Summertime!?

Last day of April. Wow, how quick was this month!? It still feels like it was a week ago when I left Baghdad!

Last night I worked until 2AM and I returned home pedaling my bike through a mild night.

Though I was quite sleepy, I had to go on location in Central Tokyo in the afternoon, through Otemachi, Marunouchi, and Akasaka. It was quite hot when we were filming without air conditioning.

No wonder!

it was over 25 degrees "natsubi" (="summer day")!

I had so much work to do after I returned to my office... I think I'm trapped in some quagmire!

Chores and obligations...

I don't know how long I was dead... I surely remember I'd seen a quiz show that is broadcasted on the 8PM block, but I don't remember anything else. It was noon already when I finally woke up... so I think I at least had 14 hours of sleep. 14!

I had to do my chores... I had to carry out some obligatory missions...
First I washed my clothes, and I updated my diary while waiting for the washing machine to finishing his (or her) job.
I stepped outside. A beautiful day. Calculating my days left till I leave Japan, I decided to do two other things. Getting a haircut and picking up my suit being dry cleaned.
Ready to move on, heading towards my office, I decided Shinjuku was the right place to land.
I shopped for some suit I can wear in a 50 degrees India, which I want them thin as Iceman would want his costume to be when he's doing a fire rescue.
I munched on the largest burger in the area, a Double Whopper with Cheese so I wouldn't need any dinner tonight.


c'est mon beau vélo qui a aidé me vole autour du secteur aujourd'hui.

Finally getting to my office at 5PM, it was time to get blue obliged to go through two things... getting ready for my trip to India and working on my morning report about Iraq...
What a day... and it was supposed to be a day off being a public holiday in Japan!

Working at home...

It was very peaceful overnight as maybe the only news that happened overnight was the Olympic torch reaching Pyongyang.

In my recess time...

just can't resist to eat these!

I returned home quickly, but had to write e-mails and make some calls while I took a nap in between...

The only relief...

to eat these!

I'm tired today... going to sleep as early as possible!

Day and night... or... night and day?

Daytime and nighttime was reversed for me as I slept all day after working over 6AM at my office.

Before going into overnight duty, I stopped by Shinjuku to eat dinner.


nice weather today as so many people were hanging around! it's the Golden Week, but I have to work!

I hope there won't be any crazy things happening overnight!

Slowｌｙ but steadily

I had three glasses of on the rock Glenmorangie and it was 3AM when we finally called it quits. In the morning, I couldn't wake up early enough to see one of the most spectacular event in months! I just made it to watch the news at noon and though the event was still going on, the worst (or the best?) was over...

While in night duty, I watched most of the news programs and read the papers covering the event, but there is nothing that persuades me that this event was necessary in our country. It was merely chaotic and far from the sportman like event it is meant to be.


yes... I'm talking about the torch relay!

With so much work to do and failure looming because of the slow progress all week, I decided to stay in my office and clean up a bunch of work piled up on my shoulder. Oh, my target: 6AM!

Before I headed to my office, I walked to Shinjuku to buy some gadgets for work... as I walked by this familiar area, I realized how the construction of this area was nothing but a slow progress.

I wonder how long it will take to build something here?

Slow progress... it's not a rare concept anymore... all I would ask for is steadiness if I can make it through without being kicked out of the team!

Crucial information...

Though I had drinks, including two glasses of red wine, until 1:30AM, I felt okay this morning. Thanks to those ukon tablets I had for relief.

After finishing my job at the day shift, I stayed in my office with slow progress. It was in the evening I happened to hear some crucial information about my future. It was not what I've been expecting and even shocked to hear things are going in a way that I hadn't imagined.
From that point I did try to finish some of the work but I was in no mood to do so... the news really had an impact on me and I think I just couldn't settle down though I tried to stay calm...

I don't know where to start... but somehow I have to get back my composure!

I must not forget the two targets in front of me...

are these two countries! especially the bigger one!

Going forward

Filming in Hiroo and having dinner together with the ones who helped me film.

Hiroo... it was starting to rain...

I went out to have some drinks out to Roppongi where I have not been in months... perhaps years...
I did have fun, but at the same time, it was stressful to see so many people hanging around looking... well... peaceful! It's easy to analyze my feelings... I'm just envious because I don't know which way I'm going. I hope, at least, that the filming today was good enough!

For a change... but small progress...

