Grace's Groupies in SF

So it's been 10 years since I've been to San Francisco, when we went up with NCRR for a Report Back on our trip to Cuba in 2001.  When we heard our friends Grace Lee Boggs and Scott Kurashige (aka Tula's dad),  were going to be in San Francisco on a speaking tour of their new book, The Next American Revolution, Sustainable Activism for the 21st Century in March 2012, we decided to drive up to San Francisco to see them.  It's been two years since the US Social Forum, which was the last time we saw Grace and visited in Detroit.  Since it's late and I'm tired, this will have to be another photo caption blog post.  These are the top 13 out of 118 photos from the trip.

By kismet, our friend Joe Reilly was in Berkeley performing a
children's concert at La Pena Cultural Center that same morning.
It so happens that we met Joe through Grace at the Boggs Center, and our other friends in Detroit,
who at the time were part of the Long Hairz Collective.

Joe's latest CD is "Let's Go Outside," is one of his many works with
children, animals, nature and all things eco and Michigany.

Maiya with Daddy at the La Pena Cultural Center mural

One of a dozen or more self-portraits taken from the backseat.
I think this is one going over the Oakland Bay Bridge.

Maiya Grace wearing her Grace Lee tee

Visiting with Grace before her talk

Event sponsored by the Chinese Progressive Association (or whatever CPA stands for).
I liked how progressive and diversely API the crowd was, numbering around 400 people.
The previous day Grace had engaged in a conversation with
Angela Davis at UC Berkeley at a woman's conference with 1200 people attending.

Shea, one of our favorite and most knowledgeable Detroit-based activists
who we met in our summers volunteering with Detroit Summer

View from our hotel room

Grace Lee and Maiya Grace at an after party in Grace's hotel room

Tony talking with Grace about education or activism, I'm sure.

One of Daddy's original 3x5 cards

Meeting Tish!!!!

So, there's another one of our short trips, barely gone a day and a half.  I think we left at 4 am, and got up there in time to see Joe's 10am concert, then drove across the Bridge to SF to see Grace in the afternoon.  We then drove out to Grace's hotel near the airport to hang out, then back to our hotel near Chinatown.  The next morning, I went walking around San Francisco and loved it, and walked over to visit/meet Tish, one of my favorite blogger friends (and first blogger friends back in the days before FB when everybody was blogging) who I have been good friends with for 10 years, but had never met in person.  Something non-bloggers don't really get.  Tony and Maiya came to pick me up and ended up hanging out with us, just talking and catching up.  It was a great visit, and one that I hope to do again one day soon.  

Our only regret is that we didn't have time to see Manilatown, home of our Manzanar friends Al Robles and Bill Sorro, both who passed away in recent years, or our friend Jiro Kobashigawa, Tony's former landlord, an Okinawan activist, poet, artist, writer, who passed away this summer at the age of 97.

Peace. Out.
NaBloPoMo12 #7
(Backblogging March 2012)

Busy Weekend: Chopping with our hashi

Yesterday we shot a music video B.Y.O. Chopstix, a new Great Leap project--5am set up craft services, prepped and dished up the "props" food, getting to feel a bit like a waitress, enjoyed being part of the production crew all before 7:30 am... Tony & I picked up Maiya from her sleepover at Auntie Keiko's, watched her run the Chibi K in J-town, rushed back to Gardena by 9:30 to continue helping with the video shoot, then cleanup, then rushed home to unload the car at 5pm, we dropped Maiya off with Uncle Bill, then headed to Westwood to catch the bus and a few zz's to Hollywood Bowl, saw an incredible concert with Carole King & James Taylor (best seats ever! first date night in practically forever!), back on the bus to Westwood, back to pick up Maiya and come home after midnight.

  

Today, Maiya slept till 10, we made pancakes, 5 loads of laundry, 2 hours of dishes, took a nap (me & Tony), dinner w/Lily @ Tender Greens and the house is still a mess.  Great weekend.  Had to blog it here because it wouldn't fit on my FB status.  Lots more pics to follow.

