It's 3:23 on a Saturday afternoon here in Japan, so it's Friday night in California. If I were there I'd be playing at Monrovia Coffee Company tonight - but I hear the lovely mizz Adjoa Skinner is doing a fabulous job. In fact, my midwest country-boy of an older brother (who ROCKS) is in Cali with his wife Erin right now. Good thing I get to see them next month in Kansas City or I'd be sad. Ok enough sentimental blub blub; I have stories to tell!!

Story #1: Best Taxi Driver Ever!

On Wednesday I was all worried because the word for University is hard for me to pronounce and I had to tell a cab driver where to take me. So, I got in a taxi at my hotel and to my surprise the nice old man driving started speaking English! He proceeded to tell me about the city, show me pictures of his kids, and inform me that he was a professional Samuri fighter back in the day! When he asked if I'd been to the tea room and garden by the University I said it was on my sight-seeing list. So, he stopped the meter with like 15 minutes left, gave me the receipt and said let's visit it today! Then we got in for free and he ordered tea for me at an amazing mansion/historic building by the garden. At this point I'd definitely checked to make sure I had pepper spray with me, because that's a little out of the ordinary, and it is a dude even though he's 4'10'' and like 65 years old. But I knew it wasn't like that, because I could tell he was the sweetest old man in the entire nation of Japan. So I got to see the whole room and garden with my new pal! :) The video blog is pretty funny, IMHO - it's on YouTube, Japan Video Blog #4.

Story #2: Fukuoka University

The whole reason I was taking a taxi in the first place was to go visit my friend Larry's class at the college nearby. He's an English professor (grew up in Canada, married a cool lady named Meiko, moved here - I can see why!). He invited my friend Keesh (more on him later) and me to come talk to his class about the music industry and stuff. They were working on skits so we all watched an episode of Seinfeld, at which Keesh and I were cracking up during all the same moments, while everyone else laughed at completely different times, when I didn't quite understand what was funny. Interesting how sitcom humor gets lost in translation. Anyway, the kids in the class were SO cool, and hopefully I helped them a little with English. I also brought my guitar and played a few songs.

Story #3: LOVE FM Appearance

My friend Keesh happens to be a DJ on a big FM station here in Fukuoka, Japan. He lived in LA for a while actually, and ran a Hip Hop label there. He's fluent in Japanese and English, so he does an English-filled afternoon show on the air. I got to go play a song live and interview this week! Thursday afternoon at 6pm. I played "Tonight it's Ours" which has been getting some radio play around here, and I talked about my favorite Japanese foods and musical influences. Pictures on Facebook Fan Page!

Story #4: World Class Orthodontist

Last night at Bar Fizz (the place at the hotel where I have a residency), I met a doctor that asked if I was from the U.S. I asked him if my mispronunciation of Japanese was a big hint, haha. Well, it turns out he was a professor in Louisiana (state of my birth!) and then became a celebrity orthodontist. Then he showed me pictures on his iPod of all these mega-famous Hollywood celebrities and their teeth x-rays! Crazy. I told him I wouldn't tell you who, because he kept saying "Top secret. Top secret." But I guess there were some really famous people with imperfect teeth before he came and helped them out. And also some transvestites that now look more feminine. Anyway, he was a really nice orthodontist and hopes to go back to the U.S. soon.

ok, that's about all of the random stories I have time for right now. More to come!

Love,

Andrea