Tuesday 12/31

This is the final day of 2019. Thank you 2019!

Another sunrise

Monday 12/30

Have a lunch date with Kenny this day.

Sunrise Check out the moon!

Sunday 12/29

Enjoy a drive in Atami and then back home.

Adults playing dominoes

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Satruday 12/28

No Puzzler. Visiting Atami with family this day.

Okegawa Sun Arena gym

Christmas Recital NEEDS PIC

I teach at a nursery school in Kawagoe on Wednesday mornings. Last Sunday they had their annual Christmas show. This time they held it at a Public Hall. It has a stage and large hall for plenty of moms and dads to see their little tots performing on stage. Of course, they all performed an English skit with me. The kids are 2, 3, 4 and 5 years old. So, I was on stage four times. It started at 10am and finished around 3:30pm. There was a two hour lunch break. The two year old and I sang the ABC song. They also had to find picture cards that I called out. They ran on stage: that was cute. The three year-olds and I sang "Deck the Halls". I sang the song and they sang the refrain. The four year-olds and I did a skit where I was looking for a dog named "Bongo". The final group and I did a skit where I was a villain (Bad guy) who stole their treasure. I gave it back when they were able to successfully do an English conversation, two by two. Also, each group had to introduce themselves as well as with me. It was a lot of fun and the kids were very, very cute...of course. As for me, I wore three different hats for the four performances. Finally Santa Claus was on stage to give presents to all the kids. I got a ride to Kawagoe station to take the train home. Merry Christmas!  

A night out

I went out drinking with a friend, Mark, a couple of Saturdays ago. He's Japanese. I have known Mark since about 2010. He was one of my students when I taught an adult lesson in Omiya. He's a cool guy and he knows so much about everything. We have been out drinking quite a few times. (We went to Daitoryou in Tokyo in October.) This time we met at Ageo station at 6:30pm that Saturday. Our first destination was the Kita-no-Kuni Baru. It has an Italian menu and a lively atmosphere. We had a couple of beers and then some shochu. The food included raw oysters and spicy seafood. Ｗe left after an hour or so.  Next we headed to SAKANAYA. This place is pure Japanese. It is down the stairs in a cellar. Dark. We had some Sashimi and sake and shochu. Here everything was delicious. We sat in a corner table in a quiet and relaxed atmosphere. Finally we took a taxi to our usual last stop. It is a Bistro (snack). There are a lot of interesting characters here. Many customers sang karaoke. Everybody knows everybody. I drank whiskey here. Mark sang a song. I did not. But I do remember coming home! Thanks, Mark.

Tokyo Adventure on Wheels Part 3

Now I was free to drive to Tokyo station. I looked at my map. Again, it was a piece of cake. I could follow Meiji Douri until it runs into Route 1. That route will go straight to the Imperial Palace. I have discovered that many roads lead to the Imperial Palace. For example: Shinjuku Douri, Yasukuni Douri, Roppongi Douri, Sakurada Douri, Aoyama Douri and  Route 17, just to name a few. The traffic was light. It was not backed up anywhere.  I passed by Tokyo Tower which I knew I would. I arrived at the Palace in no time. Then my two lanes veered right. I followed them. But OMG! I was then in the left turn lane. I had to back up! It was illegal and just a little but I did it. No police. Safe! Then I followed the road to Tokyo station. There I parked in front of Oazo Marunouchi Building. I went in and got a quick lunch at a Soup Restaurant. Then I bought two Shakespeare books at Maruzen. It was time go home. I checked my map. The entrance to the highway was quite nearby. I found it in Nihonbashi and entered. I drove straight home. I celebrated my adventure back home with a beer and some sake. All's well, that ends well.