I've just gotten all caught up, whew! Please pardon while I comment on 49 pages of report at once.
I love Pimsleur language courses! I love that some of the first things they do are teach you to order beer and ask someone if they want to have dinner at your place. And I love that "ohio" (I'm sure that isn't how it is spelled...) literally translates to "it is early!"
And I know what you mean about pantomime and pointing! When Japanese guests would come to my desk to make reservations, they usually brought a little printed-out list of places they wanted to eat and I'd search, make sad faces and say "Crystal Palace, no...." with the sad head shake.
Has JAL adopted "We're pretty dang good!" as their official slogan yet, I wonder?
Did you hunt for moose as you flew over Alaska? (BTW, I can totally see Cuba from my apartment in Orlando.)
Wait... you were picked up at the airport by the dude from Heroes?? THAT IS SO COOL. Did he freeze time and stuff?
Does Japanese 7-11 still have pizza and taquitos? This is very important information. To me. Or do they just have blue-flavored stuff? I prefer purple, but not purple berries. They taste like burning.
I don't remember if I ever posted them, but I have Goofus & Gallant pics from when my friend Kelly visited, shortly after I started working for Mickey! She was eating all healthy, and I was eating... well, zebra domes. They do make an excellent lunch.
OMG, I have that Barbie, too. I'm pretty sure I got her as bribery for being good at a doctor or dentist appointment!
Um, so, I don't know the DIS-friendly way to say this, but... this sculpture.... yeeeeeah.
I generally refuse to stay in Hilton-owned hotels because I have this thing about any of my super hard-earned dough ever winding up in Paris's hands, but I don't know, I might cave for a Happy Fun Time Magic Super Duper Fun Joy room!
Your mentions of Godzilla reminded me of something that happened at Epcot on one of my trips... while shopping in the Japan stores, we overheard someone ask the CM working the register what Godzilla was called in Japan. She replied "Godzila." Like, duh. But then after a short pause, she said "NO, wait! Gooooooozirrrraaaaaaaaaaa!"
The shades of blue Tomorrowland entrance reminds me of the old exterior to Living Seas before the gone done and Nemo'd it up!
AHH! Why don't we have Carl and Russel in our Adventureland yet? Poor neglected WDW!
EEK! What is UP with the creepy face in the sun? It looks like Queen Elizabeth moonlighting on Telletubbies!
This reminds me of the painting that used to hang in the library of the Adv Club!
Wait... beef jerky? Fo' reals?
This is just waiting for an "OH HAI!!!" caption.
Let's see, I'd like to start off with an appetizer of Propellers, and have the Turkish Bath as my main course. ShouldI have an Infirmary for dessert? Oh, what the heck, I'll splurge! Wait, that's not the....? Oh. Ohhhhh.
"I'm not sure, Tanaka-san, I think this area could use some more theming. Any ideas? What do kids like these days?"
"How about... dead fish?"
"Perfect!"
HATHAWAY BROWNE?? IS THAT YOU?? And... wait. Is that plane really called C3PO??
GAH! I'm gonna have nightmares about that thing.
Mmm, I love stuff that tastes like the number 10! Nom nom nom...
Dude, I hope Back-of-purple-cat has a good chiropractor.
Our noon checkout time was still a ways off (why oh why can't they give us this extra hour at US Disney hotels?)
I know at All Stars we usually give you till 12:30 or 1 if you ask real nice. Bribing with cookies probably wouldn't hurt.
OMG BLUE PANTS!! I am 97% sure those are the same blue pants I wore 5 days a week (who are we kidding.. 6 days...) for the past few years. Oh, Disney costuming and your belief that high waisted pants with a big POOF in the front are flattering....
Am I the only one thinking Chip has some MAJOR pain in his very near future?
Dude, are those real flowers?
I am kind of fascinated by the whole pajamas that come with the room thing. Or maybe I'm more squicked out? Hotel beds are probably best if you don't think too much about how many other people have slept there, but I don't think I could share PJs with countless strangers! (Plus, if they are built for the standard Japanese person, my b-oobs would totally never fit.)
This is cute, but just to be clear... I'm supposed to...eat...out of Mickey's pants?
I'm sad to see your trip winding down. 
Patrick's camera is a Sony HX-1. It's sort of a bridge camera—not a DSLR but with lots of fancy features like sweep panorama and excellent low-light modes. We like it because we don't have the time or interest to edit our photos, so it's a pretty good all-around camera!
out of lurkdom! 
