November 29, 2012

Thursday - Cloudy, cool, and not rainy

I overslept a touch this morning but got up and watched House.  I had breakfast, and got on with my day.  F had taken out the bread this morning so I was able to have some yummy home-made whole wheat bread.  

I had a quiet day in for a while. I even took a short nap on the couch and used my new afghan. I was warm and comfy under it. It isn’t heavy, like I would have thought it would be, but it is cosy.  

After a while I decided to go out and do some banking.  I have a lot to do really. I needed to update a couple of bankbooks and then take money out of an account.  Sigh.  Still, I got it all done quite handily.  I enjoyed being out and about again.  The weather has been so bad lately that I’ve just stayed home.  

I ate a very late lunch at McDonalds. I read my book while I was there.  My friend gave me Predator, an older Kay Scarpetta novel so I started to re-read it. It’s been so long since I first read it that I’m not quite remembering things.  

I came home and did some scanning of cards.  I won’t have a chance to scan anything until next week.  F came home at 5:30. He wanted dinner right away, but I said I wasn’t hungry.  Instead he made himself ramen and then went to bed and slept.  Sigh.  

I woke him up around 8:30 to see if he wanted to eat finally, and he did.  For a change I put together the nabe, but F put the finishing touches on it for me.  It was quite good.  We had chicken and fish with tons of veggies.  We used a bought sauce for two people and it was great too.  Very mild.  

I did the dishes while F hung up his laundry, then we headed out.  We went to buy kerosene.  F forgot his money so I had to pay for it!  Then, we drove by my school and I turned on the heater’s timer for tomorrow.  Then, we hit the grocery store for a few items. It was only 3 things, but we were running low!  

We came home and I set us up with dessert.  We had warmed apple crumble with ice cream and it was yummy.  F enjoyed it.  We had some tea and watched The Good Wife. Well, I watched it and did a bit of crochet.  It felt good to use my hands again for wool work.  I’ve been needing the stress relief.  

And that’s about it for my day.  Tomorrow I’m back to work and I’ll have to get the final things packed for my trip.  I leave Saturday afternoon for Sendai.  

I’ll likely talk to you tomorrow night.  Bye for now!  Night.

October 16, 2012

Tuesday - Sunny and cool

A good day. I managed to get to bed early last night so I was awake quite early, and got up pretty close to on time.  Yay.  I ate breakfast, watched The Gilmore Girls and read the paper.  

Later on I took a shower and checked out all of the websites that I usually do.  I had a good morning at home basically.  Just before I started getting ready for work, I received an email from the hotel I wrote about yesterday.  They apologised for making me give them my ID to photocopy and said that they had re-trained their staff not to do that anymore.  Woot.  Hurray for me.  

I left for work a couple of hours early and made two stops along the way.  I went to the bank machine to update my passbooks and make some deposits and to the drugstore to do a little shopping.  

I was early at my school, so I made everything ready and read a little bit of my book.  I started The Grilling Season by Diane Mott Davidson today and it’s rather fun. It’s a fast read. I am already more than halfway done.  My student called to say she was coming but would be late.  F called to see how I was, so I told him that I would have a class, so would be a little late tonight.

My student came and we set our schedule, discussed a book she’d read, a movie she’d like to see, and then did a little bit of English.  There was only 20 minutes left when she arrived, so we actually did quite a lot!

After she left, I finished up and then called F.  He came to get me after a bit and I suggested going to Cafe Framboise tonight.  We haven’t been there in ages.  They don’t have a non-smoking section so when I was deep in my bad health it would have been difficult.  However, I was feeling better today.  Fortunately, they weren’t busy and no one was smoking, so I had the best of both worlds.  

After our meal, F couldn’t find his car keys.  He was panicking a bit, but we both realised what happened at the same time.  He’d taken his wallet out to pay and then put it back in his pocket on top of the keys.  He hadn’t lost them.  Whew!

We bought gas on the way home and then some food at the grocery store.  Tomorrow we’re going to have nama pasta with  shrimp and some kind of bought alfredo sauce.  It should be good. I’m looking forward to it.  

At home we had a quiet evening.  F watched something about skating and it was a bit odd for me to see Brian Orser on TV.  Odd, but in a good way.  

