double rainbow

Eiko says...

Hiki showed this to me the other day, and I laughed so hard I thought I'd faint!

Apparently, Mr. DoubleRainbow (who's name is really Bear Vasquez) got tons of views on YouTube for this vid, and has become quite famous and loved for his genuine reaction to nature's beauty: "Oh, my God! It's a double complete rainbow! What does it mean? It's so intense! Whaaaa ha haaaa!"

He has since showed up on Jimmy Kimmel and confirms that he was completely sober 'this time'. And believe it or not, there are Double Rainbow T-Shirts! I would love to have my very own double-complete-rainbow T!!

And a big hand of applause to the fans who made this sweet little tune for Double Rainbow! Great job, guys!! I hear Hiki singing and humming this song around the clock! It's so catchy, I've got it running through my brain all day too. Love it!

morning activity and family

Eiko says...

Tell me, what are some of the first things you do when you wake up in the morning? Do you stretch? Do you check your clock? Do you do a quick mental rundown of the day's scheduled? Do you stumble your way to the bathroom?

Personally, the first thing I find myself doing is to automatically reach for my mobile phone and check the time. The second thing I do is to see how my back is fairing by stretching a bit. Stumbling to the bathroom is also among the first five things I do when I get up in the morning. And in the process of the first five things I find myself doing, I usually catch my reflection in either a mirror hanging on the wall, or a window. Not really for vanity's sake, but simply for the fact that there are mirrors and windows in my room, and I haven't been in my room long enough to walk around with my eyes closed.

Now, some people wake up looking amazing, and wouldn't be embarrassed even if, let's say, their pervy neighbor was snapping pictures of them from across the street and posting them on the internet, or showing them to their friends. Unfortunately, I'm not a member of this group of people. (Nor am I among the 'pervy neighbor' group, just in case you were wondering.) I am among the majority of people who wake up in the morning and look like they just woke up--sleepy, messy hair, heavy eye lids, slightly slouched shoulders, no make up, heavy steps,

--you get the picture.

On this fine morning, coming out of the bathroom and washing my hands at the sink, I glanced up, caught my morning-face in the mirror, and quickly glanced back at my hands. No use dwelling on the negative. But after washing the soap off my hands, I subconsciously caught my reflection in the mirror again, but this time around, I stared for a few moments into my very familiar face. Godamnit! How boring do you get!? Waking up to this every morning is a bit routine. But what can I do? Like it or not, this face will be mine, and something I'll just have to deal with. Uhhh,...no. Bad idea. I'm not convincing myself here.

"Dawnie," I called out to Dawn who was finishing up breakfast dishes,"I'm thinking bangs. What do you think?"

"Bangs are cool." Was Dawn's simple yet very straightforward answer--the kind of answer I appreciate, especially first thing in the morning when long explanations

of any kind bore me to death, and consequently do very little to help.

"Cool!" I said, as I quickly ran to the kitchen and grabbed the kitchen scissors. After all, there is no time like the present.

"I think it's time to do something about this...face" I said as I grabbed a handful of hair that was messily falling in my face and snipped straight across in one sweeping, confident 'SNIP'.

"Shit!" I happily exclaimed. I was satisfied with how fast it was done, and that it was fairly un-crooked for a first-thing-in-the-morning hair cutting session. I also looked quite different from moments earlier. I got what I wanted.

So now, I have bangs again. I'll most likely start regretting this spontaneous act, but the damage has been done, and I will just have to live with it.

That aside, our little apartment housed all three of my brothers' families! Did I say that right? Yasu's family obviously live here, as it's their apartment. Hiki and Angel and their two cutie-pies are visiting for a while, and Sam and Leika, with their 3 munchies dropped by for dinner! We had a very full and lively house, and I was highly amused by the ever growing Matsuoka Clan. I also realized all over again that my brothers are quite good looking. Each one of them is unique, charming and handsome in their own way, and it all made me smile. I've got beautiful sister in laws as well. Not only are they physically beautiful, but also have personalities that show confidence and maturity. Absolutely overwhelming!

I think I reached a point during our little hang out where I just had to retire from all the awesomeness that I was being exposed to. For one, the population density was quite a bit too much, and the people that were populating the apartment were such complete human beings, with such alive children, I just had to excuse myself to give them all a bit more oxygen and space. That was a crappy explanation for why I retired to my room. In truth, I felt the edge of a cold sneaking up on me. The head ache, the runny nose and heavy feeling were all too familiar symptoms to me and I needed to rest up for work tomorrow. But it was great seeing everybody. I'm very blessed to have grown up with such a wonderful family.

