Any recommendations for homemade (big) chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches in the city?

(If this post is still up, I'm still looking!)
Hey there. I really want to develop a female led/slight gentle femdom relationship with a special guy.
When a lot of men see the term "female led relationship," they think, "Oh, the woman will make all the decisions with no input on what I think/want."
Are there dynamics like that? I'm sure there is. Personally, I'm not looking to be "the boss" or "above" you in any way. I want us to be equal... but have you give up control to me in a few other ways. :)
What do I mean? Keep reading on!
● ABOUT ME ●
You can call me Dreamer for now. (I'll tell you my real name once we get to know each other) Please do NOT call me Miss, Master, Dominatrix or Ma'am.
I'm 25 years old and an INFJ-T. I live in Nashville, Tennessee, USA (AKA Music City) and I'm on Central Standard Time. I'm a Black woman and I stand 5 feet, 7 inches tall. My eyes are brown and I wear glasses. I don't have any tattoos or piercings at the moment.
One thing I want to mention is that I'm plus size, AKA a bigger girl. I'm undergoing a vertical sleeve gastrectomy in two months to lose the excess weight I have in a sustainable and permanent way. I'm ready to regain my body and be healthy and confident again. I'd love to have you by my side throughout my journey!
As far as personality goes, I'd describe myself as empathetic and sweet. I like to help others as much as I can. In person, I tend to be rather shy at first. People tend to mistake that for weakness or gullibility. I'm anything but; my strength lies in introspection and quiet observation. I notice every nuance of a person's actions, words, body language, vibe... my intuition hasn't steered me wrong yet!
● INTERESTS ●
I won't go into detail on every single interest that I have but I'll talk about my biggest ones that you'll likely hear me mention the most.
✨️Writing✨️
I've been writing since I was six years old, but I started taking it seriously around 13 years old. All in all, it's been 19 years. As of right now, I primarily write Fanfiction but in the past, I've written short stories, poetry and I even tried to learn how to write screenplays at one point.
I wrote my first full-length book in 2018/2019. I started the sequel in early 2020, but I'm still working on it. I lost a LOT of inspiration during the pandemic but I'm finally writing for it again.
If you also enjoy writing, I'd love to "talk shop" with you and maybe we can exchange some of our past works.
✨️Music✨️
Music has gotten me through a lot over the years. Yeah, yeah, I know everyone says that. But it truly has. It's shaped my life and introduced me to a lot of things and people that I probably never would've done or met otherwise.
There's no point in saying I like xyz genre because I've listened to pretty much everything. The only ones I truly hate are country and gangster rap. If you want specifics, though... I've been a HUGE twenty one pilots fan for 9 years. (I have more merch, stickers and other random shit than I care to admit to lmao) I also love other artists like Amber Run, Purity Ring, Phantogram, Daughter, Lorde, OneRepublic... plus tons more.
I've always had this dumb idea of a guy and I confessing to each other through playlists with songs that make us think fondly about each other...
God, I'm single.
✨️Photography✨️
I've been into photography for 10 years and I've had my DSLR for eight years. (It's definitely the camera version of 'Ol Reliable) I enjoy nature and portrait photography. I'd love to show you some of my work and get your thoughts on it.
✨️TV/Movies✨️
TV genres I like: Animation (like Spongebob), comedy, drama, documentaries (disaster and crime ones are my favorites), true crime (like Forensic Files), old sitcoms (like Sanford and Son) and cooking and baking competitions/reality TV (like Kitchen Nightmares US and UK, Hell's Kitchen, Master Chef, The Great British Baking Show, etc)
Movie genres I like: Animation, drama, comedy, action, psychological thrillers and science fiction. I thoroughly loved The Greatest Showman so one could say I like musicals but it's the only one I've seen so not sure if that really counts. Comic book movies are pretty alright too, but I really haven't seen anything past the first Avengers movie lmaooooo.
I say this as unpretentiously as possible, but I haven't seen most popular TV shows or movies that your average person likes. I think the last "popular" thing I watched was that Jeffrey Dahmer series on Netflix. (mainly out of morbid curiosity because everyone was freaking out about it... and because I think Evan Peters is a cutie) I only saw a few episodes and then forgot to watch the rest of it, but it wasn't as horrific as everyone was saying. Maybe I've watched too much Forensic Files and I'm desensitized lmao.
✨️Video and computer games✨️
Video game genres I like: Adventure, action-adventure, RPGs & JRPGs, Strategy... basically anything that is relatively fun and not horror related.
Some of my all-time favorites: Kingdom Hearts II, Ratchet and Clank, Journey, Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy X.
As far as computer games, the only thing I play on a regular basis is The Sims 2 and The Sims 4. As a kid, I loved simulator and time-management games; some old favorites are the RCT series, Simcity: Rush Hour, the first four Diner Dash games, the Delicious series and Burger Shop 2 (which I still have on my computer actually lmao)
✨️Other random interests✨️
Art, traveling, people watching, researching random topics on Wikipedia and watching YouTube, especially channels with old shows and movies.
☆ CAREER ☆
My last position was working nights at a psychiatric hospital. I'm looking for something new at the moment.
☆ SCHOOLING ☆
I'm officially a college student at 25. Yay! Feel free to ask me more about it, I'd love to talk.
☆ ET CETERA ☆
I really love dogs and cats. I have three cats and they're little demons but I love them to death. I also love small animals like ferrets, bunnies and snakes!
My main love languages are words of affirmation, quality time and gift giving/receiving. To be honest, though, there's elements of each language that I enjoy or relate to in one way or another.
I don't smoke and I drink every so often. Otherwise, I'm vaccinated and DDF.
● ABOUT YOU ●
I'm looking for a guy between the ages of 23-33 years old. I might be willing to talk to someone within two years in either direction (so 21 min and 35 max) if you meet all my other preferences/wants. If you're younger than 21 or older than 35, though, please don't contact me.
