EZ English

2012-02-18T19:17:00.000+09:00

"Real English 7- Whatever"

Situation 1:

Friend) What do you want to do tonight?

Glenn with a smile) Whatever.

Situation 2:

Friend) What do you want to do tonight?

Glenn with a straight face or frown) Whatever.

Do you understand the difference of the meaning of "whatever" in situation 1 and situation 2?

If not, I'll explain it in class, just remind me!!

To change the subject,

"What website could you not live without?" from The Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120117vf.html

My answer: I couldn't live without the site for "JLTP Kanji Project" because I use it every day to study Japanese.

2012-02-14T17:45:00.000+09:00

Top 3 Favorite Things

It has been a grey and dreary couple of days, with a lot of cold rain.

But, I don't want to sulk about it. "Tomorrow, tomorrow, there's always tomorrow..."

Besides, it is Valentine's Day!

As many of you know, Valentine's Day in America and in Japan are VERY different.

If you don't know how different, then just ask me and I will explain.

(Or if you search in the archives from February of past years on this blog, you can find the answer for yourself.)

This article and question from The Japan Times Online is interesting:

"What are your three favorite things about Japan?"

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120207vf.html

My answer is easy! My three favorite things in Japan are:

Go-han (white rice), Shochu (no translation), and Kyoko (my wife)!!

But not necessarily in that order!!!

How about you?

2012-02-10T16:46:00.000+09:00

"Real English 6-Call the shots"

1. "Let me clue you in. He may not be the boss, but he is the one who call the shots."

Friend:Who calls the shots in your house?"

Glenn: That's easy...my wife.

To change the subject, I am an avid bicycle rider, so I am interested in the following article.

"What do you think of the recent police crackdown on bicyclists who break the rules?"

From the Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120124vf.html

2012-02-08T07:34:00.002+09:00

Crunch

That's the sound my glasses made when I stepped on them this morning...Needless to say, they broke.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.......................................................

Great start to the day...

I think I need to get away for the weekend and go skiing or something....

2012-02-07T16:59:00.000+09:00

Wing Bowl

Have you ever heard of the Wing Bowl!? If not, you are missing out!

From Wikipedia:

"Wing Bowl is an annual eating contest founded in 1993 by Philadelphia talk-radio hosts Angelo Cataldi and Al Morganti as a celebration of gluttony. The contest was first broadcast on WIP (AM). About 10 people attended Wing Bowl I (held in a hotel) in 1993 to see a competition between two contestants. The event pits competitive eaters in a chicken wing eating contest. The Wing Bowl is traditionally held on the Friday preceding the Super Bowl. The event, which began as a radio promotion, has grown to encompass television, the Internet, and a contest for women who are termed "the Wingettes."

It is currently held at Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center, where it is still broadcast live on 94-WIP-FM. There are currently no television deals to broadcast the event live; however, a replay is usually shown on WPSG, Comcast SportsNet, or one of the other local stations within the following week. The Wing Bowl now draws crowds of 20,000 or more."

This year, the famous Japanese eater Kobayashi was crowned the Champ!

"Kobayashi wins chicken wing crown"

from The Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120205a3.html

And this is my father's take on this year's event and Kobayashi's triumph:

"won 20K.......downed over 300 in 30 minutes

(2nd Place got a car & nicest "Wingette" got a Harley)

two 14 minute halfs....

with a bonus round for another 2 minutes.....

shattered previous record....

he was only 90 behind the record at the end of the first half.

and has a woman translator with him who talks on the radio. "

2012-02-01T18:25:00.002+09:00

"Real English 5-Heads up!"

Before I get to Real English 5, let me touch on a few subjects.

First, it is really cold recently!! If you are a skier, then this is the perfect weather for you. But if you hate the cold like I do, then this season is tough. I saw on the news that many people have been going to their chiropractor or massage therapist to get treatment for bad backs, stiff shoulders, and various other tight muscles. According to my massage therapist, the cold is not good for such ailments!

Yesterday, I saw snow for the first time this winter. There was just a flurry, and only for a few minutes. Even though I despise the cold, I have to admit that this scene was beautiful.

But, snow makes the roads treacherous, and driving is dangerous on the icy roads, especially if you don't have special tires, or chains on your tires. Also, did you see the news about the avalanche the other day...very sad news.

On to a more light topic, the spring season of the Japanese Baseball League began this week. Most, if not all, of the teams conduct spring training in Okinawa where the weather is warmer, which makes it easier to for the players to stay healthy. Cold weather can cause muscles to tighten, thus making it easier for the players to get injured. Similarly, many teams in the Major League do spring training in sunny Florida and Arizona, where the weather is ideal to get ready for the long season ahead.

Now, on to "Real English 5-Heads Up!"

Do you understand the meaning of the below two examples?

1. Heads up!

2. I just want to give you a heads up. The boss ain't in a good mood today!

And before I take a break, some more fodder for the blog.

Osaka: What do you think of the new mayor, Toru Hashimoto, and his plan to merge the Osaka city and prefectural governments?

From The Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120131vf.html

2012-01-28T07:46:00.001+09:00

"Real English 4-Occupy"

Actually, "occupy" was selected as the "Number 1 word of 2011" by the "Global Language Monitor." Every year the GLM makes a "Top 10 Words" list after analyzing the use of language(words) in social media, the Internet, blogs, and both print and electronic media all over the world.

"1. Occupy — The preferred verb of protesters occupies the top spot this year. Not only has "occupy" risen to fame because of the Occupy Movement (Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Oakland, etc.), it is also used in the context of the occupation of Iraq and the so-called "Occupied Territories." "

In addition to the above meaning, "occupy" also has some other meanings.

For example;

1. The gym I go to, Konami Sports Shinsaibashi branch, occupies the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th floor of the XXX Building.

2. "Excuse me, is this seat occupied?"

3. "We are very sorry Mr. Gross, but there are no vacancies. All of the rooms are occupied tonight."

And, this is a little extra tidbit. I was surprised to see that this word?,, or maybe I should say term, was Number 8 on the Top 10 list:

" 8. 3Q — This texting shorthand for "thank you" may have arisen as a combination of the Mandarin and Japanese word for the number three, which is "san," and Q; put together, they sound like "thank you." The slang has been banned from official Chinese dictionaries, but is commonly found elsewhere."

2012-01-24T07:21:00.000+09:00

"Only in Japan"

After I got back from my trip, this is the first conversation my wife and I had.

Me: I'm home!

Wife: Welcome back! I missed you so much!!! How was the flight back?

Me: Fine, a smooth flight with no turbulence. I watch a movie, and slept the rest of the flight.

Wife: That's good. Anyway, you won't believe it, but I lost my train pass on Friday! And, I just bought it...so it is about 30,000yen. I was really shocked and miserable.

Me: Really?! Didn't you say the other day "I have never lost anything-my wallet, cell phone, train pass..." the other day?! You should have knocked on wood!! Did you also lose your Subway card?! (FYI, recently my wife and I are hooked on Subway-a franchise sandwich shop-sandwiches. And I knew that she credited 20,000yen to that card just before the New Year.)

Wife: No!! I just lost the train pass!! It must have fallen out of my pocket or something.

Me: Ahhhhhh...That's a shame....... :(

Wife: But!!! I was lucky!! Cause on Sunday, a train officer called me and said "Are you Mrs. Gross? YES. Is your address XXX? YES. Are you XXX years old? YES...Well, I have some good news for you. Someone picked up your train pass and we have it now at that station. Please come by the office at the station at your earliest convenience and pick it up."

Me: Unbelievable!! Only in Japan!! You are a luck girl!!

Wife: I know!!! Because I am married to you! :)

To change the subject, "What's your wish for the world in 2012?" (From The Japan Times Online)

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120110vf.html

2012-01-20T16:56:00.000+09:00

"Real English 3-Game"

Today's Real English is related to the word "game," which is used in many expressions.

Do you understand the meaning of the below sentences?

Either way, we will review them in class.

1. Game on!

2. She's ahead of the game.

3. I beat him at his own game.

4. You have to play the game. (You have to play his/her game.)

5. Anyone's game.

6. Don't play games with me!!

7. Two can play at that game!

2012-01-16T06:53:00.000+09:00

Chuo Ward Facts and Ginko Tress

Today is a continuation from Wednesday.

I work in Chuo Ward, so I found these facts interesting too.

What is the population?

80,484 people

What is the average age?

42.7

How many households are there?

50,299

What is the average temperature?

17.0 (degrees Celsius)

What is the area?

8.88km2(=kilometers squared)

The Ginko Tree photo was taken by Ms. K. The yellow leaves of these trees are really beautiful. But, the when the ginko nuts fall from the trees, they really stink!! I hate it!!! Did you know that the trees that drop nuts are "female trees"? And, did you know that "male" Ginko trees don't smell!? It's true, and I heard that the Osaka Government is replanting the "female trees" with "male tress" recently in order to get rid of that horrible odor!! Thank God!!

2012-01-14T19:06:00.000+09:00

"Real English 2-Tebow"

I love American Football. And it is the playoffs now, and there are two big games tomorrow. In one of the games, the Denver Broncos play the New Englad Patriots. The Quarterback is of the Broncos is Tebow. And, he is a big phenom in America now!! So big, that his name has become a a new word. Actually it is a verb, "to tebow." Check out the below site and definition:

http://tebowing.com/

"What is Tebowing?
(vb) to get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different."

A Jack Fruit photo from Mr. T.

2012-01-12T10:03:00.002+09:00

"Real English 1"

I decided my New Year's resolution for this year!! My resolution is to teach one "Real English" word or expression a week on the blog. (Don't fret!! I am also going to continue the "Vocabulary and Expressions Study"!) So since there are 52 weeks in a year, that means you can improve your vocabulary with 52 "Real English" words just by reading the blog! If you ask me, that is pretty good value for your dollar! Not bad, not bad at all!!

And, since it is already the second week of 2012, I will one today, and one more tomorrow.

"Real English 1"-go viral (=to become extremely popular, or "hot," on the net)

While I was in America last week, I saw this word in the paper and heard this word while speaking to a lot of people and also on tv. The below excerpt from Wikipedia explains the meaning of "viral video":

"A viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email.^[1] Viral videos often contain humorous content... and include televised comedy sketches..., amateur video clips... on YouTube; and web-only productions... Some eyewitness events have also been caught on video and have "gone viral"...

With the proliferation of camera phones,^[10] many videos are being shot by amateurs on these devices. The availability of inexpensive video editing and publishing tools allows video shot on mobile phones to be edited and distributed virally, by email or website, and between phones by Bluetooth or MMS. These consumer-shot videos are typically non-commercial, intended for viewing by friends or family. A video becoming viral is often unexpected, and an accident, and therefore a video cannot be called viral purely in the creator's intention at the time of recording."

Here is a simple example of how to use "go viral":

1. Did you see those photos of the accident? They went viral and have since been published in various magazines and newspapers.

2. The GOP candidate for President decided to go viral with his message to the young folks!

3. The video appeared on You-Tube on Monday, and quickly went viral!

"What's your New Year's resolution?"

from The Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20120103vf.html

2012-01-11T07:46:00.001+09:00

Osaka Facts and Cake

I found the below facts about Osaka in the "mi-ru-to magazine."

I love Osaka (even though I live in Hyogo Prefecture) so I wanted to share them with you.

What is the shipping fee of chocolate per year?

70,268,000yen *This is the highest amount in all of Japan. No. 1!!!!

How much garbage is recycled?

11.8%

What is the number of hospitals?

539

How many parks are there?

3,832

What is the average amount of money spent on education per household a month?

11,667yen

How many passengers use JR Osaka Station a day?

401,486

Below are some photos courtesy of Ms. Y.

Do you prefer cake with beer, or with tea?

2012-01-10T06:49:00.001+09:00

I'm back!!!

I had a great trip in Philly with my parents and I will tell you all about it later since I am busy with a lot to catch up on now...

How was your vacation?

I hope it went well!!

Anyway, I hope everyone has a great 2012!!!

The Year of the Dragon!!!!!

2011-12-28T09:27:00.002+09:00

This is the last blog of 2011.

What a year it has been...

Last week, I wrote about the "Kanji of the Year-BOND."

Today, I want to ask you all the following question:

"What word for you sums up 2011?"

from The Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20111227vf.html

In the interviews in the above article, people cited the words; Change, Nuclear Power, and Vibrancy.

How about you? What sums up 2011 for you? What is your "Word of the Year"?

Mine is resiliency. Resiliency was the theme of the year for most of Japan, including myself.

To change the subject, I will go back to Philly to visit my parents over the New Year's vacation. I am looking forward to seeing them, taking it easy, drinking a variety of micro-beers, and eating a lot of food which I haven't eaten in a while! Maybe I will gain a few pounds, but that is alright.

Hope everyone has a great vacation, Thanks for 2011,

and really hoping for a great 2012!

Happy New Year!!

2011-12-26T08:00:00.000+09:00

3-day weekend

What did you do over the 3-day weekend?

On the 23rd was the Emperor's Birthday, so it was a national holiday. He turned 78 years old.

Because I went out on Thursday night, I slept in on Friday. After that I went for a 10k jog, and laid around til around 2pm. Then, with my wife, I went shopping, bought some rice and stuff, and went for a walk along Mukogawa River for about an hour. Then she made hot and spicy yellow curry for dinner, and we watched Lady Gaga, and hit the sack. It was a nice day.

Saturday night was our "Christmas Date". After walking in the "Nakanoshima Christmas Lights Illumination," we had a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant in Fukushima.

And then on Sunday, I went out with my friend all day for our "annual event".

All in all, it was a good weekend!

The below photos are courtesy of Ms. e.

She spent Christmas overseas, in Germany, for the first time.

2011-12-24T08:54:00.000+09:00

Happy Holidays!

Do you believe in Santa Claus?

Well, if you don't, that is OK, but please pretend that you do for a few minutes, and answer this question: What do you want from Santa Claus this year?

Come on...think of something! Me? That's easy. If there was really a Santa Claus, then I would want a...(I'll tell you when I see you!)

Anyway, to everyone, Happy Holidays, Season Greetings, Happy Hannuka, Merry Christmas, or whatever floats your boat!!

2011-12-14T07:39:00.000+09:00

Bond (Vocabulary and Expressions Study)

The Japanese Character"Kizuna," which translates to "Bond" in English was selected as the "Kanji of the Year." This is an excerpt from The Japan Times Online:

"Seihan Mori, chief monk of Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, writes the kanji "kizuna" (bond) as he unveils the Chinese character of the year on Monday. The kanji was chosen because the word came under the spotlight as the nation strives to rebuild the Tohoku region hit by the March 11 disasters."

Bond has a variety of meanings. Read the below sentences and test yourself! Do you understand all of them?

1a. There is a strong bond between the governments of America and Japan.

*Since this is debatable, please refer to the next sentence for an easier example.