I watched Unforgettable which was cool because it had Jane Curtin in it as a Medical Examiner.  Haven’t seen her on TV in ages.  

And that’s about it really.  It was a nice day weather-wise and I felt really good.  I hope that I’ll feel better tomorrow too.  Got to go.  Night!

October 10, 2012

Wednesday - Warmish and sunny

A good day.  When I got up this morning, F was at the doctor.  I had a few minutes by myself so I had some breakfast, read some of the paper and watched some of The Ghost Whisperer.

He returned and we relaxed for a while, then decided to go over to my doctor around 11.  It was a good choice as most of the crowd was gone and we were able to be seen quickly.  To be honest, today I felt about the best that I have in weeks!  I still have pain, but I’m mostly feeling better.  The doctor gave me another week’s worth of medicine and sent me on my way.

We had lunch at the Grand El Son today and it was nice.  It was a little small, but lovely.  We both had local pork, with an apple vinegar sauce.  So nice.  It came with soup, bread or rice, salad and coffee or tea.  

After lunch, we visited Yamaya and bought a few things, then headed over to the Chido Museum to see the art exhibit there. It didn’t move me as much as the last one did, but it wasn’t terrible.  I liked a few of the pieces on display.  

We made a quick stop at the post office for me to take care of a little business.  I had to mail off something for a friend, and pay for an event I’m going to next year.  It should be fun. I hope!

We came home for a while and F had a nap.  

In the evening we went out for dinner. We had planned to go to Grado, but they had a private party going on (why didn’t they have their closed sign up then?).  We dropped off my old newspapers and then tried going to an Italian buffet place.

We were able to be seated quickly.  The last time we went there I ate entirely too much and felt sick afterwards, so I took precautions today!  I didn’t have my usual carbonara (too filling),   and when I hit the buffet, I purposely filled up more than half of my plate with salad and veggie sticks.  It was a good plan. I avoided a lot of the heavy carb foods, so didn’t feel too bad when I was done.  I did hit the dessert table, as did F, but even then I wasn’t too bad.  Hurray.  

We bought a few groceries at the store on the way home. I’m going to make a stew tomorrow, probably in my crockpot.  Although I might make it on the stove and put it in the fridge for a while.  Decisions, decisions.  

We came home and had a quiet evening in. I watched Castle and then Grey’s Anatomy.  I followed up those with House and Bones.  The latter two I didn’t see all of as the reception on the channel is awful.  

And that’s my day.  I felt much better today than I have in ages.  I finished the book I was reading, The Wise Woman (and didn’t like it) and got more medicine.  Tomorrow is a real day off. No classes and no husband, so I can relax a little hopefully.  Night!

August 20, 2012

Monday - Hot and Sunny (Getting boring isn’t it?)

An okay day. 

I got up this morning and took a shower, watched The O.C. and then pre-cooked the broccoli for dinner.  F likes it cold and I don’t mind it that way. 

I wrote up a couple of postcards today too, and then took them to the post office just before 5 pm.  Some of my cards are finally travelling. I do have one that seems to be stuck.  Bah.  

F came home at his normal time and we relaxed for a while.  I cooked dinner after a while and it was quite nice.  We had couscous, salad, chicken and broccoli. 

After dinner, we relaxed some more and watched Ocean’s 11, then I watched Rizzoli and Isles followed by Torchwood.  It’s darn spooky/scary.  Typical of the way I feel about Dr Who as well.  

That’s about it.  Last night before going to bed I finished my book Wake Up, I’m Fat by Camryn Manheim.  It was okay, but I wouldn’t say it was great.  She’s quite a character and I’d love to meet her, but am not sure the book did what she wanted it to do.  

Tomorrow I think I’m going to go for tea or something to the mall. Maybe I’ll get started on my Journal article for this month.  I have a lot to do in the rest of the month that is remaining.  

That’s it for me.  I hope tomorrow is a good day too.  Night.

August 12, 2012

Sunday - Hot, muggy and cloudy

A not very good day at all.

I got up this morning briefly and then went back to sleep.  When I finally got out of bed and went through to the living room I wasn’t talked to much as someone was watching the Olympics.  

