book 'em, Dano

Several months ago, I was the lucky winner in a competition on Nay's blog in a book giveaway. I read the book almost straight away after getting it (thanks Nay's mum for sending it to me, hehe) and then lent it out to a friend IRL to read....well, I finally have it back, and now, 5months later (embarrassed giggle) it is time to pass it on in the blog sphere.

I am not too sure if there is even anyone who reads my random rambling, uh, I mean blog who hasn't already read the book, as I believe it came down through the blog ranks through people like Lulu and Sara before Nay. But, I am gonna take a chance and see if anyone wants to be the next one to read LOSING KEI.

I am also going to add a special set of classic Nora (Roberts)

that I got from Gaijinwife many moons ago too.... I have only read two so far, but I promise that when I read more, I will pass them on too!


Rules of the game:

Pretty basic, if you are interested, then simply leave a comment on this post saying if you want to be in the running for A) "Losing Kei" and/or B) Nora.

I will send "Losing Kei" anywhere in the world, but I am restricting the Nora selection to within Japan, as I figure us lovely ladies here have more of a need for trashy English novels than people who can buy them at a whim in their own country (hehe).

Looking forward to hearing from y'all.

hang 10

So I am thinking that good karma comes the way of those who clean.

Yesterday afternoon I did a relatively big clean (for me) and then, instead of actually sitting on the couch with Nora for an hour, I grabbed a gossipy mag from home and flipped through that for 20 mins or so. It was enough of a break for me, and I thought, well J gets home from his week long business trip, and all I have ready is niku-jaga, so I should probably try to find something else to go with it, right!? So googled away and found something I could make with leftovers in the fridge (I know, I am SO on fire at the moment) so I made up one dish, and was just about to make another when I realised I was missing one ingredient, so put it aside to wait until K was awake to go to the shops. Anyway, J rings when he gets in to Narita, blah blah blah, he will be home about 6pm. So I start to vacuum coz K is now awake, and then I see there is a msg on my keitai from J - he suggest sushi-ro for dinner! God, he is SOOOOOO Japanese, hehe. One week in the US and he is craving his sushi. But we like it there, so I am like, cool, added bonus, if we go there tonight, then I have dinner already for TOMORROW night now too, which is good because today was playgroup, and I didn't have to worry about cooking up something when I got home AND to boot, the place looks nice and clean and tidy(ish) when I walk in the door!!! WOW. I wonder if this is the same awesome feeling surfers talk about when they catch the wave!! Hang ten, dude.

forging ahead on the cleaning front (maybe)

Well, despite my best intentions (honestly) to spend Sunday cleaning up, we (being me and K, because J is still o/s in Las Vegas, probably collecting his winnings as I.....)had to drive over to the PILs place to drop something off (only an hour each way, rolls eyes). They weren't supposed to be home, so I didn't even take anything for K, just strapped her into the carseat about the time of her a/noon nap and prayed that she would sleep on the way there and back. When I had done the business, I rang the PIL just to tell them I had dropped the stuff off, and mil said that they were nearly home - just 15mins away so I should wait because they had stuff to give K (some slippers they bought her coz she is going through her Imelda stage at the moment). So we waited, and rubber arm that I am, ended up staying for dinner. Didn't get home until 8pm, at which time K crashed after her big day of playing with "jiji" and "baba" (which she can now say!)
Since J gets home today, I wanted to at least get rid of some of the junk around (you know, throw it in the cupboard so he can't see it, lol) so I did a bit of a "martha on speed" last night. Ended up making some niku-jaga for tonight's dinner, ironing some shirts, folding AND PUTTING AWAY the washing (you go girl!) and that was about it, but it was enough to get the place looking ok again.
Today, I was supposed to go out for a play date, but it got cancelled due to rain, so, in my new improved state of being a good housewife, I DID NOT simply spend my time on the internet or the couch, but I got in to do the tasks that were left over on my to-do-list.
You know, it is amazing how many things you can find to do to clean around the house when you actually write them down. I would never think to just get up and clean the airconditioner filters before. But today, I sat down and thought of things that I could do, and it was one of them! Hmmm. I am sorta liking this list business.
I also took some time in the kitchen today, cleaned the grill (ガスコンロ), tidied the area above the sink, decluttered basically. It looks good! And writing it down, means that I know when I did it last, so I can schedule when to do it next time (I am a big fan of scheduling, oooh, and excel sheets.......now THAT might be an idea, or is that procrastinating again??)
Anyway, I am taking a break now, because all work and no play makes T a pissed off mummy, and that is not nice, so I am about to join Nora Roberts on the couch for some hot and steamy stories about people named Rainbow and Storme and Victor, most likely. Will probably just get into when K wakes from her nap (lol!)