1b. Company A and Company B have a tight bond and have successfully worked together on various projects over the years.

1c. I have a strong bond with my brother.

2. My word is my bond! (This is a proverb.)

3. Recently, because of the financial crisis in Europe, the stock and bond market has crashed.

4. The man, who was arrested for burglary, was released from the police on a $2000 bond.

5. Bond, James Bond! :)

Lit-up Foliage, courtesy of Ms. Y

2011-12-12T17:28:00.000+09:00

USJ, Disney Land and See, and Duffy

2012 is winding down. There are only 19 days left. Is there anything that you want to do before the year ends? I have a few things left on my "2011 want to do list," but time is running out, so I better get to it.

Today's topic is related to amusement parks. Many people go to USJ (Universal Studios Japan in Osaka) or Disney Land and Disney Sea (in Tokyo) during the holiday seasons. One reason that people go during this time is there are Christmas Shows or Parades held during this season. I have been to the Christmas Show at USJ once, a few years ago. It was magnificent and literally brought tears to my wife's eyes. However, my eyes were quite dry. And Ms. Y told me today that the Christmas tree at USJ is the biggest in the world!!! (I don't know if that is true or not, but she said that she saw it on tv.) While on this topic, let me ask you all some questions:

1Have you ever been to USJ? How about Disney land?

If yes to both, which one do you like better, and why?

What about Disney Sea? Can you explain the difference between DL and DS?

(FYI, for those of you who don't know, DS and DL stands for Disney Land and Disney Sea. How about that for some hip lingo!!)

What is your favorite attraction or ride or show at these amusement parks? How about some other park?

Speaking of other parks, have you ever been to Disney Land, Disney World, or Universal Studios in America? If yes, what did ya think?

Did you know that I am afraid of roller coasters and hate them!? I can't understand how people let go of the safety bar and put their hands up in the air.

And, Do you know Duffy? If you don't, tell me and I will tell you all about Duffy the next time I see you.

2011-12-06T07:45:00.000+09:00

Honeymoon (Blog by Luis)

We finally made up our minds! First it was Canada, then a cruise around the Mediterranean, after that was South America, but at last we booked our tickets to New Zealand just before Xmas.

NZ is widely renowned for its remarkable unspoiled landscapes.

We'll do a short visit to Auckland and Rotorua, famous for mud baths and volcanic hot springs.

Then we'll head to the South Island and do a small road trip. Activities include hike glaciers, get adventurous jet boating in narrow canyons, among others... like admiring the magnificent view of Mildford Sound in the Fiordlands.

Still a lot of preparation to be made, such as rent-a-car, hotels, activities, but we are thrilled and cannot wait to get there.

For those of you who are married, did you go on honeymoon? If yes, where? If not, where would you like to go?

Below are Ms. C's photos from her trip to Spain.

2011-12-03T08:39:00.000+09:00

Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Foliage

Again, I am a little late with the topics. Please forgive me!

Anyway, let's get to it.

The first topic of the day is Thanksgiving, which is a national holiday in America and held on the 4th Thursday of November every year.

From my childhood, I have many good memories of Thanksgiving; family, carving the turkey, stuffing, gravy, football, pumpkin pie... If you want to hear more about each one of them, just ask.

The below link is interesting. It is about other people's thoughts about Thanksgiving. Check it out.

"So what's Thanksgiving all about?"

from The Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20111129vf.html

The next topic is also related to Thanksgiving. Because it "Black Friday," which is held every year the day after Thanksgiving.

I got the following explanation and history of Black Friday from Wikipedia:

"Black Friday is the day following Thanksgiving Day in the United States, traditionally the beginning of the Christmas shopping season. On this day, most major retailers open extremely early, often at 4 a.m., or earlier, and offer promotional sales to kick off the shopping season, similar to Boxing Day sales in many Commonwealth Nations. Black Friday is not actually a holiday, but some non-retail employers give their employees the day off, increasing the number of potential shoppers. It has routinely been the busiest shopping day of the year since 2005,^[1] although news reports, which at that time were inaccurate,^[2]have described it as the busiest shopping day of the year for a much longer period of time.^[3]

The day's name originated in Philadelphia, where it originally was used to describe the heavy and disruptive pedestrian and vehicle traffic which would occur on the day after Thanksgiving.^[4] Use of the term started before 1966 and began to see broader use outside Philadelphia around 1975. Later an alternative explanation began to be offered: that "Black Friday" indicates the point at which retailers begin to turn a profit, or are "in the black."

And last but not least, Foliage. Have you gone somewhere to see the magnificent foliage yet this year?

I have!!!

Below are photos from Ms. e's "foliage" experience this year.

2011-11-29T07:45:00.000+09:00

Election, Black Friday, and Hokkaido

Did you vote in the election last Sunday in Osaka?

If yes, which candidate did you vote for?

Who did you vote for for mayor? How about governor?

Since I don't have the right to vote in Japan, I couldn't cast my ballot. It is a shame. But, I heard that about 17% more people turned out to vote for the election this time compared to last time.

FYI, only Japanese citizens, in other words those people with Japanese nationality, have the right to vote. I am a resident of Japan, but my nationality and citizenship in American.

Here is an article about the winners!

"Hashimoto, Matsui win twin Osaka polls"

from The Japan Times online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111128a1.html

To change the subject, I read a positive headline, "Americans set record for shopping on Black Friday weekend," about the economy on Yahoo.com yesterday.

Two main points of the article were:

1. For retailers, it was a robust start to the holiday season

2. It seems that many consumers saved up all year and decided to splurge a little

For the full article, click here:

http://news.yahoo.com/retailers-robust-start-holiday-season-225348430.html

Below are some photos from Mr. S. He went to Hokkaido last week. I am jealous of him because I have never been to Hokkaido, but I really want to go there one day...

He also gave me a hand-made wooden letter opener, which was made by Ainu People, who are "Native Japanese," kinda like "Native Americans."

Ohotsuku Sea

According to Mr. S, "On a clear day you can can see Russia...

maybe the coast is about 100km from Russia, but don't quote me on that."

"I took this photo from the room in the hotel. It is Daisetsu National Park."

"This is Abashiri City. It was the first time I have seen snow this winter.

There is a prison (jail) in this city, but none of my friends are there :)!"

"This is Lake Akan. It is famous for "marimo," which is like a beautiful green ball of moss which rests on the bottom of the lake. You can see marimo because Lake Akan is the clearest lake in the world!!! If you can't understand my explanation of marimo, just google it!"

2011-11-21T17:40:00.001+09:00

Raul vs Luis (blog by Luis)

The other day I was on my way home by train and I heard some school kids commenting about me.
Situations such as this happen quite often with foreigners especially when you go to the countryside.
In this case I could understand they were comparing me with a famous spanish soccer player, Raul Gonzales. It wasn't the first time I have been told about my similarities with him. I was just surprised to see small children on the opposite side of the world recognizing slight differences between Westerners.
I wish I was that good at playing football (this is how "soccer" in Europe is called), and could earn so much money, but I would never exchange my wife with his :)

Am I that similar?
Can you distinguish the differences between Europeans and Americans?
How about between Asians?

To change the topic. the below is interesting.
I asked Glenn for his answer and he said:

"The Emperor. I would really like to sit down with him, and talk face to face about many things. I would ask him such questions as:
What do you eat for breakfast every day?
Have you ever gone out by yourself, without any security?
If not, then if you could, where would you go?
Was it love at first sight when you met your wife?
Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what kind do you like?
I could go on and on... "

"If you could meet any living Japanese person, who would it be?"

from The Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fl20111115vf.html

The below photos are courtesy of Ms. e and from her trip to Kumano-Kodo.

Have you ever been there?

kumano-koudo

2011-11-19T08:29:00.000+09:00

Beaujolais

Did you uncork a bottle of this year's Beaujolais last Thursday night, which marked the "2011 opening"?

I didn't. But I bought a bottle and I plan to pop it open tonight, while watching Game 6 of the Japan Series. As of now, the Softbank Hawks are leading the series versus the Chunichi Dragons 3-2.

My wife is from Kyushu so she is rooting for the Hawks.

I like the manager of the Dragons, Mr. Ochiai, who is in the last year of his contract and will not return as manager next year. So I am rooting for the Dragons. (But I have Softbank stock, and if the Hawks win, then maybe the stock will go up a little, so I am thinking about changing my team...Sorry, I am not so loyal when it comes to Japanese Baseball.)

As many of you know, I really love baseball. So, because this will be the last weekend of baseball for a long time until next year's spring training, I hope that Chunichi wins Game 6,　and then the Hawks win Game 7. If that happens, then my wife will be happy, and the stock will go up, and I can watch two more game of baseball, so a Triple Winner!!!

Anyway, I will let you know how the Beaujolais is next week!

Hope everyone has a good rainy weekend!

"Beaujolais fans toast new vintage"

from The Japan Times Online

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nb20111118a3.html

Below are photos courtesy of Ms. R. They are from her trip to London.

2011-11-15T07:55:00.000+09:00

Cosmos and population

Good morning everyone.

Last Sunday I went to see Cosmos flowers near my house. There is a Cosmos Garden which opens every year along the Mukogawa River in Nishinomiya, I have gone there for the past 5 years in a row. For me too, it is an annual event.

Also, I watched two DVDs last weekend. "The Fighter," which was produced by and also stars Mark Walhberg and "Here After," which was directed by Clint Eastwood and stars Matt Damon. They were both OK, but I liked "The Fighter" more. I haven't watched a DVD in a while so it was nice.

Have you seen any movies or watched any DVDs recently? If yes, anything good?

To change the subject, the other day I heard on the radio about the population of different countries in the world.

The country with the largest population in the world is China. Number two is India. And I forget what number Japan is, but the population in Japan is 120,000,000 people(=one hundred and twenty million.)

That's a lot of people for such a small Island...I guess that is why real estate prices are so high.

The below photos are courtesy of Ms. e.

She lives in Amagasaki, which is right around the corner from the Cosmos field, and also goes to walk along Mukogawa River and see these amazing Cosmos every year.

2011-11-11T07:44:00.000+09:00

Social Networking + Women's expectations of men

The other day I had a conversation with Luis about social networking. He knows quite a bit about this kind of stuff, and much more than I do. So he made up a list of questions for class. Here they are:

What social networking websites do you use?

What are some good and bad points about social networking?

Do you have a Facebook? Do you use Twitter? How about Mixi?

What information do you have on your page/blog?

What type of information are you comfortable releasing and showing online?

Does your family also use social networking sites?

If you don't use, what kind of information would/should you put on social networking sites?

Are you afraid to lose your privacy by using social networking sites?

Then I remembered that I have a Mixi site. Mixi is one of the big social networking systems in Japan. Actually, it is becoming less and less popular recently due to the bigger and badder sites like Facebook and Twitter. I also have a Facebook site, but like my Mixi site, I rarely use it. So I decided to open up my Mixi site for the first time in a while. Then, I found an interesting blog and I did a rough translation of it. The title was, "What do women expect men to be able to do?"

Here are 9 expectations which women have of us guys

Women expect me to be able to:

1. hook up a computer or TV,Cable TV!, blue ray recorder, etc.

2. be able to drive (and be a good river and have a nice car!

No walking or cycling on dates guys! Girls want to be driven around in style!)

3. kill cockroaches (No panicking or screaming or whining or running away!!!)

4. assemble furniture (like the kind you buy at IKEA) patiently and confidently, without getting irritated.

5. open lids on jars easily and on the first try (No wincing or sweating or grunting allowed!!! )

6. be able to read a map and not get lost (both when walking and driving in places we have never been before!)

7. give a girl a piggy back without any problems (even if you have a bad back like I do!!)

8. pull out the cork of a wine bottle with ease and grace

9. light the fire to a barbecue without any trouble (No heavy blowing or dark clouds of smoke!!)

Can you think of any other?

And, can any of you men tell me, what do you expect women to be able to do?

2011-11-02T17:53:00.000+09:00

Halloween Facts

I know it is a little late, but I found out some interesting facts about Halloween which I wanted to share with everyone.

1. Halloween began about 2000 years ago. It was created by the Kelts and was originally like "New Year's Eve," as the Kelt Calendar begins on November 1st, and ends on October 31st.

2. In the 19th Century, Halloween was "imported" to America from Europe. At that time, it changed from a religious type event, to a "delicious and interesting" type of event with sweets and costumes getting in the mix.

3. Originally in Europe, a turnip, not a pumpkin was used.

4. The carved out pumpkin, called "Jack-o-lantern," represents the spirit "Jack" carrying a light. Kinda like "Obon" in Japan!!

5. In 1983, in Harajuku, the first Halloween Parade was held in Japan. About 100 people, mostly foreigners, attended.

6. In Kawasaki City this year, 3500 people participated in the Halloween Parade. This was the 15th year in a row the parade has been held in Kawasaki.

7. Recently in Japan, Halloween is becoming more and more popular. One of the reasons is:　There are no other significant events (except for my birthday! ;) in October in Japan.

8. It is said that the economic effect of Halloween will become bigger than that of Christmas, Valentine's Day, and White Day in Japan.

That's about all for now folks. Did you know all of that?

Hope everyone enjoy the National Holiday tomorrow!

2011-11-02T16:16:00.000+09:00

Kuroshima, and Imaginary Osaka Marathon Answers by yours truly!

I pretended that I ran the Osaka Marathon this year and answered the questions just like Ms. T and Mr. S did.

Look below for my answers!

What was your time?

My time was 4 hours and 42 minutes.

Did you hit "the wall" at around the 30km point?

Yes, I did. I hit it hard!!

I watched some of the marathon on TV, and it looked very tough to run smoothly cause=because there were so many people...around 30,000 people I think. How was it?

It was alright. In the beginning, because there were so many people, it was difficult to run smoothly.But, in the second half, it was easier to run.

What did you think about all of the supporters?

They were wonderful!! Without their support, I couldn’t have done it!!

Did you drink and eat a lot of the stuff which the volunteers at the "rest stations" offer?

Yes, of course. I drank a lot of water and sports drinks, and I ate some bananas, calorie mate bars, Japanese rice cakes, and chocolate and candy.

How was the weather?

It was cloudy, with off and on showers.

Did any friends or family come out to cheer you on from the sidelines?

Yes, they did. I was very fortunate.

How do you feel today? Are your muscles; knees, achilles tendons, groin, joints...sore?

My whole body hurts, and especially my groin is sore. I can’t even walk up the stairs normally! I need an elevator!

Do you want to run another marathon? :)

Pass! Instead, I want to go to my favorite Island in the world!!! Kuroshima!! (See the below shots!!)

2011-10-31T16:03:00.002+09:00

Osaka Marathon (email)

I just received the below email from Mr. S. I was relieved to hear that he finished the race.

I give both Ms. T and Mr. S a lot of credit. I am very impressed!!

Subject: Thank you for your support.

"Hi glenn.

