Tak's Milestone: February, 2000

Feb. 29, 2000 =Man!... Day Is Just Tooo Long!

Freaking tired, already, really, indeed... now sitting in chair home and there is no energy left for doing anything... except updating this page JUST FOR YOU! (^o^)v
Day passed pretty quick thru-out too many things to do at a time.

Oh, treatment@dentistry finally gets completed today! (WoooHa!)

I prefer not to talk in details of what happened today... just one word for all: "nightmare"... I have been fed up with all as soon as went in the office.

One of readers, actually she is Japanese, emailed me, claiming... "Tak makes too many grammatical mistakes in this page." Nothing new, right? You all know that I can't write English! Speaking isn't sufficient to communicate with you all either! Anyway, I always write this page with minimum attention... so there MUST be mistakes and it is okay still since this page is nothing but for my self-esteem... Don't you agree? Plus, as far as ya'll understand what happened to me TODAY, the mission is complete!

Hey, don't even thing about correct me of this page via Email. Will definitely ignore that kind of junky mail...

My roommate, yk110, who is always telling me of necessity to update my page when I skip. She insists that lots of readers get disappointed and that should not happen...etc.

Since she's claimed herself as the most valuable reader of this "Ogaki-jin" page, I decided to give her a quiz like college class.

"Explain about the bar story yesterday." She responded, "What about it?" --- FAILED.

"Photos posted yesterday..." She said, "Was there any?" --- beautifully FAILED AGAIN.

Ok, maybe she is just download the page to let the counter gets working to count it in. Other than that, no attention paid for the contents. So I concluded that she is fake reader of mine.

Well perhaps I let her take more time and give another quiz in future...

Coworker, Susan, who lost her house entirely because of fire, still didn't show up in the office. Cash donation started and I submit a check of $50.

Well, the month of February is now over... (well actually in an hour and half.) Then, March! Wow, spring is around the corner?! --- Maybe!

Feb. 28, 2000 =Bad boy, Tak? Toooo Much Drink!

I am drink? Oh, "drunk" --- don't know which one is right... Came home after the date is turned into Tuesday... since went out with my coworkers and there were lots of fun out there... just what I needed.
Let's wind the clock up a little bit:

The morning which my boss came back from Japan as the first time for two weeks kicked up with sad news.

Coworker, Susan Peppers, encountered huge loss in this Saturday morning... her house was burned down... No one was hurt even though the family lost everything except the clothes they were wearing at the time of escape from the house.

Will organize cash donation for Susan's family and I will cooperate as much as I can for her.

The day with my boss wasn't too bad... not as many calls as last week today. Yet, there was a big problem with mistake which I didn't make and this headache will be a part of tomorrow.

Then, I talk about tonight... when joining coworkers, Jackie and Dawn. They had someone from Chicago Office to help them out from today for a week or so. So they have to take that guy out for dinner and I, lucky enough, joined them. We went to seafood place "Spondivits" near the Atlanta Airport.

Jim Guess and Hitoe Yoshikawa --- Delta personnel. Hitoe didn't believe that I was Japanese in the first place... "Are you really?" she said. Recently other Japanese people cannot recognize me as a Japanese anymore. Maybe because no Japanese accents in English or I don't appear that way anymore...

Oh, if you need to observe that thing, let me know. Will give you a direction so that you someday can be one of witnesses for that.

Came home and now have been working on web site update... I better go to bed after this right away... It is 3am, already! Let me rush...

Feb. 27, 2000 =Reception for Late Akko Nishimura

Wait a minute!--- Is it already the end of month now? Is my calendar showing date correctly? NO WAY! Need a few more days counted in ti this month!
Anyway, my last weekend of February is closing with attendance to reception took place in Oglethorpe University for late Akko Nishimura -- who was friend of mine and recently killed by car accident in Auckland, CA.

When I entered into a reception area, found tons of people already lined up to meet Dr. Nishimura and his wife, Yuko, (parents of Akko's) --- it must be around 60 - 70 people. Also encountered a several familiar faces in there too. Well, it was not certainly "happy" kind of reunion... it was rather sad and tough to see each other's faces. Some of them are whom I haven't seen for years... Azusa who traveled from Buffalo, NY for this thing, Kim (Korean American) graduated from Emory, Craig I haven't seen for more than 7 years! (wow married a Japanese woman, huh...)

