Lost

"Lost" is the name of the TV series which many people feel is the best American TV Drama ever. In particular, many people say the Final Season was the best! This TV show was very popular in America the past few years. I have never even watched one episode, so I must be behind the times. But the next time I have a long vacation, I am definitely going to rent it.
Have you ever watched "Lost"? If yes, what did you think of it?

And now, on to the main topic of the day. Yesterday I got a sudden call from Luis. He sounded very distraught, so I was worried. We had the following conversation:

Glenn: Hey Luis, what's up?
Luis: Not much. But I can't find my wallet. I may have lost it.
Glenn: Really?!
Luis: Yeah, I am serious. Have you seen it in the classroom by any chance?
Glenn: Hold on a sec and let me look. Nah, it's not here. Sorry...
Luis: Ah...I didn't think it was there, but I wanted to ask you just in case.
Glenn: What are you going to do?
Luis: Well, I just called the restaurant I went to last night. The staff said he would check to see if it was there and call me back if he found it. I am keeping my fingers crossed...
Glenn: I hope he calls you back with some good news.
Luis: Me too. But in the meantime, I can't count on that, so I am going to go to the Police Station now to report it. Because everything-my credit cards, driver's license, alien registration card...I don't even want to think about it-was in there!!
Glenn: Well, I will let you go. This is an emergency so you should report it to the Police as soon as you can. And you better cancel your credit cards ASAP!
Luis: Yeah, you are right. Ok, I am outta here.
Glenn: Alright, take care. And let me know if you find it. See ya.

1 hour later, I got a message from Luis on my cell phone. Here it is verbatim:
Luis: Hi again Glenn. I have some good news!! Just as I arrived at the Police Station, they guy from restaurant called me. He told me he found it! And everything-all the money, cards, my license, was in it!! I can't believe it. Only in Japan!! I am so lucky!! Anyway, sorry for worrying you!! Bye.

I was very relieved when I listened to that message. Because I lost my cell phone a few years ago. It was only my cell phone, but I was absolutely miserable!! So, I felt bad for Luis when I heard he lost his wallet.

Anyway, I feel tired from just telling this story...I need a cocktail!!

Bonsai

"This is one of my father's bonsai plants.
My father has some bonsais and looks at them every day and smiles.
My father said that 'I think that it is good that bonsai plants have an unsymmetrical shape because dissymmetry is more natural than symmetry.
However, to be honest, I can't understand what is good about Bonsai at all.
Because I am more interested in food than in plants!"

The above is past of an email I got from Ms. Y. What do you think about Bonsai? Do you like them? Do you have any?
I think Bonsai are really cool. I do not have any Bonsai plants, but I would like to get one some day. Actually, since about two years ago, I am really into plants! I have about 10~15 plants in my house or on the balcony. But in the winter, it is really hard to take care of them. This winter, because it is so cold, I, and the plants, are struggling. Do you have any advice on how to take care of house plants during the winter? If you do, please let me know. I am all ears!!

Resolutions and Midosuji lights

So, it is almost the end of January. How about your New Year's resolutions?
Did you make any New Year's resolutions this year?
If yes, have you kept the resolutions so far. Or did you already break them?

I made one resolution this year. My resolution is to run 3 half marathons in 2011. On January 9th, I ran the first one. So I am a third of the way there to achieving my goal. Only 2 more left. I plan to run one in the spring and one in the fall. There is no reason to rush. Plus, I want to space them out, and enjoy running in each season. However, I am not crazy so I don't wanna run in the summer, because it is too hot and humid.

Last week, on the 16th, the Midosuji Lights Illumination Event wrapped up. I really enjoyed this year's lights. I walked to the station on Midosuji on my way home almost every day in December and January while this event was being held. It was fun, and every day I could feel refreshed and enter a bright and fantasy-like "Midosuji World." It was nice, so thanks a lot Governor Hashimoto and Mayor Hiramatsu; I hope you organize this even again next year too!!!

"What are your resolutions for the new year?"
(from VIEWS FROM THE STREET, The Japan Times)http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20110104vf.html

Cold

It is freezing this winter.
I wear many layers of clothes-a tee-shirt, a long-sleeve shirt, a sweater, two pairs of socks, long underwear, a hat, a big down winter jacket, a huge wool scarf (this was a Christmas gift from the Mrs. She made it by hand! It took a lot of time and effort I think...so I will cherish this scarf forever!!)...but even wearing all of these clothes, it is all still not enough. I am still always cold.

The two warmest places in my house are: under the kotatsu, and the toilet seat!!!

Yesterday I thought, "I really can't wait for spring to come!!"

I saw the first snow of this winter last December in Honmachi. It was only a really small flurry.
Have you seen any snow this year yet?

Many people often ask me,
"What's the weather like in Philadelphia? Is there snow?"
If you want to know if there is snow or not, it is obvious when you look at the picture below.
My father took this photo of the front yard of his house after a blizzard.
Can you see the mail box all covered in the snow? How about the light pole?

Regarding the weather and temperature in Philadelphia, there is more snow and the temperature is colder in Philadelphia in the winter (but I think it actually feels colder in Osaka!!), basically Philadelphia and Osaka are similar. Please read below for some other differences and similarities between the two cities.

