Tochigi City and Hard Off Store

Teresa picked all us ladies up for another adventure in Japan.  Today we are headed out to Tochigi City.  Its lunch time and we all don't want to stop and have a sit down meal so 7~11 here we come.

We went into the store and I said i wanted a pizzamon which are so good.  They are bread shaped into a ball with cheese, sauce and some very fine meat in the center of them.  They are warm and taste yummy......I also got a bag of what I thought were sour cream and chive potato chips and a bottle of coke.  After getting our lunch stuff we got in the car and headed to Tochigi City.  I was eating the chips and told the ladies that I really did not like them they don't taste like sour cream and chives and let them taste them.  They started laughing they are speckled with seaweed not chives......YUCK no wonder I didn't care for them. Take a look at them don't u think the package looks like sour cream and chives? Oh well the pizzamon was good and the coke was nice and cold.  Its pretty warm today around here so the nice cold beverage was good.

As soon as we reached Tochigi City and got parked we went directly to the Coffee House to have a cup of fresh made coffee and shop in their wonderful shop. 

I loved the trays and cloth coasters that the coffee was brought out and given to us.  I decided at that moment that I was going to buy those trays and coasters. Sat and talked and enjoyed each others company.

We all made some purchases and headed to the next shop to buy some miniature sandals which are believed to bring good company to your home. Sue had wanted to go look at them so we headed for the shop...I did buy a pair of them and a charm. 

Along the way to the sandal shop we saw these beautiful flowers, boy the flowers around here grow so well and are very pretty

This is a picture of the miniature sandals, I had a hard time choosing which ones I wanted to buy.  Finally made my choice......lol

 Teresa took us a small walk around town . She wanted to show Deb where to take a boat ride on the river.

 On the way back to the car there was a GOLD HONDA which just caught my eye because it is so different.

Time to leave Tochigi City and head to the store called "Hard Off".  We have all been excited about shopping at this one particular Hard Off Store.  Deb was there over the weekend and had found some marvelous deals.  Hard Off stores are generally used items.  This one store had some new things that her sensa had told her that she got great deals on the items that she had bought.  Once we seen what she had we all wanted to go.  As soon as we found the place we headed into the store and looked at every thing.  I love the bargains I got, new stuff (cha ching......Christmas presents. :-) When I got out of the store Sue gave me a package and I opened it and it was the bracelet I had looked at.  How sweet is that?  Sue thanks so much for the gift I really appreciate it :-)  You are a great friend, thanks for sharing your time with me while I'm here in Japan.

Today I had a melt down, I have been feeling down about who my real friends are. I have found out the reason why some people do not want to be close to me.  Its because I had a brain aneurysm and therefore some things I am a little slow at; they are basically embarrassed to be around me. SO NOW BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME THEY ARE NO LONGER MY FACEBOOK FRIEND OR FRIEND AT ALL. I have real friends who love me for me.

Teresa then took us to Joyful Honda where I made a purchase for a girl that works at Honda.  She saw these nano bugs I had bought and wanted 2 of them  for her grandsons so I got them for her.  The day moved so fast today and we still need to get back to the nursery the ladies wanted to buy some fall flowers.  The selections to chose from seemed endless.  Japan is known for their flower arrangements and this nursery had many beautiful arrangements.  There is not much Halloween stuff here in Japan and the ladies about go nuts when they find some.  The Halloween  items I have seen are very expensive.  It amazes me to watch them when they find some Halloween stuff.  They will go through everything.

 Beautiful flower arrangements

In Japan I have seen lots of dragon flies, they are BIG and scary.  I don't like them at all I've seen them crash into windows many times and boy is that freaky. This fellow was hanging out in the nursery eating his dinner.

Deb got her some beautiful MUMS, its suppose to be hot around here for another day then its REALLY going to cool off Fall is in the air.

Headed back to hotel and T dropped me off, boy did I have alot of packages to get up to the hotel room, I could barely carry them all.

Tonight for dinner we met a good Japanese friend of ours Utsugi;  he is truly a gentleman. Jim Cather went to dinner with us.  Utsugi checked out the menu and then decided that we will eat there..I did have a good time last night and ate at a new place. Tried many new dishes, like octopus and sea grapes which I would not have eaten had I known thats what it was.  It was very good

 I got a orange chu hi man was it good and very pretty, love the beautiful flower in the drink.

Octapus; yes I tried it and I liked it what can I say?  Even after they told me what it was I still ate it. 

Next dish they delivered was sea grapes I tried them but not my favorite.  They had them in a fish tank of water. Dipped in a little soy not so bad, they were crunchy when you put them in your mouth.  Reminded me of that pop crackle candy.

We started the evening off with a toast to good times....As the group says C~U~M~P~I~E they spell it as they toast.  LOL More dishes were brought out including yakatori, deep fried chicken, and cheese ?

 Had a wonderful time with my hubby Marlon, Utsugi and Jim...thanks to all......enjoyed the company and great talks...!!

Gave Utsugi a gift as we will more than likely not see him again.  He is in bad health and has taken kemo therapy he has cancer on his lungs. I pray for God to heal him. Marlon and I did give him a gift, Utsugi really liked it we could tell he thanked us many times.

On the walk back to hotel Marlon noticed that Mr. Donut is celebrating their 40th year anniversary.