The Traveller's Typewriter

It doesn’t really matter what I think, does it ? There’s been this flood. A constant flood of aches in my lower back centralized just above my my sciatic nerve. Okay, well, no -I don’t really have any ache there. And that’s kind of terrible of me to say considering that some people do or may have ailments of the sort !

[Photo: Nurse Judy, I’ve been having some trouble with my sciatic nerve. I was wondering if you could..] Alright now, ten points if you can guess the film this image and reference are from.
Okay, alright then. The ache is more personal. And the flood is of another sort. Meaning I’ve been experiencing something unique. All of these people, dear friends and rabid friends -of all sorts have been making their way to me offering a flood of hello-goodbyes.
I guess I used to wonder what all this departure-take off stuff would eventually look like. Well, I’m beginning to have a mighty right idea of what saying goodbye looks like. I’ve been collecting them of late.
It’s a new experience, saying, so long, like this.
In other times and for other trips you would tell people, yup, hey, I’m going away to this place for that long.
Most often the answer you would get is, oh, that’s cool. Have fun and we’ll see ya when you’re back.
Well. Maybe it’s not so different this time, my sayings good-bye and all. But somehow the prospect of at least a year before again meeting, saying good-bye is daunting. Daunting in part. And given this subject, an experience of saying good-bye to good friends and family for a duration apart like the one I will be experiencing has given me an idea.

Later in the future I can imagine a world where people would actually pay for new or foreign experiences. To find and feel something that they haven’t before. Hah. Maybe in the future it would be something like, -well like those trips to the moon ! You know all those rich and teeming blokes out there pay a few pockets-full of millions and they get to fly to the moon. But goodness knows if they actually get off and walk around up there/out there(?)
I would imagine not.

Well, saying all of these goodbyes with the gravity of a year’s separation behind them has felt like just that. A new experience that’s out of the obrit/ordinary. But, if I’m giving off the purple vibe that I’m not excited regarding this dispatch-to-Japan, well you’d be wrong again. Ahead of me lies the prospect of seafoods, new people to meet and greet, a job to, well, work at, and every other last thing and experience that I couldn’t hope to dream of doing in Japan. Blowfish anyone ?

So beyond it all, awhilst all I’ve been done and doing there’s been thoughts awash regarding packing. Thoughts hovering in the back of my mind. I’ve deconstructed and reconstructed the contents of my suitcases just a few times. Well, in peices -not the whole thing mind you. And what have I found should you care to ask ? Well as a matter of fact I have far more room than I would know what to do with. And as per suggestions from my mum, as she somehow manages to keep on eye on my packing from the other side of the house -believe you me, it’s a mystery how she manages that- she suggested I huff along a winter coat and a bathrobe with all that free space in the luggage.
Yup, you heard me right. A bathrobe. Now this item suggests far more than necessary and what I mean by that is that bases are covered. I don’t need to worry about taking the kitchen sink because I’ll have a bathrobe.
And I couldn’t tell you what it is. Somehow I’ve been known to be a cold-ish person. Maybe I should be working in a morgue with all those cold bodies -I might just fit in, *ahem well, you know what I mean. Spending days in a cooler, that’s all-
So in fact I am sure the day will come where I pop open my expedited suitcase only to praise the holy heavens for the presence of a bathrobe to wear on chilly mornings and a down winter jacket to bustle around town in. Speaking of which, how did I get so caught up on this topic of luggage? Hmph !

So through plain and simple ‘on the spot’ meetings, or meetings of the other sort usually involving food, a sit-down and conversation, I’ve been saying farewell to friends. Via a family barbeque sort there have been all these seeings and tellings. I mean hearing these people and trusted friends say, hey, we’ll miss you ! it kind of washes over me. Hearing it a few times and then again I begin to think, yup, It’s all real.
It’s all Peter Pan kind of real. You think it’s happening, and really, it is. . but, is it ?
Hah ! And the fact is that I love every minute of it. The going, preparing, waiting, and tarrying with all the thoughts and situations involved. I’m having a great time.

