it's not life that matters but the journey...

for some reason, I've gotten a very bad allergic reaction to something and I've had what what resembles the hayfever I used to get in California:  I've been sneezing for the last two hours, my eyes are runny and I can hardly breathe!  I'm thinking it must be the dry air from all of these heaters we are using to keep warm.  I've just taken some benadryl (although I'm wondering what will happen to me - its almost a year past the expiration date!!), and I have to wait for its effects before I can sleep.  It may be a very long night.

meanwhile, I guess I'll take a few minutes here to write what I've been doing (and thinking, because I've really not been doing very much).  Let's see - the kids' lessons that were supposed to start on Friday were canceled because word got leaked out that we were considering moving back to the states (hmmm, I wonder how that happened).  So even if we decided to stay here now, the school thing is probably a done deal since word will now very likely get around that I'm a flake and I'm quitting my English school after only a couple of months.  I didn't want it to be that way, but maybe its meant to be.  On Saturday, I went to Shizuoka to teach four classes - this is my last month at that school, and I'm starting to feel kind of sad about that too.  I'll miss some of those students.  But since the owner already decided to hire someone else full time (I can't work there full time because I live so damned far away), there's nothing to be done about it.  Sunday I was feeling sick so I stayed home and in bed most of the day.  And Monday (today) I met my friend Bobbie for coffee and donuts in the morning, and then in the afternoon, Masahiko and I went over to see this park and museum very near our house (we've driven by it pretty much every day since I've been here, but never gone there).  It was interesting - there are some replicas of very old style Japanese houses there, as well as an old style hospital.  I will have to go back and take photos before I leave.  Its amazing - when I finally do get out of this house once in awhile to do things, I enjoy my life so much better.  what a concept eh? 

( now if you want to know my thoughts you'll just have to click here )