Dad, Mom, look at what you have made! Be proud of this mess!

it's cold and I'm turning blue

Eiko says...

pain accident magnet

My BF left for the States a week and a half ago, and I still have five, long, cold days till he gets back! I miss him terribly. And ever since he's been away, I started using a pillow when I sleep, and my back problem is haunting me yet again. It's entirely my fault though, really, and I don't mean to place the blame on anybody but myself! Because despite my knowledge of how sensitive my back can be, and how it reacts to pillows, I continue to sleep with pillows! I'm an idiot.

That aside, I think I'm really a pain and accident magnet. Within the month, I've had 3 bicycle accidents, my back pain has returned, I got a nasty cold, and to top it all off, I also injured my foot. How this happened, I haven't the slightest idea. All I know is that I noticed the pain while walking to work one day. It's a sharp pain in my foot--as if I had strained a muscle. I can't put any weight on my left without feeling a very sharp pain, so in order to get anywhere walking, I have to look like an idiot and limp. After 5 days of this and my lower back is completely zapped! My foot being as unreliable as it is right now, and consequently haven't to limp really seemed to have a negative affect on my lower back, and I can barely stand straight without feeling sharp pain slicing through my back and shoulders. I thought working at Gusto was tough before, but now having to run around on a foot that won't support you properly and having a back that exudes pain, I get tired and annoyed twice as quickly. My boss and her unpredictable moods also get to me more easily. I might have to revisit the hospital I just got out of a few weeks ago for the car accident check up...

glad tidings

Speaking of my boss and work, I've got fantastic news! She just told me 2 days back that she'll be transfered to a Gusto in Yokohama and that our new boss will be coming in just two weeks! I couldn't believe my ears! I'm overjoyed! Of course, my new boss could be even more mentally unstable and freakish, but in order to pull that one off, he'd have to be a complete retard, and I highly doubt that the Skylark Company hires complete retards. I know I shouldn't get my hopes up, but almost anybody could be better than my present boss. I guess we'll see soon.

And that's it for now. I'm gunna go make some hot soup to keep me warm.

It's so damn cold these days!

he calls it being 'appropriately selfish'

Eiko says...

Oooh, la la! It's been quite a while since I've posted anything on this blog! Lif has been keeping me quite occupied recently, and blogging is probably in the bottom 5 of my to-do list along side flossing and eating fruit, both of which are healthy and which some poeple swear by, but also is something I couldn't care less for. Yup. Blogging is definitely in the bottom 5 of my to-do list.

I've recently been trying to put a greater emphasis on exercising. I've been reading a few articles by Tom Venuto about health and fitness, and he said something quite interesting on the lines of making your health a priority in life. It's good to keep things in the right perspective and really knowing waht your priorities are. I think Tom got it right.

"There are fires burning all around you. I know. Kids are screaming, other kids need a ride to school. Spouses need attention. Bills must be paid. You're late on your tax return. Clients need service. Your boss needs you there now. There are phone calls to return. Information overload is driving you insane-there are books to read, TV shows to watch, news to keep up on. And E-mail! You're drowning it! Life is moving faster than ever before. How will we eer get it all done? Where will you find the time?

I know, I know. Almost everyone is feeling the same way too!

Here's what to do.

STOP!

In the middle of all the chaos! With fires burning all around you! Just STOP! Stop moving. Stop thinking. Take a deep breath. Take two more deep breaths. Center yourself. Now shift focus to what's most important in life.

Then tell yourself, "None of this stuff that's stressing me out matters-not one bit of it-if I'm sick, immobilized or dead. I want to look good. I want to feel good. I come first. I can only take care of my family and my business, and I can only feel good and look good if I've taken care of myself first.

Then calmly and quietly go take care of yourself. Go take a work out. Go take a stress relief break. Go calmly int o the kitchen to eat a healthy meal or prepare your meals for the entiere day, neatly pre-packaged if necessary, in anticipation of the hectic, fast paced day ahead. Go shopping and stock your kitchen with healthy foods.

Person life values are important. They are precious. They include things like your family, humanitarian endeavers and even your spiritual beliefs. So I'm not going to tell you what your values should be. That's your personal business. But I will tell you what ORDER yoru values should be in- your health goes first. Above all esle.

Is that selfish?

Yes.

But it's appropriately selfish. Being appropriately selfish is not about bucking your responsibilities. It's not about ONLY taking care of yourself. It's about putting your priorities in the right order. And it's one of the keys to great health, happiness and personal success. "

Now, I don't have any kids, and I'm not married, and I don't have any clients or important phone calls to return. I'm young and have my whole life ahead of me, and therefore, the time factor isn't really a huge issue as opposed to the "lethargic-human-nature" issue. But if I start letting my health slide now, and take my young energy for granted, and if I don't make health a priority and a habit while I'm generally free from any major pressing emergencies to attend to that life tends t toss in our path on a fairly unexpected, regular basis, it'll only be a matter of time before my un-checked lazy nature will have it's way with my life. My future will suffer, and I will suffer if I don't form the good habit of putting first things first, and health is definitely something I consider a priority in my life.

