Hello from abroad

I'm still alive.

Things are all right here. Grandfather is hanging on, due to the blood transfusions, but each transfusion is having less and less effect on him. While we originally heard he would only last a month, he's been given a few more months. He isn't in any pain, and has been surrounded by family, so he told us that he was happy and ready to go whenever the time came. I don't suppose you could ask for much more.

My mom came down with the stomach flu, leaving the rest of us to take care of *two* sickly people. Yeesh. At first, we thought it was something contageous, so we were all walking around wearing Michael Jackson-style masks so as not to infect my grandfather, but turns out they weren't necessary.

Did the usual temple-visiting on New Years, and went to a club with my brother and cousin where we danced the night away with some of my cousin's friends. It's been pretty tame otherwise, aside from the occasional night out with my friends, but it's been good. First long vacation I've had since I've started working.

On a side note, turns out my father *doesn't* have lung cancer. He's got some weird growths in his lungs, but a specialist told him they weren't cancerous, but needed to be watched. Whew.

Now I'm back at work at our Japanese office, and will be here until the 23rd. I suppose I come here too often, as people I know keep coming by and asking, "What are you doing here?" And when I answer, they simply say, "Oh. All right... see you later." I suppose the shock of seeing me sitting at one of their tiny desks has worn off.

Met up with foomfoom for the first time in years earlier this month. It was unfortunately brief, but it was good to see him. I have a video message from him for the folks back home, which I will be sure to play for everyone when I return. I've got plenty of interesting pics of my trip, too.

That's enough time screwing around at work... I'll post more details sometime later.