THE BAD

2006: The Bad

I've had a few, but then again, too few to mention...

The list: I thought about it, but then I decided not to post them. As a list. Because it was kind of depressing making a list of things I was unhappy about in all of 2006. Let's focus on the good! At least, publicly, let's.

So, gotta get some work done today before Countdown, but

Happy New Year Everyone!!!
See you again in 2007.
And don't forget to check Spinshell.TV and click on the banners! (for me, do it for me!)

May 2007 bring peace and happiness and health to you and those you love,
Miss Ai

THE GOOD

Look Bud, it's almost the new year!!

2006: The Good

-Always the good, my boys. They bring me so much joy that it's difficult to articulate into anything more wordy than this sentence. ADORATION.



-Performing at a fashion show collection, then being part of an art exhibit. I love being center stage (see: Life of Ai).

-Shinonome. The move to the bay side. The bachelorette pad. Point of social interaction. Home.

-Music. Writing songs, rehearsing, singing, performing. The journey of compressing experiences into 3 minute stories. Doing what I thought I wanted to do when I was 10 and being right about it. Still wanting to do it. Having a real plan about it.

-The Website, The Company. Expressing the above in a 2-dimensional way, visually and on paper. Having a good business partner. Having good people to work with. Having smart people to work for. Having mean people to deal with (just as useful). Having creative people to throw around ideas with. Meeting exciting people while working. Getting (good) ideas while riding the train to work. Having an SBUX at the station where I transfer (thank you GOD).





-Japanese cousins in Tokyo.



-Metpod.

-Ninapod.



-Mexico, Seattle, Psychsville, Tokyo. Where people that I love live.

-Tokyo, where I love to live.

CHRISTMAS DINNER 2006

Rice vinegar and soy sauce spear ribs, yuzu miso mashed potatoes, baby greens with avocado, cranberries and parma ham (これって 生ハム？？) tossed with apple vinegar. Wine. Strawberries for dessert.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

These boys bring me so much peace and joy.
Wishing you peace and joy in your life, this and every Christmas.

XOXO,
MISS AI

ROSE GALLERY

A half a dozen roses from the best rose shop in Tokyo, Rose Gallery .
Five years ago, I was the lucky first-time recipient of Rose Gallery roses. These roses are perfect, I mean it. They are long-stemmed, don't bloom right away (quite important!) and makes a girl's day super special. This time and last time I received different roses (this time was Peter Frankenfeld, a vivid pink and elegant, subtle fragrance; the time before were a mix of deep oranges, yellows and red, making my room smell of a rose garden). Last time they were from a boy, and this time they were from The Actress. Classy!

BROADCASTING TOKYO TO THE WORLD

It's UP!

Don't miss Ninapod's article on this week's You Should Know, and for any information that you think should be included on the first print-it-yourself English magazine in Japan, "Spinshell Recommends" or the Events page, mail me here, baby! Comments, feedback and suggestions very welcome (*^ _ ^*)

Keep checking back for the video page because it will be AMAZING.


XOXO,

Miss Ai

Foreigners in Japan

Basically I spent this summer compiling a city guide (in English) on restaurants, bars, cafes and other neat places in Tokyo. This fall my staff and I spent day after day solidifying this city guide. This winter, we'll launch the site it will appear on. What will happen to this city guide is that it will be a foundation for the first all-English video channel in Japan. It's on the web, and you can watch Tokyo, the real modern-day this is what's happening these are people that make this city unique this is the most exciting city in the world Tokyo. And because it's on the web, I hope we can open many more doors than just having a city guide next to the tv channel. Anyway, first curtain to open is for the city guide, and this weekend was spent learning html and becoming friendly with Dreamweaver. Soon, readers, this website will open. I am pretty excited!!
Just a few more days to go until the first launch... And then I want to go to a ski & onsen resort. For reals this time. But I have a feeling it isn't happening again this time (;_;) Well, good things happen to those who wait, right?? Hopefully.

NAKAYOSHI

Nakayoshi（仲良し）means being good friends.
These boys' best friends are each other, which might possibly the happiest thing for a mother to know.



Handsome Chu Chu.



Notice the mohawk!





They are really nakayoshi.

SUNDAY

It's purrdy out there.

OUISTITI

Ouistiti
Originally uploaded by missai.

From now until the 28th of December at popular gaijin hangout The Pink Cow in Shibuya, there is an exhibit by photographer Toshi.Ota and illustrator Keeda Oikawa called "Mixed 2006"-Ouistiti-, oustiti apparently a phrase often used by the French when taking pictures. This is a mixed medium (photography + different forms of illustration and sometimes collage) that uses mixed people as subjects. From toddlers to grown-ups, from Japan to the Congo, the photographer and illustrator pair found mixed people from around the world, took photos of them and even videotaped short interviews with each. At the exhibit during this time, you can see all the different art works as well as the video installation.

