February
Curios about the last year in February?Here
2/29/2024.
In honor of the Leap Day 2024, I repost this video. To me, personally, the leap year = The Summer Olympic/paralympic games' year. So I remember. It's a good way to remember, I assume. Happy Leap Day!
2/28/2024.
You know? When your best friend who lives far away from you reacted to your writing about Zip Code, you would be pleased more than you imagined. Funny. She used to be my mail carrier and she was the best of the best taking care of my international packages often. Well, her reaction was fabulous to me because she taught me about U.S. Zipcode history. It caught my attention very well. First, it was 60th anniversary last summer which means it was introduced in 1963, 10 years before I was born. It's easy to remember to myself. She shared the article.
https://www.nalc.org/news/the-postal-record/2023/july-2023/document/ZIP.pdf
I love this magazine news very much. My eyes keep wide open during my reading. And now the song "Zip Code" by The Five Americans is stuck in my head. Do you know this song?
I attach another videos, too.
Thanks to my wonderful friend in KS, my brain was fed well with a good story.
2/27/2024.
My husband's mono-ski session #6 was all about icy-icy-slopes. Well, I was so afraid of the surface condition which looked obviously no-good for mono-skiing. One of the instructors told him "You need to learn about this condition and get familiar with it as well." Whoa, that is true. I'm glad that he kept trying with his wonderful instructors. It sure was hard to get used to icy-slopes. I'm proud of my husband that he did mono-ski 6 times in this season.
2/26/2024.
Here we go again. The another cycling/handcycling spring training has started today just because it was almost 70F this afternoon. First things first, checking tires and gears. Then ask myself "Do you remember how to put two machines and one wheelchair into a van??" Yes, here we go!
2/25/2024.
My mother updates: She celebrated her big 80 with her favorite humans! I just so miss seeing her.
2/24/2024.
Have you heard about the new series "Shogun"? This title is Japanese word 将軍 (しょうぐん).
I really want people in the States to pronounce this word "Shogun" good enough. It's not 'show-gun'. (Especially not "gun" sound in English.) It's more like "show-goon". Hmmm, it's still tricky to explain Japanese sound.
My husband and I are looking forward to watching this series sometime soon. I love the Japanese actor, Hiroyuki Sanada very much!!! You would love him, too.
2/24/2024.
Our son is age 21, will turn 22 in March. He is supposed to be searching for jobs, doing job hunting, applying to jobs. Since I’m not so familiar with American job hunting, I did some my “homework” to understand the protocol about getting a job in the States. You might laugh. I think I created my CV for my previous jobs, school EA (educational assistant) and library shelver. However I didn’t make a “cover letter” at all. So I learned about a cover letter and the importance about it. It is great to know about it very much to myself even I’m age 50 now.
Then I want to show you here “what Japanese resume and CV looks like”. Also I have to say this. “There is no cover-letter-culture in any company and any work-field in Japan. Interesting? Yes, I agree with that.
On the Japanese CV format (yes, there is a particular exact same format!) you need to attach a photo of you (just like a passport photo) and you need to write your gender and more personal information.
“A photo” part might surprise you, I assume? There are many big differences between Japanese CV and American CV. To myself, a cover letter would be more important than CV/resume, I feel so. However Japanese people don’t know anything about it. Very interesting, isn’t it?
https://kimi.wiki/jobsearch/japanese-resume
https://www.tokhimo.com/post/how-to-write-japanese-cv-rirekisho-and-shokumu-keirekisho?lang=en
Photos below: Japanese CV format.
See the section 20 and 21??? There are not much spaces to write about the reason for application and self-introduction. So weird...
2/24/2024.
This old photo just came up. I used to work as a shelver at the local public library, The Lane Public Library in town. I love this photo of us, all of us. I loved the shelver job, putting books in a certain specific order. I love libraries including college libraries. I might have told you here before about libraries in Japan. The organizing and sorting system in Japan is totally different. You would be surprised. I want to visit libraries in Europe, Australia, Africa or South America to find out their system. That'd be awesome.
Well, I know I should visit other libraries in the States first, shouldn't I?
