Adventures of a Social Worker Mommy

I see Jesus every day.

2011-03-11T21:55:00.000-05:00

Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

I see Jesus every day in everyone that I meet, everyone that I talk to. Today I saw him in the eyes of a 40-something veteran. He was haggard from being on the streets for who knows how long, his blue eyes accepted the kindness that I have to give him "you're the first person who wasn't scared of me."

I see him in the man who is too mentally ill to keep himself clean and take care of his diabetes. Kindness is like medicine to them. I show them I care, that I love them and am there to listen and to help. They are somebody's baby, they are God's baby. I love them with all my heart. I cry with them when they are sad. I'm tough on them when they need it. Every day I pray "Lord, let it be your words...not mine. Let it be your heart...not mine.

I see Jesus all around me, every day and I only hope I'm treating him the way he wants to be treated.

Live love!

2011-02-25T17:19:00.002-05:00

Oh what a week it is every week in the life of a Mommy Social worker! So many interesting and shocking things to say but so many hippa protections to block me :) Loving life and what I do so much that I am constantly thanking God and asking him to let the blessings continue. I only hope that I am carrying out his purposes. The main idea I believe he wants me to live out is to LIVE LOVE. With love in our lives we are so much better off. A child with and with out love can turn out worlds different. I choose to love my child and every one around me with all my heart. Romeo is TALKING TO ME!!! He has TWO balloons right now and is very happy! Orange balloon which comes out more like "Boo Oran!" He is so happy and handsome he lights up my every day. Thank goodness for another long weekend with my baby to spend with family and relaxing. Now we are off to make some dinner. I'm thinking homemade Chinese!!

Hooray for advancement!

2010-08-12T21:05:00.002-04:00

Romeo found the joys of playing with a hose today. He was trying to figure out how to turn it on, I did it for him the first time. He was standing on his own tossing the water around with the end of the house. Then he would ask for my hand and we would walk over to the valve. Romeo would turn it off then turn it the other way. He would turn when he heard the sound of the water and run back over to play with the end. He created a mud puddle, fell in it once, then I hosed him off. He's learning and it's so amazing!! In other words I am hating summer nights because I am plagued by allergies :(

Don't get used to this (me blogging regularly) =)

2010-07-22T23:29:00.003-04:00

"He's tall!"

WHAT? My son is tall??? I could not help but smile when a stranger said this to me. We had always heard Romeo was so tiny that it was frightening. Now he's....tall :) Romeo is doing so well. He is so happy and sweet. Well he also has his boy/aggressive side too. He tries to bite both Grandma's when they come over. They must look like pushovers ;) I understand his feelings when he tries to bite people. He knows he should not bite and will probably get in trouble. He puts his teeth around your skin suddenly and very quickly, he looks at you, contemplating whether he should bite you or not. Romeo looks like biting you would relieve his baby frustrations so well. Sometimes he chooses the right thing and sometimes he chooses the wrong thing.... I bite Bear occasionally and suddenly to relieve stress. Romeo must get it from me?

I am so incredibly blessed by my job. I have a career that feels like a ministry, I know have 36 new "friends," every day is different...I love it. Yes, of course there is WAY too much to do, I have yet to take a lunch break and there are times when I would rather sit in my car, staring blankly with my mouth open than help someone through life's struggles BUT...there are bad parts about every job :) The harder I work, the more I get paid and that is just the way I like it!

I am SO excited to take Romeo on his first out of state vacation!!!! And he gets to ride a plane!! He is such a sweet boy. I'm sure he'll love travel just as much as his mommy. This will be my first vacation other than Cedar Point in almost THREE YEARS!!! Wowsa. Thank God that I am still sane. So excited to see family and have a little time off :) Hopefully I don't get too many frantic phone calls while in bama...

Why am I blogging after month's off? Bear has been gone for the night. He does USPA competition shooting every Thursday and then he went to see a friend. Between work, cooking, cleaning, Romeo and Bear I never have a second to myself. Now I do! Me likey :)

Happy Easter!

2010-04-04T10:14:00.003-04:00

Then bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave HE ROSE AGAIN, and as He stands in victory, sin's curse has lost it's grip on me, for I AM HIS and HE IS MINE, bought with the precious blood of Christ :)

Thank you Jesus for giving it all so I may live my life with forgiveness and FREEDOM in You!! Oh, and thank you for the sun today :)

What a beautiful day!! Romeo is taking a mini nap in his swing right now but after that it should be plenty warm enough for us to go on a walk!

My heart is with my family in Texas, I wish so badly that I could be there, but I will enjoy myself here as much as I can. The warm weather with my baby definitely helps ease my sorrow ;)

Today Bear, Romeo and I are going to Frankenmuth to eat the yummy food with Bear's family. I am so excited to take Romeo there, I'm sure he will love walking around, and of course he loves eating good food! Every day is so new and joyful with Romeo around :) Today I am so thankful for my family spread all over the country and for my little boy, my home and my hubby. Jesus thank you for dying for me so that I can live life to its fullest!

Turns out my week next week is jam packed with trainings (which I probably should be thankful to be more prepared) so it looks like I want start of with my caseload until next Monday. I will take in as much knowledge as I can and I am rearing to go! *fingers crossed* Hopefully I can do it!

HAPPY EASTER!

A Welcome to Opportunity!

2010-03-26T11:48:00.003-04:00

Hard to believe but FOUR more teeth are coming in for a grand total of EIGHT now. If nothing else, he has a very advanced mouth! :) I gave him his first haircut the other day. He looks so handsome :)

Bear and Romeo are doing SO good at home together! The house is immaculate and both boys are happy. I'm so proud of them. Coming home to a clean house and Romeo's smiling face, makes for the best day ever, everyday! I realized, while job shadowing yesterday, that I will definitely be praying with out ceasing NO CEASING while on the job. Little me commanding the masses in one of the most dangerous cities I know of. Props to mom this job and this place are CRAZY! I am excited but also questioning if I will have the confidence and the bravery to do well. I know I will in the long run but for this moment I still feel like a baby that should be interning instead of holding my own caseload! I welcome the challenge :) Thank you Jesus for bringing me a real job!
I am off today spending time with momo. He's sleeping now. I wish we could go for a walk but alas MI is still a frozen wasteland :) Maybe next week!

Awe inspring weekend

2010-03-21T09:16:00.002-04:00

Bear fixed my iBook!! It was broken out of account that I dropped it one time a couple years ago, but it was an easy fix. I'm very impressed with mac that a 5 year old laptop is still fine to use.

Romeo is a beautiful boy and we have been having SO much fun in the warm weather! Too bad it's cold today :( The other day we had just started a walk down my road when I look up to see a GIANT coyote full tilt sprinting across my neighbors yard!!! It was HUGE, probably the size of a big german sheperd. It was about 15 ft from us running so fast, it didn't even look at us and kept running, across the street, into another houses woods, until I couldn't see it anymore. My jaw literally dropped to the floor and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I had no idea if they're dangerous so I thought, if he looks at me are we going to fight?!??! It was one of the most awesome yet scary moments ever!

In other news, Romeo was drooling a lot last night and Bear said, "maybe he's getting more teeth." I thought...nooo I bet he'll cool it on the teeth for a while. Low and behold I looked in his mouth and you can already see two teeth on the top breaking through! 6 teeth before age 1 he is really not wasting time on making teeth! He still isn't crawling....but oh well lol. Romeo and I are eating breakfast and then off to church for the day, youth group tonight. It is always tons of fun, love the kiddos and Romeo loves the attention!

Chinese Pineapple Poke

2010-02-28T00:35:00.005-05:00

Tonight I made sweet and sour chicken. Everyone reviewed it with 5 stars, raving about how yummy it was so I followed the recipe exactly. 1/2 cup of vinegar...??? okkkey. Suuuuper vinegarrry BUT it's OK I was able to salvage it. Anyway that aside....

Romeo had finished eating but then started staring at my bowl, sitting on the side of the couch, crying... Hmm... nope he didn't want any so I sat him on my lap and gave him the bowl. He was very excited and started to reach his whole hand in into the ricey gooey pinappley mixture. "No, Romeo!" I say. He stops, looks at me then proceeds to grunt (it's a girly, high-pitched grunt) and ever so cutely poke, yes POKE with pointed finger, the pineapple. He continues to squeal and grunt while poking all the gooey pinapple's in my bowl. I am hysterically laughing at him while he is poking and looking up at me, laughing. He was entertained with the remnants of our meal for the next 30 minutes or so. He grabbed the spoon and ever so smoothly and rhythmically would scoop a pineapple up, drop it and pick it up again over and over. After a while he started to get too grabby with the rice, making a mess so that game had to stop.

I smashed my finger yesterday putting wood in the wood stove and it is still quite sore and a weird pool chalk blue.

Romeo has FOUR teeth!

Ode to 2000

2010-01-12T15:39:00.003-05:00

I thought I would reflect on the last decade.

In the year 2000 I was in SEVENTH grade. Wow.

But really, exciting things have only happened since 2005 so let's start there.

Since then I have...

Graduated High School 2005

Went to Calvin College 2005

Lived in Japan 2007

Got Married 2008

Co-owned a pet store 2008

Got 2 doggies 2008

Bought a house 2009

Graduated College 2009

Had a son 2009

In the next decade I would like to add..started a career in Social Work to my list...please!

That is all.

Tonight

2009-12-10T21:13:00.002-05:00

I just laid Romeo down for bed, such a good boy :) The wood stove is glowing and warm, doggies are snoozing, I love winter (at least for now). Tomorrow, I am meeting with my Nursing advisor at U of M Flint! If all goes well I will be taking a few pre-requisites starting next month! 2 of them are online so that will make it much easier. I am very excited to start the program and am hoping that my investment in schooling will pay off. At least with a job in the end..one that pays a living wage :)

I have pork bones (left over from tonight's dinner) simmering on the stove to make pork stock for future gravy. Thanks to mom I now know how to make delicious gravy. I also made a meatloaf this week that was killer (ketchup and brown sugar as the topper). I am really enjoying cooking.

I am also watching The Office and Michael said Jesus can heal Leopards..classic.

Anywho I am going to go eat homemade cookies and milk with Bear.

Goodnight!

Winter is here!

2009-12-07T23:15:00.002-05:00

Well well well. Things here are about the same. Romeo is happy, healthy and tiny. He is such a good boy. He no longer likes to be rocked to sleep. Every night around 9:30pm I lay him in his crib and without a peep he goes to sleep on his own! He is getting very social and smily with strangers, definitely a flirt. He still doesn't like to be held by others but doesn't seem to be traumatized by it like before. Oh! And he's got a tooth halfway out on the bottom it is tooo cute.

We got our basement walls (the old 1800's stone) insulated with foam so they are now all white but still in rock shape. It is so much warmer down there! Everything feels really solid. Wood stove is a burnin, Christmas tree is up and everything is so cozy :)

Romeo's winter coat that mom bought was too big (baby boy isn't quite as long as we had anticipated) so I went and exchanged it today for one that has Bear ears. SO cute... It is so warm too!

