February 15, 2026

Sunday - Warm and sunny

I woke up fairly early this morning. F wasn’t quiet and he woke me up. I did fall back asleep. My alarm went off and I woke up and turned it off. Then, F came back to the room and wanted to go for lunch.  He even had a place in mind.

I dragged myself out of bed and got dressed. I went downstairs, ready to go, and found F in the kitchen about to cook some ramen for himself. Hmm. I guess he didn’t understand me when I said that I was going to get dressed. He put his stuff away and we went out.

We went to F’s favourite fish restaurant. It was okay, but it wasn’t great in my opinion. F had a special cod meal, I had tuna cheek. I got F to ask the waitress to have it made less salty, but it was just as salty as ever. Sigh. F liked his meal a lot. I’m glad since it was quite expensive too!

We decided that we’d go and do our grocery shopping after lunch. We went over to PAL shopping area and went in and did our shopping. Recently, F has stopped waiting in the car for me and he comes into the store with me. It’s quite annoying. I ask him to get things for his mother and he seems to think that he doesn’t have to! It’s up to him but it annoys me as he’s always picking on me and yelling at me about getting in other people’s way. On the other hand, he doesn’t seem to notice when other people get in my way and I don’t punch them! I’m nice that way.

We bought groceries and then went back to the house. I put them away and then I headed upstairs. I relaxed for a while. F eventually came upstairs and then I made him some cocoa. I offered him a cheese toast later on and he accepted. I had some leftover bread from last week and I wanted to use it up. I made the toast and then brought it upstairs.

We ate our toast and left a few minutes later. 

We drove out to Mikawa and parked at the mall. We went in and then upstairs to the cinema. We bought our tickets and then had a seat outside for a few minutes. When they announced our theatre was open, we went in and bought our popcorn and drinks. We went to see Crime 101 with Halle Berry, Mark Ruffalo and Chris Hemsworth. It was pretty good and I enjoyed it a lot. I hadn’t heard much about it until this last weekend when the reviewers I follow said that they liked it. 

After the movie F and I talked about where to go for dinner and he suggested udon. We went to the chain place in Tsuruoka and had a pretty nice meal. I was so happy that I didn’t have to eat rice again. I’ve had it for three meals this weekend and that was too much. 

We came back to the house afterwards and just relaxed. K didn’t eat the dinner we brought for her and F didn’t want to wake her up. That was his choice. 

We came upstairs again and I watched a little YouTube and then decided that I wanted to watch last week’s The Handmaid’s Tale as new episodes are on TV tomorrow night. It was a fairly good episode with nobody dying! 

F went to bed before midnight and I turned down my light in the room. I don’t want to have a fight with K tomorrow at all. 

That’s about it for me for today. Tomorrow I have to start work on my column as I’m getting too close to the deadline for my liking. I may do some laundry too. 

Come back later if you like and hear all about my day. Until tomorrow…. 

February 14, 2026

 Saturday - Cloudy but warm

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Well, I woke up early this morning…for a Saturday. I went downstairs but F and K were still here. F came upstairs a bit later and told me that K refused to go to her Day Service. F’s sister was going to come over and take her a bit later. He also said that she was complaining about me again. Eye Roll. 

F went off to take his car into the dealership for a check up or something. He’d told me he’d like to leave at 10am so I was up and dressed and ready to go at 10 am. He wasn’t ready to go. When he came back, he had to find his cell phone. Sigh. We left around 10:40!  We drove off into the wilds of Yamagata. I had mentioned to F that a couple of years ago we had stopped in at a little coffee shop that was quite cute. We always said that we’d come back and have a meal sometime. Well, it turned out that F’s restaurant was that little coffee shop! We went in, were the only customers and had a lovely meal. Well, mine was! I had a curry doria which was basically rice in a curry with a meatball and covered in cheese and broiled in the oven. Mine was really good and I enjoyed it a lot. F had a shrimp pilaf and didn’t like it as much. He thought his was small, and it did look that way to be honest. 

After we ate, we drove into Sakata and went to Kaldi. I bought my favourite tea and F got some cakes, I also picked up some decaf coffee at the Muji store. While I was there I texted my friend to see if she’d like to come to Mr. Donut and have coffee with us. It took a while before she got the message and then she invited us to her place, but we had just sat down at the Mr. Donut! She joined us a bit later and we had a bit of a chat. It was lovely to see her.

We had to run back to Tsuruoka to meet K coming back from Day Service. It looked like F’s sister persuaded her to go so that was good. I did suggest that F fill up the car as his car would only run for 20 more km.  Why does he do this? He knows it drives me crazy and upsets me. 

