Curled up in a warm place...

A big, hot mug of milky hot chocolate fresh from the microwave, made with day-old milk from the teachers' room at the school where no one ever drinks their milk.

Snuggled under my airy, fluffy gray かけぶとん comforter, sitting on the blanket covered little couch that recently passes for a bed; my tatami room low in light, music streaming quietly in from Astreuxworld, over the internet.

A hard day with a good teacher, some rowdy kids, and a number of "you guys ROCK! you did it!! Awesome!!" moments too. Long hours today; two or three good, though short conversations - only once did I start turning it into a monologue. I was at work so late tonight I even got a call from my supervisor; that was amusing, as well. I was working so hard she decided I should come into the main office and work tomorrow - since my schools are all starting their end of year testing tomorrow and the kids will all be stressed out but not attending classes for the rest of the week. I feel connected today; talked to people from places I don't usually see, found a new restaurant on the way home at 8pm and got in just before it rained. Good food, not too pricey as they go, I sat and read my manga for a while before I continued on home.

The new 日本語のkeyboard on my lap, my little でんしdictionary by my side. Only two cables - one power, 'cause I used up the batteries reading news and catching up on mail, and the keyboard.

Pretty nice that. Little apartment. 「New AirMac Express」 - AirPort Express in english plugged into the wall behind me, across another room. Yeah, it's a luxury, but it means I can sit here snuggled under warm blankets on a chilly, rainy spring night; the wind and traffic moving quietly outside, my legs so hot they almost sweat. My hands fight the chill but then grasp the mug; or, typing momentarily paused, hide under the blankets. Happily warming.

Ah, how I love living in a place where, at least part of the year, I can truly make myself warm and enjoy it. A book, good music, warm drink, low light, and my computer in a big, enveloping bed.

Goodness. How better can it get?

Right - well getting home before 9pm is a good start, but, hey - it ain't everyday, and today it was important. :)

...which is a good feeling, too.

Here's a poem (bad, of course, but still) for tonight:

Kana only with Kanji
________________________
あめだめ　　　雨だめ
でもすき　　　でも好き
なぜなら　　　なぜなら
しずかし　　　静かし
ゆっくり　　　ゆっくり
しきもち　　　し気持ち
どこでも　　　どこでも
ふってる　　　降ってる
ひとりで　　　一人で
きこえる　　　聞こえる
よるには　　　夜には
とっても　　　とっても
。。いい　　　。。良い
_______________________
as you can see, I really like playing with the same-number-of-kana-per-line thing. They say when you can't do substance, do it with style...

(I also rhyme a lot which my japanese friends tend to thing is puzzling -and pointless- but amusing.)

An dieser stille Nacht, mein Kopf ist vollgemacht.
Mein Bauch wird von spannend Ruhe und wärme Milch gefüllt.

„Gut” ich meine, als ich denk' an Deine, und lächle ich weil ich bin schon ins Bett.

Schlafe wohl, gute Nacht.
Morgen kommt, die Kälte kracht.
Die Wärme kommt von drinnen
und ich mag darein zu schwimmen.

-erk.