Mom: March 2008 Archives

I bet you didn't know that Yoshi & Tsuki have cat cousins! Actually, they have 4 cat cousins, but, in this entry, you'll meet Bart and Purrl (follow the link to see their brand new blog). Bart and Purrl live with Aunt Laura. The other cat cousins, Chester and Annabel, live with Aunt Stephanie.

Bart is on the left, and Purrl is on the right.

This year, we were afraid we were going to lose both of them, because they got very sick at exactly the same time. Within a few days of each other, Purrl developed inflammatory bowel disease, and Bart was diagnosed with kidney disease. Bartie is a stately old gentleman, but Purrlie is much younger, so it was really scary that they both got sick at exactly the same time. Their mom, Yoshi and Tsuki's Aunt Laura, was so sad and worried about them, and had to take them to about a billion vet appointments that first week.

While they both like the piano, Bart is the more musically gifted. We think it may be because he used to hang around while Aunt Laura was having piano lessons.

No one could figure out what was wrong with Purrl, but she couldn't keep food down. It took lots of tests to figure out what was happening. There was serious talk about euthanasia, but Aunt Laura wouldn't give up on her. Finally, Purrlie received the right diagnosis, got started on medication, and began her recovery. Thankfully, she's back to being a sweet, happy, comfortable little kitty.

Bartie's diagnosis came as a real surprise, too. He was just at the vet for his yearly physical, and wasn't showing any signs of being sick, but his blood work revealed significant kidney disease. Since then, Aunt Laura has had to learn how to give him subcutaneous fluids, sort of like kitty dialysis, to keep him feeling good. He's lost a lot of weight, and has to be on medication and a special diet, but Aunt Laura is working hard to keep him strong and keep him with us for as long as she can.

Bart is a really special cat. I know, I know, everyone thinks their cat is special, but Bartie really is a 1-in-a-million kitty. Bart likes to walk on a leash, ride in the car, go out to events and meet new people, heck, he'll even wear costumes if you want him to. Everyone who meets him falls in love with him, because he's affectionate and friendly, and is never timid with new people or new situations. He loves to talk (too much sometimes), and understands a lot of words. If Aunt Laura tells him to "give a kiss," he will mush his wet little nose into your face. He also insists on being blown with the hairdryer each morning (I swear, he's from another planet).

If you'd like to send an e-mail to Bart and Purrl (or visit them on the web by clicking here), and maybe send Bartie some good wishes as he struggles with his lazy good-for-nothing kidneys, or let Aunt Laura know what a great job she's doing with them, I know it would mean a lot to all of them. You can click here to send them an e-mail.

I don't have much info on this little girl, or even where she's located, but I'm guessing that she's near Philadelphia. I received this information from a colleague at work, so please contact Linda if you have questions.

(click the images to see larger versions of the photos)

Cinnamon is 5 years old, spayed, and up-to-date on all shots. Cinnamon's owners are heartbroken to be looking for a new home for her, but their child is allergic. Cinnamon would do best as an only dog.

Please email Linda if you, or someone you know, is interested in learning more about Cinnamon.

Also, please feel free to forward this information to anyone who you think might be interested in providing an excellent home for this shiba girl.

Thanks to Blue, we now have the long version of the Father Travels SoftBank commercial, as well as the translation for the commercial and the accompanying song! Thank you, Blue!

***At the Sunami Station***

Father (Cream Shiba) is coming out of the small countryside station.

***On the steps of alleys***

Father is running up and down on stone steps of very narrow alleys.

Father's voiceover: I'm sure I will come across Tada-Tomo that I have not seen yet.

[Tada-Tomo is the WhiteBanks' calling plan that permits members to call each other for free. Tada means "free" and Tomo is the abbreviation of Tomodachi, which means "a friend."]

***Jodo-ji Temple***

Father runs through a flock of pigeons.

***In the middle of a rice paddy***

Father is sitting at the bus stop with a cute school girl.

Father is walking in the rain.

***At the small harbor***

Father is getting on a boat.

***At the very traditional Japanese inn (Ryokan)***

Father is looking down at the scenery from the window as the maid is serving tea.

A woman who wears Yukata and Haori coat is walking in a courtyard.

***At the beach***

A woman, who turns out to be young and pretty, is making a call from the beach.

