Keiko Abe and New Japan Phil.

I was looking for a ticket to the Carmina Burana show with the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. The cheapest ticket went for 4,500 yen (appx. $45), which is a drastic difference to the $10 rush/student tickets or the free tickets I used to get for the VSO. While browsing through the NJP site, I came across an exciting option: Keiko Abe as featured marimbist for the October 13/14 show. All the cheapest tickets were gone, but there were a few B tickets left, going for 4,500 yen. I would've waited for my new United Mileage Plus credit card to arrive, but the tickets were going fast. So out came my wallet and my VISA card, and now I have a ticket to see one of the best marimbists in the universe after Evelyn Glennie. How exciting!

I have to keep these spenditures to a minimum this year, because I have a Masters programme to pay for next September (if I get in), in addition to a $2,000 plane ticket that will fly me from Tokyo to Santiago, Quito to D.C., D.C. to London. Brutal. I really don't know if I'll have enough money.