Yesterday

o ha yo! (Good morning!)

I feel like it's been a long time since I've written, even if it really hasn't been... A lot has happened! First of all, Coen is feeling much better. He is his usual cheerful self now! It's great to see him back!!!

On Saturday I had a day off. I went with Abi and the boys to the park right beside Disney. It is really huge! After we had a picnic in the shade, we went back towards the front of the park and came upon a performer. He was a juggler who also did the balancing on a board on top of a rolling tube. I thought that the best part of his performance was his running commentary. I could not understand most of it, but Abi was translating what she could understand. It was obvious that everyone else enjoyed it too. After that was over, we walked to the huge water fountain. We let the boys take off their shoes and shirts and play in it for some time. I did notice that no one was in the fountain when we got there and let our children play in it. By the time we left, it was a huge attraction for children and adults. Abi said that was very Japanese... Lots of people probably wanted to, but were afraid...until they saw someone else doing it. After the park, I had the choice to go to Chiba to stay the night with Bob and his wife, or come back here and take a nap. (Guess which one I chose.) They are kind of like the 'parents' of the Chiba team. I would have gone to Chiba, but they have a new group that got there on Saturday, and the school talent show was that night as well. I decided that it would be better to go some other weekend. I came here and took a long nap, and then went for about an hour walk before dinner. After I got back from my walk, I went with Abi to the grocery store. When we got home, Alex, Abi and I watched Fellowship of the Ring.

On Sunday there was a church picnic. I did not go. I stayed home while everyone else went to the picnic and to church. While they were gone, I experienced my first earthquake. First I heard a loud crash. It sounded more like the balcony fell off. Then there was a low grumble for about 2 minutes. After that there was nothing but the heavy sway of the building for about 10 minutes.

About 6:30 that afternoon, people started arriving for the concert we had here last night. We had mostly college students perform. We had several singers, a few pianists, and two saxophonists. It was really good. I find it interesting that in this one weekend I have been Abi's sister, Alex's sister, and the boys' sister at different times. I am still trying to figure out why everyone thinks I'm related to someone... People didn't leave until almost 10:00 PM. After that, we four older people stayed up and talked. I went to bed at 12:00. I left everyone else still talking...

I slept really well, and woke up at 6:30. (Even though I need 8 1/2 hours of sleep.) I made breakfast while Abi made lunch boxes. At 7:20 A.M. Alex left here to go to the airport. His flight left for Dallas at around 11:00. It will be a lot different around the house without him here. Around 8:30 I went back to bed to take a nap. I got in my last two hours of sleep then, but I was still tired. In fact, I have been tired all day for some reason... I guess the cooler weather and drizzly rain doesn't help, either. At about noon Roger and I went to get my alien registration card. We took Eastin with us since he had a day off of school. It was so simple.... I had to have two recent pictures of myself, and my passport, and Roger had to explain why I am here. When we go pick it up sometime in early July, I will have something that looks like an American drivers license with Japanese writing all over it. :) So, obviously, to have my pictures, we had to have them made. We went to a photo booth and had 6 of them made in about 2 minutes. When they printed, Roger took them and said, "You look about 5 or 6 years younger in the picture." So..... Anyway... Now it is 7:00 here. I have cooked supper, and Roger and I have eaten. Now we just have to feed everyone else... I hope to go to bed by about 9:30 tonight... :)