Saturday, March 26, 2011

Japan Earthquake/Tsunami: Day 15

ISOLATED JAPANESE VILLAGERS SURVIVE.  The tsunami swept away the tiny village of Hadenya, leaving survivors shivering in a hilltop community center.  With bridges, phones, and electricity down, they were stranded and cut off from the outside world for 12 days.

With no time to mourn, they worked together to survive the freezing temperatures and the devastation of their lives. Quickly reorganizing into groups, they chose leaders, assigned tasks, and helped the young and weak. Men scavenged wood and gasoline. Women boiled water and prepared food. Within days, they established a complex community, with a hierarchy and division of labor, where everyone was assigned daily tasks.


"We knew help would come eventually," said Osamu Abe, aged 43, who helped organize the 270 survivors. "Until then, we had to rely on each other to survive."

The tsunami might have swept away their homes, but not their spirit. The Hadenya refugee camp was neat and organized in the Japanese way. Paper listed names and assigned daily tasks, like chopping wood and cooking. Boxes of supplies were stacked in orderly rows along hallway walls. Toilets were immaculate, with cups and soap lined up neatly.

Abe-san naturally assumed authority of the survivors since he was head of the local nature center. The first thing he did after the tsunami was have older school children set up tents in the parking lot because the aftershocks made people afraid to sleep indoors. Later he sent a group down to a marsh to gather water and firewood.

"People need a sense of direction," Abe-san said. "They were stunned from having lost everything."

The next day, groups scoured for wreckage for supplies. A truck washed up on the shore filled with food, which barely kept them fed. 17 year old Shohei Miura found gasoline in smashed cars and beached boats.

The ability of the people of Hadenya to band together to survive is an example of Japan's communal spirit and organizing abilities. It is a story repeated by other groups of survivors in isolated pockets along the ravaged northern coast of Japan, some still waiting for relief.

Gombatte! ! ! (Keep going! Be strong!)

DIN DIN. Craigala (my New York friend) has been staying in the area so I made dinner. I thought he might enjoy a home-cooked meal since he hasn't had one in several months because he's been traveling.

It was a rainy night so I simmered Beef Short Ribs in wine and spooned them over Mushroom Polenta. I served it with Steamed Broccoli topped with a Garlic/Butter Sauce and a side of Grapefruit and Avocado Salad. Craigy likes to end a meal with a bite of sweetness so we indulged in cream-filled eclairs.

He brought an amazing bottle of wine...a 2009 Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir. I'm not kidding; I kept licking my lips after each sip. There was absolutely no bite of tannin at all. He got this $60 bottle of wine at a special wine tasting. Oh, that's what an expensive wine tastes like. Hmm...not like the $2.99 bottle I get at TJ's for cooking.

Here's the description, which is much better than anything I could write:  900 cases produced, 14.1% alcohol. Medium strawberry/garnet color. Primary and bright fruit aromas dominate pre-release:  juicy strawberry, cherry and raspberry references make this wine surprisingly open and enticing. There's a bit of spice and earth in both nose and mouth, but the fruit and baby fat are still dominating the flavor profile of this ebullient, young cuvee. Bright and structured in the mouth, but persistently slutty in its infancy, we expect the middle and finish to fill in as the wine settles into its role as a long-term ager. A spectacular, cool vintage very similar to 2007 and 2005, this cool climate gem was a pleasure to grow and make:  no real hardships or challenges in the growing or vinification. Best 2013-2020(?).


ABRAHAM-HICKS CALENDAR QUOTE (see Abraham-Hicks.com > Store > Calendars > Planning Calendar/Workbook).  "JOY ATTRACTS MORE JOY.  You attract by your vibration. Everything in the Universe is experiencing the powerful Law of Attraction...And when you are vibrating in pain, you cannot attract joy. The vibration of pain attracts only pain. The vibration of joy attracts joy, the vibration of illness attracts illness...The Law IS, and the wonderful thing is that once you understand the Law, and you are sensitive enough to feel how you are vibrating, then you have control of your experience."  --  Abraham

I am starting to live the Law of Attraction on purpose. I know this because so many good things are coming to me so easily and effortlessly.

And I am getting better at deliberately creating. I know this because good things are coming to me faster.

I have started my new job and I LOVE IT! ! ! It seems the only thing I did was make one phone call. Everyone else worked hard and called and emailed and met and wrote and somehow all that came together for me in the form of a job offer.

While it's true I did not expend a lot of physical effort, I did spend a lot of time imagining and feeling my way into the job I wanted.

Then I let the General Manager of the Universe figure out all the details.

Much easier this way than the old way of efforting.
I'm working for a great company (I had no idea they were that wonderful until I started working for them)...working with a great manager...working on a great project...with wonderful people.

I've been going through Orientation for the last couple days. Yesterday, my new boss called a department meeting and asked everyone to say their name, explain what they do, how long they've worked there, what they like and a challenge they have. Every single person LOVED their job. There were no negatives, other than two people saying they never wanted to leave and thought maybe that was a negative.

LOVE IT! ! !

I'm learning so much and it's so fun.

Seems to me that in the past my brain would have been fried by the end of the day and I would have been exhausted with all that new information overloading my circuits. But Alexis noticed how energized I was when I got home at 6:00 pm on Friday. That's what it's like where there's no resistance. Just breathing...and enjoying.
Life is good...and it gets better and better.

I wish I could tell you all the details. For a while, I was saying, "it's unbelievable" because so many good things were coming to me so quickly. But now I'm realizing that this is the way Life is supposed to be. So I believe...and accept...and expect.
And all those good things didn't happen accidentally or by luck. I spend time consciously, deliberately focusing my thoughts and feelings on what I want, what I want, what I want. It's not hard, but it does take attention.