In later news, I applied to Oakland University and am going to do their accelerated Nursing program!! Details to come but it's going to take me about a year and a half and I'm going to start either next month or in the Spring. I will not seal my fate in making $10 an hour forever...so Nursing it is! I'm very excited but I hope going to school won't take too much time away from being with Romeo. I looove being with him all day :)

Bear is slow at work so we are enjoying being home as a family in our wonderful, cozy home :) Excited to be with the WHOLE family for Christmas time very, very soon!

Looking Forward to the Cold

2009-10-07T12:50:00.004-04:00

Mom got Romeo winter boots, hat and coat. Here he is in his jammies :)

I loooooove this picture. He looks like such a little boy!!

Here is our new wood stove!!

I am loving the weather getting cold for the first time in my life!

Habeneros are NOT my friend

2009-10-06T22:44:00.003-04:00

Romeo and I are at the grocery store..I'm about to reach for some jalapeno peppers when I see some pretty, enticing yellow orangy peppers..I think to myself, these look like habenero peppers...cool! So I buy them. I was making a spin on the taco bell bacon burrito (potatoes, bacon and ground turkey very yummy) that I always make and I always want an extra kick in there for myself. As I'm making the burrito I begin to fry up my new pepper friends. *I am very glad that I gave Romeo to Bear to hold while I was cooking because usually he sits in his high chair while I charm him with my cooking skills* All of sudden my senses were assaulted by something that felt like an INCREDIBLE allergy attack plus pain. Almost immediately I had to leave the kitchen. I was crying, coughing, sneezing uncontrollably; my voice was hoarse, my nose was running, i couldn't breathe, the pain and sneezing fits forced me to my knees. The whole house tasted like fire. Bear and Romeo began to cough in the living room. And we were all coughing hours later after fans and open doors and windows...it was VERY dramatic...i was too scared after that to even eat one! I just licked one of them and my tongue wants to fall off.

I have decided I have experienced a taste of hell that is habenero peppers. Yes, there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Bear Claw now has 3 more loop jobs coming up!!! Wowsa. 2 of them are 3 loops each when they usually are only 1... We are in the right field and Bear will be busy to say the least.

Do not disapoint the blondes

2009-10-05T23:32:00.002-04:00

So last year during the holiday season I worked as a Japanese interpreter at Coach. They called me again this year, asking me to work the season. I thought it might be nice, making extra cash, getting to spend time with adults, etc, and I was going to go. Then my car went on the fritz again, we thought we fixed it but now it's stalling out every five minutes (undriveable..). Driving a gas-guzzling-work truck to Novi doesn't sound like fun. Also Bear is getting really busy with work and wouldn't be around to watch Romeo like we had thought. So I was going to turn the job down.

I was supposed to go in on Sunday to fill out an application just to appease corporate but had decided to tell them in person I wasn't returning this season. Coach purses are really expensive. The majority of the people who buy them..well lets just say...the girls are not like me. They are the prissy girls, the cheerleaders, the "popular" ones and they are usually only your friend if you do what they want. I walked in to the impeccably clean store, Bear and I dressed very casual, greeted by the perfectly dressed, prim and proper associates that I used to work with. "Oh Hannah! I didn't recognize you...didn't your hair used to be...blonder?.." Out came the manager with a stern smile, pushing the application packet across the counter, while focusing all her attention on the one customer in the store. I froze..a group of ten ex-cheerleaders in suits are circling us with smiles while the manager is busy. What do I do?? How do I disappoint them? They're so smiley.... So I say, "Okay..thank you..I have to go!" Grab Bear, the packet and walk out... oops..
Well I ended up calling the assistant manager the next day, who I can relate to much better, and told her the story but man did I panic before..

Romeo is great still having tons of fun. We just got a wood stove and are currently enjoying a wonderful fire while Romeo is in dream land the grown ups relax. Goodnight moon.

I can has vote pullleeeze???

2009-09-25T11:55:00.001-04:00

http://gapc-vote.com/?p=1808598

Go to this link and vote for Romeo in a cute baby contest!!

Dirty Job

2009-09-25T11:00:00.003-04:00

I wish I had a better picture but here's what I've looked like the past couple days absolutely covered in mud...in my hair, on my face, mud-filled shoes...I've been unrolling 3, 600 foot pipes in 5 foot deep trenches filled with water...I'll take more pictures tonight. We're almost done with the loops. It's hard work but a lot of fun getting dirty! I also saved 6 baby turtles stuck in the trench! I have pictures of them on Bears phone. When we left at dark last night holes busted through the trench and they were quickly filling with water from the pond so the trench will be 5 feet of water...yikes! But the excavator is working great!!

Lonely Start to Our Business

2009-09-22T10:55:00.004-04:00

Bear Claw Geothermal Loops & Service LLC is having it's first official job as I type! I am supposed to be there with Bear right now helping him but due to poor planning..no fault of our own of course =)...he has to start the job today and of course no one is available to babysit!! So he is doing a 3 person job essentially, alone. I wish I could be a part of it and be with him helping but I can't :( I can't even bring Romeo and go cheer him on b/c my car is still stalling out frequently (I don't want to drive it in fear of burning out the fuel pump again), Ginetta took our truck and left her car, which will not start when there is any moisture around... so here I am stuck sending my prayers to the job site. Go Bear!

On another note, Romeo loves his mommy! They say, generally, that stranger anxiety starts around 8 months...well...Romeo seems to be very VERY aware. He will be content in my arms and I will hand him over to someone else and the second he gets in their hands he will start crying and continue to cry until he is back in my arms again. He seems to be very sullen and watchful around strangers as if he's thinking who is this person and what are their motives for talking to me...are they going to take me away from the safety of mom? I am absolutely content holding him all day but it is always sad for people who want to hold him because they can't. It takes him quite a while to warm up to people as if credibility and trust must be earned, at his discretion. A friend at church even asked "Does he ever smile?" "Has he ever laughed" He laughs his head off when he's playing at home... So now he's an overly tiny, sad baby to those who don't know him well..great...
But he is a JOY to his momma!

Fit Baby

2009-09-14T14:22:00.002-04:00

Well hello again! Blogging is much harder with a baby :) Right now he is napping and this is my time for shower, house cleaning, checking email whatever else I need to get done. Usually his naps are only 20 minutes so getting anything done is near impossible. Lately he's been taking about 3 hour naps but this means he doesn't sleep as well at night. I'm not sure which I'd rather have because I get so much done during nap time!!

I love being home with Romeo. I feel like we are getting to know each other so well and we are best friends :) He laughs and smiles so much now but he is also discovering new noises. Now instead of crying...he screams and you have to hear it to appreciate it. Very funny but also makes him sound more like a naughty toddler than a newborn.

As you know Romeo is a skinny baby. People do not take well to this. If they see an obese baby who looks like their feet are about to burst open and have trouble breathing they say, Awww! If they see my baby with meat on his bones but slender they say, "Oh my goodness is he OK???" Every single time I go out I get at least 3 people saying the list of questions I have heard way too many times. "Oh he is SO cute!! How old is he?" or "He must be a newborn."
"He's almost 4 months"
"Oh no....was he a preemie??"
"No, actually he was late"
"He's so skinny did the doctor say he's OK?" or "How much did he weigh at birth?"

Romeo is completely normal. He weighs about 11 pounds and is 23 inches long. He was 7 lbs and 19 3/4 inches at birth. That's great gain for a breast fed baby. I think he looks great but still all the comments and stares like I"m starving him.

The other day at Kroger the same list of questions they think he is so cute until I tell them his age. Same thing happened and the lady said, to the baby, "we need to put some meat on your bones don't we sweety!"

Oh geez. Oh well! So I have been trying to feed him as much as I can and I think he looks great :) Everyone else needs to be quiet!! lol Anyways better clean something :)

Yay for stay-at-home moms!!

2009-08-21T21:48:00.001-04:00

I have been a working mom and I have been a stay-at-home mom... The good Lord has made me to be an at home mommy :) Working with a child and a hubby was the pits I was always stressed to the max. Being at home with Romeo is bliss. I enjoy being with him, playing with him, teaching him, cuddling with him SO much. Yes, it comes with challenges for sure but they are well worth it. Romeo is so alert and aware. I can read him books and he intently looks at the pictures, quietly listens and then talks back to me. He mimics what I say to him. He loves being outside and looking at the trees. My heart melts when he looks at me with his giant blue eyes and long eyelashes that he so adorably bats at me. What a cutie!

That's a Nice Picture You Got There!

2009-06-18T14:00:00.002-04:00

No matter where we are sitting with Romeo on the couch he is always staring at a picture of Bear and I dancing on our wedding day. He is content to sit and stare at it even if he has to crane his neck and eyes to see it. Sometimes he has a confused look on his face, sometimes content, and sometimes extremely concentrated. I wanted to see if he really was staring at the picture so while Bear was holding him I took the picture down and brought it closer to him. Romeo's eyes followed the picture down and immediately he started looking the picture up and down very rapidly about 5 times and then he smiled a HUGE crooked smile. It was the cutest thing I have ever seen. Apparently he likes to see his parents dance...?
He is starting to interact with us. If we tickle him, touch his nose, or dance with him he smiles at us. Cute baby!!!

Lions and Tigers and Angry Little Bear. Oh My!!

2009-06-06T23:45:00.002-04:00

It seems like Romeo already knows that home is a nice place to be. He was very fussy the whole time we were in Ohio. I got NO sleep and I caught a cold. He demanded VIGOROUS bouncing non-stop at night until like 3 or 4 am and then woke up every two hours. Bear had to wake up at 7 and I usually stayed up too. It was nuts... As soon as we got home he was back to his lovely self. He slept the entire first night home.

Romeo has been to the zoo already!! He can never say that we never take him anywhere :) The Columbus zoo was only 3 minutes from where we were, Bear got out early his last day and I thought it would be a shame if we left with out going. My camera was dead before I could take any pictures, unfortunately, but we had a lot of fun. It was our first stroller endeavor (that thing is a smooth ride!!). Well, early that day I had taken Romeo for a walk in the cute downtown area of Dublin.

It's good to be home!!

Good baby? Good mommy? I'll go with both :)

2009-06-02T10:39:00.002-04:00

Romeo is a very good baby in my opinion. He seems to only cry when he needs something and a lot of his awake time he is content to just sit and look around. But what I found out is that I think he is such a good baby because I hold him 24/7.

Mom got me this book, "The Happiest Baby on the Block," where this PHD guy spent his life figuring out how to help newborns calm themselves. I have really enjoyed reading it and I think the man is a genius. He says that newborns are looking for the 'fourth trimester.' This means we need to mock their life in the womb as much as possible until they learn to calm themselves on their own. His advice REALLY works. One of the things he says is that, in the womb a baby is 'held' ALL the time. If you hold them 12 hours out of the day after they are born, even though that seems like a ton to you, the baby feels like he's getting ripped off. Anyway so I hold him every second I can and I snuggle with him all night.

