US Invasion

Honored Guest Posters: Gwen and Nicole

First of all, we would like to apologize for not arriving a day early and inadvertently causing Russ and Jaci to think we were deported.  That won't happen again.

Secondly, Konnichiwa!  Greetings from Japan!  Our sincerest thanks to The Family Mull for putting us up.  We have our own room with a balcony, our own beds AND air conditioning.  What more could a person possibly want?

Thirdly, we are done with lists, onto the actual trip.

Thus far the food has been excellent, even with Gwen's new stupid dietary restrictions (turns out sushi is not quite as standard fare as one would expect.  Want to see more on satirical sushi in Japan?  Check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDL8yu34fz0)  

From the airport food (where Gwen very happily learned that it is appropriate to slurp your noodles), to beach soba noodles, to yummy vegetarian and even the gourmet meal Russ cooked at home, food has been a highlight.  Nicole is of the firm position that the food here kicks Ecuador's rear end.  Good thing they don't often go head to head in cook-offs. 

In case you have never seen anime or Hello Kitty, let us be the first to tell you... Japan likes stuff CUTE.  Gwen has been very successful in her ongoing quest for Fabulous Signs.   

Exhibit A:  We are pretty sure this sign at the beach indicates that there is to be no dancing.  You know what that leads to...

She has also gone and purchased one very adorable bento box, complete with adorable accessories.  Will she able to actually make the equally charming five-course lunches that traditionally fill these lunchboxes?  Who can say?  She HAS been challenged to a solid month of preparing said lunches so, if we know Gwen, her stubbornness ought to see her through.  Shall we make it two

 months?  Other examples of cute Japan include:  Gwen's mug that says "When you are here my heart goes poka poka", free roaming park deer that nibble at your skirt while you feed them, and train chimes to the tune of I've Been Working on the Railroad.

Umm...for those of you planning to travel to Japan (and you should), unless you are from, say, Florida, you might be more comfortable avoiding western Japanese summer.  Because, dudes, it is HOT here.  More than that, it is WICKED HUMID.  Jaci was not kidding about that.  Princess Gwen of the Silver Linings is enjoying her hydrated, smooth skin and her ubercurly hair.  Nicole is enjoying the air-conditioning and the swimming in the ocean (which, sadly, looks like it was a one time deal - go birthdays!).   

Turns out it is a good thing Gwen thinks so positively, because friends... things aren't looking so good:  

No worries about the rest of us.  Nicole may have missed her opportunity to win lots of money gambling, but despite that, we all apparently live blessed lives.  Sorry Gwen.  She did buy a good luck charm, so maybe she's fine.  Oh and WAIT!  Gwen is cured!  Her liver was all sick and full of enzymes but she rubbed some guy's belly and now she's fine.  Yay raw fish and alcohol!  And yay Japan!  

Two things we have recently done that took significant guts... public baths and karaoke.  Both rousing successes, we think.  Go for it.  It is not as embarrassing as you might think to wander round naked with lots of Japanese women.  Lots of Japanese women and two small boys with plastic fish and plastic sand timers to keep them from overheating. We are much cleaner and more relaxed than we used to be.  With no dead skin cells either.  (Sidenote: sorry, Russ, for bogarting the soap.  And sorry you then had to ask the naked guy next to you for his soap.  Sorry.)  Also, karaoke in a room full of friends and a tambourine is good, clean fun.  We might totally have to do it again.  Bonus: we now know WAY more words to Blinded by the Light than any of us did before.  Look them up if you don't already know them; they're fabulous.  And epic.  Also, a calliope is not a merry-go-round.  Jaci is smarter than we are.

Now we have to go cook dinner for Jaci, our breadwinner.  We'll have to get back to you later.  Sayonara.  Keep it real.