From Afar, Photo Diary

Hi, Everyone
Thank you for coming to Hiroko’s empty blog last three weeks. A girl named Mikichan stayed with Hiroko since July 28. Hiroko posted everyday activities with lots of photos on Japanese blog, http://Ishimasu92.blog105.fc2.com.


This is Mikichan from Hokkaido, Japan. The photo sent by her mother saying Mikichan would be coming to Chicago wearing this kind of clothing. She is 14 years old and belongs to her Jr. High School Basketball Team. So she was looking for someone who can play basketball with. There wasn’t even the basketball court with the ring and net on the board in Chicago Parks.



She arrived at O’Hare exactly wearing the same clothing as photo on July 28. She went to jogging with Elsa, soon after she put her suitcase in her bedroom, but when she come back from jogging she was so tired that she wanted to sleep. She slept and slept. Well, wake her up for dinner otherwise she can’t sleep at night. Hiroko served pork chop. Mikichan said she love it.
After the dinner she was sitting on the computer for 4 hours. Since the first night she was using computer to talk with her friends in Hokkaido, Japan every night. We don’t have too much chance to talk to her



She was up since 3 o’clock, she said. About 3 nights she had problem with jet lag.
Sunday, we all went to church and she attended Devon Church’s Sunday School. The afternoon the visitation group visited to the Grove Nursing Home. Mikichan helped to do the puppet.
Hiroko had no energy to cook, so Dan-san took us to SunShine Café. Mikichan ate Japanese food on the 2nd day in Chicago.
She was complaining ankle pain. It must have caused the pain carrying her heavy, heavy suitcase from the Dan-san’s car in the garage and tripped at the little steps by the garage entrance.



After shopping at the Sam’s club, Mikichan stayed home to rest her ankle on the 3rd day. Hiroko would like Mikichan to have her own shower-jel, shampoo/conditioner, tooth paste and brush, so took her to Jewel. But she brought her own tooth past and brush because her father is a dentist.
Hamberger was served 3rd day of Mikichan



Mikichan’s 4th day is Hiroko’s washing day. Mikichan washed her own clothes. Her ankle had no pain, Mikichan said.
After washing, Hiroko took her shopping to downtown at Disney and Water Tower Place. She was spending hours and hours for shopping. Hiroko was now getting used to spend the time for shopping with these teens. Taro-kun made Hiroko realize shopping freak teen.
Hiroko took Mikichan to Italian restaurant. She loved the break. It was very good break. It was very interesting happened at the restaurant. The restaurant manager paid for their lunch.
She complained the pain on her ankle on the way home. She had this pain before so it would be gone soon, she said.
Chicken was served. Mikichan said she can’t eat any hot stuff. She said the chicken was very hot and spices.



Hiroko worried Mikichan’s pain on her ankle, but she kept saying don’t worry, it would be gone soon. The 5th day plan which is picnic was carried on the Evanston Beach with Amy’s family. Mikichan swam in the Michigan Lake. Everyone loved eating Onigiri, Spam Musubi, Hot dog, and vegetables at the picnic.
Tacos was served for the dinner.



On the 5th day, Dan-san and Hiroko took Mikichan to the AAYU clinic for ankle pain. Many X-ray was taken and treated very kindly and thoroughly. The kind doctor said her ankle was fine. It was relieved to know she was O.K. So Mikichan’s plan to stay overnight at the house of Okinawa-san was carried. Thanks to Okinawa-san for giving one free night to Hiroko.
Eating Chicago Pizza was one of Mikichan’s request, so she was happy and enjoyed the delicious Chicago Pizza with Okinawa-san. Okinawa-san took all four children to the Pizza.



No worrying about ankle pain any more, Hiroko took Mikichan and other two girls to Navy Pier on the 7th day. Oh, spending hours, and hours for shopping again. Between shopping they enjoyed the Ferris wheel and boat ride. One of Tanaka’s girl complained of her stomachache, so Hiroko shorten the day’s outing. For dinner, Hiroko took them to SunShine Café because the girls complained stomachache said she would like to eat Udon. It is very good for stomachache. Before the Café those girls made shrimp and vegetable tempura for Dan-san and Elsa.