Father gets a call and probably he thinks it is from that woman.

Mother: Where are you roaming around?

Father: I'm sorry.

***At the Rotenburo***

Father is walking by the Rotenburo.

[Rotenburo is the outside of a hot spring or hot tub. This particular one seems to have a ceiling but no wall. As Japanese usually bathe in the nude, Rotenburo are surrounded by privacy fences.]

Father is coming out of the female section of the hot spring.

Father: I made a mistake.

Male voiceover: Free calling among family members for 24 hours. SoftBank.

[Contextual Information: Sunami Station is in Mihara City of Hiroshima prefecture, and Jodo-ji Temple is in Onomichi City, which is also within Hiroshima prefecture. Other locations are unknown. However, most likely this film was shot around these two cities as they are located side by side. Onomichi is well known as the city with very pretty scenery. The old parents from Tokyo Story, which is regarded as one of the best movies ever made, resided in this city.]

Here are the lyrics to the accompanying song, which can also be found in this earlier entry:

Iihi Tabidachi (Taking Off On A Fine Day)

I look up to the sky of the North where snow will melt soon
As I call out for the dreams from the days that have passed away
Faces of people who I will never see again come to my mind
So today I will be on the road by myself

Somewhere in Japan, someone special is waiting for me
Taking off on a fine day to look for a red sunset
With the song that I heard on my mother's back as my only company

On the tip of the cape, a boy is fishing
Will he take the pass with tall green grasses when he goes home
In order to make a memory
I will write "Goodbye" on the beach sand with a wooden stick

Somewhere in Japan, someone special is waiting for me
Taking off on a fine day to look for a cloud shaped like a sheep
With the song that my father taught me as my only company

Somewhere in Japan, someone special is waiting for me
Taking off on a fine day to look for my happiness
With the song that I sang in my childhood as my only company

Click to vote for us!

ランキングに参加中です。 どうもありがとうございます!

I was very excited to find these two new ads on SoftBank's web site.

It has taken me hours of research to figure all of this out, but the song that accompanies the commercial above can be purchased from CD Japan. It is called Taking Off On A Fine Day (いい日旅立ち) [thanks to Blue for the correct translation of the title], and is performed by Shinji Tanimura. In 1978, the song was made famous by a female artist named Momoe Yamaguchi, and was used by Japanese National Railways to promote travel. You can read more about it on Wikipedia. You can also watch a video of Momoe Yamaguchi performing the song here.

Thanks to Blue, we now have the translated lyrics to the song that accompanies the commercial above! Thanks, Blue!

Iihi Tabidachi (Taking Off On A Fine Day)

I look up to the sky of the North where snow will melt soon
As I call out for the dreams from the days that have passed away
Faces of people who I will never see again come to my mind
So today I will be on the road by myself

Somewhere in Japan, someone special is waiting for me
Taking off on a fine day to look for a red sunset
With the song that I heard on my mother's back as my only company

On the tip of the cape, a boy is fishing
Will he take the pass with tall green grasses when he goes home
In order to make a memory
I will write "Goodbye" on the beach sand with a wooden stick

Somewhere in Japan, someone special is waiting for me
Taking off on a fine day to look for a cloud shaped like a sheep
With the song that my father taught me as my only company

Somewhere in Japan, someone special is waiting for me
Taking off on a fine day to look for my happiness
With the song that I sang in my childhood as my only company

If you're interested, you can compare the English lyrics to the Japanese and Romanji versions that can be found here.

Here is the link to Part 2.

And, the link to Part 1.

Click to vote for the obsessively-researched shiba blog!

ランキングに参加中です。 どうもありがとうございます!

Uncle Yoshi wants YOU to click here and vote!

Okay, blog friends, voting for this period ends on Tuesday, March 4th. That means there are only 3 more days is only 1 MORE DAY to vote for the Yosh-man.

If his photo wins in this round, he'll advance to the finals and have a chance to appear on the box for Bissell's Pet Hair Eraser Vacuum Cleaner. How cool would that be? He'd be totally representin'.

So, if you've got a second (it really only takes a second, honest), and you'd like to support Yoshi in his quest for World Domination, click the red link here, or the one under his picture, and you'll be able to cast your vote for Uncle Yoshi.

Thanks a lot!