Softly Melting, Deep Sweetness of Mont Blanc in Winter's Quiet

As the year draws to a close, recalling Angelina's Mont Blanc in my heart, I softly ponder: what have I truly accomplished this year?

December 5th—autumn has slipped away, and winter season has quietly arrived.

ANGELINA Mont-Blanc Demi(Half-size) at Tokyu Plaza Harajuku Harakado

The moist, chestnut sweetness lingers in memory, whispering lessons of life's fleeting yet warm transience.

This year, my goal of traveling to America came true; I replaced my long-used computer and smartphone with new ones, and Father's third memorial passed peacefully...  Now, I notice a calm settling in my heart.

Two years approach since leaving the company, yet this sense of freedom and quiet is new to me. With duties fulfilled, surely my heart has shifted—from past experiences—to a phase befitting now: cherishing my own time.

It simply required time.

The dream of mastering English lies still far ahead. Yet, because of the effort I've put in, I shouldn't lose confidence.

Like pure white cream, I try not to forget pure softness. Now, my heart feels gently freed by the flow of time, arising from those very struggles.

Cherishing myself, from lessons lived through action, I step forward anew—toward the self deepening next year.

From Café Corners to Quiet Dreams: An Update on Life at the End of November

Today, I’d like to introduce a cozy café just about a two-minute walk from Musashi-Koyama Station. 

＊＊＊BREAD MATIERE Cafe & Bar＊＊＊

It’s impressive enough that it’s a bakery using 100% domestically grown wheat, but it’s also a place where you can enjoy wine and bistro-style dishes.

edamame and cream cheese bread & smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich

These are my two favorites. The smoked salmon and cream cheese sandwich is made with salt bread. The combination of the flavorful salt bread and the carefully selected, delicious fillings inside creates a truly tasty treat.

edamame and cream cheese bread & salt bread

The edamame and cream cheese bread is baked with a salty dough wrapped around a filling of plenty of edamame, corn, and cream cheese mixed with ham seasoned with black pepper.

That day, I paired the breads with sparkling wine — a Cava from Spain. For reference, the café also offers a French Chardonnay as white wine and an Australian Cabernet Sauvignon as red wine. I really appreciate that the glass wines are both reasonably priced and delicious.

How did you like it? This was an introduction to a café with the atmosphere of a coffee shop rather than a formal restaurant, where you can enjoy authentic bread and bistro-style dishes — and of course, it also works as a bar! I personally love dropping by to enjoy the bread and wine. I hope you enjoyed this little tour.

◆ Quick Update ◆

Today is the last day of November, marking almost two years since I left my company. Recently, I had a dream. In the dream, a woman who hadn’t been kind remained unfriendly, acting secretly behind my back. There were many people from the company indoors, and I was walking among them. One man spoke kind words to me, and in response, I gently placed my hand on his shoulder.

In the dream, those who were unkind in reality remained so, and those who were kind stayed kind. There were exceptions at times, though, such as someone I had doubts about showing compassion in the dream.

I feel that dreams might not just be a replay of daily feelings, but a place where you meet truth in the spiritual world. Although I had regrets about being used conveniently in my company life, I realized there were surely some kind people, and it comforted me. 

It was through that dream that I found a sense of calm. With these thoughts, I spent the peaceful end of November.

Sweet Apple Starts: Autumn Notes from Michigan and Tokyo

Hi, it’s Rose. I spent three weeks in Michigan from October 1st and returned to Japan last week. Now that my life in Japan has become more flexible, I was able to spend an unusually long three weeks in Michigan just living as if I were a local. According to local news, this October was the warmest on record in Michigan—just like Tokyo—with a few days that felt almost like summer.

I’ll be sharing bits and pieces from my time in Michigan here soon. I think I’ll alternate between posts about daily life in Japan and stories from Michigan. I hope you’ll enjoy following along again.

The Apple Pie Roll from Quatre Avril, my favorite bistro in Tokyo

Autumn is settling in here in Japan, too.  The photo today is Quatre Avril’s Apple Pie Roll. 

The innovative Tarte Tatin I introduced before is also back on their dessert menu for the season.

Reinventing Tradition: Bistro Quatre Avril’s Simply Apples Tarte Tatin, Sugar- and Butter-Free

Take a peek if you like❤︎  Let’s savor this beautiful autumn together.     Wishing you cozy days, Rose*

◆Quick Update◆

I’m getting a new MacBook Air, so this will be my last post written on my current one. It has truly served me well for many years. I wish I could have kept using it longer, but its support period ended quite a while ago...💦  So from next time, I’ll be writing with my new MacBook Air. Wish me luck on getting it all set up! I hope you’ll enjoy the new Michigan series that’s coming soon🌷 

See you again.

I will be taking a short break from this blog. I expect to resume writing toward the end of October.

