December 19 - Make Peace on Earth
As usual, I am late with holiday cards, and just went out for my first official holiday shopping day today, a mere 6 days before Christmas. In addition to having about 70 baby shower thank you notes to write, I'm not sure that my holiday cards are going out in time, so I thought I'd post it and send my greetings to you all.
This year's card is an angel bringing a message of peace to young gang members fighting a turf war. The image was created by Inside Out Community Arts program participants. Young people write plays about issues of importance in their lives and the community, and then create large canvas set pieces that are used as backdrops for their performances in Venice. This artwork is exhibited at galleries, businesses and offices throughout Los Angeles. By buying these cards instead of Hallmark (which gives a large portion of their profits to the Republican party), I am supporting arts programming for at-risk youth. See, even holiday cards are political. Peace to you, my friends this holiday season. Sunday - Click here to comment:
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December 18 - Green Baby Diaper Fund
Last weekend was our second Baby Shower with about 40 friends from the Asian American community and Great Leap, organized by our good friends Kathy, Lily, Mike and Laura. Since we got most everything on our baby registry at the first shower, we asked our friends to make a small contribution to the KuidaOsumi Green Baby Diaper Fund, instead of gifts. In doing so, they would help us save trees, reducing harmful toxins being released to the environment in the manufacturing of disposable diapers, saving our baby's bottom from the harsh chemicals and bleaches that are in disposable diapers, promoting early potty training, and saving our landfills from possibly 8,000 more diapers. We are so grateful for the many friends who have through their generosity, provided our baby with cloth diaper delivery service from Dy-Dee Diaper Service for the first year.
It was fun to hear people's advice for us, to get name suggestions (we still need name ideas!), to hear what fun things people remember about their own childhoods, and to hear people's predictions of what our baby will grow up to be. We're now at 33 weeks. (Watercolor card at right hand painted by our Nisei friend Rei Osaki.) Saturday - Click here to comment:
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December 13 - What Holidays?
Please don't ask me about the holidays yet... we're dealing with finishing the Little Tokyo Mural, getting the house in order (finishing painting, picking out furniture, closet organizers and window treatments), prepping for the baby (upcoming Lamaze classes, baby names, birthing plan), trying to raise money for Great Leap's year-end deficit and budget shortfall for 2005, making transition plans for my extended maternity leave from Great Leap, taking leaves from several community organizations I've been very involved with, trying to eat right, stay in balance, and listening to my body's many Braxton Hicks contractions. This week I'm spending 3 days in a "Women In the Crossroads" leadership seminar/workshop, which is timely and important for me right now, as I anticipate the many changes in our lives. So, while we haven't had a chance to think about the holidays yet, I'm very aware that they're right around the corner. Monday - Click here to comment:
Comment December 12 - Color My World
Dad (above)
Jenni and Tony (below) in the baby's room
We've had progress on the house! Finally after cancelling twice last week, the plumber came on Saturday morning and hooked up our Swedish washer and dryer. Now all we have to do is get the special low sudsing High Efficiency detergent that it needs and learn how to use it.
On Saturday, my brother Darin and my parents came over to help paint. Tony & I were in the paint store early that morning trying to finalize our paint color decisions. Finally, we have some paint on the walls! The baby's room is Lime Sorbet which is about 10 shades lighter than we were originally looking at, but it is still a bit shocking! I think it's bright, cheery and festive, especially for a little kid. I wasn't interested in a pale or pastel green, so I'm happy with how it's turning out.
Our bedroom has one wall of Serene Thought and 3 walls of Spooky. It's kind of a sage green with shades of gray/taupe. It's very soothing, calming and relaxing, which is how I want my bedroom to be. Ceilings, closets, doors and trim are Luminary, but my mom calls it white. Our hallway, which we haven't done yet is going to be Aztec Aura, which is kind of a warm yellow tone. We've spent so much time going back and forth getting paint swatches and trying to decide on colors when we don't know yet what the furniture is going to look like. Our neighbor Diana said that once the baby comes, we won't notice what color the walls are. I think she's right. Sunday - Click here to comment:
Comment December 6 - Baby Shower/Update
We're almost at 32 weeks, which is 8 months. Don't think that means I have one more month, it's actually two more months til we're due. Well, it's been a busy few weeks, sorry I haven't written, kitten. We're still working on the old homestead. House is prepped and waiting for paint, hopefully this weekend. We have been living in the den, sleeping in the dining room for about 5 weeks now. Soon our new washer and dryer we got in August will be installed and we can start doing laundry at home again. But we're making do with what we have, can find.
I've been getting more rest, sleeping in most every day, and going to sleep sometimes hours earlier than usual. On Saturday, I went to a new place, a Korean day spa, where I got a great prenatal massage by 2 Korean women, and I was in heaven. While waiting, I had my first pedicure ever, and first manicure in maybe 15 years. Then on Saturday night, I went with Maria to see my favorite feminist/human rights/peace activist/folk singer, Holly Near at the Unitarian Church in Pasadena's Acoustic Music Series. She sure is good for the soul. Especially after the election. She's an awesome and inspirational storyteller. Both Maria & I bought her newest CD compilation with over 30 songs from her 30 years of activism and touring concerts. I put lyrics to her song, "Great Peace March" on my Blogspot.
