Prayer to Kharma

FRIDAY, AUGUST 13

Made it to school on time. I was warned that many teachers wouldn't be here as it's a holiday honoring your ancestors, so many go visit their grandparents or graves or some such. I'm still sketchy on the details. And it was true. The first four hours or so, it was just me and Kyoto-sensei. It was quiet and it was, well, a slow Friday.

I hopped on the internet and did some worksheets. Eventually asked Kyoto-sensei if I could borrow a glue stick. Photocopied. Read at lunch and a little later in the day when it was still dead, dead, dead and my headache was making me cranky.

Apparently Lonn's car has decided to commit suputtsu (spelling is wrong, I know) or ritual suicide since I have left. At least that's what he says. But it now means that even if he no longer has a pink car, I'll still think of him every time I see one in Japan, and they're quite common.

Speaking of common, I counted four people in face masks today.

After work, Elizabeth and I met up to have an exciting Friday night out on the town. First we went to go buy me a frying pan. I want to make crepes and french toast, and pancakes and whatever else. There was a sale on kitchen supplies, so I got my frying pan (on sale probably because of the goldenrod color of the outside), a spatula, a potato masher (farewell mashing potatoes with a FORK!), and a whisk for under $10.

We then went to the electronics store to price DVD plays for Elizabeth and mini-ovens for me, since I am dying to bake. It's going to be in the range of $100, it appears. I'll continue to price around and ask around, but I will eventually break, I know.

On the way back, we had to pass through the train station's overpass. The person in front of me stepped on a piece of paper and I noticed it and scooped it up. It was a 10,000 yen note, or $110. Elizabeth and I went up to the ticket counter and turned it in. The lady accepted it and we walked off. I feel good about turning it in, but at the same time, I can't help but wonder if I should have kept it. That's a LOT of money, and as it was lost in a train station, no one will come looking for it. The ticket counter lady did not take my name, so there is no way it will come back to me, even if the owner isn't found. I guess I did the right thing, but, really, kharma, you'd better have been watching.