Bonfires!

Whoah!  Where has the time gone?!?  It is now 2013, Year of the Snake, or, Hebidoshi (in Japanese).

Happy New Year!!!

Plenty has happened since my folks left, and I really hope to backlog that AND my parents visit.  I am making it a rainy day priority!  But, for now, I will just catch you up on today...

Here in Japan, they make these HUGE bonfires with the various New Years decorations and good luck charms (so that bad luck is not brought on to them for keeping them - we apparently are doomed!).  There were some flyers that said the Kurihama bonfire was happening at 10:30 today.  Knowing the stack is a near explosive pile of tinder and it does not last long, we got there early.  10:00 right on the nose.  The Japanese are always right on time...  this was at 10:03

Maybe the flyer meant it would be OVER at 10:30?

Below is the bonfire just down the beach.  Eric was talking with a man that told him it was an entirely different community down there.  NOT Kurihama...  I had taken a stroll down there while he was chit-chatting as I was looking for the wanderer...

Yes.  It was definitely a different community.  It is the first time I have felt out of place while we have been in Japan.  I know we ARE out of place, but I have never gotten the "vibe" that I was in the wrong place.  Well, I did here...  We wondered if it had anything to do with it being near the prison (built on the waterfront, btw...)

While I was gone, the Prodigal Son had returned...

In the meantime, we had partaken of the customary Oshiruko (お汁粉), or Red Bean Soup.

Oshiruko is a traditional soup made of azuki beans (sweet red beans) mashed with sugar and blocks of gooey mochi.  "Gross" you say?  Nope!  Super tasty AND it is said that it will ward off any colds for the next year.  I am counting on it!

They were serving tea cups full of sake.  By the time Eric and/or I warmed to the idea of having one, they had stopped serving it.  Next time I will just take one, regardless!

Strings of pink and white mochi were hanging between bamboo poles.  Once the fire was smoldering, the lines were draped over and the mochi toasted (like a marshmallow).  It was then eaten, although I do not know its significance.  Health/wealth/luck/prosperity no doubt!

The mochi symbolized happiness (red/pink) and purity (white).

Dougie missed out on the Oshiruko (and was none too happy about it - had a good cry over it!  Lesson learned?!?).  Somehow Stefan acquired some of the toasted mochi (dropped in the sand?!?) and 

and he generously (???) gave it to Dougie.  It was a little ashy...

Douglas tossed to the "Ocean Gods".  Even they rejected it - notice it washed up on the shore?!?

The fire got picked through, items not fully burned were prodded, pine boughs were added to the top where the needles sizzled, popped and singed off.  The "sticks" were then sent home with people (aka: Stefan - the Raven of children).  We have no idea what the significance was, but it clearly has some meaning.  Ultimately, his got "left" at the train station as I had to remind him to "watch the tip/don't poke anyone in the eye!" just once too many...

Kite flying is a tradition at the New Year.  We have to regularly remind Stefan that he cannot just go and ask people if he can fly their kites...

Perhaps Eric needed a reminder too?!?

People also fish.  All the time.  Anywhere.  With these ginormous rods.  It kind of makes you want to throw a line out too...

Maybe it is just an excuse to sit down.  And smoke...

Ian was checking out the collection of little rowboats - and basically thought the rope was just the most hilarious thing that he had come across.  I am just now noticing he is no longer carrying the bag of treats a man had given him earlier.  I sure hope some other kid nabbed it and is enjoying it!

We took advantage of being in Kurihama and went to one of our favorite Ramen haunts.

The shop has two tables in addition to their counter.  The tables (cable spool reels - Mom, just like our kitchen table, only shorter!!!) are on the sidewalk.  The shop "expands" by hanging heavy clear plastic down from their awning and putting in space heaters!  It more than doubles their seating...

I ordered two gyoza and two Miso Ramens -  upgrading one to a large (to split amongst the boys).  This is all done in Nihongo (Japanese) - in Kanji - on a ticket machine.  I thought I was really something else.  And then...  TWO of these mixing bowl sized ramens came to the table.  HUGE!!!  I think the lady really thought I was indeed "something" and just gave us two larges figuring I had no idea what I was doing (true).  We did not finish either one, but we sure did enjoy the ramen after a good bonfire!

