At a beauty salon

On Saturday morning, I went to a beauty salon to have a permanent. Last time I went there in the middle of July, before summer. My hairdresser asked me "how was your summer holiday?" "did you go somewhere?". I only remembered that I enjoyed CATS... what else? Well, how fast the time passes!

Witty remarks 2

*The best idea comes from jokes. Make your thinking as funny as possible. (David Ogilvy)

*Follow what excites you with integrity. (anonym)

*Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers. (Voltaire)

*Quit while you're ahead. (a saying)

*Humor is just another defense against the universe. (Mel Brooks)

*The optimist sees the doughnut. But the pessimist the hole. (anonym)

*What is originality? Undetected plagiarism. (William Ralph Inge)

*Who knows not how to dissemble knows not how to live. (a saying)

*Success is that old ABC - ability, breaks and courage. (Charles Lackman)

*A soft answer turns away anger. (a saying)

*The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and influence their actions. A chip on the shoulder is too heavy a piece of baggage to carry through life. (John Hancock)

*The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none. (Thomas Carlyle)

Witty remarks 1

I register one of e-zines (news letters) for mobile phone by magumagu.
My favorite one is "English witty remarks", and now I want to write down some remarks here because I want to delete them from the data folder.

*When angry blinds the mind, truth disappears. (a German proverb)

*All things are possible until they are proved impossible- and even the impossible may only be so, as of now. (Pearl Buck)

*A life spent in making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. (George Bernard Shaw)

*Success is the ability to go from failure without losing your enthusiasum. (Sir Winston Churchill)

*The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible. (Albert Einstein)

*Make the most of yourself for that is all there is to you. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

*If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun. (Katharine Hepburn)

*A man who has to be convinced before he acts is not a man of action. You must act as breathe. (Georges Clemenceau)

*There is only one thing about which I am certain, and that is that there is very little about which one can be certain. (William Somerset Maugham)

*You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it. (Charles Buxton)

*Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. (Joseph Addison)

*Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding. (Albert Einstein)

Information meeting

Today I worked from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. This week was so busy. I'm so exhausted.

Well, I want to write something before I forget it. This week, there was a Information meeting for employees at Gotemba factory. Usually temporary staffs don't attend such meetings, but this time, the situation seemed different.

The content was serious: we are in a critical situation. Gotemba factory has a lot of waste and claims compared with other factories all over the world. And there appears a rival company in Japan market. We hold a 90-percent market share in TB (Tetra brik) pack, but the rival company says they will increase their share to 30 percent. Thing is simple. They get that share from our company.

A man from Tokyo office said that we had to face this situation seriously and renovated Gotemba factory at every corner. We have to concentrate on TB to compete with a rival company, and the new project called "Yakushin" (breakthrough) has started.

Well, I'm in charge of the data of TB line. It's a challenging work!!

Radio program had changed!

Yesterday was the last paid holiday this year. I have to wait to come December to get new paid holidays (maybe 11 days).

In the afternoon, I happend to listen the NHK FM. I used to listen Music Plaza Ⅱ(Pops) from 4 p.m. when I was a part-timer. And I got to know this time that the program had changed so much! I liked Latin music by Jun Takemura on Tuesday, and Jazz vocal by Mika Oohashi on Wednesday, but these program had gone and the new program has already started. Mmm... I miss these programs.

Renew my driver's license

Today, I had a day off to renew my driver's license. I got my license three years ago, and this was the first time for me to renew it.

Someone said to me that all I have to do was just go to the police station and take 30 minutes' course. But the law seemed to be changed a few years ago. People who renew their driver's licence for the first time have to take 2 hours' course. I had to go a driver's license center in Numazu.

I got a blue license valid for three years. If I have no accidents for three years, I take 1 hour course and get a blue license valid for five years. And if I have no accidents for five years, I take 30 minutes' course and finally get a golden license valid for five years. Long way to get a golden license card!

By the way, why the picture of driver's licence card is always not so good?

Travel baton

I forgot to have get a travel baton from my friend last week. I write it now!

1. The best place where I've ever traveled in Japan
Fukushima
I haven't traveled so much, and this was the only trip I went by myself. I went there because I wanted to immerse myself in all English life at British Hills.

2.The best place where I've ever traveled overseas
Venice
When I was a high school student, I went to Italy and France as a school trip. We stopped by Rome, the Vatican City, Assisi, Florence, Venice and Paris, and I liked Venice. I want to visit there again at the festival time.

