Chinese New Year

Today at school Roo will celebrate Chinese New Year. My Internet search for a craft using egg cartons yielded an option in line with this celebration, a colorful painted dragon.

Setagaya Park

This afternoon we made our way to Setagaya park to check out the free skateboarding lessons given the first Sunday of every month. Roo enjoys his scooter, which we took along to the park, and he occasionally comments that he'd like to learn to skateboard. But, today was more of a look-see and he wasn't keen to participate as the large group of well padded children huddled around friendly skater dudes for instruction.

Instead, he wanted to kick a ball which has been a favored activity ever since about six months when we'd prop him up and roll a cloth ball that he'd grasp with two hands or wildly kick at.

In today's sunshine, there was plenty of activity going on around us. I've become accustomed to encountering structures at playgrounds that by American standards spell "lawsuit", but today, this rustic rope apparatus took the cake. No, Roo did NOT have a go on this.

However, he did climb up on a tree hut.
And, had a go on the slide at the playground. I love the tuft of hair that almost always finds its way out the top opening of his helmet.

This park is not in our neighborhood, and neither Ryan or I have been in the area much, if at all. Despite that, I ran into someone I know from the studio where I practice yoga. He was on his trick bike. I'm still surprised when this happens in this metropolis of so many people.

We ended our Sunday evening with the traditional "Oreo cookies dunked in milk", but disappointingly discovered that the "made in Portugal" version of the Oreo is not a proper substitute for the real deal. It doesn't get soggy and according to Roo the white part "isn't yummy". Live and learn.

A Love Heart

This "love heart" came home from school yesterday in Roo's backpack. "Okasan, daisuki, Raida, yori". Translation "To Mother, I love you (literally, "big like" as there is no word for love), from Ryder".

Who Da!

My Morning...

8:20am:

Hurry out of the house, Roo on his scooter, me walking fast to keep up.

8:35am:

Arrive at school, quickly rush up stairs to Roo's classroom, wave good bye as he's not interested in kissing me good bye because his friend is already at school and they've promptly started playing.

8:50am:

Arrive at designated corner to meet American friend, a New Orleans native.

9:00am:

Jump in taxi already occupied by friend to go to the Tokyo American Club.

9:15am:

Meet my friend's friend at the club. Make our way to the a large meeting room filled with 150+ supposed American Football fans, some who arrived at 7:30am when the doors opened, mostly men dressed in suits and the occasional Japanese wife, a few women, even fewer football jerseys, and only one pair of gold beads of which my Louisiana friend was sporting.

9:30am:

We get our breakfast from the buffet that is being replenished by wait staff in tuxedo and white gloves. We're confused. Is this the super bowl party? Where's the oblong cheese ball? The Doritos? The mini pigs in a blanket? My friend wants some gumbo.

9:45am:

We're even more confused. Why are people tapping their iPhone? Is that guy seriously working on his computer? Why aren't people making any noise? Are they American? Is this their first super bowl party? Did they take the day off, or are they going into work? The atmosphere's a little stiff. We're bored. And peeved. Japanese television isn't showing the commercials. No Superbowl commercials! The lady next to us explains that she's recording the game on her Slingbox at home just to watch the commercials later.

Halftime:

We move down to the bar, thinking the atmosphere may be a bit more celebratory. It is, but not by much.

The next half of the game:

We drink bloody mary's and mimosas. I'm wearing beads now, too. The room cheers when Manning's intercepted and the Saints secure a victory. The game ends. The room clears.

Post game:

My friend is wishing she'd gone home for Mardi Gras since this week will likely be a moment the people of New Orleans will tell their grandchildren about. "Remember when the Saints won the Superbowl the Sunday before Fat Tuesday?" My friend wants to celebrate. I confirm I'll skip 2:30pm yoga. She buys a bottle of champagne and we come back to my apartment to watch the post game festivities on our Slingbox. We see a few shots of the scene on Bourbon Street. We get to see a couple commercials. She leaves to meet the kids after school. A couple hours later I pick Roo up from a play date.

Avatar

Last night, because Roo was at a combination birthday/slumber party, Ryan and I had a chance to go out. Our chosen venue, Avatar in 3D at Roppongi Hills Toho Cinema. I'm no movie buff and definitely not in the know regarding the latest and greatest in cinematography. From a commoners viewpoint, this is the most amazing theatre experience ever! The images are breathtaking. I'll ignore the critics and skeptics and see it again. Prior to viewing, I hadn't read anything about political or spiritual intentions of the film's creators, but the story definitely carries a message. My favorite and most memorable were:

"This is how it's done. If someone is sitting on top of something you want you make them your enemy and take it" reminds me of Iraq;

"The sky people killed their mother, now they wanna do the same here" resonates global warming and the continues pollution of mother earth;

"All energy is only borrowed, it must be given back eventually" relates to the Buddhist teaching that there is no beginning, only transformation, and all energy is connected.

Snow in Tokyo

It was slow going on our walk to school this morning. Slow because every few seconds Roo had to stop to assemble a snow ball and eventually propel it against an unsuspecting light pole. Declaring "this is the best day of my life", Roo was in his glory amongst the occasional piles of slushy white stuff (as a Minnesotan, I can't quite call it snow). If this dusting brings him this much joy, I'm thinking we absolutely need to plan a ski trip before the winter is over.

Last night

This morning

Captain Underpants

What is certain to make a five year old boy with a healthy sense of humor giggle so much he shakes? Why of course, Captain Underpants! Specifically, Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plot of Professor Poopypants, which we read tonight. Fascinated by bodily functions, Roo and his friends will spend what feels like half an hour, discussing and joking about a "windy poo". A mere mention of any word containing "poo" brings on silly giggles and sparks a game of who can come up with the funniest words or sounds. Happy he has the attention span to listen to a chapter book, I'll continue to purchase books from the Captain Underpants series, and I'll admit, there are bits I can't help but laugh, too!