PAPAS & MAMAS No.37 December 2009
1: President’s Message2: Wild West Winter Adventure
3: The Hidden Facts of Economics
4: What’s In A Name
5: INFORMATION CORNER
President’s Message
Yoshiko Nakamura
When I first heard about Kodomo No Ie (KNI), my son, Dan, now a first grader, was only a few weeks old. At that time I was trying to adjust to my new life with my first baby and I hardly had time for myself. I decided to get a hair cut while my parents were visiting us from Japan. The hair designer, who happened to be the mother of a KNI graduate, told me about the school. Time went by and Dan became old enough to enroll. But I thought it’d be impossible to send him to KNI because I was working full time.
One summer when Dan was three, we visited my parents in my home town of Yamaguchi prefecture and sent him to a local preschool. The experience made me feel strongly about sending Dan to KNI. My request to work part-time was accepted and Dan finally became a student at KNI. Currently, my daughter, Hannah, is enjoying her second year at KNI in the Renge class.
I appreciate what my kids and I have learned and experienced at KNI. During cold weather I wear a scarf that my son finger crocheted – really a one of a kind gift from a five year old. Hannah surprised both me and my husband with her drawings of us.
Of course treasures are not always something that can be touched or held. KNI has given me great opportunities to make new friends and to contribute to KNI. The cooking class lead by Akira Hirose was one of them and it is one of my best memories from KNI. Last year’s Kids Art fundraiser which I started with a KNI friend was fun and we were happy with the result.
As President of the Parents Association for this school year, I am excited to get to know all of you, the members of the KNI Parents Association. I would like to thank board members, committee members, and class representative (class mothers), for their hard work and energy in support of KNI.
Wild West Winter Adventure
By Robert Barr
Family Christmas at Grandma’s House usually involves either a 7-hour ordeal with airlines or a 19 to 22-hour road trip. But either way it’s all worth it. Once we’re in Jackson Hole, we are all snug, wrapped up in our blankets in front of her fire place and listening to cowboy Christmas melodies as the northern wind howls outside. Having done this trip several times now, both forms of travel have their pluses and minuses. Air travel usually offers immediate reward for getting there but the down side is big. When a big storm comes into Jackson, the airport closes and you’re stuck in Salt Lake City for hours. I prefer the road trip as Interstate 15 has lots of Best Western or other hotels to stay at if the weather turns bad. There is also the pleasure of watching the postcard picture landscape change as you travel thru the five states in getting to Wyoming.
If you decide to drive, it’s good to be prepared for slick Interstates and icy remote highways that snake up into mountain passes, but these are well taken care and our minivan makes it every time. Jackson Hole Valley is a mile high and becomes like the North Pole in winter. With the thinner air, you will feel the bite of Jack Frost. Jackson is world famous Ski Resort where celebrities, and skiers fill old western town’s streets.
The town is also a lot of fun when it is knee deep in snow and decked out with Christmas lights. There is a mountain side devoting to sledding, wagon hay rides and great dining. The city square has a world famous deer antler sculpture which form four arch ways leading into the park. Here the city has a Meet Santa Clause Cabin with hot cocoa and cookies. Jackson is home to a lot of really good Western steak houses: The Million Dollar Steak House which is located under the Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. Children are not allowed in the bar as most nights but it resembles the Cantina from the movie Star Wars. We enjoyed “The Gun Barrel Steak House” which is kid friendly and has a wide selection on the menu includes Bison, Elk and Deer. Night life in the city is geared for adults, but you can find out the quartet of old Country Western musicians “Bar-J-Wranglers” are playing.
At this time, thousands of Elk will huddle together in the valley for winter refuge. The Park Service offers horse drawn sleigh rides into the Elk herd. The Elk are very large and it’s amazing to see them up close. Driving around you can also see lots of other animals. It’s not unusual to open Grandma’s curtains in the morning and see moose, deer or buffalo in the window. Moose are very aggressive, so if one is outside your window, stay inside until it leaves. Buffalo and Elk tend to avoid people but they are also aggressive if they feel threatened. We climbed a mountain to cut down a pine tree to decorate for Christmas. Our rosy-cheeked boys enjoyed making snow men, snow ball fights, sledding, and they even watching out Grandma’s window as the snow falls and slowly piles up in front of Grandma’s house. We’ve had a lot of Wild West Winter Adventures at Grandma’s house in Christmas. Hope everyone has wonderful holidays!!