I finished/ran to run THE Osaka Marathon yesterday.It took 4.5 hours
I am sorry,I could not clear my target time(under 4hours)yet.
But I satisfied it,becase I could keep to run 42km with a smile .
I wii never foget it,too.

Best regards.

Mr. S"

2011-10-31T07:10:00.002+09:00

Complete!!!

I got the below email from Ms. T last night:

!hi!
i finished!
it was very tough!
i will tell you about it.
thank you! "

I am very happy for her and can't wait to hear all about her experience.

In the meantime, here are some of my questions:

What was your time?

Did you hit "the wall" at around the 30km point?

I watched some of the marathon on TV, and it looked very tough to run smoothly cause there were so many people...around 30,000 people I think.  How was it?

What did you think about all of the supporters?

Did you drink and eat a lot of the stuff which the volunteers at the "rest stations" offer?

How was the weather?

Did any friends or family come out to cheer you on from the sidelines?

How do you feel today?  Are your muscles; knees, achilles tendons, groin, joints...sore?

Do you want to run another marathon? :)

Anyway, great job Ms. T!! I am impressed!

2011-10-29T19:21:00.000+09:00

Good Luck...

...to all of the participants, especially Ms. T and Mr. S, in the Osaka Marathon tomorrow!!! I will never forget the first marathon which I ran, the Fukuchiyama Marathon...

I hope Ms. T and Mr. S can do their best and be safe and healthy, and if they finish, then great! And if they don't finish, then great too!

2011-10-25T17:19:00.003+09:00

Hiking Mt Rokko (Blog by Luis)

Last week I went up Mt Rokko with a friend. It was a sunny clear sky day and 25 degrees, it felt like Summer but without the disadvantage of humidity.
My friend has been hiking frequently so he was in good shape. In my case, I practice some sports but not as enduring as hiking 700m in a few hours (we took about 2h30 to get to the top). Did I mention my friend was in good shape? ;) -That is really fast!! - In the most steep parts of the trail I confess I struggled but it felt really good when we reached the summit, enjoying our sandwiches lunch while enjoying a stunning clear view over Kobe and Osaka bay.
Now, I'm already planning to go again soon while the weather still allows.
Do you know any good hiking trails?

And, to change the subject, recently there is a lot of news about bikes on TV and in the papers. I know a thing or two about bicycles, so I wanted to introduce the below article which I found online. Here is an excerpt:

"Bicyclists are on the increase, but so are accidents involving them as well as reckless, illegal riding, prompting Tokyo police to launch a crackdown.

The Metropolitan Police Department campaign, which includes designating more marked bikeways, comes amid an increase in accidents and violations that will now face stiffer penalties.

People who ride bicycles without proper brakes or run red lights may face a fine of up to ¥50,000. Failing to ride slowly and carefully on sidewalks can result in a fine of up to ¥20,000. Police plan to strictly enforce the new measures while at the same time enhancing safety."

For more, click on the below link.

Reckless cyclists face crackdown
(from The Japan TImes Online)

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20111026f1.html

What do you think about this crackdown?

Do you ride a bicycle?

If yes, do you follow the "rules of the road"?

What do you think about the congestion on the sidewalks, and streets, because of the bicycles?

This is what Glenn said to me the other day;

"I never realized how dangerous bicycles are until I got my driver's license. When I am driving, I am always surprised that many bikes drive in the middle of the road, or suddenly swerve into the road. And, sometimes I say to myself 'What are you doing?! Are you crazy?' But after this experience, I reflected on my bicycle riding style and now ride my bicycle very slowly and carefully when other cars are around me."

Have you ever been hit, or almost hit, by a bicycle?

Have you ever hit someone, or almost hit someone, using your bicycle?

If yes to either or both of the above questions, what happened? What did you do after the incident?

If no, what would you do in either of the above two situations?

Anyway, let's cycle safely!!

2011-10-25T15:36:00.004+09:00

Halloween Party

My friend Mike is holding a Halloween Party this Saturday. If you are interested, please contact him directly at mujinkun@softbank.ne.jp

Unfortunately, I already have plans on Saturday so I will not be in attendance. It is a shame, but I am sure it will be a blast even without me!

From Mike:

"The fall has come and with it the cool blustery wind which can mean only one thing...Halloween is near! Once again we are having a huge International Halloween Party this year! We are expecting 70-80 ghosts and ghouls from around the globe to help us celebrate the spooky event! Don't be afraid! Join us!

Place: White Bear in Kitashinchi
Date: Saturday 10/29 7:00-9:30
Menu: Free food and drink for 3000 yen
Dress: Wear a costume if possible, anything is OK, a funny hat, a silly shirt, etc.
Best costume wins a prize!
Bring as many friends as you want.

See you there!"

2011-10-24T12:20:00.000+09:00

Officially, I just became 37 years old. Why "officially"?! Well, let me explain.

I was born on October 23rd at 11:20pm at Albert Einstein Hospital in Philadelphia.

Now, there is a 13 hour time difference between Philadelphia and Osaka. (Note: Depending on Daylight Savings Time in America, sometimes the time difference changes to 14 hours.) So, Osaka is 13 hours ahead of Philadelphia. (Philly is 13 hours behind Osaka.) That means, that right now, at 12:20pm in Osaka on October 24th, it is 11:20pm in Philly on October 23rd.

When is your birthday?

What time were you born?

Where were you born?

Do you know the name of the hospital you were born in?

2011-10-20T07:45:00.000+09:00

Ishigaki Questions

Yesterday in class, Ms. Y asked me a bunch of good questions about the trip so I thought I would put them on the blog. I recommend reading the Q and A's for your study.

1. Why did you choose to go to Ishigaki Island?

It was my 4^th time to Okinawa. I went to Ishigaki for the first time on my honeymoon. But, we didn’t have a car at that time because I didn’t have a Japanese driver’s license. So, every day we took a day trip, using the ferry, to a small island like Taketomi Island, Kuroshima Island, and Iriomote. Then, the next year we went to Iriomote, and the 3^rd year we went to Miyakoshima, which are also both beautiful, but both times a typhoon hit us! So we decided to go back to Ishigaki and this time rent a car (because I got a driver’s license earlier this year), and drive around.

2. How did you make your trip’s plans?

I didn’t make any of the plans. That is my wife’s job, and to be honest, she does a great job. Of course, she asks me for my opinion a little, for example “What do you think about doing a all-day snorkeling tour on the first day?” or something like that, but basically she decides the itinerary; the hotel, airlines, sightseeing spots, etc. But, I usually choose the restaurants because I am good at that. So, she is in charge of the planning, and I am responsible for paying.

3. Did you have to pay any extra-baggage fees or penalty fees for bags over the weight limit?

Fortunately, no we didn’t. Because, the weight limit of bags on a domestic flight is 20kg. We checked in two bags. One bag was 12kg, that was my bag. I pack light! The other bag was barely under the limit, at 19.5kg. That was my wife’s bag! She packs heavy!

4. Was the flight crowded?

Yes, it was. It was a full flight.

5. Please tell me the name of your favorite beach.

That’s’ easy! It’s Yonehara beach. The beach, and the ocean, and the view from the beach are all breathtaking!! If you want to know more about it, just google “Yonehara Beach”!

6. Were there a lot of people on the beach?

No, there weren’t. The beaches were practically empty. We were lucky! I think there are two reasons for this. One reason is it was cloudy or rainy every day. The second reason is October is not peak season in Okinawa.

7. What did you eat and drink at dinner?

We ate out three nights, at two different restaurants. We went to one of those restaurants twice. We ate a lot of traditional Okinawan food, for example “Goya-Champuru,” “Umi-budo” which are called “Sea Grapes“ in English but they are not sweet. Also, we ate a lot of tropical fish which Okinawa is known for. The other night we ate steak at the hotel’s restaurant. Except that night at the hotel, I was the designated driver so I didn’t drink alcohol. My wife drank Orion beer, Awamori, and Mango juice when we ate out.

8. How was the hotel? What kind of facilities does the hotel have?

First of all, the hotel was great. We stayed at Karuizawa Club Hotel Ishigaki Jima. It had a public bath and a sauna, a nail salon and massage shop, a souvenir shop at which you could get private weaving and sanshin lessons, and a pool.

9. Were the restaurants near your hotel?

They weren’t so far, but you have to drive or take a taxi there. They were too far to walk. That was the only disadvantage of staying at that hotel. The town, where most of the restaurants are, is about a 20-minute drive from the hotel.

10. How was driving in Ishigaki?

Driving was very pleasant and easy. There are only a few major roads which are all one lane. And, everyone drives the speed limit, which on most roads is 40kph(kilometers per hour). However, in town, some of the side-roads are very narrow, and the parking spaces are very small. I DO NOT LIKE THAT!! And my wife has to get out of the car and assist me every time we park the car. She waves her hands and says in Japanese style “Alrigh, alrigh, alrigh----sutop!!”

2011-10-18T12:44:00.000+09:00

Ishigaki - Day Two

We went on an all-day snorkeling tour. It was great!

Then, we went to Hitoshi-the best restaurant in Ishigaki!

First, about the snorkeling tour company.

I really recommend the "Snorkeling Expert" Marine Service 'YA-RU YA.' The owner and Captain is a guy named Aoi Hideki. He started this business about 6 years ago. At that time he looked a little younger and fit. He said that his body fat percentage was about 3% at that time. Now, I don't know for sure, so I am guessing, but I think it is about 18%. Still not bad for a guy in his early forties I think. His wife, who is a very sweet lady, helps him out with all aspects of the business. The boat's name is Miss Isana, and is about 35-feet long and a real beauty!!! One staff member, a lady, was also very helpful and friendly.

Now on to the snorkeling. We did to two dives, one in the morning, and one in the afternoon. Both were excellent, but personally, I prefer the spot in the morning because the coral reef was really beautiful. My wife agreed with me.) In between the two dives we went back to the port for lunch. I know, you are thinking "Soki Soba AGAIN?!" YES!! I can't get enough of Soki Soba when I am in Okinawa. I could eat it every day, breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Well, actually, that is a bit of an exaggeration. :)

About the other tour members.

It was funny. There were nine participants on the tour in the morning, and nine in the afternoon. In the morning, 7 of the eight members were from the Kansai area. Two were from Osaka, two from Shiga, and two from Nishinomiya(=me and the Mrs.). One guy was from Tokyo and one couple was from somewhere else. I forget where. In the afternoon, the couple not from Kansai left, and a new couple, also from Osaka, joined. So, in the afternoon, 8 of the 9 participants on the tour were from Kansai. It is strange and a big coincidence I think.

If you click below, you can see the Captain's blog and a photo of use after the morning snorkel, plus his story about the "Birthday Surprise!"

http://www.x-py.com/archives/2011/10/post-458.html

Hitoshi- What a great restaurant and what a surprise! After the snorkeling tour, I asked the Captain's wife and two of the "veteran" participants "Do you recommend any good place for dinner?" Almost simultaneously, the three of them said at the same time "Hotoshi!" Then the wife added, "Hitoshi is a must go if you are in Ishigaki. But you need a reservation!" So we looked up the number, and called immediately and made a reservation for 7:30. (But we were 45 minutes late cause I got lost on the way there, and I parked VERY far away from the restaurant...about a 20 minute walk. I am not good at parking the car in tight places, and this spot was very wide, so I took it. But it was far...FYI, from one end of the main eating district of Ishigaki to the other, it is only about 20 minutes...This means that I parked in the farthest possible spot from the restaurant.) Anyway, back to the restaurant. In a nut shell, it was FANTASTIC!! I really can't say enough about it. The food, service, atmosphere...EVERYTHING was the best!! If I have to choose three of the best dishes...it is very difficult to choose, because there are sooooooooo mannnnnnnnny good ones, but here I go: The raw seared bonito with the "special sauce," Goya-Chanpuru (which is eggs and Okinawan tofu and some vegetables are sauteed together), and the "Maguro sushi Set!" And, I almost forgot about the price...very reasonable!! As the Captain's wife said, "IT IS A MUST!" But if you go, don't forget to make a reservation or you will regret it! Cause it is always crowded! (I know cause we went there again on our last night in Ishigaki, and it was packed again.)

There are some photos of some of the dishes at Hitoshi below, but to be honest, I don' think the photos do justice to the place!

http://r.tabelog.com/okinawa/A4705/A470501/47001373/

2011-10-14T07:58:00.000+09:00

Ishigaki Island-Day One

Departure time was 8am sharp, so my wife and I arrived at the airport around 7:15am. It is only a domestic flight, so 45 minutes is more than enough time. We checked two bags, and luckily both of the bags were under the weight limit of 20kg. But just barely!!! A few more kilograms and we would have had to pay an extra fee... =Not happy!

After checking the boarding time and the gate number, we grabbed a quick bite to eat while having a coffee. We got to the gate(which was the farthest gate from the security check!) about 10 minutes early and boarded the plane. Because we reserved our seats too late, we couldn't sit together, which was a shame. I got an aisle seat, and she sat in a window seat in the row in front of me.

The flight to Naha was smooth with no turbulence. We arrived a few minutes late, about 15 minutes after the E.T.A. (=expected time of arrival), but we made our connection and arrived at Ishigaki Airport at around 11:50am. Btw, we flew ANA which is my favorite airlines in the world!!

We rented a car, so one guy from the rental car agency, Orix, picked us up at the airport and then drove us to the Orix Office. After filling out some forms, finishing up the insurance paperwork, and inspecting the car for scratches or marks, finally we got in the car, a black Mazda with one of those new "remote control keys," and off we were.

We headed straight to get some lunch! We were famished!! (After all, our last meal, a Subway Avocado Sandwich was ONLY 4 hours earlier). Thanks to navigation, we found the restaurant in no time! (As I have said before, the car navigation system is truly a great invention!!! Without it, I would be completely lost every time because my sense of direction is about as bad as it gets!!) We both ordered Soki Soba, which is famous is Okinawa. Basically, Soki Soba is soba in a hot, soy sauce-ish broth with marinated pork "spare ribs" on top. If you want a more detailed explanation, google it!! I like Soki Soba a lot, and I hadn't eaten it since the last time I was in Okinawa which was last year. And this restaurant's Soki Soba was delicious!! So I was satisfied. The we walked off the lunch by taking a short stroll and left for a beach to go snorkeling. It took about 10 minutes to get there from the restaurant. Then we put on all of our gear. We have it all!! Fins, rubber shoes, rubber gloves, a mask and snorkel, a long-sleeve insulated shirt and pants(actually I don't have the pants, only my wife does) and life jackets! The life jackets were my wife's idea-she is really into safety!! But as the proverb goes, "Better be safe than sorry!!!"

First of all, the beach itself if beautiful!! And quite big! Long! The moment I set my eyes on the white sand and aqua water, it became one of my top three favorite beaches!! And the water wasn't so cold either. And the fish---there are so many different kinds of fish, all different sizes and colors. I don't know so much about the names of fish, but during this trip I thought that I should learn a little...In all about 2 hours of snorkeling and about 1 hour of talking to a nice guy I met on the beach. Besides us, he was the only other guy on the beach. His name is Dr. Y, and he is also from Osaka. What a coincidence!