7 o’clock Mikichan had to wake up and went to church cleaning on the 8th day. After the church cleaning, Mikichan went to jogging with Elsa.
The SNAL (Saturday Night Alive) was held and many children and adult came to decorate church for VBS. Devon Church No. 1 cook, Aileen cooked barbecue pork and Spanish rice for the dinner. It was very, very good dinner. Mikichan enjoyed eating the food.



On the 9th day, Mikichan attended Devon Church Sunday Worship Service in the morning. After the church Hiroko and Dan-san took her shopping at Target. Dan-san suffered for waiting and waiting for her to finish shopping. Hiroko told him we should walk, but it was hot day so he drove Mikichan and Hiroko to the store.
She was so happy to eat the steak for dinner.



Tanaka family took Mikichan to the Great America with No-no-Hana-san on the 10th day. Mikichan enjoyed all those high and fast rides. She was very much appreciated to Tanaka family. She loved to go there again.
Satchan took them to Mexican food for their dinner.



Dan-san gave the spending money to Mikichan, so she wanted to buy something for her dog. Shopping on the Clark Street on the 11th day morning.
Diane needed some help to decorate church more. Eliza, Mikichan and Hiroko helped her.
After helping Diane, Hiroko asked Eliza to play basketball with Mikican, and took them nearby Chicago Park District. The basketball court was under construction. Mikichan had no luck with Basketball.
Spaghetti was served. Mikichan liked it.



Devon church VBS started on Mikichan’s 12th day. Hiroko didn’t know how much she understood, so wanted to help her, but she closed her mind. She couldn’t talk about serious matter.
She said she had problem eating habit, so Hiroko started to talk about problem of over eating. Hiroko asked her, she night have unsatisfied feeling for something in her life. She had some problems with among her friends, but her mother was taking care of her, so everything is O.K. She seems to be very much in trust with her mother and her older brother. What they are saying to her has been her daily guideline.
She has been talking to her friends on the computer every night, but when Hiroko tried to talk to her, she was covered with her ear-phone and denied to listen. Hiroko didn’t know how to talk to these teens.

Dan-san and Hiroko took Mikichan and Rebecca and Zeporah to Mitsuwa. They enjoyed the visit to Mitsuwa..

After Mitsuwa Hiroko took Mikichan to the Hollywood Beach basketball court. Mikichan said she didn’t want to play with all those boys. They were playing very rough.



The 2nd day of VBS was Mikichan 13th day.. The day’s lesson was very important, and memory verse was John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Hiroko asked Mikichan to memorize this verse to remember God always loves you. Mikichan said she didn’t want to memorize any English words right now, because she had English phrases memorization homework, so she didn’t want to mix up with the words. She said she had no interest to go to church, too.

Hiroko took Mikichan, Eliza and her sister to Millennium Park and at Macy’s basement food corner for lunch, and Willies Tower. Hiroko waited at the down stair in the Willies Tower, so Eliza took care of those both girls. Thanks Eliza. They enjoyed to walk and to sit on the Skydeck.



The 3rd day of VBS was Mikichan’s 14th day. Mikichan seemed to listen to Amy, so Hiroko gave Mikichan to Amy. Thanks Amy.
Amy invited Mikichan to play basketball at Evanston Park.
Before going to the park, Hiroko took them for their lunch to KFC which Mikichan wanted to eat. Mikichan said the chicken was greasy.

Amy used to play basketball, but now she couldn’t play anymore. So Mikichan played by herself. Amy picked up the ball for Mikichan. Thanks to Amy for her hospitality.



The 4th Day of VBS was Mikichan’s 15th day.
Mikichan went to jogging and nail with Elsa. Japanese school, including Jr. High and High School are of strict to nail coloring and hair die. Hiroko wasn’t sure how to change died hair to original color hair. Elsa took Mikichan to nail coloring and bought remover.

It was late, late Elsa’s Birthday celebration day. The Doi family with Mikichan went to Fillipino Café on Caldwell. It is family oriented restaurant, and all the dishes Steven ordered were very delicious, especially not salty.

This is the restaurant parking area and inside of restaurant.




