February 2011 Happenings

NaBloPoMo#4 is going to be the recap of February 2011. I honestly don't know if I'm going to have the time and energy to update a whole year, but we'll see where this goes.  On the 1st of the month, Maiya turned SIX years old.  That crept up pretty quickly.  We forgot to take a picture until after shower time, thus the robes with wet hair.  Notice the candle in the manjuu, her favorite treat.

My Dad turned 80 years old, so we had a surprise party and Roast for him at my sister's house.  We invited a bunch of his old gang, plus some golf friends.  

We also celebrated Maiya and her friend Eve's 6th bday party at school.  We've been friends with Eve's parents since 15+ years ago, so it's been nice that they're in the same class, and have birthdays in the same month.  I brought chocolate manjuu, as I did the two previous years at Maiya's preschool bdays. (Class photo removed)

Our friends, Scott, Emily and Tula (Maiya's sistahfriend) came to visit from Detroit.  We manage to see them about 3-4 times a year.  Scott and Grace Lee Boggs published a book of Grace's speeches, writings and ideas.  That led to a sleepover for Maiya and Tula.

 

Of course, being on the Board for Great Leap (where I worked from 1997 to 2004), means our annual fundraising event.  This year instead of the LA Marathon, we participated in the Chinatown Firecracker 5K.  Maiya actually walked the 5K with us, and did the 1K for kids by herself.  Me and Maiya raised about $1,500 for Great Leap from generous friends/family sponsors.

At the end of Maiya's first basketball season playing bball, her team went to the year end event where they handed out trophies for all the teams.  Afterwards, we invited the whole team and their families over for a potluck.  It was a lot of fun.

Peace. Out.

5K Leapin' Leapers for the Arts

Maiya's 5th 5K in 5 years... here we are at the LA Marathon 5K at Dodger Stadium last Saturday morning.  Ten of us walked the 5K as a fundraiser for Great Leap.  You can't help but notice our beautiful green "Leapin' Leapers for the Arts" t-shirts.  Our youngest was Maiya at 5, and our oldest was Beatrice at 78, who actually came in 1st place our of 3 in her age group (women from 75-79).

Bea, Jo, Donna, Mike & Maiya in our new t-shirts

Maiya, Nobuko, Luke & Corazon marching in Elysian Park

Maiya and Auntie Nobuko walking backwards uphill.

Group shot of the 10 of us

Me & Maiya holding our medals at the finish line 1:13!

Afterwards, met Mamie (101 yrs old) & Clara at Empress for dim sum 

in Chinatown, our GL post marathon tradition

As I mentioned above, this was Maiya's 5th 5K, but actually it was her 2nd one to walk the entire 5K.  And she did fantastic.  Because she's older now, she can handle the walking--no more strollers.  She held my hand for the beginning of the walk, but also ran around with Luke, Corazon & Auntie Nobuko.  We enjoyed the pretty hills of Elysian Park, although I missed the grittiness of walking through downtown LA and the garment district.  Actually, about 3/4 of the way through the walk, Maiya was jumping around, fell and got a bloody arm and scraped up hand, so I carried her for about a minute while she cried.  After some comforting, she walked the rest of the way, stopping to rest a few times. 

5K Times with Maiya over the years:

2007 - 1:41 (Placed 2237 out of 2240) 

2008 - 1:15 (Placed 1897 out of 2137)

2010 - 1:13 (Placed 1781 out of 1867)

We are still tallying up the pledges, but I think Kuida-Osumi raised around $1,500.  

The impact of these generous donations for Great Leap is IMMEDIATE. 

Next year, we hope you'll join the Leapin' Leapers for the Arts.

Tony Does 26.2 for Great Leap!

Big Congrats to Tony for finishing his first LA Marathon in 7:11!  He's been walking for almost a year now, and he had decided a month ago to walk the marathon to help raise money for Great Leap.  I think he'll write about his experience walking through what he called "colonial LA." We left the house at 5:30 am to drop Tony off at Dodger Stadium.  Maiya and I went to breakfast and gorged ourselves, went home, did laundry and hung out.  