And still I can’t forget there is time to pace myself. I don’t have to rush it all at once. You know, take a deep breath and plunge under the ascending wave just hoping that I’ll survive the rip tide of this experience. Nope, I’ll take it bit-by-bit.
But I mean its all so close. I can almost touch and taste it. You know the most interesting bit is that I’ve felt like I’ve been waking up from a dream.
Now I’ve heard and read that Tokyo is a busy and fantastical place, and of course I’ve been there before. But I swear that I’ve smelled smells and felt breezes of that place in the last few months. Just so tangible, real, or nostalgic -I feel like I’m right there in Tokyo now. On those streets, buildings looming and all. The smell of the concrete, and the padded sounds echo off of the risen-stacked windows of the Shinjuku office buildings. Towers. They are towers.
Or maybe the clicking and spark-crackling of the subway/train lines as they curl overhead and you walk along the dark and bustling walkway abreast the roadways. Cars all rolling and lolling along in their safe and somewhat collected manner. Everything in the grandness and bleakness of Tokyo functioning like clockwork, or like a small mechanical train-and-trolly set.
Have a look for yourself here (sorry if it gobbles up the lot of your computer memory at once. Worth a look tho),
http://www.uniqlo.com/calendar/

I have smelled these smells and heard these sounds all but recently. And as of the many late months I have been living with a foot in each pool and a heart between the two places. Canada, Japan.
All of the wanderings and wonderings that I’ve been having lately have come to make me realize, not only am I ready to go, but I am excited. To the depths and to the core of me. Right to where the little spark-wheel in the central spot of my being whirrs and clicks with rapid excitement, flicking light inside the dark depths of me. And with each flickering flash -I am excited.

Now wer arrive at that point in the post again where I come about face and collect myself from my very recent musings and mutterings. Truth be spouted, I actually -again, yes- began writing this Sunday night. You see if I were to call myself a writer or a word-savvy person, writers never really take a break do they ? Minds always spinning like a dancer’s frilly frock.
Sure. So, today being Monday, about mid-day I went, as I had promised myself, to the driving range. Having been so full of rage at my writing and the constant barrage of ideas I needed a break. So with cold coffee in pattered paper cup I took up company and went to whack about seventy-nine or so golf balls. It was nice. Real nice. A light drizzle of rain, some turf, the click-plat of a few golf balls and clubs -I got what I wanted out of it.
And now here I am back and collected, tuned in to my closing thoughts.

At last everything is in its place. Suitcases are harnessed tight. Ready to be accessed on a whim. They will be weighed in and appropriated for travel. But still I am feeling this mess of things within me. I’m not really here, I’m not really there -yet. But glad. Glad I am.
Friends have mentioned me to continue to enjoy Canada to the last drop. Food, sights, surroundings. And so have I been doing. All that remains after about two more days tottering here around town is to trek out to Vancouver. To attend one last pre-departure soiree, and to happily indulge in some deep-dark coffee, some weighty boston cream pastries and a taste of seafood. To have a visit on Granville Island -just maybe, and to show up at the right time at the airport.
And yeah, well I’ve been trying my hand at the conversational Japanese lately. It’s working but it’s all still up there in my head. In my mind. Just ready, bursting to be used. I’ve had another friend contact me about meeting in Tokyo those first few days. I just might be able to swing that too.
And so I find myself in both places. No longer simply a Canadian, but a person of two places. I have to settle on the fact that I will be living elsewhere, representing and living in touch with where I’m from. A Canadian in Japan. Holy Bill, we can be sure there’s been loads of those who have travelled ahead of us before. So it’s not all that bad. But this is me. My story, my time.
I look forward to having time to sit, think. To wait and wonder. To slowly let the waves of this new/next experience wash over me. Then I’ll begin to sink, to bubble and then swim about in this new ocean of things. Teaching, living, bustling about and doing. All in Japan.
And have you found yourself anywhere foreign lately ? Physically/literally ? Have you been lost in thought ? A decision-making process perhaps ?
I have found in my experience that it can help to share it with someone or something else. Your dog, a tree -I dunno.
But either way I am discovering that in this very moment life is teeming and bustling full force in another country/place elsewhere just as it is here. So maybe you could be glad you don’t have to be going anywhere new to start into something from base one, or from scratch. Or maybe that is just what you need, a new start.
Either way, it’s been an honour to be working this out alongside you. Who knows, maybe you’ll be somewhere next quarter, next year. And if you will be, good luck. If not, all the better. Instead rooting yourself right and good where you’re at. What am I trying to say ? Well, what I’d like to say to you is, thanks.
Thanks for sharing the journey so far.
[The post is too long. I know. . ] Ciao.

