A Word About Christmas in Japan

Strawberry Sponge Cream Cake?

KFC Chicken Dinners?

A Romantic Night Out?

Christmas in Japan is not what you would think.

Growing up in America I believe my Christmas was probably like any other.  On Thanksgiving Day we would watch the Macy's Day Parade which always ended with Santa Claus and immediately following on the TV would play "It's a Wonderful Life" or "Miracle on 34th Street".  The next day the tree would go up.  Advent calendars with little pieces of Chocolate behind each door was a favorite of mine.  And then there was the 'I CAN'T SLEEP' excitement of the 24th as you strained to hear the bells from Santa's sleigh.  When you woke up it was to piles, large or small, under the tree and in your stocking, and Christmas Dinner would start to be baked shortly after breakfast.  We'd have Turkey stuffed with homemade stuffing, corn, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and for dessert a slice of Pumkin Pie with a scoop of ice cream or whipped cream.

But in Japan none of these traditions exist.  Christmas is not a National Holiday (or even a religious holiday for most as only 1% of Japanese are Christian) so people work and go to school on the 24th and 25th like any other day. (Although the present Emperor's Birthday is the 23rd and that is a National Holiday). 

Christmas is viewed as a romantic holiday, and it is very important to have a significant other to spend the evening with.  To the extent that one restaurant recently banned couples from the establishment on Christmas Eve with the claim that it would upset single patrons and some people react to the holiday in the same way a single Westerner responds to Valentine's Day.  Great importance is placed on where you go and what you do on Christmas Eve and what gift is given.  A normal evening would include dressing very nicely, going out to a special dinner at an expensive restaurant and then walking the streets to view the extravagant light displays.  (Book early, several months early, depending on the restaurant.)

Gifts are only exchanged between dating couples and perhaps given to small children still young enough to believe in Santa - because in Japan gifts come only from Santa. Adults don't receive gifts at Christmas time.  All the usual trappings of the season that you find at an American store are there - decorations, Christmas trees and holiday music (they go up in November but disappear on the 25th to make way for the New Year's Decorations - which is a much bigger set of days that are celebrated there.), and the stores spend just as many advertising dollars as their American counterparts convincing you what you should buy and where. 

A delicious white sponge cake of whipped cream and strawberries with a holiday centerpiece, known in Japan as Christmas Cake, is the treat of choice after dinner.  Some trace it's origins to a cake served on birthdays as early as 1910, others to Post WWII. A terrible old pun in Japan refers to a woman over 25 and unmarried as "Christmas Cake", being they lose their value after December 25th.  This is falling out of favor though as the marrying age is now often much older.

Turkey is virtually unknown in Japan, so for those not going out to eat perhaps they will have chicken for dinner.  They will have to order well in advance for the special Kentucky Fried Chicken Dinner served each holiday (which now-a-days comes with Chicken, cake and champagne), especially if they want the premium menu, they sell out a month in advance.  This tradition can be traced back to the highly successful "Kentucky for Christmas" campaign of 1974, which was said to be inspired by a group of foreigners who couldn't find turkey while in Japan and settled for KFC for their holiday dinner...  In fact most Japanese think Americans celebrate Christmas eating chicken, not turkey, and as many as 1 in 3 adults in Japan will have KFC for Christmas.

So while Christmas in Japan is still amazing and beautiful with its extravagant light displays and the stores all decked out for the season, it is a distinctly different holiday from the one we celebrate in the western half of the world.  And another example of how this ever changing country takes in influences from other countries and makes them uniquely there own.

Have a Great Christmas

Peace, love and a joyful day

Loved ones and presents

Have a Very Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Shipping and Handling

So, I've heard some people complaining about the fact that if they buy a small item from someone online, let's say like one of my charms -

- for around $7.00, that the shipping should be free or only $1.00 or so.  That $4 is outrageous since it's nearly half or more the price of the item they are buying. 

That may work for the big box stores who make millions of dollars in sales a year, but it doesn't work for an independent artist.

Let's break down the cost of shipping & handling.

First there is the envelope:

I like the bubble envelopes.  These come 6 to a pack for around $3.69 + 0.9% tax = $4.02 at Target.  Or $0.67 a piece.

Second there is the actual "Handling" part that many people forget. I put the item in the envelope with it's receipt or extras and then actually go to the post office.  Yes you are being charged for my time and gas in my car to get to the post office.

Third is the shipping. I like to ship all of my items first class with tracking - I added the tracking as a normal addition after a bad situation with an impatient customer who thought 4 days was too long to wait for her package and contacted me twice a day asking where it was.  Well without tracking I had no idea where it was. (Fortunately it did arrive on the 5th day.)

A package this size with only one or two light items in it costs around $2.95 for shipping first class with tracking.

$2.95 + $0.67 = $3.62 - which means I'm only charging you $0.38 for the handling part - quite a bargain! - when I charge you $4.00 for shipping and handling.

So please keep all these costs in mind when you are placing your order and are faced with the S&H charges.

Crafting Fun

Yes, this is what it looks like when I've been crafting!

I'm going to start working on some tutorials for the new year.  Been planning on some for awhile but the microphone on my computer is simply terrible.  Unless you want me to be giving instructions under electrified water.  Which is what the mic kind of sounds like...

I also need to find my HD webcam...it's probably buried under a pile of fabric somewhere...

A Word About CrowdFunding

I know many of you are tired of seeing people on the ‪#‎crowdfunding‬ campaign trail.  I hope you realize that most of those people are honest and hard working people who aren't asking for the world.  They're asking for your help.

Many times I've seen a campaign with 1,000s of shares who are asking for fewer dollars than they've had shares.  If every single person who had shared that campaign had given $1.00 then that campaign would have made it's goal.

