Bible studies

The kids and I finished the book of Daniel and when I gave them the choice of what we would study next, they all unanimously agreed to do Revelations. Gulp. Time for me to brush up on my Bible prophecy.
It's good, teaching the kids, as it keeps me on my toes and I'm re-learning many fascinating things that I studied when I was their age, but haven't gotten around to reviewing in recent years.
I still have my Bible that mom gave me in 1990...it's full of notes and what have you, so it's been a help in teaching.
Freeday today, so I'm reviewing the old Letters on Revelations.
Grandpa was such a great teacher.

Silly boys ;)

Balcony view from the ranch house 

giddy up 

Did you know that......

If you stare at yourself long enough in a mirror, you will start to morph into something unspeakable....REALLY ugly.
I know, I tried it today
Was at our friend's beauty salon and I'm serious...I started sporting a third eyebrow, a hideous saggy looking nose, eyes that looked like they were so bloodshot that they were completely red, and lips that were non-existant.
Frightening really
Mirrors are a blessing and a curse.
But at least once I had a small break from examining myself, I found that yes, I'm still just plain old Niki. What a relief.
It's funny how strange you can end up looking if you stare too long.
On another subject, what is it about a "professional" hairdo that makes you feel sexy??? (as in properly curled hair that you'd never have if you did it yourself...falling just right...sigh)
Sexy is as sexy does.
I will work on that one

???self absorption???

I've been thinking....
I like having this blog, really I do....but sometimes it makes me feel a little bit narcissistic. I never kept a log growing up, only once or twice for a couple months at a time. Besides poetry and songwriting, I wasn't much into writing down what I was thinking, feeling, going through or what have you.
But now I start this blog and every post is all about me. It feels weird reading over it and a little self absorbed. Ack. I've never done anything like this before.
Then at the same time, it is my blog, about my life and my feelings and where my family and friends come to read what I'm up to. So where to draw the line. When is it too much me me me posting
hmm I shall ponder this one
I know, maybe I'll go through my favorite people and dedicate a post to each of them. That should take the focus off of urs truly a little.
On another note...have a gig out in Saitama tonight at this cool Italian restaurant, must go and get ready for it.
good times

These are a few of my favorite things....

My three pillows (two for under my head, one to cuddle up with...the next best thing to a guy)

The smell of gardenias

My big white bathrobe
Twilight
Walking barefoot in the pouring rain
My jinbei
Running around naked in my room :-) (don't worry, I keep the door locked)
Staring at my water fountain listening to music (water fountain contraption I have in my room)
Getting comments on my blog

Nihon shu

We did a gig last night in the city we live in, the club is about a 15 minute walk from our house...very convenient. This place redefines the word small. It was SERIOUSLY miniscule. Japan's pretty full of miniature sized things, but this one took the cake.
After the show the guy who introduced us to the club got the bright idea that he wanted to take me to this "really good nihon-shu" place while Phil and dad packed up the equiptment.
I was game so off we went
Well, he was right, it was really good nihon-shu, I think some of the very best I've had in my life. The first one we tried was more like a sake, it wasn't clear like most nihon-shu is...had a kinda opaque color to it. Sweet......and very potent. Tried a few more after that, but had the good sense to call it quits before it got to me too much. DANGEROUS STUFF. (it wasn't the right atmosphere to get tipsy and crazy in...heh)
If I ever have a huge amount of cash, I'll be sure to take you there :)
Kampai

lost in thot

:) 

mwa 

sappy poetry

Dug this up..I wrote it about 4 or 5 years ago

With this tear
I close the door
To memories of thee
In times before

With this tear
My heart doth bleed
For want of thee
An aching need

With this tear
Our past is sealed
It shall not be relived
Or to any soul revealed

But with this tear
From the heart of me
I'll live my life
In want of thee

10 more random things about me you may or may not have known....

