Neverending Story

It seems like I thought my adventures would end when my trip to Japan ended.  But that could not be farther from the truth.  Apparently I still like to travel a lot, and on short notice.  This coming week I will have been back in the United States for exactly three weeks and one and a half of those will have been spent travelling.  To Colorado Springs, of course!

I would like to share some travel safety tips for any of you who are considering flying for the first time.  These tips are courtesy of United Airlines and the TSA.

1.  In the event that you have the ugliest baby in the world, you can use this flotation device to safely leave him/her for someone else to find in the ocean.

2.  If you see a spooky man who can start fires, cause glass to explode, and stir the oceans with his eyebeams, do not open the door for him.

3.  Don't just sit at the top of slide pooping!  Run and jump, it's funner!

Also as a final note, do you remember the very large tanuki that stood out front of my friend's tavern?  Here's a reminder:

This tanuki is going to be mine.  No, this isn't one of those hopeful statements like "someday, this too shall be part of my kingdom."  No no, in real life, my friend remodeled his restaurant and is going to send me this tanuki.  This tanuki is taller than Jude, and probably taller than Eve.  And it's going to get on a boat and sail straight to my door.  And yes, that is his gigantic Honoré de Balzac hanging there between his legs.  Let the jealousy begin.


Oh!  One last thing I need to mention.  The winds of change are blowin'; this seems to be a year of rebirth and reunion.  So far just this year I have had the fortune of being reunited with and old college friend, and old high school friend, a long-lost host sister, and (this coming weekend) a long-lost cousin.  All of these have been probably at least 10 year reunions.  So put your name on a list somewhere because I'm coming for you next.