Spring Fever

Isn't being sick the worst? That's what David and I have been experiencing the last week or so. The weather has been so unpredictable lately. One day it's a lovely 75 and beaming and the next it's down in the 50's and pouring hard. April showers I suppose but it surely makes it easier to catch a cold. My husband has gotten the brunt of it, even losing his voice at one point. I scheduled a doctors appointment for him today so hopefully that will be all taken care of. I hope everyone else has been able to keep healthy!

Sword Classes

It always amazes me; all the things you can do in the city. Sword classes are surely one of them! Anna and I have started taking a course in form of Japanese/Korean martial art called Silijun Dobup; which apparently translates to "Real Sword Training". We've taken about three classes so far and even though I was rather nervous at first, I'm really starting to enjoy it. It's an art that really focuses on form and concentration, in a way to make ourselves and the world around us better (Not about slicing people, haha.) I feel that if anyone has had a dream to wield a sword or find a unique form of exercise and learn new things then this is something for you!!

Check out their website! http://swordclassnyc.com/sjdb/

Appropriate Cosplay

Always being interested in Japan and it's media, there is something that I've noticed has become more and more widely acceptable in the States-cosplay. I personally have only cosplayed once for my dance group
 (Sailor Neptune as shown here. SeraMyu/ Manga inspired) and it's certainly fine when you go to specific Cons or meet-ups, but lately I've been seeing more and more people dressing up (or making plans to dress up) in a larger variety of places and thus leads me to the question- when does it start being inappropriate?

One such location was the cherry blossom festival I recently attended. This year they actually held a contest simply because of the overwhelming amount of people that showed up in costume, but it wasn't this way in previous years. I know that Sakura (cherry blossoms) are considered to be staple imagery in Anime and Manga but does that automatically make a site for Hanami a place to show up in Pokemon garb? I've also seen cosplay in Japanese super markets (it's a supermarket people!!), Sushi restaurants (oh yeah...), China Town in NYC (just because it's Asian guys...) and recently the one that takes the cake: people planning to go to Japan in order to cosplay in front of real life locations from Anime (Tokyo tower, Hikawa Shrine etc.). I mean, going to a store is one thing, going to a shrine and dressing up as a Miko Priestess while OTHER Miko are present? I feel that's just plain disrespectful.

How about you guys? Do you think there is such a thing as an inappropriate place to cosplay?

Spring!

Spring is here at last and I couldn't be more excited! I love the fact that it is finally starting to warm up. I've been going out more and exercising which feels great!!

But first lets catch up to speed a bit on what has happened since our last post. Easter came and went, and even though it was a bit dreary and cold, we had a lot of fun. David and I went to spend 3 days with my parents and family. There was a bunch of cleaning and preparation to do but it was so worth it to just kick back and relax afterwards. One of my brothers even spent the weekend teaching me to play the violin! I'm so proud of my talented siblings!



We spent Saturday painting eggs and having the food blessed, which is a Polish tradition that I adore. My Mother was also doing a catering for the following day so there was a lot of work on her part. I almost can't believe she's able to almost single handedly prepare a 3 course meal for both us and someone else s family practically overnight. The next day we played board games, had an Easter Egg hunt, played with these really neat colored bubbles outside... all in all I can say it was a success; I was just bummed we had to leave early. Le Sigh. Also, I got to see my Chimbs!


Practically starting the next day the weather decided to jump from mid 30's to the 70's. SO GORGEOUS!!! We were having such a wet and spontaneous March I was happy to welcome the sunshine and warmth.













In particular I was glad that the sudden heat wave made the Cherry Blossoms Bloom quickly that whole week. Last Sunday, David along with my good friends Matt, April and I went down to Philadelphia to see the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival (aka Sakura Sunday). I was a bit bummed that they didn't have a contest this year (we won our honeymoon to Japan last time) but at least we had a lot of fun.

We got to see Shofuso, which is an authentic 17th Century Japanese house and garden and apparently is ranked 3rd in North America. Later we went to see Eastern State Penitentiary. Looks like a Castle!! I thought those didn't exist in North America. Haha. As we drove home I wished the weekend wouldn't end. How is everyone else fairing?

Shofuso!!

Do not Pass Go, Do not Collect $200.