Yesterday was the first day when I didn't hold him very long. Bear has training for work in Ohio from Tuesday until Thursday so yesterday we took off on the 5ish hour drive to the training. This means the baby was strapped in the car seat for a long time. He did NOT like it. He did fine until the trip was just about over and he was crying non-stop. Once we got into our hotel room he would not stop loudly wailing unless I was VIGOROUSLY bouncing him (basically tossing him in the air). I had to do this literally non-stop until about 3:30 am..............................

Then we had to get up at 7:30................................ Poor Bear, he has to be tired in a boring training at least I get to chill in the hotel room............wifi.......cable.....Romeo's happier today :)

Romeo!!

2009-05-29T17:42:00.003-04:00

I have to say I LOVE being a mom. I really didn't know if I would.... Everyone said oh the mother instinct will kick in and you'll love your newborn so much blah blah blah. I was skeptical.

The truth is the mother thing was not instant. After a lifetime of thinking newborns were ugly I did not magically see my child as a beauty. I did not instantly love him more than I have ever loved anyone... BUT I do now. It took me a couple of days and my love for him really hit me. I think he is so ugly he is adorable and I have never seen anything cuter. He's a tiny human.

I love taking care of him. I love holding him every second of the day. I just love being around him. He even sleeps in our bed next to me. I am SO happy that we decided to start a family as soon as we did. Wow what a little miracle!

Happy Due Date!

2009-05-17T22:04:00.002-04:00

We finally got a crib from a resale shop. It looks sooo cute with the bed set. We put another dresser and a swing in there since the pictures. We also have a curtain rod with a safari curtain to put up (so cute!).

Today is my estimated due date. Well it is tomorrow according to my last doctor. I walked all around with the fam earlier today and then I played some hardcore games of lightning and ultimate PIG (basketball) with the boys at youth group tonight. That was fun :) It seemed to bring on the contractions because I've been having a lot of them, or whatever you want to call them, tonight so hopefully they are doing something. I can't wait to meet Romeo!!

2009-05-13T16:21:00.005-04:00

These are pictures of all Romeo's stuff set up at the house...

Bear's Grandparents came over yesterday and they started us a garden! They rototilled a pretty decent sized spot now I just have to go out and get the seeds or bulbs or whatever you call them to start it up. Pretty exciting I just hope I'm up for it :)

As of today work has gotten crazy busy for Bear. I've already cleaned the house top to bottom and got everything ready to go for delivery and having the baby so I have...nothing to do! So I'm trying to take mom's advice and take it easy before the baby. I'm mostly bored though. It would be better if the weather was nice. Tonight I go to Hurley to learn how to do CPR on a baby, well tonight will be on a dummy but..

Waiting on You Baby

2009-05-05T16:31:00.002-04:00

38 and a half weeks... I washed all of Romeo's clothes. Everything seems to be ready to go.

I laid out in the back yard and read all afternoon while Berto mowed the lawn. That was nice :)

Cash has a nasty gash in his front leg so we have been watching him closely. He seems to be OK. He got it having way too much fun playing in the creek at Grandma's house. Boo got her first doggy period and I have to say it is one of the grossest things... I had no idea dogs actually got those! So she has been spending a lot of time outside. Hopefully that goes away soon.

I have been having all the pre-labor symptoms and am very ready to have this baby. My contractions (before painless) are now starting to hurt to where I have to stop what I'm doing while they are going on. I'm hoping this means the baby is coming soon. I have another appt. with the doctor on Thursday so we'll see if I am dilated or anything yet. It definitely is hard to not be antsy in the last couple weeks.

Healthy Baby Boy!

2009-04-30T20:38:00.002-04:00

Congrats to Max and Sarah on their new phase of life!!!

We had another ultra sound today!! My doctor wanted to check his growth (since I'm small) to make sure everything is going good. He looked beautiful. Cute nose, toes and everything he needs :) He's 5 lbs. 6 ounces. I'm really hoping he will decide to come out very soon or at least on time but it's allll up to him.
Katie and I put the wallpaper up in his room and organized everything the other day. I put together his stroller yesterday and am working on getting our hospital bag packed. Mom and I are going to a big mom to mom sale on Saturday so I hope I'll get a crib, some clothes, and other last minutes there. I am SO excited!! I also really hope he's on time so I can go to graduation after he's born!
Bear is going to a Men's Retreat with our church at a camp this weekend. He is a little apprehensive about being away all weekend but I think once he's there he'll have a great time. I'm going to spend the weekend in Lapeer and shop for baby stuff with mom.

Yay!

Alright..

2009-04-06T20:06:00.002-04:00

I am officially sick of being pregnant. A birth at 37 weeks is sounding pretty dang good right now but alas it could take up to 42!!!!!! I was up all night last night with a tummy ache and today has been miserable with heartburn, etc, etc.. I am ready to have this baby for sure.
The baby shower was great we have most of the things we need. When I get feeling a bit better I'll set everything up and get the rest of the things we need. I am very very excited to finally meet him and to be a mommy :) I am also definitely excited about being one person again!

Little Neighbor People

2009-03-23T09:42:00.003-04:00

Sometime last week I'm cleaning up in the house when I hear a knock at the door. I've never heard a knock at our door before so I see this as kind of strange. I go to the door and see the sleeve of a little boys army coat...hmm..
Last week when I lost Boo I walked around to all our close neighbors rather late in the evening, knocked on their doors, introduced myself as the new neighbor and asked if they had seen the dog. Our two neighbors very near to us were very sweet people and I hope I can have that nice neighborly relationship that everyone hopes for.
"Hi," says the little boy.
It's one of the little boys from across the street! "Hi, what was your name again?"
He tells me and then says he remembers my name. "You found your dog? That's good."
He stands there for a moment and I'm not sure what to do next. I've never owned a home and I've certainly never had a little neighbor boy before.
"It's cold," he says almost inquisitively.
Oh! He wants to come in? "Do you want to..."
"YES!"
So we talked for a while, he got bopped in the face by Cash's nose, I let him hold a few Geckos downstairs. Then he went home and I told him to come back whenever he like.

A few days later Bear and I are about to jump in the shower to start our Saturday agenda and we hear a knock at the door. Bear looks concerned and says, "Why is there knocking? Nobody knocks on our door?!"
It's neighbor boy and he brought his little sister. I open the door and I invite them in. The little girl is adorable, younger than her brother, and she is shy at first but seems to like being over. She wants to see the puppies and the geckos. Bear and him talk about video games (apparently they like the same ones). Then after a longer stay than the first time, with out warning, they run on home.

We have cute little neighbor kids! Future babysitters? Who knows!

Lost, Found and Appreciated

2009-03-19T15:39:00.002-04:00

Boo the doggy was lost for a day. She got out of her cage while we were gone and was running around the front porch with out ID. Some teenagers thought they were doing little doggy a favor, took her out of her own yard, and brought her to their house. They then (probably because she chewed all of their prized possessions and pooped all over their house) called animal control and sent poor little obedient doggy to jail. All the while her poor parents (ok mom) were posting flyers with her picture all over town and crying non stop...
It was really cool when we went to the pound to find her though because there were a bunch of doors and we didn't know which ones to go down. Bear and I started talking and Boo starts freaking out barking, I knew it was her, and immediately found her. We were SO happy to see her and so happy to have her back. She's a little pain sometimes but man I realized how much I do love that little dog and would NEVER want her gone!!
In other news the house looks great and we just need to do a few more things. Getting a living room furniture set would be great but we'll see if that's priority right now. We also want to sell our car and truck to get a nicer vehicle for baby so we'll see. The saturn is dead in the driveway :( Starter's broke... The truck is sitting on the rim with a flat... Bear will fix sunday..right? :)

2009-02-19T23:34:00.002-05:00

We are moving into the house little by little but for sure we will be all moved in and living there by next week! Steve and Bear have been working hard laying ceramic tile in the kitchen and getting everything looking great. Dad and I have been going hard at ALLL the painting. We've done the living room (which took forever) and are basically done with the bedroom. I just need to do the kitchen and we should be alright for now. We're getting a new garage door next week and NEW carpet sometime at the end of next week or beginning of the week after! The house is going to look sooo good. It will be fun to be rid of this little apartment next week and get used to living in a big house. Hopefully we can get it cozy and feeling like home in no time.

Domicile

2009-02-16T21:55:00.002-05:00

I got back from the 11th day of being at the house working! Things are coming along VERY well. We have ceramic tile in our kitchen now, the living room is all painted, and bear and I's bedroom is almost done. We get new carpet in two weeks. We're going to move in gradually over the next week. The house is such a wonderful blessing and very very exciting! It will be nice when all the late nights are over and we get to relax in our new place. Bye!

It's a....BOY!

2008-12-17T13:06:00.002-05:00

It was so funny because he was laying all relaxed with one hand behind his head and the other resting on his forehead. I said that looks just like Bear on the couch, he's a boy! And sure enough he is.

Working a lot this week and unfortunately a lot next week. The day after Xmas at 8 AM and Saturday!!! :( So much for Bear and I's mini-vaca... I need to get a real job that won't schedule me stupid days. I'll post the ultrasound pictures soon.

CHRISTMAS!

2008-12-11T19:39:00.002-05:00

I decorated our Christmas tree!!!! :) My computer is almost out of battery so I can't write much. Coach is going great I mostly speak Japanese the entire time. Bear is working a lot and we are trying to find a HOUSE!

2008-11-24T16:14:00.002-05:00

Bear and I enjoyed our first full weekend off. Friday I worked my first shift at Coach. It was fun. I got a purple scarf woo. Sat we went out to breakfast and here and there and then we went to the Comedy Castle in Royal Oak. The headliner was too dirty but it was a fun night out. Then Sunday we went to the Science Museum at Cranbrook and the planetarium! Very fun! This morning I went to Coach dressed and ready bright and early but the schedule I was given for NEXT week...oh well I'll try again next Monday :)

2008-11-18T17:35:00.002-05:00

We "moved" the store this past Saturday! Through some hookups we got a huge semi-like truck (except for open top bed) with a lift on the back to get all our millions and millions of tanks out. The first day was pouring rain. I wore a oversized carhart full suit standing on the back of the truck pushing tanks out to Bear and Steve. I stayed quite dry but man that weather... then we finished up on Sunday (we thought the weather couldn't be worse on Sat.) and we had just as hard as the rain but snow!! No, it wasn't so bad. The snow was very pretty and it was fun to watch the doggies in their first snowsperience :) As we were moving the dogs ran around the place and tore any paper, tp, cardboard, whatever they could find so the place is a MESS. I'm not sure if we care about that yet. We just have a few odds and ends and are hoping on selling two huge, heavy items and then we'll be out of there! Bear and I are both very happy to be done! LOTS more free time and relaxation.

In other news I start my new seasonal job at Coach on Friday. Go figure. I get to speak Japanese with the business men that frequent the store so that should be fun. Not really my type of people but we'll see maybe I will like it. It's just for something to do and for a little extra cash only until January.

