August 28, 2007 - Tuesday

Warm and sunny, with a bit of humidity again.

An okay day. I got up quite early for me, and was delighted to find that there was English news on the telly today. I watched it, and felt very out of touch.

After my shower, I was sitting at my computer when the phone rang. I answered it and it wasn't a wrong number or a student cancelling, it was a guy who used to work for my ex-company. I'd only met him once, as I was in Otaru when he worked in Sakata. We chatted for a while. That was interesting. Fumihiko has spent more time with him than I ever did. I think we'll try to get together soon.

I headed off to work a bit early today. I wanted to get to work a bit before 4 and I managed. Yay me. I turned on the air conditioner and then did some cleaning. I vacuumed the school and then did a bit of dusting too. It needed it. I've been there in the school more off than on this month, so it was getting a little worse for wear.

I had two classes today, and they went quite well. I was happy with them both. After my last class I did a bit of cleaning up...as in washing dishes, then I left with Fumihiko.

We went to Hana, the Japanese restaurant near my school. It was okay tonight. We sat in a place where we couldn't see the menuboard so it was a bit different for us. Usually Fumihiko reads the entire fish menu to me, which does not endear him to me. I like fish, but I'm not often in the mood to order fish when I go out. However, I was tonight. I picked my favourite Japanese fish, gindara, but he kept pointing out other things like sashimi or tonkatsu. Don't get me wrong, I love sashimi, but I have to be in a certain mood for it. And, I'd had tonkatsu a few days ago, so I didn't want it again. I just wanted gindara. That is what I ended up having, but it was a tad annoying to have to hear the whole menu.

[Helen's rant about Fumihiko] My husband has the annoying habit of reading the whole menu to me. Very often here, menus are in katakana, which I read quite well. Admittedly, I need help with many kanji, but usually I can understand the general idea. My husband reads me the things on the menu. Not the things he thinks I'd like, but the whole menu, including things I don't like and will never order in a million years. He's even read menus to me that have English on them. If I'm in a good mood I just laugh at him, but when I'm not, or I'm a bit tired, it's too annoying for words. ARGH. [End rant.....for now!]

We went to the grocery store and I picked up a big piece of pork. I'll probably roast it in my slow-cooker. I have a good recipe for it. I was in a pretty bleh mood at the store, so didn't get very much. I may have to go back tomorrow and get more stuff!

We came home and spent a quiet evening drinking decafe coffee and relaxing. It was nice way to end the day. We may go out tomorrow or Thursday, I'm not sure. A lot depends on our schedules.

Anyway, I'll talk to you tomorrow. Night night.