Reconnecting with the cats

While I was in Jackson, I check in with some old friends.

Burnie said hi, but I think I was keeping him from his nap.

He wanted to get back to sleep.  I understand that.  He sleeps even more than I do.

Crash greeted me very formally.

But before I knew it, we were sharing all sorts of secrets again.

Crash and Burnie are a little different than the other animals I know.  They're furry and soft like the bears and penguins at home, but they're warm and breath like Cromely.  They're a little skittish though.

Merry Christmas! From Jackson, NJ

Isn't this a pretty tree?





Look in the middle. That's me!







When I'm at home I spend time under a big penguin's wing, unless it's Christmas time, because then I sit in a tree with lots of little penguins.   On this trip I got to visit an even bigger tree. It has fewer penguins, but it does have lots of pretty ornaments.  Cromely says some of them are even older than he is.  That's old.

It was fun hanging out in there, but now it's time to go back to work and help Cromely wrap presents.





Have a wonderful Christmas with lots of ice creams!

Does -- Hot Springs, AR

Cromely took us to Arkansas in June.  I don't know why.  It was so hot I had to take off my scarf.

AA170 -- Somewhere over the Pacific

Japan was great, but eventually it was time to go home. Maybe I'll go back again someday.  There's lots more ice cream to try.

Gonpachi in Odaiba -- Tokyo, Japan

This restaurant had very different seats.

This neat guy was keeping an eye on things outside.

Fuji TV Building on Odaiba -- Tokyo, Japan

This is the Fuji TV building on an island.

See that ball?  I was in there! That's where this picture comes from:

Asakusa --- Tokyo, Japan

The crowds were crazy here.  It's part shopping center and part shrine.

Hachiko -- Tokyo, Japan

I made a friend!  He was kind of sad, though.

His name is Hachiko.  He used to go to the train station every day to meet his human.  One day, his human got really sick and stopped coming back.  Hachiko still went there everyday to meet him even though he never came back again.  His story is here.

Ice Cream and Photography in Ebisu -- Tokyo, Japan

Cromely went to a Photography Museum.  Later we went to an ice cream shop.  I had a Matcha ice cream cone.  Cromely said they make tea from that, too, but don't care for tea.  The Matcha we different, but kind of good. I think I want some more.

Omotesando Hills Mall -- Tokyo, Japan

We walked around the stores until it was snack time. I like the fancy tray.  I got to try two types!

Four Seasons BBQ -- Tokyo, Japan

Cromely's lunch was cooked on that big stone thing.  My lunch came in a pretty, blue bowl.

Meiji Jingu Gyoen near Harajuku -- Tokyo, Japan

This is a special garden at the Meiji Shrine.  There was also a well you could wait an hour to see, but we didn't do that.

The best part was the cafe.  They had snacks in a machine! It was a great way to cool off after a hot day.

Nijubashi Bridge -- Tokyo Japan

This is as close as I got to the palace.  People say you can get closer if you are there on the right day.

Four Seasons -- Tokyo, Japan

Do you know who this is?

His name is Ebisu.

Cromely read a plaque to me.  It said:

Ebisu:  He is a god of inviting good fortune while keeping away calamities, especially safety and prosperity of transportation, fishery and commerce. He is a guardian deity of the people who enjoy fishing, sailing and scuba diving

Conrad Hotel Lounge -- Tokyo, Japan

Sometimes it's nice to get out of the room and still relax.  This is the Executive Lounge at the Conrad Hotel where we stayed.

There were some other animals waiting for us in the room. You adopt them when you get a room at the hotel.  They seemed nice, but they talked kind of weird.

AA153 First Class Cabin -- Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean

When I went to Japan, I took a First Class seat.  I also took a buddy who wanted an adventure.  His name is Puff.  He does't have a blog, but he does have a small tree.

We sat in a big seat all to ourselves. The blanket was fluffier than what I usually get on a plane.

Puff thinks I always travel like this now.  It's not true.  Most flights I don't want to leave Cromely's pocket.  Planes are sometime icky.

But not this one.  Late at night I even got a snack.  Puff slept through it.  He doesn't like Penguin snacks. I don't know what he eats.

After that it was bedtime.  I had to rest up for my big adventure.

American Airlines Flagship Lounge -- Chicago, IL

Normally, when Cromely and I go to ORD, its loud and crowded and busy and our flight is late.   When we went to Japan, our flight was still late (it was still ORD, of course) but there was a special room for us this time.

There were lots of pretty snacks, but they didn't smell like ice cream.

Family Photo -- Seattle, WA

Before I went to Japan, I wanted a family picture.  It was going to be a long trip a long way away.

Hoover Dam -- Nevada/Arizona

It was hot here, but I didn't go swimming.  Cromely said that water is why Vegas is so bright at night but I'm not sure he know what he's talking about.

Tempe Mission Palms -- Tempe, AZ

Some people say Arizona is really hot.  I don't know.  I thought it was really comfy.

Butchart Gardens -- Victoria, BC

I've been all over the place this year, but it's usually been places I've been before.  Cromely says this trip is different!  We're going to Japan. That's far away.  Cromely says its near where I come from -- a place called China.  I immigrated to the US in a box with lots of other Penguins.  But I don't remember anything from the years BC (before Cromely).

But I just remembered I never showed you this!  When we went to Canada (which is different like Japan, but not really) I made a friend.  He wasn't real soft and didn't say much, but we had a good time.  This was at Butchart Gardens.  We saw lots of flowers, too.

Airport Hilton -- St. Louis, MO

We stayed at a hotel that had old pictures on the wall.  Cromely said flying was much nicer years ago.  People had more space and got dressed up.  If I flew then, I would need to iron my scarf!  And I don't like that.  Cromely sometimes uses an iron in the hotel room and he always makes sure I sit far away.  It makes weird sound.

Here I am with the flight crew.

Here I am with some equipment.

I got a window seat!

End Table Spa -- Seattle, WA

Traveling the country is fun, but sometimes you just need a spa day to recover.  A couple weeks ago, I had my first bath! The hair dryer was lots of fun.

American Airlines -- 38,000 Feet, USA

It's been a busy travel year.  But this is a great way to end it.  Cromely and I flew back to Seattle on New Year's Eve in First Class.  I like First Class.  I sometimes get snacks!

Admirals Club -- Santa Ana, CA

Airports are tiring.  I like to go to the lounge when I can.  Here I am and John Wayne airport.  They didn't have any ice cream, though.