VACATION !!!!

For those of you that don't know yet, Nattsu and I are going to JAPAN! This will be my first time out of the States and I'm both anxious and excited to go. I'm a bit nervous going on a 14 hour flight to a country where most of the people won't understand me and I sure as heck won't understand them! But I am looking forward to it nonetheless.

We're first taking a 3 1/2 hour flight to Chicago then a short layover and then the 14 hour flight to Osaka, Japan. Osaka is where our friend Mie lives and she took off work a day to hang out with us and show us around. Wasn't that sweet of her? :) Thanks Mie! We're also going to go sightseeing a day or two in Kyoto, the old capitol of Japan. I hear there're tons of cool things to see there. Shrines, castles, zen gardens, etc. I think its going to be fun!


Once we're done sightseeing there, we're going to take the train out of the Kansai region where Osaka and Kyoto are and head over (yes, on the bullet train! Choo! Choo!) toward Nattsu's parents' house which is on Shikoku island. Curious to know where these places are? Just check out this map!

On the way we'll make a train stop to see the Peach Boy monument. Yes, I just said Peach Boy. I'm not sure if its because Georgia is the Peach State or if its because I'm silly and like kids' stories from around the world and hearing how they're different than the ones I heard as a kid, but I like Peach Boy. Getting to see his monument is kinda cool and I'm excited about that as well. If you'd like to read all about Peach Boy, you can find his story here. Note that his name is Momotaro in the story. There's a great song that goes in the story too, but I couldn't find a sound clip of it.

Wish us safe travels! :) I'll post to let you know we made it back safely when we return.

Ok, so I'm a slacker...

I should've posted this up a few weeks ago, sorry! Anyway, a few weekends ago I went down to the Georgia Rennaisance Festival. I met a ton of friends there from all around the state and we had a blast! Here is a pic of our wandering group. :)

HELL YEAH!

This is an absolute MUST VISIT !!!

Do you have a 710?

Are you missing a 710?

Yesterday I was having some work done at the car dealer.
A blonde woman came in and asked for a seven-hundred-ten.
They all looked at each other, and the Mechanic asked,
"What is a seven-hundred-ten?"

She replied, "You know, the little piece in the middle of the engine. I lost it and need a new one. It had always been there."

The mechanic gave the woman a piece of paper and a pen and asked her to draw what the piece looked like.

She drew a circle and in the middle of it wrote 710.
He then took her over to another car which had the hood up
and asked, "Is there a 710 on this car?"
She pointed and said, "Of course, it's right there."

Click here to learn the identity of the mysterious 710:
http://www.mademelaugh.com/gfx/710.jpg

Money, Native Americans, Nature, & My Brother

So, I need to catch you up-to-date but I'm tired as it is late at night.

Here goes:

• I took a trip to Cherokee North Carolina for Memorial weekend.
• I lost $300 in Harrah's Casino
  
  
• I bought jewelry made by the Navajo Indians, and yes, I was in Cherokee, North Carolina, not Navajo, North Carolina. I got a cool ring!
• I drove up to the Smoky Mountain National Park and hiked up to Clingman's Dome.
  

• My brother Ken and his wife Sherry came to visit me on my 35th birthday! We had fun. We grilled Fillet Mignon with a mushroom rub wrapped in bacon, grilled corn-on-the-cob, had some garlic mashed potatos, side salad, and fresh green beans. We played Outbreak and watched Chronicles of Riddick. They saw my new house and they said they really liked it. I'm extremely glad about that. :)

So now you're all caught up. Tomorrow I go to the Georgia Rennaissance Festival where several friends are meeting. I'm excited!