Waipahu Hongwanji Bon Dance vlog - 07.14.2007 (Click to watch the video)

We noted the lack of a teru teru bozu hanging from the yagura at the Waipahu Hongwanji bon dance and the dark clouds overhead looked ominous. There’s nothing like a downpour to really put a damper on a good bon dance. No pun intended, of course. So, I decided that it was up to us to make a teru teru bozu of our own to keep the rain at bay. In champuru vlog #16, I talk a little bit about the teru teru bozu and show you scenes from the bon dance, which happens to be one of our favorites. This particular vlog is a little different from the other bon dance editions, featuring a little more dialog and a little less dance footage. After a while, it seems to “all look same.” So I injected a little more of my own personality into the vlog — for better or worse. At any rate, I hope you enjoy it. And if you run into me at a bon dance, be sure to stop by and say “hi!”

A quick catch-up on what happened this week…

Monday
* 2-hours training at Karate
* Tobi went to the beauty shop to get his summer crew cut

Despite his woeful expression, Tobi really does like his new ‘do

Tuesday
* Appointment at the infertility specialist. Ultrasound and trial transfer with a very FULL bladder. Not fun.
* Teach bon dance practice at Mililani Hongwanji. Lots of fun!

Wednesday
* Celebrated Aileen’s birthday at Romano’s Macaroni Grill at Ala Moana

Happy Birthday, Aileen!

Thursday
* Appointment with the infertility specialist (again). Another mid-cycle ultrasound and an hCG shot in the okole.
* Potluck at MiniChurch. No time to make spinach rolls (boo), so we ordered pizza.

Friday
* Went walking
* Stayed home and relaxed

champuru vlog #15 - 07.07.2007 (Click the link to watch)
A week late, but as I always say: better late than never.

Today, I went in for another appointment with the infertility specialist. This was my second visit to the doctor this week. On today’s agenda: an ultrasound and a hCG shot in the arse. And boy, let me tell you, it’s still smarting.

They also gave me a 2-week calendar (which starts on July 19) that dictates my schedule for the the cocktail of patches, daily injections, and pills that I’ll be taking to prepare me for the egg retrieval and subsequent in vitro fertilization procedures. It’s all happening so quickly, it’s a bit overwhelming.

In a couple of weeks, daily injections will be administered by the Hubby. If my butt hurts this badly now, I can only imagine how it’ll feel after having been stabbed every day for a couple of weeks. You’d think that a shot in the butt wouldn’t hurt so much with all that padding back there, but rather than get you in a nice, cushiony spot, the shot must be given in the muscle. Yow!

By the way, the Snoopy picture above? That’s the band-aid the nurse put on my butt after she stuck me in the backside with a needle. And yes, it’s still stuck to my butt. If you can believe it, taking the picture was Hubby’s idea. Who knew he would be so open to letting me post a picture of my butt on my website? Oh, well, you’ve already seen my innards, what’s a little booty picture now and then, right?

Marching ever closer to IVF… more updates to come.

I finally got around to it!

Click to watch my 4th of July videolog entry, giving you a glimpse of the festivities at the Sills Field at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. Happy belated 4th!

Today, my pupule bruddah Keet and a few friends went to Rissho Kosei Kai to help teach Okinawan bon odori in preparation for the upcoming bon dance on July 20 and 21.

For posterity sake, I brought my video camera and filmed the practice. If you’re planning on coming out to the RKK bon dance and you need a refresher on the Okinawan dances, you can check out these videos. Keith and I are the ones in the middle of the circle wearing the hapi coats. (Just keep in mind that this was only practice.)

Click the links below to view the video. (Launches a new window)
Asadoya Yunta (RT: 3 min 11 sec)
Ashimiji Bushi (RT: 45 sec)
Ichubigwa (RT: 2 min 39 sec)
Jintubido (RT: 3 min 37 sec)
Shichigwachi Eisa (RT: 3 min 7 sec)
Suriagari (RT: 3 min 13 sec)
Tenyo (RT: 2 min 57 sec)

Friday 5′ing a couple of days late since Hubby and I did a voluntary 48-hours of no-TV/no-PC.

1. Given as a percentage, approximately what are the chances that there is a french fry somewhere in your car? If you do not own a car, what are the chances that there is a french fry somewhere in the car you most frequently ride in?
Chances are pretty good, about 65%, that there is a fallen french fry tucked into a nook in my car. Whenever we happen to feel like some artery-clogging fare, we tend to drive-thru and eat in the car in the parking lot.

2. Given as a percentage, approximately what are the chances that you will eat ice cream sometime in the next four days?
40%. Although I love ice cream, I don’t have any in my freezer at the moment. If there were a carton of rocky road in there, the percentage would go up to a good 80%.

3. Given as a percentage, approximately what are the chances that you’ll get a personal, handwritten greeting in the mail sometime in the next week?
Pretty low. Probably 0%. If I did receive something in the mail that wasn’t a bill, it would be serendipitous indeed.

4. Given as a percentage, approximately what are the chances that there will be rain in your neighborhood within the next forty-eight hours?
About 45%.

5. Given as a percentage, approximately what are the chances that in the next twenty-four hours, you will be in the same room as a naked person other than yourself?
100%. It’s called marriage.