The Hidden Facts of Economics
By Kumiko Anicich
Because of the nature of my businesses, I have opportunities to hear the latest development in trend, marketing, etc. One of them was Paul Zane Pilzer’s speech. He is an economist, former NYU professor, trend forecaster, entrepreneur, and advisor to a former President. The some of the facts presented in his speech opened my eyes and disgusted me.
As you know, 2/3 of Americans are overweight & ½ of that is obese. Pilzer says today’s obesity problem in the United States is not a medical or nutritional issue, but is an economic issue. He feels that in the last two decades we have replaced racial and gender discrimination with one based on weight and health. In the past, family name and birthplace would tell us what your opportunities were. Today, he says the biggest determinant of our future income is tied to weight. No more rich fat man and thin poor man.
Pilzer, who has also worked as a consultant in the packaged foods marketing industry, says a reason for the obesity epidemic is economic. Packaged foods companies study how to sell more Happy Meals or potato chips, using the great unwritten law of marketing which says that it is much easier and cheaper to sell more of a product to an existing customer than to find new customers. Thus “supersizing” was created.
Pilzer says when we ask doctors to take care of our health and ailments like arthritis, they tell us “You’re getting older,” and to accept the ailments as part of aging. According to Pilzer, the first problem with the medical industry is that investors’ money goes to research and development of the drugs that treat the symptoms of the disease rather than to cure the disease. This is again because of economics. If a “cure” drug sells for $100, and a “maintenance” drug to treat the symptoms of the disease for the rest of the patient’s life sells for $1 per day, then which one provides a higher return on the investors’ money? This is why 90 percent of medications are “maintenance” drugs. Doctors depend on pharmaceutical and medical companies for the latest development because the knowledge gained at medical schools and residency programs becomes obsolete. But the pharmaceutical and medical companies tell them only about the things that could generate profit.
The second problem with the medical industry, according to Pilzer, is the health insurance system. In the past, people worked for a company for longer than 25 years. Today, people are with a company for 3 to 4 years. Companies give them health insurance because they want them to be productive and healthy for those 3 to 4 years. Once they stop working for the company, and no longer have health insurance coverage, it becomes the government’s problem. Pilzer forecasts that if the medical expenses keep increasing at this rate, by 2050, it will exceed the GNP. Although nobody becomes a customer of the healthcare industry voluntarily, (Pilzer calls it “sickness” industry because doctors don’t practice wellness, but treat sickness), it is the fastest growing sector of our economy. We can tell by looking at the classified section of the newspaper.
If you’d like to listen to the audio recording of Paul Zane Pilzer’s speech, E-mail me at antiage2000@yahoo.com.
What’s In A Name
By Greg Harrison
First, an apology, to anyone whose name I have ever forgotten. If you are reading this, it probably means you. I am sorry I forgot your name. I am not a bad person. And I actually like you very much. Sometimes I just blank on names.
I wish remembering names was easier. Instead, I get numbers: the speed of light (3 x 10 E 8 meters per second), “pi” to a ridiculous number of digits (3.14159265), even Avogadro’s number (6.02 x 10 E 23) are always with me.
It’s an awkward shortcoming because I truly enjoy conversing with people. The anxiety is probably the worse part. Before gatherings, I mentally prepare my mind with names of potential attendees. I make lists. And if an event involves my wife’s friends or colleagues, I really like to be ready – especially for an old nemesis. Like that Seekonk guy. Oh I wish I could remember his name. What a jerk.
