What's up over here...

Last Friday, Noah came home from school beaming, just beaming you guys! He and the rest of his class had made miso paste a while back, but last Friday each and everyone from their class brought home a container of it. His teacher and he and his class made labels and everything. Noah said so proudly..."it looks like it came from the store mama!" : ) Awww. I told Noah, "oh yes, I see that...it looks *so* professional." I said. "Will you use it", he asked? "Oh of course!!!" How could I not! : ) "Remember when Bran made some with his class?" "Yes", he said as he held on tightly to his miso paste. This package right here. : ) I did black out the name of the school and their class's name for the project this year. : ) I am planning to make miso chicken this week. Tomorrow  actually is when we will be having it. : ) But we will be sure to use up every last dot of this, so I imagine we will be having miso chicken and miso pork quite a bit, until we finish it. : ) It makes the boys so proud, when I use it. : ) 

What oh... what did I do yesterday? Monday. Well, first thing, is I woke up at 5:30am. Had a hot coffee, and read through my emails. Read any online news etc. And then at 5:50am, went upstairs, woke up Bran first, and then Noah. Laid out Noah's outfit. Made sure his gym bagged was packed and contents were packed away. Yes they were, I just always have him pack his bag and books the night before, just to be safe. And I went downstairs. It's 6am-ish now. I go in the kitchen and turn on the radio. Listen to some tunes. And make 2 lunches. Have the lunches packed and sitting in the genkan by 6:30am. The boys come downstairs unload the dishwasher, their chore every morning. And they eat. Cereal and toast. Get them sent to school. And come home. Vacuum the downstairs right away. Looks like it badly needs it. Swish the downstairs toilet. Do 20 minutes on my treadmill. Not jogging but brisk walking. Turn it off and run upstairs, jump in the shower. Wash and condition my hair, wash my body and face. Get out of the shower, put my facial moisturizer on right away and I now have a towel on my head. And I get dressed. Go in the sink area upstairs put some foundation on, concealer, Mac Mineralize powder, some blush and do my eyebrows. Blow dry my hair. Grab my phone and leave. I go to a discount grocery store first, they have cheap drinks and cheap snacks. I then go to Cainz, then to the cheap meat store and the regular grocery store and head home. I do pick up snacks for the boys to have at home because duh...there's kids here. And they come home sometimes from school, super hungry sometimes not hungry at all. And if they should want a snack, I like to have one. Rice crackers. Some cola gummies and some cookies. 

These are probably my favorite cookie in Japan. Cookie on one side and chocolate on the other. However it's not just some random cookie or some random chocolate that make these so good. The flavor of this cookie is so good. Such a high quality cookie, like a *very* good cookie. and the chocolate is the most creamiest and smooth...high quality chocolate. These are just so good. And definitely worth a try. These are really good though. : )

Last week, when I was at Costco in Inzai/Chiba New Town, while I was shopping at Cainz. I went to get a can or two of that super cheap salsa, pictured here. And was totally surprised that Cainz in Inzai no longer carries it at all. Why??? I am not sure but, gee whiz, this was like 117 yen like about $1 US. So cheap and very good. This worried me a lot because I wondered, did they pull it at the other Cainz stores? So, I did run immediately to Cainz after the discount store, yesterday to check. They still carry it. And to be safe...I bought 7 of them. Hope they don't pull this product. After this, I zipped myself to the cheap meat store. 

I bought a lot of meat. A lot of meat. Chicken for miso chicken. : ) And wings for wing night. Pork, beef. A weeks worth and then went to the regular grocery store. I bought myself 2 days worth of breakfast stuff for me, pictured here and 2 days of lunch stuff for myself as well. The expiration date on the pizza is Feb 5th or 6th and since it was barely Feb 1st. I thought that's a definite buy. Also bought some pineapple because I like to eat fresh fruit.