2/23/2024. “Pigs” updates plus “Squirrels”.
(Check 2/14 entry) You should laugh at me searching for this kind of facts.
We took photos with a Flying-Pig statue the day before Flying-Pig-10K race.
Then we found “Hamlet Pig” in the downtown Cincinnati. That made me “search” for Pig statues. I didn’t get the exact number of them. At least we can see 5 in this webpage and it says there are 5 more.
“Where to Find the pigs Today.”
https://365cincinnati.com/big-pig-gig/
Then I hit this article about UC pig statue.
https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/legacy/enews/2013/05/pig-pride--campus-unveils-winged-marathon-statue.html
Is this statue still there? (I don’t know.)
And it got me thinking about the Statues of Squirrels in Glendale. Have you seen them? We used to drive through this town and saw some from our car. They catch my eyes always quickly. I didn’t have any information about them before. I found several articles now. The very interesting part was the same artist made both Pigs and Squirrels!!! Can you imagine? Whoa, great to know. Love the fact very much.
https://www.cincinnatimagazine.com/article/whats-with-glendales-giant-squirrel-statues/
Maybe someday I should take a photo with one of squirrels. Would you like to do that?
Entry#214. 2/21/2024.
I am dead tired right now recovering from the Night skiing last night at the Perfect North Slopes where it was always my husband’s “base” ski slopes. It was a new program session provided by both The Bridge Adaptive Sports and the Perfect North slopes adaptive skiing instructors. (It was super neat because it was a private lesson for him. He had his private coach plus 4 helpers.) I am so grateful for their support really.
Night skiing is different from day skiing, you know? Once temperatures drop, ski slopes turn into icy hard surfaces. I skied with them again. Last time, I was way too slow because of the snow condition with warm temperatures. I couldn’t keep up with them, all of them. (I felt so awful.) It was a good temperature last night, not too warm, not too cold. Well, at least to myself, I was able to keep my speed and did videotape of his performances. I was fast enough. That means my husband got more speed = the fastest speed ever.
My mind was full of mixed feelings, excitement and worry (more worried for the last half of the lesson). This Night skiing experience gave me some thinking times. I learned more and felt that I need to think more about how I can support my husband's mono-skiing. He fell many times during his lesson. I’m sure he thinks a lot and his body is so exhausted today.
At least we checked “Night Skiing” on his wishlist, that was wonderful.
P.S. Happy happy birthday to my mother in Japan. Big 80! Tomorrow 2/22. Japan time is always ahead of us. Here is a photo of my parents from May last year. Look great, don't they?
2/20/2024.
Once we visited the town named Batesville in Indiana. Have you been there? We stopped by there before handcycling around Metamora. There is a cute coffee shop.
Then, on this President day, my husband found an interesting news about the particular donuts in this town. Cherry Thing-a-Lings.
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/dining/2024/02/14/why-indiana-cherry-thing-a-lings-sensation/72571464007/
Have you eaten them? If so, I'm so jealous. Someday, I want to eat it, someday. It's so interesting because they sell them only one weekend, only this weekend!! It's for the president day! Sounds so special. Don't you think?
It's crazy though. According to their website, see the chart? The number of Cherry Thing-a-Lings they made for one weekend got higher and higher! Now you think you have to taste it??
Entry#213. 2/19/2024.
I watch YouTube videos about paraplegic people to learn how they do things. From daily routines to many kinds of adaptive sports. It’s a good source to learn and watch. However seeing it with my own eyes is better than YouTube videos, in fact the best.
To be honest, there are not many chances though. My husband visited several paraplegic sellers to get several different styles of handcycles/wheelchairs. They gave him not only a machine but also some life-hacks as paraplegics. Every time that happened, I was way too excited, happy and grateful. Even though each individual of paraplegic is totally different (mobility conditions), they would give you more new ideas and tips/hints to be creative for your life. It is different from reading books or watching videos.
When my husband (finally) met several “experienced” handcycle athletes in the Air Force Marathon in Dayton, and talked with them, my eyes were twinkling endlessly. (At the Flying Pig 10k race in Cincinnati, all participants were first-timers. Did you know that?)