Finally we decided to go out for lunch and as usual I was asked where I wanted to go.  I listed off about five or six different places/types of food in the area that we could have, but F countered with a different place, Patio in the mall.  I can have pasta there and he can have ramen.  Figuring that it must be where he’d really like to go, I say okay.  

We get there and notice they have a lunch special.  It sounds quite good.  Soup, salad, pasta, home made bread, a non alcohol cocktail plus coffee for 1050 yen.  Quite a good deal really.  F said he’d probably have that, so I thought I would too.  Get inside, he changes his mind to ramen.  I ordered the lunch special and get my first course quickly.  He waits about 20 minutes for his to come.  Rather than talk to me he pulls out his cellphone so I told him that I’d stopped carrying a book because I didn’t want to be as rude to him as he was to me.  He got angry.  Didn’t want to talk to me at all.  I ate, he ate.  I liked my food for the most part. He didn’t.  Quelle surprise.  

We went home and he stormed off to the bedroom. I had just started to watch The Listener when he came out of the bedroom to watch more Olympics.  Sorry dude, my turn.  When the double shot was over I gave him back the remote.  He put on the Olympics and after an hour of it I went to take a nap.  Didn’t sleep, realised I was hungry.  Decided to wait and see if he’d ask me about dinner.  He didn’t .  Decided to go out by myself.  

He asked me where I was going so I told him.  After a mini-spat he decided to come along too.  We had dinner at Jiro tonight and things gradually got less frosty.

After dinner we briefly visited my school to pick something up and then bought some groceries.  We were going to have curry for dinner tomorrow when F saw some cheap steak instead.  So, it’ll be steak with salad and maybe mashed potatoes if I can find the mix I have somewhere.  

Came home again and asked if we could watch View from the Top, a movie about flight attendants.  I thought F might like it because he’s plane obsessed, but he didn’t really watch it.  It was okay.  Mike Myers was in it, but was doing schtick so it felt dumber than it should have.  After the movie was over, I surrendered the remote again and F went back to the Olympics.  So glad they are almost over.  Just don’t care anymore.

I wrote a couple of postcrossing cards today, one to Switzerland and one to Australia.  It’s my first time sending to Australia so I’m quite happy about it. I also finished Bartimaeus - The Ring of Solomon, my latest book.  Good fun.  F will be back to work tomorrow and I’m rather glad to be honest.  No big plans for my day, but may go out in the afternoon if the weather holds.  It is supposed to rain which I’m hoping won’t happen.

That’s it for me.  Got to go.  Night.

July 27, 2012

Friday - Hot and sunny, humid

A good day.

I got up and watched SATC this morning and it was a funny one as usual.  Prom Queen, the mini show that comes on afterwards was also at the Prom this time, so it was quite exciting too.  I have to work out how to tape both on Monday so that I can find out what happens!

I had a quiet day at home today. I re-watched Torchwood and really enjoyed it.  I have no idea where they are going with the story.  I love that!  Later in the day, I decided to go out to the mall.  I realised that I hadn’t eaten all day.  With the humidity and heat, I just don’t get hungry like usual.  I biked off to the mall around 4:30.

I had a nice sandwich in Doutors, this one was chicken and nama-ham with avocado, and a Royal Milk Tea.  I didn’t really taste much avocado sadly.  I started to read my Bartimaeus book and am enjoying it so far.  After a bit of relaxing time, I went to the hundred yen shop and picked up a few things.  I visited the grocery store, but didn’t see anything that I wanted for myself, so I decided to come home.  I was home by 6:30, in time to watch Nigel Slater!

F called to say he was back and after a couple of errands, would come home.  He got home around 7 and then wanted some dinner.  The original plan, which I liked by the way, was to grab a few prepared things from the grocery store then come home and eat them. However, F didn’t want to do that anymore, so we went to an izakaya for dinner. 

We had a nice meal with an assortment of foods.  He kept trying to get me to eat deep fried foods, but I wasn’t in the mood.  The only thing that we had that was deep fried was the nankotsu.  I like that!

We came home after dinner, watched an episode of The Dog Whisperer and then F went to bed just as Desperate Housewives came on.  I’ve only seen him once since then.  

