Last weekend, we took a scenic train ride along Hudson to Poughkeepsie. A tall young man with a cowboy hat picked us up at the train station. Taiyo greeted him with "Howdy." We were spending Labor Day weekend at a family resort Rocking Horse Ranch. This place was packed with families, many of them with at least one small child under 5 and soon you'll see why. They offer so much entertainment, loads of activities safe for little ones. Great indoor and outdoor swimming pools, all kinds of water and land sports, and of course, horseback riding. Besides day camp for older kids, there was a nursery for tots and babies which Taiyo totally loved. The room full of toys and some grown-ups who will play with him. First day, I left him there and went out to ride a horse. On our second day he told me to go on two trail rides so he can stay at the nursery longer. So I enjoyed running through the woods and of course came back with back and butt ache. For Taiyo, these little rocking horse was better deal than a real thing. Aside from food they served it was wonderful vacation. We really didn't have to go too far to enjoy everything from fireworks, and magic shows, to roasted marshmallows by lakeside camp fire. Like Disney World, overall experience was a bit too mainstream and "American(not in a good way)," but we'd definitely go back and if the food was better we'd even stay longer. As we were heading back to NYC, Taiyo repeated, "One day, I want to go back to Rocking Horse Ranch. OK, mama?" And that's how we said good bye to our summer.

I've been sleeping without A/C this week and it feels like summer is quickly fading away. I was just compiling "Things to do before summer ends" list last week- which turned out to be the exact headline for TimeOut New York this week. We checked off "beach" on Wednesday; we took a commuter ferry to Rockaway. It was a perfect day, a bit windy but ocean was calm. One-hour ferry ride was beautiful, giving us a tour of New York city shoreline. I've never taken this ferry before, and now this will be one of my favorite summer outings.

Today we headed out for the last installment of "Summer Streets," which has always been on my "must-do list of summer." It's another unique experience of the city I enjoyed for years. Before Taiyo I did the long run all the way up to the Central Park. With Taiyo we always did at least part of the route on bike. It was another perfect day with mild temperature and blue sky, but this time I found it hardly enjoyable because it was too crowded. There were simply too many people, and too many bikes. It was like all these people who rarely ride bikes came out all together. Gang of blue Citi bike riders of course made the situation worse. And walkers who were in the bike lane would not move when I rang bell. It was annoying and stressful that I moved Summer Streets to the "Do-Not-Bother" list.

It was exciting week after all, starting Monday's hospital day. Taiyo finally made it to the operating room experience for his teeth. We had to wait for four hours for the procedure, but the waiting room at Mount Sinai hospital was the "bestest" as Taiyo described. The room for children waiting for operation was equipped with wonderful toys and even two attendants who were at his service since he was the only kid in the room. I just sat and read newspaper while two ladies entertained Taiyo. Then after two hour operation he came out with six fully silver covered molars. He was already half-awake calling me when he came out of the operating room, but quickly fell back to sleep for two more hours. When he finally woke up, he asked me if he can go back downstairs and play some more.

So here we are, at the beginning of the last month of the summer. Mercury is already easing down to tell us the end if near. Last week I decided to replace the old and not-efficiently-working air conditioner. The day I put in deposit for the replacement turned out to be the last day of heatwave. The new unit was installed yesterday and it's so fabulous I'm very happy with my purchase. Another happy purchase this week was Wolverine 35mm film scanner. Since I wasn't able to use my old film scanner which was of much better quality but seriously painfully dreadfully slow on this new computer, I couldn't scan some of my b/w negatives. Last night I've done four rolls in about half an hour and I just loved it. Like Taiyo would say, quite often these days, "I love it! I loooovvve it!" Details b/w can capture is simply incredible, and I still shoot 35mm film and develop them in my kitchen late at night. So thanks to my new little super gadget(it's just a little box!), I found some old pictures from last year, like the one above at the Aquarium in Coney Island, and we were there a week before Sandy. It was somewhat eerie to see these pictures because of the time significance. We haven't gone back there since. This will be on the top of the list of things to do before the summer ends.

Oh, I truly hoped so. This time the attempt was to a place that was close enough and can be arrived by train: Philadelphia. There's many things to see and do, and we were staying by the river with view of the city. How difficult could it be? Oh it be with a not-even-four-year-old. First the subway got stuck at 23rd street. "It's not so far we can walk!" We started to walk and it began to rain. We got to Penn Station and it was packed- the day before 4th of July. We walked all the way to the back of the train but there was no two seats together available. I asked a middle-aged woman if she could switch since I have a small child, and she refused. I was so discouraged but someone else offered to switch. Taiyo was very bubbly and excited even iPad couldn't keep him quiet and still. An hour and a half later, we arrive at Philly, and I'd rather take a cab but Taiyo insists on subway. So we took subway. Pretty easy trip. But when I emerged to the ground I wasn't quite sure which way to go. A store clerk nearby just made a strange face when I asked which way was Hyatt Hotel. Great impression of the city. We walked to the river then the hotel was visible, but still blocks away. At least when we finally settled in the hotel room, he loved it. "Five pillows!" he was ecstatic. Right away we enjoyed dipping in the swimming pool, as he predicted before we left: "The funnest fun will be swimming pool."

