My first entry in donkey's years (>_<)

So here's my first entry on my blog since last year (if anyone is still checking it). I finally got the internet hooked up in my apartment, and I've found the motivation to try to continue posting info. This is a picture from September 17th, when Sean visited me in Sendai (for those of you who don't know, he's my brother and he's working for GEOS as well, in the Kyoto area).
The occasion was a farewell party for my friend and co-worker Renae (that's her up close to the camera). She arrived in Japan a month after I did and now she's heading back to Louisiana to go back to University. I'll miss her. I had a fun year working and travelling with her and spewing out childish/sarcastic remarks at each other.
And by the way, the Japanese girl sitting beside Sean is Ryoko, my girlfriend. We've been dating since my birthday :)
More about that later.
TTFN