What an interesting day!

Here's an Open Letter to the leaders of the world attending the COP21 conference in Paris.

So I started this day out with the usual routine. My daughter left with my wife to walk to school. While checking email, I signed an open letter to the world leaders attending COP21 in Paris (see link above).

On my way to work, I took an extra trip out a local convinience store to pay for an order I made on Amamon.co.jp last night. The funny thing was, the total I was charged was much less than I expected. When I checked the receipt out, it turns out my order had been split up. Yet, I still needed to get to work on time, so I postponed paying the other part.

As luck would have it (or not), the path I took from there had a nail just at the base of the mountain. The back tire of my bicycle caught it dead center of the rim, right through the tube and everything! Amazing shot, no? Luckily, I wasn't that far from my school, so I walked with my bicycle up the mountain.

With this episode in the back of my mind, I expeditiously completely an assignment given to me by a JTE (Japanese teacher of English) for next week's lesson. I knew I'd have to walk to the cycle shop later and I didn't want to have to leave later than I had to. I taught my classes, I talked with some students outside of class and did my normal thing.

I prepped some "Christmas present" boxes that I'm going to use for the elementary school lessons I'll teach. I slip in some small cards with various pictures of Christmas items to help the kids review them. I have this whole lesson planned out, including these boxes used in an "open the presents" game, a bingo game and an intro of one of my favorite songs, "Feliz Navidad" by Jose Feliciano. I actually have been able to get a lot of students singing with me!


An original "Christmas present" made out of cardboard, wrapping paper, masking tape and stickers.

When I had a chance, I checked the back tire of my bike. I didn't know about the nail until that moment and so I asked for a jack to pull it out. I found it had bent in two (like my order) and I had been pretty lucky it hadn't done any further damage to my bike.

Then, I got permission to leave early and I walked the long walk, nearly 45 minutes, past my place to the local cycle shop. The man there was pretty impressed with the sudden damage the nail had made and nodded his head, smiling, as he completely replaced the tube and tire from the bicycle. The trainee employee who was watching was astounded with a dropped jaw. I just kept counting my blessings.

Upon returning home, I heard some awesome news, though. My daughter got her first 100% on a kanji drill assignment. I am very proud of her. My wife is continuing to clean like a mad woman in prep for a visit from her near-sister friend visiting this weekend. She also had a quite active day with similar fluctuations in luck as it were.

Overall, though, I think it was a good day with everything taken care of that could be and great things to come. Now, if only it wouldn't rain tomorrow...
Who can't feel good after listening to Bob Marley, the Rasta King of true Peace, man!