文書は英語ですが、写真は共通
(though I'm taking a break from blogging for a while)
Archive for the 'Japan' CategoryPosts relating to Japan and things Japanese Anthony turns three years old tomorrow. He's been talking up a storm for quite some time, but he's behind other kids his age. It's not something we're concerned about because, if he's got, say, 70% of the language skills as his peers, he's really got 140% of the skills (70% English + 70% Japanese). I know of other kids who have three or four languages -- a kid's brain is just amazing. I've also heard many stories of kids raised in two-language households where the kid eventually refuses to speak one of the languages (usually the father's). This [...] 
View full post » In the world of baseball this season, what's the difference between the Washington Nationals and the San Diego Padres? If you look at their records, there's not much difference. With San Diego at 82 wins and Washington at 81 wins, San Diego did better by one game (and that's over a 162-game season). San Diego, with their 82 wins, won their division (National League, Central) and guaranteed themselves a spot in the playoffs (where they promptly lost). Washington, however, with their almost-identical record, happens to be in a different division (National League, East), and their 81 [...]
The first floor of our condo has space for two shops. One has not yet been occupied, but the other has a small French cafe, Au Temps Perdu, which, according to the sign, is a "tratieur pâtissier" -- a pastry delicatessen. They've only recently opened, of course, and as of yet have only a small takeout selection in a display case. The stuff they have seems very authentically French in that I have no interest in it (most seem to involve pâté or gelatinous meats of dubious animal parts). However, they do have one delightfully refreshing item: a [...] 
View full post » Our new place has almost all dark hardwood flooring, which means that dust shows itself quickly and persistently throughout the day. Thus, keeping things tidy is an issue. We have a nice electrostatic dry mop which picks up the dust well, but even if we sweep every day, during the sweeping the mop quickly creates families of dust bunnies that need to be corralled. Also, with things much larger than dust, the mop just pushes them around. The SolutionThus, we thought to augment the dry mop with a small cordless vacuum, which we might use in [...] 
View full post » I learned some new words today: 唾液腺daekisensalivary gland お多福風邪otafukukazemumps 雀suzumesparrow 蝗虫battagrasshopperThe first two I learned because one side of Anthony's face was swollen and painful this morning, as if a balloon under his ear was slightly inflated. That's apparently a classic symptom of mumps, as the salivary glands enlarge (so I find out during this continuing-education class known as "parenthood"). Anthony has had all of his US immunizations, which include MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) but apparently (according to our doctor here) that even those immunized can contract mumps over and over, if you seem prone to it. That doesn't [...]
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