Time for ... cool change..

At least a bit. I changed the template and crop a photo of a japanese maple leaf (momiji) to fit in the banner. I took this photo last year when my EOS baby was a shiny new toy. We've come a long way surviving Japan life for another autumn season. Indeed its fall and the cool wind is seeking the warmth of my faithful sweater. Change clearly is inevitable and the more I think about it, the older I feel. Yet I have to suck it up, brave a smile and greet each morning..we've got a long way to go.

bento and more autumn in Tsukuba

Yesterday was my day-off. Monday, November 12.

I woke up few minutes past seven in the morning and I headed straight to my kitchen to prepare my hubby’s bento. I have no idea what to make. That morning was one of those rare times that I have to succumb to recipe books for aid. Hubby said he wants something salty and sinful. And I picked one which doesn’t quite match but I know he will like. Here is how his bento box looked yesterday.


Pork Humba (Pork stew)


Since I needed to make one only serving I have to divide the measurements to its smaller proportion. But of course I didn’t do that. I went directly to cutting the pork into strips, and combined it in a pan containing one clove of garlic crushed, one medium sized bay leaf torn to smaller bits, one pinch of dried oregano, two tbsp. soy sauce, six tbsp. vinegar, 5 tbsp. water, half tsp. brown sugar and one tbsp. peanuts. I set it to a very low fire and let simmer until all the liquids dried up and the flavor absorbed by meat.

Sotanghon Guisado ( Sautéed glass noodles)

It was the smallest amount I have ever cooked my entire life! I only cut about 25 grams sotanghon noodles and soaked it in hot water. In hot pan with oil I simply sautéed one baby prawn with shells removed, one octopus ball cut to quarters, two short string beans sliced thinly, carrots, brocolli and drizzle with lemon juice and season with salt and pepper to taste. I arranged the sotanghon underneath all vegetables and top it with shrimp to avoid the noodles from drying up.

The dilemma of giving in to the cravings of my brat is how not to compromise nutrition despite his food being sinful. So I tucked in some fruits for fiber and endlessly remind him to finish his vegetables.

And so my day went swiftly. I cleaned our house, do laundry because weather forecast said its gonna be sunny, arrange clothes in the drawer and of course a bright day merits a picture perfect moment. The wind was cold and its slowing down my bicycle so I parked under the dampness of a tall tree. Look whats right behind and above me..




Finally I have to attend to an English tutorial duty. It went okay and when I got back home I prepared dinner and came another time to think for the next o bento…

better late than never..

Because its autumn and everybody who’s into this season seem to upload some one or two pictures then I’ll join in the bandwagon and post one or two myself (of course more on my flicker)


And because autumn falls on October and I haven’t uploaded any blog entry for a month I obliged myself to fill this space with my progress, frustrations, acquisitions, things I have done and more things I should do..

I initially vowed to study religiously and take an exam by spring 2008. The indicators I set however were blinking in red that I was so preoccupied (read: lazy) the entire month and I have decided to move taking the exam to fall of next year instead.

My Nihonggo lesson started October 2 and as far as speaking I’m okay. But I sucked big time at reading and much more at writing! My assignments are also piled up since I already missed one session because I have to attend a teachers meeting at Tokyo.

The beginning of October was also the beginning of more work since I landed as an art class instructor…a stint which towards the end of the month I gratefully handed down to the new caucasian teacher. It will still be my brainchild though. I will still design all crafts and art activities and the new guy has to do the demonstration. My plate is already full to accommodate another class. My hands have been numb from decorating our building that happened to be a one woman show. No complains coz I somehow enjoy doing and conceptualizing stuff. What better occasion can land on October calendar but the Halloween. So my class made these.. I’d probably blog how we did all these sometime. Unfortunately I don’t have photos of kids in action and some more of their projects. And oh! Our Halloween party at Planet Hollywood was a blast! I came as Snow white’s evil step mom.


Plus plus plus my hubby finally said yes to buy me an SLR! My precious Canon EOS 400D kiss so far has been my favorite frustration. Yeah its true. I’m totally learning on my own and nobody said its gonna be easy. I made very little progress and I don’t have the luxury of time to practice. Sadness! Some of the shots are already uploaded in my flickr.

To this point I have a pile of clothes to fold and assignments to furnish and more on my list that needed a check on the box next to it. I better get going. Belated HALLOWEEN!