Well, here I am back in Osaka after my fabulous Thanksgiving adventure. I had so much fun with my cousin and her hubby, and the Navy base was fantastic beyond my wildest dreams. So fantastic in fact, that within 20 minutes of arriving at their apartment, I must have uttered “Oh my God! (Insert amazed statement here)!” so many times that I sounded like someone who had recently been discovered in a frozen crevasse and thawed out, or perhaps someone who has been shipwrecked for a couple of decades or so, only to be bombarded by popular culture, modern conveniences, etc. “Oh my God! What a huge oven!”. “Oh my God! Horatio Cane married Delco’s sister?! And she died??!”. “Oh my God! They package half sticks of butter now?!”. “Oh my God! This toilet paper is so substantial yet soft, I could make a pair of pants out of it!”. And so on.

Anyway, after my exclamations died down a bit, I watched my cousin Rachel prepare the most kick-ass Thanksgiving meal ever (see above photo). Seriously Ladies of America, why all the fuss? Why do we always hear stories of you getting up at 4am to put a turkey in the oven, only to find it still not fully cooked 19 hours later? Get it together, why don’t you! Although maybe I’m being a little harsh. After all, all Rachel did was move to a foreign country, survive cancer, and then cook a 7-plus course Thanksgiving meal, all while working full time. No wait, I was right the first time. Get it together, Thanksgiving Horror Story Ladies of America!

Awesome. It was like going on vacation at an America-themed resort. I didn’t want to leave. It was so great to hang out with Rachel and Ricky, and I can’t wait to see them again. They have really got their acts together. I am a pitiful excuse for an ‘adult’.

PS, their kitchen is the size of my entire apartment.