May 2004
May 30 - Back home again
Ok. I'm tired of Blogger. I'm going to switch back to my clunky, pain-in-the-ass manual blog here. Hey, I gave it two weeks. Even though blogger is easier, I wasn't happy there. I felt like I was a visitor there, and here, I feel like I'm back home again. Hey the old dog tried a new slick trick, but I'm back. And, if here are some of the entries for the rest of May, if you really need to see them, which I doubt.
Over 2500 people attended this year, the 35th annual pilgrimage
Me onstage, publicizing the poetry 'zine with Tak and Sue
Interfaith Service with incense and flower offering by everyone.
People doing "tanko bushi" dance at the end of the pilgrimage.
On April 24, the National Park Service's long awaited $5 million Interpretive Center opened, which is a very impressive 8,000 square foot exhibit housed in the original auditorium built by Japanese American internees in 1942. It got press coverage in about 10-15 different newspapers, from the front page of the LA Times to the Washington Post. None really focused on the Manzanar Pilgrimage, sponsored by the Manzanar Committee for the last 35 years. For 7 years, I've been volunteering with the Manzanar Committee. I've helped to add poetry, music and interesting speakers to the pilgrimage, made many suggestions, and worked to make the pilgrimage better. I've become the stage manager, written dozens of press releases (none this year), designed t-shirts, emceed the pilgrimage, developed an evening program called Manzanar After Dark (MAD-ness!) for young people to learn more about the experiences of former internees, coordinated a fundraiser, created and maintained the website, and most recently, I co-edited a poetry 'zine called, "Keep it Going... Pass it On: Poetry Inspired by the Manzanar Pilgrimage." It's not official, and I still have a public program in September and a poetry reading this Summer to help coordinate, but for the most part, I am done. I still need to give my notice, but to be honest, I am just burned out. I have spent between 5-20 hours a week, for many years. The pilgrimage will be fine without me... there are volunteers who help each year, and I am turning over my duties to the young folks who will continue the evening program. I've done some great work, but it is time for me to let go, and move on. Saturday - Click here to comment:
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- Above photos by Tom Walker
May 26 - Preference?
So, do you have a preference for my homemade journal or blogger? I have mixed feelings. I miss my kuidaosumi site, but I feel so much freer to write from a stream of consciousness on Blogger. Why is that? Should I stay or should I go? I'd like to decide by the end of the month, but I might need another month to test it out. It is sooooo much easier to blog on blogger b/c it's just a couple of clicks. No manual manipulating. Just type. Check me out there, but let me know which you prefer. http://kuidaosumi.blogspot.com/ Wednesday - Click here to comment:
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May 20 - Becoming Blogspot
So, I've decided to make this page a journal - with sporadic entries, and to officially move my blog to Blogger. You can find me at http://kuidaosumi.blogspot.com/. Will you join me at the new place? Thursday - Click here to comment:
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May 16 - Spring Cleaning
Yesterday, I joined Tony with his college students for a tour in J-town, then went to a Manzanar meeting. We came home, took a nap and turned around and went to J-town to see an awesome performance of TAIKOPROJECT, which featured my two taiko teachers. Produced and directed by the best 20-something taiko players in the country.
Today was cleaning day. Been wanting to be home all day, one day, so that I could hang my laundry to dry out in the backyard. Today was a perfect day to do so. Washed 4 loads. Hung 3 to dry on the line, and the 4th was towels and jeans in the dryer. I also threw away tons of crap that has been hanging around the backyard for years, old broken pots, rusted cheapy lamps, and window hangings, etc. I went through the linen closet and organized everything, separating sheets from towels, rags and toiletries. Tossed 10 year old makeup, cleaned the bathtub, and got rid of medicines expired 2-5 years ago. Did dishes several times today. Spent several hours catching up on blogs, playing with my blogspot and redoing my Sitemeter. Felt really good to be so productive. Sunday Night - Click here to comment:
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- Happy 40th Birthday Maria!
