Chaji

Yesterday, like many of my Saturdays I woke up early and did some errands with Gabs, this weeks errands were these, lovely cream gloves for the traditional Ball on the 23rd of this month. The local vintage store had a lovely gold pair however they were just a tad too tight. These will go perfectly with my rich crimson dress (which I still have barely to start on)

And then the afternoon. I ventured to my Tea Ceremony teacher's house where there was a a couple of fantastic surprises, not only were Sara, Zelly, Tony, Roy and Mike there, the wonderful Christy先生 from the San Francisco tea group was there and we were all dressed to the nines in kimono. It was a wonderful experience to practice the most formal tea gathering a Chaji together. It was something I had never experienced before and while it was a dry run so all of our lovely meal was effortless and invisible I still found much to look forward too. My eyes were opened to lacquerware and how extensive the amount is needed for this event, and all new ettiquete even two different types of chopsticks.

It is always a magical experience learning under my teacher and then the added treat of Christy先生's overflowing knowledge practically astounds me. She has the perfect answer for almost any situation and there is always an exciting story to go with what we are doing. Not to mention how involved she is with tea, she's met people in the tea world that I can only hope to sneak a peek at. Doing tea with her makes me want set everything aside and apply for the Midori Kai Tea School, maybe I will save for a couple of years and then apply... it seems like such a wonderful way to put a solid foundation to my tea studies. I miss basking in the knowledge of others.

The practice while knowledgeable was exhausting as well. I have little bruises (battle wounds) from sitting seiza, but that is part of the territory and the aches afterwards are always worth it. Yesterday I also had a wonderful suprise, a member from our group Tom recently spent a few days in Kyoto, and Mike先生 presented me with a Kobukusa that Tom had selected (Tom couldn't be there yesterday) It was beautiful I actually teared up it was so suprising to be given such a lovely gift when I felt I did nothing to deserve it. It is overwhelming the amount of kindess and respect that people in tea have, I can only hope to gain some of that and bring it into my own life. I need to research the name of the gorgeous pattern 先生offered to tell me but it will be more meaningful to me I think if I look it up myself, my group has done so much for me already

What's Keeping Me Busy!

Once again fall semester is proving to be a whirlwind for me again.

So far I've been scrambling to stay afloat in all my classes, its the Japanese that's killing me. (I spend more time studying for this class which is in my minor then all my reading and homework for Chaucer, Shakespeare and Phonology combined) Beecken-sensei's expectations are so high and even when I do my best work I still feel a bit ashamed that its not going to be good enough.

And we have our inclass composition which is essentially a research paper in Japanese that we have to write in class. I'm scared.

Last weekend I went to the Nan Desu Kan (the Denver Anime Convention) It was really laid back I only had one cosplay (which was photographed ALOT) that Gabs and I stayed up on like three nights finishing but it looked great! Gabs is always such a lovely friend. A photo of the finished product... and a panda for good measure.

Our next sewing project is a Regency style gown for the Fall Ball! I'm excited for it to turn out! Think Charlotte Bingley of Pride and Prejudice. Very excited!!

Mr. Marine and I fought pretty badly about a week ago. It was horrible and I don't really want to eleaborate too much but it was a productive fight. We addressed some of the awkward elephants in our relationship. And now we are as happy as can be for the moment. Dealing with plans for the future is tough! His enlistment is up this Spring so we are working on what is to happen next together. Its a big step for him and I hope everything will work out alright!

This weekend has been rather easy, I read my Shakespeare aloud to Gabs while she baked an apple pie! And then we spent the evening watching Phantom of the Opera and Pearl Harbor which she had never seen before! We decided we need to watch Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo-Jima. Which are probably the most wonderful... in a way of war films I have ever seen!

Well its time for me to get ready for a tea ceremony event so its time to pull out my yukata and brush up on sitting seiza!

NEXT POST: My beloved Fernando... Repotted

Colorado Girls

I knew someone was bound to do this! GO COLORADO!!!

My Marine Comes to Colorado!

Okay so this maybe a little long winded, and its way overdue. IMAGE HEAVY!!!

So on August the 12th my Marine came for a visit! As always it was a glorious experience, but I really loved it more because he stayed at the house with my family! I think he found it a bit uncomfortable though. Oh how I love him for putting up with me! Anyway, I really enjoyed having a week where it was more like a traditional “courtship” instead of feeling like an old married couple (you know get up together and go to bed together sort of thing) which don’t get me wrong, I loved, but at the same time this new twist on our relationship I thought was a lot of fun and enjoyable, I don’t think he felt the same though, even though he kept assuring me he was having a good time.

So some of the things we did… because being outside in the Colorado Summer is the BEST!

Went to the zoo…

Took the COG Railway up to the top of PIKES PEAK, donuts at 14,000ft…. delicious!

Hiked in Garden of the Gods

Ventured to Denver for the planetarium and PURIKURA!

