tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59800718747542515222024-02-08T09:12:50.314-08:00kt in koreaa combination of words and pictures
<br>from the faraway land of ansankthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-19649835251863114402009-12-25T22:29:00.000-08:002009-12-26T00:53:03.089-08:00seoulful christmas<div style="text-align: left;">christmas in seoul began with mexican food. so far so good right?</div><div><br /></div><div>then we went to a jimjilbang--a korean bath house that sounded like, and probably would have mirrored a japanese onsen. but zach took us to "dragon hill," where families queue up for their chance to bathe, play simulated golf, participate in dance contests, game in arcades, hang out in PC rooms, get massages, and eat ice cream together. quite possibly the most over programmed relaxation space on the globe. but it was nice nonetheless.</div><div><br /></div><div>lisa and i got body scrubs, which was less luxurious and more laborious. the tables were inside the women's bathing area, so we approached them in the nude, figured out the price and were each assigned a 60-something woman wearing lacy lingerie and a dour expression. the lusty pensioners left no inch of skin unscrubbed, and the whole thing was in keeping with the rest of the establishment--off-color, bewildering, and still somehow pleasant. and we're smooth as silk. that's what really matters.</div><div><br /></div><div>so after we finished our surrealist bathing experience, we walked around seoul for a bit, and got some street food. the fried food went fast. pictured is the soup (flavor so-so, but warmth appreciated in subzero weather) and a rice cake and sauce concoction that is just as spicy as it looks. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SzXH7ERvRWI/AAAAAAAABQ4/yKGvLNSELXE/s1600-h/DSC02808.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SzXH7ERvRWI/AAAAAAAABQ4/yKGvLNSELXE/s320/DSC02808.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419457544184612194" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SzXH7hcRJvI/AAAAAAAABRA/Mzjz96Y1eZs/s1600-h/DSC02807.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SzXH7hcRJvI/AAAAAAAABRA/Mzjz96Y1eZs/s320/DSC02807.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419457552013403890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>then we stopped in a coffee shop in an effort to cure our post-bath lethargy. when we came back outside, the coffee kicked in just in time for our white christmas dreams to come true. frolicking ensued.</div><div><br /></div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxPYlSwmwcnjMQPqPIDYXyHqPZ-ci-Faja0x_oNeINepnadbxLT76Fd1nuDJu_hSIX5SwDK2EL6T1zlyGAh-g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>and then, as if it couldn't get any better, santa and his friends shook their asses in celebration of the lord's birth.</div><div><br /></div><div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwTGqMwWjCW4rOdJXZls0e319jdf23smq5t4yaObqkMExGr0ovzjmgrcQ5_7eTNWzy7dFNnn_ChP_MkO_Xv3Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>the joy of the snow and sexy christmas characters was only increased by the sea of young koreans offering free hugs outside the train station.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SzXH8AdMN9I/AAAAAAAABRI/3QIJ5kavq3A/s1600-h/DSC02831.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SzXH8AdMN9I/AAAAAAAABRI/3QIJ5kavq3A/s320/DSC02831.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419457560338773970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>very merry indeed.</div></div>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-60617441930938365762009-07-12T22:39:00.000-07:002009-07-12T23:02:28.426-07:00family purikurai did purikura ("print club" photos) 3 times yesterday. it was very pink.<br /><br />first, ayaka and i went, then later i went to the mall with her whole family. we ate baskin robbins. it was all very american, except for the red bean-flavored ice cream.<br /><br />so naturally we had to document our evening with more purikura. then, ayaka and her sister haruka proposed a girl time one. how could i refuse?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SlrJVfE-s-I/AAAAAAAABNU/1OoxNKjdzn8/s1600-h/NoName_0004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SlrJVfE-s-I/AAAAAAAABNU/1OoxNKjdzn8/s320/NoName_0004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357816077667447778" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SlrJVP8SqrI/AAAAAAAABNM/7S6XFl2bYL0/s1600-h/Cute_B_L_s.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 170px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SlrJVP8SqrI/AAAAAAAABNM/7S6XFl2bYL0/s320/Cute_B_L_s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357816073604475570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SlrJU5LAVuI/AAAAAAAABNE/Ttomiaz_aQI/s1600-h/Cute_B_L_QVGA_0003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SlrJU5LAVuI/AAAAAAAABNE/Ttomiaz_aQI/s320/Cute_B_L_QVGA_0003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357816067492173538" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SlrJUU5nd-I/AAAAAAAABM8/kQUaQXWIkxo/s1600-h/Cute_B_L_QVGA.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SlrJUU5nd-I/AAAAAAAABM8/kQUaQXWIkxo/s320/Cute_B_L_QVGA.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357816057755564002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SlrJV6BJdqI/AAAAAAAABNc/DBYNbtHvP_k/s1600-h/NoName_0008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SlrJV6BJdqI/AAAAAAAABNc/DBYNbtHvP_k/s320/NoName_0008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357816084899133090" border="0" /></a>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-6869983034935324062009-06-07T21:34:00.000-07:002009-06-11T02:55:02.843-07:008 months of cell phone photosfor all you math geniuses...i've been here 10 months, but had a phone since october.<br /><br />minimal captions=maximum imagination<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyjTr2T-rI/AAAAAAAABG4/4hHBDcai-Pk/s1600-h/PAP_0028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344826416365304498" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyjTr2T-rI/AAAAAAAABG4/4hHBDcai-Pk/s320/PAP_0028.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyjTlyNS_I/AAAAAAAABGw/n_NvTgNIDxo/s1600-h/PAP_0024.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyjTXmR6XI/AAAAAAAABGo/7SyoMtccwZw/s1600-h/PAP_0022.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344826410929351026" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyjTXmR6XI/AAAAAAAABGo/7SyoMtccwZw/s320/PAP_0022.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />school poster<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyjTdiv1uI/AAAAAAAABGg/FYPJCCAbf8E/s1600-h/PAP_0019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344826412525147874" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyjTdiv1uI/AAAAAAAABGg/FYPJCCAbf8E/s320/PAP_0019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />now time, thailand<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyjTAHprfI/AAAAAAAABGY/dxox054EGhE/s1600-h/PAP_0018.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyiiWV4oeI/AAAAAAAABF0/BjmaADU9U70/s1600-h/PAP_0016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344825568778559970" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyiiWV4oeI/AAAAAAAABF0/BjmaADU9U70/s320/PAP_0016.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />didn't pay electricity bill<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyiiE5do-I/AAAAAAAABFs/gydtKWKLLVU/s1600-h/PAP_0015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344825564095947746" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyiiE5do-I/AAAAAAAABFs/gydtKWKLLVU/s320/PAP_0015.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />dinner<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyiiByqAkI/AAAAAAAABFk/N2tRTnbrPN8/s1600-h/PAP_0012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344825563262091842" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyiiByqAkI/AAAAAAAABFk/N2tRTnbrPN8/s320/PAP_0012.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />fudge tupee<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Siyihxb6OTI/AAAAAAAABFc/es7ErIsbDGI/s1600-h/PAP_0014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344825558871718194" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Siyihxb6OTI/AAAAAAAABFc/es7ErIsbDGI/s320/PAP_0014.