Happy Birthday Cheech!

make a wish!



yum!



Happy birthday dude! i hope this year is a great one for you!

A Walk in the Park

mom and i went in search for some greenery in the concrete jungle known as Tokyo. We went to Meiji Shrine to see the last of the irises in the empress's private garden.

breathe in that fresh air mom!


tea house by the lake:


the irises!






and a creepy ring like well . . . .

random images from the city

that's what SHE said! ha ha snort!


who says fulfillment can't be found on a machine?


some of the prettiest wagashis i've ever seen:


it's definitely sticky out there in HK:


they came upon the high seas to plunder and pillage our . . . curry?


why?


mr. roboto or just overly cautious?


sleepy fat cat on the porch of a small shrine:


man attempts to beautify himself by putting salad on his face (then eating it):

30 on Friday the 13th!

i know alot of people freak out about turning 30 but i welcomed it. like all good tanakas, i love my birthday, including the big 3-0 and as it turns out, this year was more awesome than usual.

it started out as a regular day, i went to the chiro to straighten my back out, followed by a lunch of birthday brie and rosemary crackers while talking to dad, train, and the boy. had to work (which was fine) and met some people to head out to Ekoda to have dinner at one of my favorite places: Shamaim!

When i got to Ekoda, i got a massive birthday surprise: my sister flew in from LA!


yes, she's riding the rodeo boy here at the Don Quijote (one of our "adventures") but i was too excited to take photos when i saw her so this is the best i can do. my mom is here in town too (i knew she was coming) so it was a big family to do (minus dad and the iceman).

Cheers! happy birthday to me! we had about 20 peeps at the dinner (a lot more than i thought would come!) and as always, the food was fantastic!!





cheech got me this cake and although i dunno how sexy i am (especially with my HK sunburn making me shed like a snake), i certainly appreciate her confidence in my booty.







everyone nursing their food babies on the train:


on sunday, julie and alisa and my sister took me out to Roy's in roppongi hills for an awesome late brunch (i had to work).


great view!!


super yummy food!!


awesome company!!


my sister was here for a week so we got to visit grandma and go on our little adventures (she's putting a photographic thesis together about fat japanese people). most of our outings centered around food. here she is having breakfast at my favorite little miso toast and coffee joint. a local place for local people:


and of course my birthday schwag!! i got heaps of awesome presents this year (besides the visit). my sister brought me a bunch of dvds to keep me occupied at nite. also, some havianas from alisa (sooo comfy!):


A Harvey Seat Belt Bag from the folks:


a mini bouquet from yoko (another one, not me):


this very cool organic cotton t shirt from gillian:


several self beautifying and relaxation products. toothpaste from alisa, lip cream from jess, headband from cheech, anna sui nail polish from yukari, feet coolers and eye coolers from makie, necklace from colleen, a fold up fan from nani, and SPF skin care stuff from sophea and alain:


got these plant seed starters from mayko and mc wong:


swiss treats from S&A, vegemite and wagon wheels from Alisa, cookies from makie, chocolate flavored tea from yumiko, detox tea from jess, and a hand decorated pirate cookie from (who else?) the captain:


practical home stuff! a cool red bals collander from jess, cute chopsticks, an egg beater and a lion shaped duster from D, and a beautiful le cruset dish from yumiko:


S&A also got me a cool wall hanging:


and of course, no birthday would be complete without a dancing hamster from the captain (she's sent me a different every year for the past 3 or 4 years):


Thanks to everyone who helped to make my birthday so awesome!!!