Last Saturday, at the adaptive ski lesson at Mad River Mountain, we met a paraplegic instructor (he is a T12 SCI. My husband is a T10.) for the very first time ever. It was quite a surprise because we didn't know and didn’t expect that this would happen. Then guess how I reacted? I kept asking questions to him. He was so generous, listened to me patiently and answered me. I was like a talking-machine-gun. Luckily I rode a lift with him, next to him.
However, suddenly I felt bad for my husband. He was focusing on his own mono-skiing. Of course the mono-skier instructor gave him several pieces of advice. Just because two mono-skiers cannot ride together on a lift, my husband didn't have enough chatting time with him.
At least, we learned something new from him directly. That was really nice.
Here are things I felt (from my perspective).
After spending more practice times/years, my husband could be independent for mono-ski. He could bring his own mono-ski putting on his lap, wheel his wheelchair to a ski area, transfer himself from chair to ski, move to a lift, ride on a chairlift, take off from a chairlift and just go for skiing down, all by himself. Someday in future.
Having a paraplegic instructor is wonderful, however the lesson time passed by so quickly this time. It was not enough. I do hope my husband could ski with him again sometime soon.
The paraplegic instructor told me there were many “fails” during learning periods to himself. Even he broke his wrist. He reassured me “remember shoulders are important! Protect shoulders.” I nodded and nodded.
2/19/2024.
I cried a lot last night watching the documentary film "Full Circle".
A story of Post Traumatic growth. Barry Corbet. Trevor Kennison. FULL CIRCLE.
https://fullcirclefilm.co/
Here, it says "it's more than a Ski Movie."
https://freeskier.com/stories/level-1s-latest-film-full-circle-is-more-than-a-ski-movie
I cried a lot. I loved whole story. You would like it. It covers everything about SCI (spinal cord injury) and whole emotions, feelings, thinking-process and more. Yes, you would like it if you are curious about my husband's life, our SCI life.
P.S. See? It's full blooming. Love it? Today's Christmas cactus.
2/17/2024.
When the winter storm hit again heavily in February and you didn't expect much the coldness like 20s F wind chill, you still would be more excited about SNOW because it was a mono-ski day for your husband today at Mad River Mountain. And your adrenaline level went up higher when you saw a new instructor who was a real mono-skier!! (He has been doing mono-ski for 15 years!!!) My husband rolled his eyes seeing my high energy. Obviously I was too excited to meet him and chatted too much loudly. You know me. It was like my most exciting moment in this ski season. I have tons to tell you. I'll write more later. Too bad I couldn't take pictures nor videos because of the brutal coldness.
Entry#212. 2/16/2024.
What is ADA accessibility? Have you thought about it for yourself or your family/friends? I was very bad because I hadn't thought about it and hadn't learned about it at all before my husband's injury. Then I am learning about it a small thing at a time. "ADA accessibility" has a broader meaning. There are a lot of things to know, to learn and to understand.
https://adatile.com/what-is-ada-accessibility/
When I got a huge help to remodel our bathroom into an accessible "roll-in" shower room, I learned a lot. Also I felt some differences about the meaning of accessibility. It was an interesting process to think about it. My husband has complete T10 SCI (spinal cord injury). It's called as paraplegic. It is different from quadlipregic. Each individual SCI person has a different level of needs. This fact applies to any environment (inside or outside, anywhere).
I am grateful and thankful for knowing that there is a law for people with disabilities.
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act): On July 20, 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed into law the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, State and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation. It also mandates the establishment of TDD/telephone relay services.
When we talk about "accessibility" on hike trails, you can easily imagine paved-trails or boardwalks should be accessible. These ground surfaces would be fine for any wheelchairs including electric wheelchairs. These surely give equal opportunities to everyone including my husband and me. I am grateful.
https://roadtrippers.com/magazine/best-wheelchair-accessible-hiking-trails/
This is the article by Mr. Cory Lee. Title: 5 of the best wheelchair-accessible hiking trails in the U.S. I can learn more things from him in future for sure.