I kind waited for Dr. Nishi, not lining up since many people were there. Finally came to see him and gave him the best wishes with my deepest sympathy of his huge loss. He seemed not still believing what happened... Felt extremely sorry... praying in silence---

Man!, Monday is already around the corner... will I have to work?! Do I? Tell me no!!! Really seriously hope that my work load isn't killing me anymore... Oh, my boss is now back from Japan... wish this means good for me rather than more chaotic than ever... will see.

Hope you all have easy week! See ya'll tomorrow.

Feb. 26, 2000 =Atlanta Off-Line Meeting!

Well done!!! Today was for Atlanta Off-Line Meeting... the pert of this meeting was for a member, "SpringF," was leaving the end of February for Japan... so it was farewell to her for us.
Maybe you need my help to understand of this, "Off-Line Meeting"... right? Ok, we all met each other in BBS (Bulletin Board) on Yahoo Japan web site. I have been hosting a topic concerning "seeking friends in GA!" and all members came to that topic to know all others. We only communicated with each other ON-LINE... though when we plan to physically meet each other, that is "OFF-LINE." Got it?

Since there are quite number of members in my hosting topic, we have been organizing occasional off-line meetings. Today's one was the first time in this year.

Oh, what I indicate weird names in here is based upon the nickname/handle name in Internet. I just don't use real names in here. Please understand.

The Meeting this time took place in the Malaysian restaurant, "Penang" on Buford Hwy. Since SpringF requested of some unique cuisine which is difficult to find in Japan... so yk110 (my roommate) who was in charge of organizing all this time made a reservation to this particular restaurant (great job!).

Took some snapshots out of the meeting...starting with a picture of SpringF who was the main guest of the event:

Cute, huh? Very cute. I think it's baby girl.

How about work today? Sucked! Don't ask me more. Prefer not to talk about it (that bad...).

Tomorrow, Tak-presiding "Off-Line Meeting" for Japanese people takes palce for the 1st time in this year. Will report you of that exciting event. Have a good weekend! (Weather should be nice...)

Feb. 24, 2000 =That's Bull Shit?

Eventually, I came to have one more day before my boss comes back from Japan... I am about to throw everything away because of this freeking fatigue! (Woooooooops, sorry for F-word!) Extremely tired and stupidly tired of handling trouble-some requests.
Client "H" has a container from Japan. Mr. "R" called me up and asked "Have you stopped it yet?" --- I said, "No. We can't since freight payer, Japan, decided not to." You know what he said?

"That's bull shit!"

He kept yelling at me on and on, "I gave you an instruction and you said you couldn't follow?"

Oh boy, he totally misunderstood of the biz term here; who has a decision-making power over this single container. It's definitely Japan because it gives us MONEY! He misunderstood of the term and he believed that Company "H" would pay for ocean freight. Wrong!

Anyway, Mr. "R"s boss called me afterwards. "Tak, to be honest with you, I didn't want to involve in this; now I guess I have to."

He listened carefully of what I said and agreed with me. He kindly explained this matter to short-temper "R" for settlement. Setteled. No stop for this container! So I get relieved a bit...

Oh, believe me, this is just one of troubles I've got for today...even though I am not going to describe each of them in here (of course, you don't wanna see them either, right?).

I've got a chance to look up web page of my college, Virginia Wesleyan College (VWC). Found very impressive database utilized in it. You can obtain the current information of alumni! So I looked up several names and found a few update of my friends such as Jennier Nowlin (Maiden: Repko), Jennifer Ferrance and James Edwards. Both Jenn studied French and German respectively and at the same time took Spanish classes with me for semesters. Jennifer Nowlin works at VWC for study abroad programs, Jennier Ferrance is attending UPenn (University of Pennsylvania), and James Edwards is now for religeous study program in VA. Wow, this database is such useful!

UPenn? Very smart. Tremendously smart.

Hence, I emailed both Jennifer... not to Andy (=James) since no information about email address.