Salad for 2 nights of dinners. The baby mixed leaf was marked down. Again didn't expire, but was close to the date and was fine with me. : ) We had half of it last night with supper and will finish it with tonight's dinner as well. : )

The kids get a packed filling lunch by me daily for school. But breakfasts as I have stated on my blog for years, week-day breakfasts have to be quick and fast. There are Reese's Peanut Butter cup cereal, Jif peanut butter cereal, here to offer as well as Pop Tarts. But, I also buy snack breads and yogurts. That way it just leaves more options available for the kids in the morning.

Drinks for the kids. This is 650 yen or so for the case and it's tea with no sugar. Mugicha.

Cider was 100 yen and the Fantas were 118 yen. That's why it's called the cheap drink store by our family. Hahaha. : )  And we don't drink sodas every single night...but hey it's not torture-ville here either... but again we will have soda with dinner 3 nights the next week.  

Frozen veggies, ginger and garlic is for the miso chicken, I am making tomorrow. : ) Cheese is for grilled cheese for lunch and sauces, we always use the sauces. I came home yesterday after running all my errands and I had lunch at home. And got dinner prep underway right away. Rice made and set. And the meal prepped up and then swung around and picked up Noah after school. Bran rode his bike home with his friends from JHS yesterday. 

This morning, as soon as the boys went to school. I bleached the green counter down. And put the lunch dishes from this morning, that I just made and packed up...but the pans and whatnot...went into the dishwasher, right away. And then I vacuumed the downstairs. Just vacuumed yesterday but in 24 hours time... it was crazy all over again so I needed to vacuum the downstairs. And this bleach right here. First thing I did wash, I bleached the downstairs toilet. Threw the toilet mat into the quick wash and then hung it outside this morning on my laundry poles. I scrubbed and scoured the downstairs toilet this morning. After it was bleached, I then Mighty Duck-ed the toilet after that. I then vacuumed the stairs. 

Door handles. Thank goodness for those Kirkland antibacterial wipes. I wipe our handles in our house, once a week. Many kids at Bran's JHS have influenza right now. And he told me yesterday they said if 8 more kids come down with the flu, the entire JHS will be canceled. @_@ My kids get the flu shot early every year. So, I feel semi safe, but again it's not 100% and just to be safe...especially in winter, I like to wipe all our handles down. 

Vacuuming the stairs this morning. The house is looking all in order. Tomorrow, I will hit the upstairs. And also marinate the miso chicken early tomorrow morning. 

Oh and this is sort of funny. You know the town knows your... general schedule when they bring you the kodomo kai (kids club) booklet to my car while waiting at the plaza for the boys to get out of school last Friday. : )  Hahaha. It was my good friend, who lives a 1 minute walk from my house, she has a boy and girl twin who are Noah's age and in Noah's class. We always see each other Monday-Friday at the plaza as we pick up our kids. I do not wear makeup every single day. I do wear some... if I am running to a shop or store because I want to be presentable and don't want to look all busted and tired and haggard looking. But honestly...when I am just home...like today, I am not wearing a stitch of makeup. So...I was just happy that last Friday, I did have eyebrow mascara and some Neutrogena foundation on at least. That way I looked semi presentable. I was in my car, reading online news via my phone. And she knocked on my window and I rolled it down. And she was like...hey!" And I was like "hey"  so we chit chatted a few minutes and that was that. : )

In other news. Bad, worrisome, troubling news. My dad's computer has not made it to Guam yet. I am tracking that sucker and have been. It should have arrived between Jan25-28th. As you can tell it is now Feb 2nd and umm, no computer. The seller, a reputable 100% seller shipped it out, in good faith immediately. Like as fast as lightning. I see they paid for insurance for the computer etc. And I am sure he is tracking it, as am I. #1 this is bad because my dad needs his computer. However his brain dead computer is still hanging on by a thread. #2 this is also bad because Noboru is leaving for training soon. He will be gone a considerable amount of time. And while things like bills etc are not a worry because we have everything set up on auto payment. However there are still many things we have to get ready and prepare for, here at our house. So, we *really* need my dad's computer to arrive and so Noboru can get to Guam and set my dad up. So this is like a very big concern for us all right now. Where is my dad's computer? That's sort of the million dollar question right now. : ) And we are waiting. So waiting... with great anticipation would be a huge understatement.