I'm 14 weeks along. I think I'm starting to show a bit. According to my scale I've lost 7 lbs. or so but I think I was just heavy when I got pregnant. I'm happy with how things are going so far. I go in for another check up next week.

No internet in the apartment yet so blogging might be difficult but we'll see. Bye!

BABY!

2008-10-28T13:26:00.002-04:00

The picture she snapped kind of looks like a ghost but seeing baby moving was SO cute! We could see little fingers moving. Our doc said the baby was REALLY active she was trying to take measurements and it took her a while because the baby was always moving around. It was so exciting to see. We were surprised how much he or she already looks like a little human!

I definitely want to switch doctors already she spoke her mind a little too freely. Not the nicest lady in the world. She didn't even introduce herself to me. I was eating a breakfast burrito from McDonalds (NOT A NORMAL THING FOR ME I hate that place lol) and she said that is NOT a healthy breakfast you know. Then I was telling her family health history and stumbling to know exactly what health problems we've had and in a really snotty voice she said you really need to know this stuff. A liiiittle cold :) But still a very special day!

2008-10-21T18:07:00.002-04:00

To graduate study or not to graduate study that is the question. I am really leaning toward going back to school to get a MSW or something in that field but then I think I could try and get an entry level job with my bachelors degree... We'll see. I have until around March to apply to places. Whether we will sell the store to a new person or not is up in the air but either way I will not be here in 2 and a half weeks. VERY EXCITED. Then bill paying will be replaced with much more productive endeavors such as being pregnant, working out, cleaning, laundry, etc. Maybe I'll pick up a hobby. Anywho the Simpsons is back on :)

tore-say oodbye-gay!!! :)

2008-10-15T16:17:00.003-04:00

I gave the American bull dog back, he had fleas :( Not cool. I fed the dogs cat food yesterday (We had a full bag and no cats why not right??) and Bear is at home with a rented steam cleaner to salvage what is left of our poop soaked apartment :( Oh my. Too much information? lol Try cleaning it up... Sold the ferret yesterday, bunnies are sold for tomorrow now we're just down to a couple chinchillas! And thank the Lord almighty there will be a lot less poop in my future because we are losing-cay the tore-say in a ouple-cay eeks-way. Oh yes. Very happy about that! Here comes pregnant mommy hood with a lot less animal poop involved! Anyway I must go destinkafy some rats. oh yeah what a morning. Later!

2008-10-13T16:45:00.001-04:00

We finally sold all our kittens. Now we have a bull dog puppy. he...will...not...stop....barking...and he poops...constantly...and walks in it... Mammal sales are a bust. In other news that puppy is annoying. In other news I'm thirsty.

A New Chapter :)

2008-09-29T19:05:00.002-04:00

My family is growing. Bear and I are pregnant!! I don't know how far along yet but we will find out in a couple of weeks. We are very excited for the joys of pregnancy ;) and to welcome our new addition soon! The store is doing really well. We have so many cool things, making the place really something to be proud of. Times are hard for everyone but we are still making it. Life is a funny thing though, we keep hoping and praying that the economy will take a turn for the better, especially now that we are going to have a baby...the stock market crashed today. What is going to save us this time from our Great Depression? I don't know what to think about all this. It is an unstable time to be a young, wanting to buy a house, baby on the way, small business owning married couple but I am ready to fight for my life!

The Big Screen

2008-09-10T18:49:00.002-04:00

So yesterday I was on the movie set of "Miss January." It is a big production that is being filmed in Farmington Hills, MI. One of the stars from Sex and the City, "Samantha" or Kim Cattrall, is starring in the movie. Well, why was I there you say? Has small town Hannah hitting it big as an actress?

No.

But my lizard is! The producers have been contacting us for months. They wanted pictures of all our lizards and they chose a Bearded Dragon to be in the film. Nothing big, just a fairly small lizard. Oh and yes we did get paid to do this (I didn't recognize the star in pictures so it wasn't for the glamour!). So yesterday I took him over to the movie set. Strange, strange things I saw I will not mention over the internet... It was a very weird set with weird things going on and "movie people" are quite strange, nice but strange. So I waited and watched for about an hour and then I made my Bearded Dragon run about a foot across a green screen probably 15 takes and that was it!

Weird huh?

In other words I am working 7 days a week at the store and taking an online class in animal behavior! Nothing I don't know already yet from normal scientific observation/experiment classes but hopefully it will get interesting. Got a customer gotta go!

This and that

2008-09-04T15:16:00.002-04:00

As a new Wayne County resident, seeing my Mayor being sentenced in court is a strange feeling. I watched former Mayor Kwame explaining his charges to the court on live TV this morning. It was all over the news and the radios and continues to be. History is in the making that is for sure but it is a sad day for Detroit.

In other news we are getting kittens at the store today! I'll take them all to the vet tomorrow and get their health certificates, shots, deworming and such and then they will be up for sale in the store! The inspector came this morning to make sure we are up to code (or whatever) for our licensing and...we passed!! I'm excited about it. Soon, hopefully we will get bunnies and ferrets!

Bear's bday was Tuesday and on Sunday night our pastor offered us free tickets for Cedar Point the next day!! We had a blast. Then I made Bear Mom's Famous Lasagna and birthday cake! We had two days off, our first since we got married!! wowsa.

The kittens just got dropped off! 2 boys 1 girl 4th of July babies. There are two black ones and one white and black. They are really cute.

BYE!

Hello Savannah!

2008-08-23T13:11:00.002-04:00

Bear and I have officially opened up the other half of Savannah to the public. It was a very exciting time when we tore down the remodeling signs and the paper blocking the other half. It looks really good and the store is huge now! We are waiting on more animals to stock the other side of the store because it still looks pretty empty. Things are going very good, busy but good.

Our apartment slowly but surely is getting more clean. With making Savannah look nice the apartment cleaning is on the back burner!

So, we have a very small Spotted Python that is quite crafty and continues to escape. Every time he does, I find him and put him back in his cage. He didn't get out for a while because we put something heavy on the top of his cage. One of our workers (I think) left the heavy thing off, he got out, and we haven't seen him for about a week. So I am sitting by our bookcase behind the counter telling Bear an entertaining story when, very forecefully and shockingly, I feel as though I had been punch stabbed with two very small needles. The python found me..
Bear claims that he saw something fall from the sealing land on my arm and then fall on the floor. We have a ninja snake. At any rate it drew a little blood and felt like a bruise. I am glad to have had my first snake bite out of the way. It wasn't so bad. (Mom it is ok. Don't be scared.) So these are the little things to the business you learn. Snakes bite. Be careful.

August 16, 2008

2008-08-18T16:00:00.002-04:00

I got married on Saturday. The ceremony was beautifully romantic and spiritual just like I had dreamed. Berto is the perfect husband and I am so happy to be married to him. Thank you everyone for coming. My wonderful family made everything possible and absolutely perfect. Bear and I are getting our apartment settled, paying bills at the store, making worker schedules and then we will be off on our cruise somewhere tropical!! Thank you everyone, especially my grandparents, Eva and Mary coming all the way from down south. I love you!

Love,

Mrs. Dimatteo :)

Settlement

2008-07-10T16:49:00.002-04:00

Bear and I are looking at a house!!! Keep this on the down low. There are many details to come. I am sure you have many questions like where? why when you are temporarily living in Lansing? Answers to come but one thing for sure I am finishing college so don't worry.

Invites

2008-07-03T15:15:00.001-04:00

Go out today!!!

21 Fun

2008-06-30T17:51:00.005-04:00

Wedding plans are coming along swimmingly. Basically everything is done except for Bear's tux's. I left that up to him lol. I'm 21 today. I had some daddy daughter time today which was very nice. I'm at Bear's store right now. He hasn't worked in at least a month and of course today of all days all his employees crapped out on him so here we are. I got to hang out with Dad though so that was good. We had some fun last night and we will have more fun tonight. We are going to our favorite, classy restaurant in West Bloomfield tonight. Bear is wearing a suit and he bought me a red cocktail dress, strappy black heels, and a black leather clutch for tonight :) BUT I was walking Cash, our pitbull yesterday. I taught him to heel pretty well and I was watching him the whole time. We started jogging and I took my eye of him for one second and he ran in front of me and I bit it onto the bumpy pavement of the road. I have a huge bruise and scrape on my knee and my hands are all cut up. That is going to look great in a dress :( It hurts a lot too. Oh well. We will have fun. I also learned how to drive a motorcycle all by myself yesterday!!! Bear said I was really good. I'll post motorcycle driving pictures later. I also got a pink camera from Mom, Dad, Sarah, and Max!!! yay!!

The right time

2008-06-21T14:06:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone.

Well as most of you know my life is very different than it was one month ago. I am going to marry my first boyfriend. Berto is wonderful. He is a wonderful Christian man and I don't think anyone could ever love anyone else this much. He has never let me down and he is always there for me. I could never ask for more than to be his wife. The date is coming up fast. August 16 of this year! Everything is coming together extremely well. I have most of the planning done. The big things are the caterer and our cruise. I am busy and I don't have interent at the house so posting is hard but I will try. Thanks for checking my blog!

2008-06-01T21:31:00.001-04:00

I have driven about 3,000 miles in the last few weeks. I am sick of driving. A friend and I went to Windsor, Canada on Friday and then hung out in Detroit on Saturday. I had fun but it is nice to be home. I will be moving into my new house today and I am excited about that. I don't know if I'll sleep there because I don't exactly have a bed yet, but...back to work tomorrow!

Weekend Plans

2008-05-22T20:33:00.001-04:00

Hi all,

I will drive to Chicago tomorrow to pick up my friend from Japan. We're going to a Panic at the Disco concert and then staying the night at my other friends house. Saturday we have a reunion party at my friends house and then going to a concert in Flint. Sunday I'm taking my friend to the airport and then Monday I have a paid vacation :)

Goodbye.

Happenings

2008-05-14T20:53:00.007-04:00

What it is tho!

I want a Dodge Charger.

What do you think? $18,00...

I want this dog.

What do you think? $700...

His name will be Matsui and he will be mine.
I am really thinking about getting a Pitbull now that I'm not planning on moving to Japan anytime soon.

I'm only going to Japan for like three weeks now. I've decided to be responsible and stay at my job. I'm only going full-time for like a month so I'm going to start waitressing downtown. I'm going to go apply on Friday. Wish me luck!

I am trying to be an adult and I'm telling you it is getting expensive!

I move in to my new house around the 1st of June. 4 girls 3 guys 4400 sq. feet. Oh yes!

Other than that not much is new....

I think my new car will have to wait at least until baby car dies...

Hi Spring, I'm Hannah.

2008-04-22T21:27:00.003-04:00

I went to the beach this morning!!!

Right now is "Academic Advising Break." Students meet with their advisors, register for classes, and get two days off. I get three because one of my professors is cool. Then I only have one class on friday.

I had work at 1 so my friends and I got up at 8, we headed out to Grand Haven, took 196 instead of 96 for 30-so minutes, realized we were on 196, long story short we got to the beach at 10:30 and it's only 30 minutes away.

