early sun, late clouds

when i left for the gym this morning around 7am, it was clear and a brisk 43F. yes, i was the only person walking wearing (or wearing walking) shorts and of course my CANADA sweatshirt. it did warm up by the time i left the gym around 1130am but the clouds have returned and there may be rain tomorrow. after the gym i went to Mitsuwa Market for a few groceries...tofu, miso, ocha. i am still looking for a Toradoshi Fugetsudo Gaufre tin. i am not even sure if they made them for this Year of The Tiger. i will have to check the Fugetsudo main store next time i am in Kobe. and since i was there (Mitsuwa Market area), i decided on some chicken teriyaki from Teriyaki Inn. and when i say i was in the area, i mean it took me two buses to get there from the gym which means two buses to get home. i did have to warm up the teriyaki chicken but it was delicious as always. there goes my 3 hours of cardio workout in one meal. i really need to look up some trips for SAP-ing purposes as i got my 2nd choice for my March work schedule . . . and then call Mike in Holiday as he is the expert on SAP. (no, not the maple syrup kind)(maybe that too). but, i think it is time for a little post-workout post-lunch nap. and then i need to start my Recurrent workbook. and clean my apartment. and get organized . . . tomorrow.

just a hint of the morning sun in the gym parking lot

a few more images from yesterday's walk to the beach . . .

this is the beach i call my beach. can you see the snow on the mountains in the distance?

mission semi-accomplished

finally i caught the 715am bus to the gym. it took me a week to get back on schedule. it was 7c/44f when i left my apartment this morning. kind of cool as i was wearing shorts along with my Canada sweatshirt. after a few hours at the gym, i walked to Fedex to check on sending a package with my airline discount. and then a short walk to catch the #3 bus to Mitsuwa Marketplace. no Fugestudo "year of the Tiger" Gaufre tins but i did get some omiso, otofu, furikake, and a special treat a 16 ounce Gogo tea (kind of like sweet lemon tea). i passed on the melon pan which was labeled a Japanese favorite (and a kevin's favorite too). and unfortunately no tora no nengajo (new year's post card with a tiger on them). yes, i too am wondering why i didn't buy them in . . . Japan. two buses and a short walk and i was back home.

waiting for the bus under a big banana tree (plant?). can you see the moon?

sansazanka. ok, it is really 3 Camillia sasanqua or sazanka in Japanese. also known as a christmas camellia. although it looks similar to the beautiful tsubaki (camellia), it is a sasanka.

i learned a good way to tell one from the other is to look on the ground below the flower. sasanka lose their leaves one at a time while the tsubaki loses the whole flower at the same time. does that make sense? check it out if you have one in your neighborhood. this sasanka is near the entry way in my apartment complex and indeed there are single petals lying on the ground. we have tsubaki too and i will check those out tomorrow.

christmas tree shadow in the gym parking lot.

but where are the chocolate chips?

a Kobe Fugestudo gift set for only $48 (plus tax) . . . only 4128 yen (plus tax)