Tony has been working a second job this month, putting in 3-4 days a week working on the Little Tokyo mural. Tony, Sergio and many, many volunteers spent about 3 weeks prepping 20 wood panels with gesso (base coat), tracing the images from overhead projector to the panels, then bluelining (painting in the outlines). On Saturday, we had our first public community painting day, and 36 people came to paint! The youngest was Sergio and Jorge's 3 year old nephew, and we had 3 generations of women painting. I just put up a quick photo page from the prep to the first day of painting. I mostly helped the site coordinator with the volunteers, and did a little painting on the bottom border.
I wish the mural was the only thing keeping us busy. Last Monday, I went to a neighborhood Townhall meeting about Playa Vista, sponsored by the Mar Vista Community Council, Grassroots Venice Neighborhood Council, Westchester Neighborhood Assn and Ballona Wetlands Land Trust. It was pretty interesting, since most of my activism has taken place in the JA or API communities, this one is in our backyard. Maybe 1000-1500 people crammed a hot auditorium with 5,000 signed petitions to urge the city councilowman to vote to delay approval of Playa Vista II, the largest development project to be built on the remaining coastal wetlands in Los Angeles. Issues people were most adamant about were traffic, air pollution, loss of view, methane gas, Indian burial desecration, and just the loss of open space. The communities are asking that a Ballona Wetlands Wildlife Refuge and Park be created and that approval be delayed until alternatives can be reviewed. The citycouncilwoman was very vague and didn't seem like she was even listening, saying that she was working to put in computerized traffic signals and saying that we couldn't stop development and progress. The crowd began to chant, "Just Say No! Just Say No!"
In addition, Tony's taking a night class, the Great Leap FUN-raiser is next week (PLEASE COME!), we're trying to pack up our house to remove the carpet and refinish our hardwood floors, and yes, we are trying to figure out things like baby showers and upcoming parenthood. It's a lot for us right now, but we're trying to get everything done now! Lily and Gayle came over yesterday to help me get the house packed up and ready. Here it is Monday morning, start of a new week. Monday morning - Click here to comment:
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September 21 - Welcome Baby Amani
Last Sunday night, we got a call that our friend Laura was in labor. I was to be Mike's backup coach, so my role was to relieve Mike whenever necessary. We got to the hospital about 11pm that night, and Baby Amani was born the following day at 5:30 pm. The whole birth experience was pretty incredible, unlike anything I've ever seen before. I was there the whole time except for about 2 1/2 hours while I took a nap in the waiting room, and 2 1/2 hours while I went to work in the morning and picked up lunch for Mike). Tony stayed till about 2:30 am, and then came back after work the next day, about an hour before Amani was born. Laura was great, and the pushing part took about 45-50 minutes (although from start to finish was 23 1/2 hrs). Mike was such a wonderful and loving coach. Krishna (me and Laura's yoga teacher) was there providing support, encouragement and spiritual comfort for Laura. Mike's brother had the video camera. I took digital photos and transcribed a lot of the conversation and tried to capture the humor and mood of the room, among friends and family who were waiting there at the hospital.
Now that I am halfway through my own pregnancy, the whole experience made me feel that maybe I can do this too! It is one of the natural wonders of life, and I am grateful to Laura and Mike for giving me the gift of being part of such a beautiful process. Tuesday morning - Click here to comment:
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September 14 - Inspired by Manzanar
Here is a plug for a book signing event for the Manzanar Poetry 'Zine that I helped publish earlier this year. I am helping to organize for this weekend. I will be doing the opening and closing comments, talking about the Manzanar After Dark program and the Manzanar Zine, "Keep it Going...Pass it On: Poetry Inspired by the Manzanar Pilgrimage." PLEASE JOIN US!
On Saturday, September 18, at 2:00 pm, the Manzanar Committee and the Japanese American National Museum will join to present an afternoon of poetry and performances, followed by a brief question and answer period, and book signing with some of the contributors present. Jim Matsuoka, a Nisei, will share the poem that he read at the first pilgrimage in 1969; Lee Takasugi, vocalist and songwriter from Visiting Violette will perform; San Francisco spoken word artist and poet Yukiya Jerry Waki will read his poem; music from David Iwataki and a talented young rapper, Kyle Toyama, and Miwa Lyric Kayama will add to the program. traci kato-kiriyama will performa powerful spoken word piece with Zero 3. We are also fortunate to feature Hiroshi Kashiwagi, a Nisei writer and playwright who will share some of his experiences from Tule Lake. JANM, 369 E. First Street, Los Angeles. For reservations call (213) 625-0414. For the full press release with details, click here.
My next blog entry will be about my incredible experience being part of the birth of Laura and Mike's baby yesterday! Tuesday night - Click here to comment:
September 12 - Life These Days
Already, our Great Leap Courtyard FUN-raiser and 3rd annual art auction is in a few weeks--October 2nd. Can't believe how much work there is to be done... and how critical people's support is for GL. I think we have 5 people RSVP'd so far. I am also working on an event on Saturday, Sept. 18 at JANM - poetry, performances and book signing of the book I published with the Manzanar Committee in March.