As a parent, I think it is so important that we help our children acquire social graces. Sure, blanking on names is not good. But I think that my efforts demonstrate to my kids that I care about people’s names, even if I fail. Plus, it’s a bit harder for me to learn names within the Kodomo No Ie community because I can’t speak Japanese. (While I do miss much of the banter, I make up for it with extra bowing). I must say, I think it is great that all the children wear nametags, although I have no idea what those squiggles mean. I think all of us should all wear nametags – just not in kanji.
The reason this topic is on my mind is that I experienced a very awkward moment during Thanksgiving. Normally you’d think that a simple gathering of close family would be the perfect refuge for me. Wrong! Instead of making pie, I should have been studying the family tree! My wife and I (and our boys) usually celebrate Thanksgiving at my wife’s Great-Aunt and Great-Uncle’s home in Orange County. My wife’s Great-Aunt and Great-Uncle’s son’s wife has two sons from a previous marriage. Occasionally one or both of these sons attend Thanksgiving at their Step-Grandmother’s house. I think one of the sons is named Kirk (or Kent?) and the other is Brendt, or maybe Brad.
Anyway, I saw Brendt (or was it Kirk?) shortly after we arrived. I’ve seen Brendt (and Kirk) a few times before this. Typically we exchange greetings and share a meal under the same roof. This year, since I was blanking on Brendt or Kirk’s name, I decided to greet him and say my name. I said “nice to see you, I’m Greg”. We shook hands. I was sincere in wanting to know Brendt or Kirk’s name, and thank goodness, he reminded me of his name right then. I am fairly certain he said “Brendt” or “Kirk”. When his brother arrived later, we also exchanged greetings, but this time, I didn’t repeat my name. (I figured if he was blanking on my name, he could get it from his brother). Anyway, I think I know this brother better. His name is definitely Kirk. I think. We enjoyed a wonderful family dinner, shared a common belief that kids grow up too fast, and said goodbye at the end of the evening. It was a nice family celebration, and I already miss Brendt. Or Kirk. Actually both of them. Maybe next year we can wear nametags.
INFORMATION CORNER
Kids Eat Free!
Wednesdays and Sundays after 5pm at Robin's Woodfire BBQ & Grill in Pasadena. They serve peanuts in baskets and have paper towel rolls at each table for messy barbecue sauce.
Robin's Woodfire BBQ
All week during certain hours at La Grande Orange Café. It's right next to the Gold Line Metro station so you could take a little trip downtown. The restaurant has white tablecloths and a nice bar area but is very kid friendly.
La Grande Orange
Submitted by Natalie Matsuno (Sumire)
A Mini Cooking Tip
When the weather gets cooler, a bowl of hot udon is in order. Try sprinkling some Fried Onions pieces (8oz, $2.99) from Trader Joe’s over your hot udon for a pleasant surprise. By Mrs. Michiko Harzberg (Renge)
Curried Butternut Squash Soup
By Natalie MatsunoThis recipe is from my mother-in-law and is often served at family gatherings as an appetizer, poured into cups.
4 pounds Butternut Squash
¼ cup Butter
2 cups Chopped Onion
5 teaspoons Curry Powder
¼ teaspoon Allspice
4 cups Vegetable Stock
1 cup Half and Half
Garnish: ¼ cup Chives or Cilantro
Place squash, cut side down on baking sheet.
Bake 50 minutes at 350 degrees or until soft. Scoop out pulp.
Melt butter and add onion, curry powder, allspice. Saute 10 minutes.
Transfer one quarter each of the onion mixture, squash and stock into blender and puree. Pour into large, heavy saucepan or pot. Repeat three more times until all the mixture is pureed. ( Or use a hand held blender after transferring onion mixture, squash and stock to a large, heavy saucepan.)
If made a day ahead, refrigerate (covered) at this point.
Add Half and Half, bring to a boil, simmer 10 minutes.
Garnish and serve.
Editor’s Note
I’m helping put together this year’s newsletters. If you have any interesting or helpful stories or favorite places to eat or play, or comments or questions please feel free to send the information at david_natalie@sbcglobal.netNatalie Matsuno (Sumire)
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