Hats and bowties

On her first birthday

Kizuki is one year old today. She is walking and talking. Her first word was Uta. She also says 'Thank-you', 'hot', 'hi doggie', and 'bye bye'. She laughs along when others are laughing and thinks bonking foreheads together is hysterical. She also gives sweet open mouth baby kisses.

BLUE!

Uta was recently promoted from an orange belt to a blue belt. The promotion test was so intense I had to resist the urge to swoop in and rescue my boy from the brink of tears and physical collapse. Sensei explained later that he wanted Uta to feel like he really accomplished something. That he did. He is proudly wearing his blue belt day and night, and even to bed.

Japan on the block

Japan vs. Queens. No clear winner. The game ended with Uta in tears, good sized sidewalk scrapes on his right elbow, and knee. Hopefully there will be a rematch soon. 

Summer is done

Uta is back to school, which means we are all back to days dictated by the clock. Each day already feels scheduled down to the minute. I am trying in earnest to draw despite the demands of daily life. In Japan I did a lot of drawing. Without the burden of home, a happy traveling gypsy, I had the luxury of time with nothing pressing to do. So I drew. I drew everywhere and anywhere. But back in NYC, life does not offer up free time without a bit of a fight. I am currently fighting for my time, fiercely protecting it from the kitchen sink, and other inane activities that seem to drain away my life. Uta told me that if I want to get any drawings done I have to draw all the time. It sounds extreme, but he is right. If I try to draw a little every day I will most likely not draw at all. But if I try to draw all day long, I will end up drawing a little. A little is not just a little better than nothing. A little is huge. It puts me on the positive side. A little makes me very happy.