Attendees for the dinner

Two different kinds of pancit. As usual, Hiroko forgot to take photo of the dishes.
Happy Birthday to Elsa. Elsa’s idea to go to Philippine cuisine, and Steven picked this restaurant.



The last day of VBS was Mikichan’s 16th day. Sunday Worship Service held by VBS song leaders. It was very good service. The song leader is Missionary, and she was preaching the Worship Service using the VBS daily Bible words and subject to everyday practical use, and questioned how the words means.
Mikichan was asked to read one Bible verse Philippians 4:6 in Japanese during the Worship Service. Phili 4:4 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
She didn’t understand what the Japanese sentence was saying. She was very amazed all those children in her class understand the meaning of the sentence in English. Hiroko wondered if there is special Bible for Jr. High in Japan.

Afternoon the day, Hiroko took Mikichan to “Ginza Holiday” held at Buddhist Temple. Mikichan was laughing that we went to Christian Church in the morning and Buddhist Temple in the afternoon.
The famous Teriyaki Chicken from the “Ginza Holiday” was served as the dinner.



On the 17th day, Mikichan went to play bowling all by herself with Shizuko Hidaka and her grand-daughters. Hiroko met Shizuko Hidaka at Ginza Holiday who was interested to have Mikichan. Especially one of her grand-daughters has always been very much interested in everything connected to Japanese and would like to have pen-pal. She exchanged email addresses with the girl to become pen-pal.



On the 18th day of Mikichan was Hiroko’s washing day. Mikichan was happy to wash all her dirty clothes.
She requested to eat some food not in Japan, so Hiroko cooked Corn Beef for the previous day’s dinner, but Shizuko-san treated Mikichan for dinner. For her lunch Corn Beef was served. Mikichan said it was delicious.
She wanted to go to Navy Pier for shopping, so spend shopping at Navy Pier all afternoon.
Last dinner was Chicago Hot Dog which Mikichan requested. What is Chicago Hot Dog? No tomato ketchup, and lots of vegetables, chopped tomato, onion and hot pepper. On the Mikichan’s hot dog was tons of ketchup only.
Well, Mikichan spent hours and hours for packing, and computer last night of Chicago.



Bye, bye! Mikichan’s airplane left O’Hare on time, so she arrived in her parents arms on time. She said even though she had to give up Basketball Training Camp during her staying Chicago, it was worth to stay in Chicago. She had good time, she said.

Thank you for reading this 19 days Mikichan’s photo diary in Chicago.

Father's Day Celebration Dinner

Tetsuro/Sakae came from California, one week after coming home from Los Cabos, Mexico. They were planning to stay at the home of Dan-san/Hiroko and one of her friends because of not bothering newly Wed-Home. However, Amanda called to say she would like to hold the celebration of Father’s Day BBQ family dinner at the house of Amanda/Steven, and that Tetsuro/Sakae to stay until the last day of Chicago vacation. Sakae did not expect the invitation, so she was puzzled, but very happy Amanda’s thoughtful invitation. Tetsuro/Sakae accepted Amanda’s offer to have a family dinner and staying of their home. It has always been some difficulties between in-laws. With their good hearts Sakae and Amanda will be having good relationship.

Well, we all were invited to the home of Amanda/Steven for the family BBQ dinner.

The dishes of the dinner:

BBQ, hot dogs and hamburgers

Condiments

Ribs and homemade Pizza roll

Seven layer salad and Somen salad

Potato salad and Deviled eggs

Onigiri and Spam Musubi

Did you notice something wrong of these photos? Yes, it is. Hiroko forgot to take any photos before eating, so all these photos were taken after we had finished eating.


Lady of the House, Amanda

Enjoying the games


Talking, drinking, talking, drinking
Dog and Hiroko – this dog chased and barked after the fire-fly, so the dog was put in his cage.

Enjoying the Tequila
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Tequila is a distilled beverage made from the blue agave plant, in the highlands (Los Altos) of the western Mexican state of Jalisco.

Tequila is most often made at a 38–40% alcohol content (76–80 proof), but can be produced between 35–55% alcohol content (70–110 proof).
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Production
Planting, tending, and harvesting the agave plant remains a manual effort, largely unchanged by modern farm machinery and relying on centuries-old know-how. The men who harvest it, the jimadores, have intimate knowledge of how the plants should be cultivated, passed down from generation to generation.