It’s not like every Monday the moon waxes and wanes over me. That by the passing of the moon’s brilliant glow I am somehow inspired to crawl out of my hovel and write. No, instead there is a mass of comings and goings in action at all times (writing, too). Either I am frantically posting sticky notes, not a bad idea mind you, on the post of my door or I am staring into the abyss of my room. Wondering, wandering at how and what exactly -just what I should pack into my travel trollies. Trunks, suitcases.
And this is the most interesting part when last night my mum breezed up to me after calculating smartly on her fingers and said, don’t you see you have only ten days left ? A bright and becoming thought indeed.
All of this locomotion and commotion of thought and action got me thinking. What does it look like to be prepared to get up and go overseas and abroad ? Who really knows. I can be glad that every time I travel it’s different. The preparation stage, the day of departure, and then the trip itself.
I suppose it would be interesting to comment on what the days are looking like. I mean really I’m only some ten-ish days away from departure. And that means that I’ll be out of the country for at least a year. Nothing wrong with that. But usually it’s a lot more calculated. You know, when you plan a holiday you say, ok, let’s go here and here. Then let’s stop there and -oh ! I’ve just got to see that !
But somehow that element of control isn’t quite there this time. But that’s fine. I can say so because I’ve been through a bin-full of experiences. Travel here, travel there. And many of those times -times where I’ve taught English overseas or headed out on some relief work- I wasn’t the one in charge. It could be that there’s just something different this time. Any advice ? Well, I would hope to say, just take it all in stages. One day at a time. And sure, the excitement of not knowing, well it’s a thrill in itself.

Just a moment. . this just in !

In case you missed a smashing match yesterday, Nadeshiko Japan (JFA) won the FIFA Women’s World Cup Germany 2011 (do feel free to note and/or save the photo above) !! You literally had to sit through every minute of this match. Japan was diligent sending passes and keeping in control of the ball. The possession was about fifty-fifty for Japan – USA. With their unmatched patience and surety-ness Japan played into each advantage. Nadeshiko (meaning something like ‘wild rose’ or ‘wild pink’ -the club name) did not strike aggressively but played their opponents well and finally delivered the ball-to-goal when the time was right. A flick of the boot, or a careful placement and the ball was in. Who could have imagined that the match would proceed to the one hundred and twenty minute extra time mark. At 2-2 with an equalizing goal Japan took the match to shootout. Three to one (3-1) was the final score winning Japan the match and the title.
Not that watching the match and outcome had anything to do with how amazing these last few days have been. Haha ! But you bet it sure brightened things right up !

But more recently the roster has been full. People who know me would ask, Dalton, when are you ever not busy ? Oh, yeah. I know that there’s at least a few of you out there now nodding your head in agreement. Really, it’s one of those things that I love. Being on the go. Which is rather why I feel that I am well suited to this task of going abroad to live. To teach. It wasn’t but a few days ago that while out with some good friends from Uni -guess I can’t really say that fittingly outside of the UK, sigh*- college, I was told that, hey, I doesn’t matter what your day was like or your yesterday for that matter. You need to remind yourself, so what ! You’re in Japan !
And I kind of agree with that. I have had the hope over the last number of month-weeks to write a personally addressed letter or statement to myself. Telling and reminding me of just why I am going where I’m going and doing what I’m doing. Frankly, it hasn’t really happened.
Oh, gosh don’t get me wrong. It’s not because, you know, in life when you want to do something you never really get around to it, no. Rather it’s because if you know-know me I like to always keep a scrap of paper in my pocket or a notebook nearby. The small almost indispensable kind. And so I always, always make a point to write down what I’m thinking, feeling-seeing, experiencing. So in a way I’ve already written a little novel. Some of it even on stickie notes pattered around my room. But I can rest assured that years from now when I look through my littered belongings I’ll find just why I chose to go and do what I did. So, yeah, I did write the letter. Only one better.
On the pat side I’ve been at track. At tack. On track -ya. Whether it has been calling and connecting loose ends to accounts, collecting documents even compiling and collating them, I’ve been on track.
My suitcases, well, they’re not quite full and fed yet. I am pre-packed and still to my surprise I have room for all the gifts. I tell you if all goes cold in the airport terminal and I see one of those kiosks that sell trinkets in a state of un-use, well I could set up shop and probably pay my way to Jaipur with the profits.
So the packing is well and all I have to worry about is not forgetting trinket knick-knacks. The laptop power cable extension equipper thingle-boo or just whatever it may be. Goodness knows I have scoured the corners of my room and each desk-pod just to make sure that I haven’t overlooked a single thing. But in the good words of my friend Harumi it’s best to travel light. And isn’t it ? If I come out lucky I may just be able to ship a few extra wheels of cheese to Tokyo with the freed up space in my trunks. That’s a joke.
At this point in the whole charade there’s only about nine days really of time left for me to be secure in my preparations and to smartly secure every thing that I hope to take.
Beyond that if you really wanted to know what the whole process of thought relating to pre-departure is looking like you’d have to effect a rather mission-impossible approach and steal away my journals. Then you’d have to decipher my crazy short hand writing to tell what nonsense I’ve been wondering. Which is, of course, nothing really. It all goes something like this, Japan..Japan-Japan ! Oh, you know it does.