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />matcha magic<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Siyih_sGSiI/AAAAAAAABFU/_6z0xOzJM18/s1600-h/PAP_0010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344825562697714210" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Siyih_sGSiI/AAAAAAAABFU/_6z0xOzJM18/s320/PAP_0010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />biore love (for marian + bern)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyfUs4Gi8I/AAAAAAAABFM/XGDG3ldtJDY/s1600-h/PA0_0067.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyfUZWApvI/AAAAAAAABFE/RyuqRI1SrxI/s1600-h/PA0_0060.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344822030531340018" style="WIDTH: 178px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyfUZWApvI/AAAAAAAABFE/RyuqRI1SrxI/s320/PA0_0060.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />gift/cupcake<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyfUBN7y_I/AAAAAAAABE8/yTYFNUrslzY/s1600-h/PA0_0052.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344822024055016434" style="WIDTH: 178px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyfUBN7y_I/AAAAAAAABE8/yTYFNUrslzY/s320/PA0_0052.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />multimedia<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyfT1Kl_hI/AAAAAAAABE0/_3oURDZDMbQ/s1600-h/PA0_0051.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344822020819779090" style="WIDTH: 178px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyfT1Kl_hI/AAAAAAAABE0/_3oURDZDMbQ/s320/PA0_0051.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />haruka + we made school goal = cake devoured<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyfTyBKtYI/AAAAAAAABEs/JrsSGhDs9Fc/s1600-h/PA0_0047.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344822019974935938" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyfTyBKtYI/AAAAAAAABEs/JrsSGhDs9Fc/s320/PA0_0047.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyeQa_nNcI/AAAAAAAABEk/WmFAAu9gVsg/s1600-h/PA0_0045.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344820862743164354" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyeQa_nNcI/AAAAAAAABEk/WmFAAu9gVsg/s320/PA0_0045.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />dinner date<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyeQEQijjI/AAAAAAAABEc/zaIbzhTqVdI/s1600-h/PA0_0003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344820856640146994" style="WIDTH: 178px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyeQEQijjI/AAAAAAAABEc/zaIbzhTqVdI/s320/PA0_0003.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />i made a pancake<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyeP6SeRkI/AAAAAAAABEU/uHe1YvJYtUA/s1600-h/GRP_0016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344820853963900482" style="WIDTH: 227px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyeP6SeRkI/AAAAAAAABEU/uHe1YvJYtUA/s320/GRP_0016.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyePvNcxTI/AAAAAAAABEE/6fwW-scNhCQ/s1600-h/GRP_0009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344820850990040370" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyePvNcxTI/AAAAAAAABEE/6fwW-scNhCQ/s320/GRP_0009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />sent from sam after i had to go home early<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiydnIu4qNI/AAAAAAAABD8/cXTznXtdrlM/s1600-h/GRP_0008.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Siydm2-pBlI/AAAAAAAABD0/2U92oYJICXI/s1600-h/GRP_0007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344820148700776018" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Siydm2-pBlI/AAAAAAAABD0/2U92oYJICXI/s320/GRP_0007.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />"i want to stay for the sunset"<br />"meh, i've seen it before"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiydmvbKFjI/AAAAAAAABDs/ODMjhJ80apM/s1600-h/GRP_0006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344820146672899634" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiydmvbKFjI/AAAAAAAABDs/ODMjhJ80apM/s320/GRP_0006.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />train station sammich, thailand<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiydmQ1X7rI/AAAAAAAABDk/IuxvuuIJNQo/s1600-h/GRP_0005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344820138461359794" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiydmQ1X7rI/AAAAAAAABDk/IuxvuuIJNQo/s320/GRP_0005.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />american dinner? (w/ haruka)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiydmZIfCTI/AAAAAAAABDc/wsJ2dvTDfNI/s1600-h/PA0_0055.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyWWW71cKI/AAAAAAAABDU/sSfVgfBoDJE/s1600-h/PA0_0053.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344812168639770786" style="WIDTH: 178px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyWWW71cKI/AAAAAAAABDU/sSfVgfBoDJE/s320/PA0_0053.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />sexy & cute R&B section<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyWV_IwkFI/AAAAAAAABDM/nnrnNeaNlRs/s1600-h/PA0_0056.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344812162251526226" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 178px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyWV_IwkFI/AAAAAAAABDM/nnrnNeaNlRs/s320/PA0_0056.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />cat infestation<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyWV-o5JNI/AAAAAAAABDE/hWZ5NKtnCE0/s1600-h/PA0_0060.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyWVtMRd-I/AAAAAAAABC8/uX5hDMdXs2g/s1600-h/PA0_0061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344812157434427362" style="WIDTH: 178px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyWVtMRd-I/AAAAAAAABC8/uX5hDMdXs2g/s320/PA0_0061.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />jessica rabbit's brother<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyWVV5gKYI/AAAAAAAABC0/pqg6yDjwvAw/s1600-h/PA0_0062.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344812151181683074" style="WIDTH: 178px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyWVV5gKYI/AAAAAAAABC0/pqg6yDjwvAw/s320/PA0_0062.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />this is what happens when you stay for 8 years<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyV6xhfpRI/AAAAAAAABCs/7Oon6AH3-dU/s1600-h/GRP_0017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344811694740710674" style="WIDTH: 192px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyV6xhfpRI/AAAAAAAABCs/7Oon6AH3-dU/s320/GRP_0017.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />some got more into the kids christmas lesson than others<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyV6pezybI/AAAAAAAABCk/cgC1ygWghvQ/s1600-h/PA0_0064.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344811692581964210" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 178px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyV6pezybI/AAAAAAAABCk/cgC1ygWghvQ/s320/PA0_0064.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />first snow<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyV6TH_G_I/AAAAAAAABCc/hOhgdwMrsZY/s1600-h/PA0_0065.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344811686580657138" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 178px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyV6TH_G_I/AAAAAAAABCc/hOhgdwMrsZY/s320/PA0_0065.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />a kego park christmas, with deer and flamingos<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyV6eiL9uI/AAAAAAAABCU/eDM7aIY0v0k/s1600-h/PAP_0069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344811689643341538" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyV6eiL9uI/AAAAAAAABCU/eDM7aIY0v0k/s320/PAP_0069.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />cream puff (for laura)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyV6B3MkFI/AAAAAAAABCM/PNeIgKLvsvQ/s1600-h/GRP_0019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344811681946832978" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyV6B3MkFI/AAAAAAAABCM/PNeIgKLvsvQ/s320/GRP_0019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />anna sent this from hawaii--a slight departure from the standard beach photo<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyVgV2MikI/AAAAAAAABCE/cAjjp8mH_e0/s1600-h/PAP_0070.