We made it back to the house in time. I went upstairs and spent a bit of time there. F stayed down with his mother for the most part. He did come upstairs a bit before 7 and said that his mother was still upset about something and wasn’t making any sense. He gave her the food that I had saved for her on Thursday night with a couple of extras. 

Then, it was our time. We went to China House and had a good meal. I had my favourite Mapo-dofu and it was lovely and spicy and warming. F had ebi-mayo or fried shrimp in mayonnaise. He liked his and I pointed out that it was his second time having shrimp today!

After our meal, we went to the grocery store and F bought a few groceries. We came back to the house then and again, I went upstairs. 

Tonight I decided to watch a couple of things on TV. I watched Evil off the Fire Stick and then tonight’s episode of The Hunting Party. It was good but I’m wondering about this show. Will they run out of criminals to round up?

F went to bed after a while and I got stuck into my end of day things. I’m also about ready to go to bed now too. 

I’m not sure what we’ll get up to tomorrow. We should do our usual grocery shopping and I’m hoping that we might hit up a movie in the late afternoon, if F is up for it. 

Come back later if you like and hear all about my day. Until tomorrow….

February 13, 2026

Friday - Warm and clear, rainy at night

So, I had a good day today!  I woke up before my alarm today which was odd, but not a big deal. I went downstairs and then came back upstairs and went back to bed for a bit. I dragged myself out of bed a bit later and then got dressed. I quickly checked my computer and then packed my backpack to go out. 

I left the house around 11:30 and hightailed it to the bus stop. When I got there, I found out that the bus was running about 5 minutes late. Sigh. Oh well. It was nice out and I didn’t mind waiting too much. 

I got on the bus when it arrived and rode it all the way to S-Mall. At S-Mall, I decided to go and have lunch first. I went to the Daiichi Hotel and had the weekly lunch. Today it was curry and rice. It was good, but there was definitely too much tomato in it for me. When the waitstaff brought it over to me I was a little sad and worried. I’m okay so far!

When I finished my meal I paid and then hit up the chocolate shop in the mall. They didn’t have what I was looking for. I saw some chocolate in another store and looked around. They had what I was looking for. Whew! I bought a box and they offered to wrap it for me. I thought it would be okay if they did it right away, but she told me it would take 5 minutes. Yikes. I was trying to catch a bus. However, another clerk came over and she did it. It took no time at all, she handed over my parcel and I ran to the bus station. I had to wait a bit there, but no problem. 

I rode the bus to the closest stop to Machikine Cinema, got off and walked to the cinema. There was a lot of snow down the road so I had to walk very carefully as I was in my shoes, not my winter boots. I had about 15 minutes before the movie was going to start so I decided to go to the nearby drugstore! I did a very fast grab and fill up my basket trip, paid and then fastwalked back to the cinema. I bought my ticket and went in to see Knox Goes Away. It was a cool movie, directed by and starring Michael Keaton. It was about a hitman who found out he had CJD and was going to lose his memory in the next few weeks. Around the same time, his estranged son comes to him and asks for help. He had killed someone and didn’t know what to do. It was quite a good movie with a great cast and a really intriguing story. It was violent in places, but not as bad as you might expect.

After the movie, I left the cinema and walked over to the post office. I bought some stamps, my bestie has started to send me real letters and I have to write back. I bought a few stamps so I can. 

As I had about 25 minutes before my bus was due, I had a seat in the post office. In the corner, they have a table and chairs set up next to a pop machine. I sat for a while and read things on my phone. When I had about 5 minutes left I left the post office and walked over the road and waited for the bus.

I caught the bus and rode it to our stop. I got off and of course it started pouring down as soon as I got off the bus. I fast walked again back to the house.

When I came into the house, I turned on the heater in the kitchen and then went upstairs and changed my clothes. F called soon after I arrived, and I went downstairs a bit later.

Tonight I made pasta with a garlic sauce. We also had salad and bacon. It was a nice meal. It was simple, but really good I thought. I did the dishes afterwards and then went upstairs and relaxed for a bit. 

I took a shower after 10:30 and then came upstairs and watched the final episode of season 2 of Gen V. It was good and typically bloody and gross-out. 

After midnight I gave F his Valentine’s Day present and surprise, surprise…he gave me one too! We gave each other chocolates and shared a bit with each other. 

I spent some time working on my internet stuff and I’ll be going off to bed soon. 

Tomorrow, F wants to go out of town and try a new-to-us restaurant. I’ll fill you in on what happens with that. Come back later if you like and hear all about my day. Until tomorrow….

February 12, 2026

Thursday - Cooler with hail

I woke up this morning, went downstairs and then came back up to the room. I went back to bed and had a nice and long snooze. I overslept a bit, but got up and dressed. 

I went downstairs and checked the mail. I got a postcard and a card for Valentine’s Day. It was nice to get real mail! I grabbed my breakfast and came back upstairs to eat. 

