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

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!

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?

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.

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!

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

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.

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!

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)

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!

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!!

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."

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!

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.

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...

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.

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...

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!"

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"

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.