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February ends today. And I just saw a news about Atlanta where Delta's pilots might walk out of its door from Delta on strike?!?! Wow! That's pretty darn big news if that really come to happen!

The deadline is tomorrow, 3/1/01, and that will be very big event of union strike since UPS's incident which was... what?! more than a couple of years ago.

Suddenly, some old friends emailed me... like Jennifer, Yoriko, and Brittany... I guess, I am STILL missed! Good to know! Now I have to write them back. That's lot of job! Hehehe.

Where those people from American Online come to find me?! I just saw the log of visitors to this website in particular and now "Fritz.com" people are not on the top of the list about frequency in having access to here. Now AOL users... somewhat from somewhere!

Are you AOL?

Had two different appointments with existing customers... in this afternoon and was so-so busy before and after. Weather was wonderful, warm and fine. Such a perfect day for golf!!! How come we work like a pig?! Hmmmm.

I am finally about to cancel and disconnect the ISDN digital (phone) line. Like having told you before, I have full-time access to Internet with direct connection, I no longer need a phone home! What about the one to talk?! Oh, do you know how much time of a day I spend home?! Not really much. Probably over weekends only.

It's getting more and more common NOT to have a regular phone home or in apartment in Tokyo... more than any other part of Japan, I presume. It's expensive to have phone home in Japan. Phone company ask a person in contract on connection for a deposit of $700. Yeah, $700. So it's easy to have cellular phones with themselves which saves millions of dollars (I know, that's exaggeration.)

"Enough is enough?!" About expressing apologies over and over from US officials representing US and US Navy about a crisis causing many Japanese death. I see the point... and agree that US has apologized much as needed so far. Probably, what ya'll need to do about this submarine incident is to bring up the captain to meet those families with loss of loved ones.

Thursday and Friday... 2 more to go! Cannot wait for weekend... want to see some good movie and nice dinner which I cannot afford. Oh, I may go to Turkish cuisine if possible. That would be great entertainment. I need something like that.

See ya!

22:39

Hello, folks. Am I fine and recovered from the incident hit me yesterday?! Not so fast.

Although, I am okay and got busy about the deal with Yoshinoto from today on. I made lots of calls in order to obtain information about how to recover the debt of almost 30,000 dollars.

First called up other forwarders dealing with same client. Their damages weren't as bad as mine! Good for them. And called up the attorney representing Yoshinoto.

Yoshinoto isn't actually gone to bankruptcy. It's like in progress of applying REVIVAL plan given a consent from the Court as well as all people the Yoshinoto owes to. Total debt should be somewhat 100 through 130 million dollars. Don't know that the Plan will be approved or not.

Attorney said that it would be extremely difficult to recover the entire amount of 30,000 dollars due to the protection of the Plan enforced by the Court. Though, my company can regain certain percentage of the amount in accordance of how well the Plan goes for the Yoshinoto.

Oh well...

I did visit Yoshinoto in this afternoon and met people I knew. Two ladies, Kobayashi and Nakashima... they were smiling a lot just like some other day... though, when Motai, their boss, explained the matter with deepest apology, they seemed almost crying. I felt a greatest sympathy with them... I know, it was not their faults... neither Motai's. It's all about the company... don't you agree?!

What happened when for me going in to the office this morning!? Nothing really happened. Most of people, coworkers, did know what happened to me, to my primary business account. People told me, "Tak, it was just nightmare and there is no fault of yours." Oh well, I am still sure thought that the company would blame on me if this issue would rise as big issue... more than other current concerns.

However, I am not expecting to lose the job... thank goodness.

Late leaving for home tonight... left the work around 9:40pm... tired!

23:24

May Day! May Day!

No kidding! A biggest single nightmare broke out in the late afternoon today. Unexpectedly... became my Black Monday! My biggest client Yoshinoto declared its bankruptcy at that time. Coworker Funabashi found an article off the Internet and I really couldn't believe what she told me over her desk.

Yoshinoto will file the Chapter 11 tomorrow --- more than 110 million dollars of debt in total.

My loss from this company is about 30,000 dollars. I guess, I now don't have to care anymore about how much sales I can make... this is just too bad to care anything else for now.

Yoshinoto Co., Ltd.

