October 2005 Archives

I slowly awoke from my dream, in which the MG had been converted into a hybrid
vehicle, to find Eriko waking up. I then rolled out of bed and joined her in
the living room (being sure to make noise so that I wouldn't scare her.) The
clock read 7 o'clock, but we had yet to turn back out clocks -- so we woke up
at 6 AM! That was great. ;) I went around the house changing most of the clocks
and Eriko started eating some food. I made us both bowls of "Toasted Oats"
(Cheerios clone) and we ate. Eriko thought the cereal could use a little sugar,
but it tasted fine to me. ;P Soon after eating, she became tired and went back
to bed. I worked on the computer, completely the migration I had begun the
night before -- now my finances database is in the debit/credit accounting
format as taught by my accounting textbook. Most of my tools are now broken and
I haven't wrapped my head exactly around the method I will need to conveniently
track bills & the budget (besides my current setup, which are separate tables
and not what I want). Seeking to avoid too much noise, I moved to the couch and
finished watching (via my handheld media player) a CSE colloquia. This one was
pretty good, although the presenter wasn't very eloquent and that made it
difficult to listen. Eventually I was able to get past that and I enjoyed the
end, especially since the presenter was so passionate (and frustrated) -- the
talk was about electronic voting presented by Andrew Neff of VoteHere.com.
Eriko emerged from the bedroom and made herself some ramen for lunch; I ate
some leftover pizza. Eriko watched this anime we had downloaded (via
bittorrent, which took 3 days.) We did some channel surfing and some couch
sitting before Eriko decided she was bored. She decided she wanted to play some
ping pong, so we left for Jillian's (billards/sports bar) where I knew there
were some tables. Eriko called Zack while we were in the car and we invited him
and Katie to join us (they would be delayed due to existing plans, but thought
they could). We got a great parking space, traded my id for some paddles and
balls, and headed upstairs -- to find a bunch of excited football fans
congratulating themselves and shouting 'Raiders!' were the ping pong tables
were supposed to be! Sure enough, they had been moved out of the way. We
returned the equipment and tried to play some air hockey, but the puck was
stuck. The service was really bad and by the time the attendant got around to
helping us (she told me to wait) I had already started kicking the table to see
if it was stuck. Sure enough (it popped out), but now we looked like fools and
all of our time was used up. Eriko and I were dissappointed. Eriko decided she
was hungry and we went in search of food. The front desk-lady (whose service
was poor) directed us to the downstairs sportsbar, the downstairs sportsbar
directed us upstairs, and finally I decided we should just leave (since Eriko
wanted chips). We headed back to Queen Anne (my intended destination was Blue
Water Taco) and parked when Eriko decided she wanted popcorn instead. Luckily,
we were in front of Blockbuster, so we retrieved some popcorn and an anime she
really liked. We also stopped off at Safeway and purchased some groceries
(including _potato_ chips). Back at home, Eriko began watching her movie and
eating popcorn while I worked on modifying my financial tools so I could enter
the daily receipts. Zack called and announced that he was unable to find any
ping pong joints in the area and we both decided that we'd have to try again
some other time. ;P After the movie, Eriko decided to take a nap and I started
watching a new lecture. Soon I noticed I was having trouble following and
decided to "rest" instead. An hour or so later, I woke up to some drool. ;P I
recieved a phone call from Aaron who passed on the phone number of his in-laws,
who have a 1993 Jetta (which has a few issues, but has four doors and is an
automatic) that they are willing to give away. It turns out the vehicle needs a
new alternator and is currently at the shop -- which wants it out of there by
Tuesday. I called and left a message for Jean and explained to Eriko the
situation. I called Katrina and wished her a happy birthday; we had a nice
conversation (for about 10 minutes) until her cellphone battery ran out. Jean
called back and explained a few more caveats about the vehicle -- the driver's
side lock doesn't work, the instrument panel is out, the air conditioning is
disconnected... and of course, we need to decide by tomorrow since the car has
to be out of there by Tuesday. I made plans with Eriko to drive out to Redmond
during lunch to check out the vehicle. For $500, it could be a great deal -- or
a waste of $500. I wish dad were around to help me out. Eriko slowly woke up on
the couch and I watched episode 47 of Gundam Seed Destiny (which was lame). As
soon as I got up from the computer, Eriko sat down and called her mom. They
talked for about one hour and I finished up watching another lecture. This one
was about Hancock, a programming language developed at AT&T research lab for
dealing with large volumes of very specific data. The lecture was quite boring;
there wasn't enough time to convey exactly why a new language needed to be
created rather than a set of libraries developed and as such, I didn't enjoy it
very much. I read a little in my Japanese book, I picked out my clothes for
tomorrow (and placed them in the living room, so I can dress without waking
Eriko), and I began writing this journal entry (on dad's old Sony Viao, as
Eriko was still talking to mom). I realized that taking notes and entering
journal entries later is very difficult and procrastinating just makes me not
want to do it. I would much rather make the entry at the end of each day, but
that is going to take some discipline. After Eriko's phone call, I ate some
Toasted Oats and she ate some Tongari Corn (General Mills Japanese corn cones).
We spent some time on the couch together, enjoying a lazy Sunday night, and
then it was time for showers.

Eriko woke up a few minutes before the alarm (set for 8) and thus, so did I.
She immediately got to work preparing lunch, which I found quite impressive.
She also ate a small breakfast for herself while I used the computer and other
assorted things. We left the house about 9, headed for her drum lessons. We
were on-time (even a little early) and I stood outside with a few of her
classmates while we waited. Once class started, I went to the get the Miata
washed. The blackberry allowed me access to google, which allowed me to find a
car wash that was near. The employees were helpful (if not a big "thuggish")
and I vacuumed the inside as well as got the wash & wheels package. I then went
to Starbucks, had a latte, and read some Japanese. I was a little early to
pickup Eriko and then I remembered that I needed to go to the post office. I
didn't get the google search right and couldn't locate a post office that I
could reach and return in 20 minutes, so I went to the bathroom and then went
into Eriko's class (where they were listening to some drums on tape). After
class, Eriko and I headed to the WA department of licensing so she could get a
state ID card (to make travel easier). The efficiency of the organization was
surprising to me and the longest delay was waiting for her to get her picture
taken (although I did have to run over to the cash machine.) Eriko had packed
lunch, so we started eating some of it in the licensing office (which was the
original intent; we didn't know the waiting time). We headed towards Uwajimaya,
via Phinney Ridge (Northgate, where her class is held, is quite north, while
Uwajimaya is south of downtown). Eriko ate along the way and I was able to
stuff my mouth at the stoplights. After shopping for all the items on our
comprehensive list, Eriko was tired and starting to get a headache. On the way
home, I stopped off at a post office and bought some postcard stamps (although
I had to stand in line, as the machine wouldn't dispense anything less than 37
cents). Back at home, Eriko took a nap and I started another lecture. I
soon noticed my concentrate lacking and took a nap. Eriko woke up, ate, and
then her headache returned. She called her mom and talked for a while. I began
to read in my finance book how to properly do general ledger accounting so that
I can convert the computer database (in preparation for solid accounting next
year).
Afterwards, she rushed to the bathroom and threw up for the first time during
the pregnancy. Afterwards, she said she felt the best in a long time. She had
to tell her mother this (who believes it was more mental than physical). To
celebrate (and Eriko had no intention of cooking) we went to Olympia pizza a
few blocks away. (Eriko thinks Pete's cheese is too salty). We had pizza, a
salad, and I had a soda. It was yummy, although the crust was less tasty
(sweet, Eriko thought) than Pete's. Back at home, we relaxed on the couch (TV,
etc.) and then Eriko got another headache. She took a shower and I worked on
more on the accounting transition, having devised a four step process for
converting my existing database into the revised format.

