March | 2011 | justgotspaid's Xanga Site

ray of hope

I've been sitting on some really good news for a while now. In the midst of all the horrors that continue to unfold in Japan, there is one piece of good news: Kyohei's sister is pregnant-- I'm going to be an AUNT!!! I'm already fantasizing about all the baby clothes and toys and then taking my little nephew or niece to Disney... aaaww!

This is so fantastic, especially considering the depth of my drunken, emotional breakdown when we didn't know whether or not she would keep the baby. What an emotional roller-coaster.

Now, Kyohei and I are busy buying our flights home to Japan in June for her wedding! whoohooo. Who knew we'd be back in Japan so soon. My first Japanese wedding. Since I am a married family member, I get to wear a black kimono, too. Sweet.

Maki, my sis-in-law, has also asked me to do a 'performance' for her reception. I think this is standard order for Japanese weddings, many people sing karaoke or something. Since I will be wearing a kimono, dance seems to be out of the question.... I think??
That leaves singing. Anyone who knows me should be furrowing their brow right now. Even though I LOVE to sing, I know I'm not good at it. My only salvation is that I can sing a song in English. Now thanks to my husband *cough* this song has been suggested.

It is probably my favorite enka song and I know most of the words already but... I mean... I don't have that range. I will surely need to be a few sakes deep for this undertaking.
appropriate or inappropriate?
more japan relief fashion

This time from fashion designer Tory Burch

$29 and free shipping. 100% of proceeds go to the Red Cross. She wore this on The View Friday and it was very cute. You go, Tory! Maybe someday I'll be able to afford some of your other items, ha ha.

Buy Here.
- 9:07 am
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This is EXACTLY what I am talking about

Luckily, it's almost 5pm, so I my online time is limited...

100% of all online purchases from Forever21 for Japan relief today

a narrow, narrow escape from more heroic binge shopping.....or is it!?
spending spree

aka I will literally fight for Japan

Apparently somewhere in my subconscious, I am determined to solve all the world's problems by clicking "confirm payment".

I clearly deal with stress by spending money.

I can't even cut the cards up, I've memorized all the numbers.

I've also heard that people aren't donating to the Japan disaster generously like they did for Haiti or Katrina because they view Japan as a "rich" country. (so, then by that logic people around the world shouldn't have donated to Katrina or the Deepwater Horizon oil spill or the earthquake in China (etc) because the US and China are even richer than Japan??) You aren't sending money to the government, you are sending money to aid organizations. And even if you were... the government is so overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of this disaster.... I bet these same people will bitch when all their electronics are on back-order because they can't get the parts from OUR PARTNER, JAPAN.

This makes me so frustrated I could fight.

If anyone I know actually feels this way, please alert me so I can unfriend you for life.

The State Dept has just issued a statement about evacuating Americans from the Tokyo area (far away from the disaster) as well... it just gets worse and worse. Kyohei's family is starting to get nervous too.

Seriously, if you haven't donated even just $5 or $10 for this, don't talk to me. I don't think I can consider you a friend.
cute, way to go
Verizon gives free calls to Japan

Verizon Makes Calls Free to Japan from March 11th to April 10th

03-14-2011 01:40 PM

Verizon MAKES Calls FREE to Japan from March 11 to April 10

Verizon Wireless Customers Can Text to Japan for Free

NEW YORK – To help its customers contact loved ones in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tsunami, Verizon is making calls to Japan free for most wireless and residential customers through April 10.

All Verizon Wireless post-paid customers will receive free calling to Japan from March 11 through April 10. Post-paid customers are those who receive a monthly bill from the company. In addition, Verizon Wireless post-paid customers in the U.S. will receive free text and multimedia messaging to Japan for the same time period.

Verizon Wireless has also made it easy for customers to text donations to a host of non-profit organizations responding to the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Customers can easily make a $10 donation by simply sending a text message and may choose from 10 organizations aiding those in need in Japan.

All calls made from a Verizon residential landline to Japan will be rated at $0.00 per minute, from March 11 through April 10. Customers with Verizon World Plan (300, 500 or unlimited minutes of long-distance calling) can call Japan without using any minutes from their time-allotment blocks.

Additionally, Verizon Prepaid Phone Card charges for all long-distance calls placed to Japan from the United States will also be waived from March 11 until April 10.

The company is also providing FiOS TV customers who are not subscribed to the channel free access to TV Japan through March 17. The channel location is 1770.

* Only long-distance usage charges associated with calls made from residential landlines terminating to wireline or wireless destinations in Japan will be waived from Mar. 11 – April 10. All other fees including taxes, surcharges, monthly recurring charges (MRCs), minimum spend levels (MSLs), monthly minimum charges (MMCs), etc will continue to apply. Post-paid calling card charges to Japan will also be waived.

** If long distance calling fees were charged, credits will be issued in a future bill statement.
- 2:43 pm
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make your donation to Japan go further
Pacific Software Publishing, Inc. will match up to $10,000 in donations for Japan Relief

As you all are aware of the news of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan hit on March 11, 2011. This is the largest earthquake recorded in Japanese recent history. There are thousands of people who have lost their houses, and there are still over ten thousand people missing in the northern part of Japan .

We ask your assistance in helping those people who were affected by this tragic event. PSP, Inc. decided to match your donation up to $10,000 to help those in need. Please help in assisting to the American Red Cross "Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami" Disaster Relief Fund.

We ask the following steps:

Make a donation online at American Red Cross choosing: "JAPAN EARTHQUAKE AND PACIFIC TSUNAMI"

Keep your confirmation email and forward it to JapanRelief@pspinc.com

We will match 100 percent of your donation up to $10,000.

For questions, please Email us the questions you may have to JapanRelief@pspinc.com. We would like to achieve at least $20,000 donations including our $10,000 donations.

Mayumi Nakamura
Pacific Software Publishing
President and CEO
www.pspinc.com
Nippon, gambare

Hey.. I guess I just haven't really been able to write anything until now. I've been glued to the TV, Japanese news online and japanese radio (streaming at work). There are no words. My family and friends are OK, but it is a small comfort when I think of how much so many people have lost and are suffering.

But there are many chances for us to do good. Please, please, please, please consider donating to Japan relief. Let me know if you need ideas. Red Cross is accepting text message donations: Text REDCROSS to 90999 to Give $10. This is fast, cheap and easy.

Here are some great things to buy that will show your support AND contribute to the cause.

As if I didn't love Lady Gaga enough already, she is the first megastar to design a Japan relief bracelet. Hopefully mine will arrive soon.
Get them HERE

Also www.zazzle.com has about 3,000 different Japan relief products to choose from; t-shirts, i-phone holders, pins, buttons, sweatshirts, etc etc. $10 of every t-shirt sale goes to relief.

Just one of many examples. I'm going to pick one out today....

But for now, I'm wearing my Yomiuri Giants (Tokyo baseball team) t-shirt.

I shouldn't have to convince anyone that we are all in this together. Japan will rebuild (need proof: go to Nagasaki or Hiroshima or Kobe or Tokyo.....) but we need to help, this disaster is beyond imagination. Think of your grandparents huddled in a high school gym only having one rice ball a day or worse-- being trapped under some rubble. AWFUL!

My heart is in Japan. I guess it always has been.
- 9:06 am
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aaawwhhhh

This is the cutest thing EVER.

I think I just started to cry a little bit

Remember, always make pet adoption your first option!