Yesterday was our first of two baby showers, organized by my sister Gayle, my mom, SIL Saori, and good friends Letty and Maria. It was a nice mixture of my friends from college, friends and family from both me and Tony's sides of the family, about 30 people. We got so much baby gear, now all we have to do is figure out how all of it works! I had told Gayle no dumb baby shower games (measuring our waists with toilet paper, disposable diapers with melted chocolate bars, word searches or scrambles with the words layette, basinette or rattle), so she created a fun and engaging game of Baby Jeopardy. Tony's mom, who is a certified nurse mid-wife gave the most accurate answers! Saori, who is due 3 weeks before me, made beautiful invitations, cranes and favors with iris bulbs for planting now and blooming in February.
That's about it for now. We should be demanding a good and honest look at Ohio. Peace. Out. Monday - Click here to comment:
Comment November 2004
November 18 - Bebe Update
Above: Jenni @ 27 wks. Below: Baby's first gifts
I'm 29 weeks pregnant today. That means that I'm almost 3/4 of the way there. I had an awesome pre-natal healing massage from a doula/birth coach last week. I wrote a column that was supposed to run in last week's Rafu Shimpo. I think it may have run this week but I'm not certain. It's called "Project J.A. Baby: The Politics of Baby." Things I've learned or noticed recently:
* If it fits you one week, it might not fit the next. So wear it now.
* Handicapped bathroom stalls are my friend. Regular ones are not.
* The kitchen sink is getting further and further away, but my arms are still the same length.
* When they say that Braxton Hicks contractions are painless, what they mean is that they're relatively painless.
* If there's a physical pregnancy ache or pain complaint listed in "What to Expect When You're Expecting" or "Your Over 35 Week-by-Week Pregnancy Guide" book, I've probably been through it. This week it's all about the swollen feet and ankles.
* I'm rarely ever cold anymore. Must be the 25-30 pounds I've gained so far.
* I'm starting to feel much more natural and comfortable around babies. That's a good thing.
On another note, the Little Tokyo Mural Unveiling tentatively scheduled for December 4, has been moved to January, date TBA. And, I just added a recipe for Prime Rib under the recipe section of the website. Peace. Out. Thursday - Click here to comment:
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November 13 - Peace It's been awhile. What's new in the last 12 days? I'm now 7 months pregnant. Our hardwood floors are refinished, but we continue to live in chaos as we prep to paint the house and continue with "minor" (ha ha) home improvements. I turned 40 years old on November 2nd. I wished for two things. Kerry for President and a healthy baby. Well, I didn't get the first wish, darn it.
I was surprised to hear about the guilty verdict for Scott Peterson. I thought he was guilty, but I feared that he would get off. White, good looking, access to expensive lawyers and media, not a lot of faith in the justice system. I wonder what will happen in the penalty phase. I don't believe in the death penalty. I feel sorry for Lacey Peterson's family and friends because even though they say "justice was served," death by lethal injection will not bring Lacey or her baby back.
I couldn't believe how disgusting the photo was on the cover of yesterday's LA TImes. American troops taking over a Muslim mosque in Falloujah. It makes me ashamed to be American and sad for all the death and destruction we have caused over in Iraq, especially during Ramadan. We need peace and we need it now. I'd like to see no more Iraqi or U.S. troops dying.
Maria with her parents and me with mine, at our 3rd annual family holiday dinner party back in 1990
Finally, my deepest condolences to my best friend Maria and her family. Her dad passed away last Saturday at 63 after discovering 3 weeks earlier that a melanoma from a mole on his neck a year ago had spread to his lungs. By the time he got sick, he was in the end stages of cancer. I have known Maria's dad for 30 years since I was in the 5th grade, and have traveled with her family to New York, Boston, Connecticut, Vermont, Florida, and 3 or 4 summers of Jenness Park church camp as a teenager. I remember he took us to see Scott Baio in concert at Knott's Berry Farm amidst a bunch of screaming teenagers. After college, Maria and I lived together in an apartment in Hollywood for 3 years and we started a Christmas party for our families which we did for about 5 or 6 years (photo at right). So many memories. I visited him in the hospital 2 days before he passed away and got a chance to say goodbye, without fully realizing I was saying goodbye. A deeply religious man, I will always remember how positive and cheerful he was, how much love he had for his family, and how supportive he was towards me and all our friends in our dramatic high school years.
Peace. Rest in peace. We need a little more peace in the world. Saturday morning 6:20 am - Click here to comment:
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November 1 - A Little Math
Click photo to buy your "I Suck at Math" tee designed by phloe!
Remodeling = Chaos
Chaos = Stress
Stress = Bickering
2 minutes in a Loading Zone this morning = $30 ticket
$30 ticket = pregnant lady crying in her car in j-town this morning
Yes vote for Kerry = No vote for Bush
I Suck at Math (with a nod to phloe & Blacklava). It's time to G.O.T.V. - Get Out the Vote! Monday - Click here to comment:
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