I was in central Tokyo today... looking for some answers about our filming in Japan... I think we can get something, but it's not a breakthrough...
Oh well, with limited time till I leave Japan, I have to go on with what I have at hand!

Hanging around

the Otemachi area

I was at least happy to see the Tigers win!

only on the web though...

Quite futile...

It's so warm now and spring is flying by so quickly, but it was another ineffective day! Oh, I hate these kind of days when I ruin a beautiful springtime day!
Last night, I went out to drink from around 1:30AM, but I did great by having only one mug of beer and finishing at 2AM.
I was healthy enough to get some fruitful results, after having a great lunch outside... but damn... I'm quite disappointed at myself!

I finally got to return the books I borrowed at the library.

looking at the large building once again from the elevator...

I wanted to run away and forget about all the troubles... but that's just escaping from reality and being a coward is unbearable... so I only got one choice!
To go back on my path to sincerely believe I can become a productive reporter!

BTW, I'm still talking with Baghdad, and I think I will get some help from the crew there again to get a report out. I'm a little worried with what I have in hand, but settle this case as I can't go on forever without a conclusion...

A bad day... with a bad start...

Back home before 2AM... the Western Conference 1st round game was being broadcasted... I couldn't take my eyes off as the game went into the second overtime...

it was tied until 2 seconds left in the second overtime!!

The West is up for grabs! Who can predict the finalist team!
(it's going to be Boston for sure in the East...)

It was an important day, but I really didn't like it when I found out that the library I was planning to visit was closed on Mondays. When the morning starts badly, it's a bad omen for the rest of the day!

Luckily, though many things did not go as the way I wanted to, it wasn't critical...
From now this is the way I should go... to endure any misfortunes and do the best so it won't be a fatal blow!

Troubled...

Taking my weekend off was not permitted... no, not with all the work piling up in just about 48 houra.

Yeah, I needed some time off...
Watching all these news about Flocke and Wilbaer it's time I get to see some from our country.
http://www.wilhelma.de/de/aktuelles-zu-wilbaer.html
http://www.nuernberg.de/internet/polarbear/


he's having fun... in JAPAN!

Before going to India, I had a head start...

watching these guys!

In the Satsuki Sho... another disaster for me... I had none of the top three colts in my ticket...


Captain Thule by Agnes Tachyon and Air Thule, a quite famous dam wins the first Classic race. Take Mikazuchi by Gold Allure, and the most favorite Meiner Charles finishes third... Rainbow Pegasus, Smile Black Shell, Smile Jack, Subject, Flotation that I had finished 4th, 6th, 9th, 10th, 11th respectively... not even close...

At night, I was at my office doing work, work, work! I know it's my fault, but I took the risk! ah...

Asking for mercy

After having drinks till 2AM pleasantly with my friends, I slept all morning and even some hours in the afternoon to put my health back into shape...

In the evening...

I was at one of the most prominent tourist harbor city in Japan to have a good time.

you know... where you can eat some Chinese food...

having Sichuan Mah Paw Dau Fu

Time is running out and it's countdown time... I gotta do my job, but please... I have to ask for some mercy! I will work tomorrow night, so plaese give me a break this night!

In the rain....

I hurried to my office in the morning, but it wasn't raining. I thought the rain will fade out by the evening... but it didn't.

the water level in this small river was the highest in months from the rain overnight!

I went out to drink with seven of my old friends from my junior high and high school years in the Bay Area. Yeah, we're back to the old days and just having a good time... just about 20 years older!

we found out we had a birthday boy today! Happy Birthday to you!

I heard that Bruce has endorsed Barack Obama...
People living through the 70's and 80's will be influenced quite a bit unless Bono of U2 will show some respect to the other candidates.

It's crucial because Philadelphia is Born in the USA (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPudiBR15mk) Bruce's My Hometown (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIqYn_1IdZU) along with Billy's Allentown. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K62DdoFoNeg)

the best hits of Bruce...

Streets of Philadelphia
by Bruce Springsteen
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L9_8vwx2w8)
I was bruised and battered and I couldn't tell
What I felt
I was unrecognizable to myself
I saw my reflection in a window I didn't know
My own face
Oh brother are you gonna leave me
Wastin' away
On the streets of Philadelphia

I walked the avenue till my legs felt like stone
I heard the voices of friends vanished and gone
At night I could hear the blood in my veins
Just as black and whispering as the rain
On the streets of Philadelphia

Ain't no angel gonna greet me
It's just you and I my friend
My clothes don't fit me no more
I walked a thousand miles
Just to slip this skin

The night has fallen, I'm lyin' awake
I can feel myself fading away
So receive me brother with your faithless kiss
Or will we leave each other alone like this
On the streets of Philadelphia

Breakfast!