This blog is a continuation of my very first journal in Japanese:

ミシガンに恋してhttps://esnl.exblog.jp, which remains a precious part of my roots. Later, I began writing here on Blogger in English. Some readers have found me for the first time through this English blog, while others have followed me here from my Japanese writings.

At some point, however, this blog stopped appearing in search results. Perhaps I may have written something Google deemed unfavorable. I have occasionally expressed my thoughts on social issues. Even so, I have no intention of deleting those posts, because for me, a blog is a precious record of my life—capturing who I was in each moment of time.

the seven-colored light emitted by the crystal suncatcher in sunlight

I am deeply grateful to those who still make their way here despite the blog not appearing in searches. If I continue to write sincerely, I believe that one day the blog may once again be indexed in Google Search Console, making it easier for people to find this place. I look forward with hope to that day.

When I return, I want to offer even more engaging posts, something that will bring joy and inspiration to you. Until then, please stay well and happy.

A little extra: a photo of something like oatmeal muffins filled with sweet red bean paste.

For Japanese readers who continue to visit my blog, as well as for those from other language backgrounds, I have written bilingual posts here:

• Finding My Voice, Living My Truth
• Raise a Glass to Yourself — When Effort Becomes a Treasure
• Do pets show up to thank the people who cherished them after they passed away?

Thank you for being part of my journey by visiting this space. 　 See you again soon!   Rose*

Finding My Voice, Living My Truth

*This post is written first in Japanese, with the English version in the second half.

会社を辞める頃に気づいたこと

会社生活を振り返ると、私はどの部署にいても「雑務を頼まれやすい人」でした。おとなしく見えるらしく、お願いしやすかったのだと思います。そして、頼まれると断れず、しかも誠実に対応してしまうので、ますます任されることが増えていきました。

けれど、その結果、自分の強みを活かせる場面や新しいことに挑戦する機会を逃していたことに、退職を決めた頃になってようやく気づきました。あのとき、もう少し自分のキャリアを優先して行動できたら違う未来があったのかもしれませんが、会社を去ることを意識し始めた頃には、もう形にする時間は残されていませんでした。

背景にあったこと 

なぜ私は頼まれごとを断れなかったのか。その一因は、家庭環境にもあるのだと思います。子どもの頃から「自分が我慢する側」になることが多く、それが社会に出ても続いていました。職場でも「どうして私ばかり？」と心の中で思いつつも、口に出して断ることはできませんでした。

本来なら「すみません、今は手がいっぱいなので」と軽く断れば済むことも、私は「他にやる人がいなくて困るだろう」と考えてしまい、引き受け続けてしまったのです。他の人がやらなくてはいけない姿を思うとかわいそうで、引き受けてしまいました。その結果、皆が帰ったオフィスで一人コーヒーメーカーを片付けたり、雑誌を整理したり ―― そんな場面もありました。

雑務を通して気づいたこと 

便利屋的な役割をしていると、感謝されるよりも「その人にさせておけばいい」と軽く扱われるようになることがあります。人の役に立ちたくて引き受けたつもりが、本来の業務に負担がかかるうえ、自分の成長の機会を減らしていくことに気づくのは、とてもつらいものでした。

ですが、すべてが無駄だったわけではありません。単調な仕事を引き受けながらも、本業に向き合っていた私に対して「丁寧に教えてくださってありがとうございます」「笑顔に救われました」と言ってくれた同僚も多くいました。その言葉は確かに私の心を支えてくれましたし、今振り返ると自分の存在が少しでも誰かの力になっていたのだと思えます。

今だから思えること

結局、私が雑務から本当の意味で離れられたのは「退職」という形を選んだからでした。世間一般から見れば早い時期だったかもしれませんが、その分これからの時間を、自由に自分のしたいことに使うことができます。

過去の私は、その時その時の自分なりのベストを尽くしていました。だからこそ、もっと早く気づけなかった自分を責めるよりも「よく頑張ったね」と当時の自分に声をかけてあげたいです。

そしてもし今、かつての私のように「雑務を断れず引き受けてしまう」という方がいたら伝えたいです。誰かのために無理をして自分をすり減らす必要はありません。本当にやりたいことに力を注ぐことは、きっと自分にも周りにも良い結果をもたらします。その一方で、早めに新しい道を選ぶことも、時には勇気ある一歩になるのだと。

おまけの思い出

最後に一つ、退職時の思い出を。送別会のとき、私はみんなにディッシュクロスを配りました。ちょうどクリスマスシーズンだったので、「お世話になりました」ではなく「Merry Christmas」のメッセージシールを選びました。今振り返ると、少しユーモラスで明るい締めくくりになって良かったと思っています。

What I Realized When I Left My Company

Looking back on my career in the company, I was always the kind of person who was asked to do odd jobs at the office, no matter which department I belonged to. I probably looked quiet and approachable, so people felt it was easy to ask me. Since I couldn’t say no, and faithfully did my best each time, the number of requests just kept growing.

