|
May 31, 2003 =Fiesta de Mayo? |
Party (=Fiesta) of (=de) May (Mayo)???
Fujisawa and Miyagawa - two females now added to my friends' list. Yeah, that's wonderful! More friends I have, better life to be around! Don't you agree?
Typhoon was no longer around. Still yet, unfortunate enough... hard rain seemed stoppable and I was soaked in walking up to Charlie's place from Shin Urayasu Station (took a bus up to that station).
Potluck style - was the theme of the day for gathering. Who else, besides two new friends, showed up?! They were... Charlie himself as host for today, Kirk (somehow no work scheduled today!), MoonFlower (to make sure that I do things right), Fujisawa & Miyagawa, and lastly Emi Takahashi.
Haven't seen Emi for more than 6 months. Great to see her! She was very fine and had great fun with us all!
Full of drinks and foods! Yeah, I bought some at Daiei supermarket.
7 young people got together!
Men's end: (L-R) Kirk, Charlie, and Tak
Ladies' end: (ditto): Eimi Takahashi, Miyagawa, Fujisawa, and MoonFlowerNo photos of foods?! Nope, this time. Everyone promised each other to hold such opportunity for fun soon. Yeah, am really looking forward to another one. From the talk, we shared very interesting stories and episodes. Full of laughs and smiles. Yeah, empty bottles of wine (both red and white ones) proved how fast this great time passed by.
Your question, have I cooked some for this?! Didn't I tell you that I stopped by Daiei? Nope, never cooked any yet.
Didn't spend night there. Originally, Kirk and I were planning to. Well, some other time, then. Good night!
2:07+1
|
May 30, 2003 =Easy Come and Go? |
Good evening, ya'll. Was such hardship to come to an weekend since there were lots of work? Well, if you want to get next pay check to get your life to go, that's a must for you. Yeah, I have no disagreement on my life, either! Hahaha.
Stuck with domestic issues in the morning and finally out for sale calls for entire afternoon.
Had a chance to buy some flowers. Not for MoonFlower... it was within work hour, remember?! They were meant for one of darling customers. Since she recently got married (without my okay!), so I wanted to give her something to show I cared about the event! Yeah, I was successful and she really got moved.
2,500 yen for flowers. Lady at florist took so much time to wrap it up as a gift. That was the reason I showed to that customer LATE. I told my customer for that excuse! Hehehe.
Went back in to the office like around 6pm. Not much later from that point, I decided to leave. Yeah, taking off from the office for weekend. Was quite ready and I wanted to leave as soon as last task was to be taken care of. Not bad attitude, huh! I believed in it. Mori and Ishiyama faced to me with some expression that it was quite early for anyone to leave. Well, didn't think so.
So I conducted my act that packing all up for home. Yes, really did. Good for me. No complaints from customer or no inquiries.
Tomorrow, will show to the place of Charlie's for party. It will be fun to spend time with some friends. Would you like to come?! Please raise your hand saying so! I may give a direction how to get to the place.
1:49+2
|
May 29, 2003 =Summer Day |
Came home a little early. Straight from last appointment in Saitama. Men, that meeting was long. Duration?! Exceeded 2 hours or so! Really! President of that company loved to talk on and one. Tons of stuff to tell me.
Let's go over how I spent a day today.
9am, office. Downloaded all Emails. Received two phone calls within 15 minutes. 9:50am, out to governmental agency (same place for these three days!). Yasuko came along with me since it was expected to consume time and I was in hurry for following engagement.
10:20am, permit was granted by that agency and left. Went on to Hiroo area. 11am, showed up to client SC. Get some documents signed by that client and chat for a while (not business related). 12:05pm, left client SC and took train to Ikebukuro.
12:45pm, in restaurant. Lunch and Email messages to check. Chicken dish. 930 yen. Several calls to make. Also received 3 calls into my cell phone.
2am, at client JC. Mr. T laughed so hard and talked so loud. The talk was about some development about appointing new vendor and I told that we have been and still were serious to be a best service provider to it. Finally out of that place, 2:50pm.
Cafe near Ikebukuro Station, 3:10pm. Coffee, 400 yen. Darn expensive! No other place around and I was in rush to see all unread Email messages after lunch. Ikebukuro Station, 3:35pm. Took trains up to Kita Toda in Saitama. Arrived there at 3:55pm. Taxi for 10 minutes. 4:10pm, saw client PJ. And then, President M kept talking for two hours or so. Finally over at 6:35pm.
Given a ride, by customer, to Musashi Urawa Station, 6:45pm. Called and checked in with office to see messages left or not. Told Mori that I would like to go straight home from there. Rather than going back in. No energy left for me. In Nishi Funabashi Station, 7:35pm. Found a message left by Yasuko on behalf of Akihiko Takahashi. Returned a call to Akihiko. Talked to him for a while over the phone. No urgent issues. He wanted to know what time I could get back in. No way!