Around 5pm, we said good-bye to the beach (but we would come back a few days later) and set off for the hotel to check in.

We stayed at Karuizawa Club, Hotel Ishigaki Jima. It was VERY NICE. The rooms were huge and clean and had a nice balcony and view. FYI, when I go on vacation, I rarely watch TV. Instead, I prefer to spend my time quietly while relaxing time on the balcony. And the service, all of the staff, were extremely friendly. I honestly can't say enough about the staff!! Plus, a very nice breakfast buffet every day, and one dinner, was also included in the fee. The hotel also has a nice hot bath, cold bath, and sauna room which I took advantage of every day. To say the least, we really liked the place and definitely recommend it!

After an hour of R & R in the room, we went out to dinner. Mr. Y recommended a restaurant with live Okinawan Music (one guy played the "sanshin", which is like a banjo, and another guy whistled, and everyone-the guests- dance!!). The food was good, and the atmosphere was very fun and "Okinawan." We had a great time there too!

It was a great day, and a great night, and I passed out on the bed the instant I got in the room...I was exhausted in a good way!!!

(Please note: I have a feeling that Day Two~Day Fives blogs are going to be much shorter!!)

2011-10-06T22:21:00.000+09:00

M & M's wedding photos

They are pretty much self-explanatory!

Enjoy and looking forward to seeing you all when I get back from Ishigaki Island!

The Bouquet

The Exit

The Welcome Board

The Wedding Cake

The Drawing-They look much more handsome and beautiful in person!!

2011-10-04T07:47:00.002+09:00

Chill (Vocabulary/Expressions Study)

Recently it is quite chilly. I forget exactly when, but a few days ago the temperatures suddenly drastically dropped. Since then, I have put my summer clothes; short-sleeve shirts, shorts, and "ankle socks" away in the closet, and taken out my fall/winter clothes; long-sleeve shirts, pants, sweaters, and "thick" socks. How about you? Have you re-organized your summer and winter clothes yet? And now, on to today's study. The word "chill" has many definitions. Use the below example sentences to test your vocabulary!

1. When I felt the tremors, a chill went down my spine.
2. Chill out and take a chill pill!
3. I like my beer in a chilled glass.
4. The temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit, but with the chill factor, the temp feels like only 10 degrees!
5. I spent a chill evening at home last weekend.

2011-09-27T14:57:00.001+09:00

Awajishima and Tokushima Trip

I want to tell you all about my trip the other day. I went to Awajishima and Tokushima for my wife's birthday. We had a great time!! If you are interested, below is the summary.

On the 18th, I picked up the rental car at half past 7, and we departed around 8am. Contrary to he weather forecast, the skies were blue and the sun was shining. Originally I had planned to go to Uo-no-Tana market in Akashi if it was raining, but because it was sunny, I ditched this plan headed straight to the beach in Awajishima.

The first beach we visited was about a 20-minute drive after crossing Akashi Bridge. Because the summer season is already over, the beach wasn't crowded which was nice. We walked around, stretched our bodies, and took it easy for about an hour. I also changed into my swimming trunks and took a little dip in the ocean. The water was refreshing and wasn't as cold as I thought it would be.

Then we headed to FBI(First class Backpackers Inn.), which is a beach bar and restaurant which also has camping and cabins. It is in Goshiki Town and the home page is: fbi-camping.com
Ms. K's suggested that I go to this place because she often goes there on the weekends and her boyfriend is co-owner. It is a really nice place, and I highly recommend it!! We shared lunch-a green curry, and a black curry- on the deck, which overlooks the ocean, while sipping on some ginger ale. Fortunately, Ms. K and her boyfriend were all there, so we could chat a little. Ms. K's boyfriend was very friendly and very hospitable, and a little much different than my first impression of him. (I have actually seen him once in an Udon restaurant. At that time, he looked scary...) In addition, Shintaro, who is Ms. K's 11-year-old black Labrador Retriever, was there too, so I played with him on the beach. I had a good time!!

After lunch and swimming in the ocean, we rested on a hammock on the deck for a little, took a shower, and then headed to the hotel in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture. It was quite close, about a 45 minute drive.

Some people playing in the ocean in front of FBI.

Do you know what they are doing?

Yours Truly taking a breather on the Awajishima side of the bridge

between Awajishima and Akashi.

We stayed at the resort hotel Grand XIV Naruto. It is a "member's only hotel", in other words a "Time Share" Hotel, so unless you know someone who is an "owner," you can't stay there. Luckily for us, my friend, Ms. N, is an "owner" so she made the reservation for us.

Right when we arrived at driveway to the hotel, our jaws dropped!! Because the driveway was very very long, and the hotel was on the top of the mountain. It looked like a castle!! I had never seen such a beautiful hotel in my life!! Then, after checking in around 4pm, we went to the room, which was beautiful, huge, and had a great view of the ocean! Then we headed straight to the pool. And again, we were flabbergasted!! Because the pool overlooked the ocean and it literally felt like you could jump into the ocean from the pool. We felt like we were in a fairy tale, or some fantasy world or something. The view was exquisite.

After swimming in the pool, soaking in the hot tub, and absorbing some of the warms rays of sunlight, we headed back to the room and had a private "Happy Hour" on the balcony. After about an hour or so, we went to the Spa, which was a top notch facility too! Then we got dressed up and arrived just in time at 8pm for our dinner reservation at a nice Chinese restaurant in the hotel. The dinner was wonderful!! But the night wasn't finished yet!!　At midnight, a "surprise" birthday cake was delivered to our room, and after lighting the birthday candles and singing the "Happy Birthday Song," I hit the sack.

The next day I woke up around 6am and enjoyed coffee on the balcony. Then we went for a walk, back to the spa again, and then packed our bags and checked out. Everything was "Perfect" and I really can't thank Ms. N enough for taking care of everything for us. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

Next, we stopped at a nearby fish restaurant and had a great fish lunch. The portions were huge, and we were both stuffed. Then, we went to a big shrine (sorry, I forget the name of the place) and walked off the lunch. And then, for our finale of Tokushima, we went to see the "huge vortexes," or "whirlpool," which you can see from the bridge connecting Awajishima and Tokushima. They were really cool, and while licking some vanilla soft ice cream on a sugar cone, I gazed at them. However, I have one doubt. Everyone insists "They are real, natural!!" But I wonder...I think they are man-made.

Then, before it started to rain, we went to Fukiage Beach in Awajishima for a walk. It was semi-long, and 2km maybe, and the sand and waves were great! I really like that beach and want to go there again next summer!

Then, it began to rain, and the driving conditions were treacherous, so I drove slowly and carefully. But before going home, I really wanted to go to a sushi restaurant in Akashi which Ms. N recommended. That restaurant is in a residential area and quite difficult to find under normal circumstances I think, but thanks to the wonderful invention of car navigation, it was a cinch!! And even though we were severely under-dressed for such a nice restaurant, we could get in with no problem and with no reservation. And, we could eat very fresh and delicious sushi to finish off the great trip. It was an awesome 39 hours!!

The Pool

Grand XIV Naruto
The Driveway

2011-09-14T06:59:00.000+09:00

Afford (Vocabulary/Expressions Study)

Last night in class, Mr. H asked me about the meaning of "afford." Check out the following example sentences and let me know if you understand or not.

1. Can you afford it?=Can you afford to buy it?
2. I can't afford to make another mistake.
3. That department store that just opened provides a lot of goods at affordable prices.

I know summer is just about over, but it is still hot, and according to the weather forecast the mercury will reach 34 degrees Celsius again today, so please let me put one more "summer shot" on the blog. "Hanabi," or as we say in English, Fireworks!

2011-09-12T17:43:00.000+09:00

You'll never believe what happened to me...

The other day, after I woke up and I sat down at the kitchen table to have breakfast. Sachiko and I usually take turns preparing breakfast, and this day, it was her turn. So, I was lucky! (I thought, but I was wrong.) Because, when I drank the cafe latte which Sachiko made for me...I was shocked!! Stunned!! And usually I don't move so fast, but this time I ran to the restroom as fast as I could-like a cheetah!! Sachiko said it was the fastest she has ever seen me run! And then, I spit out the coffee. You see, Sachiko was half-asleep, because she just woke up, and she mistook the sugar for the salt. So she put SALT into my coffee, not sugar. It was disgusting!

Glenn told me that he also had a similar experience a while back. He mistook face cream for toothpaste in the middle of the night..Doesn't sound good...

Has anything like this ever happened to you?

2011-09-12T07:55:00.000+09:00

Chemistry (Vocabulary/Expressions study)

When I was reading the newspaper the other day, I read an article written by the former President of Itochu Trading Company. In the article, he talked about the meaning of "chemistry" and "good chemistry."

The word chemistry has two meanings. Most of you probably understand one of the meanings which is "a type of science, and a subject in school." For example, look at these sentences:
1. I have a Chemistry test next Monday so I have to study all weekend.
2. When I was in high school, I hated Chemistry!
3. We will do an experiment in Chemistry class next week.

The other meaning of "chemistry," which that former president was talking about is; " feeling, or type of relationship, one has with another person." Refer to the below sentences;
1. There is good chemistry between the catcher and the pitcher.
2. I have good chemistry with my boss.
3. I have bad chemistry with my boss.

2011-09-08T10:56:00.000+09:00

Mr. and Mrs. M, and cool temps...

Last Saturday I took Mr. and Mrs. M out to dinner to celebrate their marriage. On August 27th, they got married and had a wedding in Nara. I met them at 8pm in front of O-Hatsu-Tenjin Shrine, and to my surprise, they were on time! I thought that they may be late because of the typhoon-and I knew they were coming by train and the train is often delayed or even stopped when there is a typhoon or big storm. And, about 30 minutes before we met, it began pouring. As they say, "It was raining cats and dogs!" But nothing, not even a storm could stop Mr. M from going to a free dinner! :)

From the shrine, it is about a 3-minute walk-all undercover in the shopping arcade- to the sushi restaurant, Ichiba-Zushi. As many of you know, it is my favorite. I thought that we may have to wait a little to get a table, but it wasn't as crowded as I expected and we could get seated right away. (It is usually pretty packed on Saturday night, but I think that because of the bad weather a lot of people stayed home that night---That was lucky for us!)

Once we were seated, we ordered our drinks-two beers and one cold tea(Mr. M doesn't drink alcohol) and then right off the bat, TORO! From there, they showed me some of their wedding photos-which were beautiful- and we talked about a bunch of topics. About two and a half hours later, we called it a night and headed home. Let me tell you a little about them.

Mr. M and Mrs. M met at auditing school. A year or two later they began dating, and then they both ended up working in the same company. They are both from Nara, but recently, after The Big Day, they just moved to Osaka and began to live together. Mr. M is in his early thirties and Mrs. M is in her late twenties. Mrs. M told me that "I am proud of the fact that all of my friends from high school are pretty!!" And I can vouch for her, because I saw a picture of them-They are all lookers!! Mr. M smokes, however if one pack of cigarettes becomes 700 yen like they say it will, I think Mr. M will have no choice but to quit smoking... Mrs. M is a social smoker-that means she takes a puff every once in a while- and drinks on occasion. But I heard that when she drinks, she drinks a lot. And let me tell you, that is true! (She drank about one beer and 4 or 5 glasses of plum wine that night.) Mr. M likes Major League Baseball and often reads the MLB site to improve his English. And since he is rooting for the Phillies to win the World Series this year, I invited him to my house to watch a game! (But I have a feeling my wife is going to nix(=veto)this plan...But we will see...) Mrs. M also has a small dream to study abroad for a month or so if possible. I hope her dream comes true!
Anyway, for me, it was a really good time and I had a blast. And even though they are really busy recently buying furniture and stuff for their new place, I was happy that they made time to go out with me, and I hope they felt the same way-had a great time- too..

To change the subject, recently it is much cooler in the morning and evening. On Monday I wore long pants when I slept, and yesterday morning was the first time since the summer began that I wore a long-sleeved shirt. Fall has arrived! And in the afternoon the weather has been beautiful so far this week...All good!

2011-08-31T06:51:00.000+09:00

August

This will be the last blog of August.
How was August for you?
For me, it wasn't so bad. Pretty good actually.
Even though I was sick (being sick uskcs!!) in the beginning of the month, I recovered.
And I learned many lessons from being sick.
And since then, I have been exercising a little more than before, and I changed my eating and drinking habits a little (specifically I cut down on drinking) and I feel in pretty good shape. As a result of this effort, I lost 2~3 kg and have been able to keep it off with no problem, so as of this morning when I got on the scale, I now weigh 75.2kg. I know many of you will not believe me, but 73.0kg is just around the corner.

I also visited Kyushu again, went out to some nice dinners(in ), and spent some good times with a few friends.
Anyway, enough about the past, I want to talk about the future.

Do you have any plans in September?
I do. But I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch(jinx myself) so I will tell you all about it after it happens.

The below article is interesting. Check it out if you want to.

Ofunato: Why have you come to Tohoku to help out?
from "The Japan Times Online"
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/fl20110802vf.html

2011-08-30T07:52:00.000+09:00

Noda, Irene, Bolt

First, as he promised, Mr. Kan resigned last Friday, and then yesterday Noda became the new Prime Minister of Japan. (Actually, he is not officially the Prime Minister yet, but it should become official sometime today.)

Then, last weekend, there was a powerful hurricane, specifically Hurricane Irene, which tore up the East Coast of America last week. The storm even hit New York City. The storm caused a lot of flooding, and left many people without electricity, and even took 10 peoples lives. Fortunately, my parents and their house in Philadelphia was left unharmed...When I spoke to my father Sunday night Osaka time, around 6:40am Philadelphia time, he said "We were lucky. Everything is alright." And I got an email from my mother on last Saturday saying, "An earthquake and a hurricane, in the same month...What an August!!"

But again, we are all reminded again of the force of Mother Nature...

And some sports news... Last Sunday, I waited all day to watch the 100m Final of the World Championships in Track and Field. I am a fan of Usain Bolt because I like Jamaica (I have been there once, for about one week, when I was about 19 years old ) and I like Bolt's flamboyant style. Plus, he is an awesome runner! He is one of a kind! He is above all the rest and in a totally different league than the other runners. And, when he runs, he is beautiful. There are very few athletes who can do this, look beautiful when they perform. Well, in my opinion, Bolt is one of those athletes. I was expecting to watch him become a legend that day...Everyone on the world was expecting him to win the 100m Final that day...
But, as well all know now, that is not what happened.
Bolt was disqualified(knocked out of the competition) for jumping the gun (leaving the blocks before the starting gun was fired). Actually, he was disqualified due to the very controversial zero-tolerance false start rule which was enacted in the World Championships from this year!!
I was really disappointed because I wanted to see his "beauty." But to be honest, I was also a little lucky, because I got to see Bolt angry, like an angry lion. I have never seen him angry before, because he is always smiling and laughing and dancing and joking around. It was a shame that the world couldn't see his performance on last Sunday night, but I am looking forward to watch him run in the 200m Finals later this week. He is gonna explode!

