Where Pride and Sesame Street meet

Our manny is here, our manny is here! Not only do I have someone to help me with the boys, I also have someone who can take pictures of me! Looking a little weathered and beaten down, I know. That's either 41 years of living, or moving to Japan during monsoon season. More sleep and wine should help!

After 17 hours of travel, our beloved Joseph has arrived, and is ready to work! The jet lag doesn't seem to have hit him yet, and he's been a real trooper keeping up today. I took him to one of my favorite areas - Shibuya. Shibuya is situated north of Ebisu and south of Harajuku/Omotesando. It is a major Tokyo railway line as well as the southern limit for Tokyo's hip nightlife and fashion district. Joe kept saying, "There are so many beautiful girls here!" He's a man of shoes - he says his first purchase is going to be of these gold sheen high top Chuck Taylors we saw. It's also good to know that Starbucks can pretty much be found anywhere in this city. You'll have a few different options in Tokyo than in the states - a lot more "macha tea" options, and a yet to be consumed "Azuki bean" frappucino. I've used Azuki beans to scrub my face - makes a great exfoliant. Perhaps it will do the same to my intestines? One can only hope.

My goal today was to find a router so that we could go wireless in the house. I've never had wireless in any of my previous homes, and it always seemed so complicated. In my last home, Comcast was going to charge $150 just to install the wireless, then some ridiculous charge to rent the router, or whatever. I passed on the opportunity. Of course, after my expensive trash experience, I assumed I would encounter such mafia-like treatment here. (Thanks Eileen for that great analogy) I've been hearing about this place called "Big Camera". Well, first of all, it's not "Big" Camera, it's "Bic" Camera. Hmmm, Big Camera seemed to make more sense. I'll continue to call it "Big". I LOVE this place. It's right up there with "Tokyu Hands", a Home Depot and Michael's combined shop. Big Camera has everything electronic that you could ever need. Digital Cameras, recorders, robotic vacuum cleaners, all kinds of phone accessories, computers, TVs, etc - 6 floors (I think) of pure electronic heaven. The only drawback? It's all in Japanese. Sigh. Anyway - $59 later - and we are now wireless! That was it??? All my worry, stress, and consternation? All I had to do was plug the bugger in, and it actually works. Thank God for Japanese manga, those cartoon characters come in handy - a picture is worth a thousand untranslated words.

On the way home, I wanted to stop by our local shrine. It was such a beautiful day - sunny, clear, and not too hot. Our neighborhood shrine is called "Otori Jinja" - translated "Big bird shrine". I did not see any disturbingly large yellow birds that can talk to Snuffelufagus, but I did get to see a nice neighborhood shrine as it is used by its patrons. Much like the other shrines I've seen, there were the prayer placards, hand washing station, beautiful wood carvings, and place to throw your money, ring a bell, and say a prayer. Something that I hadn't yet seen, though, was a technological fortune teller. Put in 2 bucks, and out pops the equivalent of a detailed fortune cookie insert. Mine was "o mikuji" number 3 and essentially told me that in order for me to create my own success, I had to get rid of my pride. It came with a "lucky seal" - a little man trapped in the middle of a sun, arms raised overhead, trying to reach what looks like arrows and a scythe from behind his back. Uhhh, what? Joseph's advice was to leave behind his old ways and forge new paths. His lucky symbol was a four leaf clover :-) I wanted to hang my fortune in an oragami like state just like the ones in the picture, but have decided to try and translate the entire thing to see if it will give me next week's lotto numbers.

Ja Mata...