2006 was SOOO over!

I would have written sooner, but I was away in a far off land called Hidaka. And in this land, the air is clean, the streets are quiet at night, and I never wonder why there is poo nearby (It's compost for the many, many vegetable and rice fields.) Yes, I was spending a little time away from Good Ol' Osaka, hanging out with Meg's family. It was a good time, but thanks in part to the clean air, and mountainous mountains, it was several degrees colder than what I was used to. A few degrees in Celsius is akin to going from autumn to pluto, very quickly.

Anyway...for New Years, we ate immense amounts of food, followed by eating more food, further followed by passing out from all the food we had just ingested. In the early afternoon on the first day of the New Year, we (Meg, Ma-san and Pa-san, Uncle-san and Niece-chan Sora) went to the shrine where it took many moons to reach the front for the tossing of the coin (good luck...for the shrine. Ka-CHING!), shaking of the rope with the big bell, and the clapping of the hands. This ensures the gods come to you to ignore all that you wish for. Hazaa!

The next day, we visited Granny-san, who promptly told me I look skinny in the face and I should eat more. No, frickin' lie. Everyone back home would love her. We also visited Meg's friends Missy and husband hiro who just had a baby a couple of weeks ago. Gorgeous baby, but so tiny! Usually J-babies are the biggest things you've ever seen, but not this one. Missy's American, so this baby is what is adoringly called a "half" here in the J-Land. As much as Japanese want to get married to foreigners only to have half-babies (creepy), this also carries a negative connotation as anyone not 100% Japanese will never truly be accepted as human. Hooray!

I hope everyone had a Merry X-Mas and Great New Year's. Happy Birthday to Elizabeth!

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I was taking a gander at all the trailers over at the apple website. Just so you know, Spiderman 3 trailer...I had a heart attack! Harry Pooter and the Order of the Phoenix, wow! And Breach! There is nothing wrong with Chris Cooper! Heck! Even the New Fantastic Four trailer looked interesting. I suggest taking a look at Pan's Labyrinth, as well. Juicy stuff!

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Anyway, I though I'd tell you that the What Am I Going to Do With You, Japan? sight is moderately complete. The first post is a positive one. One that brings me much joy. Check it out! There will be rantings soon enough.

I also added a site to On Subjects of the Funny. Cute Overload is full of the cuteness! There's so much cute here that arteries will explode, creating a scene of mass horror the likes the world will never get over! SOOOOOO CUTE!

Well, until laterz....
Mike, that ominous shadow that you question if it was really there, the RocketRat!