Evolution of Misha's Drawing in 2008

ミーシャのお絵かき：2008年版。お魚から、最後は「怖い人ScaryMan」だそうです。 緑色の再生ボタンをクリックしてね。

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

2008 through Misha's Eyes

We started to let Misha use our camera from time to time in 2008. She is getting better at it and here is the collection of her photos:

カメラマン・ミーシャが撮った我が家の2008年です。

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy New Year 2009!

2009 came to us with great news - our application for green card (permanent residency) has been approved!! Although it has been only 8-9 months since we officially applied for it (Temesgen as primary), it has been a long road before then. We have worked very hard to stabilize our lives, and this approval was the last piece of the picture. "Freedom - that's all I wanted" Temesgen said.

We wish you all the healthful, happy 2009!

My new resolution:
For myself: First thing First. Prioritize wisely.
For work: Focus on Dentistry. Do not derail from the long-term dreams/goals.
For Temesgen: "Say what you mean. Mean what you say" per Judge Hutchess. Good communication is even more important than before with our kids and work.
For kids: to teach Misha how to read Japanese (Hiragana). Speak more Japanese to them.

Temesgen's new resolution:
For himself and work: Publish a paper.
For kids: put both of them in bed by 10pm (Early bed time is our biggest struggle)

See how much we can stick to our resolutions this year - Good luck on yours, too!

History is being made - アメリカ大統領選挙戦

今日は仕事が30分早く終わったので、オフィスから書こう書こうと思っていたアメリカの大統領選挙戦について書こうと思う。

アメリカに住む外国人はグリーンカードのみでなく、市民権を取得してから選挙権を得るので、私もテメスゲンも投票はできない。

民主党：私は根本的には、ヒラリーでもオバマでも、どちらに転んでも民主党が政権を握る限り、アメリカはいい方向に進むと思っていたので、ヒラリーが最後に辞退したときも得に残念には思わなかった。実際、もしヒラリーが民主党の候補になっていたら、マッケイン選には不利だったかも、と思う。今週になって、共和党のコリン・パウエルがオバマ氏を後押し。これには万歳である。彼自身も一度、大統領選に出馬するか、というところまで行ったが、主に嫌がらせ・脅迫により辞退。共和党歴数十年の彼がどうしてマッケインを推薦しないのか、彼の知的で冷静な意見に納得である。

共和党：マッケインが候補になったのはいいのだが、彼の一番の失態はサラ・ペイリンを副大統領候補に選んだことにあると思う。どうも、彼は我慢がきかない、というか、何かがうまくいかないととんでもない方向に突っ走ってしまう印象を受ける。副大統領選びにいたっては、彼が推薦した最初の２候補を共和党が認めず、突然彼女の名前が浮上したとか。彼の結婚歴にしかり、今回の副大統領選びにしかり。どうもこの二人、相手をなじることばかりに集中しているように思う。そしてサラ・ペイリンに関しては、経験不足、勉強・知識不足であり、将来有望であると思うが、この４年間でマッケインに何かあったとき、大統領の仕事をこなすのは無理である。それと共に彼女の宗教色の強さが心配である。彼女の10代の娘が未婚妊娠中であることからも分かるように、彼女は強姦、近親相姦などによる妊娠も含め中絶に断固反対、アラスカ知事として、特定のキリスト教宗教団体に公的資金を数度にわたり支払ったことも最近明らかになった。

今回の選挙戦で面白いと思うのは、共和党だからマッケインに投票、というのは当たり前、共和党だけどオバマに投票の意思がある人が多いところ、そしてその反対はほぼゼロであること（すなわち民主党でマッケイン）、今までに強い政治路線で知られたいた有名人（マイケル・ダグラスなど）に加えて、オプラ、ブラッド・ピット、タイラ・バンクス、レオナルド・ディカプリオなどが投票を呼びかける広告に多く出ていることだと思う。

私たちの周りは圧倒的にオバマ支持が多いのだが、オバマ支持の立て札がオーバーンの町中で盗難される騒ぎになっている。ひどいときは一晩で30－50個の立て札が盗まれている。しかし、共和党マッケインの立て札は盗まれていない。地元新聞にもこのニュースが小さくだが掲載された。自由の国アメリカのはずが、個人の意見を主張を許さない。これは皮肉なことだと思う。

この8年のブッシュ政権で、アメリカはガタガタである。ブッシュ路線を続けるマッケインの手に渡ったら、と思うとぞっとする。戦争反対の意をもっていても、私たちの所得税、消費税はイラク戦争に流れていく。間接的に戦争をサポートしていることになるのではないか。

11月4日がめでたい日になるよう、祈るばかりである。

Summary of Summer 2008

With some computer troubles on my computer, I delayed posting on our blog so long and realized summer 2008 is gone! So let me update our family news over the summer...