8:15pm, arrived home. Worn out completely.
It was hot day... and I was outside... I became sweaty and stink! Hehehe. Oh yes, I then didn't join other coworkers along with Tomioka from Osaka Branch. Should've told him, "Come back next week, will ya!"
23:20
|
May 28, 2003 =One Place to Another |
My Palm shows full of appointments and to-do's for today. Yeah, no wonder that all passed so quickly and I didn't even get a chance to breathe.
You know what?! I felt dizzy pretty much all day long since lack of sleep! Yeah, went bed about 2am last night. Another dizzy thing to me was that Yasuko Ishiyama and Boss Ito had to suffer and got clobbered by customer about some (such small) failure. Just named an incident as "failure" --- though, I have some question to myself about defining it as that way. Just a phone call away to clear all up and just timing was a little late to customer's expectation. No delay of actual goods to deliver and no business loss for customer with any delay!
Delay - that's usually what we need to care most. Customer has been overreacted with low morality about his own expression to us. What?! Am I still talking about the same customer whom I've been talking about? Yep, that's it.
If you have no idea whom I am talking about here... please go back to update on May 22nd to read the episode. That was the beginning of whole thing with us.
Wow, Dow hits back to 8700 level and even looks upward, huh. What's wrong with Nikkei then?! No more plunge, please!
Getting back to my day to talk... morning activity was exactly on same path as yesterday. Difference was that I secured the permit from the governmental agency. Finally, right? I know. Though at that time, I didn't know that same customer would come to place same request (documents submission) for tomorrow. Gee, no way!
Business is business, I have to say, "Sure!" Though, I have some appointment in the morning with different customer. What shall I do?! I need MY CLONE! Yeah, as smart as myself and as handsome as me! Hehehe.
In the afternoon, 3 appointments. Men, too many to catch up! This brings physical fatigue as well. I was so sleepy and tired from work done last night... Need a vacation! I seriously look into it.
Tomorrow, Hiroshi Tomioka to be in town from Osaka again? I haven't said okay to him yet. Am I not in power to give a consent?
23:55
|
May 27, 2003 =Black?! Not Yellow? |
Tired... really beat today. Spent mostly outside and went to 4 different locations on job. Busy, huh.
Thanks for those who sent me a message checking in to me to see if any damage around from the earthquake. As you read here, we all are fine. Thanks! I was on the phone with client at the time of earthquake yesterday. I told customer, "Oh boy! This is happening."
Folks out there... do not procrastinate in your bed. Your short holiday is over! Get up! Get dressed! Ready for work! No complaints! Work, work, work! Work like pig! Hahaha. Just kidding.
Started with 1st appointment and I picked up some documents which was supposed to submit to governmental agency. Then, I went up to the office of agency. Man, more than 15 people waiting ahead of me! Office hour (for documents submission) was just between 10am and noon. Yeah, no time to think! Anyway, I spent more than 40 minutes just waiting.
Finally came up to a agent and told the condition that documents described. He was kind (unlike other cases related to government offices, huh!) and I was kindly told that he would like to give me his authorization. "BUT" - he added. Gee, what happened?!
"You need to bring two original application forms. You have only one here."
Gee, it was not my fault. My customer forgot about it! Then, clock hit noon. Means office closed. I have to come back to the same place for same issue, same purpose, with same documents PLUS ONE more page. Gee, wasted my time?! It all seemed so.
Lunch: black curry over rice with deep-fried pork called "Katsu-Curry."This is not normal yellowish curry! Showed up to Kanda area for lunch and this dish was big... much to eat! And a little hot too. Most importantly, it was BLACK! I haven' seen anything like that before. Have you? It was 650 yen. Not bad, right?! It was good! I will come back.
After lunch, I got even busier. Went up to Funahori area and came back all the way to Omotesando. Final appointment was at 4pm and returned to office for domestic work to do at around 5:30pm.
Remember of Tuesday?! Yeah, my (sales) weekly report was due! Plus, I had to take care of several phone calls upon that I've got messages. Client IP - Mr. G was nice to me over the phone. He wanted me to discount some service price. I sort said no because of such definite needs that he really wanted us to fulfill. He told me satisfied with my kind of service for over a year. Though, he finally came down to reality... his boss (the president of company) really need to fix that way as Mr. G demanded.
Well, I beg him to give me some time like several days or so. I will come up with some alternative offer to make that up. Mr. G put his phone with me with reasonably understanding. Thank God, eased me from the pain.
