One extra day for the month didn't make any difference. February went just as fast. February was SOY's 10 year anniversary, which came and went quietly since I never made a proper announcement. I was too busy training newcomers and couldn't plan a celebration much deserved. Ten years- it went so quickly it feels like maybe only a few years have passed. Same goes for raising a child, everyone says. This lady we ran into occasionally at the laundromat kept talking about how quickly they grow up- her oldest is 26 years old. Taiyo is almost 2.5 years old and he is indeed growing up in frightening speed. This morning he looked up at me and asked, "Are you ready, mama?" Sometimes he's ready before me. Downstairs he sat in the stroller and yelled, "Are you ready? Let's go. Move it!" I took the jogging stroller out in the miserable drizzling rain while he comfortably took a nap under the bubble. It felt really good to be on the road.

The Halloween weekend started and the streets were filled with costumed people going off to Halloween parties. The haunted house across the street had long line all evening. I had one hell of a day with continuous lunch orders. People came to dine in, pick up, Lynne had to run back and forth for delivery orders, we had to receive weekly food supply, Taiyo made some new friends to hang out, made some play-doh noodles, my friend Tarja showed up vising NY from Helsinki. Then at the end of the afternoon, Lynne found Akiro from the salon next door stretched across the floor- he was conscious but too dizzy to get up. Other neighbors were already on top of the case, then we waited his friends to come help him to an emergency room. Of course we never got a chance to wheel Taiyo out to let him sleep, so he was running around hyper and emotional from exhaustion. So I totally didn't mind the evening rather quiet tonight.

I have to go back a few days and have to share a dining experience. We stopped at L'asso on Mott and Kenmare, thinking that no pizza place could be child-unfriendly. First, this huge column in front of the door made the entry a bit difficult with a stroller. It was fairly empty and we took a seat on a bench by the window. We always like a margherita pie. So this very nice pizza was served. With one plate. But there's two of us at the table. I tried to get an attention of the waitress, but with only two other tables occupied in the restaurant, obviously she was too busy to look our way. So I said fine. Taiyo can have the plate. He also didn't get any utencils. She thought he was my prop so something? But we did really like the pizza. Taiyo really liked the pizza. But this hipster joint even when it's fairly empty had something child-unfriendly in the air. We did savor the entire pie, and when I asked for a check the waitress immediately cleared the table, including the napkins, although Taiyo was still munching on a piece in his hand. Was he supposed to just lick his fingers clean and wipe his mouse with his sleeve? As a mom, I really can't recommend this place.

This is hardly an appropriate story for restaurant blog, but it was just way too absurd and disturbing not to share. Taiyo happily ran out of the building as usual. I followed. There it was. A huge rat was dead dangling from the side of the building's trash can. I screamed. Taiyo started crying. It was like 15 inches hanging down. It tried to escape from a small hall and got stuck and died. I walked around the other side, and his huge ass was was still on the other side of the hole. I saw Al, the super from our neighbor buildings, and ran to him down the street. Obviously he already saw it. Yeah, I tried to push it out with a stick, but couldn't get it out. He tried again, but couldn't get it out. The ass was way too huge go through the hole. People passing by also screamed. Then an exterminator guy happened to pass by and he yanked it out grabbing it's tail, which I really couldn't watch. Our neighbor Mike was sitting in his car across the street, and told me how the guy pull the monster out. Three-year-old Aslan in the back seat was laughing. He thought the whole ordeal was funny. I was glad that my camera was in service that I didn't have it, although I dare not to publish it here.

It was a hot sunny day. On September 11, 2001, I came back from a workout at the track, took a shower, and turned on TV, like any other morning. The World Trade Center was burning. I grabbed my video camera and headed out on my bike. At the corner of Delancey and Suffolk, we could see the smoking tower. Within two hours, I witnessed both towers collapse in front of my eyes only blocks away on the West Side Highway. It is the hardest thing to remember in my life. Not just that day, but days, weeks, and months to follow. I didn't really want to do anything to remind me of that time. Taiyo was too young to acknowlege this past event. So we just headed out, like any other Sunday. Just for fun.

We crossed Manhattan Bridge to the Brooklyn Bridge Park. Last weekend on the ferry I noticed the old carousel on the water and wanted to check it out. It was still not open for public, but there were plenty for us to explore! Taiyo ran around the playground, climbed up on a sculpture, and threw stones into the brown water of East River with other kids. Helicoptors circled around above to remind us what day it was.

Across from the kids' playground was Bubby's. I figured this cannot be a kid-unfriendly joint because of the location. Sure enough, there were many families diningn with kids, but we were still offered a low table, upstairs, but away from the window by the waiters' corner. Did they know that we were not from the neighborhood? They gave him some crayons but Taiyo didn't like the sheet they gave him for drawing. Dumbo became such posh new neighborhood quickly, it's still beautiful but I probably wouldn't care for the neighbors even if I had that kind of money to live there. So the food arrived, and I was like, this is $20 omlette? It wasn't bad, but it was kind of sad: nothing special. Just little omlette with over toasted toasts and cheese grits they charged me for another dollar. Really? Pancakes from kids menu looked pretty sad also with a few silver dollar pancakes with just bananas on top. Taiyo enjoyed it anyway, but I thought some additional berries would've been nicer. I give credit for them though for having a changing table in the bathroom. I would go back there if it was half the price. Recommended if you have some money to waste.

After lunch we continued north on the park and found the little playground perfect for the littlest people. It was also great for parents since if you park yourself on the comfortable bench, the whole park was still within your view- you'd always be able to see your kid without getting up and following them around.