Please be single and emotionally available. I won't interact with anyone already in a relationship or married (even if you're separated or in a "dead bedroom," you're STILL married) and I'm especially not interested in poly/ENM. I'm 100% monogamous.
Hair is super important to me! I prefer medium length to long hair, something I can stroke and play with a lot lmao.
I have a REALLY big soft spot for blue and/or doe eyes, but don't let that deter you. If you have kind eyes, I'll fall in love with them, no matter their color!
I tend to like softer facial features and even softer personalities. Are you super masculine in public but a total softie in private? Lovely! Are you less masculine but a little more feminine? Great! Are you androgynous or otherwise fall somewhere in between? I can dig it!
Key traits that I like in a guy include, but are not limited to: Being sweet, gentle, empathetic, considerate, an active listener, exceptional at communication and willing to go the extra mile for those that you love, be it family, friends, your partner, etc.
With that being said, it's important that you have time for me. I'm not expecting us to talk 24/7 but if you're always too busy to talk to me, this won't work. At some point, I'd like for us to also talk on the phone as our schedules permit, of course.
As I mentioned in the beginning of this post, please be from the USA/North America and willing to meet and get to know each other in person ASAP.
● WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR ●
It's important to me that you're an active listener; what I mean is that you'll make an effort to listen to what I have to say and respond to it accordingly. If I tell you my thoughts on a matter or ask you a question or give you a compliment etc etc, please respond to it. It makes me feel so sad and small if I feel like my thoughts or opinions are not important/relevant.
I can tell pretty quickly if someone is genuinely interested in me or not. Like I said before, I notice everything lol.
I mentioned earlier how one of my love languages is words of affirmation. One of the ways I enjoy that is through compliments. I'm not looking for you to worship the ground I walk on, but being told "You look beautiful" or "When you do xyz, that makes me really happy" makes me feel SO seen and appreciated.
It's incredibly frustrating to send a picture of myself and get a lukewarm response in return. :(
Affection is also super important to me. Holding hands, hugging, kissing, cuddling, touching... all the cute couple shit. I want you to touch me, not in a pervy way, but in an affectionate way. I want to stroke your hair while I hold you close... little things like that make me incredibly happy.
Keep in mind, everything I want from you, I'll give to you in return. I'll always listen and acknowledge you, give you compliments, shower you in affection, plus whatever else makes you feel wanted and appreciated as a person and in a relationship.
● OUR DYNAMIC ●
I always want you to have a choice and be able to voice your opinion. I will never degrade or boss you around in general, but especially when it comes to your personal choices. I'm a switch that used to be a predominant sub and believe me, I've had doms tell me before, "I make the decision on what you wear, what to eat, who you hang out with, etc etc... because I'm your dom and what I say goes."
Some people may like that. More power to them. But I'm not like that. I want you to feel free to express yourself. If you want my opinion, I'll give it to you, of course. But my job is to build you up and support your decisions, no matter how small!
Again, I'm not looking for you to kiss my ass. I'd love for you to take the lead on most decisions (with my input, of course). But I want you to also have a "service" attitude; whether that's helping out with household chores or surprising me with a massage after work or giving me flowers "just because" or helping me paint my toenails lol... just to name some examples. The sky's the limit.
That extends to "the bedroom" as well. I want my pleasure to be just as important to you as yours is to me.
In short? I just want to feel doted on and taken care of. I want to be the most important person in your life and you be the most important person in my life. I want to make you feel special and praise you and tell you how much you mean to me. And I want the same in return. 💓
● "KINKS" ●
This is inevitably gonna come up at some point. I'll say when it comes to my "kinks" (if you want to call them that) I like:
Teasing, edging, telling you when you can cum and begging me for it (I believe it's called orgasm control/denial), moaning, praise, blindfolds, eye contact, body worshiping (you and me), breast worship, oral, fingering and using toys on you.
Been a little curious about pegging someone one day. We'd have to build up to it, of course, because I don't want to hurt you. If you're not into that, though, don't worry! It's definitely not a requirement.
Things I do NOT like (or hard limits) are:
Humiliation, degradation, anything that causes you or me physical, emotional and mental harm, blood, pee, scat, vomit, diapers, CNC, ageplay, raceplay, hitting, slapping, choking or anything else illegal, unethical or otherwise unloving.
● IN CONCLUSION... ●
If you read all of this, good job! Here's a cookie, hope you like chocolate chip. 🍪
Seriously, though, I can't name every little thing I want. Despite the length of this post, I'm not trying to play Build-A-Boy. I realize you have your own caveats and that's totally fine. Let's get to know each other and see what happens. All I ask for, again, is that you want a serious, longterm relationship and not view me as just some sort of "kink dispenser."
Chats or DMs are fine. When you send me a message, please include the following...
• Name or alias • Location • Age • Height, body type, hair cololength, eye color • Your interests/hobbies • Whether you're a sub or a switch • What you're looking for out of a relationship and something (or things) you really enjoyed about my post • A clear, SFW picture of yourself • Your current favorite song (so I know you actually read through all of this) • Whatever else you want to add to catch my attention. The more you can match my "detailed energy," the better.
I won't reply to those who ignore my preferences or the message requirements above. If you send me nudes/dick pics/sexting or FWB requests/rude messages, you will be blocked and reported.
Thank you so much for reading this, and I hope you have a good night!

