99

Five days ago in the rain at 12:06 JST I photographed signage of a penguin on the back of a delivery truck, knots of silhouetted telephone pole wires, red, blue, and yellow laundry the same color as the penguin's tuxedo, hat, and cane – so many of my favorite things – all viewed through the blue gradient of a Honda's wet front window. These elements serve to remind me of another simpler photograph made through the Honda's cool tint, then further back in time to old surfing shirts with silhouetted palm trees in front of radiant sunsets. It must be the gradient that smoothly transitions between present and past and triggers reflection and nostalgia

17

Regarding the upcoming typhoon: there was a sudden, impromptu meeting on the terrace with the superintendent of the apartment complex who climbed over the railing to the terrace while I was taking a shower. He wanted to secure the plants and make sure the drains were unclogged and OK. I heard a voice, so I went down the hallway to the front door, then outside, but nobody was there. Then I heard a voice from the terrace, so I went inside – nobody there, but a voice from the front door, so I went back out – nobody there yet again. This repeated not unlike your average cartoon skit until I looked over onto the terrace from near the front door, saw him, and we finally spoke (we slightly spoke would be a more accurate description). I rushed out in shorts, in the rain, without contact lenses and started "hai, hai, hai-ing" to everything he said, scooping leaves and mud from the drains as I interpreted, and moving things to where he pointed. It was quite comical – my arigatous, my blindness, his arigatous, much mutual bowing and confusion, etc. I moved all the small plants towards the building and surrounded them with a ring of larger, protective plants according to my deduction of what might potentially have been his suggestions. Now watch, there probably won't even be rain later in the day. Regardless, we are ready for whatever is coming.

8

Sometimes cats in Takinogawa will use a plant as an umbrella. Sometimes cats in Takinogawa will use a plant as a stylish accessory for their evening out on the town. Typhoons, torrential downpours, misty drizzles, or even weather forecasts indicating the slightest possibility of humidity should not be considered a factor in your assessment of the situation. Feline usage of foliage is a complicated matter and goes far beyond weather predictions. Inclement weather systems can be merely coincidental with the cat's headwear decision.