Ellen and Osaka

So my mom is here with me to help out with the baby....She has already gotten to experience some great Japanese culture....She has riden a bike in the rain, home from the train station. She watched 2 of David's basketball games, one of which went into overtime and one of which, David got Man of the Match. She has been shopping in Umeda and in Shinsaibashi. She visited a pet store that sells monkeys. She has noticed the crazy fashion and stated that the people here dress weirder than the people in San Francisco. She has seen how expensive things are. $120 for a scarf....She has walked many miles so far and has been exhausted at the end of the day. She has seen the inside of a Japanese nursery with all the Japanese babies sleeping away. She has tried some new foods and she loves crepes and gyozas. She has been inside the U.S. Consulate which was harder to get into than the airport. She has experienced how long everything takes to get done here (I complain about this all of the time). She has taken the subway and the train all around Osaka. And, she has experienced the worst weather in the history of Osaka for April (just kidding, but it seems like it).AND she took pictures with fans at the games and a man had her sign his shirt!!!