• Dreamer

(P.S. I don't use Snap, Kik, Telegram, WhatsApp and whatever else. I use Discord and I only give my cell number out to people that I'm comfy with.)

(This ended up being longer than I anticipated, but when I went back to find quotes there was just...so much more than I remembered there being. And I still ended up cutting out a lot.)
A while ago, I read Trailer Trash by Marie Sexton and I loved it. It’s not a perfect book (I don’t want or need to read about homophobic violence for a story to feel “real” so it’s something I try to avoid), but it was perfect for me at the time I read it. I decided to search for other books by the author, and One Man’s Trash immediately stood out to me. Trailer Trash, One Man’s Trash, it seemed like a good omen. And I really liked it! It was a lot more flawed, however. I found the characters and plot a little frustrating at times, but that’s normal with a more grown up kind of story. But I had some reservations, and what really pinged my “this might be some bullshit” radar was this particular section:

“But it’s just like being part of the LGBT ‘community.’” He made quotation marks with his fingers around the word. “They give a lot of lip service to ‘diversity’ and open-mindedness—and most of them follow through—but there’s always this little, loudmouthed subset telling you how to behave and what to say. It starts out ‘all for one, and one for all,’ but by the end, somebody’s drawing lines in the sand, telling you to choose a side. You can’t be gay or bi or trans if you don’t vote a certain way, act a certain way, follow some ridiculous set of rules. They all want you to be a round little peg in a round fucking hole. They want you to pick a box and a label so they know just where to put you, rather than accepting that we’re all separate, unique people, and that our stories are all valid, no matter whether we fit in the box or not.” He stopped, feeling himself headed into one of the rants that only Phil and Gray or Charlie would have understood. The confusion on Taylor’s face was the response he was accustomed to. He took one more stab at it. “There’s always that pissed-off minority who think their ‘rules’ outweigh your right to live your life.”

