Jumper-parker-sweat suit

You can call it whatever you want (Jumper, parker, sweat suit), but I really do love a nice sweat suit!! I have four as of now. Two are black, one is white, and one is orange. On my day off I like to hang out in my house and walk around town in them. They are really comfortable! When I was younger, in high school, I thought that these things were so un-cool!! You would never have caught me wearing such an outfit! But now, they are my favorite!!! It`s amazing how time changes things and people. If you`ve never worn one, I recommend you go out and splurge and get yourself one! Just try it! trust me, once you put it on, you`ll never want to take it off.

Enjoy the cold and dreary and rainy days...

Do you believe? "Hands of God"

A few people have sent me this photo over the past few months. It was supposedly taken in Okinawa Japan. If you want to read the translated message which is attached to the photo, please check the "Comments."

Do you think this is a real photo, or a fake one? I think that IF you believe this photo is real, authentic, then you are an optimist (=positive thinker). But if you don`t believe this photo is real (like me), and think it is fake, a phony, then you are a pessimist(=negative thinker).

How about it? Which are you? And just some foood for thought for the weekend, when you see a glass with some water in it, do you think "The glass is half full (with water)" or "The glass is half empty"?

Take it easy this weekend!

Free Hugs

The other day when I got home and saw the opened the newspaper, the headlines said "Free Hugs getting Big! (becoming popular)." I thought, "Free Hugs?! What the hell does that mean?" I have never heard of such a thing, but after reading the article I understood a little more. In "American Town" in Osaka, and also some other places around Japan, young Japanese men and women, mainly students, are going around doing the "Free Hug" campaign. My understanding of the meaning of this is the following: in a world now connected my text messages, emails, physical contact, physical friendship, is lacking. So people want to promote hugging. In America and in Japan, the custom of hugging is completely different. Americans hug everyone and anyone, it is a type of greeting, like a handshake. Nobody really thinks anything of it. Also in America it is common for parents and children, brothers and sisters, to all hug. In Japan, nobody hugs! People barely shake hands. Physical contact is avoided. Bowing is the norm. It amazing!! I don`t know how couples get close enough to make a baby, because I never see anyone hugging!! Oh yeah, I have a little funny story to tell, but I`ll save it for next time. It`s only a little funny/stupid, so don`t get too excited for it! It`s raining now, but I feel stressed, so I think I am going to go out and get myself a FREE HUG! :)

Below is my buddy Shige, and his two twin kids in the mountains! I`ve never met the kids because they live in Tokyo, but Shige and I drink together about once a year. He is a weak drinker but he likes to talk. Actually he talks just like Ichiro, and reminds me a little of Ichiro too. I wonder when he is coming to Osaka again. I hope he treats me to sushi!

BLUE

Look at this blue water! Truly beautiful! And look at that fish...is it a fish? I think it is a manta ray? I have never been to the aquarium in Osaka, or for that matter, also Suma(Kobe.) I like fish, the ocean, and stuff like that so I want to go to one one of them soon. But I heard Osaka`s aquarium is really crowded on the weekends, so I am leaning towards Suma`s aquarium at the moment.

BLUE...Below is some "Blue" English. Check it out!

He has beautiful baby-blue eyes.

I go to a museum once in a blue moon. (once is a very long while, NOT very often)

My childhood friend called me from out of the blue. (with no warning, for the first time in a lonnnng time)

I have been feeling blue(sad, down, depressed) since I heard the depressing news.

After getting tackled so many times in the rugby game, the boy was black and blue.

"Coming of Age Day"

In Japan, last Monday, the 14th, was the national holiday "Coming of Age Day." This holiday is basically a celebration of becoming 20 years old. In Japan, 20 means that you are an adult!! No more video games, comic books, bickering...Actually all of these things also continue after 20, into adulthood, also.

I saw many girls and guys all dressed up in kimonos last Monday. They looked pretty cool! Also, when I went to a shrine last Monday, I also saw a girl dressed in a kimono with her family praying there. I like kimonos, and I think they are very beautiful. Actually, I have worn a kimono once. It was a good experience, but you can`t move in a kimono and going to the bathroom without taking off the entire kimono, which takes about 30 minutes to put on, is impossible!! So the whole time I was wearing the kimono sipping tea, I was thinking..."When is this going to end...I hope it ends soon. I don`t know how much longer I can hold it in...I HAVE TO GO TO THE RESTROOM NOW!!!"

In America, basically people are recognized as adults once they become 18 years old. The voting age, and age to enter the military, and legal smoking age(I am not sure about this one) is 18. In Pennsylvania, the legal driving age is 16, so I guess a child can drive a car. Also the legal drinking age is 21 in America, so at 18 even if you can vote for the President in the Election, or even if you can go fight in the military, you are not allwed to drink a beer. Funny...

What do you think about the "Coming of the Age Day?" Do you have any good memories about your celebration on this day? If so, tell me!

The aboce are some pictures of Ms. R`s beautiful kimono collection.

Really Amazing!! Thanks

Wall Clocks, Digital Clocks, and Ceramics

During the winter vacation, an old buddy of mine called me out of the blue, our of nowhere. I was really surprised to hear from him because I hadn`t heard from him in over a year. We talked for about an hour and really caught up on a lot of things...telling each other all about our lives now and what we are both up to. It was nice.

And you`ll never believe it, but he told me the funniest story. He went on a vacation with his wife for Christmas, and he stayed at his parents-in-law`s house. There were two clock in the room...a digital alarm clock, and a wall clock. The wall clock goes TICK, TICK, TICK every second!!! So he said that that sound, TICK, TICK, TICK, really got on his nerves and he couldn`t sleep...So he asked his wife to "You gotta do something about the clock. Get it out of this room NOW! " She is a very kind and considerate wife, so she said "Of course darling, no problem." Then she got up and obediantly took the clock out of the room. What a nice wife!!! So sweet! BUT, one problem...she took out the DIGITAL CLOCK from the room. A digital clock doesn`t make any noise!!! Unbelievable.

Well, on to the next topic. Recently a friend of mine Ms. N is really into ceramics. Look below! She gave me a Christmas gift, a cup, the end of last year. I use it every day. It is great!! It really is! But, sometimes it wobbles! haha

Hope you laughed twice!

Two Thousand and Eight begins...

How was your New year vacation. Mine was totally R & R. (=rest and relaxation) First I went to a beauiful hot springs in Beppu Kyushu. It was my first time to Beppu...the town was different than I expected...it wasn`t like and "old-fashioned hot spring town." It was more spread out. The hotel I stayed in was FABULOUS, right in front of the ocean!

After that, I ate and drank and slept and ate and drank and slept again and again and again. No exercise! Absolutely nothiing! So I gained 10 kilograms and now weight a towering 80 kilograms! One of my new year`s resolutions is to lose 5 kilograms ASAP! Yesterday I went for my frist run of 2008, just 4 kilometers though, so I am off to a good start. Another resolution I have is to eat more fish and less meat this year. One more is a BIG one, but it is a secret! ;)

The best food I ate over the vacation was "mentaiko nabe." The best tv show I wathed was Downtown`s special "You get hit if you laugh" on New Year`s eve. It was hilarious! The worst show I watched was K-1 Dynamite on New Year`s eve...it was dreadfully boring...And I have on efunny story to tell about the vacation, but I will save it for next time. Oh yeah, one more resolution of mine is to spend more time in 2008 in the place below....Utsubo Park, right around the corner.