This That and Whatever Comes to Mind

Running errands...a productive 2 hours

Another hot day...the temps have been in the 80s and 90s for almost 3 weeks now, and with the humidity over 80%, it's been uncomfortable, to say the least.

So I decided today to try and get all my errands done at once:

• bakery: a nice sesame loaf for the next few days and today's breakfast of a raisin and Camembert cheese bun (raisins in the bun surrounding a chuck of cheese) and a cream bun (custard cream in a soft bun)....made a cup of raspberry flavored black tea about 20 minutes for my travel mug before leaving the house, and it was just the right temperature by the time I ate on the way to central Yokosuka
• office supply store: ran out of yellow ink in my printer yesterday, only to discover I had already used the yellow in the set I have, so on top of a full set of ink cartridges, one separate yellow
• gas station: filled up my tank (18.8 liters/approx 5 gal...half a tank) for ¥2388 which, at our present yen rate of ¥85 to $1 comes to $28.10 or $5.62/gal
• car dealer: my remote key has been acting up, taking 3, 4, sometimes 5 clicks to lock/unlock...had a new battery installed in 5 minutes for ¥500...talk about service...I pulled in the parking space head first, and the salesman actually turned my car around so I wouldn't have to back into traffic!
• post office: sent off 2 books I sold through Amazon Marketplace...checked my account balance to find a student paid me early for our next 10 lessons, bless her heart!
• convenience store: paid off July co-op purchases...next month, should be an automatic bank withdrawal...bought a few snacks while there...bad habit, I know

After sitting in the air conditioned car for a couple of hours, I just couldn't open up the apartment to the heat and humidity and have had the A/C going all afternoon. The sun will be down in an hour or so, at which time I will open the curtains and all the windows and turn off the unit...if I don't do that, I will never get to sleep tonight in my un-airconditioned bedroom....^-^

A late lunch, some reading (rereading Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke for the 3rd time...), a nap (Zip, my dog buddy from next door kept me company), here and there on the internet, and now it's almost evening TV time. Just another day in the life!

A quiet Friday afternoon

A gray day...quite warm with high humidity...a preview to the monsoon season which is forecast to start next week in the Kanto area where I live. Unfortunately the rains are very necessary to help the rice grow...at least, it's a warm rain, although some days can be a little chilly....will keep a fleece pullover out just in case.

Went to Zushi this afternoon...had to go to the banks, and I was surprised at how quiet it was around the station and the local shopping area. I mean, it's Friday which is usually not a good time to go to any bank, especially in the afternoon....long lines are a given. But today, I didn't have to wait at either of the banks I visited! Proof, perhaps, that the economy has not recovered as much as the government wants us to think....

Had lunch at Lapereau for the first time in 3 weeks...cabbage and potato pasta with anchovy sauce...trust me, it tastes oh so much better than it sounds with super crunchy garlic scattered throughout. A couple of older ladies were at the other end of the counter, and they talked and talked and talked the entire time I was there...I had to laugh as they bowed to me on my way out...their way of apologizing?

And of course, the big news today is the start of the 2010 World Cup...football to most of the world and soccer to those of us from the US. Not a fan, but still excited that it's all happening in Africa! Go, South Africa...you've done a great job so far, and I will be watching with the hopes that all goes well throughout the month. And may you go all the way to the top!!! Wouldn't that just be so wonderful?

Running out of new material to read...picked up Stranger In A Strange Land for the umpteenth time, but debating whether I really want to read it again. It's the only Heinlein I kept when I cleaned out my shelves some years back...I guess because it's the first of his works I read...back in 1967...when I lived in LA that year I took off from college. I can still remember how shocking it was to my 18 year old psyche and how it pales compared to the DH series of today, for example. Still a good read, though...yes, I think I will continue with it.

Ah, the sound of the ocean...one of the best things about this time of year is being able to sit with the window open on the beach side of my apartment. It's only a little after 9, but sitting here listening to the waves washing up on the shore is making me very sleepy. Guess I will take Zip home early tonight and go to bed myself....my next door neighbor's fox terrier comes over a few nights a week to sleep on my sheepskin for as long as I let him....more on him another time.

Come to think of it, my first lesson tomorrow is at 6:30...gads, what a way to start off my Saturdays! G'nite, world!!

A lazy day

Sundays and Mondays are my days off...yesterday my landlady invited me to a Hot Cake lunch with our mutual neighbors, MI Ha and Mo...Ha is 4 and Mo will be 2 soon. Mi is their mom...we had a great couple of hours gabbing and eating and chasing around...little kids have such an amazing amount of energy and an equally amazing talent for using that energy to come up with ways to get into trouble. The food was good, the conversation was enjoyable and I had a great time playing...no need to worry about what kids think of you cuz they come right out and tell you on the spot which is very refreshing! Laid down for a nap after I got home...slept for almost 2 hours!!

This morning turned out sunny...not exactly warm as there's a cold wind blowing...time to get the laundry done as the nice weather isn't supposed to last. Of course, about the time I got the last load out on the line to dry, the clouds starting rolling in...just my luck. Have been blogging and tweeting and facebooking...plus reading a little bit more of the DH Companion. I love how I can blog on Typepad and with just a couple of clicks, have the same post show up on Twitter and Facebook... the internet is truly awesome!

Debating whether to take a nap or make a cup of coffee...I think I will do the latter and get back to work on catching up with my Kiva loans. I have a world map up with pictures of my borrowers who are working hard to repay their loans. When they complete their payments, I move them out to the wall in the hallway...however, I've been slacking off since November...most of the people on the map are long done with their loans. 

So up and away to the kitchen!