Finally started my report about 7:30pm. I found that Yasuko Ishiyama had big trouble with client whom I mentioned the other day that I was yelled at. Boss Ito began to involve also. Well, I felt terribly sorry for those two at that time. Left work finally at 9pm. Too late. Though, Yasuko and Boss Ito were still sticking with same issue.
Tomorrow, I will have to do all over the same thing like I did in this morning! Hmmmm.
23:33
|
May 26, 2003 =While Having Fun over Memorial Day... |
System has been down and no E-mails couldn't be retrieved. Seemed serious. Well, it was. I had a meeting with client in Shin Okubo (near Shinjuku) at 11 o'clock in the morning. So I left the office around a little after 10am. Came back in right after lunch time. You know what?! There was a note posted on desktop that said that system failure had happened and we all were unable to get new messages via E-mail system. Wow!
This lasted until 4pm or so. I came back from 2nd appointment and it was 4pm... when everyone started to see new messages.
Good thing was that I didn't see any problem-related or urgent issues in all messages delivered with such delay. Yeah, Boss Ito and I just exchanged words of concerns that some messages may contain urgencies and bring us complex situation. Didn't happen that way, at least, to me.
Lunch? Just after 11am appointment. In Matsuya - beef rice bowl. 280 yen.
Since US and UK, even Italy are all off on Monday. Good for ya'll! Means that I have no messages to send out... I don't have to count on quick replies today. I may have some issues to solve with Chicago office, though. Yeah, some customer is desperate for update.
Clocked out at 7:20 and was really ready to get out of office. Mori made some remark about we should reconsider our working hours since no over-time to be counted into my pay check from this month on. Means what?! Mori starts 9am everyday and Yasuko Ishiyama at 9:30am. I take advantage of flex schedule and 9am on Monday, Thursday, and Friday. 10am on rest of weekdays.
Mori kept insisting that what if urgent issues occurred around 9am... or it was very inconvenient to have meeting for first thing in the morning. What really upset me was one thing he made a comment on my schedule. Just two hours to lunch time and what I could possible accomplish... gee, none of his business there. We equally work same hours everyday to get paid. Mori isn't exactly my boss and he doesn't belong to management. How come he started his saying like that so sudden today?! Don't make sense to me.
Though, I told him that I really didn't mind to change back to all 9am start. I know I can do it. Though, he has to work with management to make sure that it is absolutely necessary for right this moment to happen.
Came home 9pm. Just laundry done. Is this going to be Monday work?! Two weeks in a row, laundry is done on Monday.
23:44
|
May 25, 2003 =8 Miles |
Never interested in music like rap... Neither wanted to listen to Eminem ever. Though, movie "8 Miles" came to my attention and didn't hesitate to go to movie theater to see this. I knew that music in that movie won't be my kind of taste at all. Yet, I went up to see.
Story itself wasn't complicated or anything... just coming along with strong dialogue and expression... and even some violence and sex. I wouldn't have noticed much about Detroit was referred as "313" since that was the area code.
There was one thing that Japanese audience never realized what it was. "Food stamp." We don't have such system here and I even saw that translation in Japanese in subtitles... though, shouldn't make any sense to people at large. For that, I had to explain my girlfriend for her understanding.
I had never paid so much attention to rap or hip-hop... some resistance to accept such rhythm and tempo... but I was very impressed about how to carry words in that music. Working with rhyme must be very complex and hard work on vocabulary. Yeah, I cannot do such work even in Japanese by myself. Can you?
I might stop by a music place for his CD.
Anyway, movie itself was so-so to me. I can give a solid C for this movie. Not quite success story that I originally thought about this movie. It's more about description about "what you want to do with your life" and "how you live your life from where you are for now." It gives me a moment to think about my path from the past and future.
Other than this movie, I have done not much of anything. Some nap. Dry cleaning for my shirts (paid 600 yen), and what else... I have some stiffed neck and pain in my shoulders. Did I sleep on wrong side of bed?! I should have.
Lunch (near movie theater): pasta (not much garlic, 570 yen)
Supper: Korean rice bowl (900 yen)Ready for new week and work tomorrow?! Wait, you have big Memorial Day tomorrow. How would weather be then?! Hope nice BBQ day out there. Big bite for me! Hahaha.
Hey, NEVER expected that Kim Basinger appeared naked having sex in early part of movie! Surprise, surprise.
22:59
|
May 24, 2003 =Lots of To-Do's |
Started early. Didn't mean to. Just happened to be.
Got up around 6:30am earlier than usual (i.e. weekdays). Work related messages to be taken care... and I even received a message from customer around 7am... Man, should I expect to receive some biz order over weekend?! 8am, went out. Wanted to get hair-cut. I was too early. The shop wasn't open then yet. Changed direction to cafe in front of Urayasu Station.