Up not-so-early, I got into work about 8 but didn't start to focus until about
9. The rest of the morning was relatively productive, though. Lunch was good
and the afternoon was routine + a nice talk with my new boss. Dinner was yummy
and then Eriko called her mom. I finished watching a lecture and we spent some
time together.

I woke up at 7:30, missing my opportunity for a lecture. I washed the dishes,
which were left in the sink from the night before. Eriko was woken up by this
and we enjoyed a rare morning together. We ate some boxed donuts (which were
pretty nasty). I got into work a little after 8 (since I decided to soak up the
quality time with Eriko). I was relatively productive as the only meeting that
was scheduled got cancelled. Eriko was in a good mood for lunch. The afternoon
was also productive, minus the (now) routine coffee break with Zack. It sure is
nice to live so close. Dinner was a little late as Eriko was talking to her mom
when I arrived home. We were both tired after dinner (why me?) and spent some
time lazing around and watched TV. I did dishes whil eEriko showered and then
watched an episode of anime.

I slept in late, again. My ingenious plan to wake up early and watch lectures
isn't working so smoothly... I left for work soon after and had a productive
morning. During lunch, Eriko was very quiet until I was about to leave. The
afternoon was productive with the exception of an afternoon coffee break with
Zack. I've started drinking decaf. I like the taste, but don't need the
caffeine. I walk and talk with Scott on the way home. Eriko had already eaten
when I arrived and was talking to her mom on the phone (skype) but dinner was
prepared (which was nice). After the phone call, Eriko proposed another name,
'momoko'. I don't know about that one either, but it is nice to know that she
is not set on a particular name. We don't even know the sex yet. Eriko had a
headache, so I massaged various body parts (hand, neck, and head). We went to
Safeway to buy a few things. I continued watching the baseball game (on mute)
and cut some apples for Eriko. Then shower/bedtime.

I woke up late -- the exercise really tired me out. At work I was productive.
Lunch was good and the afternoon was productive again (of course, I attended
Japanese class). Dinner was yummy and the evening was going well until we got
into a bit of an argument about the baby's name. Eriko was convinced that
Satoko was the name and I wanted to hear alternatives. There was some silence
and I concentrated on the baseball game. Eventually we got over it (although we
didn't discuss it again) and Eriko helped me with my Japanese homework.

I woke up at 6:30 (on purpose, via the alarm) and watched a lecture for about
45 minutes. Work was productive, and there were no meetings scheduled! How
nice. Eriko and I had lunch together, which was nice. The afternoon was also
relatively productive and I had only one meeting (for management training
homework) and it was really just a complaining fest. After that, I had coffee
with Zack and got nothing else done. At home, dinner was delicious. Eriko was
in a good mood and we spent some quality time on the couch
together. While she went to take her shower, I went to the exercise room and
rode the bike. It was difficult! Afterwards, I watched a little TV while doing
the dishes, and then it was bedtime.

We slept in today -- the alarm was off and we took advantage, finally rising
out of bed about 10 AM. I was still stuffed from the Indian the night before,
but Eriko was hungry. She made herself some breakfast and I watched. We lazed
around and eventually Eriko started taking a nap, so I moved into the bedroom
and started watching a UW Colloquia lecture on my handheld media player. That
worked pretty well, although the lecture was a little boring. The whole day
went by quickly, even though we didn't do anything. We watched some TV, I did
some Japanese homework, Eriko talked to her mom, Eriko made herself several
meals (I just snacked on ice cream and leftovers, as I was never really
hungry), I watched some more Japanese anime, and we wrote thank you cards as
well as a birthday card for Katrina. In the evening we watched the 2nd game of
the world series, which was great. After that, I typed up some journal entries
and Eriko looked at some magazines. While Eriko showered, I exercised. After I
showered, Eriko continued to look at magazines and I watched two anime
episodes.

I slept good and the alarm woke us (both) up at 8 AM. I laid in bed for about 5
minutes and then popped out to check my mail and cook breakfast. Eriko woke up
a few minutes later and began to eat. We left the house about 9:05 and headed
north on I-5. Traffic was light and we made it on-time for her drum class,
which started at 9:30. I helped carry in her new bongo drums and then I left. I
went to Target to buy toothpaste and paper towels. To kill time, I went to Best
Buy, but I was about 10 minutes early so I hung around and listened to my iPod.
Soon, I was inside and was quickly accosted by a pretty young lady named Kara,
who was interested in telling me all about their digital cameras. Before long,
she moved on, and so did I. I walked around the store several times and
eventually wound up where I really wanted to be -- the bathroom. ;) I headed
back to Eriko's class, stopping at Starbucks along the way. I sat outside in
the sun and listened to some comedy (on the iPod) and also worked on my new
Japanese textbook. I went into the classroom a little early so I could hear the
7 people (including the teacher) playing a very cool Carribean rhythm. Back at
home, Eriko watched a Japanese trivia show (we had downloaded) and I took a
short nap. I retrieved the mail from the mailroom and Eriko had a package from
her mom. She was quite excited, although customs confiscated two small food
items. Eriko made a quick call to her mom to let her know and then we headed
off to India Bistro to meet Carol and Aaron for dinner. Dinner was nice and
(since Carol is pregnant also) we had lots to talk about. Unfortunately,
Eriko's dish was incorrectly spiced (and I didn't realize it until I stopped
eating mine) so that put a damper on the mood (but she didn't blame me, so I
felt better). Back at home, we were stuffed -- I watched the end of World
Series game 1 and Eriko used the computer. While she showered, I watched an
anime on the computer (I'm finally getting around to finishing a series I
started during summer). We switched places for my shower and then spent some
time on the couch watching TV while waiting for our food to digest.