Below are some peaceful "healing" waterfall shots from Ms. e. Thanks.

2011-08-27T08:37:00.000+09:00

Obon Dance Festival

Tonight and tomorrow, an Obon Dance Festival will be held at Minami-Mido Kaikan in Honmachi. The festivities will begin around 5pm and finish about 9pm. If it rains, the show is off! Cancelled! Not postponed! There will be many outside food stalls, and there will be many people, old and young, small and big, all dancing to the tunes of Kawachi-Ondo, which is an Osaka-style of Obon Dance Music. This is my favorite festival in Japan, and I look forward to it every year. If you have the time, I recommend you check it out!

Below are some photos from Ms. H. She is also from Ehime and went back to visit her relatives during her summer vacation. The beach photo was taken right in front of her grand-mother's house. What a gorgeous view!! And she also went to a bull fighting event. But I can't imagine Ms. H going to a bull fighting event...That is a definite mismatch!

2011-08-26T08:45:00.000+09:00

Summer Vacation Report

Let me give you a brief report of my Summer Vacation.

I took 3 days off, from August 14th to the 16th, and went to my wife's hometown in Kyushu. She is from Kumamoto Prefecture, specifically the town of Arao. Arao used to be a mining town, and actually her grandfather worked in the mines. Now, the most famous site in Arao is the Arao Horse Track. When I go there, I always look forward to eating the Mentai-ko, which are red fish eggs and called "seasoned cod roe." Luckily, this time I could also eat a lot of them!! Not including the funeral I attended a month ago, it was the first time I had been to Arao in about one year and a half.

I took the Bullet train to Kyushu after class on Saturday and arrived late at night. My mother-in-law picked me up at the station. It is a small station, and it was around 11pm, so the train station was "manless," that means there were not any train officers there because their working shifts finished and everybody already went home.

It rained the whole day on Sunday. It was literally like a monsoon. But there was a first. I went jogging with my wife. We never go jogging together, so it was a first! In all we jogged around 10k, and half of the time it was pouring. For a few minutes there was even thunder and lightening. My wife is scared of lightening so I had to protect her. I was a good husband. While we were running my wife turned to me and said, "Wow, this is so much fun. I have never rain in the rain before...I am soaking wet, but this is cool!" At that moment, I knew she had changed. She would never have said that to me 5 years ago when we were dating.

On Monday, we had dinner at an Izakaya with my sister-in-law, and brother-in-law, and nephew Yuta. He is now 2 years and about 4 months old. He just began to talk a lot and he is very cute. I enjoyed spending time with everyone, and expecially enjoyed playign with him. If you want to see his cute pic, just ask me and I will show you. I have some photos saved in my cell. Speaking of my cell, it broke (because of my sweat!) just before Obon Vacation, so I got a new one. I am not used to it yet, but I like it.

Then, on the 16th, I came back to Osaka on the Bullet Train. But this time, I got a "Green Seat." It was my first time to sit in a "Green Seat" and I liked it. The seats were much more comfortable and bigger than the regular seats. In addition, there was a lot more leg room, and I got a free face/hand wipe too from the train attendant.

Anyway, I really enjoyed myself in Arao with everyone. It was a lot of fun, and also relaxing.

Below are some great photos from Ehime. Ms. K's hometown is Ehime, and she went back to her hometown, like many people do in Japan during the Obon Holidays. She lives near the beach and went swimming and fishing and spent time with her neices and nephews and dogs. She also said she had a great time. (Tomorrow I will put some more photos of Ehime on the blog, but these photos are from Ms. H. She is also from Ehime and also went back to visit her family. Now that I think of it, many students are from Ehime...it's strange)

2011-08-24T07:15:00.000+09:00

Breaking news

There was an earthquake in Virginia (which is where Washington D.C., the capital of America with the White House, etc. is!)
I got this email from my mother this morning:
"Hi G. Can u believe we had an earthquake today on the east coast.? 5.8 in Va.
Philly buildings Lots evacuated. No damage..we felt nothing!!!!"

As far as I remember, when I lived in Philly (which is on the East Coast of America) we never had any earthquakes. Mother Nature is strange (angry?) recently...

And, as I am sure many of you in Japan know, the entertainer Shimada Shinsuke suddenly retired from the entertainment industry late last night. He announced his retirement and the reason for his retirement (he had some links to the mob) in a press conference. I like him, and I enjoyed watching many of the shows he was involved with...also, he made me laugh a lot! (But my wife doesn't like his sarcastic humor...) So, I am going to miss him...
What did you think of him? Did you like him or not? What do you think of his retirement?

Anyway, life goes on...So let's enjoy the sunny day in Osaka!

2011-08-11T07:00:00.001+09:00

Fireworks, Mosquitoes, Obon Vacation, and more...

Last Saturday was the Yodogawa fireworks. I know many people that went and enjoyed the festivities. Some people wore yukatas (which is like a lighter, summer-version of a kimono), and other people just wore casual clothes. Everyone said the fireworks were beautiful, but everyone also had the same complaint. They all said, "It was very crowded." Oh well, you can't win them all!!!

To change the subject, there is a hole in the screen door in my place. And last night, a big mosquito bit me on the back of my knee. How do I know it was a big mosquito? Well, let me tell you. Because the mosquito bite is big!! So the little bugger must also be big. And now the bite mark is big and red and itchy!!

Many people have already begun, or are going to begin very soon, Obon Vacation, or Summer Vacation. Do you have any plans over the vacation?

I do. I will go to my mother-in-law's house in Kyushu, and I am very much looking forward to the R&R(=rest and relaxation). I am going to do some light exercise like walking, jogging, and cycling, and also do some harder exercise like sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, and squats. After that I am sure that I will be sore, so I plan to go to a hot spring every day to soak my hurting muscles. Next, I will probably be exhausted (but a GOOD exhausted) so then I want to read some books, watch a DVD or two and take a nap.

And, I almost forgot. Because I got my driver's license, I hope to borrow my mother-in-law's car and go for a short drive once or twice. That is, if she lets me...

Speaking of driving, if you are interested in driving and cars in Japan, the below opinions are helpful.

"Kamakura, Kanagawa: Is it better to own a car or not in Japan?"

from The Japan Times Online
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/fl20110719vf.html

Cute deck ornaments from my brother's great house!!

2011-08-09T10:29:00.003+09:00

Statues in Red dresses?

I am sure most of you already heard about this news, but just in case you didn't, let me give you a brief summary. If you want the whole, in-depth story, please read the link attached below.
Basically, the other day somebody dressed most of the statues on Midosuji street in red dresses. Is this art? Was it a joke or a prank? I don't know. Last Thursday in class, Ms. N and I had the following conversation. (FYI, Ms. N works for a company on Midosuji Street.)

Ms. N: When I was walking to work the other day, a foreigner came up to my husband and I and asked me, 'Do you like the red dresses on the statues? Do you think they are good!?' And she replied, ' No, I don't think they are good, but...'

Glenn: Are you going to contact the police? This could be an important lead..."

Ms. N: No, I am not gonna inform the police.

Glenn: Why not?

Ms. N: Because mysteries are good.

I think Ms. N is right. She is an intelligent woman and yes, mysteries are good. And most importantly, whoever dressed the statues in these red dresses didn't hurt anyone. So I agree, we should just forget about it and let it be...

"Osaka tries to find out who dressed statues"
from The Japan Times Online
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20110809f1.html

The below photos are courtesy of Ms. K. She said "The statues look really hot in the dresses. I bet they prefer to wear no clothes in the hot and humid Osaka summer."

2011-08-02T17:45:00.000+09:00

Useful Summer Words

Here is my typical summer morning in Osaka.

I wake up to hear the beautiful singing of the cicadas. Fortunately, they sing much better than they look. Because they are some nasty, scary looking creatures! The first time I saw one I almost wet my pants!!!

Then I walk outside and I usually say "Good morning" to my landlord, who then replies, "Good morning. It sure is hot, isn't it?" And I say with a smile, "Yes, it's hot." But in my head, I am thinking, "What a stupid question! Maybe he thought that I didn't notice it is 35 degrees Celsius outside and the sun is shining!! Everyone who has a pulse knows it is hot!! I don't need anyone to point out the already obvious fact that YES, IT IS UNBELIEVABLY HOT!!!"
(FYI, in the winter, many people also say "It's cold, isn't it?" Go figure...)

Then I walk to the station, get on the train, then get off the train, and walk to the school. In all, the commute takes about one hour door-to-door; a twenty minute train ride and about forty minutes of walking. By the time I arrive at the classroom, I am dripping with sweat.

Many people complain about “summer heat fatigue”, but fortunately this year it is not a problem for me so far. The exact cause of "summer heat fatigue" is unknown, but some say it is because of too much sweating, and also the constant change between cold air-conditioned rooms to the hot and humid outside air. A few years ago, I remember when "summer heat fatigue" simply treated me like a child. I was exhausted every day, and my whole body felt heavy and strange: sometimes I had an appetite, but at other times I didn't...It was confusing and miserable. But I guess I have gotten used to it over the years, plus, maybe all of the "cool goods" which I bought are helping me to beat the heat!

One good food to combat "summer heat fatigue" is eel. I love eel(otherwise known as "the river snake"), especially a big bowl of eel over rice! Eel is full of protein and a bunch of vitamins and minerals. It is said that if you eat eel, you will get stamina. And let me tell you, that is true! Cause after I eat some of that eel, I have enough stamina to go three or four rounds with the Middle Weight Champion of the world!

And after all of that exercise, I like to sip on some plum wine on the rocks. Plum wine is generally a summer drink made from green plums fermented in alcohol. Did you know that the Japanese plum is known for it’s cooling properties. Yes, it is true.

Can you think of any more "useful summer words"?! If you can, please don't be shy and let me know!

2011-07-27T06:50:00.000+09:00

Wedding Anniversaries

Today is my parent's wedding anniversary. They have been married a very long time.
I haven't spoke to them yet so I don't know for sure, but I imagine they will go out to dinner to celebrate. In addition, maybe they will exchange cards or presents, and my father will probably give my mother flowers.

In Japan, I often hear that many married men don't even remember their wedding anniversary. Needless to say, if they forget the actual date, then forget about getting some flowers, a card, or a gift for their wives....That is a big NO-NO, and unacceptable in America.

There are many cultural differences regarding how Americans and Japanese celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, and various other holidays like mother's day or father's day.

To change the topic, many students often tell me that they go to Nagoya on business trips. I have never actually been to Nagoya, but I have driven though the city once.
Have you ever been to Nagoya? If yes, what's it like?

Nagoya: What's the best reason to visit Nagoya?
from "The Japan Times Online"
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/fl20110726vf.html

Below are some photos from Ms. e's day trip to Northern Hyogo. After looking at these shots, this area is now also on my "Must go to" list.

2011-07-26T07:42:00.002+09:00

Borneo

Have you ever been there? I haven't. But after seeing these photos, Borneo is definitely on my "Want to Go Places" list.
Ms. K went there the other day on a one-week vacation. She went snorkeling, and saw many wild animals in the jungle. She said she had a great time! I am very happy for her!! But I am also jealous of her...

I want to go...

Especially after a long couple of days, I really want to go...

2011-07-22T12:14:00.000+09:00

TV Ratings

I was surprised. When I was talking to Mr. M in class the other day, this was our dialogue about the big Soccer Match:

Glenn: "What do you think the tv ratings will be for the game on Monday night?"

Mr. M: "Maybe about 30%."

Glenn: "Really?! I don't think so. The game is going to be on at 3:45 am. I think the tv ratings will about 10%, and maybe reach 20% around 5am."

Mr. M: "Glenn, you are still a novice. You have only been in Japan for 15 years. I have been in Japan over 40...Take my word for it, and watch and learn from the master.

According to the article below, it looks like the Master was correct, and the Novice was wrong.

"World Cup draws 27% viewer rating"
from "The Japan Times Online"

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20110720a7.html

To change the subject, about the rest of my 2-day vacation last week, at night on Sunday I went to Hankyu Department store with my wife and used some of the gift certificates I got because of "eco-points' to buy dinner. After tasting a lot of samplers, I finally decided what I wanted to buy for dinner...Dumplings!! And they were delicious!!!

On Monday, cause it was raining and I was a little sun burnt (again) from the day before, I just stayed at home and took it easy all day. Around 4pm, my wife and I watched a movie, "176 hours" (I think that is the title but I am not sure.) This movie is based on a true story and actually I heard about it from Ms. e a while back, so I already knew the whole story, but I enjoyed it and the time with the Mrs. However, I don't recommend it. It is not for everyone.

Mr. T gave me a recipe and told me how to make dumpling the other day. Instead of buying dumplings, next time I think I am going to try to make them. Check out Mr. T's dumpling photos below.

And, I almost forgot. I woke up naturally, without using an alarm clock, at around 5am on Monday. Right after I woke up, I switched on the tv and the women's soccer game was on. It was 2-2, in the end of extra time. So I watched the penalty kicks, and watched Japan win, and then went back to sleep. It was fun.

FYI, many people always ask me: "What does your wife look like?"

Final Answer: She looks a little like Sawa, the MVP of the World Cup. But, she can not play soccer, and is a little shorter, and has bigger, rounder eyes than Sawa.

2011-07-20T06:30:00.000+09:00

3-day weekend

Good morning. How was your 3-day weekend? Did you go anywhere or do anything special?

I had Sunday and Monday off. I was really looking forward to going to Awajishima and chilling on the beach, but due to unforeseen circumstances(=something came up), I had to cancel the trip. But like Nadeshiko Japan, I also believe in "Never give up/ Don't give up!!!". As long as you don't give up, something good will happen. That is one of my mottos!

So, after a semi-slow morning of reading the paper while drinking coffee, I had some toast for breakfast and then headed out to Mukogawa River with my new shiny blue "Sun Shelter." Do you know what a sun shelter is? Well, if not, let me explain. It is like an umbrella, or a cabana, that provides shade and protects you from the sun.

I found a great place by the river, and set up the sun shelter. It was easier to assemble(=put together) than I thought it would be, but one of the pieces was broken. A defect. However, I made the best of it and found a way to make it work for the day. And everything was swell!! After laying back in the sun shelter for a few hours, playing in the river, reading a book, and dozing off for a few minutes, I decided to go to my favorite waterfall in Nigawa. It is a little difficult to get there, you have to walk through the forest a little and climb a few rocks, but once you get there, it is definitely worth it. Because it was a Sunday, there were many people-kids, and teenagers mostly already there. I fit in perfectly because my heart and mind are much younger than my actual age ;) But many of the young and wild and rebellious teenage guys, jump off the cliffs into the water. The jump from two places, one is about 3 meters high, and the other is about 7 meters high. I pass on that activity. I am, and never have been, so young or rebellious. Anyway, I swam in the water, sat under the waterfall, basked in the sun. It was a great feeling!! I felt alive!!!