1. I walk way too fast
2. I was very afraid of the dark as a child
3. Patience is not one of my virtues
4. I have a Virgo rising and an Aquarian moon
5. I hate late people, I don't like to wait
6. I am a recovered anorexic
7. I can be extremely competitive
8. I could sing on key at a year and 8 (or was it 9, mom?) months
9. I love the beach, lakes or rivers...water relaxes me
10. I'm the shortest in my family (of the full grown kids)...only 172 cm (5'8)

Something I read today....
China bans sushi from being served on naked bodies
What a shame I say!

weekend

Did another gig out of Tokyo, up in the mountains near Matsumoto. Stayed overnight at this cool lodge that has horses and plenty of great scenery.
The gig was EXTREMELY long and tiring, but totally great. We sang for almost 4 hours. By the end of the show I was exhausted and started having trouble with my breath control on my last songs.
But the people loved the show and were very inspired by it...thank God.
The next day we all were able to ride the horses. I felt very in touch with my Sagittariusness sitting on that horse.
It made me miss my mom, who is a huge lover of horses.
Have pics from the trip, so will post them later.
I've been gone so much this week, it's weird to be back in my own room, in my own bed.
I missed my pillows.

I was inspired by this picture.....
(Futa, a two-year-old male panda. He can stand on two legs like a human being for about 10 seconds, an unusual feat for the species, zoo officials say.)

Links

I'm hoping to update my links list, but am not sure about blogging etiquette...as in whether I need to ask first before linking ppl here. If you're okay with me linking you, let me know...

auras

One of the evenings during our Fuji sojourn we had a nijikai (to be interpreted "after party").
I've always been interested in things like sun signs, horoscopes, auras etc...so I asked the Sensei (teacher), who happens to have the same birthday as me, whether he could see auras or not, and if so, what my aura was.
He told me that aura colors change, especially the "emotional auras". But appraently when I sing a particular song (Yoku Wakaru Yo) during our show, that my aura turns silver and sparkles. Cool eh. I think that's cuz that particular song is one of the most deep "message" type songs we sing. And I really feel it when I perform it. I think the audience does too, as that one often brings at least 2 or 3 of the listeners to tears.
The power of music.
I wish I could see auras.

Fuji in all it's glory (a view from our hotel room) 

my pet rock 

meditating on the mountain 

Mount Fuji (more pics coming later) 

Mike and Gene at the soccer game 

rubbish...those Long Island Ice Teas are lethal

I wish I would be as eloquent as I know I could be...
I wish I would be the type of person who is GREATLY missed when not around
I wish I would have a non-addictive/vice free personality
I wish I could find someone to love
I wish I could find someone to love me
I wish I would not feel to the urge to bare my soul to relative strangers
Cheers and Goodnight

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS NOT A POEM!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm BACK!!

Back from around four days in Kawaguchiko, right under Mount Fuji.
It was a beautiful place, a health spa hotel of sorts. We were the entertainment for a seminar held there. We joined in the seminar, which was about following your dreams, meditation, angels, nature etc...
I got to meditate on rocks, crystals and flowers.
FUN
And the food is all macrobiotic, no sugar or anything with additives...and absolutely no animal products.
I was in heaven.
Dad and Philip suffered.
Every night after our concert we would head to the seven eleven and they would stock up on sandwiches, meat and all those things that normal people eat.
But the scenery was outstanding and the people we met were sooooo nice. Great witnessing.
I'm glad to be home, tho. Dad, Phil and I all shared a hotel room and DAD SNORES!!!!!! Worse than anything I've heard in my life. Seriously.
I couldn't sleep because of that. I almost threw my bean bag pillow at him this morning after about an hour of lying awake listening to it.
I now appreciate my room more than ever. :)
I had some good experiences during the "meditation" sessions. There's nothing like God's creation to clear your mind and give you a totally refreshed outlook and feeling.
Pictures will be forthcoming.
I'm going to go now and meditate on my rocks

Gone awhile

Heading out to a hotel in the mountains for 4 days, doing a series of gigs there. I don't think I'll have computer access. So I hope you miss me :)
Catch you when I get home on Wednesday night.
Cheers

Frappacinos

I'm a woman of contradictions....
They FINALLY introduced the Starbucks Frappacino Light version to the Japanese chain...
So I tried one
With an order of extra whipped cream on the top.
Hmmmmm.....what was the point in that, I say
A slightly more guilt free indulgence
I think I like the real thing better