I initially brushed it aside. I mean, I’ve known a few people who like to rant about this topic who also have a lot more extreme opinions to go along with it, so it reminded me of those people and it didn’t endear me to the character, but I don’t need to like a character to like the story. As long as it feels real and not like a mouthpiece for the author, you know? But that’s what I found troubling about this kind of sermonizing. I wondered if the author was about to get ahead of herself and make a habit of yanking me out of the story to deliver these rants. Fortunately, it wasn’t an issue. I ended up giving the book a strong 3.5 stars, and I even went back and skim-read it a second time. I found myself intrigued by the rest of the friend group (the aforementioned Phil, Gray, and Charlie) so I decided to read their stories too.
Book 2 in the series, Terms of Service, was somewhat like the first. Good points, bad points, a little less polished than I’d like, but intriguing enough to keep me turning the page. For a while at least. Because – you guessed it – this time we get double the amount of ranting in the form of a crotchety senior citizen who’s taking his turn serving as the author’s mouthpiece. He really badly wants to tell us how people need to take responsibility for their medical bills, and all about the problem with medicine today. He’s a nonagenarian with dementia, but thankfully he’s sharp enough at this point in time to really give us a sermon. One of the characters offers a token protest, but that’s just so the author can have an opportunity to rant some more.

“I’m not sure it’s that simple,” he said to Pops.
“Bah!” Pops gave another wave as if to send him on his way. “Of course it is. You get a doctor’s office on every corner instead of a Starbucks, suddenly they’d have to compete for our business. ‘Buy a pap smear, get a mammogram for free!’ That kind of thing. Suddenly, accepting a plate of cookies or a dozen fresh eggs as payment for a blood pressure check doesn’t seem so silly. But nobody talks about lowering the cost of procedures. All they talk about is premiums. Switching the burden of payment from the individual to the government

It’s paragraphs of this stuff, but you get the gist. I thought it was blessedly over, but nope, on the way home from their visit, his grandson (one of the MCs) has a fun childhood story for his love interest (would not blame you for skipping this part, but I found the tone so weird that I had to share the bulk of it):

“And then one day, Pops looks at my textbook and realizes I’m reading about the Cuban Missile Crisis. He takes the paper I’m writing on JFK, and he starts reading it, and he’s just shaking his head, saying, ‘no, no, no’”. Phil laughed. “I couldn’t believe it, because I knew the material. I’d read it twice! I knew I had everything right, and I told him so.
“So then he starts telling all the stuff that isn’t the text book. Like how JFK was under the care of the original Doctor Feelgood, who’d been in the White House that evening, giving Kennedy one of his famous ‘cocktails.’ Then they woke Kennedy in the middle of the night and hauled his ass into this emergency meeting about Russia putting nukes in Cuba. Pops had a book that contained a transcript of that meeting, and reading it, you can tell Kennedy’s so fucking high, he has no real idea what’s going on. At one point, he says something like, ‘Why would Russia do that? That’d be like us putting nukes in Turkey.’ And there’s a pause, and then one of the other people in the room says, ‘We did, sir.’”
They stopped at a red light, and it seemed to make Phil’s stream of words stop too, although this time, he was smiling. “It’s weird, because I’ve looked for that transcript more recently, and it doesn’t come up in a Google search. I mean, maybe twenty pages deep or something, but it’s buried. The only thing you’ll find is a transcript from the next morning, when he’s more with it.” He shook his head as the light turned green. “Anyway. Next thing I know, Pops is telling me all about JFK’s famous Camp David parties, just him, his political allies, Dr. Feelgood, and a few high-priced call girls. Pops talked for hours about how the lone gunman theory doesn’t make sense, how the Warren Report’s nothing but bullshit. At the time, it floored me. It was like this revelation, that history could be more interesting than just memorizing names and dates. That maybe there was stuff they didn’t want us to know.”

So he writes a report all about his grandpa's conspiracy theories and he gets an F. His mean overbearing father, who apparently is the villain of the story, made him write the report again. I mean, cool. It’s a story from his childhood, not much to see here. But the author doesn’t leave it alone. She really wants to hammer home her message:

“So, he’s kind of a conspiracy theorist?”
Phil practically rolled his eyes. “Have you ever considered how often we use that phrase to dismiss people simply because they disagree with us? I mean, Pops isn’t a moron. He knows the Earth is round. He doesn’t think the moon landing’s a hoax or anything. He reads constantly. He just has a few key things he can’t let go—”
“Like JFK?”
Phil nodded. “Like JFK. But really, he’s pretty reasonable. Now, wait until you meet Gray’s father. He’s a trip. He has two Ph.Ds. Probably the smartest, most intimidating guy I’ve ever met. And yet, he gets brushed off as a ‘conspiracy theorist’ because he questions the status quo.” He laughed. “I dare you to say those two words to his face.”

So deep.
I ended up DNF’ing this one, mostly because it was boring and I didn’t vibe with the couple, but I decided to try book 3 because that particular character had intrigued me the most so far.
I didn’t read the reviews beforehand. Why oh why didn’t I read the reviews beforehand? Because what the fuck was that?
Gray is a cop. Ex-military. And he has a lot of opinions about ~~social justice warriors~~. His love interest, Avery, is a younger man who spends a lot of time on Twitter and Tumblr and is every stereotype stuffed into one convenient straw man. Avery is a masochist and Gray is a sadist, so he's literally just there to get whipped and flogged while Gray rants about the spooky mainstream media. He even takes away Gray’s phone, and he suffers withdrawal like a drug addict, then magically finds himself happier. I mean, sure, okay. We could all probably do with less scrolling. But then he gets his phone back and suddenly turns into a mean and vicious harpy who’s snapping at everyone. Because he’s addicted to outrage, you see. And who doesn’t love an anvil falling from the sky?
If you want to get a feel for Gray, here are some words of wisdom from our Ben Shapiro-wannabe main character:

But the give-and-take, fact-based process of discussion and debate were lost on Avery. When Gray pointed out Avery’s argument resorted to the straw man fallacy, Avery only blinked at him in confusion. When Gray countered one of Avery’s points, Avery had no arguments. He had no logic. As soon as he was challenged, he resorted to name-calling. If Gray disagreed, he was automatically stupid or racist or mansplaining. Never mind that Avery couldn’t ever explain what about Gray’s point was wrong, or what part of it supposedly made him a racist.