It was about 2pm at this time. I will write about the rest of that day, as well as the National Holiday(See/Ocean Day) which was on Monday, sometime later this week.

Update: The typhoon didn't come to Osaka...

2011-07-15T08:51:00.002+09:00

The Women's World Cup Finals

The Finals, between Japan and The United States, will kickoff at 3:45am on Monday Japanese time. Are you going to wake up and watch it? I wouldn't miss it for the world!

And everyone is asking me, "Glenn, who are you rooting for?" So please let me set the record straight. I am rooting for Japan. But if America wins, I will also be happy. So, for me, it is a Win-Win situation. And I was really excited to just sit back and watch the game just for the sake of pure enjoyment. But then, last night while I was eating dinner, my wife suddenly blurted out, "Hey baldie, you wanna bet on the game? I want America." She is a gambler. Usually I refrain from such sketchy activity, but this time I obliged, because I want to make her happy. So, I said "Sure, I'll take Japan, what do you want to bet?" And she said "If America wins, you have to give me a one hour massage. And if Japan wins, I will give you two bottles of Awamori(=Okinawan Shochu). OK?" So I said, "Sure. It's a deal."

As of now the odds in Las Vegas are 2:1, America is favored to win the game. On a side note, did you know that Japan has never beaten American in women's soccer? They have played over 24 times...Well, there is a first for everything!!! I hope...

And, the other day when I spoke to Luis, he brought up an interesting point. He said
"Why do you think everyone was so excited for the men's world cup soccer, but everyone is not so wild about the women's soccer. It sure seems like there is a big difference of 'excitement level' don't you think?" I replied, "Yeah, you are right. I guess it is just because it is women's soccer..."

And the latest news from ESPN( a major sports network in America) is that " the Japanese Team is playing for all of Japan", and that "the workers at TEPCO are watching the game and getting inspiration from each victory", and that "the Finals will be a battle of a difference in culture as well as soccer styles..."

As they say, "may the best woman win!"

2011-07-13T06:56:00.004+09:00

My two heroes

5 Similarities between the two fellas.

1. The both love golf.

2. They both love their families.

3. They both have an injured knee.

4. They both like Las Vegas.

5. 2012 could be their "Comeback Year"

2011-07-12T11:15:00.001+09:00

Cool!!

Here is an update on the battle versus the horrendous summer heat.
It is still early but so far, I am winning 1-0.

First, I got a fan. Actually, I should better say that "I could get a fan." Because as many of you might have seen on the news, almost all of the electric fans were sold out!! But, I was lucky(=fortunate) , cause I went to Midori Electric store exactly when it opened, 10AM sharp. After I arrived and entered the store, I took the escalator to the second floor and asked a staff member "Excuse me, could you tell me where the electric fans are?" The staff member replied, "They are over there, in the corner. You better hurry before they are all sold out!!" After I heard that, I hustled my little fanny over as quick as I could. And just as the staff member said, the fans were selling like hot cakes. So I grabbed the first one I set my eyes on!! Now, in my place, I have my own fan which is directly aimed at me all of the time. It is the first time I have ever experienced such a delicacy. It is a real treat!

Next, a few weeks ago I saw Luis wiping his body with a "wipey thing" before class. And it also had a nice smell (=fragrance, odor). So, I asked him "What is that? And where did you get it? What company makes it?" And he replied, "These are 'wipies.' I don't know exactly where you can get them cause my wife got them for me, but I recommend the "ICE wipies". They are a must for the summer in Osaka!! And I think the company that makes them is Gatsby."

And then, by coincidence, when I went to the restroom in between the sets of a Jazz performance I was watching two nights later, there they were, right next to the sink. They were placed there for the customers to use. So, I tried it...and WOW!! It was great!! My body felt clean and refreshed and also a little "stingy" from the "ice effect." The next day I immediately ran out to the drug store and got my hands on a few packs. Since then, I have been using them every day. Have you ever tried one? If not, you really should!!

And last, my wife and I got some "cool sheets" and also some "cool gel pads." You can put both in the refrigerator for an extra cooling effect if you want. Actually, I recommend to do so. With these two items, plus the extra fan, my room is about 4 degrees Celsius cooler than before. That makes a world of a difference, and is what we call a WINNER!!

Below are some photos of the porch and deck and garden from my brother's beautiful house.

2011-07-04T17:31:00.002+09:00

A Flash Back

The below blog is a blast from the past: a blog that I wrote in July of 2006.
"Today is July 4th, Independence Day, in America. I was born and raised in Philadelphia, which used to be the capital of the United States before Washington D.C. Did you know that? There are many historical places in Philadelphia, for example, The Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and much more... Every year in Philadelphia there are huge fireworks on the 4th. I like fireworks and I am looking forward to the summer fireworks in Japan soon. Where do you recommend to see the fireworks in Japan? If you know any good places, please tell me!"

Speaking of flash backs, recently I am watching "LOST," which was a very popular TV Series in America. Many of the characters have flash backs throughout the show. These flashbacks are quite interesting. The Doctor lent me Season 1, 2, and 3. I am almost finished Season 3. After that, I want to borrow Season 4 from him too, if he doesn't mind.
Have you ever watched "LOST"? How about any other American TV shows. My wife is really into "Glee"...she records it all of the time. I have watched a few episodes, but unfortunately I can't get into it. It is just not my cup of tea.

2011-07-01T08:43:00.000+09:00

The dog days

Welcome to July, and welcome to the dog days of summer! If the past week is any indication, this summer is gonna be on of the hottest ever!! in June this year, the thermometers already reached 33 and 34 degrees Celsius. What highs are in store for us in July and August...I don't even want to imagine.

So, since I am sweating buckets every night when I sleep, I am planning to go out and buy a new electric fan this weekend. As many of you know I don't like the AC, so one of the rules of my house is "The AC is prohibited!" (Do you have any "rules" in your household?) But of course electric fans are allowed. The electric fan which is in my house now works fine, and it is not broken. The problem is that it is aimed directly on my wife, every night, all night. She monopolizes that fan. So I need a new and better one for ME!

Also, I am on a mission to find "cool" sheets and a "cool" pillow. Do you have any suggestions?

Moreover, I know I have written about "daylight savings" before, but I found an interesting article so I want to share it with everyone.

"Daylight saving: Is it finally time to convert?"
from "The Japan Times Online"
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20110628i1.html

2011-06-27T12:05:00.000+09:00

Good news and Bad news

Which do you want to hear first, the good news or bad news? Anyway, don't worry, the bad news isn't so bad and you don't have to sit down or anything...

First, the good news:
I ran into a student Mr. K yesterday before I went for a jog. I know that he rides his bike on Mukogawa river every weekend, and I often go jogging or walking or cycling along the river, but I have never met him until yesterday. While I was stretching, I man on a bike started slowing down and waving at me. Honestly speaking, at first I didn't recognize him. He looked different. Maybe it was because I usually see him when he is wearing a suit. But yesterday, cause he was cycling, he was wearing a helmet and some very snappy "bike wear." He stopped and we chatted for a minute or two. I noticed that he was wearing sunscreen, and I said "I bet I will get sun burnt today." Then he said "Be careful and have a good day" and went on his way.

The bad news: As I thought, I did get red. I got very sun burnt. My face and head looks like a ripe tomato!!! And it is hot!! I made a stupid mistake by not using sun block, but I swear that I will learn from my mistake and cover up and use lotion every day from now on.

More good news: Yesterday, as usual on Sunday, I went to the fish market and bought some delicious fish for dinner.

The bad news: While I was looking around the market, I thought "There isn't that big of a selection today. And not only the fish shelves, but a lot of the other products shelves, are empty or almost empty. It is strange... " So I looked around and then I found a big advertisement that said "Big Sale!!" I thought "OK, but I wonder why..." And then, after I paid for the fish and stuff ant the register and got my receipt from the cashier who is there every week, bagged my stuff, and put back the shopping cart, I walked outside. It was at that time that I saw the sign in front of the entrance: "As of June 28th, we will be closing..."

I was at a loss for words....shocked.

That was my favorite place. I went there almost every Sunday. The fish was great, and a reasonable price. And FRESH! a BIG! and the staff, from the fish cutters to the floor sales staff to the cashiers, always remembered me every week and were kind. I am really gonna miss that shop...

But, it is in times like this that I try to be optimistic and remember the saying: "Every beginning has an end. And for every end, there is a new beginning..."

Now, I have a new challenge: I have to find a new place to buy fish on Sunday.

Below are photos from Ms. e's trip a while back. Can you tell where these photographs were taken?

2011-06-22T06:49:00.001+09:00

Supermarket Adventure (blog by Luis)

Every time I travel, one of my “fetishes” is exploring supermarkets and see what type of food can you find, what do people normally eat in those places/countries. In Japan, there are convenience stores and supermarkets everywhere. Moreover, these are most likely to be open any time, I mean 24/7. In the remote scenario that you cannot find one, you will surely pass by several vending machines.
Once inside the supermarket you feel immediately in an unusual territory.. You start by entering through the left door(the opposite to Europe/US), corridors are quite narrow since the shop tends to be smaller too. I haven’t found any really big supermarkets where you find everything you need (hypermarkets, big grocery stores), here they are more specialized in food (they might have a second floor with clothing and house products). The products, well.. where to start, totally different and very hard to find the brands you normally would find in Europe or America. Foreign brands and products are almost non-existent. If found, they are priced 2 or 3 times above a European/American store. Thus, to save money in Japan, you will need to invest some time exploring Japanese products and brands first. Nonetheless, 1L of Japanese milk costs about 1,50Eur and the only pasta (I wanted penne, there was no fusilli, and only a 2~3 brands of spaghetti) I could find was in a tiny 125g package and cost more than a 500g package in Europe! On the other hand, there is quite a lot of fish for reasonable prices though.
The fruit is curious, the sizes I mean. They look like the fruit in Europe or America, but while the taste is similar to the European (Yummy!), the size is closer to the over-sized American “bland and tasteless plastic” fruit (I am referring to the apples for this comparison). On the other hand, you get vegetables like a cucumbers which are thinner and smaller than the ones overseas.
Time to pay! The payment process is quite similar to anywhere else, the funny part is the gestures of the employee and how they meticulously pass the products through the machine and count the money you give them and the change they give you back, it looks like a ritual (to avoid the word robots) or maybe more like an assembly plant. Another difference is the cash machine they use, there is no till!! Well, there is one but it does not open, the machine has an automatic coin counter and bank note reader and gives back the exact change. Those employees at the counters could easily be replaced by no-one! Nothing revolutionary, we already have self-payment checkouts in Europe, and US has them too.
I almost forgot one important part. Ah! Except for bicycles, there is no parking lots at many of the convenience stores.

Japanese Cooking (blog by Luis)

The other day I cooked: Boiled udon with thin pork slices mixed with vegetables, with Korean kimchii as side dish.
It was my first attempt to cook Japanese food and I must say it was damn good. My meal portions have to be always quite generous. And thus they are not so fancy to the eye. Of course, the Korean kimchii was not prepared by me, but it is considered to be the healthiest food on Earth (by me!), very spicy cabbage, and I love it.

Favorite quote(by Luis)

"Some people see things as they are and ask why.
I dream things that never were and ask why not!"

Below are photos of the front and back from my(Glenn's) parents house. My father recently completed this big project. He did a great job!!

2011-06-20T12:13:00.002+09:00

"Let's go for a drive"

Recently I got a Japanese driver's license. It was an ordeal to get it. First I had to do a lot of paperwork, then take a written test, and lastly pass a difficult driving test. But to be honest, it was much better than the other option, which is go to Japanese driving school which requires an exuberant amount of time and money!! One of the main reasons I wanted to get a driver's license was to be able to go for a drive and check out many "nature spots" with my wife around the Kansai area. As soon as I got the license, I said to my wife, "Let's go for a drive!" It was the first time I have ever said that to her.

Ms. N talked about going for a drive to Lake Biwa with her husband a few months ago, and that info stuck in my head, so the first place I decided to go to was Shiga Prefecture. It took about one hour, or one hour and a half, from Nishinomiya to Otsu City last Sunday. There wasn't much traffic on the way there. But on the way back, there was a lot of traffic before getting on the highway. We had to sit in traffic for about 40 minutes until the toll booth. I was in the right lane, which was moving like a snail because many other drivers used the left lane and sped to the front and did a snake job(=cut in the line) at the last minute. What do you think? Is that style of driving dangerous/reckless or clever/smart? I guess it depends on your perspective...

It was cloudy on Sunday, but Lake Biwa and the mountains and countryside scenery were all really beautiful. After we arrived at Lake Biwa, we stretched and ate an egg-salad sandwich for breakfast while gazing at the Lake. Then we drove to a couple of spots on the lake. It was fun to watch a local fisherman catch a lot of fish using a net in a river going into Lake Biwa. He threw out his net about 3 or 4 times, and each time caught about 20 fish. In all, he was there for about 20 minutes or so. It was very efficient fishing I thought. And near him, there were many other fisherman using a rod. But, they didn't catch anything. NOTHING. ZILCH. I wonder what they were thinking...If I was them, I would have bought a fishing net pronto!!
Then, we headed to a local market and for a snack, we ate Mackerel Sushi and a red sweet-beans rice cake. I liked the sushi a lot. Then we drove to the most Northern part of Lake Biwa, but the road was closed so we had to turn around. And then for lunch, we found a small cafe and ate a pizza which was baked in a special pizza oven, and drank an apple juice and ginger-ale. Tow pieces of chocolate cake also came with the pizza lunch set. Everything was good. Do you think we ate a lot? ;) Then, we went for a drive in the mountains. I love the tiered rice fields and countryside scenery of Japan so that was my favorite part of the drive. And before we went back home, I also went in a nice hot spring. It was refreshing.

Some random comments:
1. I got lost two times. Once was in the mountain, and the second time was when I returned the rental car. FYI, the rental car was a Toyota Corolla. It was a smooth ride.
2. The automatic navigation system is truly a great and convenient device. It saved me a lot of time finding many places. Whoever invented it is a genius. But at times it can distract the driver because it beeps a lot and also sometimes gives wrong directions. And, drivers must concentrate on the road, so when we use a navigation system, we should be careful.
3. I would like to to especially thank my mother, my wife, my friend Mr. BD, and the driving teachers who taught me how to drive on the course and pass the driving test, for all of their help in getting the license.

Enjoy the photos!

