Ogakijin Blog

Already coming to an end of month. Is March good month? Difficult? How do I make such judgement?

No plan for the day.
Just stayed home.

Watched "007 Casino Royale" on Star Channel.
Wow, this is always cool movie. Loved it.
Cannot wait for next movie of the series... coming at the end of year? Don't know.

Wait.
Just in.

Aida Wallali is now MARRIED? Without my permit? (BANG)
Congratulations!!! Am so happy for you, my friend.

She's good friend of mine from Thunderbird. Now she's in Chicago?
Anyhow, this is good news!

What about me? How's my love life? Is there any? Don't recognize any for several months, already.
Any supporting hand from y'all?

Hehehe.

From Tokyo Mid Town... yeah current project site. I came back even over weekend?
Call me crazy! I know, I don't intend to come back THAT often.

Sorry... this is not photos by SLR... rather compact camera.

Happened to go to Cafe Daisy for lunch today. Along with coworkers.
Yeah, famous (?) Danish lunch. 1,500 yen.





Good food... definitely supports work?
Hmmm, tough to make comment out of this. Hahaha.

Yeah, I ended up doing the entertainment for client tonight.
No longer focus only on the project... I guess. Hahaha.
Well, it was great client... this entertainment wasn't that difficult for me to deal with.

It was authentic Japanese food.



Japanese restaurant "Nadeshiko" - located in Roppongi.

Very expensive restaurant. 10,000 yen per person. Yeah, 100 bucks per person.
I would have been there unless it was job-related. Hahaha.

True, though!

No pictures of foods because I was with client. Sorry!

Meeting after meeting... long day for me!!!



Though, this day gets concluded in this restaurant.

"Kushi Mura"

Pretty cozy place for drink! Plus, lots of foreigners as customer there. English speaking? Not quite.
Taste was pure Japanese.

Price was somewhat still reasonable. Below Roppongi average price.
5,000 yen per person.

Man, lots of drinks recently.

Mini vacation is now over! Yeah, about time, huh? I have to get back into crazy working environment from tomorrow for sure.
What a disappointment... huh? It's okay. Life is always bitter.

Last day of this period, I made it very early... went to get hair-cut. Worked a bit... yeah I had to work still.
Around 11am, went out to entertain myself.
So went to movie under wet weather.



Jumper
http://www.jumperthemovie.com/

This was fun movie!!! Much better than "Vantage Point," which I saw several days ago.

For late lunch... went to Tokyo Station and stopped by "Kona-ya" restaurant.



Renown "Curry Udon." Not spicy. Pretty good stuff.
Only con that I find is that this is very pricey. 1,400 yen or 14 dollars!

Taste was somewhat good... though I no longer return. This should be my last visit for a long time.

Then, I spent several hours in OAZO - my favorite place for checking out books and magazines!



My usual "BRIO" on sale today for May edition.
Cover is of Ginza's prestigious restaurants and bars? Oh cool. I will read all about it!



Another magazine picked up. "Shumi no Bunbougu bako" or "Jewel box of the Hobby."
Yeah, fountain pen... one after another!

Yes, this becomes my favorite one, too. This is quarterly magazine... I surely will check out following edition.

Okay, this is it! My day dreaming is over! Have to go into the dark side... too bad that I don't even have a choice.

Vantage Point
http://www.vantagepoint-movie.com

Just bought a fashion magazine, "Gainer."



One line on the cover page really attracted to me.
"Conclusion: Cartier Watch"
Oh boy, just what I needed to read about it! Thus, I bought this magazine along with my lunch at convenience store.

Wait.

That means I am considering to buy Cartier watch in addition to fountain pen?
Not so fast! Just out of curiosity!

Still my number one pick on watch for now is PANERAI watch.

20th of the month. Pay day! Thank God... I can life for another month from today!

Finally (already?), my week is over! This wednesday is the end of week.
From tomorrow till Monday next week, I have no work.

Well, unfortunately, not that clear definition of vacation. Am sure that I will download all unread messages for work.

Long meeting in the afternoon really gave me a big fatigue.
Since then, I consistently had headache for more than several hours. Really.

I guess, my shock was of the amount of work!
Thus, I feel very uneasy to go into mini vacation from tomorrow on. I'd better stick with work?

Wow, good food... what happened?
Because client invited all project members for big lunch today.... we all went to fancy... very fancy restaurant.

"Vinoteca" at Tokyo Mid Town
http://www.tokyo-midtown.com/en/shop/118/index.html



Main dish - fried red sea bream.



Dessert

Yes, lunch was Italian food. Don't you think this look pretty expensive? Yeah, it was... over 30 dollars per person!!!

