We just got back from eating dinner with Chizuko (one of my private lesson students) and her family. On a scale of 1 to 10 on being full I'd have to say that we are at about an eleven or twelve. They just kept feeding us more and more; we are about to explode! Really. Tonight's menu was sukiyaki, this really good potato salad and all kinds of good things on the side. It was Farah's first time going to a Japanese home so it was kind of exciting for her to see what the inside looks like--tatami mats, kotatsu, and everything decorated all Japanese--and to be able to eat 'real' Japanese food too. So thanks a lot, Chizuko! You're family was so nice and we look forward to having you over for dinner sometime soon!

Look! Farah got some new boots! She really wanted them and it's so hard to say no to such a cute girl! :)

This is starting to look like a food diary with all these food pictures!! This morning we had a french toast brunch and it was nice to be able cook and eat breakfast food together because we never get to do that! Anyway, we're going to Odaiba today to do some shopping (window shopping mainly) so I'll leave it at this for now.

So much for shopping in that we spent the entire day at home--relaxing, I guess--only to leave the house for none other than our new favorite, Yakiniku (Korean BBQ)!!! But after dinner settled a good two hours later, we did make our way out again but this time in search of good photos! Yes, if you haven't figured it out by now, taking pictures is our little hobby. Out of the dozens of photos that we took I think there were about three that we decided to keep. Is this normal? I don't know but thank god for digital cameras!!

Yes, my job is the most mind-numbing, brainless job on the planet--not that I`m complaining about that or anything--but there are times when I have to actually do some work. Today is one of those odd days. The moon is blue and I have three stacks of papers that need to be graded waiting patiently for me on my desk. Paper after paper discussing `What is a more wonderful present than money?` just waiting to be checked! Oh, boy! Well, before it gets any later, I had better whip out my trusty red pen and go discover what`s more wonderful than money. I`ll let you all know if I find the answer...

Late last night we decided that we were going to go to Disneyland but when the alarm clock went off at six-thirty this morning, for some reason the idea of going to Disneyland didn't seem as appealing, and needless to say, we went back to bed. Farah has some pain in her back anyway so maybe today isn't be the best of days to go to an amusement park. If you ask her, it's because I pushed her up against the wall as we slept last night and left her in an awkward position to sleep. Sorry, Farah! :). So it looks like today is going to be a kick-back day. We'll rent some videos from Tsutaya and make some good junk food to keep us going! Dinner and the movies are on me, Cory, the back breaker!!

We're really starting to miss sunny Southern California weather as the temperature continues to drop on a daily basis. And, before it gets too cold I really want to get Farah a proper jacket. She says that she has a good one already but I know that it's not warm enough for the cold weather that's about to come. She hasn't agreed to it yet but I am planning on taking her out to find a nice, warm jacket today. She said that if we do go, that we're just going to look but you and I both know what that means. Once she finds the right one she'll come around. Right?

Only three hours later and we're back with a new jacket and a very happy girl! Farah found a jacket that she liked at the Gap... just like I knew she would!! haha Farah says: "I didn't think that I was going to get a jacket... I really like it!" She looks really cute in it. I'll post some pictures of Farah and her new jacket later...

Cheers to the teacher that told me this morning that my newly-shaved head reminded her of, in her own words, I kid you not: "Neo Nazism!" Was there not something else that she could have compared it to? Like maybe a peach, G.I. Joe, or anything besides a nazi! Come on! I know that the Japanese are not very gifted when it comes to the art of complimenting or giving constructive criticism, but this one did catch me off guard. So, this one is for you, Mrs. K! Cheers! :)

For the record, no, I do not have a mohawk. This was just me having some fun while cutting my hair the other night. I thought it would be funny, and it was, to do a little punk rock make-over, but no need to worry because I shaved it to my regular buzz cut! But maybe I should have kept the mohawk because today we're going to see my friend's punk band play in Kita Urawa. I could have been one of them and think of how nicely I would have blended in with the crowd... But I think that I'm happier this way! ha

I always love having a midweek holiday! Today is Labor Day in Japan so we're celebrating by not working and going somewhere which we have yet to decide! Maybe Odaiba or Shibuya or I don't know... We'll see. Only two more days until Thanksgiving. It's not quite the same without family, which goes without saying, of course, and turkey and the whole bit, too... BUT this year I am having, or at least, attempting to have a Thanksgiving potluck dinner at my house. I invited quite a few people but haven't heard back from more than just a handful of them. That's how it goes when you ask people to RSVP, right! Hopefully we'll get a good turnout though. If not, I know what I'll be eating for lunch for the next couple of weeks--fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and veggies!!

The Thanksgiving party was a success! We cooked a massive pot of mashed potatoes, way too much carrots and corn, and fried up enough chicken to last for the entire party. In all, just about twenty people showed up and we had a really nice time. All of our guests brought food--homemade chili, salads, sushi, and even fondu--which made for lots of good eating! And, we ended up with ten bottles of wine, seven and a half of which were empty by the end of the night. :) I hope that we can have another party like this sometime soon. Thanks to all of you who came! We really appreciate you for bringing all of the food and drinks, etc., and it was so nice to see everyone!!

It was my friend`s birthday on Saturday so we all went out to Ron Jeremys,` or at least that`s what we call it because they use a character with a striking resemblence to him on their sign. There is a picture of the logo in one of weekly photo entries for those who are curious. So it was food, folks, and fun, and to top it all off at the end of the night, karaoke! We bought Chris, the birthday boy, these onsen boxers and made him wear them the entire night! Happy birthday, Chris! We had a great time and are very much looking forward to hanging out with you and Tez on Thursday night.

Things have been so busy lately with work and social life, maybe a little more of the latter. And, as of this week, Farah will have been in Japan for three months! It`s hard to believe that three months have already gone by. Time goes by so fast!!! And the time for us to go to Taiwan has arrived!!! Farah is leaving tomorrow and I am leaving on Friday. We`re both really excited about going to Taiwan again, and so looking forward to seeing her family, eating some good food, and travelling around the country a bit. Farah will be staying through the Chinese New Year and coming back in mid-February and I`ll be coming back to Japan on the 6th of January. It`ll be a long vacation for the both of us. Long in a good way, of course!!!

Merry Christmas to all! In just twenty-four hours I`ll be boarding a plane to go see Farah and her family in Taiwan. I`m really excited to be in Taiwan again and so happy that it`s only a 2.5 hour flight from Japan, unlike the terrible 11 hour flight from LA to Tokyo. A movie-and-a-half later and I`ll be in Taiwan! Until then, I have to start and finish packing and take care of all that needs to be done at work before I leave. In the midst of all this busyness, I just wanted to wish all of you a happy winter holiday. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Take care and we will talk with all of you in the new year. BYE for now.