So we had some fun, the next day at the science museum Franklin Institute, and view of so many fireworks from our window, but the next day he refused other choices like "Please Touch Museum," the children's museum. He finally agreed to take the ferry across to Adventure Aquarium on New Jersey side. But for $42 admission for two of us was a joke, a rip-off. We were done with the exhibits in one hour. He was still happy to eat some french fries at the cafeteria, then we came back. There was an outdoor food event by the hotel at Penn's Landing, which seemed suicidal in above 90 degree heat wave. So overall, it was hot, Taiyo was whiny, but we enjoyed daily swimming, and he totally enjoyed Cartoon Network. The train ride back was another challenge with bubbly noisy not-even-four-year-old who kept shouting "I'll poop in your mouth!" But we survived. I was thinking Disney World could be still easier vacation on the trip home.

It rained all day, all the time, hard at time, drizzled most of the time. It reminded me of the rainy season in Japan- which is happening right now. It rains almost continuously for at least a month. But I don't mind rain at all. It's quite inconvenient with a small child, but I like the sound of rain. I always liked a little bit of rain for my run. So much is going on lately and I didn't mind the rain if it slows some things down. "Save the garden!" activities are giving me more work as webmaster. Taiyo was scheduled to have a dental treatment under general anesthesia at a hospital. Too many cavities at age 3! With a huge hole on his molar, he was going to need "baby root canal." My dentist laughed that I made so much contributions to dentistry when he examined my teeth for the first time. I have all my teeth but so much work has been done. Unfortunately Taiyo decided to follow my path so early. I catered for 60-people lunch up the block yesterday, and already had a call for another one today for next week. This will mean more cooking through weekend. So these are my excuses for not blogging much lately. The best news this week was that Taiyo got a placement at Earth School. I thought it would've been funny if they saw YouTube video of him as a little activist and said, "We want this kid!" We are getting excited for "Costume Rally-Party" at the garden this coming Thursday. Taiyo's been telling people, "I'm going to be a super-hero and save the garden!" He's so awesome.

Here's more on Taiyo, the "pint size protester," report from gothamist. And the video clip by Times Up! totally makes me a proud mother. Maybe he'll be a great man.

What a week it's been! My universe was completely out of alignment it seemed for days. Today was just a perfect day to do nothing after that; it drizzled all day. All day long, continuously.

On Wednesday, I was woken up by someone calling my name outside of window. It was Michelle. She doesn't have a cell phone and I don't have a buzzer. "They are destroying the garden. You have to come. There's police and everything." I knew what happened. There was a talk about the private developer threatening us that he'll put up a fence around his property, which will take away the best portions of the Children's Magical Garden for a few months. "Taiyo, we have to go to the garden right away." "Ok, but can I eat some yogurt or something?" "Yes, you can have some yogurt. But you have to hurry up." He seemed to understand the urgency of the situation, and he quickly chugged down his bowl of yogurt. "I'm done!" On the way to the garden I told him that he should tell them to stop destroying our garden. I didn't know what to explain, but I think he somehow understood. When we got there, there was already a small crowd. Our friend Amy saw us and began shouting at the rude lawyer the developer has sent. "Look, this is one of the kids who come to the garden. You're taking away his garden. Shame on you!" She's a natural activist type, excellent heckler. Then we went into the garden to join other garden members. Mexican construction workers were quietly working- they ignored all the flowers and new plantings and digging wholes to erect a fence. There were 5-6 police officers "to protect the workers." So Amy was yelling at them "Where are the police force to protect the community? Shame on you, 7th Precinct!" Taiyo was throwing sticks at the cops. I let him be, since I didn't think they can arrest 3 year-old. I wasn't even standing next to him and pretended I didn't know him. He was walking around across police line and I was kind of looking away. Then he started yelling "Stop! Stop!" and one of the cop began to question him, "Hey, which one is your mommy?"

There were private security guards in suits standing outside. Then an angry protestor, who we've never seen in the garden, stormed in. This guy probably shows up every protest/confrontation in town. We didn't want the scene to become too violent and confrontational and tried to calm him down, but only made him more heated. The Mexicans continued working, the fence went up. Media people came and went. Since Taiyo was the only very little people there fighting for the garden, and since it was appropriate for the Children's Magical Garden, he ended up appearing in many media photos and TV news coverage. He was so proud to see himself on NBC and NY1 news later that day. Check out the
NBC segment- which I was also quoted.

We may have a long battle ahead to reclaim the whole garden. Or the case may continue to be ignored by city officials as it has been, since this is still the neglected Lower East Side, home of the many low-income families. Please sign the online petition here for the Mayor Bloomberg.

Then the next few days also brought me more bad news- our delivery bike stolen, my new personal bike's both wheels and saddle stolen, ankle sprain, and in the middle of it all I got a Health Department inspection, which turned out to be the only good event of the week resulting another "A." Taiyo has been reasonable and tantrum-less and I'm totally grateful. So this gloomy day I began making a thousand origami cranes to wish for a safe recovery of our oasis.