New pictures

I got a fisheye camera a few weeks ago and boy is it swell. Check out my flickr.

Moved

So we went and moved back to America. I must say I'm happy to be home but find that I am at least half Japanese now. I heard that it was common to be depressed when repatriating. Japan was the first place I really wanted to live just to be there and I will always remember the beautiful moments there and wonderful friends. I feel the worst about my daughter when she asks to go home and says she needs a riceball.

The trip was smooth enough considering there were three flights and two bus rides within 24 hours. I hate descending, especially in a small plane. The best part is looking out at the clouds.

Rum and Coca Cola

One of my favorite drinks when I'm in the mood for drinks. But this song is about prostitutes...

Tea Tales 1: Mugicha

I've been thinking I wanted to do a series of post related to different types of tea because I love trying new kinds and can frequently be found drinking it. For my first post on this topic, I wanted to tell those who may not know already about mugicha.

Mugicha (roasted barley tea) is a Japanese summer favorite. As soon as the weather heats up, you can find boxes and bag of mugicha tea bags on display at the ends of grocery aisle. I'm drinking it now!

Mugicha is very easy to make, you simply put the tea sack in a pitcher of water and leave it in the fridge for a few hours and it makes itself. Since the barley doesn't get bitter like regular tea leaves you can leave the tea bag in the pitcher for as long as the drink is in there, which isn't very long because people guzzle this stuff like water. Mugicha is usually served unsweetened and it is caffeine free!

From Wikipedia:

According to Japanese food conglomerate Kagome, a recent study stated that drinking mugicha increased blood fluidity. This action is caused by an alkylpyrazine, which is a primary flavor in the drink. Japanese consider it to cleanse the blood of impurities. Mugicha also has been linked with reduced stress during a study by the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Products in China.

Hey, that's good news!

Neo Blythe "Milky Way Sugar"

Neo Blythe "Milky Way Sugar"
Originally uploaded by MissBlythe

This doll is going to be gorgeous. Look at that blush!

WoW I'm dorky

I started playing the trial World of Warcraft out of boredom and found myself really addicted to it. I don't want to spend too much time leveling up this character but on the other hand, I really want to spend all my time leveling up my character.

I think being online and being part of a game world is going to become increasing important to people. Call me a pessimist but part of me believes by the time I'm an old lady, travel the way it is done now will be impossible. There will be such strict regulations on the use of fuel that only those with extremely important business and/or tons of cash will be able to fly all over the world. People will visit each other's houses in the virtual world and give gifts and socialize that way.

Or I could be completely wrong.

It's still awesome

This guy is a master of patience.

Chicks love Watership Down

When I first read Watership Down it was the longest book I had ever tried to read. I think I was nine. I felt afterwards that everything is significant, and even a rabbit is not someone that should be taken lightly.

Playing Dolls

Friday night was so much fun because it was the first time my daughter and I played dolls together. Mei has a Licca-chan doll, which is a like a Barbie for Japanese girls. Not that Japan doesn't have Barbie dolls, they have two versions but that's another story.

Anyway, I played one of my Blythes and she played Licca and we dressed them and did their hair then they found a baby puppy crying and took him to find his parents. Then they had a dance party and ate strawberries and went to bed. It's so interesting to see what kind of story a two-year-old will make up.

The funniest part was when she made Licca-chan start crying because her head was too small. Ridiculous!

Dr. Worm

Zines!

I've been making my own comics for about ten years now and sharing them with friends (Mr. Green, My Lame Existence, etc...) but now I am interested in starting a zine or two. So I'm doing a zine swap this summer that will let me try this out. Is anyone out there interested in a trade?

zines on Etsy.com

Robin Hood

When I was in eighth grade I was obsessed with Robin Hood and read every book there was at the library about him, there was even one book that was more of a historical romance that I read. I knew all about every character, my favorite was Will Scarlet. I don't remember much now.

What happened? Does everyone obsess over something and then forget about it completely once they get through puberty? I guess Robin Hood is better than the Backstreet Boys.

Mr. Grieves

This is how I feel about cover songs. Imagine you went to your favorite sandwich place and ordered your usual and the restaurant changed suppliers so that the tomatoes are all different and now they are using imported cheese and different mustard. There are three outcomes to this situation. The first is that you can't even tell the difference so why would they bother changing it up in the first place. The next is everything is all wrong and you are left with the taste of sadness lingering in your mouth. The third is that everything is different but hey this is actually kind of good.

Japanese "The Office"

So America really likes Japan now, huh? There weren't even subtitles. That means that most young people understand to a large degree what they're saying, crazy!

Altered Barbies

I'm interested in this. I don't know any girl who didn't "alter" a Barbie ever. My mom didn't want to buy my sisters and I any Ken dolls for some reason so I had to make a few female-to-male dolls. There also had to be some ugly girls to make my doll population truer to life.

Swapping

I've done a few craft swaps and I really like them but will probably have to take a break from them this summer. I did a few on craftster.org and one on swap-bot.com. I prefer swap-bot because the swaps are generally smaller in terms of items and time. I like my swaps how I like my women, small and sweet. Aww, Mei!

Love This!

