MAGGIE's B-DAY IN TOKYO!

Maggie, Jake and Kate are in town and today is Maggie's birthday. They arrived on Saturday and Maggie and I went to dinner at MAKOTO SUSHI. It was delicious. The restaurant was intimate and lovely -- with a painting of Mt. Fuji on one wall and a few tables. We sat at the bar and watched as our sushi was cut and served to us. Met a few folks who were opposite us and one of them bought me a bottle of SAKE! It was Saturday night but I had to be at work early so we declined to drink it with them and brought it back to the hotel. Jake had been babysitting and appreciated the nightcap! Was so happy to make my way to their place -- Tokyo 100 Night Stay. Took me down some new streets, one of which I just love -- narrow as a one way road and QUIET. As I walked home after dropping Maggie off, the sound of my own breath and the click of my heels on the pavement, I looked up towards the skyscrapers in the distance. The red lights beating ever so softly, signaling to bodies above of all that lay below in a town called Tokyo. I didn't pinch myself -- but came close.

Work was VERY busy this week including 4 classes on Sunday back to back. At one point I definitely felt my energy dip. I mentioned as much to my coworker, who suggested that I use the energy of my students to boost my own energy. I nodded politely -- but really wanted to point out that the very act of connecting with the energy of my students is a given -- and to do so sincerely is a tiring endeavor. Not a mindset but purely a fact. After work Jake came to pick me up and we found some great take-out to bring back to the hotel, along with beer from the local supermarket.

Today is Monday and it's SNOWING A LOT! I am waiting for a package from Anne to be redelivered (I missed it's arrival this past Thursday). It's my shawl, which Anne knitted for me -- and it's in perfect time as it has not exactly gotten warm here yet! I will post a photo soon.

Heading to Ginza today to meet the Van der Lindens (Maggie, Jake and Kate). We will hit Mitsukoshi (the oldest department store in Japan, modeled after Herod's in London) and poke about in the main shopping district of Tokyo. With the snow, good to have activities to keep us inside. Hoping to get a glimpse of MIKIMOTO -- the pearl store famous for its...pearls.