WORRY IS TODAY'S MICE NIBBLING ON TOMORROW'S CHEESE. — Unknown

I seem to be in some kind of funk today. I don't know if it's because of lack of sleep, because of hormones (I know, the usual excuse for women) or because my brain feels particularly empty this morning. Must have drank decaf instead of my usual coffee... Let me make another batch...

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Some people say that Japan is convenient. I don't think so. What's convenient here? Certainly not the transportation. In the Philippines, there's the jeepney, the tricycle, the pedicab, the LRT, the MRT, the buses and the taxis. Take your pick. The most number of steps you could take to reach your destination would be less than a hundred I think. The location of grocery stores? In the Philippines, you just walk 20 steps and you could buy whatever you need from the sari-sari store. You don't even have to dress up just to buy some soy sauce or sugar, unlike here. The location of restaurants? Well, at least in the Philippines, you don't have to go a lengthy distance (or several train stations away for that matter) just to be able to find a good place (read: saucy restaurant) to eat. Oh yes, and did I mention that it's so freaking expensive here? Is that convenient too? Well, not for people like me, I guess. Oh, maybe those people are thinking about the apartments here. Well, they are livable but they are only convenient because they are small or maybe because these people are living with someone else. Maybe the TV shows? Well, hardly, because they are all in Japanese. What exactly is convenient here in Japan? Sigh. Does all these griping simply mean I'm just homesick?

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It's starting to get so frustrating homeschooling the boys here. No, not because I'm fed up of it, but because resources are really limited. Sure, we've gone to the zoo and the parks and playground and it helped a lot but we spend more days at home than we do outside and I don't want to engage my boys in workbooks and lessons all the time. They are also not very craft-y so that one's a limited activity as well. Besides, all their craft materials are back home. I miss their educational toys. Back home (I KNOW! I've said, "back home" like a gazillion times here!) they would play with their board games, or their legos, or their contraption-lever-thingy toys which they love so much. Also, Ethan could just run around the house from room to room to release some energy. Here, the most he could do is march around the room which takes him only 10 marches and he's completed a circle. Poor little boy. I have been thinking of getting him a trampoline once we get back. But of course, I'll need to buy some mattresses and netting and foam material for added protection (yes, I've read about trampoline injuries). This little boy of mine just loves physical activities. He already has a tunnel, a ball pit (using their old playpen) and an inflatable castle where he and Nikki play sometimes. I'm sure he misses those...

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I SOOO want to go to the beach! I miss the warm weather. I think it's easier to be cool in warm weather than to be warm in a cold climate. Besides, all this layering of clothes makes me look like a Stay-Puft Marshmellow man. =P I wanna get a tan and just snorkel away at the beach until my back gets burned and looks like I slept on a griddle. (just kidding!) =D

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I miss my treadmill. I wonder how it's doing in Manila. Can't wait to get back on it and lose whatever pounds I gained during my stay here! Boo-hoo! Now I'm back to square one in my exercise regimen. I hope Ruther's plan of playing badminton this weekend pushes through. I need the exercise!!