Tomorrow I have a couple of classes and we might go and see Batman after I finish work if F is up to it.  I’d like to see it, but I also feel a little odd about it.  Still, I don’t blame the movie for making a madman do what he probably would have done anyway.

That’s about it from me.  Night!

July 26, 2012

Thursday - Hot and humid

A good day.

I went to bed early last night so managed to get up at a reasonable time for a change.  I was up and watching SATC when F popped home for a minute to bring me some tai-yaki.  Yum!  He brought me a German Potato one and a custard one.  Very nice husband!

I had a quiet day at home. I did a couple loads of laundry and then hung them up.  I also took a nap for a while. I get so tired when it is this hot.

In the afternoon I read a bit of my book and ended up finishing it tonight. It was The Hunger Games and I really enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to getting the other two parts.  It was so much more enjoyable than Twilight.

F came home and we vegged for a while.  We talked about dinner and finally decided to go out for Sushi.  We went to Kappa tonight and it was still busy.  Still, it was quite nice and we enjoyed our meal.  We had many different kinds of sushi and some cold chawanmushi that was very good.

We tried to buy groceries after dinner, but there was nothing I wanted to make.  Finally I suggested that we come back tomorrow and get some of the cold roasted meats that they sell. I think that would be a nice dinner.  

We watched a bit of TV tonight. I watched The Listener. It’s a Canadian show that actually is set in Canada.  The killer in the episode I saw came from Edmonton and they kept talking about Edmonton so I laughed at it a lot.  

F watched the end of his Airport movie…this was the Concord one.  It was okay, but I think we have the dvd.  And that’s about it really.  I was reading, F was relaxing before he took his shower.  He’s in bed now and I think I’ll try and get to bed soon too.  I haven’t been sleeping that well with the heat.  

I hope to go out under my own steam tomorrow. I’ve been stuck in the house for the weather for a bit too long.  Wish me luck with that.  Got to go.  Night!

July 16, 2012

Monday - Hot and sunny, cloudy

A good day. I got up fairly early this morning, in time to watch SATC. I’m not sure if F thought I was crazy or not though!  I took a shower afterwards and then we thought about lunch. 

I suggested Restaurant Futaba, and that’s where we went.  They were quite busy so we sat at the counter.  Our meals were…okay.  I had boiled pork.  F told me it was probably shabu-shabu meat, but it wasn’t. It was boiled pork.  It was a little odd, but okay.  I’m not sure I’d ever have it again though.

After lunch, F had to take his mother to visit her brother, so I asked to be dropped off at the mall.  I thought he’d only be gone for a while, so I hacked around for a while, then went to Doutors and had a tea.  I finished the book I was reading, The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory. I enjoyed it. I was always a fan of Mary, Queen of Scots and this novel didn’t really change my mind.  I liked the play between the three different characters, Mary, Bess and George.  Bess was the wife of George, the man who was charged with being Mary’s jailor.  He put himself into serious debt with Mary’s needs and wants.  Bess was a sensible and hardworking woman who had married 3 times, and always bettered herself along the way. Good characters living in a difficult situation. A good read. 

Anyway, since my book was done, I decided to go out and shop a little more.  Then, when it came to 2 and a half hours in the mall, I decided to walk home.  I had just decided that I couldn’t wait any longer, when I saw F coming towards me.  I don’t know why he couldn’t have phoned me.  Anyway, we had another tea and then we bought a few groceries for dinner.  

We came home and F got busy on dinner.  It was around 6:30 when he started, and it wasn’t until 8:30 that we were able to eat.  He did a lot and I really shouldn’t kvetch too much about the whole thing.  He cooked a lot of fish tempura style, grilled a couple, made miso soup (instant), and cooked some vegetables in tempura as well.  Dinner was better than I expected.  He even did the clean-up afterwards, which he didn’t have to do.  

I watched Sherlock and enjoyed it, but between the fan, the AC and the dishwashing, found it hard to hear what was going on.  It took a while before my ear acclimatised itself to the fast British speaking. 

Watched a bit more TV tonight and also did up a couple of postcards to get mailed out tomorrow.  These ones are off to places in Europe.  I hope they arrive soon.  

And that is my day.  I had a good one, surprisingly.  Yay.  F and I managed to get through the weekend without a major fight.  I’m impressed.  Got to go.  Night!