But as a result, I ended up missing chances to play to my strengths and to step up by trying new things. I only realized this around the time I decided to resign. If I had prioritized my career just a little more, my path might have taken a very different direction. But by the time I noticed, leaving was already on my mind and there wasn’t much time left to make something of it.

Why I Couldn’t Say No

One reason I couldn’t refuse these requests lies in my upbringing. As a child, I was often the one who had to “endure” things, and that carried over into my working life. Even at the office, I often found myself thinking, “Why is it always me?”, but I still couldn’t speak up and decline.

Ideally I could have simply said, “Sorry, I’m too busy right now”. But instead, I thought, “If I don’t do it, others will be troubled”, and so I kept taking it on. I imagined someone else having to do the job unwillingly, and felt sorry for them — so I did it myself. As a result, I sometimes stayed late after everyone else had left, cleaning the coffee maker or sorting piles of magazines, all alone in the office.

What These Tasks Taught Me

When you end up playing a “handy helper” role, people don’t necessarily thank you more. Often it carelessly turns into, “Just let her handle it.” What I thought was kindness or being helpful, in reality weighed on my main work, while also reducing my own opportunities to grow. Realizing that was painful.

Still, it wasn’t all meaningless. Even while I was handling such routine jobs, I kept doing my main work, and some colleagues told me, “Thanks for teaching me so carefully,” or “Your smile saved me.” Those words truly encouraged me. Looking back, I see that my presence did help someone, even if in small ways.

How I Think About It Now

In the end, the only way I really freed myself from these extra tasks was by resigning. It may have been earlier than usual compared to most people, but that means now I can spend more time freely on what I truly want to do.

At each stage, I was doing the very best I could for who I was back then. That’s why instead of blaming myself for not realizing things sooner, I want to say to my past self: “You did your best. Well done.”

If anyone reading this is in a similar position — someone who feels unable to refuse extra tasks — I want to say this: you don’t have to wear yourself down for others. Putting your energy toward what you truly want to develop is also a form of kindness, both to yourself and to those around you. And sometimes, choosing a new path earlier than expected can be a courageous step forward.

A Small Memory

Lastly, one little memory from my farewell party. I gave everyone a kitchen dishcloth as a gift. Since it was the Christmas season, I chose stickers printed with 'Merry Christmas' instead of 'Thank you for everything'. Looking back now, I think it was a lighthearted and cheerful way to close that chapter.

Raise a Glass to Yourself — When Effort Becomes a Treasure

A reflection on solitude, sincerity, and the quiet joy of seeing effort turn into treasure.

On the day the yearly booklet was finally completed and delivered,

I went to the bar lounge at Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo and quietly raised a glass alone.

In the past, it had been a day to celebrate with many people. But this time, I was by myself.

Out of consideration for a colleague who worked only from home, along with other reasons, tasks that originally weren’t mine had gradually piled on, pushing me to the very edge.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that I alone carried the responsibility for the completion of that project.

I had done my best to help others at work, but sadly, what came back was not always kindness. At times, I even felt as if the favors I had given were returned with betrayal.

Of course, not everything was negative—but I came to realize that people were not always as sincere as I had believed.

I had been keeping a quiet dream for myself: to leave the company earlier than most people do and pursue what I truly wanted to do in life.

My original plan was to follow that path at a later time, but the growing burden of work made me decide to take it a year earlier than I had planned.

Still, I resolved to leave only after completing the final yearly publication in my charge.

Even if no colleagues stood beside me to celebrate, I still lifted my glass:

“You did well. Even in solitude, you worked with sincerity, precision, and care to create something of genuine quality.”

Whether or not anyone understood, I could at least tell myself:  — Heaven knows. Earth knows. I know. —

That was November 1, 2023.

The following year, on November 1, 2024—almost a year after leaving the company—I once again raised a glass, this time at a local wine bar, with that same booklet beside me on the counter.

That booklet, though labor-intensive, had been beloved by both clients and colleagues, who relied on it for marketing. Yet I also knew that the management had considered ending it.

Recently, however, I learned something surprising: the task had been transferred to another department, and the publication was still alive.

“…So it continues.”

Relief gently settled over me. The sheets and manuals I had prepared with care, together with detailed notes for my successor, had indeed been worth the effort.

The booklet remained something irreplaceable—not only for the company, but surely also for the client.

Yes, there were days when I waited for promised contacts that never came.

But even so, I can finally say with confidence: devoting myself sincerely to the people and the work was not a mistake. It was, in fact, part of my dignity.

As for November 1, 2025, I think I will gently observe All Saints’ Day somewhere.