I slept well and woke up relatively early. I had lots of time before I needed
to be at work (I'm aiming for 8 AM as a start time) so I worked through the
Washington State voter's pamphlet and decided how I would vote on several
issues. I'm not sure if I will actually vote for the various seats, I simply
don't know enough about the candidates. Then I headed off to work, where I
worked on some bugs. This period in the development cycle is a little boring,
because it is difficult to feel like you're making progress, since bugs are
never-ending. I came home for lunch with Eriko (which she made) and it was
yummy. Afterwards, I had coffee with Zack, which was nice. It turns out he will
be moving even closer to me. My afternoon was semi-productive until I had
coffee with Rob, which was also nice. (Note that I had decaf both times,
otherwise I'd be loaded). I came home for dinner with Eriko and then we watched
some TV. We went to Safeway and then Eriko took a nap. I started watching a
lecture on my handheld device but that didn't last long. We showered and went
to bed early.

I had trouble sleeping (thinking about work) and decided to wake up later. Once
I fell asleep, I slept pretty good. The alarm went off at 7:30, but before that
I got wacked a few times by Eriko who was awake and thought I had overslept. I
got dressed in the living room, as I've started putting my clothes out of the
bedroom the night before (to be more quiet). I ate a banana and headed off to
work. I worked on my team status, made some progress on bugs, and had a meeting
of the leads. I came home for lunch which the intention of telling Eriko that
she didn't need to worry about cooking; I came home to see her. I found her
laying in bed feeling bad. I explained myself to her and her attitude changed
immediately; she was soon out of bed and we had a nice lunchtime together, with
me eating various things I could find. Back at work, I was semi-productive
(that seems to be the trend these days) and I met with my new boss, which was
nice. Back at home, Eriko had not finished making dinner because the meat was
not thawed out yet. She was very happy though, she had gone out for snacks with
three pregnant Japanese ladies who live in this area -- Yuko, Junko, and Yuko.
I thawed the meat out for her (in warm water) and she made one of my favorite
Japanese dishes -- okonomiyaki, with pork and squid. I got to ask her lots of
questions about the ladies and the things they talked about (pregnancy, Japan,
husbands) and it was nice. We watched a little TV, I did the dishes, and we
watched the new Chris Rock comedy. We worked on the computer together, looking
for Japanese drama, animation, and radio shows that Eriko could watch. I also
fixed a diary entry mistake she had made. I read some of the Japanese book
while Eriko worked on the computer. We watched some more TV (something about
Raymond) and then we showered (rather, she showered while I used the computer
and then I showered).

I slept pretty solid, except I woke up several times after bumping into Eriko.
It seems that I'm tossing and turning, even if I don't notice it. The alarm
went off at 6:30, but I didn't get out of bed for another 15 minutes or so. I
hung around the house for about 45 minutes. I decided I want to get into a
morning routine of waking up early and then hanging around the house rather
than rushing off to work. I got an idea about something to do on the computer,
so I went to work (otherwise, I would wake up Eriko with my typing). I was
semi-productive in the morning, working on a performance bug. I had lunch with
Eriko, which was delicious, but she was very quiet, tired, and didn't eat. My
afternoon started off about the same as my morning, until we had a company
meeting. I won 1st place for my 'Ideal Male Wedding' entry, which was a
description of Eriko & I's legal ceremony in front of the office. (The contest
was favorite moment at work). I also had a few beers, so the time after work
was not productive at all... I left work early but Scott and I ended up
chatting quite a bit and I didn't actually get home any earlier. Eriko had
dinner ready but it was a repeat of lunch; she didn't eat and was quiet and
tired. I had a headache (from the beer) and took a nap on the couch. We watched
a little TV, I did the dishes, and the we took showers.

I slept pretty solid but since I went to bed late I got out of bed about 30
minutes after the alarm. I didn't spend much time at home before saying goodbye
to Eriko and heading off to work. I was semi-productive in the morning, but not
fully engaged. Eventually I got more into the bug fixing I was doing and became
relatively productive before my team heading out to Pesos for a team lunch. We
welcomed our latest two employees (one hired very recently, the other a few
months ago), which was nice. Back at work, there was a regularly scheduled
engineering meeting in which my name was mentioned (although forgotten at
first). After that I wasn't real productive, but the time did go fast. I then
went to Japanese class and it was nice to see Hideki. We talked about my
company and that was challenging -- describing what a technology company does
in Japanese. ;) I'm starting on a new book (intermediate level) which is a good
sign of progress, even if I don't feel I'm making as much as I should be. I had
another hour at work, but wasn't real productive. I got home by about 6:20.
Eriko was still making dinner because she got a late start; she had been
talking to her parents on Skype. She was in a pretty good mood. I watched a
little TV and did some other odd things while waiting. Dinner was yummy and
then I did dishes. We watched some TV, went to Safeway, watched some more TV,
and then I started to read a Japanese book. I worked on finances while Eriko
showered and then I showered. Before bedtime, we shared some potato chips
together. Eriko was in a noticeably better mood.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth

Then took the other as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet, knowing how way leads onto way
I doubted if I should ever come back

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence
Two roads diverged in a wood
And I took the one less traveled by
And that has made all the difference

