Wednesday, February 09, 2011

Red Alerts, or, Mask Time at Elementary School

Flu season has struck the LotRS, and struck hard.  At one of my schools, the entire sixth grade, almost 100 kids, was sent home to prevent a further spread of influenza B.  There have been class and grade closings scattered about the other schools as well, and this may just be the tip of the iceberg.  All those images one may have of Japanese folk wearing surgical masks on trains and while shopping?  All true, and I am now a masked man as well.  Can't afford to get sick, and really can't be responsible for bringing the flu home from school with me.  Prep for surgery!

Had a nice weekend skiing up in Gifu prefecture though.  The weather was great, the snow was good, and the hot spring bath was sublime.  I recently picked up a pair of twin tip freestyle skis (Salomon 1080s), and this was my first chance to use them.  They were great in the bumps and powder, fun on the flats, a bit scary on the ice...all in all a fine purchase.  Whats more, they allow me to do full spins, which I practiced till I was dizzy.  Big fun.

We have a three day weekend this weekend, and nothing on the books...which is nice too.  Play with baby time!