May 14 - Random Reconnections
Sorry I've been MIA. I've been wanting to write, but can't somehow muster up the energy to update. I'm still thinking about moving to something like Blogger, so I can update easier, without having to update manually.
On Tuesday, I played hooky from work. I didn't feel like going in, so I called my sister Gayle and went to visit her and her two kids. I got a chance to bond with my darling nephew Kieth and reconnect with my sister. We hung out the whole afternoon and I got to see her life in action. Everyone is adjusting very well to baby Kaylee's arrival last week. Oh, congrats to Heidi, Gayle's SIL who had a baby girl Leta on Monday, and to Peg who had a girl Summer born on Wednesday.
This whole prisoner abuse situation in Iraq is such a mess. We need to do what we can to end the occupation of Iraq. Too many people are dying, on both sides. The Bush regime has lied time and time again. We still haven't found any weapons of mass destruction. There is no connection to Saddam and 9/11.
On a very different note, this whole American Idol campaign is very interesting. I am not a fan of the show, but I have flipped by on occasion and heard some of the ladies sing from time to time. So I was shocked to hear that Jasmine is still in the competition. The one that was cut (I don't know her name, it's either Latoya or Fantasia) was the best singer. But that's what happens when you get the support of your island homies. And while I am all for an Asian American Idol, and I think it's great that the state of Hawaii and many others are voting for Jasmine, I worry about backlash against her. I know Japanese Americans who only see JA doctors and dentists. I know JAs who will vote for a JA, regardless of their political affiliation. For me, I'd rather vote for the progressive person of any color, over a Republican JA any day. And if I was going to call in a vote, it probably wouldn't be for Jasmine. And don't get me started on the whole William Hung thing.
Finally, did you see the Laker game last night? I didn't, but I heard the last 2 minutes on the radio while driving home from work. Wow, what an exciting ending to the game. Derek Fisher was the hero, winning the game 74-73 at .4 seconds left in the game, reminding me of Horry's great basket two years ago against Sacramento. This means that the Lakers will try to wrap up this series at home on Saturday. In the post-game interviews, the Spurs coach was asking how he felt about the game. He said something like, it was the most horrible letdown, but in perspective, it's better than being in Iraq. Got to respect a coach who can make that connection after such a devastating loss.
Gotta run, I have an appointment with my JA eye doctor this morning. Friday morning - Click here to comment:
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- Happy 3rd Bday to Kieth! May 5 - Welcome Baby Kaylee
My sister Gayle is amazing. She makes it all look so easy. Here she is with her new baby Kaylee, born tonight about 8:20 pm, 7 lbs, 3 oz. I took this picture of my niece when she was 1 hour old, and at the time of this blog entry, she's not even 4 hours old. Everyone is doing well. Kaylee's name is a combination of Gayle, her daddy Lee, and big brother Kieth. I'll get some more pictures tomorrow, but here's one for now! Short blog break, huh? Wednesday - Click here to comment:
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Hard to believe I've been blogging for about 2 1/2 years. Before, I was trying to keep up with daily updates, but never succeeding. I was trying to get my hit counter up, feeling good when I had a lot of hits, and bummed when I didn't. Was I boring people? Not updating enough? Too preachy?
Then, when things get really busy, I barely realize that I haven't blogged, and lately I'm only blogging once or twice a week, and that makes me feel disconnected. Or after a long day at work and in the community, I want to collapse on the couch at night instead of coming into the computer room. I still have things to say. There are still injustices. Bush is still in office. People are having babies. (BTW, congratulations to Mary & Doug--Baby Marissa was born last Wednesday!) "Friends" is ending this week.
I'm not planning to stop blogging altogether, but I do know that I don't have the energy I once did to try to blog so often. Some bloggers take a blog break. Don't know if that's what I'll do. But, I've been trying to live in balance, take care of my physical and emotional health. I've come back to doing yoga and meditating every other day, which I'm happy about. So I'm going to give myself permission to update when I have time and energy to do so, and to not feel guilty about it. Tuesday - Click here to comment:
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