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Discomfort

Today was day one of no TV for the boys. After some unruly behavior that included Osamu's chapstick work on the television screen yesterday I unilaterally set a moratorium on TV watching. The remote controls are currently in the basket on top of the refrigerator and Eri and I are following through by talking with Kenzo and Osamu about why this is happening.

Eri took the day off from her career class. Partly it's because she's tired, but mostly it's because she's worried about me. Yesterday did not end well. When I'm upstairs working and the boys are downstairs by themselves doing their thing, stuff happens. They're four and six years old. Even with constant supervision they get into shenanigans. It just comes with the territory.

It was rainy and cold for most of the day. I did my morning walk in my raincoat, with my scarf around my neck since it was 4 degrees, and carried my umbrella. I don't have proper rain boots, though, so my Asics sneakers got kinda soaked. For my lunchtime walk I put those cold, wet sneakers on again and walked. I don't mind, though. I have this weird philosophy about embracing discomfort. It's one reason why I stay at capsule hotels on business trips and probably explains a whole lot of other things about me. Motorcycle riding is intrinsically not comfortable, save for the rare days when the weather is perfect. I have logged many, many hours of rain-soaked, cold, dark, even snowy motorcycle riding. 

The thing I love about discomfort, though, is that it makes comfort more comfortable.

Plus, I find that comfort actually hinders a meaningful life. That's probably going to be the subject of my autobiography. I should start writing that.

Eri thinks I'm nuts, and she's probably right. She claims to love me in spite of it.

So the boys survived without Netflix today, and even though there was some drama everyone is tucked into bed and awaiting Santa's visit this weekend. There was some talk of Santa possibly not visiting due to the fact that he only brings presents to good boys and girls, but Kenzo and Osamu did their best to present a case that they are indeed good boys.

They are.

They're just little guys who naturally love mischief. I get it. I really get it. I even love their mischief. I know that one day Eri and I will look back fondly on these crazy days.

I also know that the road ahead is even crazier.

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