Tomi Talk

The Little Things

rie — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 08:10:42 -0800

by DELIA TOMINO NAKAYAMA

Greetings all! As we approach December 25th, look at our shopping lists and then into our wallets, we may feel a bit chagrined...!

But luckily, many of us are in the “same boat!” And it helps to remember that our loved ones would prefer to see us happy and healthy (and not stressed out about money) than receive lavish holiday presents.

Nikkei in New Orleans

rie — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 06:51:12 -0800

Greetings all! :) I am happy to tell you that despite being so far away from Japantown, I was celebrated Bonen Kai with a local Japanese cultural group, the Japan Club of New Orleans, last Saturday at VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) in Metairie.

I mentioned going to JapanFest a month or so ago, which is held annually at the New Orleans Museum of Modern Art at City Park... There I met Dr. Tetsuo Nakamoto, who was representing Japan Club and at that time, he kindly invited me to join the club.

Random December-ing Thoughts

rie — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:29:57 -0800

by DELIA TOMINO NAKAYAMA

Greetings all, I hope this day finds you well and that you had a happy holiday! :)

Peter and I joined singer Margie Perez (www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xqA6ioMwAM) and family at her house at the Musicians’ Village (www.nolamusiciansvillage.com).

Listening to Dreams

rie — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:54:49 -0800

Winter is a good time to start a dream journal as our dreams tend to become stronger during “hibernation season.”

In dreams, we often live out our worst fears, fantasies and forbidden scenarios without inhibition, and do and feel things we wouldn’t in normal life. They can be quite entertaining — a good dream can rival a five star movie...!

If we listen to our dreams, we can get a better understand of how we feel on a subconscious level, and what motivates us in our conscious life.

Coping With Depression

rie — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:00:34 -0800

It is a bit embarrassing to write about depression as it reveals my own battles with it, but the truth is 15 million Americans get "the blues." Hopefully bringing this subject to the light of day will help take the taboo out of it and help others who feel alone in their
struggle — or even ashamed of being depressed.

Homesick

rie — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 13:51:40 -0800

by DELIA TOMINO NAKAYAMA

I recently finished reading Naomi Hirahara’s two other mystery novels (I mentioned her in “Random October-ing Thoughts,” Oct. 18): “Summer of the Big Bachi,” “Snakeskin Shamisen” and a novel called “1001 Cranes.”

Mas Arai, who is Hirahara’s Kibei equivalent of Agatha Christie’s Monsieur Poirot, is a Los Angeles gardener who gets tangled up in crime-solving.

A New Beginning

rie — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:33:19 -0800

by DELIA TOMINO NAKAYAMA

I write this early in the morning on November 5th, literally the dawn of a new era.

Having gone to sleep before hearing the election results (too afraid to hear what happened), I woke up at 4:30 a.m., too curious to slumber, and called a nearby 24 hour Kinko’s to inquire and learn, that miraculously, Barack Obama is now our new president!

I won’t really believe it until I see his smiling face on the front page of the New Orleans Times Picayune and the New YorkTimes...!

Random October-ing Thoughts

rie — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 14:03:10 -0700

by DELIA TOMINO NAKAYAMA

Have you ever read Naomi Hirahara’s mystery novels? Her characters are Japanese American, and she describes our culture in her books. I’ve only read “Gasa-Gasa Girl” so far (my father sent it to me for my birthday, along with two bags of omochi) and it is great! You can visit her website:www.naomihirahara.om for more info...

What is your favorite type of tea? I love Yamamoto Yama hoji-cha and oolong tea, but it is hard to find it here in New Orleans, so a Yonsei friend of mine sends me boxes of it from Oakland...

Geaux (‘Go’ in Cajun) Vote

rie — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:33:23 -0700

by DELIA TOMINO NAKAYAMA

Greetings all! Thank you for tuning in again, and I hope you are enjoying the change in season. It is wonderfully cool in New Orleans now, and the flowers are blooming a bit again as they did in the spring, happy for respite from the heat.

I write this a bit early, so I am sure more bizarre, hair-curling events will happen between now and when this column comes out...

Integrity

rie — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 01:55:54 -0700

by DELIA TOMINO NAKAYAMA

I’ve written about “honesty” and “trust” in the past. Lately, another virtue was brought to mind and so I am inclined to write about it this week, which happens to be the week I turn 41 years of age.

Hard to believe. I certainly don’t feel and am told I don’t look this particular age, nor do I have a house, children or a “real” job. I am not sure where I expected I would be at this age, or what my values were to be.