Fun, Quickly and Efficiently

Konichiwa, from Tokyo! After a year and a half of flying (straight from Denver, though, on a Dreamliner, so we'll keep the complaining to a minimum), we got here yesterday afternoon. By the time we got through customs, found our guide, who had to wait on another set of tourists, and were eventually rounded up into the shuttle, we were JET LAGGED. Let's just say that the Tokyo-Narita airport is more Narita than Tokyo. Takes a while to get to the Tokyo part.

But! After a night of "sleep" on the hardest "bed" we've ever experienced, we were up and at it!

Here are a few pics of our day, in no particular order. Suffice it to say that the food is beyond delicious (for those of you who are concerned, we have found some G-friendly stuff!), and the people are beyond nice and gracious.

Today we saw the Imperial Gardens, the two sky towers in the city, some temples and shrines, the Asakusa shopping district, a park in Sumida (one of the districts of Tokyo), and we walked and walked and walked.

The title of this post comes from something our tour guide said this morning. Bright and early at 8:00, we got on the bus and she said, "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for waiting! Welcome to Japan, and welcome also to Tokyo! Today we have fun both quickly and efficiently."

And just like that, our lil Type A hearts warmed and we fell in love with Japan.

More tomorrow! It's warm here but - thank you, Jesus - not Hong Kong warm. Therefore, we are hydrated and are halfway enjoying ourselves. :) Time for the introverts to recuperate.

TGIF, people!

Thoughts, In No Particular Order

1. Tell me that this is not the cutest rabbit you've ever seen.

She and I read together every afternoon and it is glorious. And by 'read together' I mean I crash on the couch and she watches me, like this, from atop her cage. We call her Snoopy when she does this, but she's too young to get the joke.

2. Daily walks are good for me. I took this picture the other day with my phone, if you can believe it.

Rain or shine, I've been wondering through the neighborhoods for an hour or two each day. It has restored my sanity and has reminded my body that there are in fact muscles buried deep underneath that winter-and-Chipotle insulation.The walks may eventually turn into jogs. Or they may remain strolls. We'll see. But, they are glorious.

3. Being myself is the bravest thing I can do. (Or: I hate people.)

I was texting back and forth with a friend yesterday who is trying to find a new place to live and she's pulling her hair out because the landlord stopped all contact with her. And she doesn't know what to do. Should she find another place? Should she wait to hear back from this lady? I texted her back, "I hate people." I don't, really. But I kind of do sometimes.

As good as my students were all semester long, they have turned into demon brats since I posted grades. Every day I have dealt with emails challenging my grading process and flat out asking me to raise grades by a point or two. Um, no. Over the years, I've grown the teensiest exo-skeleton and I'm good at holding my ground, but on the inside, I'm so disappointed. I am. I'm disappointed in college students who refuse to grow up and be accountable for themselves and I'm disappointed in myself for letting other people get to me.

Sometimes I'm so tempted to become a Grade A B*tch. But that is just not who I am. The bravest thing I can do is to handle life one blow at a time, over and over, and remain a rabbit-loving, animal-cuddling, walk-taking, Sonic-drinking ball of mush.

4. I have thought of posting a picture each day from my walks. Take a look.

Am I just intoxicated by this new-found spare time, or are these as interesting as I think they are? I am surrounded by little pieces of eye candy that I have been too busy to see.

5. I am too Type A for my own good.

Example: When my bro and SIL were here a few weeks ago, and we were out and about, I found the perfect anniversary card for G. So I bought it and hid it. You can see where this is going. I went looking for it a few days ago and have turned the house upside down since. I ended up having to trek to Target at the last minute, like some shameful Type B personality or something, and buy a new one. I'm sure I'll find it after Japan or something. And by then I won't remember what it's for.

Ok, one more picture of The Precious:

Time to finish up my coffee and go for a walk. :)

The B Word

Here's to not being busy anymore.

I posted grades yesterday and then finished up the side job.

No more papers. No more teaching. No more consulting.

Despite the rain, I've been taking long walks every day. This morning I start research for some changes to the article that may (or may not) be published. My deadline is in a few weeks and I have a lot of work to do. Every time I think about lesson planning for the fall, I think about Japan instead.

I read for long stretches at a time and then nap. And hang out with this one.

I'm binge watching Orphan Black and The Night Manager. I'm almost caught up on the laundry. I may even swiffer the floors today - everybody hang on!

I've been cooking dinner instead of heating up frozen meals or opting for cereal. There are actual fruits and vegetables in my diet again. I'm contemplating yard work but it will have to wait until all this rain passes. I'm really happy about the rain, though. We always need it here.

There's a left over roll of cinnamon rolls in the fridge that we miraculously overlooked when my bro and SIL were here. I might have to go check them out...

TGIF, people!

That Light at the End of the Tunnel? It's Getting Brighter.

When We Get To The Top, It Will Be Easier

In case anyone is keeping track, my last paper of the semester - the doozy - is due tomorrow. Lord, help me. After working on it for several hours this morning, I went hiking with Em.

As we were huffing and puffing our way up the mountain, she kept reminding me that once we got to the top, things would get so much easier. I was like, duh! But it's how I feel about this paper, too. If I can just get through tonight and tomorrow, I might make it. Things might be right with the world.

We saw a herd of deer and a herd of rock climbers. We dodged two storms and ate cherries and looked out over the Coors plant and saw a small rock slide. High times in CO.

And then G got home! Must go back to writing. One more day and then it's gonna be all exclamation points over here, all the time.