You thought I only posted on Mondays, but I fooled you! Due to my 20 in 20 anniversary next week, this week I have a bonus episode for you. You're welcome! This is not a joke!
Please copy and paste the questions at the end and add your answers to the mix!
Where was I? Japan
What country related books or documentaries did I watch?
Read: Fifty Words For Rain <-- Japan (kind of strange)
Read: The Reason I Jump <-- Japanese author, who happens to be a 13 year old boy with autism *This one was my favorite of the three
Read: South of the Border, West of the Sun <-- Japanese author
Watched: The Unspeakable Things That Happened in Unit 731<-- covert biological and chemical warfare research unit of the Imperial Japanese Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) and World War II.
Watched: Being Japanese Part 1 and Part 2 <-- identity in Japan (especially if you are not full Japanese)
Notes: I enjoyed The Reason I Jump, as it gives you an insight into some questions you may have about autism. I also found the Unit 731 documentary interesting in that I had heard about the Japanese being cruel during some of the wars, but not this specific part of it. I really enjoyed Being Japanese, as it talks about the struggles to integrate for some "outsiders" to the Japanese culture.
Did I complete any other items on this year's looking forward list?
✅New food
✅ Sent > 5 post cards
✅ Hiking in Japan
✅ Book about country
✅ Documentary about country
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1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
January: Devouring the Sweet Potato
February: Back in the Groove
March: Serenity Before the Storm
April will be busy, then...the summer will be busy...so March is the last calm month for a while!
2. What did you learn last month?
I learned that the reason the Japanese statues have little "aprons" on them is because they are an offering to the guardian of children and travelers, Jizō. Parents place these items on statues, often with hats, to ask Jizō to keep their children warm and safe in the afterlife, to ask for protection or express gratitude, or to ward off illness or evil.
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| Statues with bibs |
I also learned how to wash before going into a Shinto shrine (use dipper to clean the left hand, right hand, mouth, then clean the dipper), and how to properly pray at the shrine (pay a coin for good luck, bow twice, clap twice, pray, bow again [and sometimes ring a bell]) and how you should walk to the side of the path as the middle is reserved for the gods.
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| Washing station |
3. What was the weather like where you are?
It was great! It rained a few days but mostly it was around 10 C / 50 F. Perfect running weather!
4. What event last month was your favorite?Hiking the Kumano Kodo was great. It is a pilgrimage over 1000 years old and it just felt so serene, walking amongst the tall cedar trees, seeing the shrines and temples and hearing the birds and the bugs. It was right up my alley.
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?
Book: I really enjoyed Travels with Charley, in which John Steinbeck takes a road trip across the US with his dog.
Movie/Show: I started the new season of Top Chef, which is in the Carolinas this year.
Podcast: Don't be fooled by the title; this episode of Choose FI is of two women talking about getting used to not hoarding time, and about how hard it is to let go of perfectionism. I related to them very much.
6. Tell us one funny recent story.
Well it's not really "funny" but I had to get dental work done in Japan, a root canal and a crown, in two different cities, and neither of them spoke any English! It turns out, they have very cool machines and the out of pocket cost (total--> root canal: $90, crown: $375) was probably less than it would have been at home WITH insurance. Despite disliking dentists generally, it was probably the most pleasant dental experience that I have had in a while. Also the second dentist let me take photos of him and his machines while he was making my crown!
7. What are you looking forward to this month?
The girls! They will be joining me for spring break and we have a lot of fun things planned. Elephants, floating markets, eating all the street food, massages, mani-pedis, beach time, temples, buddhas, the works! I will need a vacation once they leave but it will be very fun I am sure.
Your turn! To copy/paste, highlight the text below and click CTRL-C, then put the cursor in the comment box and click CTRL-V.
MARCH:
1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that?
2. What did you learn last month?
3. What was the weather like where you are?
4. What event last month was your favorite?
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month?
6. Tell us one funny recent story.
APRIL:
7. What are you looking forward to this month?
Bonus question! What was the worst dental procedure you have had?
Spring break is going to be epic for you! I can't wait to hear about it.
ReplyDelete1. $600k and Me
2. I learned that if you tour the Arkansas state capitol, you get to visit the treasury department and hold $600,000 in one hundred dollar bills.