May 10, 2012

Thursday - Cloudy and then rainy

A bad day.

I got up this morning on time, checked email, got dressed and then went out.  It was cloudy, but not actually raining.  I put my rain cape in my backpack, just in case.

I biked over to Machi-kine and when I was crossing a busy main road on my bicycle, my handle bars started wobbling in a very scary fashion.  So scary that I coasted to a halt and walked my bike the rest of the way to the theatre.  

I went in, paid my money and bought my popcorn and drink (aka breakfast) lost and then found my ticket, dropped all the coins out of my purse, picked them up and went into the correct hall.  

The movie was great. It was Mike Leigh’s Another Year and I really enjoyed it.  No guns, no car chases, just interesting people.  Roger Ebert said something to the effect that he would like to be friends with the two main characters and I completely agree with him.  They were lovely people.  Mike Leigh films are more about people than events…basically it was about a year in the life of a middle aged couple, their son, and their relatives and friends.  It starred Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen, plus Imelda Staunton had a bit part in it.  A great little film.

After the movie I left the theatre and went over to my bike. It was raining a little, so I put on my rain cape. I walked off with my bike. I was hoping to make it home.  The handle bars came off about 100 meters away from the theatre.  Sigh.  I found that if I held the handle bars in my left hand, and the headset* of the bike in my right hand, I could walk the bike quite easily. I had to steer with my right foot….kicking the tire in the direction I wanted to go.

*I have no idea if that is the right word. I think it is…I looked at lots of labeled bike parts, but can’t be completely sure.

I made a few stops. I bought some food at a bakery, went to the bank to update a passbook and text my husband.  When he got back to me, we discussed what to do.  There was no bike rack at the bank, so I decided to continue on my way to the mall.  It was raining harder and I was getting more tired. I hadn’t worn great shoes for walking in, so my feet were getting more and more sore.

I made it to the mall finally and parked my bike.  My arms were like jelly and I just felt exhausted. I had walked a very long way with my bike. I went into the mall.

I had a restorative tea and sandwich at Doutors in the mall and read a little of my book.  I just finished Box Socials by W.P. Kinsella and it was great.  I can’t believe I hadn’t read it before.  I’ve written about this before on the lovely Jen’s blog, and on Shelfari, but the book was set in an area very close to where I grew up in Alberta.  Many of the bigger villages, towns, and even some of the cities were places that I knew well.  It wasn’t the same timeframe of course, but cool nonetheless.  He even mentioned my college. 

After I felt better, I did a little shopping and then decided just to walk home.  It was miserable out, but I couldn’t see staying at the mall until F came home.

I got home and spent a quiet couple of hours alone.  F came home at his usual time then headed out again to pick up my bike and take it to the shop.  Or so I thought.  He came back and announced that he’d fixed it.  If the weather is okay tomorrow I’ll have to check it.  And even if it isn’t okay, I really should.

I cooked dinner tonight. It was quite nice. We had salmon meuniere, couscous salad and salad.  It was all quite nice, if I say so myself.  F did the dishes and I watched some TV. 

We were having a peaceful evening.  I wrote a sympathy note for a person in AFWJ, I watched some TV and then I was getting ready to go over to the couch when I got myself some water from the kitchen.  I found the cutting board sitting in the basin wrapped in a towel.  F was bleaching the cutting board. No problem. He does that from time to time.  The problem was that my teapot was also sitting in the bleach.  I got rather annoyed.  Very annoyed actually.  I have NEVER asked him to bleach my teapot. In fact, I have asked him on more than one occasion NOT to bleach my cups or teapot.  I can’t stand the smell of bleach and I don’t like the way it affects my things.  He got very angry and told me that I should smash my teapot then.  It went back and forth for a little but then I got the silent treatment.  

I didn’t go over to the couch for my daily crochet session, I stayed where I was.  I was angry and a little scared at how angry he was.  

Suddenly though, he started asking me questions about his computer and languages, as though nothing had happened.  I didn’t really understand it.  

He went to bed a couple of hours ago but I’m still up. I’m bone  tired and really didn’t need all the aggro today.  Hopefully things will be back to normal tomorrow night.  I have to go.  I’m tired.  Night.  Zzzzzzz!