I have to learn more about Japanese Chapter 11... how to handle and claim my loss. I of course will attend a meeting held by the Company about its explanation of doing this.

This company is the first ever I visited for sales call... and this is the only client that I did everything from scratch! Shit! Why this happened?!

Feel extremely sorry for my coworkers over Narita... who came to work over weekends to finish their jobs for me to keep this biz with this client... always!

And feel sorry also for those who I know at this company. It's company's fault... not with those people.

I don't have any further words to state... I feel bad... terribly. I will talk, back to normal, by tomorrow.

23:20

How was your weekend? Mine... Saturday was crazy... at work! Yeah, had to work on Saturday, mostly spending hours for meeting. Then, we moved on a party... exactly following to Japanese business practice! Hehehe.

All People of the Department, like 25 people-

LEFT> Tsuyukubo (married) and Emi (single) ... wow!

MIDDLE> Megumi and Araki

RIGHT> Tak with shrimp ... why shrimp?!

BOSS Takashima get well-treated by his supervisees like Ito and Matsuoka.

Kono, Yonekura, and Hanaki...

Tak drunk and danced on the road... dangerously.

Ito wanted to wear Tak's gold necklace... to look Yakuza!

Tsuyukubo (left) and Yamasaki (right)

And Tsuyukubo kept drinking...

Still drinking...

Until like this...

Hmmmm, fresh fish "Sashimi" -- would you like some?!

Man! Tajima has cut his LONG LONG hair!

in front of the restaurant... everyone!

I kind of find out how to use the new digital camera for now... I know this above picture didn't turn out well... I will do better job on very next occasion. Oh, don't be upset too much!

Anyway, one more picture to add to this page... before I go.

"Genki Ramen"

Now you finally see the bowl of Ramen noodle... that I like the best! It's by Yokohama Genki-Tei and Tajima, Mochizuki, and I went to after the party. And got a chance to take picture of.

Was feeling bad a little bit... right after the party and came home first... and went out for that noodle shop...

Anyway, it was great fun!

For today... this Sunday is pretty much nothing. In fact, I slept too long and don't feel well. Shouldn't have slept that long, I think and that's why I feel some fatigue.

Anyway, let me relax...

22:50

Gee, it's late... about midnight now. Let me go quick.

How are ya'll doing? I was pretty busy and went out for some biz... finally the first time for a while. Hey, let's put my biz matter aside just for today... Yeah, I went to MacWorld Expo in Tokyo 2001!

Main Stage... where new iMacs got announced today...

PowerBook G4... new iMacs... and lots of Apple vendors around... this was great!

Although, some disappointment... not that many people for this first day of the conference. I guess, that was easy for me to look around.

Do I want one PowerBook G4? Why not?!

New iMacs... still G3, though

Apple Strap... no more drops for my digital camera!

Hey, don't miss out the first movie... upper side of this page... you can have a panoramic view over the conference site. This conference will continue until this Saturday.

Hey, I will write more tomorrow... ready to sleep NOW... Zzzzzz.

0:02+1

The half of week is now passing by. How are ya'll doing? It was sunny and a little bit warm in Tokyo today. I no longer wear leather coat to work. I know, I am still one of a few people doing so... though, I am okay with it.

Tomorrow... MacWorld Expo Tokyo opens! Cannot wait! I will leave office around 1-ish to the place where it holds the conference. How am I seeing in there? Don't know yet. I will see how would be available for a talk. I know, there are some companies do have biz that I can serve. So I will research and see what kind of chances out there.

What did I do for today... Hmmmm. Seemed other people in my department were awfully busy... Was I? Hmmmm. I mostly spent time about setting up new accounts and stick with laptop... rather than with clients. Was that good move? Of course not. I know, I do have a quota to meet... so far apparently, I don't really catch up with it.

New player in Seattle Mariners from Japan, Ichiro Suzuki (from Orix Bluewave - Kobe) is now joining the Spring Training and he starts showing what he can do for the team. He's been the best player and highest salary player of Japan for several years. Of course, his skills had been proved in Japan. And notably, he's young... still my age (28)... still long way to go for rest of his career.

Would be great that he does a great job in MLB...

Another guy from Japan... new Met... Tsuyoshi Shinjyo, moved from Hanshin Tigers (Osaka). I don't think he will come to do well... since he was so-so player among other pros here. Who knows?! Maybe he might show some greatness unexpectedly.