Then about 1pm, Nobuko came over and we drove to Santa Monica.  It took about an hour to get there, but mostly to drive a few blocks just to park the car.  We made our way through the traffic of people waiting for friends and family members, went down to the beach party, which was just about over.   

Then back upstairs back to meet Corazon, Great Leap's manager who ran the marathon, too!  Corazon had been training so we were so proud and excited to see her!

Others who registered under Great Leap were the amazing Lisa Okamoto, Sharon Yamato, and Don Johnson (who we don't actually know).

Another hour in traffic getting out of Santa Monica.  Whew.  For dinner, Tony ordered Johnnie's Pastrami and onion rings, and I split a chili-cheese fries with Maiya.  Shortly after, Tony fell asleep and was out for the night.  We're so proud of him!

Distance	MAR
Clock Time	07:29:18
Chip Time	07:10:59
Overall Place	20379 / 22538
Gender Place	12387 / 13339
Division Place	1485 / 1556
Age Grade	30.2%
Pace	16:26.6
5K	0:46:21
10K	1:38:03
15K	2:25:03
20K	3:15:25
25K	4:05:54
30K	4:59:19
35K	5:52:54
40K	6:49:25

Walking the HomeWalk

So this was me and Maiya's 2nd year doing the United Way HomeWalk, a 5K to raise money and awareness about homelessness in LA County. About 4,000 people participated in the walk, including Team LTSC. We got out of the house by 8:15 in the morning. It was pretty cold compared to last year, temperature maybe in the low 60s when we started.

Larry, Julie & Bill

Carried Maiya for the first block

This was an important statistic for me to share with Maiya

and explaining that 40% represents 4 out of 10

Also walked with Maria's family,

and hey look there's Grant on the left!

Maiya wanted to take a picture

with the guy who looks like daddy

And she wanted a picture with this lady

Signing our names at the end of the walk

So Maiya understands about homelessness from a 4 year old perspective. Her concern is that people who don't have a house might get dirty because they don't have a blanket and they have to sleep on the ground. But because we drive past hundreds of homeless people each morning on our way to her preschool and my work (Skid Row adjacent), she sees them everyday. But lately, she has observed that the homeless people that she sees are mostly all African American, and then also made a comment that she thought that the singer on her "Family Time" CD cover was also homeless (Ziggy Marley). So I have acknowledged that although most of the people we see in the mornings are African American, I have also tried to explain that 4 out of 10 of the homeless in LA are women and children, like me and her. I also pointed out a big poster on a truck during the walk about a man (who happened to be white) who got sick, spent all his savings, and became homeless. These are big concepts for a 4 year old, to be sure, but I think it's important that she learn that she has the ability to use her feet to walk to help the homeless.

Anyways, about the walk. It was fun. Maiya is always happy to see Larry, who she calls "Funny Guy." I was a little nervous about walking with Maiya because last year she rode in the stroller the entire way, and this year, we were going to be without a stroller. But, she did really well, I was actually impressed that she did so well. We found my friend Maria's family in the crowd, and walked with them a bit, and we were walking at a fairly quick pace. Then we'd catch up to the LTSC group, or she would run in between the two groups. Along the way, we also ran into our friend Grant and then towards the end we found Mike (both people we should/could have carpooled with). In the last 1K or so, she started losing it, wandering a bit and slowing down, playing with sticks in the ground, picking up rocks and leaves and acorns and things. So in the end, it was just the two of us.

After the walk, we hung around a bit, and then went to Tokyo 77 for a late breakfast. She ordered her usual, pancakes, bacon and syrup, no butter, and I had a Hawaiian Royal. Went home and I took a little nap in my comfortable bed, and then got up and took a nice, warm, and luxurious bubble bath jacuzzi with Maiya to soothe my tired feet. Grateful to have a nice home to come home to.

