This is becoming a weekly blog. Sorry if you are one of those who likes to check in daily. It's been another busy week. I had two doctor's appts last week, including the amnio, which was much easier than I had anticipated--despite all the anxiety. I am currently at about 16 1/2 weeks, and you can see my growing belly (at right).
I spent a lot of time watching gymnastics this past week--it is so edge-of-your-seat dramatic! It reminds me of my glory days when I was on the high school gymnastics team for two years, but not really. I was the only person on the team who never once competed because I sucked. Ha ha ha ha ha. Anyways, the men's high bar competition tonight was freaking unbelievable. Serious Olympic controversy.
On Saturday, we went furniture shopping all day, looking at energy efficient washers, dryers and fridges, leather couches, discount outlet furniture, and very expensive Danish furniture. Was pretty exhausting, and we both crashed out on the couch and barely woke up to have dinner.
Yesterday was our 6 year wedding anniversary since our Feast of Celebration. We had been tossing around a lot of ideas for how to spend our anniversary, and we ended up spending it together, working in the backyard. We slept in pretty late, and I read about a month worth of Rafu's (the Japanese English daily that I get recycled from my mom). In the afternoon, I started trimming the Japanese juniper bush with the electric hedger, and then Tony finished up the top section when I got too tired. I then proceeded to clean out the white storage shed in our backyard, which is all rusty and falling over, and Tony has been wanting to get rid of it for years, except that it was full of junk - including stuff from the previous owners of our house who moved out 7 1/2 years ago. We tossed and recycled maybe 100 plastic planters and pots, and sorted through and cleaned up a lot of random stuff. While I was doing that, Tony was pulling up tons and tons of mint plant runners that have taken over my garden space (see mint root pile at right). I had been warned that it is evil stuff that grows all crazy, and you could hear Tony muttering, "the devil weed" from time to time. We cleaned up a bit, then went to Nagao's, a sushi bar in Brentwood owned by our friend's parents. It was our first time there.
After we came home from our anniversary dinner, Tony took a bunch of pictures, which I used to update our homepage. The old home page photos are from maybe 7-8 years ago, and have been moved to the blog index page. Ok, it may be awhile before I update again, I have a bunch of community stuff to do, including a column that I need to write about a book signing/poetry reading event for the Manzanar poetry book that I helped to publish earlier this year which is planned for Sept. 18 at JANM. Monday - Click here to comment:
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August 15 - Busy Weekends
Gayle and Lee with
Kieth and Kaylee
Mike and Laura's Baby Shower with their new haircuts!
I haven't blogged much lately, so I thought I'd update the last two weekends. Last weekend, I went to my cousin's daughter Kristina's bridal shower in Beverly Hills. It was fun to see all my cousins and aunties. Everyone asked me if we're expecting a boy or girl, or if we plan to find out the baby's gender. We've pretty much decided to wait to find out. Then on Sunday, we went to my niece Kaylee's baptism. My sister Gayle asked me to be one of Kaylee's godmothers for the ceremony, which was held at her in-laws' house. That night, Mike and Laura came over and we ordered Italian, got donuts and watched a DVD. They both got super haircuts and donated it to Locks ofLove.