Jennifer Nowlin responded quickly and seemed so happy to be in touch with me. She spend 2 years or so in Japan (Akita Prefecture) so she can speak a bit Japanese. She told me that she would call me to talk tomorrow --- can't wait! Jenn, in fact, came to my hometown, Ogaki, to visit me and spend several days in my house (it was summer time...)

Hopefully, the other Jennifer will come to respond my email quickly.

Tomorrow is Friday... wish things would get better just for tomorrow --- even though this is kind hopeless thought. Or should be sick not to go to work... for 3 years of my employment, never missed any work day due sickness! It should be about time to be ordinary human who needs a rest... right? Don't you agree? <--- sure, you do!

Tomorrow is Day 1 for Tak to be NORMAL-------

Feb. 23, 2000 = Reunion w/ Kim and Palm IIIc

Wow, David (Letterman) is back on air! I am sure that lots of people welcome that the Show is now back on! Well, usually watch Jay (Reno), instead... Jay is a bit funnier for me. Anyway, I like the Show itself has lots of jokes about David's comeback.
Did I have to tell ya'll about job today? (Of course, not---) It was simply chaos and it is out of my hand, beyond control...whatever.

Client in Alpharetta bothers me around 5:30p and asked, let me rephrase it--- ordered me to stop a container which was in Tucson, AZ, right away... I guess, that thing is carried over to tomorrow and this definitely becomes part of tomorrow's pain, man! Maybe good idea to send an email to all clients, "Leave me alone!" or something.

After work, had a little reunion with my long-time friend, Kim. She is teaching English to foreign students at GA. Tech.

We were supposed to meet each other in restaurant of Buckhead... "Rio Grande." Where I ended up with was "Casa Grande" which located on same road as "Rio-." Shit, that is confusing. Part of my fault was that I barely remember the name of that restaurant. Knew the location which was wrong... So I was late (as usual?).

We had a good time in talking and catch up with each other's past... We've known each other for years and today's reunion was the first time for almost 2 years, still felt like I feel very comfortable talking to her for many things.

Oh, some of you start thinking like "Tak may..." The answer is NOPE! Oh by the way, she is taken, like all other female friends I have.

Finally, Palm IIIc came out. Have you seen one yet? As expected, the screen is color-enhanced and priced $450. I cannot afford that much money so I should not pay much attention to this so that I don't have to accumulate my anxiety of "wants."

Will report here more after checking this device out physically. Maybe already available in local computer store such as CompUSA, Micro Center, or even Office Max-type places.

Before going to store to buy it, you many need to check here.

In my opinion, still no need of colors in it, so that is main reason that I would not "go for it." If didn't own a Palm now, I may have. Please let me know any of you got one or thinking to get one. May come to you for my test. (^z^)

Ok- it is 12:30a... Sleepy enough. Tomorrow seems quite trouble-some already at this point. Help me, please!

Did you see Grammy Awards? Saw only final part since went out with Kim. Everything was for Santana, huh? My roommate told me that Jennifer Lopez were with her boyfriend "Puffy" in the Awards. Was he free for now?

Only the interest of annual thing is now Academy... I should keep up with all nominated films... especially, "American Beauty" --- I didn't know Annette Bening was in it... Like to see it for sure. Should I rent the video (not come out yet?) or should I go to the movie theater?

Ok, let me go...Bye!

Feb. 22, 2000 = 10,000 miles on my auto!

Since the news I got from yesterday (friend's death), I was quite down in mood today. Plus, too many phone calls to handle! I just wonder HOW MANY PHONE CALLS I NEED TO HAVE WITH A SINGLE CUSTOMER? I am sure that talked w/ Laurie@Company "H" more than 10 times or so (well, of course didn't count though). Well, "H" is quite important client of ours and I should not complain here; I feel like "NO MORE TODAY!" then.
Heard about Nicky was leaving the Company on Friday. She is coworker from Laos (Do you know this country?). She was one of so-called "Laos Quartet" in the office. There were 4 ladies from Laos in the office. Pam who left the Company as the first lady of the group and now Nicky is the second. In matter of fact, Nicky is following Pam (i.e. They work together from next week in the same company).