3. You know the drill - warm in the south, all over the map at home. We had snow, we had rainstorms/high winds that did a lot of damage in town, and we had a few warm and calm days as well.
4. Favorite events: three capitol tours, getting to hold $600k, touring Eudora Welty's home and getting to see her writing process, a family party, going to EconoMe (money nerd conference) and hanging out with like minded money nerd friends.
5. Books: Promise Me Sunshine and A Thousand Naked Strangers (paramedic memoir). TV: Outlander and The Pitt. Movie: The Taking of Pelham 123 (gritty NYC 70s movie about the hijacking of a subway car).
6. Whether this is funny or not depends on your sense of humor, but I learned the hard way not to ask someone what they do for work unless you really want the answer. I asked someone at EconoMe what their job was, and the answer was "sex worker".
7. Planned highlights for April: family Easter dinner, getting to do more things locally now that the weather is better, more travel (not booked yet, but it will happen).
Bonus: worst dental procedure? The emotional damage from having to wear headgear when I had braces in high school. In comparison my one root canal was no big deal.
That $600k really made an impression on you! I think actually that the most money I have ever held is... I don't even know but it may be in the three (maybe four?) figures! Haha. I guess I need to work on my pimp skills. I also watched the first few episodes of season 8, which by the way, WTF that they didn't put the entire season out at once! I hate watching them as they come and prefer to binge. I am annoyed.
DeleteRe the what do you do for work, I never ask that question anymore, as it doesn't really matter to me. A more important question is what are you up to these days, where are you headed next, what is your favorite travel destination, or where is the best coffee/hike/massage around here? Haha! #priorities
That trail among the trees looks so beautiful and cool and peaceful. I love hiking if it is shady and cool and wooded. I dislike the bright sun and scratchy grass that we get so much around here.
ReplyDeleteJapan looks so beautiful.
OK, questions…
1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? I guess I like to spend money, because I spent a lot of money in March.
2. What did you learn last month? That some things are worth spending money on.
3. What was the weather like where you are? We had a heat wave that I was NOT ready for. It’s been cool the last few days, a welcome relief.
4. What event last month was your favorite? Celebrating my daughter’s birthday. I had promised my daughter a pedicure a year ago, and we finally did that, plus went to lunch, plus I bought her a nice gift for this year’s birthday. She really needed a new bra, and she has a tiny ribcage and large breasts, so of course her bra size is uncommon and spendy. Sigh. Thank goodness for your old employer, Nordstrom.
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? 2 excellent films, both rewatches. We watched Spirited Away on Sunday, and I watched Hamnet when it came out in DVD. So good. We’ve been watching some good TV. I enjoy The Pitt quite a bit, and I just finished rewatching The Diplomat.
6. Tell us one funny recent story. Not really a story, but I received a letter in the mail today from my hilarious friend who told me about her grandson and how she is used to girls and doesn’t understand baby boys. She said if he spills water on the floor, he gets down on his hands and knees and laps it up. That hit me just right, I couldn’t stop laughing.
APRIL:
7. What are you looking forward to this month? Dinner with one of my best friends. Having the construction project that is going on in our townhouse complex be FINISHED. It is very loud.
I heard about your heat wave! And then Tahoe got snow yesterday! I guess Spring has not figured itself out yet. I always am a bit scared when those hot, hot days come early in the year! I am so glad that your daughter found a bra to fit her. Did she get measured? I remember the lingerie department being very good for that, actually fitting the bra to the human! Your story of your friend's grandson kind of makes me think of that Adam Sandler movie Big Daddy, when he puts newspaper over any spills instead of cleaning it up.
DeleteI’m answering from my phone as we drive back from Florida, so I’ll skip the cut and paste but try to answer most questions.
ReplyDeleteI are a new food too. Spanish mackerel- coach and 3 of the kids caught fish. A restaurant cooked it and it was tasty. (I do not usually eat fish and I would like to change that).
The weather has been nutty in Chicago, but oh his I’ve enjoyed the handful of warm days.
What I learned: that I could run from B4 to E21 terminal in Charlotte and make my flight even though they had started boarding while I was on my initial flight.
Band of my chapter: wait, March is over already?
