Good morning 0414

According to the newspaper, TOTO announced on the 13th that it has suspended orders for unit bathrooms for homes. This is due to a shortage of solvents made from naphtha, a petroleum-derived material. The impact of the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused by military conflict involving Iran is spreading.

On the same day, TOTO notified wholesalers and other partners of the suspension. The timing for resuming orders has not yet been decided.

TOTO is a very popular company, and the materials used in our renovated bathroom are from TOTO. We feel lucky.

Good morning 0413

 

by Mieko

Haiku

Warm spring heat— weeding is still a joy, for now

Tulip bouquet—what joy it brings me at this age

New screen　a green feather pin on the MC’s chest

*a green feather pin used in a Japanese fundraising campaign for forest conservation in spring

by Yuki

collecting reward points

 Do you collect reward points, like Amazon points or supermarket loyalty cards? I do, but these days I’ve simplified my system. I used to have more than five supermarket loyalty cards, and they were all prepaid cards, but now I only have one.

 I still go to other supermarkets, but there I mainly use my credit card and collect reward points.  I’ve given up collecting points from individual stores, and instead I mainly use my credit card to earn reward points, which I then use for other purposes.

 My main credit card is issued by a telecommunications company, and I usually use the points I earn to pay my cellphone bill.

 On the other hand, I’m a member of Amazon Prime, and here in Japan members can enjoy many services, such as free shipping, so the membership fee is definitely worth it.

 I can also listen to Amazon Music and watch Amazon Prime Video. However, although these services are very convenient.

 I once had a credit card used fraudulently—not by skimming, but in some other way—and fortunately the card company noticed it and stopped the transactions. Still, I had to get a new card and update all my payment information, which was quite a hassle.

 I’ve also heard that Amazon accounts can sometimes be used without permission. 

Because of this, although convenience has improved a lot, dealing with security has become stressful, and recently I’ve started to wonder whether I’ll be able to handle things properly if something like that happens again in the future.

Having store cards are safer, I think recently,

online meeting

 Yesterday, I joined an online meeting. The topic is "corn".

I'll introduce my opinion.

corn

◆Do you like to eat corn or corn products? When was the last time that you ate corn?

Yes, I do. The last time I ate corn was last month—more precisely, on March 28. I had coleslaw with corn at KFC, and I took it home. Of course we got a KFC box. It has a reason. The 28th is called “Niwa no Hi.” “Niwa” means chicken, so KFC offers a box at a discounted price on that day.

◆What is your favorite meal that has corn as one of the ingredients? Can you cook it?

Actually, I like steamed corn on the cob. But for meals that include corn as an ingredient, I like coleslaw or rice with corn.

◆Have you ever made popcorn? Do you prefer your popcorn to taste sweet or salty?

Yes, of course. When my daughters were in elementary school, I was in charge of making popcorn at their school summer festival. So I still keep a big pot for it. When I make it, I like to make it salty, but when I buy it, I prefer caramel-flavored popcorn.

◆What spices or sauces do you like to put on corn? Have you ever eaten raw corn?

As I mentioned, I like caramel-flavored corn. I have also eaten raw corn. Recently, corn that can be eaten raw has become more common in Japan. 

◆Besides being a food that we eat, how else is corn useful to the human race?

I think some companies, like Starbucks, use compostable cups made from corn.

◆What do you think it would be like to be a corn farmer in your country?

Here in Utsunomiya, I know that some rice farmers and vegetable farmers grow corn as a side crop. Anyway, the occupation of a farmer would be quite hard work, but also rewarding.

Good morning 0406 cherry blossoms

 

by Yuki

by Mieko

Haiku

My late mother’s back, softly blurred in the steam of the open-air bath.

Cherry blossoms—here we are again, in a wheelchair.

Even as the cherry blossoms fall, a lingering anger remains.

Good morning 0405

 It’s cloudy and looks like it’s going to rain any minute. This weekend is the best time for cherry blossom viewing around here, so it’s kind of a shame.