The similarities:
They both have four seasons; spring, summer, winter, and fall.
The four seasons are the same time during the year in both cities.
The summer is hot and humid in both cities, but I think it is more humid in Osaka than in Philly.
There is beautiful foliage(fall leaves) in both cities.

The differences:
Osaka has a rainy season, but there is no rainy season in Philly.
Osaka has typhoons sometimes, but there are no typhoons in Philly.
There are blizzards in Philly, but no blizzards in Osaka.

New Year's Eve

On December 31st, I woke up and went for a bicycle ride along Mukogawa River.
It was a cold and brisk morning. Then, I stopped at the Spa (Kumano-Yu) I always go to, soaked in the outside tub, and went in the dry sauna and the salt sauna, sweat a lot and then jumped in the really cold water to refresh, and totally relaxed. Then I headed back to my place and had a nice lunch with my folks.

We took it easy all afternoon and then around 6pm began cocktail hour, and got ready to go out. It was freezing outside, so we all bundled up, and around 8pm we walked to the station-about a 20 minute walk-and took the train into the city.
The train was empty...Once we arrived at Kita-Shinchi station, we went above ground. The streets were also dead...

Next, we walked about 5 minutes to my favorite sushi shop, Ichiba-Zushi, and met my friend Mr. A. There were quite a few people in the sushi joint, and the four of us talked and ate and drank for about 2 hours, and then walked across the street to an Irish Bar where we rang in the New Year. There was a live band and the bar was packed.

By chance, we ran into my buddy Mike. (Look below at his photo.)
Mike is a professor in the day time and a rock star at night.
He is also from Philly, so we have a lot in common.

About 20 minutes after the clock hit midnight and signaled the beginning of 2011, my parents and I hailed a taxi and were home before we knew it. I slept the whole taxi ride home. It was a fun night!!

On January 1st, I woke up at 7am and headed right back to the spa for my first bath of 2011. It was a beautiful morning...

My father, Ed, and Mike

My mother and yours truly

"The Lucky Guy Race" and fortunes

Do you know about the "Lucky Guy Race" which is held at Nishinomiya Shrine every year on January 10th. It is held during the Ebessan festival (I don't think "festival" is the appropriate word to translate this event, but I can not think of any more suitable one...).
About the race, it is one of my dreams to enter and win this race. I think if I could get a front position, which is very difficult to get, I could win. I used to be fast when I was younger. My nickname was "Speedy"! :)

This year a young business man won the race.
This is the article.
"Salaryman wins 'Lucky Men' Race"
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/mail/nn20110111a3.html

About Ebissan, I think Ebisu is the God(=deity) of Merchants, but I could be wrong. Anyway, basically, many people go to Shrines where the Ebisu god is(there are a few of them) and pray for a good year of business. I go every year to Imamiya Shrine, but this year was my first time to go to Nishinomiya Shrine. I was excited to see the inside of the shrine, but unfortunately I couldn't. Because it was toooooooooooo crowded. Unbelievably crowded!!! So after waiting about 15 minutes in line, I gave up and went home. It was a shame.

But, Ms. N was luckier and more patient than I. She waited in the long line for an hour, and after that she picked a fortune. And fortunately, her effort paid off...she got "Big Good Luck!!"

Do you pick a fortune when you go to a shrine or temple around the New Year?
I don't. Because I am afraid of picking "Bad Luck." I don't want to think about bad luck for 365 days.
How about a good luck charm? Do you buy a good luck charm?
I do. Because I want to have something lucky for 365 days.

The first blog of 2011

How was your New Year Vacation? What did you do over the vacation?
My vacation was spectacular. On the 26th of December, my parents came to Japan. It was their first time to come to Japan in the winter. Thus it was their first time to spend the New Year in Japan. It was special.

In all, they were here 8 nights. On the first night, my wife made a wonderful dinner at home. The next three nights we went out to dinner in Osaka. Then, on the 30th, I cooked my famous Miso Soup and we bought sashimi (raw fish) at the local fish market. On New Year's Eve, we went out for sushi and after that headed to The Blarney Stone, an Irish Bar right around the corner from the sushi place, to ring in the New Year. On New Year's Day, my mother cooked Shrimp Scampi which was delicious. On the 2nd, a repeat of my great Miso Soup and sashimi again.

I just remembered. On the 1st, I went to a Sale at Nishinomiya Gardens. I don't like shopping, but my mother asked me to go...so, I had no choice. It is a son's duty. And my mother, who is like a professional shopper and also very good at it, said "This is the most crowded mall I have ever seen in my life." And she thought the "Good luck Bags," the ones for 5000yen or 8000yen or 10,000yen which have a lot of random goods in them, were really cool. She said, "We don't have those in America. But they are a great idea." Did you buy any of those bags this year? I did. I bought one for the first time in my life.

In the next few weeks, I will write a little more about the New Year vacation with my parents and also put up some photos from their trip. My father took many photos with his new camera. He is totally into this camera and was clicking away all the time. I am waiting for him to send me the photos in order to put them on the blog. Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos with my camera...I regret it.

I wonder if 2011 will be a roller coaster, or a smooth ride...I hope it is a...

Happy New Year

I would like to wish everyone a very happy and healthy New Year!!!

And since this year is "The year of the Rabbit"...we must all

hop....... skip~~~~~~~~~~~~~ and JUMP!!!