- Robert Frost

I had a tough time sleeping last night -- partially because I was riled up by
my conversation with Eriko and partially because I had some caffeine just 3
hours before bed. After a few trips to the bathroom and one short rest on the
massage chair, I managed to fall asleep. I actually slept pretty solid, with
some vivid dreams (which I cannot recall). I woke up at 7 when the alarm went
off and got out of bed fairly quickly. I got dressed, drank some juice, and was
out of the house by about 7:30. Eriko never stirred. At work I was feeling
fairly awake and fairly energized. I got to work writing my status and working
on some bugs. I had a meeting (which prevented me from attending the regular
morning team meeting) and another. Before noon, however, I had made great
progress on a necessary enhancement. I went home for lunch. Eriko had a meal
ready and it was yummy, but we ate in silence. She did make about 40
sweet-potato cupcakes, which were also delicious. I left about 15 minutes to 1
(my usual time) and mosied down the hill. I made more good progress for the
next two hours before I had yet another meeting. This meeting was less than
productive and hopefully I won't have to call one of its kind again. After that
meeting I was dragged into another one, which was a little emotional (not so
much for me) -- but I got a free, cool, Isilon bag. I had about 30 minutes to
spare and Zack and I went for coffee and talked about our weekends. We departed
at an intersection; me heading back to work, him heading for Safeway (to buy
soup). I had another meeting to discuss the recent recruiting event and what
changes we could make. Afterwards I didn't get very engaged at work because I
was accosted by several of my teammates. At 6 I walked and talked with Scott as
we headed up the hill for home. He just returned from a vacation to Hawaii. I
enjoy talking to him. Eriko was making dinner when I arrived and so I retrieved
a package for her from the "delivery (exercise) room. I thought dinner was
quite yummy but she didn't enjoy it too much and complained about a strange
feeling in her esophagus. Soon, she was laying on her side and I was falling
asleep on the couch. I started doing the dishes and she sat in the massage
cushion. She told me that she suspected that she was depressed. We talked
briefly about the subject. She was a little worried (about her body) and wanted
to call her mom -- unfortunately, her mom was not online (Skype) and the phone
card we had was out of credit. So, I decided to try the SkypeOut service, which
allows you to dial a phone anywhere and talk over the computer. I bought some
credits and she called her mom at home. It worked great and she quickly hung up
after asking her mom to setup the computer. The re-connected (this time for
free) and talked for probably an hour. I went into the bedroom and worked on
some Japanese homework while drinking some wine (as well as attempting to
understand some of their conversation). Occasionally I came into the living
room and checked the Astros/Cardinals game (on mute). After the call, I watched
the last inning while doing the dishes. Eriko began going through the box of
goodies from her mom and I moved to the computer for a bit to go through
finances. Eriko took a shower and afterwards began reading on the couch. I
searched for low fares (finding none) and coordinated with Zack to purchase
one. This took much longer than it should have, as the interface is a bit
unwieldy and once you move to far in the process you have to start over and
re-enter the information. In addition, a flight I clicked on "purchase" became
suddenly unavailable (at that price) and I had to go through the tedious
process once again. Eventually, I purchased decent (but not great) tickets for
the 3 of us for the holidays. Finally, I could take a shower. Afterwards I
hopped back on the computer and Eriko continued to read her magazine, which she
seemed to enjoy.

I woke up late this morning. I think I slept pretty well, although I had some
vivid dreams (which I don't quite recall). I was sluggish and still really
stuffed from the night before. Eriko actually got out of bed before I did, but
I followed suit quickly. She wasn't feeling great but she was hungry. I was
stuffed and just drank some juice. I spent some time watching TV -- NBC's meet
the press and some discovery channel show about using alternative fuels. Eriko
like the discovery show because it featured a man and a dog on a bike
travelling through several states without using gasoline (mainly electric power
obtained from garbage-burning plants). Eventually I flipped to a figure-skating
championship and there the channel remaining (a young lady I was with was quite
interested) for an hour or so. During that time, I ventured onto the computer
as well as to the bedroom desk to do some Japanese studying. After the skating,
Eriko began to look pretty cosy and the living room light went off. I spent
some time listening to music and reading my Japanese textbook in the bedroom
while she slept. After she awoke, I moved to the den and turned on the TV for
the Astros/Cardinals game. I made myself a poor lunch (ground beef and cheese)
and gave Eriko a head massage. I spent some more time reading the Japanese book
while she cooked herself lunch (ramen) and ate it (with a table as a high
chair, for ease). After some more rest time, she announced that she was ready
to head to the drum store. Off we went; there were some leaves stuck to the car
wiper that we had fun encouraging (me to leave, Eriko to stay). We spent about
45 minutes at the drum store. I enjoyed myself, beating on all sorts of
different things. It was a rhythm store, so there were a few instruments
besides drums, but mainly drums. We came in search of a set of bongo drums and
we left with a set of bongo drums. A little expensive, but this was the one
thing that Eriko mentioned might help cheer her up. We stopped at Safeway on
the way home because I wanted some ice cream but to my dismay they were all sold
out of mint chocolate chip. Safeway had held another Breyer's 2 for 1 sale and
mint chocolate chip always sells out quick. We did buy a few things -- apples,
batteries, and some candy. Back at home, I continued watching TV (now
Angels/White Sox) and Eriko tried out the neck massager (which we had needed
batteries for). Soon she decided she was hungry and I suggested a pizza from
Pete's; after a few minutes of deliberation that was her final decision. I
ordered take-out, waited around (reading Japanese and watching the game) and
headed off to pick up the pizza. I had a minor wait (during which I watched the
game) and then it was back home. Dinner was going well (Eriko was starting to
feel better) when she announced that she didn't like morning sickness and
thought that one child would be enough. I suspect she knew what buttons she was
pushing but I tried to stay calm. When she began to argue that the reason why
we should only have one child was due to population control, I couldn't help
but begin a discussion which would end up in her telling me that humanity was
doomed and me becoming quite frustrated. Of course, I sense a lot of my past
debating fever in her, especially since she had a smile on her face while I
became annoyed at her assumptions and lack of proof (besides, what I will
admit, is strong anecdotal evidence). In recent years, I have calmed down a bit
and begun to require much stronger evidence in order for me to actually
consider a position -- I am happy to engage in a thought exercise (where there
is no conclusive evidence either way) but I reject opinions masqueraded as
evidence. The conversation ended abruptly with me (I would guess, visibly)
agitated and her calm but quiet. Perhaps she is preparing me for discussions
that I will have with my child(ren, depending on her thought process) in which
their passion carries them, with little or no regard to logic. I am certainly
one who has debated many a time with only passion to back my arguments. The
night cooled off after that -- Eriko moved to the computer and I took a little
nap; Eriko moved to the massage chair and I resumed watching the game; I moved
to the computer and Eriko began writing her friend a hand-written letter. After
some time (four pages for Eriko) we started watching a documentary about the
forensic re-creation of the Kennedy assassination. Interesting stuff. The cool
mood continued, however, as very little words were exchanged. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

I woke up before 8. did a little bit on the computer, but not too much. Instead,
I read my FreeBSD book and sat on the massage cushion, so as not to disturb
Eriko, who was still sleeping. Eriko woke up about 8:30. I went to TJ's to get
some milk and bacon (all the milk was gone with Eriko's chocolate milk.) I made
omelettes (bacon, cheese, two egg). I threw out a bunch of food in the fridge
cause it went bad -- with was lame. I hate wasting food. I spent some time on
the computer. Eriko practiced her rhythm by drumming (with drumsticks) on a
piece of wood set on the coffee table. I took a nap (accidentally) in the
massage chair (while Eriko napped on the couch). Turn on the TV and watched
I started watching the Astros/Cardinals game and Eriko joined me. Eriko made
herself some lunch; I snacked. At some point, Eriko started to get bored and I
suggested that we goto the drum store to look for a bongo drum. She was
interested but not motivated enough to get ready, so we didn't go anywhere. I
did the dishes. The TV remained on, and the White Sox/Angels game started.
Zack called (in response to my SMS & voicemail); he would be over soon. Indeed,
after his quick hour-long shower, he arrived to pick us up. The three of us
headed for a steak dinner at Outback. It was nice. We ordered too much and ate
too much, as usual. We got sick of french fries after the appetizer and had to
change our sides (we all ordered fries as sides, but ended up with two veggies
and a potato). Zack was a little weak-spirited; the exciting events of the
night before had taken some out of him. He did buy us dinner (and in doing so,
improved his credit at Nick's Credit Union). Back at home, Zack joined us for
about 30 minutes -- trying out the massage cushion, trying out the couch,
testing out the cellphone reception... soon he was headed off for another night
of activity. Eriko and I watched a little of a movie, but mainly spent time on
the couch talking and enjoying each other. I eventually turned off the movie.
Eriko showered, I used the computer, we traded places, and then it was time for
bed.