I'm really tired... my only pleasure is to eat...


these are my favorite for years!

In the evening I had to wake up to go to my office and fight through some procedures, and at night I attended a drinking party.

I think I had enough... I hope I can sleep throughout a pleasant night.

Bad!?

After drinking with my colleague way past 3AM, I went home feeling fine and sleeping till noon.
But I wake up realizing I've done something bad....

After negotiating, I finally woke up and went to overnight duty.

I was a little bit concerned about the United States Geological Survey's release about California's future.


http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=1914

There is a high percentage of a destructive earthquake hitting the area! I'm a little unsure about the percentage, but like Japan, there could be a quake any day in California. I hope it doesn't happen soon, but we have to be ready and forget about FEMA coming and the Terminator Governor helping out. Everything's up to you!!

Not in the mood...

I had to start early to get into the day shift, though I had drunk until around 2AM last night. I was lucky I didn't have a headache... I had an important meeting in the evening, so I asked my colleague to switch our shifts.

Time flies so fast, it was already late at night as I decided to get some more drinks today with my colleague. Outside, I hear there's so many newly-hired ones being taken around to drinking parties, but right now I'm not in the mood to tale to these young ones. But I do hope they do well at their new positions!　


vitamin C might help me!

After drinking till 2AM, it's time I hear some music that will take me back to those years I enjoyed.

Back to basics...

One of my favorite ballads from an decent album...


Hopes and Fears (2004)

On A Day Like Today (T.Rice-Oxley, T.Chaplin, R.Hughes)
by Keane

On a day like today
I looked at you and I
Saw something in the way
You stared into the sky
I saw you were sick
And tired of my wrong turns
If you only knew the way I feel
I'd really love to tell you

But I could never seem to say the things I needed to
On a day like today no other words would do

I saw you were sick
And tired of my wrong turns
If you only knew the way I feel
I'd really love to tell you

But I can never find the words to say and I don't know why
I can't find the words to say and I don't know why
I can't find the words to say and I don't know why
I can't find the words to say and I don't know why
And I don't know why and I don't know why

I saw you were sick
And tired of my wrong turns
If you only knew the way I feel
I'd really love to tell you

But I can never find the words to say and I don't know why
I can't find the words to say and I don't know why

other major song from the album...
http://hide3diary.blogspot.com/2007/07/i-just-felt-like-listening-to-this-song.html

Back to basics... for the third time!

I have many ups and downs.
But when I hit the wall, I just have to go back to basics.
For me, that's just to meet people and communicate.
Getting information and feedbacks... to see where I'm standing.
I see that I have many responsibilities and I have to go on running to achieve many things.
Drinking and chatting all night... yeah, I'm back to basics!

back to basics posts!
http://hide3diary.blogspot.com/2007/11/back-to-basics.html
http://hide3diary.blogspot.com/2006/07/back-to-basics.html


tonight I started out at the Marunouchi north exit... and moved on to the Shinbashi area...

After leaving my office... working on a day off...
I returned to my home... of course there's nobody around...

All alone, listening to music as I always do on Sunday nights...
I took out an old album which is one of my favorites of all time...


HEART(1985) http://www.amazon.com/Heart/dp/B000002U9C

my favorite song is Nothin' At All, but today the 7th song is the ballad that's banging me hard on the head... gotta hear Alone from BAD ANIMALS after this one...

NOBODY HOME (A.Wilson, N.Wilson, S.Ennis)
by Heart
Don't run too fast
Like a shot from a gun
Don't jump too high
And knock out the sun
Don't stray too far
Out on your own
When you finally come knocking
When you finally come knocking
There'll be nobody home

Don't pull too hard
Like a kite in the wind
You're gonna break the string
When I reel you in
Don't take off flying
All on your own
When you finally come knocking
When you finally come knocking
There'll be nobody home
Nobody home

You say you're feeling locked inside
Stuck inside to stay
You wanna fly away
There's really nothing I can do
To help you make your play
Make your getaway

Don't dream too wild
And shoot for the moon
Don't ride your heart
Like a balloon
Don't blow away
To places unknown
Cause when you finally come knocking
When you finally come knocking
There'll be nobody home
Nobody home

Don't run too fast
Like a shot from a gun
Don't jump too high
And knock out the sun
Don't stray too far
Out on your own
Cause when you finally come knocking
When you finally come knocking
There'll be nobody home
Nobody home

When you finally come knocking
When you finally come knocking
There'll be nobody home
Nobody home

When you finally come knocking
When you finally come knocking
There'll be nobody home
Nobody home

Missing the biggest chance...