I'm loving it.

It's so much fun.

I'm in that place Abraham talks about:  enjoy where you are and be eager for what's coming!

May the rush of the vortex surround you,


Catherine

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Japan Earthquake/Tsunami: Day 13

I SEE THAT SANDRA BULLOCK AND GWEN STEFANI HAVE EACH DONATED $1M TO THE JAPAN EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI RELIEF. I've always loved these women. They're beautiful on the inside and outside. THANK YOU for your generosity! ! !


Gwen has always loved Japan and introduced the Harajuku Girls (four young Japanese and Japanese-American backup dancers) on stage and in vids during her solo pop/dance phase. Sephora carries her Harajuku Lovers Fragrance. And sales of a special-edition T-shirt on the No Doubt website (see NoDoubt.com) will also benefit relief efforts.

Harajuku (hara.joo.koo) n. 1. A style and attitude of Japanese girls from Harajuku, Tokyo.  n. 2. Anything goes; outrageous, layered, and eye-catching.


HAD A LOVELY DINNER WITH ALEXIS AND THE CRAIGSTER (my New York friend who's in the music industry and working in LA for a while setting up a concert and launching a record label) at Cafe Cruz Rosticceria & Bar.

We started off with Cucumber Martinis...mmm!

Craig had a wonderfully crusted fish. Alexis and I shared the Cafe Cruz Trio Platter:  Smoked Pork Chop perched atop house applesauce, along with a Maryland Crab Cake topped with lemon beurre blanc (sauce), accompanied with a 1/4 Garlic Chicken with aioli. We get two sides; Alexis ordered fresh-cut fries and I had a pile of garlic-flavored smashed potatoes.


We ended the meal on a sweet note, sharing a Creme Brulee.

Heaven!

If you'd like to have an amazing meal, stop by Cafe Cruz, 2621 41st Avenue, Soquel, CA 95073, 831-476-3801.

May yummy food surround you,


Catherine

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Woo hoo! I got a temp job...

with a staffing agency, who placed me with a large computer company as a Training Lead. I start work on Thursday.

Thanks to all my friends who sent me love, support and warm thoughts.

May good friends surround you,


Catherine

Monday, March 21, 2011

Japan Earthquake/Tsunami: Day 11

A UNTIE EIKO CALLED YESTERDAY! ! !  She is OK and so is hubby, Tomio. Eiko said she used to get mad at Tomio because when he needed one barrel of kerosene, he bought three. She said it was dangerous if there was a fire. When he needed one bottle of shoyu (soy sauce), he bought three; when he drove for miles to get real spring water flowing down the mountainside, he would fill his car to capacity with jugs of water. During the earthquake, the ground shook so hard that Eiko and Tomio couldn't even hold on to each other. After the earthquake, he said "you cannot yell at me anymore (for having too much water, food, fuel)." Hmm. Wonder what he knew that the rest of us didn't?

Tomio also said it was a good thing they were together at home during the earthquake and tsunami. From now on, he says they must stay together at all times. Hmm. I don't know if Eiko's going to like that.

Soccer Boy (Eiko's younger son) and family are OK. She has not heard from Handsome Boy (her older son), but believes he is fine.

All of Eiko's relatives survived, except for Tomio's cousin's 80 year old father, who refused to leave his home.

Bachan is very close to Eiko. Whenever we go to Japan, Bachan and Eiko spend days together just sitting around, drinking tea and talking about old times. By the end of the phone call, Bachan was yelling, "BANZAI! BANZAI! BANZAI!"

Uh, that's "banzai" which literally means "ten thousand years" and is part of the phrase, "ten thousand years to the Emperor." It's usually said loudly three times while raising both arms in the air to express enthusiasm, to celebrate a victory, or to applaud and show favor on a happy occasion. Loosely translated, it means "long life" or "hurray."  It's not "bonsai," the art of growing teeny tiny trees in itsy bitsy containers.

OBSERVATION. I've been thinking that clean water is and will be a growing issue for Japan. Auntie Eiko confirmed this.

She has enough drinking water for now because Tomio routinely collects jugs of spring water from the mountains. She has started to gather snow to let it melt in a bucket so she can wash vegetables. This will soon not be necessary because she is running out of fresh produce. She puts another bucket outside to collect rain water for tea.

Eiko said she is cooking the ham (yes, the dreaded ham; see "Damn Ham" post of 12/20/10) Bachan sent her. I thought Bachan sent Eiko a little ham months ago. She must have put the bone in the freezer and is cooking that, not the ham. Eiko is making soup with it. She told Bachan to make sure she has dry food, like beans, for times such as this. And canned food. They're starting to eat out of cans.

There is no running water or electricity. She hasn't bathed in 11 days. They are stranded on the hill over looking the devasted and flooded town. She cannot get to a store.

I know many international water charities dig wells, but that's not what's needed in Japan right now. I seem to remember one group that donated small water filtration systems to families. I'll have to search the internet some more to find it. I'll keep you posted.

May all your needs be met,


Catherine

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Japan Earthquake/Tsunami: Day 10

SURVIVOR STORY. Nine (yes, nine) days after the earthquake and tsunami struck Japan, a 16-year old boy was found calling for help from the roof of an Ishinomaki house. He lead rescuers through the rubble of his home to an 80 year old woman. Both were weak, but conscious and air lifted to a nearby hospital.

He said they were trapped under the rubble and survived on orange juice and drinkable yogurt. He saw a light and crawled his way to it and managed to get out of his house to call for help.

