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[side_show]

A guy with glasses once told me Cleveland rocks.

[CortJstr]

A guy with glasses once told me Cleveland rocks.

That has to be some kind of mistake. A mistake by the lake, if you will.

[side_show]

I just booked the boarding kennel for our dog, and I feel so damn guilty.  I really do wish we could take him with us.  I know he's going to give me that look.

[pmcd9]

Anybody know anything about Cleveland?  'Cause I'm going for four days at the end of the month.

I saw a guy jacking off while driving his car on the freeway there one time.

[greenkoolayd]

I saw a guy jacking off while driving his car on the freeway there one time.

at least one dude who was in cleveland that one time is a carjacker.

[wombat]

Another important point about japan - no free wifi. So make sure your hotel has internet.

[jaydub]

Really?  I guess I'm spoiled by near-ubiquitous free wifi here in the West.

[jay-ell]

Cleveland kind of blows as a tourist town, but it's the home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is neat. If you've got time for a jaunt to Akron/Canton (about 30 minutes south of The Cleve), you can see the Pro Football HoF as well.

If you want to get up with A-Dawg via Facebook, that's his neck of the woods these days. He'd probably be down for lunch or a beer while you're there.

[side_show]

Another important point about japan - no free wifi. So make sure your hotel has internet.

It does.  But really?  Not even at Starbucks?

[wombat]

So far even at starbucks what people can access is wifi from the provider they have an account with.  Which everyone does so it works for them.

Another note, don't forget yoursunglasses. No one wears them here so you can't just run into the drugstore and buy yourself a  cheap pair.

[side_show]

So, Japan is fantastic on so many levels.  Today we hit up the Maidreamin' maid cafe I mentioned elsewhere, which was... odd and worthwhile in a weird sort of way.  We also found our way to a couple old-school arcades and played a few games.  Hubby won me a fantastic plastic dead frog flash light in a claw game. 

Later, we decided to check out Harajuku on a whim since the expected storm hadn't yet arrived.  The typhoon had been downgraded to a tropical storm and was expected at around 4pm instead of 1pm.  We were in the crush of shoppers in Takeshita Street in Harajuku, and it was super crowded. 

Here is a shot I took as we entered the street: 

So it was wall to wall people, but everyone is just fantastically polite. There was no pushing or shoving, and only the slightest, most minimal amount of brushing up against when absolutely necessary.  Just hoards and hoards of people.  Then suddenly some folks with whistles came and had everyone clear to the sides and this happened. You'll have to forgive the shitty video.  We were so taken by surprise that I whipped out my phone without much thought to capture it.  What were we seeing?  I still have no idea.  There were a lot of bare-ish bums, and lots of happy chanting.  The people watching seemed mostly unimpressed, but I thought it was beautiful how joyful they all were. 

After that we headed back for the hotel because it was getting overcast and the "tropical storm" was clearly approaching by the look of the clouds, but we got drawn off our route back when I heard some Rockabilly music and had to check it out.  Needless to say, it was worth the minor detour to see these folks in action.  I could have watched them all day, but it was clearly going to storm and both hubby and I had reached our limit for novelty and new experiences for the day, so we headed back to the hotel and got caught in a downpour.  Totally drenched, hubby is napping, and I need to put my feet up so bad.  Our pattern seems to be:  go out and take in a whole bunch, head to hotel for rest, head out again, get a good sleep and do it again.  It has been beyond fantastic so far.

[pmcd9]

Needless to say, it was worth the minor detour to see these folks in action.

This is what I like about Japanese culture. It's how they'll latch on to some aspect of American culture and take it to the extreme. For instance your rockabilly dancers with insanely tall Pompadours. Apparently these guys are called Black Shadow. Check out their leader's 2' tall Pompadour.

[wombat]

Hey, who's that blond guy who's getting to help carry the portable shrine?

Your pattern is a good one, the only thing wrong with my awesome inn was that its location made it impractical to go back for a lie-down and go out again. I had to do stuff like try to catch a nap in a shopping mall like this guy.

[theinevitable]

If you like overwhelming fanatacism for old American cultural stuff, check out Real McCoy's. You can get your hubby a $2000 James-Dean-in-Rebel-Without-a-Cause jacket.

[side_show]

Paul, you're right, a couple of the guys had "Black Shadow" jackets. I'm really digging the contrast between being reserved and deep genuine enthusiasm that we've been encountering.

Also, wombat, that picture is just fantastic!  If I'm not mistaken "Persistant Vegitative State" is a band name, I think.