Sentos and beer

I love sentos. Usually in English we say baths, public baths, or spas. I go to a spa and gym about 4 or 5 times a week. I try to work out or run or swim, sometimes even two of the three, and also take a bath in the jacuzzi, take a sauna, and dip into the freezing cold water. The whole thing, the exercise as well as the relaxation in the spa, does wonders for me(=is really good/healthy for me!!)
Also, over the years, I have met many people at the spa, so talking and socializing with the guys is also interesting, fun, and a good way to release stress. Meeting new people at the spa, which I do often, is also fun! There are many interesting and kind people out there!!!

Do you ever go to a sento or spa? How about work out? Do you go to a gym?
The below article is very informative and all about the history of sentos in Japan.

Read it if you have time:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20090505i1.html
p.s. after going to the sento at night, or after getting out of a hot spring, there is nothing better than a coldie! (=a beer) Or a cold milk, regular, coffee-flavor, is also pretty good! :)

Michael Jackson

Read all about it!!
http://www.japantoday.com/category/world/view/michael-jackson-dies-in-la-hospital#comments

I was surprised that there was such a big reaction to his passing in Japan. I didn't realize so many people liked him.
Simply, My thoughts...I remember watching the debut video of Thriller when I was in elementary school or junior highschool, i forget exactly when it was. The video debuted on MTV, and it was a big thing...I also liked another of his songs, it was about children in Africa, a slow song, but I also forget that title...

For english study, do you know the meaning of "Beat it!"?
It means "Get out of here!"

What are your thoughts about Michael Jackson?

Anyway, that's all for now.
Have a good weekend!!

Minami

I know I have said this before, but I will say it again. I really love the Minami (South) area of Osaka. All of the neon lights and array of noise just blow my mind. Now, that being said, since about 3 years ago, I have also grown quite fond of the Kita (North) area, and actually I go out eating/drinking in the Kita area much more than the Minami area these days...But, I think that Minami will always hold a special place in my heart. How about you? Which do you prefer, the Minami or Kita area?

Ayer's Rock and Ms. A's blog and Bowling

First, did you hear that thunder early in the morning on Monday! Boy, was it raining cats and dogs, really pouring! That was the first time this year I have thought "Wow, this is the rainy season." Fortunately, when I walked to work the rain lightened up a little bit, so I didn(t get drenched. Just a little wet. A little wet is OK.



Now, on Sunday I went bowling for the first time in a while. I went with two students, a brother and sister who are in high school. Sometimes we do little excursions, for example go to the park, go shopping, have lunch, go to karaoke, go to the book shop, etc. instead of the regular class. Because they are still kids and their attention span isn't so good, sometimes a little variety is good! I was a little worried because I have a bad back, but it was no problem. We played three games, and the boy beat me in each game. I was a little disappointed. My scores were 101, 119, and 134. In the last game I bowled a turkey!!!! That's right, a turkey!!! Do you know what that is? It means I bowled three strikes in a row!! Superb!!!



Below are some photos of Ayer's Rock. I climbed Ayer's Rock when I lived in Australia a long time ago, and it is a really nice memory for me. But I got these pictures from Ms. A's blog. She is presently in Australia and has been there for about a year now studying and working. I really like her blog and sometimes it is really interesting!

Hope everyone enjoys the grey and rainy week!

Koshien and Speeding Bullet

Today I am gonna write a little about Japanese baseball. First, I wanna talk about the Hanshin Tigers. I am a big fan of the Tigers, but it is time to be honest...This season is OVER! Finished!! They have no chance, no pitching, and the team is getting older. Also, the Manager, Mr. Mayumi (Mr???), must go! It is only a matter of time before he resigns or is fired. The next Manager, I don't know...probably an in-house guy, but my vote is for Bobby Valentine!!
And about the Pacific League, before the season I predicted that the Rakuten Eagles would win...They started off the season on fire, and stayed in first place for a while...But recently, I don't know what happened, but they have slipped to 4th place...I am sweating a little, worried, but I hope that they turn things around and win one for the greatest baseball manager in Japan, Nomura.

Below are some pics from Koshien Stadium...speaking of, I haven(t been there yet this season...

On a different topic, recently a new state-of-the-art model of the Bullet Train (the Shinakansen) was unveiled. It is as fast as a speeding bullet (And Superman ; )!!!
Here's an article about it.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/speeding-bullet

Hope everyone has a good weekend!!

