After a month of blogging silence, you were probably wondering if I had been kidnapped by my students and forced to remain in Japan, or tangled in a Thai drug scam straight out of Brokedown Palace, or perhaps immediately caught in gang crossfire upon entering Los Angeles. But no, I've just been busy doing the kinds of unexciting-yet-strangely-exciting things one does when returning to the USA after two years in Japan. Things like getting a cell phone and actually TALKING on it (as opposed to obsessively emailing), making pleasant small talk with strangers without feeling like an obtrusive crazy person, and eating cheese. Good cheese. There was also a bout of the flu in there, a couple dinners with friends and of course a lot of time with Rob, during which we did an array of unexciting-yet-strangely-exciting activities like watching episodes of Human Weapon, eating breakfast at 1 PM, and calling each other just to check in because we can, because we're in the same country and that's kind of a revelation. It's been good.

I'm in Seattle now, visiting my mom, step-dad and sisters, who all moved here last year after returning from India. A week of sister sleepovers, no obligations and my mom's fresh peach pie has been pretty much exactly what I needed in preparation for my return to the (almost) full-time work week and a commute that is most certainly not a ten-minute bike ride through quiet rice fields. Oh, and I don't have a car. I'm not saying "I don't have a car YET" because I'm not planning on getting a car, which in Los Angeles is kind of declaring you are going to purposely amputate a leg. Except that in addition to looking at you like you're a little insane, people will also most likely think you are poor and probably sad. Unless you were talking to Ed Begley, Jr. He'd understand that after two years of using only bicycles, buses and trains, I'm reluctant to rekindle my messy, expensive, often-heartbreaking relationship with the car. Instead, I'm getting a scooter. (No need to warn me about the dangers, as my mother and Rob have already got that covered.) And I have a bicycle on its way. And Rob gives me rides sometimes. He's nice like that.

Hm...this post was supposed to be about the first part of my trip to Thailand, but it looks like I'll have to save that for next time. At least you can now continue your day safe in the knowledge that I haven't been kidnapped, shot, or wrongfully accused. What more could you ask for in a blog entry?

...Oh, a picture of my friend Carol and me on elephant? Very well.