MY BIRTHDAY & CHRISTMAS (in order of importance)

Birthday:
Was working at the S Hotel today.
Thought I had to sing at Shadow as well but the other singer wanted to trade with me.
Had a little late lunch after work with my new friend Blair T. from NZ. He gave me a little present & I thought it was so nice of him to.
When I came home Mac & the kids made a really nice pasta dinner & decorated a chocolate cake for me. It was a special treat.
Christmas:
Did a bit of singing went down to the Ritz with Donna & Ambie (singers) & Simon, the best young pianist I have ever met. Told him that I have met really old guys that play as good as he did, but never one so young. (My version of a compliment)
We thought our agent was pretty into himself because here he was dressed in leather pants & these bright red shoes looking more "flashy" than us performers. He was supposed to be, IMO, wearing a suit. It was after all the Ritz we were singing at.
We had had hardly any time to practice prior to the "homban" so we were there in our tiny dressing room with Simon & no piano trying to cram. He had this little calculator that had notes on it so we could get our keys. It was very James Bond of us to be sneaking our practice & learning our songs only a few minutes before the show. he he he, suckers!!!

SHADOW CAFE

A little about my job:
I started Sept 2nd, the day the kids started kindergarten again after Summer break. (It was also our anniversary but we clean forgot until October. --such love!)
It's not just an ordinary stage but a stage with a screen in front of us. There's all this cool lighting & the customers in the bar can only see our silhouettes. Anyway, I thought I could get away with wearing no make up but we do have to cross the floor to get on the stage so I have to wear make up & nice clothes & all.
My set includes rock, pops, oldies & any song I have a music track to.
It was really crazy when they thought I could manage singing at both branches of the bar. So I would sing one set, get in a car, run to the next bar, sing the next set, get in the car, run to the first bar, sing the next set (X3) all the while wearing high heels & remembering to bring my music with me. Not to mention that it was November & getting pretty nippy at night.
So the juggling fiasco ended after one month & I went back to one cafe a night.
Every one here smokes so much I find myself getting a sore throat every few weeks. I've had more colds these last few months than I've ever had my whole life.

I loose the pain
I loose the tears
I loose myself
I loose my fears
I loose you


I miss the pain
I miss the tears
I miss myself
I miss my fears
I miss you


(Wow, Aim! Your intelligence amazes me. WANW*!!!)

*We are not worthy

Here comes the bridal Fair

Bridal Fair day
Got to rehearsal just in time & only to be pushed out onto a stage with full lighting & all the hotel staff waiting there to wiew the rehearsal. --My favorite. "Jupiter" is just about the most difficult thing to sing in the shower much less the stage. I am NOT Mariah Carey.

Funny kids quips

While coming home on the bus after buying the kids their own care-bear. Carole was talking to her bear & said "this is my bear & she lives in care-a-lot". Then Leila said "my bear lives in Leila-lot".
We were watching Blue's Clues & Kiki said: "Mom, are we Steve's video?"
Carole said that maybe there is only one teacher in Kiki's class because the kids are "tame".

Mom

Today I got an email from Mom. She said she has diabetes 2. I really don't know much about it, so I will need to research about it so I know what we can all expect. I feel bad that her & dad still have to work to pay their bills. I wish they could live around here so I could work harder to help them. She said she is tired all the time

I am so slack

I wish I could just keep up with this blog. It's summer vacation now for the kids. We just got cable TV & every day has been lazy street for all of us. --Eating breakfast at 10am, no lunch, playtime, TV, dinner, snacks & bed at nine. Today we went shopping at GAP & I got the girls new outfits. Sorta splurged because they also wanted KFC, Baskin Robins ice-cream & a new care-bear each.
Daddy had a fever today so we're all sleeping in the LR again to give him some peace & quiet.

I hate interviews, I hate interviews, I hate...

Today I went for an interview for this evening gig at a new bar. I was surprised to find out that the manager was the also the manager of OEJ. He assured me that this new club is nothing sleazy. We'll see about that. At this point, beggers can't be choosers & I think money will have to be the insentive. Good luck, Aim.

THE MATSURI

The kids love Matsuris & have been begging me to take them for ages. Mac dropped me off at the arcade & the kids & I started the long strut down the arcade. I got them all chicken, kakigori, hotdogs & juice. They all threw tantrums because of wanting to buy everything they saw & do all those ballon & bouncy ball net games. Finally I was so stressed I had to take them away. We stopped at the park where they were doing another matsuri & the kids played, got all dirty, danced & whined some more & we finally walked home. I had to carry Leila home because I had no stroller & it took forever. I also had to rescue Carole's bouncy ball that rolled into the street.
All that to say, I don't think I'll ever venture out solo with the kids again. And a nice beer sounds about right right now.

Tokyo Disney Sea

I know, I know, so childish to actually enjoy an amsement park, but this one is just really special. I can hardly imagine the $$$$ they spent to build it but it's just awesome. We went with our whole family here. --Grandma, Yumi, Jo, Mana, Dave, etc. The kids loved the Mermaid lagoon. My eyes were sore from trying to see in the dark all night, (we got the evening passes), but all in all it's always a happy event seeing the kids happy.

The kids

Carole's likes are:
Bugs- Every time she borrows a book from kindergarten it's always about some kind of insect. This week it was about ladybugs. Previous weeks included: caterpillars/butterflies, rolly-pollies,
etc. She spends a big part of her recess looking for & collecting bugs for the bug tank at school.

Kiki's likes are:
Play-dough- she makes gyoza, worms, & ice-cream with play-dough at kindergarten.
Frogs- She loves anything that has a frog on it.

Marina's Funeral

Today I went to her funeral. I'd never been to one & never seen an open casket. I was very touched by the ceremony & everyne's love for her.
I'm sure she will be missed.

Leila's Party

We had Mike & Aich & kids, also Ambie & son for dinner & the party. The cake was really chcolatey & had strawberries & whiped cream on top. The kids stuffed themselves with candies, ice-cream & CC lemon. Leila got a little cute pink Ariel cup & water canteen from Aichan & co. Kids parties & are just so fun!! Leila loved her birthay & sang "Happy Birthday" to herself. She learned how to say "nisai desu" & "two".

Rollypollys

Deep question, I know, but I wonder what is so facinating to kids about rollypollys? Sure they roll up & freeze into a ball from time to time, ( Wish: Could the kids do the same every now & then? lol), but really, spending hours talking about it...hm. Guess that's why it's so fun to be a little one. Not a care in the world.

Tiny Lei's Birthday

Happy Birthday Leila B. Ni sai desu.
Made chocolate cake until 2am last night. Today we are decorating & will invite friends over. I can't believe my baby is already 2. Time flies. (In this case it's a good thing. Sayonara diapers, nursing, etc. However, she's hitting terrible two.)