Category: Oh Skies

The Almost Spring Day

Oh I love that I can feel spring just around the corner!
How do I know, you ask?
Because the pretty plum blossoms
have started blooming in my neighbor’s yard.
We call plums Ume in Japanese.
And plum blossoms blooming in Japan
is a sign that spring is coming!
梅一輪一輪ほどの暖かさ
(Ume Ichirin Ichirin Hodo No Atatakasa)
(haiku about how every plum blossom brings the warmth closer)

– Hattori Ransetsu (1654-1707)

The First Light

In Japan it’s tradition to go out early on New Years Day
and to watch the first sunrise of the year.
We call it Hatsuhinode.
(pronounced “Hah-tsu-hee-no-deh”)
Sunrise in Ehime was 7:14am.
It’s always a pain waking up early on New Years Day
after being up so late the night before.
But last year for the first time
I woke up in time to see the sun rise.
And it felt great.
So I did it this year, too.
Basking in the rays of the first sunrise feels great.
And I am super energized for the new year!
I think this is going to be a tradition.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The Other Tennis Tournament

Fall is the season for tennis.
At least for me.
This time is the All Japan Tennis Tournament.
These stairs were brutal when
we were working here all week in college.
We actually taped our knees.
But now that I only go on the weekends
I’m pretty much there for support.
Oh the memories…

Our days are filled with umpires,
bananas, and score machines.
And also a great views
from the top floor of the colosseum.

The Good Bye in Chicago

Oh United.
Why are you always late?
I fell asleep the minute I got on the plane
so it took me a couple of hours to
realize that we hadn’t taken off yet.
We were on the plane for 3 hours
before they found a different plane and
asked all of us to get off and head to another gate.
Then they couldn’t find enough flight attendants.
So we waited another hour or so at the gate
before finally boarding began again.
6 hours later than the original time,
we were in the air.
The sky was still beautiful.
But I was so tired
I slept through most of it.
Bye bye Chicago.

The Flight to Chicago

International flights are always really interesting.
Not that domestic flights in Japan aren’t.
But people are a lot more chatty on foreign flights.
On this flight from DC to Chicago
I got to sit next to a pilot in uniform.
He had just gotten off his shift in DC
and was heading home to Chicago for the weekend.
Always interesting meeting new people 😀

The flight was really short
and before I knew it
we were landing in O’hare
and Tennyson was outside waiting for me!

He was looking all handsome
because he came to pick me up after work.
Tennyson is the best.
He’s practically family the way
I can pretty much tell him anything.
Or maybe it’s just him.
I think he has that affect on a lot of people.
You know you can always count on him.

And I finally got to meet Remy!!!
Isn’t he so beautiful?
He’s the sweetest dog on earth.
And I don’t speak dog but…
I think he liked me, too.

When Cesar got back home
all three of us went to go get dinner.
Good ole American junk food!!!

The Flight to DC

I don’t know why but airplanes are the only ride
that I don’t get motion sickness on.
So I love to fly.
I even love the airport security check.
I’m guessing this is pretty rare.
But whatever.
Made it onto my flight to DC
and spent a lot of time gazing out the window.
Not so great, radiation-wise.
But who can blame me?
LOOK AT THIS VIEW!!!

So yeah.
Spent 13 hours
gazing out the window in awe
or sleeping or eating or watching Avengers.
(best. movie. ever.)
And finally got to meet Peanut.
Isn’t she the sweetest?
I was instantly in love.
Cannot believe how I was a bridesmaid just 2 years ago
and now they have a sweet baby turning 1 already!
Amazing.