My family also hosted a BBQ so that some of my family-like friends could meet him which was a ton of fun, but afterwards Reagan and I passed out and took a nap for like two hours! Oops!

Also sorry there aren’t fun outfits and GAL, when he visits I think he likes it when I keep it to an minimum because it takes me awhile to get “beautiful” that and we were spending A LOT of time outside so GAL isn’t so much fun when hiking and getting dirty and such, at least I don’t think so.

After those few peaceful days he made the trek to Ft. Collins with me to help me move into my new apartment! We went to the drive in movie theater (Saw Despicable Me and Inception which was epic!) got moved in and just sort of puttered around and lazed about in bed all day.

This was the last few days of his trip…. And it always puts me in a strange mood. Instead of crying when he left I was able to smile and wave… because I cried the night before. I think it is getting easier for me to say goodbye because I know that we are strong and will see each other again soon…. Well that is unless he gets picked for this boarder patrol thing where he could be in the Middle East for 2 months to 2 years… that I think would be really unbearable….

But I don’t want to think about that right now. For now I’m looking forward to the family vacation in November that he is coming along on! San Diego look out! Papa and Mama Bear are coming to see the PANDAS!!!!!!!

Sooo Behind!

So I've been meaning to blog but with everything going on in my life I barely have time to take pictures let alone blog! However first I wanna thank Thanh Thao for her lovely giveaway last month! And look at what I won! Deco supplies YAY! I wrote a nice thank you note that is on its way to Germany! By the way I wish I had enough readers to do a giveaway it would be fun! But alas I don't have any cute things from Japan for a giveaway...

Classes have started up again and I moved into a new apartment! Here is my room! Not all the posters are on the walls yet but I will get there!

Also this year's cosplay for NDK is underway I am doing Rangiku Matsumoto from Bleach! Should be pretty simple apart from the hakama pants but we will see.

Next Post: About Mr. Marine's visit to Colorado!

Cosplay: Just a Thought....

So lately I've found myself browsing the cosplay sites again. (If you don't know what cosplay is the wiki page is an okay place to start http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosplay ) As if I don't have enough with developing my gyaru style

I mean I used to really enjoy it, as I looove to sew, but over the last few years I was discouraged by the many people who were abusing the hobby and not putting enough effort into creating a beautiful costume. Not to mention I've had several outfits ruined by inconsiderate anime and comic fans, and convention goers that it just made me loose heart.

I still have a dream to go to Comic Con (HUUUGE Convention in Cali) and maybe someday I will, but I thought I would just take a few minutes about my cosplay musings... should I get back into it? And if so anyone have suggestions of what I should do?

Riza Hawkeye (I've done her before and have had good reception as I've been told I look a lot like her... if you can look like a character... but also my personality apparently is a good match... and she is one of my all time faves!)

Princess Aurora: My fave Disney Princess!

Charlotte Le Bouf from the Princess and the Frog: I know that if my family had stayed in the South... yeah she's what I would have been. And of course it would be her ball gown as the costume.

The Twi'lik dancers from Star Wars... because the challenge of the outfits and head pieces as well as a chance to airbrush my body blue or green totally intrigues me! Oh and I definately need to keep hittin the gym for these!

And Reagan wants me to someday attempt these. (>o<); Good thing I know some friends who do armor and leather work! And my lady crush on Lucy Lawless... totally resurfaced... Damn!

Well enough of that... tell me what you think. Should I get back into it or should I say screw it!

Pages of Summer: The Stepford Wives

Sorry it has taken so long to have this posted, but here goes.

THE STEPFORD WIVES:
SUMMARY: Written in 1975 this novel follows a family that has recently moved into the seemingly perfect and quiet town of Stepford. Our heroine the shutterbug and reasonably active feminist initially seems quite at ease in her bigger than expected home, typical family and loving husband, but as the days turn into weeks and her new acquaintances slowly go from active and vocal modern women to perfectly shaped, girdle wearing and floor waxing housewives. Our heroine quickly becomes suspect of the whole town and the controlling Men’s Club in a satire that hardly has the victorious ending that we would like to expect from a text that appears so short and sweet.

POINTS OF INTEREST: There are two films based off of this short work. One from 1975 and the most recent in 2004, while I have seen both of these I can’t say that they were among the tops of my list. However the 1975 version certainly left you with that tingly feeling on your skin, you know the eerie on that sort of makes you shudder??

If you are looking for more Ira Levin give a good look to Rosemary’s Baby, it’s a little hair-raising but quite a delight for a read!

WHY MY HEART BEATS FOR THIS TEXT: For starters it was a short novel; I was amazed how much could be packed into so few pages. I took it along as my reading initially for the gym (as Fox News hardly sparks my interest) and found I had completed it the following afternoon. I must say that I haven’t spent much time in works published between 1950 and 1980 but I certainly would recommend this as a quick and thought provoking read that shows the contradictions that women were facing as they set one foot out the kitchen door and the other into that of the office.

WHAT'S UP NEXT: Peony in Love by Lisa See