New Weekend

Izu Peninsula (picture borrowed from my friend Jennifers photo album)


That actually looks like our hotel in the distance.

This feels like a new weekend today. Rene met the kids and I at Chili's for lunch. I have to say, the staff did great. We received our food quickly, and it was just like back home. The weekend will be busy with a varsity football game tonight and the yearly friendship festival. I will be hosting two Japanese students tomorrow. The kids are ready for school and have just one more week to rest. It sure has felt like the kids have a had a long break. Renie was sick with the flu this week. It was confirmed as just a regular flu, not the swine flu. He had a rough week with high fever, low appetite, and fatigue. He is doing much better now. I guess being 15 years old has its benefits. Hopefully, we will escape this flu epidemic that is expected to get worse. Labor Day weekend, we will be traveling to the Izu Peninsula for some R&R on the beach. We will stay in Shimoda which is a pleasant city on the Izu Peninsula. It has historical importance as the landing place of several of Commodor Perry's "black ships" in 1854, an event which marked the end of Japan's era of isolation, and the start of diplomatic relations between the US and Japan. Vacation is not over just yet-