よかったね

I was definitely enjoying the chance to sleep in this morning. I kind of drifted out of sleep around 7:50 in the morning. I was savoring the chance to lay there in bed with nothing to do, and gradually I noticed that there was an unusual amount of noise coming from people outside. Apparently today was a cleaning day, and I had ten minutes to get out there and help.

A couple of strategies went through my mind, including just laying there and pretending I wasn’t home. The only bad thing about that would be that I would have to hide for a while afterwards, too. In the end I just got up, threw on some work clothes and went outside to help.

I worked outside for about an hour, raking the occasional leaf, and then checked my name off the list and went inside. I spent the morning cleaning house and then called my folks and talked with them for a while. It sounds like their kitchen is taking much longer than they expected. It must be frustrating for them.

Kuniko got off work early, so she came to visit around 3 o’clock. We went over to Ito Yokado and picked up some groceries, and I got a fresh papaya to send back with her to her parents. They’ve sent me stuff lately, so I wanted to send something back.

Back home I cooked up some chicken breasts, sauteed in olive oil with lots of Italian spices. I also sauteed up some mushrooms, and Kuniko made up a big salad for us to share. For dessert we had cream puffs that Kuniko had brought as a present.

Throughout the visit Kuniko and I reflected on being together for just about a year now. The time really flies – we went on my website and looked up our first date. The changes in my life are well-documented on these pages, but Kuniko also has had a big year. She became a full time English teacher, she moved to Osaka, she got engaged to a foreign guy, she went to Australia, she passed the top level of the STEP test. What will next year be like?

Kuniko wanted to get back to her parents’ place to stay there, and it seemed like a good plan since I have to get up early tomorrow morning to do the STEP interviews at Takasago Minami. It’s getting pretty cold outside, so I made a couple of big cups of cocoa, spiked with Kahlua, and then we hit the road.

I saw Kuniko off at the Tsuchiyama station, and I just got home. I’m off to bed soon – it was a good day.


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