Ah, those crazy Japanese!

More than 15,000 people lined up on Christmas day at an Osaka McDonald's.

Why?

McDonald's restaurants in Japan just unveiled the Quarter Pounder with cheese!

In fact, when we were talking to my cousin Hiromi via Skype on Dec. 27, I noticed Yuichi eating something. I asked what he was eating and Hiromi said he had just gone out to buy the quarter pounder.

I can't imagine lining up with more than 15,000 people to buy anything at McDonald's! Can you?

I made a boo-boo

Donald Tipton's favorite sea creature? The shark.

Sea turtles, made famous in the animated hit, "Finding Nemo"

Here's Donald getting footage of dolphins.

In Sunday Living yesterday, I wrote a story about Donald Tipton. He is releasing a DVD called "Dreaming Into Blue." It's a retrospective of his underwater photography. Actually, it's a collection of his favorite underwater footage, set to original music that he wrote.

For some reason, I had everything right, except the date!

The DVD will be shown at 8 p.m. Wednesday (not Thursday) at the Loft, 1032 Broadway, with a concert by the Amadeus Quintet at 9 p.m. Donald is the leader of the quintet.

It will cost $3; $15 if you want to buy the DVD.

I'm so sorry, Donald!

Call 706-596-8141.

Getting fit

Last year, Columbus State University's Continuing Education Division, started the Fitness Blitz. It's a neat program. It allows you to sample a different fitness class each weeknight evening beginning Tuesday and running through Jan. 17.

It's hoping that the community will get serious about shaping and sculpting a "NEW Improved You."

This is perfect if you tend to get bored with the same exercise routine. So during this two-week period, you can choose from Pilates, Yoga, Body Sculpting, Turbo Kick, Sculpt & Tone, Swing dance, Salsa dance and Snorkeling. Participants can choose select classes to participate in, sign-up for one entire week, or sign-up for both weeks.

Students will receive individual attention and an opportunity to find out what type of exercise program best suits their lifestyle. The 2009 Fitness Blitz will end on Jan. 17 with free dance lessons from 7-8 pm and an optional $20 dance social from 8-10 pm.

All classes are $10, except for the Snorkeling and Skin Diving class which is $49.

For more information, go to www.conted.colstate.edu or call 706-507-8070.

My goofy friends at the Springer Opera House

Springer Opera House producing artistic director sent me this photo, saying it was an added new scene in "Peter Pan," which was the wildly popular holiday musical.

It's actors Adam Clough as Capt. Hook and Jens Rasmussen as Smee on a bicycle.

How funny is this?

More crowds in Japan

My cousin, Miho, e-mailed me this photo. She said it was at a temple, Taki-Fudou near her house. They went there on New Year's Day.

The smoke is from incense, which is in a huge cauldron. You can buy a huge bunch of incense, light it and put it in the cauldron.

You can stand by the cauldron and waft the smoke, using your hands, on the part of your body that ails you.

As you can see, the weather was much like it was here. No one is really bundled up. When my mother and I were in Tokyo for New Year's in 1997, it was freezing.

Using Skype, we spoke to a bunch of our relatives. They will be visiting us next year. And I can't wait!

Maks and Karina engaged

I was just surfing the 'net and found out that Karina Smirnoff and Maksim Chmerkovskiy got engaged on New Year's Eve.

They are two of the professional dancers on "Dancing with the Stars." She dated her "DWTS" partner, Mario Lopez for a couple of years, and he used to date fellow pro Cheryl Burke.

Congratulations!

If I were to ever be on that show, he's the one I'd like to dance with!

Holiday crowds in Japan

You complain about the holiday crowds at Peachtree Mall, Columbus Park Crossing and the Bradley Park area.

You truly have nothing to complain about.

In Japan, Christmas, of course, is not a big deal. After all, it is a Buddhist country. But New Year's Eve is huge. And New Year's Eve is celebrated on Dec. 31, unlike China, which has its own New Year's celebration that varies from year to year.

One of the biggest shopping districts in Tokyo is Ame-yoko, which is short for Ameya Yokocho, which has its beginnings in the post-World War II black market. Shops sell fresh food, groceries, clothes, jewelry -- all at very low prices.

Between Dec. 27-30, there were 1.41 million people. According to the Mainichi Shimbun (the Japanese national newspaper), that's 200,000 more than last year. And on Dec. 31, they were expecting an additional 400,000 people.

The Japanese believe that Ame-yoko is more crowded in recession years.

I visited Ame-Yoko in December, 1997, and it was truly crowded, but it was nothing like this year. We could actually walk without being pushed around.

Now, I think I'm too old and weak to push and shove in a crowd like that!