I had a good afternoon. I attended a meeting of a book club. I feel a little sad in a way, I’m not reading any of the book club books…I can’t get hold of them around here and I probably couldn’t afford them anyway. I did talk about the books that I am reading now…1984, The Cat’s Table and After Strike. I tried to read 1984 before when we moved to this house, but I’ve got a digital copy of it now and I’m a bit further than I was before.

I left the meeting at 3:30 and went downstairs to get my lunch. I brought it upstairs and watched the news while I ate. F called around 5:30 and a few minutes later I went downstairs to the kitchen.

Tonight I did pork chops in the air fryer and then some steamed veggies, salad and some kimchi. F had made rice so there was enough food. Oh, K and F also had some niku-man. I couldn’t have them as they had tomato sauce in them. 

I did the dishes afterwards and then came upstairs. Tonight I had a TV night. I watched the first episode of the last season of The Handmaid’s Tale and an episode of The Good Fight. It was good, Diane is fighting back against people trying to get her to leave the firm. 

F didn’t go to bed until quite late, but he’s asleep now. 

Tomorrow I’m planning to go out and see a movie in my favourite cinema. I might go and have lunch first as well. It has been a while since I did that and I miss it. 

Come back later if you like and see if I actually get out of here! Until tomorrow…. 

February 11, 2026

Wednesday - Warm and not snowy!

It had rained overnight so this morning when we went out, a lot of the snow had vanished. Not all of it though, the roads are still very narrow due to the snow on the sides of them.

I went downstairs at 8:30 and then went back upstairs again and went back to bed. F had got up to cook for his mother, then he ended up coming back to bed too. He had suggested going to a place that I don’t really like for lunch so I turned him down. We snuggled for a bit and then I got up and dressed. I suggested something, F suggested something, and we decided to try the place that we wanted to go to on Monday. 

We got in the car and then drove over to the fish restaurant. Unfortunately, it was closed or had finished for lunch time. Sigh. I suggested another place that F likes so we tried driving over there. It was closed too! It is a national holiday after all. F needed a washroom, so I suggested the new 7-11 at the end of the street. 

When he came back to the car, I suggested the restaurant across the street from the conbini. We’ve talked about going there before, but haven’t done it. F crossed the street in the car and parked, then, we went in. It was a fish restaurant too and we were the only customers downstairs. We both had the same thing, tuna cutlets on rice. It came with miso soup and pickles. There were a few veggies on the rice too, so that was nice. I quite liked the meal, F wasn’t impressed. However, I think it was nice. I’d like to go there again sometime.

We left the restaurant and then went over to Gyomu Supa. We did a little shopping there. I picked up a few things for dinners and lunches. Then, we packed up the groceries and came back to the house with them. 

I unpacked the groceries and put them away. There were quite a few things. I took our stuff upstairs and relaxed for a bit. F came up for a while too and he dozed and used his phone. I asked him if he’d like to go and have a coffee at Doutor. I have run out of money on my app, but I have a lot of points.  We drove over to S-Mall, parked and went in. We went to the coffee shop and I ordered while F got us a table. We had caffe lattes, mine was decaf. We relaxed for a while and played on our phones. 

We left around 6 pm and went over to Mina to get the regular groceries. I picked up a few things for tomorrow’s dinner and some lunch and breakfast food. 

We came back to the house and again, I put away the groceries. F gave K her bento and then we went out after that.

We went to the Taiwanese restaurant and were able to get in right away. I ordered the Yurinchi chicken dinner set again, F had gyoza and ramen. He liked the gyoza at least!

We left and then came back to the house. F took a shower and then I did. I asked him to make rice for tomorrow and then I watched a bit of TV. Tonight it was The Irrational. I enjoy that show a lot!

And, that was it basically. F is back to work tomorrow and I’m back on meal duty for dinner. It’s okay though. I also might attend a book club online. I’m a tad interested in that. 

Come back later if you like and hear all about my day. Until tomorrow….

February 10, 2026

Tuesday - Warm and Sunny

I woke up at my normal time, went downstairs and then came back to bed. I did my usual watching of videos on my phone but fell asleep and then really overslept. Oops. 

I got up, dressed and went downstairs. I received 3 postcards from Postcrossing today so that was nice. I also peeked outside and saw that it was lovely outside and it hadn’t snowed overnight. I decided I’d go out and try and move a little snow.

I put on my coat, but it was warm so I didn’t do it up, then my boots and went out. I made some of the snow a little lower and as F had asked, I tried to make the corners at the entrance to the house a little wider for him. (He didn’t even notice later.)

