It's all a bit fuzzy...

Sorry about the delay people. I've spent most of today sleeping with a box of kleenex by my bed... Obviously, this was not written in my calendar.

Monday, we got home from a long day... actually, I arrived home around 11:30, and as soon as I laid down, it was like I got sick. Now- today- Wednesday, I slept from midnight last night till 1pm today, with a brief, slightly awake period of a half-hour at maybe 10am. My roommate came into my room, wondering what was going on with me, and she was really kind, and gave me some meds. I think I was running a pretty decent fever... anyway, after being really sweet and getting me water, she left and I fell asleep for who knows how much longer and woke up sweating pretty nastily. I'm still congested, and overall pretty groggy and tired. But, I shall survive.

Anyway, let's recap the last few days. The last time I posted, I was whining about the moodiness of the weather... and I'm not kidding, there were like 15-20 degree differences between days. In fact, overnight into Saturday, it snowed in Tokyo, and by Sunday morning, I could wear a light jacket. The Fuse was really good on Saturday though, and Mark spoke on "The Real Thing" and used David as an example, about being the real deal instead of just looking or pretending the part.

We went bowling afterward, and everyone really enjoyed themselves. It was cool to see some of the Japanese Christians really following up with the new people there!

Sunday morning, we had a Bible study, and I got to talk to my mom for about a half hour before leaving for that. Afterward, I worked on my message for this weekend, and then went to Amy's house, where she helped me with some of the songs on bass. I'm going to play on two weekends at the Fuse, since there's need. And she's been kind enough to help me out.

Let's skip to Monday... we left AT 10:30 on a "family vacation", with Tim and Christine, and all us young people. Nicely compacted in the car, we headed south for two hours to a city called Atami. There, we sat on the beach and had a picnic lunch and then just went to explore and sightsee. It was beautiful!! I said at one time-- WAY on the other side of this ocean is the US.

Anyway, like I said, it was beautiful. We sat on the beach... and drove past other beaches with surfers. At one point, on some kind of dock thing, there was an eel laying on the ground. It was dieing and I felt really bad for it. I was like, throw it back in the water!! Tim did, and I'm glad... I wonder how it got there! It didn't look like a fishing spot.

Afterward, we visited some cliff types of areas that were particularly beautiful... and we drove to many other places, getting in and out of the car. In the evening, we went to an onsen, Japanese hot springs and bathing facilities, and we girls did some real bonding. The water was ridiculously hot, and your skin just kinda tingles. I joked that the bubbles in the middle were not from water being pumped up, but because it was boiling.

That could be another reason why I got sick. After being in basically a sauna and super hot water for about a half hour, we left and, obviously, it was chillier outside. We had dinner at a restaurant, laughed really really hard, and got home at 11, from where I biked home.

Tuesday morning, I wasn't feeling so hot for the breakfast meeting/planning meeting from 8-12... But, I didn't have much of a choice but to keep going. I stopped by and picked up a card to put more money on my phone and then went to the government building to pick up my....

Alien Registration Card! That's right! I am now a registered alien, and I have an ID to prove it. I don't know, I feel more official now.

About an hour later, I left to go teach my English class. The students actually showed up this time, and they are really cute, though a bit quiet. The little girl made me an origami bracelet type thing while I was getting ready to leave and before her mom arrived. Very cute.

Getting home-- oh my gosh. Not only was it rush hour anyway on the trains, but there was an "accident"... which means that someone committed suicide by jumping in front of the train. This is very common in Japan. Anyway, in a very, very hot crowded train, I stood, feeling pretty nasty, and sorry for whatever happened, but really wishing for the train to leave again. It took me close to an hour and a half to get home, when it normally takes 20 minutes on an express.

We had game night, and I went for about an hour and a half, and used... the mask. Those white face masks that you see the Japanese wearing... it's kind to wear them to not spread your germs to everyone. Within not long, I was told to go home, because I looked like death warmed over.

And that successfully brings us to today, and now, while I'm sitting here typing this with a kleenex sticking out of my nose. Beautiful, I know. But you gotta do whatcha gotta do.

I should blog again before this weekend, but if you think of it-- Saturday, I'm speaking at the Fuse, doing a testimony/message... Pray for me!