Back.

OK. I'm back. I have returned to Kyoto from Yakushima (the island) and it is wonderful. Many days of sitting in my underwear under the air-conditioner toggled to full blast will commence. Happy smiles fill my private parts.

But can I just say? (And I can, because this is my blog-thing):

"And now the practical hats of the Kippses were put on. The women in the room were not offered hats and instinctively sat back in their chairs as Michael and his father leaned forward with their elbows on their knees."

-- On Beauty, Zadie Smith

Of course there is context that may give more gravity to this passage but I am too selfish and lazy to share. It gives me feelings and that's all I'm going to say about that.

And here is proof that my friends are better than yours:

This arrived yesterday from Broadway. I wore it immediately.

FUCK. YES. I can't tell you how much this shirt means to me/the world.

That one ninja in the back is all like, "Whoa! There's no way I'm messing with that heat!" And that other ninja on the left is all hesitant but spry. And the sheer importance and possible implications of this shirt are absolutely lost in a country that once printed "Serect" over the center button of a demo Playstation controller at an international gaming convention.

And now for some final island zen:

The secret swimming hole in Yakushima. This is fresh mountain spring water.

The river flows.

And here you can see the work of forest spirits.

Some social news to come! It's really been too long.