No one in Braves from Japan. How come? If my favorite pro from Japan's league makes to be a Brave... I will go and see games at least 10 times in a season for sure! Or even more...

Cannot wait for another baseball season, folks! And will miss Fritz's softball season... AGGGHHH.

22:00

How was your President's Day? I totally forgot about it. I know most of you, especially if you work for Fritz, didn't enjoy this holiday because you GOT TO WORK! Hehehe.

I did forget about it and got reminded by my new client... who wanted me to contact its counterpart in Los Angeles. I bugged people in LA office to contact that office... and no phone calls went through... because that office was closed for this holiday! It's rare, isn't it? Regular private sector... in fact, a big company! was closed. Hmmmm.

No appointments... for rest of the week. What have I been doing? Oh well. I was chasing after one thing to another... Gee... time really flies. The day was over already. Do I secure new biz out there? Not really. Hence, what the hell am I doing? Oh good question. I just take phone calls and write emails and call up other offices for solutions, etc. Hope I do things right. I guess, I need to do these kinds of stuff patiently... and wait for another chance to come.

I was supposed to practice badminton with a client. I had to cancel it since I had to deal with other client... and had to stay in office late. Playing badminton with client... interesting, huh.

About time... finally, I solved a problem about not be able to play movies from my new digital camera. AGGGGHHHH... finally!

Maybe after very next party, I can put up not only pictures anymore but also some movies to see how things go in there. Don't you love that? I would.

Coincident... in the office... the funny one --- Takashima, Ito, Kiguchi, Kuboki, and I myself... all of us were wearing the blue shirts for today! All guys in the department, except Arahata who doesn't have blue one, were wearing the same color. Is that good? Or is that weird?

22:05

Still Monday is just over... Am ready for another weekend! Aren't you? Oh well, still more than several days to go. Don't count... makes me feel like long time yet.

FujiFilm sent me its response about how to view movie files. Gee, too bad I don't have time for tonight for experiment. What time is it now? It's almost 1am.

Why came home late? Oh I was having a dinner with a friend. Good thing was that I didn't have to pay for a dinner... this is quite important for me at this moment... where I am suffering from poverty!

The dinner was great! Went to Chinese and eat decent amount of foods. Talk was even greater. Mostly from work talk, though. Still yet productive and very positive.

I was quite busy all day long, especially in this afternoon. Lots of phone calls from clients and I have to chase after one thing to another... Though, it was fun to do actually.

Now finishing ironing the shirt for tomorrow. Good for me!

Did I go out for any appointments? Yeah, did. First thing in the morning. Did I sell that business? Don't know yet. Quite yet.

Tim (Pruden) sent me an invitation about joining Fritz softball team for this coming Spring Season. What do you think, Moron! Hehehe. I am currently on DL (Disable List) and will resume on lineup in future. Not yet, though. Folks, don't pick on me! I know, ya'll always do.

Softball, golf, bowling... whatever sports... I need to get some exercises!

0:29+1

Gee, it sucks... really sucks! Still cannot work out a problem about the movie by digital camera. Tried several different ways in addition to yesterday's efforts... and finally decided and sent an email question to the manufacturer... FujiFilm.

I do know that there is nothing wrong about the camera itself. Just the setting for conversion. Format type is AVI... and should be working with QuickTime... which doesn't do supposedly on my PowerBook. Why not?

Yesterday - "Snake Eyes" and today - "Green Card." This movie was good! Liked it. I rented the tape and did find that tape in "American Movie - Comedy." Wait a minute... was that comedy?! No wonder it took me a while, in fact more than 20 minutes to find it out! Plus, "Wedding Singer" wasn't bad, either.

Feel a bit depressed about facing to another work day... recently, I receive more and more pressure about the sale figures... need to reach to it... with all kinds of efforts. If I don't make it by August (end of fiscal year)?! - better buy a ticket to Atlanta! Hehehe.

22:27

How's your weekend, folks? I don't do much, as usual. Watch TV, listen to the radio, surf the Internet, etc. Nothing really special.

