This woman, Taniguchi-san, works with Mayu but she does "Body Balance" or a dry massage that is deeper than aroma massage which is designed to relax, not to work the muscles. I got to be the model for her practice. Yaay! I sure can't complain... I get to have two women's hands sliding all over my body... up and down my legs, my back, arms.... (no no no no happy ending gang, this is not Thai Massage). The only sad thing is that I usually never make it past about 10 minutes before I start snoring! That means I'll miss all the fun! Drat!!
I thought I would fall asleep, but I had my mp3 player with me and was listening to some wonderful stuff that kept me wide awake, elated, and totally at peace. I didn't fall asleep once, enjoyed both of their hands all over my back and legs and just was in the zone... and I must admit that Taniguchi-san's touch is a lot deeper than Mayu's, who is trained in relaxation. It is a different feeling all together.
We cleaned up as many leaves and weeds and stuff as we could in the yard and around the street. Mayu went in for lunch at the 11.30 bell and I stayed out and did some more because I had a later, larger breakfast than she did. I took a stump in our yard (one that I had peeld, burned, and buffed many years ago) , one that isn't rotten and used it to stand on so that I could finish trimming the tree out by my car. It is the tree I showcased last year about this time to show how bald everything got after the Silver Center Gardeners came and prepared our yard for winter. Now that tree is ready for winter, by me. Last year i thought I had cut it back too extremely, but this year it grew like never before! So I did it again, and cut it waaay back, and I think it looks just fine the way it is. I like it like this! Wait until you see (maybe) the yard after the Silvers come and prune it all waaaay back.
The Silver Center gardeners will come by in November (we booked but they are filled up until that time) to do the entire yard. It will cost us more this year with the extra costs we have to pay to have the clippings carried away (trucking fee) and burned (new bylaw). Such is life, I guess. We have paid for this every year and just haven't bothered to ask our owner to help. I consider it a part of the fees to enjoy this place as long as we have been able and as long as we can. If any of you ever come for a visit while we are still here, I think you will agree that it really is worth the cost, and the effort to have the greenery that we are graced with in this home.
I cut away a few of the hostas that are finally starting to turn yellow; I'll cut the rest in the coming months as they turn, little by little until the entire yard is clean of them until next spring when they grow like crazy of their own volition. I also cut the rose "bush/tree beeste" back down to about chest height. The branches on it are as thick as a mechanich's index finger and this year the thing kept growing and sprouting and blooming so that finally in the rain yesterday, to prevent my umbrella from always getting caught in the thorns as I walk Mayu out to her car in the mornings, I cut it back. It was seriously about 12ft high! It just kept growing! AND it kept blooming, so there were roses waaay above the tree that it was standing next to. I found that rather humourous.
I needed to label our trash bags, and take a few out to Mayu. We have to label them with the area we live in, and our names. Why? Because those damn Japanese don't follow the rules! They throw non burnables out on burnable day, and so on. And then they refuse to come and collect it when the garbage collector won't take it away! So it sits there until the next day comes around and they just pretend that it wasn't theirs. It really bugs me, this aspect of the Japanese culture. They don't want to take responsibility for anything, don't like "inconvenience", avoid any sort of admission until caught, and then bow, say "I'm sorry" and expect to just be forgiven. It is like that in the traditional businesses as well.
This is shocking and probably hard to believe coming from a culture that seems to love gardens, and bonsai, flower arranging, tea ceremonies, and all that stuff. But it's true. Very very sad... very sad indeed because they won't realize the true impact of what they say until it is too late.
We live in a relatively new community of 50 homes surrounded by older communities. The greenery here is surprisingly lush for the rest of the area. When Max first came here for a visit when we moved, he was shocked because it looks so completely different from the rest of the village. Well, if this mentality of "falling leaves are but an eyesore, and garbage" continues, then the beautiful large trees in Japan, even out here in the country don't stand much of a chance to continue growing, and giving us such beauty, and peace in the soul.
I love YOU!
Cam
P.S. Clocks back for North Americans this weekend? If so, I will be "two hours" ahead of Jenny and Sheila, "three hours" ahead of Stefnee and my Dad, "I'm not quite sure how many hours" ahead of Rachel and Paula, and "five hours ahead of Abby and Kristen over in California". We don't change our clocks here so I'll still be the same time away from Matt and Jaime. As for Europe... I know that I am seven hours ahead of my best friend Michela in Italy but that it changes to eight hours for the winter months. I'll let those of you over in euroland figure out the rest, OK? And for anyone else, Japan is GMT +9hrs. Those who know what that means, know. I dooo love you! I really really DOOOOOOO!!!!
Jaime - You are welcome to come for a visit. You too, Matt. As I have always said, my doors are open and I sincerely hope you will take advantage of my situation here. Please. Even for a long weekend!