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344811240634747458" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyVgV2MikI/AAAAAAAABCE/cAjjp8mH_e0/s320/PAP_0070.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />portrait of katie sensei (artist credit: naoki, age 9)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyVfu6BPwI/AAAAAAAABBs/VeYWKqXhpNs/s1600-h/PAP_0074.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344811230181801730" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyVfu6BPwI/AAAAAAAABBs/VeYWKqXhpNs/s320/PAP_0074.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />spider in kurume<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyVfvpmxtI/AAAAAAAABBk/jqBgWhamMgM/s1600-h/PAP_0075.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344811230381393618" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyVfvpmxtI/AAAAAAAABBk/jqBgWhamMgM/s320/PAP_0075.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyVAOTvzwI/AAAAAAAABBE/b0k-h0zLphI/s1600-h/GRP_0015.JPG"></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyVAQ_6g4I/AAAAAAAABBM/DsIPK1MFano/s1600-h/PAP_0078.JPG"></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyVAk4P0RI/AAAAAAAABBU/PZNOiKp-JnI/s1600-h/PAP_0077.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyVAk4P0RI/AAAAAAAABBU/PZNOiKp-JnI/s320/PAP_0077.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyVAtWnVeI/AAAAAAAABBc/d55igtH5mmc/s1600-h/PAP_0076.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SiyVAtWnVeI/AAAAAAAABBc/d55igtH5mmc/s320/PAP_0076.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="CLEAR: both"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><br /></a></div>and this is just the beginning...............kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-14150087205076682522009-05-02T20:58:00.000-07:002009-05-03T07:59:25.539-07:00holy travel batman!sitting in an internet cafe in chumporn, thailand, realizing how crazy today was--and with an 8-hour overnight train ride to bangkok in just three hours, realizing it's not even close to being over.<br /><br /><strong>false start.</strong><br />location: ko samui (island, 5 hour boat ride away from chumporn). ferry to catch @ 8 am. wake up at 6:45 for taxi or tuk tuk to the pier. nadine's phone alarm is an hour off thai time. back to sleep.<br /><br /><strong>start.</strong><br />6:45 am. snooze. 7:00 am.<br />us: "taxi! how much to mae nam?"<br />driver: "500 baht"<br />us: "no way, too expensive. it's close! we'll pay 300 baht."<br />driver: "no it's on the other side of the island. price is 500."<br />us: "ok bye."<br />driver: "ok ok 2 person 300 baht."<br /><br /><strong>ferry.</strong><br />first two hours were ok. american film was played to pass the time, and visions of passing islands were enough to keep us occupied, despite gloomy weather. but the ferry stopped at 3 islands before arriving at our destination on the mainland, and nadine and i managed to pick up a pack of hungry, uppity children who feasted on potato chips, yelled in our ears and pulled our hair. for three hours. and the boat played a thai pop showcase dvd, which at first was an interesting look at thai culture, but seven costume changes and 2 hours later became downright tedious. and there was something about the husky voice of the woman making port announcements that really irked me.<br /><br /><strong>to the train station.</strong><br />despite having exhausted our friends' thailand travel book the night before, transport from the pier to the vicinity of the train station proved to be the most difficult twenty kilometers we will ever travel. having suffered a total of 80 mosquito bites on a gnarly hike yesterday, i had resigned myself to leprosy and hoped nadine would take the reigns when we arrived at the pier. she came through and found out we could get a bus there, but the crowd's stares were making my welts throb, so when i saw a motorbike taxi driver pull up, i jumped at the opportunity to leave judgemental eyes in the dust. after haggling a suitable price, we locked in like lincoln logs and set off for chumporn station. if only it were that simple.<br /><br />five km in, he stopped the bike on the side of the road, pointed to a section of his bike, pointed at nadine, pointed back at his bike, and spoke thai. confusion. luckily he had stopped at a little shop/shack housing an english speaker, who told us he would go fix his bike and come back in 15 minutes. we could wait in their hut. so nadine got a snack, i silently cursed my failed insect repellent, and we both kept our eyes on the road, sure he would return for his 300 baht.<br /><br />after 15 minutes, our hero returned--and right on schedule for the thunder storm, which was in full force no more than 5 km after our return to the road. our man pulled over yet again, this time to show us it was raining (clearly, as the motorbike is uncovered) and settle into his poncho. i put on a jacket, knowing it wouldn't help, and all nadine needed was her jamaica tank to brave the storm. so we set off for the third time amidst thunder, lightning and a torrential downpour fast-forwarded by the forwardness of our motorbike. soaked to the bone, polka-dotted and unsure if we would ever reach our destination, i couldn't help but smile--because i knew despite all the beautiful beaches, sugary-sweet mangoes, and friendly people we've met, this day, that moment, was what we would remember first.<br /><br /><strong>chumporn station.</strong><br />so we finally arrived, sopping wet, at chumporn station. changed clothes, found out the next available train was at 11:30 p.m. (it was 2 p.m.) and asked for directions to the nearest restaurant. we were directed to a cafe, which ended up serving only dessert and coffee, so we vowed to return after a proper meal. just down the dirt road we ate a delicious meal that we figured out cost 50 cents each--our cheapest yet--and headed back to the cafe for cake and shelter. our original plan of staking out at the cafe for the next 7 hours quickly became unimaginable, as the aircon was too high and we could not envision eating anymore cake.<br /><br /><strong>guest house.</strong><br />nadine and i found out about a guest house near the station, which is costing us a few dollars to seek refuge before our next trek. luckily it's also near a mall with $3 jeans, which i desperately needed due to my previously-mentioned leprosy. they're men's mustard-colored cords, but combine the right price with desperation and you've got yourself a deal. so we've been relaxing in the minimalist guest house compound all day, nadine ipod-ing and me rubbing my legs with anti-inflammatory cream.<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br />so that's our day. starting off on the southern coast of thailand at 8 a.m. and (hopefully) ending hundreds of miles north at the nation's capital exactly 24 hours later. what's next for us in bangkok? a hotel, a shower, laundry, a thai massage, and a high five for finally making it.kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-91224597978440445462009-04-24T23:02:00.000-07:002009-04-25T00:09:37.549-07:00dinner party conversation topics: japan edition<div align="left">i've come to realize that i ( like most people who have lived in a place) possess a wealth of facts about life in japan, and to keep them to myself would be a crime against my country, my blog, and my current place of residence. but they're mine if i'm ever stuck in a rut during a dinner party.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><ul><li><div align="left">ask any Japanese person over the age of 10 and they'll be able to tell you the weather forecast for the next week (generalization). surprising for me, and likely most southern californians, who can barely muster the strength to look out the window before deciding on shorts and sandals (again.)</div></li><p align="left"><br /><br /><br /></p><li><div align="left">fortunes (based on blood type) are included daily in TV weather forecasts</div></li><p align="left"><br /><br /><br /></p><li><div align="left">punishment in the japanese education system involves more school, not less. (for american punishments, see: suspension, explusion). additionally, parents are required to drive delinquent high schoolers to and from school during the punishment period. AND their homeroom teacher visits them at home every day they're not at school, just to make sure they're not having any fun.