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

So that's what it feels like to be busy?! I just got home at midnight, and I left the house this morning (well, yesterday morning) at 10:45 a.m.! Its going to take me a long time to get caught up on everyone's posts, and yesterday's comments, and also to write my own...

its been a long time since I've been gone for a whole entire day and night, and I feel like something is missing (I'm usually glued to this darn computer day and night). My cat sure did miss me - since he was alone all day and all night (poor baby is used to someone always being here). But I did have a good time today!

I taught the kids in Shimizu, and it looks like I will only have two more lessons with them. Since I told Noriko I was thinking of returning to the U.S. in the spring, the kids' mothers decided to find another school (or teacher) for the kids starting in April (which is when new classes begin in Japan), so I'm getting the boot. Well, not really, since I am the one leaving... It will be sad to say goodbye to the kids, but I will still teach Noriko a couple times before I go I think. Plus she and her friend invited me to this Italian village in Nagoya (I guess they even have a real gondola and horse drawn carriages, and an Italian buffet lunch) before I move. Should be fun! My first trip to Italy (well, its about as close as I will get for awhile)!!

After teaching, I went to Kambara, my old home town (from when I taught here six years ago), and met my friend Naomi for dinner and a movie. We spent nearly an hour in traffic, then went to a crowded "family restaurant" and had to endure the piercing screams of a child for almost the entire meal (apparently Japanese parents don't understand the concept of taking their screaming children outside to avoid bothering customers - I might write more on that in another post, because its been something I've encountered in Japan many times before - a big cultural difference regarding parenting) The dinner was good, but I ate too much today so now I have a tummy ache.

And finally, after dinner, we saw "Walk the Line" and it was absolutely incredible! I was totally amazed at the singing, and acting, that Joaquin and Reese did - and if at least one of them doesn't win an award, I'll be very disappointed. I so enjoyed learning about Johnny Cash's life story - there was so much I didn't know! Very very good movie!! My only complaint was that the movie theater was so unbelievably hot that I was sweating, and having a hard time concentrating. Yes, it is cold outside, but there really was no reason that the theater had to be 80 degrees!!

so now I'm home, but Masahiko is just now leaving Tokyo after his gig - so he won't be home for three hours. Me, I think I'll go to bed now, and write more later... sorry for not commenting or replying, but I will get caught up soon.