I love shakespeare

I read this post today from someone's blog...and it said (in my interpretation) that people who blog are ppl who don't have a life so they have to write about it.
I was offended. ACK
But I had to console myself with the fact that actions and pictures speak louder than words. I obviously have a life...so there.
I actually have extreme issues with keeping in touch with people, so that was the original reason for blogging.. All in all I'm saving time... I think.
The lady doth protest too much, methinks...that will be the gist of the next comments I get, I'm sure
Who cares.
On a more interesting note... I found this really excellent German wine tonight and am sampling it as I speak. It's slightly fruity, not too sweet, but not like some other whites I've had. I don't like dry wines.

Soccer

I PLAYED SOCCER YESTERDAY!!!
Three cheers for me
Of course I kicked the ball all of maybe 6 times, but it was the thought that counts.
Was quite fun, except that there were a few too many people on the field.
We were supposed to BBQ there afterwards, but it turns out the organizers had their lines crossed somewhere and the BBQ place closes at 4 pm. So we we got there at 4:30 and everything was closed.
Ended up going home and BBQing here with just us. But it was pretty fun anyway.
Mike and Gene were being absolute idiots... Mike was wearing this helmet thingie on his head with these CORNY sunglasses...and he brought his drum with him. They come tromping out onto the field, banging the drum and Gene playing his kazoo. Everyone was wondering who let the loony bin residents out. Cringe
I think Ambie was snapping pics so I'll try to steal some from her and post them later.

midnight ramblings

And here I am at midnight writing on my blog....
The birthday party was......fun in many aspects
The only downer for me was that one of our special Taureans decided to be a bum and sleep through most of the party. We tried many different ways of torture to try to get him up out of bed...but alas the bull's stubborness is not something to be taken lightly.
STUPID MALES
(no offense intended)
But I digress
Finally he joined us. By that time I was rather mad and didn't feel like wishing him a happy birthday.
But I don't generally hold grudges.
Sigh
I had to cut all the meat for the BBQ at about 11:00 tonight. Sometimes cooking responsibilities never end.
But now I can relax with my Vodka and Diet Sprite (Don't laugh...it tastes great)
I'll probably dream about all that dead chicken I just cut.
Goodnight. Wish me sweet dreams, pretty please.

Hectic days

It's been a bit of a long day today...started bright and early giving devotions to the 6 kids (9-15 yr olds)...we're reading through the book of Daniel...I'm their Bible teacher. So far we've gone through Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Job, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther and are now working on Daniel.
After that it was a VERY full day of doing B'fast dishes, Lunch, Lunch dishes and Dinner...plus I had to get the food stuff together for the Taurean Birthday party we're having tonight...and I even managed to slip my daily Tae bo fix in.
Lovely
Thankfully I didn't have to bake anything, as today was too hectic to squeeze that in. So we've got ice cream, chocolate sauce, cookies, fruit and whipped cream and are planning to make our own special parfaits. Fun fun.
I wish I could eat ice cream
My bloody teeth
Tomorrow there's an activity/Barbeque/Soccer game that we'll be attending.
I will NOT be playing soccer tho...I'll probably do something useful like help BBQ stuff.
Soccer and Niki are like chalk and cheese ..... I'm too clumsy... and I bruise way too easily
Sigh
At least I'm really good at Tae bo :)
Thank God for small favors

Mike and his "cool" purple glasses 

Phil doing his thing  

Dad, Gene and Mike 

laughing about something 

Aichan took these...I wasn't aware she was taking them at the time...such a good photographer :)

Matsuri the other day 

Happy Mothers Day

"God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers."~Jewish proverb~
I LOVE YOU MOM!!!
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