At last if you’ve managed to read this far without giving up all hope that this post would finally end, congratulations. I’ve enjoyed writing this spat. Let’s see, this post reminds me of. . a newspaper or magazine. Yes. One that you find in someone’s living space. A reading corner perhaps. You can see there is a well sat-in chair there. A magazine, perhaps a national geo is sprawled there with tattered corners. Cover image, not specific. A leaf of newsprint. Perhaps it’s a weekend edition. The leaflets all seeding out of one another. It’s rather a mess. Maybe a few books flopped on top of each other just to add some flavour. As you look down at this pile of readable things you notice a few titles, maybe the cut-off of an article that is ajar folded under another page. This scramble-mess of things is what this post is.
A post that I’d begun writing on since Sunday actually. The rather inarticulate mess has been saved, copied-pasted in an email draft-document and kind of edited. All save the laziness of opening up a word document and saving it properly.
And don’t you worry. There’s still plenty of Japan left to happen. Left to happen and to comment on. If you are patient you will be rewarded. Good glory knows that I can comment on patience. In part. Selfishly comment of course. I remember there were nights where I would step outside in the cool evening and look up at the dark-like sky. The moon not far out of view, and a few scraggley branches of a walnut tree praising the stars, their branches lifting upwards. It was in this familiar setting I would look out past my street, wonder at the hills and ask myself, when will I ever see Japan again ?
Or maybe it was when I was staring past the rain as it fell on a lonely weekend morning. Looking at how beautiful all that nature was while being reminded of how similar soft rains were falling on immaculate gardens in some small prefecture town in Japan.

Well the waiting has paid off. So has the study. Are these all hopeful words of a young and abashed fellow who is yet to get to it- a few hard years of work-ing ? Maybe. But we’ll just leave that to time. And by time we’ll see.
My hopes otherwise that you’ve found the weather not too hot, or just too muggy or. . cold (?) -maybe. That you’re finding reasons to keep on at what you’re doing. I’ve often looked at the people working at the odd job here around town and wondered at how well or un-well they’re doing or working. We’ve all got our share ! Just hang in there and know that summer brings not only fresh fruits ripe-ready to be picked and eaten; but cool evenings to calm allowing respite against the humid heat of the day. Enjoy.