I download movie files from new digital camera... though, cannot play it on my deal PowerBook! What the hell is wrong with this?! Should work with QuickTime by Apple. Though, the file was recognized with RealPlayer. So I deleted that file and then the file was open with QuickTime now. Though, still not playing! Hmmmm, I spent at least several hours for the solution which I didn't end up tonight.

Hey, if cannot see movies... my camera is very useless! Need to solve this quick... really quick.

Watched "Snake Eyes" --- that was okay.

Did I go to movie theaters? Oh, not yet... I don't see any movies interesting for this weekend. Have you seen "Hannibal" yet?! I read articles from various movie sites.

Why I stayed home all the times?! --- Money problem... cannot afford much for now. You know, spent quite money for camera already and I do need to wait for pay day, which is 23rd... next week! I get paid only once a month... usual in Japan.

12:53+1

TGIF... made a minor addition to this page... now you can see the current weather report of Tokyo here. So, you can see what the weather like... in Tokyo where I live! More and more informative.

Y2K Men's Club meeting was held...

^{from left to right> Fukui, Arahata (back), Abe (center), Eto, and Iimura}

Today's guest and new comer: Abe --- he was holding his thin laptop while on the way to the bar where we were since he was browsing the map on the desktop! Wow, that's true mobile user!

Abe is actually Fukui and Iimura's boss...

Eto was too excited about having party and made a tear in the paper wall.

Arahata and Abe... they were seriously taking about business. Too darn serious!

Wow! Iimura and Fukui... they were out of control? As his reputation, Iimura may be a true gay? (of course, not!)

Gee, I took a movie of that scene... Iimura touching Fukui... too bad that I don't have a software to convert that file type to one Internet-friendly. If I get some utility to make it, I may put that up here for you to view.

Did I drink a lot? Not quite. I mostly talked and ate. Was hungry and ate more than others in that party.

Thank goodness, the week is over and I can rest! I do need a rest.

Well, you have a wonderful weekend, buddy!

13:25+1

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen --- I was busy today. Came home early, though.

First of all, for today, I am very ... very thankful about what the visitor counter on this page indicated exceeding 3,000 hits! Now more than 3,000 visitors in total for English page. This is great! The more visitors come to read this page everyday, the more enthusiastic I can be in writing things about myself everyday! Please bookmark this site if you are first-time visitor... and let me know how you like here.

Lots of people in and out of the office think that I had a bad cold... causing headache and all that... which is NOT true at all! I just carry over a heavy fatigue since the day 1 when I started new life in Japan. Though, I know that a little by a little, I feel like regaining a normal strength toward a good health. Thank goodness.

Good thing about having all-the-times Internet access to my PowerBook... I can browse TV program table... so that I know what's on TV!

Bamian is coming back to Japan in March due to some family concern... and today I am informed that "Big" MM, from Alabama, is coming back also for his brother's wedding in March... and he asks me to have a dinner during his stay... Definitely!

So thankful having such great friends!

This morning, clocked in at 8:26am... way earlier than my average time... like around 8:40am. In the morning, I was busy doing all arrangements for shipments and preparing correspondence for inquiries. At 1pm, first appointment... and that meeting lasted like over an hour. Didn't expect that long. Then, post-meeting took place after appointment. Gee, when I got back to office... was already 3pm or even later. Then, meeting for international conference call from 5:30pm. Gee, didn't do much otherwise.

Tomorrow --- thank God it's Friday! Right, folks?

Oh, made a call to Fritz - Atlanta office... talked with Brenda (Hart) for 10 minutes or so over Internet. John Carr left and so did Brian Genjian... tried to find out of any other members of Fritz I know... However, still all others were remaining and found something...

Jonathan still goes out with Tessa! Good for them! I told Brenda that they need to make a move before it's too late! Hehehe, I am a bad boy! And then, Brenda obviously told of me to him and I got an email from him... nice circulation.

Tomorrow night, after work, the 2nd meeting (of course, I mean PARTY) of Y2K Men's Club. We'll have a guest... so we should gather like 6 or 7 of us. Today I was supposed to get informed about where to meet for that tomorrow... though, didn't hear from Fukui - party man in charge. Will report about it tomorrow.

Somehow, lots of people in the office think that I might quit the job soon. Hmmmmm.

21:25

Happy St. Valentine's Day! How was it for you?