2011-06-15T06:33:00.000+09:00

Cool Biz

What do you think of Cool Biz?
For those of you who don't know what "cool biz" is, please refer to the following explanation which I got from Wikipedia:
"The Japanese Ministry of the Environment (MOE) began advocating the Cool Biz campaign in summer 2005 as a means to help reduce electric consumption by limiting use of air conditioning. This idea was proposed by then-MOE minister Yuriko Koike under the Koizumi cabinet."

Some of the rules are:
1. Offices must set the air conditioner temperature at 28 degrees Celsius(=82.4 degrees Fahrenheit). In my opinion, that is HOT! If you open the windows and use an electric fan, or even a hand fan, I think it would be cooler.
2. Men are not allowed to wear ties or jackets. Instead, they have to wear button down collared shirts. (Be careful, golf shirts are not permitted.)
3. Shorts are prohibited, but Aloha shirts are not.

And it is important to note, that participation in the Cool Biz Campaign is voluntary, not mandatory. That means that all companies don't have to do it. They can do it only if they want to.

Personally, I like to dress up sometimes, and I understand that many business people in Japan feel the need to wear a suit and necktie to please their clients. Especially for salespeople, I can understand why dressing formally may be important. However, I think dressing down in the summer is a great idea for many reasons. One of the reasons is of course to save energy. Anyway, I am definitely for more company participation in the Cool Biz Campaign! How about you...for or against?

"Cool Biz campaign goes 'Super' this summer"
from "The Japan Time Online"
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nb20110602a1.html

The rainy season is almost over...

2011-06-10T08:53:00.000+09:00

Spelling Bee

When I was in 3rd grade in elementary school, I won the Spelling Bee! I won it three years in a row, and then I was dethroned in 6th grade. Those were the glory days!!
Do you know what a "spelling bee" is? Well if not, let me tell you. It is a spelling competition.
Read below for this year's champion! And fyi, the final winning word of this year's tournament was "cymotrichous," which means wavy-haired. Are you good at spelling?

"2011 spelling bee is won by a hair"
from The Japan Times Online
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20110604a6.html

And below is one of my favorite sweets to cool down in the hot and humid Kansai summer. Vanilla and Green-tea (Ma-cha) soft ice cream!! Yummy!!!

2011-06-08T06:39:00.003+09:00

The Rooster

Last night, after I finished up class with Mr. M at 10pm, I did some paperwork and cleaned up and headed to Kita-Shinchi station on foot. There was a nice breeze, and it was a nice and basically normal night...UNTIL right before I arrived at the station. And then, I couldn't believe my eyes!! There was a rooster on the roof of a car!! I thought I was delirious, maybe sick or something, so I rubbed my eyes a few times and slapped myself in the face (like an Inoki slap!) to wake up. But when I opened my eyes again, the rooster was still there. I was not hallucinating!! It is true, and I am totally serious!! ON THE ROOF OF A CAR, THERE WAS A ROOSTER!!! Now tell me, am I lying?

p.s. Actually, a few months ago, or maybe more, there was a special on a tv show I often watch, "Tantei(Investigator) Night Scoop," about this "rooster on the roof." So I knew about it. But to actually see it with my own eyes, well, that is something different!!

2011-06-02T07:49:00.000+09:00

Wajian

The other day I went to a great restaurant with my wife. The name of the restaurant is Wajian, and I definitely recommend it to everyone. It is in Edobori/Higobashi.

I heard about it from Ms. M. She lives the neighborhood and said "Wajian is one of the nest izakayas in Osaka. Take my word for it, you'll love it."

So, I followed her advice and just as she said, it was fabulous!!
What was so great about it?
Well, for starters, the food. The menu is enormous, and my wife and I actually both got tired from reading all of it, so we ordered the "Leave it up to the chef 3800yen Course." It included a raw fish assortment, a grilled beef plate, and some type of nabe(=a hot pot, or vegetables and beef boiled in a pot) with ramen noodles, plus a bunch of other original small dishes. I was more than full. And very satisfied.
In addition, there is a wide selection of beverages; beer, wine, sake, shochu, whiskey, cocktails, and more!!
The owner/chef is around 33 years old, and a nice guy. Two guys, I think one of them is his classmate from high school, help with the cooking. And two ladies, who are very beautiful, help with the floor(=help with waitressing.) For all of you ladies out there, I heard that many people also think that all of the guys are good-looking too. But, I didn't notice...

Take a look at the link below for the menu, and exact location, and oh yeah, the telephone number. Because if you go, reservations are recommended!!
http://www.wajian.com/

Below is my sister-in-law's new project. She is collecting rain using the red buckets on her deck. If she lived in Japan for the past two weeks, I think she would have collected A LOT of rain!!!

Cool bird house!!

A friend? A neighbor? A roommate?

2011-05-31T10:07:00.002+09:00

Rainy season, and music

Today is May 31st, the last day of May. Tomorrow will be June 1st, and the first day of June. And June means the summer!!
But before the summer really comes, we have to waddle through the rainy season.
Recently I notice many women walking around town sporting new, slick rain boots. I am considering getting myself a pair!
This year the rainy season began quite early, about two weeks earlier than usual.
When it rains all day, like it did last Sunday, what do you like to do?
Last Sunday I went to the gym for a swim in the morning and then came home, had some lunch, and took it easy in the afternoon while listening to some new CDs I recently bought. Speaking of music, what kind of music do you like? Except for heavy metal and hard-core rap, I basically like everything.

"Tokyo: What's your favorite Japanese music?"
from The Japan Times Online, VIEWS FROM THE STREET:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/fl20110531vf.html

Below is a Buddhist monk in training. ;) That is a joke.
Actually, his mother made a mistake when cutting his hair.
She wasn't used to using the electric clippers because it was her first time to use them.
I think little K looks good and should keep the new hairdo forever!

2011-05-24T16:21:00.003+09:00

Luis and Sachiko's Wedding Photos

I had the pleasure of seeing some of their wedding photos; from the photos of the ceremony in the church to the reception and dinner at Luis' cousin's house. It looks like Luis did it right! A top-notch job! I wish I could put more photos up on the blog, but I can only put 5 photos up at one time-that is the max, so I chose 5 of my favorite. And I want to thank Luis for permission to put these photos of his and his wife's very personal moments on the blog!! Now, I hope everyone takes a look and enjoys!

Luis making a toast...Cheers!

A very cool black-and-white shot of the dinner party

Their friends and family in the church.

I think Luis's brother is somewhere in the back laughing.

Hollywood Style!!

Cutting the cake!
I wish I could show you the photos of them feeding each other the cake too...
they were too cute!!!

2011-05-21T08:30:00.000+09:00

The Big Day (blog by Luis)

The wedding day is more than a single ceremony and reception party. It requires several months of preparation organizing every detail for that big day.
We flew to Portugal a week earlier and had literally a marathon running around between the catering service, flower shop, church, hairdresser, meeting the DJ/cameraman/photographer,... and end up not being able to sleep more than 5h in any of those nights.
In between, I had to "babysit" my wife's parents and guide them around North of Portugal and Spain. Fortunately they really enjoyed the sightseeing, food and were surprised how helpful and friendly Portuguese people were to them.
Time flies when you are a busy bee and the wedding day came faster than a blink of an eye. Everything was perfect, the flower arrangements in church and we also had a "quarteto" of singers in church, and the reception place and catering service too.
As we were leaving the church we got surprised since there were dozens of French tourists waiting to congratulate us.
Then, we moved to my cousin's house around 6.30pm. At this time of the year in Portugal the sunset is very late, around 9pm. So, we had a few drinks and appetizers by the pool before changing to our kimono&hakama. Everyone wanted to take pics with us.
Dinner started around 9.30pm and lasted until mid-night. After, the party continued around the pool again and finished with the sunrise just after 6am!
We were exhausted but relieved and glad everything went well and our families and friends enjoyed.
The next day was time for some grocery shopping (wine, smoked dried ham, 'choricos', cheese,...)and packing.
Now, after 2 nights back in Japan I am heavily jet lagged and cannot sleep more than 3~4h at night, and extremely sleepy after lunch.

2011-05-20T08:41:00.000+09:00

Rice Omelet, New York, Roses

First, does anyone know how to make a rice omelet? If you do, and if you have a good recipe, please tell me because Mr. M is on a mission to make a superb rice omelet, but he seems to be having some trouble. He has tried the past two weekends to make a "good looking" and "good tasting" omelet. However, unfortunately, he has failed. The first time he failed miserably. The second time, he fell one step short of the success line. But I believe this weekend, his third time to try, will be a success!!

The ingredients he used are the following:
milk, eggs, butter, chicken, tomato, onions, green peppers, scallions, ketchup, and oyster sauce.

Is he forgetting anything? Did he leave anything out?
The below photos are proof of his effort and also the results.

Prep work

More Prep work

The second time's result. So close!!!

The first time's result. So far away!!

Grocery shopping

To change the subject, do you know how many roses are in Utsubo Park right now? I have gone to the park every day this week during my break time and counted. The final tally is 3400 roses!!! Actually, I didn't count. That was just a joke. But 3400 is true. I heard it on the radio this morning.

And before I go, I want to pass on some good info. Earlier this week, Ms. J told me that a "New York Fair" is being held at Hankyu Department Store from the 18th of May for about a week. There will be a variety of booths with food, clothes, and a bunch of other stuff. I like bagels, so I am going to grab a few New York bagels and eat the for brunch this Sunday. If you are interested, check it out!

2011-05-18T11:36:00.002+09:00

Edobori Blues, Kawaramachi Blanche, a new pizza joint, and Isetan vegetables

Last weekend my wife went back to her hometown in Kyushu, so I was flying solo. On Thursday, I went out to dinner and a few drinks after work. The name of the restaurant/bar which I went to is Edobori-Blues. It opened about 6 years ago, and I pass it almost every day on my way to or from work. I like jazz, especially the blues, so I was curious about the place from the first time I saw it. Plus Ms. T, who lives right across the street from this place, told me "Edobori Blues is always full with middle-aged or old guys like you when I go home," so I was interested in it. Here is what I thought.
When I walked in, there were two men sitting at the counter, and a group of four,two girls and two guys, sitting at a table. I took a seat in between the two guys at the counter. The counter has about 6 stools. There are two tables. The place is quite snug. The chef/owner is a nice guy about the same age as me. One woman helps him behind the counter. They are both friendly. I like shochu, so I ordered a potato shochu on the rocks and two small dishes to start. The shochu was good and cheap. The food was alright, not fantastic, but not bad either. To my surprise, the place is not a "Blues Bar," but the owner plays a lot of American music from the 1970's...it was nostalgic. Basically, I liked it and it is really convenient for me cause it is on my way home, so I plan to go back there again from time to time. I recommend it if;
you like drinking
like 1970's music
don't mind tight places
don't mind second hand smoke
and are not so interested in food/eating.

Also, I wrote about dinner at Kawaramachi Blanche a while back. But I have never written about lunch. I went there for lunch the other day. I know it is a popular lunch spot, so I arrived at 11:40am because I thought it would get busy from noon and I wanted to beat the crowd. But, it was wrong. It was already packed when I got there. There are tables and a counter. I choose a stool at the counter because I was by myself. There are two choices for lunch, "A", which was breaded chicken something something, or "B", which was a cheese hamburger. Both sets comes with soup, a salad and rice. When I saw the chicken, I immediately knew why it is popular. It looks delicious and tasted even better! It was EXCELLENT! If you are in Honmachi, I highly recommend this place. However, it is a little small, crowded, and smoking is allowed, so if any of these points bother you, then you should better not go I think.

And, I tried a new pizza place which just opened in Honmachi last week too. There was a buzz about this place last week in Honmachi, and every day a long line formed in front of the entrance. This is because as part of an "Opening Sale," everything on the menu; pizza, appetizers, drinks, dessert, was half price for the first 5 days. And lunch, a pizza, soup and salad, was only 500yen!! That is a great deal, and pizza is one of my favorite foods, so I really wanted to check it out. But I was disappointed. The pizza was alright, but it is not worth the regular price. The salad was fresh and good. But the soup, I ordered minestrone, was minute!! In addition, I don't really like the atmosphere so I will probably not go again. I am rooting for this pizza joint to succeed because I root for all new businesses in Honmachi, but I would be very surprised if it made it.

Oh yeah, before I forget, my wife really recommends the vegetable section of the food area at the new Isetan Department Store in Umeda. She said the other food sections are nothing special, but the vegetable section in "Very Great" with many kinds of unique and fresh vegetables at a reasonable price.

Below is the new outside furniture which my folks bought for their house. Don't you think it looks great!?

2011-05-14T07:57:00.000+09:00

Raw and Royal

First, let's talk about raw beef. As many of you know, many people got food poisoning and as of today, four people even died from eating "Yukke," which is raw beef topped with raw egg. That's right, a "double raw" dish!! It is my impression that many Japanese like and order this dish, a delicacy in Japan, when they go to a Yakiniku restaurant.
I have eaten it a handful of times. I only thought it was really delicious at one restaurant, which I have been to two or three times and is located in the southern part of Osaka. Except for the "Yukke" at this restaurant, I thought all of the other "Yukke" I have eaten is "just alright," which means it is nothing special.
In general, Americans don't eat any meat; beef, chicken, pork, or even fish, which is not cooked. I know you are thinking, "What about sushi?! There are many sushi restaurants in America with strange sushi rolls like California Roll, New York Roll, Philadelphia Roll, Spicy Tune Tempura Roll, etc!!" Well, please remember that sushi became popular, main stream, in America only within the past ten years or so. For example, if you ask my father now in 2011, "Hey Big Guy, would you like to go out for some sushi?" He would say "Sure! I'd love to. Count me in!" But if you asked him the same question 20 years ago, he would say something like this: "Sushi!? What are you crazy!? You should get your head examined."
Personally, I love sushi now, but I had never eaten even one piece of sushi before I was 21 years old. And that was the only raw food I ever ate while I lived in America. Since, I have come to Japan, over the years, I have tried raw egg, raw horse meat, raw chicken, raw pork...I think that's about it. I could eat everything and for the most part liked everything, but to be honest, I would choose scrambled eggs over rice over raw egg over rice any day of the week. The same goes for beef, chicken, and pork.
How about you? What do you think about raw meat? Do you like it?

Now, on to the next topic. The Royal Wedding! Did you watch it? I watched it live because I am really interested in these types of events!! They are so exciting and glitzy and glamorous! Actually, that is not true. I watched it because I had no choice in the matter. My wife reserved the rights to our TV two weeks in advance because she wanted to see Kate's dress and see William and Kate smooch! Anyway, did you watch it? What did you think?

Below is a photo of Moco, Mrs. K's new family member. Moco is a mix of a poodle and chihuahua I think...but I am not 100% sure so don't quote me on that.