3. A place where I want to travel in Japan
Small islands in the Seto Inland Sea
I want to meet lots of cats there! Onomichi is also attracitive for me.

4. A place where I want to travel abroad
Oxford
I was so impressed with a book about Oxford.

5. Five people who I pass the baton
Sorry I have only one baton and the next runner will be Kaori.
(Do you notice this?)

Deodorant pot accident

There's a deodrant pot aside the toilet of Pyonta. The other day, he seemed to kick that deodrant pot during night. When I got up and opened the door, there was something strange smell covered all around in my house. And I found the pot fell near the toilet.

The pot says this is odorless. NO WAY!

It took 3 days to remove the smell from the house. And Pyonta took some deodrant water and threw up many times. Cats always lick their body. How stupid! You ask for it!

But you know, I can't hate him.

Memorial DVD

On Sunday at the English school, I met former classmates and got a DVD which includes presentations at the festival days and some practice.

I was so surprised because the jacket of the DVD was so nice! I can see everyone's various look and that reminds me the atmosphere of making the drama. I'm happy to see everyone's pleased expression. Thanks!

I go to this English school far away from home because not only I have chance to speak English alot, but also I can get a variety of friends! They motivate and inspire me and my life.

Bicycle life

Last month, on the Environment Day 2005 at my office, there was a board in the room which everyone put a piece of paper writing something that they can do for the einvironment. I wrote that "Someday I will go to and from the office by bicycle."

It seems that there are many workers using bicycle instead of car, bus or train. This is not only men but also women. There are a lot of advantages in going to and from the office by bicycle.

1. Good for health, especially for inacitve and fat person like me.
2. Good for saving gasoline, especially for person with little money like me.
3. Good for environment!

I found a stylish Italian red bicycle called "Bianchi PRIMAVERA". I like this brilliant red color! But I can't afford to buy it now. Besides, it gets dark and cold early these days. I want to start my bicycle life from next spring.

Billy Joel

I also ordered the CD of Billy Joel. The reason is same. I wanted to check one of Billy Joel's song which the manager sang so well. And this is also my first time to listen his song.

When I listened "Piano man" reading the lyrics, I was moved to tears. How could he described the figure of people in a piano bar so vividly? I thought that he was a real artist.

Well, the song is "New York state of mind". I felt as if I could touch the heart of people who love New York.

Elic Clapton

The CD of Elic Clapton which I ordered last week was arrived on Wednesday. I bought it because Mr.S, the manager of TR line, sang one of Clapton's song very well at karaoke. I wanted to know what kind of song which he sang on that time. This is the first time for me to listen Elic Clapton's music.

The song is "Tears in heaven". When I knew that he made this song after losing his 4 and half years old son, I understood why he could make such a sorrowful but beautiful lyrics and melody. I also liked "Change the world" and " Wonderful tonight". This CD doesn't include "Old love". I want to hear it.

Special curry

12 hours' work came back again this week. And I kept piling up my diary again. Anyway I can write it now.

On Tuesday, after leaving the office, I visited my friends. It's been a long time since I visited her last time.

She cooked a special curry rice for me. She used tomato juice, apple juice and pineapple juice instead of water. And we put a slice of processed cheese and natto on the curry! I've never eaten such a sour but nice curry.

When I got home, she gave me a tin cat as my birthday present.
THANKS!! I'm happy to have such a good friend.

Grandchild cat

Yesterday, 17th October was an anniversary day that Pyonta came to our house. My parents bought a toy respectively at the same shop! They treat Pyonta like their grandchild. I laught.

Pyonta seems to like my father's present. It contains some silvervine. These days, Pyonta has stress because he can't walk outside in the rain. But he play with that toy a lot yesterday. Good for you!

The new term

The new term at the English school started yesterday.
This term, I registered these classes.

Ball room dance
Project workⅠ(drama)
Project workⅡ(debate)
Intensive input


I took the ball room dance class because I want to get so-called "body sophistication". When I joined the class, dance practice had already started, and I joined that practice on the spot! I learned the basic step and rumba yesterday. Female rumba step was so difficult for me. I couldn't follow others. All other members are experienced and I am one and only new student. Well, all I have to do is do my best.

I took the drama class of a new teacher. There were 14 members yesterday. I ran for the leader because I want to turn my previous experience of sub-leader to advantage. In addition, the leader can get a lot of opportunities to speak English! In the end I became the leader of that drama class. I don't know what's going on. I just go for it!