March 31, 2012

Saturday - Rainy

I got up this morning a bit after 9 and showered. F stayed in bed and didn’t get up until after I’d taken my shower. I was a tad surprised, but it was his day off. I was a little perturbed when he didn’t get dressed until 11am to be honest. 11am is the time that we usually leave the apartment.

We went to Gusto and I had the avocado burger again. Yum. It was really good. F had fish and seemed fairly happy with it for a change. He had a cup of tea right around 12 when we usually leave. Sigh. Do you think he realises that Saturday is my work day? I’m not sure that he does.

He dropped me off at my school and I got busy. I set things up for my first student and her mother. When they came, we had a good class. I was really ready for the student today and we had a great class. I was quite pleased with her.

After our class I had a break for a couple of hours. It got stretched a couple more hours when my second student cancelled due to her work. In my free time I did paperwork, worked on an art project, read the newspaper and started reading a book called A Tiny Bit Marvellous by Dawn French. It’s really funny and I read around 100 pages today.

My third student of the day came a couple of minutes late and we also had a good lesson. Sad to say it was her last lesson as she has just finished high school and will move to Sendai to go to university. Today was the first time in a long time that she wasn’t stressed out and talked to me. I didn’t have to drag words out of her today. I’ll miss her. I realised that I’ve been teaching her for four years.

After my clean up and paperwork time, I got ready and called F. He picked me up and we went to Fireball for dinner. He was very out of sorts tonight. He brought a postcard from home for me, but when I tried to tell him about it, he called the waitress instead. Nice move. I put the postcard away because he obviously wasn’t interested. We had a nice meal. It wasn’t the best I’ve ever had there, but it was okay. I had a pasta dish with salmon and mushrooms in a Japanese style basilico sauce. F had chicken with rice and had some of my pasta. I had a bit of his chicken and it was very juicy and delicious.

We came home after dinner and had a quiet evening in. F is having problems with his eyes, as am I. His are worse right now. He’s getting sick from scrolling his computer and even the TV is making him feel a bit sick. He went to bed soon after I started watching TV. He did get up a bit later, but only for a bit.

I’ve been up for a while and should really go to bed soon. I’m quite tired in a way, but don’t feel like bed yet!

No idea what’s planned for tomorrow. I hope we find something to do, but the weather is supposed to be bad. Wish us luck! Night.

March 26, 2012

Monday - Cold and rainy in the am, clearing later on

An okay day today. I woke up when I heard the door close.  F had made one of those sneaky trips home that bug me so much. I wasn’t awake yet, but he had gone out and then come back. Grrr.  

I got up and had a quiet day at home. I did a bit of laundry, made the bed, little things.  I watched Girl, Interrupted this morning.  Angelina Jolie was really good in it, but Winona Ryder wasn’t bad either. I think she had a tough part because she didn’t get to act all crazy or have a severe problem like other people.  I didn’t like the movie much.  I don’t really understand why she needed locking up but….

In the evening I checked the mail and found 5 postcards.  I had received 4 at once, and one was for F.  I photographed them and posted them right away. I even blogged them for a change.  

I had some extra time to myself tonight as F was working late. He called me just after 5 to say he’d be late.  I told him I’d start dinner at 7 and eat it whenever I finished as he was planning to have some ramen with his coworkers.  

I was a bit late starting dinner, Project Runway and my Dick Francis novel got in the way, but at 7:45, F still wasn’t home.  I made the couscous, set the table, cooked the chicken, boiled the water for soup and tea.  I had dinner on the table in a few minutes.  It was pretty good too.  I had one hand for my book and one for my chicken, so it worked rather well too.  I had just started the Epilogue of the book when I heard F at the door.  Honestly, he has crappy timing!!!  10 more minutes, or 2 minutes earlier and I’d have been fine.  

I had just finished eating before he arrived, so I invited him to have a bit of food and I did the other dishes I used.  He had some dinner, and then I washed his dishes.

After a little bit, we went over to my school to set the heater for tomorrow.  I’ve got early afternoon classes.  