Mainichi Newspaper and Nikkan Sports were skimmed. 8:55am, left there for barber shop. No waiting... and I went up straight to chair for haircut. Yeah, pretty smooth. Always this place is packed, full of customers. Not today somehow. Done within 45 minutes. Man, way ahead of the schedule!
Around noon, MoonFlower and I met in Chiba and spent time together for nothing. No shopping or anything. Then, came home and watched "Matrix." Yeah, "(Matrix) Reloaded" is due in 2 weeks... so it was good to know what it was all about. Yeah, you know there were lots of actions used wires. Did you like this movie?! Do (did) you go to see "Reloaded" too?! Like friend Charlie, lots of friends of mine are still looking forward to this. Me too.
MoonFlower spent a little time to see personal Web sites of others'. Mostly published by female writer and she left me a comment that I should've talked more and all in depth. Rather than just briefing what I have done. Well, what do you think? This is, in my opinion, all I can do.
Not spent much money today. No dry cleaning, either. I should have. No big meals. Just a few bucks for rental video.
Michael Jackson is now close to bankruptcy?! Wow... he is a big spender, right?! His fortune won't last for his life, huh. What an irony.
Queen Sorenstam missed the cut with 5-over 145 strokes. Hmmm, she's done well, though. Am sure that she would try again, right!
At Nishi-Funabashi Station, what's on the rail tracks?
I just happened to see this scene. Some female lost her ticket to tracks. Hold on to your tickets, folks!0:17+1
|
May 23, 2003 =Finally Friday |
Memorial Weekend?! Hey, you've got 1st holiday, after New Year's, coming up? Finally, huh. Good for you. Here there is no special event in Japan. Well, you should go out for BBQ or something and I hope I can do the same... wait. Weather won't be that cooperative. Hmmmm.
Cool day today. Mild weather today.
Quite busy today... three appointments and went in the office at 9am and left there 10am. After that, didn't go back in at all. Spent most of the time with clients for meetings. Good stuff? Well, some bad news and I barely held some good ones, too.
Hiyoshi (Yokohama City, Kanagawa)- this is the destination for day and there were 3 clients located in that area. Walked a lot. Oh, Tetsuji Fukui was my company for 1st appointment and I bought him lunch! Yeah, I paid it all. That was a miracle, huh! Guy being broke still paid more than necessary! Hahaha.
Came home straight after last meeting for the day and it was not that late... like 7:30pm. Hey, not so fast that I still wouldn't have gone into weekend. Full of work - didn't mind much about working home. Sometimes I prefer this way since better be home. No kids, no wife... alone here (like you know), easy to work and to be relaxed at the same time. What I mean is "no tense."
Boss Ito went up to the client whom I talked about yesterday. Spent more than several hours with customer there. Men, it must be really bad situation and Boss Ito can hardly breathe in having such issue with crazy customer. Went in 7pm and finally out 11pm? Gee. No details available to me yet, though, I don't want to imagine much about all happened there.
Well, let's move on... need a rest, still. Oh forgot to mention, pay day today! That's least good news around.
7:44+1
|
May 22, 2003 =Single Phone Call |
Hey, do not scare shit out of me!!! I've got a strange... nonsense call from someone during the lunch hour. It changed whole mood of mine for today! No kidding. Am damn serious.
"Hey, moron --- don't even lie to me, liar. You told me that the thing is to be here. It's not yet. What do you think, you mother fucker?!" Folks... am quite serious... no make-up or exaggeration here. I just put this up word by word out of that person's mouth.
"You know, I have so much power than you think and, if I can make a move, I can make a significant change over you at work." What does this mean?! This is nothing but just big bluff or threatening. Agree? Oh yeah.
All right, here is how I was then. This customer wasn't mine at all. I just happened to answer the phone from same guy back on Monday and took a message. I promised him to convey the message to person-in-charge. Yes, message was passed on. Though, what he instructed in that message wasn't coming true due to some problem. That person lost his temper and came to me with such anger. No shit, it was never my fault. At the time I was on the phone with this crazy man, I had no clue at all about what he knew about last minute update. First of all, I didn't involve in any part of thing requested by this fellow. I just took a message from the person then!
I was simply victimized. Seriously hurt by such word and cussing at me over the phone. Full of cuss words then.
You know what? This should be referred as HELL!!!
fuck, shit, moron --- all you name it!
I felt down since then. Spontaneously, right? Need a rest.
23:14
|
May 21, 2003 =Tomioka? |
Still Wednesday, huh. Ready for weekend, already... for me! How about you? (Bet on same answer unless you're workaholic or just merely crazy.) Just came home; it was a little after 9pm. Hanging around with Tomioka - buddy from Osaka branch and Yasuko Ishiyama. Yeah, Yasuko and I were very generous that we went out with Tomioka for supper.
