Spring Time!

This week is going to be in the mid-70s! Lincoln and I went to the botanical gardens yesterday with some friends and enjoyed the sunshine. Next year, I think we will have to get an annual pass, it is great for young kiddos!

On Sunday, I got my plants in the ground. This year, I went with cilantro, basil, jalapeños and Roma tomatoes. The mint and Dr. Rupple clematis came back from last year. I also planted some geraniums and rosemary in pots. I can't wait for everything to start growing! I love this time of year in VA (except for my allergies, they are the worst!).

Fighting Japanese Allergies

I had lunch with my student, Sumiyo, yesterday at her house and I was constantly reaching for the kleenex box. She offered me several solutions. First was a Chinese tea powder:

I thought I would mix the powder with some hot water, but instead she offered me a spoonful and some water to wash it down! This was no sugar either, after a small puff of green from my mouth, I had it down. Blech. If it helps my allergies though, I'll try it!

The second solution is pretty standard in Japan. A face mask. As I walked from the train station to my car, I noticed that about every other person I saw was wearing a mask. Maybe I fit in more with a mask on than without in Japan!

Monday

The last NEO flight from base left yesterday so hopefully that means things are getting back to normal today. Yesterday morning I was able to call the clinic on base and get a teeth cleaning at the dentist and a medical appointment for allergy pills (the plants in Japan give me the worst allergies every year!) all before lunch!

When I got back, I was able to make an appointment for Stella at the vet to check on her wounds and ask questions about the seizure she had last week. Yes, when it rains it pours around here apparently. Only 2 hours after I called they saw her! There are definitely a few benefits to having the base population so low!

All three of those appointments would have had to been made at least 3 weeks out. Amazing. Both the dental hygienist and the doctor said I was the first dependent they had seen in two weeks. It was nice to chat with a doctor, a medical professional, about how the radiation levels are low and safe. He (and I!) wished that he would have been able to speak to calm a few people down. Maybe not so many would have left? I doubt it though. People were in a hysteria when they left.

I'm teaching my English classes today and continuing on as normal which now includes washing and treating Stella's wounds. He said it would be another 2 weeks before she starts healing. Poor girl. Then we have to do blood tests to rule out what caused the seizure. No point in doing them now when she's on medication.

It's a beautiful day today though. Maybe spring is just around the corner. I can't wait for the cherry blossoms to start blooming!

Spring is Here

I am loving the weather here and all the flowers- and how I figured how to do the in focus in the front and fuzzy in the background thing. Pretty good photo-lingo there, huh?