on sale for 1900 yen and at 50% off they were like less than $10 US/1000 yen. So a very fair price for the jeans. Too good a sale to pass up. Branden's cargo pants were also 50% off, but they were about 2000 yen after the sale given the exchange rate about $18 US. : )  After leaving the Gap we went to grab a pretzel each, real quick before heading to the shoe store. 

Auntie Anne's pretzels are so good and we're lucky they are at our nearest factory outlet store. : ) 

Since Monday-Friday Branden wears plain white uniform shoes while at JHS. All Branden really needs is a nice design for the weekends or after school usage. We went into the ABC Mart first also at the outlet and didn't really find much, so we went to the Adidas store. However we all really liked these at the actual Adidas store. We liked the bright green accents on the shoes and I really liked the price since they were on sale. Not quite half off, but pretty close. So we found his size. And went and checked out and left the factory outlet. heading to the grocery store. 

Branden's current shoe size is a Japanese size 27.5 cm. In America, he is a men's 9 1/2. The 27cm, we even tried while there, his big toe was right to the edge of the shoe, bursting out like the hulk. So he needed this size. 

A nice preppy pair perfect for the weekends. It was nice to find him a pair that fit and that he liked. 

Both 50% off, these Gap pants. Both really nice. 

The cut on these jeans especially is really nice. : ) 

I ran the day before to the cheap meat store by myself and grabbed a weeks worth of meat. But on this day after the outlet shopping was done we quickly went to Besia/Cainz Home. Bought some yuzu drink. Some other drinks. 

Charcoal face wash for Bran. Hey, he's a teen now and I make sure he washes his face morning and night. : )

About once a month, the family and I will have a great big cleanup of the downstairs one month or the upstairs the next month, we alternate.  Even though I clean Monday through Friday. The fine details, could really use attention. And it usually just takes a few hours. But, the next day, January 25th, was to be the great big downstairs clean up. So we picked up some cheap store brand cleansers at Cainz. The green bottle is wallpaper or wall cleaner. The yellow bottle is a cream cleanser. The bottle without spray is kitchen bleach. I love this and like to disinfect my kitchen counter tops quite often. And the other is wood floor wipes. We did not have time to do the living room at all. I'm just saying....and that's because I also had a yakuin meeting at 3pm Sunday. So just the kitchen got the great big clean up Sunday. Oh well...better than nothing, right. : ) 

I need shampoo, I usually get it from Guam for about $2-3 bucks (like Suave Professionals). However with me being a yakuin member...my weekend free time is so unbelievably limited. I just honestly can't find a free weekend where I can zip there and back like I could back in 2013. @_@ Oh well, so I did pick up this shampoo. Some lovely shampoo. Just that the price was a lot more than I am used to spending. : )  600 yen for a bottle of shampoo. Note to add, saw the same thing plus conditioner in a sale pack/set at Cainz, for the same price as the shampoo. But had no time to zip this bottle back to Trial (another store). Again time has not been on my side since I have been a yakuin-san this year. But almost...my time will be up. So for that I am grateful. Usually I would go and exchange the item, to save money that's just the way I am. But considering we were an hour away from home, it was by now dinner time, everyone was starving. And the thought of driving all the way back to Trial to exchange it. Just seemed like more trouble then it was worth. Usually sure I'd do that. But given the time, it being dinner, we had been gone all day and sorta wanting to go home. Plus I have conditioner at home still. Am only out of the shampoo, but I will try to remember Cainz for my area at least has better prices on shampoo/conditioner sets. : ) Live and learn. : )

On the way home Saturday evening, we stopped and had curry for dinner. I love Cocoichi Curry. We all do in our family. So it was nice to go out to dinner. I had the basic pork curry with vegetables. Both Branden and Noah both had the chicken cutlet curry, and Noboru had a pork cutlet curry. We all happily ate, while the drinks and Gap and Adidas sneakers sit in the trunk. And we went home Saturday evening after supper.  We all took turns showering. And  we all sorta just enjoyed TV and rested for the rest of our night. Sunday/the next day would be hella busy for me. : ) Big huge clean up at home and then onto a meeting. And then dinner making after that. So a pretty full Sunday for me. I did try to go to bed around 10pm Saturday night, so I could get a decent sleep. : ) 

