Message Forum

Message Forum

Post Message

Prior Page

Page

10/25/09 06:44 AM

#1492

Joan Whitcomb (Pledger)

Evelyn,You are very welcome as is anyone else. I would love anyone to visit any time.

10/25/09 11:45 AM	#1493
Laura Kohut (Douglass) As I said at my house that night "now you know why I married a chef!!" My poor children. It's a miracle they get enough nutrition to grow on with my cooking abilities. Donna, if I was next to you I probably would have smacked you! You can only hope old age kicks in so next time we meet I'd have forgotten that I owe you one!

10/25/09 07:47 PM	#1494
Donna Knowles (Leduc) lol......sometimes distance is a good thing

10/26/09 04:50 AM

#1495

Melissa Turner

Travelogue:
Today our friend, Soshi, took us to Yoshiko Sakoguchi’s school to learn Kimono. It was delicious. I don’t remember what the name of the school was but it was oddly European, maybe even Scottish. There was much giggling behind the hands of the younger girls who were there for their kimono lessons. As westerners, my friend Sarah and I were not required to actually learn the kimono “dance” which would have us in our kimonos in 3 minutes flat. Instead we were assisted by Sensei Sakoguchi, who managed not to be shocked by the ampleness of my upper body or by Sarah’s 5’10” frame. I have never been in such a feminine environment in my entire life. The Japanese are incredibly generous.

As everyone who has read a newspaper knows, Tokyo is shockingly expensive. Knowing that up-front, I’m still in a bit of sticker shock. We are staying in the Ginza district of Chuo, Tokyo which is famous for its upscale shopping. You have glimpsed Chuo Dori, or “the Promenade” lighted at night in every movie featuring Tokyo that you have ever seen. Today the rain was torrential. Because it never rains in California, I forgot to bring an umbrella. I had to decide whether to spend $60 on an umbrella or drown. Worth every penny.

The Ginza district is famed for having the most expensive real estate in the world. One square meter of property cost over $100,000 U.S. This was obvious when we went to the food part of the famed Mitsukoshi department store. A gift boxed cantaloupe is available for a mere $32. It really was the most gorgeous cantaloupe I've ever seen. Soshi says her father recieved one while in the hospital. He responded "Oh no, I didn't think I was sick enough for a cantaloupe!"

With over 80,000 restaurants in Tokyo alone, the food is first rate. I could eat Sushi for breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, Soshi wanted to have a “western” lunch, so we ate in a little French-style bistro. When I asked her why there weren’t any men in the restaurant, she informed me that the men were all at work. This is a town where the ladies lunch. It would give Brentwood and Beverly Hills a run for its money. This is not the Tokyo I was expecting. More to follow….

10/26/09 06:15 AM

#1496

Linda Lemay (Wojceshonek)

Thanks Melissa. I enjoyed that. Very interesting indeed. Maybe someday I'll get to go. Enjoy your trip.

10/26/09 07:08 AM	#1497
Laura Kohut (Douglass) Oh, Melissa, keep it coming! I am envious of your adventure and love that you are giving us a travelogue. Most of us will never get to go there so please, include us via this forum! I think I will go have some cantaloupe and will appreciate it more having read your posting.

10/26/09 10:45 AM	#1498
Karen Dobrowski (Hernandez) I'm so jealous, Melissa. Going to Japan has long been a fantasy of mine. Studied a lot of the art and architecture in college and have always wanted to see it in person. Maybe someday... but as always, your powers of description are excellent and I'll enjoy following your trip! Keep it coming!

10/26/09 06:32 PM

#1499

Janine Legere (Cowell)

Catching up today while sitting in manchester airport waiting for my flight to dulles.

Pam - I have your daughter in my thoughts. Hoped I was going to catch up and find that she was home. Hopefully soon for you both. With all you've been thru do they believe the initial surgery was successful and will be worth all this for you in the long run?

All this wine talk and I'm drinking a boring house chardonay. I'm with Laura, a good Malbec is great. I also am more of a white wine drinker. Like a good reisling, usually German. Also geverstraminer (sp), I know I mess that one up!

And Glenn, tell me you are not a Grappa drinker. That stuff is nasty! Now a good moonshine... Good for a few stories. Like the party on the Cape B4 Dave and I got married. I swore I only drank from the cap! The many pics with the bottle raised to my lips gave me away! What a party!

If we can pull together gatherings I have 4 acres, Lots of room for tents for anyone into it. A great area for bonfires too. We've hosted a few good gatherings here. Would love to host something if we could get it together.

