Sunrise on Christmas Day in Osaka
I have to say thank you to Berlitz. They have the wisdom and generosity to make Christmas a company holiday.
Now i am not even particularly big on Christmas. I am not a Christian nor is my wife, and the majority of my family isn't either. Culturally, however, it's kind of a big day (even, nay especially, here in Japan) and we are bombarded with Christmas "spirit" and those awful Christmas sings that ought to be illegal except for one week prior to the 25th. So it is nice to have a day to think about family, to be with those you love, and to possibly exchange small token gifts of gratitude for their love and friendship. There is no thanksgiving here in JApan but there is Christmas (a time for fried chicken and dates) and there is New Years (for big family meals and a few days off).
Ulala is at work today so i am at home doing laundry, relaxing, catching up on paperwork and blogging. Later on i will vacuum and start cleaning out the closets as part of the end-of-the-year 大掃除 (oh-soh-jee), which translates to "Big Clean." Kind of like spring cleaning except at the end of the year so you can start January 1st so fresh and so clean. Then i will prepare a meal for my lovely wife when she returns home from work. Last year i made Christmas pasta so this year i', thinking maybe ham.
I would make a good little house-husband, methinks.
I will leave you this fine Christmas Day with my own little Christmas tradition. Calvin and Hobbes!! When i think of Christmas Calvin and Hobbes always springs to mind. Seriously one of the best cartoon strips ever. Bill Waterson's perfect blend of insight and humour never fails.
These cartoons are reproduced here with absolutely no permission whatsoever. I dragged them of a fansite that was doing the same and if that's a problem, i apologize. For the record, i once owned almost the entire catalog of Bill Watterson's brilliant cartoon. Dear Mr. Watterson, I'll donate to charity to make up the difference.
Symian is: making merry but not for dinner.
Currently Reading: The Pomodoro Technique Illustrated
Currently Listening: "Christmas in Hollis" by Run-DMC / A Santa Cause: It's a Punk-Rock Christmas (VA)
Kanji of the Day: 大掃除 / おおそうじ ／ big clean
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