We came home and I watched Harry’s Law and did a couple rows of crochet. First time I’ve done any in days and it felt good! F was in bed before midnight I think. I’m still up, but hope to go to bed soon. Oh yes, before I forget, my book was Even Money by Dick Francis and Felix Francis.  It was good Dick Francis. I wouldn’t say it was my favourite story, but I did enjoy it a lot.  He described areas around Sydney that I knew and it was spot on.  Yay!  

Night!

March 5, 2012

Monday - Rainy

I’m sorry about last night. I was so tired that I went to bed early for me, around 1:00 am.  I got a good night’s sleep and I am ready to start blogging again, so I hope you’ll bear with me.

Convention was great.  My flights to Takamatsu and back went smoothly and I didn’t have any problems along the way.  At Convention this year I was able to relax and spend time with my closest mates and unwind.  I even got to do a bit of crocheting with other women which is a real treat for me.

Today I had planned to sleep in. I did sleep in more than I was able to the days I was away, but I really got up at my usual Tsuruoka time!  I spent most of the day in front of my computer dealing with email and other pressing matters that I needed to take care of.  I also finished the book that I read on the planes last night, Sarah's Key.  I liked it a lot.

When F came home at night I told him to check the mailbox.  I’d sent him a postcard from Takamatsu. I thought it was very cool that it arrived so fast.  I asked the hotel to mail it on Friday morning, so pretty good really.

We had dinner in a yakitori shop. The Yakitori shops around here don’t just do chicken, pork is more common.  We had a few skewers of meat and some oolong tea.  Very nice.  

We checked my school afterwards and discovered that the tiles at the top of the front steps have broken.  Colour me so surprised.  I also got a few flyers at my school and a bill for next month. Yuck.

We came home via the grocery store. I’m going to cook tomorrow night.  F actually said it sounded nice. I hope he’s not going to change his mind again.

Watched a bit of TV tonight and then F went to bed a little early. He’s not feeling well again. He keeps worrying that he got the other type of flu!  I hope not!

That’s it for me. Got to go. Night!

January 11, 2012

Wednesday - Cold and snowy. Windy too.

Went to bed last night quite early for me. I was rather surprised by that to be honest, but I knew that I’d have a busy, tiring day today, so it was for the best.

Today I got up, showered, all that good stuff. Although my class didn’t start until 4 pm, I knew I had to get over to the school to shovel snow and get my parking space cleared out. My intended time to leave home was around 1pm.

I managed to leave a bit after 1, probably around half past to be honest. I went via the bank machines to make a couple of deposits and then continued on my merry way. I got to my school, dumped my backpack, grabbed my shovel and “dump” and spent the next 30 or 40 minutes or whatever it was, shovelling snow. I cleared off the front steps of the building, all the way out to the road, and also did my parking space. There was someone parked in my space, but it was one of the cleaning crew and he moved his van when I asked him. Another tenant was opening up the gate area. The snowplough comes along there and blocks it every time they do our side road. When I finished my space, I tried to give him a hand, but he’d already done most of it. Around 3 pm, I went back into my school and got set up for work.

My student showed up on time and we had a good class. I hadn’t seen her for about a month due to her work, so it was nice that we were able to catch up. She also chose a textbook for us to use, which is a big relief for me too. We were using newspaper articles, but her topics were quite difficult to find for me.

After she left I cleaned up, did paperwork and read the newspapers. I waited for F to phone me but he didn’t. It was close to 7 before I started texting him and then I finally called him after 7. He’d been home for ages, but had been shovelling snow with the neighbours. I felt sorry for him to be honest, but he knew what time I finished work and I’d asked him to call me when he was off work.

He picked me up and we went to Cocos for dinner. It was quite nice and we shared a pot of their monthly tea. It was yuzu tea and was very nice, especially sweetened a little.

We came home and after F watched his craptastic fighting show, I watched Private Practice and then UK’s Next Top Model. I like the model’s accents, but don’t really care for the whole premise of the show.

That’s about it for today. I ordered the textbooks for my student, and also got a bookmooch for the first time in ages. I got a message that a book on my wishlist was available, so I mooched it. I now have my own copy of Miss Happiness and Miss Flower AND Little Plum, both by Rumer Godden. I credit Miss Happiness and Miss Flower (and James Clavell’s Shogun) as major influences in my wish to come to Japan. Crazy eh? Got to go. Night!