Japanese Weekend

I had a very very Japanese weekend last week.

It started with the concert event at one of the most famous historical hall "Carnegie Hall".

I have three roommates and they are all happened to be dancers. One of the girls invited us for that concert since she was gonna be on the stage with well known Japanese artists "Cherish" (FYI, they were famous BACK IN....1970s.lol), so I was excited to see her dancing.

On that day, my roommates told me there would be Saburo Kitajima as a special guest. He is SUPER famous enka artist in Japan, and I really like him. So I was like...."WHAAAAT!!!!"

He was super cute on the stage and told audience that this was his very first time coming to the United States. (FYI, He is 74 years old!!!!!!) I wouldn't be able to see him if I were in Japan, because he is a super star, and I'm sure I wouldn't buy his expensive concert ticket just to see him....lol I also saw a couple of more well known Japanese artists as well. (which I didn't really care much compare to Sabu-chan)

On the next day, my roomies and I decided to go to the largest Japanese Market in New Jersey. I've been to one in LA, but I haven't gone there since I moved to New York. We took a shuttle bus and felt like we are on a school trip. :P

There were SO MANY Japanese people there, and Japanese food, books, toys, toothbrush, candies, sake....you name it. They have everything. It was quite overwhelming for the first time visitor.

But look what I got!!!!!!

RAAAAMEEEEEEN BABYYYYY!!!!!!

YUM. I wasn't happy about the noodle itself (I'm pretty picky about Ramen noodles), but my empty stomach was extremely satisfied by those.

And this is what it looked after 30min.

Gochiso-Sama!! (Thank all for the great meal!)

家のインターネット接続もよくなりました。

久しぶりに日本語での更新。

今の家に引っ越してきてからネットの接続が弱くて会社でしか写真もアップロードできなかったんだけど、ついに先日文句を言って（しかも二度目）やっと直してもらえた。ありがたやありがたや。

最近は相変わらずな感じで、一人遊びに没頭してみたり、料理したり掃除したり、ブルックリンにぶらっと行ってみたり、スコットのスタジオに顔出したり、働き尽くめてみたりとそんな毎日。

ブルックリンのウィリアムズバーグにあるグラフィティ。最近またちょっと変わっていたから写真におさめてみた。にぎやか〜。このあたりにはたくさんビンテージショップやらオーガニックの店など可愛いお店が並んでいて雰囲気が最高にいい。お金があればぜひとも住みたいネイバーフッド。週末天気がいいとよくお友達のお店に顔を出しに行って、店の前で仲良しのお客さんとたむろしてる。この前もそのお店でものっすごい可愛い服を発見してしまって、一目惚れしたんだけど、高すぎて手が届かず。。。涙。あ〜欲しい。

そして髪型も夏にむけてちょっぴり変えた。

知り合った女の子がやってあげるよ〜と言うから彼女のお任せでやってもらい、日本だったら結構するし、編むのとかエクステさえも高校生以来。高校の頃はずっとエクステだったもんなあ。信じられない。全頭コーンローにしたときは先生に怒られたし。「そんな頭で会社に行けると思っているのか！」って怒られたけど、「学生だからやってるんじゃん」って言い返してさらに怒られた。ほんと、大人ってあほだよなあ。あほな大人にはなりたくないな。

まあそれは置いておいて、

ゲットーなストリートにある中国人が経営しているようなとこでエクステ激安で購入して、頭のトップの部分にブレイズで地毛に合うクルクル毛を足してボリューム出して（ただでさえボリュームはあったのに笑）、あとは頭の後部をコーンローで編み上げて、前から見ると前下がりのボブスパイラル？ボンバー？風。

コーンローは見せることも隠すこともできるからいかつすぎなくて気に入ってる。

とにかくライオンのように頭がでかくなってしまったから周りからは完全にダンサーだと思われ。。。以前からよく間違われてはいるけど踊れませんみたいな。。苦笑。

先週末は念願の初リンカーンセンターで見るメトロポリタンオペラ！

本当はゆきの大好きなコモンのライブ行くつもりだったんだけど、友達がいきなりキャンセルしだしたから腹イセもかねて（笑）一人でオペラのチケット購入。なんかオペラとかすごく高いものだと思っていたけど、一番上の席って２０ドルくらいからあるの。そんなこともっと早く知っていたら今シーズンのもっと行けたのに。。。