YOSHIO CALLED YESTERDAY! He's staying at his sister's house, Sako Ishimori, in Takagi. He said he had just closed his noodle house and was smoking a cigarette when the tsunami alarm sounded. There was no time to grab anything. Everyone just jumped in the car.

Much of Takagi is destroyed or flooded, except for a few houses in one area where Sako lives.

Yoshio said Auntie Eiko is OK in Ishinomaki. She lives in a neighborhood high on a hill. Although her house is old, it is OK. Everyone on the hill is stranded because the water in the town below is still waist high. They cannot go to the store. They have no running water or electricity.

They do not believe anyone will help them. I'm not sure why. Maybe because they feel rescuers have more urgent needs to handle.

CONTRIBUTION.  I mentioned my belief that bicycles will become increasingly important to Japan, not only as transportation, but as a means of recovery through two-wheeled micro-businesses.

I found the bike charity I heard of years ago:  WorldBicycleRelief.org. Again, they assist, not just help, people in poverty and disaster by training locals how to manufacture and fix bikes. In this way, the entire community benefits over time. In 2004, they provided 24,400 bikes to people in Sri Lanka after the Indian Ocean tsunami.

And these aren't your average bike. Nope. They're heavy-duty bikes designed specifically for the challenges of the area. For example, the ones they designed for Africa are simple and tough...perfect for the harsh riding conditions found in rural Africa. It features a heavy-gauged, lugged frame; a rugged, single-speed drive train; heavy-duty cranks and chains; automotive-grade, puncture-resistant, long-wear tires; heavy-duty rims, and more--all in a culturally appropriate design. Don't you just love them?! !

WBR works with groups to respond to crisis situations where simple, sustainable transportation will improve the health, education and economic situation of people in need.


They're a great group with a wonderful story doing good work in the world. I've emailed them asking if they plan to assist Japan. I'll keep you posted.

INSPIRATION. An Abraham Daily Quote (see abraham-hicks.com > subscribe to daily quotes).  You can't take sides against anything. If you would just leave the "against" part out; if you would just be one who is for things - you would live happily ever after...  -- Abraham --

I'm for peace. I'm for prosperity. I'm for generosity. I'm for compassion. I'm for well being. I'm for giving. I'm for allowing. I'm for health. I'm for happiness. I've for love. I'm for laughter. I'm for listening.

What are you "for"?

May peace surround you,


Catherine

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Japan Earthquake/Tsunami: Day 9

I JOINED OVER 1200 BLOGGERS ON MARCH 18 IN a Bloggers Day of Silence to increase support and awareness of Japan's plight after the earthquake and tsunami. UtterlyEngaged.com (the first online wedding magazine) and Ever-Ours.com (a romantic wedding blog) created the ForJapanWithLove.com disaster relief. Their goal was to raise $5,500. Within hours, they raised over $50,000.


I donated and love knowing the money goes to ShelterBox.org. Japanese authorities asked ShelterBox for help and SB responded. Boxes have already been delivered and more are on their way to the worst-hit areas.


ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and and supplies to families when they need it most. Although each green box is tailored to the disaster, it usually contains a relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, basic tool kit, a children's activity pack and other vital items. A box costs $1000.

If you'd like to contribute, go to ForJapanWithLove.com > Click Here To Donate.

And thank you for your generosity.

MY COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS HAVE ASKED HOW BEST TO HELP SURVIVORS IN JAPAN. I've been giving it some thought.

--  I donate cash. Cash is best because relief organizations can use the money exactly as they need to. And it's quick and easy to contribute over the internet. Although I'd love to jump on a plane and help Japan with my own two hands, untrained volunteers are often more a hindrance than a help. I want to send blankets and clothes to warm those surrounded by snow, but I know they won't get there quickly or easily given dwindling supplies of gasoline and heavily damaged roads.

--  I contribute to different organizations. It makes me feel like I'm doing more if I can "give" shelter, "give" medical assistance, "give" water.

--  I usually contribute to larger organizations. They may already have a presence in the area and tend to have the resources to deliver a lot of supplies quickly.

--  Sometimes I give to smaller charities because I love their story and what they do.

--  I prefer to donate to groups that allow me to pick a country or region where my dollars will go (like Japan).

--  I access CharityNavigator.org for a peek at the charity's financials. I prefer groups that spend less on fundraising and admin and more on assistance and supplies. But sometimes I ignore the nums and go with my heart.

--  I usually donate to groups with a website that starts with "https" (not "http). Why? Because it's more secure, especially when giving my credit card number over the internet.

--  I plan to donate in phases. There are immediate needs and needs that will become more important as time goes on. It's easy for survivors to be front-page news today and forgotten tomorrow so I plan to donate to different groups every several months.

This is what I plan to do:

IMMEDIATE RELIEF (food, water, shelter, blankets, medical help). I've donated to:
--  American.RedCross.org (their web address starts with "https"; RedCross.org does not, although maybe it comes up when you donate). Although it is not my favorite charity, it is a charity already in Japan. That's important so no time is wasted in getting there, setting up, organizing, etc.
--  DoctorsWithoutBorders.org. I like them because they're neutral, operating independent of any political, military or religious agenda.
--  StorageBox.org.

BIKES. With damaged roads and limited gasoline, I plan to donate to a group that provides bicycles. I read about them years ago, but don't remember their name. I'll have to find them. I do remember reading that giving bikes to people not only helps them get from place to place, but also helps them get supplies and to establish a tiny business. I think this will become more important in Japan as time goes on.

LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS. There is a fine line between helping and assisting. When we help, we sometimes see the person as weak and unable to do something without us. Ah, but when we assist, we know the person is strong and capable and wise and wonderful and just needs a little something to make things easier for them right now. I like the idea of assisting others so they are stronger without us and so I adore Heifer Project International (not Heifer Foundation; see heifer.org). According to CharityNavigator.org, HPI spends more money than I'd like on fund raising; however, I love their concept. They emphasize community involvement and long-term sustainable development. I'm thinking of donating chickens. They're small, don't eat much, easy to care for and lay eggs (a good source of protein). Did you know that recipients (of cows, chickens, rabbits, bees, etc.) must share the offspring of the gift animals with others in need? So the entire community benefits over time. And recipients are not just given a cow (for example), they're trained on how to care for it, feed it, use it's milk to make butter, etc. Oh. I'm disappointed. They don't currently work in Japan.

HOUSING. I love Habitat for Humanity (see Habitat.org). They build and repair simple, decent, affordable houses with those who lack adequate shelter. Since the homeowners must help build their own home as part of sweat equity, it's another way of making people stronger by letting them participate in the solution. They also work locally in communities which helps the immediate area. Since 1976, they've built or repaired over 400,000 houses and served over 2,000,000 people.

BACHAN. And as for Bachan, she's saving her money to give directly to Yoshio. I will try to do the same.

JAPAN IS A NATION of strong, hard-working people, who believe in helping themselves and those around them. They will work together to rise up from the debris of destruction like a phoenix and one day move from a place of surviving to one of thriving. This I know.

Please give what you can, if nothing more than a positive thought.

On behalf of the Izumi and Abe families and all of Japan, I thank you!

May assistance surround you,


Catherine

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Japan Earthquake/Tsunami: Day 7

AUNTIE EIKO AND HER HUSBAND, TOMIO, ARE ALIVE! ! ! Uncle Mako called and said Eiko and her family are OK. We don't know much more other than her house also survived. It's high on a hill looking down on the town. She had no phone access so she talked to someone, who called Uncle Mako, who called us.

My family is so blessed. All seem to have survived, although we are not sure of more distant relatives.

My heart aches for those who have experienced loss and pain.
JAPAN'S STOIC RESILIENCE AND STRONG COMMUNITY SPIRIT ARE EVERYWHERE.


MATSUSHIMA. Businesses with fresh water share it with others.

Shopkeepers sell or give away supplies on sidewalk tables.

A man hooks up a small diesel generator and hangs a sign:  Charge your phone here.

A man in a van announces drinking water over the loudspeaker to those in need.


NOBIRU (where Cousin Yoshio lived). In the  past, a few visitors enjoyed the Nobiru beach, but it is now littered with crumpled houses. Four men from the Japanese Self Defence Forces comb the reeds on each side of the river, poking the mud with long poles, looking for bodies.

Nobiru is mostly gone, but a few people are still there.

Twenty six year old Shimizu Yasuhiro holds his son (born six days before the tsunami). ''My baby is 10 days old and we called him Lucky,'' he said. ''And he is lucky, to be alive.''



SENDAI. Sendai port is surrounded by industry, most of which is wiped out. Nearby, cans and kegs of Kirin beers are scattered everywhere, a source of moisture for people who have been without water for days.

May blessings surround you,


Catherine

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Japan Earthquake/Tsunami: Day 6

THE PHONE RANG AT 6:00 A.M. THIS MORNING. Uncle Mako was screaming and crying with happiness. Cousin Yoshio's sister, Sako, in Yamoto, called him. Mako waited as long as he could before calling us, but couldn't wait any longer.

Sako said that Cousin Yoshio, his son and mother were safe and staying at her house (not at Sonoko's house inland of Sendai; I always wondered how he was able to drive over an hour to get there).

Cousin Yoshio had 15 minutes' warning before the tsunami. He must have driven like crazy to cross the Naruse River in front of the wave. He stayed at Sako's house one night; they had to leave because the first floor was flooded. They returned and are staying on the second floor. Cousin Yoshio walks to his son's house nearby during the day.


Maybe Uncle Mako didn't believe us when we said Yoshio was OK. Or maybe it was more "real" to him when he talked to Sako. She called when the phone was working in between the rolling black outs.

After the call, Bachan stayed in bed until 11:00. She's usually up and about around 8:00 in the morning. I put my ear to her closed bedroom door, but it was quiet. She said she was so upset hearing Uncle Mako scream and cry. She has never heard him cry before. Even though it was happy crying, she was still very upset. I brought her some coffee with Vanilla Coffee-Mate Creamer (she bought some the other day as a splurge instead of settling for the dry creamer from the $1 Store, maybe to soothe herself). She felt better after a while and was up and about.

We still have heard nothing of Auntie Eiko and her husband, Tomio, in Ishinomaki. Bachan calls him "Bal(d) Head." There are several people named Abe Tomio at evacuation centers. We are trying to find our Tomio.

REALIZATION. I have just realized how all consuming work can be. It's something we do and focus on and think about eight or more hours a day.

Without it, I find myself at a loss for something to do every now and then.

When that happens, I meditate, clean something, call someone, nap, visualize something wonderful, think of something beautiful, skip through the house or sing my happy song.

It is with direct and conscious effort that I focus on the good...every moment of the day and night.

And then I remember reading 21 Days With Braco (the Croatian healer I adore). I remember being struck with how often he just sat and visited with family and friends:  over coffee, during meals, while walking. I think Europeans do this far more often than we Americans. I noticed it in France.

So I decided to visit more or to just "be".

We're so busy "doing" all the time, we have little time to rest, be or think.

And feel.

With so many distractions, it's easy to ignore or drown out the quiet voice within. The one that guides us.

The lack of activity doesn't mean I'm not doing anything meaningful.

