Excitement of EVEs

When?
When did it disappear to me???

As I was a kid, I had excitement of having Eves, like Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve, more than the actual days.
On Christmas Eve, I loved reading a Christmas picture book.
On New Year's Eve, music lovers my younger brother and I, used to watching Red and White Song Battle (Kohaku Uta Gassen,) and Southern All Stars count down live.

Whenever I had the Eves, I had certain feelings. They were excitement of having special events, and nostalgia for the time had passed so quickly.

However, today, I spent time like one of my regular days!
Of course I'm in my parent-in-law's house, which is not my "regular," and I helped my mom-in-law to prepare the New Year's dishes...
But I also could study, and didn't watch the Year-end special TV programs so much.

Is it a good thing or bad?
Maybe not so good...because I just became desperate to look back my LAZY 2009, so I tried to study!!

See you in 2010!!!

Biggest News in 2009

My personal biggest news in 2009 is, actually...the fact that having nothing biggest.

My resolutions were passing the first grade of EIKEN, taking the perfect score of TOEIC, and passing the fourth grade of French certificate.
2009 should have been an intensive year for me, but as I look back this year, it has been even sluggish.
I just achieved one resolution out of three!!!

I could excuse. I had to go to hospital often this year, and unfortunately I got an adverse effect. It took a lot of time...but I can't deny this..."my motivation got lower than it used to be."
Why?maybe because I settled down in my mother country, Japan, got a stable job & our own condo, my hubby has been promoted, and our relationship has been firm & comfortable...

In other words, "I'm too happy to be hungry to make my dreams come true!!"
However, I shouldn't be so. Being happy & making an effort to get higher place can be compatible.

I really want to aim to become "ideal myself" everyday!
I would like to make this blog "the bridge" between "real me" and "dream me," which was my original intention of this blog, "dreamboat!"

Have a nice New Year Eve!!

English Learning Stylist

Last night, my hubby and I left home at 9:30 pm, drove on (actually, he ONLY drove) Tomei Highway, and got my parent-in-law's house at 2:30am.
Why did we go out so late? To avoid the traffic jam!
The congestion of Japanese major highways on busy seasons is terrible!
Fortunately, we had never been stopped by the congestion.

We are having a good time with my parent-in-law!
Also, this small town in Mie prefecture has become busier lately.
Exploring the town is interesting!

By the way, what inspired me today most was just a "page" on a magazine.
When I browsed "AERA English(English educational magazine for adults)" at a local bookstore, I found a new job title, from the introduction of a lady.
"English Learning Stylist!"
She (I forgot her name) was a beautiful lady who looked in her 30's.
She had been an English teacher at an English conversation school (like me,) and now her job is...what the title says.
She has kept her English journal for 19 years!!since she studied in America.
She wrote a book, "I recommend you to keep journal in English," and the book became a smash hit! The article said so.

Wow! I've kept my journal in English! But just for...three years?and "sometimes" I keep, "sometimes" I don't write.
In contrast to, she has never stopped writing English journal!!

I learned from her that if we continue something, we can get something worth to be a professional. Do I have a possibility to be "English learning stylist!??"
Before I dream of that, I should have my private students make their dreams come true, like getting a high score of TOEIC or passing EIKEN.
That's very hard thing for me!!!

News Resource

I said I started to subscribe "The Japan Times Weekly," but just after I applied for that, I found another English weekly newspaper.
"The Nikkei Weekly!"
I've read Nikkei for years, but I didn't notice the ad!
I applied to get the sample issue, and two papers were delivered yesterday.

Both papers look good! Which one should I continue to read? Can I keep reading two papers every week?
That's the question...

I also watched a video, "CNN Hero Award" today.
This awards are presented to many people, who helped physically challenged or people in poor areas. The presenters are gorgeous celebrities. Nicole Kidman, Eva Mendes, etc... The celebrities have also been involved in volunteer activities.
I really hope this award program will start in Japan, as well! We should!

I would like to, and I feel "we should" know what is happening in the world, how people help each other beyond the cultural differences, and keep myself "moved" by inspiring people.
To do so, which resource should I use? I'll do try searching the best one, next year.

Housecleaning!

Two major things to do at the end of year (in Japan) are...you know, writing new year cards and the general housecleaning!