Did you spent hundreds of dollars to send flowers and gifts for your loved ones? You should! Did I?! What do you think?!

In Japan, as told you yesterday or so, men just need to wait for women to come up to. And my result? Oh gee... women do not have EYES! Where in the world are they looking for (Mr. Right)???

Except one bag... chocolate from Godiva. All female coworkers of my department gathered their pocket money to buy bags for all men in the same department. Thank you, ladies!

And Iwai brought another box of some snacks. Called "Pretz" and it is very popular snack in Japan, especially for female of course. Usually, Pretz isn't big... but Iwai brought in a JUMBO one... which can serve up to more than 5 people. Size as well as quantity are jumbo-sized. She came up and asked me to take picture since I did the same when she did same last time. Pretz are now selling in different part of Japan with different flavors... saying Regional Edition. This one was of Osaka.

PRETZ

When taking a picture of this... big boss Takashima found me doing this... and said, "Tak, what are you doing in the office?" Oh well... I better be more careful about what I do in the office!

How's your Valentine's? Are you doing with your girlfriends/boyfriends that you are not supposed to do?! Hee hee. Am I? I wish!

Oh those pictures up here... first ones I have ever taken with my brand new camera!

Iwai, Fukui, and some others... they are glad to find that I have gotten a brand new camera replacing old broken one... just like their photographer is back in business... right, folks?! I guess, that's the only job I have at work.

Someone asked me recently... "Have I ever gone out without it?!" Hmmm, good question.

It was chilly today. Some snow flurries during day time! Didn't snow really, though.

Well for my 1st Valentine's in Japan, I've got a very nice card and a bag of chocolate... I know that I am not that popular... though, at least being recognized among girls!

See ya!

21:36

Hey, ya'll! My headache and soaring back... weren't fine yet... felt tired still and came home early. Left work almost on time today --- truly rare to happen! How's my business? Sucks, at least for today. I may even lose some businesses!

Oh well, am cutting this crap.

When coming home, found a card received from Andrea... Wow! Good surprise. I loved it. The card was red and nice message in it, of course.

I happened to make a comparison in using Netscape version 6 and Internet Explorer 5... I did always use Netscape and no experiences whatsoever on Explorer. You know what? I now end up using Explorer... which is much light application and works very smoothly. Netscape, on the other hand, had definitely some flaws! Couldn't browse some certain web pages... this is serious problem.

Hence, I stick with Internet Explorer now!

Since I had a pain in my back... as well as in shoulders... grabbed a bottle of medicine to relieve this. Hope this works.

Haven't got a chance to use new digital camera yet. I look awful since losing some weight and seem tired still. Some people at work told me so, too. Hope I regain the strength so soon.

Tomorrow... have an appointment with existing clients... that wouldn't be a big deal.

Yeah, tomorrow... 2/14, 14 de febrero, February 14th... St. Valentine's Day!

Do you know what's like Japanese St. Valentine's? That must be interesting for you. This is the day when women, not men, are to declare their love to men in their mind! If you like someone and you want to ask out, this is the day to make a move!!!

Interesting part is... women need to do that... men just wait!

Another part... you (of course, female) need to give something particular as a gift meaning their feelings. You know what it is? That's CHOCOLATE! So lots of stores are selling millions of chocolates by today. Really.

And a little complication here... two kind of chocolates depending upon the meaning...

One is true chocolate... to let men know of your feeling and the other kind... is appearance chocolate... just to show appreciation or least gratitude... to friends, coworkers, or even your own father! If you (male) receive that appearance ones, you are supposed to return some gift in a month, White Day - March 14. Of course, you have to tell if you like to go out with a girl giving you a serious chocolate...

Do I get one tomorrow? I am sure that I receive only some --- appearance chocolates.

21:21

Last update, I said "Weekend begins" and now have to say "It ends..." What an irony...

I have several news to tell ya... first of all, I've got a new camera replacing old broken one... Yes, did go out to Akihabara in order to buy a hard drive for my father, as requested, and decided to buy a camera too at a time. I checked more than a few shops and talked to their personnel... and found a fact that the model particular I like to get, 4700Z, still remained popular and won't be facing price-cut soon even though the newer model, 4800Z, will be for sale in April.

So I got it.

Negative side of that... I had to reply on my plastic... (i.e. credit card). Now I owe lots of money.

