Just when I thought my life might be starting to get back to normal, getting over the Jet Lag, all that good stuff, I wake up Thursday morning with a pain in my back, and not just any pain, a terrible pain, a pain that just keeps getting worse no matter what I try.  I end up calling in and heading to the Emergency Room in what happened to be the least comfortable car ride of my life.  In fact I might call it the worst pain of my life.  I get to the ER and they do some tests, give me a cat scan, and put an IV in me.  Doctor comes over, ends up I have a kidney stone.  I have to say better now than when I was in Japan if it had to happen, but my preference would certainly be for the route where it never happens.

They've got me on some pain meds for the time being, and I get to strain my pee, sounds like fun, no?  Its been almost two days now though and if I don't pass it soon, I'm going to need to go back in. 

Japan post is still coming, I promise.  Here's hoping I pass this thing soon and its not too incredibly painful, as I'm sure it will be.  I'd just like to say of everything on the trip, the one thing I miss most is being with people, the daily intelligent conversation.  I miss that quite a bit.