NaBloPoMo#7

Jenni's Journey on the Bike Marathon 2009

We did it! I can't believe I was able to complete the LA Bike Tour/Marathon on Monday, Memorial Day. The last two years I participated in the 5K Walk/Run with Maiya. Last year she was happily riding in the stroller for the first mile, but then got hungry, bored, cranky and vascillating between wanting to push the stroller, but not being able to push it straight, but being too tired to walk. On top of that, I had the flu, and turned out to have a high fever later that day.

This year I wanted to try the Bike Marathon. Having spent much of my 20s mountain biking, I wondered if I could do it, considering I hadn't been on my bike in over 15 years. My mountain bike was in too poor a condition to ride, but my husband Tony offered to give me his dad Larry's comfort bike--Larry passed away in February, so wouldn't be needing his bike anymore. Only problem is that it was up at his house in Crestline near Lake Arrowhead, and we hadn't had time to pick it up.

In the meantime, Nobuko began calling me urging me to begin training. My "training" consisted of inconsistent stretching, and 3 trips to to the gym to ride the stationary bike for 15 minutes each. During those gym practice rides, my knees and hip would hurt and I would never even break a sweat. My friend Lily joked that I would do anything to help raise money for Great Leap. She's right.

Then, on Saturday, 2 days before the ride, we woke up early and drove up to the mountains to pick up Larry's bike. On Sunday, the day before the ride, Tony pumped up the tires and set the bike out for me to take a test run. I took off down the street, going 3 long blocks, and back home... maybe 15 minutes. When I came back, I was wheezing and tired. I wondered out loud how many miles it was to the end of the block and back. Tony groaned. He had promised to ride with me, but I could see him dreading the ride.

Anyways, come Monday morning, Memorial Day, Tony and I woke up at 3:30 am, a mere 3 1/2 hours after going to sleep. As I got dressed in the middle of the night, I was a little bit excited, but pretty nervous. We left the house about 4:15 am, Tony had a tunafish sandwich, but I couldn't even think about food.

We arrived at Senshin Buddhist Temple, meeting 8 others from Great Leap who would be riding with us. We rode quietly and slowly in the dark from Senshin over to Exposition Park. When we arrived, I couldn't believe it. With bright lights blaring, we watched as 10,000 riders were lining up to start. We started about 5:10 am.
The first 2 miles down Exposition Park were crowded, with bike traffic causing us to ride slowly, although it seemed like it was downhill. Not expending much energy, I felt pretty good. As we weaved through Leimert Park, it started getting light out. We went through several residential areas, and I said a silent good morning to Ayako, Reverend Mas and Victor, who live in the neighborhood.

Heading North on Crenshaw, the bikers were thinning out. We hit our first big hill at the freeway overpass. As many times as I've been on Crenshaw, I never realized what a big hill it was. We actually went as far as Fairfax and La Cienega, and passed the Kidney Dialysis Center and one of the many hospitals that Larry was at last year. I got a little emotional thinking about how I was riding on his bike and dedicated the ride in his memory.

We did stop once, I think it was Olympic or Third, about halfway through the ride. Shortly after, we headed back, up through Hancock Park and then Koreatown. We rode past Tony's old school where he taught 3rd and 4th grade for several years, and then rode through the area where I lived until I was 3 months old.

Unfortunately, we got misrouted for a few blocks when a man was painting the LA Marathon logo on the street and was sending everyone down an unpaved street and into traffic. After a few blocks, we got back on the right path. Finally, as we headed south on Vermont Avenue and back to USC, I felt the cool air rushing through my shoes, and I realized we were almost there.

22 miles, in about 2 1/2 hours and we finished just after 7:30 am. Aside from a pretty sore butt, I felt pretty good. Tony had been joking that we would be on a date... but it was really nice to spend time with my hubby on the ride. Afterwards we went to breakfast near our house, and then went home to take a bubble bath and a nap.

Thank you to all who generously sponsored us, made pledges and gave moral support. I hope to do it again next year!

