New Year----New Decade Began  Part 1      January 16, 2010

Happy new year!  It’s kind of late.  I know.  Already 15 days have passed. 
Are you having a happy new year?  For me this year began quite tough.  I learned many lessons in hard way.
On the new year day, we visited my parents home and had a new year party with my sister, uncles, aunts, cousins and their wives and children.  With great food and nice talk with someone you love but don’t see so often was really a treat.  Nice way to begin the new year.
On 3rd, I went shopping with my sister and my parents.  My mother bought me 2 sets of suits that I have to prepare for my new job.  When I got home around 7 o’clock at night, the oil tank was completely empty.  Since it was late and holiday season, I couldn’t ask near by gas station to deliver it, I had to call my sister.  She was at that time having a party with her friends.  One of them sells oil.  Usually I don’t use that store because I have to pay on cash while usually I pay from the bank.  On this emergency occasion, I had to ask and beg her to deliver oil on that very night!!!  Here nearly 20,000 yen flew away.  Thankfully to my sister’s friend, we could have a warm night then.  And thankfully that our boiler has no damage.
The next day on 4th, I had to attend a new year greeting meeting to city hall.  I dressed myself in one of my new suits that Mom got for me, I went and did my job.  It was not easy job because I had to stand up in front of all those city beaurocrats and bowed.  It took me about 5 minutes and over.  I came home with relief that my first job was over.  The next plan was to visit schools to greet.  I went home and picked up the home made bread and some goodies to give out.  I turned on my car that has new winter wheels.  I started and bang!  The car stopped suddenly.  I didn’t know why it stopped.
I opened my eyes and turn around.  The car was right next to my car on the left.  It was driven by a woman that I know.  She was my neighbor.  She was heading to her office for the first time this year.  My car was crashed between her car and the corner of stone cliff.  After emotionally hard time, insurance covered for her damage but my car needs to be abandoned.  It cost me –or actually my husband who will have to pay for it—more than 1.8 million yen to replace my car with new one.  Of course I could go with second handed economical car, but I preferred the new one thinking to use it for many years. 
New Year began ----Part 2     January 16, 2010
On 14th great coldness covered whole Japan.  In the morning, my husband screamed, “Hot water doesn’t come out!”  Water frozen somewhere between the boiler and the faucet.  I didn’t do anything hoping that it will be melted before night comes.  Fortunately late afternoon, it melted and recovered to normal status.  Weather report warned us to be ready for the super cold night.  I argued myself whether I should leave some water flowing to prevent from freezing or keep the boiler on through the night.  I couldn’t fall into sleep discussing myself.  I should have followed my inner voice.  The next morning, it was frozen.  Even during the day time, the temperature remained cold.  The night was naturally colder again.  I guess it froze hard and well.  We could not make the bath.  We gave up since my husband is going to the spa the next day anyway.  My son and I had no plan until afternoon, so we can wait till next noon.  I called the boiler man to come to help it.  While we were waiting him to come, my son and I went to a nearby spa.  The new spa run by a famous beauty salon owner.  It was luxurious place.  When we came home for lunch, the boiler man came and warmed up the pipes in and out.  After about 2 hours struggle, it revived.  It cost us 4,000 yen!!!  Well, I learned hard lesson and became a member of that nice spa nearby.  I will visit there to get massage next time.
Oh, on the morning of 15th, right after I got up, I walked into the bedroom door and my nose still swollen a little and ache.  So this new decade started with a lot of hard lessons.  I hope I am a little cleverer than the last decade now.  And I hope I can live cleverer life in this new decade. 
Again, I hope you have a nice year and decade!