It's been a week now since I came down with this terrible bug, and I'm still recovering. I have been out of the house three times now, but each time I come home SO exhausted and have to go to bed. This has now settled into my chest and so breathing can be painful at times. Every day gets better, though.
Yokosan (our new housekeeper) came today. I love her. She does things like organize my cabinets and use a toothbrush in the cracks of my dining chairs. She thoroughly vacuums all the edges AND scrubs the bathrooms. She is wonderful, but she only comes once every two weeks. I didn't want to miss her, so I bundled up my sick kids and took them out in Lopez so that we would not get in her way.
Our final destination, I knew not...but I knew it would involve a stop at Starbucks. I got a hot cocoa...the kids opted for the cold version (chocolate cream frappuccino...heaven in a blender). I toyed around with the idea of going in, kicking back and soaking up their free wi-fi...but then I remembered Jake sounded like he was about to cough up a lung and thought better of it. Instead we headed to "The Spot" on base, where there is also free wi-fi, but a more spacious floor plan where we could be inconspicuous in the corner, especially since it's almost empty in the middle of the morning...you know...since most people have jobs!
Luckily, it's also right down the hill from Cliff's office...so he joined us for an early lunch and quizzed Jake on his geography bee questions while eating Subway. Then he had to go back to work while we needed to find some lunch to bring to Yokosan. I suggested Apple Co-op, and the kids enthusiastically agreed.
Apple Co-op has sushi:
Apple Co-op has Japanese candy:
Apple Co-op has Mr. Delicious*:
(AKA Anpanman**)
Jake hadn't been inside yet, and while I hated to disappoint him, I knew he couldn't come in. You see, in Japan, people wear face masks. You can wear them either when you are sick (to avoid spreading germs) or to avoid getting sick...but it is expected that if you are sick...you wear a mask. They are everywhere.
Anyway, Jake sounds awful. It was a deal breaker. He understood, but was visibly disappointed as Coree and I left him in the van. As we walked through the front door, I thought, "I wonder if they have some of those masks here?" Sure enough...on the end cap, I looked down and saw these:
198Y and we were in business!
Jake didn't mind at ALL. If this was his ticket to sushi paradise, he'd pay the price of admission.
Once inside, I pointed out the candy section to Jake and told him I'd be over at the bento counter. I chose a prepared bento for Yokosan, as she was looking kind of sheepish at my sinusy voice and Jake's hacking cough. She even put a paper towel over her water glass. (Can't blame her, really.) Anyhow, I thought she'd prefer food fancily wrapped in red rubberbands as proof that I did not touch it. I also purchased more onigiri (those triangular, filled rice balls wrapped in crisp seaweed that I'm in love with).
Jake met me over in the bakery (where I was filling my tray with Mr. Deliciouses and thick, Japanese bread for toasting) bearing a small, attractive tray of sushi. He asked, "Can I get this?" I nodded...pointing out to where I had parked the cart. Coree appeared with a corn snack (like an individually-wrapped, giant cheeto without the cheese) and a tube of Anpanman candies. It wasn't until we reached the check out that I realized Jake got the sushi instead of the candy. I love that (strange) kid.
Quick...name 3 things Japanesey about Jake in this photo.
Give up?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
(1) He has his SARS mask on.
(2) He's brought his own reusable, collapsible shopping bag.
(3) It's pink. (There's no feminine connotation implied to pink in Japan.)
(Sorry...there's no prize this time.)
*Patrick coined the term "Mr. Delicious."
**Anpanman is the single most popular Japanese character for children, and he's been around a long time. Wiki it. He's literally on everything. I found it interesting to note that those things we ate on New Year's Eve...those bean-paste-filled pastries, are Anpan. This somehow makes Anpanman a little less cool in my eyes now. Luckily, these Anpanmen are filled with chocolate. SEE...we really HAVE all evolved to chocolate!
