The human ability to find patterns in things where they don’t exist is truly amazing. For instance, take my latest treasure, a typical telephone card… except it has now traveled well over 21,000 miles, and has convinced a number of people that it is cursed. Join me in a lighthearted tale of chaos and shared travel woe.

So, once a year, I slip out of translation mode and wander the streets of New York in search of chocolate. $28 at the door and (practically) all the samples of top tier and boutique chocolate that you can stand to eat from about 50ish vendors.

It’s been rather quiet around here, but for good reason. For 16 days starting mid August, I had been away on an extended vacation in Japan and only now have finally found time between unpacking and catching up at work to write things.

Once every few months, it’s nice to leave the house and walk around the city. Right now, about half the cherry trees in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden have reached full blooming. So armed with my dinky camera, I spent a day out under the clouds and petals.

This article has nothing to do with the usual Neechin topics, no translations, no games, not even me reporting on any projects I have going on. Instead it’s about chocolate. Very good chocolate. From the Chocolate Show in New York City. Because life is more than just about books, words and games… there’s sugar too.