I have to say this though. My husband has another point of view about hiking trails. From his perspective, he wants to go into trails with his offroad types of wheelchair/handcycle, not with his daily wheelchair. Just because he could feel bumpy ground surfaces, some rocks and leaves directly from wheel-movement "safely ". Of course we are very grateful for using paved-trails and boardwalks. However my husband would keep seaking "which trails he can go into with an offroad wheelchair/handcycle". What does it mean? You might ask.
He wants to know before he hits trails whether
there are steps? (he cannot go climbing steps with offroad wheelchair, for now)
there are deep dips on ground? (if it's too deep, he cannot go forward)
there are very steep points? (he cannot handle very steep ones)
there are bridges and how wide they are? (his two big back-wheels have to fit the width of bridges).
He wants to know about these things beforehand because it would be very hard to turn around once he hits a trail. Can you imagine that his offroad handcycle needs very wide space to just turn around?
He would keep searching for it. I would keep supporting him.
There is Ruder Preserve in our town, Oxford, OH. They are building and expanding boardwalks in their trail. Have you hiked there? It's so nice and I am grateful for our own town.
Is it interesting to you to know a different point of view of "enthusiasm of being on hike trails", isn't it? I need to add one thing lastly. We are also nature-lovers and we do know the importance of "conserving natural habitats and natural trail grounds". We know that but we also want to ask the world for permission to go into trails with his offroad wheelchair/handcycle. Because it's the only way for my husband.
2/14/2024.
Today’s topic is about zip code in Japan. Yes, zip code. Odd? When you write recipient’s name and address on an envelope/postcard, you write zip code first, an address next and then name. That’s the order in Japan, interesting? Even there are small squares printed on it at the very top edge just for zip code. You might feel “wow, Japanese postal system is very kind and generous.”
If no squares printed, Japanese people write Postal Logo 〒 in front of zip code. You should ask Japanese friends around you about it, if they write 〒. I believe most of them (most of us) do. That’s one of the natural habits without any thinking process for people in Japan. Even I haven’t doubted about it before, never. We write this Postal Logo 〒 because we want to make sure the numbers indicate zip code. This sounds a bit weird, doesn’t it? (After I lived in the States for a long time, I do feel so.)
Here is an article “The story behind Japan’s 〒 Postal Logo”
Recently I went to our post office and I had a conversation with the post office lady. Like my old habit, I did write Postal Logo 〒 in the address for my patents house. (Oops) The lady asked me “this must be a zip code? T0630002?” She said “T”. Until this moment, I have never thought about it, 〒 looks like capital letter T? Whoa, it does. Because it does say the same thing in a webpage like this.
“ It’s a symbol that looks like the capital letter T but with an additional horizontal line above it: 〒. Known as the postal mark (yubin kigo), it’s a symbol that represents the Japanese postal system.”
Then this conversation caught my attention. Is Japan only one country that uses the Logo for zip code in the whole world???
I didn’t get an answer but it really seems so. Because when you search any post office in any country on Map app (Maps or GoogleMap), you see the envelope image/map symbol. Envelope!! Yes. Then try to search it in Japan. You see 〒 symbols!!! Whoa. This is something very interesting. (Even to me, Japanese. Ha.) Japan is such an odd country in a certain way, indeed. Don’t you think?
This symbol was based on one letter from Japanese katakana カタカナ (one of the sets of Japanese alphabets): テ according to the article below. See the similarity テ and 〒, yes?
2/14/2024.
Christmas cactus update: It's blooming petty well. It's perfect for V-day! Ha! Happy happy Valentine's Day to you all! Here are fun photos with "pig" in Cinci, too. I bet you are smiling.
I think my next search-topic would be "how many pig statues are there in Cincinnati?" Plus their background stories. Do you know how many?
2/13/2024.
Look! My husband was invited for the celebrating "Years of Service" today. 15 years of Service!!
2/12/2024.
It’s been almost 23 years since we moved into the States in 2001. Whoa, 23 years. (By the way, our son was born in 2002, in Manhattan, KS.) We started living in one bedroom apartment at that time. Our very first “house” was here since 2008. (The house was built in 1980(!!) so it’s a very old house.).
