Finally Birthday

Thanks, darl! Looks more like 40 but...only 31...but it felt like 40 since 1) serious backache, 2) toothache, and 3) cold...Can only get better and... I made it!
Cheers to the new year!

Birthday Weekend in Kusatsu

Weekend in Kusatsu!

And...the magic number is 31! Had a great pre-birthday weekend
with Eric, Josefina, and Mie in Kusatsu enjoying hot springs and a good time with nice friends!




























The place apparently has some of the hottest springs in Japan and there is a famous tradition of women mixing and cooling down the hot water with huge paddels....















I guess those springs are also some of the smelliest ones...















Lovely!

Suhsi Lesson

So this explains the essentials of Sushi - I knew there was a trick :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruh0TJJopn8