Reading at a bathroom

After all, I borrowed books on PC from the city library. I want to study Access VBA. But now I noticed that my PC at home doesn't have Access. Oops...

Well, I want to keep introducing something about books. There seems to be waterproof books which you can read in the bath. This book is promoted by a venture company, Frontier 2000. Do you read books when you take a bath?

When I had no job, about two years ago, I liked reading at a bathroom. I've read through "Don Quixote" by Cervantes (Iwanami-bunko) in the bath! I remembered that Thomas Mann brought "Don Quixote" when he went to America escaping from Nazi. It could have a power to laugh away the great hardship. The best novel among novels.

By the way, I don't need the waterproof books. If I use a towel, books won't get wet. Actually, I've brought library books into the bathroom many times! Well, I'm not a good book borrower...

Book jacket

Now in autumn, the best season for reading, I feel like reading all day long. I'll go to the city library today. I have kept some library books for 3 months or so... I must return them soon.

These days, there seems to be a variety of book jackets. (Now I learned that "book cover" is a Japanese English. It should be "book jacket" or "dust jacket".) You can get some book jackets with ads for free at a bookstore, or download colorful book jackets from publishing companies' home page.

As for book jackets with ads, an advertisement company, SETUP INC, started "Brajacket" standing for brand jacket. There seems to be a brajacket of CATS. I wanna get it!

Extra income

Yesterday I got 3,500 yen for kaizen. Everyone at Gotemba factory can get this extra income 4 times a year by reporting kaizen. Maybe I use this money to buy meal tickets. I take lunch at the canteen every weekday. One meal costs only 170 yen. It's so cheap, isn't it?

After taking lunch, I always take a walk around the plant with my friend. It was so nice weather yesterday, and I could feel refreshed under the autumn clear blue sky.

New bag for work

I bought a new bag for work by mail order. This is my own reward for good working (and my birthday present by myself?).

This bag can be carried over the shoulder and contain a lot of things; A4 size files, a folding umbrella, and so on. But it's not so heavy, and lovely. A nice-balanced bag. I like it.

My 26th birthday

Seven offerings without money

I happened to know the seven offerings without money. This seems to be the Buddhist lesson written in a sutra.

Shasin-se : volunteer service
Wagan-se : warm smile
Shinryo-se : care for others
Jigan-se : peaceful eyes
Aigo-se : gentle words
Bousha-se : giving shelter
Shouza-se : offering a seat

I like the word "Wagan-se". "Wagan" can be called "Nigi-omo" in Japanese. I put a peper written these words on the door wall of my room. I'd like to try these seven offerings every day.

University Debating Competition

On Monday afternoon, I went to National Olympics Memorial Youth Center in Yoyogi to see the ESUJ (The English-Speaking Union of Japan) University Dabating Competition 2005.

When I arrived there, the semifinal had finished, and in half an hour the model debate by guests from U.K started. The title was "This house would abolish registration of World Heritge Sites" and "This house believe that the United States should ratify the Kyoto Protocol". This is the first time for me to see the real debate.

I could hardly follow the issue of their debating because the debating level was so high. The guests were two female students from University of Cambridge and two male students from University of Oxford and University of Nottingham. No wonder. But I could feel the heat of their debating and I was glad to see their manner of debating.

I had no time on that day, so I had to leave there before the grand final. But I was greatly encouraged to study English harder.

Presentation

Time passes quickly. These days, I have been preoccupied with the drama, so my mind is somewhat vacant. I can't believe that our drama was ended indeed.

Our team didn't get any prize, but I'm satisfied with our performance. I was so glad when the audience laughed during our presentation. I wish we could perform in front of kids!

The main point of the judgement is how effectively the script was made to tell the main massage. This is what I troubled with when I was making the script. I regreted I didn't fulfill my duty as a script leader. I didn't carry out my original intention by the end.

The head teacher mentioned the saying "can't see the forest for the trees". I will try to note this point next time I think an outline and make a script.

Shinjuku North Hotel

On the first day of the short trip in Shinjuku, I stayed at the hotel named "Shinjuku North Hotel" in Shin-Okubo. This is the first time for me to stay at a hotel alone.

The charge is fairly reasonable for staying in Tokyo, costed 4,800 yen (only bed, no meals) per night. I arrived there so late (around 21:30) that I was not able to take a bath on that day. But I took a shower next morning.

