This was a nice, relaxing Sunday. I slept in until eight a.m. or so, and around ten o’clock Jane came downstairs with breakfast for me as kind of a thank you for all the help I’ve been giving her over the last few days. She worked on my computer while I leisurely ironed shirts, and then I cooked up some curry and rice for both of us for lunch.
Around noon I left Jane hard at work on the computer and went down to the yakitori to meet up with one of the guys, who drove me to the softball fields on the Mitsubishi Heavy Industry property on the southern peninsula of Futami. There we met up with the rest of the yakitori gang who were getting ready to play a couple of games of softball.
As soon as I walked on the field the other team started looking over, and then they sent someone over to me to ask me if I was on the team. I shook my head, and the guy smiled and went back to tell the other team.
It was great to see some of the guys – I haven’t been to the yakitori so often since my return from America, and we had some catching up to do. Everyone was warming up in their expensive uniforms – I noticed that while most of the players had their last names printed on the back, the master had “MASTER” printed on the back of his.
The game was off to a rocky start, with our pitcher struggling to find the plate. He gave up five runs in the first inning, and he was pretty embarrassed about it. He made up for it in the last inning by hitting a grand slam to win the game. The other team was a little upset with their own pitcher.
I had a great time just sitting in the sun in shorts and sunglasses enjoying a good game. After all the pressure from yesterday it was nice to just relax and spend a few hours watching a ball game.
The master had to go to work after their first game, so he gave me a ride back, and I went home. The only other thing I did today was run to Carrefour to do some shopping for later this week. I picked up some great sushi for dinner, and also a couple of cold beers that looked good.
This week is going to be pretty social for me. Tomorrow (Monday) I’m meeting the group of ladies in Takasago for lunch and some chit-chat in English, and then that night I have my Japanese class in Kobe. Tuesday I’m hosting Antoine and Struan for BBQ sausages and red wine. Wednesday I’m having dinner with Carrie, but I’m not sure where yet. Thursday is dinner at a couple of ALTs, Chelsea and Timote, who are a couple of stations away on the Sanyo line. Friday is Japanese class again, and I’m hoping that I can meet up with Kuniko Friday night. Saturday is my secret project stage II interviews in Kobe. Sunday, seven days from now, will be my next free day.