After all, connecting to Source doesn't look like much when you see it happening.

So I have given myself permission just to be.

And what about you? Will you take just five minutes to rest for a bit?

TODAY I TOOK BACHAN FOR A ONE MILE WALK AROUND HER FAVORITE PARK. She did well. We talked, appreciated nature and rested on benches two times. Then I took her to the store so she could buy two (not one) corned beef because St. Patty's is tomorrow and the meat is on sale. Plus she bought a 10 pound bag of tangerines with a 75 cents off coupon. She said she will be good for one weeku.

I CALLED BILL TO SEE HOW HE WAS DOING AT WORK SINCE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE AROUND HIM IS SHRINKING. He's doing OK.

ME:  I find moments where I'm not sure what I want to do with my time.

BILL:  You're always helping someone; someone at work, someone at home. You need to find someone to help, like volunteer. Teach someone to read, work at a soup kitching.

ME:  Hmm. Good thought.


May purpose surround you,


Catherine

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Japan Earthquake/Tsunami: Day 5

JAPAN. I love the miracle rescue of a four-month old baby girl in Ishinomaki (where Aunt Eiko lives). While Japan's Self-Defense Force soldiers went door-to-door yesterday looking for survivors, they heard a baby's cry. Thinking it was a mistake, they ignored it, until they heard it again. After carefully digging through rubble, they found her--a baby girl dressed in a pink bear suit. Isn't she cute? A tidal wave had swept her out of her parent's arms. They both survived and were taking refuge in their wrecked house. Baby was reunited with her parents.


ABRAHAM'S DAILY QUOTE REMINDED ME TO MAKE LISTS OF POSITIVE ASPECTS (see Abraham-Hicks.com).  "Make lists of positive aspects. Make lists of things you love—and never complain about anything. And as you use those things that shine bright and make you feel good as your excuse to give your attention and be who-you-are, you will tune to who-you-are, and the whole world will begin to transform before your eyes. It is not your job to transform the world for others—but it is your job to transform it for you. A state of appreciation is pure Connection to Source where there is no perception of lack."  --- Abraham

I start my day by listening to Abe's meditation CD and then rebounding for a while. I think I'll also start typing up a list of positive aspects each morning.

I have many positive aspects in my life.

What about you?

May gratitude surround you,


Catherine

Monday, March 14, 2011

Japan Earthquake/Tsunami: Day 4

Monday, March 14, 2011

YOSHIO IS ALIVE! ! ! 

Michiko from across the street said her husband, Hiroshi, who is on business in Tokyo, found Yoshio's name on a website.

It said that Yoshio, his son and mother are alive and staying at his daughter's house just inland of Sendai.

We don't know much else, but we don't care. He's alive! Alive! Alive!

If he's at Sonoko's house, I know he has food, water and shelter. And he's warm and is surrounded by family.

Nobiru is almost 2 hours away from Sendai. He must have left home as soon as he got the tsunami warning. I'm sure he has quite a story to tell.

I'M SO HAPPY! ! !

We called Uncle Mako in Tokyo to let him know. Mako was surprised we found out before him. Uh, Mako has a wooden telephone.

May joyous news surround you,


Catherine

Japan Earthquake/Tsunami: Day 3

Sunday, March 13, 2011

I HAVEN'T SLEPT MUCH THE LAST COUPLE NIGHTS. Thoughts swirling around in my head. Memories of visits to Japan...family...friends.

I wake up early and lay in bed thinking. Hoping Yoshio is OK.

I get up and listen to one hour of Abraham's meditation CD.

Somehow I fall asleep.

At 11:00 am I wake up again and check on Bachan.

She's in bed...watching the Japanese channel.

The death toll climbs. It's at 1500.

We all shuffle downstairs and huddle around the TV watching CNN. Most other channels have moved away from Japan and now focus on local news.

It's strange. All of us living in front of the TV.

I rarely watch TV, yet now I sit in front of it, afraid to leave for a moment lest I miss something.

Bachan is hoping Yoshio will appear on television. Pushing through a crowd, grabbing the microphone and yelling, "Ogenki desu!" (I'm in good health), knowing we would be watching TV.

But that would be very un-Japanese, even in a crisis such as this.


The world moves on. I hear children laughing in the park behind us. Cars driving by. But here, in my house, time stands still. We do not brush our teeth, we do not get dressed, we just sit...in front of the TV.

Alexis made Dutch babies (puffy pancakes in the oven) sprinkled with powdered sugar and a side of smoked sausage. Bachan loves them. We eat when we're sad.


Someone translated a Japanese Facebook comment:  My two year old was putting his shoes on himself saying, "I'm going to go arrest the Earthquake!" I realized that inside a tiny body, there is a lot of courage and justice.


There are many images of Japan in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. I am haunted by the woman wrapped in a blanket looking at the destruction of Ishimaki City.



Yesterday, I heard that people had a 5-minute warning of the tsunami. But this morning, I heard they had 15-30 minutes. Maybe there was time for Yoshio to grab his mother and climb the hill near his house. Maybe he's safe. Maybe he's OK.

The warning would have come just as he was closing his noodle house. He is a businessman, who sells pipes and industrial parts to businessness I think. He's thinking of retiring soon and decided to learn how to make noodles by hand. He studied under a master for many months and then opened a tiny noodle house on his property in Nobiru. It must be very good. People have driven several hours to eat there. I've always wanted to try his noodles and to work in his kitchen for a little while to help him a bit.

We just want to know if he is OK.


I guess it would be more sensible to catch up on the news first thing in the morning and then turn off the TV. It's all repeats after that.

