Ogakijin Blog

Didn't I get new phone recently? Surely, I did...
SOMEHOW, another phone... yeah new phone replacing new phone!!! (redundant)



Now, it's iPhone 3G!!! Yeah, cool gadget!!! My new toy! Very expensive toy!!!

Just put a wallpaper from past photo... shot with friends from Thunderbird... Keira, Anshu, Mario, Aida, and myself. Cool friends in my wallpaper!!!

Wait. How come Abhi not there? Hmmm.

Still need to understand how this works... Just set up the email account. iPod Touch is no longer part of my life?! WOW, I should ask someone to take it over! Still cool gadget, too --- RIGHT?

Still difficult to get iPhone in Japan? You think so? May be no longer true. I didn't wait too long. Bought this at Yodobashi in Akihabara - major discount store... no surprise. no gimmick, either. Hehehe.

Hello- New week... new story, huh! Well not so good for my favorite (baseball team) Dragons.
Hmmm, they are obviously suffering... team isn't functioning as manager wants them to be. Oh boy.
Are they in slump? (Like me? BANG!)

Dragons are currently at the 3rd place. Far behind leading Tigers (Not ones in Detroit, moron!).
Tokyo Giants are suddenly gaining the strength. How come?

Dragons apparently don't look too good under this circumstance. What can they do?
Sounds like talking about myself. No place to go... totally fallen into a big black hole! Hehehe.
Oh boy, big trouble this is!

Go Dragons, Go! You guys are my hope!!! Don't turn your back to the fans like me!

9 mins walk from Shin Koiwa Station...
It's "Park House" mansion.
Went to check it out this afternoon.
Already hunting new home? Hahaha... just interested.



Was this try successful? Hahaha... no idea. Just took a look today!
Sales person didn't find any potential out of my visit... because I didn't appear the one having money for expensive stuff.

Good learning experience, though.

No particular shopping plan for the day.
Happened to find this:



Small bag for weekend use... yeah, for MY use, moron!
This is French made... I liked it...

I had been looking for some small bag for my casual use... Tote bag is too big... so this should be good buy!

Good view from the project site.
How much longer can I stay? Hmmm. Don't know-
Sooner? Very soon? Later... very much later?



Tokyo Tower... soon to be retired after being replaced by Tokyo "Sky Tree."

No particular plan... happened to buy new phone today!



Big surprise is that I come to buy a Sony product. Rare to happen!
Yeah, for particular reason... didn't have any other choice like other brands.
Hmmm.

So far so good. Very interesting phone.
I am not heavy cell phone user... so even though I wouldn't like this phone, it doesn't matter. Hahaha.

One of my favorite players in MLB... announced his retirement from the ball game... It's Nomo.
Hideo Nomo after making fabulous records both in Japan and US baseball.



Well done!
Hope... someday you would come back.

Just outside the office where I work on the project... I found this car very interesting... of course, it is nice and gorgeous!



New BMW X6 - SUV? Sedan? It's BIG car... (and expensive).

Is this going to be my future car? Hope so (probably not).
Hmmm.

This model color is my favorite... don't you know? Man, this is great. Perfect.

Hi, folks.
Already (still?) Tuesday. Hmmm.
Did (do) you know that we are coming an extended weekend? Next Monday is off in Japan due to Marine Day.
Meaning like Japan's July holiday here.

No plans. Maybe some fun activities, hopefully.

Before that... had to face a problem from this morning. PC is down. Yeah, client-provided Window PC didn't function properly and I wasn't able to retrieve Emails then. Thus, no PC, no work. Hahaha.

IT department tried to fix the PC... found that PC itself wasn't the problem. Somehow connection or even setting at server side has some issue.
PC was returned in early afternoon. Then, I resumed working. Though, PC isn't fully working yet... however at least, I can work with emails and other usual applications.

Then in the afternoon, had another trouble with my firm.
Had to negotiate (?) with my boss - Director. Hmm, totally unhealthy.

If I take compensatory day off in making up the other day off that I worked, I somehow get penalized because my performance rate goes down due to no work on that day.