By regularly trimming any quiotes (a several-meter high stalk that grows from the center of the plant), the jimadores prevent the agave from flowering and dying early, allowing it to fully ripen. The jimadores must be able to tell when each plant is ready to be harvested, and using a special knife called a coa (with a circular blade on a long pole), carefully cut away the leaves from the piña (the succulent core of the plant).

After harvesting, the piñas are transported to ovens where they are slowly baked in order to break down their complex starches into simple sugars. Then the baked piñas are either shredded or mashed under a large stone wheel called a tahona. Some producers like to add a small amount of bagazo back into their fermentation tanks for a stronger agave flavor in the final product.

The extracted agave juice is then poured into either large wood or stainless steel vats for several days to ferment, resulting in awort, or mosto, with low alcohol content. This wort is then distilled once to produce what is called "ordinario," and then a second time to produce clear "silver tequila." A few producers distill the product a third time, but several connoisseurs consider this third distillation a mistake because it removes too much flavor from the tequila. From there the tequila is either bottled as "silver tequila", or it is pumped into wooden barrels to age, where it develops a mellower flavor and amber color.
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There are two basic categories of tequila: mixtos and 100% agave. Mixtos use no less than 51% agave, with other sugars making up the remainder. Mixtos use both glucose and fructose sugars.
With 100% agave tequila, blanco or plata is harsher with the bold flavors of the distilled agave up front, while reposado and añejo are smoother, subtler, and more complex. As with other spirits that are aged in casks, tequila takes on the flavors of the wood, while the harshness of the alcohol mellows. The major flavor distinction with 100% agave tequila is the base ingredient, which is more vegetal than grain spirits (and often more complex).
Tequila is usually bottled in one of five categories:


From the these photo it is hard to see, left one is clear (white or silver) tequila, and left are clear and light brown (young or gold) on the top of store shelf, Hiroko found in OSCO.
Blanco ("white") or plata ("silver"): white spirit, un-aged and bottled or stored immediately after distillation, or aged less than two months in stainless steel or neutral oak barrels;
Joven ("young") or oro ("gold"): a mixture of blanco tequila and reposado tequila;
Reposado ("rested"): aged a minimum of two months, but less than a year in oak barrels of any size;
Añejo ("aged" or "vintage"): aged a minimum of one year, but less than three years in small oak barrels;
Extra Añejo ("extra aged" or "ultra aged"): aged a minimum of three years in oak barrels. This category was established in March 2006.

Brands:
There are many brands of tequila; the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (Tequila Regulatory Council) reported 901 registered brands from 128 producers for the year 2008.[31]

Ways to drink
In Mexico, the most traditional way to drink tequila is straight (i.e., without lime and salt). It is popular in some regions to drink fine tequila with a side of sangrita—-a sweet, sour and spicy drink typically made from orange juice, grenadine (or tomato juice), and hot chillies. Equal-sized shots of tequila and sangrita are sipped alternately, without salt or lime. Another popular drink in Mexico is the "bandera" (Flag, in Spanish), named after the Flag of Mexico, it consists of three shot glasses, filled with lime juice (for the green), white tequila, and sangrita (for the red). They can be sipped or drunk straight.

Outside Mexico, a single shot of tequila is often served with salt and a slice of lime. This is called "tequila cruda" and is sometimes referred to as "training wheels", "lick-sip-suck", or "lick-shoot-suck" (referring to the way in which the combination of ingredients is imbibed). The drinker moistens the back of their hand below the index finger (usually by licking) and pours on the salt. Then the salt is licked off the hand, the tequila is drunk, and the fruit slice is quickly bitten. Groups of drinkers often do this simultaneously. Drinking tequila in this way is often erroneously called a Tequila Slammer, which is in fact a mix of tequila and carbonated drink.

Hiroko enjoyed attending the Tequila Tasting at the Los Cabos, Mexico. We heard the most of the stories mentioned above. However, Hiroko needs to confirm her memories, so looked at the Free Encyclopedia of “Wikipedia.” Please go to “Wikipedia” to read and fulfill your satisfaction of the further information about Tequila. Someone asked me about the Tequila worms. There is explanation of Tequila worms.

