Carrots on Steroids

This is a typical carrot in Japan. It's actually one of the smaller ones in the bag, which may be why it is the last one. ::snort::

From 2010-01-07 Tonomi Clan

It's hard to see in this photo but the carrots are FAT and often shorter than I was used to in TX. The typical price at my Farmer's Market is 3 or 4 of these for Y100.

Look at THIS carrot.

From 2010-01-07 Tonomi Clan

This was the thickness of an American carrot....but look at the length.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Amusing "Sign"

From 2010-01-12 snow,games

I chuckle at some of the instructions on products we buy...though I could do no better translating to Hiragana. ::grin::

"Please don't hit a this goods at a pan and a grill."

Notice the item is to be disposed according to the "disposal classification by eachmunicipality." I need to write a garbage post one of these days.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Super Bowl Monday?

Here it is - first Sunday in February, Super Bowl Sunday....but the Super Bowl will be played live on AFN on Monday a.m. Is it still the Super Bowl? Will Super Bowl Monday be as exciting as Super Bowl Sunday? At least the game won't interfere with Sunday worship.

Should we ignore Super Bowl Monday and do school? Should we join a Super Bowl party? Mike informs me that Monday is a base down day. He and Jared will be going "somewhere" to find a spot to watch the Super Bowl, should the littles and I join them? The littles aren't interested and it's nice if they have somewhere to play while we watch.....I like to blog and surf the net while the game is on....and of course I MUST SEE THE FOCUS ON THE FAMILY COMMERCIAL while avoiding any clothing malfunctions and smut businesses have come up with this year.....honestly....can we still be red-blooded Americans if we skip the Super Bowl? ::snort:: I guess we'll do Super Bowl Monday.

This may be the one event of the year that makes us think about installing a decoder so we could get AFN.....

Nolan's birthday is on Super Bowl Monday! Cool.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

February Giveaway

70% of Japanese women would rather Valentine's Day was not celebrated in Japan.

50% of Japanese men like Valentine's day. Why? It's all in the marketing. It seems that manufacturers knew that Japanese men would never go for "buying chocolate" for women "just because"....Valentine's Day was destined not to succeed. THEN....the marketing changed.

On Valentine's Day in Japan, the WOMEN buy chocolate for their husbands and loves. On the average they spend Y3000 for chocolate on Valentine's Day. They also buy "giri-choco" - obligation chocolate. According to Yahoo!Japan the average female spends Y760 on giri choco. She is expected to buy chocolate for the men at work etc.

HOWEVER - in 1978 a clever businessman introduced White Day in Japan. White Day, celebrated on 14 March, is spreading to other Asian countries (South Korea and Taiwan). On White Day, the MEN buy WHITE chocolate and WHITE marshmallows for the women who bought them chocolate on Valentine's Day.

Clever isn't it? Culture being what it is, a man may not think to go buy sweets for a lady, but he is SURE to obligated to give her a gift if she gives him one. Info for this comes from Kim (has lived here since 1995), Misawa Spouse Connection newsletter and Akiko (Japanese Citizen).

February's giveaway is going to center on Valentine's Day. Please share your best tips for celebrating Valentine's Day. One of my daughters calls Valentine's Day "National Single Awareness Day".....but really even singles can share in this giveaway. Leave a comment about how you celebrate or your favorite Valentine's day or tips for celebrating - with adults or kids - to be entered. YOU MUST LEAVE A COMMENT THAT RELATES in some way to the theme of the giveaway.

Below are the items I've picked up so far. I'm still looking for a few more items.

From 2010-02-10

If you win this month's giveaway you agree not to enter another giveaway for three months, Feb. 2010 winner won't enter until June 2010. A post or comment below will earn you an entry. If you blog about the giveaway and link to it, then post a link to your post here, you'll earn a second entry.We'll randomly choose a winner on or after noon 27 Feb JST. I hope to post a new giveaway in the first week of each month. . . grace ladies...show me grace. ::snort::

If you are selected as a winner, you will have one week to send me your home address. I will not store your address in any form. I cannot even find my personal address book since our move. ::snort::

You do not have to be a blogger to enter. Leave your thoughts in the comment section to earn an entry. I reserve the right to discontinue Giveaway or change the rules at any time.

Have fun!
Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

New Taste Treat

This post is for Liz. Is this availabe in America?

From 2010-01-29-31

I suppose this qualifies as a "mixed review"?

From 2010-01-29-31

They are orange m/m's. They're not bad. They taste a lot like those Chocolate Oranges that folks get at Christmas. Kim brought these with her last weekend.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Look at that FACE!

From 2010-02-04

He's engaged. He's interacting. He's fully in the moment. This alone makes me smile. The reason for his interest adds extra joy to the moment. He's taken an interest in school after my repeated warning that this is the very last year I want to teach 1st grade to him (and we're really finishing up kindergarten). He showed Mike his math and told Mike he could count to 20.....and then he continued to 110 before he said, "That's enough."

Yes, yes, yes!!!! I've prayed that learning would become an obsession one of these seasons...and I think we're finally there. I'm not so excited about some of the other focus' of his life...but this one is one I love. We've been waaaaiting for this moment, and now we'll seize it. I predict he finishes kinder and 1st in the next six months.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

January Giveaway Winner

And the name is....

From 2010-02-04

Jen Guyer! Jen, you have a week to send me your address. Thanks to all who shared their snow stories this month in our January Giveaway. We enjoyed reading your stories. Jen, you can re-enter the giveaways in April.

February's Giveaway is in my mind. As soon as I have time to purchase the items and write up the blurb, I'll post it. Keep watching, I hope to have it up by the end of the weekend.

Choosing Joy!
©2010 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...