What songs have I been listening to lately? Drop in the Ocean by Omi, it has a very nice island vibe. Twenty One Pilots, Stressed Out (this is Bran's favorite song as of right now) Dear Future Husband by Meghan Trainor is so catchy and we have been listening to that as well. Macklemore Downtown is a great song and the video is funny.

What have I been watching on TV lately? I watched the new TV show called Lucifer. I read online how bad it was. How you shouldn't even watch it. They had been airing the commercials for it and so, I decided to make up my own mind. I watched the first episode. And I liked it. Have also been watching Teen Mom OG. I had read online that Nicki Minaj had tweeted how she thinks Farrah from Teen Mom is a *itch to her mother. I didn't think too much about it. And then that night I caught the episode she was referencing to. All, I can say is OMG! Nicki Minaj was so right. Farrah is so verbally abusive to her mother it seriously makes me sick. Seriously, if you can find the blurb on YouTube anywhere... definitely watch it. Farrah had asked her mom to watch her daughter for 1 month. Her mother is a great fantastic grandma and she said, of course! However, Farrah being Farrah started pulling a power trip. And then it all boiled down to. She asked her dad (her parents are divorced) to watch her daughter for the month instead and then she told her mom in this crazy rant at the table...how you need to respect my rules. And respect me and do what I say. And there is the grandma saying while crying..."I do respect you Farrah" and Farrah is not backing down. However the grandma doesn't want to fight at all. And she is going off on the grandma. and the grandma is in tears crying at the dinner table. It's just verbal abuse. And I always feel so sorry for Farrah's mom. Why is Farrah so mean? I think it is so clear to any of us watching Teen Mom OG how Farrah treats her mom like dog crap. And it's just so sad. She does not deserve that. 

Tomorrow Bran has a big test, he has been studying his brains out for weeks for it. And guess what? I have just been emailed from the JHS, just this second. That due to influenza, the test is being canceled for tomorrow, so postponed basically and will be in March instead, this is only for both 8th grade classes. The other grades at JHS still have theirs tomorrow. @_@  In a way it's good news because it gives you more time to study. But in a way...with it being so delayed...also it could be a chance to forget stuff too. @_@ 

Finals are done! We can all relax now! And an interesting thing happened, while at Costco...

The hills are alive...with the sound of music...tralalala! : ) Okay so the finals for the semester are now officially done and over with! Oh thank the lord! We survived to tell the tale, ya'll. : ) So the finals were Wednesday. I picked up Noah from the plaza first and then we sat in the car while waiting for Bran to get out of school. While waiting for Bran to come out...all the JHS kids we saw walking or riding away from the school looked so happy. Like they were on cloud 9! I think all the kids were feeling RELIEF. Relief the tests were done and now all their brains could take a rest. I sat in the car and then I saw a group of 8th grade boys walking and sure enough that was Bran and friends. Bran was smiling *so* widely with his friends and laughing. Then he waved them good bye and came to my car. He jumped in the car and was like this picture! "I am so happy, to be done", he said. "Oh honey...I'm so happy you're done too." Now we can all take a rest now. "No tests until August", he said. So...huge feelings of relief. Noah in the back seat asking..."how did you do Branden, how did you do?"...Bran said...we all had to write that certain part of the "Tale of the Heike"...but I totally knew it, he said! Oh thank god, I said! : ) How was the English?! I asked. He said..."I know I didn't miss even 1...it was so easy", he said. I told him, "yeah for you. it's easy!" Hahaha. We chuckled. When we got home, Noboru was waiting. We were all really brain fried as a family and physically exhausted...so that day/morning Noboru and I decided to go to Costco Wednesday night. That way we could eat a cheap dinner. I would not have to cook, because honestly I stayed up so late with Bran the night before...I felt zombie-ish all day. All of us did, well except Noah. He was bright eyed and bushy tailed! : ) Besides we were out of popcorn and we needed cheese for our Friday nights pizza dinner too. Noboru asked Bran...how was the math? He said he felt really good about it all. So....we all sorta just stopped talking about the finals after about 7 minutes and we didn't talk about them anymore for the rest of the night. I think because we're all fried. Branden the most... since he did mostly all the work, though we did help and stuff too. At this point...you just say to yourself, it's now out of our hands and so, like I always say..."it is what it is." He'll get the tests back soon. But...knowing how his past scores were...and how much work went into it...I know he did amazing. So to Costco, Chiba New Town we went. Wednesday evening. 

