Birthday Report

Thanks to the efforts of viral marketing (apparently Skype keeps track of birthdays...), my birthday was remembered by many people. arigatou one and all. Especially for the loot. It's so nice to get loot.

Some asked, "How did you spend the day?"

Well my loot from Mari was to be a day's skiing. Horrray!

We got up at 4:45 yesterday to get ready for the 5:33 train we had to take to get to Ueno station for the bullet train. Mari said she felt cold, which wasn't really that unusual as February had become very cold for the last few days. Probably it was trying to make up for lost time with the warm winter we've had so far.

We both slept on the train, but when we got to the ski field Mari still couldn't feel warm. She said she was going to go and lie down at the health center. After about 20 mins of sleep she had her temperature taken, with the result of 38.9C. After aspirin and a taxi ride to the local hospital she said she was really starting to feel much better, and maybe we could just go slow in the morning. Hmmm. The doctor gave her the usual swag of pills they dole out here. Sensibly, we decided to go back to the station area and have lunch while we waited for the next train home.

While we waited, lunch brought shivers and the inability to stand upright. After getting back to Ueno I was already half carrying Mari through the terminal, when she completely collapsed. The very efficient station man radioed for a wheelchair. Travel tip - I've found that should you want a cheap bullet train trip, simply buy the cheapest ticket, go to wherever you want, then collapse when you get to the station. No one checks the tickets of an unconscious person.

We had a taxi ride back to my place, in which she slept all the way. It was nice to see Tokyo from a car window. I so rarely get to do so.

So now its Sunday afternoon. She's slept pretty much since yesterday, but was able to eat some toast and yogurt for breakfast. As these things usually go, she'll no doubt make a complete recovery just in time to get to work Monday morning. Poor Mari.