Funny story: well Tank travelled with us and he had lots of one liners that cracked me up. He compared the king in The Kings Speech to me - when he goes off on a cussing fit. “Thats mom when she messes something up while cooking or baking or when she misses an exit.”
Best thing I read /listened to: I listened to a memoir by tom phelan. Called ‘We were rich and we didn’t know it’ or something. About a kid growing up on a farm in Ireland. Made me laugh multiple times.
Favorite event: tough to choose- spring break was of course wonderful. Needed the change of weather and relax mode, but road tripping to MI for a St Pat’s party was a ton of fun.
This month I’m looking forward to: Easter with all the kids around. And the 2 little girls becoming Catholic. Also I’m supposed to go to DC with Coach for the weekend April 17th. He is teaching a class and the little girls have camp that weekend
Wow, dental work is so inexpensive there! I had a cleaning recently and it was like $250!
ReplyDelete1. What is the name of your last month's chapter or the theme of your last month if you prefer that? It's spring!
2. What did you learn last month? Where every country in Asia, Europe, and Africa is located on a map.
3. What was the weather like where you are? Spring! Around 10 degrees.
4. What event last month was your favorite? Birthday and anniversary celebrations.
5. What was the best thing you read, listened to or watched last month? The Latecomer, Grace and Henry's Holiday Movie Marathon, Consider Yourself Kissed - books. Watched: Vladimir. Listened to: Double Love, the podcast about Sweet Valley High.
6. Tell us one funny recent story. Yesterday I got into an involved conversation with the man behind me at Superstore about Kathie Lee Gifford. She was on the cover of Women's World, but I didn't recognize her. The man and I talked at length about plastic surgery. He had eye-watering body odour. He asked the girl at the cash register if her parents were Trekkies, and she said "I don't even know what that means." All in all, an entertaining time at the grocery store.
APRIL! It's my birthday month! It's garden month!
I haven't had too many dental procedures, so I guess the worst was just a cavity filling. It was really painful - more painful than some of the other ones I've had.
ReplyDelete1. The Turning Point
2. More about the divorce process than I'd ever think about, ha!
3. Starting to get HOT and humid. Ugh. And pollen is EVERYWHERE.
4. Seeing my best friend in her play at a local community theatre! It was so fun!
5. Best thing I read was The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. Listed to was Curse of America's Next Top Model. And watched was The Traitors UK!
6. When I was putting together my outdoor couch, I put together both ends of the couch and then carried them out onto my patio. Except... they both seemed to have the same end. One should have been on the left side and the other on the right side. But they BOTH had a right side. Did I put it together wrong?!?! I brought one end back inside, started taking it apart, and then... I realized I had just flipped that end the wrong way. The side was actually the back. I really thought I was going crazy!
7. I'm looking forward to my solo reading retreat in just two weeks. EEEEKS!
The things you learned. Who would have know. I love these glimpses into culture. I am wondering though how you learned. Did you observe others or is there flyer for stupid tourists (not that you are stupid) or did you google beforehand.
ReplyDeleteAs always I only answer a few questions:
What did you learn last month?
Well you already know since I wrote a whole post about it https://www.craftaliciousme.com/5-things-i-learned-on-my-arctic-adventure/
What was the weather like where you are?
Too warm in the arctic, pleasantly spring like in Berlin.
What event last month was your favorite?
Despite all the Arctic Adventure and the church convention weekend.
Growing up, we had a terrible dentist with abusive tendencies. He was not good with us kids at all, and all of us later agreed that he was definitely mean and cruel. He would be very impatient with us, use little or no Novocaine, and more than once, hit my knuckles with a dental instrument to stop me from gripping the arms of the chair in fear and pain. As a result, dental work/visits for me are terrifying. I'm often sedated.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing I read last month was Small Rain by Garth Greenwell. Thanks to Alison/Bibliomama for the review. It's such a beautifully written book about fear, vulnerability, and love.
I'm looking forward to the weather straightening out in April (fingers crossed) so I can be outdoors more. And for the neighbourhood magnolias to be in bloom!
We had a cafe near where we lived previously, and I usually chose Okonomiyaki for breakfast when I went. We went back there for breakfast before E's wedding with him and the groomsmen and I had the Okonomiyaki and it was just as good as I remembered.
ReplyDelete