We ate first and then shopped. We did this because... sometimes if you wait to the last minute...towards closing... the pizzas sorta suck and could be old. So, we thought it best, since it was an hour and a half before closing, for us to eat first. So we did that. Boy oh boy, does Bran look happy here! Like a huge cloud, has been lifted. He can now be a kid again and be free...no stress or hour upon hour...to study his brains out... until right before the next test, of course. : ( He needs this rest, from now until August. : ) Noah meanwhile was getting a refill, so he's in the back of Bran in this pic. : ) 

Popcorn, needed for movie nights. Black pepper (finely milled) was almost out, only had about 2 pinches left, glad we have a new one now. : ) Chocolate milk straws, my boys love these! Lovelovelove these! Mozzarella cheese for Fridays pizza night. Nutella. And one of my American/western friends in Japan kindly emailed me a week ago and told me..."Gina please try those cinnamon rolls at Costco, they're new and they're the bomb dot com!" Of course she was totally right! So, we bought them yesterday evening. They were Noboru's, Bran and Noah's and my breakfast this morning. And I have to say....thank you for recommending them to me. They're so good! Thank you! : )  In fact, I may go and get another piece in the kitchen right now. : ) I love when people rec me stuff from Costco Japan. Love it! : ) Or even from regular stores in Japan. Love food recommendations, especially if it's good yummy stuff. : )  If I could rec'd stuff from Costco Japan, to a person who has never went to one before? I'd suggest..well... they're oldie but goodies (not new products)...I'd have to say buy their rotisserie chickens. The flavor is seriously so good. I have not even bothered making roasted chicken myself again after buying theirs. Also the tiramisu at Costco Japan is the best! It just is. I love it, so much. Also the big hunks of Colby Jack cheese, Kirkland brand, it's about 300 yen cheaper than buying Tillamook here. And so for me..I'm cheap, but I still want a lot of cheese, so I just prefer save the 300 yen and buy the Kirkland store brand one. : )  

You know he's a good kid, when he holds his mama's Prada bag...so she can snap a "cart pic" that's a really sweet boy, right there! Both boys are real sweethearts. : ) I spotted choco covered marshmallows at Costco Japan. And I must say...I love chocolate covered marshmallows. I love them so much! They were only like 1000 yen, maybe 1090. Like $9US, but a huge box. I resisted and did not buy them. But...I really debated with myself over them. Maybe when I go back in 2 weeks, I'll buy them. I also wanted to buy Reese's peanut butter cups, but...hell to the NO.... am I paying 2000-2100 yen for a bag. I'll wait until I am in the states in July. That's just too much money....$20 for chocolate. I'll hold off on that. : )  So anyway we are just really happy now. No stress. No study cram sessions or finals test stress. Sorta feel like, we can all breath right now. : ) *happy sigh*