着る服もめちゃくちゃ悩んでとりあえず可もなく不可もなくなドレス来て、ヒール履いて地下鉄で会場へ。（タクシーやリモじゃないところがビンボー学生）

リンカーンセンターの周りは着飾ったマダム達がぞろぞろ歩いていて、（うわ〜自分浮いてる〜しかも一人だし）とひとりつっこみいれながら中に入る。

中は入ったとたん超〜ゴージャスで感無量。

映画で見た世界が目の前にあってしばらくぼーっとしてた。

トスカというジャコモプッチーニのオペラ。

初心者には優しい短めのオペラだったし、話も一応予習していったから英語の字幕をチラ見しつつ、イタリア語も少しだけだけど分かったし、あ〜もうとにかくソプラノ歌手の人がやばい〜人間とは思えない歌声だった。

上の安い席だからなんも見えないのかと思ったけど、想像以上によく見えたし、声もしっかり届いていて、来シーズンにまだNYにいたら絶対いっぱい見に行こうって思った。

。。。そしてついさっき、このブログを書いている最中に大変なこと発生。

ゆきがすごい人だと思っている人のひとりから電話がかかってきた〜。

NY在住のある日本人ピアニストなんだけど、生きててよかった。

ごく普通に話したけど、今電話切ってみて、ドキドキしてるわたし。笑。

話しちゃったよ。

ひょんなことからこんな繋がりができるとは。

インターン期間ももうすぐ終了。

果たしてこの後には何が待ち構えているのか？

うちのスタッフには多分すごく気に入られていて、すごく働きやすいしせっかく慣れてきた職場を離れるのは辛いなあ。本当に恵まれた環境にいられて幸せ者だな。最後までしっかり頑張ろう。

GRAMMY JAM

There was an event called GRAMMY JAM at Highline Ballroom in NYC.

It was basically a networking night for the members and people in the music industry in addition to all the fabulous performances from the board governors.

Directed by Ray Chew

Freddie Jackson was also performing, and I truly truly enjoyed his performance....he is such an entertainer...

Since I'm in New York....I got to see live concerts as much as I can...There are a lot more coming!

Recording Studio

Yesterday I went to the recording studio in East Village.

I've met a producer (I shouldn't even say just a producer. He is a recording artist himself, GRAMMY award winning producer, composer, engineer, and a song writer) here in NY, and he kindly offered me to see his studio.

I've been to a couple of recording studios before, and his studio didn't look like any other studios. Well none of the studios look the same and has unique treatments and structures, but I felt so comfortable being there immediately.

He is unbelievably an humble person, and he even let me help doing his work! (FYI I have no tech knowledge, but he made me feel like I'm doing something!) He was working on a track for an upcoming major label artist and showed me how he's working on.

I had such an amazing time just to be with him in his studio. It could be intimidating, but I tried not to think who he is and tried not to freak out. lol

Since I start doing my internship, I've met so many artists not just singer songwriters like producers for example. They are so friendly and humble, and it really amazed me all the times. I know that the producers need to be excel at communications since that's what they do with artists now matter how famous he is. I do appreciate their attitude. BIG UP MUSIC!

The mistery of the libraries

OK, Whenever I go to a library or a bookstore, I'd have a stomach problem. I heard that my body is reacted by the chemicals in the link. So believe it or not, I have some bookstores that I can't possibly stay any longer than 5 minutes.

Yesterday, I went to two of the NY public libraries; Stephen A Schwarzman and Mid-Manhattan library. I couldn't tell when I started feeling SICK, but by the time I got home I was dead from a heavy headache and body-ache. I even had a trouble sleeping! I didn't have a stomach issue however, I really don't know why I felt sick like that. So weird.

Anyways, spending time in the library by myself on Sunday afternoon was awesome.
I love Stephen A Schwarzman building where Carrie from the Sex and the City was supposed to get married with Mr. Big. That building is almost like a museum or a castle. It is very historical and gorgeous, so you can even feel like you are in the Harry Potter movie!


So I borrowed one old Japanese film (Crazed Fruit. 1956) and Scott Fitzgerald book, and I start wondering about people who touched and read this book before. The book is so old, and it must be read by countless people in the past. Isn't it kind of strange and mysterious just thinking about that fact?

Healthy Mind+Body+LIfe

It has been a wonderful weekend, and I feel just simply great.

I woke up around noon on Saturday morning and made a big fat breakfast (as always).

It was beautiful outside, so I decided to go to the mall close by my place. Downtown on a weekend is way too busy and crowded, so I'd rather stay in Queens.

I bought a nice stress relief massage oil and a scrub from Bath and Bodyworks. I like Aveda products as well, but I'm in love with those stress relief series from Bath and Bodyworks. They have body lotions, hand soap, pillow mist....and other series as well.

After I came back home, I cleaned the bathroom and took a nice long bath.

Since I left Japan, one of the things that I really miss is this part: take a bath everyday.

I literally took a bath everyday back home. It's quite usual for us, and we have a deeper bath tub, so I could completely soak my body into a nice hot water.