If I had followed my rule, I would've won a lot of money...
I thought the granddaughters of Sunday Silence will do good today so I bought 5 of the 6 fillies that had a sire of the son of SS or a daughter of a SS dam.

Reginetta, a daughter of Aspen Leaf sired by SS won the crazily wild Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guneas)... followed by F T Mara sired by Fuji Kiseki, a distinguished son of SS... I had all the other 5 granddaughters of SS: which were Tall Poppy, Little Amapola, Air Pascale, Meine Ratsel and of course Reginetta... but not F T Maria!
why didn't I buy this filly!? ah... forget it...

By the way, the trifecta paid 7,002,920 yen to a 100 yen ticket... WILD!!
it was surprisingly Futoshi Komaki's first JRA GI race win... he was riding Officer last week... oh I should have cheered for him!

Full day off!

The drinking party was over before 2AM and with my fuel gauge running out I rushed back to my room to... yeah, sleep!

I slowly woke up today in the afternoon. When I saw the horse racing broadcasting I was shocked to find out my POG horse I was going to bet everything on tomorrow pulled out of the race!


there's nothing to enjoy tomorrow!!

I went back to sleep trying to blow away the sullen mood...

I felt a little bit spirited in the evening and went out taking my car... having a pleasant night is the best medicine and I surely went out for that!

Fruitless, fruitless!

One of the most fruitless weeks of all time. No advances and no clear acheivements...


time is flying... the leaves are getting green... it's springtime!

My collegues gave me a welcome home party tonight. I'm happy I have somewhere to be welcomed back... but today I still had a throat ache and even a tooth ache... C'mon! I got to have some rest!

PS
I admit I should have slept earlier, but a Stephen King novel film "Dolores Claibone" was being broadcasted on satellite channel and I couldn't resist watching it... to get enough sleep, I stayed in bed till noon and took off to my office to work on my day off!

No progress... unsurprisingly...

I tried to be modest. I went to be at an incredible 11PM last night...
But still, I had a headache and my throat still aches...
What's going on!?

Unsurprisingly, I had no progress today... Oh, man!
Yeah, you can see it in this diary I had no progress!


I'm like this umbrella lying on the ground...

I'm in trouble...

After overnight duty, I took up my medical check-up...
As I expected... yes I did... eating so much in Baghdad... I knew it...

Weight: 67.4kg Blood Rate 143/84
uh oh... I'm in trouble...

That's a gain of weight of 2kg!
+3.4kg from last year!
And my blood rate still sucks!
http://hide3diary.blogspot.com/2007/09/i-n-morning-when-i-was-heading-to-my.html
oh I'm scared to see how my blood test went...

but you know...

I just can't stop eating these!

a Double Cheeseburger today!

I have to work... not sleep...

They say there was a storm in the morning... but I had nothing to do with it... I was sleeping all day. Yes I'm tired and I know why. I had so much work to do... but that's not a problem for me now... Sleeping is the best way to tackle the problem, so I'm not hesitating to sleep... Zzz...

When I woke up it was baseball time. It was quite annoying I had to leave with Kyuji in the middle of turmoil with runners loading the bases giving up a 2 run lead...

I reached my office...

hey they won! how did Kyuji save the game!?


there were only a couple of flowers left in each branch of the cherry blossom trees... there they go...

Worse than a slapstick!

Just as expected, I couldn't wake up... Maybe because I'm still tired from that trip to Baghdad and maybe with the jet lag effect combined.
It was quite a busy day today at the night shift as there were many breaking news coming in, with the struggle between the security and demonstrators at Paris around the Olympic torch was just worse than a slapstick.


the torch relay official logo...

The information gathering for my next job is not going well and I'm again starting to be pulled into a quagmire... Oh come on!

PS

Astro Boy search!?

Jet lag!?

