*sniffles*

Today I had to head to my little desk at the Kencho (Yamanashi gov't office) because it was the official end of holiday time (*grumbles*).

I woke today with a really groggy drugged-up feeling in the head.

Ugh...a cold.

I scraped myself off my futon and jumped in my shower. My apartment was freezing. My kerosene heater decided to die on me yesterday, so i am stuck with using an emergency back-up tiny electric heater (which, is actually really dangurous - it burned a hole thro my kotatsu blanket last night when I wasn't looking). So ya, my place was freezing this morning. But, somehow I managed to get dressed and out the door. I rode my bike, stoping at a vending machine for canned coffee (in the hopes it would help clear my head).

I got to the Kencho and noticed everyone had these piles of new years postcards they were handing out to eachother. Oh dear, I didn't have anything to give out. Not to fret - I mustered all the creativity my clogged-head could muster and got to work. I grabbed some thick paper and pencil crayons and proceeded to make a bunch of really cute cards. One pictured a monkey jumping rope, another a little bunny trying to hide a giant carrot behind its back..hehe... all the work was worth it. After I greeted each with "akemashite omedetou goziamasu" (happy new year) and handed each of them a card, I got the chance to see the brightest, rarerest, smiles spark-up on their faces.

But, then i started feeling slightly dizzy from the cold in my head. I leaned over and told my coworker - Hiroko - beside me. She consulted another coworker and prestened me with various medicines ("take 3 of this and one of these..."). Not sure at all what I was taking, I followed instructions and downed the medicine.

Just then it was time for lunch. In light of it being the first day back in the office, we all got a special sushi lunch. I ate up my raw fish. Soon after lunch the medicine hit...I became really drowsy and could bairly keep my eyes open. After much flutterings and paperwork, I was able to go home early. So I spent most of the rest of my day, curled up (where, at least, it was warm) under my covers on my futon.

I hope i shall be feeling bright and chipper again by sat. I am planning on going hiking in the mountains around kofu with my friend Kelsey. Then, that evening, I may hit up an onsen and then go karaoking with my friend Lynn, who just got back from Thailand.

I love you all and hope you are in better health than myself. *hugs*