月曜日の朝バスを待って、気づいたら道路の真ん中に猫を見かけた。子猫ちゃんほど小さくなかったけど、結構小さい猫だった。よく見たら車にはねられた状態だった。尻尾が振りながら頑張って立ち上がろうとしてた。
全ては数秒以内だったけど、猫を見かけて、「助けなきゃ」と思ったら、白いスポーツカーっぽい車がもう路肩に停まって、三十代に見えた男が出てきて猫の方に向かった。「あぁ、猫を助けてくれるんだ。車もあるし、あたしよりもっと早く動物病院に連れていくことが出来る、よかった」と感謝していた時点で、男が猫の首を握って見えなかったナイフで首を切った。それから道路の真ん中から歩道の向こうにある草に猫をそのまま投げだした。そしたら車に入って、立ち去った。
一分もかからなかった出来事でしょう。
あんまりに悲しすぎてバスで泣いてた。
男が猫を楽にさせているだけという考えもあるけど、猫にそんな敬意を持っていたとしたら投げることなんてしなかった。そして首を切る前にもっと悩んでたはず。迷わずナイフで生きている動物をあっさりと切るのも、経験が必要。
事故にあって首が切られるなんて、人間だったら絶対許されなかったのに。
猫が次の世界へ無事に着くように、祈ります。
July 21, 2013
One pulse in time
I was waiting for the bus on Monday morning and not really looking at anything in particular, when I realized there was a cat in the middle of the road. It was down and its tail was flailing as it was trying to get back up, and I realized it must have been hit by a car. It was a small tabby cat, not quite a kitten but not an old friend of the road.
It all happened in the matter of a few seconds, but as it dawned on me that the cat was injured a sporty white car had pulled up to the curb, and a guy that looked to be in his early 30's got out of the car and started walking over to the cat. I felt a rush of gratitude as I thought, "He's going to help save it, and he even has a car, he'll get to the vet faster than I will."
As soon as that thought went through my mind, the man grabbed the cat by its neck, took a knife that I didn't see he had in his hand and slit the cat's throat without hesitation. He hurled it from the middle of the road to the grass on the other side of the sidewalk, got back in his car, and drove off.
I was so shocked I cried on the bus afterwards. There has been the suggestion that maybe he had good intentions to put the cat out of its misery ... but I think if he was truly doing it out of concern for the cat, he wouldn't have disrespected it by tossing it away. The lack of hesitation also told me he was very comfortable with using his knife to slice flesh.
If it had been a human whose neck was sliced after being hit by a car, society would never have forgiven that act so easily.
As one who can offer only my prayers, I wish the cat well on it's journey to the next world.
It all happened in the matter of a few seconds, but as it dawned on me that the cat was injured a sporty white car had pulled up to the curb, and a guy that looked to be in his early 30's got out of the car and started walking over to the cat. I felt a rush of gratitude as I thought, "He's going to help save it, and he even has a car, he'll get to the vet faster than I will."
As soon as that thought went through my mind, the man grabbed the cat by its neck, took a knife that I didn't see he had in his hand and slit the cat's throat without hesitation. He hurled it from the middle of the road to the grass on the other side of the sidewalk, got back in his car, and drove off.
I was so shocked I cried on the bus afterwards. There has been the suggestion that maybe he had good intentions to put the cat out of its misery ... but I think if he was truly doing it out of concern for the cat, he wouldn't have disrespected it by tossing it away. The lack of hesitation also told me he was very comfortable with using his knife to slice flesh.
If it had been a human whose neck was sliced after being hit by a car, society would never have forgiven that act so easily.
As one who can offer only my prayers, I wish the cat well on it's journey to the next world.
July 04, 2013
花よりサンド
サワーキャベツロールのディナーがゆで終わるまで、待ちながらの八時半アヴォカドプロシュートサンドです。そう、夜八時半。夕食は夜食になってもいいじゃん～ 食べ物は夜中でも気楽でないと！（それに仕事や生活の流れでつい時間が．．．）
見ての通り、どんな料理でもなかなか綺麗に作れない。でもまあ、花より団子だな。
っていうか、花よりサンドだねー！！！
（我ながらも新しい用語を二つも考え出すとは！）
もちろんこのチンチラはサンドのことを探らなければならないのです。アヴォカドが彼の賛意を得たかどうかは不明です。
The Avocado Prosciutto Sandwich
My 8:30 p.m. avocado prosciutto sandwich, while waiting for my sour-cabbage-roll dinner to finish cooking. (What?) That's right, 8:30 p.m is before dinner.
I did t to make the avocado slices look pretty...but hey, substance over form!