Hmmm. Does this make sense? To me, it does not.
Very unhealthy.

Where is my motives? Who gives me? How do I get it?
Maybe I am making a trouble to myself.

Hi, folks. How was your day? Peaceful? Agitated? Out of control? For me, it was not as good as expected and planned. I'd better catch up to the original plan tomorrow. I promise that I will!

I may need a big prayer... should go to temple? Shrine? Even Church? Hmmm. Don't know.
However, I can tell that there is something wrong around myself.

Here is the typical example...

-Need serious examination at university hospital
-Hard lower-back pain... unable to walk and missed the work

Yeah, these are occurrences around myself. Means that I am next? Oh scary!!!

I recall that my annual check-up is coming in next month. I may be diagnosed as serious disease holder?

Anyhow, I never know that I may be a big problem. Hmmm.

I should have prayer not to realize anything like physical problem or even sickness. You know what I mean? This is serious!

I sent an email message offering myself to be volunteer to organize an event for Dr. Cabrera's visit over Tokyo. Don't know what volume of work and how much of time required doing so. Will see if I can be of their help.

Who's Dr. Cabrera? He's Dr. Angel Cabrera - school president. Not my buddy. (BANG)

Finally, iPhone 3G is here in Japan from 11th.
If you know of me in person... you can tell that I am a big gadget lover.... no surprise if I say that I would get one for myself.
Hahaha... yeah, really.

Well this time - nope. I have to pass.

Thus, no move to make. Rather, I'd better focus on saving some money for future.
Oh wait. I better save to pay off the debt that I have since Thunderbird (or even before???).

Because yesterday it was so active... spent tons of energy... I spent my time home entirely. Yeah, resting... good one.

Watched TV and listened to some music. No serious work! Recently, I decided not to work over weekend. Yeah, endless working won't help me much. So I keep work's laptop down! Don't you think sometimes it's better be that way?

Of course, I cannot afford that way all the times... though for time being, I stick with this policy.

Too much time for the day... I didn't spent any for reading. Shame on me... I should have.

Next weekend is long one because of the national holiday on Monday - 21st. Meaning... working another 5 days brings some big easy moment for fun! Let's think that way... to be excited. Oh cool.

Hope things for this week would go smoothly as possible. Let's pray! (BANG)

Interesting event took place at noon today. A couple of 66 years old and 44 years old... held a wedding party for their friends. Yes, I was (somehow) invited. Because I wanted to see old friends over this occasion, I went there. To be honest with you, my feeling to cerebrate this couple stayed at minimum... because of their complex past which is the secret that everyone knows.

Anyhow, this party brought a big smile to myself. Tons of friends from old days!!! More than a dozen of them... All familiar faces!

Party at Italian restaurant from 12pm till 2:30pm.
Japanese restaurant from 3pm till 6:30pm.
Karaoke from 7pm till 10pm.

See, how long this event lasted! Lots of fun with drinks!

"HOW MUCH DO YOU MAKE FOR NOW???"

is the common question from them to myself. They were SO curious... after leaving that company that everyone worked for. MBA is still unfamiliar study for them... and they don't know what kind of leverage that it could be in terms of career development.

Hmmm. Man, they all gave me very direct straight question.

I had to give vague answer... I have no personal information to disclose!
They are all friends... that was why didn't hesitate to question me such... usually (I bet) they don't (or cannot!).

More than 5 people asked me the same question. What do you think? I think that was too much.

Job, job title, salary (maybe more than before or possible less than then), place for work... all changed... but I am who I am... not much change in character! I guarantee it.

Anyway, it was SO GREAT to see them all... I told myself that it is still so important to keep in touch with as many people as possible in order to have my life enriched with many people who tell me lots of things that I need to learn about.

Oh week is over!!! Hot weekend is ahead? At least forecast tells so. Hmmm.
No plans tonight. Almost had one... but decided not to push that deal for the night.
I think I made a right decision... because big day is ahead.

Tomorrow, some wedding party from noon is taking place. Lot of friends to be there... so I heard. Meaning, the festivity would easily last more than half day! Probably till the late night then. So I have to be prepared!