Laura, your place was great. Would love a repeat. If you do ever move your location be sure let us all know where to. We cruse that area occasionally and could add it to our summer motorcycle runs. Maybe get a room and fit in a hike.

10/26/09 08:20 PM

#1500

Kevin Farley

Janine and Laura:

If you're malbec lovers, I found a GREAT sparkling malbec. It's served slightly chilled and is really good.

I want to put in a plug for the Wine Studio in Manchester. It's in the small shopping plaza opposite the Dunkin Donuts on Hooksett Road--very close to the Puritan. Very nice wines at great prices and a friendly, knowledgeable owner. Every Thursday from 5-8 they have a wine tasting. Nothing stuffy, just a few nice bottles and an expert to pour. It's really worth a visit if you are in town and like wine.

10/26/09 11:50 PM	#1501
Robert Ferendo Enjoy Melissa.. Tokyo will never be the same, I am sure!

10/27/09 07:26 AM

#1502

Melissa Turner

Rob, I’ve hardly even dented it.

Today’s travelogue:

Today we visited the Senso-jo Temple (popularly known as Asakusa Kannon) which, according to legend, was established when two fishermen fished a small statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, from the Sumida River.

To show proper reverence to Kannon, I purchased 2 pair of thumb toed socks (the kind one might wear with flip-flops) and origami paper from one of the hundreds of vendors of Nakamise-dori. This crowded venue is lined with vendors selling obi sashes, fans, kimonos and plenty of Hello Kittyware.

Currently the temple is in restoration. However, it is a “must see,” so we saw it. Both the 1923 earthquake and WWII bombing make it difficult to ascertain exactly what is new and what is ancient (besides me). There is the Five Story Pagoda which is a replica of the original that was constructed in 1973. In my fantasy life, I live in this building.

On the end caps of the tiled roof of Hozomon (the main gate) there were swastikas. Can any of you history buffs tell me what that’s about? Does the swastika have a meaning other than which represents Nazi Germany?

I also attended a lecture, at the Mikomoto Pearl Company, on how cultured pearls are created. I did not, however, get the lucky number which would have given me the pearl that was taken freshly from its oyster. (I’m still a little bitter about that.) More to follow…

10/27/09 09:47 AM

#1503

Karen Dobrowski (Hernandez)

Ahhhh... one I can answer!

As an art history student, the swastika shape comes up a lot as the perfect example of how an existing symbol can get demonized. It goes back the the Neolithic period and is evident in Indian art, Buddhist art... even Native American art. In every case except Nazi Germany, I believe it had positive connotations... good luck, peace, etc.

Good attention to detail, Melissa! And thanks again for the travelogue! Carry on....

10/27/09 11:38 AM	#1504
Kathleen Reaves Melissa, My mother has Mikimotos....I have always loved pearls...then again, I was born in Misawa-shi...my first birthday photo was in a kimono...I so totally love the Japanese and their culture...I am envious of you and so glad you are enjoying it... Kathleen

10/27/09 09:15 PM

#1505

Melissa Turner

Karen, You are right on top of your game! My husband said, “Wow, she’s right on top of her game.” (I never claimed to be original.) He asked if you were a teacher and what you did for your living. (Men always ask that. They like comprehensible definitions of who one might be.) I can only add that I too was impressed that you could pull that out of the air. And your memory has been validated. Our residential expert on all things Japanese and Buddhist confirms your findings on the swastika. I will admit that I found the swastikas disturbing. I carry with me the westerner’s guilt of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I wondered how anyone could make peace with swastikas on a Temple of peace. Clarity and understanding are everything. Thank you!

Kathy, you lucky girl. The Mikomoto pearls are considered the best of the best. Our friend, Yoshi, says Mikomoto’s is the only place on earth he truly fears (his wife loves pearls.)

This is our first trip to Asia. It will not be our last. We are in love with Tokyo. We have already committed ourselves to a deeper future exploration of Japan. The Japanese are a wonderful people and I doubt I have been in any country (including our own) in which I have felt so safe. I have certainly never been to a cleaner country…Ever!

I hope to not bore with my travelogue but I’m having a “pinch me” experience and I want to document it somehow. When I type these words out, it makes the experience somehow more concrete. Thinking about what to type forces me to think about what I’ve experienced and gives me an opportunity to re-experience it. I appreciate the indulgence of the forum.

10/27/09 10:05 PM	#1506
Donna Knowles (Leduc) you most definitely are not boring at all...i, for one, hope you continue writing about your eperiences there...specially since i doubt i'll get there myself....

