CATS AND DOGS!!

Falling from the skies in tens of millions!! It seems like monsoon season even though the rainy season is only supposed to last two weeks... this year has been two weeks plus a month. Ugh. At least everything looks really green, and the rain has been keeping the mosquitos at bay.

I leave for Japan TOMORROW(!!!!) with my friends Annie, Gloria, and Jennie! I'm really looking forward to this trip, and am probably going to listen to the "Lost in Translation" soundtrack on repeat each of the nine days. We're starting in Aichi Prefecture, which is in Nagoya, and we'll hopefully score tickets to the last day of the sumo tournament (general admission only sold that day; fingers crossed we're early enough, or that seats are plentiful... both). Then we're heading out to Kyoto for two days and staying with Annie's friend, Ben. After that we mosey on to Osaka for a day/night/part of day, then out to Hiroshima, starting back to hit up Mt. Fuji, then finishing with the last two days in Tokyo!! And, in case you were worrying, I found some tent rope and I was able to Macgyver my penguin to the bottom of my backpack - I'm thinking in... neighborhoods in Tokyo... I'm bad at remembering which is which and it's already 9:47A and I have to teach in three minutes - OY!

VACAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATION!!! I need you - now. Friday! Friday! Friday!

So, there will be stories to report back on - and I will!! Also, need to tell you about Momma's stay and MUD FEST!! So.much.muddy.fun. Really a good-good time!!