Needed to do some housekeeping like so much Tony Danza, get my blog thoughts organized, and make sure Judith Light made it in at least ONE post…
#1 – I got Freshly Pressed again! Woot! A warm welcome to all my new followers, welcome aboard. Thanks to Michelle, the most excellent story wrangler at WordPress.
Coach – “Tom, can I touch your mustache?” Tom Selleck – “You shut your mouth.”
#2 – This should take the number 1 spot: I’m going to Japan for two weeks at the end of March for general exploration, to fight ’50’s style yakuza members, to sample sushi quality repeatedly, involve myself in at least three martial art montages, quote Mr. Baseball incessantly, pretend that I don’t absolutely love Godzilla movies, and visit my good friend Danny, of Don’t Touch My Mustache blog. Dream trip come to fruition. Cannot fucking wait.
In an ephemeral moment of clarity, Godzilla feels guilt for his destructive ways.
#3 – The house I mentioned I would be purchasing (new RAM HQ) is stuck in the sticky world of short sales. If you’re not familiar with short sales, think of them as emotional roller coasters lubed with greed, controls – operated by mega-banks with no guarantee you’re going actually get the final prize (stopping, in this analogy). It’s going to be a long haul, so the DIY posts are unfortunately a ways off.
#4 – While I’m overseas, I’ve asked some bloggers whose work I really enjoy (who I’ve also became decently close outside the blog world) to organize a Roam About Take Over. Contributors: The very blog-famous Le Clown, Brigitte of Brigitte’s Banter, and Susie, of Susie Lindau’s Wild Ride. I will also have some of my closest friends pitching in: artist/entrepreneur Matt Barnes , Mark Pagan of Con Chocolate Productions, Paige Harris of Life Mastery, and my love, Marti Babcock-Bukach-Bangkok.
#5 – Susie does this amazing thing on her blog called Use Me & Abuse Me where she lets people link their posts in the comments section, as a writing showcase. I love this idea. It’s great, conjured some ideas, and like Japan (forcedly) opening up its virgin doors to Commodore Perry in 1854, I’m inspired to have more guest bloggers on this site for ’13. Let me know if you’re interest in being featured on Roam About, and pitch me an idea.
The ‘funny hat staring contest’ lasted 42 hours.
#6 – It’s my One-Year B-day today. Happy Birthday, Blog Me. Been one hell of a year.
Peace, Love and Hair Grease – Mike
ROAM ABOUT MIKE 
Congratulations on the trip! I’ve never had the opportunity to visit Asia (probably because I haven’t seen any Godzilla movies – yes, I’m hanging my head in shame), but I’ll look forward to hearing all about it once you return.
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E,
This is my first time in Asia, needless to say, I’m pretty stoked.
WHAT!? You’ve never seen a Godzilla movie…you’ve got to get on it. Saturday morning classic.
I suggest something older, like this:
Thanks, E!
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I’m not entirely sure which oversize puppet animal I should fear more, Godzilla or that giant bee/fly thing….
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Definitely Godzilla.
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Mike,
It’s the internationally blog famous, magnificent™ and magnanimous™ Le Clown, thank you. Enjoy Japan… Le Clown hopes Japan will enjoy you.
Le Clown
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Dearest Le Clown,
Apologies, I haven’t had my caffeine yet this morning, and didn’t realize you had trademarked another ‘m-word’.
I will friend, thank you. I hope I don’t break anything over there – seems like the town wasn’t made for 6-footers.
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Cannot wait to see the photographic spoils from this adventure. And I’m glad to hear you take your sushi quality testing role seriously. It’s no joke.
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Hey Christine,
Can’t wait to share, there will be many, many photos.
Oh yes, I freaking love sushi – you sound like a connoisseur yourself
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What kind of hotel is this?
とにかく、マイクさんの初来日だ！
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Richard!
My first visit! How the hell am I going to understand Japanese without Google translator?
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Mike! Congrats my friend and so well-deserved. You’re one of my favs and we go way back. Ask Chachi. Give my best to your lovely better, uh other, half Ms. Marti. Have fun in Japan and Happy One Year Blog Birthday, Bakuch.
P.S. (you just scored major points by mentioning Judith Light).
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Thank you thank you, Brigitte. Looking forward to having you on board in March.
Will do, she’s lurking around here somewhere, working on her own WordPress blog….trying to steal my thunder. 🙂
Yay! Judith Light reference received!
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Hey! Thanks for the shout out! Can’t wait to party at your place. Don’t worry. I have a clean up crew booked already…
Congrats again on your Freshly Pressage!