Hiroshi Tomioka (married, no kids)
Yes, male for your information.Of course, STRAIGHT! (at least I know so-)
Simple question... Is Tomioka older or younger than Tak? Well, in the matter of fact, we are at same age! Man, he looks OLDER. Hehehe.
Why did he come to Tokyo? Brought some documents?! Was he a runner for some business?! No way, he is salesperson like me and he should've had a reason... I presume. If not, he has just wasted company's money?! Hmmmm.
Wait. Here is another perspective. He came to MY market for new business... means I come to lose opportunities?! Yeah, I must be. Tomorrow, will call him up for complaint and beat him up? Hahaha.
What did we eat?! See this:
Curry over rice. 700yen. This was hottest curry served in the restaurant.
Curry was rather yellowish... usually darker than this. Must be lots of hot spice!I liked that dish. I should go back. It was called "Baltic Curry." Didn't like the master of shop, though. Didn't seems to be nice. Well, I may be wrong. Will see and determine on 2nd (and final?) visit.
See you tomorrow then! Good night.
23:29
|
May 20, 2003 =Rainy |
Still several days to go for pay day! Hey, I cannot wait any longer! My bank account is now in the status called "empty." Nada, zipped! I have to go out for personal loan to avoid all interruptions in my daily life with needs?! You help me.
Pay day is on this Friday.
Went out for an appointment with Boss Ito to Kaminakazato. Left later than time planned to and still we made to the place in time. Yeah, I didn't want to be late... Always, bad start don't bring any good stuff, you know. Meeting was okay and not really discussed business issue... since it was strictly courtesy call since Boss was with me. Most important part of this meeting was simply introduction of my boss. Hahaha.
Customer and Boss Ito had something in common in that meeting. Customer recently suffered from panic disorder. Oh boy, sounds very complicated. You know what?! Boss Ito hasn't such "clear" symptom yet... though, he brought some talk to light... about he felt same kind of doubtful clue about being so time to time. Gee, sounds horrible!
Was Boss Ito exaggerating because customer was poor thing?! Or he was telling truth.
After the meeting, it was already lunch time and we both started looking around for place to eat. NONE. Gee, what a luck for today. We started walking... toward Kaminakazato Station (Japan Rail). And then, passed the Station. Wanting to eat rather than getting on a train.
Kept walking... and, man, we went up to next station Tabata. Yeah, we walked more than a mile! Yeah, seriously. Boss Ito was wanting to fill up the lack of exercise with this chance. No way! Too easy to happen... no hard work in there, right. He was wrong. Anyway, we walked for a long time, though. That's just a fact.
After all, we went in a restaurant in front of Tabata Station. It was some chicken dish... I forgot. Just lunch menu (i.e. didn't see much what was available). Who paid?! At least not me (even for my meal - hahaha!). Yeah, didn't we discuss how much broke was I?! Didn't I mention of next pay day in a few days?!
Coworker Ron-san whom I asked for definition of word "sumac" - why?! Because I heard it in the movie "Wall Street." Anyway, new word learned.
Left work about 7:30pm. Same (almost) as last night. Good tempo! I would like to keep all in this way. Yeah, really. Though, I can still browse all work E-mails home... and realized that Hanaki or Fukami - major female workforce still remained at the office even after 9pm. Too much on them... though, I guess, they've got to do what they had to do. Not healthy, though.
Let's take it all easy!
23:58
|
May 19, 2003 =Not In Crisis? Just Under Control? |
Risona, Risona, and Risona. Risona Holding, Inc. - the holding company for Risona Bank is now under fire - at least told so by its auditing company and Risona had been declared that it now placed under control by government. "Kokuyu-ka" or country-owned means that Japan's financial status is no longer healthy?!
"Not because of bankrupted. We prevented from happening" by Prime Minister Koizumi. What would you think?
Another bankruptcy... coming with me! Hahaha. Spent most of the time outside... calling customers. Started with a claim that customer didn't get my quotes. Yeah, I didn't mean to delay. I wanted to rather have appointment to see that customer for a talk, not just sending my quote via E-mail or so.
Though, he just came over me with certain mood. Oh boy.
1st appointment was with a president of company... he was the only staff in that place. No secretary... no other workers... all are to be done by himself. Self-employed?! Not quite. Company is incorporated and owner isn't himself. Hmmmm, what a style. Anyway, that company is vendor of some machinery from Sweden. He sells 2-3 businesses a year... that's it. Though, 1 biz coming with multi-millions deal.