I couldn't sleep... when I look back these few weeks, I realized that maybe I still haven't recovered from jet lag! It's really not good to go to the west direction when you have a habit to stay awake late, as the jet lag reinforces that habit.
Last night I couldn't sleep again and as I had my TV on, I couldn't stop watching the Lakers-Mavericks game on satellite channel from 1AM. It was a very exciting game as my favorite team came back from a 14 point deficit to win the game taking the lead in the last quarter, but was it tough to wake up in the morning to get to the day shift!

After staying till nighttime, I went home and tried to sleep as early as possible... but I didn't... I couldn't...

At the Osaka Hai in Hanshin...

Daiwa Scarlet wins again.. she's not only the best filly, but the fastest of all Japanese horses! Let's see what Vodka, another filly can do at the Victoria Mile!


she was almost taken over with 1 furlong left in the race, but raced back in front! wow!

PS
The 99 yen store "SHOP 99" near my home turned into a 100 yen store "LAWSON STORE 100"!

the goods sold inside was almost equivalent, so hey! that's just a price hike of 1 yen! boo!

Perilous but unavoidable...

Today I talked about my future... about a serious matter and also an inevitable event... The reaction was not encouraging but I have to be tenacious!
It was also a precious day as presume I will not have any more full days off for quite a while.

I started the day with the cinemas, watching My Blueberry Nights, and then went on to pick up my car finishing its inspection.


the gasoline is waiting for you!

I had some delicious hamburg steak and grilled beef for dinner!

lovely!

But while driving home, I had a serious bellyache as it was too risky for me to eat so much when my mental state is not in balance and my digestion system is dreadful this past week. My throat still aches and I have a running nose with occasional sneezes.
I need to get back in gear next week and I hope things will turn to the better from tomorrow!

PS

Officer was close... a third place finish at the Coral Stakes (OP) at Hanshin.... oh I hope things will turn to the better for this horse too!

Throat ache...

I'm quite exhausted and I feel a bit insecure that my throat still aches. In my childhood, when I was sick I always had swollen tonsils and even nowadays I have a throat ache when I'm really tired. I hope it's nothing bad, but I tried to skip any offers to go out tonight.

Almost all the cherry blossoms were on their way to the ground...

short-lived

but beautiful...

At my office I enjoyed some Indian tea leaves...

I bet I'll drink a lot of tea in the coming months!

In the baseball world, a pure-bred Okinawa ball player team won the Spring High School Baseball Tournament at Koushien. Winning is not easy as there are tons of losers behind the winner, but I think this team deserved to win!

Today, I heard a little rumor that is not wise to ignore... hmm...

Brandy...

I think it's the brandy... When we went out to have a drink outside last night, we were offered to take a Rémy Martin bottle. I haven't drunk a brandy in years and I took a chance. I knew red wines and Japanese Sake will give me a headache the next day, but I know learned that brandy will do the same... It was worse as I had a throat ache (which I realize that contines for a coulple of days already). Because of this hangover, noodles for lunch was the only meal for the day... maybe it will be good for my diet...

Today was a new start for me as I officially talked with the special program crew I will be working together with. I went home a bit early to watch some broadcasted materials about my new theme.


4 DVDs... that will take more than 3 hours!

Tired and stout?

I think eating two instant cup ramen was a mistake. I regret my eating habits these past week as it's getting tougher to fit myself into my pants and my digestion is not working well. I think the stress is the main factor that is making me eat, but I think the other factor is that my stomach enlarged while I was in Baghdad!

After sleeping longer than planned, I decided to go to my office though it was my day off.

this cafe should wake me up!

Late at night I couldn't resist an offer to go out to a party...

under the cherry blossoms! after 11PM!

I didn't take my coat today as it was quite warm in the daytime, but at night it was getting quite cold. But we started with beer and snacks...
Another mistake!?

Not an April Fools story...

25 yen a liter... it's not an April Fools that a price cut like that will be a reality. The news space was filled with stories about the price cutting of gasoline and the price hike of daily goods. Japan is right now in a chaotic state concerning the price fluctuation, but I surely am lucky I don't have to be too worried about prices to go on with my life .


it's not a big deal when my favorites are gorgeous dishes like these beef bowls!

After a peaceful overnight duty I rushed home and waited for a document I was told I must obtain.

I paid a shipment fee of 840 yen to get this paper!
I should have known I need this to get my car inspected...
so long for the money I saved eating a beef bowl!