You have accomplished a lot in one year. Woohoo!
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No problem, love the community you’ve got going over there.
No dead hookers please. Not again.
Here’s to a monstrous ’13!
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Thanks Mike1
I am looking forward to lots of fun and laughs this year. That’s why I am a front row fan of your blog!
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Like a Gallagher show, I wouldn’t sit too close.
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I haven’t been Freshly Pressed ONCE, never mind twice!
Good work!
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I gave WordPress a ten-spot, Hook. It worked.
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Interesting….
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But I didn’t tell you that…
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So your trip to Russia doesn’t count as Asia? Racist!
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Euro-time zones of Russia – doesn’t countsky.
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SWEET. Say hi to Gamera for me, okay???
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I’ll make you some turtle soup.
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Eating real sushi? Buying a home? Looking flawlessly handsome? I want your life.
Have a great trip, Mike. Eat a tai nigiri for me!
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Thank you, Sir. I will indeed. Or, I can just ship you a piece from Tokyo.
Though, freshness retention may be compromised, and I don’t want to poison my blogger friends.
Nothing says “thanks for following, I dig your style” like tainted food products….
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As long as it isn’t 7-11 sushi, I’m happy to have it.
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I hope that doesn’t really exist, but scout’s honor, I would never send you 7-11 sushi. Slushee, yes. Sushi, no.
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Hell yeah to Japan. Boo to the short sale BS. High five on the take over choices. Happy, happy birthday to your blog. You rock.
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High Five! Thanks, Fish. Wanna do a guest post at some point?
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Um, yeah! Tell me where to be and what to wear and I’ll do it. 🙂
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Awesome. I’ll let you know, probably sometime mid-late April.
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You say it’s your birthday! It’s my birthday too!
Have the best time. I’d love to guest blog for you but I can’t take the pressure.
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Really? That’s freaking awesome. Happy bday.
You as well. What pressure? No pressure! Except for the stares….oh how they stare.
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They’d be sitting there watching me. When is she going to be funny? This isn’t funny. How long is Mike gone? Why didn’t he just repost one of his old ones?
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Pshaw! You funny lady.
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Good Luck on your trip! Are you going to take any pictures?
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Thanks, Wanda. Oh yeah, I will be taking hundreds of pictures
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That’s good and you’re welcome 🙂
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Sweet Jesus, that was an action-packaged post. Congrats on it all, except for the short sale. I’ve considered doing one myself, but I’ve heard the process is a pain in the ass. You can also save some serious dough though so it may be worth it in the end.
Happy bloggiversary, and how fitting to be freshly pressed again. You’re one of the few bloggers I wish could be pressed all the time.
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Action-packed like early Steven Seagal!
It’s a pain, but since I posted, there’s some positive news on the horizon, though, I can’t see the horizon because I’ve been drinking my emotions again.
Thanks, Jen.*Courtsey*. We have a mutual perpetual F-P’ed bond.
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Wow, what a joyous occasions! A trip, Freshly Pressed (AGAIN!), and a blogging anniversary… and the trip! Wow again! 😉
Congratulations, Mike!
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See, now that I congratulated you I’m starting to feel jealous… 😉
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Thank you, Pixie Girl! Please don’t be jealous, it’s all down hill from now for me. I’ll probably be slinging newspapers on a street corner next bloggiversary. 🙂
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Thanks for picking me up, other people’s misfortune is like a bar of chocolate.
Joking. Seriously. Joking.
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I love chocolate bars of misfortune…
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Woot! Congrats all around, but especially Japan… ooo eeee one of the oldest pottery centers in the world!! Would love to visit someday. Wish that home sale would go thru just for the DIY posts it will generate! I just completed a corporate BS-beholden refi,,, 16 months later!! But it’s done and I’m free in ways you could never imagine. Happy Blogiversary and I’ll look forward to tunin’ in for another 12. Travel well, my friend, see you on the backside. Of the world. I mean, not your backside… oh, nevermind.
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Why thank you thank you.
I didn’t know it was one of the oldest pottery centers in the world. Makes sense though.
Wow, I hate banks and corporations. 16 months? geeez.
Haha, I gotcha.
Ps. You are awesome.
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… hApPy BiRtHdAy!!!!!!!! … I wouldn’t be surprised if you never come back from Japan! I was HOOKED when I went there, and ended up returning SIX times in a row. ENJOY!!!
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Thank you!!!
Serious? Six times? Wow. Any pointers, or blog posts of yours I should check out?
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