It seems like my Animal Crossing games know when I’m going to busy or on vacation. I got up at 4am Friday morning in order to drive to Las Vegas with a stop in Orange County to drop off Sophie and pick up a kitten to deliver in Vegas (ugh). I planned to play video games the entire way and be very productive—mostly I napped in the car at awkward angles until Sophie woke me up squawking. She doesn’t travel well.
At some point I gave up trying to sleep and turned on Animal Crossing. It was Soleil’s birthday. I had completely forgotten and didn’t have a gift. Fortunately the cell phone reception down I5 has gotten much better, so I was able to look up what she likes and order something.
Then I noticed that it was Cole’s birthday the very next day and I had to order a present for him too. Geez, don’t they know I’m trying to relax??!
I also got great news that my friend Chris had gotten Marshal for me in his cycling town. I don’t cycle, so I had no idea how long it would take to get him to move, but bright and early at 8:30 the next morning Chris had Marshal in boxes and I was able to collect him. ♥ Thank you!!!!!
So every morning following I was terribly excited to start up Kasen and see where Marshal had set up residence, and of course meet him.
He didn’t pick the best spot, he moved in just south of my tower and ripped out bushes and stumps, but I don’t even care. In fact, I joke that his house is the prince park tower—a hotel in Tokyo right next to Tokyo Tower. I stayed there when I went to Japan.
This was the view from our room:

Tokyo Tower at Night

Marshal’s house location. Note the tower just behind his house.
While I was waiting impatiently for Marshal to move in I visited Cole for his birthday and gave him a dark polka shirt. Muffy was partying with him. She’s kinda cute. We haven’t quite grown on one another yet, but I like her way better than Elvis.
Yesterday Marshal’s house landed. I was so excited to go help him unpack…but the Vegas sun wakes me up early and he was asleep still. Argh!!
When I finally did get to welcome him, he was still asleep…standing up. OMG THE CUTENESS!
Since he was busy unpacking and refused my help, I danced with him a little to wake him up and then left.
Today was the first day I saw him out and about. He was fishing. And we chatted about air mail deliveries.
We had a camper today. Finally I can enter a tent without worrying that it will be Marshal and I won’t have room! There are a couple other townies I would be sad to see while I have a full town, but this bird? Not one of them.
I paid a visit to Muffy who, like Marshal, also seems to be narcoleptic. She wanted me to get her a rare bug, but I’ve been awake since 5am and I’m not feeling up to doing difficult favors.
Obon?
I’ve been meaning to mention that this Friday is Obon in my Japanese game. I will open up Kasen so you can come over, get your eggplant cow or cucumber horse—I hope Isabelle behaves this year. Last year she gave out cucumber horses almost exclusively. Feel free to come over with multiple characters to attempt to get both (and don’t forget to say hi to Marshal!). I’m still not quite up to 500 people for my hosting badge, so the more the merrier. I will open from 10am-noon (GMT -8) Friday August 15 and if requested again in the afternoon/evening.
My birthday is the next day along with the bug-off. I’m going to be ooooooold. 😛 But I comfort myself in knowing that Kokuto will always be older.
And then Sunday is the fireworks festival.
And I say nothing happens in my birth month!