I'm a A-MER-i-can!

Sometimes when I want to be sure to remember something, I send myself an email. I've had an email in my inbox dating back to July 7, 2006 reminding me to renew my passport, which expired in '05. My main excuse for not renewing my passport was bad hair. But anyway, the stars aligned and I simultaneously got a haircut, remembered that I needed to renew my passport, and walked into a passport-picture-taking shop, and long story short, I have a passport. I still don't like my passport photo, despite the fact that I had a decent haircut and that I, GASP, am wearing lipstick. There will be no blogging of my passport photo, but just take my word for it. This photo is a vast improvement from my last passport photo, which was taken right after I had been numbed up for cavity repair by the dentist, and I kid you not, on a windy day. That picture was horrible.

Anyhow, I wanted to renew my passport because of the possibility of me taking a trip to Japan to study on the lonely island of Sado at the Kodo apprentice center. Yes, this is kind of a plug. But really. KASA/Mix puts on a really great tour to Japan that I've heard is life-altering. Actually I think of it as more of a rite of passage if you're a taiko player. You get to eat, sleep and play taiko in the world's most renowned place for taiko playing with some of the most dedicated taiko musicians in the world. My main hurdle is, will my job let me take the time off? That's the only thing. Nothing else can stop me. Next week's visit by Hanayui is only a sample of the great things offered by the KASA tour. Really, check it out. RCW's staff have been working really hard to create meaningful relationships and community and all the sticky technical stuff like the lowest flight fares possible in order to create a trip that will change your life. If you play taiko, go on this trip.