The earthquake caused a serious power shortage, so now we have been under planned blackouts by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). There was nothing else they could do but carry out such a planned blackout. I understood it but their management has given rise to a lot of problems.
One of the problems happened to my father-in-law. He uses a respirator and an aspirator because of his disease. The respirator has a battery but the aspirator doesn’t have a battery so the blackout could prove to be fatal for him. When TEPCO announced the blackout, they seemed to realize the influence on such people and they advised people to contact their customer center about people with home-care so they could provide a portable power generator. My husband and I were greatly relieved to hear that.
I tried to call their customer center but the line was busy and I couldn’t get through. We were a little confused. Then we both started to call the customer center but we couldn’t get through at all. The blackout was due to start the next morning! The plan that they would start the blackouts from the day before the day they announced it was all nonsense. Who can arrange for the portable power generator immediately? In any case, we had to find a way to get it. So my husband drove to the customer center and I continued to call them and also tried to order it online. Happily I could order it quickly but it would take three days to arrive at the earliest, so I continued to call them all night. He came home at 3 a.m. and he said that he couldn’t contact any of them. We continued to call them till the morning but we couldn’t get through at all. During that time, the news kept on saying to call the customer center! However the number for the home-care people and the number for people who want to know about the blackout details was the same! It was hardly possible to get through to them.
In the end, my husband contacted his father’s doctor early the next morning and the doctor brought some syringes for aspirating during the blackout.
Fortunately, the blackout wasn't carried out in father’s town till the day that the portable power generator was delivered, but we have felt a strong indignation. I think we shouldn’t leave the matter unsettled. But what should we do?
2011年3月21日月曜日
Seagull diner
Today was the eleventh day since the great earthquake. Yesterday’s news that a grandmother and a grandchild were safely rescued for the first time in nine days(!) made us really happy.
After the earthquake, I have watched only the TV programs related to the earthquake, but tonight I watched a movie that my friend recommended to me instead. It was a Japanese movie called “Seagull diner”. I really liked it. The story is set in Finland and passes quietly. The heroine is the owner of “Seagull diner” and her daily life changes when she meets two Japanese women. I liked the story, the actresses’ masterly performances and the beautiful images, and it was also helpful to me in setting lighting or selecting tableware, pictures, coloring, etc. I’m easily influenced, so I moved my lamp from on the shelf to on the floor immediately and decided to buy one coffee cup or dish every month. Of course, I’m going to get Iittala’s tableware that is typical of Scandinavia.
Well, I’m going to watch it again. Now I really want to adopt the ideas I get from the movie when redesigning my room.
After the earthquake, I have watched only the TV programs related to the earthquake, but tonight I watched a movie that my friend recommended to me instead. It was a Japanese movie called “Seagull diner”. I really liked it. The story is set in Finland and passes quietly. The heroine is the owner of “Seagull diner” and her daily life changes when she meets two Japanese women. I liked the story, the actresses’ masterly performances and the beautiful images, and it was also helpful to me in setting lighting or selecting tableware, pictures, coloring, etc. I’m easily influenced, so I moved my lamp from on the shelf to on the floor immediately and decided to buy one coffee cup or dish every month. Of course, I’m going to get Iittala’s tableware that is typical of Scandinavia.
Well, I’m going to watch it again. Now I really want to adopt the ideas I get from the movie when redesigning my room.
2011年3月16日水曜日
Devastating earthquake
A devastating earthquake hit Japan last week.
When the earthquake occurred, I was at home. I turned on the TV at once and walked around the room in a panic to hold on to my furniture. It was long and my legs trembled with fear.
After the earthquake, I have been glued to the TV. The news has lasted twenty-four hours on every channel. The pictures of big tsunamis made me really shocked. I couldn’t believe that such a terrible thing had happened in Japan.
Some of the towns along the coast were completely destroyed and it’s not known yet if over half of the population is safe or not. The news said that they were struck by a tsunami almost every thirty years. They really knew how tremendous the tsunami was, but even such people couldn’t escape from it. As I watched the news, I thought why they had kept on living in such a dangerous place. They ought to have known that they would repeat the same thing. They could at least build their house on a high point or with a steel frame, but they didn’t. They ought to have been able to move to a safer place, but they didn’t. I’ve been thinking why they didn’t. Why? If I were a native, what would I do? Umm, when I think about it, I feel that I also won’t move anywhere. Why? Because they love their place. They must feel “Que Sera, Sera”, I think.
I feel an aftershock again.
When the earthquake occurred, I was at home. I turned on the TV at once and walked around the room in a panic to hold on to my furniture. It was long and my legs trembled with fear.
After the earthquake, I have been glued to the TV. The news has lasted twenty-four hours on every channel. The pictures of big tsunamis made me really shocked. I couldn’t believe that such a terrible thing had happened in Japan.
