Turner's Flat Stanley Arrives in Japan! 2/22

Sue's older grandson Turner, wanted to send us Flat Stanley from his classroom, so we told his mom we are thrilled to have him come! We know what to do since we had grandaughter Kelly's FS last year. He came in today's mail, and is resting in our rocker, along with Turner's letter.




Who's here?

This is our very energetic, temporary cat (we called him "Spot"), who was staying with us all week. His family decided they could not keep him, so we were fortunate enough to find him a very good home & his new mom Rachel, took him home Friday night. She named him Kato, from the Pink Panther movies, because he was constantly attacking our cat, Sachi, out of nowhere! So in addition to all our other talents, we're apparently now cat brokers . . .

Sunday Morning Music Class 2/24

Last week, we made our own flutes at a class out in town. This week, we're going to learn how to play our new flute. However, we had to get special permission to leave base today. This news may not have hit the US, but because we live on a military base, we are ALL restricted until further notice. This includes military, civilians, and family members. I don't want to editorilize here, but we are told this has come about because of numerous instances of drunk Marines commiting crimes out in the Japanese communities, mostly down in Okinawa, but also some here in Iwakuni. Of course we're not given much information, so rumors run wild. We are ashamed and embarrassed that Americans are behaving so badly in Japan, but also very frustrated that we are being punished for someone else's bad behavior. We do understand that the Japanese are upset, as they are completely entitled to be in their own country, and they have the right to be safe. The US military definitely needs to exerise control so that these events are STOPPED!

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After we arrive at our class, we listen as our music sensei plays beautiful music. Stan & I quickly realize that we are out of our league!


Unfortunately, Stan is having trouble making any sounds at all!


And so is Margie. But what sometimes comes out of our flutes does not really sound like music. . . I think we're probably going to drop out, although I'll keep trying at home . . . See Flat Stanley on my lap? This is his first trip off base.

This is the Japanese music that we (well, some of us!) are playing.


Closeup. Sensei points to the Japanese notes. It's difficult to read because music is read from left to right. Above the notes, are the columns of open and/or closed holes which correspond to those we cut into our flutes.


One of our two very patient sensei.

We're taking a tea break & Flat Stanley joins us. It's cold & snowy today, so this hot green tea really hits the spot!


FS "stands" between the tray where we put our dirty cups, and the tea dispenser.


Our music sensei listens as our class sensei explains to our class about Flat Stanley.


Can you see Flat Stanley hiding among the shoes? We all leave our shoes here inside the door when we enter the Japanese community center.


There he is!


Because we're "grounded" we just went straight to class & then returned to base when class was over. It was very difficult to pass by our favorite sushi restaurant, and I'm running out of Japanese groceries!

We're Covered!

It's Thursday morning 2/21 & the painters are out on the balconies sealing our windows with opaque plastic. Although the scaffold has been up for about a week, it's still freaky to see people walking around outside our 5th floor windows! I've had to bring in all my plants from both balconies, so it's very green inside . . .


Sachi was scared & hiding, but "Spot" was very interested in what was going on & wanted to play with the plastic (fortunately, it's on the outside).

Kitchen window is covered.


"View" from the bedroom window. I'm NOT going to enjoy this! All the windows are now sealed until they're finished . . . Where's my beautiful view of the sea & our floating island?

HS Wall Mural Update

Students add detail to the wall mural. That's really looking like the Kintai Bridge with cherry trees in bloom.

Looks like their instructor approves . . .



This is really going to be a nice addition to the HS hallway!

Happy Valentine's Day! 2/14/08

It's Valentine's night & we've gone to the Bluebird Restaurant in downtown Iwakuni. This is such a special place -- we haven't been here in a while. This is Eldon & Nancy's first time here, although we've been telling them how great it is. They enjoyed picking out a French wine to drink.



Margie & Stan -- you KNOW the weather is cold when I wear a sweater . . .


Our first course was an appetizer plate for each of us -- just a couple of bites, but yummy ones! There was smoked salmon, a slice of tamagoyaki (rolled egg omelet) quiche, and shrimp on pastry. I kept the mint decoration to root in my kitchen.

This delicious soup (asparagus or spinach?) was decorated with cream & croutons. Notice that the yeast rolls are heart-shaped. Aw . . .


Next was a delicious salad with smoked salmon. Look how beautiful all the china is!


Then everyone got the seafood course -- no matter what entree was ordered. It's a puff pastry in the shape of a good luck crane (like all the origami ones we see all the time). A cooked shrimp head & tail form the bird's head & tail & the pastry, shaped into wings on each side, is stuffed with shrimp & crab & swims in delicious cream sauce. I'd forgotten how wonderful this is!

My seafood main entree. I'm almost too full to eat . . . almost.


Stan's steak was so tender it melted in your mouth. Above it was a tiny mound of potatoes. And of course, since we took a taxi tonight (thanks, Eldon & Nancy!) he could enjoy Asahi beer with his dinner. I enjoyed wine . . .


Dessert consisted of a small cake, melon jelly, lime sherbet, and strawberry with cream. And English tea. Just the right amount of everything! Notice that here we are given silverware (but we used hashi (chopsticks) to eat our dinner.) I also kept the mint from this plate -- I think it was spearmint. (It's all rooting nicely, BTW.)

Eldon keeping watch in front of the bar . . .


The proprietors of this great French (Japanese) restaurant.


But she's the baker & is proud to tell you that everything is homemade from scratch! What a great dinner. Hope everyone ate as well as we did on Valentine's Day . . .

Making Our Own Flutes . . . 2/16

Class was already in session when we arrived at the Japanese community center next to Max Valu Supermarket. Oops, we thought we could come anytime between 10-12 . . .


Eldon & Nancy listen to our Sensei (say Sin-say) as he tells us we are going to make our own "bamboo" flute today. We're using PVC pipe, but the style is the same as the ancient bamboo flutes have been made for centuries . . . read more here:
http://www.j-music.com/aki/bamboo.html


Yikes -- that's a nasty looking knife!

After sanding smooth, glue is painted around one end of the pipe. Then, a larger diameter, but shorter piece of PVC is hammered on with a mallet. After it dries a few minutes, the top is cut even across. Then one side is cut at an angle & a belt sander is used to smooth & round off the mouthpiece.

Men at Work . . .


Margie hammering mouthpiece onto flute. I was terrified I would slip & hit our Sensei!


This flute has been sanded, glued, & its mouthpiece pounded on.

Nancy hammers her mouthpiece on. Very brave Sensei . . .


Oh, it's easy -- just read the directions!


Men discussing situation . . .

We all had fun communicating with each other. Sensei was the only one who spoke to us in English, and he sounded like he had lived in England. We told him his English was better than ours!

Stan is closely supervised.


That knife looks awfully close to your thumb, Stan. I am reminded of a couple of ER trips in times past . . . but of course those were with power tools.


Our Sensei (teacher or instructor) makes beautiful music to encourage us! Amazingly enough, this plastic flute makes the most melodious sounds. . .