Sunday, January 25th, we all knew in advance it would be huge big downstairs cleaning day. So no real surprises there. Start time was at 8am. End time would be 12:30pm. Because again, I need time to prepare for my meeting. I need to do dinner prep (cut veggies and stuff for sara udon/chicken chow mein) Time management stuff I am good at, so I knew to be able to be done by then, I'd have enough time to do dinner prep and get myself ready. I woke up at 7am, had a coffee and read emails and online news. Everyone else came down soon after. Here is Noah scrubbing the rolling table that usually holds the microwave. 

Chairs and plant outside. Runner rugs do need replacing. The hard part with that is we need 4 different runner rugs in 3 different sizes and finding runner rugs in various sizes with the same pattern is hard to find. Usually I see them in 2 different sizes yes, but not bunches of different sizes in the same pattern. I did wash the runner rugs that day though. 

Branden vacuuming. Noah wiping down walls. 

We both wiped every nook and cranny of the kitchen table. We also both lugged and carried the table out to the back patio. 

Noboru vacuuming the kitchen ceiling fan.

Both of the boys gym uniforms and Bran's dress shirts for JHS, I also washed and hung outside. And the kitchen table chilling outside for the day.

Noah scrubbing the blinds. He tries so hard! He did excellent. : ) We had music playing in the kitchen. We were jamming to tunes and cleaning our butts off. : )

Vacuumed the pics. 

2nd load of the day, the kitchen table cloth plus every one's bath towel. And again I had that meeting at 3pm. Plus I had to make time to get ready for it beforehand. No wonder we had no time to clean the living room that day. It is clean...but we wanted huge overhaul...every nook and cranny type clean, if that makes sense. See the door on the left leaning against the house?  We had the sliding patio doors off. It was a massive kitchen clean up. : ) 

Trash cans with Mr Clean Gain. I also antibacterial wiped the lids a ton of times. 

About to be dumped out and rinsed.

Trash cans drying in the sun in the backyard. While keeping an eye on the clock. 

End result of the kitchen blinds. Perfect! Super clean, not a dot of dust. 

Everyone scrubbed the daylights out of the walls. Baseboards. We're talking major clean up. We haven't hit it this hard in the kitchen since right before New Year's. 

Last but not least, I filled the kitchen sink with Mr. Clean Gain scent and hot water. And I scrubbed the kitchen floors. Scrubbed them over twice. And rinsed them twice. The floors dried pretty fast with the windows and patio door open. Before we knew it, it was time to start putting things back together. 

Fresh clean table cloth. Maybe a tad wrinkly but who cares, the important thing is it's clean. : )

We need a clear plastic cover over the table cloth. Because with kids in the house, it protects the table cloth and table runner and mats. : )  Oops times almost up for me...I better quickly put the picture frames back where they belong. 

Spare water, spare cassette bombs (fuel for the burner) that we cook nabe and 1 pot stuff with. : ) 

Drinks in their spot. Rugs in their spot. Man, I better motor, I still have veggies and chicken to chop and to jump in the shower!

Looks clean.

Picture frames back. 

