I had a really fun three days off this week. Tuesday I hung out with friends in Osaka, yesterday and today were spent walking holes into my sneakers through the temples of Kyoto. I'm too pooped to write it all down tonight, but I'll share these three little guys with you (from outside Tenryuji Temple in Arashiyama, Kyoto) in the meantime.  

Off to Osaka tonight after work! I'll be down there hanging out with friends tomorrow and then heading to Kyoto on Wednesday and Thursday. I'm hoping to enjoy sun and cherry blossoms but we'll see how the weather gods feel about that one. Pictures when I'm back!

"Hello!" from Rara (left) and Miina (right), two of my students. We went to the park today and had a blast! Check out the photos! 

I guess being sick isn't such a bad thing. Tonight I made a compromise- no running yet- but I took my camera for a long walk, instead. Now I can finally show off a section of the Sumida River, where I do all my running. This is only a sliver, so I will have to take more the next time I get sick! (or just walk more often). Anyhow, you can enjoy the rest of the pictures here. 

Ah- It's a new week and my boyfriend's back (there's that song in the back of my head again). Yes, Tom's in town again with a nice tan (or just more freckles) and some sand in his hair. I have a Blue Cacao T-shirt to show for it. And I may have backed a couple steps back from isolation induced insanity. :)

I thought it was going to be Spring soon, but then it started snowing yesterday... it isn't supposed to be snowing in Tokyo! Fortunately it didn't stick, but it still scared me- especially since I'd woken up thinking it was going to be warm and sunny. I didn't even have my mittens along!

and my friend Jaclyn (my long lost Nagano neighbor for those of you who've tuned in mid-stream...NOT myself in the third person), is now in Hawaii as a Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I'm still learning a lot from her (me Jaclyn still being a sociology nut), but in slow motion now as missionaries aren't allowed to use e-mail. Fortunately I can do some self-study as my very own Book of Mormon arrived in the mail today. I had a Japanese version, but I doubt I'd even understand the Bible in Japanese- and I know those stories! So yeah- for those who are wondering, Jaclyn's enjoying herself (her words, I'm not kidding) and now sharing her terf with three peacocks instead of yours truly (again- totally seriously).

Since I'm mostly over my disease, I'm back to shopping and cooking again. For awhile there I was having to force myself just to eat soup, but since my appetite is back I will renew my call for Easy to Prepare Meals. I'm in this somewhat stale rut of making one-pot wonders. They don't always come out of a pot, sometimes from a pan- but they are defined by being a meal in one chunk/pile/bowl of food. No side dishes...ever (unless you count ice cream as a side). For example- I have pasta with veggies, or a sandwich with veggies, or curry with veggies over rice. I suppose there's nothing wrong with that, but I live in the land where your standard meal comes in no less than 10 dishes- and I'm eating mine all mixed together in one bowl. Is this a bad thing? And yes, if I owned a crock pot I would definitely be addicted to it. Actually, I've heard of people sticking veggies in their rice cookers and trying to use it like a crockpot... but since I don't even have a rice cooker... I'm stuck. Any ideas that are NOT pasta or sandwich or something that requires an oven would be honored gifts to this stomach and kitchen. Thanks in advance. (giggle)

I'm still really stuffed up, but I'm happily back at work (doing my bit to spread the germs on to the next generation of victims)! I don't think I've ever been so glad to get back to it, honestly. ;) Please folks, take care of yourselves!!

Also excited to say that I've got my next trip lined up. It will be a short one, but I have March 29-31st off of work because they are the 5th days in the month (i.e. there are 5 Tuesdays, 5 Wednesdays, and 5 Thursdays in March) and our school only schedules for four weeks each month. So- I'm heading down to Osaka to visit friends- Machiko (the one who got married last fall) and Akko (who was my neighbor here in Tokyo until this month) and then to do some sightseeing in Kyoto. It will obviously be a short trip, two nights and a day in Osaka, two days and a night in Kyoto, but I'm looking forward to hanging out and to being a little touristy. Kyoto in spring is always a treat.

Still no word on whether we will head to Vancouver for Golden Week, we're holding our breaths to find out the fare but no news.

I spent the entire weekend sick. What a bummer. The grand total of what I accomplished: watched 6 of 7 movies (Pretty Woman, Dead Man Walking, Last Samurai, Monsters, Inc., Shallow Hal, and Mulan still have The Abyss for tonight). Finished a novel and am halfway through another. Trashed my apartment and cleaned it. Went through two and a half full-sized boxes of kleenex (or one whole garbage bag used, I think). Went to church and prayed for Mercy (I am completely serious).

I'd underestimated The Flu. It really, really sucks. I obviously have a relatively low tolerance for being sick... but this has been a very rough and lonely weekend. I'm thankful Tom is out of town (on the beach in Hawaii!) so he misses this bug... but boy could I have used some company. It is really tough being sick alone. Especially with no car.

I'm done feeling sorry for myself now, thanks for listening. Hopefully I'm also done with the flu! Stay well, everyone!

Had to head to the doctor with a serious "I'm going to die I feel so horrid" condition. Turns out I have Influenza B. I'm going to bed. Guess I'm not going skiing. boo hoo. Let's just hope I can get a refund on my $120 train tix. Sent the skiis there but that's apparently a done deal. What can you do?

I feel like poo. My job is officially hazardous to my health- am now slogging (hack, hack, ouch, shiver) through kiddie cold super-sized numero dos. gah. The goal is to survive long enough to go skiing on Saturday... That sounds like a good plan, doesn't it? mmmm... soup and tea for dinner & bedtime at 10pm for this chick.