And of course Toto (Tidbit) the chinchilla has to check out at what I'm eating. I'm not sure that the avocado gained his approval.
July 01, 2013
忘れない
 |
| 「dream」 夢見ろ、２０１１年。インクマーカー。 |
あんまり話さないことは、逆に心の中で常に意識しています。
(*´ ｀*)
皆さんは存じているかもしれませんが、
私は歌が大好きです。
フルタイムでできれば幸せです。
歌も、ダンスも、描き等も、今まで出会えた、私を応援してくれた方のこと、ほぼ毎日思っています。
「コラボしてみない？」を言ってくれたアーティストの友達、
競争の心を持たずに温かく歓迎してくれたアーティスト・ダンサー、
「貴女のこれからの活動を楽しみに見てるよ」と言ってくれた人、
みんなのことを感謝しています。
もっと有名なセレブは出会える人に手を伸ばすことが出来ないかもしれませんが、
もっと有名になりたいあたしは、出来たらいいなって思います。
そして観客や友達や一度しか触れなかった人から：
「貴女がこの歌を歌ったから、歌を好きになった」
「貴女のダンスを見るだけで励ましになってる」
「貴女の踊りを見てると心が穏やかになる」
「貴女の声で歌ったこの曲が好き」
「貴女を見て私も頑張ろうと思えるようになった」
「貴女の成功を待ってる」
特に年を取ってる方から：
「私が老いていき続けてるけどこの世に長く居られないから、私がまだ居る間に有名になってCDを出してね」
と、こんな言葉をもらえて、感激です。
言葉を頂いた分、大きくなりたい。人との関係ももっと刻めるように、大きくなりたい。
夢のキャリアを持つには無理とか遅いとか思ってる人もいるけど、
だからこそ何時でも何処でも、「私が居た」という人の心に触れた証拠を遺したい。
頂いた言葉が私の励ましと決心になっています。
誰かのことを心から応援出来ることは、深い優しさと自信が必要です。
不安を抱えているのはみんなですから、「自信は持っていないよ」と思う方も多いかもしれません。
でも本当の自信を持っていない人は他人のことを素直に褒めることができない。
表にすぐ気付かれるような自信じゃないだろうけど、自分のことを認めて受け入れる自信のことです。こういう自信を持つ人こそ強くなれると思うし、他の人に強さを上げることが出来る。
私はそんな人を何人も出会えて、光栄です。
(*^-^*)
ファンが多くて別に何も思ってない人も いるかもしれないし、
応援の言葉を軽く言う人もいるかもしれないけど、
私は応援の言葉を軽く言わないし、
本気で応援してくれる方のことも、
今までの気持ちも、
絶対忘れない。
 |
| 日本のちょっとした演奏の思い出が遺るよう、 見に来てくれた飛燕太鼓の方が撮ってくれた写真 ．．．を、私がまた撮っで載せた写真です。(#^.^#) ．．．っていうか、日本に居た頃太かったなあ！(≧▽≦) |
It's a Wrap!
Calgary's flood took the spotlight in our lives recently, but I thought I'd get started on the many blog posts that I have owed to readers for a long time. As they say, some semblance of "normality" is good after something big happens. Calgary's infrastructure will need working on for some time to come, but at least the damage has stopped for the time being (as in, the waters making it worse have receded).
The week before the flood was the wrap up of the Invisible show. It ended safely without any further injuries, thank the skies - and all the more so, as in one of the pieces a wobbly chair was brought out that shouldn't have been used and it ended up going to me, so I really had to compromise the movement and be careful during the dance!
I went to physio during the week after and apparently my knee is still not at the point of strength that I thought it was getting to. There is still a long (possibly lifelong) road of strengthening and conditioning for my leg, but it may be a good opportunity to push myself to be the strong and healthy person I want to be.
This was one of the hallways in backstage Theatre Junction GRAND. I didn't know this hall was signed by performers until I saw a fellow dancing friend's picture of their team signing the hall after the show was over. Thus unfortunately for the GRAND (yes, for the GRAND ^^ ), my name never made it onto this hall.
Our venti-sized Starbucks to get us through the night. Mine is the Iced Caramel Macchiato on the right.
An unrelated Venti Caramel Frappuccino photo I took on a different day, for international viewers to get an idea of Starbucks size in Canada. I don't carry a ruler around with me so had to make do with the hand and utensils. I fell in love with the caramel frappuccino while living in Japan. Japan's version of the Java Chip Frappuccino, my previous favorite, tastes different than how it is made in Canada. I didn't like the Japanese version as much, so I started trying other drinks and hit upon the caramel frappuccino. The price of a venti is expensive in both Canada and Japan, but in Japan your Venti size is about equal to Canada's Grande size. Despite the smaller venti, people's eyes still followed me everywhere every time I ordered such a large venti. (≧▽≦)
One of my teams backstage in the waiting room prepping costume and makeup.