Yeah, calm... night before the fight!

iPhone 3G is on sale.
Made a quick stop at Yodobashi Camera in Akihabara on the way home.
Almost all were gone... though, there was some particular model was available. It was around 7:30pm. Wow, plenty of supply from Apple this time?

Man... "I Did It Again" (per song by Britney Spears...). I came to drink tonight.
I could be like old-man working just for pay checks! Wait. That mentions truth partially... I work for PAY CHECKS... Well, money get wired transfer into my back on 20th every month, though.

Let's summarize how often I drink these days:

July
1st (T)
2nd (W) --- Yes, I was drunk!
3rd (Th) --- Yes, I was drunk!
4th (F) --- Yes, I was crazy about drinking.
5th (S) --- Yes, still drinking, couldn't stop.
6th (S)
7th (M) --- Yes, drinking is part of my life.
8th (T)
9th (W)
10th (Th) --- Yes, about time to be super alcoholic!
11th (F)
12th (S) --- Yes, plan to be super duper alcoholic!

This is easy-to-see fact, huh! You can tell that from this at-glance summary.

Tonight's companies... my team met another team from the same firm. Two differnent project teams were faced off over drinks in Roppongi.
Hey, FYI - no serious fight! Just nice and fun cross-over.

Serious gap between two teams in terms of educational background. Each team consists from three members.

My team: two (other than Ogakijin myself) are from national university. Ogakijin - high school grad.
The other team: two from Tokyo University and the other from prestigious private university in Tokyo.

I am the one lowering the average of education level!!! Shame on me! (slap, slap)

It was fun and long drinking night!!! It was 2am when I got home. Of course, missed the last train for the day... forced to take a taxi home!!! (hurt my budget even harder!)

Hi, folks.
Just heard that President Cabrera of the Thunderbird (my school in AZ!) is coming to Japan in August. Wow! For what? Some event? Hey, the G8 Summit is just over today! (BANG)

Wait. Global leaders are usually getting together in Davos... not here in Tokyo. Hmmm. This question seems deeper than I thought.

Anyhow, will see what event to take place. I may participate? Hmmm, will see.

My health is downward... somehow. Soon as I come home everyday for this week, I am so exhausted. No particular reason. Work seems under control for this week. Don't know why so for me.

No energy left like watching TV...
So I usually turn the radio on and listen... while sitting in sofa or laying in the bed.

What do you think?
Something wrong with my body? Hmmm.

G8 Summit in Toya, Hokkaido is over.
How come top leaders talked about things up to 2050? What about tomorrow? Day after?
Something that cannot wait that long... must be solved before anything else.

Plus, how to take that responsibility?
Bush - no longer in power even in 2009... NEXT YEAR!
Fukuda - Japan's PM - cannot hold the position over next three months? Six months?

Politics is so funny...

Too bad... am SO BROKE.
I should watch out what to spend money... like DIET... better pay keen attention to what to eat, etc.

Yes, still SO BROKE.
No luxury for sure.

I better cut out any extra spending... which is considered luxury or so forth.

So here is one idea... sort quick win for me.

Magazines.

I checked out several magazines that I wanted to buy... but I hold this idea.

"Zaiten" - rare magazine... never read it. This month, management consultant is the special topic.
I heard that articles state pretty negative stuff... REALLY? Want to read all about it!!!

"Think!" - always buy it! This time, "How to study for career advancement." Yeah, interesting stuff for sure.

"BRIO" - my fashion magazine (Yes, I do have such! Don't laugh!). Not buying this month.

Why not happening?

Coz... am SO BROKE!!!

FYI - I take any kind of DONATION if you really insist...

Hi, folks. I spent quite bit of time for unpleasant meeting... Did it come to a good result? Nope. No obvious result. At least we concurred with each other for our continued efforts... Hahaha.

Moved on to drink after the meeting.
Who joined the night meeting? Let's see...

Owner of:

-Land Rover & Alfa Romeo
-Mercedes Benz
-BMW
-Volkswagen

(total FOUR of them) plus me... who has NO wheels.

