Here in Osaka

Lately I've been a man of few words, I know. As I've said multiple times over the course of the last two months or so, I think that will change.

But until that point, I want to wish everyone a very happy and healthy new year. I spent mine watching the fireworks over the Sydney Harbour, drinking champagne smuggled into our spot on the grass at Ms. Macquerie's Point. Stayed up all night for my 8:35 a.m. flight back to Hong Kong, where I had a great day running around Central with my friend and his kids, then coming back for a killer Thai dinner made by his fiance. While he and I went out for a few drinks, she put together an apple crumble even better than the last one she made. A few beers later, we returned to eat and watch "The Death of Bruce Lee," starring some guy named La Pantera and the most ridiculous suits out of the 70s I've ever seen.

This morning I picked up the suits I had made and caught my flight to the place in which I reside, Osaka.

I've finally made it to the last country on the last leg of my tour. It really is a crazy feeling and I don't quite know how to describe it yet. All I know is that I'm really elated and I need to fill you all in on what's been happening.

For the moment let me give you my 16-day forecast. 5 days here between Osaka, Kyoto and Nara, then taking the bullet train to Tokyo (2.5 hours) to catch a flight up to Sapporo on the island of Hokkaido. From there I take a 3 hour bus to Niseko, where I'll be snowboarding and/or skiing in waist-high powder, based on the current conditions. After that it's back to Tokyo for 5 more days where I'll soak in the last days with tons of sushi and maybe a drink or two at the top of the Park Hyatt so I can feel like Bill Murray.

From there it's a long flight on Air Canada to NYC, where I stay for maybe one or two nights before Gorode, myself, and maybe a few others head down to DC for the inauguration. Epic. Then it's back to NYC for a flight to LA to see the family that might've forgotten I exist. But, on February 6th, it's the one-way flight back to New York City, my final destination. At that point, this chapter of my life will officially be over, and I'll be ready for the next one to begin. Granted, the adventure is going to be a bit different now, but I still know it'll be an adventure.

I'm not going to write about my reflections on the past 4.5 months yet. I need to do that in private first. But I will write. About the past, about what's next, about it all. I just need to take some time to think it out. Currently, I'm just rambling, but I figured that rambling may be a bit better than another day of a void at the top of my blog.

I can't believe I'm in Japan. This is going to be incredible. This has all been incredible. I know the schedule of this last month is a bit over-the-top, I realize that. I'm so incredibly lucky to be able to do this. So now I'm in Japan. You know what's great about Japan? I get to see all the celebrity endorsements that they don't talk about in the US. What brought this to mind is that right next to this computer terminal is a vending machine selling coffee. On the bottom of the machine is an advertisement for BOSS coffee, with a picture of Tommy Lee Jones staring right at you. Perfect.