more virtual hugs

I'm glad I got my sakura walks in, yesterday was overcast and then after lunch it was sunny but very very windy, not very good weather to look at cherry blossoms.

On another note, My friend Nami of Just One Cookbook, just gave me many virtual hugs.

I won't pass this one on, but I will tell you 7 new things about me.

1. Really enjoy the cafe culture in Japan but dislike the noisy chatter, ruins the relaxing mood.
2. I've realized I need sunshine for "mojo", without it I kind of slow down.
3. I color my own hair because I have been disappointed by the way the Japanese salons do it, plus it costs way less and takes less time if I do it.
4. Dislike the pushy ladies at the market, they are also the ones who stand in the middle of the aisles to chat with other pushy ladies.
5. I like using little dishes for different foods, I just don't like having to wash all of them afterwards.
6. Dislike walking behind people smoking on the way to the train station, usually try to overtake these people so I don't smell like smoke by the time I reach the station.
7. Love the seasons in Japan, though I never know how much to layer in winter, always overlayer.

Thanks for the awards, Nami!

UPDATE: I just heard from my friend in Sendai, she has gone back to work but the transportation system is really limited.

Apparently the subway is running, but she is too scared to take it. I would be too.

Also, they have no gas because all the gas lines are broken. She is keeping positive and knows it will take a while for things to get back to normal.

I've also seen on television that the temporary housing to be built is at a stand still because they can't figure out where to put these structures--A lot of areas still have lots of debris and they don't want to put the temporary housing in the areas where the tsunami went through.

I was surprised to see that tap water from Osaka is being bottled and sold to the Kanto (Eastern Japan) areas (it is being sold in Osaka too)! (I personally don't drink Osaka's water straight from the tap, I run it through a charcoal filter because I find it has a slight odor if I don't...)

UP-UPDATE: About 11-ish last night the Tohoku area had another big one (I think it was magnitude 7), with a tsunami warning.

Sending some virtual hugs to all those in Tohoku and the surrounding areas.

To close this post, I'd like to share with you a tulip that bloomed on my lanai recently. It is Friday here, hope your weekend is a nice one.