Not surprisingly, I had trouble sleeping again. During the night I wokeup and
told Eriko that I needed some conversation. Note that we didn't have a
conversation about that. I woke up a little late, but not too bad. Eriko was up
too. I had toast and juice for breakfast; I just didn't have an appetite. I was
at work by 8 but today would not turn out to be very productive. I just didn't
focus very well. No particular one item was to blame for my distraction; it was
just one of those days. Zack ran the Shiki train and I went home for lunch. I
arrived a little earlyu and startled Eriko. Lunch was nice; Eriko was in a good
mood and I was glad. Afterwards, I had coffee with Zack and we talked about...
women. It is so very nice to bond again with my brother after all these years.
He has recently given me some advice about Eriko, which I have followed - such
as inquiring about what she would like and making an effort to plan activities
together. We have a symphony and a Disney on Ice show scheduled now. The
afternoon was more of the morning - a strange, busy, but unproductive time. I
went home early and arrived a little after 5. Eriko was cooking, but much more
quiet than at lunch. After dinner, she felt strange and wasn't in the mood to
talk. I watched baseball and she used the computer and the massage cushion. She
joined me on the couch, but wasn't interested in conversation or attention.
Soon she moved to the bedroom and played the piano. I started using the
computer and continued watching the game. Towards the late evening, she
surprised me by emerging from the bedroom in a relatively good mood. We enjoyed
some pleasant time together before going to bed.

I had trouble waking up again (because I had trouble sleeping again). It is
difficult when there is no escape. ;) I was disappointed to find out the bacon
had gone rancid, so I had a small breakfast. Eriko didn't wake up before I
left, so I couldn't say goodbye. I was at work by 8 and had a hectic morning. I
had to prepare status for my team, spend some time with the new guy, and have a
meeting or two. I came home for lunch and the meal was good, but we sat in
silence. Back at work, I had another few meetings and worked on an issue or
two. I got home at the usual time; Eriko made dinner, but she didn't eat
anything. She laid down on the couch quickly after I had finished, not feeling
so well. I watched the baseball game and used the computer. I was interrupted
by a phone call from my co-worker and we vented about some things happening at
work for about 30 minutes. Afterwards, I resumed my previous activities; there
was uncomfortable silence between Eriko and I. Eventually, she went to bed. The
first time I checked on her, she seemed fine, but the second time she was
crying. She shook off my comfort and I gave her a stern speech about going
through rough times together instead of alone. I reminded her that I couldn't
understand if she couldn't (or wouldn't) communicate. Eventually, I went to bed
a hour later.

I had trouble waking up, but got out of bed by 7:30. Besides a few words here
and there, I can't get a conversation going with Eriko. She doesn't seem to
happy and there was minimal interaction. I made it to work by about 8. I
was very busy at work; I worked on an emergency fix. Home for lunch, I peppered
Eriko with questions until she started crying. Before that, she said she was
bored. I wasn't much comfort but stayed around as long as I could. Back at
work, I was extremely busy; I had to prepare a speech (for a UW recruiting
event) and get my fix ready while dealing with the usual barrage of questions.
I left for the recruiting event (with several other co-workers) about 5. The
event went pretty well, although we probably talked a little too long or had
too much detail. That is something is up for debate, as you want to provide
enough information to keep them interested but not enough to overwhelm them. My
talk was very short and for the most part, I liked my delivery. I have some
refinements to make for the next one, however. I got home a little early than I
expected (my co-worker also wanted to leave early, so I got a ride). I
surprised Eriko as well. There was no food so I hungrily ate some random things
from the fridge. Eriko went to bed soon after, but I stayed up for a few hours
to calm down from the hectic day -- at work & home.

I had a tough time sleeping last night -- the hug refusal got to me. I woke up
in the middle of the night to Eriko crying (turns out it was just a bad dream)
and that allowed me to get past my pride. I woke up at 7, fixed breakfast and
left the house by 7:30. I said bye to Eriko, who was still inbed. I made great
progress in the morning and had several meetings. I had lunch with Eriko and it
was nice. At one point, she very seriously told me that my belly was
disgusting (my co-worker would later describe it as the end of the
honeymoon). Back at work, lots of meetings. There is a minor emergency that I
am in the middle of, so that took a lot of my time. I had to run to Japanese
class. Class was good, but I'm clearly not studying in my spare time (which is
obvious both from my own knowledge of my activities and my lack of progress).
To much computer time, I suppose. I returned to work for a little more progress
and discussion about the emergency before arriving home at 6:30 (a little
late). Dinner was delicious and I watched the Angels & White Sox game. Things
were very pleasant until I made the mistake of trying to touch Eriko's belly
with my cool beer. She got upset, I got upset, silence ensued. She went to bed
and I joined her an hour or so later.

I slept in until about 8; we had plans to go to the Nadeshiko (birthing)
clinic, so no reason to wake up early. I ate a small breakfast and sent out my
status email for work. We left the house about 9 AM; the clinic is on the
eastside (Kirkland) which means traffic is a concern. Sure enough, traffic was
pretty heavy and we arrived at 9:30. Eriko's group session wasn't until 10, but
I had a meeting I needed to make at 10, so I drove back to Isilon. Traffic was
better on the way back and I found a perfect 2 hr parking place in front of
work which allowed me to catch the tail end of my team meeting and make the
regular leads meeting on time. I had coffee with my co-worker and I discussed
his role as a technical mentor for our new employee (who starts Wednesday). I
didn't have much time to do anything but check my email before I was back on
the road again to pick up Eriko. When I picked her up outside the clinic, the
clock read exactly 12, which was the arranged pick-up time. Back at home, I had
a quick lunch and went back to work. The day was pretty unproductive; I was
interrupted almost everytime I put my headphones on. As it was, I made a few
fixes but not much more than that. I had coffee with Zack (at least I'm getting
something done, even if it isn't work-related). I left work at 6 and there was
a nice dinner waiting at home. I watched a baseball game and worked on my
keychain-flashcards. I did some light exercise and rewarded myself with a beer.
I then proceeded to work on the computer. Eriko refused to hug me and went to
bed. I remained up for another hour or so.

