Happy New Year!

Happy New Year everyone! I’m back! :D I left my parents’ house around noon yesterday, came back to my apartment in the afternoon, rested for a short while, and then went to work at the izakaya. Boy, I had a hell of a start this year!! Since most of the restaurants and drinking places were still closed, our izakaya was terribly crowded last night with the people who wanted to celebrate the 2nd day of the new year, though we… at least I… wasn’t ready for work at all. Of course not… In Japan, most companies are closed at least for the first 3 days of the year. We are supposed to pig out and goof off, watching New Year’s special shows on TV, at least for the first 3 days!! But I had to work like crazy last night. I broke 2 glasses and 1 big plate, and finally dropped a big heavy cast-iron griddle on my right shin. Now I have a big bruise there. Oh boy… I was feeling pretty miserable until I came back to my apartment after midnight and found so many nice comments/greetings waiting for me on my blog :D Yeah, they really saved the day. Thanks a million! Right now I’m relaxing for the first time this year, eating leftover osechi (New Year’s special dishes) I brought back in a tupperware container. At my parents’ house, I had fun but they – especially my sisters’ kids – kept me rather busy. The top photo is one of the osechi dishes we had at my parents' house. (More details will follow soon. ) My parents, too, must be eating the same thing again today :) ----- Jan. 5, 2005 I replaced the top photo. This is one of the (rental?) kadomatsu decoration they have now in front of the izakaya I work at. The osechi photo was moved to the next post. :) * Oh, I'm using a special new year's template for my another blog until Jan. 7th, if you are interested.