But we just can't seem to tear ourselves away from the screen.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Aftermath of Japanese Earthquake

Saturday, March 12, 2011

WE WATCH TV FROM THE MOMENT WE WAKE UP.

The news stations continue to cover the devastation of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

We still cannot reach family in Japan.

I have entered the names of my family in Google's people search (THANK YOU, GOOGLE!), but with no result.

We wait.

We watch.

We pray.

We decide to take Bachan out of the house to go shopping in San Jose. She shops a little for Japanese food, a gossip magazine. We eat ramen noodles for lunch. It is a good break for her.

We return to our home and the news.

The phone rings every hour or so. Bachan's friends ask if there is news of her family. My friends call giving support.

The phone rings at 3:55 pm. It is Mako, my uncle in Tokyo! He is fine. So is Kumiko, his wife. They wanted to call earlier, but there was no phone service. He waited to call, hoping he would have news of other family members. But he has heard nothing. He does say that Nobiru is "dom may" (bad). Everything [the town] is gone.

He hopes that my cousin Yoshio was able to run out of the house to the shrine which is two minutes away and then climb the steep hill out of harm's way.

But what about his aging mother who lives in the house next to him? If he stopped to help her, he did not have time to get to safety.

We do not know.

Mako is not so worried about my Aunt Eiko, knowing her house in Ishinomaki is high on a hill. Her greatest danger would be from the earthquake, not as much from the tsunami. That is what he believes. Eiko has two sons. One lives near her, but we do not know if it is high or low lying. Her other son, we call him Soccer Boy because he played soccer professionally at one time, lives in a city by the sea. Again, Mako says, "dom may" (bad).

We are grateful to hear from Mako and so happy he is alive and well.

The doorbell rings. Michiko, our neighbor across the street, stops by. Her husband is in Tokyo on business. He has called and is searching websites for names of our family. He knows them because Bachan always gives him a suitcase stuffed with See's candy and other goodies to take to Japan. He mails it from Narita Airport to northern Japan to save her money. He encourages us to call two phone numbers where survivors are assembled in Nobiru. The elementary school was flooded, but the water receded. He said everybody worked hard to clean it. There are many people there.

We continue to watch the news.

We are tired.

We are scared.

Bachan goes up to bed for the night.

Ten minutes later, she yells down the stairs:  Da newsu say 200 people dea(d) Nobiru jus now.

I Google the population size of Nobiru. I can't find it, but I remember it as a village. A tiny village.

May hope surround you,


Catherine

Japan Hit By 8.8 Earthquake

Friday, March 11, 2011
FRIDAY WAS MY LAST DAY AT WORK.

It was also the day we got news of the massive earthquake in Japan, followed by a tsunami.


My favorite Uncle Mako lives in Tokyo with his wife, Kumiko. I remember walking along the street, stopping, digging for yen in my purse and buying a hot milk tea from the vending machine embedded in the front of their house.

Bachan is closest to her younger sister, Eiko, who lives in Ishinomaki, near the city of Sendai. Auntie Eiko lives in an older house at the top of a hill. To get to there, we wind our way through unbelievably narrow streets in a tiny, toy-sized car. She takes us to huge fish markets and department stores to shop for hours.

I adore my cousin Yoshio. He lives in Nobiru, the tiny village my mother grew up in. It is 1 hour north of Sendai and steps from the ocean. Whenever we visit, he arranges wonderful trips to five-star onsens (hot springs) boasting healing waters and Japanese-style hotels where we sleep on tatami floors under fat, fluffy futons (quilts).


We've been watching CNN since 4:00 PM Friday, waiting for news about Ishinomaki and Nobiru.

We heard they have lost a passenger train in Nobiru and cannot find it.

And we have seen the devastation of Sendai near Ishinomaki where my Aunt Eiko lives. It's a big city so it is covered by the news.

It will be days or weeks before we hear much about smaller towns. They are less populated, lesser known and more difficult to reach.

We have called Japan and cannot get through on the phone.

All we can do is wait.

And pray.

May your loved ones surround you,


Catherine

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Packing and Moving

TOMORROW'S MY LAST DAY AT WORK. I've been fine with it. Really I have.

I've been cleaning out drawers and cabinets, throwing out old files and documents. The more I throw away, the more energized and alive I feel. Who knew! Must be that feng shei thing.

My moods have been going up and down a bit. Most days I'm happy. Other days not so much. I'm trying really hard to focus on what I'm wanting and to stay in a good place.

Years ago, after I got divorced, I moved back in with my Mom. I told her I needed a place to stay for six months. Three years later, I was ready to move out. I had bought a house and they were building it as Phase 1 of a tiny development. I used to drive out there and talk to the framer, bringing him pizza. Then I go out there and talk to the painter.

I remember feeling so grateful for my Mom's house, for giving me safety, stability and security for a while. And I enjoyed my stay there, but it was dark, old and decorated with an Asian flair so unlike my style. I remember how much I looked forward to moving into my new home.

The first day I stepped inside my house, I threw out my arms and twirled in a giddy circle. It was clean and fresh and new! I felt like I could breathe and grow and laugh for the first time in a long time!

This job shift is kinda like that moving day. I'm packing up and a little frantic because the moving truck is due any minute. I take a last look around, feeling a little sad. This has been a good place for me, a safe and secure place filled with love and support. Thank you. I hear a horn blaring. The truck is here. I step out, closing the door behind me, looking forward to the future with eagerness and excitement.

May new adventures surround you,


Catherine

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Kelly's French Bakery *****

ONE OF MY FAV THINGS TO DO ON THE WEEKEND IS TO GO FOR A WALK ON WEST CLIFF and then have brekkie at Kelly's...or, uh, skip the walk and just have brekkie (hee hee).



