Monday, September 9, 2013

SAYONARA!!!

Well, I can hardly believe it, but the time has come to say goodbye!  Almost.

In two short weeks Tiny & Mary take Tokyo!!!  You might have noticed a giant, man/boy-sized gap in the blogosphere in the last couple of weeks.  I have been prepping, planning, and stressing out about our upcoming trip to Japan...and we still have so much to do.
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At this point (after playing host to nearly forty Japanese students), our family home is basically known as one of Southern California's "Little Tokyos."  Nevertheless, it doesn't seem quite real that we should be winging our way all the way to the island nation of Japan.  Our trip might not seem real, but the fact that one of those forty students, Nami, is getting married is very real!!!  Nami lived with us for three years and truly became part of our family (she was the student with whom I took tap dancing classes).  While she was here, she earned her Associates Degree, bought a car, learned how to surf, and fell in love with Thanksgiving dinner.  We shared so many experiences with her and we're thrilled to be able to share in her wedding day!

I tell you all of this only to explain that as absent as my blogging has been in the past two weeks, it is only going to get "absenter."  I am going to try and immerse myself fully in the Japanese culture (except for the food, and nude hot springs - nobody wants to see that).   To achieve that goal we will be leaving gadgets behind (with the exception of our cameras).  Truly, I just don't want to be bogged down by electronics during my first trip to the Far East.  After all, if I can't enjoy Japan without checking Facebook and playing Words with Friends, then I'm just kind of a creep, aren't I?  If I am, don't tell me...and just blame it on my parents.  Instead of blogging I plan to be seeing a lot of....

This...
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And hopefully this...
"My Girl from the South Sea Isles" - Sweet Hollywaiians

And this...
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And this...
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And this...
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Not so sure about this...
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Absolutely NOT this...
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Or this...
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But definitely this...
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And for sure this...
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And these...
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And even this...
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And don't forget this!!!
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As always, my expectations may be more than mildly informed by stereotypes and an overactive imagination, but just let me live in my wacky tacky dreamworld, won't you?  Given its history, its adherence to tradition, and its unabashed embrace of the future and all things weird (see: vending machines that sell everything), I know that Japan will not disappoint.  If you have any travel advice or must-see places while we're in Nippon (our major stops will be Fukuoka, Kyoto, Nagoya, and Tokyo), please feel free to let me know.  I wish that we could stay longer and see EVERYTHING, but time and finance (Japan's expensive y'all) will not allow. 

The craziest part of this whole trip is that coincidentally, we will have friends and an aunt and uncle (all from Southern California) in Japan at the same time!  It will be old home week in Tokyo!!!  We are so grateful to be going and so happy for our Japanese sister, Nami.  We will be singing at her wedding and, hopefully, will be playing a few shows along our route...maybe a little "Sukiyaki" is in order, hmmmm?

"Sukiyaki" - Kyu Sakamoto

I look forward to reconnecting with you and sharing our adventures upon our return, at which time we will have many pictures and stories to share, I am sure.  Until our departure I will continue to blog, but when it comes time to get our passport stamped, we hope that you'll wish us the Japanese equivalent of "Bon voyage!"  I think it's "BANZAI!, BANZAI! BANZAI!!!!"


Cheers!

Mr. Tiny

23 comments:

  1. OH MY GOODNESS! I am so thrilled for you...not only because Japan seems pretty surreal...but because you will be going basically off the grid. That seems dreamy.

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  2. I can't wait to read all about it when you get bacak!! Japan is probably one of my top five places to visit! you guys are going to have an amazing time!

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    1. I hope so; I still can't believe that we're going!

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  3. You lucky devil you! I am beyond jealous. I know you'll have the most amazing time ever!

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    1. Thank you! I promise to share everything so hopefully, you'll feel like you got to go too!

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  4. Take a IPod so you can reach us by email or Facebook. It's really big Tokyo we're going to not little Tokyo, a one block section of LA.

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  5. You are going to have a BLAST! I think you are making the write choice to leave the computer behind. It's not every day that you get to be immersed in a new and amazing culture. Have fun and take a bazillion photos!

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    1. Thanks Eartha!!! I only have one item on my list of things to see - EVERYTHING!!!

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  6. I'm going to miss your posts, but what an exciting trip!! Have a blast & I can't wait to see your pictures when you get back.

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  7. This is so exciting! Have a brilliant time, and I can't wait to see your posts when you return!

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  8. So cool! I've always wanted to go to Japan. I hope you get to see a a crowd of Japanese rockers do a 50s dance off in the middle of the day! I'm excited for you!!! Hope you & Mary get to play a few shows in kitschy Japanese venues.

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    1. Thanks! The dance-off is definitely on the itinerary! I can't wait!

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  9. WOW!!! Just WOW! Please please please take a zillion photos to share with us.

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  10. Ahhhhh!!!! Lucky you!!!! I have always want to visit Japan, must a great trip and cannot be more different than US way of life! I have already visited China and it was so nice! I think that Mary will be Watch a lot with her blond hair... that was like that for me in China, every man asked me to take pictures with me.... perhaps different in Japan!
    Bon voyage to Mary and you...
    We will be in LA and VLV next april, I have just book our plane ticket!!!!

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    1. Thanks Laurence!!! I have a feeling that we will never get lost in the crowd...hahahaha!!!

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  11. They are going to flip for your vintage style.
    Mary well be a huge hit too!
    You could make a bundle off some of your classic ties and clothing.

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    1. Thanks Doug! Maybe I should pack some extra to sell...hmmmmm!

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  12. Eeeeeeeek! I am so excited for you! You are going to the Mecca of Wacky Tacky!!!! What a fantastic opportunity - I can't wait to hear all about your travels...and yes, I admit, I am more than a little jealous!!!!!!

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    1. Thanks Mel! The jealousy is mutual; I love all of the photos from you guys on instagram and wish that I could be tromping around London!!! I can't wait to see what Japan has to offer!

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