There are several “interesting” differences between Japanese houses and American houses. Have you heard about them? Or even have you thought about “which way the front door opens? Outward? Inward?” Now your eyebrow is raised?
I made you curious, didn’t I? Because the front door opens OUTWARD in Japan (they have sliding doors as a front door also, different ideas/styles). I can say “there is NO front door opening INWARD in Japan. Never! Interesting? https://www.3darchidesigner.com/archidesignerjp/the-japanese-home/jp-home_004/#:~:text=The%20front%20door%20usually%20opens,able%20to%20open%20the%20door.
Sometimes I wish I could have had the front door opening outward. (Well, the storm is opening outward. So this idea is the same as Japanese front door, maybe?) Because my front door doesn’t have a storm door nor a front porch, raindrops make a bit wet inside when you open the door during rain. (Well, I have a big project for the front door in future, replacing it to an “accessible one”. Someday…..)
In Japan, every single house has a Nameplate with family name engraved! Every single house!
To young myself, back then in Japan, it was natural view seeing every single house’s family names. However to people in the States, it might be odd (but I know there are some people have big rocks with engraved family names on it. Or farm houses have name signs, of course.)
And a mail slot! I’m gonna write about it next time. My parents’ house has a mail slot “in door”.
There are even more differences (big ones) about house structures and roofing, between Japanese and American. I still need to learn about American houses for sure.
A photo below. (It's my mother!). This front door opens outward. See the nameplate upper left? It’s my father’s full name on it!
P.S. warning: I believe these stuffs are still accurate. However it might be wrong. If so, forgive me.
Entry#211. 2/11/2024.
Exploring a city area or a big town with a wheelchair gets more comfortable and familiar lately to both of us, my husband and me. Using his front-wheel (a special attachment) helps a lot to his wheelchair mobility on bumpy ground surfaces. We can find “accessible” restaurants which have no steps at front doors/entrances. You know? It might be possible to enter if I support his wheelchair from his back and “lift” his front caster wheels and “push” safely for steps, one step at a time . Maybe. If fact, I haven’t done that yet. We prefer to go inside without steps.
We don’t complain because we can still find places we can enter. And if you see the sign saying “Ramp available. Please ring bell.” at the entrance with steps. I feel grateful for the owner’s kindness very much. I haven’t thought about this stuff deeply before my husband’s injury.
However I have to say "Chicago isn't kind to wheelchair users much". So many bumpy surfaces plus hills and layers-road-structures. Many many revolving doors. Ooops, Chicago is still a fun city, though.
Exploring cities is still fun, I want to say this, too.
See the step in a photo below? This is a big one to me. It is hard to "lift front wheels = make him tilt backside" to me, it is a bit heavy. So "ramp" makes me feel so grateful.
Entry#210. 2/10/2024.
How often do you visit Cincinnati downtown? Over-the-Rhine? Most of the time we go there, we bring our guests from all over the country/world to show “what Cincinnati looks like”. Our favorite places are Findlay Market, Eli’s BBQ, Alms park, Mount Adams, Smale Riverfront Park, Purple People bridge, Newport Aquarium (maybe last two places are not called OTR? not sure) and so on. You know that my husband can tell you about most of coffee shops around Cincinnati.
However we have not tried to ride on the Streetcar. Have you? It was a bit tricky to find a public parking lot even before my husband’s injury. Because we were not so familiar with downtown streets. Now we are getting a little bit “obsessed” about finding the right parking places for a wheelchair. Then my husband found the info about the Streetcar.
https://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/streetcar/
We tried to ride it today!
The website says:
“The Connector is an electric-powered streetcar that operates along a 3.6-mile loop connecting Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine and Banks neighborhoods via the Central Business District. It is free to ride.”
It was fantastic! I loved it very much. I was so excited and my eyes were open wide all the time during the ride. How wonderful, how useful and how convenient it is for us, especially for wheelchair users!
We park in the Washington Park public parking (underneath the park) then ride the Streetcar to wonder Findlay Market, restaurants, coffee shops and more, and ride back with the Streetcar to the Washington Park. This would be our perfect routine from now on. I was so happy especially for my husband.
