October 1-7 in 2015

Well, Friday I went back to the doctor, and that was that. I got my medicine, and, so far, sleeping seems to be coming along nicely. Obviously it’s not perfect, but it’s way better than it was. I’m on a very low dosage, and it can be upped. The reason they want me to start low is that you can grow dependant on this. Still, if I can get enough slep to get stuff in order, maybe I can manage with less sleep again someday. So far, I like the pills.
I had an e-cig on the first. It was terrible. It was just . . . unpleasant? The smoke was almost chalky, and there was almost no resistance on the pull. It is the physical sensation of smoking that I like. I like the smoke, and I like the pull. The fact that this had nicotine was of no appeal to me at all. The only reason I went for nicotine liquid when I used my vape pen in the states was that the low nicotine had a bad texture to it. Actually, I’ve found these quit smoking aid things, at least I think that’s what they are, and they’re actually better than the e-cig. They’re just little straws, and inside, when you breathe, there’s a flavor. So far, I’ve found mint and grapefruit. It’s essentially a complicated breath freshener, but they’re actually better than the e-cig because of the resistance when you inhale. Still, the lack of smoke rankles. I actually bumped into some more of the e-cigs when I was in Sendai, but it was easy to resist the minimal temptation.
Well, maybe let’s try to put this in order.
Thursday I went to that Italian place that’s always closed. It was actually open. Sam gave me a call, and he met me there. It was pretty okay food, and I definitely enjoy the occasional dinner with Sam. We don’t have a lot to talk about, but we’ve got a bit, so a weekly meal seems about perfect. I like having a coworker that I get along with, but have no desire to be friends or enemies with. It’s nice to have a pleasant neutral relationship. I also finally slept a bit that night, if memory serves.
Friday I went to the doctor. I got a blood test and got weighed etc., and I got my pills. To be honest, I’m worried about the blood test. I’m scared that I may have diabetes. Dad’s got it (I think) and heaven knows I’m fat enough and have been for long enough. Anyway, we’ll find out about all of that next Friday. Well, I wasn’t able to drink on Friday on account of the meds. I ended up going home after that. I don’t think I went out after, at least, no farther than to 7-11. Sachiko’s son in law, Klever, invited Sam and me to go and play music. Well, I had to cancel as I was supposed to get to bed around 9ish, and that’d be a total buzzkill. I also hadn’t really wanted to go, so this was rather convenient. Still, it was welcome. I got a bit of cleaning done, not much, and I also walked a bit, which was good, but I didn’t get much done, especially considering the fact that I easily could have.
Sunday I got more walking in, and a bit more cleaning. It was one of those nights that I killed a truly giant spider. It was horrifying. I also went to Sendai twice. Saturday I went once mostly to try out a bakery called Peter Pan, and it was really good. The pun in the name just occurred to me (Pan is Japanese for bread). I also ended up going to McDonald’s and Plasse. I went back on Sunday, too, so this is all a bit fuzzy. There we go! On Saturday I left in the afternoon several hours after I should have. I went to a bunch of music stores in search of a new ukulele, but couldn’t find one. Then the other stuff. I also went to an electronics store in search of speakers and any other random gadgets I could think of. Couldn’t think of, rather. Well, Sunday I went back and bought stuff at Plasse that I hadn’t been able to. There is an amazing beauty supplies section, but I got there just too late to cash in on a sale they were having on a TON of rose scented stuff. I’ve been using it for four days. A kid in the special ed class today (Tuesday) was the first one to notice. I came back and cleaned a bit more, and took a bath, but didn’t get to bed (or at least to sleep) as quickly as I would have liked to.
Monday I got up at 5:30. It was rough, to put it mildly. During the sleep trouble, I had been letting myself sleep until 7. I started to fiddle with my alarm to reset it for seven, but, in the process of doing that, somehow or other I found the strength to get up. 5K that morning. It was lovely. I had downloaded a bunch of music, and I got to walk to it that morning. I had slept relatively well, and, shortly into the walk, I got really happy and awake. Well, for me.
I taught at an elementary school that day. The name escapes me. Classrooms that are so warm and welcoming. Adorable children. I was swarmed and hounded and climbed and just overwhelmed with these kids. I sumo wrestled and played tag and was a mountain for climbing. It was just lovely. I wanted to teach them Wax Museum like I had at Yamasaki, but, alas, it was not to be this time. The school nurse spoke fluent English, which was also fun. She had lived in the states for . . . I think twenty seven years selling textbooks before returning to Japan.
Well, I finished there and came home and got all of my exercises in with an unfortunately large amount of dicking around which meant there was no real time for guitar or show off work. Or Japanese, for that matter. It turns out I’ve been enrolled in a Japanese program that I need to keep up with. Dammit Ozment. Priority list altered already, eh?