Even after leaving the company, I kept walking, hurt and troubled at times. But now, at last, I feel a quiet calm returning to me. Reflecting back, those five years I spent wholeheartedly creating the booklet have become a treasure in my life.

So if you too are out there, working hard alone, I hope you will raise a glass to yourself.

Even if no one else stands beside you, your sincerity and effort will always remain a treasure.

November 1, 2023 in the bar lounge at Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo.

*Below is the original Japanese version.

孤独と誠実さ、そして努力が宝物に変わる静かな喜び

年に一回の小冊子が無事発行され、納品された日。

任務をやり遂げたその日、私は Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo のバーラウンジで、一人静かにグラスを傾けました。以前は大勢で祝っていためでたい日。でも、このときは一人でした。

在宅勤務のみを選ぶ人などへの配慮が重なり、本来なら必要ではない仕事まで私にのしかかり、次第にギリギリの状態に追い込まれていました。任務の責任と遂行を、ほとんど一人で抱えていたと言っても過言ではありません。

会社では人助けを惜しまなかったつもりですが、残念ながら、返ってきたのは誠実さではなく、時に恩を仇で返すような仕打ちでした。もちろん、つらいことばかりではありませんが、思っていた以上に人の誠実さを信じることは難しかったのです。

私にはもともと「会社を早めに辞めて、自分のやりたいことに挑戦したい」という夢がありました。ですが負担がますます増えていく現状を鑑みて本来の計画より一年早く、その道を選ぶことにしました。最後の定期発行物をきちんと仕上げる―それを果たしてから、私は会社を去ることにしたのです。

一緒に祝ってくれる仲間がいなくても、乾杯しました。

「あなたはよく頑張った。孤独でありながらも、誠実に、正確で品質の高い完成品を作り上げた」誰に理解されなくても、私の頑張りは ―天知る。地知る。己知る。― そう思えたからです。

これは2023年11月1日のこと。

翌年の2024年11月1日にも、会社を離れて約1年が経った頃に、地元のワインバーで同じ小冊子を手に、もう一度一人で乾杯しました。

あの小冊子は、手間はかかるものの、マーケティングに役立ち、クライアントにも社員にも愛され、大切にされていたと感じていましたが、一方でマネジメント層が廃止を検討していることも知っていました。

ところが最近、驚く知らせを耳にしました。あの業務が別の部に引き継がれ、制作が今も続いているというのです。 

「そうなんだ・・・！」胸の内に安堵の念が広がりました。私が後任のために整えたシートやマニュアル、細かい注意事項が、役立ったのだと信じられたからです。小冊子は、会社にとっても、クライアントにとっても、なくてはならない存在であることを実感しました。

それでも、人からの連絡を待っても返ってこなかった日々は正直に言えば苦しかった。

けれど今なら言えます。私は誠意を尽くして人びとと仕事に向かった、それは決して間違いではなかった、と。それが私自身の品格なのだと、ようやく胸を張れるようになりました。

今度の2025年11月1日は、この諸聖人の日をどこかで穏やかに祝おうかと思います。

会社を辞めた後も傷つき、悩みながら、それでも歩み続けてきた道。そのなかで振り返ると、あの5年間、小冊子に心を込めて取り組んだ経験は、私にとって宝物でした。

だから今、もし同じように一人で頑張っている人がいたら、ぜひ自分に乾杯してほしい。

理解されなくても、共に祝う人がいなくても、あなたの誠実さや努力は、必ず心に残る宝物になるからです。

Words That Give Me Strength, Wisdom, and Peace.

There are words that lift me up whenever I need courage. When I read them silently, my heart feels steadier, gaining focus and calm determination. These words remind me that strength is not always something we create on our own. Sometimes, it feels as though there is a power greater than what we can fully comprehend—an unseen force that opens unexpected paths and offers answers beyond logic.

Whether you call it faith, intuition, resilience, or simply the mystery of life itself, there is something remarkable about recognizing that we are not left without help. This thought gives me courage in the midst of uncertainty, and the confidence to keep moving forward.

One day, as the sun sets and the city lights begin to shine, I look at the skyline before me: the buildings standing clear against the fading light in the evening sky, their windows glowing brightly against the dark silhouette of the buildings. This image is not just concrete and glass; to me, it is strength in form, hope in motion.

These are the words that give me strength.

God will give you strength for every battle, wisdom 

for every decision, peace that surpasses understanding.

What will happen if you think of 3 good things that happened on the day before you fall asleep at night?

At the end of the day, before you go to sleep, think of 3 things that made you happy on the day. Any little thing would be OK. For example, relaxing with a rich cup of coffee, a fine piece of cake, or an unexpected kindness from a stranger...anything.

It's like a gratitude journal that you write in your heart. What will happen to you if you do that?

