Choice Quotes From America

If you're still looking at this blog you've noted how difficult it's been for me to post without the use of my own computer. I should be back on track after this weekend.

Here are a few quotes taken from conversations with very conservative people during my time in America last fall:

Referring to me and Japanese women:
'You're not going to marry one of them are you?'


'Do you have muslims in Japan?'
No.
'Oh, consider yourself lucky.'


Referencing my sister moving to Georgia (the country):
'I don't think they even let you carry [concealed weapons] over there.'

Blood, Sweat, and.. Waking Up Early

I woke up at 3:30am this morning in order to get my 26km of running in before the Seahawks playoff game began at 6:30am local time.  It was quite lonely during those hours, except when I passed the same car in the same location (on a dark corner in the forest), separated by 1hour and 10 minutes.  That guy must have thought he was losing his marbles when we passed the second time (at 5:50am).  Anyway, I got a little souvenir from my right nipple:

Update

Computer's down again, after being up for just three days.  I've regrettably ordered a new one - a year earlier than I'd been hoping.  The upside is that I will be able to edit my 20mb photo files much more efficiently.  Should have the computer around January 29th.

A few tidbits that don't require pictures:

* The first two weeks without a computer were nice, being forced to appreciate the quietness around my apartment.  But now, about a month in, it's just lonely.

* I finally took on two projects that are hard for me to work on while a computer is present: reading Anna Karenina (880 pages!) and hand-sewing a quilt.  I'm only 50% through the latter, but should be done with the top soon so I'll try to get a picture up.

* I'm doing the Tokyo Marathon again this year.  I'm not sure why.  February 28th.

* My website, Zamami English Guide, has been making some bounds lately by getting links off the Zamami homepage and also wikitravel.  Some visitors are even mentioning having seen the site before visiting (and noting that it was helpful!).