I went inside again and brought down my laundry basket. I did the first of two loads of clothes and then grabbed my breakfast. I went upstairs and ate my breakfast and a bit later registered my cards. I hung up my laundry when it was done too.

I went downstairs around 3pm to get my lunch. I decided not to eat my salad as I had some leftovers to eat. As I was quite late to start my lunch, I watched an episode of One Mississippi. It was quite a good one. 

I followed that up with the news. I half watched it. I’m very tired of US so-called politicians. 

F called after 5:30 and said he was on his way. I went down to the kitchen around 6 pm and got started on dinner. F got back around the same time that I came downstairs. 

Tonight I did toaster oven chicken with a tandori coating, steamed cabbage, kabocha salad and regular salad. We had that with rice too. Dinner was pretty good. I saved some for K’s lunch either tomorrow or on Thursday. 

I did the dishes after dinner and then went upstairs and watched Project Runway at 9 pm. Usually we’re on the way to the grocery store, but tomorrow is a holiday and I have no plans to cook!

I also watched Resident Alien at 11pm and it was a hoot. I’m so glad that we’re getting the end of it. Why is it that my cable channel is bringing on all of these good shows all of a sudden?  I’ve been thinking of cancelling it but now we are getting some final seasons of shows. 

F has gone to bed a while ago and I really should get to bed myself. When he’s off work, I try and get myself out of bed a bit earlier. We have no plans for tomorrow, but I’ve asked if we can go to Gyomu Supa as I need a few things for the kitchen. 

Come back later if you like and hear all about my day. Until tomorrow…. 

February 9, 2026

 Monday - Cold and snowy again

I woke up at my usual time, made a trip downstairs and then I went back to bed for a few minutes. I got up and dressed. F brought me a letter that had arrived from my bestie in Canada and then he was off again. 

I ate my quick breakfast and grabbed a mask and then went downstairs. It was nearly time to go. We all were ready and toileted when we went out to the car. We drove off to City Hall and were there quite early. Yay. F dropped K and I off and I walked her into the building. I had thought to wait for F in the entrance, but didn’t want K to stop while she was moving. I got her to move towards the part of the area that we were going to use and then F showed up and took over.

They took care of me first. I handed over my ID and got my new MyNumber card. Hurray for that? It was K’s turn after that but F had to help her with it. (Well, he had to help me too of course, so I can’t really complain.) She’s deaf and doesn’t understand what’s going on in new situations, so he needed to help her. 

We got her a card too and then we all made the trip back to the car. F suggested going for coffee to me and I thought it was okay. We drove over to Komeda Coffee and got seated quickly. We ordered a round of decaf coffee and a basket of kara-age which we shared. It was nice. 

We didn’t stay too long and then went back to the car and drove back to the house. We went in the house and F made sure his mother was okay. Then, F and I got back in the car and went to one of his favourite restaurants. On the way there I asked him where he’d like to go if the restaurant was closed and he named another place which I said was okay.

Unfortunately, F’s restaurant wasn’t open so we went to the alternative place instead. We had their lunch special which was tempura-don and some hot soba. It was quite nice!

I’d noticed that someone had broken my soap dispenser in the kitchen this morning, so I needed another one. I asked F to take me to S-Mall so that I could get a new one and I suggested either another coffee or an ice cream too. I went up to Daiso and bought a few things, including a new soap dispenser. F joined me and we went back in and bought a few more things!

We went downstairs to Baskin-Robbins and both of us had an ice cream. I had to wait in line for a bit , but it was fine. We both had their new Dubai Chocolate ice cream, the one that’s a collaboration with Godiva. It was very good!

F didn’t want to have a coffee again, so we left and drove over to Mina. We decided to get bentos again for dinner. I wasn’t going to volunteer to cook and F didn’t either, so bentos were what worked.

We bought some groceries and our bentos. Tonight I got a tonkatsu one, K got Katsudon and F got a squid one. We went back to the house and I unpacked the groceries. I went upstairs afterwards and chilled for a while. 

F came up after a while and then I went back downstairs around 7pm. I heated up the bentos and a while later we ate. F was late getting to the table. K was a bit of a pain in that she doesn’t like starting until F comes, but she finally did. 

We watched the end of the news and then some Olympic stuff too. We’d seen it last night, so I’m not sure why it was on again. 

I washed the dishes and then did up the plastic garbage. I went upstairs when I finished and relaxed again. F came up a bit later. I took a shower after 10 pm and then watched an episode of Gen V. It was quite a good one really. 

And that’s about it. F and I sort of made up, but I’m still annoyed with him. I know he’s tired, the weather is making everyone tired these days. Heck, I’m tired too. 

Tomorrow F is back at work unless something else happens. However, he’s off on Wednesday due to a national holiday. 

Come back later if you like and hear all about my day. Until tomorrow….