I lost it at "He had no logic" fucking hell 😂 I was approaching cringe overload, but I obviously hate myself, because I just couldn’t look away from this gruesome wreck.

“You think you know everything that matters, and anybody who disagrees with you is ignorant or uneducated or a ‘fascist.’ But I’ve seen your tweets and your Tumblr posts and the ridiculous fucking memes you love so much. I’ve seen what you think qualifies as a rational argument, and I have to tell you, it’s neither rational, nor an argument. It’s nothing but self-righteous hot air.”

Hello, Marie? I didn’t realize this was a 3-way call. Kinda thought it was just gonna be me and the characters. It’s just, you’re butting in an awful lot. Can you hang up, please?
Apparently the answer is no, because she’s not done yet. Our main character conveniently meets a black woman who tells him she was shunned by her friends and family because she refused to vote for Hillary.

My husband and I, we talked about it, and we decided we were done voting for the lesser of two evils. My husband said that’s what got us into this mess, and he wasn’t doing it anymore. So we agreed to vote third party. And ever since then, my sister’s refused to speak to me except to attack me. Before that, my husband and I babysat their kids. We took them to Water World or the amusement park. But now she’s decided we’re both white supremacists in disguise. When that article came out online about how it’s okay to punch a Nazi, she sent it to me. She said, ‘Just so you know what to expect if you show up at Christmas.’”
Avery didn’t know what to say. It was absurd. Emily was one of the nicest people he’d ever met. How could anybody call her a Nazi?

FUCKING LOL. Are you kidding me right now? This author bypassed the sock puppet “as a black man” twitter account and just decided to write it into her book. Amazing. Why is this going on for chapter after chapter after chapter? Start a blog or something, I don’t caaaaare.

Robert spoke next, his voice so quiet, Avery barely heard him over the noise of the bar. “Try being a gay Republican.”

Ah, gay Republican, I was wondering if you’d make an appearance. I was expecting a lesbian in a wheelchair who’s all prepared to deliver her treatise on “cancel culture” but I guess you’ll do. So we have a a black woman and a gay man, I guess we're missing a Mexican Trump supporter. No worries, Gray's mother is here to save the day.

“You really voted for Trump?” he asked.
“I didn’t vote for him in the primaries,” she said without embarrassment. “I was horrified when he won. I thought about voting third party, but in the end, I sure didn’t want Hillary to win. So yeah, I voted for him.”
“But how could you?” Avery asked. “You’re a woman! Plus, you’re Latina.”
“I’m third-generation Mexican American. And yes, I’m female. You see those two things and think you know everything you need to know about me? But I suppose you think you’re not racist or sexist.”
It was said with a lightness that told him it more a jest than an accusation, but nevertheless, Avery’s cheeks began to burn.
“Go ahead,” Gray said. “Attack her. Call her a racist or a Nazi or a white supremacist.”
“Gray, stop!” Avery whispered, his cheeks burning hotter.

He also has a climate change-denier for a father, but this is getting long enough.
I just want to know what the author was thinking. Where was the common sense? Where was the self-awareness? Have your beliefs, that's your business, but keep it your business. Why are you shoe-horning them into your romance and ambushing your readers with your shitty “both sides are equally good and bad, really” manifesto, with a cast of literally unbelievable token characters, like that's a completely normal thing to do? That has to be one of the dumbest things I’ve ever seen someone do while simultaneously patting themselves on the back. And if her beef is with people who are chronically online, may I just point out that she's sitting at almost 56 THOUSAND tweets right now? So perhaps the call is coming from inside the house, idk.
Anyway, that was my rollercoaster journey with this particular author (is it still a rollercoaster when the lows vastly outnumber highs?) Maybe book 4 is magically tolerable, but I guess I'll never know 🤷🏽‍♀️

u/welshfancy x 7
As I was pulling out all the mail I received while I was in LA for 12 days I kept seeing you name! Guess you are back into sending lol!! I will be writing back soon with answers to questions, questions about comments, and general ramblings :) Hopefully you have received the postcards I sent while in CA?
Thank you for, in no particular order (although I did try to arrange them in Postmark order as best I could):
1 telling me all about your trip revolving around food and thrifting, my kind of vacation. Sounds like you scored big on your thrifting outings. Dare I tell you I had to look up Daiso was? lol Looks like they are only in NY and CA. Cute cherry blossom stationary set btw!
2 chocolate creme cookies card/recipe I seriously LOL'd when I saw the recipe and thought WHY, why would anyone try to make Oreo type cookies when they are so good already; then I opened your card and you basically said the same. Like Minds! Hopefully by now you have gone to the Dr and are feeling better? Did you decide to go see kids or stay home and get things done? Not sure why you couldn't do both at the same time :)
3 Rabbit postcard. Ahh I see you have decided to go and visit the kids! Good for you!! I would always pick spending time with my kids or traveling over getting things done any day.
4 Flower spring card - Never too late to send a card is what I say. Was fun getting a card meant for Spring when temps have risen into the late summer range! Very pretty BoBunny card, love the hydrangea paper, Love the pop up Hello and bling too. Sounds like your job is both good and frustrating at times. Ohhh Portugal!! How exciting, I hope you get to go. If you do, let me know where you will be going, I have been a few times. My advice Get a Pastel de nata every day - my fav European dessert discovery!
5 South Point postcard - must be awesome to be able to visit your son and Vegas at the same time. Probably a wise move to go to Goodwill to thrift rather then playing the slots. lol what did you find?
6 OMG Love the Taco 'Bout Awesome taco shaped card. You really out did yourself with your puns, they made me chuckle! Are you crazy - 3 am and writing cards in Vegas, there must be other things better to be doing, like sleeping perhaps? lol. Do you go to any shows while you are there, or have you been so many times you have seen most everything? Thanks for the shiny hummingbird and flower stickers, they will be adorning envelopes very soon.
7 this postcard made for you by u/IMOkReally is terrific! I have definitely been waiting to hear about your bird trauma tales of woe! Don't forget! You mentioned you have been sent lots of supplies; that is exciting. Are these the things your daughter gave you for your bday? Which Stamping platform did you get? I love mine, especially when I use a bigger stamp, nice to know you can just reink and stamp again in the exact same place. Funny that you told me about a postcard back stamp you got and yet didn't use it on the postcard you sent. I will await cards using that as well.
Once again you have blown me away with your kindness. I need to get this posted so I can write out some cards to you now that I am back, at least until my next trip :)
​
​

Being in a calorie deficit isn't the hardest thing for me in terms of day time eating - breakfast lunch dinner, but its the snacks that get me especially in the evening/night time. I will be on track all day and then at night time just get a sugaidk what craving.
Hear me out, watermelon and pickles. I know it sounds weird but the sourness and crunch of the pickle with the sweetness of the watermelon is exactly what I needed. It sounds weird but it helped me reduce my chocolate cookie intake - before I would eat like 6 cookies a night but now im good with 2.