Life is super busy for Tony O. On Monday, he got back from his annual fishing trip to Green Creek, Topaz Lake and Reno with his dad for Labor Day weekend... he left a few hours after I got back from Hawai'i. On Tuesday morning, we had our big ultrasound. Then on Tuesday night, we had our labor and delivery class at Kaiser. It was interesting--some graphic video which was a little bit shocking, but also very natural. Tony said he felt much more comfortable after the class, and I think I was feeling a little overwhelmed, although I am glad the teacher covered the different stages and phases of delivery. We learned a lot and we are looking into different types and styles of delivery. Where was I? Oh, Tony, Sergio and about 8 others finally started painting the wood panels for the Little Tokyo Mural on Wednesday night (I dropped by to take some pictures at right), and then Tony went back to school (teaching) on Thursday morning. And, he is also taking a night class at SMC. Last semester he was teaching Asian American History, this semester he is back as a student taking a child development class!
On Thursday night, my friend Jackie H. who I have known since the 5th grade (that's about 30 years) came over. We rented "Yentl" (1984). Jackie was a huge Barbra Streisand fan back in high school. What a great movie, such emotion--I was laughing at how ridiculous she looked as a man, and cooing over gorgeous Mandy Patinkin, and I was really just sobbing at the end of the movie. Anyways, it's been at least 2-3 years since I have seen Jackie, although I talk to her at least once every month or so. Such a shame since she probably lives 3-4 miles from my office! I meant to take a picture, but never got around to it.
On Friday night, Tony and members of J-town Voice worked on the Little Tokyo mural and he didn't get back home till after midnight! At right is Tony rolling gesso, and Nancy, the project coordinator doing the edges. Yesterday, Tony hadn't scheduled anyone to help him finish up the 2nd coat of the wood panels, so I went with him. It took about 5 hours, I helped paint a few panels, but mostly I just sat there keeping him company, taking lots of breaks, sweating a lot and trying to keep my feet cool in this heat! Afterwards, we went over to Mike and Laura's (their baby is due in 2 weeks)--exhausted Tony just crashed on the couch. We watched part of "St. Elmo's Fire" (1985), which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Anyways, life for kuidaosumi these days is kind of all about being pregnant (trying to find a comfortable sleeping position), starting (and finishing) the mural, and getting the house together. Sunday afternoon - Click here to comment:
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September 5 - R&R in Hawai'i
View from Jackie & Brent's backyard, Jenni at Waipio Overlook and from Hilo B&B
I just got back from what has to be my most relaxing vacation ever--staying with Brent and Jackie at their gorgeous home in Kona for a week. No, I didn't island hop, see the volcano, go snorkeling, take 7 rolls of film, or even swim or go to the beach, like most people do when they go to Hawai'i. BUT! I did rest and relax every day, ate wonderful, balanced meals, and spent a lot of time talking and laughing with my cousin Jackie. Went for morning walks with Jackie and Koa (the family dog), had a pregnancy massage (not much different from a regular massage except the cut-out for the belly and the difficulty getting on/off the table), dipped my feet in the pool with Koa splashing nearby, read a book, some People magazines, wrote a column about the Manzanar zine (with a view of the ocean and palm trees), watched a lot of HGTV, got plenty of sleep, drank lots of water, and gained 5 pounds! The best part was connecting with Jackie, who is a nurturing, amazing woman with a heart of gold, and true Ohana (family love) spirit.
I also went on an overnight trip to see the Hilo side of the Big Island, which I loved. On the way, I stopped at Honoka'a to visit with Tony's high school friend Chris and her family, ate at Tex's Drive In (grilled ahi burger on sweet bread-mmm), went to the Waipio Valley Overlook, and browsed around at Kama'aina Woods (eyeing but not buying a $350 salad bowl!). I stayed at a quaint little B&B (Hale Kai Hawaii), with the ocean waves crashing below all night and an awesome view of Hilo Bay. I drove all around town that night, finding the Japanese Buddhist Temple, seeing residential neighborhoods, and exploring historic downtown Hilo (which by the way, is dead after 6pm). At breakfast, we had apple banana, passion fruit, papaya, scones with mango jelly, potato frittata and Portuguese sausage, while watching a pod of dolphins swimming by, and the local surfers below. Then, I went to the Farmer's Market, did some tourist shopping in downtown Hilo (where everyone asked me if I was from Hilo), visited the Pacific Tsunami Museum, and went to Big Island Candies for omiage before heading back to Kona.
My love to Tony, for the gift of suggesting I take this trip, while he stayed home and dealt with continued home improvement activities, including the termite fumigation and packing up the house, buying new appliances, getting estimates for doing the hardwood floors, etc. The good news is that the Little Tokyo mural finally got the greenlight to move forward and they start painting the wood panels in a few days. On Tuesday, we go for our big ultrasound and then a labor & delivery class! Sunday afternoon - Click here to comment:
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