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….

February 8, 2026

Sunday - Cold and snowy

I had hopes that this would be a good day, but it wasn’t. Sigh.

I got up late because it is Sunday and we didn’t have any plans at all. I got dressed and waited for F to come upstairs and say what he was planning for the day. He came up and said that he’d had lunch with his mother so he didn’t need to eat. I was a bit surprised, but went downstairs and got some yogurt and had my cereal and yogurt upstairs. 

After I finished eating F came back upstairs and asked if I wanted to go out for lunch. Huh?  I said yes. Since F didn’t really need to eat I suggested going over to Gusto. He could go the the nearby hardware store after, I could go to the import food store. 

We drove to Gusto and after a few minute wait, we went in. I had my favourite mushroom pasta with a side salad and the drink bar. I also ordered my birthday dessert…unlike the other place, they make you pay for the dessert! F just had dessert and drink bar. 

Our meal was fine. My pasta was delicious and afterwards my ice cream was good. We paid and left.

F went to the hardware store, I went to the import store and F met up with me later. I only bought some tea, F came in and got some calpas…a sort of spicy snack sausage. 

We drove over to Mina and bought some bentos for dinner. F picked up a couple of other things too, and so did I. He got stuff for himself, I got a sandwich for tomorrow morning.

We relaxed at the house for a while. F did some snow shovelling, I put away the groceries. I went upstairs and F came up later too. 

A little before 7 I went downstairs and started heating up the bentos. I washed some glasses and also set up the table and turned on the heater in the living room. F came down a few minutes later and got his mother up. We ate our bentos while there was a review of the Japanese skaters at the Olympics. They did pretty well.

After we finished eating I offered to toss a coin with F to see who did the dishes and he got really angry with me. I was really surprised. I mean…what the heck? He thinks that it is my job and well, I’m not that impressed with him at the moment. 

I did wash the dishes and bento boxes, but I went upstairs and didn’t talk to him the rest of the night. He came up a bit early and didn’t talk to me either. 

I watched a show off the DVR, the one I missed last night, The Hunting Party. It’s okay, I’m not sure about that show really. I’m only in about 3 episodes today. 

Since I turned off the TV I’ve been watching YouTube and doing my end of day stuff. 

Tomorrow F, K and I are going over to City Hall to get my MyNumber card and to register K for a card. We need them now for going to the doctor or getting medicine at the pharmacy. I think they are horrible if I’m honest. The system still isn’t perfect and there have been cases where people get the same number and things like that. 

I’m not sure what is going to happen, I hope that things go well in the morning. To be honest, I’m really looking forward to F going back to work. Unfortunately, Wednesday is also a national holiday, so he gets another break then. Sigh. When do I get a break from him? I know, I know…he’s usually a good guy but too much togetherness drives me nuts!

That’s it for me for today. Come back later if you like and hear all about my day. Until tomorrow….

February 7, 2026

 Saturday - Colder and snowy

I woke up early this morning when my alarm went off. I got up and went downstairs slowly as I could hear that F and K hadn’t left yet. They did leave before I made it downstairs so that was good. I didn’t get in their way. 

I went back to bed and slept for a while. When F got back, he came upstairs and I said, “Hi” but went to sleep. He left the room. He came back upstairs a couple of hours later and we started to talk about lunch.

I got up, then dressed. I went over to my computer and F went to the bed and ended up falling asleep. He slept for a couple of hours. I didn’t want to wake him up as I thought he needed his sleep. Finally, around 2 pm I woke him up/he woke up and we decided to leave. I listed off a couple of places and we decided to go to Kissa Marina.

Kissa Marina is a little restaurant near our doctor’s office. I like it, F isn’t a huge fan. We went there and were able to get in. The waitress told us that they only had one serving of pasta left. Since my favourite meal there is curry on rice, I bagged that one! Then, F tried to order pasta too. The waitress told him he couldn’t have it! I was surprised because I understood basically what she meant, why didn’t he?  He ended up having their soup curry. He actually liked it, or said he did!

After our lunch, we really didn’t have much time before K would be back, so we came back to the house and waited for her. I filled up the kerosene tank for upstairs and took it up the stairs. We prepared for going out a bit later too. 

After K came back, we went out. We went to the grocery store and picked up some bentos for dinner and then a few other groceries. Then, we went to the gas station and F filled up the kerosene tanks.

We came back to the house and I heated up the bentos. We had a pretty good meal. F and I had kara-age bentos and K had a fish bento. We all shared some yakitori too. 

I asked F about the movie tonight but he said he didn’t feel like it. No problem. Then, he changed his mind! I quickly did the dishes/washed the bento boxes and then we headed out to Mikawa.

We left around 8pm and the movie was at 8:35. Normally it wouldn’t be a big deal, but the roads were a bit slippery. F drove carefully and we got to the mall in about 20 minutes which was really good!

We went in and upstairs. We bought our tickets and then some popcorn and went to our theatre. We went to see The Running Man tonight. I liked it a lot, F wasn’t so fond of it. He’s not into action movies like I am. I’m not sure if I enjoyed it more than the Arnie one in the 80’s but it had its moments. 

After the movie we left the cinema and drove back to Tsuruoka. We talked about stopping at a conbini but decided not to do that. Back at the house we went in and F heated up a couple of nikuman which we ate upstairs. We bought them at the grocery store earlier. 

F went downstairs after a while and watched some Olympics, I stayed upstairs and watched YouTube and also had a little text session with my Bestie. I actually wrote and mailed her a letter today so I had to be careful that I didn’t tell her all the stuff in the letter!

And that’s about it for me for today. I’m not sure what we’ll get up to tomorrow. Come back later if you like and hear all about my day. Until tomorrow….