There's a reason they put $1 and $5 as contributions on their campaigns.  Not as a "Oh if you've got nothing else give us that." thought process - but as a genuine "If everyone who shared this campaign gave $1 or $5 then I'd make my goal." Thought process.

Do all campaigns deserve to be funded.  That's an interesting question.  I've certainly seen some campaigns that I wouldn't give money to.  (And I'm not talking about the ones that look like fake campaigns.  That's a whole other beast.)  But there are as many different people with as many different ideas and views and humour on this planet for there to be something for everyone.  Just because I don't like it doesn't mean someone else won't.  Take an honest look at it.  If you don't like it or can't get behind it, that's okay.  But maybe consider taking the time to share it with someone you think might enjoy it.

There is another problem.  There are so many campaigns and the internet is so big that most projects get swallowed up like a star in a black hole.  They never even have a chance of reaching the audience that they were meant for.  If you know a way to help then take action!  Contact the campaign.  Do what you can to help out.

http://igg.me/at/jointhespacerangers/x/8384877

 

I know many people who have donated to a campaign when they themselves are going to be working on the project. Or have worked on it.  That sounds crazy doesn't it?  To put a part of your paycheck back in to the project.  In essence giving up part of their own compensation.   No it's not crazy.  It's because they believe in it.  Because they're passionate about it.


 Admit it.  Every day you or someone you know buys a candy bar, or a coffee, or a big slurpee soda. If they gave that money for just a single day to a friend's, or friend of a friend's, campaign, a lot of people would be funded to do big things.  Things they love.   Things they are passionate about.  Things they even live for.


And if it's something you think you yourself might enjoy, don't just pass it up.  Take a minute to give them your coffee or candy bar.  Or share it.  Know some way to help draw attention to it?  Please do!  Sometimes that's worth just as much or more.

‪#‎indiegogo‬ ‪#‎kickstarter‬

Happy Thanksgiving!

Space Rangers Indiegogo Campaign

Got a Press Release for you!

Atomic Age Pictures CrowdFunds to Help Complete Space Rangers

 http://igg.me/at/jointhespacerangers/x/8384877

Retro Sci-fi Series Recruits Indiegogo Funders to Help Keep the Universe Safe for Mankind

November 26, 2014
Phoenix, AZ

Space Rangers follows the adventures of the crew of the Venture Horizon as they patrol the outer reaches of the Sigma Draconis Territories, making it safe for settlers from Earth. 

Inspired by classic Sci-Fi shows of the 1950s such as Destination Moon and Forbidden Planet, Space Rangers stars world famous Pinup model Amanda Lee as Captain Andromeda Jones, Veronica Kelly as Weapons and Security officer Deni Fletcher and Lana Flynn as Navigator and Medic Audrey Wild.

This ambitious retro Sci-Fi project had fairly modest beginnings.  In fact Space Rangers originally began as a still photo shoot. "I wanted to do a 'Space Girl' themed shoot."  explains Douglas Monce, Atomic Age Pictures President and CEO. "I later used photos from that shoot in postcards that I took to Phoenix Comic-Con to promote my business for shooting cosplay photography.  However everyone I handed the postcards to, asked when the movie was coming out. This response was so overwhelming that I finally realized tha's what we should be doing."

"Originally this was a fun thing for a bunch of friends to do on a weekend," Producer Amber R. Nichols said. "but as the project grew and more people found out about it and wanted to come on board to offer their talents, the more we realized that this was becoming something we should really consider doing something more substantial with.”

Some of that talent that has come on board includes David Stipes, a 2 time Emmy Award Winning VFX Supervisor (Star Trek:DS9 & Voyager) and 30 year veteran of Hollywood, whose credits include everything from the Original Battlestar Galactica to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.  Illustrator and Model Maker John Eaves whose work includes designing the Enterprise E and concept illustration for Star Trek Into Darkness, Tomorrowland and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Now nearly 2/3 of the way through filming Atomic Age Pictures is reaching out to its budding fandom to help them with the show's finances and future.  In order to complete Space Rangers, funds are needed for building the remaining sets, a place to  build them in, extensive visual effects, miniatures and transportation to locations.

Everything about the show is built around the nostalgia of the 1950s shows even the perks for contributors of their Indiegogo page http://igg.me/at/jointhespacerangers/x/8384877
Everything from Mini Posters and Lobby Cards to an old time Membership Kit including Decoder Ring are available.  Some of the top tier perks include a screen used plasma pistol and a chance to visit the set and hang with the cast and crew.

The Official Space Rangers Facebook

Photos from Comikaze Expo

I post my photos of the events I attend as Fun Events Time Now! which you can find on FB.

I just uploaded my pics from this year's Comikaze Expo.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1493061004290002.1073741837.1408204609442309&type=1

Returning To Blogger

So in the last 4 years since I started this blog and then left it to wither with only 4 posts to its name I've:

1)changed day job 3 times,
2)been a script supervisor,
3)event photographer,
4)editor's assistant,
5)unit production manager,
6)personal assistant,
7)personal shopper,
8)website designer,
9)social media manager,
10)reporter,
11)jewelry designer,
12)booth "babe",
13)polymer clay artist
14)panel moderator at a convention
15) and a few more things I can't remember right now.

I've embraced living a pretty natural lifestyle having learned to make my own lotions, soaps, lip balms and household cleaners amongst others

I've studied feng shui and am a continuing student at the American Feng Shui Institute.

I've started my own business from my love of Asian culture called The Yellow Silk Road and design my own line of decoden and kawaii polymer clay jewelry under the brand name of "Sparkle Wishes + Moonbeam".

And I moved to a new state.

In other words - I've done a lot!!

And that has now given me a lot to talk about! So be prepared for a wide array of blog posts!

I'll try and keep it organized so you can keep it organized. Deal?

Post to you soon!