Then we had to make a stop at Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory at Fulton ferry landing. They seem to have a great review for ice cream, but it was just some ice cream for me. Taiyo of course loved it, but only had half of the strawberry ice cream. There was a wedding phot shoot going on outside, and Taiyo provided them background music with his harmonica.

In the evening I watched 9-11 documentary on TV and cried and cried. Remembered the candles that were lit on every corner, faces of missing persons posted at every bus stop, train station, and hospital, downtown streets covered with white dusts, and strollers abandoned by waterfront. One good thing that came out of it for me was that I decided to open SOY, a place where you'll get good food and nourish both your body and spirit. Here I am, ten years later, still providing Japanese comfort food for the neighborhood. One day I wish to tell my son all about it.

By the time I woke up, I was expecting more dramatic weather. Eight a.m., it was a bit stormy with steady rain, but it didn't seem so bad. I thought it would probably get worse later when the storm passed. On the contrary, rain subsided within two hours. Oh, well. I still opened the bottle of wine I stocked up yesterday. "Come on Eileen" 1982-hit by Dexys Midnight Runners was ringing in my head all morning. It was my brother's favorite song. But yes, I was singing "Come on, Irene." So really, come on, but nothing happened, at least around here. By 11am rain stopped and sky brightened up even. That was it? But Taiyo happily indulged on Dora over and over, now that he know to hit the play button on remote. I did some cleaning, while feeling like an underachiever. I thought I could've done a lot more during the storm- we were supposed to be locked in until later in the afternoon. It was already over.

At one o'clock we finally got out of the house. When I pointed at the stroller Taiyo said, "Walk!" and marched out swinging his little arms. On the sidewalk, he immediately picked up a fallen tree branch and happily swang it around. Maybe some fallen branches and extra leaves, but the storm seemed to have left no damage in the neighborhood. Within two blocks, Taiyo got his feet wet, so he decided to climb up in the stroller so he could go barefoot. He hates to get his feet wet! The air was pleasant, a bit windy but at comfortable level, and people are wondering around the streets not knowing where to go. Not everything was of course back in business, and a few places open were pretty busy everywhere. Bars were packed, and the pizzeria on Rivington was already serving full tables. I was happy to see the pet shop was open on Avenue A, since I was almost out of Coco's food. We continued up on Avenue A, but Thomkins Square Park was still closed. Some businesses had tapes across their windows, and one place was even boarded up. I guess it was better to expect the worst, but wasn't it just kind of disappointing that nothing happened?

We wondered around some more and by the time I found a crowd taking pictures in front of a garden on Avenue B, Taiyo was asleep. I looked over, and there was a big fallen tree in the garden! Well, this was the most exciting damage Irene has caused that I saw in the neighborhood. There was smaller tree knocked over by the synagogue on Clinton Street.
I succeeded to lay him down when we got back, and after two-hour nap, he woke up in a rotten mood. So we went to visit Kathy down the street and there he happily went through her stuff, which she has many. Then another favorite aunt of his, Lynne came across town to join us for dinner at Cibao on Clinton and Rivington.

This is small neighborhood family-run Dominican joint, casual and reliable with good food and value. Entry is easy with a stroller, and spanish people are very kid-friendly, someone always talks to Taiyo here and there around the floor. Waitress acted indifferently in the beginning, but brought him a paper cup and plastic utencils, and later she was charmed with the jumping toddler. When the big plate of rice and beans arrived, Taiyo immediately drew it close to him and started feasting. Broiled chicken was nice and crispy outside but tender and moist inside. Today he decided ketchup on rice and beans was the thing to die for. He kept asking me for more ketchup on his rice. I like the low-key atmosphere of the place that reminds me of the good-old Lower East Side, and this is one of the place that hasn't changed all these years since I moved in the neighbhood 17-years ago. Baby pictures by the cash register prove that they don't mind a presence of one. Recommended.

Raising a child is a constant battle. As many parents have told me, it's been a tough journey- some things get easier, but different challenges arrive. This week's dealings with Taiyo not taking enough naps have been a serious one. He's been very tired with active days but he may still wake up in transit between stroller to bed. This afternoon was a failure- he woke up as I put him down in bed and then he cried and screamed for half an hour. In the meantime I still had to take care of business; I felt bad for the customers who walked in to a place with a screaming child. Other times Taiyo provides entertainment singing to the bicycle pump as his microphone, playing the ukulele or the harmonica, bringing food or check to the table, or simply running around giggling. Ask him if he's a baby, and he would answer, "No, a boy!" He can kick on his scooter, and currently working hard to pedal his antique tricycle. He picks his shirt to wear in the morning, and today he even successfully put it on! He puts his shoes on, and when he comes home, he takes them off and neatly place them by the door.

In between, we don't forget to continue on our dining exploration. On Wednesday lunch, it was El Castillo De Jagua on Rivington near Essex. I was pretty sure that this type of old neighborhood Dominican joint had to be kid-friendly. Of course, there was already a large family with a bunch of kids feasting near the door as we entered. They asked me twice if we'd like a high chair. But not being a baby anymore, Taiyo would not sit in a high chair. He picked a table and climbed up himself. We went for a plate of beef stew with rice and beans, and he immediately started serving himself onto his plate. He happily ran around the restaurant in between his bites and no one seemed to mind. The entry was easy with a stroller, and there's plenty of room to park one near or away from a table, we were served quickly, food was fresh and tasty, and under $10 for the food and my beer was quite good value. Recommended.

I just did a fairy entry long entry and lost it because of a 'connection problem.' Damn technology. Can't redo it tonight. Have a wonderful steaming hot summer night.