What? It's September? Are you kidding me? But....I've still got lists of things I should have done in August!! Crap.

~~sigh~~

So much to do...so much time I don't have....er, ahem didn't have.

Crap.

I know that I have complained about the heat here this summer.  Oh, and wait.  Don't forget about the humidity.  I was actually starting to feel like I was just being a whiny baby about it all.  Then, it was made official.

This summer has been the hottest on record in Japan since 1946.

19 freakin' 46, my friends.  That's 64 years of summers and this year?  Yep. The hottest.

My complaining has been justified.

Boo-Yah!

My students tell me every summer that it gets cooler after the o'bon holiday, which is August 15. 

And every summer?  Oh yeah....I laugh. HAHAHAHAHA!!!

Personally, I think that this is a case of "if you believe it, it will come".

In my opinion?  It is hot all through September and warm the first of October...THEN it starts to cool down.  Really.  It does.

So, I will apologize for any whining...complaining...boohooing that might be evident here for the next few weeks.

I'm just tired and sweaty and I'm really jealous of anyone wearing jeans and long-sleeved shirts right now2.

Really.  Jealous.

**************

Elementary school students have to do some sort of project during the summer holiday (yes, along with all the homework they are given, thank you very much).  Usually, the Kuroiwa family is running around like mad little critters right before the start of the new semester, furiously working on art projects to turn in.

But this year....we got smart.  Koji got his done a few weeks before school started.

He made some cacti.

It's amazing what you can do with a couple of old sox, some styrofoam balls, green paint, rocks from the garden, and toothpicks.  And yes, I know...that one on the right has three eyes.  One does not question the artistic creativity/imagination a an 8-year-old.

He is pretty proud of his "cactuses" (his word, not mine).

*************

Summer observation #378....

sharing a box of mac n' cheese is probably one of THE best lunches for a kid and his mom.

**********

The "last hurrah" of the Kuroiwa Family....

a day at a water park

(which really? by the western meaning of "water park" was just

a really fun swimming pool with a couple of awesome water slides...but still really fun!!).

We got there early enough (after a short drive and a ferry ride) and got a table with an umbrella near the wave pool.

We were in the pools from 9:30 to about 3:00...the shaved ice and cold drink breaks kept us going.

But this.....mocked the K-man and I most of the day.

This monster of a water slide...all 23 meters tall of her (that's about 8 stories tall, yo!)...was whispering our names.

"Dehhhhhhbie......K-mmmmmmman"

Finally, the pressure was too much.  We just said "to hell with it"...climbed to the top and with a "Sayonara" were pushed down.  Let's just say that it was the most exhilarating 3 seconds...going 60 km. an hour...DOWN.

I'll swear to you that at one point, my butt? Was NOT touching the slide....it was like I was just free falling with the water.  It was awesome.

What was NOT awesome was the wedgie that comes with going that fast down a water slide.

Oh...and just for the record.....wearing a tankini suit probably was not the best choice either.

I'm just saying.

**********

It's a good thing that the summer is almost (cough, cough) over....

on Tuesday, my very favorite sandals gave up the fight.

I was at a shopping mall when it happened and had to shuffle (only my left foot!) to the elevator and then to the car.  I giggled to myself as I kept thinking I was doing a really good Igor impersonation (from Young Frankenstein, please!).

I had noticed in the morning that the heel was a little loose, so took another pair of sandals...you know....just in case. ~~whew~~

 In the car, I changed into the substitute pair and went on my merry little way.

Fast forward a couple of hours to me at the grocery store.

I had a total Margaritaville moment...yes, dear friends, I Jimmy Buffetted the substitute sandals.

"...blew out my flip flops....."

Double crap and where is my margarita, dammit?

I was in the middle of shopping....so....

Again with the shuffling, this time a bit more creatively.

It better get cool soon.  I only have one more pair of summer sandals.  If they go...

I'm in deep, hot, sweaty foot doodoo.

Have a good week everyone....to my American family and friends, have a fun and safe Labor Day.