Tuesday, September 07, 2010

good news for fans of Old Navy

Even though it's still soooo hot outside, or maybe *especially* when it's hot outside, I like to start thinking about things I need to do before Fall comes. Apparently this year the Summer is going to last so long that Fall is going to get lost in the shuffle and we'll head right towards Winter but that doesn't really bother me. As long as it cools down, I'll be happy.

One of the things that always needs to be done is organize the girl's winter clothes and buy whatever they need. Usually I search through Old Navy to see what they have available, then I let the girls take a look and after a few ooh's and aah's mixed with a few arguments, we write a list of things to buy. Then I send the list to my mom with some money and she goes shopping and then sends everything to me. It's a chore but it seems to work out well. Last year I went to the US in October so I just bought everything myself at that time. It made me really appreciate all the beautiful outfits my mom has picked out for us!

Anyways, that time of year has come again but when I went to check out Old Navy's website it said that they will now be offering International Shipping! I could not be more excited. I took a look at it and after I chose Japan all the prices were listed in yen! I didn't have time this morning to find out how much the shipping will cost. It could turn out that it's cheaper to ask my mom to help out but I'm excited to take a look when I get home and find out!

Yeah for Old Navy!



Also, since I'm already writing...

While our car was getting fixed, Chikara scratched the rental car!? We're still not sure what's going to happen with that but they got our car back to us yesterday so Chikara was able to register it in our name so now we're free to drive like maniacs and get pulled over!

Friday, September 03, 2010

two steps forward...

Since I dedicated the last part of 2010 to fixing the problems that occurred in the first half, things had been going well. We got a car, I got my driver's license and Chikara's leg continues to improve. Last week they took a few more wedges out of his brace so he's able to talk a little more normally. When he first got the brace it had 7 wedges that helped prop up his heel so there wouldn't be any pulling or tension on his tendon. They took out one wedge three weeks ago and then last week the doctor took out two and then said he would take out the rest today. He still has to wear the brace but he doesn't need to use crutches unless it's a long distance. Yeah!

On Monday I went to the doctor and took the radioactive iodine that is supposed to help my hyperthyroidism. I wasn't sure what to expect but it turned out to be three regular looking pills that I took while the tech guy watched. I don't feel any different but I have been keeping to myself to avoid the possibility of radiation exposure to the girls and Chikara. If you read the link there is a lot more information if you're interested. To be honest not being allowed to touch the girls could not have come at a better time. Emi, Misaki and Sakura went back to school this week so they weren't even home most of the time and Natsuki seemed to understand that I'd taken "medicine" so she couldn't touch me. But the worst part is over and now I'm just trying to be careful until Monday.

I also fixed our bed yesterday. Earlier this year the slats on Chikara's side of the bed would occasionally fall out. I know he moves a lot at night but it was just ridiculous! Then he hurt his leg and could barely make it to the 2nd floor and didn't even want to think about going up to the 3rd floor where our room is. But then we got our electric bill and after running four A/C units all night it was a bit of a shock. Plus his leg is getting better so last night was the first time we've slept together in a bed since early June (except for our "sleepovers" in the living room). Although it was nice to be back together I soon realized how much I had become used to having a Queen-size bed to myself!

So all of that is good, right! I was checking things off my to-do list and it was getting shorter. But then on Wednesday while Chikara was at one of his bi-weekly doctor appointments (I'll be so glad when those end), a lady hit our new car in the parking lot. She was bringing her husband to see the doctor so he hobbled in on crutches and spoke to the nurse and she called for the owner of the Honda LaGreat in the parking lot. Chikara went out there and she had managed to knock the number plate off the front bumper and the whole bumper was a little loose. Crap! By the Chikara came home at 10pm he was pretty down.

Obviously their car insurance will pay for everything but it's just one more thing to do. I was imagining that we'd have to get an estimate, take it in, wait for it to be fixed (how would we get around) and then pick it up and arrange for it to be paid. Fortunately it turned out way easier than that. After a few phone calls the repair shop we used for our shaken (car inspection) could do it. They arranged to come and pick up our car and leave a rental for us to use and the car will be fixed by Wednesday. The only real problem with this plan is that Chikara was going to change the registration on the car on Tuesday so we'll have to wait until the Tuesday after that. If we get pulled over in the meantime the car auction will charge us an extra $400-$500 dollars in addition to any ticket we would get since it's their name on the registration.

Seems like I'll need to write my to-do list over again...