The beach was being resanded so there were huge, really loud trucks everywhere. We were told to move once, otherwise we would get sand dumped on us and get run over. The sounds weren't so peaceful but even early in the morning it was warm and the sun was wonderful. Besides the fishermen my three friends and I were the only ones on the beach. It was really nice!!

Still haven't gotten paid.....oh sorry mom, I wasn't supposed to talk about orkway.

Academic Advising

2008-04-20T18:07:00.002-04:00

I only have three classes this week on Monday and Friday :)))))))))))

I'm almost done with school and the weather is nice. Yay. I'm going to the Grand Haven beach to lay out in my new swim suit on Tuesday before work. Yay. Yay. Yay. Still haven't got paid and was worried about finances then I got a blessing from my beautiful grandparents :) yay. I can eat this week :) lol.
I'm trying get all my loose ends tied up to make sure I graduate. I can either work really hard, not have a job and graduate before Christmas, or I can take it easy, have my amazing and make money and graduate a month and a half later. I'm leaning toward the bit slower way because I think it would be really good for me to keep this job. I guess it all depends on whether they let me take a two month vacation to Japan or not. What do you think is that asking a lot from a new employer? I hope not. I have about two months to make her love me.
I'm pretty sure I'm going to live a house next year. I really want my own room. I'm sick of this tiny room with two people business. Let's save that for marriage people. Now I want me time. But who knows. I'm supposed to be writing a research paper. That's stupid.

I LOVE my job!!!

2008-04-18T21:06:00.000-04:00

It's amazing.

But...I have yet to have word about when I'm getting paid....

Project Manager

2008-04-14T18:32:00.002-04:00

I am in awe of the blessings I am receiving. I know I have worked hard throughout my young life, but this is incredible. I searched for places who dealt with Japanese around town, I then called and asked if they had any positions. One place took down my name and number only and before I ever went in to meet with them the CEO of the company called me. She said that someone told her I would be a good candidate, but no one really knew me. I went in for an interview and was going against 9 other probably more qualified candidates. The interview only lasted about ten minutes and as I walked out I thought, I know I didn't get that job, I have to find an edge so I appeal to my employers. A few days later I was offered the job. I had plans to go to Japan right after school was over but as I looked at the perks of the job I realized that I would be a moron to not take the job. I am planning to push going to Japan back a few weeks.
I started today and the job is perfect. It is such an awesome stepping stone for me. There will be two Project Manager's; we get a phone call with a language need, it can be 150 different languages, it can range from translating personal documents, to classes, or interpretor services. I coordinate the needs between clients and translators until the job is done. If the job is Japanese then I can work with it! Wow. Crazy.

Spring Cleaning

2008-04-05T00:32:00.001-04:00

I bought some new clothes, put my winter clothes away, and then cleaned my room. Mother will be so proud. Now I'm listening to Jim Gaffigan talk about food. Hot Pockeeeeet.

Go Big or Go Home

2008-03-30T12:27:00.002-04:00

Snowboarding yesterday was a blast!! Kendall and her Dad just told me the very basics and it was really really fun!!!! I was actually pretty good at it. Even so, of course you fall a lot so every muscle in my body hurts. When the sun started going down the snow started to get rock-like and very slick; it was noticeably harder to snowboard. Kendall and I both fell on our tailbones really hard at the same time and couldn't get up for a good five minutes.
Only problem is...I reinjured myself a bit from a couple years back when I got hit by that car!! We both quit right after that. I'm in a lot of pain right now and can't move very well but hopefully it's only temporary until the bruising wears off.

Snowboarding=really fun and enjoyable
Snowboarding=falling
Falling=extreme pain and inability to move

In Other News

2008-03-28T21:51:00.002-04:00

So one night around 2 am I didn't want to sleep and I didn't want to study so I was googling different things...japanese speaking jobs mostly...and I stumbled across a job speaking japanese with tourists through the hilton (hotel) in Honolulu, Hawaii; on a whim I applied for a summer position. A week or so later I got a call from Hawaii.

They weren't positive they would have a solid position for me but they said that if they did I could definitely take it. I spoke Japanese with her and proved myself worthy. It sounds like an awesome experience BUT it also sounds like I could spend the summer homeless...
The pay isn't very good, the hours would be unstable, and I would be responsible for finding my own housing which I've heard is very hard to come by and very expensive. The answer is probably no but I won't ever say never. Sweet huh?

In other news I'm going snowboarding tomorrow. Yes, I said snowboarding. Yes I do know it's Spring and almost April. Apparently if you travel north there is now or at least they made some. I'm going with my friend from High School so it should be really fun.

In other, other news I could very well spend my 21st Birthday in Thailand!! Apparently plane tickets from Japan are fairly cheap. Other than that I have a 14 page paper that I haven't really started that is due in one week. awww man...

Spring Break Reflections

2008-03-15T00:22:00.002-04:00

This spring break has been very relaxing; the first one since like 8th grade that I haven't went somewhere warm. I saw friends in E Lansing which was really nice. The last few days my friend from Japan came back to Lapeer with me. We have gotten really close and have had a relaxing time walking, going to the gym, cooking meals and just hanging out. I will finally get my hair cut tomorrow (it's been 8 or so months!!!) and I'll get highlights and such. I go back to school on Monday so I will do some homework but I will try to enjoy this last weekend as much as I can!!!
When I go back I am looking at a test, a few huge papers and a few looming, time consuming projects. Oh crap. When is my next break?

春休み！！

2008-03-05T15:31:00.002-05:00

I took my last test today now I can float procrastinatingly until friday and then SPRING BREAK!!! yes..... My friend is here from Japan so I am really excited to see her. She wants to stay with me for a bit. I may take her back to Ltown, who knows? But I will go see her and a bunch of other friends on Saturday whom I don't get to see very often. I am so excited to see someone from Japan and speak Japanese and such! yay! Hopefully we can find fun things to entertain her with here in the good ole US of A?

Anyway I'm gonna go work out, come back, bake some butternut squash, watch tv, maaaaaybe (very slim chance) do some homework, and sleep. Thank goodness for Spring semester; breaks happen a lot.

Can they reason?

2008-02-27T20:04:00.002-05:00

I don't wanna write a paper on how our ravaging individualism, constant lust for more, and obsession with cars has ruined our urban cores and economy as we know it. I don't wanna study the free market and how supply and demand of health care affect price and quantity available to the public. When is everybody going to stop asking for my opinion???!?!?!

oh my. Not having a job has allowed me to relax and enjoy but also perpetuated my ability to procrastinate.

I have an interview in a couple weeks for my practicum I will be doing next year through Calvin. I'll be working in the community (apparently it is a very fast paced environment) with homeless individuals. Apparently we deal with an array of issues; lots of substance abuse. I will know a lot more after I go to my interview but I am pretty excited about it.

After I get a second TB shot, next week, and they see that I don't have TB I will start volunteering with a residential center that treats patients with serious head injuries.

I have no idea what population I want to work with yet so I figure I should put some feelers out there. I guess that's enough procrastinating for now. Spring break starts next friday :) No, I'm not going anywhere warm :( Maybe a tour to friend's colleges but that's about it. Cooking for mom and dad, relaxing at home...yes please!!

Slush Slucsh

2008-02-17T23:06:00.003-05:00

I have free time. What? I said, I have free time. huh.

Last semester was a whirlwind of work and homework. It was good for me. I learned valuable lessons such as managing my time, hard work and making money. However I started losing valuable lessons like how to cook myself balanced meals and how to have fun with friends. I had a great weekend. I saw people that care about me that I haven't seen in a very long time. I laughed; regaled tails of studies abroad with friends; Had chicken fettuccine alfredo cooked for me. OK so I didn't eat right but I'll get to that later. I am remembering that college can be fun. I'll work later. Much later.

I was standing by my car talking to my friend with a pan of brownies in my hand. I was standing on ice, water, slush due to the interesting weather and even though I didn't move at all my body came out from under me. I clung to the open door of my car and managed to keep the brownies and myself safe. I had already fallen in the slush twice today. Three times is not the charm in this situation.

Adventure

2008-02-11T22:13:00.000-05:00

Here again I find myself at college in suburbsville, MI. I was going to state the true city name and then I thought, no, no writing anything identifying over the internet is scary. The weather has been truly arctic lately. The chill is incredible, along with the wind and snow. I somehow lost my scraper for my car and I keep forgetting to buy a new one. Using my car now leaves me with very cold hands and usually involves hot water.

I have always been adventurous and wanted to do things that other people say would be difficult or too risky. Recently I went through a period of not being excited to take life by storm as I always have been, experiencing fear for the first time. A little fear can be a very good thing and I believe this time has brought me wisdom. However, maybe to the fear of those that love me, I finally feel my dreams and adventurous spirit returning. God controls my destiny. I am going to do my best but not sweat it. I will not let fear of the unknown keep me in a "safe" environment that doesn't let me live.

I am so grateful to have the family support that I do. I would not be able to do the things that I enjoy without you. I definitely would not be in college. Thank you. Hopefully someday I will become rich and pay you all back financially. If not you have my love....

Christmas

2007-12-09T23:11:00.000-05:00

So Mom and I began a conversation on how we did not wish to exchange gifts at our family Christmas for many different reasons, and that we wanted to focus more on each other rather than gifts. Apparently a consensus was reached by giving family members a choice on whether they wanted to participate in the gift exchange or not.

As I am the last to know all family matters I received a phone call telling me who I would be buying my gift for. Crap.

So much for that.

Contrary to brother's blog on test-taking

2007-11-17T15:54:00.000-05:00

click here

school is murder.

Anyway, things are good for the most part. Work is going a lot better. I'm still busy but I have the hang of waitressing enough where I'm good at it. It's actually nice for those few hours to just worry about the needs of my guest and not think about school or life.
I get to go home the WHOLE weekend for Thanksgiving. I'm so excited!! Katie's going to fix my hair because I look like a skunk from her last highlighting job :0 However the week I return to school I have 1 10 page paper and three, quite important, group presentations. Excuse me while I throw up. Oh well. Oh yeah and one of my best friends, Lizzy is moving to Texas :( Also, my two best girl friends at Calvin will be abroad next semester :( Time for new friends! haha..

Frosting

2007-11-03T20:37:00.000-04:00

I was catching up on brother's blogs and he said something about women being 2x more likely to be depressed than men. Mom said she wanted to eat cake. Without thinking I concurred and said that I had just eaten frosting out of a can.

I just ate frosting out of a can.

No cake. Just frosting. Why? WHY? I don't know.

It's good; don't laugh.

English no good

2007-11-03T20:26:00.000-04:00

My English is bad. No I don't think you understand. It's really bad. I can't write a coherent email let alone a 10 page research paper for a religion course. Becoming fluent in a foreign language enriched my life and is cool, but it made me lose my native language which makes me sound dumb in every aspect of life. Hmm. Crap.
On another note, okay so I have no other note. I'm still working a ton, taking too many classes, stinking at English, not being able to have a social life, I think I have permanent black circles under my eyes, etc.
OK, on another note; I get to come home in two and a half weeks and not work THE WHOLE WEEKEND. I've been looking forward to that for a couple of months now. 6 more weeks and I'LL BE DONE WITH THIS SEMESTER. Endurance. Endurance. Endurance. help.