Another news... I did talk to Mom in North Carolina as the first time for a long long time and did exchange information like how we were doing respectively. What I found was... everyone was doing fine. Stacy "Smiley" got broken up with his girlfriend Susan! (check this picture from Robyn's wedding) Wow, their relationship didn't last even more than a half year? Wow.

Mom always sounded wanting me back in US...

Next news... my back pain which was causing a severe headache is a bit better for now. I took a bath for a long time this morning and gave self-massage. It worked at least to relieve a pain. I am sure that it's not all gone yet... at least better.

And one more news... my Internet connection is no longer relying on phone connection. It's now direct access... via this building's local area network. It's, in fact, much faster than what I have in the office for work! Did take only 2 minutes or so to download 20MB file over Internet! No more phone bills. I will cancel the contract to the phone company this week.

And I will stay online ALL THE TIMES!

If you are ICQ user, you can see if I am online or not via this page's indicator. Please register my number if you ever wished to talk to me, rather than read and understand how I am! Hee hee.

Now I have to finish laundry... no shirts left for work now. Am quite desperate!

Yesterday, like I said, I went out to Akihabara for shopping in the morning. And then, went to Inoue's house upon his personal invitation. I had to do his favor... fixing his brand new iMac (graphite) and he served me a dinner by return. It was fun night talking all the way... and I barely made a last train for the day to come back here! (wow)

Was I drunk? Not really! I did drink, though...

Tomorrow... already Tuesday! Thank God... oh too bad folks... you have to work for now... Monday! Oh, don't be lazy... keep on working!

I am very thankful about this long weekend so that I could rest... since I was tired and had a pain in back in addition to the headache. And this week won't be long... so, the timing is pretty much favorable to me.

You take it easy out there! So do I.

20:57

1st day of long weekend. Spent all time home... didn't go out since I still don't feel 100 percent well yet. I guess, I just needed a rest... and that's what I am doing this time. Has my headache gone yet? It's still on and off... should I see a doctor?!?!

My father asked me, via email, to buy a harddrive for his laptop... I guess, it's about time to go out for shopping, especially to Akihabara (again!). And that should be time that I buy new digital camera. Right? Gee, I have to check how much money left in my wallet... I am sure that won't be much, as usual.

I think I will go to that place on Monday, last day of this long weekend.

Friday, had to report how much business I sold so far in terms of having partial review of myself. Hmmm, certainly that wasn't likely for myself. The figure isn't even close to what I hoped. Oh gee... what should I do? I need to look for another job somewhere else before I get in a trouble?

I better get busy to do SERIOUS business soonest.

For tonight... no movies or anything. Just resting.

Tomorrow... I will fix friend's computer. That's main thing and nothing else. Oh today, I did clean my apartment. Using vacuum cleaner and put up Futon toward the sun. I feel much better in being here since it's clean. Am not that great about cleaning... but I do least.

20:47

Currently having a severe headache... Sorry, I don't think I can continue this for a long time today. I should be able to recover soon and all on this website will resume normal by tomorrow or so, hopefully.

Had an appointment in the morning and lasted quite long... like 2 hours. I guess, my fatigue came out of it?! Probably not. I felt quite tired already from this morning.

Tonight, I am going to bed early. I should be fine.

20:41

Wow, came home late. Much later than usual. And... snowing outside (never snow inside - ha!) --- Now just Wednesday is over... Still Thursday and Friday to go before the long weekend.

Monday, 2/12 is Japan's National Founding Day --- yup 3-day-weekend in total!

Anyway, I will make this update short... here it is!

6:00am, Heat gets on and wake up... still in bed, listening to favorite radio show

7:20am, Get out of bed and hit the shower

7:35am, Iron the shirt for today

7:45am, Get dressed

7:55am, Leave apartment

8:05am, Catch the train (Man! So crowded!)

8:35am, Find Kuguchi in the same train

8:55am, Clock in

9:20am, Coffee and bathroom

10:34am, Bathroom, pick up 2nd cut of coffee

11:25am, Go upstairs and enjoy chitchat with coworkers

12:05pm, Go out for lunch with Arahata, eat Hayashi (Curry) Rise

12:31pm, Coffee shop for 3rd cut of coffee (cost 400 Yen = 4 dollars)

1:01pm, Back in office

1:08pm, Bathroom

1:20pm, Japanese Tea

2:45pm, Coffee

2:55pm, Bathroom

2:59pm, IImura comes by and says, "Why are you here? 'Cuz rains outside?"