Trash cans back in their spot. I was honestly a little tired and understandably so, we kicked major butt...by cleaning the kitchen all day long. However, I know I have to just power through until after my meeting. The rest of the family was free. And good for them. : )  I meanwhile put my hair in a clip. Put on some Taylor Swift Blank Space and a few other misc tunes. And I started chopping Chinese cabbage right away. Mushrooms, put the bean sprouts to the side since they don't need cleaning or chopping. Carrot peeled and chopped. After all my veggies were done. I chopped 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts. Wrapped the chicken breast in plastic wrap put it on a ceramic plate, put it in the fridge. Asked Branden to make the rice. He said no problem. And I ran upstairs, slapped a shower cap on my head (my hair was washed the night before), washed my body and face, rinsed quickly and dried off. Deodorant. Popped on a pair of jeans, black turtle neck. Put my makeup on. Primer, concealer, powder foundation. I did my eyebrows (brow powder) and some Dr. Pepper Lip Smacker. Not tons of makeup... just clean slate/canvas. Tinted lip gloss and my eyebrows. Put on my coat and walked to the building near the tennis courts with my zippered folder, pencils and whatnot. By now...physically I am pretty exhausted. Mentally I am ready and raring to go for the meeting. Does a nice hot soak in the tub sound better? Sure of course...but you know...sometimes you gotta do, what you gotta do. And for right now..I have to finish this year of my duty. So, if I have to power through it...I just have to. : ) 

The prez and 2 vps show first. Yep, us 3 were there first. The prez opened the building, we turned the lights on, cranked on the heater. Changed our shoes to inside slippers. This is my orange clear zipper file. My old 2014 calendar (which I did replace this week already, I am so late replacing my calendar) In comes our 4 other members. Cool... very cool. Now we wait for the future/as of April 2015, 6th grade moms. Meanwhile, us 2014-2015 season yakuin-san are at the front of the room. We are watching as the future 6th grade moms start filing in. I try to make sure to warmly greet them or smile or head bow them as they come inside. They all grab a seat towards the back. We wait a few more minutes until everyone gets there. : ) This meeting is the official handover meeting. Meaning on this day we need to replace our jobs with new people to fill said jobs. We need to find a new prez, 2 new fuku kaichos (vice presidents) etc. Last year, in December I was invited and asked by my 2 close friends, the prez and the Jinbei Boy's mom if I'd like to run with them. Because in our housing community you have to run 1 year doesn't matter if you have 1 kid or 20 kids. As long as you run once. We get along very well. So, we 3 sorta agreed to do it last year, Even though I had no 6th grade child last year. We spoke to the yakuin the year before us and sorta had it all set up beforehand. Besides most people would like to never have to do the job. So, if someone was actually willing to do it. They were happy. However we hoped people would be willing to take the job this year. 

So the president stands/stood. She said, thank you for joining us today. We need 7 volunteers. 1 prez, 2 vp's. 2 accountants (dealing with money expenses, etc) and the other one is more along the lines of secretary and that job is hard also you have to take notes.) We need 2 for that job also. She wrote on the white board. Prez with a blank. VP, with 2 blank spaces. And so on and turned to the moms. They all huddled amongst themselves, towards the back of the room. And 1 said, I work and I am rather busy, I'd rather not do this. Another chimed in and said, I am also quite busy. And it went down the line. No judgements at all whatsoever. But in a nutshell, basically it was just a whole bunch of people not wanting to take the job starting April 2015. Believe you me. I *get* it. It takes up basically a whole year of your life. Granted not every single day. But kiss most of your weekends good bye! So, yes I totally understand, I get why nobody wants this job. I lived it all last year and even now. I couldn't even leisurely enjoy the summer festival last year.... since we had to work it. And trying to go on summer vacation also sucked because I had to be here nearly every weekend before the summer festival for prep! So yes....I am not just saying..."I understand." I actually do totally and completely understand. So yes I get it. But to be fair too. I didn't invent the kodomo kai. It was here long before I ever moved here. : ) Once again, I didn't invent this and I am sorry ladies to even ask you to sacrifice a year of your weekends. I really really am. Believe me, if I could have gotten away with not ever having to do it...I would have too. So, I do see their point of view. And yes to be frank, I think in 5-10 years time, I see this kids club totally stopping eventually (where we personally live). People just aren't into it these days as far as our housing community goes. And the weekend commitments, the weekends you give up and sacrifice, it's just way hard. Super hard. 

