Everyone Loves a Boston Girl

Umm has anyone else heard of the 7th Annual No Pants! Subway Ride???

Why I want to learn Japanese:



Um, I’m really not joking here. It’s the truth. When I was a kid, I was obsessed with this movie and learned my “ichi ni san” like we all learn our “uno dos tres.” Of course, I don’t hear people speak Japanese very often, so “ichi ni san” never really stuck with me; Japanese was not a language choice in middle school or high school; and Big Bird’s trip to Tokyo and Kyoto faded from my memory.

Then, Junior year in college, I started going out for sushi a lot. And my interest in the Japanese culture was sparked again. The ex and I did a bit of reading since we liked to know what we were doing/ordering when we were out for sushi. And I learned things like: it’s polite to drink your miso soup right out of the bowl instead of using a spoon (really good Japanese restaurants won’t even provide a spoon). If you’re taking food from a shared plate, always take it with the reverse ends of your chopsticks (not the end that goes in your mouth). Never pass someone food with your chopsticks. When dipping your sushi into soy sauce, always put the fish side into the soy sauce, not the rice side. The rice will soak up too much soy sauce and ruin the flavor of the sushi. Ginger is meant to be eaten in between different types of food (palette cleanser) and not with the sushi itself.

And with learning the etiquette, came a little bit of the language. I would learn simple words, “konichiwa,” “arigato,” and “sumimasen.” I never had time to get into it much more. But I’ve always had this desire. I decided that once I finished grad school, I would finally learn. For my birthday, Sas bought me a learn Japanese program for my iPod. And I picked up a couple books. And now I’m off.

But it’s even harder than I thought. I mean, think about it. In learning a language, like Spanish, the words all use characters in the American alphabet. So, you see “hola” and can pronounce it. Now you just need to learn what it means. But in Japanese, you see symbols from the Japanese alphabet. So, first you have to learn how to pronounce those symbols. Then you have to learn what they mean. Adding to the complication is that there are 3 Japanese alphabets (that I know about so far!), which all have A LOT of symbols.

Right now I’m memorizing the symbols from the 2 simpler alphabets. Not only is it a matter of memorizing them, but it’s also being able to quickly recognize them and the words they form. It’s difficult, and it’s slow moving. But I’m determined. So I’m going to keep plowing through the alphabets until I get comfortable and eventually enroll in a class. And hopefully by this time next year, I’ll be able to write and speak simple Japanese. That’s my goal anyway. And someday, when I visit the beautiful country of Japan ,I’ll know exactly what I’m doing. All thanks to Big Bird.


Oh, and if you enjoyed “Ichi Ni San” (and um, why wouldn’t you have??), watch “Off to Kyoto.” It’s funny how things from your childhood can all come right back to you! Also, this is the most hilarious review of Big Bird in Japan: “So there’s your travel lesson, kids: Run away from your tour group, as fast as your legs can carry you! The tour guide means you ill! Fall in with anonymous locals, and uncover their secret agendas! Spend the night crashing in strangers’ beds! That’s your key to a satisfying travel experience.”

I guess that makes it official! I told my mom I got my degree and she must have said “congratulations” at least 8 times. It’s funny how a piece of paper can make things so much more real. I mean, technically I graduated weeks ago. She then asked me what I wanted for a graduation present. I didn’t even know I got a present?! I told her I’d have to get back to her. Then I said I might want part of a gym membership (there’s a gym coming to Coolidge Corner!! Literally a 2 minute walk from my apartment!! Can you see I’m excited??? Okay, there are already a few gyms here, but they are either g-h-e-t-t-o or obnoxiously expensive personal training gyms. I really do need my jeans to fit again, but not for $600/month). My mom seemed a little ehhh about that present idea. I think she is worried she will end up stuck paying for my gym membership forever like she is with my phone bill. I swear when I get a job I will start paying for my own cell phone bill.

A few minutes after I got off the phone with her, I got an e-mail from my cousin saying “congratulations.” Huh? I scrolled down and saw that my mom sent an e-mail to my entire extended family letting them know I graduated. Cute. However, she mistakenly referred to my degree as a Master’s in “writing and publication,” instead of “writing and publishing.” Oof. She then said of my current employment status: “Besides her full time on-line job as assistant editor for an advice columnist, her other job is to find a more lucrative full time job.” HAHA. I love that. A more “lucrative full time job.” True that, Mama.


P.S. My school’s emblem says, “Expression Necessary to Evolution.” How cute is that? Seriously love my gradute school.

For how many days do you have to do something before it can be called an addiction? Chels was at Bath and Body Works and noticed some lipgloss on clearance and bought a few. Last night while we were working on our website, she gave me one: C.O. Bigelow Soothing Lip Buffer. At first I was skeptical. The directions said to rub it in to exfoliate and then remove with a tissue. What kind of lipgloss do you have to remove? Clearly why it was on clearance, right? But I tried it because it’s lipgloss and I am willing to try anything when it comes to lipgloss. And before I knew it I was using it again. And again. And again. I couldn’t put the thing down all night. This stuff is seriously amazing.

Tonight I was out to dinner with the girls and I found myself thinking about the lip buffer. Why didn’t I bring it with me?? (Answer? Because it would be weird to rub exfoliator into your lips and then wipe it off while at the dinner table in a restaurant). When could I get home to use it?? What if it was on clearance because they’re discontinuing it?? Should I stock up now?? What if I run out????

It’s not good. It’s making my lips feel and look amazing. But I’m worried about what will happen if I keep using it so obsessively. I’m afraid I’m going to need an intervention. Help.

Oh, C.O. Bigelow, I love you.


P.S. Thank you sooo much to everyone who went to check out www.wearenotmartha.com. You guys are awesome and I hope you continue to enjoy it!

Chels and I are finally launching our new website! It’s still in the beginning stages and we have a lot of tweaking to do, but we got the site up and are pretty excited about it. It’s called We are not Martha and is basically about our adventures in cooking, eating, decorating, and just plain living life.

We’ve always been completely in love with Martha Stewart, but we know that so many people our age can’t stand her. So, we wanted to do a sort-of Martha Stewart like site for people in their 20s; but of course we hope people of any age will find it useful. Maybe it will inspire you to try cooking a little more…or give you some good ideas for throwing a party. At the very least, you might have fun following Chels and I as we we learn that growing up is actually sort of fun.

So, please come visit us at http://www.wearenotmartha.com/ and leave us comments to let us know what you think. And if you have any great ideas for us, let us know! Don’t forget to add us to your GoogleReader. Thank you, my blogger friends