Some of the other dancers backstage.
The eye makeup I came up with for one of the pieces. The photo is actually due to the not-so-great lighting quality of the iPhone 4S camera.
Had fun with the makeup, as usual. No false eyelashes though for lack of time between pieces!
A rehearsal shot that fellow dancer Angie took of one of our pieces.I freestyled this move and was honored to have our choreographer Nicole use it in the piece.
Danced two piece with this team. This black one represents breakthrough in the inner mind, the ego's firm refusal of abuse and degradation.
After breakthrough comes a Brand New Me. Photo missing one dancer.
Foolin' around. (#^.^#)
Group photo of those involved in Invisible. It was hard to get everyone in one place with the scheduling so the photo is still missing some people.
Lastly, a picture with Invisible guest Dianna David from Vancouver.
...And it's a wrap! Looking forward to more great things from our artists in the future.
The week before the flood was the wrap up of the Invisible show. It ended safely without any further injuries, thank the skies - and all the more so, as in one of the pieces a wobbly chair was brought out that shouldn't have been used and it ended up going to me, so I really had to compromise the movement and be careful during the dance!
I went to physio during the week after and apparently my knee is still not at the point of strength that I thought it was getting to. There is still a long (possibly lifelong) road of strengthening and conditioning for my leg, but it may be a good opportunity to push myself to be the strong and healthy person I want to be.
This was one of the hallways in backstage Theatre Junction GRAND. I didn't know this hall was signed by performers until I saw a fellow dancing friend's picture of their team signing the hall after the show was over. Thus unfortunately for the GRAND (yes, for the GRAND ^^ ), my name never made it onto this hall.
Our venti-sized Starbucks to get us through the night. Mine is the Iced Caramel Macchiato on the right.
An unrelated Venti Caramel Frappuccino photo I took on a different day, for international viewers to get an idea of Starbucks size in Canada. I don't carry a ruler around with me so had to make do with the hand and utensils. I fell in love with the caramel frappuccino while living in Japan. Japan's version of the Java Chip Frappuccino, my previous favorite, tastes different than how it is made in Canada. I didn't like the Japanese version as much, so I started trying other drinks and hit upon the caramel frappuccino. The price of a venti is expensive in both Canada and Japan, but in Japan your Venti size is about equal to Canada's Grande size. Despite the smaller venti, people's eyes still followed me everywhere every time I ordered such a large venti. (≧▽≦)
One of my teams backstage in the waiting room prepping costume and makeup.
Some of the other dancers backstage.
The eye makeup I came up with for one of the pieces. The photo is actually due to the not-so-great lighting quality of the iPhone 4S camera.
Had fun with the makeup, as usual. No false eyelashes though for lack of time between pieces!
A rehearsal shot that fellow dancer Angie took of one of our pieces.I freestyled this move and was honored to have our choreographer Nicole use it in the piece.
Danced two piece with this team. This black one represents breakthrough in the inner mind, the ego's firm refusal of abuse and degradation.
After breakthrough comes a Brand New Me. Photo missing one dancer.
Foolin' around. (#^.^#)
Group photo of those involved in Invisible. It was hard to get everyone in one place with the scheduling so the photo is still missing some people.
Lastly, a picture with Invisible guest Dianna David from Vancouver.
...And it's a wrap! Looking forward to more great things from our artists in the future.