3:01pm, Check emails <- Work purpose... 1st time for today!

3:25pm, Receive a call from client on the biz trip in Taiwan - start working

3:26pm, Get busy

5:01pm, Finish the quotation for the client, send a fax to Taiwan

5:24pm, Bathroom

5:41pm, Buy a canned tea

6:23pm, Work on report

7:09pm, Bathroom, 2nd canned drink (coffee, this time)

8:44pm, Bathroom

9:01pm, Write some emails

9:14pm, Bathroom

9:38pm, Clock out

10:30pm, Ramen Noodle Shop, eat noodle

10:51pm, Home!

How many times did I need to go bathroom? Oh boy!

Bye---

Dinner... Yakisoba noodle with a couple of rice balls. Wasn't that bad however it was such easy food which I bought in the convenience store called "ampm."

Lunch? Oh, it was pretty ordinary Japanese dish... rice, Udon noodle (again?), Sashimi (raw fish) and Yakizakana (grilled fish). About 750 yen ($8).

One appointment in the afternoon. Other than that... was busy corresponding to inquiries as well as some quotes to make for future proposal.

Found very shocking fact... several people witnessed that my camera was DROPPED to the hard floor while the party last Friday! Gee, no wonder it works so funny! Shit. I am not going to search who did it... however, I feel pretty terrible that no one ever told me what happened and just ignored it. I am sure that anyone can understand what would happy to such gadget after dropping to hard floor! Oh gee.

What happened is happened... cannot and shouldn't complain anymore. I will close this deal and shut up about it. I just try to take a look at bright side that it was about time to replace it and I was in fact planning to do so sometime this year... just came a bit earlier than expected. Right?

It was first time to talk to my father after New Year's off while I was home in Ogaki. I didn't know why he called... and found that he wanted to know how come his laptop cannot dial in to the Internet provider for connection. Don't know why. Last time I touched his computer was back in August! Apparently, he didn't use his computer for that long time?! Oh boy.

My Mom sounded fine at the same time. Glad about it. I do miss her. She told me that she was being sick after I left home at the beginning of January. Glad that she was okay today.

Lastly, I should mention. Some of the readers emailed me and let me know of current low prices of the model I mentioned yesterday. You never know who reads the page and react to what I wrote. I am very thankful and... they really want me to spend money, huh! Hehehe.

22:55

Wow! I've got a ticket... I've got a ticket!!! Ticket to Macworld Expo Tokyo 2001! That is held in Makuhari Messe located suburb of Tokyo. From 2/22 thru 2/24.

How did I get it? Oh well... coworker in the office had two tickets and I asked for one. Now I am planning to go there on Friday, 2/23. In fact, this ticket (usually costs $20!) is valid thru all 3 days... I actually love to go 23 and 24, which is Saturday. I cannot, though. 24th is additional working day for my department!!! Gee, what a luck I have!

Better be this way... I am thankful and lucky that I can go even for one day!

As informed... my digital camera seemed broken down. Nothing changed and remain not function.

What a coincidence... I wanted Fuji Film's 4700Z and yesterday it made an announcement to sell new model - improved one, 4800Z. That new model will be for sale on my birthday (4/25)! Basically, the functionality remains almost same... minor improvement for me from 4700 to 4800. A distinctive difference I can find is only of appearance. New 4800 is actually designed by Porsche Design - very prestigious company about modern product design.

Here are the pictures of 2 models and I let you see which one you may like.

<--- FinePix 4700Z /////

<--- FinePix 4800Z /////

Which one do you like better? Of course, new model will cost more... I do expect a price cut on 4700Z since new model is coming out soon. Currently 4700Z is about $700 (originally $1250!) and 4800Z will be set around $980.

Hey, I've got only extra 300 dollars! I should have to rely on my PLASTIC? Oh well. Wait! St. Valentine's Day is around the corner. I should wait to see who gives me what? (hint, hint!)