The talk was more about asking him how to conduct such business opportunities by himself. His story was still simple and interesting. You know what I learned!? There is no much difference about selling service or products... key point is about human relationship. How to talk and deal with your counterpart... in order to gain trust and good relationship to last is a must.
You know what time I went to bed last night?! It was, I believe, 3am. Lack of sleep! I was with girlfriend talking over the phone. Hey, mostly I was just listening.
Lunch: good dish. "Shinjuku Negishi" famous Japanese beef restaurant. Man, it was pretty damn good! I like that place.
Left work early. Good for me. Yeah, no complain and no bitching! (Ha!) It was a little after 7pm. Yeah, I should keep doing! And laundry -usually weekend job- is just done!
Chatted via Internet with Takashi Moriya. Still no girlfriend for this poor guy?!
Good night.
23:51
|
May 18, 2003 =Off-Line Meeting in Tokyo |
1st Off-Line Meeting I have ever organized in Japan. Hahaha, not that big or huge official thing. It was rather a mere gathering for friends I've known from the time in Atlanta.
Tom2bwu was the guest of honor for tonight's party. With her, we had Charlie, Kirk, MoonFlower, and myself. 1 guy was absent due to his severe cold and fever. Poor thing.
All fish dishes! Raw tuna? You wanted some?!?!
Restaurant "Maguroya-san" in Ginza 2-chome. Man, that place was empty... no customers at all besides us. In other words, we could raise our voice in talk as loud as we wanted! Not that bad though. Reasonably mannered.
"Maguroya-san" (tel 03 3538-3232, fax 03 3538-3233)
Tak seemed drunk enough? Charlie, instead, hits his prime in his mood? Hahaha.
Oh sure, sweets never being missed!
Finally, everyone in a picture!
Wow, Eventually --- MoonFlower in picture?! Man, big news for ya?
23:39
|
May 17, 2003 =Visit to Ron-san's Place |
Hanzomon - the final destination for today. That was where Ron (coworker from Atlanta, GA) lived. Went up there after stopping by my favorite Akihabara for search on special cable. Yeah, found it. 680 yen. Finally got the place of Ron's around 5:30pm. Yeah, started my date late... like getting up around noon! Hahaha.
Today's host Ron-san (guy on right) and "cute) Hanaki behind him.
Invited: Kaori Hanaki, Yasuko Ishiyama, Kyoko Fukami, Boss Ito and myself...
Yasuko Ishiyama brought her home-made coockies for us.
Surprisingly (!), they were so wonderful!
How come she got being so domestic since her marriage?! Hmmm.I brought a bottle of wine. As usual.
Got together at Ron's home and we went up to Chinese restaurant nearby. Great stuff to eat! Biggest meal of the week! Hahaha.
Yum-yum!
Yum-yum yum-yum!!
Sorry, you have missed all this!!! It was fun. Lots of drinks, too.
Sweets - best of all!
Then, XBOX became great stuff for all of us. Driving game drove us CRAZY!
@Ron's fancy place...
Too much fun and we all almost missed the last train for day! Yeah, indeed. All gals were for same direction to Saitama. I got my train safe... how about Boss Ito? That's the question. I doubt that he made it, though. Will see how it went for him.
1:54+1
|
May 16, 2003 =PowerBook2400c Is Back! |
Really Back! My old PowerBook. Yeah, one right before G3 (firewire)... the PowerBook2400c. Used for more than several years... up to the end of year 2000.
Currently running MacOS 8.1. Yeah, planning to update to 8.6 (this is my goal).
Hard drive 10GB, Memory 80MB, and coming with PowerPC G3 180Mhz.
Except monitor and the case, almost all were modified and upgraded. Spent thousands (of dollars) into this machine.Still have SCSI Iomega (100MB) drive, Web Cam (Apple Device Bus interface), PC Cards for USB and modem/Ethernet. Yeah, connected to the Web. Works great!
Now having two machines running before me. I can use them simultaneously like downloading software on one and updating my Web pages on the other! Hahaha.
How about one last machine... PowerBookG3 (firewire)? Remember that this one is gone to MoonFlower's place for having 2nd life with new "owner." You didn't do your homework (reading past diaries), right?
On PowerBook2400c, Windows 95 is running?! Yeah baby!
1:35+2
|
May 15, 2003 =No Photo? |
Error!!! Gee. Shit. Damn it. Shoot. I cannot download photo images taken from the drink spree with 3 folks ("bad guys") in Funabashi. Yeah, I just came back from there. LATE. Passed the midnight already.
Certainly did check that picture images were taken and I know I could even browse them in the camera. Though, now all images were wasted. All data were just gone forever.
Fukui (from Tokyo Office with me), Uchikawa (from Narita Airport Branch), and Iimura (bad friend used to work with us). Sorry for such disappointment. Yes, I know- am quite shocked, too.
