do 101 things I have never done

Earlier this month, I went to my first Pilates class ever. I was nervous because my core isn’t what one would call “strong” or even “quasi sorta strong-ish.” My core is more… uhm… “flaccid muscle” than anything else. Since having a c-section, I haven’t done much to rebuild the muscles in my abs, so years of what amounts to neglect definitely showed their face! The instructor was just the right balance of supportive but demanding and she had some great advice for me.

Due to the holidays, I wasn’t able to go this week, but I think this is definitely a class I’m willing to repeat!

So big city driving makes me nervous. What makes me even MORE nervous? Being in Japan, on two way streets smaller than most one way alleys in the States, and being COMPLETELY unaware of how to get to where we’re going. Did I mention half the street signs are in an unfamiliar alphabet?

Driving in Tokyo is DEFINITELY something I’ve never done before…

and trust me, from now on I’m taking the train!

Have you heard of Air Plants before? Well, we hadn’t either. I mean, we knew about spanish moss and such things, but I’ve never seen anyone keep and cultivate an air plant. In fact, before two days ago, I had NO idea they were even viable as houseplants.

So… I did something I’ve never done before: I bought a houseplant. His name is Zeddie and he’s an air plant, he moves when we talk to him. And I’m pretty sure Erin is the one who mentioned that he probably gets up and walks around while we’re sleeping. (this would explain why his rock bed is always mussed up in the morning and he’s listing drunkenly to the side when we wake up)

In the store, we were incredibly leery. I mean, really… having never heard of air plants, we thought “DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN WHAT IS THAT??!” Having heard our confusion, astonishment, and once Zeddie leaned against the glass for a closer… examination of us… our exclamations of fear, the nice lady in the plant section explained how to care for air plants and pointed out that Zeddie (who she called “this plant” Hmph) was only $1.50.

Dude.

I had to have him.

So now Zeddie lives in our house and I talk to him daily and he’s spreading out his… ... uh… leaves? and touching both sides of his little Goblet Home. I’m thinking he may enjoy a different color “mattress” that neon green totally clashes with his hair…

We’ll see how it goes.

So everyone, meet Zeddie. Zeddie? This is everyone! YAAAAY!

I’d tell you the name of the restaurant if I could, but I’m not sure what it was! It was a Japanese chain restaurant we’ve walked by a bazillion times, but hadn’t tried yet. Last night we went and Jase and I both had dishes we’d normally pass by but the biggie for me was the appetizer we ordered… For dinner, Small Thing even tried some sushi and udon noodles which she normally overlooks (mostly because the dashi makes her a bit nervous ((laughs)). She loved her meal! Jase and I were pleased with our dishes as well. Mine came with udon as well (*swoon) and a bowl of rice and this fabulous fish stuff with a soft egg on top. Ooohhh it was good! There was a savory cream… thing… with it too. I have no idea what it was, but it was really good. It took several bites to get used to, the consistency was yogurty, but it was very, very savory vs sweet. Jase’s rather than being a bowl of rice and bliss, was breaded pork and a salad, along with some sashimi. He really loved the dipping sauces available and the sesame dressing really made his day. I was SO FULL by the time we were done!

The biggie though, was that I tried tako for the first time. :oD It was a smidge chewy, like squid usually is, but it was a LOT better than I expected. I’ve had calamari before, but this was a bit different and I was completely nervous munching on it. But… man. NOM!