sunday ☆s

☆ i gave my 2nd term final exam for my 3rd graders on thursday. it went smoothly, i think. i thought it was a fairly easy test, though the listening was pretty fast and wasn't sure how the kids would do. so far i've graded three classes of tests and have a lot of 80s and 90s and one 100. so, i guess it was a bit too easy. they say we should aim for an average of 70 or so. i've got a couple of "irregular" scores like 42 and 50 which would pull the average down (in a good way?), but without those i'm guessing my average is in the mid 80s. oops.

☆ i've resorted to mixi flirting (uh...lurking?). i've exchanged mixi messages with several people and even met a couple, but nothing noteworthy (though one of the guys has received the 'endearing' nickname Shrek among my close friends...Bee, to be specific.) i'm going to the a park later to take photos and meet up with Photographer. we'll see if anything comes of it...not really holding my breath though. as much as i'd love to go on some dates and have someone to cuddle with, i'm kind of over it. as in, boys? meh, whatever. having said that, i'm still a shameless flirt. ;)

☆ Bee is in a HUGE funk lately. he got dumped by a girl he really likes and it's sent him in a downward spiral. it's rare for him to get upset about a girl, so it's uncharted waters for him and he doesn't know what to do with himself. he's a wreck but doesn't know how to be okay being not okay for a little while. i relate in so many ways because i was a mess in college in a similar way, but i don't know how to help him. his love of alcohol is becoming a bad coping mechanism. i wish i could do something, but for now, answering his midnight phone calls and having dinner with him when he asks is about all i can do. it's hard to watch your friend tread water with his nose barely above water.

☆ only two more weeks and i'll be back in ohio! this next week will be a light one-- no classes on monday or tuesday, returning and going over tests in class with the kids, maybe a handful of 'christmas' lessons, dinner and drinks with a friend on thursday and a lunch date with 2 friends from high school on sunday. the following week will be even lighter--middle school staff 忘年会, no students at school on wednesday, morning only on thursday and friday with a couple more christmas lessons and before i know it, it'll be saturday and i'll be flying the friendly skies for ohio!

☆ i started my christmas shopping yesterday.
my brothers: i got some really funny ice cube trays. they are in the shape of dentures and look hysterical in a tumbler glass! i still need to get something else for each of them, but it's a start and i think they'll get a kick out of it.

my mom: i also picked up 8 white felt snowflake shaped coasters. she loves table setting decorations, place mats, napkins and holders, etc. so i think she'll like them. i love Loft in shibuya; it's huge with everything you could want. though, the one in omiya might actually be bigger and better.

my dad: i'm planning on getting my dad some soap from Lush. my mom bought some one time and he loved it. after it ran out, we happened upon the store and he was planning on buying some more, until he saw how much it was. he'd never pay that much himself, which is the perfect reason to buy it for him. i also have a book of photos from the top of mt fuji that i bought from a photographer who worked at one of the other huts at the top. that's for my mom and my dad together.

misc: i've got some soaps and little batik pouches from bali for my mom and grandma.
my cousins (high school senior boy and high school sophomore twin girls) will be at our house for christmas, so i should get something for them too. still time of course!

☆speaking of christmas/new year's, i'm thinking about what i'm going to do for my new year's cards. need to get on that. something i can use both for people in japan and for friends and family in the states would be nice. and maybe something with a photo? we'll see!