From Japan - Sirrahbed & Boomer

[sirrahbed]

album (http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4287366005) here

cat party (http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45523&highlight=japan) here

Hi all! Got in to Tokyo after a L O N G flight and with no idea what day or time it was!! Met all the kitties:D but left them pretty quickly to sleep.:o Not before I checked in at PT though!!! Sure is great to see Missy and Paul!! And...my grandkitty!! Here he is while I am checking in today :D Isn't he beautiful?
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid108/p495510f4b116c7d8c902b0602f35cb77/f9483cb3.jpg
Here is another...
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid108/pefa93fa8fa8973bf00434ce157234ff5/f9483c3d.jpg
Geez! Look at those bags under my eyes!!:eek: I AM tired!

Boomer is shy but warming up to me a bit. He sure does not like men!! Missy gave him some Rescue Remedy - does anyone know how long it takes to benefit and how much to give him? We put one drop on his tongue - should we put it in his Petflow fountain or will it be filtered out?

Will check in later about Japan! So far it is just beautiful - Tokyo at night was breathtaking although the traffic was a little ...ah...well...I am glad *I* was not driving. It does not phase Missy and Paul though. The people in immigration and customs were all so polite and helpful - no problems.

[AmberLee]

Have a BLAST! You look like your grandkitty and you are bonding nicely. Wish I could join you. Enjoy, and please keep posting as you have adventures there.

[trayi52]

Great to hear from you! I bet you are soooo very happy to get to see your daughter! What a reunion! I am happy you made it safely. You have fun and give your daughter a hug for me. Tell her I think you and yours are such a great family!

Make sure all those kittys running around behave themselves. I am very jealous, you got to give Prince William a smooch!

Your grandkitty looks pretty comfortable in your lap! You have fun with Missy and Paul. I am sure they were very happy to see you.

Willie:)

[jenluckenbach]

Glad to see you arrived safely. Hope to be seeing some pictures of a country I will never have the opportunity to visit ;). And more kitty pictures too. :D

[sirrahved]

I'm thinking about all y'all, and hoping you're enjoying spending time with Missy and Paul!

[catcrazylady]

I'm so glad to know that you all arrived safe and sound!!http://petoftheday.com/talk/images/our_smilies/biggrin.gif
Boomer looks like he is warming up to pretty quickly!! He looks very relaxed laying there in your lap. He knows he just met his kittymaw!!!http://petoftheday.com/talk/images/our_smilies/smile.gif
I know you have got to be exhausted and elated all at the same time. By the time you figure out what day it is, and then get your days and nights straightened out, it will be time for you to come home!http://petoftheday.com/talk/images/our_smilies/eek.gif
Missy, you have got to be on cloud nine!! You get to see parents and have them meet Boomer.
You ALL have a wonderful time together and keep us posted on your adventures. Take lots and lots of pictures because most of us will never see Japan.

{{{{{HUGS}}}}} TO YOU ALL!!!

[catnapper]

Yea! I'm glad your trip was safe and that you experienced no hassles. Please give Boomer a big smooch for me.

I'm very jealous - after Missy posted that picture of Mt. Fugi, I've wanted to see it for myself, and now you get to see it too!

[Cataholic]

Wow, so far away from Ohio, aren't you? Have a wonderful time, take lots of pics, and pet the kitties for me.:)

[Barbara]

This Boomer knows a professional scritchie-giver when he sees one:D

Me too I am envious for going to Japan and wish you a great time there:)

[Steffi N]

Deb, I am glad you arrived safely. Please have a wonderful time visiting your daughter and family and seeing Japan. Boomer looks like he will be a fixture on your lap pretty soon. :)

[jazzcat]

Hi Deb, glad to see you made it with no problems. Looks like you and your grandkitty are hitting if off well. As for the rescue remedy, I've never tried it but maybe someone can give you a tip. Poor Boomer.

Have fun and keeping checking in.

[rg_girlca]

Aww looks like Boomer got over his shyness quickly. He looks so comfortable in your lap.
Glad you arrived safely with no problems.
Can't wait to see pictures.:)

[catmandu]

THANK YOU AGAIN , From The Found cats , and Cat angels for A Woderful Parteee! MMMMMMMEEEEOWS to ALL! Sushi was MMMMEEEOOOOWVELLOUS!

[rkidsrcats]

Have a great visit and safe travels.
Da Boyz say thanks for all the smoochies, sushi and bean bag beds. Its one of the best parties they have been to in a long time. Even Norm is coming out of his shell & enjoying meeting all the other cats.

[sirrahbed]

Hi everyone -thank you for ther well wishes. I am still zoned out and feel my age!!:rolleyes: But it IS wonderful to see my kids. I keep hugging Missy to death but so far she does not mind:D My "baby" is a beautiful wife with a nice apartment and a whole new life. <big sigh>

Boomer is still very shy and it bothers Missy but I think that is just his nature. He is a sweetheart.

