Friends Making Friends. Literally.

Friends Making Friends. Literally., originally uploaded by Hack Rambler.

A true boy band.

The Claw is My Master

The Claw is My Master, originally uploaded by Hack Rambler.

This morning I got up at 4:30 so that I could go to a memorial service to remember the victims of the great earthquake that struck 11 years ago. I went because I was asked to sing a song. It was a Buddhist service, and it closed with me singing "Amazing Grace". That was their choice, not mine. Go figure.

Happy Birthday Two Yous

Guess how old these two girls just became? Hint: They are not breaking any laws in this picture (which was taken in a bar). They actually came along to see the monkeys and the waterfall, too, though there was no age requirement for that. Anyway, thanks to these girls, I no longer think I have a babyface. Happy birthdays!

Toy of the Week

Toy of the Week, originally uploaded by Hack Rambler.

This is a great toy because people like Jhoda say it sounds "gay" and then end up gaily bopping, pulling, twisting, flicking and spinning themselves.

Home Sweet Home

Last night I got back to my own bed in Japan, after two weeks of travelling. I took Sominex on the plane and for the first time I can remember I had a good flight and actually slept. No jet lag. It is a beautiful thing. Today I had planned to do a lot of cleaning, but alas my neck is painfully opposed to that idea. If it is from sleeping on the plane, it is a price I am willing to pay. Anyway, today's news: I found 10,000 yen in the pocket of some jeans I haven't worn for months. That's about $91 U.S. Travelling ended up costing a bit more than I expected, so it is a well-timed discovery. Also today my Australian friend Mark leaves Japan. I don't have a lot of foreign friends, or friends who can speak English. And the ones I do have keep leaving.... Oh well. Comes with the territory I reckon. Happy travels, mate, and good luck with your software.

As for pictures, well, I do hope to post some, but as it turns out I hardly took any in the U.S. I took a few in Hiroshima, though....

Who thinks it is immature for a 29-year-old to like video games?

More later....