MIYUKI-KAN Blend Coffee

Aged beans create soft bitterness and full-bodied sweetness

The Chestnut Mont Blanc

Cafe de Ginza MIYUKI-KAN's prized specialty

The effect of remembering 3 good things from your day before going to sleep

🍎You can acquire positive thinking.

By focusing on even the smallest happiness and good events in your daily lives, you can alleviate stress and develop a positive attitude.

🍏Fall asleep in a relaxed state.

Remembering what made you happy before going to sleep will calm you down. The brain is more likely to feel a sense of relief and fulfillment, which improves sleep quality.

🍎Life is enriched by making it a habit.

A sense of good things happening to you. If you continue to look for and recognize even the smallest successes and joys, you will unconsciously bring more happiness into your life. 

How was it? This is the topic that has been featured in various reports. In fact, I have only recently started to put this into practice. You can try it too, if you like.  

I would think, having a heart that appreciates each small blessing in life tells me that I am already happy, and can be even happier in the days to come.

With love, Rose

 

Focus on the present moment. This keeps the memory alive.

June has arrived🍀  It's already early summer.  How are you all doing? 

"I'm good. How about you?",  "Can't complain.",  "Surviving.",  "I'm hanging in there.",  "Top of the world!"  or  "I'm doing better. Thanks for asking me."??

I have many goals, but I'm not making as much progress as I'd like. When I focus on one thing, it feels like time passes only for that one thing. Several things are added to the pile each day, but it's not easy to do everything.

What if I did everything as planned, but didn't actually learn how to do it myself? That'd be awful🙀

Improving efficiency is one thing, but that alone may not solve the problem. The thing is, the list of things to study English must be too many for myself, and I'm not sure how to manage it all in one day. Of course, there are other things I want to do besides English.

Flexibly🌠 reduce the number of items to be done each day. Rather than focusing on completing the daily to-do list, let's focus on what I am doing right now. Enjoy it. Otherwise, the pile of things to do afterward will distract me while I'm working on something else. Focus on the present moment. 

Matcha Latte💚

Studying isn't the only important activity. Relaxing is important, too.

Taking a more leisurely approach and savoring a few things I do would be more beneficial for me than pushing myself to accomplish an ideal, exhaustive number of tasks on my list. I think I would learn more that way. 

I'm going to change my lifestyle a bit. I hope you all have a wonderful life that's right for you.   Rose

I searched for my blog on ChatGPT and was impressed by the insightful content it produced.

A Google search of my blog, Charmed by Michigan, does not yield any hits. That's a shame...😔

Yesterday, I discovered that someone had come to my blog via ChatGPT. So I gave it a try too. I typed [Charmed by Michigan  blogger] into the ChatGPT search window. Then, surprisingly, ChatGPT presented me with the search results for my blog. My blog got a hit in a search!

My heart was truly delighted by how ChatGPT captured my blog with a thoughtful insight. 

Below is an expanded version of the text.

I was encouraged by the results of ChatGPT. ChatGPT is amazing!

I'm glad I kept the screenshot. I did the same search a few more times after that, but I never got the same results again. Nor did I get any emojis like the ones in the screenshot I uploaded here. 

For Japanese people, here is a reference.

・encounter      (思いがけない)出会い

・introspection  自己観察

・recount        を詳しく述べる、順を追って話す

・spontaneous    自然に起こる、自発的な

・lighthearted   気楽な、愉快な、陽気な

・whimsical      奇抜な、ふざけた

・showcase       を披露する

The ChatGPT results above are screenshots, so the links to the blogs in '✨Blog Highlights' do not work. I've placed each link below. Please take a look if you'd like😉

✨Blog Highlights

・Cultural Connections:   jophielrose.blogspot.com   

・Travel Memories:   jophielrose.blogspot.com 

・Everyday Joys:   jophielrose.blogspot.com 

I just happened to see the insightful content produced by ChatGPT, which documents thoughtful words and analysis about my blog. It encouraged me when I was a little lost in myself. For me, this search result was like a gift. I'd like to save this one search result that I encountered at that moment in time. It will also help me learn more about myself. Surely it was a comfort.　With gratitude, Rose

Karoline Leavitt is crushing it! The very first official Influencer Briefing at the White House

Just the other day, the first official Influencer Briefing took place at the White House. Speaking at the Briefing is a hot White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, who is now well known to all of us. 

In her own words, "The Trump White House started speaking to all media outlets and personalities not just the legacy media.", "Tens of millions of Americans are now turning to social media and independent media outlets.", "A select of D.C. based journalists no longer have a monopoly over press access at the White House."

Image Source: Official White House YouTube channel

After this new effort, the second and third rounds... are continuing already. How energetic! The US administration is moving fast "at Trump speed" at this scene, too. 