I woke up late, about 9. I made some pancakes and shared them with Eriko. After
eating, Eriko didn't feel well and laid on the couch. I started using the
computer but quickly was chased off due to the noise. I moved into the bedroom
and listened to the Astros/Braves play-off game. While there, I got an idea
about re-arranging the bedroom (moving the bed from the north to the south
wall). Eriko started feeling better, so I moved back into the living room. I
called Zack and made an inquiry about dinner; he said he would call back after
checking with Liz. After getting permission from Eriko, I rearranged the
bedroom. Now I don't have to crawl into bed through the head. In general, I
like the layout much better, and Eriko seems to like it as well. We went to
Costco with the intention of purchasing a massage chair (cover) and after some
anxious looking, located it on a random aisle. It was a little difficult to
shop, because Eriko moves pretty slowly now. I'm not used to such a slow pace.
Then we headed to Office Max. I was looking for some mini-flashcards
(preferabbly on a key-chain) but couldn't find any. I settled for a
hole-puncher and regular index cards. We proceeded to Uwajimaya, where we ate
dinner. Eriko was hungry and wanted to eat then, so I went ahead and got
something to eat as well. It was a bad choice; I went for Thai food because I
was in an Asian grocery store, but really wanted a burger & fries. As it turned
out, the Thai was pretty lame. Eriko also didn't enjoy her eel. Back at home, I
realized that I had forgotten about Zack but I figured since hadn't called he
probably had no desire to join us. As it turns out, he called about 30 minutes
earlier to tell me he had no desire to join us. ;P I had a beer, enjoyed a
massage (in the chair) and watched the Yankees/Angels game. Eriko read and went
to bed early. I joined soon after.

I slept in a bit -- up at 8 AM. ;) Eriko had a real tough morning. She had her
first day of Caribbean percussion class and it started at 9:30. She woke up
earlier than I did and ate, but she was still feeling really poor. She spent
some time on the couch and just when I thought she wasn't going (@ 9:15), she
announced that it was time to leave. I did my best to get her there on time,
but she was about 10 minutes late. It didn't really matter, as we were walking
(finding) the classroom, another couple came bearing their drums. While she was
in class, I went to the bank to deposit some checks (I had to wait 10 minutes
for them to open), went shopping @ Target (a cashier mistake saved me ~ $20),
and read my FreeBSD book (while listening to music and eating candy). I went
into her class (with 30 minutes remaining) and watched (as well as read). On
the way home, we got hungry. Eriko wanted a tonkatsu sandwich (and didn't
really want to cook), so we purchased some tonkatsu take-out from Sam's Sushi,
took it home, and made our own tonkatsu sandwich. ;) It was really delicious
and reminded me of the sandwiches Yuji's grandmother made for us in Nagoya 11
years ago. I had a headache (maybe too much candy) and took a nap. Once I woke
up, Eriko took a nap and I used the computer. We watched one of the baseball
playoff games together on the couch and had a nice dinner. We spent a nice
evening together on the couch and wrapped it up by listening to some Disney
songs.

I woke up early, about 6:30. I was eager to get out of the house. I think last
night's silence was a little too much for me; I couldn't bear a quiet morning.
I had a quick breakfast and got to work early, before 7:30. I made some
progress in the morning, but that was interrupted by a surprise meeting with
one of my superiors. There are some organization changes occurring; I am no
longer part of a group I once was. I was a little irritated, but not too much.
I made the decision some time ago to specialize in a different area, and this
is a consequence. I surprised Eriko at home for an early lunch; I had written
her a note saying that I would not be home so she had nothing prepared. I ate
some leftovers quickly (I had a 12:30 meeting, which is why I didn't expect to
be at home) and returned to work. 2 hours of leadership training went by pretty
quickly. I chose to "be respectful of other's ideas," which means I didn't
volunteer my answers so much. Normally I do, so that was tough. I worked with
my co-worker on a problem and we came to a good understanding. Then I chatted
with Todd about the quandary of loving Japanese girls. I left early; Jane
brought my bike home in her jeep (per my request - I'd rather store it in the
condo than at work). I watched (and helped) Eriko cook dinner, which was yummy.
We watched some TV; I used the computer; Eriko read her book. She was in bed by
9, I stayed up about an hour longer.

Another late morning; I had trouble waking up. Eriko woke up too, but we didn't
have much time together. I was at work by 8. My calendar was quite full today,
so I didn't work on many issues. A meeting with my co-worker turned into an
introduction to his wive's new wine bar/art gallery, which was cool. They're
looking for investors and I see the potential; unfortunately I don't have that
kind of money. It takes money to make money, and I see why. I made it home for
lunch with Eriko (although I was a little late). She was quiet and told me that
talking hurt her stomach area a bit; it was nice being together. I left work a
little early, arriving before 6. We had a nice meal, but Eriko was
uncomfortable and silent most of the night. I sat with her on the couch and
eventually watched a playoff game, but we never made any conversation. She went
to bed about 9 and I stayed up for about an hour afterwards. Sometimes the
reality of marriage is two warm bodies co-existing but not interacting. My
expectations are changing, but I'm not disappointed.

I set the alarm a little later this morning (7) but I'm still very tired when
it goes off. Eriko woke up too. I wasn't hungry for breakfast and my throat was
still sore, but it was much better than the day before. Surprisingly enough it
hadn't moved up into my head at all. I go to work a bit early and arrive about
7:45. I had to make copies of the AOS stuff so I could mail it out. I worked on
issues until the regular morning meeting and then again until lunch. I was
caught by a co-worker right as I was about to leave and didn't arrive home
until about 12:30. Lunch was good and I returned about 1:15. I had a meeting,
missed a meeting, and had a real solid interview with a potential candidate for
my team. I worked on an enhancement until close to 6 and got nailed trying to
leave. As a result, I left about 6:30; I walked & talked with Scott and didn't
get home until about 6:45. Eriko wasn't thrilled but patient. We had leftovers
+ corn soup for dinner. Afterwards, Eriko was head down in the latest issue of
her Japanese pregnancy magazine and I used the computer. It was bed after that.

