December already!!

Hello, hello!! I CANNOT believe it is less then 3 weeks till Christmas...either that or I cannot believe it is the last month of the year.

I still have this nagging cold and Jame just finally got over his. Last week we purchased some bikes from a couple who live 2 floors up. They are from T-dot and actually went home today. They had a sign in the lobby advertising some things they were getting rid of...and 2 bikes we on that list. We were planning on buying some used bikes from the local bike shop, but Sean and Leanne gave us a better deal -- 2 for 4000 yen whereas 1 used bike from the store costs 6500 yen. They are really cool people and when we first went up to their place to look at what they were selling we ended up chatting for quite a while. We all said how unfortunate it was that we just met now because it would've been fun to hang out.

The day we got the bikes we rode them to a nearby area called Bentencho. This area has more selection of stores etc. so we sometimes do our shopping there. It was nice ride around and explore the neighbourhood a bit more. The bikes are pretty sweet.....the only downfall is going up hill as there is only one gear. We both have nice big baskets attached to the handle-bars and my back brakes could use some WD-40. They are loads of fun. I almost got taken out once....you really do have to be on the ball riding around here!

We rode to one of the best 100 yen stores around and stocked up on some Christmas decorations for our place. Nothing too fancy, but we got enough to make the place feel "Christmasy". Just like back home we decorated our place on December 1st while listening to some Christmas tunes in the background. Just an FYI - Boney M's Christmas CD rules!!!!

When it comes to Christmas I have always been big on tradition and ever since I was a kid, my parents would pour us a big ol' glass of eggnog while we decorated the tree. Jame and I have done the same thing in the past only with an ounce or 2 of kahlua or butterscotch schnapps...yuuuummmmmmyyyy! We looked everywhere for eggnog, but no such luck :(

The next day we walked down the block to take in all of the lights that the village has displayed.

It is interesting how decked out this city gets for the holidays considering many Japanese people do not celebrate Christmas at all (most people living here believe in Buddhism or Shintoism).

It was super cold. I know I shouldn't complain about cold weather given what has been going on back home, but my body still hasn't gotten used to winter yet. Living next to the bay can make this area quite chilly....huge gusts of cold wind blow through every now and again. That night it was probably about 2 degrees. I was bundled up and Jame wore shorts. As we were walking around the village he got sooooo many looks from Japanese people. I know what they were thinking because I was thinking the exact same thing --- "CRAZY GAIJIN".

Work has been same ol' same ol'. This month looks pretty busy with birthday, sayonara, and Christmas parties. Then we are expecting Jame's parents who are here to ring in the New Year with us. We hope everyone is having a good December so far....it is one of the best times of the year :)