Instant Pleasure

So I would talk about this recent family reunion I had, but we're gonna have to save that for when I get my pictures from my cousin... because they are trapped on her computer out in Colorado, and she is computer illiterate, so it might take a while before I get them. Sad face.

But I was going through some of the pictures I took at the very beginning of summer and I came across the ones of me and Penny. Penny was my best friend in Tokyo, and it had been thirteen years since we had actually seen each other when we met up here in Boston. How wicked coool is that? We rock at keeping in occasional touch and then totally meeting up and reuniting. Turns out I picked way cool friends back as a little tyke. And we took some pictures to compare and contrast. So I thought I'd share them with you, because I know you like it, you voyer, you.


can you guess which one is me? the one on the right? oh, so close, so close...


YEAH school uniforms! ow ow. and look how sloppy i look. can I mention that I HATED those stupid blue sweaters? My mom forced me to wear it for that picture.


thirteen crazy years later. wicked cool.

In more recent news, (and in relation to this whole Asia-reunion theme I'm on right now) my dad is officially moving to Hong Kong. Not much more to say on that, other than I'll have a free ride back into Asia come Christmas, and that's nice. I wish it was Tokyo, but that's o-tay. So now the little bros are gonna have a similar experience that michael and I had, and that's good for them, I think... but I'm obviously biased.

Now let's focus on some even MORE recent news, and not on Asia. America. Happy Birthday? I don't think anyone actually cares that it's a day to celebrate one more year of independence from England.. it's more of like.. National Barbeque and Fireworks Day. Let's not remind ourselves that the grounds for this country's existence lay in the desire for separation of church and state... something we might want to get back in touch with (cough). Anyway, the fireworks on the esplanade were awesome. Next year I want ALL of my friends to be here so that we can all drink up and go have fun and it will be even more awesome. This year was more like me and Neda getting hassled by drunk dudes as we wandered aimlessly through the crowds... but that alone makes for a pretty funny time. Honestly so much fun was had tonight, and that makes me happy. woo for being happy.

Before I go, instead of a QUOTE OF THE DAY, I would like to make a statement to all people who take pictures of fireworks: DON'T. Honestly. What are you thinking? I was once naive and retarded, as you are today. But I was 12, so it was understandable... but you? You should know better. Do you really think you're going to get that picture back and say to yourself "holy crap, do you remember this firework? wow, this one was better than the one directly before it that looked ALMOST like this one but not quite. let's frame this so we can remember how magical this one firework was for us." No. No. You won't. You'll get back that picture and say "wow. this does absolutely nothing for me. what was I thinking? why didn't I listen to that girl who has that blog who warned me of this? She's so awesome... I should really do everything she says. Especially when it comes to picture taking. Wow I wish she was here right now so I could give her a great big bear hug and maybe a high-five just for kicks, and then I'll buy her a fancy dinner and take her to the theatre and we'll sit under the stars, and fireworks will light the sky because my love for her is so powerful, and I'll take out my camera to capture the moment and... AHH!!!" (electroshock therapy works wonders) So you'll decide against taking the picture because it won't be anything like the real thing, and you'll thank me for it in the end, even having suffered high voltage shocks of electricity that may or may not have burned your skin in strange but fun shapes (like the playboy bunny!).
Yes, that's exactly how it will play out.

Michael tells me that he worries about my mental health. To that, I say... the "chael" part of his name looks funny. and it always has, and it always will.