After contacting the store that I made purchase of the fountain pen, I sent the pen to designated pen dealership.
For what? Already needed repair?

Of course not...
Remember that I sort wanted to have thinner nib on that pen? Yeah, that's why...
It may be free of charge... at least maker needs to verify the nib condition. If still good as new, free of charge for inserting new nib to the pen.

Wow!

What happened otherwise?
About $230 for brand new gold nib. Am I going to pay? Probably NOT.
Though, I give it to a chance. Will see.

No particular occurrence over this weekend. Really.
Sort bored at home.
Watched TV for long hours.

Shopped least... to make my life sustainable. Hahaha. (BANG)

Went to nearby coffee shop... Man, it was in vain... full of customers before me. Though, I didn't bear any patience and I left that place immediately. Went to bakery... and ordered coffee and sandwich.

Actually, they were my breakfast / lunch / afternoon tea. (BANG!)

Man, already another week. Wait. I need to work only for three days next week.

Thursday - National Holiday
Friday - paid time off
Following week
Monday - paid time off

After three working days, I have 5-day vacation!!! WOW!!!
let's stay focused for three days until Wednesday! Mini vacation is around the corner!

It seems to be that I really caught a cold. I have running nose all day long and had to take medication to take good care of myself. I will stay quiet at home over this weekend. I certainly don't want to carry this into the work next week.

No plans for this weekend, either.

Wow, today it is monthly gathering... I wrapped up the meeting quick enough to make that event!!!
Shhh, don't tell my subordinates! They may get mad at me! They worked throughout the night then! (BANG!)

Supposedly, we all should get together in Shinjuku... 5 of us.
However, it is March time... end of fiscal year for many Japanese companies... people are busiest in this month!!!

This resulted that only three of us made it tonight.

Yasuko, Emi, and Ogakijin. Yep, three of us...
Too bad that we had to miss other members.

Will hold gathering in April... toward my birth day... somehow.

Hope everyone will be able to make it then.

Really thought that I would work after coming home.
Yes, I had that thought. Believe me. I was quite serious because that's what I do almost everyday.

Somehow...

Such plan became no plan. Hahaha. Once I got back home... I found no energy out of myself.
Soon as sitting down to sofa, I fell to a sleep. I must have been exhausted.

When can I really slow down?

Work gives me lots of pressure... resulting lots of frustration. Really. Not kidding.

This must be from over work, too? Hmm.

I may take the job TOO seriously? Some coworker in HKG told me that I am always tough on myself and on subordinates.

Wow, really? Never thought about it.

To bring incentive to my life which suffers from crazy work environment, I started using Cartier pen today.
Great stuff for sure.
Though, one regret.

This time, I sort intended to replace Montblanc fountain pen in my use pattern. Montblanc pen's nib is broad. So I selected broad tip for Cartier as well. I guess, this choice wasn't right.

Too thick.

Rather replacing Montblanc with Cartier, I should use Cartier on more often basis. So I should select thinner nib.
What should I do? I keep it as it is? Should I pay extra to adjust? Hmmm.

My boss held a dinner for all team members at Chinese restaurant.
Yeah, big dinner it was.

Over budget? Really? Well, thank you! (BANG)

Naoko Takashi - it's her name. She is from Gifu... same prefecture that I come from.
She's been national marathon star since she won the gold medal in Sydney and still trying to make Beijing.

Today, it was Nagoya Marathon. Last chance for all contenders who are aiming at olympic game this summer.

Naoko gave herself last chance in Nagoya today. Yes, I watched her running. Hmmm... she got suffered. Only for first 7 miles or so she was part of the leading group. After that, she hardly caught up.

Ended up at 27th place or so. 20-some minutes behind the winner of the race. Everyone thinks that she should retire after great career.
However, she responded in press conference that she would continue as she wishes.

Go for it. I am totally supporting for her.

Like Hideo Nomo... definitely passed his prime time! His arm is no longer strong as old days. Though, he's still challenging the Major League today.

Yeah, Naoko Takashi and Hideo Nomo... they are my role model. Challenging spirit is something that I really need for myself.

Call me crazy. Call me moron... spent some money on some luxury again. Yeah, I am sick!!!



Cartier fountain pen - "Trinity de Cartier"

This is beautiful pen!!!
Well, ordered this last month and today this was delivered to me. After three weeks or so... yeah, name engraved and tip was changed from medium to bold. Yeah, fine customization as I like!!!

Lots of european brands are seeking the timing to raise the retail price due to unfavorable exchange rate.
Cartier is doing that at the end of month. Thus, I rushed the order!!!

Yes, this is my 35th BD present for myself. Yeah, really. A bit early, but that's okay.
Yes, I will start using this from Monday at work!!!