For work, there were 2 meetings. One in Shinjuku and the other in Akasaka. Both were okay... not much findings like new business that I can proudly report to Boss Ito... to make him happy. Well, not today. Some other day (maybe).
Rain all day long and umbrella was definitely necessary. Though, I walked quite bit in moving a place to another... then, my suits were totally soaked. No doubt. Man, I wanted to look GOOD to customer... at least since my talk won't be much meaningful, right?! Hahaha.
Today just ain't mine. Seems this kind of weather will remain until tomorrow. But wait, there is a big meeting taking place in Narita and Boss Nakabayashi (big one) and Boss Ito (Immediate boss of mine) are to be there all day long. Yeah, good news to Mori, Ishiyama, and me!
Ishiyama... had day off today. Kyoko Fukami left work for half day off. Man, people don't want to work?! (Hey, me neither!)
How much spent for drinks and foods tonight?! $40. Much for me. No more drinks until next pay day!
0:36+1
|
May 14, 2003 =Worked A Lot? |
Am BEEEEAT! (means tired, okay?)
4 places to go for today and my schedule was quite tight. Showed up in Toyocho first. Then, dropped by the office to read E-mail messages and check other stuff. Took train to Fujigaoka (in Yokohama). Back to Ebisu (Tokyo) and finally reached to Uchisaiwaicho for 4th appointment. Good day?! It was okay... not really bad like at least trouble-free.
1st appointment: Ms. T (age: mid-40's?)
2nd appointment: Mr. I (age: mid-40's)
3rd appointment: Miss I (age: 25 or so)
4th appointment: Miss M (age: 23 to 27?)You can see what age range of people with whom I deal for businesses. Interesting?!
Well now you can see that I just didn't kill time outside the office... not spent any minute in cafe or McDonald's. Oh, NEVER be at video game center! You know, am quite broke!!! Have to save every penny for my life!
Ogaki-related stocks are really hot for this moment. Besides Seino Trasnport, Ibiden, Ogaki Kyoritsu Bank, and Pacific Industry are currently at high range... time to buy more (shares) or sell it all to hold profit?! Hehehe. Hey, who says that we have been in bad economy? How come those stocks hit such prime for now?! Oh I know, I know, currently exporting still remains in good condition and that really affects to those manufacturers like mentioned companies in Ogaki (mostly dedicated to auto industry).
23:18
|
May 13, 2003 =Where To Find?! |
How bad is my cold today?! Well, can tell that definitely better than yesterday. I woke up and felt certain difference this morning. Getting better for sure. Though, I don't take it easy here. Still taking medicines before and after meals.
Announcement!
I will hold some gathering this Sunday. Everyone who loves me are welcome! Please be at the entrance area of Yurakucho Sofmap (large computer retailer in Ginza / Yurakucho area). 5pm, this Sunday (18th)! So be there!
Kirk called me up in the middle of working hours - and then asked me where the Sofmap was. Gee, you don't know Ginza area?! Sure you do. Though, he (at least) pretended not knowing. Man, he hasn't got much fun yet since coming back to country?
Who would be there?! Good question. You can see --- Charlie, Kirk, Kirk's friend (no name available) Tom2bwu (just on biz trip to Japan from Atlanta), MoonFlower (you would like to meet her?), and <most importantly> ME! Yeah, meet Tak Yamada!!!
Well I have to find out where we go for dinner then. Yeah, that's my homework.
Today's Tak.
Worked in the office in morning portion. Busy dealing with weekly sales report. Then, hit outside in the middle of lunch time. Lunch was shortened on purpose. Didn't have big meal then at all.
Omotesando (Shibuya area). Met customer M. Matter of some new biz and seemed there was a chance for me to secure. Good for me. I brought that news back to work after all and this seems good development to my bosses as well. Though, I wasn't knowledgeable about the service in particular. I should've read more about handling manual. I have to build such expertise right away!
2nd appointment. In Gotanda. Chatted with client R. Existing customer with new issue that I would like to gain more businesses from the same customer. From UK - biz is with some other competitor. Client R just kept gabbing about some other thing like SARS virus, etc. Though, what I wanted to see in the conversation didn't easily come up. I had to raise such idea. She replied quickly... there was no yes or no at this point. Still her research was continuing.
There were 2 possible ways to take for me. Choice to make. One was that I would be able to go on with same topic in aggressive manner. Like I could offer more to fascinate that customer. The other was that I sucked it up and stayed patient as possible.
Which way to take?! Tough to decide... since no description of her personality here, huh. Anyway, I took the latter. Stayed quiet. Listened carefully to what she wanted to say. In fact, I wanted to let her talk rather than I merely speak. Will see what to be the outcome... "final answer" --- right? Hehehe. I keep my fingers crossed. I do need a new biz that I can report to Company that I still dedicate myself for work!
