Kakegawa Grand Hotel

It's been one day and already 10 hits...I'm flattered. For you anonymous, non-commenting folks, you'll be happy to note that this website has now innovated anonymous commenting.
That means, those who have hitherto been too shy, or too lazy, to get an account and leave their trace-able 2-cents...wait no longer!

Enough of that. The purpose of this blog was to rouse my lazy ass to posting my latest photos. I've got about a month of photos to go through, but I think I will reserve ...

... some information about what I was doing in Japan, and they called me a few days later to confirm a date for them to come into my classroom, record me in action, and interview me afterwords.

They didn't tell me though, that they'd be recording me and interviewing me, as part of a long-story, at the practice run. So when we arrived, I met an excellent speaker of English, who spent the first eight years of his life in America, and who had done interviews with Will Smith. His name ...

... so it makes stepping on them almost like stepping on a hallow stone--sometimes they crunch, then you're in for it. When you try to catch them, they flip upside down, wiggle around pathetically, but emit a strongly repugnant smell, that'll stick to you for a couple hours at least. Find one dead, it'll still smell.
My pal Derek has a good story about how he left his clothes on the line, was in a rush for work, and had every kid at school (teacher's ...

... be slowing down on the videos I post. I got my internet bill, and despite how freakin slow the speed is, I guess they took record of how many bites I sent (or received). Yea, no more $100 bills. So some things might just have to wait for a 'welcome back' presentation, and the such.

As for the hike I hinted at, I'll wait until I get the pictures up before I talk about it. It was AMAZING. It even compares with Alberta's hikes, albeit a bit more dangerous...

... by foot. Now, whether or not it was a sport, or whether they claimed bragging rights is a different matter (I'm no historian), but I have to admit that I'm ready for the next one.


But really....doing what I did again today, and then twice that, is something I should at least train for this time. My time was 1 hour and forty minutes. Two 60 and 64 year old men beat my time by about 20 minutes. Now there's motivation.

... an eye.

Another game with the kiddos I took part in (sorry no proof of this), was a game where an elastic balloon is tied to your outer foot, and your inner foot is tied to the foot of one of the children. So what you have is a balloon on your right foot, and the child has a balloon on their left foot, and keeping time is a must. You run around, trying to stomp out the balloons on other peoples' feet. When you're all out of balloons as a pair, you're out ...

I finally understand where the expression "like rabbits" comes from.

Now before any of you 'jump the gun' on where I'm going with this, I just wanted to clarify that it doesn't involve me and animals, although I do feel pretty bad with the way I left them.

Just another day at Tomiyama, playing Kinball with some of the locals in the area (since they talked me ...

... doing a lot of drinking out here. The beer is just so delicious. But that's slowed down a bit lately, not just due to the light pocket, but also the heavy stomach. I was sick earlier this week, an experience at the doctor I can't wait to share with you guys. I dont' blame the drinking, but it's been holding me back some, and I plan to, at least unofficially through this blog, declare my 'slowing-downness' of that tasty, tasty vice.

Much love to you all, and thanks for checking in.

... more personal questions coming from the elderly man in the peanut gallery ceased with his departure, and the other ladies were suddenly reminded of whatever responsibility they might have.
So, I was left alone with... I wish I could remember the names around here better...oh well...left alone with the barber, and we had a pleasant chat about nothing in particular, and I left with an interesting imitation of an 80s Top-gunner (looking like I blow-dry my air with a jet turbine ...

... it. Although I'm thinking frying it up in tempura may be my method of choice.

After that we headed to Lake Hamana for lunch. It was a Japanese rest stop! We found a restaurant that served pork cutlet curry and then later found a place that sold crepe's and gelato. Yum! I had a crepe with gelato in it, sooooo yummy! It also satisfied my need to stop at the Starbucks that was there too.

After lunch we headed to the Dragon Rock Cave, which is a 1 ...