You know, I’m tinkering with the idea, but -no. I don’t really want to make these things shorter. These posts. There’s too much to say, too much happening. And forget you, hah, well I mean the process is really for me. To get things out there and bounce them off of the ether. Let those thoughts fly and those feelings be expunged or expanded? Hm.
But alas ! Here we be on another Monday. These are sweet days for me. I was just chatting about with a friend today about it. Mondays. I may not be too busy, besides all of the pre-preparations goings on for my departure, but aye. I love Mondays these days. Mondays are quite like a foothold or another notch in the belt as I near that big ‘lift off’ to another place. The next stage. Haha. Speaking of travel, for me there is nothing quite like it. (Oh, and if you’ll be patient a moment I’ll get right to all that Japan stuff. Won’t be a moment) Something about saddling up and loading your pockets with a sponge or adhesive. Some medical tape or duct tape. A few ear plugs or whatever it takes you to be comfortable and you go. Usually for me it includes a few staple-things. When I travel I like to have a bandana. These things are just fab. I use them as eye masks, a head cover to hide my hideous travel hair -after a few hours on the airplane, you know what I mean. I tie them around my neck to add some faux style to my travel look or just to shield my neck from any chilly air that might make me sneeze. Bandanas are a great handkerchief or just a great accessory in case someone, Lola forbid, needs a tourniquet for an appropriate medical reason. Well, you get the point. Just today I was prepping myself for hours of delays, departure lounges, napping on airport seating chairs. Anything from airplane food which I find rather mysterious and fun, or just jet lag. Yup, that sweet oversleep or undersleep or whatever lack of sleep one tends to experience. That’s right. Travel. There’s nothing quite like it for me.
And of course all of this travel is connected to that place. Japan. Like when one steps into a shallow pool before jumping right in and swimming about. Unless you are crazy or just love water, you might acclimate yourself to the pool. I feel I’ve been dipping my foot into this whole ‘Japan departure’ experience. Well, I’ve got to tell ya, I’ve been in and out of that shallow end a whole lot lately and I’m about right ready to just jump right in to the deep. Speaking, reading, looking, watching, waiting -all in Japanese. Oh, its coming alright. I’ve only two weeks -full weeks until departure.
Those two lonely creatures have wandered out of my crawlspace. My suitcases. Two rather large and blackish-looking beasts. They are hungry from their long slumber and are ready to have their fill. To dine out on dress shirts, ties, socks, suits and any other thing that they can extract from my wardrobe and zip up inside them. I don’t blame them. It’s been a while. One thing that I can’t get over is how soon this is all happening again. It was just last summer in about June when I was in Japan last. And oh, it was quite a trip ! But here, my bed is covered with and infection of books, pamphlets, gifts, trinkets. All things that I am taking with me to Japan this time.
A little bit more packing and I will have supplied myself with all I think I will need for a year. Or at least all the things I could think to pack to start me off in Japan this time ’round. What would be one thing that I couldn’t think to leave my home without, you ask ? Well, that would have to be a large and loafing sweater. See, I know that I’ll be going north in Japan. I know that it may be windy and cold or maybe just a bit breezy but this large and rather bi-colour shoulder hugger of a sweater will be my shield. As long as I have something from home that is comfy and necessitate I’ll be just fine. Don’t mean I won’t miss the rather tasty and lavish breakfasts I’ve been enjoying at home lately (Photo soon to follow. Ten points if you can guess which film the photo’s from). It’s just that its nice to have something familiar nearby. And frankly, I will indeed be spending a lot of time finding nice new bits and places in my new soon-to-be home to call my own. Until that happens I’ll have just a few familiar comforts.

And then so far as preparations it has come down to this. A few more days (just a matter of weeks actually. Two, in fact) until I make one final swoop out to Vancouver. Attend one more pre-departure seminar, collect the good ol’ passport/visa, flight info and we’re off. There has been a trickle of information coming from my new post (or locale abroad). Details of my future accommodation. The news of what sunsets are like, what shops are nearby and what technicalities might be good to pay attention to in my contract. Little bits of information that add to the whole experience. Thanks to my heart-y predecessor or fellow whose place I’ll be filling over in Japan.
I would want to say that I have more information or insights to share, but I am just as excited for me as you are. Or I am just as excited as. . well, either way. I’m ready ! A few plans have been made to very hopefully see a good friend or two upon my arrival -just maybe. But the truth of the matter is that after the last few very recent months of preparation and paperwork place-ing I will be starting work. And, that’s right, work day in and day out. All I can do is lace up my running shoes and ready myself to sprint about from one school to another, sharing one after another where I’m from and who I am. I am rather excited to see all these new places and faces. All those peoples that will be welcoming me in a town soon to be my home.
I am impressed with all the organization and precision with which this whole Programme is coordinated. And just to think that a short while ago I was on the outside looking in. . Now instead I am here. Looking from the inside out. Teeming with excitement and information just willing to talk just about anyone’s ear off about what I’m going through ! Right. If you have someone that needs to know about Japan or the possibility of going there, hah. After a year of applications and waiting I do have some info to share ! But really. I have arrived here and haven’t even started. The real story is about to begin. The people have been great, the process has been kind. But until I’m standing in my new doorstep looking outside my front door at the wonderful world and possibilities that lie before me (in the upcoming workweeks) I won’t really know what I’ve gotten myself into. But I’m sure it’ll be one heck of a lovely ride (on all sides).
And to you, I’m hoping that the coming of summer has brought some freshness, some appeal. I need only look around and see the bright colours, feel the hot sun and summer air to appreciate what is before me. My hopes that you have some time for a short holiday. Even if that holiday means just a day off. But go and see it. Go and have a look around wherever you are and remember, some of us are just beginning something -and the rest of you are out there blazing a trail up ahead. Keep on and well, thanks.

