Freeland Family Adventures: 4月 2011

By Jessica:

Peanut remains healthy and strong with a great heart beat! I passed the glucose test that shows I have normal blood sugar levels which decrease my chances of getting gestational diabetes. My blood work also revealed that I am anemic, but it's nothing iron supplements and increased trips to Manny's Steakhouse can't solve. My belly measures right on the 28 week development mark. Most importantly, I am still feeling fabulous and Peanut keeps on kickin' away.

28 weeks (7 months) along. Please remember that objects reflected in mirror are actually smaller than they appear :)

I've been making the most of my free time. Went on a tour of the Minnesota State Capital with Dakota Communities, attended a Twins game with Alison, crashed my girlfriend Brook's wedding in the Florida Key's, eaten Maggie out of house and home, closed a few deals for Avenue Realty, babysat some of my favorite little people (shout out to Charlie, Jonah & Leighton), caught up on quality sleep and American television, and forced my folks to take me to many tasty restaurants. Life is good, but I can't wait for Scott to come May 9^th and then head back to Tokyo together May 22^nd!

State Capital in St. Paul, Minnesota

Alison, me, Peggy, Nancy and Stacey inside State Capital

Another special thank you to our generous friends and family for donating to Dakota Communities in our honor: http://www.dakotacommunities.org/Giving/WeddingTributeStory/tabid/128/Default.aspx

Alison and me at Target Field

Maggie, Thach, Jen, me and Colleen on sunset bike ride on Duck Key

Sunset from Florida Key's

By Scott:

Everything in Tokyo is fine. The radiation levels are back to normal and all of the travel restrictions have been lifted. The Tohoku Shinkansen (bullet train) to Sendai has even reopened.

As for me I am alive, well, and going to another Japanese Pro Baseball game in Tokyo at Jingu Stadium tomorrow for the day off. I went to my first game last Thursday to watch the Tokyo Takult Swallows defeat the Nagoya Chunichi Dragons and had a blast.

The game here is exactly the same but the fans act completely different. When your team is at bat you cheer nonstop thru every batter. They have individual cheers for the players and everyone goes absolutely nuts… then after the 3^rd out, you sit down and respectfully let the other team’s crowd cheer. The outfield is split exactly in half with the fans; right field is the home team and left is the away team. It’s a lot of fun to see one section sit down and the other stand up at the same time. They blow trumpets, beat drums and sing songs all game long. We even had someone sitting next to us who was employed by the home team to lead us in cheers. No one boo’s at a call or yells at the referees. All of the games here have been switched to day games for power conservation.

I am looking forward to getting home and seeing Jessica and peanut! See you soon baby!

Jingu Stadium in Tokyo

Cheerleader dude employed by the team

Me, Jeff and Dylan at game. Sorry, I can't get this picture to turn!

End of game high fives

We wanted everyone to know our updates with Scott in Tokyo and Jessica in Minnesota…

Tokyo by Scott:

I have been back in Tokyo a little over a week now and life is getting back to normal. We reopened the show to a great audience 2 days ago on April 9th. You could tell that everyone needed a night out, including the staff of Kooza (see photo below... good God).

Scott and Adam (Artistic Director) at The Rocker bar in Shinjuku

After the show all the artists came out into the audience and concession area with donation boxes for the relief effort in the North. Fuji TV said it was very successful. Although we are not part of the hands on relief effort here it feels good to help raise money for the rebuilding of Japan. I, myself, have donated several times and hope anyone back home who has the ability will do the same.

There are still a few aftershocks every day, but nothing like the ones in the first few days after the big quake on March 11th. The biggest aftershock lately has been a level 4. Sure it shakes, but "roller coasters are way scarier than earthquakes" (Liam, 5 year old little boy who’s dad works on tour). I figure it's going to take one hell of a shake to freak me out after this. I have now been in probably 50 level 4 points or higher shakes, and 4-5 level 5 points. It really isn't as dramatic as the movies would have you believe. I'm not taking away from the magnitude of it or at least I'm not trying to, but it sounds scarier than it actually is.

Most everything here is normal. There are fewer lights right now as many of the shop owners are helping to conserve power. Tokyo is one of the prefectures that gets its power from the same plants as Sendai and most of the Northern parts of this island. Because 20-30% of the power is now lost (Fukishima) people are VOLUNTARILY using less power. It is also the case with the train stations and public areas. So now that there is less illumination it is the equivalent of being in the States, maybe not Vegas or Time Square, but pretty much everywhere else. The only other thing to note is that everyone is drinking bottled water. Therefore, it is also voluntary, but asked if you would only purchase 1 - 2L bottles per person at the store per trip. However, you can buy as many of the other sizes as you wish and there is no shortage.

Today I had a day off and went to Shinjuku and found myself in an arcade winning a Gloomy stuffed animal or more like 9 of them, part of Japanese pop culture. It is the equivalent to Hello Kitty or trash like that.

The creepy but popular Gloomy bear with bloody paws

I will be joining Jessica in Minnesota for a vacation on May 9th - 23rd or so. I miss her and Peanut!

Minnesota by Jessica:

I have managed to pick up where I left off in Minnesota. I’m staying back in the condo, driving my car, using my same US cell phone number, visiting my previous pre-natal doctor, grabbing Starbucks drive-thru every morning, and even helping my busy business partner, Sara, out with real estate for Avenue Realty.

It’s been nice taking walks outside with the fresh Spring air, baby shopping without converting yen to dollars (just to discover how expensive it is), finding clothes and shoes that fit, being able to identify all my food content, understanding every word my doctor has to say (which is all good news and Peanut continues to remain strong and healthy), seeing my family and sister Michelle, who specially flew in from Denver, and socializing with my childhood friends.

With that said, I miss Scott and Tokyo a great deal! I look forward to riding the slick JR train lines again throughout Tokyo, courteous people giving up their seat for a pregnant lady, finding more new restaurants and attractions with my fun new friends, people watching in Yoyogi Park, eating yummy Sunday family brunch at Scott’s work, bathing in our oversized Japanese tub, and my husband’s fabulous head and foot rubs! I can’t wait to see Scott in May and then head back with him to Tokyo around May 23^rd to resume our adventure in Japan.

We’re both trying to make the most of “our” free time before Peanut arrives, a.k.a. the new baby boss man, so here are few more pictures taken throughout our world wind travels.