Yes, I made 6am meeting. Man, I was so sleepy!!!
My flight was at 3:30pm... all HKG members told me no need to show up to the office for the day.
Well, almost went there. However, worked in the hotel room until 11am.
Then, hit the shower and packed my stuff. Checked out at noon.

No energy left to shop around hotel. Went to the airport straight.

Spent most of time in duty free area. Did buy some as souvenir. Nothing for myself this time.
No delay in the flight. Didn't see the entertainment in the flight because of bad connection! Sound got big break-up and I couldn't stand. Full flight... no alternative seat with working audio system. Oh boy!

Came home finally at 11pm. Long day!!! Well, tough weekend is ahead.
Meeting with client is scheduled on Sunday. Hmmm... I have to work on both Saturday and Sunday... Hopefully, I can spare time for my relaxation. Really hope so.

Yeah, work is crazy... but food is really great!
For lunch dinner, upon my invitation to all staff members, we went out to have dim sum.
Yeah, its always typical for the team whenever having guest and visitors from Japan or other place.

This time, no exception.

Good Chinese dish at that dim sum for sure, though. That restaurant was new to me. Never went there before. Don't know other members like that place or not. Nine of us? I was the only male in that group. Typical female team, huh!

For dinner, selected members came with me.
Turned out to be Korean food. Very expensive Korean. In HKG, Korean food isn't that popular... though those team members liked such food... and so do I. Good food for sure.

It's going to be short sleep. Scheduled 6am meeting. Yeah, 6am!!!
Will get up around 5:30am.

Still lots of meetings were scheduled and I had to catch up with that schedule.
Had late lunch with my consultant.

That was... pasta lunch. Unbelievably, bad taste. Didn't like that dish at all.
I definitely won't go back to that place. Ever!!!

I had to wrapped it all up around 7-ish because of appointment.
I went out for drinks. Yeah, again. So what?!
It was definitely work-related.

Though, resulted that I made friends with two Chinese ladies outside the work tonight.
They were friends of coworker that I had drinks with tonight.
Rich friend calls another rich friends... One was wearing Rolex... the other had Frank Muller. Wow, certainly they are high maintenance!!! Hmmm.

If I go back to HKG next time, I should spend more time to be good friends of them! (BANG)

Back in Japan, my subordinates were working late... I asked them to. Yeah, they were working while I was having drinks!!! Kill me! Sue me! Didn't have choice because it was urgent issue.

Then, all of us... including myself had late night meeting. From 11:30pm in Japan... we were all serious. Good work, though. I really appreciate their hard work.

Frist day on biz trip... serious business? Of course, it is!!!
Meeting after meeting. No much spare time which I can be productive for own work.
Hmmm, I have to dedicate myself for HKG stuff this week. That is why I am over here today.

Lunch - Thai food.
Dinner - authentic Chinese food.

Oh wait... drank pretty much over dinner. Hmmm, I had to get back to work once returned to the hotel.
Hunch... have to work like crazy for this week. Lots of messy stuff to take care.

No big stuff like SLR camera for this trip. Just brought compact digital camera, instead.
Flight had no delay. Read some magazines and worked on PC.
No entertaining movie for me. Rather I prefer the sleep!!!

This is 3rd visit to HKG in 6 months. Yeah, already.

1st time at Renaissance
2nd time at Grand Hyatt

My 1st pick was actually Grand Hyatt. Though, Both Hyatt and Renaissance had no vacancy.
Thus, I had to stay at Sheraon this time.

Sheraton is located in Kowloon. Hyatt and Renaissance are in Hong Kong island.
Thus, I have to take ferry to the work from tomorrow!

Will be fun.

Good Friday? At least I went out for drinking after work. Yeah, need some "energy" from such event!!!
Lots of drinks somehow. More than usual for sure. Hmmm, just needed.

I have to take a flight for HKG tomorrow morning. Not packed yet. Yeah, I have to cut the sleep so that I can complete packing.

The bus departs from the station around 6:20am... yeah, I better pack it all for now!!!

Plus, more than several stuff that I need to include to my personal stuff.
More than several stuff? Yeah, lots of people around ask me to bring them to staff in HKG.
Gift, needy goods, etc. Really.

Thus, short than usual --- my 5 day biz trip still requires full-size suitcase!

Wish me luck for the biz trip!!!

1st time since August? Probably for 6 months or so...
My dentist sent me a card reminding the check-up rencetly. Thus, made appointment for this day.
Check-up and cleaning got complete.

Doc said of good condition and no bad teeth for now. WOW, that's good news.
So my next visit to this dentist should be this summer!