I have done woefully little traveling since I've been here... and I want that to change. I want to get to Korea this year, if at all possible. Anyone have any pointers? Other than watch out for kimchee, that is.

I've been on DA for 3 years... and never really encountered any assholes. But then, I never really put myself out there. I only thumbshare in forum threads that look appropriate for my material and I rarely watch random deviants.

But I did. Just once. Very recently. I added someone new and she asked a question about Japan.

Japan, you say?! Well, I've got the low down on *that*.

Then I went and disagreed with one stereotypical opinion (that the Japanese are generally smarter and have more common sense than the rest of the world... absolutely not) and it sparked an explosion!

I wouldn't have cared about the Japan arguments. At all. You really can't tell me anything that I'm going to believe, seeing as I've been here for nearly five years.

However, calling my work "campy tourist photos" was a bit too much. Especially coming from someone with a load of abstract hipster art in their gallery. No thanks.

Maybe it's time for a scan through the watch list (I have far too many deviations to look at anyway) and a thinning of the herd. *sigh* I am just so annoyed right now. I don't think there's a single website out there that I can use anymore without it elevating my blood pressure.

I accidentally left my camera cord in the states when I was there... and it's finally come back to me!

Finally, hundreds of photos from mid-December to now are on my computer and just waiting for me. I think there are probably only a handful for DA, but it'll be fun looking for them, nonetheless.

I'll try and get caught up with deviations. XD

(Translation: Long time no see, DA...)

I had been doing so well... so very well!

I had a college friend come and visit a few weeks back (well, a month ago, now, really) and before that, I was planning our travel like a mad woman. I am a plan-a-holic when it comes to traveling. I like to have a plan in mind for every hour of the day. Once we get to where we're going, if the plan changes according to mood, whim, fancy, etc, that's fine, but I like to have a plan, anyway, even if it's not followed to the letter.

SO, I was mad-planning, then mad-traveling, and since I got back, I've been mad-working. They gave me yet another school to go to this year (so now I visit four schools in a week and work with 18 teachers instead of three schools a week and a dozen teachers), I am teaching an adult class twice a week, and I'm looking into an online certificate course for Tourism Destination Management.

All in all, this means I have had NO time to get around to my photos from my trip with my friend (all 1,200 of them). I edited and framed three of them over the weekend, just as an exercise in Zen and relaxation, because adjusting contrast and levels is quite calming, but other than that, I've had no time to do anything!

I am doing my best to catch up on deviations (I watch too many people... or you are all far too prolific in posting... nearly 400 deviations on my watch page!) and I will comment when I can, favorite if I like, and try to be constructive where possible.

2008 may not be shaping up to be the best year ever, but it sure is a busy one.

I actually got back to my place five or six days ago... but I came back to find a modem which had been fried to a crisp by a series of lightning storms that had blown through the area while I was in Tokyo.

However, that did give me lots of time to go through the 600+ pics I took during the trip and "artify" the ones that were worthwhile.

I have more than 100 deviations to look through, and more than a dozen of my own to upload, so be patient, peeps. I'll do my best to get (and stay!) caught up!