Why I hate Monkeys

2007-10-23T23:48:00.000-04:00

So I don't know if any of you know this and I can't actually pinpoint when it started: I hate monkeys. I mean, I HATE monkeys. When I was young I never really gave any thought to monkeys because I didn't really think I would ever meet one outside of a zoo. Then I found out that in other parts of the world they run around like bunny's or squirrel's. I thought about that; it's really scary. They are so much like people, yet we have no idea what they are thinking. Some people murder, steal, etc. I'm sure some monkeys do too, but I feel like monkeys aren't bound by morality or laws. Scary.

Today I had my suspicions truly confirmed. This is why I hate monkeys.

In other news, I interviewed a Burundian refugee, living in GR today. They actually lived in Rwanda for quite sometime. They spoke 0 English and so I had the opportunity to work with a translator. It was crazy, and I've probably said to much, what with the saying anything on the internet being bad. I don't know anymore. I'm going to interview a white kid Calvin tomorrow morning. Maybe I should get a translator for that as well....

These days

2007-10-20T23:41:00.000-04:00

These days there has not been much to write about. I have been working A LOT. I'm still hating it, but it is good in many ways. I make money, I am learning how to be nice to terrible people, work under extreme pressure, etc, etc. I'm actually quite surprised and proud of how hard I've worked and how much money I've saved up.
I'm very excited that my schooling has an end to it; at least this phase. Next semester I take a light load, then I take a summer off, then next fall I take one class and work as a social worker, then I'm done!!!!! I'm very excited. After I get over this semester things will get better from here.
I try to have fun with my friends and have a life when I can but it's hard to do. I really love the house where I'm living. It's a nice big place REALLY close to campus so I am determined to walk all year. Two of my best friends at Calvin are going abroad next semester so that is sad but really exciting for them. One will go to Spain and the other the Netherlands. A liiiiiittle jealous!!!
That's about it for me....see, now you understand why I haven't been blogging!!

It's me

2007-09-30T00:02:00.000-04:00

I just got home (it's 12 AM). I went into work at 10:30 AM. For those of you who don't know I just started waitressing at Don Paublo's, TexMex/Mexican place, about two weeks ago. Anyway I sat down for five minutes to eat two small tortillas filled with condiments that I made and continued to work CRAZILY busy until just now. I can't walk. Now I'm going to do homework that needs to be emailed for a group project by tomorrow morning. Tomorrow I'm going to wake up at 7 AM, talk to Hiroyuki, go to church with my friend Rachelle, go to work and get out of work around the same time as tonight.
How do I like waitressing? I do everything humanly possible for the customers and yet I'm still always behind and they're still always mad.
This all may sound negative but I am fine. Actually quite content; just sore and wishing I could waitress so that no one was mad.
That's my life right now in a nut shell.

Here's a little something for all you stalkers...

2007-09-08T14:56:00.001-04:00

OK, so I'm joking but from now on I am not saying anything personal online. Seriously.
I had a job, I lost it all because of facebook. It took two days. Now I'm pretty sure I have a job again, maybe two. One lady I am meeting today and she is a social worker working out of her house. I have some things to say about some things but I will not. Don't wanna get fired. ps. i love campus safety.

Back to the old grind (Is that the phrase I wanted?)

2007-09-03T13:42:00.000-04:00

I'm back. I have an amazing house! It has a fireplace in it? Two stories. I was honestly amazed by it's niceness and cheapness. It is about a 10 minute walk to Calvin!! (If I'm walking slow) :0 I don't think I will ever drive. I am poor and I feel like I shouldn't eat very much. Which is good for me but I'm used to being such a pig. The girls I'm living with all seem super nice. I'm excited to get back to school. I have been talking to Hiroyuki a lot and I get to see him on the web cam so it's really nice. But mac's are stupid and every electronics store is basically telling me that I won't be able to get one that works. So that is stressing me out a little because I am trying to get it going and it's sad because I don't think it will work. School starts tomorrow and I also have my car interview tomorrow so keep me in your prayers. The internet in my house isn't set up right now and with Sunday and labor day the school is closed. I have been confined to using the plug and wireless in the bridge over the beltline. You can find me there in the morning or at night. Speaking Japanese with a headset on, laughing by myself, sitting on the floor (because that's where the plug is)....my back hurts. More later.

Off to school

2007-08-30T01:01:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I think...the 'name', Christopher Walkin (wakin?) is just scary. I have some friends who are fans of his and all my life, ever since I saw a scary movie about a river, I have told all those fans that I hate him and he creeps me out. Apparently, all this time I was referring to Kevin Bacon. I would just like to say that I have no preference for this Walkin guy, but I really really am creeped out by, and really do not like, Kevin Bacon. Just wanted to clear that up. Max brought that to my attention earlier this week.
So I'm moving back up to school on Sunday. I don't really have a room and all of my stuff went everywhere that it shouldn't, SO...I will be looking for my things in the barn...
I am TOTALLY broke so I am SUPER excited to start working!! I have a job interview my first day back at a Car Dealership as a secretary :) I would really like to get that. I won't be taking my Psychopathology class so I won't be able to analyze my family just yet; I switched it for a Religion class that I need to take for core credit.
I've realized that Lapeer is very beautiful, but EXTREMELY un-technological... NOT COOL.
I'm hoping to save up enough *extra* money to go to Japan for a month in January? We'll see. For now I will just try to concentrate on school, working, social work, working-out, you know.

Michigan

2007-08-20T18:44:00.001-04:00

Well I finally made it all the way back to Michigan. I'll be going back to school on September 5th and living in a duplex, hopefully that works out well. I hope to finish up college smoothly and quickly. I'd like to internship with the jail one last time, take some Japanese courses at State, take my proficiency test in Japan and then live there for a while teaching English. We'll see how everything goes and if my Mom is going to let me leave...

No worrying!!

2007-08-06T08:14:00.001-04:00

I actually made it from JAPAN all by myself! I can't believe it!! Tomorrow I'm going to Vegas where I plan on meeting the Bermans!! Hawaii was BEAUTIFUL! I had enough time to get lost in the ghetto, ride the bus forever, talk to church people, and go to the beach and get a sunburn! A job with Japanese would be easy for me to get there. What a paradise. I'm happy to be in America!!!
SEE YOU SOON! CALL ME!
Hanner

America?!

2007-08-03T00:47:00.001-04:00

Well you will be able to call my old cell phone and reach me by at least this Monday morning. I had my graduation ceremony today, which I may have skipped because I've already attended one... But I officially graduated 2nd year. And I got near 100% on my speech for my Japanese like speaking skills. My teacher took me aside and urged me to go after Japanese as a career path because I "have a true gift" :) I did well on my final and I only study for about 45 minutes...now I have to clean my apartment (and the nasty bathroom) for check out. Then I will finish packing. Go out in the typhoon (!) to buy more presents for people. Go to karaoke and bowling one last time. Go to a goodbye party at the japanese college. Tomorrow chill out and then Sunday go on the crazy travel back to America by my lonesome. But I'm a pro at this by now right ? See you soon! CALL ME!

Homecoming

2007-07-25T23:39:00.001-04:00

America?! What's that? I don't even know what's cool anymore. What are people wearing?
Here are my travel plans:

First I fly to Hawaii for a 7 hour stint. Then I fly into L.A. where I will get my cell phone back so you can call me. This all happens on the 5th of August. I'll stay with my friend Marcus and then meeting up with my friends from last semester.
Then we are driving to Lubbuck, Texas around the 10 (yes, it is a very long drive). Then we are driving to Mexico for the day. Then I am staying at my friend Zach's ranch with everybody. Then on the 17th I will be flying into Detroit to make it back in time for Lee's wedding.

I'm very excited for all the traveling, meeting my friends, and spending time with friends in the states.

I looked at my Calvin schedule and it appears that I will be able to take a semester off to work in the spring!! The classes I need to graduate are not offered in the Spring. I will take them the following fall and then graduate!!!! Here's the thing though. I am planning on coming back to Hikone in January to teach English and waitress..................Ok?
Love you all and I'm excited to see you!!!

Re: Gizmo, Hufflepuff

2007-07-12T23:00:00.000-04:00

As I will be living in an actual house-like establishment next year and I have been in extreme want of a cute kitty. Can I take your cats from you to live with me?

Thanks,

The Management.

Jealousy

2007-07-11T23:54:00.000-04:00

This is for Max. Because I know he wants to be able to say this.

Today there was a typhoon. (actually typhoo in Japanese). I was it it. It was really cool.
I have also been in multiple earthquakes. I am proud of my danger.

In other news. I actually have somewhere to live next year!! Praise the Lord. A girl who lived on my floor freshman year randomly emailed me and dropped the perfect place in my lap. I have to share a room but it is connected with a nice bathroom! It's a duplex a short WALK from Calvin. The rent is cheap. Utilities are included. I'm not sure how many girls are there yet, but... YAY~
Now I'm not dreading returning to Calvin aaaas much...

Oh, Dad, thanks for the happy birthday and the pay your own car insurance line. it was not funny. it actually rocked my head. bum. er. bum. er.

I want to be a waitress when I return home. I want to work all the time. And I want to make money. No but really anybody who knows me knows that I HATE to not be working. I haven't worked in over A YEAR! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. my bank account knows it too. Therefore I'm not going on vacation like everyone else for my last long weekend.
I will be going to search for clams in the ocean in a private bus with 20 or so Japanese friends?!!?! Attending a Japanese Raggae concert. Maybe seeing Busty Rymes?!?! in Osaka. And going to a famous festival in Kyoto. Oh yeah and writing a three page speech in japanese on the differing dialect that my city has. It's like a southern accent to rich yankees. I love it.

Stories and Information

2007-07-10T03:40:00.001-04:00

My Birthday was very good! I went and saw my friend Zach in Kyoto before he returned to America. He has a Japanese girlfriend and we're really good friends. Then my friends Aya, Shaye, and Rachel came with me. That was really fun but also sad to leave Zach.

A summer kimono (yukata) that I wore to a festival at the japanese college in my town. SO PRETTY! But a little complicated to put on.
My friend cut and permed my hair!!!! What do you think? This is the shortest ever but I love it because with the perm it's so easy to do and I can be lazy and still look good.

Love,

Me

Birthday Excitement!