We still got to see some cherry blossoms though—one at a temple and another along a popular street. We couldn’t see them from the hill, unfortunately. Yuki couldn’t make it up because of the numbness he’s been having. He said it feels like he’s wearing iron clogs, but I’ve never worn anything like that, so I can’t really imagine it.

Anyway, we were still able to enjoy the cherry blossoms this year, so that was nice.

Lately, one of his hobbies has been watching TV. He’s finally gotten into TV shopping and even bought a foot massage gadget. We’ll pay cash when it arrives, which is probably the safest way. We don’t have to sign up for anything, and even though we have to give our address, we don’t need to use a credit card.

I just hope we don’t start buying more stuff from TV shopping. I’m always tempted by supplements and beauty products, though…

Good afternoon 0404

 It’s Saturday and it’s raining. After visiting the clinic in the morning, we had lunch at home, and now we’re spending a quiet, calm time. I put up a sign in front of the house saying “Open – My Home Library,” but probably no one will come.

Yesterday, Yuki was able to receive chemotherapy. Anyway, for the time being, he’s been able to extend his life. Of course, we haven’t been told any specific prognosis yet. Still, we see chemotherapy as a way to prolong life. That’s why we really hope he won’t suffer from severe side effects.

Well, I feel like I made it sound a bit dramatic.

Tomorrow, a carpenter is coming to install a few more handrails. Meanwhile, Yuki is planning to go to a jazz café and perform.

As for the house, in the end, everything is left to me. Well… it is what it is.

Good morning 0402

 It’s raining, but we’re going to drive to a particular place to see the cherry blossoms. Since it’s raining, we’ll just look at the cherry trees along the street from inside the car.

It looks like tomorrow will be perfect weather for cherry blossom viewing, but we have to spend the whole day at the hospital.

For now, we’ll go out today and probably eat out again. Lately, we have  been a bit too loose with my spending.

Additionally, yesterday I cooked three meals.

April has started 0401

 April has started, and the cherry blossoms are blooming here in Utsunomiya.

Although I haven’t updated my blog for a while, we are both doing fine.

As for Yuki’s situation, he has started his final course of chemotherapy. According to the schedule, he is supposed to receive it three times a month, with one week of rest. However, unfortunately, his white blood cell count has been too low, so he has had to skip two treatments in a row.

He has strong numbness, so he cannot walk long distances, but other than that, he doesn’t have any serious side effects. We are hoping the numbness will improve even a little. He has started getting foot reflexology once a week, but so far, it hasn’t shown much effect. At home, I regularly give him moxibustion treatments.

Since we don’t have any relatives or children here, we decided to use public long-term care services.

Yuki has already been approved. At the moment, he doesn’t need much support, except for bed rails. Using the long-term care insurance system, we are planning to install a few more handrails in our home.

With long-term care insurance, we can install or rent assistive equipment at a low cost.

In my case, it is not yet certain whether I will be approved. However, if I am, I am thinking of having a home nursing consultation once a month.

In any case, our nursing care manager visits us once a month, which is a good thing. It gives us a nice distraction.

At the end of March, we decided to take the plunge and went to Tokyo to visit Yuki’s mother’s grave. We no longer have any regrets, but it was very tiring for both of us. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that we will travel to Tokyo again.

After that, our children came to visit us in Utsunomiya. In a different way, it was also tiring, but we were happy to see them. There is a saying in Japanese, “It is good when they come, and it is good when they leave.” It really feels true.

Good morning 0319

 It is cloudy, but a calm day.

In the evening, we are each going to the gym.

Since Yuki’s numbness has been getting worse, he went for a foot reflexology massage. I suggested acupuncture, but he was too scared. The massage is apparently in the Taiwanese style. The practitioner is a man one year younger than him, and he is also the owner.

Yuki doesn’t really like massage or stretching, but he has started going, and that makes me happy. What makes me even happier is that it gives him a chance to talk with someone.

The session takes a little over an hour, and they chat while he is receiving the treatment.

These days, Yuki only talks with his doctors, his nursing care manager, and me. He has stopped playing tennis and being in his band. But in a quiet place, his hoarse voice is not a problem. So I’m glad he now has a place where he can talk to someone.

