Kokochi

Uncle Dav and Auntie Mie baby sit

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Saturday night Dav and I had the privilege to baby-sit for Julia and Tyler. Overnight! I'm so proud to be trusted with such a task. It was a for Yahoo's big Christmas party, and since it was down south, Ian and Izumi wanted to be able to stay late and not worry about driving back.

Ian and Izumi seemed worried that the kids would give us a hard time, but they were so easy! Dav played with them as I got dinner ready, and cleaned afterwards. He's so good with them - showing cool videos he had on his Mac, engaging them in whatever conversation they were excited to yap about, playing a bit of rough and tumble (Julia made Dav help her "slide" down her mattress like 30 times!).

I was very impressed with big brother Tyler. When I served the wrong fork and spoon (Julia has Hello Kitty and Tyler has some robot set), Tyler washed them and fished out the correct ones. When I couldn't locate his special cereal bowl, Tyler said, "It�s OK. I can use this one." When asking what video to watch, Tyler cleverly convinced Julia to watch Harry Potter since I hadn't seen it yet. But when Julia got bored with Harry Potter and wanted to change it, Tyler didn't resist (he silently sighed as if understanding he shouldn't battle Julia, but was disappointed she wasn't into Harry Potter). In the morning, when Julia called to me at 6:30am (!!), I went to their room to find a smiling Tyler who said, "Yeah, I've been awake, but waiting." He then proposed that he would read Cat in the Hat out loud, so I could sneak back to bed for another half hour. What a thoughtful nephew!!

And Julia was a big girl too. Several times I could tell she wanted to cry about something...but she held back, knowing she wasn't supposed to. And she went to bed all by herself, and didn't show any insecurities about mommy and daddy being gone (I remember myself tearing up when I spent the night at my aunt's at age 10 or so, missing my mom!!). As usual, she was a cute princess ... with funky Yahoo socks to boot.

Anyhow, it was very fun. Most of all though, Thank You to Dav for being a trooper too! It would have been much harder since he was the true entertainer to them. Kiss to Dav!

After Ian and Izumi came back on Sunday, we all went for a walk. Ian's street is famous for Christmas decorations, and although it was during the day, it was still fun to see. Julia got tired at the end of the walk, so Ian heaved her over his shoulder like a sac of rice. She didn't complain. : )

Ferry Building Farmer's Market

I've been a bit busy lately with an art project that Dav and I are working on, so yet again, I'm catching up here (my phone and moblogging aren't working yet...). I'll share the art project soon...

These are a few pictures from the amazing Ferry Building Farmer's Market I went to with Rachel this past Saturday. I went to find locally made organic jam to send to family in Japan. But of course, I ended up buying for Dav and I, Acme bread, jam for ourselves, smoked salmon sticks, and Asian pears. I was going to buy flowers too, but missed the opportunity when Rachel and I took a break to have tea (at the Imperial Tea Court, which I do not recommend).

The quality, the care, and variety of thd stuff there blows me away. Value is given to organic and local farmers. What a luxury to have that...but it's super expensive, so the real goal should be for the market to be available to all. I'd love to go more often and get to know the people from whom I buy food. When I go, I get so inspired (so much that after 3 pictures, I forgot to keep taking them, and rather started sampling food!)

We bumped into Anil and Alaina, who toted bag of goodies for making dumplings.

Non-turkey getaway

Instead of the traditional turkey-based holiday festivities, Dav and I drove off to Clearlake for some peace and quiet. We had been curious about this area, so it was partly to check out the scene, but for me, it was to get Dav all to myself for a chunk of time.

It was stormy the first night, but cleared later. We were at a cute quiet bed & breakfast that was perched on top of a hill with amazing views. We were the only guests and got to chat with the owner Merv during our meal times. I enjoyed it, and we even stayed an extra night. We hadn't been away like that for a while, so it was special.

My mom, the calligraphy artist

My mom has been studying Japanese calligraphy for quite some time. For the past few years, she's been experimenting with a more modern free form, expressing the characters' meaning through the brush outside of the traditional formalized manner. She has developed her very own style, which I think is beautiful and elegant. It's simple and creative.