See this shocked kitty picture? Well something funny...or weird, happened at Costco last night. So we were walking to go and stand in the Costco food line right, to order our dinner. 2 slices of pizza for Bran, etc etc. So, there was a Japanese family in line...followed by a large family, about 5 kids (all daughters) and a mom and dad, the parents were speaking Spanish. And a Japanese lady behind them and then us. The family with Spanish speaking parents...all their daughters only spoke Japanese (most likely their daughters were all Japan born and schooled here). Anyway as we walk up...and fwiw (for what it's worth) you could just tell they had never been to Costco before...and you can hear the kids saying...what should we order...I don't know what to pick, they were just ...."very deer in the headlights"...being there, you could tell it was their first time. They were speaking in Japanese. Anyway, I was happy seeing them...I'm happy seeing anyone no big deal though, you know...they were foreigners and I am a foreigner too. I go to Costco a lot so, I'm used to it. But...they turned around and looked at me and gave me the cat face expression. Shock! Utter shock. Which their expression, surprised me a bit. Fellow foreigners, being shocked by my foreignness? Is that a thing now?  @_@ Hmm. Okay. : ) So they ordered...the kids ordered for their parents. And then the lady in front of us went and then it was our turn. I also must point out...the seating area was 100% full. As in..we could either stand and eat...go and eat outside with the mosquitoes or sit at the table behind the Spanish speaking parents and girls. So we sat behind them. Ages. Yes...the parents looked to be...early 50's in age. The oldest kid looked around 16 years old The 16-year old daughter sat directly behind me. And her sister next to her. And the parents were facing the girls. I speak English...I speak English with my kids and my husband. And...that's just the way we roll.We just don't change our dynamic no matter where we are, or  who we are around. You know every family is different. Their family went...the kids speak Japanese. And quite loudly, I might add, you'll understand why I say that in a minute. And the parents spoke in a quiet hush...Spanish (not sure why, I personally think Spanish sounds so super cool!!!) When I was speaking to the kids. My kids. Their table went dead silent. I also must point out...I smiled at them a few times...because well, I am friendly. But they were just gobsmacked, shocked. : ( But you know...we were eating and like Noboru asked Noah...do you want me to go and get you some ketchup on your hot dog, while you fill my cup. Noah would answer..."sure, which drink do you want?" So...we are alive...right... so we have to speak, communicate somehow. Bran meanwhile was eating his pizzas and saying we should get some ice cream, which yes we did. This is all happening in English. So anyway all our 4 are sitting and all their family is there now too...one of their daughters around Noah's age. She was a real spitfire by the way. : ) She said very loudly in Japanese to her family..."mama are they gaikokujin too???" It's a much politer term than saying gaijin, though I don't personally mind either term. : ) Keep in mind because their kids speak in Japanese...we can understand EXACTLY what they're saying. So not even a second after she said that....Noah who is sitting right next to me and right behind the girl who just said that...he turns his head...so fast it's amazing Noah didn't get whiplash. Branden immediately heard it as well and looked at their table. The parents were...mortified. Those poor embarrassed parents, you guys...you could just feel their pain.  They were so mortified they didn't even answer her or reply! Shocked to silence, they were. I was hoping Noboru wouldn't reply because he's just not as tactful, as I am. Hahaha. : ) You could hear a pin drop though between our 2 tables.

Thoughts? I love kids! They're so refreshingly honest. And they're so refreshingly curious! That's exactly why I went to university to become an elementary school teacher. My love for little kids. They're amazing! And I hope that little girl *never* looses that. Was I offended by the question? Absolutely not! Yes, little girl, I would have gladly answered her, with a great big smile...*I* am a gaikokujin, same as you... and how wonderful we both are, right...ne~ However...no, my 2 sons are *not*...they are hafu. Half Japanese and half American and so that's a little bit different. But we are all beautiful, am I right? And that's how I was going to answer the wonderfully curious little girl. I was sorta waiting for her parents to answer and I thought...as long as she was curious...and I was not offended... it would be a valuable and sorta cool thing to have a 1 minute talk about it, with her. And I'd want her to know..it's *good* that she's curious and she should *never* lose that! That spark...she should keep forever and ever! However...her parents...were terribly embarrassed...mortified beyond belief, you guys....and they looked still superly upset with her... when they were leaving the Costco. : ( Her parents didn't even want to make eye contact with us after that : ( Poor little girl. So because her parents chose not to answer...I didn't answer her either.