Let me upload the very first official Influencer Briefing to commemorate this groundbreaking event. For me, it was a very impressive one to kick off the first 100 days of the Trump White House.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Briefs Original

【Members of the New Media  -  the first round】

It was a stark contrast to the usual Press Briefings filled with legacy media. No one made any attempt at all to nitpick stories, nor was there any attempt to be associated with fake news, hoaxes, or lies. They are trying to cover the truth with the correct facts for law-abiding American citizens.

There was a calm and friendly atmosphere among the social/independent media people invited to this room. They are doing the right thing. These are people who think and act with "common sense".  I really admired the gentle atmosphere💕

English subtitles and Japanese translation are below👇   Very helpful for better understanding!

【オールドメディアの独占取材に終止符！】

キャロライン報道官の記者会見  英語字幕/日本語訳

There are a few places where you may see a mistake in the Japanese translation. As an example, "take something with a grain of salt" means "半信半疑で聞く / 話半分に聞く" in Japanese, but it was written "慎重に受け止めています" in the above video. But we are very grateful to them, as they are always quick to provide Japanese translated and annotated videos as well as English subtitles.

I hope everyone enjoys this beautiful Influencer Briefing, whether you are an English speaker, someone whose native language is another one, or someone from Japan☺

Have a great day, everyone! Rose     

wisdom that shines through in ordinary, everyday life

What does happiness mean to you? Is it being rich? Is it having a sweet partner? Of course they are very nice! To live happily, however, these things are not always necessary. In the process of saving money, there are discoveries to be made. The ideas that come from the original imagination, or the sudden discovery while trying to be wisely thrifty, enrich our lives on the contrary.

This is just a small example. How about serving your usual salad with a colorful beet dressing?

Isn't it beautiful? My usual salad is now festive. It feels like my day will be different from the usual😊

The red-violet anthocyanin in beets is called betacyanin, a type of polyphenol. It has a powerful antioxidant effect. Not only it lifts up your spirits, but also good for your body too. How wonderful!

How about a combination of beet-colored topping with astaxanthin-rich salmon? The bright-red astaxanthin is also a kind of polyphenol and has a strong antioxidant effect.

You don't have to spend a lot of money to make your days more colorful. If you are feeling down, take something nourishing and enjoyable and be kind to your body. Every day is a special day. Spending time on your own or with someone you love, both make you happy!

Speaking for myself, I like affluence, but I also like finding the idea of saving money wisely😉  When it comes to a partner?, hmmm, I'm going to leave that to your imagination. w

Wishing you all a lovely day... 

My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior.

Rose

Trump administration tariffs, global stock markets plummet. "What if they're wrong?"

I am subscribing 'FOX NEWS channel', but when I want to watch the YouTube channel with English captions, 'Forbes BREAKING NEWS' is fine for me. It's the fact that the captions come way behind the spoken words on 'FOX NEWS channel'. When it comes to the captions, I often watch 'Forbes BREAKING NEWS' because the captions are perfectly synchronized with the conversation. It is easy to follow visually. It is good for me to understand! The captions of 'the White House' are also good☺︎

Since President Trump announced across-the-board tariffs, global stock markets have been down SHARPLY😱!!!  Below is part of the White House Press Briefing prior to the announcement of reciprocal tariffs by President Trump.

Forbes BREAKING NEWS

During Tuesday’s White House Press Briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt 

answered questions about President Trump's reciprocal tariffs rollout.

Mr.Doocy asks to White House Press Secretary Karoline related to wild swings in the stock market, "You said that the President right now is with the trade and tariff team. They are very confident that this is all going to work, but.."

"What if they're wrong?"

Karoline answers immediately and emphatically. 

"They're not going to be wrong. It is going to work."

It was an impressive, confident smile. 

Ever since she became the Press Secretary of the White House, I have enjoyed watching the White House Press Briefing on YouTube. She is incredible! By now, some of the journalists who're present in the briefing room are familiar to me.

In the center is Peter Doocy, the Senior White House Correspondent for FOX News. He seems to be concerned about Karoline and the tariff policy. 

On the right is Gabe Gutierrez, the Senior White House Correspondent for NBC News. He listens attentively to Karoline.

In the upper right is Jon Decker, the White House Correspondent and Senior National Editor for Gray Television. He looks at Karoline with a very nice expression on his face.

The next day, the President announced sweeping global tariffs, and the share prices plummeted. 

I found the following YouTube.

Forbes BREAKING NEWS

On CNN, Karoline Leavitt was interviewed about 

President Trump's tariff announcement and the plummeting stock market.

The CNN hostess was so harsh to Karoline from the very beginning that it was frankly hard to watch for me😰  However, it's also true that Karoline was not in a position to be able to give a direct answer to what the hostess wanted to know.

I am rooting for the President Trump. After the inauguration, they quickly negotiated the exchange that secured hostages' release. The border wall construction to protect American people from a heinous murder/crime. Illegal foreign criminals' arrest and deportation. DOGE's transparent efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in government expenditures. Protecting female athletes from men. Rescuing astronauts left behind in space, and so forth. And best of all, the President Trump never starts wars. He doesn't want too many people to die. Could any other president be so humane?