June 30, 2013
invisible 終了
洪水が起こったため他の話はできなくなった！カルガリー市はこれからもインフラ等が大変で、すぐ解決できる問題じゃないけど、皆さんのお蔭で徐々に進んでると思います。長くブログができなかった時もあったけど、読んでくれる人のためにももっと頑張らなきゃとずっと思っています。二年ぶり会ってない方も最近の写真が見たいでしょうと思います。音楽アップロードの方はもう少し待っていてくださいね。（いつもご無沙汰してごめん！）
ダンスプロジェクト「Invisible」は無事に終わりました～ メディアも Invisible を一杯取材してくれて嬉しいです。市長もツイッターで特筆してくれました。
怪我したひざも無事で神様に感謝します。 Invisible が終わった後理学療法に行きました。ひざは思ったよりまだ大変だそうだけど、強める為これからももっと筋肉をきたえて、ストレッチ・マッサージをしなきゃいけないと思っています。一般の健康だと足りないと思うので、それ以上を目指して体を最高の状態にきたえようと思っています。
バックステージのある廊下です。この廊下は出演者がサインしてるのが分からなくて、サインしなかった～
一晩元気をくれるヴェンティサイズのスタバです。私のは右側のアイスキャラメルマッキアート。
カナダの Starbucks サイズが少しわかるように。ルーラーを持ち歩いていないのでこれぐらいしかできなかった。ダンスショーと関係なく前に撮ったものです。日本に住んでいたころ好きになったキャラメルフラップです。（日本のジャヴァチップフラップの味はカナダのと違ったので、別のドリンクを試し始めました。お蔭で日本限定の抹茶フラップとこのキャラメルフラップが好きになりました。）値段は同じく高いけど、日本のヴェンティはカナダのグランデサイズぐらいです。それでも関係なく、日本にヴェンティをいつも頼んでだ私を周りのみんなは怪しく見つめていた。 (≧▽≦)
裏で待ちながらメイク等の準備をしていた。
他のダンスグループと一緒にバックステージ。
考えた目のメイクを取ろうとしてたけど、携帯カメラのクオリティがちょっと悪いです。
目のメイク、今回も楽しんでもらいました。（メイクの違った出番が多すぎて、つけまつげとかで遊べなかった。）
リハーサル中にダンスの友達がとってくれた写真です。（私は左から二番目。このムーヴメントも私がフリースタイルした時考えたけど、コリオグラファーのニコールさんが使ってくれた。）
このグループで二つのダンスをしました。頭の中のエゴ（心理的・哲学）が虐待・いじめに反対し、精神的に突破する瞬間がこのコスチュームとダンスのテーマです。
ブランド・ニュー・ミーのダンサーです（七人の一人が欠けています）。自分の中の結界・壁を突破した後、新しく生まれ変わるテーマ。
ダンス友で遊んでる写真。 (#^.^#)
「Invisible」ショーに出演したみんなです。この写真でも、スケジュールのためすべての関係者を撮ることが出来なかったので、写真に欠けているダンサーとグループもいます。
最後には Invisible ゲスト、バンクーバー市から来たダイアナ・デイヴィッドとの写真です。
土曜日に写真家が来ましたが、サポートとしてディジタル写真を無料でくれたので、次回は数個を載せてみます。お楽しみに！
ダンスプロジェクト「Invisible」は無事に終わりました～ メディアも Invisible を一杯取材してくれて嬉しいです。市長もツイッターで特筆してくれました。
怪我したひざも無事で神様に感謝します。 Invisible が終わった後理学療法に行きました。ひざは思ったよりまだ大変だそうだけど、強める為これからももっと筋肉をきたえて、ストレッチ・マッサージをしなきゃいけないと思っています。一般の健康だと足りないと思うので、それ以上を目指して体を最高の状態にきたえようと思っています。
バックステージのある廊下です。この廊下は出演者がサインしてるのが分からなくて、サインしなかった～
一晩元気をくれるヴェンティサイズのスタバです。私のは右側のアイスキャラメルマッキアート。
カナダの Starbucks サイズが少しわかるように。ルーラーを持ち歩いていないのでこれぐらいしかできなかった。ダンスショーと関係なく前に撮ったものです。日本に住んでいたころ好きになったキャラメルフラップです。（日本のジャヴァチップフラップの味はカナダのと違ったので、別のドリンクを試し始めました。お蔭で日本限定の抹茶フラップとこのキャラメルフラップが好きになりました。）値段は同じく高いけど、日本のヴェンティはカナダのグランデサイズぐらいです。それでも関係なく、日本にヴェンティをいつも頼んでだ私を周りのみんなは怪しく見つめていた。 (≧▽≦)
裏で待ちながらメイク等の準備をしていた。
他のダンスグループと一緒にバックステージ。
考えた目のメイクを取ろうとしてたけど、携帯カメラのクオリティがちょっと悪いです。
目のメイク、今回も楽しんでもらいました。（メイクの違った出番が多すぎて、つけまつげとかで遊べなかった。）
リハーサル中にダンスの友達がとってくれた写真です。（私は左から二番目。このムーヴメントも私がフリースタイルした時考えたけど、コリオグラファーのニコールさんが使ってくれた。）
このグループで二つのダンスをしました。頭の中のエゴ（心理的・哲学）が虐待・いじめに反対し、精神的に突破する瞬間がこのコスチュームとダンスのテーマです。
ブランド・ニュー・ミーのダンサーです（七人の一人が欠けています）。自分の中の結界・壁を突破した後、新しく生まれ変わるテーマ。
ダンス友で遊んでる写真。 (#^.^#)
「Invisible」ショーに出演したみんなです。この写真でも、スケジュールのためすべての関係者を撮ることが出来なかったので、写真に欠けているダンサーとグループもいます。
最後には Invisible ゲスト、バンクーバー市から来たダイアナ・デイヴィッドとの写真です。
|
| この写真を見ると、 日本に居た頃と比べて髪が随分長くなりましたね～ |
土曜日に写真家が来ましたが、サポートとしてディジタル写真を無料でくれたので、次回は数個を載せてみます。お楽しみに！
June 27, 2013
Calgary Flood 2013
Many who know Calgary have heard news of its recent flooding by now. For a city that is relatively dry and serene, the sudden emergency that hit on Thursday, June 20th took many by surprise.
