Quote of the Day: Immortality

[Coco and Nanash] "If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons." - James Thurber (1894-1961)

JFK: Quote of the Day

"A man does what he must - in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obsctacles and dangers and pressures - and that is the basis of all human morality." - President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)

Caught Off Guard

I caught off guard this morning by sudden dizziness. I woke up around 6am (EST), went to the gym in the hotel, and realized I was sweating on the stationary bike, which was supposed to be my warm-up, only after 5 minutes into it. Then I realized I was having cold sweat, sat on the couch for 5-10 minutes, and staggered back to my room. Did I eat too much last night? Is this food poisoning? Many questions quickly went through my mind. Yet no GI symptoms appeared except for mild nausea, which could be just secondary to dizziness. I so much wanted to attend today's seminars! After realizing this could be another episode of Menier Syndrome, I asked my student to go to CVS and get Meclizine, which worked like a charm. I was able to stand and walk again after 30 minutes. After a quick shower, I was able to attend the afternoon seminars - thank goodness! At Halloween at the fellowship, I visited a "fortune teller" booth. I was told that emotion makes decision for me, and I tend to do a lot more than I can handle. And I tend to lose balance because of this. But since I am "strong" (not sure if emotionally or physically), I finish them anyways. I need to take care of myself, not to lose balance. So I guess that is what happened this time. The funny part is: I am strong per fortune teller. I rarely call in sick for sure, but am I really strong!?! Spending all morning in bed today was NOT fun. Fighting with dizziness all morning was NOT fun. What triggered it this time (last episode was January 2001)? Keeping my fingers crossed for not having dizziness tomorrow morning.....

Boston

I have been slacking with blogging for the last few months.... shame on me! As a holiday season approaches (what happened to 2011? Why is it going so fast?), I hope my work volume will decrease a bit and I can make some time to record what has been happening, including Misha's 6th birthday in September. But anyways, I am in Boston to attend the annual dental conference. Fall serves Boston very well - changes of colors of leaves are just so beautiful with background of old brick houses.

Although schedule is usually quite tight during the conference, we (I am with a senior studentt) found time this morning to do Freedom Trail. Freedom Trail is a self walking tour of 19 historical sites in Boston, including Boston Common, Site of Boston Massacre, and Paul Revere house. The picture above is also one of them, Granary Burying Ground. Spooky even after the Halloween! But if you walk closely, you will see tombs of famous people from 1600s and 1700s, such as Samuel Adams (not a bottle of beer!), John Hankock, Paul Revera, etc. It is quite neat to be able to feel that history was made right here. I never learned American History well, and I look forward to learning more with the Girls in the coming years.

And lastly, we visited Boston Public Library. This was almost a museum itself. Look at this gorgeous wall! Lucky Bostonians - it is like studying at Hogwarts in Harry Potter. For the next 3 days, I will be sitting from 8am to 6pm every day to learn dentistry (yeah! and sigh at the same time...). I hope I learn lots of useful information that I can apply to my daily work. Enjoy the fall, everyone! I am sure Kyoto looks beautiful now, too. It is about time to visit my home country.

Happy Halloween

"Sugar High Season" officially starts with Halloween. I try to avoid it by providing stickers, glow necklesses, pensils, tatoos, and other non-edible treats; however, I am not sure how successful I am. For the snack to bring to the Halloween Party last night, we baked "Mummy Sausages," (photo above) which was fun in making and eating. It disappeared quickly on the table!

今年のハロウィンは、2年前に買った古着の魔女と、ミーシャお下がりの「アビ・カダヴィ」（セサミストリートのキャラらしい）。少し消費する砂糖（そしてそれに伴うハイ・テンション）を避けるべく、デイケアなどのお持たせは、お菓子ではなくおもちゃにしました。そして昨晩のパーティーには、ミイラ・ソーセージを（写真上）。作るのも楽しかったし、子供達でも簡単だったので、ぜひお勧めです。 Then, off to the Family "Old-Fashioned" Halloween Party at the Fellowship - filled with strange-looking people and fun games! First with a Hispanic "Occupy Halloween" demonstrator (Remember the recent Alabamian anti-immigration law?) そしてフェローシップの「昔ながらの」ハロウィン・パーティーへ。ちっちゃな人から大きな人まで、怪しげな人がたくさん！

 

Fishing with Ninja and the mysterious "Green Man" いろいろな人がゲームを考えてくれ、子供達も楽しそう。

 

Extinguishing candle in a Jack-O-Lantern with water gun

 

And... Dance Dance Dance! 仮装パレードの後は、みんなでダンス。

 

We had a great night with friends - and more to come tonight (the actual Halloween Day) with neighborhood Trick or Treat. Have a safe and fun Halloween, everyone!　ハロウィーンと言うと、いつもお店やご近所で「お菓子ねだり」といった感じだったので、ゲームがメインのパーティーは面白かったし、「昔はこういう感じだったんだよ」というのを体験できて、とてもいい経験になりました。皆さんも、安全で楽しいハロウィーンを！　

秋祭り

[Mule Ride at Annual Syrup Sopping] いやはや、ご無沙汰しております。トロント出張から戻り次第、3週間の外来当番と歯科講義等があり、バタバタしてましたが、今週の月曜日から少しペースが落ち、ようやくお昼休憩をきちんと取れるようになりました。 そんな中でも、子供達はすくすく成長し、先週の金曜日はミーシャ初の友人宅、お泊まり会。リヤは友達と遊ぶのを楽しみにしていましたが、最初から最後まで「自分のベッドで寝る」という意見。昔からのマイペースさは変わっていないようです。お泊まり会の後は、女性群で隣町の秋祭り、シロップ・サッピングへ。この写真のミュール（ロバと馬のあいの子）で、サトウキビを挽き、その液を煮詰め、ビスケットに浸して食べます。私達は11時頃から行ったので、シロップはもうありませんでしたが、子供達もミュールに乗ったり、お店をみたりして満足そうでした。 朝は0度に近くなる今日このごろ、予定の3家族キャンプを変更しての週末でしたが、なんだか空から降ってきたような週末。様相外に時間が出来、少しマッタリとできて、これはこれでよかったかな。でも、春のキャンプが待ち遠しいなー。皆さんも季節の変わり目、風邪などにご注意くださいね。 追伸：サンディエゴのはるママさん、3児出産おめでとう！

さよなら、ケリー

昨日、実家の妹から、飼っていた犬ケリーが亡くなったとメールが届いた。1999年1月生まれ。ドイツから戻ってすぐ、亡くなった祖父、弟妹と一緒に子犬だったケリーを見に行ったのが懐かしい。もらってきた頃は紀州犬の影慶もいた。名前を決める際、思考深い弟が、花辞典から「誕生日の花はもくれん、もらってきた日の花は山吹だけどどうか」と提案があり、山吹だとアラレちゃんの山吹先生みたいなので（アラレちゃんの作者は名古屋人！）、「モクレンだと英語でマグノリア（通称マギー）、山吹はジャパニーズ・ケリア（通称ケリー）」と私が調べ、みんなで相談した結果、ケリーとなった。最近腎臓病が進行し、少し弱ってきたのは聞いていたものの、彼女の死によって、彼女をかわいがってた祖父のかけらがまた消えてしまった気がする。 母によると、出入りの安寿様に般若心経も読んでもらい、弔ってもらったとのこと。安らかに眠ってほしい。大好きだったおじいちゃんに、天国でいっぱいお菓子もらってね、ケリー。