10/28/09 12:50 PM

#1507

Laura Kohut (Douglass)

You are formally obligated to write to your hearts content. Most us us will never get the opportunity to go and even if we did, we aren't there now so type away! Details, details, details!! Does your husband tower over the general population? How many Americans are you running in to? Are you hearing english spoken from folks besides your group? What familiar restaurants do you see (besides McD's). What is the strangest thing you have seen? Keep 'em coming!!!

Pam, how did Maura's swallow test go?

10/28/09 11:05 PM

#1508

Pam Taber

Melissa, loving the stories of your adventures in Tokyo! Please, please, please keep writing about them! Can't wait to see some pictures once you are back.

Maura is finally home! We got discharged early evening on Mon. and she did pass her swallow test so she is back to eating her pureed food and thickned liquids..Yahoo!! She still has her spica cast on but hopefully her hips will be healed enough when she goes for a follow-up appt. next. Wed. that it can come off. It truly is a pain in the butt to deal with and sponge baths are a real treat putting the cast on and off! Not! Her father is refusing to take her at all until the cast comes off which makes me very, very angry and I am debating how to handle it as there is no reason he can't take her. Any suggestions??

Maura returned to school today and I returned to work. Lots of catching up and organizing to do but I think I am ready to move forward now with the month of Nov. and have gotten myself organized again. My co-workers were great in helping to keep things going while I was away. Thank God I had the paid time off and work for a company who understood my situation. I think it will take some time for me to feel truly normal and into a routine again. All I can say is "what a long strange trip it's been!"

I was hoping to make it to brunch on the 8'th but it is my weekend to have Maura so I am not sure if I will or not. If the weather is good maybe I will bring her with me and my oldest as she does enjoy brunch. Please keep me posted on the details with the time; place etc.

10/29/09 10:01 AM	#1509
Robert Howard Pam, the breakfast/brunch is at the Red Blazer on Sunday Nov 8th at 10:00am. By all means bring Maura and anyone else you would like. I will post a list of people who said they can make the brunch and some who are maybe's by the end of this weekend.

10/29/09 03:21 PM	#1510
Karen Dobrowski (Hernandez) So happy for you, Pam!! Congratulations on Maura returning home! Hope you can make brunch on the 8th!

10/29/09 04:57 PM

#1511

Michelle Tanguay (Considine)

Hi Melissa! How I enjoy visiting Japan vicariously through you. Please keep up the travelogue, it's a great escape.

Pam ~ I am thrilled that Maura is home! I'm right up the street should you need anything...

Bob, how I wish I could go to the brunch on Sunday. Unfortunately, I work every other weekend and that is my weekend "on". I'm certainly looking forward to seeing everyone again...maybe next time!

10/29/09 06:31 PM

#1512

Melissa Turner

Wahooo!!!!!! Maura!!!!! That's our little Bunny Rabbit!!!! We are so happy for the Taber girls. Tim says "Hi!"

We leave Tokyo today. I have so much to report and none of it is important to anyone. Nothing that would make the news but plenty to impose upon the forum. Again, your indulgence is greatly appreciated.

10/29/09 08:32 PM

#1513

Debra Leathers (Pepper)

Pam,
Thanks for the good news.
I'm sure we'll all sleep better tonight!
Hugs and kisses to you and Maura!

10/29/09 11:16 PM

#1514

Evelyn Gratton (Pepin)

So, Melissa... is today tomorrow where you are? ;-) Isn't time traveling awesome?

Before Isaac was born, Ron and I enjoyed "time traveling" to Las Vegas a few times a year. We never bothered adjusting to the time change since, well... heck! we were in Vegas! We'd wake up out of habit around 3 or 4 am! (6 or 7 back home.) So, yes, it was likely to find the Pepins at the Let It Ride table at 5am, enjoying a breakfast Mimosa or Bloody Mary, where 5am is the "new" 8am! ;-) Good times!

Safe travels from Tokyo! Looking forward to your next travelogue!

10/30/09 06:48 PM

#1515

Linda Lemay (Wojceshonek)

I'm like Michele. I work every other weekend and the 8th is my weekend. Next time plan on a weekend I have off. Like this one. lol. Halloween weekend and I get to party. Hope everyone has a safe but fun holiday.

10/30/09 09:07 PM	#1516
Donna Keenan (Grady) I am missing the fun of the reunion. Maybe because I am alone but the phone calls have dropped off and I think it was a great distraction from the every day doldrums. Can we have a 30the plus one month get together?

Post Message

Prior Page

Page