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No Worries

We haven't really spoken about it, but Eri seems to be okay with me leaving the shade open at night on the window closest to my side of the bed. For a while she seemed to be against it, maybe because in the summer the sun comes up so early. These days I leave it open and Eri doesn't shut it. I love the morning light coming in through the window.

This morning, however, like recent days, I awoke and turned to look out the window and it was snowing. Again. I hopped out of bed as quick as I could because snow means I have extra duties, like shoveling the driveway and prepping the car for Eri and the boys' departure.

After quickly doing the boys' teeth brushing and face washing and all the stuff to make sure they have their necessary items for school and look somewhat like they come from a loving home I put on my coat and wool cap and nice new neck warmer from Uniqlo and headed outside. I shoveled snow off the porch and walkway and the steps leading down to the driveway and then I was stepping toward the car and WHAM. I went down.

Kenzo and Osamu made a snowman yesterday, and it had partially melted in the afternoon. The water from the melting snowman re-froze overnight and created an incredibly slippery ice puddle, which I stepped right into.

Thankfully I was wearing a winter coat and four layers of sweaters and winter undershirts, and I didn't bump my head on the concrete, so all I got was a little bruised.

It was a pretty dramatic tumble, though. Like a Looney Tunes cartoon. And the timing couldn't have been worse. Two junior high school boys who walk to school by our house every morning around 8 were walking past and witnessed the comedy, complete with my "in the moment" expletives. They hurried past. I can only imagine what an entertaining morning they had at school telling their friends what they witnessed.

This afternoon I had a meeting I was dreading. It was at 4 p.m. with my soon to be official boss, the department head. The topic was my team's budget review for fiscal 2023. I took one of my anxiety pills at 3:15 and had a few potato chips.

The meeting was pleasant. I was kind of expecting to get scolded for my proposed budget, but it didn't happen. My boss is a polite guy. Strict, but polite and respectful. Respectful of my lack of experience and general ineptitude. Thankfully I excel at self-deprecation.

Eri was at school so I did a two hour budget review meeting online from the dining table while watching Kenzo and Osamu. The last thirty minutes got kinda hairy. Osamu was reaching his limit. My boss apologized because his chihuahua was barking, which I couldn't even hear. That was the perfect opportunity to reply with, "No way, you're fine. I've got two monkeys over here who might make noise while we talk."

To which he said no worries. Well, the Japanese version of no worries.

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