Bobus picture: in front of the Music Hall! I wish we could attend to an event at the Music Hall someday in future.
2/09/2024.
I was so grateful when I got invited to the local public library event tonight "Art Contest and Gala Night @Lane public library" from my dear librarian-friend. I was so glad that I visited. Then coincidentally I saw my biologist-friend there because she submitted her art and that was displayed. Embroidery!!! Some familiar faces (boys) were playing piano tunes for people. And of course, super awesome librarians in town were there to greet people, serve foods and introduce local artists' arts pieces. It was so much fun to be there.
2/07/2024.
Once I was a middle school library assistant. I was lucky because I loved being at any library. I met two fabulous librarian ladies there and they taught me tons of stuff about everything. It was a really good, fun time. We sometimes exchanged some gifts in holiday seasons. When I found something nice, I purchased 3 of them. I kept one for myself and shared 2 with them. I have done this kind of style of sharing items with my friends many times. So that I keep seeing items at my house thinking of them often. It's always fun.
I have a unique bookend which fits a librarian very much. See a photo below? So I shared these with my mentor-librarian friends. I loved it. However there is an issue with using it as a bookend. It doesn't hold heavy books because of the design. Sad. Well, it was not so functional and practical at all. I felt bad for my friends. (Sorry, my dear friends.) At least I still could use it as a decor. It reminds me of our great friendship and our wonderful good memories. So it's all good. And I learned that a bookend had to be heavy itself. Funny?
How do you like my bookend?
2/06/2024.
My Christmas cactus update:
Wait, did I say “Christmas” cactus? There are many buds on it. I believe these are “third round” of blooms(!) It’s nice to see them, isn’t it? Wooo hoooo.
2/05/2023.
I have to celebrate big for my husband's accomplishment on mono-ski! It's a step-by-step learning for both a athlete and trainers/ instructors. Each disabled individual is having fun differently. And I can say that they all were smiling and laughing on the slopes. It's a quite wonderful view really. Here is a group photo! It's not everyone though. Yes, there were more there. This program is so helpful and great.
2/03/2024.
Sometimes you want to pretend to be a podcaster, don't you?
Also you want to twirl and twirl on a shiny sunny day, don't you? Yes, I know, I know, I am age 50. But I couldn't help it soaking up the sunshine!!
Entry#209. 2/02/2024.
In Japan, everyone write New Year’s cards with “Happy New Year!” instead of Christmas greeting cards (well, they might do both. But New Year’s card is a must for everyone in Japan.) Most of them add a Chinese zodiac animal of the year in a card. 2024 is the year of the dragon. Also every single person in Japan knows about a Chinese zodiac animal of their own birth year. (Wait, do you know about yours? Does everyone in the States know about it?)
My husband and I were born in the Year of the ox. Our son was born in the Year of the horse. (My dad is the snake. My mom is the monkey. My brother is the rabbit. See? In Japan, it’s so common. I still remember these.).
I still recieve several New Year’s cards from Japan from my relatives. I got something different before. It looked like a special calligraphy (handwriting lettering design). I was told that it was called “warai mojo” 笑い文字.
The detail is here. https://naganojets.wordpress.com/2022/07/26/a-bit-more-than-just-arigato/
In this site, it says; Japan has one of the richest and eye-catching cultures in the world, and you can feel it through every moment of your daily life. (If you live in Japan.)
I totally agree with it.
So this is “laughter character” from a translation.
‘It’s a hiragana or kanji character combined with a cute laughing face written with black and vermilion red ink brush pens.’
It looks that it was invented/introduced in 2012. It got developed through 2013. Interesting. It even says “the main philosophy of ‘warai mojo” is to create a world where gratitude and joy circulate.”
This sounds SO JAPAN!
I attach several images so that you can understand what it looks. photo 1: おめでとう(congratulation) photo 2: Happy Birthday (do you see the idea?)
I love the American handwriting letterings/fonts as well. Then I thought this “smile” is very similar with Japanese “laughter character “. How do you think?
photo 1: The one I got last year in March. My aunt by marriage drew it. photo 2: I usually add dots when I write my name.
video: I just love these designs.
Go back to last month.
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