Ice & Gyoza

最近ずっと寒かったけど、この間の月曜日は久々に１３度まで温度が上がり、久々に暖かかった。 そんなわけで家の周りにあった雪もだいぶ溶け、散歩に行くにも楽だった。でも翌日は吹雪、しかも一気に気温はマイナス１４度。そう、前日溶けた雪が凍りとなり、凍っているのに気がつかない私は 思いっきり、転んだ。太ももと手を強打。痛かった。そーいえば、日本で、中国産の餃子を食べて体調を崩したってニュースを見たけど、中国は怖いね。中国産のものって身の回りに多いよね。その分、安いけどさ。でも頼みますよ、中国さん。

With the recent warm weather that we had this past weekend, we knew that this is the Midwest and the temperature couldn’t stay that way. Yesterday, the temperature dropped about 50°F. Monday it was 56°F (13°C) and on Tuesday it was 6°F (-14°C). Almost all of the snow had melted this past weekend, then Tuesday the remaining water froze. Takako hadn’t realized that on Tuesday, with the blowing snow, ice was waiting for her. She slipped on a patch of ice near the mailboxes and went down. She wasn’t too badly injured although she hurt her wrist and bruised her thigh. Today she found out from a Japanese news source that Gyoza from China had unreasonably high amounts of Methamidophos (aka poisonous insecticide) in it. After some families ate the dumplings, they experienced many health problems to include blackouts. Many people now say the phrase "China-free", although it is difficult due to the cheap trade with them.

Miss America

ミス・アメリカ2008が決まりましたっても私には関係ないんだけど、でも優勝した人、私の好みの顔ではなかった。去年、ミス・日本の人も好みじゃなかったけどね。しかもミス・日本はミス・ユニバースにも輝いちゃうし、選考の基準がいまいちわからん。
週末は久々に暖かかったですわ。土曜日は買い物に行き、日曜日はドッグランにでも出かけようと思っていたんだけど、朝から私の体調がよくなくて、結局、家でゴロゴロして終了。焼き肉がとても食べたい今日この頃。牛角に行きたいわ。

Last night, Miss America 2008 was crowned. We feel that she wasn't very beautiful. Last year, Miss Japan Riyo Mori won Miss Universe. This weekend, the temperature got up into the 40's (about 5°C). Tomorrow it should get up to about 50°F (10°C). Today we were thinking of going to a dog-park so that Day-bis & Kuro could run around although Takako was feeling a little under the weather. Instead we just relaxed at home. We have been thinking a lot about yakiniku. At times like these, we wish we could just head out for Gyu-Kaku. Day-bis & Kuro, from the pictures above, continue to love breakfast & dinner times.

License & Antenna's

今日、ジョシュの仕事が早く終わったので、車の免許の試験を受けに行ってきましたわ。あまり筆記試験には自信がなかったけど、とりあえず受けてみようって事で。筆記試験と実技の試験、どっちも受かりましたわ。良かったわ。帰りに「クリスピークリーム」を食べました。東京の新宿と銀座にお店があるんだけど、いっつも長蛇の列。１、２時間待ちは当たり前なのよ。で、家の近くにお店を発見したので、食べたわ。美味しかったわ。
２週間前から、デービスの目の調子が悪くて、病院に連れて行き、目薬を処方してもらいました。どーも自分で引っかいてしまうらしく、右目が治ったと思ったら今度は左目の調子が悪くなってしまって、自分で引っかかないようにアンテナを購入。クロも顔を引っかいてしまうので、クロもアンテナ着用。早く治ってくれるといいな。

Today, Josh's 3-day weekend started a little early so we drove to the NE DMV. Takako wanted to take her drivers license test. She didn't think that she could pass it the first time due to the computerized test in English and had to drive with an instructor telling her what to do. Josh couldn't go along. Once they returned from the road test, the instructor stated that she was an excellent driver and only missed setting the parking brake (on the floor). We then ate some doughnuts at Krispy-Kreme and returned home. Another recent event has been with the little boys. They have taken turns, getting an eye infection that they need drops & atropine for. Kuro is better although Day-bis' left eye is irritated now. We believe they may further irritate it by scratching their neck/head getting close to their eyes. We ended up buying two 'antenna's' for them to wear during the daytime. Their eyes should heal in no time at all.

Zoo

動物園に行ってきました。久々に今日は寒かったぁ。外にいる動物はこの寒さだから、室内にいるらしくあまり大きな動物は見れなかったわ。残念。。。あまり見れなかったわりには、２時間も歩きましたわ、足が痛い。。。
そーいや、こっちの州の運転免許取得の為に、最近、運転の練習してますわ、筆記の勉強もだけど。まだ左ハンドルに慣れない、今日この頃。

Today we visited the Omaha Zoo. The temperature was about 20°F (-6°C) today. It has been a while since it has been this cold. Many of the animal exhibits were closed since there are many outdoors. We tried to visit the indoor animals as much as we could. After we returned home, Takako wanted to go out for a little driving practice. She still is a little nervous because everything is opposite of Japan, although she is getting better.

Omaha Pug Club

昨年、静岡で行われたパグの集会にも参加しましたが、オマハでもパグの集いを発見。って事で、集会に行ってきました。デービスはというといつものごとく他の犬恐怖症。人は大丈夫なのに、他の犬が近寄ってくるとビクとも動かず。クロはというと、他の犬をいかくしながら吠えまくり。自分が強いと思っているのかデービスを守っているのかよく分からないけど、デービスとクロは本当に真逆だわ。
ってか私の顔、また丸くなりつつある今日、この頃。。。

Last May we went to the All Japan Pug Meeting near Mt. Fuji. Today we went to our first Omaha Pug Club Meet-Up. Not nearly as many Pugs but fun nonetheless. There were about 20-25 Pugs at Luxe Pet Boutique in west Omaha. Day-bis was shy and would become stiff and his eyes would seem nervous if another Pug were to get near him. Kuro would bark at all of the other Pugs and give chase. We don't really know if he wants to stir up trouble or if he is just protecting his big brother. They are totally opposite personalities. That is why we love them.

Happy New Year 2008!

明けましておめでとうございます。全く実感がないまま2008年が始まりましたが。ってか正月って気がしませんわ。おせちも食べてないしお雑煮も、年越しそば、それに紅白も見てないからかしら、日本にいる時は当たり前の伝統をあまり大切にしてなかったけど、こうしていざ日本を離れて正月を迎えてみるとやはり日本の伝統が恋しい。まっいっか。さて去年の元旦に続いて今年も初日の出をみようって事で、見に行きました。でもね、すっごく寒くて風が痛い。デービスとクロは寒さで震えているし、太陽を見ないうちに、そそくさ家に帰りましたわ。一応、太陽の光は見えたのでそれでよしとしますわ。テテテ。今年も家族共々宜しくお願い致しますわ。今年一年が皆さんにとって元気で良い年でありますように。

Hello from 2008! Yesterday, New Year's Eve we missed the fireworks in Omaha since they went off at 7 pm. We thought they would at least wait until midnight. Our friends in Japan had already experienced the turn of the new year at 9 am our time in Omaha. They are 15 hours ahead. Josh made some potato chowder for dinner. Day-bis & Kuro also ate some potatoes last night for dinner. This morning was a very cold one (11°F or -12°C). The sun rose at about 7:50 am. When we went outside to shoot the family photo, Day-bis & Kuro got too cold, very quickly. To all of friends and family around the world, have a great New Year and we will be keeping in touch!