Today I got up and I almost went back to bed, but I got up anyway. It was a bit easier, but still difficult. My muscles hurt. I’m trying to jog a bit as I do this. Partly for exercise and partly to lessen the time. The distance is 5K morning and afternoon, and the faster I move, the sooner I’m done. Still, I did it, and the stretching. Then I came to school, but I was running late enough that I forgot my treasure box. I had two classes today with Inori Sensei, and I was shanghaied into teaching the special ed class, which I actually really enjoy. All three kids learn pronunciation really quickly.
After that, the day was pretty dull. A few classes with Inori, lunch with 3-3, which is always fun, and a LOT of papers to grade. Plus helping Matsumoto Sensei with the debate club. Then, it was time for my walk. I combined it with running errands in order to save time. I finally went to a furniture store (saw nothing I liked; man I miss Salvation Army) and then I went to the electronic store to buy a scale. I figure that, from now on, I’d best keep up with weighing myself. The goal is to lose one kilo a week. I think that’s doable. I was also surprised. I’m still overweight, but I’m about three kilos under what I’d feared. 91 and some change, ATM, the goal is to be 68. Well, after that I went to Plasse to buy food. Resisted the strong urge to buy fried stuff. It was really hard, but I managed. However, I ended up forgetting to buy the lettuce for the salad! So, I had to walk back to 7-11 and buy some of their lettuce and used that. I realize I’m using a bit too much in the way of cheese and dressing, but I can only sacrifice so much at a time. Right now, breakfast is yogurt, cereal, 2 mikans, and a banana, lunch is school lunch, and dinner is a large mixed green salad with cheese and dressing (occasionally chicken breast when I remember), two mikan, a banana, and a yogurt. I’m trying to get the lunch ladies to give me less food for lunch. Let’s see if that’s successful.
Well, after that I didn’t have time or energy for much. I keep trying to take baths, but they keep being unpleasant. I don’t understand. I used to love them. Now, I just kind of . . . barely tolerate them? Maybe I’m trying to make them into something they’re not? I think I’ve also forgotten how to relax. I need to remember to do that. I don’t ever really relax. I play games. I don’t ever just sit back and . . . enjoy. I wish I could. I always feel the need to do stuff. Even with it’s nothing, I need to be doing it. I should get back into meditation. And I will. Eventually. Too many other priorities.
I didn’t go on a walk today. I woke up, and went back to bed. Part of it was being tired, but, honestly, a lot more of it was just that I’m worried about my legs. They hurt. And I think they maybe need a day to rest up a bit. Yesterday, I was having a hard time walking around. My legs weren’t in terrible pain or anything (they’re still not), but they were just going wobbly on me. I’m using them a lot. Especially on days when I teach, I’m doing over 15K in walking a day. Yesterday, I walked a total of 15.74K. The day before, Monday, when I played with the elementary kids, I did 18.29K. So, yeah. Legs are a bit tired. I’ve also decided that tomorrow I’ll do the morning walk and no afternoon walk because I’ve got Tennis tomorrow. I figure that two hours of Tennis ought to be just as good as about an hour of walking, so I’ll call it even.
Fall came on Monday morning. All at once, it crashed down from the tops of the mountains. On Tuesday, the entire town was filled with a beautiful fog. The distant, indistinct, crests in the distance were lovely, washed out, sumi-e. Fall here is proving to be wonderful.
I just checked the Japanese thing I’m supposed to be doing. Turns out there are deadlines on it, so I’d best get my ass in gear. Luckily, unit 1, something I’ve not been doing the first half of, is all stuff I already know, so I’m lucky. My lack of walk tonight was supposed to have been spent cleaning, but, instead, will now focus on getting this unit done. Hooray for me, I suppose. My apartment is also full of garbage. I was very surprised today. I thought today was garbage day. It wasn’t. Man does it need to be garbage day.
My shoulders hurt and I want a massage. Seriously, it’d just be lovely. Oh well. Not bloody likely. No time on a weeknight, and this weekend looks slammed. Friday is Tea Ceremony, Saturday is the party at Klever’s, Sunday everything’s closed, and Monday is a holiday. Thank goodness for the three day weekend, though. I’m missing my ukulele. I almost bought a new one, but $400US is . . . a lot.
Not a great deal to report. Well, I guess that’s not true. Finally, FINALLY, Japan is starting to feel like, well, Japan. It’s starting to feel like the place I remember. It’s not the same. Of course it’s not the same. I’m not the same. Nothing ever is the same. The Sendai River is different every morning, but it’s still my river. I love it, and it knows me. Somehow, we have a connection. It’s resisting me a bit, but there’s tenderness underneath it. I’ll make that river love me yet. It’s not like it was with Biwako. We just understood each other. Maybe it’s being from Michigan. We’re lake people. Or maybe it’s just . . . Biwako. Still, The Sendai is no Biwako, and I am no me, and Japan is no Japan, but it’s all familiar again. And that’s a step in the right direction. And one that I’m excited for.