I've only been back in Japan for about 20 hours and here I am back at the Kencho. And what a depressing place it is to be. After such a damn good vacation that included nothing but fun times coming back here is like walking into the bathroom after it's just been occupied for 20 minutes, if you know what I mean. And I don't mean to say that this is because I am in Japan, I could be anywhere (except for St. Kitts).
But I guess that this crap feeling I am experiencing right now just proves how much fun St Kitts really was. There is no way I can go into detail about the entire trip (and most of you were there anyway) but trust me when I say that it was probably the best series of days I've ever had in my life. And I do consider my life to be a good one. But I can't remember a time when the fun just went on and on and on. Everyday I'd wake up, look around, and think to myself, "Yes! I am still here."
The people (family and friends) were in top form and were fun to be around, the island itself was awesome (beautiful and the natives were great) and all the activities from the catamaran to the hike to the wedding were just damn good fun. And......I wasn't the one gettin' married!

Here are a few highlights...
--The first few days with only Ray, Judy and Matt. We went snorkling everyday and even took a 3 hour tour on a boat with a guy named Glenn (I think). Saw fish, a sunken boat, and some 16th century cannons down there. Also saw three sea turtles on later dates.
--The swim-up bar at the Marriott. Matt and I got a little too busy to get through the entire menu of drinks but I think we got most of them. Hanging here with those three mentioned above after snorkling was a nice way to go from day to evening.
--Matt and I playing with a tennis ball in the pool. Our game of catch morphed to one with hockey-like traits. Matt would skip the ball off the water at high velocity and in my direction and I would attempt to stop it while trying to avoid a pre-wedding pictures black eye.
--The Sunset Cafe. This place was a twenty minute walk from the hotel and was an outdoor cafe practically on the beach on the Caribbean side of the island. Was a nice laid-back place where we could leave our stuff while we went out snorkling and come back for a couple beers and lunch and then go out again.
--Speaking of drinks...the island beer, Carib, Stag and Skol.
--The place where everybody knows your (or mine and Matt's) name. The Oasis Sports Bar and Grill. Made some friends there in the staff and I hope to keep in touch with a man named Leon. He was a great guy. Also the scene of our small bachelor party.
--All of our family and friends and Wendy's family and friends. Can't think of one that I dreaded being around. Was a great group to vacation with. Was good to meet the new people and was good to see those I already knew but hadn't seen in many years...Elsa, John, Brain, Jim, and Roz. And although I just met her I feel like I've known her a while...Brian's wife, Edie (am I spelling that right?).
--A volleyball game in the pool. Was Shannon, dad, Ray and I vs. Matt, Rigel, Steve and Mike.
--Saturday at Ottly's, where the weddding was held and my brother and Wendy stayed. We had a short relaxing rehersal and then a day of fun which included rum and pineapple juice, a game of croquet, hanging out by Mike and Sonya's room and their small pool, and a short hike throught the forest. Was a good day with the guys and Sonya.
--Hiking the volcano with Greg and his guides. Was a nice hike that included a few small challenging parts but nothing too rough and Greg, who was a great guy and a book of info on the place. I should note here that Rigel fell on the rocks once in an attempt to get out of getting married but didn't do enough damage to succeed. And then he almost fell again off a small cliff but as the bestman of the big event I grabbed him as he teetered on the brink of death and pulled him back. Wendy, the poor girl, was almost a widow before she was even married, but we couldn't let Rigel get out of it that easy, now, could we?
--The day on the catamaran. This day was probably the best single day out there for me. We sailed to a snorkling spot, then sailed on again to a beach on the island of Nevis and had lunch, played catch, and socialized. After that we sailed back to our starting point during which time the drinks flowed freely (they actually flowed freely before this), the music played loudly and many people started dancing on the bow of the ship (this included all the moms present, a member of the crew, and a few others). I don't think any of us wanted this day to end.
--The rehersal dinner at Sprat Net (I might be spelling that wrong as I don't have the t-shirt Ray and Judy bought me here with me). This was a fun time with the enitre party present for dinner and drinks. Mom and dad treated so the drinks flowed freely and most of us had lobster. And all for a very reasonable price. But just in case it wasn't reasonably priced dad got liquored up and for the first time in my life I can say that he was drunker than me. Rigel and I will have fun with this one for years to come.
--The wedding and rehersal were fun too. Was a nice ceremony in which we all knew our places and didn't screw anything up. Wendy wrote the ceremony and I must say that I was impressed. Rigel only had to pause once when repeating the vows and eventually man and wife were formed. Later the dinner was good and fun and the dancing and band went on and on. Overall I think that guy I used to beat up as a child and his bride did a damn fine and very tasteful job.
--The photographer, Brock. He fit right in with our family and friends and did his job well (or I think he did, I haven't seen any pictures yet). I don't usually like pictures but between him and the rest of the troops it was quite painless. When the pictures go up on his business site I will post a link in case Rigel misses telling any of you.
--And last but not least...the monkey. I love the monkey.

Ok, so you might now understand why I didn't want it to end. But I love Japan and will soon settle back down, just might take a few days. Or it might just take tonight. Amy and I are going out with Tomoko to an izakaiya for a few drinks and food. That always helps.

Congrats Rigel and Wendy and thanks for the good times.