My uchi weighs a ton.

(Bonus points if you translated that correctly to, "My house weighs a pork." More bonus points if you got the Public Enemy reference.)

Hey, it's good to be back! Things have been mad busy. I know I say that a lot around here, but a lot has happened since Tim dropped that fly ball:

• Japanese class is in full swing and is kicking our butts. We are doing well in the class but it's five hours a week of class, not counting homework and studying. On Wednesdays we also have allergy shots, so coming home from work, getting shots, and going to class (and trying to eat somewhere in there too) is a serious challenge.
  
  
• Rhonda and I turned the house upside down in late August and early September and we got it cleaner than it has been since the day we moved in. There were still a couple of boxes in the kitchen with our collectibles (aka anime crap) in them and they have been unpacked. The Evangelion shrine is in full effect now. We had to get everything cleaned up because...
  
  
• I turned 30! We had a little party and watched Cal beat the stuffing out of Minnesota. I'd like to thank everyone who came from all over to welcome me into my fourth decade, and those who wanted to make it but couldn't.
  
  
• That was quickly followed up by our second wedding anniversary. It was also our second anniversary spent in the East Bay (yes, I know, very exciting, but this is what you get when you have a mortgage to pay). We drove up to Berkeley for the Cal/Portland State game, then drove over to Emeryville, where we stayed at the Woodfin Suites Hotel and had a nice view of the bay and the Bay Bridge. We found out Willie Mays' SkyBox Lounge was just over in the Public Market building where Kimball's East used to be, and we walked over there and had dinner. Sunday, I surprised Rhonda by taking her to the Scharffen Berger chocolate factory, where they give a free tour with free samples of their chocolate. (She loved it, although I created a monster and now she is a full-fledged chocolate connoisseur/snob.) After that, we walked through Berkeley's new 4th Street shopping area, which is a little like Santana Row but not as pretentious. By then, we were thoroughly exhausted from two days of walking and were glad to get home and sleep.
  
  
• Another Cal game last Saturday (a whoopin' of ASU), followed by Adia's birthday party on Sunday. I hear Ms. (Mrs.?) Potato Head was a big hit.
  
  
• Giants game tomorrow, Rhonda has some teacher stuff to take care of Saturday morning (in Capitola!), bookended by another Giants game Sunday. Possibly Barry Bonds's last game in a Giants uniform (but possibly not). Either way, hopefully the Giants can ruin the Dodgers' year and make sure they're at home watching the playoffs like the rest of us.
  

So yeah, it's been tough to catch a breather. We haven't even been able to do simple things like grocery shop or go to the gym. But it looks like slowly, but surely, things are slowing down some. So look for some changes on this blog, and hopefully, more regular posts. Until then, sayonara and oyasuminasai.