Get in on the steaming hot Dianoga action already!

I totally slept through my appointment at the dentist today. Didn’t even hear my alarm.

Recently, after returning home from work I’ve been hiking up Mt. Magata, conveniently located just down my street. Right now, the cicadas are out in full force and their incessant cries drown out the sound of my own footsteps as I ascend the paved hiking trail. The heat under the (natural, not planted!) forest canopy is quite oppressive, and the mosquitoes dive bomb at fresh meat quite mercilessly, so I usually only hike up and back down again. Yesterday, though, I was feeling spunky, and after descending halfway down the slope I turned around and jogged another circuit up the steps. I like exercising up there because it’s basically deserted;…

I sat down to play with Illustrator again for the first time in a few years: Now I’m just being bad.

I walk into his store after not buying any bread for three months and he says, “thanks for coming by last night.” Which makes no sense coming from a normal baker, but this guy usually opens his store at 2 or 3 in the morning so I guess it’s possible, perhaps in a food-oriented bout of somnambulism… One loaf of homemade bread and a heaping dose of self-puzzlement, coming right up!

– A MESSAGE TO KIM JONG IL – Bitch, you only have a couple months left to target my island, then I’m the fuck out. So come on, gimme your best ‘Dong!

When a CNN Breaking News E-Mail Alert says the exact opposite of the anchorman on CNN International at the same time, which one is more credible? This is not a trick question; either Israeli ground troops have entered southern Lebanon to attack Hezbollah bases (via E-Mail Alert), or they haven’t (CNN International). I know, I know, fog of war and all that, but still…

Taro’s grandmother passed this morning. She was 94, and one of the coolest old ladies I ever knew. The first time we met, she regaled me with her full knowledge of the English language, “Hello,” “How do you do?,” and, “encyclopedia!” We never figured out where she picked up that last one. She will be missed. I’m on my way out to Nara from now.

I miss big fireworks shows on the 4th of July at the beach every year. Hell, I miss just having the day off from work. Barbecue, longnecks, bottle rocket wars, I miss all of it. Y’all have a good time on my behalf, I think I will go out of my way to buy a bottle of shitty American beer at the convenience store and maybe light off some incense when I get home. On the brighter side of things, I intend on seeing a natural fireworks show as soon as I get to Thailand in October: The Naga Fireballs And I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to tell the…