On the move...

Today, Terri and I went out to find adventure in Tokyo. We walked to the train station and headed in on the express. We passed Disney Japan on the way. The first place we went was the Sensoji Temple, officially called Asakusa Kannon. It was founded around 628 AD after two brothers found the bodhisattva Kannon in the Sumida River. The entrance was filled with shops catering to tourists. After ceremonially washing our hands we went in. It was most beautiful and serene inside.

For lunch we sent to the Shabusen, a shabu shabu style restaurant. They fill an urn with hot water and light a fire under it to get it boiling. You then order very thinly sliced meat to boil in it along with some various veggies. It was very good and quite filling.

From there we explored the Ginza with its expensive shops. We ended up at the Meiji Jingu, a large Shinto shrine dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and his consort, Emperess Shoken. It was quite tranquil. The wind was high so that the tops of the trees blew with a sound that can stir the soul. We finished off the day by taking the train to meet Steve, my brother, and have Indian food. Afterwards we headed back to the apartment for the night. Which takes us to now. I'll have some pictures posted tomorrow.

In the Land of the Rising Sun

OK, I made it. Man what a long flight!! Last night, or was it night before last, I got up a little poker game at the hotel and won enough money to pay my extra night of hotel. Good thing since the airline won't pick it up. That's reasonable since the weather isn't their fault. Stayed up till around 12. I got up at 4 o'clock Sunday morning (Texas time) to go to the airport. I got to Narita airport near Tokyo at 3:15 Tuesday Japanese time (that's 2 a.m. Texas time Monday). I highly recommend United Airlines International. They really treated me well, and there was more space between seats. Got rained on in San Francisco when we had to leave the building to get on a bus to meet our connecting flight. We were an hour late, so instead of having an hour to get there, they were boarding as we ran into the gate area. Luggage made it fine.

My brother's wife, Terri, met me at the airport and we rode the train back to Takahama, Chiba where they live. We went out to a cool little Japanese restaurant. I failed to take pictures, God am I tired, so I'll go back and get some tomorrow. Right now I'm knackered. I'm outa here.

Dog days of winter?

So- a little excitement in the day as I cool my heels at the hotel in Houston waiting for my flight. Two pit bull mix dogs were creating nervousness at the hotel. They were wandering around the pool area and the restaurant and the entrance. They weren't leaving, and they weren't being too aggressive, but they wouldn't get in the police car either. It was a little like watching the 3 stooges trying to catch a dog. So what do I do, rescuer that I am? I go out to help. Animal control had been called but weren't anywhere to be seen. After much back and forth, I got one to let me touch him and pet him. Animal control got there and he couldn't leash him either. So I borrowed a leash and snagged him, the tiger stripe pit. The black one tried to bite me so they decided to tranquilize him. We finally got him in the truck, as well, and we had a happy ending. Actually not a bad way to end the afternoon.

... with no place to go!

Stuck! Like half-a-million other folks, my flight has been cancelled. I checked on it this morning and everything was fine. I left home and took the 3 hour drive to the hotel at the airport; checked in, put my car in the extended parking lot, and walked back to the hotel to settle in. 5:30 my wife called telling me she found a message on the answering machine saying that my flight to San Francisco had been cancelled. I was auto-rebooked on a flight to SF for Monday, but not the connecting flight to Narita, Japan. After 35 minutes on hold, I finally talked to a person who told me she couldn't help me and transferred my call. Another 20 minute wait and I spoke to a very helpful person who put on a the connecting flight. Extra night of hotel bill? call customer service tomorrow. What a bummer, but I'm not alone. The hotel is full of people in the same boat. But just think... if I had not had someone at home to relay the message, I would have shown up at the airport at 5:30 a.m. only to find out my flight was not flying. Aaahhhrrrggghhh! More later, naturally.

Almost Ready

Okay... lots happening all at once.
My plane leaves 7:20 Sunday morning for Japan (meaning I have to be at the airport at 5:30). Getting packed, getting excited, getting it together. Fine, I'll leave that alone till I get there.

Also have a show in the works. The director was loathe to give me the week off to go to Japan, but I made sure that was in place even before I auditioned. Of course, I'd better come back having prepared and ready to go.

You know... I guess I really don't have that much to say, so... I'll stop.

Here we go again!

Okay, so I'm off to Japan this weekend for about 10 days. This will be my first time in Asia. Heck, my first time west of Colorado. I'll try to post every couple of days, but if I get too caught up in sake and sushi I may have to "mass post" when I get back. Pics will be posted as usual. I'm really excited about this trip to visit my brother and his wife who have been living in Japan for a couple of years. Posts on the trip should start Monday or Tuesday.

Also in the offing- I've landed another role in a stage production. This time I play Francis Freyer in "Calamity Jane". On my audition form, when they asked what role I was auditioning for, I simply wrote "any male role". Problem is, Francis Freyer performs his big musical number in drag! I don't really have a problem with it personally, but the school I teacher for will never let me live it down. Ah well, they knew I was weird already. I'll post about that later on.