An interesting thought.

hit and run

Eiko says...

It was just yesterday that I got ran over by a car while riding my bike, and I've got the money to prove it, but apparently, no scars. Here's the long and short of it.

It was a lovely Friday, and I went on my weekly rounds to Lodge Home to help share their provisioned goods from the market with us. I had filled my basket full of fruits and vegetables and also some precious dairy products that are far too expensive to afford in Japan like sour cream and whipped cream and cheese, and was on my way back to my new apartment that I share with Yasu and Dawn. Now, I was being very careful riding my bike, because just the night before, while riding to Lodge Home for some fellowship and fun, despite my being absolutely alert and careful, I got rammed into by a motor bike! Yes, I was wearing my glasses. Yes, I had my light on. Yes, I wasn't speeding. And yes, I flew off my bike and have the bruises to prove it. My BF had given me an hour lecture about being more careful and to be even more responsible than I was being already, for every action that I take; to be the adult, not the child. Which is why, I was ever so alert and ever so careful to make sure that the events of the previous evening would not have to repeat itself due to carelessness on my part.

The light had just turned from red to blue, and even then, I looked both ways like they teach you to do in kindergarten. I'm glad I did too, because there were two cars that were coming from opposite me that had their blinkers on, which signaled that they needed to make the turn. Regardless of the fact that I could have just biked my way across the walk way since my bike was already on the road, ready to be on my way home, I patiently waited for the first car to make the turn and go by. The second car had to slow down for the first car to take the move, and since it was still at a distance, and since the driver saw me press against my pedal to get moving, I was under the impression that he would obey the traffic rules and stop his car, and wait until the coast was clear, and I was out of hitting range. But apparently, the driver was a complete idiot. Because despite the fact that he saw me making my way across the road, and despite the traffic rules, and despite the fact that there was no way in the universe that he would not hit me if he decided to NOT step on the breaks, (which wouldn't have been too hard to do being that he wasn't speeding or anything) he did NOT stop and ran right into me, and sent me flying through the air, with all the vegetables and fruits and such that was neatly secured in my bike basket.

I remember thinking, "What the hell is the idiot not stopping for when I'm already hitting the half-way-point of the cross way?" Then I remember thinking, "Damn it! I'm flying through the air!" Then I remember trying to get up and contemplating the fact that I had to pick up all the vegies and fruits and dairy products from all over the road, pick my bike up and get the hell out of the middle of the road so that I don't get run over by the next idiot who can't see a girl struggling on the ground, surrounded by scattered groceries.

The idiot who hit me appeared to be in his late 40's and was not apologetic in the least. In fact, he seemed annoyed and in a hurry to get the mess behind him. He did help me pick everything up though, so I'll give him that, although that's the very least he could have done. I remember him asking me questions like, "Are you alright?" I was like, "Dude, you just smashed me over with your car! Of course I'm not alright! Don't make yourself seem even more idiotic than you already made yourself appear by disregarding traffic rules and almost killing me." Anyhow, he pulled out 100 dollars and told me to go to the hospital and get my bike fixed. I remember insisting that I was fine, but I was referring to the fact that I wasn't in a puddle of my own blood and there were no visible wounds on my body. He insisted back, and I had absolutely no shame in taking his money and his name card. I was in way too much shock to think straight, and thinking straight would have been me saying something along the lines of, "100 dollars?! You are officially out of your mind! If I call the police right now, you will at least have your license revoked for a year, not to mention the fine you'll have to pay, if not time in jail! Don't be an idiot. 500 dollars and no less for the hospital bill that I may or may not have to pay, and for the scratch that you gave my bike which cost me 30 dollars!" But unfortunately, the impact of the crash, and the shock I was in completely fucked with my thinking process and all I could think of was getting home, and the sweet relief of being alive and whole with all limbs attached.

Anyway, after insisting that I get a check up, and handing me the money and his card, he drove off, and apparently, that is nothing short of 'hit and run'. But at the moment, while I was basking in the beauty of life and breath, and the money that was in my hand, I couldn't care less.

The fact that I saw no visible ouchies told me that going to work was totally fine. But I started noticing odd pains on my way to work, which increased through the night, and was quite uncomfortable in the morning. I'm determined to get it checked tomorrow, since the discomfort continues, and will be back here with the results.