Pocket Change

This morning started raining and chilly - Autumn is finally setting in!  Stefan went off to watch Power Rangers with Matthew.  Their ride to the Yokosuka Fish Festival was delayed by rain.  Dougie got picked up by the Seika bus to get ready for the Yokosuka Safety Parade.  Ian played with our new, incredible Haba Japanese block set  (HUGE thank you :D)

With just Ian in tow, we gathered up cameras, rain coats and a backpack, having our hearts (stomachs) set on eating some ramen before the parade.

We had such a fun stroll to the train with just one imp along.  Once we got to More's City (Yokosuka Chuo station), I realized, "DOH!  I forgot to put Yen in my wallet!!!"  I did have one bill (~ $10).  Eric dug in his pocket and came up with another ¥800.  We could easily feed three!  That is one of the best parts about living in Japan - pocket change can actually buy you a meal (or three)!

We enjoyed a very pleasant meal with no bickering, cross-talk or time-outs.

It was still cold and drizzly out, so I figured I would take the foreign exchange hit and charge a Starbucks & a cocoa to my credit card.  I got to the till and found out that not only do the take all major credit cards, they also take your train commuter pass!  Deduct one venti coffee and one tall cocoa please!  I thought I hit the jackpot!

We got to the parade gathering point, saw the choo-choo bus pull up (always a highlight!) and Dougie had a front row seat!

Got out the camera and...

NOTHING!

battery was  D. E. A. D.

No amount of pocket change was fixing that!

House Guest

This weekend we got the privilege of watching our friends' son, Kent.  His mom & dad took some R&R and had an extended weekend in Thailand - ALONE!!!  What a fun adventure for them!  And what an honor and true privilege for us being trusted with the welfare of Kent.  Kent got a taste of having no siblings to having THREE brothers AND sharing a room!  WOW!!!


Japan being, well, Japan...  Kent could not ride our kids bus to/from school, in spite of riding A bus to the same school.  So I got to taxi the kids to & fro.  I was already at school for a parents' meeting on Thursday, so I just brought them home.  Friday I got to take them in.

Kent (Seika), Ian (Seika), Dougie (Seika), Stefan (Hayama)

I managed to have all four in their uniforms, ties tied, bellies full and to their respective bus stops/schools on time.  Only by the grace of God did that happen.  And the fact that two of the four are early risers and we had a little more fudge time for the Seika kids since we were driving in.  

After Stefan had brushed his teeth, he took advantage of that extra time and got to work:

Holey Moley!!!!  Look at that smile!

They also read the new book that Miss Carol brought as a "Thank you".  It is FABULOUS!!!!  An absolute and total hit with the entire fam!:

Nursery Rhyme Comics

After dropping all the kids off, I had a nice, quiet, leisurely appointment at the dentists office where they proceeded to scrape off the last years worth of coffee stains...  Thank you, Brandy!!!  With some time to spare, an empty belly and nobody to complain about my choices, I went to MY favorite ramen shop, Yokohama Ra-Men 16 Group.  No idea what the 16 Group bit is...   Caroline took me here when we first got here TDY over two years ago.  It is the first ramen shop I went to here in Japan.  It is still my favorite.  Perhaps it is the slightly bigger, chewy noodles and quail eggs.  Perhaps it is because I have fond memories.  It was worth ruining my fluoride treatment...

They have improved upon perfect and have added an English menu.  Now I can actually VERIFY what I have just purchased my ticket for (another days blog - Restaurant ordering ticket machines!!!)

Ramen was the perfect meal as it was a dreary, rainy spring day.  I brought my umbrellas for the boys to use from the school to the car.  It was such a simple pleasure for them!

When Kent & Dougie were not sharing an umbrella, they were holding hands...  Incredibly heart warming!  And as I look at this picture, I am noticing that Dougie has somehow swindled Kent into carrying his sub bag (tan bag with the orange trim)...  I think he will be selling ice-cubes to Eskimos one day...  Or perhaps a career in politics... 

Ian sported the duck umbrella.  And carried his own sub bag...  right up until he just decided to drop it.  And leave it there on the sidewalk.

When we got home, Dougie got out of the car and squealed, "KENT!!!!  You should see this bug - it is HUUUUUUUUGE!!!!!"  Yes, it was huge.  Not exactly a bug.  But it was a really huge worm!  And so close to having been run over...  The boys were ever in awe. 

And that was just our Friday :-)!