This weekend has also been super busy. I have been pretty exhausted the entire weekend, and resting between running around, whenever possible. Friday night, we went to celebrate Tony's cousin Tina's 22nd bday dinner at Hop Li, then went back to Uncle Bill's for dessert, and watched part of the Opening Ceremony for the Olympics. Yesterday, we did a Costco run in the morning, came home and ate lunch, then my mom took me shopping for maternity clothes. I ran into Letty (hi Letty) in the mall parking lot, and then was surprised to run into friends Rich and Joyce in the maternity store. My mom bought me 4 shirts, a pair of shorts, long pants and big underwear, hooray for comfortable clothes! It was our first time shopping maybe since back-to-school clothes shopping in high school. Afterwards, we went to my Auntie Keiko's birthday at California Pizza Kitchen in Brentwood. Then, Tony and I tried to go see the Cuban poster exhibit in Santa Monica, but it was closed, so we went back to Uncle Bill's house for a little bit. Later that evening, we went to Highways to see TeAda Works' development lab and performance festival - which is some edgy, experimental solo works, produced by my friend Leilani Chan. Today, we went out to Orange County for Mike and Laura's baby shower with their friends. We were sort of co-hosts with Ruthie and Craig, but it was a pretty casual affair. We came home to rest up a bit before going to the Great Leap "Sacred Moon Songs" wrap up party, but we slept through it and missed it. I'm glad our calendar is slowing down and have nothing planned for the next few weekends. Oh, well, I am scheduling in some r&r. Sunday - Click here to comment:
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August 14 - Home Improvement
We've been working on our house quite a bit this summer, especially since Tony is on break. We started by moving our office from the back bedroom to our den. Tony has spent much of the last month or so working on the house. Things like fixing the kitchen sink, removing the garbage disposal, unclogging the bathroom sink and bathtub drain, cleaning the bathroom fan, replacing lightbulbs, sorting through stuff to giveaway, fixing the table leg... many things we've needed for quite awhile. We're trying to decide on some simple home improvements, but it is a lengthy process. We've looked at low energy refrigerators and replacing my 1987 fridge, low energy washer and electric dryer, tankless water heater (getting rid of the gas water heater), and we're in discussions for pulling up our heavily-stained carpet, doing our hardwood floors, possibly painting and some minor (we think) kitchen upgrades. Stay tuned for more details as they unfold. At right is our old office in transit. The room is now empty and ready for baby. Saturday - Click here to comment:
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August 6 - Growing Families
Congrats to our friends Kaz & Chris on the birth of their baby girl, Skylar Mariko, who was born two weeks ago. Also, congrats to Lisa, Jay, and brother Kai, on the birth of Miya Pearl, two days ago. Also congrats to Baby Miya's Auntie Lily who had two nieces born on the same day (her sister also had a baby--follow?). While we're on the subject of birth announcements, I think it's time we announce that Tony and I are expecting our own baby in February 2005. Yes, we are 3 1/2 months pregnant. After 2 miscarriages last year, and 2 1/2 years trying to conceive, we wanted to wait until we were into the 2nd trimester before making any public announcements.
I'm feeling pretty good. Nausea has been off and on, and vomiting has been at a minimum so I've considered myself pretty lucky. I haven't had many cravings, but the other night I drove to Vons (first time since the grocery workers' strike ended) to get French vanilla ice cream and A&W root beer for root beer floats. Although all the baby books say you should just now begin showing at 14 weeks, I outgrew my pants well over a month ago. Thank goodness for low-rise pants. Tony has been party to me lifting my shirt every night to check the mirror and show off my progress. In any case, we're excited to have made it this far and look forward to growing our family. Friday - Click here to comment:
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August 3 - Rest for the Weary
Whew! Sorry it's been about a week since my last update. Believe me when I say, I was busy. I worked about 80 hours last week, producing "To All Relations: Sacred Moon Songs." (See Blogs on July 11and 22). By July 19, we had sold 77 out of 700 tickets, and by the end of the three day run we had two performances sold out, and the opening night performance was practically sold out. We also hosted 4 receptions in 3 days. In the end, things went great, but it took an incredible amount of time and energy from me and my staff, and a group of volunteers. We had 24 performers on stage, and it was another Great Leap extravaganza. We had a great write up in the LA Times, in Thursday's Weekend Calendar section, with a great two-page color photo spread of Shobo, a Buddhist Monk, and Nader, one of our Muslim performers. Afterwards, we were all pooped, and I closed the office for two days so that we could recuperate. The last two days have been about sleeping in, taking naps, reading magazines, and watching DVDs. Your basic rest and relaxation. Tuesday - Click here to comment:
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