I almost finished the new year cards stuff, so I cleaned my house today.
I washed the windows, cleaned the kitchen including ventilating fans and refrigerator, with...nobody.
My hubby had a bad hangover, so he slept all afternoon!

Yesterday, he sent a text message to me in the afternoon. It was written "I'm going to the end-year party tonight, so you don't need to prepare my dinner!"
Then...he didn't come back until 3:00am!

I knew he was a "decent" "grown-up," but I was worried about him.
He rarely goes our for a drink, and seldom came home so late without any mail or phone call.
If he was having fun, it's all right...
But, what if he was abducted by a mysterious syndicate, was tied with a chair, and tortured!?!? (You know, that exactly "almost never happens," though...)
I know I had watched American TV dramas too much, like "Heroes" or "Chuck," that's why I could imagine such criminal scenes! But why didn't he call me???

The reason was very simple, he had just been busy with many co-workers.
He came home past 3:00 am, not having been tortured. Just having fun!

He said "I'm sorry!" again and again, not only he didn't call me last night, but also he couldn't help me with housecleaning today.

But it's OK! Last night, I read an article about the U.S. president Obama, and went to bed, being worried about my hubby.
Maybe that's why? In my dream, my husband WAS the President Obama, and he apologized to me! He said, "I'm DEEPLY regretful that I didn't call you last night..." looking into my eyes.

One of the most powerful men in the world apologized to me on the behalf of my REAL husband!! Therefore, I completely forgave him.
Thanks to sir, President!

Table for Two

Merry Christmas, again!

I was "knocked down" by flu on the last Christmas, so I'm HAPPY to be able to celebrate Christmas even though I've "kept" rash over my body!!

Because I worked until 9:30 pm last night, and my hubby is having the year-end party tonight, we had a home-made Chritstmas party on 23, alone.

I cooked all dishes & put my favorite clothes on (the venue was our house, though...)

My favorite dish was...the left one! Doom-shaped Sushi! I cut out peppers, cucumbers, hams, and cheese into the shape of flower. Then I placed them into a rice bowl, and put sushi rice into it. After I flipped it over on the dish...here is the "flower-doom" sushi!!

I think we had a "recession version's home party." I used cheap ingredients to cook. And cake, as well! The Christmas cake was, actually from our condo's real estate agent. We got it by sweepstakes! This cake was very interesting. In the box, there were many small roll cakes, a ribbon, and Christmas ornaments.

Yes! The cake is for self-decoration!

I used whipped cream, raspberry, blueberry, and added more edible ornaments.

The finish was... here it is!! I attached the "front" photo and the "back" photo.

(I'm sorry! I couldn't change the angle of these photos... I'll change them later!!) What do you think? This is apparently, "the recession version's Christmas cake!"

It's almost free for us!!

We enjoyed the Christmas dinner. Although it was "table for two" as well as usual...

Wait a minute! The cake is really "for two!??"

In our condo, many families have kids. Therefore, the cake (the prize of condo's sweepstakes) was the "family" size. As you notice, we've still been eating the cake...

Christmas Gifts

Merry Christmas!
Today, we didn't have regular classes at my school, so I had just three private lessons.

Reiko; 50, a Japanese calligraphy teacher. She has a college student daughter and a high school student son, but she looks an ACTRESS!!　Her fashion is always perfect, her nails are gorgeous... AND she has a good sense of humor. I love her!

Chiharu: 10, an elementary school student. She loves Tokyo Disney Land, and always buys the souvenirs to me.

Kotaro:17, a high school student. Her mother is very eager to have her sons study English. Actually, the whole family members are our students!
He just came back from school trip to...Hawaii! Do you envy him!? I do!!!

Since they always give me something(like souvenirs,) I bought them Christmas cookies shaped Santa!! Aren't they cute?
I also give these to my colleagues. Especially, I wanted to express my thanks to Bill and Tricia, new American teachers! As they had kid Christmas lessons today, Bill disguised him as a Santa, and Tricia became a reindeer! They were such good sports to make our school atmosphere on Christmas Eve, enjoyable!!

...And, I bought a Christmas gift to myself, as well...
Can you guess what the shoe-shaped one with lots of spangles? A pen case!! I felt, I would study harder if I got such a beautiful pen case!!

...I always make an excuse when I buy something...