Headed here soon.

My first trip to Japan was in 2006, with my dad and brother.

I'll be headed there again, with the same good company, on Friday.

If I had time to be, I'd be super excited. It will hit me by Thursday.

Ottawa's walking dead.

Hundreds of people joined the annual Ottawa Zombie walk, which started at Macdonald Gardens Park, snaked through the ByWard Market, then to the University of Ottawa, and finally up Elgin St. before the big group picture finale on the steps of Parliament Hill. (David Kawai / Ottawa Citizen)SUCH GOOD MAKEUP! Lastly, CONGRATULATIONS to Erin Laverty and Morgan Girouard (pictured) who got married on this very day! And, to boot, it was their first Zombie walk. Yeah!

Going in for the kiss

Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper held a joint press conference with Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller on an official visit to mark 50 years of bilateral relations between the two Commonwealth countries, at Parliament Hill on Oct. 22, 2012 in Ottawa, Canada. Love these little moments on the Hill. All leaders are distinctly different when it comes to the formalities. Quote of the press conference from Portia Simpson Miller: "Long live the Queen."

Shoe malfunction. Just kidding.

I spent an evening seated cross legged on an awkwardly designed runway with really hard to control backgrounds, speedy models and extremely tricky lighting. It was super fun, but not practical in the way I like all things to be. Super fun. I was working for a wonderful friend I met years ago at Carleton University J-School, Hannah Yakobi, who is the editor of a Toronto-based fashion magazine called FAJO. More images to come later. Gotta edit this package down and get the pix to the bosses ASAP. If one thing is certain, I have hundreds of images to look at, and dozens of plain t-shirts to wear while doing that.

Tanzanian President state visit.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete greets some of his country people after giving a speech on a state visit at Rideau Hall on Oct. 3, 2012 in Ottawa, Canada. This is Kikwete's first visit to Canada as the President of Tanzania.Nice to be working at an event like this where I am one of three major news wires working in a small space. Terry and Collin bring us to the good shooting angles, we have clearer views, and everyone, including the VIPs, are more relaxed. Maybe the media don't care so much about this visit? Maybe they will focus on coverage tomorrow, when he meets and greets Prime Minister Harper.

Faced with a bit of political overload (today and tomorrow's assignments, currently watching the Obama-Romney debate as i write this blog post), I want to lighten the mood with the next couple of pictures.

This isn't secret service. They wear suits, sunglasses, and stand close enough to take a bullet for our leaders, generally. It's a member of the Canadian Forces wearing digital camo. Nice.

And, this is that awkward moment when the magazine falls off your rifle, just before a moment of silence, and in plain view of the visiting President. Time to get some sleep.