</div></li><p align="left"><br /><br /><br /></p><li><div align="left">*downer alert* in japan, the most popular form of suicide is jumping in front of a moving train. april is the beginning of japan's fiscal year, which means businessmen are working extra hard (my student has worked 10+ hour days, with zero days off the entire month), which means increased desperation, thus more suicides. there have been four that i know of on just one train line in the past three weeks. these suicides obviously throw off the train schedule (which is usually insanely accurate), costing transit companies millions of yen and possible lawsuits for missed flights, etc. who pays these millions of yen in damages? as if it wasn't already bad enough, the families of the deceased do.</div></li><p align="left"><br /><br /><br /></p><li><div align="left">most japanese people consider america the land of obama, disneyland, and people who want to shoot you.</div></li><p align="left"><br /><br /><br /></p><li><div align="left">every major japanese area is know for a famous food. try me. </div></li></ul><div align="left"><br /><br /></div><p align="left"></p><div align="left"><br /></div><p align="left"><br /></p><p align="left"><a href="https://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/@0_gold/honpou-nishinihon/item/mmasr_400g.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 152px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 124px" alt="" src="https://thumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp/@0_gold/honpou-nishinihon/item/mmasr_400g.jpg" border="0" /></a>fukuoka: mentaiko (fish eggs... lucky me)</p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p align="left"><a href="http://www.jnto.org.sg/imgs/p_cuisine013.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 113px" alt="" src="http://www.jnto.org.sg/imgs/p_cuisine013.jpg" border="0" /></a>hiroshima: okonomiyaki (egg, flour, veg, grilled)</p><p align="left"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p align="left"><a href="http://www.jnto.org.sg/imgs/p_cuisine016.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 113px" alt="" src="http://www.jnto.org.sg/imgs/p_cuisine016.jpg" border="0" /></a>yamaguchi: fugu (poisonous puffer fish) </p><p align="left"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p align="left"><a href="http://www.jnto.org.sg/imgs/p_cuisine014.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 113px" alt="" src="http://www.jnto.org.sg/imgs/p_cuisine014.jpg" border="0" /></a>osaka: takoyaki (octopus, etc. rolled and grilled)</p><p align="left"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><p align="left"></p><a href="http://www.jnto.org.sg/imgs/p_cuisine020.jpg"></a><p align="left"><a href="http://stvmllr.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/cheesesteak1.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 231px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 310px" alt="" src="http://stvmllr.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/cheesesteak1.jpg" border="0" /></a>the first thing someone says about visiting place references the food. now i do it too! "you went to nagasaki? did you eat champon??"</p><p align="left"></p><p align="left">you might wonder why i think this is interesting, considering every country has famous foods... but when was the last time someone said "i went to philadelphia" and you said, first thing, "oh shit! did you eat a cheese steak?!?</p>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-42231584022965037752009-04-20T05:07:00.000-07:002009-04-20T05:17:03.278-07:00i'm coming homei put in my 4 months notice this week. it's required if you want to leave after the year's up, and although my plan has always been to stay a year and then move on, i must say i am a bit sad to be leaving this beautiful country. my dad was in town the past 2 weekends for work, which was lucky, and i took him to all my favorite places in fukuoka. in doing so i reminded myself how good i have it here.<br /><br />shrines. hot springs. gorgeous scenery. nice cafes. good friends.<br /><br /><br />reverse culture shock should be interesting, too. so far i think i'll be "shocked" by the ability to eavesdrop, the inability to have anything gift wrapped, driving, not speaking Japanese with friends, English media, English menus...yeah, English everything.kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-38754562801795654872009-03-30T04:19:00.000-07:002009-04-06T04:47:42.355-07:00yanagawayanagawa: a sleepy town with an uncanny number of shrines and a gorgeous canal, which during cherry blossom season, is just the thing you need to appreciate life all the more.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnlaKgMMII/AAAAAAAAA9c/7_NpIWW_vW8/s1600-h/DSC00636.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnlaKgMMII/AAAAAAAAA9c/7_NpIWW_vW8/s320/DSC00636.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321536672373682306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnlaZp1LQI/AAAAAAAAA9k/HydHRTfjgDE/s1600-h/DSC00641.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnlaZp1LQI/AAAAAAAAA9k/HydHRTfjgDE/s320/DSC00641.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321536676440648962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnmFhA6L2I/AAAAAAAAA-E/dLNDjkBJ4fQ/s1600-h/DSC00670.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnmFhA6L2I/AAAAAAAAA-E/dLNDjkBJ4fQ/s320/DSC00670.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321537417150869346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sdnlau4SaYI/AAAAAAAAA98/P_2UavqLJ74/s1600-h/DSC00652.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sdnlau4SaYI/AAAAAAAAA98/P_2UavqLJ74/s320/DSC00652.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321536682138429826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnlaVZczeI/AAAAAAAAA90/-PiZi6o2-H0/s1600-h/DSC00650.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnlaVZczeI/AAAAAAAAA90/-PiZi6o2-H0/s320/DSC00650.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321536675298201058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnlaWKTceI/AAAAAAAAA9s/0wSyt8LplT8/s1600-h/DSC00645.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnlaWKTceI/AAAAAAAAA9s/0wSyt8LplT8/s320/DSC00645.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321536675503108578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnmGCY4mxI/AAAAAAAAA-k/iKMzZjTkwsw/s1600-h/DSC00695.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnmGCY4mxI/AAAAAAAAA-k/iKMzZjTkwsw/s320/DSC00695.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321537426109799186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnmfzjfnDI/AAAAAAAAA-0/UaBgdMpBn1k/s1600-h/DSC00699.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnmfzjfnDI/AAAAAAAAA-0/UaBgdMpBn1k/s320/DSC00699.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321537868804365362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sdnmf45hYAI/AAAAAAAAA-s/GlbXcwcdhVI/s1600-h/DSC00701.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sdnmf45hYAI/AAAAAAAAA-s/GlbXcwcdhVI/s320/DSC00701.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321537870238932994" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnmF4lfYiI/AAAAAAAAA-M/B-YW6gkMIlg/s1600-h/DSC00697.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnmF4lfYiI/AAAAAAAAA-M/B-YW6gkMIlg/s320/DSC00697.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321537423478317602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnmF6L7jyI/AAAAAAAAA-U/8wM5MTAXgNE/s1600-h/DSC00702.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnmF6L7jyI/AAAAAAAAA-U/8wM5MTAXgNE/s320/DSC00702.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321537423907983138" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnmF8ISYeI/AAAAAAAAA-c/HzmP_9H2OVY/s1600-h/DSC00707.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnmF8ISYeI/AAAAAAAAA-c/HzmP_9H2OVY/s320/DSC00707.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321537424429572578" border="0" /></a>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-29743591379490908522009-03-29T04:03:00.000-07:002009-04-06T04:59:07.200-07:00sakura <3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sdnj57t0KJI/AAAAAAAAA8c/17kZK0GMcRc/s1600-h/DSC00565.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sdnj57t0KJI/AAAAAAAAA8c/17kZK0GMcRc/s320/DSC00565.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321535019136854162" border="0" /></a>sakura blossom! how do I love thee?