23:21
|
May 12, 2003 =Ogaki Festival |
What?! You said you missed going to Ogaki Festival took place this weekend?! Gee, shame on you!
Ogaki Annual Festival, May 10-11.Well, I didn't see this festival once again... just like other years... I didn't get a chance to. Though, am sure that it was such pleasant time for all visitors to the Festival!
Today's Tak.
Big meeting - monthly performance review - with client T this whole afternoon. Meeting didn't raise any issues like I had to solve urgently or anything. Fun part was emerged right after the meeting was over.
Director in customer side suddenly asked me, "Tak, are you changing your eyeglasses to different colors ever time?! Seemed you changed them so often and I haven't seen the ones wearing for now." Funny question, huh? I change eyeglasses every time, huh. I wish.
And this thing continued. Lady S added her comment. "There was a talk about you (i.e. Tak) over lunch about which glasses you would wear and visit us." Wait a minute, I was the center of gossip?! I must be. This is sign of popularity among customers?! Should I have been flattered then or what?! Hehehe.
Yeah, I was wearing PURPLE glasses today... unlike usual when GOLD pair is the one.
Sick... I am really getting to. From the morning, I keep taking medicines. Though, not recovering that quick yet. Seems taking some time. Wanted to come home early. Though, I left work at 8pm. Still later than time wanted to leave.
One more thing. There was a big earthquake about a little after the midnight last night. I was a sleep and this really made me jump out of my bed! It was strong and duration was longer than ones we normally knew. Man, I really thought that this was really big and causing lots of disasters to some other area... Thank God, I was wrong! It was certainly earthquake... though, no one was hurt (maybe there were some minor incidents).
22:32
|
May 11, 2003 =BBQ at Tom's Home |
Remember of Tom Kagawa - used to be with us for work and recently retired. Being invited to visit his home this afternoon for BBQ. Yeah, nice, huh! Full of drinks?! You bet!
L-R> Mori, Tom, and Ishiyama (familiar faces, huh!)
<in the park near his house>
Tom's Persian cat "Peru-chan."
Very old and moves so slow. Alive for 13 years!
Full of meats and vegetables! Meat was my favorite "porter house."
No wonder that I found difficult to stop eating this afternoon.
See, big huh! Wonderful meal - best part of weekend!!!
This kind of meal easily let me chill out about how poor I played yesterday!Oh speaking of myself, I feel a little sickened. All day long. Took some medicine already. I guess, I got some chill last night when coming back home from golf course. I knew it was quite cool. Man, I don't want to catch a cold here.
Came home about 9:30pm. Late. Sure that I made home first... before Mori and Ishiyama. Their places are further than mine from Tom's place in Mitaka-City, the western part of Tokyo.
Anyway, I want to thank Tom for his such great hospitality and everything. It was such fun time in talking with him with great stuff to eat. We went through his photo albums and they were very interesting and impressing! May gals in photos... I can tell that he was so popular among chicks. Very envious. I wish I were just like him.
23:05
|
May 10, 2003 =Golf #2 in This Year |
Hi, folks. How's your Saturday?! Am beat. Too much running. Am I preparing for marathon? Not quite. Just played golf today. Yep, 2nd time this year. Too expensive, though.
Charlie did take care of me to play with him... picked me up and drove back and forth (a round trip) to and from the course. Same place as last time, back in March. Remember?!
At Central Golf Club @ J.T. Course (again).
Today's 4-sum composed from Charlie, Tak, Tamai (same as last time) and Shimada (new face, first-met to Tak).
See the weather was perfect. Lots of visitors for play to this place. Some parties had competition there. Wait, Charlie was carefully checking his swing and other stuff. No wonder that his play was very firm and steady. My condition (as well as the score result) was absolutely contrary! Gee.
Golf cart carries all 4 sets of clubs at a time. Lunch taking place in intermission between 1st and 2nd half (9 holes each). See carefully, this dish was $13!!! Very expensive.
On left, shot by Shimada who made the best score of all. To right, Ogaki-ken (Ogaki Dog) wanted to play with us, just like you!
Total cost: JPY15,970.- means About 120 dollars. Additionally paid Charlie for gas and toll fee (my portion), JPY3,000.- (25 bucks). Now you can see how costly this sport to do in this country, right?! Yeah, indeed.
2pm. Got a call from friend Charlie. He must have been abroad at this vacation time. Well, he was back in fact. He asked me if would like to join him for driving range. Yeah, I would love to. So he came here to pick me up and both went up to usual driving range in Ichikawa. Called "Albatross Ichikawa."
