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Happy end of 2009! (And the newer part of 2010, too ...)
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Not to say that it was all work and deprivation. In October, Maki's mother and Brian convinced Maki to return to Japan with them and Dad. The four of us traveled to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, and Fukui (from where Mom's family originates). In Tokyo, we saw Emi Hatano's "retirement" performance. Emi has known Maki since before Maki was born, and the septuagenarian on stage and dancing with men and women she'd taught and trained was a thrill. The choreography was outstanding, and we wonder if she's really capable of retiring.
The rest of the trip was an eye-opener — Maki was able to see how Japan has changed, and Brian saw it for the first time and fell head over heels in love with everything about it. His size and looks brought curious onlookers everywhere, and some got bold enough to talk to me (thinking he wouldn't understand them) and even to touch him (circus freak!). Imagine their surprise when he responded to their comments in their tongue — was well worth any embarrassment.
Also while there, Brian renovated part of the big kitchen in Maki's grandparents' century-old traditional house (the same era and setting as Totoro's house). Mom wanted it brought up to more modern standards and for it to be more convenient to use. So, furniture was moved and reconstructed (including a turn-of-the-century cabinet Maki's grandfather made for his then-new bride), plans for appliances and solar power investigated, flooring and extra-wide plinths put in. We got along very well with my mother's elder sister and her family, and Brian is looking forward to helping with the old-fashioned roof next year.
We also had a life-changing trip to New Orleans this year, just before Mardi Gras. Tip: the prices of amenities and hotels rise astronomically closer to Mardi Gras, so go any other time. Or any other time there isn't a college football or basketball game. Or ... anyway, we paid $59 a night in the heart of the French Quarter for a room normally billed at $379 during silly week. We also managed to get to the Chesapeake in Virginia this summer, where Maki rekindled her love the sea (marine science major, remember?) and Brian got to imbibe in activities he hadn't enjoyed since he'd left New Zealand. We stayed with friends who took us fishing (Brian discovered why those little spotted fish are called "croakers"), and we helped with DIY house stuff. Amazingly relaxing if it's not your own house!
The big change this year is Brian's job. His workplace had severe financial setbacks (being an endowment/foundation, they, like the rest of their sector, lost approximately 60% of their funds), and they decided to cut back on an already small staff. The timing for this worked out, in that Brian was having thoughts about moving on — he'd taken the church job because he'd felt a calling, but it was clear by the end of 2009 that it was not a ministerial calling. Instead, he finds his calling is more specifically in helping th elderly. So, he'll be back in school working on a nursing diploma, wish him luck!
That did mean we had to move apartments. Having received an estimate from a moving company, we instead decided to enlist many friends and workmates to help us pack up and move boxes from midtown Manhattan to mid-Queens, and to use that money to take people out to dinners and brunches instead. We consider it money well — and wisely spent, and thank everyone who did everything from labeling and cleaning to the really heavy lifting, and to those who let us store our things in their unused property for our temporary storage needs (3.5 tons of books!!). And to those of us who bought food for our efforts, and did the often non-thanked staying with the trucks as the rest of us hefted and shifted through the snows of February, or made room in their home for our excess and duplicate furniture, encore mille grazie!!
It means being closer to Maki's parents, which works out very well, to our mutual benefit. We're still adjusting back to the Forest Hills lifestyle, but it's been easier than expected — we are car-sharing with Maki's brother and Mom. The commute is good too — door-to-door from home to work is 40 minutes on the nose. We also have use of the "office" apartment space (a floor below us), so let us know if you'd like to visit!
Dinner party duties are shared with Maki's mother more easily now. Maki's birthday was a big sashimi party; our housewarming was roll-your-own sushi. The more Japanese menus have to do with proximity to Mom and Dad!
Our obsessive hobby of the year has been the opera. The Metropolitan Opera in Lincoln Center is a world-class venue with very affordable cheap-seats, and the new executive director is taking new initiatives to expand the opera-going audience beyond the glitterati. This means attracting top talent, and newsworthy sets and direction. It's been fun and exciting, and we often have extra tickets to take people with us. Let us know if you're interested in joining us! Our favorites last season were Richard Byrd's Carmen, and Barlett Sher's Les Contes d'Hoffman, and we discovered that a friend of Brian's was singing lead and understudy bel canto roles. A Mozart fan, Brian was surprised at how much he likes French opera. Maki enjoyed Janacek's From the House of the Dead (even if she had to bolt to the bathroom in the middle of her favorite lyric baritone's aria), and continues to follow singers, as well as new productions. Our opera buddies think she's a dork. Our non-opera buddies think other things. ;)
No new roasts of note last year — we made a turducken to help empty our freezers before we moved. That continues to be a proven favorite, along with the Café Zuni-inspired roasted chicken. Maki has been making a lot of cakes for birthdays and for office events, such as when new employees have joined her business unit. The most popular have been a sour cream-enriched red velvet cupcake, and a ricotta pound cake (which benefits from a long, slow cooking, almost like barbeque). We figured out the Little Pie Company's sour cream walnut apple pie recipe, and have made many a galette, too. We're still all about the pie!
Maki's office will be moving in mid-May to the glamorous Grace Building, overlooking Bryant Park, on 42nd Street and 6th Avenue. We're on the 33rd floor. This is the culmination of Tamale's acquisition by Advent Software late in 2008, and it's very much like moving in with new family. They have a lot of logistical assets, so there are more procedures and committees than I'm used to, a DIY mover of offices, apartments, etc. Mostly, they are badgering me to clean up my desk in preparation for the move ... I'll be done on time, but having logistics teams means more people are nervous about my lack of response, for longer!
With all the moving and such, Maki's computers have been frelking ... so, our apologies for losing addresses and not keeping in touch as we should. We have not forgotten anyone ... we are just rebuilding computers and trying to wade through all the changes in our lives. Not a great excuse ... shame on us, we know. Brian's on Facebook (Maki is, but rarely looks at it ... bad Maki), please feel free to "friend" him there.
In closing, our apologies for the late holiday greetings. It's been a busy and angst-ridden few months. And once again, we are grateful for our friends and their love for us, even if we conscript them. At least everyone is fed and doing okay, and for that, we look forward to returning their favors and enjoying another year. Keep well, and we hope to hear from you again soon!