2007-06-29T04:02:00.001-04:00

So, my birthday's tomorrow!! I will no longer be a teenager, but my real right of passage is that I am not with my family. I want you all to know that you will be missed greatly and I would LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE a phone call to my cell phone from EVERYONE!! Buy a international card from the supermarket and make sure that you can call cell phones. This number is ALL you have to dial as my number: 8109066706987. Thank you for your cards and presents. I love getting things from home from those that I love. Oh yeah, mom and dad, I haven't opened your present yet because I'm being good!
Right now I'm taking the 45 minute train ride to Kyoto with Rachel to see my friend Zach for the last time in Japan :(. Tonight I'm going to rent Die Hard 3. I have watched 1 and 2 the last few days and tomorrow we are going to watch 4 at the theatre! lol. It's like 20 bucks a ticket!!!! Then I am going to have fun with my friends! LOVE YOU!
Ms. 20

Musings on a sunny day

2007-06-11T03:22:00.000-04:00

Today I woke up at 8:55 AM and went to class, which happens to start at 9:10 AM. During my lunch break from 12-1 I went to eat delicious ramen at a place very close to JCMU. We were almost late getting back to class. After class I went for a run along Biwa lake. It really reminds me of Lake Michigan. It is the biggest lake in Japan and it is so beautiful. I will post pictures sometime. I can see it out of my classrom. JCMU is literally a foot away from the lake. Running along it is very pleasant. I run for about an hour by the lake. It's very hot here already so when I get home I am incredibley sweaty, tired, and tan. Right now I am waiting on the line to change my flight so I can go to Texas. Last time I called they couldn't do anything for me because their computers were down the whole day. After this I'm going to do some homework and then bike to a cheap clothing store with my friends. I need sunglasses. Summer is bright. If you want to hear my favorite Japanese song go here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=suTEYNgSLIc I really like it and I can sing it too I just have to read the lyrics while I do it. I just got connected with the airline. Gotta go!!

I'm ALIVE! I wish all my titles weren't along these lines...

2007-06-05T04:03:00.001-04:00

Honestly, I miss family very very much and I wish I could talk with all of you. Email and blogging just aren't the same, but the time difference is so crazy!! Well I went to Kobe a few days ago with one of my good friends, Rachel, who has been here with me the whole time and my new friend Dejanea. We had a really great time! We only stayed for two days and one night though. Kobe is only like an hour and a half train ride away. For those of you who don't know Kobe is famous for amazing beef and the giant earthquake in 1995 that killed around 40,000 people :0 I'm sorry to inform you that I did not...eat the beef :( It was around 60 dollars for ONE little steak!!! I thought, you know, the two dollar steaks from Meijer are really delicious.... before I get to the pictures I'll tell you what's been going on. The new students arrived not to long ago so that makes the teacher and show you around person. Which isn't that great. I made so many really great friends last semester and had so much fun that I think I would be disappointed with anything, but so far I'm not a huge fan of most of the new students. But it's okay, because I want to hang out with my Japanese friends. I passed the placement test and I am now in second year! It's amazing how good my Japanese has become. I'm really excited to get back to it and become even better!! Okay pictures....

On top of Mt. Rokko after riding the ropeway!
View of Kobe from the ropeway
yay!
The things were teeny so it was actually very scary at first. It was swaying and you felt like you were floating way high above the ground so this is my scary ropeway face.
We went to a famous Sake brewery! Sake is old fashioned Japanese, rice wine. It is only for the toughies!!
Ok...what should I do?!?!
Ropeway! On our way up Mt. Rokko!
"Rachel, get in this tub with me"

They put the sake in these. I bought a mini one as a souvenier!
Sake taste-testing!
This is where they would grind the rice and they actually sing songs together to keep time!
This is a huge tub for sake!
Went to a bar called New York and I told the guy that I missed home so he brought me over this statue of liberty and told me not to cry haha.
pretty fruity drink. there was actually a flower in it!
I wish I knew so I could explain this but I cant...Japan can be very random!
We went to the top of Kobe tower and it had an awesome view!!
more view...
There was another quake while we were there...KIDDING. This is a memorial to the earthquake. They left some of the harbor destroyed. It was really neat to see!!
this is at china town and these things were in every shop! What does that have to do with China?!?!
I'm Chinese.
Still in China Town

ENJOY!

This and that

2007-05-17T00:10:00.000-04:00

My may short course is over this friday. So that means that tonight I have to write a five page paper, read a ton, and write a journal about our field trips :(. But then after that I have a week and a half vacation! I'm probably going to Kobe for a few days with my friend Rachel. We are going to eat Kobe beef mmm.
Here's a tid-bit: Kobe Bryant's Dad visited Kobe, Japan and really loved it. So he named his son after the city and apparently decided to shame it by making the whole world pronounce it Kobi. hmm. ignorance.
A girl that has become one of my best friends here returns back to America on Saturday :(
I will see her a lot when I get back because she lives in Lansing, but it will be sad without her here.
A bunch of new students are here, but luckily only until Sunday. I really dislike them all. It's like they are all a bunch of cocky fraternity/sorority people. They trashed our TV room last night :S. Hopefully the new people next semester will become as good of friends as last semester. If not I always have my friend Rachel.
I have decided that instead of staying in Japan until August 15th like I thought I am going to go to Texas right after class on the 4th! I'm going to stay with Randi for a few days and then stay with two of my friends from JCMU who live in Texas. Also a bunch of people from last semester are meeting out there. Some of the Japanese people are coming too. It should be really fun. And I might even come home a little earlier than planned! I haven't changed my plane ticket yet. Bye bye.

Tokyo, hit me baby one more time

2007-05-01T01:43:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I didn't post pictures like I said and I can't now either. I just wanted to let everyone know that I have been busy with....vacation...? Um..and now I'm about to make the seven hour drive to Tokyo with Hiroyuki. I'll post even more pictures after that. Love you all!
Hannah

Back from Tokyo!

2007-04-22T21:45:00.000-04:00

I am incredibly exhausted! But I wanted to be a good daughter/granddaughter/friend/sister, etc. and tell you all that I am OK! Nothing bad, scary, or sinful happened :) But I am too tired now to tell you the details and to post pictures. I plan on doing that tomorrow. I left Tokyo last night at 11 PM on a night bus. I got to Nagoya at 7 AM and got off the bus. Then I rode the train to Hikone and didn't get there until around 10 AM. And let me tell you that bus was NOT a place to sleep. LOve,
me

Tokyo Ikimashyo!

2007-04-15T03:25:00.000-04:00

Here are pictures of my hair!! That is my friend Josh.

I'm leaving for Tokyo tonight. Me and five of my friends will be riding the bus from 11 PM until 6 AM when we arrive in Tokyo! The last couple days have been very good times with my friends but pretty much everyone left for America today, except for the friends who are coming to Tokyo with me so that is kind of sad. I probably won't be able to post or write emails in Tokyo, but I will be back on Saturday. I will be safe and make sure to take tons of pictures of the world famous fashion.

YAY!

2007-04-12T23:32:00.000-04:00

I got my hair cut and I have NEVER liked my hair better! It's so cute, easy and it looks really great! Since I can't post pictures of myself here is the picture that I showed the hairstylist. Don't be afraid because this is Posch Spice lol.He did a really great job because it looks the same I just got it about two inches longer. Craziness!!! I also died the bottom layer a suttle, light pink lol. I love you all!

Whew!

2007-04-12T02:39:00.000-04:00

So I just took my Japanese final today! It was really hard and I hope I make it into the next level :0, but that means that I am done with this semester. I have about three weeks off until I start the 10 day culture course and then I have like a week off until summer semester starts!! I leave for Tokyo at 10 Sunday night. I'm going the cheapest way there. You ride a bus all night! So I'm really excited for that. I lost the battery charger for my camera so that is why I haven't been putting pictures up. I will try to buy a new one in Tokyo. I probably won't have access to the internet for the five days that I'm in Tokyo but don't worry! I am getting my hair cut tonight by an amazing Japanese stylist for FREE! I'm getting an angled bob (look it up!) Probably halfway between my shoulders and my chin. I'll try to post a picture from someone else's camera. Sorry I haven't been contacting you guys :( I love you all very much! CONGRATULATIONS MAX! We are all very excited to have you and Sarah home!!!!!!

Hachiman Pictures!

2007-03-09T23:56:00.000-05:00

I had a great time at my homestay, but I moved back to JCMU today. There time constrictions were too tight so the lady at JCMU said she thought I would be happier if I moved back. However I will keep in contact with them and I enjoyed being there for a week very much! I am now watching Indiana Jones with a couple of girl friends lol. I am glad to be back at JCMU. But here are some pictures from my time there.

This is a view of omihachiman from a tram thing going up to the top of the mountain.
This is my host mom and I on top of the mountain!
We are in the very traditional part of hachiman and this is a temple.
This is the view off the porch of a very old japanese house!

This is the canal that my host mom and I walked across.

People ride in these boats down the river. It was funny, we saw a Japanese family in one, eating.. MCDONALDS! haha

This is one of my host sisters babies. you can't see but he has a five inch long fohawk haha. If you don't know what a fohawk is, look it up on wikipedia.

Now I will take you on my travel from hachiman station to my host house, by bike. This is the bike parking lot.

These are everywhere. I can't get away from the Americanization!!

And again, American.

Me on my bike.

The Bike path.

Right before I get to my house I have to go through a temple with bamboo forests!

And that is my journey!

Homestay

2007-03-02T10:01:00.000-05:00

I moved to Omihachiman today. I will live here for a month. I am beginning to doubt the decision I made to take on a month homestay. It is just me and the mom and dad. They have really cool kids that are a bit older than me. They visit often, but they are all married and out of the house. The parents are in their late 50's. They are really nice and I like them a lot, but... it's kind of like being trapped to have to hang out with old people all the time :0. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. So no one needs to worry anymore because I now have parents. They are pretty strict too. It kind of reminds me of home. The mom agrees with what the Dad says and the Dad says (what she calls stubborn and old fashioned) I have to come home every night before dark. EVEN ON THE WEEKENDS! They said they will treat me like a real daughter. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO. So don't worry I won't be having any sort of fun for a month. What have I done? I came to Japan to obtain freedom and then what do I do? I ask for parents! What the heck is wrong with me? Lord, please get me through this month.

Japan Fun Report

2007-02-27T05:40:00.001-05:00

Hello!! This past weekend was one of the most fun weekends of my life. I basically got to speak only Japanese the whole weekend, so I am quickly getting much better. My weekend homestay family was awesome and so so sweet to me. The host parents are really young and I feel like we are actually friends and I adore their little girls. When we first met the little girl grabbed my hand to cross the street :)
This was my host family! We were at the 400 year old castle in Hikone!
Here is me and my family in front of Hikone Castle.
This is a view from atop Hikone Castle overlooking Hikone. The long green building in front of the mountain, by the lake is JCMU! What a view!
This is me and the girls. The one on the right, mi-chan, loves to make faces. They were both very shy at first. Mi-chan loves to sing and dance to pop music. I-chan reminds me of myself. She loves to hold my hand while she does risky things on rocks and such :)
This is my host mom. Isn't she beautiful? She is such a sweet person. We went to a glass blowing factory. We were in the gift shop and I was looking at this necklace made of glass. I lingered on it and thought about buying it, but I decided I didn't need to. Later that night my host mom said that she had a present for me. She bought the necklace for me! I almost cried it was so nice and I gave her a big hug. She also put together photos in an album of the weekend for me!
This was their adorable dog. Kind of looks like a miniature Jeff?!