Ninapod and I were lucky/ happy participants of the project. We went to the show yesterday and we couldn't believe what we saw... In addition to a great portrait they had taken/ drawn, they had mixed the Tokyo city view from our house with the Seattle city horizon!! So it was like a brand new city that we were living in. The illustrator had never even been to Seattle but she researched photos for this purpose, and really nailed the buildings and the atmosphere of the Seattle skyline. It was amazing. I'm going to be selfish and just talk about that one here but, take my word for it, every piece had a story waiting to be read. On the 28th there is even a special closing ceremony; maybe we'll see you there★

PREPARATIONS

preparations
Originally uploaded by missai.

Where to put what?
If you've got a clever little sister like me, you can just leave it up to her.

CLEAR SKY

clear skies December 2006
Originally uploaded by missai.

The clouds cleared and left the sky and her reflection a crisp blue.

STAR

Christmas 2006
Originally uploaded by missai.

The star of the night, 10-month old Y. Doesn't her back and profile say so much? She was round, smiley, hungry, sleepy, curious, coo-y and gorgeous.

CHRISTMAS 2006

angelgirl
Originally uploaded by missai.

This year we won't be making it back east for Christmas (;_;).
Sad.
But being in Tokyo during this time has its perks, too. Like cousins' parties, which takes place today. While I type, Ninapod is preparing our dishes. I'm training her to be a better Little Sister. Just kidding!

These are Italian wooden bell ornaments, hand painted with little angels on each, from little K last year. The colors are beautiful. Peek-a-boo, says one.

THREE GENERATIONS

lightgeneration
Originally uploaded by missai.

Three generations sit behind a lighthouse candle. The candle was a gift in our stockings last year at the McP's house, a different design in each. Santa has very good taste.

PEEK-A-BOO

bearcat
Originally uploaded by missai.

Says another, a kitten (one imagines) behind the appearing-for-the-fifth-year-in-a-row Christmas Santa Bear. Medium: Magic marker on paper plate, circa 08/2006.I better start helping.

MORNING

morning
Originally uploaded by missai.

It was a black and white morning here at Shinonome Hills.

FREESCAPE

freesscape @ baron nishiazabu
Originally uploaded by missai.

My friend Emi of Freesscape performed a fantastic show at The Baron in Nishi Azabu tonight.

Out of the three foreigner-frequented hangouts with live-stage outfits I've checked out recently (Rock Factory, Cozmos Cafe), The Baron had the best sound, stage and bar (wine, over 3 drafts, tapas).

HAIRCUT

Post-haircut



Poppo is very sleeeeeeepy. Chu Chu is a gentleman, at all times.





It's winter for canines, too, you know!

ADORE

It's amazing how much these motors can give you. These things give and give and give and give and give and give and give and give. Love. To me, and to lots of other people. Miraculously, they are never short of supply. They do take love, but they don't usually ask for it. How is that possible?? MEMEME girl Miss Ai (Miss I... ha ha ha) asks. Are they robots? If so, it's a really good program they've been installed with. The new Shi Tzu 2000. They Are So Cute!! (After much brainstorming, no other slogan got to the point with less words.)



Tomorrow: post-hair cut (oh you'll love it...).

In other news 3 people thought I was Canadian this weekend.

Also I cannot stop singing Poppo wa ima kuma kuma kuma~~

He is kind of like a bear, you know. Cuddly and cute.

☆おまけ☆ Notice the Little One's leg on top of お兄ちゃん。

ぼくはくま

Bravo!! Utada Hikaru is a fantastic artist.

Tuesday Morning

The Sun is back!!

I *heart* Shi Tzu's

Sunday evening

Today was all about rain, fondu and roses.

Cafe au lait long-stemmed roses, from the Actress.

NO PRACTICE

A week has passed since the recording and...
no practicing, no new song writing, no singing.

I don't know if I am a singer or a business woman or someone who just does lots of things part-time.

Presently: listening to Chris Isaak, who is wonderful on a shower speaker as is live on the pier of a Seattle summer. How does he write songs, I wonder. I bet there were lots of things in his life that turned out to be something he didn't expect or wish for. Don't you think so? How does he write these songs? I wonder.

Wacky Word Templates

MS WORD is wacky.
ワードテンプレートに「愛情」の文例があったのでチェックしてみたら「お付き合いのお願い」ファイルを発見。
気になる内容ですが。。。

日頃よくお会いしますのに、突然お便りを差しあげ、驚かれたことでしょう。
しかし、精一杯の勇気をふるって、この手紙を書いています。
多分、あなたはお気付きになっていらっしゃらないでしょうが、それを承知のうえで、思いきって書きます。
あなたと二人きりで、話をしてみたいのです。一度だけ、チャンスを与えてください。
身勝手な手紙を差しあげたことを、お許しください。
お返事をいただければ幸せに存じます。