A small word of Congrats to my bestest friend Alisa (babylove) who is preggers with number 5!!!!!
It's hard to believe that we are the same age, only 2 months apart and she's already going on 5 kids. I feel like the proverbial selfish single when I'm around her. She's a top class mother and has the most beautiful kids. All of whom I have the priviledge to be Godmother of.
Anyway, prayers that this pregnancy will be an easy one are coming your way. Gambatte darlin.
Went to the dentist yesterday for a nasty cavity. Walked around half the day with my mouth totally numb and somehow managed to bite my very numb tongue every time I talked. Very of the devil. But I got pain killers. :) So I'm okay now.
Gene and I went to the cinema last night to see Constantine, as I had been given free tickets for it. We walked out soon after it started as it was total crap, in my opinion. A good test of our "Renewal" commitments. TTL we passed.
Ended up coming home and having a few drinks with a couple of the girls and indulging in girl talk...some very interesting things said...which are not bloggable. heh.
Had a gig at another matsuri, this time in Hibiya park. Probably the most famous young enka singer in Japan (Kiyoshi something or other) made an appreance on our stage for a promotion of his new album. It was insane, thousands of fans hanging around our dressing room tents trying to catch a glimpse of him. I didn't get to talk to him, but he seemed like a pretty nice guy.
One day when our band's ship comes in we'll have people screaming our names too...
yeah right.
Groupie anyone? lol
Freeday tomorrow. Will try to find something interesting to blog about
Oh thanks to all those who comment on my blog. I love reading them.
MWAH.

Hi no matsuri

I've been hither and yon for the last few days, thus the lack of posting.
The other day we did a show way out in Saitama, about 3 hours away. Afterwards the people we played for took us to this matsuri that they were having in their town.
This is no ordinary matsuri (festival in Japanese). It's called hi no matsuri (translated as fire festival). It was nothing like I've ever seen in Japan before. I felt like I was on some Polynesian Island or something.
Imagine a huge field, surrounded by small hills. In the middle of the field is a large area with an old traditional Japanese thatched hut in the center. There is a Shinto priest in full regalia doing his prayers and chanting for the ceremony. There are over 20,000 people watching and milling about, eating yaki-tori, yakisoba, drinking beer or Nihon shu.
Then the procession starts. Over 300 people, children included, carrying lit torches. There is surreal/awesome music playing over the sound system. Two litters with a man and woman dressed as a traditional Japanese prince and princess are being carried. They walk around the whole field, then go up onto the footpaths on the hills...when you look up you can see torches dotting the hillside..
Then the "prince and princess" of the festival take a torch from the priest and together they throw it onto the thatched hut. It becomes the biggest bonfire I've ever seen in my life.....
The procession continues for about 20 minutes, all the while the same shakohachi/drum/bass based music is playing. The twilight sky is dark with smoke from the many fires...
At the very end of all this there is an amazing fireworks display. The grand finale.
Apparently all this is acting out some sort of legend -- the Shinto version of "Adam and Eve". The man and woman are supposed to be from the mountain and the sea (I've forgotten which was which) and the from the fire that they start together in the thatched hut, a baby was supposed to have been born...thus creating life etc...
Interesting. Great cultural experience. Absolutely amazing to watch.
This post is too long so I'll stop here.
Will write more later.

I might have stayed

Something I wrote today...I may rewrite it into a rhyming poem
If the muse hits me again

If you would have fought
to keep me with you
For even a moment longer
than you did
I might have stayed

If you would have made
that one last phone call,
Written that letter,
Or merely asked
I might have stayed

If you would have let me
Have a taste of life
On my own
Even for a day
I might have stayed

But you didn't
And I wish you had

where have all the cowboys goooooooooone

I get sentimental sometimes.
Not very often, mind you...but I was reminded of a song yesterday with the line in it: "It's only the air you took and the breath you left"...and it made feel weepy.
Bad sign
I'm EXTREMELY guy starved
Pity me, please!!!!!
Sings: "Where have all the cowboys gooooooooone" (in high pitch falsetto)
Now would be a good time to go and write some very sappy love poetry
or open that wine bottle
or eat chocolate (which I don't even like, but hey, it's supposed to be a comfort food)
But I'm not gonna do any of those things...cuz tomorrow we have to get up bright and early for another show at the dock in Yokohama. Fun fun
And I need to exercise before we leave.
Good night
Ack what shall I wear
I wish I could iron better