<br />my past month has been devoted to the enjoyment of cherry blossoms. only blooming for two to three weeks a year, they're a symbol of beauty's way of leaving without saying goodbye.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sdnj56IDpkI/AAAAAAAAA8M/fb0ZSpneSx8/s1600-h/DSC00541.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sdnj56IDpkI/AAAAAAAAA8M/fb0ZSpneSx8/s320/DSC00541.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321535018710050370" border="0" /></a>anna and I passed through a lovely park on our way to lunch.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sdnj53QDi-I/AAAAAAAAA8U/XcPdx8OghGI/s1600-h/DSC00542.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sdnj53QDi-I/AAAAAAAAA8U/XcPdx8OghGI/s320/DSC00542.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321535017938291682" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sdnj6LaOnxI/AAAAAAAAA8s/zjcqCdrumFc/s1600-h/DSC00575.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sdnj6LaOnxI/AAAAAAAAA8s/zjcqCdrumFc/s320/DSC00575.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321535023349669650" border="0" /></a>on the way from lunch with anna to the hanami party at ohori park (below), I stumbled upon a shrine with a lovely sakura tree.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnkaxtLc5I/AAAAAAAAA80/IxT0hUZZyeE/s1600-h/DSC00582.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnkaxtLc5I/AAAAAAAAA80/IxT0hUZZyeE/s320/DSC00582.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321535583385514898" border="0" /></a>we weren't the only people interested in the cherry blossoms at ohori koen<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sdnj59n1cnI/AAAAAAAAA8k/Ag93nSJ5yGY/s1600-h/DSC00572.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sdnj59n1cnI/AAAAAAAAA8k/Ag93nSJ5yGY/s320/DSC00572.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321535019648643698" border="0" /></a>I was actually on time, while my comrades were not, so I took some (more) photos of my beloved blossoms<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnkbKDKiGI/AAAAAAAAA9E/hXwrKQMejgQ/s1600-h/DSC00601.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnkbKDKiGI/AAAAAAAAA9E/hXwrKQMejgQ/s320/DSC00601.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321535589920180322" border="0" /></a>my charlie brown sakura tree. notice the plethora of fully-formed, fully-bloomed trees just over the road.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnkbMx0RmI/AAAAAAAAA88/3oaCYd9_RKA/s1600-h/DSC00590.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnkbMx0RmI/AAAAAAAAA88/3oaCYd9_RKA/s320/DSC00590.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321535590652724834" border="0" /></a>cotton candy and everything! what an event!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnkbCfIprI/AAAAAAAAA9M/eqXwuTwAwv0/s1600-h/DSC00603.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnkbCfIprI/AAAAAAAAA9M/eqXwuTwAwv0/s320/DSC00603.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321535587890013874" border="0" /></a>a smorgasbord of japanese and western snacks alike. and don't forget the 3-dollar wine aptly named "mirage"--with a price that low, it must be my imagination!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnkbU3dElI/AAAAAAAAA9U/u6IA5TGe-1k/s1600-h/DSC00604.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnkbU3dElI/AAAAAAAAA9U/u6IA5TGe-1k/s320/DSC00604.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321535592823853650" border="0" /></a>post-hanami. it was freezingggg.<br />haruka was still hungry.kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-71279740165902003582009-03-27T23:11:00.000-07:002009-03-27T23:13:14.279-07:00identity crisisan email i sent to my coworker:<br /><br /><strong>Hola! Como estas?<br />Esta fin de semana pasada estuvo muy divertido y relajante.<br /><br />友達のきっぷは大丈夫。<br /><br />Thank you for telling me about Kumi! See you tomorrow!<br />Katie</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br />three languages (mind you, i have basic knowledge of all three)... no wonder i can't decide what to do with my life!!!!kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-92091587854153476982009-03-17T05:44:00.001-07:002009-03-17T21:38:37.143-07:00here comes the sun!<div align="center">Wed 3/18</div><div align="center"> 75° 51°<img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 40px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 40px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://img0.gmodules.com/ig/images/weather/sunny.png" border="0" /></div>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-70237799211571018622009-03-15T03:29:00.000-07:002009-04-06T05:07:21.363-07:00punchline: nobody winsone sunday night, after a lovely thai meal, we four ladies thought long and hard about where the night would continue. the only thing that could cure our urge for competition was a fierce game of pool. we played four games, of which none were actually won. only lost. damn that eight ball!<br /><br />then nadine and I got our asses handed to us in foosball.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sdnam09b7ZI/AAAAAAAAAxM/KfhL6Ii-WvU/s1600-h/DSC00343.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sdnam09b7ZI/AAAAAAAAAxM/KfhL6Ii-WvU/s320/DSC00343.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321524795301162386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnamPsJSUI/AAAAAAAAAw0/6H7jWw7Spcc/s1600-h/DSC00344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnamPsJSUI/AAAAAAAAAw0/6H7jWw7Spcc/s320/DSC00344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321524785296525634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnamoolN_I/AAAAAAAAAxE/IUNsuXjXyao/s1600-h/DSC00355.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnamoolN_I/AAAAAAAAAxE/IUNsuXjXyao/s320/DSC00355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321524791992465394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnamVezmyI/AAAAAAAAAw8/4UMaKcQ0v9U/s1600-h/DSC00346.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SdnamVezmyI/AAAAAAAAAw8/4UMaKcQ0v9U/s320/DSC00346.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321524786851191586" border="0" /></a>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-72549912790687220362009-03-13T22:00:00.000-07:002009-03-13T22:16:37.103-07:00not just semanticssometimes i go on thesaurus.com to try to learn new words. i don't know how long this function has been around, but today i discovered the "visual thesaurus"--the latest assault on the fluidity of language. i searched "love" because it was flexible enough to expose this semantic nightmare:<br /><br /><br /><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 453px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://syndication.visualthesaurus.com/ddc/large/love.gif" border="0" /> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>p.s.--in researching nadine and my future trip to thailand/cambodia, i've discovered the best website title i've seen in agggeeeessssss</p><p><a href="http://www.angkorwhat.net/">http://www.angkorwhat.net/</a><br /></p>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-38809221057900520432009-03-10T03:28:00.000-07:002009-03-10T03:36:02.391-07:00leão = loveforget three little words. two words have me swooning. <div><div><div><div><br /><div>"matte leão"</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>portuguese for "who knew tea could be so good?"</div><br /><br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 194px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.matteleao.com.br/receitas/gelo_limao.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-41896813748606185032009-03-08T23:22:00.000-07:002009-03-09T00:00:58.616-07:00tokyo<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">t<br /><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SbS5ZslbkSI/AAAAAAAAAvY/yhIzM_LvqaQ/s1600-h/DSC00195.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SbS5ZslbkSI/AAAAAAAAAvY/yhIzM_LvqaQ/s400/DSC00195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311073711692681506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">o</span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SbS5aHPLfDI/AAAAAAAAAvg/CNKEwyXAygc/s1600-h/DSC00234.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SbS5aHPLfDI/AAAAAAAAAvg/CNKEwyXAygc/s400/DSC00234.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311073718847110194" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">k<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SbS5acUZU5I/AAAAAAAAAvo/TQkdDfQIhAQ/s1600-h/DSC00255.