Category: News (Page 12 of 29)

With no children at home I don’t need to go to Costco more than two or three times a year. This is a good thing since I don’t have a car. Today I took the train to Nori’s and she met me at the station in her van. We drove to Kawasaki and I stocked up on things I use, but can really live without. You should see how many things I thought of buying, but left in the store.  After Costco we went to the Lazona Mall in Kawasaki for lunch and to visit a grocery store that Nori likes. She will deliver my purchases to me Thursday after we go to the temple.

It seems that I am forever reminded of things that I forgot to teach my children. When James went on his mission to Haiti and was an AP he couldn’t drive the mission vehicles because they all had manual transmissions and we hadn’t taught him to drive one. We took care of that with Andrew and he drove a lovely old Mustang we bought that had a manual transmission.

One of the areas I really failed in was teaching my girls anything about sewing. Now, Ally has Maddie the fashionista who wants to learn to sew her designs and Kristina is trying to make Halloween costumes for her and Brian. She needs to make an applique for the front of their costumes and I was feeling rather guilty that I wasn’t there to make it for her. Then this morning I was inspired. So I got out my fabric and wonder under and created a tutorial with step by step instructions and photos. I hope it works for her. I was going to post it here today and then realized that I might get in trouble for posting it in case they want it to be a surprise. I have to call her in few hours so I’ll ask her and possibly post it later.

When I got my mail I found this big blue envelope.

The only thing I could read were the words, “Census Call.” I flipped it over and saw a green information sheet in English that informed me that we are legally obligated to respond. I assumed that Rick would have to take it to work and have Ako-san fill it out for us so I gave it to him. It had a “color in the bubble” type form that was entirely in Japanese. It also included detailed instructions in English on how to fill in the Japanese form. They even gave examples of what type of thing should be written. I was pleased that I could complete it on my own and now it’s sealed up in its’ bright orange envelope ready to go to the post office tomorrow.

Kiddy Land was a toy store on Omotesando Dori. Now it’s a toy store on Cat Street. I went by to check out a few things and discovered that it had moved. A store employee was out front giving directions in Japanese. I did find the store but I think I liked the old one better.

I have been trying to figure out why my right foot is hurting and swelling. I have seen two doctors, two orthopedic specialists, a physical therapist and had an MRI here in Japan. I have also seen two doctors in Houston. I still don’t have a diagnosis from anyone I’ve seen. The doctor reading the MRI and the physical therapist seem to have the best idea about what is wrong. Yesterday I went back to one of the orthopedic specialists and he has given up. He told me to wait three months and if it didn’t get better I could then return to see him.

I do not want to wait three months because it won’t get better unless I have a plan. Based on what the physical therapist told me and the results of the MRI I am using the internet as my doctor. The plan is R.I.C.E for three weeks. I am going to stay off of it and much as I can and do the exercises the physical therapist gave me to gently stretch and strengthen the tendons. If this doesn’t help then I will try to determine who I should see when I am in the US in December.

When I had the MRI I went to the Yotsuya Medical Cube (a very funny name for a clinic). It’s just a regular building, nothing “cubish” about it.

Last Monday I went to the embassy to submit my application for a new passport. I was told it would take 2 weeks. It came back today! Impressive. My old one is a bit sad, though. They punched holes all over the front cover. The back cover and any pages that were unused are perforated with the word “Cancelled.”

The new one needs to go somewhere soon. I just need to get the re-entry stamps moved into it from my old one and I am ready to go. In fact, I am, going that is. We will be getting a way for a weekend next month to Taipei.

What is this photo of my camera about? A cheeto? I think it was taken right after I bought it, but why?