Some of the towns along the coast were completely destroyed and it’s not known yet if over half of the population is safe or not. The news said that they were struck by a tsunami almost every thirty years. They really knew how tremendous the tsunami was, but even such people couldn’t escape from it. As I watched the news, I thought why they had kept on living in such a dangerous place. They ought to have known that they would repeat the same thing. They could at least build their house on a high point or with a steel frame, but they didn’t. They ought to have been able to move to a safer place, but they didn’t. I’ve been thinking why they didn’t. Why? If I were a native, what would I do? Umm, when I think about it, I feel that I also won’t move anywhere. Why? Because they love their place. They must feel “Que Sera, Sera”, I think.
I feel an aftershock again.
2011年3月9日水曜日
Ate too much!!!
I went to a yakiniku restaurant with my sister, and her daughter and son to celebrate my sister’s birthday and also to celebrate her children passing their examinations. Actually, my sister and I decided that we would treat each other to dinner every birthday instead of giving a birthday present. This year, her children passed their entrance examinations for a university and a high school so I invited them to our customary birthday dinner.
Usually, I select a little bit of an exclusive restaurant but today we put quantity before quality. We went to an all-you-can-eat yakiniku restaurant and I, a kind aunt, ordered the most expensive course for them. I was right in choosing a plan like this. My niece and nephew ordered as much meat as they wanted. Of course my sister and I did, too. We all ate too much but we were really satisfied.
After leaving the restaurant, they stopped by my place as always. They love my place because it is comfortable. Happily they liked my redesigned room very much. Then we had birthday cake although we had said that we couldn’t eat any more. There should be room for some cake. We really really ate too much and swore to diet from tomorrow.
Usually, I select a little bit of an exclusive restaurant but today we put quantity before quality. We went to an all-you-can-eat yakiniku restaurant and I, a kind aunt, ordered the most expensive course for them. I was right in choosing a plan like this. My niece and nephew ordered as much meat as they wanted. Of course my sister and I did, too. We all ate too much but we were really satisfied.
After leaving the restaurant, they stopped by my place as always. They love my place because it is comfortable. Happily they liked my redesigned room very much. Then we had birthday cake although we had said that we couldn’t eat any more. There should be room for some cake. We really really ate too much and swore to diet from tomorrow.
2011年3月7日月曜日
Almost completed remodling
It snowed a lot today. It was the third time for heavy snowfall this year. Just now, in spite of it being 11 p.m., I took my dog for a walk, so he could go to the toilet, and it is snowing again. His sign of wanting to pee is scratching the wall. If I ignore it, he begins to run all over the room. After going for a walk, he fell asleep on the sofa.
My husband and I started remodeling the Japanese room last Saturday and it is almost complete today. It has been turned into the cozy room. I’m really satisfied. I’m writing this in my new place.
Firstly, I was going to ask my sister’s children to help to move the heavy altar but my husband insisted that we would be able to move it by ourselves. I didn’t think so, however, we were able to move the altar, lay a carpet on the tatami and return it to the new place. What a surprise! If I had asked my sister’s children, remodeling wouldn't have begun yet because they are always very busy. I am thankful for my husband’s strength.
After moving the altar, I carried the bookshelves, tables, chairs, books, pictures, etc. into the room and set them up. It was a really happy time. I haven’t received the goods that I ordered on the Internet so it is not yet complete, but it has already become quite comfortable. I especially like the atmosphere at night. Look at my room!
My husband and I started remodeling the Japanese room last Saturday and it is almost complete today. It has been turned into the cozy room. I’m really satisfied. I’m writing this in my new place.
Firstly, I was going to ask my sister’s children to help to move the heavy altar but my husband insisted that we would be able to move it by ourselves. I didn’t think so, however, we were able to move the altar, lay a carpet on the tatami and return it to the new place. What a surprise! If I had asked my sister’s children, remodeling wouldn't have begun yet because they are always very busy. I am thankful for my husband’s strength.
After moving the altar, I carried the bookshelves, tables, chairs, books, pictures, etc. into the room and set them up. It was a really happy time. I haven’t received the goods that I ordered on the Internet so it is not yet complete, but it has already become quite comfortable. I especially like the atmosphere at night. Look at my room!
2011年3月6日日曜日
Reading in English
Do you like e-books? I prefer to read paper books.
The news said that the share of e-books in the US rose sharply by 8.3% of paper books. I was surprised to read it. I want to read books on paper not on e-books, forever.
Anyway, today’s point is not the problem of an e-book or a paper book. Last night I used iBooks on trial. I downloaded “Little Dorrit” by Charles Dickens and started to read it. How shocking, I was not able to understand almost all of it. There were not any words I’ve learned everyday and I couldn’t follow the context. I was really really shocked.
However, come to think of it, I’ve been learning English by remembering vocabulary and writing blogs, I haven’t read long sentences from books or magazines. I thought I needed to read a book everyday. Maybe “Little Dorrit” is too old to enjoy reading, so I'll look for some books I’m interested in and try to read a few pages everyday.
First of all, I’m going to read “Winnie-the-Pooh”.
The news said that the share of e-books in the US rose sharply by 8.3% of paper books. I was surprised to read it. I want to read books on paper not on e-books, forever.
Anyway, today’s point is not the problem of an e-book or a paper book. Last night I used iBooks on trial. I downloaded “Little Dorrit” by Charles Dickens and started to read it. How shocking, I was not able to understand almost all of it. There were not any words I’ve learned everyday and I couldn’t follow the context. I was really really shocked.