The only concern is that the massage seems quite painful, so I’m not sure if he will continue. For now, he plans to go once a week. It’s not covered by insurance, so it is rather expensive.

Good morning 0317

Today we have no plans in the morning.
So Yuki decided to organize his cap and hat collection. He is planning to let some of them go. One reason is that he has fewer opportunities to wear caps these days.

It’s a good thing to sort through them and reduce the number he has. However, after doing this, we will probably end up going to second-hand shops to buy some “new” ones. (They won’t actually be new, but they will be new to him.)

That’s all right. Browsing second-hand shops is fun for me. 

Additionally  since his voice has become hoarse and weak, we installed a wireless intercom in the house. Now it’s much easier for us to call each other between the first and second floors.

 

Good morning 0316

 Yesterday it was a peaceful day. We visited the city art museum and then had coffee at Karaku Cafe.

The museum is currently holding an exhibition by a local but very famous artist. He is eighty years old and even produced new works for the exhibition.
And surprisingly, he is someone we know—though I’m not sure if it’s quite right to say we “know” him.

But whenever we meet him, he always kindly speaks to us.

It is snowing again

Though it is already March, it is snowing today. According to the weather report, it will stop around noon.
Today is my performance day at KARAKU Cafe, and it is also Yuki’s last radiation treatment.
Yuki’s car has winter tires, but mine doesn’t. So I’m not sure if I can go to KARAKU. It depends on my partner. I hope her car has winter tires. If her car doesn’t, our performance will be canceled.

Good morning 0309

 

By Yuki

By Mieko

Yuki has only two more radiation treatments left.
We don’t know yet if the chemotherapy will work well this time, so I’ve been feeling a little anxious lately. Still, I think things will somehow work out.

The other day a friend visited us, and we enjoyed a sort of “makeshift” afternoon tea together.

Good morning 0303

 Yuki’s radiation treatment is going to start this weekend.

He will have to go to the hospital every day for a while, but fortunately he won’t need to be hospitalized.

Today, his care manager will visit us, and in the afternoon our accountant will come as well.
His inheritance matter will be more or less settled for now.

Today it is HINA festival.

Good morning 0302

 A new week has started.

This week may be busy, and some things might change.
First, we will have a consultation about radiation treatment.

Good morning 0301

 

by Yuki

March has started, and the Japanese plum trees are in full bloom.

Last Friday, Yuki couldn’t receive chemotherapy. Starting next week, he will begin a different kind of treatment. The doctor said that this will probably be the last chemotherapy. If this one becomes impossible to continue, he will be monitored without active treatment.

Additionally, although they are small, two tumors were found in his brain. We will visit the radiology department next week.

Unfortunately, the disease is progressing, but Yuki remains in good spirits. Playing tennis and musical instruments has become difficult, but his appetite is still strong.

The other day, on the way back from the hospital, we were able to return home earlier because there was no chemotherapy. So we had lunch out — even with a glass of wine.

We hope to live well with the illness and spend each day peacefully and joyfully.

Good morning 0225

 It is cloudy, but my face is itchy because of the pollen.

Today, before going to the clinic, we are planning to discard a set of speakers, so we will take them directly to the recycling center. It would be nice if someone could take them as junk items, but that seems difficult because Yuki modified them quite a lot.

Anyway, we have to keep up our slow and steady decluttering. In a way, it has become both my hobby and my work.

Good morning 0224

 Our usual routine has started again — going to the clinic and the gym.

February will be over in four days.
We have to visit the hospital twice this week, so we hope to have a calm weekend.

Additionally, after going to the clinic, we often drop by a few stores, including a department store.
Sometimes we don’t even know whether the main purpose is shopping or seeing the doctor.

Good morning 0223

 It is a holiday today. We are at home and have no plans. I am going to organize my books. I should organize my clothes too, but maybe another time.

Yesterday our younger daughter came. Yuki and she went to eat ramen while I was coping sutra at a nearby temple.