Oh I've wanted this bathing suit since forever. Except in red, which I would wear with a big sunhat and matching sunglasses and not swim, drinking mojitos while exotica played in the background.

There would also be someone there called Reginald that I would call "Reginald, Darling" and would always make him hold my towel and stuff like that. A tanned Cliff would be swimming and splashing handsomely and we would be laughing and clinking our glasses together occasionally. He would also say "My My!" When I tell him something exciting.

At modcloth.com

Stupid

Nag Champa

Nag Champa is a fragrance from India. It has a high concentration of sandalwood. It is most frequently found in the form of incense sticks and cones, but soap, perfume oil, scented candles, and massage oil are also available.

Nag Champa belongs to the "Champa" class of Indian incense, originating from the Champa flower. Champa incenses contain a natural ingredient indigenous to India called "halmaddi", which is a semi-liquid resin taken from the Ailanthus Malabarica tree. It is what gives Nag Champa its characteristic grey color. Halmaddi is hygroscopic which means it absorbs moisture from the air. This can cause Nag Champa incenses to have a wet feeling to them.

Nag Champa-scented items are usually easy to find in shops selling Indian goods and many health food stores, as well as metaphysical and New Age book stores, liquor stores, gas stations, music stores, and head shops.

Bob Dylan burns Nag Champa at his concerts, and as such it is popular among Bob Dylan enthusiasts.

(From Wikipedia)

We use it when we're cleaning the house and that's usually right before the babysitter comes. She must think we're big hippies. Wait, am I?

Cute Commercial

Skylark Gusto

It's a family restaurant in Japan. I go there frequently because the work day is over at 9 pm usually so it's one of the only places that's open. Here is a girl reading the menu (part 1). I'm pretty hungry so I hope Cliff hurries home after work.

Maid in Manhattan

I read the A.V. Club interview with Amy Sedaris yesterday. I did not know she was in Maid in Manhattan. I'm not a Jennifer Lopez fan so I haven't seen it. I think Jennifer Lopez just stole everyone's good will and hopes for Selena and transferred them cleverly to herself. Anyway, this is what i am watching right now.

I know you're out there!

So no one really leaves comments but I know they're still reading this because they tell me to my face. That's cool you guys. See you laters.

Troublemaker by Weezer

This song is an anthem!

I love the 90s.

This is an awesome/awful commercial for a Zelda game.

I just watched an episode of Stella where Michael Ian Black said, "I'm Michael Ian Black. I love the 90s" to introduce himself. That's so sad to me. Go watch Stella people!

Halloween Already?

One of my favorite things to think about is what I want to be for Halloween next year. In 2007 I was a panda and a ballerina and two different parties. The year before that I made a cardboard box that looked like a television (my screen name) and everyone thought I was my husband and best friend's 12-year-old kid which made me realize I can't always dress like a 12-year-old kid if it's going to end up pissing me off.

I'm trying to think of costumes that will be good for me and an my husband so that when I get my sewing machine back I can start working on them. Halloween costume contests always give away a stupid amount of money. I know in my heart the prizes probably would go to the skimpiest or most topical costume but in my imagination it would be the most elaborate.

My first idea is Beetlejuice and Lydia. The upside to that is that Lydia looks friggin' awesome, the downside is that Beetlejuice is pretty disgusting looking. Beetlejuice would probably require a wig because he has pretty sparse hair. But their sizes are about right for us.







What would awesome and probably really difficult to make is the Joker and Harley Quinn. I think we would make great ones. And the costume would be pretty topical since the new Batman movie is coming out this summer. I can't wait to see it.

Why I was never going to watch The Office

1. I don't work in an office, it doesn't apply to me
2. Who are these people anyway?
3. It's just a remake
4. I can't believe my husband already watched five episodes before I even got a chance to decide if I wanted to watch it!
5. What a boring name


And now? Well I watch it all the time and troll the internets looking for the latest episode. I wonder out loud why the video store doesn't have it but they have the DVDs for Pepper Dennis, whatever that is. I really want Dwight and Angela to get back together. I signed up at Dunder Mifflin Infinity. *Sigh*

Toys R Us kid

I'm still a Toys R Us kid, I go there practically once a week and usually when I get something it's not even for my daughter. I think I have a problem. And you know I was probably brainwashed by this commercial.



There are many things about myself that I am slowly coming to realize are the result of the television I used to watch. For instance, the whole wanting to go to Japan thing was probably from watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and seeing how radical they were following the ancient ways.

Can Can Cat

This is the new Blythe Can Can Cat. I really think I'm going to love her. If her hair is really pin straight I think I'll want her.

I know people have complained about all the SBLs but for some reason I don't really seem to like the RBLs. I have Hello Harvest and she is gorgeous and photographs the best of my dolls but I'll probably end up selling or trading her.

C-O-F-F-E-E

I love Japanese coffee. It seems to have a more Euro flair than American coffee does. I remember this song I had to learn on recorder in fifth grade that went like this:

C-O-F-F-E-E
Coffee is not for me.
It's a drink some people wake up with.
That it makes them nervous is no myth.
Slaves to a coffee cup,
they can't give coffee up.