Anyway so the excuses or reasons weren't really working on the prez though. Our current secretaries (both) and both accountants all work full time. So the prez said pointing, she works at a delivery company (6 days a week) half the time she comes to our meetings still in her uniform, pointing at one of our awesome ladies. She then pointed at the other one, she's a lunch lady works 5 days a week cooking for hundreds. This one works at 7-11 and this one works at the town ward office. The Jinbei Boys family run their own business. And pointing at me, she is managing all the meetings and whatnot in a foreign language. She added....we all still attend. @_@ Clearly she wanted them to know...we all have lives here and places we'd all rather be too. @_@ However as she is also a very kind prez too. We now thought and between ourselves we thought we could entice new members. So the prez stood and said..please one of you decide to be this years prez. The job description is this. You will be expected to do xy and z. But it is also fun. Then we stood and explained our job. Hi we are the vp's...we are mostly a support for the prez. We help her and also make sure things are getting done. But our #1 job is to assist the prez. : ) Hoping..we were enticing someone sitting in their seat to raise their little hand and say...oh what the heck, sign me up. : ) Next were the accountants and so on explaining their job. They opened binders, showed their job in detail....the secretaries shared pictures from each of our events this year. We really gave it the old college try. Please be enticed we thought. hahaha. : ) They huddled once again. We stood at the front of the room. Do you think we inspired someone,we wondered. They all turned around and....

Hi umm yeah..none of us are willing to be the president or vice presidents at all. Umm, we really rather have none of these jobs. Okie dokie...hmm. Well my mind is just totally blown. LOL. You should have seen our facial expressions. Us 7 at the front of the room really didn't quite know what to do at this point. But all 7 of our facial expressions were like the 2 pics down below. Utter and complete shock! Poof minds blown. : )