Atlantic City glitter and a Tokyo Pianist

Hey everyone, how was your weekend? I was glad to see/hear some good news the other day, about the 20 year old Japanese guy who won the big Piano contest. I am not so into classical music, but when I listened to his performance, I was impressed...actually speechless. The sound he can create from the piano is truly beautiful. Did you see him on tv or read about him in the newspaper?
Just in case ya didn't, here is an article about him:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20090609a4.html

I also watched him on You-tube, but I want to get a CD of his if I can too..

Have a good week!

Below is the lights of Atlantic City, about 1 hour by car from Philadelphia, my hometown

I like to ride my bicycle...

and when I was riding my bicycle the other day around the neighborhood, I saw two lost foreigners, one guy and one woman. They looked European and had tow big backpacks. How did I know they were lost? Because they were frantically looking at a map. Both of them! So I decided to do my good deed for the day, and stopped my bicycle and asked them "Where are you looking for?" He said "Spain." I said, "No no, I didn't ask where are you from (because i am not interested) i just asked where are you going." He and I both smiled and laughed. Then he showed me the map and the place he was looking for, and after some thought (I have a very bad sense of direction), I gave them directions and they were on the way. Their destination was actually just around the corner, but sometimes when in foreign country, with a different language and all, it is not so easy to get around. The next time you see somebody with a map who looks lost, why don't you stop and help them out and give them directions too?!


And on a totally different topic, Softbank is set to debut their new i-phone...I am thinking about getting it...
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nb20090610n3.html

The BBQ Food!!!

To all who were not there...Eat your hearts out!!!
It just doesn't get any more delicious than this!!!


I know it is a little early to be talking about the Wolrd Cup, but what the heck, it is Japan! :)

The Japan Soccer team qualified for the world cup. Here is one writer who says you should giev the manager, Okada, some credit:
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/sp20090608am.html

Scallops sauteed in butter sauce with garlic salt

g's famous cheeseburgers



g's crispy fried chicken

Ceramics

Ms. N took up ceramics a few years ago. And now, she can make beautiful dishes and plates just like below. I think it is magnificent that she studies so many cultural thins, like ceramics as well as calligraphy and flower arrangement. I admire her desire to learn!!

Besides the ones above, I know many people with many desires to learn. For example, golf, language, kick-boxing, cooking...The list goes on and on...

What do you desire to learn?! Please think about this question. It is a very interesting question I think.

Below is Ms. N's wonderful work!!!

BBQ~Good times with good people!

Who do you think is the nest looking guy of the three below...I think it is a tough competition,but if I have to choose, I will choose the guy in the middle! ;)

The other day some friends came over for a BBQ. At first I thought we were gonna have to give up and cancel the bbq, because the weather forecast was for rain. At first we went outside to the bbq spot around 2pm, it was cloudy but I was hoping...but then the big dark black clouds came rolling in, and then the thunder, loud thunder, and Y0-chan's girlfriend, yuri, said in a very loud and screach voice... "Ah~~~ I am scared!!!" So the three of us went back to my place and waited for the storm to pass. Luckily it did, and about 2 hours later, after drinking a lot of tea and chit-chatting about current news, we headed back outside. I cooked and cooked and cooked, and everyone else ate and ate and ate. The first dish, home-made potato salad which I woke up at 5am to make, was delicious. The second dish, scallops in butter sauce was OK, but not as good as I expected. The some bean sprouts and green peppers, they were good. And the next, chicken, was superb, but some people complained that the chicken wasn't cooked enough...They were a tough crowd to please!! Then hot dogs...that was my mistake. Burnt to the crisp. They were as black as the rain clouds...sorry!! And last was my famous cheeseburgers. Ken, the second best good-lloking guy below, told me "g's cheeseburger is the best on this Earth!!" And Yo-chan, the least good-looking guy of the three below, or in other words, the worst looking guy of the three below, said "It was the best cheeseburger in the world." Those words made me happy. Anyway, I should be the one thanking all of the participants, because I had a great time...
So, thanks a lot guys, and let's do it again some time!!

New World Record!!

That's right! Maybe you heard it hear first!
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20090517b2.html

A new flight record for a paper air plane was set!!! A man got a paper airplane to fly for 27.9 seconds the other day, and this was recognized by the Guiness Book of World Records! That is quite and accomplishment!! (And it amazes me how much free time people have..................)
I used to make paper airplanes when I was younger, in junior high school. After I made them, I used to chuck them at the teacher!

(Below are some shots from out West, on a ski trip)

p.s. Welcome to June and the rainy season. Summer is officially here!!