Yokosan (our new housekeeper) came today. I love her. She does things like organize my cabinets and use a toothbrush in the cracks of my dining chairs. She thoroughly vacuums all the edges AND scrubs the bathrooms. She is wonderful, but she only comes once every two weeks. I didn't want to miss her, so I bundled up my sick kids and took them out in Lopez so that we would not get in her way.
Our final destination, I knew not...but I knew it would involve a stop at Starbucks. I got a hot cocoa...the kids opted for the cold version (chocolate cream frappuccino...heaven in a blender). I toyed around with the idea of going in, kicking back and soaking up their free wi-fi...but then I remembered Jake sounded like he was about to cough up a lung and thought better of it. Instead we headed to "The Spot" on base, where there is also free wi-fi, but a more spacious floor plan where we could be inconspicuous in the corner, especially since it's almost empty in the middle of the morning...you know...since most people have jobs!
Luckily, it's also right down the hill from Cliff's office...so he joined us for an early lunch and quizzed Jake on his geography bee questions while eating Subway. Then he had to go back to work while we needed to find some lunch to bring to Yokosan. I suggested Apple Co-op, and the kids enthusiastically agreed.
Apple Co-op has sushi:
Apple Co-op has Japanese candy:
Apple Co-op has Mr. Delicious*:
(AKA Anpanman**)
Jake hadn't been inside yet, and while I hated to disappoint him, I knew he couldn't come in. You see, in Japan, people wear face masks. You can wear them either when you are sick (to avoid spreading germs) or to avoid getting sick...but it is expected that if you are sick...you wear a mask. They are everywhere.
Anyway, Jake sounds awful. It was a deal breaker. He understood, but was visibly disappointed as Coree and I left him in the van. As we walked through the front door, I thought, "I wonder if they have some of those masks here?" Sure enough...on the end cap, I looked down and saw these:
198Y and we were in business!
Jake didn't mind at ALL. If this was his ticket to sushi paradise, he'd pay the price of admission.
Once inside, I pointed out the candy section to Jake and told him I'd be over at the bento counter. I chose a prepared bento for Yokosan, as she was looking kind of sheepish at my sinusy voice and Jake's hacking cough. She even put a paper towel over her water glass. (Can't blame her, really.) Anyhow, I thought she'd prefer food fancily wrapped in red rubberbands as proof that I did not touch it. I also purchased more onigiri (those triangular, filled rice balls wrapped in crisp seaweed that I'm in love with).
Jake met me over in the bakery (where I was filling my tray with Mr. Deliciouses and thick, Japanese bread for toasting) bearing a small, attractive tray of sushi. He asked, "Can I get this?" I nodded...pointing out to where I had parked the cart. Coree appeared with a corn snack (like an individually-wrapped, giant cheeto without the cheese) and a tube of Anpanman candies. It wasn't until we reached the check out that I realized Jake got the sushi instead of the candy. I love that (strange) kid.
Quick...name 3 things Japanesey about Jake in this photo.
Give up?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
(1) He has his SARS mask on.
(2) He's brought his own reusable, collapsible shopping bag.
(3) It's pink. (There's no feminine connotation implied to pink in Japan.)
(Sorry...there's no prize this time.)
*Patrick coined the term "Mr. Delicious."
**Anpanman is the single most popular Japanese character for children, and he's been around a long time. Wiki it. He's literally on everything. I found it interesting to note that those things we ate on New Year's Eve...those bean-paste-filled pastries, are Anpan. This somehow makes Anpanman a little less cool in my eyes now. Luckily, these Anpanmen are filled with chocolate. SEE...we really HAVE all evolved to chocolate!
2 comments:
We love Mr. Delicious in our household too, we may have to coin Patrick's phrase at home, the girls just call him "Smiley Buns"
Glad to know you are feeling better - and I hope that everyone in the family is happy and healthy soon. Happy Thoughts, friend.
Oh, Kelly...that just made my night! Smiley Buns! I can't stop laughing. I showed it to Cliff. He gave a slight chuckle. I continued to choke with laughter. He said, "It's not that funny." I guess there's no explaining what tickles my funny bone. Great to catch you on here!
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