She sent me a few samples. I'd been hoping to find a nice place to show them, and found the perfect spot at Dav's and my favorite Japanese restaurant: Minako's (17th and Mission) that serves organic, delicate home-cooked food. I asked Judy and her mother (the owners), and they were gracious enough to put them up! I'm so proud of my mother. If you live in SF, you must go to Minako's. But then, check on the right wall as you walk towards the restroom. That's my mom's work!

Deborah!

My phone wasn't quite working recently, so this is actually from 2 weeks ago, but I must share that Deborah came to visit! In addition to simply catching up (and eating Japanese food), we went to visit Kimi, since we all went to school together in Tokyo. (By the way, check out Kimi's newly remodelled kitchen!!)

I met Deborah in Tokyo way back when, just as I was transferring from the Japanese school to the American School. She was my first "American" friend after having been so Japanese in my mind/identity. I lucked out though; although with blond hair and hazel eyes, she grew up in Japan and spoke Japanese. Without her, I would have shriveled up in fear going to the American School. But with her, I had an ally.

We were great together. Total tomboys, carefree, giggling, making up our own games. I know in some of the awkward beginning high school years, we drifted apart as we searched different social groups. But later on, we rekindled our bond when we volunteered to be the set-up crew for the famous "Miyake-jima week" junior high students went through. It was good 'ol Deborah and Mie again.

We've walked various different paths since, but every once in a while we touch base, and even get to see each other (last time was in Tokyo). She is a professor at Whitman College now. I think she totally enjoyed San Francisco, and I'm secretly hoping she'll consider doing her sabbatical here! Boy, the things we would do!! Thanks Deborah for being such a cool friend!

I am so blessed

The other evening, my dear friend Mieko emailed me at work saying she needed to see me because she was being stalked. I was more than just a little concerned so I told her I'd finish work up and meet her. There was some strange aspects though; she wanted to meet at a cafe because her artist friend had an art showing. And she couldn't meet later because she had a party to go to. Not behavior I'd expect if she was being stalked.

Anyway, she picked me up with a taxi, and we headed to the cafe. Noriko was going to join us too.

We get there, and Mieko immediately begins looking at the art. Then she finds her friend and starts talking. I was getting impatient because in my mind, I wanted to hear about the story, and see if I could find this guy and punch him. How dare anyone upset Mieko!

But then the artist friend walks to me and says, "Hi, I'm Georgianne Fastaia...oh, you don't know why you are here?"

huh??

She pointed to one of her paintings. It barely registered since I was so confused, and still very much focused on my fury against this stalker. She then said, "I painted this for you. Do you recognize it?"

huh??

The lighting was a bit low, so it took me a while, but after a better look at a one of the paintings, I realized, oh-my...it's of a couple kissing...and there are those recognizable gigantic flowers...

Yep! Mieko had organized with Noriko and a group of friends back in Tokyo to chip in to commission a painting of Dav and me from our wedding. Holy cow! A painting of us!!

I had no idea, and still can't get over this gift that we will treasure for the rest of our lives.

I immediately called Dav, and although he was stressed from work (he came because he thought it was about a stalker too), and just as surprised, it slowly dawned on him too what a beautiful gift this is. The painting and the gesture.

The painting is titled "Sunflower Wedding on the Playa; inspired by the love witnessed."

Thank you, Mieko, Noriko, Kojo (also known as DJ Spacewalker), Kei, Tatsuo, Kenji, and Izumi.

You are all such wonderful friends, and I am so blessed to know you!

Chocolate benefits

Yesterday, I welcomed a Japanese business visitor here at Six Apart. He brought Anil a high-tech Japanese razor (very practical!), and lovely French chocolates. A very nice perk of my job, indeed.

Laughing Squid is 10 years old

Celebrated at the Varnish Gallery. Great mix of a crowd. Very SF, the kind I love. Bumped into Lilia from work too!

Combot

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At Fort Mason. Various mobile robots fighting it out. $10,000 to the winner. If you like robots, you gotta check this out. Continues tomorrow too.

A book "reading"

At Modern Times Bookstore in Mission for "Drugs Are Nice" by Lisa Suckdog. The most bizarre and interesting book reading ever. No reading but instead, raunchy songs by Jessica Delfino, unrehearsed skits, ketchup, and um even live peeing. Not for the delicate hearted.