Jenni

P.S. It's not too late to sponsor us with a check payable to Great Leap. Email me or leave a comment and I'll give you details.

Sponsor KuidaoOsumi @ the LA Bike Marathon

Dear Friends & Family~

This Memorial Day on May 25th at 5am, I am dusting off my bike after about 15 years, and endeavoring to ride 26 miles with Tony and other Great Leapers in the LA Acura Bike Marathon to raise money for Great Leap, a nonprofit multicultural performing arts organization I've been involved with for the last 12 years. And if we can't find a babysitter, Maiya may well be riding on the back of Tony's bike, too!

It will be my 3rd time to participate in this annual fundraiser for Great Leap, an official charity of the LA Marathon, our only fundraiser event this year. The last two years Maiya did the 5K Run/Walk with me, but this year I'm planning to push it to the next level.

I would be thrilled if you would sponsor me. I don't have to tell you how the arts struggle during tough economic times. Often it is the first thing to be cut. But know that 100% of your contribution will go to supporting Great Leap's programs such as Collaboratory, Leaps of Faith, or Nobuko's new touring work, "What Can a Song Do?"

If you would like to sponsor me or Tony, please reply to this email and let me know how much you'd like to pledge. I'll send you an email and photos confirming our completion of the event. You can send your check (payable to Great Leap) to me (email or FB msg me for the address).

Also, if you 'd like to join us on the walk, run or ride, go to the Great leap Marathon webpage (http://www.greatleap.org/marathon) to sign up. Thanks for supporting Great Leap on its 31st anniversary~using the arts for social change in our community.

Love and Peace,

Jenni

Walking...to end Homelessness (#16)

Yesterday, me and Maiya joined about 13 people from Team LTSC for the United Way HomeWalk 5K - raising funds and awareness to help end homelessness. It was a hot, beautiful, clear Saturday morning, almost to 90 degrees in November, so I was a-sweatin'. Luckily the walk was in the morning because by afternoon the ashes, smoke and heat from the Southern California fires filled the sky and made the air quality really bad. Three of these photos, the nice quality ones (below) are from Mickie O's FB pages, and are awesome.

This is my favorite picture by Mickie. I was so happy to find and bring our old stroller. Maiya only ended up walking about 2 blocks, which made things much easier for me. I didn't have to carry her or deal with any major crankiness.

Me & Noelle before the walk started

This was a cool mural. Everyone was stopping to take photos.

My best friend Maria from elementary school/high school and roommate (87-90) with her daughter Hope. I called her from my cell phone to find that we were walking only a few feet away from each other.

After the walk, Maiya and Kaylene started to run and scream and laugh. Instant friends.

Team LTSC

After the walk, we had to hit the road quick, because I needed to go to Costco Tire Center, then it was a quick shower and off to Baby Joy's Red Egg & Ginger Party. Maiya and I raised about $145 $205 to add to our team's fundraising goal. Big thanks go to Granny Franny & Grandpa Don, Grandma Machi & Grandpa Walt, Uncle Bill, Beth & Brian, Letty & Paul, Lily, Tony O and Yana. We appreciate all the support!

5K for Homeless Families (#9)

Maiya at the LA Marathon 5K in March 2008

Every night in LA County, over 73,000 men, women and children are poor and homeless.

That is why me, Maiya and 15 of my co-workers are walking in United Way’s 5K called HomeWalk this coming Saturday, November 15th to raise money for homeless families. Please help us end homelessness by making a donation to HomeWalk through Maiya's Homewalk webpage and help us in our efforts to support the United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

Thanks to Uncle Bill, Granny Franny & Grandpa Don, Grandma Machi & Grandpa Walt and Tony for their donations.

NaBloPoMo, 9 down, 21 days to go.

Tony Blogs About the Bike Marathon

Hello Everyone,

Last Sunday was the L.A. Bike Marathon. Thank you to everyone who pledged. With your help, over $700 was raised for Great Leap.

