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(Updated 4:12 a.m.)


Blatherings appears to be fixed (thanks to Bryan for accessing a backup file for me), but please let me know if you notice anything weird going on, especially with archives.


Our flight home was on time and actually arrived back in Toronto an hour early. Narita airport wasn't nearly as chaotic as Jeff and I expected, and we had plenty of time to look around the place. It was somewhat unnerving to hear an announcement over the speaker about the "hijacking security check" we would be going through.





The lounge area is very nice, with comfy chairs (some recline), showers, day beds (for napping, book by the hour), video/audio room where you can request movies, Internet terminals. I wanted to try out the showers and day beds, but they were booked solid. I comforted myself with 30 minutes on the Internet instead.


Scott Murray picked us up at the airport (thanks, Scott!). We decided to go to Fune for dinner. Although I did like some of the sushi better in Japan, and also enjoyed the opportunity to try some types that I couldn't get in Toronto, Jeff and I were surprised to find that overall, the sushi wasn't that superior to what we eat at Fune...in fact, none of the salmon sashimi/sushi we tried in Japan could beat what Fune serves. Granted, however, we didn't eat at the most expensive sushi places in Japan. :-)





Quiet day yesterday. Had brunch at Milestones (it felt weird to be able to order a meal so easily, rather than pointing to pictures or trying to communicate what we wanted in another language :-)), browsed Chapters (I bought the 2001 issue of Writer's Market...a short article of mine is in this edition, by the way), went home for a nap. Visited my sister and her family for dinner. It was SO good to be able to see Sara and Annie again! I missed them like crazy. At their request, we also put them to bed.


Though there are already things about Japan that I miss (details in a future Blathering), I'm VERY glad to be home. :-) :-)





p.s. A few people have asked me about the particulars of the Japanese toilet photo I posted during our trip. If you're genuinely interested in how to use a Japanese toilet, there is an amusing Flash slide show online. Warning: though animation, it's still explicit and may offend gentler souls.


Links


Resources for dealing with tragedy (ALA)

Onion decides not to publish new content this week (JSOnline)

Letterman show returns, with tears (CNN)

Writing in the dark (Salon essay)

Bush denounces Muslim harassment (CNN)

Baseball makes an emotional return (CNN)




Today's Blatherpics:


- Annie and Sara, last night.


- We checked the flight status board a LOT during our wait at Narita Airport, expecting our flight to be delayed or cancelled.


- Sign before the "hijacking security check".


- This photo was taken in the subway on our last morning in Tokyo. I found the scene fascinating...a Japanese woman in traditional kimono dress, doing her email on her cellphone. :-)


Today's Poll:



Have you given blood in the past month?