In the White House briefing room, Karoline Leavitt described the President Trump as the master of the art of the deal. She also said,  

"I think as deals in the past have come to fruition, the President has proven one of the things that makes him a very effective negotiator is not revealing what he’s anticipating from both sides."

The President Trump is a dealmaker. 

My hope is that the current controversial government policy on tariffs will have a positive outcome.

Stock prices will definitely go up. When that will be, I will keep an eye on it. 

Amazing DOGE-led efforts by Elon Musk & DOGE team. They are patriots who work for free to save America.

 This week, the top DOGE team finally made an appearance in public. DOGE stands for Department of Government Efficiency and their efforts are a full-scale investigation into the fraud, waste and abuse that the federal government has been spending American's tax dollars on. It's a temporary organization created by executive order of the second Trump administration in the United States, with the goal of modernizing federal technology and software to enhance governmental efficiency as well as finding and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in government expenditures. 

image source: FOX NEWS ALERT

There are line items across federal government that DOGE is identifying on a daily basis. They are incredibly transparent about the way that DOGE is working.  Also, they have a website https://doge.gov where they are posting the receipts of the contracts that they are reviewing and the payments that they have stopped from going out the door. They’re moving very fast! 

Elon Musk's DOGE team breaks silence

Elon Musk and DOGE team give behind the scenes look at their mission

Elon Musk sitting down alongside seven members of the DOGE team for an exclusive & fascinating interview, giving a peek behind the curtains of President Trump's cost cutting Department: DOGE.

【Japanese Dubbed Version】

ついにDOGEチーム登場！  無償で政府改革に挑む理由とは？

Together with the DOGE team he leads, he reveals the rumors and...

The interviewer says to the DOGE team, 

"Why are you guys all doing it? You don't have to be here, you don't have to be doing this."

Elon Musk / DOGE team;

"If we don't do it, America's going to go insolvent, we're going to bankrupt and nobody's going to get anything."  "We have a real fiscal crisis."  "Adults have a duty to protect the lives of children later in life."  "All have the same goal to slash wasteful government spending. Our goal is to reduce the deficit by a trillion dollars."  "Here I am, but I feel like this is me giving back to the country."

I feel a genuine and honest quality, or sincerity, emanating from the expression of each member of the DOGE team. I am truly impressed. They are the smartest individuals in the world. I send them my highest praise and support.

Learn English through Karoline Leavitt's Press Briefing at White House

Lately, I've been glued to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's Press Briefing. I'm thrilled to learn English through her vibrant and powerful speeking. 

 White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt 

image source: FOX NEWS channel

Her confident glamour, her sharp and astute answers, her resourcefulness, her loyalty, and her unwavering spirit. I think many people are brown away by her awesomeness. I am one of them❤︎ 

Since I am Japanese, I find mochantv英会話 very useful, as it gives us both English subtitles and Japanese translation with annotations. Thanks a million for your timely delivery of real English!

Karoline Leavitt's Press Briefings are linked below, if you'd like to see them.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Briefing 20250212

*English subtitles with Japanese translation

*The original video

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt Briefing 20250225

*English subtitles with Japanese translation

*The original video

You might also like...

President Trump Inauguration Speech 20250120

*English subtitles with Japanese translation

President Trump & Elon Musk In The Oval Office 20250211

*English subtitles with Japanese translation

 Let's have fun learning English together❤︎  Rose

people that are good for your soul

As you get older, you really just want to be surrounded by good people, people that are good for your soul. There might not be that many people you'd want to continue to interact with as time goes on. 

Since things had calmed down, I sent an email to a woman I hadn't heard from in a while to give her a quick update. She lives in Michigan and appeared on this blog as "a lady in Detroit". A little time passed after I sent her the message. 

One afternoon in early December, I received an email from her. To my surprise, she's visiting Japan with her husband and was in Roppongi at the moment! Luckily, I was at home. She offered to come to whichever location I preferred for a drink, so I thought it would be a good idea for them to come to my area because it's fairly close to where they were now. I was stoked about the sudden event! It was definitely a pleasant surprise.

In a few hours, I greeted the couple at Gotanda Station, where they were waiting for me. We decided to go to a dinning bar Devil Craft, which signature dish is Chicago Pizza. More than anything, the authentic Craft Beer selection is worth a visit. You can check out what Devil Craft is like at this post: On the top floor of the circular building on the west side of Gotanda Station, there is a...