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SbS5acUZU5I/AAAAAAAAAvo/TQkdDfQIhAQ/s400/DSC00255.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311073724506133394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">y<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SbS5a-xQp9I/AAAAAAAAAvw/aApyY7guflo/s1600-h/DSC00307.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SbS5a-xQp9I/AAAAAAAAAvw/aApyY7guflo/s400/DSC00307.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311073733754005458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />o<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SbS5bJ4airI/AAAAAAAAAv4/jL-yxFiWWuc/s1600-h/DSC00324.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SbS5bJ4airI/AAAAAAAAAv4/jL-yxFiWWuc/s400/DSC00324.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311073736736803506" border="0" /></a><br /></div>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-49190527031117378922009-03-06T21:09:00.000-08:002009-03-08T23:18:15.528-07:00jazz casual<div><br /><div><br /><div>will someone buy me this?</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 400px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41k9rMDceeL._SS400_.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>it's expensive. </div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div>also, it's out of print.</div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br />my birthday's coming up!! (5 months)<br /></div></div>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-59321677140165780142009-03-06T20:48:00.000-08:002009-03-06T21:03:39.097-08:00meterology<div><div>i don't care about my numbers. this blog functions as both an electronic journal and means of mass emailing without making people feel like they don't deserve individual emails.</div><br /><br /><br /><div>but i got sitemeter anyway. why, you ask? </div><div> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">because of the world map function.<br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310306554191070978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 252px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SbH_rQL8xwI/AAAAAAAAAu4/6Gs91eTJZ4A/s400/world.JPG" border="0" /><br />africa, south america and australia need a boost. please send links to all friends in these areas. thank you.<br /><div></div></div>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-25394236352435337682009-03-04T20:14:00.000-08:002009-03-06T20:46:38.515-08:00why calling my family is a real treati spoke to 3 of 4 family members today on the phone, and while it's expensive, it's always worth hearing the big news. the formula is usually one brother update, one zoe (the family dog) update and one new animal in the yard. today's conversation did not disappoint:<br /><br /><ul><li>tom painted his room burgundy</li><li>2 ducks are living in our pool</li><li>zoe got a haircut</li></ul><p></p><p>even though they're crazy, they're my family and i love them--a lot.</p>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-50705321743108832412009-03-04T20:13:00.000-08:002009-03-04T20:14:32.849-08:00tokyo teaser<div align="center">many many more to come...</div><div align="center"> </div><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sa9RjnuwI6I/AAAAAAAAAuo/krkQfEnk5LQ/s1600-h/ç¡é¡.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309552158095451042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/Sa9RjnuwI6I/AAAAAAAAAuo/krkQfEnk5LQ/s400/%E7%84%A1%E9%A1%8C.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-65221023286370526312009-02-20T10:05:00.000-08:002009-02-21T02:09:56.594-08:00nakagawa seiryu onsen a.k.a. heaven on earthI've gone here (<a href="http://www.nakagawaseiryu.jp/">Seiryu Onsen in Nakagawa</a>) the past two weekends, with plans to go again on Monday. It's the best natural hot spring in Fukuoka, and more than anything else, it reminds me of why I moved to Japan in the first place. American retirees have country clubs and nursing homes. Japanese retirees have this:<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 195px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.ringwander.ne.jp/~tetsusei/op22/nakagawa3.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p></p><p><a href="http://www.ringwander.ne.jp/~tetsusei/op22/nakagawa4.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 195px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.ringwander.ne.jp/~tetsusei/op22/nakagawa4.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p></p><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ringwander.ne.jp/~tetsusei/op22/nakagawa2.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 260px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 195px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.ringwander.ne.jp/~tetsusei/op22/nakagawa2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://ekitan.com/mamo/sp/spa/images/photo/52342_1.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 287px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 181px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://ekitan.com/mamo/sp/spa/images/photo/52342_1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZKHSgV_pXI/AAAAAAAAAt0/kPnCM3B71uU/s1600-h/DSC00173.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301448463358076274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZKHSgV_pXI/AAAAAAAAAt0/kPnCM3B71uU/s320/DSC00173.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div align="center">(The only picture I actually took) </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div>Andy's zonking in the tatami resting room after his onsen. The room has matted floors and complimentary pillows, and the TV was playing a news documentary about carrots that grow in the snow. Out the window you can see the rocky stream people sit and dip their feet in. Just outside this tatami room is a Haagen Daz vending machine. Heaven?kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-78154972254609114292009-02-13T22:52:00.000-08:002009-02-21T02:04:31.179-08:00phenomenons and carry-ons<div>i would say this week was one of the more fun weeks i've had. </div><div><br /><br /><br /></div><div>as you can see from my previous post, it began in the lantern-lined streets of nagasaki on <strong>monday</strong>. then, <strong>tuesday</strong> was an easy day at work followed by a night out because <strong>wednesday</strong> was a national holiday--foundation day (something about the constitution. my japanese friends weren't even sure.)<br /><br /></div><div><strong>thursday</strong> was (hallelujah) the first day of spring. though, i'm wary of these claims that the future holds temperate weather...in japan, spring is not found in warm sunshine, chirping birds or blossoming flowers. no no--it's marked by dusty cars and sore throats. </div><div> </div><div>may i present...the GOBI DESERT. </div><div><br /></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 412px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 632px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/1000/1232/china_japan_dust.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>what?!?! sending its sand our way just in time for short sleeves and white shoes.<br /></div><div><br /><strong>friday</strong> was ramen and ruminations on existence with haruka. tonight (<strong>saturday</strong>) i dine with my ladies and then it's jenni's leaving/sam's birthday/james's birthday/......... party at tattoo--boasting fukuoka's largest display of disco balls and out of season christmas lights since its opening.<br /></div><div></div><br /><div><br /></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 275px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 206px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.fukuoka-now.com/data/images/8654.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />the only thing better than living this week is the knowledge that at the end of this gloriously short month lies one ticket to tokyo, two great friends from L.A., and exactly three types (cat, secretary, maid) of strange japanese cafes on the agenda.