I took a short nap this morning because Tommy and I were up late last night making his lunches for the week after getting home from hockey. Since we were gone all day yesterday, we woke up early to drive to the mountains and take some pictures. While there, we hiked up the mountain to capture even more shots. It would’ve been nicer if my back wasn’t hurting – and if I’d brought water. I’m not sure why my back has been bothering me lately; I should’ve taken something for the pain before heading out. Still, I had fun walking among the mountains and trees, taking photos.
After a few hours of exploring, we headed home and stopped by the store to grab ingredients for Tommy’s lunches. We didn’t have time to prep the food right away, but next time I’ll make sure to marinate the chicken before we leave the house. Later, we went into the city to see the anime movie Spirited Away.
Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi) is a 2001 Japanese animated fantasy film that won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003. It follows Chihiro, a 10-year-old girl who accidentally enters a magical world ruled by spirits. When her parents are turned into pigs, she must work in a bathhouse run by the witch Yubaba to find a way to save them and return home. Guided by Haku, a mysterious boy with a hidden past, Chihiro learns courage, kindness, and the importance of remembering who she is. I really enjoyed the movie.
Afterward, we went to the Indian casino for dinner. We hadn’t been there in years – it brought back memories of when we used to stop by for lunch or dinner while waiting for the kids to finish hockey practice. After dinner, we headed to the rink for Tommy’s late hockey game. He scored a goal! He looked a bit surprised when it happened and later said he didn’t quite understand how the puck went in since he was so far out and thought it hit the goalie’s pads. His team won 6–4. We got home late and finished making his lunches for the week.
On Saturday, Tommy and I went to a friend’s house for board games and swimming. I brought a loaf of bread and some cookies, and it turned out to be a really nice day.
Karissa had a great time at the convention. She got to hang out with her friends and enjoy the event. She and Kel are on the plane right now and should be home around noon. I can’t wait to hear about their adventures and see the pictures Karissa said she took.
Right now, I’m still pretty tired. I want to code a bit before Kel and Karissa get home. I’ve already fed the animals and showered – I should probably eat something before they arrive.
They’re home! Karissa was so excited to be back. She told me all about her convention and showed me tons of pictures – she’s planning to post them on Instagram soon. She also brought me a gift: some washi tape from the convention! My washi tape collection keeps growing, though I really need to find a way to store them all – I have quite a few now. Karissa got a lot of fun things from the event, including stickers and other goodies. She gave her sister a few gifts too – a bag, an Animal Crossing plushie coaster, and a sticker. I didn’t see what she got Alex, though.
Kel also gave me a gift: a pair of fabric coasters for my desk. One smells like apple pie and the other like pumpkin pie – so cozy and perfect for the holidays, though I’ll probably use them year-round.
I made myself some coffee to give me a little energy boost before diving back into my cybersecurity studying.
It’s 5 now, and I think I’ll make some tea later and unwind with a bit of YouTube.