2006年11月10日

すごい！！ファイル名通りお付き合いのお願いだ。
こんなお手紙頂いた事はもちろんないけど見た事もない。しかも日付が今日。

続いて「お断りのお返事」ファイルを発見。

内容：

お手紙、拝見いたしました。
このたびは、お手紙ありがとうございました。
私のことを、そのようにお感じくださっていたことを知り、とても光栄です。
なんと申しあげればよいのか、適当な言葉が浮かびませんが、あなたのお気持に添えないことを、お許しください。
実は、先ごろ両親のすすめる方とお見合いをし、結婚のお約束をしたばかりでございます。申しわけございません。
一日も早く、あなた様を愛される女性の現れることを、陰ながらお祈り申しあげてます。
どうかご自愛のうえ、お仕事にお励みくださいますように。

2006年11月12日

まぁ。
しかも日付が明後日で超〜リアル！


(‥うそ。これはヤラセ。)

探ってみたらおもしろいものが出て来たな。

2006

Only 2 months left of 2006, thank the Lord. This year has sucked. Many fantastic things happened, mind you, to many people and places and organizations and situations--including those that involve me both directly and indirectly---but I still welcome 2007 with enormous enthusiasm, if only because it will be something new. No, I did not like 2006.

Self-analysis: I wanted too many things I didn't have, making me bitter and possibly Scrooge-like. Maybe it's not 2006 I dislike, but who I have been so far during this year.

Does wanting what one doesn't have make that person unhappy?

I don't know.

Am I unhappy?



I wouldn't say unhappy, that's a pretty strong word. I am definitely not happy. And at the end of the day, I think: well, who cares if I'm not happy? It's probably a phase anyway (my seratonin levels are usually off the charts) and at least it makes me a better writer (it's true. Can't write for crap when I'm having a great day). I don't need to be happy all the time, I am not down in the dumps, I'm just... not happy. I want things I don't have, many things, very much, and one of them is to not feel this way anymore. It's a phase, possibly maybe, and it's a long one.

I have to let go to my old ways and try something new.

Glitterball 2006

As self-appointed ambassadors to Tokyo's Glitterati, Ninapod and I attended Glitterball again this year, put on by Nina's former employers and my sometimes employers.



Glitterball is tres funky.
Mmm... so funky!! (See next post for explanation)

Ninapod of course was Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast At Tiffany's. Everyone loved her, especially the guys and the Japanese girls who love B.A.T. Man. Just kidding.







I, on the other hand, had trouble being taken seriously by the male species.



Except this guy.



Being a member of the elite US military Delta Force--code name Alpha 6--my mission was simple. After disembarking my Black Hawk at Roppongi Crossing (19:33), I infiltrated the streets and alleys of Tokyo, identifying the target location succussfully within minutes (19:40). I proceeded to enjoy the evening, thus completing the mission with no civilian casualties and minimum costume damage (24:22).



(25:23)

Many many thanks to HK, who had everything stored in his closet, ready to go.
Mad props!

Do you know...Lisa Nova?!

This girl is hilarious.
Genius!
So funky...



(The editor is not LisaNova but deserves mad props {my gawd!! Haven't used that since, like, Seattle...})

Lisa Nova page: www.lisanova.info

And please also watchi this:



They both crack me up....

MEXICO PART III

Well, this is getting ridiculous isn't it?
You must be so disappointed in me.
You know what?
I was working on a detailed post a few weeks ago, in the midst of which my battery chord got ripped out and the entry disappeared into cyberspace...
(I swear.)
I needed these extra few weeks to recover from the shock, but here I am again.
Will you forgive me?
Thank you.
I promise to post something today.

To refresh your memory, I went to M-E-X-I-C-O (^_-)

So...
Days following the wedding...

My osananajimi (=childhood friend) S flew to Mexico to join me for the rest of my trip. If she hadn't joined me I probably would have flown back to Tokyo right after the wedding, missing out on the following experiences. The first full day she was here, we went to one of the best anthropological museums in the world, Museo de Antropologia.

Chu Chu's Great-great-grand-dad?

My Great-great-grand-dad?!

Reforma--Mexico City's Meiji Dori (or Seattle's 45th)--blocked by the losing party of the presidential elections. Talk about sore losers...

S and I getting ready for the eye-opening experience of Dialogue in the Dark. S has flown around the world to take part in the original Hamburg exhibit, and now she's experienced it in Japan and in Mexico as well.

Our Lady Of Guadalupe

Teotihuacan's largest pyramid, the Sun Pyramid, said to have been built in 100AD.

The steps are incredibly steep. I climbed these steps 15 years ago, too.

The home Frida Kahlo shared with husband Diego Rivera.

Mexican color combinations are bold and beautiful.

We flew to Huatulco in Oaxaca State and signed up for a private tour of the Bays of Huatulco. Most of the beaches were practically untouched and isolated, like this one.

Sea turtles mating in the Pacific. We saw many couples.

Dophins swimming in the Pacific.

7:32pm in Huatulco.

7:35pm

7:40pm

Top four things I will miss about Mexico; #4: the mountain of lime wedges served with every taco or soup meal.

#3: the soups.

#2: the soups.

#1: mi familia Mexicana! (A is on her honeymoon here).

Mexican adventures finished!!
Next time: recent projects and Poppo's skin problems (;_;) (Well, perhaps. I mean do you really want to hear this???? Probably not...)

Good night, all.