This is a picture of me when I went to Hamamatsu, I am in Travis's friends house.
This is last week. Me and some friends climbed a mountain and saw temples right next to JCMU. It was so beautiful!
This is a view from the top of the mountain overlooking Hikone.

Sorry I have been slacking on the writing. I'm very happy! But so so busy!!

incommunication

2007-02-18T06:53:00.000-05:00

excuse my absence. something about japan makes me neglect things such as hanging up my wet laundry and sending emails....
so yesterday i had my first language barrier incident. it all began when i was looking at a weird thing with plastic coming out of it and a ball of plastic fell on the table. my japanese friend said that it was a horoscope and i got the most bad luck one possible, interesting...
so i went to Osaka on saturday with my class for a field trip and all of my friends were going to meet me there that night and we were going to have fun. well everyone was really tired from too much fun on friday so it ended up that out of like 15 people nobody ended up coming! so one of my guy friends and his japanese girlfriend and i were just going to have fun by ourselves. then i decided i didn't want to stay out all night with just the three of us so around 12 i decided to head home. while waiting for the train to hikone a very creepy japanese man was talking to me in japanese. he was 30 years old and asking me for my phone number. i hurried on the train and went all the way to the back and sat down next to someone. well in comes creepy man and sits across from me. he asks if we can be friends and if i will sit by him. i say a strong no and he finally says okay and darts of the train before it leaves...phew. so i end up falling asleep and i wake up in a very confused sleepy state and think that i know for SURE that this stop is Hikone. i go and look out the train and i think yeah this is Hikone. as i get out i realize it is not and i see a sign that says kyoto which is very far from hikone. and as my train rolls away i realize that was the last train to hikone for the night. i start to become horrified. i quickly get on a train headed in the direction of hikone. i get to Yasu which is where the train stops. i am still very far from hikone. i ask the train guy and the next train doesn't come until 6 AM...it's only 1 AM. he is very short with me so i walk away and start to panic. i call some friends...no one answers. i am freezing in the station and it is poring down rain. i have no idea where i am. i begin to cry and then i realize that this won't help. i begin to talk to a confused looking, drunk young japanese man. he tries to help me but he cant because he is headed in the opposite direction. i realize that my only option is to take a taxi and it is going to cost A LOT of money. i wait for about 30 minutes and i realize that i need to get home because i don't feel safe or warm and i'm very tired. so i try to call a taxi and the man speaks japanese that i don't understand. i tell him that i don't understand but he keeps repeating the phrase. i hang up and i want to cry again. then i realize i can ask my new friend to call a taxi. we had just learned that week how to say "will you make a phone call for me" but alas i forgot. so i do a telephone hand signal and say take a taxi in japanese. so he calls...phew. so the taxi comes and my friend makes sure i have enough money. it ended up taking about an hour and it cost me about 120 american dollars....sorry dad. so i get to station at hikone (so happy!) but it is POURING rain and really cold. I go and get my bike and the bike man lent me an umbrella :) so i start riding and it is really windy all of a sudden the plastic on my umbrella snaps off the medal spokes. so here i am at 3 in the morning riding around with a ball of plastic with some medal spokes poking out of it. after about 20 minutes of that i finally get to jcmu. then i realize i don't remember the code to get inside the building. COULD ANYTHING ELSE PLEASE GO WRONG? so i open a random window on the first floor, climb in and pratically fall into the empty room. I"M IN!

long story short. i'm alive. and yes it was a learning experience. i will post more later and i will also post pictures.

Alive and Well

2007-02-01T09:40:00.000-05:00

The JCMU students have been courteously passing sicknesses around to one another since I arrived here. I think it is a part of the hazing process... I am feeling much better, but I am still tired all the time because I haven't been getting enough sleep. Today I feel much better though.

Today Travis and I had lunch and dinner with a bunch of Japanese people, and so I got to speak Japanese all day! My speech is definitely improving. I get complimented on my "accent" and speech all the time. I like the compliments, but I do realize that they are just being Japanese lol. (They compliment even if they know it is a flat-out lie).

Last weekend (Sunday) I went to an Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) showcase sort of thing. It was in a city about 30 minutes away by train and then we took a 30 minute bus ride. It was SOO fun. We were treated like celebrities and it didn't cost us a dime. Why, you ask? Because we gaijin, were a part of the main event!! When we first got there a swarm of little Japanese women surrounded me and started dressing me in a beautiful, traditional Japanese kimono. They did my hair too. Then we looked around at all the beautiful Ikebana. Then we sat down (there were only about six of us) at a long table to get our Ikebana lessons. What we didn't know is that we were on display and about 100 Japanese people were watching us, taking pictures and everything haha! I felt like I was a zoo exhibit, but it was really fun and funny. Then we went to a tea party/ luncheon. There were about 300 Japanese people there. It was a really important and formal event. I even met the representative for the Democratic Party of Japan. So in the middle of the ceremonies and such during lunch we were told that they wanted us to introduce ourselves and say how we liked the day IN JAPANESE! Instantly my heart started pounding and my face was beat red. I DON"T KNOW JAPANESE?!
We all stood up and gave our speeches with a microphone and everything. Mine went fine. I just spoke very simple. But of course I wanted to make a joke, and I knew exactly what they would think was funny. The Japanese love to talk about weather, seriously. So it was a nice day and we were right by a huge window. So I said some things about myself and the day and then I said "today's honorable weather is good huh?" and they all laughed. Yesss.....haha.

This is my Ikebana helper, Hitomi.
This was oustide of the hotel where we had the event.

This is all the JCMU students who went. the first girl on the left side goes to Calvin!

This was the democratic representative guy.This is me drinking freshly made green tea in a kimono!

I am making Ikebana with a lot of help from Hitomi!

I'm back!

2007-01-22T04:58:00.000-05:00

So sorry that I have been a bad updater lately. Even though I am in Japan; sometimes I'm not that interesting anyway! Things have been good, but I have been pretty busy. Travis is now living in a city about two train stops away with his host family. I went and stayed at their house all day yesterday. They were very nice to me. They even gave me traditional Japanese sweets as a present! They are a young family with a 2-year-old and a 5-five-year-old; both boys. They are both adorable and really have taken to both Travis and I. The little one is VERYYY hyper, so Travis has a hard time getting anything done with him around. The family lived in the states for five years, so they knew enough english to close the gap on the language barrier. I was flabbergasted by how much time the mom spent in the kitchen! The entire day! Preparing meals, washing dishes, etc. She was very nice and talkative, but it was always from behind the kitchen (which is sort of a part of the living room). They live in a very small apartment, and their table is on the floor. It was fun to be with them, and the mom said I could come every weekend!
Anyway here are some pictures of Travis and I at a traditional Japanese noodle shop. This was from tonight, and it is very near our college (we biked there). This was celebration because today is our three year anniversary! yay!
I love you all very much!!

This was the remains of my tonkatsu dinner! breaded pork over rice.
This looks exciting, but it is really only condiments...

Here we are...sitting on the floor and everything!!

"Spa Poo"

2007-01-14T08:17:00.000-05:00

These pictures are from my trip to Osaka. That is my roommate Lizzy in the picture with me. We went to Osaka on Saturday morning to go to "Spa World." It is one of the biggest, nicest spas ("onsens") in Japan! I went with about ten friends, including Travis. The trip ended up being a lot cheaper than we expected, because the onsen was supposed to be $30, but there was a special and it was only $10! This thing was HUGE. I couldn't take pictures inside because the spa part is all nude. There is an entire floor for girls and then a separate one for guys. It was my roommate, me and one other girl. This thing is filled with hot tubs, this floor was European style, and it was so beautiful. There were mud baths, salt scrubbing rooms, saunas, steam rooms. It was a girls dream. Then there was this huge area of mirrors, blow dryers, etc. to get ready. Then the top floor was guys and girls, you have to wear a swim suit, and it was a water park!! It was really super fun. OH and I got a massage!! A lot of it was really confusing when us girls were by ourselves. There is a specific way to do things, and none of us really knew what to do. We also didn't know how to ask what to do. So most of the time we just watched and did what the other Japanese girls were doing! We were definitely the only white people in there and it seemed like the only white people in Osaka! I am rested up and ready to go to class tomorrow :)

herro

2007-01-11T20:25:00.000-05:00

Hi! School is good. It's pretty boring right now, because I've already taken a semester but...
I am going to live with a host family in March!! The coordinator keeps telling me how excited the family is. It will be about an hour commute to school, but then I get free train whenever I want that goes toward the big cities :) Travis starts a home stay next week! He is living with a family that lives in an apartment (which could be quite crowded). They have a 2-year-old girl and a 5-year-old boy. It will be very fun, but I'm pretty sure Travis is the babysitter!
Here's answers to some questions...
The seasons here are the same as michigan now. So it's winter, but it is much more mild. It usually only gets down to about 45 or 50. In the summer it gets SUPER hot and muggy though.
I love the food very much! I haven't been able to get out and have food cooked for me, but even the food I cook is pretty good. For breakfast I have cereal or eggs. Lunch and dinner I usually cook some sort of noodle/rice, vegetable, meat/tofu mixture.
My name in Japanese is Hanna or ハンナ it means flower or nose depending on how you say it...i like flower better. hana b means fireworks! Here is my last name written in Japanese バターフイールド which is bataafuirudo. yeah...
Me and some friends are going to Osaka (the really big, fun city) on Saturday! I'm really excited. We are going to go to a huge onsen (natural spring hot spa) and it has a waterpark too. The spa is seperated guys/girls, because it's nude and the waterpark you have to wear bathing suits so it's together. Then we are going shopping and whatever else we want to do. It's about a five hour trip, by train, there and back.
Again ask me any questions you are thinking. Thanks for your comments and thoughts :)

What happened to English?! It's a good language!!

2007-01-08T23:29:00.000-05:00

I had my first Japanese class today...
Even though I'm in level one, which is for people who have had little to no prior Japanese, they really did speak all in Japanese....
I didn't think they could teach us with out speaking English, but by gum it...they did!
It was really fun and at least the first few weeks are going to be super easy review for me. I have ten people in my class so it's really nice because we all know each other very well. My minorities in Japan class starts on Friday; that has about six people. I think I'm going to a Judo class tonight at Shiga University (our partner college), a real Japanese school.
In other news............KATIE IS PREGNANT! I don't know if that's something one should write in a blog post but it's really amazing news that I wanted to share :) I will be home by the time the baby is born so that is wonderful.
Other than that nothing is really going on. Other than going out the first night, I have yet to really explore Hikone because the weather has been bad the last couple days, but it looks great today.
Hopefully I'll take exciting pictures soon that I can show you, but...not today!
But here is a picture from online of the lake that is right by JCMU. I have a beautiful view of it from my classroom!

everything is smaller here...

2007-01-05T22:42:00.000-05:00