Riding with Glen Kitayama (in at least his tenth marathon ride), I finished in about 2 hours. We kept a comfortable pace that was slow enough to maintain a conversation. Pedaling around the city safe from cars, stop signs and red lights was a pleasure. It hints at what large scale bike commuting could be if given priority.

This year I rode an 18-speed mountain bike with 100 psi slicks. Pedaling was easier than on last year's 3 speed folding bike. Only the skinny little seat gave me trouble. Ouch!

After the ride Glen and I skipped the long line to get our medals and headed straight over to Tak's Coffee Shop at the Crenshaw Square. Chicken wings and eggs hit the spot as much as that soft vinyl booth did.

By 10 am I made it home to Maiya and a very sick Jenni. Both walked the marathon's 5K. For details on their adventure, check out http://kuidaosumi.blogspot.com.

Marathon Fever!

Well, we did it. Maiya, Tony & I raised about $1,100 for Great Leap this weekend in the LA Marathon Bike Ride and 5K. I was running a fever on Saturday night through Sunday night. It was a busy & crazy weekend. Considering that I had insomnia, neverending sinus drip and a fever the night before, we did pretty well. I was up from midnight to 3:30 am, woke up at 4:30 am, woke up Maiya just after 6am, got her dressed and out of the house, through Marathon traffic, arriving at 7am, and meeting Nobuko and the other Great Leapers.

Here we are waiting for the start of the LA Marathon 5K - 7:15 am

Great Leapers walking for Great Leap at the start line

Early and in good spirits (still)

I love that we were on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Maiya eating a granola bar at Mile 1

Maiya was in good spirits for the first mile. When we went under the freeway, it was dark and people were hooting and hollering and I felt that pride of emotion that I get when I see ice skating, or a corny commercial. I didn't want to get her out of the stroller too early, because I knew that she wouldn't go back in, even if she got tired.

Finally free! I let her out of the stroller after the halfway point

So I let her out, just after 1 1/2 miles and that's when the meltdown began. She insisted on pushing the stroller, which meant going from side to side because it's too big for her to control. She was miserable, whining and refusing to get back in the stroller. Walking sideways, hanging on the stroller, pulling on my jacket, wanting to be carried...

JK: Maiya, let's sing a song, "A, B, C, D..."
MG: No song Mommy. Stop singing!

JK: Should we march? (Starting to march)
MG: No marching!!

MG: Mommy I hungry!
JK: Here's some apples I brought.
MG: No apples.
JK: Well, do you want cereal?
MG: No! No cereal!
JK: I have oranges.
MG: No! I no want oranges!!! I want bar!
JK: You've eaten 3 granola bars already. No more granola bars.
And on and on.

Can't believe we made it to Mile 3 - notice our matching sweats

Nobuko helped by pushing the stroller the last mile. Then thankfully, I could see the freeway overpass. So I told Maiya that we just had to make it under the freeway and around the corner to the finish line. That helped both of us, having a goal. Then while taking pictures at the Mile 3 marker, we ran into our friend and yoga teacher, Krishna, and the Yoga for Youth group. That was pretty exciting.

Our friends from the Black Yoga Teachers Assn - Yoga 4 Youth
Krishna on the far right

Exposition Park at the Finish Line! We did it in 1 hour 15 minutes.

Showing off our medals

Maiya showing me how she really feels

We finished at 1 hour, 15 minutes, and crossed the finish line together and stood in line to get our medals. In all, I'd say she walked about 1-1/2 miles this year. Then, Maiya had to go poo poo, so she unfortunately had her first experience in an Andy Gump--not pleasant. Anyways, by then I was drained. We got home about 9:30 am, and I was in bed shortly after that for the rest of the day and night. My fever peaked at 101.3 at about 5pm. Tony took Maiya to Jessica's Bday party for me.

So will we do it again next year? I'll have to think about it. But Maiya proudly wore her Marathon pin to preschool the next day. And, if I'm going to wake up that early, I'm going to do it for Great Leap.

BIG THANKS to all the generous friends who sponsored Kuida-Osumi in this year's Marathon.