<br /><br /><br /><p><br /><3 <3 <3<br /><br /></p>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-44640690052466018622009-02-09T23:11:00.000-08:002009-02-11T00:06:28.704-08:00lantern festivali went to the nagasaki lantern festival with my friend ayaka, which was actually a japanese-style celebration of chinese new year. so there were tons of red lanterns, chinese food and japanese people. and some typical chinese new year imagery.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />like this dragon:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ68kMQkUI/AAAAAAAAAsk/Iy_rQ0nOUoI/s1600-h/DSC00119.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ68kMQkUI/AAAAAAAAAsk/Iy_rQ0nOUoI/s320/DSC00119.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301434892294328642" border="0" /></a><br /><br />a chinese acrobat with a death wish<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ68TEmd7I/AAAAAAAAAsc/akJ6BjBJ4kQ/s1600-h/DSC00116.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ68TEmd7I/AAAAAAAAAsc/akJ6BjBJ4kQ/s320/DSC00116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301434887698806706" border="0" /></a><br /><br />eating chirin chirin ice. we didn't know what that meant, but it tasted like vanilla. isn't ayaka pretty?<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ68KcMoLI/AAAAAAAAAsU/C-uOE1mlZ88/s1600-h/DSC00113.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ68KcMoLI/AAAAAAAAAsU/C-uOE1mlZ88/s320/DSC00113.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301434885381857458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">stupid<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ67hXA48I/AAAAAAAAAsE/v-2-TsELXsQ/s1600-h/DSC00108.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ67hXA48I/AAAAAAAAAsE/v-2-TsELXsQ/s320/DSC00108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301434874354262978" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">le namesake<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ_MYlcnlI/AAAAAAAAAtM/s6_nc_sGzi8/s1600-h/DSC00152.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ_MYlcnlI/AAAAAAAAAtM/s6_nc_sGzi8/s320/DSC00152.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301439562103168594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ_L8lsyyI/AAAAAAAAAtE/c5LbAaw_iM0/s1600-h/DSC00141.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ_L8lsyyI/AAAAAAAAAtE/c5LbAaw_iM0/s320/DSC00141.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301439554588035874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ_LtAUbkI/AAAAAAAAAs8/hfDepQ-lpss/s1600-h/DSC00133.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ_LtAUbkI/AAAAAAAAAs8/hfDepQ-lpss/s320/DSC00133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301439550404718146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">after watching this i want to learn how to taiko. it sounds so different than i expected it to sound. it's like a traditional dance party!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ_LvX0YqI/AAAAAAAAAs0/3F53lC5k2Pg/s1600-h/DSC00130.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ_LvX0YqI/AAAAAAAAAs0/3F53lC5k2Pg/s320/DSC00130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301439551040152226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ_LWO1NJI/AAAAAAAAAss/MQnqNI3VkWg/s1600-h/DSC00127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZJ_LWO1NJI/AAAAAAAAAss/MQnqNI3VkWg/s320/DSC00127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301439544291570834" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">making....japanese(??) food<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZKAz4jd2qI/AAAAAAAAAtc/nTw9hpc5pBA/s1600-h/DSC00160.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZKAz4jd2qI/AAAAAAAAAtc/nTw9hpc5pBA/s320/DSC00160.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301441340211321506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">eating japanese food<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZKAzVo5CBI/AAAAAAAAAtU/VzN9SRjxHEc/s1600-h/DSC00157.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZKAzVo5CBI/AAAAAAAAAtU/VzN9SRjxHEc/s320/DSC00157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301441330838833170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">i've always liked the phoenix...this ones made of china (the dishes) and lights<br /></div> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZKAzzrmReI/AAAAAAAAAtk/ANUTRx0vmcY/s1600-h/DSC00166.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZKAzzrmReI/AAAAAAAAAtk/ANUTRx0vmcY/s320/DSC00166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301441338903250402" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> <div style="text-align: center;">gorgeous<br /></div> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZKA0O-hpMI/AAAAAAAAAts/q_b4wqbFTtw/s1600-h/DSC00167.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SZKA0O-hpMI/AAAAAAAAAts/q_b4wqbFTtw/s320/DSC00167.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301441346230396098" border="0" /></a>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-62372868119462475802009-01-31T18:20:00.000-08:002009-02-02T02:35:21.197-08:00saturdayworking by myself on saturdays sometimes gets boring. this saturday, three things kept me in good spirits:<br /><br />1) knowing i was flying to seoul after work<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dotphoto.com/RegenImage.aspx?I=124131379&P1=SAN1&P2=SAN1&G=F4CC7156-44DB-4999-B11D-7E2DAB28072F&T=I"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 480px; height: 283px;" src="http://www.dotphoto.com/RegenImage.aspx?I=124131379&P1=SAN1&P2=SAN1&G=F4CC7156-44DB-4999-B11D-7E2DAB28072F&T=I" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />a picture from my 2006 trip...many castles, pottery and other national treasures.<br /><br />2) a work email<br />"As you probably know, [our company] has partnered with Dreamworks for our Spring 2009 advertising"[followed by shrek-studded office documents] no i didn't know that. but thank you. so much.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.zastavki.com/pictures/1920x1200/2008/Widescreen_Shrek___friends_005146_.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 364px; height: 226px;" src="http://www.zastavki.com/pictures/1920x1200/2008/Widescreen_Shrek___friends_005146_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />3) this video, which i want everyone i know to see:<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y4O-56BN4ek&hl=ja&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y4O-56BN4ek&hl=ja&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-46545603160461323942009-01-22T20:03:00.000-08:002009-01-22T20:11:16.938-08:00a look into the future<strong>January</strong><br /><br />South Korea: Seoul and Mason and Zach<br />(next weekend!)<br /><br /><br /><strong>February</strong><br /><br />Tokyo and/or Mt. Fuji with Ally and Paisley<br /><br /><br /><strong>March</strong><br /><br />Beppu: Onsens and sand baths<br /><br /><br /><strong>April</strong><br /><p>Dad visits!</p><p>Thailand or Okinawa or anything tropical</p><p> </p><strong>June</strong><br /><br />Iki: more beach time on a tiny, seemingly underappreciated island<br /><br /><br /><strong>July</strong><br /><br />Nothing much, other than celebrating 24 years of living<br /><br /><br /><strong>August</strong><br /><br />Return?kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-10636141008618387702009-01-21T20:03:00.000-08:002009-01-22T20:02:47.348-08:00How to write a love letter to a boy you do not know.<a href="http://www.gethimback.net/2_Love-letter.jpg"></a><div>I should save <a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Love-Letter-to-a-Boy-You-Do-Not-Know">this</a> for closer to V-day, but I can't help myself. Don't ask me how I found it.<br /><br /><br /></div><div><div>Highlights:</div><br /><br /><div>"Tips: Don't tell your best friend to give the boy the envelope. If he knows they're your best friend it's a dead giveaway."<br /><br /><br /></div><div>"Warnings: he might think you're a freak and get really creeped out"<br /></div><div></div><br /><br /><div>"Things you'll need: Lip Stick to kiss the bottom of your note with then he will know you really like him."</div></div><div><br /><br /> </div><p></p><div><a href="http://www.gethimback.net/2_Love-letter.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 360px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 315px" alt="" src="http://www.gethimback.net/2_Love-letter.