This and next month... am expected to:

• Play golf over weekend (estimated cost $300)
• Expected to attend a party on Fukui's wedding ($100)
• Ski trip (unknown at this time)
• Spending some for Valentine's Day... right?

Gee, I shouldn't calculate of the cost... way short in the amount I needed.

That's about it for today. Monday is over... tomorrow Tuesday (of course, moron!) --- have an appointment in the afternoon... will be another busy day!

22:36

Weekend is over... man, this one was quite short... shorter than usual ones... I guess, it's because I mostly spent time outside. Did laundry in the morning and went out for a long time. In other words, I had a good fun with friends!

Went to Shinjuki for shopping, instead of Shinagawa - originally planned. I was with my old-time friend "ryoryo" --- she was in Atlanta (and ex-student of mine when I taught English) and now spends her little time off in Tokyo with some kind of IT job. Since I wanted to go shopping and she wanted the same - shopped together.

She didn't let me take a picture - just like an ordinary Japanese girl. So only the photo of shoes.

What did I buy? A pair of shoes for work! Man, it was expensive... wanted cheaper pair... couldn't find any. Ended up paying a little bit more than $100! I guess it was "paying forward?!?!" -

Watched a movie "Pay It Forward." Somehow, the title in Japanese was "Pay Forward." Don't know why "it" was taken out like that. Interesting.

"Pay It Forward" was good movie... with minor disappointment. Didn't like much about the ending where that good kid dies... and also about Helen Hunt. She looked so awful in the beginning of the movie... even though it was in accordance to the character in the story.

Official Site for Pay It Forward ---> HERE

What would I give my rate for this movie? Give a B+. If ended differently, I could have given an A- or better. Have you seen this movie? This kid --- from the Sixth Sense... may receive the Academy award this time with this movie.

My digital camera is obviously malfunctioning! What the hell wrong with it?! Gee, sucks! I guess, it's really about time to replace it... with better camera. Have used it for over 2 years and used a lot as you can see here. But the model I like is about $700. Hmmmm.

Anyway, the camera isn't working... sometimes does and sometimes doesn't. Someone dropped this? Don't think so. Hmmmm.

All right, let's move on!

23:23

Sorry, ya'll... for a long silence in updating this page. I give you a brief note of what happened and everything should be resuming to normal.

Thursday, February 1>

After work... went out with boss and other coworkers for drinks. Took last train of the day and came home late... really late like around 1am. No energy left at that time to do this page... and gave up. Simple, huh!

No appointments for that day. Stayed at work, literally, all day.

Friday, February 2>

Many appointments. First time ever --- I went straight to the first appointment, rather than going to work first.

After several appointments, finally came to work... it was around 3pm. Then, I had to finish up some quotes and correspondence with liaisons overseas, as usual.

From 7:30pm at that evening... ANOTHER party kicked off at a restaurant for Welcome Party for Funabashi - new salesperson to our department from January.

Yasuko Funabashi, 28, worked previously at a competitor. Now doing some customer service function and will be actively sales from next month. She worked a lot on import process and is very knowledgeable about it. She is expected to sell more than an expectation to myself.

Find her as attractive or cute? Want to contact her? As far as I know, she doesn't have a boyfriend...

Anyway, party - 1st part - did last up to 11pm. Then most people moved on to Karaoke. We did sing songs until 2:30am! Then, all ladies went home by taxi and some other men, including myself, went to Udon noodle place... so it was 3:30am when we called all off for the day!

Taxi brought me home around 4am. Wow... very late and no energy left for me to do this page once again... Sorry, lots of excuse!

And then... today!

Saturday, February 3>

Mostly coworkers for this party at Outback Steakhouse! Originally, we thought that we would go to TGI Fridays' for dinner after bowling - then, changed the place to Outback since I told them that this would be much better.

Who came to the party? >>> Iwai, Arahata (from Tak's department), Hatano (ex-coworker), Hirata and Shimada (Accounting), and E. Takahashi from Narita!

Was food good? Yes, definitely. Ate a regular sized steak... cost me around $30 - expensive, right? Yup, that's Japan.

Oh better mention of bowling. Was fun! Haven't played for a while. I scored as like 102 >>> 131 >>> 147. Getting better and better. I could have scored more if continued ---

All right... getting late tonight again. I will talk to you tomorrow.

See ya!

0:38+1