My body and mind was all refreshed, and here was a big surprise....one of my roommates gave me a foot massage!! What a nice hospitality!! I was in heaven for a while and drooled a little bit. lol

Obviously I didn't wanna do anything after this relaxation, I turned on the TV thinking nothing would interest me...but I saw Sinatra on the TV! ...what? I doubted my eyes and paid attention this time....they were showing a good OLD film "High Society"!

So I thought this would be a great night for me...I haven't had time just to sit and watch a good movie. Well I should probably say I didn't even wanna do it since I don't have a company to do it here. (How much I miss Ms. Kitty and all my friends who snuggled with me and watched movies together!!)

The movie was very classy and jazzy, and watching Luis Armstrong automatically made me smile.

They showed another film right after. It was an indie film directed by UK director, Shane Meadows; "Somers Town". All black and while, artistic, foreign, and simple yet smart.

I immediately drew into this film due to the beautiful opening sound track. I didn't know the song, but it was freaking good, so I decided to watch it.

After watching those films, I was thinking about all the fancy CG, 3D movies that Americans are freaking out. Is that really necessary? How about the story itself?

I'd prefer to be an old school.

This calls "Natto"(Fermented soybeans!ha!).
Ridiculously healthy and makes you smart. (don't ask me why)
I eat it with "Genmai"(Japanese brown rice), and it's so good.
I am trying to start Macrobiotic diet as much as I can. I still love meats (CHICKEN!) and can't live without them, but I am limiting the intake of meats!

Breakfast Perfection

I love breakfast.

I love it enough so I sometime make it for my lunch and even supper.

My favorite thing is to make a BIG breakfast on Sunday morning. I usually play some happy bossa nova music while making buttermilk pancakes and omelets with veggies, and a cup of hazelnuts coffee. I love this process so much, so I don't mind waking up early even if I have nothing to do for a day.

I can't go anywhere without having a breakfast. It's that important to my day.

I don't know who started to eat toasts and eggs in a morning, but I admired someone who started. I also have a big thank to someone who invented French toasts! Ahhhhh sooo good. I cannot be tired of eating French toasts!

I also make really yummy breakfast potatoes...I use baby red potatoes (diced), garlic, sea salt, pepper, paprika, rosemary....yum. Garlic makes everything yummy like Rachel Ray always says....I have to agree on that opinion. Garlic makes everything yummy!

Ohh breakfast. I Love you.

Bits of New York City Scenes

Brooklyn Bridge

Statue of Liberty and Water Taxi

Wall Street Sign and The Trinity Church

Inside of the Trinity Church

Central Park

春の訪れ。

久しぶりに更新。

ずっと書きたいことが山ほどあったんだけど、ありすぎて書くのが面倒になっていたり、家のネット接続が悪くて写真のアップロードができなかったりで期間があいてしまった。

いろいろあるときだからこそきちんと書き留めておきたいといつも思うのに、そうゆうときってやはりものぐさの自分には難しい。

何はともあれ、毎日いろいろ刺激を受けながら、こんな自分で大丈夫？と疑問に思いつつ、春の陽気に誘われていい感じに毎日過ごしてる。

朝の太陽に嬉しくなったり、床を磨いてみたり、マーケットの安売りのイチゴを見て興奮したり、本当に自分って幸せだと思う。何をやっているんだか。こんなに浮かれているからダメなんだよなあ。幸せでいることはいいけれど、そのことによって他人を不幸にしている気もしなくはない。今はとにかく世界を見たい病がいつにも増していて、ビザの関係でしばらくはアメリカを離れられない身としては苦痛の日々。

仕方がないから世界地図を眺めてはどうやって一周するのが効率がいいのかだとか、自分は世界を廻ることで何をしたいのかを妄想中。各国で中途半端なボランティアをして、自己満足するようなことはしたくない。もっと何か意義のあることをしたいし、そのためにはお金も必要だけどまだまだ教養が足りないし、第一お金もない。

夢を見ることはいいことだけど、そこから現実に持って行かないと何も意味がない。

少しずつでも現実になるように計画中。

何をするにも時間はかかる。

ちりも積もれば山となる。

あれ、やっぱり写真アップロードできないな。

また次回ってことで。

My Favorite Things

The weather is getting nicer here. People seems happier than ever.

I hope this weather will continue....can't wait for summer.

Summer is my absolute favorite season.

(Pic: clear blue ocean by Ocho Rios in Jamaica)

I love things that have nice smells; candles, incenses, aroma oil, body lotion, well and food of course. lol

I tend to be "chop chop chop" in my daily life. What it means that I tend to be too busy or too tense. My body always tell me "hey you need to stop. you need your yuki time!"

So whenever my body tells me, I try to have good 1 or 2 hours of relaxation.