Happy New Year to you too!

P.S. you have a good excuse for being busy (good luck on your dissertation)

I didn’t know much about Japanese new year’s traditions, so I enjoyed learning about it by reading your experiences. The meals you prepared sound fun and meaningful. I’m glad you guys could enjoy some time together.

I have tried oden several times, which they have at the Japanese delicatessens which are abundant in Honolulu. Maybe because it wasn’t New year’s I never liked the taste.

Our winter in Hanoi, Brett and I were treated to something which reminds me of this, although it’s actually quite different. It’s called “winter meat” (thit dong) and I suppose it’s simply the parts of meat which are less useful in the immediate moment, (like wings, bones, feet) and can be preserved in a kind of gelatin. then heated up and eaten over rice. to be honest it was yucky in the extreme. I’m not big on gelatinous textures. Well that’s nothing like what you’re describing, I went on a bit of a tangent.

Cheers from California! Maggie

Jonathan: Wow, that’s cold. I didn’t you know tried oden before. Yeah, here in Seattle it’s not so bad, but hot coffee and stew of some kind helps alot. Stay warm!

Johnl Yeah, I saw Susan Boyle. I guess according ot WIkipedia they have foreign singers from time to time (often from Asia, another act this year was from Korea my wife said), but usually they’re not so well known in the US. Susan Boyle certainly is the exception. Good for her!

Marcus: I wish I could have found more vegetarian info on this post. New Yaer’s in Japan is probably not the easiest time for vegetarians, as most of the food is fish-something or other. :-/

Happy New Year!