I had one of these 🎂 (Patreon)

Hey hey, Everyone👋,

I have so much to say and things to write about, but I want to do a quick update for the moment because I didn't get to last Sunday.  First, look at that cake! I yelped very loudly when it was revealed 😭 💕. Best birthday cake ever😊. Thank you, E for the sushi, the cake, and the wonderful company. And thank you for sharing your exciting adventures. Here's a couple. 

Health-wise: I'm walking better, still some swelling and pain, but managed a 10k step day and that is huge for me. Still can't kneel or do anything particularly harrowing like skip down the steps. Go back to see doctor in two weeks. See what he says. He took like fifteen vials of blood to test for genetic things I might have.

Richard had to skip a talk he was going to give to a bunch of teachers in Tokyo (because of my emergency). I feel terrible about that. But turns out there's another opportunity happening this weekend in Osaka. So I begged him to do it. I'll drive us there. It's a four-hour drive, but I'll take one day and go slowly, stop a lot to walk around at all the wonderful rest stops they have here. One day for the event. Then the next day do the old slow drive home. I figure I might be able to manage a stop or two to see something fun or temple or shrine-y. I mean, as long as I don't have to walk up a mountain...I just don't know where to stop 😝. Any ideas? Will be going from Shizuoka through Nara to Osaka. I just can't decide. It feels like going to Disney World as a kid and being told I can only ride two rides. I'm a little reticent to drive through Kyoto. I did last time, but it was the end of the pandemic and not much traffic. I saw some video of what the streets look like now....eeegads. So now I'm looking for "out of the way/off the beaten track" and "accessible by car."

I'll let you know what I come up with! And open to ideas! ٩( 'ω' )و

✉️ Postcards! I'm sending three month's worth out next week (Dec/Jan/Feb) because I got so behind on things. Erg. Sorry about that.

I'll end with a couple photos of things that brought me joy the past week or so.

This is Fuji-san taken early morning on my birthday. My friend took it and sent it to me. She lives closer to the beach than I do and does daily early morning walks. It was a gorgeous day.

Stopped by the 7-11 for something and had to get this. It's supposed to be a dorayaki, but instead of being much thinner and filled with red bean paste, two kinds of chocolate cream. It was nummy!

Here's a real dorayaki.

Nattokinase is an enzyme in natto that is supposed help dissolve blood clots. I've been trying to eat a pack every day or every couple days, been forgetting recently. Woops.

Anyway, came up with this brilliant combination, natto + blue cheese. Yup.

Finally, I don't want this to get too long, so I'll leave you with a little bit of spring. Blue sky, plum blossoms and a bee!

 Love you all, thank you~ XO,

terrie