the floating world
I'm beginning to discover what it means to have not yet settled in. It means I alternately have too many choices of what to do and am pushed around (as Rachel says) like a beverage cart to serve everyone with no rest for myself. Even in my "bad times" here thus far, I am still thrilled and able to access the love I have in my heart for everyone back home.

There was so much I took for granted. Just to have something to hold on to. Something stable, something precious and warm. These days are one adventure after another but nothing that lasts and no one to share it with. If anything, it makes me hold on even stronger to the feelings growing in clarity within me.

Right now, I really just feel like dying. If I ever pay $50 to stay up until 3AM again, please kill me. The good news is that my package for family and friends is almost done, save for writing Christmas letters. Hell, I could even do that later if these cards weren't so awesome that I don't feel like trying to send them in the mail.

Going to die. I can't believe it's only 8PM and I still have grocery shopping and homework to do.

I know I've written a lot in the last twenty-four hours. I'd write more about what we did during the lovely fall weather but they say that a picture is worth a thousand... yeah, you know. Here's today in pictures and then I'll shut up:

* Shinjuku towers from my neighborhood.

* Riding lessons with a skyscraper backdrop. Now you don't see that every day.

* One of the gates at Meiji Jingu.

* Yet another wedding. I saw at least two processions while at the shrine and several families there to consecrate the birth or one year birthday of children.

* Countless other adults and children were there dressed in kimono. Check out the shoes on this one.

* These two kids were chasing each other around and around in just their socks. THIS picture really is the shot of the day. I love it. That's what we call a "decisive moment."

* Hundreds of wishes.

* After the quietude of Meiji Jingu, we walked to Harajuku. All the people who say the freaks come out on Sunday aren't lying. They really aren't. They all line up near the station and just sit around waiting for people to take their pictures. I'm glad they're all there to look at but it's sort of sad. Really, haven't they got anything better to do?

* First Japan and soon the world. Sony makes this robot. Fear them.

* Harajuku is home to countless, countless youth shops and boutiques including Condomania, seen here next to a building that says on it, "Love Girls Market." Hm.

* We all took purikura (instant designer photos) in this arcade. The violent bear sign was on the window along with a bazillion other unintelligible things. What the ....??? "Fun Fun" my arse!