NaBloPoMo the end, and a recipe! (#30)

Finally, we've come to the end of the month. I'm so relieved. I didn't miss any NaBloPoMo days this year, posting 30 blogs in 30 days. I've tried to keep it interesting, but some of those days all I had in me was to just post a few photos and be done. Next time if I'm taking an online class, I won't do this. Just too much stuff going on this month.

I've enjoyed the time off this long holiday weekend to do catchup. It was a low key Thanksgiving for me. I stayed home while Tony took Maiya and his dad to Thanksgiving at Tony's uncle's house. I did laundry, homework and dishes. That night, we went to the Ayala's as usual for dinner and played games, that was a lot of fun. Friday, I stayed home and wrote a paper, finishing up about 4-5 loads of laundry. Tony took Maiya out for errands. Then yesterday, we went to visit Laura and kids in their new house, then drove up to the mountains to clean and organize Tony's dad's house. I worked on the kitchen and the laundry room, sorting things to give away, tossing old food and clearing the cupboards and fridge, while Maiya watched a DVD. Tony was on the roof clearing the raingutters and trimming overgrown pine trees, I have never been so scared in my life. Today, on my agenda is the last 2 homework assignments in my class, Farmer's Market, Trader Joe's, more laundry (ugh), the gym and play with Maiya.

***

Anyways, I just saw a cool recipe on my stickies, and I don't think I've ever put it on here. It's the easiest oatmeal cookies you will ever make, just 5 ingredients, and I found it on the bax of an oatmeal box. It's one of those easy recipes that a small child can do with you.

Easy Oatmeal Cookies
2 cups oatmeal
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
4 TBS veggie oil
2 TBS maple syrup (i used a low sugar one)

I also added 1 TBS honey, just because i like honey.

So we mixed it all up real well, waited 15 minutes for everything to soak into the oatmeal. Then, drop spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet into rounds, flatten with a wet fork, then put in oven for 10-12 minutes at 375. Cool, then transfer with a spatula. Need to store in a tight container.

They tasted like soft granola bars. I think some might like them harder, but I liked em kind of soft. It made about 12 cookies. I never knew how easy they were to make.

***

Okay, well, don't look for me to blog tomorrow. I think I might take a few days off.

Twice around the block

In addition to going to the Dodger game last Sunday afternoon, we had an even busier evening. After the Dodger game, we went to Devin's 3rd bday party at the airport park for dinner. Maiya had an angry meltdown because we had to leave just before the cake part, and she was screaming about the injustice of having to leave without the cake. So, to somewhat calm her down before leaving her with Uncle Bill all evening, Tony took her for a ride on their new vintage bike. She was so happy, I dare you to find the dried saltiness around her red puffy eyes.

After the bike ride, we left her with Uncle Bill, who had rented a Dora DVD for her. That kept her going for 6 hours while we went out to the Ford Amphitheater for the Tia Chucha Cultural Center fundraiser. Nobuko performed, as well as Charles Wright (Express Yourself), and we also got to see Olmeca and Upground. It was a pretty awesome night of performances. I think my favorite was Upground, a bunch of young guys from East Los, as they called it. I think someone told me that they all went to Roosevelt, where my mom went to high school in Boyle Heights. When we got back at 11:30 pm, Maiya and Uncle Bill were on the couch, still watching Dora, for the 3rd time that night. Say "Adios, Dora!"

Welcome to Summer.

Today is our first day of summer. We're really lucky living near to the beach. Where my sister lives in the Valley it is 105 today, but here near the coast it's a balmy 84, and at 1:30 pm, I actually feel a relatively cool breeze wafting in through my bedroom window.

One of our cars hasn't been working all week, so we've been happily keeping one car at home and carpooling and taking the bus. This morning, Tony had to go to Maiya's preschool to help build a new play structure (95 degrees downtown today-ack!), so Maiya and I took the bus to Culver City to have breakfast with Auntie Keiko and her friends at Tokyo 7-7. Two good deals: Bus ride 75 cents, breakfast special $2.43. Spending the morning with my girl, priceless.