Hi y’all! I was wondering if anyone can recommend me a drink (coffee or chai) that takes as similar as possible to a chocolate chip cookie? (I don’t drink dairy or cold foam). I’ve heard macadamia combinations get close? Thanks so much, love you guys!

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Women are less optimistic and less willing to take risks than men because they are more sensitive to the pain of any losses they might incur than any gains they might make
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space

• Adeldor

SpaceX Dragon capsule breaks U.S. spaceflight records
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• Busy_Yesterday9455

Do you know? The last supernova that exploded in the pinwheel galaxy (before SN2023ixf) was only 12 years ago!
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• thesheetztweetz

Layoffs hit Colorado space companies as funding remains tight
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Futurology

• chemistrynerd1994

Should future Mars missions have all-female crews? A team of researchers found that, on a 1,080-day mission, a four-member, all-female crew would need 3,736 pounds (1,695 kilograms) less food than an all-male crew would, amounting to a savings of $158 million.
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• Gari_305

Performers Worry Artificial Intelligence Will Take Their Jobs
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• Teophil

GM’s electric vehicles will gain access to Tesla’s vast charging network
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AskReddit

• VisibleConfusion12

What is the one crime that could be considered worse than murder?
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• RavenGreekGod

What made you move out of your parents' house?
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• Spinksy48

What is your “never interrupt an enemy while they are making a mistake” moment?
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todayilearned

• sunnymushroom

TIL that Varina Davis, the First Lady of the Confederate States of America, was personally opposed to slavery and doubted the Confederacy could ever succeed. After her husband’s death, she moved to New York City and wrote that “the right side had won the Civil War.”
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• NegativeSector

TIL Diogenes was a Greek philosopher who was known for living in a ceramic jar, disrupting Plato's lessons by eating loudly, urinating on people who insulted him, and pointing his middle finger at random people.
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• Flares117

TIL: The "Leatherman" was a person dressed in a leather suit who would repeat a 365 mile route for over 30 years. He would stop at towns for supplies and lived in various "Leatherman caves". When archeologists dug up his grave in 2011, they found no remains, only coffin nails.
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dataisbeautiful

• Puzzled-Sherbet-7850

[OC] Geologic map of Italy
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• lbarqueira

% of land area covered by buildings and infrastructure on Lisbon - 3D
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• Away-Pepper-9239

Two Chinese writing systems [OC]
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Cooking

• SalMinellaOnYouTube

What’s the craziest thing you’ve eaten out of politeness?
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• BeanNCheeseBurrrito

I started breaking eggs on a flat surface… but now I’m dripping egg white all over the counter.
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• Ghawblin

Accidentally bought Tamarind paste from India instead of Tamarind paste from Thailand. Apparently they're drastically different and not interchangeable. What do with Indian Tamarind Paste?
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food

• SantaBarbaraBaker

[Homemade] Thin-Crust Pepperoni & Pickled Jalapeño Pizza
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• aPinchOfThyme

[homemade] pizza.
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• friendlyrican22

[homemade] pasta with ground beef
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movies

• MarvelsGrantMan136

‘Gladiator 2’ Stunt Accident Leaves Several Crew Members Hospitalized
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• mrnicegy26

From Hasbro to Harry Potter, Not Everything Needs to Be a Cinematic Universe
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• takename

Official Poster for 'Suitable Flesh'
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Art

• CorvusCurator

Devotion, CorvusCurator, Hand Embroidery, 2023
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• mristre

Untitled, Conor Nickerson (me), 35mm film, Photoshop, and Premiere, 2023
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• evagamayun

Sunbeam, Eva Gamayun, gouache, 2022
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television

• mrnicegy26

Steven Spielberg Sent Letter to ‘The Last of Us’ Creator Craig Mazin Praising Episode 3
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• Laszl0Panaflex

Marty Funkhouser Tells Jerry Seinfeld A Joke - "Curb Your Enthusiasm"
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• Key_Damage_9220

Netflix Password Crackdown Drives U.S. Sign-Ups to Highest Levels in at Least Four Years: Researcher
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pics

• Giant_Orb

2000 year old sapphire ring worn by Caligula
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• diacewrb

Double Decker Airline Seats
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• GarySiniseOfficial

Gary Sinise here. Thanks to the Lieutenant Dan Band for 20 amazing years and a lifetime of memories
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gifs

• crankrag1

Boosh!
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• joyousjoyness

Chaos the Black Cat
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• YveteFrey

Baby boy figures out how to give thumbs up
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educationalgifs

• shamefulRhino79376

How we breathe
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mildlyinteresting

• powerofwill72

Found homemade pickles in my basement from 18+ years ago
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• overweightmoose

This weird tree I found in Northeast Washington
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• 307148

My fortune cookie had a coupon for a free THC edible inside
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interestingasfuck

• ledim35

Baby parrot 41 days development
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• maazkazi

To appear headless while taking a photo, known as "horsemaning", was a popular way to pose in the 1920's.
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• asilvertintedrose

The Encephalartos Woodii cycad is known as the loneliest tree in the world, needing female trees to naturally reproduce, but none found since its discovery in 1895.
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funny

• GretelNoHans

Just some dogs chasing a ball
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• BabblingPanther

How to be a good girlfriend?
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• Mysterious_Tangelo78

*Painting "lip sync". That's what museums are for. *
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aww

• yourSAS

Love transcends barriers 🥰
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• Sonny_McClain89

Sugar got really tired after her walk
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• candiie_cane05

*OC My fiance helped this turtle to cross the road safely in the direction he was intending! My hero :) *
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• Money
• Girls
• Fitness
• Masculinity