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5980071874754251522.post-2310910704570144352009-01-19T19:18:00.000-08:002009-01-19T19:34:49.515-08:00all the things they saidI will now attempt to sum up my winter holiday via memorable quotations from each day (roughly a month late)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">"Is that a fiber optic Santa head?"</span></span><br />sunday<br /><ul><li>2 flights and 10.5 hours later, I arrived at LAX</li><li>made udon and maki zushi for friends...really good to see everyone</li><li>my grandmother's fiber optic santa was unexpected star of the show</li></ul><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SXREhEs8dBI/AAAAAAAAAn8/HkJuUIkZ3X4/s1600-h/fiberopticsanta.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292930797055800338" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SXREhEs8dBI/AAAAAAAAAn8/HkJuUIkZ3X4/s400/fiberopticsanta.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">"They say I'll look more like a black man"</span></span><br />monday<br /><ul><li>lunch with tom</li><li>small-town charm...saw a ton of people i knew, including david who, in explaining his upcoming jaw surgery's affect on his facial features, said the above quote.<br /></li><li>i'm horrible at maintaining small talk, but moving to japan gave me some great material<br /></li></ul><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">"He wants to know if we'll come to a party at Dan Aykroyd's house"</span></span><br />tuesday<br /><ul><li>visited indie</li><li>ordered thai food with laura while sitting in unfortunate LA traffic<br /></li><li>turned down party at dan aykroyd's for our old haunt the dresden--saw jan,the man who works for skechers and offered me a pair, had a photo shoot before we left, all the regulars were there. including the 60+ woman who wears a bleached blonde wig, comes with a 20-something male "assistant," and always makes you wonder if she'll get through her song: "step right in, sit right down."</li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.art.com/images/-/Dan-Aykroyd---Coneheads-Photograph-C10040337.jpeg"><img style="WIDTH: 147px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 183px" alt="" src="http://images.art.com/images/-/Dan-Aykroyd---Coneheads-Photograph-C10040337.jpeg" border="0" /> </a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SXRJ-CDjvzI/AAAAAAAAAoE/tcn_t5I4i-M/s1600-h/100_0732.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292936792119689010" style="WIDTH: 241px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SXRJ-CDjvzI/AAAAAAAAAoE/tcn_t5I4i-M/s200/100_0732.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Dan. Jan.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">"We did well"</span></span><br />wednesday<br /><ul><li>xmas eve</li><li>mike schmer came to glendora, bless him</li><li>we ate lunch at Maria's, which cost $8 total, to which mike said the above quote</li><li>went shopping at active where my brothers work; ended up buying them things they "had to have"</li></ul><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">"I feel sorry for all the kids who got bikes for Christmas"</span></span><br />thursday<br /><ul><li>xmas day--did the traditional pass out gifts and open them under the majestic christmas tree<br /></li><li>it was raining all day, so my dad quite naturally thought of the boys and girls who got new wheels<br /></li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SXRJ_J8yFwI/AAAAAAAAAok/fC5WCzUKbZU/s1600-h/DSC00382.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292936811418621698" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SXRJ_J8yFwI/AAAAAAAAAok/fC5WCzUKbZU/s200/DSC00382.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SXRJ-3hfybI/AAAAAAAAAoc/vOeWSUH3pGA/s1600-h/DSC00392.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292936806472337842" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SXRJ-3hfybI/AAAAAAAAAoc/vOeWSUH3pGA/s200/DSC00392.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SXRJ-iRZF4I/AAAAAAAAAoU/7dbyQ9fgMPc/s1600-h/DSC00389.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292936800767645570" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SXRJ-iRZF4I/AAAAAAAAAoU/7dbyQ9fgMPc/s200/DSC00389.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SXRJ-W6LtdI/AAAAAAAAAoM/XcURkRy7_3c/s1600-h/DSC00375.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292936797717509586" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SXRJ-W6LtdI/AAAAAAAAAoM/XcURkRy7_3c/s200/DSC00375.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">"Gudasai"</span></span><br />friday<br /><ul><li>cousin alex arrived!!!!<br /></li><li>we ate at maria's (again) and the waitress asked me what "gudasai" meant. i told her "kudasai" means please and she insisted the word was "gudasai" and it means "strawberry." she said "ok, what's the word for strawberry?" and I said "ichigo" and she said "what can i get you girls to drink?"</li></ul><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">"I brought my own ice skates"</span></span><br />saturday<br /><ul><li>went ice skating with alex, justin and mike. mike brought his own skates. what a loser<br /></li></ul><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">"Just like the sun, I never take a day off. L.A. city, ye-yeah!"</span></span><br />sunday <ul><li>jet rag shopping with pat and alex yesssssss</li><li>lunch at blu-jam cafe, which was the best meal i've had in a long time<br /></li><li>a man on bicycle rode by us and shouted the above<br /></li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SXRMojjo45I/AAAAAAAAAos/TbqoUq01G2c/s1600-h/melrosewalking.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292939721690375058" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_waQ1MxmiqBU/SXRMojjo45I/AAAAAAAAAos/TbqoUq01G2c/s200/melrosewalking.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">“So did you have to get used to sleeping in a tube?”</span></span><br />monday<br /><br /><ul><li>went back to indie to have lunch at loteria with people, was asked the above question by an unnamed staff member. i think he was referencing japanese capsule hotels, which are used by businessmen and have small, tube-like sleeping quarters.</li><li>LA traffic 4-630pm=bummered</li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/42/87642099_036012ae6c.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 252px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 189px" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/42/87642099_036012ae6c.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">“Careful, Tom. Your Glendora is showing”<br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">tuesday</span><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><br /></span></span><ul><li>a FEAST with family minus pat at CPK</li><li>looked out the window of the restaurant to see two women holding hands, tom said "lesbooooooossssss" and i said the above quote<br /></li><li>got a massage, which was soooooooo great (thanks mom)<br /></li><li>watched There Will Be Blood with tom in new home theater</li></ul><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">"The captain says there will be 20 minutes more of turbulence and it will be hard"</span></span><br />wednesday<br /><ul><li>What did you all do for New Year’s? I know some friends had gigs and others had parties and still others intentionally made little to no plans at all. Here’s mine:</li></ul>Start.<br />[4.5 hours into the flight, 20 minutes into the religion-inducing turbulence] After a 4-minute Japanese announcement, the English came:<br />“The captain says there will be 20 minutes more of turbulence and it will be hard. Please keep seatbelts fastened and stow your things under the seat. Our plane passed the International Dateline 15 minutes ago. Happy New Year.”<br />End.<br />I’m not easily shaken, but when I feel a hand is reaching from the clouds and shaking our 747 airplane about quite easily, the “what if” game is inevitable. I thought, “You know, I should leave some words in a document on my laptop, just in case it should survive.” Then I decided that a laptop would never survive a dive into the Pacific Ocean, but perhaps a waterproof laptop case is something someone should think about offering—maybe call it the Just In Case. All this thinking at high altitudes was taxing, so my ultimate course of action was to take a nap. <ul><li>22.5 hours of travel total</li></ul>kthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06387547285585129403noreply@blogger.com1