2018 First, elephant on the table! We have changed size — we started a big weight loss effort over the past year and between us (with Mom's help), we have lost Muhammed Ali's mass! Maki's boss in Boston has the Leroy Neiman portrait print of Ali, so we took advantage of the opportunity to depict how much that is ... People ask "How did you do it?" and it's pretty simple — low carb, but for life. We had some health scares, and it became necessary to finally address our gross tonnage. (On our holiday card doodle, note the funny line on my dress — it's a graph of my weight over the past year!) A lot has gone on this year, apart from the usual opera subscription (weekly seats at the Metropolitan Opera House with friends), playing with a dog (just the one!) that isn't ours, visiting the farm in Japan, seeing friends who visit our locale, and visiting others. Bif had a milestone birthday and the SPS crew came to help celebrate. The original plan would have taken us to the far east; but since his age is merely a number, perhaps we shall do it in the coming year instead? We had a very fine dinner and we were so loud that the restaurant was likely relieved that we requested a table far to the back. We've suffered some surgeries this year. Nothing life-threatening but many things are life-altering. Like my carpal tunnel surgeries last year. This year is eyes, kidney stones, glands, cysts, bumps, blah blah blah. (Why so brief in description? Josh's mother says of such discussions, "I am tired of hearing the Organ Recital!" :D — agreed!) Maki's favorite aunt (Maki is her favorite child) claimed she was "so sick! and maybe dying!" So we went to Japan ... and found her spritely and bossy. :) Never mind, it's a good reason to go. Plus Maki's cousin Mitihide has started the meets that could qualify him for the Tokyo Olympics, so we attended one while we were there. It also turns out that aunt really only wanted Maki and Brian to bake her pastries and bread! So we bought a small electric oven, since Japanese homes are not normally supplied with such an appliance. Now Mom can cook in Japan more like she does in NYC, too. Win! While in Japan, Mom and Aunt helped us with some of our arts and crafts sewing projects, including creating a placemat and cutlery set as thank you gifts for some friends. Mom and Brian polished lacquer chopsticks to go into the kits; no, we aren't selling them, but keep asking ... we might convince the relatives to be a sweatshop! And because we are losing weight this year, we have a need for re-sized clothing. Not only have we started sewing again (and acquiring machines like sergers -- who knew!) but friends and family have made us and given us some really beautiful things. Being smaller in size has many benefits ... and now we have to come up with ways to utilize the old (bigger) clothes (there are only so many aprons one needs ...) Sometimes the combination of things we have to wear makes for an "interesting" mash-up — it makes me wonder if my "style" is 75% bag lady and 25% dress-up doll! It's been really great seeing old friends and making new ones — we are traveling more and though our place is very messy, we do enjoy hosting too. Everyone's been very tolerant and understanding of the obnoxiousness of our eating habits. (When asked how I could give up carbs ... I reply that I consider them to be exciting, fun, delicious, sexy ex-boyfriends who will hurt me if I go back to them ... see? It's possible to get one's head into this mode if you can "find your metaphor" :) .) It's been really a fine adventure and we thank everyone for helping us :) Even if it means we carry our own lunch-pails and tiffin boxes and embarrass you by asking for our leftovers to be packed up in eateries. :) Aunt discovered that my not eating carbs means she gets them because i bring them home to her; so she approved of our changes, in the end! Enjoy the slideshow of the random and incomplete collection of photos from this past year — we may add more from time to time, so it's likely worth returning ;) And/or come visit and see our lives for yourselves, if you dare! If you are interested in seeing more, we post daily (mostly meals and operas and visits) on Facebook; note that our posts are chronologically delayed since Maki feels a need to comment on every posted photo. She is also intolerant of people who don't like what we eat; she's become more aggressive about blocking and tackling these days ... but then again, her posts are public, so she's cancelled out her meanness :D . Happy Holidays, and may the New Year be fun and adventurous, no matter what trials and tribulations come your way and ours.
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I hope you are familiar with the sculpture work of Tom Otterness — his work is commissioned and displayed everywhere, but especially in our home city. We even saw the Marlborough Gallery had displayed some pieces in an outdoor space between office buildings. I tend to abuse the statuary whenever I see it :) We have Prince Fatso up in the tree, and Bif is represented by a creature with a prehensile tail ... me? I'm Maki! Lots of things have changed about us — read on!