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Andrew Tate - Master Chess
Andrew Tate - How to be a G
Andrew Tate - Iron Mind Program
Andrew Tate - Webcam Business
Andrew Tate - Fitness Program
Andrew Tate - Body Language
Andrew Tate - Hustlers University 1.0
Andrew Tate - Network Brilliance
Andrew Tate - Onlyfans Fortunes
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Tristan Tate's Godmode
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Cross-posted / US to US (Ajevie ℅ included), $5.00 shipping (PayPal G&S).
⭐Perfumes have been stored in wooden boxes away from heat and sunlight and/or in a temperature-controlled storage unit. Everything is always used or tested with clean hands unless marked as BNNU.⭐
✨Please do not claim something unless you are going to buy it. No holds or haggling. Thank you.✨
ARCANA WILDCRAFT & CRAVES
Come to Me / A compelling seduction of glittering Calabrian bergamot, Atlas cedarwood, fragrant ylang ylang blossoms, red rose petals, rich honey, sugared cardamom, citrusy yellow amber, ivory patchouli, and spruce musk. / Full into neck, $24
Estella / Quietly stunning ambre blanc and vanilla bean with a kiss of cognac. / Full into neck, $20
Pumpkins Crave Black Swallowers / Darkly smoldering incense billowing from a brass censer, clove cigarettes, brittle shards of wood, warm pumpkin spiked with nutmeg, a shot of French cognac, a curl of Ceylon cinnamon, and a twist of tobacco. / BNNU, $18
Snow Witch: Embers / The cozy scents of a winter witch's cottage hearth. Rich, sticky caramel, smoky Japanese Hiba wood, warm cardamom, and pink Himalayan salt. / Full into neck, $24
Sting / Amber resin, sticky beeswax, massoia, black coconut, and cubeb. / Full into neck, $23
Sugar / An ode to affectionate nicknames. French vanilla ice cream, sweet cardamom, a tincture of Pacific sea salt, dark Tahitian vanilla, and wild harvested pine sap. / Full into neck, $22
Touch / Golden honey on warm skin, soft brown leather, a baby lambswool sweater, floating layers of sheer silk, grey musk, and lightly smoked sap-frosted woods. / Full into neck, $22
Vanilla Craves Aurora / Richly roasted coffee beans, fluffy morning clouds, a dawn-pink sky, gently aged vanilla absolute, and sweet Mexican vanilla extract. / BNNU, $18
Winter Malaise / A carb-laden base of syrupy sweet mango and thick, rich vanilla is prodded with cinnamon, clove, black anise, and iron-distilled patchouli. / Full into neck, $24
ASTRID PERFUME
At the Diner After Rocky / Blueberry pancakes with blueberry syrup and maple syrup. / Full to shoulder with tiny dip, $20
Caramel Popcorn / Buttery, salted popcorn tossed in caramel. / Bubble at shoulder, $23.50
Gingerbread Latte / FS, $22
Jellybean / FS, $24
Vesta’s Orchard / Red Bartlett pears, peach, gingerbread, tangerine, smoked honey, white musk, pumpkin, and rosemary. / FS, $20
Trinkets & Feathers / Sugared sage, oud, jasmine, incense, apple, melon, juniper, and nutmeg. / FS, $20
BPAL
Buck Moon 2021 / Buck Moon is an animalistic, deep scent: an amplification of one’s natural musk coupled with forest herbs, pine pitch, smoky birch tar, cedar berries, dew-kissed juniper, amber moss, deer fur, a hint of clear, warm evening air and a crystalline spark of lunar oil. / A smidge above shoulder, $20
Cherry Wine / Full slightly above shoulder, $25
Dark Chocolate and Dried Red Fruits / Small dip at shoulder, $20
Doom Cake / A drug-induced vision of grabby, gore-slicked tentacles erupting from a facade of thick buttercream and lemon sponge soaked in cherry-flavored goo. / Full slightly above shoulder, $26
Disembodied Malevolent Laughter / A distorted, cacophonous, and mirthless chortle: a hollow rumble of dark resins that rises into a shrieking crescendo of icy wine grape, white musk, and white lemon. / Halfway between TOL and shoulder, $20
Einzelne Häuser (Häuser mit Bergen) / Charred yellow sandalwood, dry bourbon vanilla, terebinth, pine pitch, and red musk. / Full to slightly above TOS, $24
Harvest Love Potion / An attraction and sensuality blend that is delightfully camouflaged as a perfume. Autumn romance personified, infused with the comfort of fall leaves and apple pulp, cacao, 7-year aged patchouli, vanilla absolute, benzoin, cubeb berries, and rose absolute. / Half full, $15
Harvest Moon 2021 / This year’s Harvest Moon is a swirl of late-autumn leaves surrounding the last stone fruits of summer. / Full into neck, $20
Honey Babka / Laminated dough topped with sugar syrup and streusel. / Dip at shoulder, $20
Kon Kurabe Tama No Ase / Marzipan and buttercream with cinnamon, pistachio milk, vanilla custard, and clove. / Full slightly into neck, $25
Juicebox / Chocolate honey cakes with hazelnut and ripe figs. / Halfway between shoulder and TOL, $25
Pumpkin Dust 2021 / Shavings of white pumpkin rind and honey powder. / A smidge above TOL, $20
Sugar Cookies and a Popcorn Garland / Full slightly into neck, $25
Sugar Cookie Snake Oil / The sexiest cookie in town. / Full about halfway between TOS and TOL, $28
Sugar Cookie Satyr / Sugar cookies crumbled over a feral, woodland musk. / Tiny dip at shoulder, $28
V’al Hanissim 2021 / Lord, deliver the wicked into the hands of the righteous: beeswax glowing softly amber. / Full to TOS, $28
XXX Means Kisses / A rare portrait of innocence and integrity amidst the corruption of Caligari’s asylum. Tart hibiscus, skin musk, shea, and the faintest whiff of nicotine. / Full slightly above shoulder, $26
MoonaLisa/MooScents
Halloween Hayride / Harvest hay, bonfires and dried leaves mix with amber, smoky sandalwood, and musk. In the distance, you are anxious to get back to the circle with the promise of roasted marshmallows, and other sugary seasonal treats! / FS, $14
Holiday Moxie / We've all been there!! Seasonal Yuletide greetings, Mall Santas, employee parties! The scent of freshly-cut Christmas trees, steaming mugs of apple cider, orange peels, cinnamon sticks and clove! Candy Canes, and hot sticky Santas’ laps, and the faint smell of booze!! All with a touch of smoky oud!!! / FS, $14
Jawbreaker /Caramel, Pumpkin Crunch, Carrot Cake and Pecan Praline combo- OUCH! / FS, $14
Pumpkin Batter / Scrumptious toasty bread, pumpkin puree, warm Autumn spices, vanilla frosting, creamy caramel and juicy raisins / FS, $14
NAVA
Bassima / Creamy Coconut with subtle butter and warm sugar, subtle nutmeg and fig mingle within. / FS, $22
Ian’s Terrific Spiced Sugar Cookie / Sugar Butter Cookie, Spices of Chai tea (clove, nutmeg, allspice, white cinnamon), Gingerbread accord, Fresh shaved Ginger, Baked Ginger Cookie accord and Vanilla bean absolute / Slightly above TOS, $24
RS Lavan / Italian Lavender, French Lavender, Moonstone (Studio Limited Vanilla) absolute, Bourbon Vanille (Studio Limited Vanilla) absolute aged with black French Vanilla beans, Mallow root extract, Blend of four Sandalwoods aged in oak barrel for this blend; Santalum, White Sandalwood, Bourbon Sandalwood and Indian Sandalwood blended beautifully with Madagascar and Tahitian Vanilla beans. / FS, $33
RS Vanilla / Sandalwood Absolute, Vanilla Bean Liqueur, Madagascar Vanilla whole, rich Indian Sandalwood chips, soft white clove essence blended with Green Cardamom, Cedarwood, Irish Moss accord, Amber blend of labdanum and benzoin with NA aged Santalum Sandalwood in a bourbon Oakwood barrel. / FS, $35
Santasaurus ’22 / Sugar Cookies accord, Madagascar Vanilla Bean Frosting, Bastet’s Cookie Musk accord, Colombian Coffee organic extraction, Toasted Hazelnut, Molasses, Cinnamon Sugar, Snickerdoodle accord and Vanilla Bean paste. / Full to TOS, $25
Sweetgrass Musk / Organic Nevada Sweetgrass, Bastet Amber, eNVie saphir and sensual skin musk made from soft white floral blend of Tuberose, Mallow, Angelica, Musk Flower, and White Lily all blended beautifully into Bastet's Musk base. *Nevada Sweetgrass has a natural Citrus note. / FS, $30
The Height of Love / Warmed Vanilla Marshmallows, Crystalline, Bastet’s Ice Cream, Pink Sugar and White Clove. / Dip at shoulder, $22
POSSETS
Calorie Neutralizer / Light clove and heavy sugar with a great sheet of the most buttery of toffee on top. / FS, $15
Clara’s Party from the Nutcracker / Black musk, Arabian frankincense, 3 golden ambers, very spicy gingerbread, and a goodly shot of black tea. / FS, $15
Divine Clockwork / A cool vanilla mint and warm bitter chocolate become more than just a marriage of great foodie combinations. / FS, $15
Pauline / The most comforting and lovely aspects of fall wrapped up in one fragrance is Pauline. She smells of chrysanthemums and coffee, the earth and the outdoors with the dried leaves and when the world is wrapping itself up for a long winter's snooze. / FS, $15
Ribbands / The tea room smelled so delightfully of all things festive and good. Big hit every year and back again in the very same form. Foody, fruity, gourmand. / FS, $15
SOLSTICE SCENTS
Gibbon’s Mischief Night / The main notes are sugar cookies with vanilla frosting, white chocolate covered popcorn, lightly toasted marshmallows rolled in graham cracker dust within the atmosphere of Gibbon’s Boarding School (Dusty Wooden Desks, Paper, Carefully Hidden Tobacco Pouch, Dying Fire, Dried Leaves, Leather Chairs, Autumn Breeze) and a touch of bourbon, pear brandy and cream soda. / FS, $17
Pumpkin Spice Latte / This caffeinated concoction starts with fresh roasted pumpkin spice coffee ground and brewed as an espresso. Monin Gingerbread syrup, frothy steamed milk and fresh made gingerbread whipped cream dusted with cinnamon and freshly grated nutmeg complete it. / FS, $16.50