ReplyDeleteI WANNA VISIT!!!
ReplyDeleteSad that the leaves are considered trash....
so sad..
Well, Stefnee... you know that you are ALWAYS welcome into our home. I would gladly open my home and my world to you, especially because I know you have always had the dreams to come here, ever since you were a child, and your father would come here every year during his tours of duty, bringing you back stories, and things to put in the display cabinet. You, my bestfriend are very very welcome to come as soon as your situation permits. And that is my promise to you! I love you!
ReplyDeleteAnd honestly, anyone else who wants to visit, if you can do so while I still live here in my Shangri-la, I am confident your holiday will be enhanced exponentially because you won't have to feel like a tourist going from hotel to hotel, checking in, checking out, eating hotel food at specific times of the morning, having to be out of your space at some point every day... You could come and live. Live... live.
((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))))00 it looks lovely job well done..I love the leaves..and it amazes me when people complain..love hugs joolsx
ReplyDeleteI want to come, but i would need so much time and hotel money because it's something i know i will do only once so i want to see it all...
ReplyDeleteTokyo, Kyoto, even Hiroshima/Nagasaki (history, yanno?), AND i want to see YOUR Shangrila... with YOU!
Someday...?
P.S.
I do Thai Massage...
I NEVER have given anyone a "happy ending".... pppfffttt!
We don't set our clocks back until Nov. 2nd this year. Some saving energy thing, I think. It is strange, because we always used to do it before Halloween, and now it will be EVEN HARDER to remember now that we are out of the pattern.
ReplyDeleteOh well, we created clocks and I am not sure we are even measuring existence correctly. We created it to make our lives predictable, measurable, and containable.
Hugs, Cam-the-man!
Hey... is that your mailbox that you have those lil "creatures" in?
ReplyDeleteHave you left your toys outside again, Cameron?
You know better... no dessert for you!
Jen - They are outside terrorizing the letter carrier.
ReplyDeleteAbby - OK, well, thanks for bringing me up to date. I am sure I will promptly forget when the time comes.
Wouk.. talking.. planning... requesting to the Universe... we'll see!
ReplyDeleteI love the Nightmare Before Christmas dolls in your mailbox! That movie ROCKS!! and... Jack is my favorite! Of course.. I've always thought... Sally reminded me of... me :)
Nov 2? Wow... I didn't know that. I was planning on doing it tonight! Thanks for the head's up Abby!
Stefnee - I was thinking that all of my precious friends were about to take an hour further back in time from me! Whew... at least I have one more week before they get a little bit further away from me!
ReplyDeleteYes, I love Sally! And I love Jack! Every time I see Jack, I think, "Boy he looks like me!" and every time I see Sally, I think, "Damn, she is ubersexy... I'd do her!" That Jack is one lucky skeleton! I betcha he's got a major boner for Sally!
Oops. Did you say that Sally reminds you of you? *blush*
ReplyDeleteHA!
ReplyDelete*spank!*
"Other cheek too, please."
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteAny of you leaf lovers want to come help me rake?
I've got cider!
ReplyDeleteCocoa?
ReplyDeleteKwoffee?
OK OK OK....
ReplyDeleteI'll make my special hot apple spice toddy....
I don't break out the rum and AppleJack for just anybody.
Fine...
ReplyDeleteSkip it...
It's raining anyway...
Ooooh, nice yard! It's raining here, too. Been cleaning all morning. Mayu's friend from Osaka is coming by for the night so gotta get this place all spiffied up. I guess showing up at 2.04 in the morning to rake leaves is just a little too weird, eh? Well, I love you anyway!
ReplyDeleteJenny.. I love the smell of wet, mouldy leaves.....
ReplyDeleteDo you have hot tea?
Well, YOUR 2am would be MY 1pm ( until next week) so that's the perfect time.
ReplyDeleteBring your rakes and let's get to it,yo!
I just got some really good tea, Stef. Grab a rake and get your butt over here.
Nice job of the yard CAM. Not a nice day here at all. Plus 3C (35F) and very windy. The only good thing is all my leaves have blowen down the street. There is a wind warning out right now.. This weather system was out west yesterday and caused one death in Edmonton when a tree blew down on a car killing the driver. All the fall colors are gone now. So drab time of year. Almost time to put my winter tires on Cam. Also have to change my picture. No time.. MAybe to-day.
ReplyDeletethat looks so nice, I wish it would get cooler here and rain, im finished with the heat
ReplyDeleteThey have been tree trimming all around the condom complex all week long starting early when im getting up after one of the last santa ana's I have leaves in my back patio area and in the fountain
ReplyDeletedo you take dumpers?
ReplyDelete;-)
...knew you would like that
lets make smores!
ReplyDelete