I slept very poorly and had a hard time waking up; I got poked by Eriko to get
out of bed. I had some yogurt and honey and left for work; Eriko was still
sleeping. I arrived at work about 7:30 and a few minutes to prepare for an
interview at 8. I reviewed some work I had done the day before and had the
usual morning meeting. I did some more work on my problem and soon it was time
for an early lunch. Zack and I met mom, dad, and Eriko at work and we walked
aimlessly down the street until Eriko suggested Shiki (a Japanese restaraunt).
We guided the tour in that direction and soon were enjoying a nice meal. I had
to rush home after lunch to pick up a copy of Eriko's birth certificate and
make the translation electronically available (as I was meeting the translator
later in the day). I made it back to work by 1, in time for a regular meeting.
I printed out the translation and attended two meetings before heading off to
my Japanese lsson. Hideki (my teacher) didn't have anything to do after class
and wanted to avoid traffic, so he came over to show me where the starter was
on my MG. He met Eriko and received a quick tour of our place. After Hideki
left, Eriko and I waited for our dinner guests. Zack showed up (but couldn't
let himself in) and soon let mom & dad in as well. We sat around for quite a
while, drank some wine, talked, looked at wedding photos, ate nuts and
eventually made our way to an Indian restaraunt down the street. Eriko was
suffering, as she had not partaken in may of these snacks. Dinner was good
(although not India Bistro) and everyone was thorougly stuffed. We said our
bon voyage to mom & dad (they leave for a 2 month cruise in two days), and
started the evening routine which ends up with my eyes shut.

I'm up early, Eriko is slow to move. I can't remember if she made it out of bed
before I left (although I think she did say goodbye). I got some work done in
the morning, had a meeting, got some more work done, and then it was time for
lunch. Zack and I met mom & dad outside of work about noon and we took Zack's
car up to our house to pick up Eriko, who was waiting. We drove back to work
and went to a nice Thai restaraunt. I was stuffed! There was a long delay in
parting, but eventually mom & dad walked with Eriko back to the condo and Zack
and I went to work. I had another two meetings, did some work, and then walked
home. My co-worker was going that way so we walked together (almost all the way
up the hill) and talked about our new wives/lives (he was married a few weeks
ago). I saw mom & dad in the park near our house, so I stopped and chatted,
bringing them with me to the house. Of course, they brought wine (they don't
seem to cross the 6 PM boundary without some wine) so we sat around and talked.
We moved onto the 5 spot, a local restaraunt, and had a nice meal. We waited
around for Zack and he took mom & dad to their place. Eriko and I were
exhausted, and hit the sack.

I wake up, after Eriko. However, as soon as I leave the bedroom, she wakes up
and complains that she couldn't sleep because I was snoring! I make pancakes
and then start doing some work. I'm making modifications to an allocation
library so I can do better tracking. I worked on this most of the day,
actually. Eriko woke up and had some pancakes and then rested on the couch. We
watched the Mariners game. We went to Ballard and met Alex & Kellie's @ Ray's
boathouse for an early dinner (or lupper - lunch + supper). Back @ home, I read
my FreeBSD book and we watched a show about the next mega earthquake coming to
Seattle. I got scolded a little for spending too much time on the computer.
Zack called and wanted us to reserve time to see mom & dad, but he couldn't
commit to when. We decided to go to bed early and were just about to hit the
sack when Dad called and pretended to be gathering. Pretend or not, the only
place we were going was to bed. ;)

We were up pretty early. I took a sleeping aid before bed (my throat is
starting to bother me; I'm guessing that the night of poor sleep was a cold
taking root) and slept great. Eriko got up too, but she was tired and not
feeling so hot. Before too long, she was asleep on the couch. I read my FreeBSD
internals book before succumbing to the sandman. We were both awakened
unexpectedly by the doorbell -- the mailman, with a package for Eriko. In it
were maternity outfit brochures, some vitamins, and some other booklets from
her mother. Eriko began looking through these materials and I moved to the
computer. After a short while, I decided it was finally time to get my haircut.
I located a barber, Counterbalance Barbershop, gave them a call, and headed
that way. The barbership was only about 5 blocks away and in between was an ATM
so I grabbed some cash. I was immediately surprised (upon entering the shop) to
see two big dogs lying on the floor. They weren't just lying, they were barking
too. ;) I'm glad Eriko declined my invitation for her to come along. There were
two barbers and two clients, so I sat and waited. I had brought a magazine and
my iPod so I was prepared for the wait, however there was a NY/Boston game on
TV that was more interesting and I watched that. The barber was smooth -- he
asked for orders, I told him I had too much hair, and he started cutting. The
game was exciting, but the Red Sox just couldn't seem to pull it off. I stopped
at Trader Joe's on my way home and picked up some juice (for Eriko) and other
items (wine, ham, soy milk). Back at home, Eriko laughed and said I looked like
Seinfeld (in the low-flow episode). I ate some lunch and I had just started
getting to work (at doing nothing) when Eriko decided she wanted to go
maternity clothes shopping. I suggested Target (but I didn't really know) and
off we went. Target had a dismal selection. We bought a few assorted items
(shower head with cable, cotton) but no maternity wear. I looked up the address
to babies r' us (on my blackberry) and we headed there. Unfortunately, the
store was not to Eriko's expectations -- only baby clothes! In Japan, baby
clothes are always accompanied by clothes for mommy (makes sense to me).
Dissappointed, we headed back south. Macy's was the next idea, but I was
already burned out on shopping and suggested we stop at home and eat first.
Eriko suggested pizza and we were headed to Pete's. We played some pictionary
before our meal arrived and ate far less than either of us expected. We both
agreed to go to Macy's another day and went home. Eriko fell asleep almost as
soon as we got home and I worked on the computer. The rest of the evening was
restful -- Eriko wasn't feeling in tip-top shape (she thinks it is anemia) but
she wasn't feeling horrible either. We watched some TV, I practiced Japanese,
we took turns on the computer and we were in bed by 11.

I slept quite poorly. I couldn't get comfortable; I kept waking up. Hot, cold,
etc. Eriko both woke up early and had a pleasant morning together. She was
feeling pretty good and so was I. ;) I had another interview at work, and I did
a lot of management of bugs. Then it was lunch time. I wasn't interested in the
Shiki train so I headed home. Eriko wasn't expecting me and hadn't made lunch
but I didn't mind. I made a sandwich and we had a good time; she was still in a
good mood. Back at work, I began researching a debugging technique. I wasn't
really in the mood to work, though, and eventually I asked if Zack wanted to
get some coffee. It turns out that he wasn't in the mood to work either, so we
got some coffee and spent about 45 minutes yacking. That was nice. When I
returned to the office, there was champagne being drunk! Some co-workers were
enjoying a milestone so I spent a little while joining in their festivities.
Then it was time to go home. Eriko had not prepared dinner either, so I ate
some leftovers. We watched the Mariner's game and a recording of one of Eriko's
percussion concerts; I also used the computer and studied Japanese a bit. Then
it was bedtime.