It's funny 'cause it's true!

yarg!

I NEED to draw!

Daniel Johnston the A.V. Club

There's a pretty good new interview with Daniel Johnston up at the A.V. Club site. What I love is the simplicity and innocence of his songs.
http://www.avclub.com/content/interview/daniel_johnston

Mei pondering panda thoughts

Mei pondering panda thoughts
Originally uploaded by somesai

I have had pandas on the brain because of the panda swap I was doing on craftster. But I wasn't even looking for the panda Mei in flickr, I was looking for other little kids named Mei. This was the first picture that came up. Look at those soulful eyes! So lovely, I think I'm becoming a fan.

MEEP

I didn't know why I always thought "meep" was the cutest sound someone could make until I watched this today. It was the muppet babies all along!

Pinky Street

Toys R Us was having a really awesome sale yesterday, we at least I thought it was awesome, Cliff said, "that all seems reasonably priced to me." There were almost all the petite Blythes on sale for 10 or 5 dollars and Barbie furniture for 5. But I actually decided to skip getting any of that and got a Pinky Street figure that comes with a little car. So cute! I really liked these when I saw them at an anime store last weekend. I like that it is so easy to swap hair and clothes and compared to Blythes they are super cheap. I think I smell a new obsession.

http://www.pinky-street.com

Wasabi

As I eat my sushi right now, I can't tell if I'm allergic to wasabi or it is just working. I better check up on this....

Plum Blossoms

IMG_0362
Originally uploaded by tlvsn

at Ritsurin Koen in Takamatsu

Wife Swap Raw Foodies

So what's different with these raw dieters is that they eat raw meat too. They aren't over-reacting after they eat "regular food". Most people commenting on the video at youtube have probably never had a drastically different diet from the norm so they wouldn't know that changing it up like that can seriously fuck up your body. Even doing something like changing to a vegetarian diet can be hard on the body at first and cause excessive gas and stomach pain. But that only happens because the body gets really used to digesting and trying to process crap like fruit roll-up and french fries that it doesn't know what to do with real food.

Anyway, been there done that and I think the most important aspect of eating is to eat in moderation and try to only buy things in the outer edges of the grocery store. If you can get 6 perfect strawberries for the price of 4 boxes of Little Debbie snacks - go for the strawberries because when it comes down to it, you will always remember that time you got those heavenly strawberries.

no more Journey psych-outs

Who lives here

Here's my dolls right now from left to right: unnamed girl up for adoption, Tinita, Suzy, Lurlina

Palindromes are delicious

Beavis and Butthead

Back when I lived with my friend Jessica we would rent movies that came with a free kid's rental and for some reason Beavis and Butthead tapes were stocked with the kiddy shows. So we would watch these episodes and relive the good ol' days.

Mexican Americans

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Episode 7 pt 1

I love Tuxedo Kamen centered episodes. Hahaha!

Miffy and Friends

Forgetful Jones

Surfer Girl

M'kay

Little Mermaid

I've been watching "The Little Mermaid" on average once a day for the past few months. This is song from the new Broadway show.

I love nerds!

I wish my husband had glasses. :)

Scrabulous anyone?

My screen name there is the same here, if any stumbler-by wishes to challenge me to a game. Leave a comment if you play!

Scrabulous

Moss

moss
Originally uploaded by tlvsn

On the morning on December 27th we walked around Kyoto looking for the Path of Philosophy and found other beautiful things to see.

R.I.P. Heath Ledger

Now normally I am not affected hearing about a celebrity death, but the news that Heath Ledger had died was very sad and shocking. I think for me it is because he was so young and someone who I considered a peer. When "10 Things I Hate About You" came out, I was a teenager watching him play another teenager in that other movie universe. Also when I was pregnant with my daughter I confess that I was very interested in knowing who else was having a baby so when I think about his little girl roughly the same age as my own it is very sad.

Video du jour

In an attempt to keep this blog alive, I will be trying to post a youtube video I like every day. Today is the video for "Blast Off!" by Rivers Cuomo of Weezer. It isn't much of a music video, but it is a nice snapshot of someone trying to acclimate to Japanese culture. So I guess I can relate to the guy and I like the video for that aspect as well as Blast Off! being a rockin' tune.

DS Girls

While my mom and sister were here they both got a Nintendo DS lite. My heart swells with happiness knowing that I am not the only nerdy game obsessed girl in the family. My dear mother expressed interest in the various brain-enhancement games and my younger sister joined me in many rounds of Mario based mini-games the night before they flew home. I was extremely happy to finally use the wifi to play with friends because I never have had the chance before. Many of my young students have a DS but I couldn't play against little kids because I am too good and it would be like playing against a computer set on difficult mode.

I have the ice blue one that is still not for sale in North America, my mom got noble pink, and my sister got the crimson/black one.

Here's a cool site for those with interest:
DSFANBOY

Happy Gaming!

Long Thyme, Know Sea

Yeah, I couldn't think of anything for long... My parents are visiting so I haven't written in a while if anyone was interested. I do however have many things to talk about later. They will be: a new Blythe doll, new CDs, Kyoto, and Japanese food. See you soon.