1. Road trip to New Orleans

We drove down to New Orleans for my AVMA conference and stayed for 6 days. I had a great time learning all the new theories, drugs, treatment plans, products.... it was really exciting. I was there at the convention center from 7 am to 5pm for most days, and the left is the picture of the veteran Papa, who manages 1 toddler of Terrible Two and 5 month old infant all by himself all day for 5 days. I am so proud of you, Papa Temesgen, and thank you!!!

In the evening, we spent time with Temesgen's friends, husband and wife, who used to share the house when they were still in Ethiopia. It was fun listening to their stories back in those days, when the wife was pregnant and how the husband and Temesgen needed to bring things, etc. While their 1st and 2nd children visiting Ethiopia for a month, Misha had so much fun playing with their 3rd child, Kulani.

New Orleans had been one of the cities I always wanted to visit, and I am glad I made it this time. Although there were places still in recovery from Harricane Katrina, the city was lively and saw some signs of "We Are Back" from doctors office, etc. It has so much to be proud of - jazz, food (beniet - the photo on the right - is one of them), cruise.... Now I understand why I can sense the pride in someone's saying "I am from New Orleans." It was definitely worth a visit.

2. Liya

I remember she started sitting on her own in the 1st week of August, and surprisingly, she was crowling by the end of the month! As 2nd time Mom, I have to admit I pay much less attention to the details of her development, but it still amazes me how quickly their motor skills are developing. Shortly she will start walking. She eagers to stand by herself, if there is anything to hold onto.

We started feeding solid food to her in mid-August. So far her favorites have been oatmeal and banana. She is a good eater - she finishes a cup of oatmeal without any problem. At one feeding! She is still a feather-light baby, as Misha once was, since she is so active. The other day, I left the living room to take a shower, and noticed her cry getting louder. When I opened the door of the shower room, I found her right there at the door! How did she find the shower room - crowling all the way from the living room!?! She is a future candidate for FBI.

Photo above: with Kajela (Temesgen's friend, Assaged's son - their birthdays are 3 days apart)

3. Computer crash

While I was working on my translation assignment early August, my laptop computer suddenly crashed. I used Temesgen's computer to chat with Dell tech support (1st time to get technical support online - absolutely LOVED IT! ), and he told me it is most likely a hardware problem. Oh NO! All the photos, all the data..... all these things crossed my mind.... I was almost in panic. Yes, I still had several pages before completing my translation assignment, and it seems like these crashes always happen in the middle of the important projects! Anyways, a computer staff at Tuskegee was able to repair AND retrieve all the data from my laptop! Thank you, Mr.Sunday!

4. Harricane Gustav

Temesgen's friend family in New Orleans came and stayed with us during the evacuation from Harricane Gustav over the Labor Day weekend. Luckily their house was safe and no significant damage was caused. With another friend's family in town, we had BBQ together and are thinking to make it as annual event. Misha misses thier children very much.

Gold medal on Softball!

Just wanted to share my joy - Japan won gold on Softball yesterday! My softball teammate from high school was in the Olympic team, so I was so happy! Yeah!

Update on Summanuna：スマヌナさん一家の近況

I have spoken with Rita several times recently, and the family seems to be coping with their sudden loss. She said his burial on August 2nd went well, and now the family is visiting her hometown. There are a lot of movements so far - The Burnham Institute is gathering contributions from the states (his former lab mates, friends, etc), his former colleague in Germany is doing the same in Europe from people who now live in Europe, and I am in charge of donations from Japan, mostly my friends who met Summanuna's family when they visited us in San Diego in 2003-2006. All these seeds of friendship Summanuna planted in the world are coming out to help his family - I am sure Summanuna is looking down on us with his big smile!

Thank you everyone!

ガーナの慣習で遅くなっていたスマヌナさんの葬儀が、8月2日無事に行われたそうです。リタさんとは週1－2回電話で話していますが、家族みな少しずつ新しい生活に慣れてきており、この葬儀が新しい人生の始まりだと言っていました。
スマヌナさん基金の呼びかけは、今では世界中に広がっていて、バーンハム研究所がアメリカ・サイドの寄付金を、ポスト・ドックを終えヨーロッパに戻った友人達がヨーロの寄付金を、そして私は日本からの寄付金を担当している。7月末で締める予定だったのだが、スマスナさんに会ったことがない友人・家族から、ブログを読んだので協力したい、というメールが数件届いたので、8月末まで待って9月に送金予定です。皆さん協力どうもありがとう！

私の三沢米軍基地大学時代の先生（心理学）で今では友人、スマヌナさん一家にもあったことのあるリーアンが、7月31日から西アフリカ、トーゴとガーナの旅に出ていて、その途中リタさん一家に会う予定なので、もう少し詳しい近況が聞ける予定です。皆さんお楽しみに。

「スマヌナさん夢のアパート」を完成できるかな!?!　私たちの夢も膨らむばかりです。