Also important to note...a Japanese family (young man and wife and young child) started talking about that family a split second after the Spanish speaking family left. The Japanese family was saying..."their kids were speaking Japanese." Oh Japan!!! @_@ They went on. What language were the parents speaking? The mom guessed Portuguese and said she thinks they were from Brazil, the dad guessed South America. Good grief this couple. : ( I whispered to Noboru..."I bet you 500 yen as soon as we leave...this Japanese couple with little kid will start talking about us too." Hahaha. : ) Noboru said in their defense (because you know, he does have to protect team Japan, hahaha)...they can't help it...where we live... "foreigners are still pretty rare." That word just floated above my head for a few minutes.  I thought...rare...hmm. Are we rare? I meant me and the family who just left. Maybe....I don't know. I see me....on a daily basis, while brushing my teeth, I don't feel so rare to me, I see me all the time. Hmm. : )

Also during my dinner at Costco as if that wasn't enough excitement, for 1 evening, hahaha. A little 3 year old-ish age Japanese girl...saw me...while her dad was getting a refill of soda. And she waved at me and said..."hello" and I happily waved at her and said..."hello" right back. The young couple who likes to do commentary on foreigners, then smiled at me. @_@ Hahaha. : ) Being American that happens to me *a lot*....even once more while shopping last night. After we ate we got a cart and started shopping in Costco. A Japanese little girl around Noah's age... saw me and got this HUGE smile on her face. I swear...this stems from the NHK English kids programs, Japanese kids watch daily... in Japan...the westerners on those shows are so happy and bright and cheerful and so they instinctually/naturally think we're all nice and so they...love westerners. So in their defense... Japanese kids can't really help it... when they see one of us, in the flesh. It's like their 1 big chance, you know! : ) So she waves at me. And I wave at her. And she hops 2 steps. Think almost like hop scotch. And while I am with my cart...I oblige her... so I copy her and I hop 2 steps with my cart and she laughs. Her mother is pushing their cart and is oblivious that her daughter is playing with me. : ) She tilted her head left to see if I'd copy her and so I too tilted my head left too. And she laughed. Her mother still talking to herself... not realizing. Then her mom turned down an aisle...and I followed Noboru and he turned in the next aisle from the little girl. And she bent down to see me through the aisle...and I bent down and she hopped twice again and I hopped twice again and then I gave her a good bye wave...because Noboru was...going to a different aisle. Noah told me..."stop playing with her mommy!"...I told the kids..."I'm sorry, you know mommy can't help it"...kids in Japan see mommy and they immediately get happy and want to play with mommy. So they do understand and yes it did bother Branden too, when he was younger too. : ) It does drive my kids nuts sometimes! This happened at the Aeon about...2 months ago too when I was with B and Noah. 2 kids a brother and sister duo saw me in the drink aisle...and they squealed with delight and no I am not kidding...they ran to me and left their mother. She was in eye view. They said to me...hello hello!!! I stopped my shopping for a sec and stopped talking with my kids for a sec too. And asked those kids..."how are you...are you kids genki?" Yes, yes we are very very genki"...they said! Their mother comes running apologizing to me (In Japanese she is apologizing profusely...I am sorry they have bothered you, she said, I am so sorry, she keeps bowing)...I said..no problem. Totally fine..and what smart kids you have, I told her! She realizes...I'm nice. She sort of breaths huge sigh of relief. And we go our separate ways. Took only a second. My kids were irritated that happened... that day. And I do understand that...they want me just for themselves. They want it clear...I'm their mom and no one elses. I get that. But also from my end...for my defense..I can't just be a complete jerk to innocent kids either. That's just not who I am. That's not the type of person, I am. And I do like kids. And it's just for a sec. My boys though in their defense too... they want us to be able to shop in peace without kids...running to me and wanting to say...."hello"...to me all the time! If you are a westerner in Japan, you will no doubt have had that happen before. Not sure if that happens in the big cities where foreigners are more common... but here in the countryside/inaka, foreigners are...as Noboru said rare, so the chit chat does happen for me a lot more often... since there just aren't many of us around this area. Anyway so that's that. I think we're all caught up now right. You and me? : ) Have a fantastic day ya'll. : )