However, come to think of it, I’ve been learning English by remembering vocabulary and writing blogs, I haven’t read long sentences from books or magazines. I thought I needed to read a book everyday. Maybe “Little Dorrit” is too old to enjoy reading, so I'll look for some books I’m interested in and try to read a few pages everyday.
First of all, I’m going to read “Winnie-the-Pooh”.
2011年3月4日金曜日
A massage chair
I always have pretty stiff shoulders. When I go to the hair salon, my hairdresser is surprised by my stiff shoulders and says they're just like a board.
I went to an electrical appliance store with my husband last weekend. He wanted to buy some LED bulbs. He became immersed in shopping as always, but I didn’t want to follow him. So, I strolled around the store alone and found a good thing: a massage chair! There were several types of massage chairs and I sat down on one of them straightaway. I tried an eight-minute course. Wow! How comfortable it was! The chair I chose was not like a massage chair but a sofa. Actually the product’s name was “massage sofa”. Oh boy, I really came to want it at home! I know. My husband also has stiff shoulders. I thought he must agree to get it.
On the way home, I talked to him about the massage chair. He was interested in it, except its cost. I got the feeling that he wasn't opposed to buying it at all.
After we got home, I looked into the price on the Internet. Wow! There was a shop that sold it at about half the price! I gradually came around to buying it. The next problem is the placement. It is smaller than ordinary massage chairs, but it occupies one tatami. Do I change my new working room that I’m going to remodel to a relaxing room? I'm troubled about it now.
I went to an electrical appliance store with my husband last weekend. He wanted to buy some LED bulbs. He became immersed in shopping as always, but I didn’t want to follow him. So, I strolled around the store alone and found a good thing: a massage chair! There were several types of massage chairs and I sat down on one of them straightaway. I tried an eight-minute course. Wow! How comfortable it was! The chair I chose was not like a massage chair but a sofa. Actually the product’s name was “massage sofa”. Oh boy, I really came to want it at home! I know. My husband also has stiff shoulders. I thought he must agree to get it.
On the way home, I talked to him about the massage chair. He was interested in it, except its cost. I got the feeling that he wasn't opposed to buying it at all.
After we got home, I looked into the price on the Internet. Wow! There was a shop that sold it at about half the price! I gradually came around to buying it. The next problem is the placement. It is smaller than ordinary massage chairs, but it occupies one tatami. Do I change my new working room that I’m going to remodel to a relaxing room? I'm troubled about it now.
2011年3月3日木曜日
A photograph exhibition
A photograph exhibition of our photo club started yesterday. It will be open for a week. I am exhibiting two pictures.
This was the first exhibition for me so it was a little hard to prepare the pictures. First I ordered the prints and frames from a camera shop. After that I brought them to a picture-frame shop and ordered mats. The type of frames and the color of mats were specified. The cost of printings, frames and mats were not cheap. I never expected it to cost so much. Oh dear! However, my pictures looked great!
Yesterday morning, I carried my pictures to the hall and took part in setting up the hall. This was a self-produced exhibition so we had to set everything up. Surprisingly the old boys, maybe over seventy, worked nimbly; climbing the stepladder, hooking up the pictures and installing the lightings. I felt uneasy as I looked at their work but they were quite at home.
It was my turn for duty today. To be honest, there were not so many people coming to see the pictures. I could learn how to operate a single-lens reflex camera from other club members. They taught me patiently, step by step. It was really useful for me.
I wonder if a lot of people will come to see our pictures.
Yesterday morning, I carried my pictures to the hall and took part in setting up the hall. This was a self-produced exhibition so we had to set everything up. Surprisingly the old boys, maybe over seventy, worked nimbly; climbing the stepladder, hooking up the pictures and installing the lightings. I felt uneasy as I looked at their work but they were quite at home.
It was my turn for duty today. To be honest, there were not so many people coming to see the pictures. I could learn how to operate a single-lens reflex camera from other club members. They taught me patiently, step by step. It was really useful for me.
I wonder if a lot of people will come to see our pictures.
2011年3月1日火曜日
How to get fine food?
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| A syungiku gyoza was nice! (Green one) |
After we left the grave, we went for lunch to a Chinese restaurant recommended by her. We had a dim sum course and it tasted really good, even though it was a little expensive. The atmosphere was also nice. We could listen to a live performance of a Chinese fiddle that had a pleasant sound. She said that some politicians often used the restaurant. It ought to be delicious!
Anyway, she knew the restaurant from her stepmother. According to her story, her stepmother seems to have a lot of gourmet information, but she doesn’t readily tell her the information. I guess the information is a kind of treasure for her that she has accumulated for a long time. I understand her feelings. Now my friend tries to get the information little by little and luckily she tells me.
Well, getting really fine food is therefore difficult. I think there are two ways; one way is getting information from a person like her stepmother, and another way is trying to go to restaurants one after another. I have tried to do the latter around my place, but I have been able to find only one good restaurant as of yet.
By the way, I don’t basically recognize the restaurants that they advertise on TV programs, because it's information everyone knows.
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