Mac and Cheese

Maybe it was because Russell seemed a little down today, or maybe because we haven't had Kraft Macaroni and Cheese since coming to Japan (that's more than 3 years now!), but when I saw the classic blue box with the neon orange pasta on the front in the import store, I decided to buy it. Even though I knew what it would taste like, and even though it cost $4 a box.

For the last year or so, Russell has brought up the fine orange pasta whenever he has anything remotely hotdog-like. I can only assume his was a household that put hotdogs in their mac and cheese. In Japan, however, you can do one better than hotdogs. You can do octopus weiners!

Behold. Russell's Octopus infested Macaroni and Cheese.


May it hold him for another three years.

The cherry blossoms - they are a-bloomin'

Spring has sprung in Kobe. The cherry blossoms are either in full bloom or getting there and the weather is at times nippy, but comfortable.

Our school year usually has a couple days start followed by a break while the first year students go on a camping trip to bond, and then back to school for a couple weeks before everyone goes on Golden Week holiday.

Not so this year.

This year, the opening ceremony was last week, we have one full week with no classes with which to prepare, and then classes start this coming Monday. We'll have three full weeks of class before our first day off, so its much different than before and much nice. We have textbooks, class lists and a chance to plan - all before the first day!

I am currently writing in the weekend before the storm. Russell and I just got back from Shukugawa (a famous place for cherry blossom watching). We weren't there for the flowers, though. We went to see a pianist who had come down from Tokyo. This particular pianist has caught my boss's eye, and Russell and I had been out to dinner with him earlier this month. He's Japanese, but he grew up in Portugal and Spain and studied piano in Germany. He's about our age and seems like a nice guy. He's been making it very clear to my boss that he DOES NOT want to teach English.

In any case, it was a nice concert - Steinway piano in the marble entrance of a library with a blue stained glass window as a backdrop. Rather stunning, actually.

Russell and I walked home along the river and caught an eye full of cherry blossoms and revelers past their prime.

Russell has band practice tonight. I get to choose between:

A) Cleaning our disaster of a home
B) Making CDs for Listening classes before the term starts
C) Vegging out and doing absolutely nothing.

I'm sure you can guess what I'm leaning towards.

Tomorrow there is a cherry blossom party at Osaka Castle Park with the swing dance group. Dancing in the park should be lovely. There's also a fancy evening dance that happens once a month. After working through my last few weekends, I'm really enjoying the opportunity to kick back.

Won't last long, I'm sure.