What could more new than another week ? Well, the fact is that this week holds something new indeed ! And that new is that I am only about 3.5 weeks away from departure. Departure to JAPAN !! Now usually I would be pretty excited, falling off of my chair and blundering about. Wondering what foods I’ll be eating and what I’ll be doing on my up and coming holiday. But the big difference here is that a holiday this is not. There is some sort of underlying responsibility creeping on me. Again and again, humour me please, the PACKING of two suitcases has me dumbfounded still. That’s right ! There is NO travel backpack this time. Wondering about things like

[hey, I should probably afford a small photo album of pics to show students and coworkers about my life in Canada].

Little things along too like,

[I shouldn’t think about packing that shirt or those pants because they’re not business savvy. And oh ! I should be sure to leave room for the suits and pants and dressy-like things that I will be expected to wear ! Well, the things that I think I will need].

There is no more joke about it, I’m going to live and work on contract. GAAAAAHHH !

Somewhere some short while ago I must have missed the memo that read:

Dalton, just in case you were wondering you are approaching a new mode of balance. You are getting up, moving on, and moving out. Now don’t you worry, this is going to be quite fun. But in case you have been wondering, or maybe you’ve overlooked it, you need to start thinking, acting and living in the reality of tomorrow. The tomorrow that is JET and a world of work away from home. You may view this as a hinderance, but you’ve been dreaming of this. Now go, pack and get on ! We’ll see you on the other side -and everywhere in between.

Sincerely, your conscience.

I guess it’s been too easy to live here in the today. Wondering only about local things that affect me directly. Traffic, trees, work, and bees -all those things, you know ! The difference now is that I’ll have to be doing more ‘active-affecting’ in my life for the next little while. Umm. Not be be fondish here (or un-fond, or unappreciative ??) but this is all happening really fast.

Fast considering that I’ve been waiting several months and about six or seven academic classes to know if and when I’m going to Japan. Well, mr. smartly, that time is now. The days are whizzing and I’m wondering if I should be running, sitting, playing games, watching films, studying Japanese or just breathing deep and zen-ing my way through it all. Truth be told, I’m pretty good at all of the above things. And I’m pretty good at doing them all at the same time ! I should just take a chill pill and relax. Well, maybe after I’ve packed. Shhhh!* Just don’t tell my friends that I’ll be busying myself when they’ve been telling me to chill out !!

Furthermore, I had conceded to make these posts shorter. Make them more readable for all the phasing funning kilobyte trilobites out there. For all of you that are reading this. I have wanted to keep these short and readable. No one wants to sit down and read the whole newspaper (unless you’re me), just the tasty more interesting bits. Funny thing is, when I get writing this I can’t stop. There must be a wall of water or tonkotsu ramen broth of thought welled up in me that just wants to find its way out. Find a way out and wash all over the page and fill it up with tasty little words about my life involved. The funny thing is that there is this creative power to just write anything in any order and just to keep at it. Hah. Well, let’s temper that just a little.

Updates. Well, I have only a few weeks left. I am soon to be hiking some heavy suitcases out of the cellar. I will begin laying and draping clothing all over them. Beginning what I will call a selective process of add-and-subtract packing. With enough time I should end up with exactly what I want. All things according. Another whim or word on the horizon is goodbye parties and bbqs. Letting people know that I’d love to see them before I go. Regarding myself, I would attribute what I’m feeling now to this specific sensation. Right when the plan has pushed you back into your seat and you can barely just tell that the wheels are un-sticking themselves from the runway. Up towards the sky.
Things change. Well, I’ve been told that everything does. Hoping that your life-sitution is being handled well, too. That nothing too surprising has come your way. If something wold or odd has found its way into your life remember that that too will change (I’ve never understood how you can write two ‘thats’ right beside each other but I guess I just did ! It does work, right?).

Oh, so what does this title have to do with it all? Well, it could have something to do with the fact that at this most immediate and present moment I cannot access the photos on my camera. And why is that would you ask? Well, let the presentation begin. As I have undoubtedlypromised I am hoping to continue posting weekly. Weekly on the Mondays. And most people don’t like the Mondays. Maybe this will give them something to read- or it will give me something to have to remember doing. Blah. So !

What a thing. I had never thought the days would creep up on me like this. In case you are wondering I have committed to posting on here at least once a week. That is, every Monday. Dare I say, without fail ? Oh goodness, I can see it already. The day where I’ll forget to hop on the computer and write my life away ! Can’t really be blamed for that of course. But I will do my best to remain committed to these posts !

Today was a wild day. Let’s say the lot was unexpected -well, mostly. Another day tinkering around town, mulling with preparations and readying for departure. Getting ready for Japan.