too dark and too tired to write

It has been a busy couple of weeks. (And *I* am not even moving house!) I have had to write too many other things for work and could not squeeze another drop out of my exhausted brain or fingers. I should recover soon. I will breathe in and out and read some soothing things and then I will be fit to contribute to the blogging world.

for now I will leave you with two quotes borrowed from Fiona at Planting words:

When it is dark enough, you can see the stars.

~ Charles A. Beard

In a dark time, the eye begins to see.

~ Theodore Roethke

oh Autumn

Six reasons why i am glad it is Fall--4 reasons why I'm not

Writing Prompt From Mama Kat
--OK the prompt was for 10 reasons why you are glad, but I got kind of bored halfway through.



1. Because it is now cool enough not to need the air conditioner--but with my windows open I can hear my 70 something neighbor vacuuming her floors *every* morning at about 6:30. It is a good alarm clock when I want to work out, but when I want to sleep in...

2. The cicadas have shut up. I miss them a little. Still it is good to know that we could go into the park and not have to worry about permanently damaging our hearing.

3. We can walk on the beach again. Summer beach is great. We have had good times with the SUP and got to see really cool fishies while snorkeling. Yesterday was our first walk and we picked up some very cool looking shells. I am glad it is now cool enough to go down to the shore fully clothed.

4. Nabe (hot pot) time! If you have never had it go take a look. It comes with kimchee or without. Lots of veggies. Does not require a recipe. Very yum.

5. Kin moku sen--my favorite smell in the fall.

6. Ishi yaki imo (roasted sweet potatoes) in the fall the guy with the truck will come around in our neighborhood--kind of like the ice cream man. They are hot and fat and smokey. Another yum.

I will miss these things:

7. being able to go barefoot--in the house at the beach

8. never feeling cold--never needing a cardigan or sweatshirt--Japan is not the high desert and the misery is that the temperature does not fluctuate much from day to night. the upside is that I never feel cold

9. body boarding and playing around on the SUP


10. the feeling that I am on vacation--summer and vacation go hand-in-hand and the feeling that accompanies summer vacation is programmed into my brain from childhood. Summer was the best time of my life when I was a kid. Even if we are not doing anything special, like this year with our "staycation" I still feel like we could do something because it is summer and it is vacation. I still hold that fluttery happy emotion somewhere in my heart even as an adult and I look forward to the excitement next year.

Lots of things to like about fall. It makes me feel sad though. I know that the leaves will turn and fall and then I will be stuck with skeleton-like branches and not enough green for several months. We will go out and hike in the nearby mountains and it will be good because the heat and the bugs will be gone, but I love spring and summer and VERY much look forward to them coming for a visit again next year.

woohoo i'm famous

One of my favorite blogs for photography/reflective thoughts asked me to write a bit about "where i live". That is a perk about living abroad--people think it is exotic and want to know more. It was not easy to write because I have been here so long that so many things have become "normal" to me and I take them for granted. I tried to give a bit of insight into the Japan that I live in and if you want to take a look it is here: at mortal muses --who totally rock!!

I was humbled by what the other "guest muses" wrote about their hometowns and surroundings. They made them real and personal and I could really see, feel (and almost taste those cheese fries!) parts of their lives. I really struggled when I was writing because I couldn't decide if I should write about or *my* life in Japan or what. I ended up writing a bit of both and I am grateful for the kind and positive comments that I received. Justine said "...your journal is so interesting". She has come by here and indeed this is a journal rather than a "proper" blog that shows off an amazing life or specific ability. There are so many, many talented women working on the many projects at mortal muses. I am awed, daunted and inspired by their work. I am glad they are there. It is a bit lonely in Japan sometimes and it is easy anywhere to get stuck in the rut of the day to day slog and to forget the beauty that surrounds us. So thank you, creative women for your inspiration and your dedication to being more creative even when you are busy. Please keep up the good work.