2011-05-02T07:25:00.003+09:00

Y's (a repeat)

After work on Saturday, I went to Happy Hour at "The White Bear"by myself in Shinchi. I got my favorite seat outside and while sipping on a few brewskies, I relaxed and watched the pedestrians strolling by. Then my wife came and we headed to one of her favorite places, Y's. It was our second time there, and she was really looking forward to it. Compared to last time, this time was better for a few reasons I think. First, I asked Mr. Yoshida (the owner/chef) to recommend a good wine, and he recommended a nice one. Second, the bread was more delicious this time. But I ate one piece too many, and this came back to haunt me later! Third, my entree, the duck, was good! And My wife's entree, the special Okinawa Pork, was perfectly cooked and the portion was GIGANTIC!!! It was definitely worth the extra 1000 yen. But again, like last time, I couldn't finish my meal so I had to bring some of the pork home in a doggy bag. Lastly, we were fortunate to meet a very nice couple who I will refer to as Mr. and Mrs. Fukushima. Mr. and Mrs. F sat next to us by chance. My wife was sitting next to Mrs. F. My wife and since we usually don't talk so much, my wife had ample time to eavesdrop on Mr. and Mrs. F's conversation. It is not so polite, but it is interesting! She likes eavesdropping and is very good at it!! It was Mrs. Fukushima's birthday, so when the chef prepared a special cake with candles for her, we both said "Happy Birthday" to her and then the four of us began talking. Mr. F is originally from Nagano and came to Osaka about 10 years ago for work. He is in the fashion industry. He originally worked for a top trading company and then was head-hunted to work in a client's apparel company. He speaks Chinese fluently, is in charge of vacuuming in the house, dresses very slickly fashionable but not too flashy, and is a very good listener I think. This quality is very important for him in his job because he is a salesman, and also in his home, because his wife Mrs. F talks a lot! A good talker always needs a good listener!! Mrs. F is from South Osaka and speaks very politely, but in Osaka dialect. She is very fashionable but doesn't wear too much make-up. She works in her cousin's company, is a good cook, and loves her dog very much! She and my wife got along very well! Mr. and Mrs. F dated for a while before they got married about two years ago. We probably talked for about an hour and a half. We talked so much that Mrs. F couldn't even relax and eat her special birthday dessert!! According to Mr. F, it was love at first sight. My wife and I had a really good time and it was nice to have a good dinner and also meet good people at the same time. In a sense, we "killed two birds with one stone." Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Fukushima!!

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of Golden Week vacation!!

2011-04-26T07:50:00.000+09:00

Golden Week Vacation...

GW Vacation is just around the corner. Do you have any plans?As of now, I plan to go hiking one day. Except for that, I will chill out the rest of the time. I might also meet some friends for dinner or something a night or two, but I haven't decided yet. I am looking forward to spending a lot of time outside jogging, walking, cycling, sleeping, and more.

To change the subject, yesterday morning there was sudden storm in the morning. When I walked to the classroom in the morning, the sky was blue. And then, while teaching, I heard loud thunder and then saw some lightening. When I looked outside, it was dark and seconds later it began pouring. I looked out of the window and saw many frantically people holding newspapers over their heads while running towards their offices. Maybe the didn't expect it to rain.

Anyway, this week is a short week. Hope everyone enjoys it!

p.s. Last week an old friend of mine Mr. B.D. sent me an email with some photos from an excursion he went on the other day day. I hadn't spoke to him in a while so it was nice to get a note from him. He said the cherry blossoms and river and mountains and spa, and everything were great! Can you tell from the photos below where he went? If not, guess!! And ask me for the correct answer when you see me.

2011-04-22T17:44:00.000+09:00

Trail Running

This morning I went for a jog and stretched a little. Only about 5km, but it was nice. And I was lucky, cause right after I finished running, it began to rain.

Then, on my way to the classroom, I stopped at The Big Issue office in Dojima, and donated two bags of clothes. For those of you who don't know, The Big Issue is an Organization which publishes and sells a magazine called "The Big Issue" to support homeless people. Here is the conversation at the office.
Staff Member: Hello. Can I help you?
Glenn: Yes, last year I came here and donated some clothes. I'd like to do the same today.
Staff member: Oh really?! Thank you very much. Do you read The Big Issue Magazine?
Glenn: Yes, I buy every issue. It's interesting. Anyway, there are pants and sweaters, all clean, and there is no underwear or socks in the bags. Is that alright?
Staff member: Yes, that's fine. I will distribute them to the guys.
Glenn: Thank you.

And, then this afternoon, I got a great email from Mr. K. Read it for yourself.

"Hi Glenn. I ran Hiraodai trail running race 40km on April 17th.I completed the full distance. But my upper legs was cramped at the 30km point... Hiraodai is a beautiful mountain in Kitakyushu. The mountain scenery on Hiraodai is amazing. I felt great while running in Hiraodai. For details, please visit the following my blog's article. You can see the beautiful photos in Hiraodai. Enjoy my photos and race report. Best Regards, K"

I love nature, and walking, hiking, running. And I also like Kyushu. I am very jealous of Mr. K. But more importantly, Congratulations to Mr. K for finishing this great race!! It is a triumph!

2011-04-15T09:00:00.000+09:00

Tokyo Report

Two weeks ago, Luis went to Tokyo for a job interview. When he came back, he gave me the low-down. Here it is. Tokyo was dark. Many of the train stations and convenience stores and shops keep many of the lights off, or only use half of the lights. There wasn't any water on the shelves in the convenient stores. Business was as usual, and there were many people walking around. But the people seems a little tense, and tired. Maybe this is because of dealing with and thinking about the blackouts, the many smaller earthquakes, and the radioactivity.

Have you been to Tokyo, on business or for pleasure, recently? If yes, what did you think? If not, do you have any plans to go to Tokyo in the near future?

Who is that shadow lady?!

The answer: Ms. F in San Francisco. She loves it there and lived there for about ten years. Some day, one day in the future, it is her dream to go back and live there. I hope her dream comes true...

2011-04-13T06:40:00.001+09:00

Housework (blog by Luis)

Do you like it? I don't recall anyone saying they enjoy doing it. I am no exception either. However, lately I find myself doing many chores around the house. With the exception of cooking, which I do occasionally, I do the following tasks regularly; laundry, dishwashing, cleaning, vacuuming, and throwing away the trash. This may sound a bit odd to most Japanese, but not so much for Americans and Europeans. Nowadays, couples in America and Europe tend to split the housework. About 50-50. They both share the responsibility of housework. One of the reasons for this tendency is that many women work full time now. When I was a child, my parents taught me to clean up my room and help out cleaning the house every weekend. Then in University I lived with so friends in a flat so we couldn't rely on our parents to do the housework! We had to do everything by ourselves!! When I was 18, I moved out of my parents house. Since then, I have always lived on my own, with friends, by myself, or now with my wife. This experience made me more independent and resourceful, not only with cleaning, but also with fixing stuff at home. And now, because I am a student again, I have more time than my wife who has a full-time job. Thus, I don't mind taking care of our flat. But, to be honest, I really hate doing the dishes! How about your place? Who does most of the housework?

Below are some cherry blossom photos courtesy of Ms. e. Thank you.

2011-04-12T07:07:00.001+09:00

"Diet Challenge," and Cherry Blossoms

In January I decided to participate in my gym's "Diet Challenge." The rules were the following: 1. You have to be weighed at the gym by a staff member in January. 2. Three months after this "weigh-in day," you have to be weighed at the gym again. 3. For every 1 kg that you lose, the gym will give you a 500yen gift certificate which must be used at the gym. That's it. It was a no brainer!! And an easy win and easy money! On Jan. 7th, I was 82.15kg. On April 8th, I was 77.45. That is a difference of 4.7 kilograms, and when rounded up, 5kg! That's right, in 3 months I lose 5 kg!! How did I do it? Well, that is a secret!!! But if you ask me directly, I will be happy to tell you. And 5kg X 500yen=2500yen! I already used one of the 500yen gift certificates. I bought some exercise drinks. The expiration date of the certificates is in October, so there is plenty of time to use them. I am looking forward to it.

Speaking of gift certificates, I used 5000yen of my eco-point gift certificates and bought stuff for a cherry blossom picnic with the Mrs. last Sunday in Shukugawa. It was my first time to Shukugawa, and I was really impressed. It was crowded, but it wasn't too crowded, and we got a great spot under one of the pink trees, and ate and drank and "people-watched" a lot, and talked a little. The blossoms and the area were really beautiful!! It was a great day!!

2011-04-06T06:49:00.002+09:00

TV and AC

I like TV. Usually when I get home, I watch the news while eating dinner. In the morning, I don't watch tv. Instead, I listen to the radio, usually ABC Radio. On Sunday, I usually wake up early and watch a talk-show or a news program while drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. After that, I usually go for a run or walk. In the afternoon or at night, I like to watch various sports, some variety-type comedy shows. If there is nothing good on tv, I pop in a DVD. Do you like TV? If yes, what kind of shows do you like? not like?

Speaking of TV, I know all of you have seen those commercials. You know the ones I am talking about, the ONLY ones on TV now after the terrible earthquake-tsunami-nuclear accident disaster. The "AC" commercials. (Not Air Conditioner!!) I didn't know what AC stands for, or why ONLY AC commercials were on TV, so I googled it. Here is what I found.

The following is from From The Japan Times Online

"CM of the week: Advertising Council Japan- When commercial stations returned to partial normalcy Monday they started airing adverts again, but except for an occasional spot from the part-book publisher DeAgostini, the majority of traffic has been taken up by Advertising Council Japan (AC), a nonprofit organization that coordinates the production of public service announcements with major advertising companies on a volunteer basis. Several of the spots focus on specific campaigns, such as the one featuring former Japan national soccer team coach Ivica Osim about the importance of receiving medical attention quickly following signs of a stroke; or the message from actress Akiko Nishina and her daughter advocating checkups for cancer of the breast and cervix. However, most of the AC spots promote positive social values, such as respect for the elderly, the pursuit of knowledge and common courtesy. The subtlest message, and the most beautiful, is a series of "echoed" statements taken from a poem by Misuzu Kaneko that represent the special relationship between a brother and sister. The purpose is to encourage people to speak to one another in a kinder fashion."

2011-03-29T11:52:00.003+09:00

"Let's Play Ball!!

Good morning. It is still chilly, but according to the weather forecast, it seems that it will warm up a little in the end of this week and the weekend. Then, maybe the cherry blossoms can bloom, signaling the beginning of spring.

The first topic of the day is "a touching speech."Ms. N told me that she was touched when she watched one of the high school baseball players give a speech in the opening ceremony of the national baseball tourney. This tournament is being held at Koshien Stadium and there are 32 teams participating in it. One of the teams in the tourney is Tohoku, which is located in Miyagi. Fyi, Tohoku lost yesterday in the first round, 7-0.

Here is a loose translation the high school baseball player's speech that moved Ms. N.

"All of us were born in the same year as the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, 16 years ago.

Now, our hearts are saddened by the loss of many precious lives in the Great Higashi-Nihon Earthquake.

In the areas affected by the disaster, all of the people, friends and strangers alike, have come together and are doing their best...

With each other's support, I believe that people, we, can overcome anything...

What can we do now?

We, the players, must pull ourselves together and play with all our might in these Games.

Japan!!! Come one, don't give up! Hang in there!!

In gratitude for Life, We pledge to stay true to the spirit of fair play and play with every ounce of our heart and soul."

2011-03-18T11:38:00.001+09:00

What can I do to help?

"I can't do anything..." or "There is nothing I can do..." are the incorrect answers.

The correct answers are:
"I can do something!" or "There is definitely something I can do!"

Mr. M is a doctor. I met him on Monday morning. He works for a National University's hospital and told me:
"My friend, another doctor, is a member of the DMAT team. (The DMAT team is a special unit of doctors who respond to disasters.) He already went to Tohoku, and he told me he is trying his best, but the situation is bleak...I want to help if I can. But my turn is not now. Now is it DMAT''s turn. In the future, I will be able to go to the area on a different team of doctors and help people. Then it is my turn. So, I just have to wait for my turn."

Mr. M is correct. Everyone's turn to help will come. We just have to wait and be patient. And we have to take action and make our turn.
And in the meantime, we have to do whatever we can, from Osaka, to help. There are many ways to help! Many many ways. You just have to think. "How can I help?" "What can I do?" If you think long enough, you will find the answer. Even if you can not help the people in Tohoku directly, now, then finding a way to help indirectly is OK.

An old wise man used to take me out for dinner and drinks often. I once said to him. "I feel very bad because I can never repay you for all of this." He said, "Don't worry about repaying me. In the future, when you can, please take another person out. Please help another person. If you do that, then you will also be repaying me."

This is a very simple example of helping indirectly.

Here is another example.

Since the earthquake my wife has prepared a super earthquake evacuation bag. It is filled with food, water, batteries, flashlights, clothes, underwear..and more. Preparing this bag is great for us, but that doesn't help other people. However, she tells her mother, and her co-workers about this bag and how important it is. Then, maybe her mother will tell her grandchild, and maybe her co-workers will tell their children, and then maybe those children can learn from that. This is helping. It may be a small, but it is what is necessary to be done now. It is what she can do now.

Then, yesterday, we donated 30,000yen to the Japanese Red Cross.
If you want to do so, here is the link:

https://gienkin.jrc.or.jp/application/corporate

If that money is big or small or medium, I don't know nor care. But it was what we could do now. In addition, I also want to donate clothes to the survivors in that area as soon as possible.
And donating blood is also a good idea.

Next, I will think of another way to help. The ways to help are endless...

Also, I really think that it is important for everyone to keep this motivation to help for at least one year. At least! Keeping this motivation, continuing to try to help, and not forget, is so so important!! I urge you. Please think of how you can help, and also please keep this motivation for at least one year!!

2011-03-16T07:55:00.002+09:00

Flickers of Hope...

We must believe...There is hope.

Here are a few stories I heard this morning on the radio.

In Miyagi, an old man in a shelter was in disbelief and said "What are we going to do?"
A young boy who was sitting next to him said "Don't worry. When my friends and I become older, we are going to rebuild this town."

A man in Sendai twitted "I have never seen such beautiful stars. Everyone, look up at the sky!"

Two Osaka business men were stuck in Tokyo without a place to stay. They had no hotel reservations, the Bullet train was stopped, and they had no where to go. At that time. a homeless man handed them a folded-up cardboard box and said "It's cold and wet outside. Sleep on this. "

An old woman in Fukushima said, "In the morning I saw two blond hair, flashy-dressed teenage girls, talking loudly and pushing their cell phones hanging out on the corner in town. Later at night, after the quake and tsunami, I saw the same two girls handing out candy and sweets to little kids who were crying."

2011-03-14T10:28:00.003+09:00

Earthquake (Continued...)

I am really at a loss for words. Stunned. Speechless...
When the earthquake happened last Friday, I don't think anyone could have imagined the aftermath...

We should all do what we can, if anything, to help.
And pray.

All I can say now to all of those people suffering from this tragedy is, Hang in there...