Every New Year's Day, my mom would make osechi ryori, traditional Japanese New Year foods. Actually, I need to correct myself. She'd be cooking all day and night before New Year's Day. If we weren't home in Seattle, then we'd have an even more elaborate osechi in Japan with my baa-ba (grandma). In recent years… Continue reading Flower carrots, sleep deprivation and memories
Category: staying home
Home for the holidays, but it feels different
You're probably tired of hearing people say it: The holidays will look different this year. They won't just "look" different, they will feel different. (It's felt different this entire month!) I'm home in Seattle for the holidays. Many people around the world cannot go home for the holidays. Better worded: They are making the smart… Continue reading Home for the holidays, but it feels different
It’s Aki season!
Now that we are one week into fall, it seems like an appropriate time to officially introduce you to Aki. (In Japanese, Aki means fall/autumn). This is Aki, my shiba inu. She joined our lives at the end of July and now is four months old! I have always wanted a shiba inu since I… Continue reading It’s Aki season!
A quarantine on top of quarantine
The West Coast is on fire. It's been more than a week of very smokey air in Seattle from all the wildfires. We're "lucky" since it's even worse in Oregon and California. I can't even begin to imagine what it would feel like to have to leave your house because you were in danger from… Continue reading A quarantine on top of quarantine
The little things
I went on a run Friday morning. I have hardly been running these days, but that is not what I came to write about. As I shuffled my feet, I crossed paths with an older man walking with a camera that had a huge lens slung over his shoulder. He wore a utility vest and… Continue reading The little things
Not the summer we planned for
As my friend and I chatted, we kept referencing how this wasn't the summer anyone had planned for. She had planned to spend the entire month of August back here in Seattle. (She currently lives in Spain). Now she doesn't even know when her next trip back to visit her parents and friends will be.… Continue reading Not the summer we planned for
Fresh air, sun, mountains — and masks
When we pulled up to the trail head, there were only two other cars. Not bad. We purposely took a day off mid-week in an attempt to avoid crowds on our hike. We also didn't pick a super popular hike to begin with. As we were getting situated and out of the car, another car… Continue reading Fresh air, sun, mountains — and masks
An office stuck in time
I had to go into the office to pick up my work badge the other day. It was my first time back in four months. It was weird because as much as I enjoy working from home (no commute, not having to wear real pants ...) I had a tinge of sadness as I walked… Continue reading An office stuck in time
It felt different this year
"Happy Fourth!" she cheerfully exclaimed as she and her partner descended down the mountain. I think I mumbled a quick "Same to you," but I honestly can't remember, nor did I mean it if I did. I was just being polite. It was July Fourth but I didn't think there was anything to celebrate about.… Continue reading It felt different this year
Here, still.
Remember this post? I don't know what happened because June flew by and I only wrote two blog posts the entire month. (At the beginning of Covid, I was churning out at least one post per week). What happened? I'm not sure. I felt like I didn't have anything (important) to say. I've gotten to… Continue reading Here, still.
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