Hmmm, I am so BEHIND! Everyone has been in advance like that... All of them... own foreign cars... No one has Japanese-made. How come? Hmmm, interesting.

Of course, we had to cut out tonight's festivity early... because we still got four working days remaining.

Probably in my opinion, drinking at Monday night isn't that good idea. Don't you agree?

Have you seen this movie?
I originally didn't expect much...
Good surprise was that there was a solid story behind this... not only of the animation-base car actions.
Hmmm, interesting.



Speed Racer
http://speedracerthemovie.warnerbros.com/

Well, this is good "back-up."
If you have tons of spare time... nothing to do... No other movie titles interest you... Here we go... you should try this movie.
Yes, this is what I really feel after watching this movie.
Not bad... though, not great like you really open up your time for this particular movie.

Hehehe.

Lots of "jumps" by Mach 5 (or even 6)... they are so unrealistic...

Somehow I was in Yoyogi Uehara... the other side of Tokyo...
How come?

I was in the Fireking Cafe - it was first visit for me. Definitely for men...
Cafe is usually place for girls, right?

Fireking cafe has lots of men's fashion magazines and car magazines. Really welcomes men to spend time there.

I liked that place much... still far away from where I live, though.

Made a stop at Aoyama after Yoyogi Uehara. Some window shopping.

At night, went to "Friday's" - it was a tavern in Koiwa. 10 minutes walk from my apartment.
Good sake... though, food wasn't that good. I probably won't go to that place again. EVER...

I should go to movie tomorrow.
Hey, what happened to rainy season?
Somehow, it was hot... very hot today. Same tomorrow. Hmmm.

Tonight... it's all about friendship with long time friend Kirk...
Many of you (readers) have first met him before... if you're friend of mine in real world.

He and I met in Monzen Nakacho tonight after work.
He led me and his subordinate from his work for drinks.

Went to two different places for drinks and sea foods. Surely, they were all great!
After saying goodbye to his guy, Kirk and I even continued.

Hmmm, almost endless night it would be.
DIdn't drink that much recently for sure.
Good friendship easily called more drinks. This is common theory for anyone, huh!

He gave me lots of energy... THANKS!

Kaiseki is name of the series of dish... very traditional Japanese dinner.
Very expensive... like a full French course dinner.

I came to have this dinner at one of top Japanese restaurants in this country.

Place called "Nadaman" restaurant.
Along with 21 other consultants belong to my firm... were at the table together tonight.
It was surely fun night.











Difficult thing... for me, it's so hard to appreciate such great foods.
Foods were too good...

Lots of drinks tonight... Almost missed the last train for the day!!! (WOW)

I used to sell businesses...
Now I have to sell again? WOW...

Yes, my current role is the delivery... means providing possible solution to the issues client may have.
Sales is actually next stop, indeed.

Though, I better get this started before too late.
So this is not too early for sure.

Soon will be selling is part of my responsibility... oh boy, I can be even busier?
Who knows... God knows.

Already July... means 1st half of the year is complete. Positive result for you? What about mine for the 1st half? Hmmm, tough to answer. First three months, between January and March, it was quiet. Not big deal but lots of patience required. Yeah, I took things very calm.

What about last three months from April to June?
It was rough. Personally and professionally. Hmmm.
Lots of learning experience from the period. Probably (?) just needed for myself.

Now July... totally new? Not quite yet. Just one day from the previous period... no major difference... yet.
Will see how this goes...

While laying down in the sofa after coming home tonight... one thing really hit the top of my head.
Calling my bank to arrange the payment was needed before July 2nd.

Wait. That's tomorrow. I don't want to get penalized by forgetting of it!!!
Start the Skype application and called up the back immediately.

Lady was nice and very good at customer service. Very polite, too. She went thru security questions with me and there was no problem. After all, she arranged all I requested over the phone.

About a bit shorter than 10 minutes for all transactions. Good deal.
Avoided the worst scenario!!! Man, scary.

It's all about money, huh!!!