Kelly's has been around for years and specializes in European artisan baking.

I love standing in line and peeking into the glass case as I walk along...trying to decide what little treat I'll get...Apricot French Macaroon...Pain au Chocolat...Toralfa (buttery cocoa cookie sprinkled with sugar and sliced almonds)...all three?



Oh, yeah, breakfast. They have a wonderful menu with daily specials, cafe style with a French twist. Alexis and I shared poached eggs (how do they make them look so perfect...kinda like breasts) on toasted ciabatta bread, with roasted potatoes and sausage. Yum!


Eating outdoors in the courtyard is one of the bennies of living near Santa Cruz (sigh). Truly, we are blessed.

If you'd like to try their French pastries or pressed sandwich, stop by Kelly's French Bakery at 402 Ingalls Street (off Mission Street just before you leave town as you head north to Davenport), 841-423-9059. You can also visit KellysFrenchBakery.com.

May goodies surround you,


Catherine

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Heal Your Body A-Z****

YEARS AGO, I USED TO CARRY AROUND WHAT MANY OF US LOVINGLY CALLED "the little blue book" by Louise Hay. It was a tiny little thing with a blue and white cover that was published in 1987. I probably bought a dozen copies because every time I loaned it to someone, I never got it back (which is a good thing because it meant they really loved it, used it and needed it).

In 1998, Louise updated, expanded and enlarged the book. It's now called, Heal Your Body A-Z--The Mental Causes for Physical Illnes and the Way to Overcome Them.


This is a classic in alternative healing and a necessity for anyone wanting to take an active role in their self healing.

It's based on Louise's personal experience of using mental and physical (nutrition, detox) cleansing to heal herself. She believes that no matter what your condition is, if you're willing to do the mental work of release and forgiving, almost anything can be healed. She believes "incurable" means something that cannot be cured by outer methods and that we must go within to effect the healing. She believes the condition came from nothing and will go back to nothing.

This book is fun and easy to use.

1.  Look up an ailment (they're alphabetized).

2.  Read the problem, probable cause and new thought pattern.

3.  Read, practice and visualize the new thought pattern over and over again.

For example:

--  Problem. Lower Back Problems.
     Probable Cause. Fear of money. Lack of financial support.
     New Thought Pattern. I trust the process of life. All I need is always taken care of. I am safe.

--  Problem. Eye problems:  cataracts.
     Probable Cause. Inability to see ahead with joy. Dark future.
     New Thought Pattern. Life is eternal and filled with joy.

--  Problem. High blood pressure.
     Probable Cause. Long-standing emotional problem not solved.
     New Thought Pattern. I joyously release the past. I am at peace.

If you sense your ailment may have a deeper cause than what your doctor suggests, then take a look at this book.*

May perfect health surround you,


Catherine

* Information on this web site is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this web site for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

How Old Is Your Skin?

HERE'S A LITTLE TEST. Using your right thumb and index finger, pinch the skin on the back of your left hand for five seconds. Let go and see how many seconds it takes for your skin to completely flatten out. The quicker this happens, the younger the functional age of your skin. No cheating!

     TIME                                      FUNCTIONAL AGE
1-2 seconds                                     Under 30 years
3-4 seconds                                     30-44 years
5-9 seconds                                     45-50 years
10-15 seconds                                 60 years
16-55 seconds                                 70 years
56 or more                                       Over 70

How'd you do?

The first time I did this, my skin age was 50. EEK! I did the test several times just to make sure. Yep. 50.

That is not OK!

If you'd like to regain some youthfulness in your skin, one of the best things you can do is stop using your body lotion (most likely packed with chemicals and toxins) and start using organic, virgin coconut oil.

Remember, your skin is your largest organ. It sucks in anything you put on its surface.

If you can't eat it, you shouldn't be putting it on your skin.

Look at the back label of your lotion. Any long words you can't pronounce? Probably a chemical. Would you eat a tablespoon of your lotion? Probably not.

I've used coconut oil on my skin off and on over the years. I started using it again because I found a raw 100% cold-pressed extra virgin organic coconut oil by Artisana.


Raw means no heat was used to process it. I'm big into raw right now and playing with adding more raw foods to my meals. Why? Because that's were all the enzymes are and they make you healthy, youthful-looking and vibrant with energy.

Cold-pressed means it was minimally processed (they press the oil out of the coconut meat vs. using a chemical treatment). That's good because the oil maintains the antioxidant properties that counteract oxidation and free radical destruction.

Extra virgin refers to the highest quality. In fact, quality virgin coconut oil has a shelf life of up to 10 years; you can't say that about your vegetable oil.

Organic means no nasty chemicals.

And just so you know, coconut oil is non-hydrogenated (hydrogenated oils are the dangerous ones you must avoid), cholesterol free (yep, it's true) and rich in medium-chain fatty acids (vs. long-chain fatty acids; in fact, people have lost weight when switching to coconut oil in their cooking).

It's vey stable, meaning it won't break down and become rancid as quickly as other oils. If you smell your other oil and it stinks, don't use it. It's rancid (bad). It'll have tons of free radicals that will damage your cells.

I'm big into coconut oil and not just for my skin. I'll tell you more about it later.

I've been using it on my face in the morning and at night. Bachan said she thought something was wrong with her eyes because my skin looked so good. I told her it wasn't her eyes, it was the coconut oil I'd been using for about a week.

Run down to your fav health food store and grab a glass (not plastic; plastic is extremely toxic) jar of raw organic extra virgin coconut oil and start looking younger today.