For independent western travelers, Japan demands more planning than, say, a trip through Europe. But the corresponding rewards are huge. And you absolutely don't need to hire a guide, so long as you do basic homework (which is half the fun of travel, anyway).
This is the last of three reports from our recent four-week journey, covering ten nights in Tokyo, one in Nikko and three in Kamakura.
HIGHLIGHTS
Tokyo--Nippon Professional Baseball at Tokyo Dome; May Grand Sumo tournament, Hamarikyu garden; Tuna auction
Nikko--Toshugo shrine
Kamakura--Sunset spectacle at a seaside park
TOKYO, Monday 5/22
For this 7-night leg, we chose Park Hotel Tokyo (the top floors of the Shiodome Media Tower; $208/night with breakfast). The lobby is on the 25th floor, requiring separate elevator rides to reach your room. Access to subways is a mixed bag (Shiodome Station is next door; more useful Shimbashi is a longer walk). There were far more Americans than our other hotels, and the ample breakfast buffet wasn't as fabulous, either (an admittedly high bar). On the other hand, the area teems with great, affordable places to eat. Our room had something we'd never experienced: a fog-free bathroom mirror (the new must-have!). And when we opened the curtains of our 28th floor room in the morning, there was Fuji in all her glory, an unforgettable vista. What more could you want?
TOKYO, Tuesday 5/23
Our first stop on a drizzly day was the Imperial Palace grounds, last of our highly recommended Imperial Household Agency tours. The adjacent East Garden, open to all, is worth seeing, too.
After lunch, we checked out the nearby National Museum of Modern Art. Kudos to management for allowing photography. The highlights room on the top floor is a great survey, and if you're short on time you could skip the rest, unless a special exhibition piques your interest.
We caught a fantastic show about Tokugawa Ieyasu at the private Mitsui Memorial Museum--the best single exhibition we saw. Unfortunately, it closes tomorrow, June 11; but that's a place you might keep an eye on.
TOKYO, Wednesday 5/24
We visited Senso-ji first thing. We liked it so much we went back a few nights later to see it lit up. Either way, it's a must.
Lunch was at Onigiri Asakusa Yadoroku, a welcoming place that's been dishing up made-to-order onigiri for almost 70 years. It's a Bib Gourmand. Show up just before 11 am to avoid a wait; otherwise, you'll be given a time to return for a seat.
We went to Tokyo Dome to catch a Yomiuri Giants game, stopping off first at the adjacent, very worthwhile, landscape garden, Koishikawa Korakuen (geezers over 65 half-price!). The game itself was a trip, much like an American football game, with non-stop chants by fans and on-field cheerleaders between innings. Our lower-deck seats, bought in advance from the team's website, cost under $35 each.
TOKYO, Thursday 5/25
Like other great cities, like New York or Paris, Tokyo is made for strolling. On this day, we were flaneurs, with stops along Omotesando, the tree-shaded fashion avenue that calls itself Harajuku Champs-Elysees, and hip Cat Street nearby. The area wakes up slowly, so consider a visit at midday or later.
Lunch was a pure pig-out (pun intended) at Tonkatsu Nanaido. Can't recommend it highly enough; the wait was a tolerable 30 minutes (dinner reservations possible). Try to ignore the health implications of tender pork, fried (extremely lightly) in pure lard. Pure heaven.
TOKYO, Friday 5/26
Meiji Shrine and garden got us going in the morning, and the Meiji Jingu Museum was well worth a stop.
We were somewhat ambivalent about sumo but bought advance tickets to the big May tournament because, well, when might we ever see sumo in person again? It turned out to be the surprise hit of the trip: a spectacle with deep historic roots, more engaging and suspenseful than we imagined. Advance online tickets are gettable; no middleman required.
TOKYO, Saturday 5/27
The Tokyo National Museum lives up to its reputation as the best in the country (at least the best we saw). We made repeated visits and still didn't see it all. And it's free for those of us over 70. One of our favorite items: a 1,500-year-old ceramic sculpture of sumo wrestlers and a judge. The museum's enlightened view toward photography means we'll always have our pictures to remind us of what we saw.
TOKYO, Sunday 5/28
We spent a relaxed Sunday morning at verdant Hamarikyu Gardens, a park that borders Tokyo Bay. The former playground of feudal shoguns is an urban oasis of water features and classic landscape design. You can happily spend a couple hours strolling its paths.
In the afternoon, we checked out Ginza's main drag, closed to vehicle traffic. We wish, though, that we'd known that Akihabara's Chuo-dori is also pedestrianized on Sunday afternoons.
NIKKO, Monday 5/29
We cabbed it to Asakusa Station and caught the Tobu Kegon express to Nikko. Light rain didn't stop us --or hundreds of other umbrella toters--from visiting glorious Toshugo Shrine. Far better, though, was our visit the next day. At 8:30 a.m., the shrine was essentially deserted; crowds started arriving at 9:30. That quiet morning hour was reason enough to have spent the night in Nikko. It also kept us ahead of the crowds at Rinnoji Temple and nearby Taiyuin and Futarasan Shrine, all well worth visiting.
Nikko Station Hotel Classic ($270, including excellent meals) was the most old-school place we stayed (They still put top sheets on the beds). Masking is requested, and at breakfast, guests are asked to don plastic gloves before going through the buffet line. The onsen in the basement was absolutely first-rate, as was our meticulously prepared tofu kaiseki dinner at the hotel restaurant.
TOKYO, Tuesday 5/30
For our third and final Tokyo stop, we chose the Ueno area and weren't disappointed. The well-run and sophisticated Nohga Hotel Ueno Tokyo ($217/night, including breakfast) is on a quiet street just a short walk from Ueno Station and park, with its many attractions.
TOKYO, Wednesday 5/31
We wandered through Yanesen, a traditional neighborhood sometimes described as a hidden gem, and began our end-of-trip shopping on mid-century Yanaka Ginza.
Lunch was at Inshotei, a lovely traditional restaurant in the heart of Ueno Park, booked online before our trip. 3.59 on Tabelog.
TOKYO, Thursday 6/1
Tuna! We initially took a pass on the early morning auction, discouraged by reviews on this sub and elsewhere that dismiss the relatively new Toyosu auction site as vastly inferior to the former one at Tsukiji market. But an old Japan hand persuaded us to give it a try. We're extremely happy we did. We were lucky enough to get tickets to the open-air observation platform and the experience became a trip highlight.
Up and out by cab before 4:30 a.m., we had about half an hour to watch and hear the action directly below us. It may not be Tsukiji, but it's the only Tokyo tuna auction you've got. I say go, especially if you can snag open-air gallery passes.
KAMAKURA, Friday 6/2
There weren't a lot of great choices for lodging in the coastal town of Kamakura (a day trip for Tokyo residents). We needed a quick getaway to Haneda Airport on Monday morning, and Hotel Metropolitan Kamakura, a JR East property, fit the bill. It was pricey ($292 per night with meals) but our room was spacious, even luxurious by Japanese standards, and smack in the middle of the action.
KAMAKURA, Saturday 6/3
I wondered, before leaving home, if we'd get templed-out, like other travelers do. It never happened, though torrential rainfall, spun from the remnants of Typhoon Mawar, tested us at the end. On the plus side, we had the Great Buddha and Hachimangu Shrine completely to ourselves; the downside was soaked clothing and shoes that would take time to dry out (fortunately, we brought extra pairs, and our collapsible umbrellas did the best they could).
By afternoon, the skies cleared and hundreds of surfers rushed to ride the storm-generated surf. We caught the action from the sands of Yuigahama Beach.
KAMAKURA, Sunday 6/4
Early, before other tourists arrived, we checked out Engakuji temple, but were helpless in the face of Sunday crowds at Meigetsuin temple, better known as Hydrangea Temple. The blossoms were exploding after the rain but visitors clogged the pathways. We fled to Kenchoji, totally empty by comparison, and had a final, restorative Zen moment in the peaceful garden behind the main hall.
Last stop of the tour, after one more omakase sushi dinner, was sunset at Inamuragasaki Park. We never expected what we found: a spectacular view of Fuji, the entire mountain outlined against a multi-colored sky, with pounding waves and a few hardcore surfers in the foreground.
It was a concluding surprise in a trip filled with them, a journey that greatly exceeded expectations. Four weeks turned out to be just about right for a couple of geezers. But it left lots of stuff on the cutting room floor, like Nagasaki, which I still want to see, and much more. Next time, maybe.