So I came to tease w/ Kack who is another Laos lady and Nicky's good friend, "When is your turn to leave here?"... Guess I've got a bad mouth and better watch out.

Nicky's farewell luncheon is held on Friday and will be surely there at Bennigan's (I haven't bee to for a long time).

My car's mileage now indicates exceeding 100,000!!! The year of model is 1992 and I am the only owner of this auto. Man!, can't believe that my baby is that old now!!! Though, always try to keep clean inside and outside the car. When was student in college, always did wax by myself and... The older am getting to, the lazier am and pay for such services. I am sure that many of readers know what kind of car I have...

How many calls I need to get from Japan? Since I was sleepy and tired carrying over from yesterday, decided to leave office earlier than usual and did! Still, Japan called me to my cell phone and asked me how their concern was dealt... which I emailed a report to!!!
I at that time didn't know that would come to upset in getting another call from the same guy in Japan aroun' 9pm (the call in fact woke me up from power nap.)

<Election 2000> McCain (what is his first name?) won the Primary over Michigan? Wow, that is a big deal and McCain definitely goes upwards... Baby-faced George W. Bush may be seemed not the one to stepping forward to Presidential Election? You know, McCain seems smarter than Bush to me. I tell like that because the way McCain talks.

By the way, I cannot vote... because you all not allow me to! (^o^)/~

Well, that is it for tonight. Tomorrow, I suppose to see my old-time friend, Kim, if we both can. Hope I can make it. Hasta luego, baby!

Feb. 21, 2000 = President's Day

Happy President's Day! Did you all work today? Me?--- Unfortunately. Up to last year, the Company gave us a day off on President's Day... NO MORE! Can you believe this? No explanation whatsoever... Damn it!
Well... for the first time since last Wednesday, my boss checked in. He seemed having such busy schedule in Japan. He was extremely concerning of one biz which sort faces jeopardy like loosing biz entirely. I honestly agree. The service provided for this particular account is definitely NOT meeting any needs. Will see what happens hereafter.

I left office like 7:30p... then hit traffic on I-285. There was a fatal accident causing big traffic jam and I just joined bunch of others in there.

While sticking with that traffic, there were three rings in my cell phone. Two were from Japan asking me to do something for tomorrow, and the last call is a bit extraordinary. It was in fact text message from Internet. Sender was Azusa, old female friend of mine from my college years. She asked me to call her ASAP and I didn't know her number. so I sort felt like "What in the hell?"

Went home and took care of my roommate's dogs and went out. I had appointment with some other friends tonight.

We went to Chinese in Buford Hwy. Ate and decided to go for drinks since I found out some bad news. Got Azusa's number from friend and called her up in NY. Then what I got informed was one of friends was KILLED in auto accident yesterday (2/20). Nothing but shocking. It was Akko, Japanese-American lady who I know for more than 5 years. She was walking in the street in City of Auckland, CA, and stupid car came to her. I am not certain that she was killed instantly or not. Will confirm more tomorrow. Anyway, this is one of reasons made me feel like I can drink.

Akko was tough boss for me over summer job thru out several years. Though, she was very friendly person outside the job. Graduated from Brown Univ. in Modern Arts, I believe. Anyway... Sad. Very sad.

Ended up with place called Barnacle in Ptree Industrial. Since friend carried a Palm like myself, we exchange lots of data with fun talk. Notably, I came to know that some of my friends thought on first meeting with me that I could be a gay. Do I seem like that? Guess, my friends were simply not familiar with condition who can be gay or not!

By the way, I am straight. I like women (not necessarily one; can be more)!!!

Oh boy! better go to bed by now... It is passed 2:30a, already! Need a rest for tomorrow! See ya!

Feb. 20, 2000 = Still Under Construction!

Hello---! Thanks for stopping by at my website! I know, it is still under construction and many of you may have been dissapointed by this... I am making the best efforts to make this page up and running soonest! Lots of requests were made for opening English version of seeing Tak's life on internet and it will appear onto your desktop, finally!
I really hope that English page will eventually becomes popular like Japanese page where the counter has been hit more than 10,000 views already. Will take any comments and suggestions to make this page better and more friendly-based page, so just drop me a few lines of how you think of this page. Thanks and see you soon!