体育祭 (Sport's Festival) '09

Well, it is that time of year again-Tobishima Elementary and Junior High Sport's Festival. This year, as always, the weather was just beautiful. The sun was shining, wind blowing in my hair, and face slightly glistening with exercise moisture :-p I had a fabulous time chillin' with my fellow ALT and buddy Derek. We even got to participate in some of the activities: tug-o-war and tama ire (basically throwing balls into a basket). I had a blast cheering on my team (GO BLUE!), joking around with Derek, and getting sun burnt :-( Have a look at some of the 200 pics I took that day.


Well, hello there pretty lady :-p (Team Blue)


How you doin' cutie! (Team Yellow)


The dynamic duo for the day. (Together, I guess we make green?)


My most favorit-est teacher and fellow team mate-Tatematsu Sensei


Let's get started with team red marching in.


GO BLUE!!!


Yea yellow!


Running of the colors and the flame




Team captains


Me and team blue


Pumping up the spirits in the kindy section


Me and the reds


There was cheering


Running


Me tugging




The Hurricane game


Junior High girls getting their dance on


While the guys performed stunts


Derek playing with one of the cutest little girls ever!!


2nd graders


Oh and the kids got their tug on too




I guess he tugged a bit too hard. Don't worry he was just fine-just hamming it up


Lunch


More cheering, this time for points


I don't know what this game was called. All I know is that it involved running around the track inside of a hula hoop in teams of 3 with a ball in the middle.


Being cool while chillin' in the shade


This game involved 3 people running with either a ball or a cone...


In this one, they had to kick a net of 2 or 3 balls around the cones


Carry a ball between the bars around the track...


The final score. My team came in 2nd


But we were still happy

Chocolate Cookies Anyone?

Here's another baking blog for you. This time Margaret and I decided to bake some chocolate chip cookies for our friends. We were invited to a NOVA-tomo (friends) party at the park and they asked us to bring something from home. We didn't know if they meant home country or just our apartment, so we figured we would do both with good ol' fashion CC cookies.

Meet the cooks: ME!!


The lovely Margaret


And of course, the fat cat Lizzy


The ingredients. We used both baking powder and soda for this batch.


First, mix in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into one bowl. Mix the butter, sugars (brown and white), and vanilla in another bowl.


Get your mix on!


Add in the eggs 1 at a time and mix them in thoroughly. Then add in the dry stuff to the mixture


Grab some chips and just go crazy!


See what I mean-just go nuts


Drop them onto the baking sheet


And there you have it! Delicious cookies for everyone. We made about 40 and they were devoured in about 10 mins! I guess our buddies really liked them :-)

Another Saturday Night

Ok, another Saturday night out has come and gone. On this particular Saturday, I had dinner and games with Margaret, then was off to join Linda and Joseph for some singing. Fun times were had by all

ME!!


Margaret and the drinks for the evening: vodka tonic and of course the long island


Onion rings! I really hate onions ><


A delicious "meat burger with cheese"-that's what I called it :-p


Who will come out on top: Smiling tall one?


Or vicious short one?


Dancing on the chairs in karaoke. Who said that they were only for sitting?


Oh Joseph!


Say CHEESE!!


"Take my hand. We'll make it I swear! WHOAAAA! Livin' on a prayer!!"


The face I saw on the bathroom door....needless to say you need a bit of alcohol in you to see it :-p