We huddled amongst ourselves. How should we handle this (should we rock paper scissor this, should we draw straws.. which is the way we should end this and come to some resolution. The prez turned to them and said, we'll draw names randomly then, since you ladies can't decide amongst yourselves then. So, we gathered their names and in less than 5 minutes it was done. The other VP started writing names down on the white board. The new prez is Mrs So and So.  The room went so dead quiet you could hear a pin drop. Next up the new 2 VP's for the year 2015-2016 term are such and such and so on. The back of the room was not too thrilled. : ( And believe me, I do understand.  Important to add here. Before the meeting started, The Jinbei Boy's mom mentioned, she *needed* to run and get the Jinbei Boy's JHS pants from the tiny little mall in the small city nearest our town. Because he is growing taller and he needed his pants let out...lengthened. I laughed and told her...I go to that same place for Branden's JHS pants! And as a matter of fact I go there for anytime we need some sewing done. Me too! She said. Clearly neither of us are tailors. : )  So she mentioned at the start of our meeting...she needs to get his pants right away, because he needs them for school the next day/Monday. I totally understand, I told her. So she NEEDED to go and pick up his pants ASAP and given it was a Sunday...before the mall closes!!!! The prez also had stuff needing to be done. And me too...I had a family waiting for me to get back to start dinner. I had that chicken chow mein/sara udon waiting to be made. Plus I was physically exhausted, you guys! So during this whole...I don't want to do the job....us trying to entice them to take said job. Then they still didn't want to take the job. And back and forth and back and forth. All the while time is ticking. Poor Jinbei Boy's mom needs his pants back, like seriously pronto! : ) So...that's kinda why they just wanted to quickly decide this thing. Nip it in the bud, so it doesn't go on forever and ever and ever! So flash back to now. new people have been decided. Hallelujah. Somehow though the new yakuin-san 2015-2016, weren't moving. Weren't standing. Or walking towards the exit. The current prez said basically..meetings over, thanks everyone. And while all us current ladies all stood. They the new members all remained sitting. @_@ She said again...alright meeting is adjourned. You know what I mean....meaning over, done, finito...time to go home. Sayonara. Farewell. And still they sat. I see the Jinbei Boy's mom glancing the clock (she needs those JHS pants back before they close, eek times a ticking here. We all glanced the clock. Now what? Do we just sit here for infinity. And beyond? lol. Should we reassure them everything will be okay? What do we do? We all really have things to do. The current prez said....okay ladies new yakuin-san. We all have to leave now. So...newest prez, here are the keys to the building please return them this evening to my house, after you ladies finish with your own private meeting. I am sure you ladies would like to speak amongst yourselves so we'll let you have your privacy. Bravo, I thought. That was *very* tactful. We will leave to give you all your privacy. Wink, wink. : ) Perfectly well said, prez!!! : )  So we all head bowed. And we left. I do have a meting Feb 6th. I have a last party Feb 22nd. And I believe my last official thing is we must go and talk to somebody about our spending for the kodomo kai for the year that we handled it. However according to the Jinbei Boy's mom we will just have to sit there, while the 2 accountants take over, do the talking and handle that. But we must stand there as a team....us yakuin 2014/2015. That all spending for that year is indeed correct. Etc. That's the end of March for that. Our term is so superly winding down. And I can barely wait for it to end. : )  The prez and my fellow vp and I have a lunch date at an Indian restaurant in the small city nearest our town Feb 10th. I mean...we 3 all started off as friends. And we'll end our term just as close. : )  I went home. I was so happy. I tell you...I couldn't walk home fast enough! : ) It was around 4:30pm. Lucky for me Bran made the rice and I already prepped supper. I heated the pan for a minute, added the oil, waited another minute, then added the chicken. Ran upstairs and switched to my comfy clothes, while Noboru kept an eye on the pan. Put my hair up and outta my face. Finished cooking supper. We ate. Noboru asked about my meeting. I told him...nobody wanted the job! He said, can you blame them? I said, no I can't! It's a hard job, no wonder. We chit chatted during our meal...in our spic and span clean kitchen. After supper. Noboru said he'd handle the dishes, putting them into the dishwasher. Wiping down the stove, putting food away. Etc, he'd handle it all. I needed him to and was thankful though too. Because I was exhausted. Flat out exhaustion to the max. I took a shower first, that day. I set the bath. I then showered washed my face, my hair, body, then put some shea bath powder in the tub and I soaked in the tub for quite a long time. My muscles were so sore. My whole body was sore. You get quite the workout while scrubbing and cleaning the kitchen plus lifting half of a heavy kitchen table back and forth etc. Briskly walking back and forth to my meeting and whatnot. The hot bath helped. I felt clean and I dried off and put my night gown on. Blow dried my hair. And I read one of my magazines, I had purchased. I bought it as a little treat for myself, the day before. Just something small. I knew after Sundays big huge clean up and the meeting, that I would be exhausted and I also know how important it is to also take care of myself, mind body and soul and make my own self happy in life too, so I bought this magazine as a tiny little reward to myself for getting through a busy Sunday. : ) Just a couple hundred yen magazine, but I thoroughly enjoy reading it and learning new stuff. : ) 

Biteki one of my most favorite magazines in Japan. :) What's the top 5 body washes in Japan? Top 5 shampoos in Japan? Top 5 face washes in Japan? Top powder foundations in Japan? This helps me...because I am not Japanese. I don't know which one is a tried and true trusted product. When over 160 women all vote and say such and such is their favorite powder foundation it has the most coverage, doesn't break them out, etc. I do pay attention. I like being able to go to the drugstore and know...oh this one is the one people like and that they say is good. It does help a person like me...who is more familiar with whats up at say....Target for example... then say what's up at my nearest Matsumoto Kiyoshi. : ) But not anymore. Now I know...what's what. What's up. What's new. What's coming out in Feb or March. I'm for once...really in the loop here. : ) So yeah it helps a bit. 

I also like their free samples in each issue. : ) Anyway I have been enjoying the February and March 2015 issues of Biteki. And just have been trying to..do stuff around the house. Hang out with my family and when I am free, I have been enjoying good TV shows and have also been enjoying flipping through a magazine or two. : ) Anyway, that's what we were up to in our neck of the woods last weekend. : )