Yesterday, Missy and I walked into the little town nearby and shopped in the Dollar store (100 Yen store) That was fun! I bought a litttle postit pad with kitties and a saki set:D The streets are SO narrow, we had to walk single file and the side walk which was barely wide enough for one!! Bicycles zoom in and out! They drive on the left side of the road like in England!

On the way home, we heard shouting and chanting - and saw the police. I am like "lets go see" and Missy grabs my arm and is like "no lets not!" -we later found out it was a noisy war protest. NOT the place for SOFA guests to be found. I am too noisy for my own good sometimes!!

Next time, I will try to remember to ask Missy to bring the digital so we can post some pictures - everything is so clean and quaint looking - the people so polite. *I* am determined to use one of the "squaty potties" just to say I did but Misy does not want too.:D :D Well, anyone who would post her rearend on a butt bath manual - would likely be the type to enjoy this experience.:D :D Sorry, no photos as this is a family forum
So far the weather is poopy with rain - can't see Mt Fuji yet, but the view is still gorgeous with the mountains on the horizon.
Later!!....:)

[Laura's Babies]

On Grandkitties, from an experienced Grandmeowmie... GRANDKITTIES RULE!!!!! Have a wonderful trip and stay safe! LOTS of pictures please...

[catnapper]

Originally posted by sirrahbed
Well, anyone who would post her rearend on a butt bath manual - would likely be the type to enjoy this experience.:D :D [
ROFLMAO!!!! Big time! Thank you for sending me off to bed with a smile on my face.... you're in trouble if I start to dream about squatting in any way/shape/form. :D

[kimlovescats]

It's so nice to see that you made is safely, and are enjoying a precious reunion with your daughter!!! Have a wonderful visit!!!

(((HUGS)))

:)

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Wow, glad to see you made it safely and are having a great time! And I can't believe you haven't taken the camera with you yet - what's wrong with you? ;) :D WE want to see Missy's home away from home too. I've never thought of Japan as "quaint" so get that camera out! ;) :D

Boomie looks so comfy in your lap. I'm sure he'll be your best buddy by the end of your trip - but that will only make it harder to say goodbye. :( :D

[catlover4ever]

I'm so glad that you made is safely. I hope you have a wonderful time I look forward to seeing some pictures if you get a chance to take the digital camera out with you. --- Meg

[sirrahbed]

Hard to believe the long anticipated trip has come and gone!! I did take some pictures and put them together in an album (http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=4287366005) if you have not yet seen it. Nothing too exciting - mostly family stuff - but that was our main reason for going.

The flights were L O N G. The food on the international leg each way was...well...we seldom knew what we were even eating:D

I was so struck by the neatness and cleanliness of the country. Have you seen the movie "Lost in Translation"? The scenes in that movie caught the feel of what Tokyo looks like - wall to wall people. The airport is maybe 60 miles away and the drive was 5 hours because traffic barely moves. And-they drive on the left side, steering wheel on the right - like in GB! I never knew that since other Asian countries my hubby has lived in were always set up like in America. The cars are spotlessly clean and snazzy! Tiny models of Toyota, etc that we do not have here. Most have GPS monitors. I would say every second or third person we saw was playing with something electronic or talking on a cell phone. The people were incredibly gracious and friendly. It was hard not to compare the Narita airport with the Newark airport. The Japanese seem to truly care about our comfort and helping us find our way around and always with a smile and a bow. We had a rude awakening at Newark and were yelled at no fewer than 3 times in the confusing customs area. Makes me wonder what a Japanese person thinks when entering our country the first time??
I had mentioned "quaint" as well. The smaller little towns like where Missy lives are like little dollhouses. Tiny streets, spotlessly clean, flower boxes filled with pansies, tiny cars, cobblestone sidewalks, LOTS of police evidence everywhere which must explain the very low crime rate. Even the tinest of apartments had flowers and elegant landscaping even if their "garden" was a 4x6 patch.
It seems the Japanese love pets as we do - I saw quite a few petstores - very nice ones, too. Also, cats and dogs were a common theme on the stationery and the stores had nice pet departments.
It was cold when we arrived and no cherry blossoms - but after the last three days of warm sun - it was a cherry blossom wonderland of pale pink trees everywhere I looked. They are said to be very fragile and when the wind picks up, you are showered with these tiny fragile petals. A popular custom is to enjoy a picnic under the trees and enjoying them because they only last for such a short time.
I wrote a bit before about my fascination with potties :D and am proud to say I used both the squattie (http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~AD8Y-HYS/movie.htm) and the high-tech (http://www.thejapanesepage.com/culture/toilets.htm) . I find the squattie much cleaner and more sanitary! If only it was not so hard to get UP with my bad knees.
Mostly, I enjoyed time with my baby daughter, SIL Paul and grandkitty Boomer :)