Don't ask.  I have no idea.

OK, this update's a bit late, sorry about that.  Busy.  Managed to squeeze in a show by the band Gang Gang Dance, but the pictures all look like this:



I also visited the local movie house, where I observed something I honestly would not have predicted, although it makes perfect sense.

I speak of, of course, the Gamera pop up book.



We also had some pretty severe weather.  Had a typhoon that came and went so quick it looked like it was rehearsed.







For some perspective, all that happened in an hour and a half.  In the middle of the afternoon.

After all that, the Hansens came to visit.  Well, as I write this, they're still in Japan, in Kyoto, looking at temples.  But not before spending a few days here.

First, we went to Tsukiji, to have sushi first thing in the morning at the fish market.

And, should you be a fish in need of assistance, they're more than happy to help.  There's even welfare available for when some deadbeat Dad spawns and takes off.



In Tsukiji itself, I saw this:



I don't really know what it is.  But it had guards.  The fish place didn't have guards.

Speaking of fish, exciting them is amusing, but what about after they're excited?



Next we went to Harajuku.  The first day, we took the subways. Here's Erik not quite believing that there's a train coming.



Harajuku was...cozy.



What were all those people there for?  Well, the weather's changing, and that only means one thing.

Duck storage.



We also visited the Imperial Palace, which had no more cherry blossoms, but was nevertheless impressive.







Afterwards, we fell over at my place, where the kids made a new friend.





We also hit a restaurant in Shibuya, where they had something I had never heard about before: Cheech And Chong string lights.



Their visit (The Hansens', not Cheech And Chong's) is still a work in progress, so I'll most likely have more stuff next update...

In other news, you learn something new here every day.  For instance, were you aware that you can milk babies?



Also, Caesar felt betrayed by his vegetables.



Japanese people sometimes covet really strange things.

"Do you know how long I had to walk around with fluffy before he finally gave up the goods?"



The Japanese are also much more advanced in other ways.  Take this self garnishing hot dog.



I think they wrapped him in an American Flag so we wouldn't get defensive about our condiment gap.

Also, they're much more liberal about, uh, paying for "dates."  Sometimes they ever require it.



They also have a tribute to businessmen. Kind of.



That statue isn't there anymore.  It walked away.

Actually, it was a guy painted gray.  Why he was standing there, I have no idea.

Well, that's this time.  I leave you with a bit of defensive posturing.  You know how some guys really over compensate?  You know, always buying Hummers, or talking unnecessarily about how they'll never see Brokeback Mountain, etc?  Well, they've managed to take compensation to a new extreme:



As always, mail me here.