my very first....YUKATA DEBUT,...*check!*

you light my Hanabi....you complete me.

I totally forgot how great it felt to be care free and just
'let go' and have a heart of gold like a child's heart.
It really felt this way when I had my very first experience wearing a YUKATA after 27 years of being a 'some-what" japanese, and i had an awesome day having a blast up on the rooftop at Leafcup with our Hanabi excursion.

couldnt have been better....seriously, small group, intimate bonding, hanabi and kakigouri
...made all SMILES.

disappointment....but Happiness for Chrissy&Clete *bless them

Happy Wedding day to my dear friends, Chrissy and Clete...!!

(August 22, 2010)

Sending you all my love and blessings on such a blissful event.

(got this from my friend's photos)

.....just CANNOT believe i was not there at the wedding, and being back in California....!!
OMG, i mean %^%(%&%(*&*(&^%$!!!!!!!!!!!!!! seriously, it totally sucked. I got rejected to fly back to my hometown. not to mention, at the LAST MINUTE.

so yes, i was at the Narita airport waiting to check my bag in, and only to be notified there on the spot that there has been an embargo warning (restricted to fly) to anyone flying with a companion(company employee) pass and is on a stand-by list meaning that I was not able to go to California.....! oh shoot, i mean i was just stunned and dumb-founded, not bitter or angry at the time cuz i was just shocked to know such a happening.
Soon as I came home I looked for another option, and try to buy a ticket right away but it was just last minute, and i was soo drained emotionally for being let down and all disappointed, things were not going my way at all. most of the flihte I was able to get on did not have my return flite that fit with my work schedule....and it was soo depressing being this close to reaching home and being there for chrissy and clete, and yet i was sooo soo far from getting home. so i got stuck in Japan after 2 days of trying to figure out an alternate way.......sigh

i seriouly can just cry again RITE NOW thinking about how lame and annoying it is that i couldnt be there.......this totally blows....!
Ive known them since highschool (ive known the bride since 7th grade or so actually) and we grew up being on the same bball team and i was looking forward to being there with all the other former teammates girls - our reunion! - and i still remember the day i french braided Chrissy's hair for her first date with Clete. wow, and there were times when we were studying for Calculus at starbucks and she stood me up on our study session because she was over at Clete's house. *lol good times, good memories.

After close to 10 years, they have finally embraced the title of marriage and become man and wife.
really wished i was there to witness this, but i owe them when i go in November (this time, i will surely be buying my ticket on my own)

Congrats, Chrissy, this post is dedicated for you and clete.

Almost.....but our next plans....YUKATA day at chat tables!!!

gotta get back in shape for the wedding.......aaa its less than a week away~~~~ .

*At the European party at Leafcup! haaa, we had some Heinekens.

So my days at Leafcup has been great. Ive been there quite a lot and been seeing many familiar faces. Lot of the regular customers are getting more comfortable and recognizing me too so its a real nice place. i mean, what type of job can you do ZANGYOU 残業　where u are singing Karaoke with an air-mic dueting along to YouTube....? man,life is way too good, right?

(another shot by Vicki...i mean we DID take about close to a 1000 photos, haaa)

the other day, I was able to visit Yoshiko in the hospital with Kanta-san and Clint. It was quite a shock to see the Happy GANKI yoshiko being stuck inthe hospital like that. Man, the docs didnt even know what she had....its related to the intervenous-related ill ness. But we hope she will get better soon and that we can all have some hanabi at Leafcup after work (at the rooftop) but when will you see your boss (owner) visit you in the hospital? not that often. that shows how we are treated as one of the staffs at Leafcup.

I will be able to wear my YUKATA - my very first set & will be my very first time to wear it!!!! -- on the 29th at the chat tables, so if any of you guys are interested, please come and see us in Yukata. haaaa. i know that day is the day of the Yakata Bune event, so since some of us are gonna be at the cafe working, at least we will have the Yukata on. =D
and after our shift, perhaps a hand held Hanabi. Realized that I missed all the fireworks and also will be missing the last big one at the Gaien....aww. =/

(Coffee chat w/ Cartrina @ Eat more greens - Azabu 10ban.)

**and for some of the interesting things i find in Japan...:

* OOOh man, Morinaga, i think u have gone a bit TOO far. Pancake mix milkshake...hmmm would you dare?



** This was to die for! please, go get it before they run out. at lawson!! it really tasted like the real vietnamese coffee. not too bad, maxim.

wow......summer filled with HANABi and festivities.

August is already half way (close to) over, and i realized that i was under the weather for the last 2 weeks or so. I was sick due to the humid climate and the strong sun/heat....not realizing that i was mostly dehydrated and on top of that I rarely had days to rest. I have been having a hard time sleeping this whole summer cuz of the humid and hot ass weather, so not getting much rest.
The best cure for a fever or an illness EQUALS resting and sleeping.
So not getting shut eye all these days, then its just an on-going cycle where I cannot get better. wow and I guess i have been a tad bit busy with work. I haven't had a decent 2-day weekend day-off. so that may be the reason as to why i got sick.....Since August came around I was able to get like just 1 day off. and top that it never was really a full one-day off.

So i am feeling a bit better and I was able to get some nice walking in the UENO park and hanging out with some good Cafe quality time. I will put up some photos to make it a photo diary post, lots of things happened in the last month.

*Photosession day with the talented Vicki -- helped out her Photography business to start up for the Japanese market and had the honor to pose for her as the first asian model, haa. wow. talk about good photographer, good camera, and ...yes, good editting, LOL.

http://www.wix.com/vickiwhite/photographybyvicki

(i dont even look like myself, THANX vicki!!!! )
*Eat More Greens - Azabu jyuban (rad area w/ Catrina)

*European Party (Aug 7th, 2010)
*Yamatonadeshiko --- aww, i GOT a YUKATA!!!!!!!!

So I am less than 1 week away from being back in PV....!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy wedding to Chrissy and Clete, cant wait for it. I cant WAIT to be back in PV and stock up on some goodies and also go to Trader Joes!!!!!!!