I had a good night's sleep because I was exhausted by the drama practice. The master of the hotel was very kind and gentle. I liked this small but cozy hotel. If I have to stay in Tokyo, I want to stay there again.

Going an esthetic salon?

My birthday is coming arond, and I don't know why but I got a discout ticket for an esthetic treatments. I have never tried this kind of treatments.

I was surprised because there are many corses. Facial treatments, treatments for hips, thigh, waist, hair removal...

I always think that real excercises are better than such kind of treatments, but now I'm wondering it's not bad to try it one time.

Lovely trunk

Last night, I took out this trunk from the very corner of my room. I bought it for the trip to Fukushima last year. But I didn't use it on that time because I locked it wrongly (idiot!) and I wasn't able to open it. In a way, I was lucky. If I couldn't open it at the destination, a terrible and embarrassing thing must have happened.

Anyway, I want to use this lovely trunk for this weekend short stay in Shinjuku. Too big? Mmm... I don't care.

Keep on smiling!

Autumn is the best season for reading, sports, eating...every new things. I want to make the plan for the second half of this year again. I feel lucky these days. Although my work is very hard, it's good for challenge, and my boss understands my dream to study at unversity again. All I have to do is study. I think I have to be modest and brace myself in such a lucky momemt.

I started listening an English radio program for intermediate learner. I like the host of this program, Ken Toyama. I have tried to keep listening his program since I was a junior high school student. He always says "Keep listening, keep practicing and keep on smiling!" Good saying, isn't it?

Yes Man!

One of my best friends in the purchasing division loves jokes. She always makes me laugh and happy. I like her sense of humor.

She also speaks English well. Everyone agrees that her pronunciation is excellent. Once I learned the pronunciation from her. She seems to memorize sounds, not words. She said she became another person when she spoke English...

Well, such my joke-lover friend seems to have a problem with her boss. He is a new employee. Last month he took over the job from the past person and just started his job by himself.
...It turned out that he didn't learn his job at all.

He is a real Yes Man. Even when he didn't understand the job, he said "yes", and pretended that he understood well.

I have nothing to help her with that problem, but I send her a mail and told her a funny web site "Virtual Yes Man". She must like it.

English Festival

Here is the timetable of English Festival on this weekend.
Come and see our fun-loving entertainment!!
http://www.eigozuke.co.jp/festival.pdf

☆Saturday, October 8
12:00-12:30 *Disclosure of Sex-Offenders' Information
12:40-13:10 Annie
13:20-13:50 The Phantom of the Opera
14:00-14:30 Monsters, Inc.
14:40-15:10 Hook
15:20-15:50 Monkey Magic
16:00-16:30 *Space Development
16:40-17:10 Fortune Cookies
17:20-17:50 *Same Sex Marriage
18:00-18:30 Black Jack
(* mark means Dramatic debate. The others are Drama presentations.)

☆Sunday, October 9
11:00-11:30 Fortune Cookies
11:40-12:10 *Disclosure of Sex-Offenders' Information
12:20-12:50 Black Jack
13:00-13:30 *Space Development
13:50-14:20 *Same Sex Marriage
14:30-15:00 Monsters, Inc.
15:10-15:40 Hook
16:00-16:30 The Phantom of the Opera
16:40-17:10 Annie
17:20-17:50 Monkey Magic
18:30-20:00 Awarding ceremony & 1 min. presentation

Here is the map to Phoenix English School.
http://www.eigozuke.co.jp/address.html

crazy about a drama

This is my first time to join in making an English drama, and we have only 1 week to prepare for the presentation.

The enthusiasm of the members at this last spurt is great!

There are a variety of funny and talented people in our class. I can feel the passion of everyone to make a good drama, so I enjoyed it very much.

Next weekend holidays, I plan to stay Shinjuku for 2 days and immerse myself in English all 3 days!! I just can't wait!!

Baby forest

I got a small pot plant called "baby forest" yesterday.

Yesterday was "Environment Day 2005" in my company and there were some events during the day.

Only the person who tried the environmental quiz with PC got this baby forest. I was so busy that I had no time to do that.

Mr. Y, one of the TB line production engeneer, cared me and gave it to me. Thanks!

I don't know what this small plant is. It looks like a Japanese pepper tree.

Well, I'm looking forward to seeing that this small tree grows up to be a big tree!