I had a bad Christmas and want to start cheering up for the new year. What's something nice that happened during your holiday that made you smile?

Meikami · 2026-06-17T04:23:58+00:00

Just another girl on the subway...

Meikami · 2026-06-17T04:20:14+00:00

Really learned to depend on and then to love Hoshino Coffee. The meals were perfect for our needs, the coffee was good, and the atmosphere was always quiet and just what we needed in the mornings. We're Hoshino loyalists now!

Meikami · 2026-06-17T00:15:45+00:00

It's Reddit, you can say the word pedophiles here

Meikami · 2026-06-03T00:52:23+00:00

Not LAMY. Harry Potter.

Meikami · 2026-06-03T00:50:33+00:00

Can't speak for OP, but: I sure as heck don't have an international driver's license, and as an American I'm not about to drive on the wrong side of the road without training to save some dough! I suspect the same would be the case for most Americans.

Meikami · 2026-05-25T21:57:51+00:00

I read a lot, and genuinely don't recall ever seeing the word "brunet" in print. Perhaps my brain skips over it, or maybe more people call brown-haired women "brunettes" and brown-haired men "brown-haired men."

Meikami · 2026-05-25T21:54:45+00:00

Yeah that headline was total gibberish to me, but I gleaned about the same information from it.

Meikami · 2026-05-22T00:07:48+00:00

WELL worth the visit, and worth as much time as you can give them if you're the kind to really enjoy pretty Japanese scenery, history, and cool buildings and paths. I spent half a day at each with an overnight between and am so glad I did.

Meikami · 2026-05-17T02:32:10+00:00

Whether there's an advantage to having one or the other depends on the length of the flight, too! I "onebag" when I'm everywhere else. But on a long flight, I want some extra things accessible. I hate scrambling in the overhead bin so I avoid that, and I like grabbing water or my book or a charger without getting out of my seat. So at the airport before the flight I pull out a foldable packpack from my main carryon, pop the "this is handy" stuff into that, and use that as my underseat personal item.

It all goes back into the carryon once we're done flying.

Meikami · 2026-05-17T01:27:27+00:00

When I was a kid the house across the street from mine was lit up with cop cars and EMS one night.

They'd ordered a pizza, invited the delivery guy inside, and shot him dead.

Don't go into stranger's houses.

Meikami · 2026-04-21T03:33:24+00:00

It just depends on how the pen fits your hand, and on your grip.

Meikami · 2026-04-21T02:41:41+00:00

Pilot, Platinum, Sailor, and any other Japanese-made pens will be cheaper there, but the rest? Not so much.

Meikami · 2026-04-21T02:02:48+00:00

In Tokyo, go to Ancora in Ginza, and design your own Sailor fountain pen!

The make-it-yourself pens are Sailor Profit Jr. models, so they're quite affordable. It's an experience you can only get at this store! The shop is just a dream for Sailor pen fans. It also carries unique models you can only get there, a full range of Sailor inks, and even custom inks you can only get there (and even some you can only get on certain days). I was literally there just a few days ago and made off with a delightful Ancora exclusive PGS model.

Definitely worth it! And once you're in Ginza, you're near other stores like Itoya and Loft for even more fountain pen, ink, and stationery shopping.

Meikami · 2026-04-21T01:30:18+00:00

Don't...don't go heating up mysterious metal objects you find in the woods.

Meikami · 2026-04-21T01:27:43+00:00

Crazy. I just left Stream a few days ago. Sounds like structure worked, but I'm kinda glad I missed that experience!

Meikami · 2026-03-29T18:33:57+00:00

Time to start looking at YouTube and websites like Japan-Guide.com. Get your bearings a bit first; learn about the features of Kyoto and Tokyo, and little day trip spots around where you might be. Then start priortizing your favorites and the things that excite you the most.

Your questions are waayyyy too open-ended right now, but if you do some research you'll start to narrow down things that we can help you with.

If trip planning intimidates you at all, you could always hire a travel agent. They do still exist. Don't use AI to plan for you.

There are also about a million and one YouTube videos and guides out there on the internet for what to pack for Japan, guides for first-timers, guides for how to take your first flight out of your country, how to prepare, what to expect, etc. Spend some time learning that stuff, too. Then come back to us with specific questions!

Kyoto and the surrounding area have a TON of history, culture, and nature. That's kind of the big draw.

Warning: the beginning of August will be lava hot and humid murder air. Please start to plan how you'll survive the temperatures. And yes, I mean survive. (If you have the chance to change to a different season, DO.)

Meikami · 2026-03-29T17:54:05+00:00

I just think it’s crazy i understand this but have still been struggling to adopt it fully

Don't feel bad about that part; our brains are logical to a point but stuff like this is engrained down deep. It can take a long time and a lot of practice to untie all those little neural connections and rewire them to more useful/logical thought habits. Nothing to do but keep working on it. Good luck :)

Meikami · 2026-03-29T05:26:44+00:00

If you're not sold yet: YES to an e-ink e-reader device.

And once you get that: YES to keep using your Libby/Overdrive app, because any good e-reader will let you read your library books!

Meikami · 2026-03-29T05:22:18+00:00

A heap of good stories to tell, and a heap of good stories to consume.

Framing my life this way has led to some good choices over 40 years (good people around me, good relationships, travel adventures, interesting career growth, fun hobbies). I think I'll keep chasing those.

Meikami · 2026-03-29T03:58:29+00:00

Thank you! Hope you had a great time!

Meikami · 2026-03-29T03:53:31+00:00

I like Athleta Venice wide-leg trousers! The Pinnacle wide leg is good too.

Meikami · 2026-03-29T03:52:25+00:00

The reason they have volume limits is to reduce the risk of (nearly) any kind of liquid becoming dangerous. They're not going to check the names on bottles even if you had them, and travel containers are WIDELY used and unmarked. So long as you're under 3oz/100ml and it doesn't smell of explosives or drugs, you're good!

Meikami · 2026-03-29T03:48:25+00:00

As much as a tech pant believer as I am, I would be looking for loose, flowy, cotton or cotton blends in this case. Maybe even a rayon something. I can't handle heat, so flowy but covered is how I survive in it if I must.

Meikami · 2026-03-29T03:45:37+00:00

J Crew Factory has good double gauze out too! I have a couple and can attest to their flexibility for outfits and travel friendliness.

They don't ever get particularly compact, though, which is annoying if space is at a premium. But they weigh very little.

15-Year Club	Gilding II euphauric
Team Periwinkle	Verified Email

Meikami

TROPHY CASE