It's been a while since I wrote on this blog last.
To tell the truth, I have spent the toughest time in my lifetime: my father was diagnosed as having cancer. His cancer is in its terminal stage and cannot be removed in the operation.
No one in my family noticed his illness until he said he was so tired that he stayed in his car while we went shopping together.
He was so shocked to hear that and so was I. I could do nothing but cried everyday.
so tough... and so much tears...
I couldn't write how tough it was.
However, after a long struggle, I have come to appreciate the time we are given.
I am very busy taking care of him in my parents' home. (as I live next to their house, I can stay with him any time.)
I am very happy to do so. Actually I feel happiest in these ten years or so.
I will write on this blog again. This blog will be a wonderful memory.
I have been cleaning and tidying up my kitchen for about two weeks.
Honestly, I haven't finished it yet :(
I have been reading 'Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui' for a month, and I found an impressive episode in that book.
One man decided to tidy up his kitchen and eat all the food he had in his kitchen. And he also decided not to buy any food until he finished eating everything.
Can you imagine how long it took for him to do that?
It took eight weeks!!
He ate everything except ten cans of food he didn't like and happily he went shopping to buy some food.
Actually that's exactly what I wanted to do.
I did start to manage not to buy anything but vegetables or things I am running out of.
I am so happy to see there is a little food and well organized in the refrigerator.
I will go on to the food stuck under the sink.
I have been too sleepy for this week.
Since my son came back to school last week, I had to wake up early in the morning.
My baby often wakes up in the night and kept me awake for a while many times.
It is so tough for me. I usually need eight hour sleep.
I took a long nap in the afternoon many times this week.
I have so many things to do in my mind, but I can't do so as I would like to, which makes me frustrated.
I will meet one of my friends tomorrow, and I hope we can be inspired by each other to learn English more.
I usually watch a news show in the evening. I like a documentary part and watched it today, too.
I was so shocked to see that: In Nagoya, many non-governmental groups deliver cooked rice for homeless people.
One group was featured on that program. They have a free medical check service as well, inviting volunteer doctors, nurses, doctors-in-training.
Many people come to see a doctor, but they rarely go to hospital even when they are advised to do so.
( In that program, they said there was a hospital in Nagoya for those who didn't have money. The hospital itself bears the cost.)
One homeless men was featured in this TV program a few years ago, they broadcasted today. And, to my surprise, it was reported that he died without being noticed by anyone in his apartment this year.
I was so shocked to see that, and became so sad...
He was 58 years old. He said he had to continue to work till 65 years old so that he would be able to receive a pension. He actually seemed ill in that program. And he died solitary death.
I can't find the word except shocked, but only thing I can say is I hope this won't happen again.
炊き出し：soup run
One of my to-do lists for September is to clean and tidy up the kitchen in my house.
It seems that there's nothing to do with learning English, but it's the key point for making my dream come true.
I made an English learning club online, 'Virtual English club' and I really enjoy learning English and communicating with each other in that club.
I have a lot of things in my mind that I would like to do with the member.
So, why do I have to clean and tidy up my kitchen?
It is because I would like to learn English with my friends not only online but also offline.
I thought there were no rooms in my house for having a meeting for a circle, so I almost gave up.
But, I found it! In the kitchen, there is a dining table and I can invite three people one time.
I thought there was so long a way to go for making my dream come true.
But, I think I can take a step forward by tidying up the kitchen.
I will start to do so in no time!
One of my friends, who is a mother of two daughters, visited my house two weeks ago.
She said that she went out with her younger daughter, who is almost two years old, every day while the elder sister went to kindergarten.
When I heard this, I simply thought I can't do so every day.
Actually, I have seldom had a chance to go out with my baby.
However, it has been getting tough for me to take care of my baby inside home, as he often throws temper tantrum.
As I wrote on this blog, he began to walk in his shoes just a week ago and he likes to go out very much.
Another friend of mine said that it is good for mothers to go out with their babies because they don't make a mess in the house.
All right, I will go out more often than ever, I decided.
A few days ago, one of the teeth of my elder son's fell out.
He said he had a wobbly tooth several months ago, and finally it fell out.
It is the first time for him, so he became excited so much.
We have a superstition to have a good tooth:
We should throw the upper tooth on the roof, and the lower tooth on the ground.
When I told that to him, he said he didn't want to do so.
I gave him a box, and he seemed so glad to put the tooth in that box.
He even said 'Good night' to his tooth.
How adorable!
Today was the last day of my son's summer vacation.
Before looking back over my 'virtual summer vacation', I will write some about his 'real' vacation.
First of all, I am sooooooooooooooo glad his summer vacation is over.
Taking care of two kids is extremely tough for me.
I always scolded him for being lazy, not doing what I told him to do, or doing something bad.
I sometimes became mad and regret it afterwards.
I took him to many places, as I don't want to be angry at him. Honestly, I myself want to enjoy going out and feel relaxed.
When he tried to draw his picture diary, he said he didn't remember anything, which made me mad :(
But, that's what a seven-year-boy does. I forget it.
Anyway, I am so happy now.
'Good job!' for myself with some beer!
My baby has started to walk with his shoes on.
The first time he tried his new shoes, he cried and took these off by himself.
I tried to have him put these on and this time he could do so.
He enjoys walking in his new shoes in a nearby park.
He goes out more often than usual.
I think it makes him go to bed early and sleep tight, but it doesn't work well.
Maybe, he becomes too excited.
And one thing I am worried is that his insteps of the feet are high and he can't put on any normal pair of shoes.
The shoes which he wears now is the present from one of my friends and they are a quite expensive ones.
I can't afford to buy such ones every time he needs to.
I have to check if there's good ones which fit him well every time I go to a shoes store.
Tomorrow is my last vacation day. I had several weeks, so no complaint here. Even though, I am not specifically looking forward to going back to work, I don’t really mind it.
I had not planned to go away this summer except to study; I wanted to do this and that and hope to do everything.
What I’m pleased about now that my vacation ends is that I accomplished most of what I wanted, not only what I wanted but also what I love to do. I rested for sure, but what I am the most pleased about is that I finished two courses and have begun another one :) I love studying –what a difference from the time I was at school.
I also worked with languages, which I love, and am very pleased that I could work on translations –yippee--, in addition to transcriptions, discussions and writings. I would have liked to work more on my English vocabulary and continue to work on my Russian but I did not do so much…. Sadly, to complete everything, days should have been longer….
Today is still a beautiful and warm day and no way, I had not the mind at my studies! This afternoon, I wanted more to go out, to listen to songs, to sing and dance!
I also had an English discussion but even though I had a few ideas beforehand of what to talk about, when it was the time, I only wanted small talk…a serious discussion who could dampen my mood, no thanks. If I can’t say all that I want in certain difficult topics, I am not so glad, and today is not a work day so it was a nice discussion.
Besides, to finish this day, I am looking forward to talking with friends tonight! It’ll be in English so in a way, I’ll practice :)
Have a great and lovely day!!