I woke up early and popped out of bed. I've always liked waking up early; I
just usually don't have the discipline to go to bed early. With Eriko around,
that happens pretty naturally and then it is easy for me to get up! I was
hungry and made myself a real breakfast (omelette & bacon). Eriko was slow to
rise, but she did wake up before I left. I had a busy schedule at work today;
several meetings and several interviews. I even had an interview at lunch, so I
couldn't see Eriko until the evening. I arrived home a little before six
(early) and we ate dinner together. Afterwards, she was quite tired and took a
nap while I read. Next, she went to bed and I moved to the computer. After an
hour or so she got up and that was my signal to go to bed.

I woke up late this morning; I forgot to turn "on" the alarm. (Actually, in the
middle of the night I woke up and thought I turned on the alarm, but in reality
I didn't hit the right button). Eriko and I shared breakfast together, which
was nice. Off to work I went. I don't remember whether I was productive or not,
but I had no scheduled meetings today. I came home for lunch and we shared a
nice meal together. Eriko walked me to the park, and off I went. I was a little
late coming home as Scott and I stood outside and chatted for a bit. Dinner was
yummy. Soon after, Eriko became tired and tried to nap. I read magazine, used
the computer, and read this FreeBSD kernel book from work. I also had some ice
cream! Then it was time for showers & bed.

I woke up early this morning (about 6:20). I set the alarm aggressively; my
strategy was that if Eriko was going to continue to go to bed real early and
not wake up in the morning than I might as well get up earlier so that I could
go to sleep earlier (and maybe leave work earlier too). To my surprise, after
about 30 minutes, Eriko left the bed too. We made a banana smoothie for
breakfast and then Eriko went back to work. Since I was at work so early, I
arrived at the same time as my boss' boss (VP of Engineering) and he invited me
to join him for coffee, which I did. That was interesting. Two of my other
co-workers happened to be in pretty early as well. I remember working
diligently in the morning. I decided to invite Zack to join Eriko & I for
lunch, and with her permission, he did. That was nice and I think everyone
enjoyed it. Eriko cooked and Zack was probably a bit surprised. ;P Back at
work, we had a meeting at 1. I was then scheduled for another meeting but after
about 30 minutes I couldn't stand it and left. It was a training seminar and
the material was not at all interesting. That gave me another hour of work
befor I had my Japanese lesson with Hideki at Starbucks. Now we are on Chapter
10 (last in this book) which is about the Environment & Society. I went back to
work for less than an hour, and then headed home. Eriko had prepared curry
(which I love) and had a tale as well -- she had gone to Uwajimaya and
discovered that (due to some downtown construction) the bus route was
dramatically different. She got a little lost and had to reverse her direction
and walk a bit, but found Uwajimaya. A nice discovery (on her part) was that
since she was so busy (she had left at 5 PM and only had an hour before I came
home) she didn't have time to feel sick. I encouraged her and let her know that
Melissa had said the same thing. We enjoyed some levity on the couch before
heading to Safeway for juice and ice cream. Soon afterwards, we showered and
hit the sack.

I woke up a little late since the alarm didn't go off. Eriko stayed in bed. I
wasn't real hungry (my stomach still had food from the previous day of eating)
so I just ate a piece of toast with honey. I went into work and had lots of
stuff to do. The day was relatively light, with only a single meeting in the
morning. I went home for lunch and Eriko had prepared a meal; afterwards she
walked me to the park before I headed down the hill. I don't remember much of
the afternoon. Eriko prepared dinner and we ate when I returned home. It turns
out that the reason the alarm didn't go off was because it had reset itself to
Japanese time. It is a clock which is designed to self-synchronize to the
Japanese clock radio signal, but up to this point it hadn't worked. Eriko was
very lethargic and took a nap; I studied Japanese and used the computer. Soon,
Eriko went to bed. I kept using the computer and after about an hour, Eriko was
out of bed. That was my sign to finish and I took a shower and hit the sack.

We slept in, although I reach a point where staying in bed becomes detrimental;
I woke up before Eriko. The morning was pretty calm. She felt a little better
but was still quite sluggish. I spent the morning on the computer and she was
watching a (strange) Japanese movie. I called Alex about ten to see if he still
wanted to have brunch with us and he did -- ETA in about 30 minutes. We were
merrily plodding along when we were startled by banging on the window -- Alex
had arrived. My poor phone just doesn't get reception and I haven't told the
condo manager about our landline yet. We hung around in the house for another
15 minutes or so as the movie finished up and then we wandered outside. I had
anticipated us eating at the 5-spot, which is a very popular establishment in
Queen Anne (especially for brunch). Today was no exception and the wait was 45
minutes! None of us wanted to wait, so we went down the street looking for
other food. I suggested Pete's pizza (where we had failed to eat a weekend or
two ago) but they were still closed. We continued on and found the Queen Anne
Cafe, which was also bustling but only had a wait of 10 minutes. While we were
waiting, Alex and I spoke about Eriko's pregnancy, our jobs, etc. Eriko,
sitting down, drew a very good drawing of a face -- completely outshining the
older woman who was also doodling. Finally, our table was ready and we ordered
our food -- an omelette for each of us. They were delicious and there was lots
of food. We had a good laugh as Alex put ketchup on everything (except the
bread). Eriko and I couldn't finish our food, but Alex ate the small amount of
my leftover omelette. Afterwards, we walked back to the condo and said our
goodbyes. We were both stuffed and it didn't take long before Eriko announced
that she was taking a nap. I received permission to use the computer and spent
my time there; after an hour or two Eriko was up and it was almost time to
leave for our next venture. We left about 30 minutes before 6, heading for an
Italian restaraunt (whose name I cannot remember). We found good parking and
arrived ahead of my co-worker, Todd, and his ex-wife/girlfriend/future-fiance,
Miki, who were meeting us there. We had to change tables because Eriko was a
little cool (due to an open patio door). Todd & Miki arrived soon and we began
to talk and order. I enjoy the bread and olive oil (and they kept bringing
more) so I was happily eating. Eriko wasn't very hungry (due to her big
breakfast) so we decided to split a meal -- veal meatballs (my choice). As it
turns out, the advertised "big" portions were not so big... I only had four
meatballs! Luckily (for me), Eriko wasn't interested in eating at all and just
wanted bread and some of the sauce. Thanks to the bread, my partially full
stomach, and a glass of wine, I was able to feel full. We enjoyed our time with
Todd & Miki, although Eriko was pretty quiet and it turned out she wasn't
feeling very good. On the way home she really had to go to the bathroom and I
urged her to wait. It was a comical dash once we arrived, as she grabbed my
keys and let herself in. She wasn't feeling very well for the rest of the
evening and we didn't stay up much longer.