We did another late sleep in today. I called my folks in San Diego to get the update on their situation, and it sounds like my grandparents are still having a really rough time. My folks are having a tough time, too. Not only do they have to deal with all the problems down there but they are both sick and they sound very, very tired. I hope that things will calm down soon.
Kuniko and I drove to my school in Takasago to get some things out of my desk. The only trouble was that the school was locked – we couldn’t get in. We did see that somebody’s books and shoes were next to an open locker just inside the door. Kuniko remembered the code from when she worked there, and so I got in the front door. I walked down to the staffroom and startled a teacher there doing some computer work. He literally jumped out of his chair when I walked in.
From there we mailed off a few more New Year’s cards and then came back home. We did some heavy cleaning of the bathroom, and enjoyed a nice mellow afternoon. In the evening we went to Sushiro, a conveyor belt sushi place. Every plate is 100 yen, so I wasn’t expecting much, but it turned out to be really good. I thought it was better than Rikimaru, where I usually go. For the price you really couldn’t beat it. Kuniko and I ate 21 plates of sushi between us. My favorite was the duck pastrami on sushi rice with onions, and Kuniko’s favorite was the Katsuo yuke – it was really spicy and delicious.
On the way home we bought some traditional Japanese desserts, and ate those while watching TV and staying warm in the kotatsu. Tomorrow is another day off – December 31st. I think we’ll probably go over to Komori sensei’s place for a soba party, but after that it’ll be a quiet evening at home and then Hatsumode at Miyakuriya shrine near our house. We may see the master of the yakitori there, too. Should be fun…
