Another year has gone by and I'm feeling older than ever.  I turned 38 today and the fact that my daughter Emily just began junior high school two weeks ago (Japanese school year begins in April) just helps to drive that point home.

I worked in the morning, then we had parent-teacher conference with Luna's teacher after lunch.  He says that she is doing well - one of the best readers in her class - but she has problems keeping her desk clean (no surprise there) and sometimes fails to turn in her homework assignments because "she was too busy at home."  Hmmmm....

After that, Kay and I went to eat lunch at a Japanese "Hamburger and Coffee" restaurant -- I should inject here that the City of Sasebo is famous for hamburgers, as this is where the delicacy was first introduced to Japan.  There are many places that specialize in hamburgers, but they aren't quite considered fast food.  In fact, at one place near the main gate of Sasebo Navy Base you can expect to wait at least an hour to get your burger.  But back to the story...

So I'm reading the lunch menu, which lists four hamburger specials and decide to try the "Japanese-Style Hamburger Set."  My mouth waters, as I'm anxiously waiting to finally sink my teeth into one of these $10.00 hamburgers that Sasebo is so famous for.  A short while later, my meal comes out and it's nothing more than a hamburger steak on a plate with gravy and vegetables poured over the top.

Confused, disappointed and a little bit irate, I ask Kay what the heck happened to the burger I was expecting.  She then explains to me that if I wanted a burger, then I should have ordered the HAM-BA-GA, but I unwittingly asked for the HAM-BA-GU! 

The highlight of the day was a banana bread birthday cake that Kay made for me.  Mmm-mmm good!