End of summer...

The last day of August...

I'm still wandering in the dark without any idea which way I should continue on walking... Where am I heading? What will I be doing a year from now? I really don't have a clue.

Let's see if I can find something in the harvest season!

Wandering around South Shinjuku...

still so many people were lined up at Krispy Kreme Doughnuts... I think I'm okay, as I decided to return to my office, than to waste my time here and run away from reality!

Days off on weekdays...

I'm not used to taking days off on weekdays... I rarely stay at home or hang around town, not doing work on weekdays... at least when I was at my previous department.
But working on the shift, it's inevitable that I get days off on weekdays (and of course, work on weekends).

To be honest, I'm a little confused...

I booked an appointment and went out to work on the evening. It's still my day off, and I really feel funny that I'm comfortable working rather than resting...

the Hanzomon area was my destination today...
it was quite dark before 5PM...
like the weather... not much to catch today!!

Rather than making a choice...

Tonight, I had to make a choice between two drinking parties...
One with my old friends at my previous post, and one with colleagues from my new post. It was a hard choice to make... so, I went to the first one which started at 7PM in Ginza, and went to the second one, which started before 8PM. It was already nearly 9PM when I made it to the second one at Shibuya, but after it was over, I returned to Ginza just before midnight to participate in the third party after the second party!

I was tired and my face was already all red at around 8PM, but I didn't care! There were a bunch of drunk bozos around me on the Ginza Line!

P.S.
It's getting cooler in Tokyo...

very cloudy at the West Shinjuku area! are we into the autumn mode!?

Tough to stay up...

A peaceful night... but with the jet lag still on my back, it was really tough to be up in the morning! I decided not to take risks to endanger my health status... I went right back home and took a nap!

At night, I had some snacks...

yeah, the snacks from Maui just for me!

Shuffle time...

Most of the air time was devoted to the political shuffle that took place amid attempts of reform in the conservative ruling party. The members of the new parliament did not ring the bell, at least to me, and it 's easy to predict the political turmoil will continue on for this party.

top news, but not sensational...

Going to overnight duty, I prayed the night will be clear of danger!

Predictable...

It was predictable, but I didn't have a good day.
Tired, drowsy, languorous... with a light jet lag!

taking my shabby suit out... listlessly...

Taking care of the Greek wildfire, but luckily not becoming so busy, I made it through... back to normality!

Aloha... Tokyo...

Yeah, there's many great things in Tokyo too!
Yeah, I'm having a wonderful night back here!!

but it's always the worst thing to do... to unpack and return to reality!

Aloha (Goodbye) Maui (Day 4)

Waking up at 6AM... just to leave this pleasure island...

this sight from the condo at Kihei will be my last for perhaps a long time!
perhaps...

P.S.
a very very thanks to my sister planning the tour and driving the rental car all through the trip! and spending my great vacation with my mom and dad is always a pleasure!

Aloha @ Maui (Day 3)

Sightseeing was our main mission today!
Setting out to the northeast side of the island!

Iao Needle of Wailuku...

Nature is the keyword today!

Finishing off...

at Hana's Oheo Gulch... another great site to visit!

And our dinner for the night...

were Saimin! at a very reasonable price in Kihei!

Aloha @ Maui (Day 2)

And of course... here's what we're for!!

Kamaole Beach I!

At night, we strolled around the old captital city of Lahaina.

a course menu of the tropical islands was of course the objective, but the dance had stopped our forks and knives at "The Feast At Lele"

Aloha @ Maui (Day 1)

Arriving at Honolulu in the morning, and Maui Island in another plane.
Meeting with my parents and later on with my sister, I repeated the August 21st again.

But before I can say ah... it was nighttime!

dining at a wonderful restaurant "Mama's Fish House"

Yum yum! Seafood!

I had Monchong, but there were plenty of Ono, Ahi and Mahimahi to eat!

Leaving town!

OK... I'm about ready to leave for Narita. I will be going to visit the State of Hawaii for the first time in my life!

Watching high school baseball till it's my time's up!

the champion of the spring tournament ends its bid for a spring-summer double crown...

At night, I went out to meet my collegues I worked together at the Judicial Press Club along with my successor, as a farewell and welcome party was held at Akasaka.

eating Peking Roast Duck!

Ah, I had enough Chinese for a week! And it was fun be reunited with my colleagues I've worked for so many days together!

Miraculous!

I woke up being informed of a breaking news coming into my mobile phone!

almost all of the channels were showing the plane on fire LIVE!

It seemed to be a terrible disaster, but miraculously, no one was killed!!
Feeling relieved that many were spared their lives, I went back to sleep in the afternoon, returning to my vacation time...

Going on slowly...

Being relieved that the news about disasters haven't gone wild, staying around at the resort area was a good choice for this weekend.
Visiting the active volcano for the first time since September of 2004!

Mt. Asama!

It was a hot day, but with some showers in the afternoon, it became cooler later on. I didn't care being involved in the traffic jam back to Tokyo, because I can take it easy tomorrow too!

Start of my vacation!

This time for real!!
I didn't want to stay in Tokyo, because I knew I would be dragged into something if I did!
I chose to go a little bit to the northeast, barely in the vicinity of the Metropolitan Area. It was very foggy around Karuizawa, but my objective: the hot spa was great with a below 20 degrees temperature!!

and it was better with no one around this one! all this, just for me!

My vacation in jeopardy!?

My 9 day vacation started... But...

I went to take "a stroll" to my office to check out how the Peru aftermath is going on. I know it's not about numbers here, but as the death toll did not climb over the thousands, I decided to take at least the eight more days off completely, after I devoted at least 8 hours today to this earthquake.

This weekend... going to a much cooler Sapporo was one of the choices, but...

JRA announces the suspension of all races!
the flu virus hits the horseys!
incredible!! (photo by Jiji)

Without horse racing, Hokkaido will no longer be my choice...
Let's get to somewhere nearby with some hot spa!

At the last hour...

Just as I was ready to get out and start my vacation...
with only about three quarters of an hour...

THE DISASTER STRUCK!

a big one in South America!

Uh huh... I worked and worked... for 24 hours in a row!
That is... with a five minute nap sitting on my chair at around 7PM... (i.e. just falling asleep... naturally...)

This quake is so threatening that my vacation is in jeopardy!
How many days off shall I lose is the question!?

Wakeful because of the heat!

A very wakeful night and day, as I couldn't get enough sleep before going into overnight duty! All the heat makes it so tough to control the both the room temperature and my body temperature! Oh, it's irritating!!

I had to hypen up myself to get ready for a long night...

yeap you guessed right! I went for a Double Whopper with Cheese!!

Stuck to the desk...

I had to stick to my working desk today, with longer time than usual to be assigned to the shift, due to many of our colleagues taking their summer vacations.
So it was impossible for me to take a peek at the internet to watch the race I really wanted to...

I finally got my hands on the website that had the race recorded on its server late at night.

my cherised colt was only a head length behind the winner! Officer (No. 6) just missed winning his first graded race at the Summer Champion (JpnIII) race at Saga Racing Course...

I've got mixed feelings here... I wanted him to win, but on the other hand, I'd like to see him win his first big race LIVE.
Well, not so long from now... I shall!

Am I stupid or what...

Right when I opened the door of my room, I felt the cool and refreshing air coming out.
Hey! I don't have any roommates!
Oh, don't tell me I made a real dumb mistake!
No...

yes... the indicator lamp showing that the energy eating machine was in operation was glowing strongly... that means I left it on for more than 12 hours...

Burying my head in my hands, I had to admit I made one of the most basic mistakes when living alone...
So much for my way of helping out in stopping the global warming!