Last Thursday I took this picture from a bus crossing the Rainbow Bridge on the way to Narita Airport..... It was raining and 16 degrees. Miserable and gloomy. But hey, I was on my way to a place where the weather is much much nicer..... Where was I going and what was I doing? Planning this secret trip was one of the most fun and spontaneous things I've done for years....

I was bound for the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia where my best friend of 20 years, Jackie, turned 40 on the weekend and held a party to celebrate. How could I not be there?!!!! Ya. Very fucking cool. She had no idea I was coming. I walked in the door at about 3 pm and she turned around and she turned white and covered her face and dropped into the nearest chair and kept turning away and looking back to check to see if it was true... then we both started crying and laughing and hugging. That moment has to go down in my own personal and insignificant history as one of the most beautiful and rewarding things I've ever had the chance to do. I love this wonderful, substantial woman who has been there through so much with me. Now she's married with 2 kids, a house and successful shoemaking career and, well.... I look forward to celebrating her 50th, 60th, 70th and 80th birthdays with her no matter where we may be living at the time.