I am safe, and incredibly grateful to have avoided evacuation and flooding by about one block of neighborhood space. I stayed home with my beloved chinchilla and family, minimized water usage and lived without electricity and gas, and those with a situation similar to mine (minus the cute chinchilla) or who were unaffected entirely are very lucky.
So far I've been thankful to avoid having my life torn apart by the 2011 Japan Tohoku Earthquake, and a flood in the city I was living in that same summer. For a family that has been struggling with financially tough times, the fear of losing everything we've worked for, or tried to maintain, or pieced back together, hovers in the corner. Still, I do not like to think about falling off the tightrope and instead try to focus on what I can do. And on the other side of the same coin is the perpetual thankfulness for the many blessings I do have.
While I come across many friendly and courteous people in Calgary, I am also often disappointed by those that spend their day being rude, snide, inconsiderate, impatient, or downright mean. However, this time it was a relief to see Calgary come through as a team. The city government called a state of emergency and set a plan of action rolling before the general public even considered the possibility of flooding. There was no overflowing burden on emergency evacuation shelters, because friends, family, and even strangers offered up their places to stay. For someone who was on standby for mandatory evacuation, it was incredibly heartwarming and reassuring on a personal level to have friends who extended their hands to me.
It was also great to see (later when I had electricity) the Facebook pages that were set up with people offering tips, help, and updates, community pages set up for location specific information, stores offering free ice or cleanup services, and redistributed positive Twitter tweets from our Mayor and local police force. I saw many individuals offering help, or even just genuine words of encouragement, and thought, "these are the people I'm glad to know," and, "these are the people I want to meet."
People will be people, but I hope this spirit of Calgary will continue to stay with us in our every day connections with each other, and that we can act as an example for the world with our open minds and kindness.
I am safe, and incredibly grateful to have avoided evacuation and flooding by about one block of neighborhood space. I stayed home with my beloved chinchilla and family, minimized water usage and lived without electricity and gas, and those with a situation similar to mine (minus the cute chinchilla) or who were unaffected entirely are very lucky.
So far I've been thankful to avoid having my life torn apart by the 2011 Japan Tohoku Earthquake, and a flood in the city I was living in that same summer. For a family that has been struggling with financially tough times, the fear of losing everything we've worked for, or tried to maintain, or pieced back together, hovers in the corner. Still, I do not like to think about falling off the tightrope and instead try to focus on what I can do. And on the other side of the same coin is the perpetual thankfulness for the many blessings I do have.
 |
| The Memorial Drive that I often pass through Photo credit: photography.ca |
 |
| Memorial Drive at night Photo credit: Flickr |
While I come across many friendly and courteous people in Calgary, I am also often disappointed by those that spend their day being rude, snide, inconsiderate, impatient, or downright mean. However, this time it was a relief to see Calgary come through as a team. The city government called a state of emergency and set a plan of action rolling before the general public even considered the possibility of flooding. There was no overflowing burden on emergency evacuation shelters, because friends, family, and even strangers offered up their places to stay. For someone who was on standby for mandatory evacuation, it was incredibly heartwarming and reassuring on a personal level to have friends who extended their hands to me.
 |
| Photo credit: imgur.com |
 |
| Photo credit: o.canada.com |
It was also great to see (later when I had electricity) the Facebook pages that were set up with people offering tips, help, and updates, community pages set up for location specific information, stores offering free ice or cleanup services, and redistributed positive Twitter tweets from our Mayor and local police force. I saw many individuals offering help, or even just genuine words of encouragement, and thought, "these are the people I'm glad to know," and, "these are the people I want to meet."
 |
| Classy Tweets from the Calgary Police Photo credit: unknown |
People will be people, but I hope this spirit of Calgary will continue to stay with us in our every day connections with each other, and that we can act as an example for the world with our open minds and kindness.
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