It had been over six years since we met in Michigan. I'm glad her husband liked the ambiance of the bar. He told me he knew another branch, Devil Craft Kanda. (The place where we enjoyed the conversation over Craft Beer that evening was Devil Craft Gotanda.) They had just arrived in Japan the day before yesterday and must have been a bit jet-lagged, but I wanted them to come to my apartment. It's the fact that it was just a short walk away. They've invited Collie & me to their home in Michigan in the past. So it'd be so nice if they'd stop by my new place to live even for a short time!

The couple paid the bill kindly at the bar, so I bought their choice of beers at NATURAL LAWSON on the first floor of the same building so we could drink them in my apartment. It was a small way to say thank you.

The time flied quickly as we chatted. I'm sorry for them because it got late, although I said just a quick drink at my place. But it was a really good opportunity. I'm glad they could come. Later I told Collie more about catching up with the couple to fill him in.  

I still have cans of their beer choices with the happy memory. Lady Detroit's husband said, "Let's get the four of us together again!". Truly, I can't wait for the day to come, in Michigan, or in Tokyo. 

That day I got to hear valuable input. It was something so valuable that it would become one of my core values in life. In the hope of meeting again, I improve myself.

No one can predict the future. Just do what you can manage. Everything you felt you'd lost will be replaced with something better. Stay true to who you are, and you'll attract people who value you.

Relaxing in a coffee shop is a little trip in daily life.

Coffee is one of my everyday pleasures. I can't wait to make coffee from Starbucks beans every morning. I like to make my coffee with more hot water than is offered in the shop. I drink it black♪ 

Drinking coffee at home is wonderful, but sometimes I want to go out and drink coffee in a stylish space. It's a great option when you want to relax: step out of the house, get some fresh air, and visit other places where you can sit back enjoying delicious coffee.

soothing time in a cafe

It's a nice change of pace to change locations! If you're not planning on traveling or don't have much time, a coffee shop is an effortless, yet great way to unwind. 

In fact, I like going to McDonald's, too.  The people-watching there is also interesting. 

I am quite thrifty and enjoy most of my coffee at home.  So I'm stoked when I go out to a coffee shop. Relaxing in a coffee shop is a little trip you can take in daily life.

What is your daily refreshment of choice?  Wishing you a wonderful day today♡           ＊Rose＊

Fun shot with Great Tiger & Great Akuma at CANTERBURY TACO FEST 2023 and more★

CANTERBURY VILLAGE in Lake Orion, Michigan marked its 30th anniversary in 2023. Congratulations!  Collie & Rose visited CANTERBURY TACO FEST on June 25th, 2023.  I will show you how we spent it with photos.

Canterbury Castle   2325 Joslyn Rd, Lake Orion, Michigan 48360, United States

Collie took me to CANTERBURY VILLAGE, saying, "You must like the TACO FEST!"   I was not sure why he thought so, but let's play it by ear and see where our day takes us.

For me, CANTERBURY VILLAGE has a Christmas or winter season image. I used to see Christmas ornaments and do shopping here. This is probably the first time I've been here in early summer. 

Walk around and look at the stalls and other things...

DONUT SUNDAE??  I haven't seen this before, but that makes sense. A donut nestled next to vanilla ice cream is drizzled with caramel sauce and whipped cream. It's a signature treat of YATES. Yum...

TACO EATING CONTEST at TULIP STAGE

I am sending a cheer unconsciously with a lot of spectators. Collie might have thought I liked TACO FEST because of this event...😅

The winner was a woman on the left. The way a guy looks at her while eating is humorous. Good job, everyone!

Collie is trying to buy something. :3  It was a chocolate chip cookie. I found he sometimes buying a cookie in this trip of mine. We took a seat and had a rest while chatting. I took a bite of the cookie. I thought the one he bought at ASTORIA PASTRY SHOP in Royal Oak was hands down the best.

BALLET FORKLORICO DE DETROIT at CHAPEL STAGE

It's a community-based dance company dedicated to preserving rich Mexican culture with dance and music. The dance expresses life and spirit of Mexican people through its movement and tune. 

ALL-STAR WRESTLING at YATES STAGE

I was privileged to take a picture with Great Tiger & Great Akuma. They were both very welcoming! What gentle eyes Great Tiger has! I was moved. When I said "I'm from Tokyo." to Great Akuma, he responded by saying "Hajimemashite", which meant 'Nice to meet you'. It was a wonderful experience. I am grateful to Collie for suggesting my standing in line with the audience for a picture with Great Tiger & Great Akuma.   ＊Akuma means Devil.

Throughout the festival, we tried to search numerous food trucks for the best TACO, but we missed eating it. The main reason is we weren't so hungry in spite that we liked Mexican food. We didn't eat traditional Mexican dish TACO, however, we really had a good time at CANTERBURY TACO FEST 2023 in Lake Orion, Michigan. It was held in 2024, too. You can read more details about the festival on this site. → https://www.canterburyvillage.com/event/canterbury-taco-fest/　Have a nice day!