May youthfulness surround you,


Catherine

P.S. After using the coconut oil on the back of my hand for just 1 day (once in the morning and once at night), after I pinch my skin, it flattens out in 1 second vs. 9 seconds! That's what I call fast results.

Friday, March 4, 2011

FRIDAY FLICK: Rango****

RANGO (animation) is a lonely pet chameleon living in a fantasy world. His real life begins when he accidentally becomes the Sheriff of Dirt (uh, that's the name of a town).  As he fights to uphold the law and discover the whereabouts of the water, you'll meet eerily anthropomorphized characters who look and sound vaguely familiar.


Of course, there's Johnny Depp as Rango; the wrinkled mayor looks suspiciously like John Huston in Chinatown; stocky Ned Beatty is the Sheriff (you'll remember him from Deliverance); Timothy Olyphant (I liked him as the bad guy in Live Free or Die Hard with Bruce Willis) is The Spirit of the West, although it sure sounds like Clint.

Don't let the animation fool you. This is no kiddie movie. With emotional, spiritual and social undertones, this story will keep your interest and make you smile.

Despite the star quality, it's the look of this movie that's absolutely amazing and so fitting for the big screen. The detail (flaking skin, a moving feather) will blow you away.

You've got to see this movie on the big screen. You'll love it.

May characters surround you,


Catherine

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Clean Start***** (book)

WATERY BLUE EYES CUT OUT OF CLOUDY MASK, the Sky watched me drive home today.

TODAY I looked up. A plane ascended, a bird descended; both beautiful. Patches of pale blue sky, dark brooding clouds; both beautiful. Bright streaks of sunlight, dark shadows huddling; both beautiful.

What contrasts did you see today, accepting them all?

INSPIRATION. I planted some cuttings of Golden Pathos and Spider Plant at the base of my office "tree." You may think it silly since I won't be there much longer, but to me it symbolizes life and growth.



CLEAN START. My fav cookbook right now is Clean Start--Inspiring You to Eat Clean and Live Well With 100 New Clean Food Recipes by Terry Walters.


She promotes a healthy, sustainable approach to eating clean and living well. None of that dry, tasteless food, but rather yummy, locally grown, seasonal food that's fresh and bursting with flavor.

Last night was a soup and salad night at my house. I made Kale, Sweet Potato & White Bean Soup****. Bachan said "wonufall". It is now her favorite soup. This is a great choice when you when you want a quick meal packed with flavor. The ginger and mirin give it subtle Asian undertones. I loved the Watercress & Fennel Salad with Blood Orange and Thyme Vinaigrette.**** Deep red, dripping-juice orange slices against the bright peppery flavor of watercress. Heaven! I know Spring is here 'cause I'm craving greens.

If eating clean and living well sounds good to you, go to Amazon.com and buy this book for yourself.

For mor info about Terry, see TerryWalters.net.

May vibrant energy surround you,


Catherine

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Neto's Market & Grill

TELEVISED ABRAHAM-HICKS WORKSHOP THIS SATURDAY. O, I'm so excited! I got an email saying we might be able to participate in the televised version of the Abraham-Hicks workshop happening in San Diego this Saturday, March 5, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm. They'll send more dets later.

I'm really loving the immense power of the messages coming out of the latest workshops.

If you're interested in participating, be sure to sign up for their email at Abraham-Hicks.com > Next Steps > Sign up for E-NEWS > enter your info > Submit

NETO'S MARKET & GRILL.  Bill introduced us to Neto's last week, a third-generation family-owned restaurant that makes its own sausage.

Not just any sausage:  home-made, hand-made sausage:  Linguica, Italian, Andouille, Calabrese (spicy Italian) and more.

I had the Linguica Sausage Burger. Mmmm! Moist, with just the right spices in patty form (no fussing and fighting with the casing) with a wonderfully soft, fresh bun.

This is a popular place with loyal fans, each insisting their favorite is the best.  Bill's is the Linguica Sausage Burger, the guy ahead of me insisted the Calabrese is the one to get.

They offer:
--  Andouille, a French Cajun smoked sausage.
--  Brazilian Smoked Calbreza
--  Country Sausage
--  Herb-N-Onion Sausage
--  Italian, Italian with herbs, Italian with herbs & cheese, Italian holiday sausauge
--  Italian Cabrese
--  Linguica
--  Mexican Chorizo
--  Morcelas, a traditional Portuguese blood sausage
--  Polish Kielbasa
--  Pork links, pork links with apple cinnamon
--  Spanish-style Basque Chorizo
--  German sausage
--  Smoked chicken sausage

With so many choices, I'll have to go back and try them all.

And not to worry. There's something for everyone:  steak sandwiches, marinated chicken, veggie burgers, etc.


And they're not limited to just sammies. They've got apps (Calamari Fritti, Cheesy Chorizo Bread--I gotta try some of that), soups, salads, entrees (Eggplant Parm, Grilled Salmon), seafood (Cioppino), pasta & generous dinners.

You could also order the Three Stooges (beef, turkey & salami), Eddie Spaghetti (roast beef, turkey, cheddar cheese & secret sauce), and Hot Damn (Calbrese Sausage with jalapenos & pepper Jack cheese). With names like these, you know this is a fun place!

This is no ordinary sausage shack. They've been featured on the Food Network & use no MSG or glutens.

With a full bar, big-screen TV, it's a great place to meet fam and friends. They even have live music on the weekends.

Their deli carries sausage and gourmet foods from Portugal, Brazil, Spain & Italy.


You'll find them at 1313 Franklin Street, Santa Clara, CA 95050, 1-888-482-NETO, NetosMarketAndGrill.com for more info.

For great sausage in a warm & wonderful environment, you gotta go to Neto's.

May yummy food surround you,


Catherine