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Here is what Bible talks about drinking alcohol. If you have any opinion or comments, please click “comment” and write your thoughts.

There is no rules or commandments saying “Thou shall not drink any alcohol (wine)” in the Bible. However, there are some restrictions to drinking alcohol.

I Timothy 3:3 “…not given to drunkenness,… “
I Timothy 3:8 “…not indulging in much wine,…”
and
Tithes 2:3 “…or addicted to much wine,…”

Many verses are in the Old Testaments. It is interesting to know some verses mentioned the wine is blessing from God.

Paul who wrote many letters in the New Testaments mentioned in his letter to Timothy with caring heart to Timothy’s sickness, “Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.“ I Timothy 5:23.

It is interesting to read that Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Cana is changing the water to wine.
John 2:1-11 “On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water,” so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

2012 Summer in Chicago - Hot, Hot, and Drought

This year’s spring in Chicago was crazy. All the flowers that were supposed to bloom in May bloomed in March. Now, it has been 105 degree for about 10 days from the end of June. It was hot, very hooooot! On July 4, Independence Day, Devon Church’s annual picnic was held. At the picnic, one woman fainted from heat exhaustion. Her blood pressure went down so much, Devon Church member Doctor Wang said. The doctor took care of her. Thank God for Dr. Wang. Another woman got a headache and became light-headed, so she went home and went to sleep in the air-conditioned room. Thank God that Dan-san/Hiroko and other five Sr. Citizens were fine that day.

Furthermore, the Mid-West area in America has the worst recorded drought in accordance with the Chicago Meteorology. Many fireworks that were supposed to be held on Independence Day in Chicago-land were cancelled, because of the dangers of potentially starting a fire.


The lawns in the back yard of this apartment and the next neighbor are no longer green. It is light brown. A fire could be started with one match.


Many trees, especially young trees are dying. Those trees may not be coming back next year.



Finally there were black clouds were cover over the Chicago City. However, it was only a couple of drops for 2 or 3 minutes.


The light rainbow was appeared east sky. It was beautiful.

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In this hot weather, Dan-san and Hiroko have been walking every day.

One day during this hot weather, Dan-san was hit by a car.

Almost finishing to cross the pedestrian walkway the car showed up and hit Dan-san. Dan-san fell on knee first, and elbow second, and his head. Dan-san woke up by himself to sit down on the street. It was a good sign.

The driver of the car that hit Dan-san was a good lady. She stopped her car and came to sit down next of Dan-san asking how he was doing and how he was feeling. She said she didn’t see us, but it was totally her fault, and continued, “I was day-dreaming to make up shopping list for her supper tonight.”

There were a third person, and she called 911 for emergency.

Only couple of minutes later, a fire engine and a police car came, and the police started asking questions. Then, emergency car arrived. They too asked some questions, and treated Dan-san. Finally, they told Dan-san they were taking him to hospital. WOW! Hospital! How about me, Hiroko said.

At a hospital, Dan-san was treated with MRI, X-ray, etc. Results of all these treatments showed Dan-san has no bone fracture, no bleeding anywhere, no other things. He was very fine.

Dan-san/Hiroko came home after 4 hours.

Give praise to the Lord God, and thanks to Him for staying, guiding, and protecting all the time.

Couple days later, Dan-san/Hiroko went back to the corner where the accident happened. Hiroko wanted to see what is there to block the view of the driver.


Street signs – this is the name of the streets, Magnolia and Balmoral


Yes, there it is! The tall flowers are blooming. This photo was taken at the place Dan-san was standing to see the stop sign on the cross street. Giving 100% attention anyone can see a car or anything, but someone who is lost in thought can NOT see.


These photos were taken at the place stopped the stop sign on the street seeing the cross street Dan-san might be standing. Anyone who is making the shopping list in her/his mind surely can NOT see.

Hiroko wondered to whom this photo can be sent to ask cutting those flowers. Lisa said it is better to send E-mail message with photo to Alderman in this ward. What kind of response will be coming?