 It's Thursday here. I can barely wait for the weekend to be here. Noah gets out of school today at 3pm. Noah swam yesterday at his elementary school and he loved it. : ) Bran, gets out today at 4pm. We're having chicken teriyaki for supper tonight, salad, corn on the cob, it's so sweet and in season right now...and some rice. Friday/tomorrow night will be pizza from scratch. And Sunday...Sunday is celebration time! Time to celebrate the finals are done and dusted! We will be going to have yakiniku at our favorite yakiniku restaurant, this Sunday. We will also be doing some shopping for summer clothes for Bran, Sunday, in the day. Boy oh boy...is it nice that we don't have to think about tests or finals until August. I think it's going to rain today. Hmm, looks like rain, the way the clouds look in the sky right now.

Update...

Branden’s first ever semester final for JHS is tomorrow, June 26th. For the last 2 weeks Branden has been in serious study mode... kicking butt on the syllabus given to them 2 weeks ago. What sections/specific parts will be on such and such test (Social studies, science, English, etc). Testing wise his JHS tests he does reminds me *a lot* of how I tested in college/uni in the US. So..yep...he’s been working so freaking hard on his studies and I know he's going to be super happy after tomorrows tests are over and done with!!! Good luck Bran....kick it baby!!! Kick booty on all your tests tomorrow! : )

Weekend getaway this coming weekend. Ahhhhh (sigh of happiness, lol.) Relief. Boy do all of us need this! This whole month of June has been just super crazy. Seems we haven’t had a real 2 day weekend all month, isn’t that sad or weird or both, hahaha? First weekend of June was the kids club thing, which was fine. 2nd week of June was the swimming competition, still so proud of you Noah, you amazing little swimmer and diver you!!!! ; ) Last weekend, I was at a yakuin meeting from 7-9:20pm (June 21st). @.@ Whole evening just spent talking...making decisions of prices for the things we will be selling for the summer festival next month. The box of stuff to sell that we ordered already, had arrived and we went through it (glowy stuff, plastic swords that light up, water guns, idol cards for older kids, tons of other stuff) Should we charge, 50 yen, 100 yen, 200 yen? Man, we went through item by item. Again so many behind the scenes stuff happen before the summer festival. The bright side is...I don’t have another yakuin duty/job or meeting until July 19th, when we have the fireworks!!! So, now I am free for about 3 weeks at least. So...yay me for kicking butt at the meeting last weekend. : ) Phew. So yeah...we are all really greatly needing this weekend, you guys. : ) It’s just a little 1 overnight hotel stay near-ish Mt Fuji, but that’s okay because we REALLY could use a break.  : )

So something to look forward to... for this coming weekend, for sures. Goodness we need it, superly need it...just saying. : )

My dad...he is flying out Wednesday morning Denver time. Making his way to Japan and then to Guam. So, I will be tracking his flight via online and making sure he has a smooth trip. : ) So for us in Japan time, he is leaving for us.... probably around 10pm tonight... he will be either in the air from Denver to MN and then on his way to Japan then Guam, what a long flight to get back “home”, like I said though...around 9pm-10pm tonight for us in Japan is when his journey should be starting, he has an extremely long flight so good luck dad and have a wonderful trip, watch tons of movies!: ) 

Weather wise...It’s been raining off and on all day yesterday and today, where we live. : )

Alrighty, enough from me for now. : )