December 22, 2024

Sunday - Snowy, Sunny, Rainy, Snowy


I had a quiet morning today. I woke up around 10 am and F was still in bed. He was on his computer at that time. I went downstairs and then came back up to bed. He got up and made his mother something to eat. 


We had talked about going out around noon and it was a little later that F came back and we talked about going out. I suggested going to a nearby restaurant, and F was okay with that. We went to Toen, the Chinese-style restaurant on the other side of the park. We went, were able to get a table, and had lunch. We shared an order of fried rice, fried chicken and gyoza and it was quite nice. We paid and then drove out to the Mikawa Mall.


We found a great parking space…right at the mall side of a row…and went into the mall. We made a beeline to the washroom and then started our shopping. We took the other person up to the department of our choice and tried a few things. I got F to go first. He wanted a work-style shirt and he tried it on. It was fine. I found him a casual plaid shirt, blue with salmon stripes and made him try it on too. I got that one for him too. Then, it was my time. We went over to the large-sized ladies' department and looked around. I suggested that F pick something that he wanted me to try on and I picked a few things to try. I went into the changing room and tried on a few things. The shirt that F picked for me was a yes, and so was another one that I found. F was nice enough to get me the two shirts. Mine came to slightly more than his did.


We put our shopping in the car and then went and had a drink and a doughnut at Mr Donut. F wasn’t feeling too well today and spent a while in the washroom. I felt quite bad for him.


I suggested going off and getting each other another present or something like it that we didn’t know what it is so that we have some surprise on Christmas Day. I’m not sure if F liked that idea too much, but he went with it. We agreed to meet up in about 45 minutes. 


I went to the grocery store and picked up a few things for me and also for him! Ha ha ha. I did check out other parts of the store and another whole store but didn’t find anything that I wanted to get him. Sorry, dear!


I got to the meeting place 1 minute late, but F was nowhere to be found. I gave him a few minutes and then sent him a text to see where he was. He was in the washroom. While I was waiting for him the weirdest thing happened. I was looking at my phone and I felt a tug on my coat. I thought it was F and I turned around and it was a Japanese lady. She had 3 or so kids in tow. She was pulling down my coat as it had got caught up in my purse/backpack. It was the strangest thing! What was she thinking? We sumimasened each other and off she went!


F and I finally met up and both of us went to the washroom and then went back to the car. We drove into Tsuruoka. We eventually ended up at Mina, the nearby grocery store. I got F to come into the store with me. He transferred his points on his card so that he could use them and we went shopping. 


I picked up quite a few nice and expensive meats and cheeses for our Christmas meal and something for K’s dinner and lunch, and F and K’s breakfasts for the next couple of days too. F got himself some adult beverage and I got a sparkling grape juice for Christmas dinner. Our shopping came to over 10,000 yen which was a bit of a surprise, but at least we didn’t have to pay cash for it!


We went back to the house to put away the groceries and give K her dinner. We had talked about driving to Fujishima to see the lights in the park. I had asked F if he wanted to take his mother and he said no. Okay, no surprise. He got his mother up and heated up her bento. 


I went upstairs and relaxed for a bit. A few minutes later F came upstairs and said that his mother wanted to go with us to see the park lights. I was surprised that he asked her, but he did. We left a few minutes later.


We drove off into the wilds to go to Fujishima. We got there. F found a parking space, but it was quite far from the lights and it was a little cold outside. I suggested that we NOT make K go walking outside to see the lights. She’s 88 y’all. She doesn’t need to go walking in the ice and snow. We did a few slow drive-bys of the park and then came back to Tsuruoka. I asked F if we could go to Gusto for dinner but let me hit up a Daiso or hundred yen shop first. I wanted to get a few last-minute things for the Christmas table. He was okay with that. 


Back at the house, we dropped K off. F was nice enough to see her inside and make sure she was okay before we left.


We did go to Daiso. I was surprised that F came into the shop, but he did. I got a couple of tablecloths, some festive but not Christmas plates, and some other things for Christmas and me. F got a couple of munchy things for himself and I got a lot for myself. Then, we did the self-checkout. I’ve got used to that store a bit, but I really dislike doing it. The English is so loud, but it is a bit funny too. 


Then, we went over to Gusto for our meal. We got a good table and ordered while checking our apps for coupons and deals. F noticed that there was a spicy chicken on for half price, so we both decided to have that. F had his with rice and drink bar, I had mine with drink bar and then I added on an order of fries to share. With that, I ordered two servings of mayonnaise. When the robot brought over the fries, there was only one serving of mayo. Oh no! We called the actual waitstaff and they brought us the other one. Then, when the chicken arrived, we realized we didn’t have any cutlery! We had a container of chopsticks but needed knives and forks for the chicken. We had to call the waitress again. It was no big deal and we were nice about it so got our stuff quickly. 


Dinner was quite nice. The fries were fresh and just about perfect, the chicken was grilled and just the right kind of spicy. It was good. 


We left around 10pm. F paid, using the machine and managed it quite well for a change. It’s a complicated one if you want discounts (we do) and also to collect points (we do). Still, it got done.


We came back to the house and I put away some of the Christmas Table stuff downstairs. I brought the rest of the stuff upstairs.


We had a fairly quiet evening in. I watched an episode of Loot as I was feeling the need to laugh. It was okay, not the best episode though. 


F has gone to sleep and I’ll have to try not to wake him up when I go to bed. I think we are both afraid of how much snow there might be tomorrow morning. This seems like the first big snow of the season. I may have to do a lot of snow shovelling tomorrow. I hope not, but you never know!


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

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