December 6, 2021

Monday - Rainy then clearing a little

I went to bed quite late last night, even for me. I was on a roll with my Christmas cards and I knew that if I stopped, I probably wouldn’t send a few. I do have a couple of in-Japan ones left to send, but I don’t need to send them yet. 

This morning, I woke up when my alarm went off and then decided to get up after it rang the next time. I must have fallen back asleep as I didn’t wake up. I did drag myself out of bed later, but it was much later. Sigh.

I went downstairs, I got dressed in casual clothes for now and then I got my breakfast. I came upstairs to eat and after a bit did some internet stuff. I also prepared all the cards for mailing. I sealed them and checked them off my list. 

When I had gone downstairs to grab breakfast, I noticed that there was a package for me in the mail. Woot. I took it upstairs. I had received the ornament that another woman had made for me. Or ornaments, since she sent two. She made a lovely pear and a partridge out of felt and embroidered them both. I really feel bad about not having a tree now. 

I went down to have lunch and saw K in the kitchen. She was up today. Good for her. I didn’t think there was much food for her so I made her some soup risotto that F had got for her at Costco. It was warm and hopefully good, so she seemed happy. 

I ate my lunch and then got ready to go out. I got a text from my friend that said she was on her way and I gathered a few last-minute things for myself.

She arrived at 3:30 and we went off to Starbucks for a cup of coffee (mine was decaf) and some great conversations. It’s been a while since we saw each other so it was lovely to talk. All too soon she had to go and she offered to drive me somewhere. I asked if she’d drive me most of the way to the post office and she would. She let me out at the conbini and we went our separate ways.

I went to the post office and mailed my Christmas cards. Wonder of wonders, the clerk spoke a bit of English (I didn’t need her to, but it did help!) She asked if they were Christmas cards and then said that they might not arrive on time. I already knew that, so just shrugged and said “Shoganai.” Hopefully, they’ll get there in the Christmas season at least.  I paid and then walked down the street and headed to S-Mall. 

I did a little hundred yen shopping there. I got a few plates and platters for Christmas. I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be washing many dishes on Christmas day. I got a few other things and then paid. 

F called me when I was on my way downstairs and said he had finished work. I went into Doutor and had a cold drink. I sat near the open wall into the mall and I started to get really cold. F arrived after I had finished my drink. He said he’d like one too, so I got us each hot drinks for my second round. 

We left the mall and went back to the house. It was around 7:00pm at this time and I expected that F would start dinner immediately. He didn’t. He had some paper that he wanted to find first. Of course, he didn’t find it, so he searched over and over again. Finally, close to 8 pm, I decided that I had to ask him to start dinner. I had no idea if his mother had eaten anything else since I had left this afternoon. She has access to rice and some cup noodles, as well as some food in the fridge, but she doesn’t always bother. 

He went downstairs and made the nabe. He came up later to tell me it was nearly done. I went downstairs only to find that the table wasn’t set and he hadn’t put out the glasses or the chopsticks either. I did that and thought a little uncharitably that I had helped him a lot more than he helps me lately!

The nabe was good. He used a bought sauce from Yamagata city…or Niigata and it was very nice. Quite different from our usual nabes and in a good way. 

After the meal, I did what F has done countless times to me. I got out of Dodge. I went upstairs and let him do the clean-up alone. I did put the drinks away, however. 

He came upstairs when he was done and was fine. We had a quiet evening in. I took a shower and then watched The Good Wife. Something is brewing I think (besides the end of the series.)

I watched a little bit of TV that I missed during the day today and then turned off the TV. I had a little time with F and that was nice too.

Tomorrow I have work again, so I’ll be out of the house in the afternoon and will also have to get groceries in the evening. 

Oh, and for getting through all of the above, here’s your reward! Today’s Advent calendar. Enjoy it!

Today's new building is on the left, about halfway down from the top. 
It is dark and has two chimneys. 

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