Afterwards, Keiko dropped me off at my chiropractor/healer's for an hour, and they came to pick me up afterwards. We went shopping at the air-conditioned mall with Keiko & her friend Mary, got Maiya a little car stroller to ride in, went to Old Navy, Macy's for a potty break, had a quick mall lunch, then came home. Boy, do these auntie's know how to spoil a little girl.

Anyways, that's our day so far. There's the Venice Community Center Carnival this weekend, and I'd like to get to the gym and to the pool for more swimming. There's laundry and a messy house, but right now, I think I'll go drink a cool glass of water and lie down and relax a bit.

Oh. If you have a chance, check out the Little Tokyo Unplugged Blog. I put up an entry about our Saturday in J-town a few weekends ago.

Stay cool, y'all.

Visiting Grandpa

After the Rally in Little Tokyo on Saturday, we drove up to the mountains near Lake Arrowhead to visit Tony's dad Larry and for Tony to help around the house. We went to dinner at a small cafe with Tony's dad and his friend. Afterwards, during that time when one parent excuses themself from the table to walk around with the preschooler, Maiya and I went outside and I spied a little bike in a thrift shop window. Tony has been looking for an old Schwinn on Craigslist for Maiya for the last few months. I told Tony, and he said we should come back the next day to take a look. The next morning, we went to breakfast at another cute little cafe where Larry and his friend knew the guys who run the place, plus every customer who came in.

The cook (owner?) made special Mickey Mouse pancakes for Maiya.
There was a picture on the wall of the famous kiddie pancakes.

After breakfast, we went to check out the thrift shop.
The price was right. $5.

After we came back to the house, Maiya & I went for a nature walk.

Back home at Uncle Bill's with Grandpa.
I know, I know, we need to get a helmet.

J-town Voiced!

On Saturday, Tony had an early morning baseball game, and we went to Marie Callendar's for a fundraiser for Maiya's preschool/temple and drove up to the mountains to visit Grandpa for the night. But in between, we stopped for a few hours at the J-town Voiced! Community Rally to send a message to developers that Little Tokyo is a community of people who live, work, shop and eat in Little Tokyo, and that we should be included in the process for changes that affect our community, especially because of all the new luxury condos and apartments in Little Tokyo. Here are some photos:

Maiya the stakeholder goes to preschool in J-town.

Progressive Taiko - that's our friend Craig on the left

Rockett & Zoe eating... rice balls! What else?

Maiya coloring in her footprints on a big banner.

Maiya's friends, Thomas, Traci, Mickie and Alan were speakers at the rally.

Kuida-Osumi supporting our community

The future is bright (and too cute!)

Weekend Update: Easter

Maiya's homemade bunny basket from preschool

Visiting Teacher Jessie at former childcare center for Easter party

At the Santa Monica Pier after lobster lunch for Uncle Bill's BDay

Calling Grandma Machi to tell her we're going to the Farmer's Market.

Easter dinner in the backyard

On Saturday, we went to The Lobster for Uncle Bill's bday lunch at the Santa Monica Pier. Afterwards, I went to get my haircut, bought some new shoes and clothes for my upcoming trip to Kentucky. It will be my first time away from Maiya overnight--first time in her life I'll be gone for longer than 17 hours.

On Sunday morning, I cleaned the backyard, then Maiya & I went to the Farmer's Market while Daddy stayed home moving around furniture. Yes, again. When we got back, Auntie Keiko was over, so we went to lunch with her. Maiya & I played pretend preschool for several hours. I was appointed to be the teacher and she was the student. Daddy made Tuna Noodle Casserole using his Grandma Chie's recipe for dinner. After dinner, we hid Easter eggs in the backyard until it got dark. Then, all too quickly, the weekend was over.

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.