Good Wednesday

Yesterday, I stayed up really late since I kept watching a World Cup game...
The team work of "Samurai" Japan really moved my feeling.
I just want to say "thank you" and "wish you have enough rest now."

Then today was Wednesday, "No Over-work Day" of my company.
So, I left my office around 6 p.m. and watched a DVD with my mother at home.

The DVD was... "Toy Story 1"!
Woddy, a cowboy doll, and Buzz, a space hero doll, begin fighting for the position of their master's favorite toy. Yet they gradually notice each other's value and charm when they overcome their trouble together.

I love it. Woody and Buzz are really charming, and their conversations are very funny!

"To Infinity and the Beyond!"

"It's not flying. It's falling. With a style."

There were many phrases that made me try to memorize.
Next time, I will watch it with English subtitle.

I love you, Woddy & Buzz!!

Toy Boom!

It's almost the end of June.
July, Summer is about to come!

One of the topic I'm interested in is... "Toy Story 3," the movie!
I watched 1 and 2 just partly somehow, but each character left a strong impression on me and I couldn't forget the good taste.
I checked the trailer and the leaflet, and I felt sure about that it would be great work.

I want to see Woody~~~!! Buzz~!!!

I'm not sure if I should go to a theatre or wait until it comes out as a DVD...
Yet I might not be able to wait... XD

Humid...

Japan is in the rainy season now.
It doesn't mean being rainy all the time, but this and the last weekend were both rainy.

I was hoping the weather turns to be sunny and then I can take a walk.
Yet I had to stay home and so I was concentrated in preparing for our family's dinner!

During cooking, I won't need to think about anything else, just think about cooking.
Therefore, I like cooking. It's my refreshing time.

Get Frustrated with My PC

I got frustrated with my PC because it kept freezing.
Yet I noticed my anti-virus software was working for checking if there is any virus.

Now I'm enjoying the usual high-speed network.

Japan Won!

In the World Cup, Japan got another prize!

During the game, I was sleeping.
Yet I woke up because of my father's happy cry!
(He was watching the game on TV...)

Can't Give Up!

I had been pressed by work since I had a paid holiday on last Friday.
As soon as I finished one pile of tasks, new task is added although there are still other piles of jobs.
To make matters worse, problems and urgent requests came out and I needed to work on those too.

I got panics, was afraid of making another problem, and wanted to get away from there.

But it's job. It took pretty long time but I could calm down myself and back to work.

Believe there is a way to over come the bad situation.

No More Power Left...

It is 9:30 p.m. now.
I am about to leave my office.
I had soooooooooooooo many tasks for today...

I don't have any more power... I need rest.

Sukiyaki

My company had a "cheering-up party" from 6:00 p.m.
The reason of "cheering-up" is that we ended in third at the softball tournament we had on June 12th.

"Next time, we WILL BE THE TOP!!"

We made a toast, and ate Sukiyaki together.

It was delicious, but I won't need meat for the time being... X-(

Prayer

5) Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.
6) I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the LORD.
7) I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.
8) You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.
9) Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief.
10) My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction.

14) But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."
15) My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.
16) Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.

--- Quoted from Psalm 31. For my prayer.
I pray that I become being depending the God's strength, not mine.
And someday soon, the verses below becomes a prayer from bottom of my heart.

19) How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.

Hard-boiled Novel

Yesterday, I borrowed a novel titled "Itsuka, Niji no Mukou e" ("Someday, Over the Rainbow" in English) at a nearest city library.

I chose this book because of the book cover design and the title.
Both atmosphere made me think that it is a kind of heartwarming and moving story.

However, it was a hard-boiled mystery novel.
Drinks, drags, violence, Japanese violent gangs were included in the story.
I was not good at such painful settings, but could not stop reading it.
It was because that it had not only painful but also heartwarming story.

I was pretty exhausted after finishing the reading of this story, but satisfied with it.

Way to Go!

Today was my paid holiday, and the biggest event is my cooking for my family!

I made two dishes. "Shabushabu" salad and "Ume" fried rice.

"Shabushabu" is one way of cooking meat. Dipping and waving lightly paper-thin sliced meat in the boild wather. The name of "Shabushabu" may be come from the sound when we do the dipping and waving. And for today's "Shabushabu" salad, I did "shabushabu" not only for the meat but also for lettace. Then we ate both of them after dipping those in a special "shabushabu" source.

"Ume" is Japanese plum which has tart taste.
As food, we usually use them as Ume-boshi, pickled plum.
Today, I use it in fried rice.

Those two dishes were really delicious, and I was so happy to made them!!

A Day Before A Holiday

Tomorrow is my paid holiday.

To be ready for my absence, I had so much tasks I needed to finish.
In the end, I left my office around 9 p.m. today.
I was the last one of girls.

Dry Eyes

I had dry eyes. Especially today.

At my office, I frequently watch the monitor of PC all day.
After coming back home, I use the Internet for googling and updating my blog on daily basis.

Also, I stared at PC monitor today to reserve the seats of "Wicked" the musical for my mother.
We discussed which day and seat would be the best, checked the available seats for each possible day...

Finally, somehow we decided and made a reservation.
I'm relieved! My eyes need to take a rest!

Unexpected Incident

My mother asked her best friend to go to see a musical called "Wicked."
As you know when you read my older posting, the trigger was my birthday present for her.
We checked the performance schedule, and my mother sent a letter to ask her best friend to go with her.

Today, she received a letter from the friend, and there was a surprising fact.

"Unbelievable! I was longing to go to see the musical! I'm so glad that you asked me!"

Wow! I could made the friend happy besides my mother!

My mother said "I had never thought that she is interested in a musical..."
It means, my mother expected that she declines her offer.
So, this is really surprising and happy incident!

My Talent

My junior is more useful assistant than me.
She is good at managing time and mental condition, and have wide knowledge of a computer.

Today, some salesmen were in trouble to open WORD file that is attached to their e-mail.
The reason was the difference of the version.
The attached file was new, and was not compatible with their PC.

I thought they should ask the person who send the e-mail to send the file as the older type again.
However, my junior looked for a free software to open the file on the Internet, and found it.

The salesmen were surprised and said "Oh, you're really useful!"

I can't compete with her in topics of IT...
I must be useful in English... It would be only one talent I can appeal!
Yet I need to polish my English skill more to make the talent valuable.

My Decison

It is rainy all day today.
I love the sounds of rain.
It comforts me and helps me to be still and think about deep inside of my heart.

These days, I had been mentally unstiable.
I had been irritated, not feel like doing anything, always tired and sleepy.
One thing I had been doing was checking the information and watching TV program of ARASHI, my favorite idol group.
It had been only one thing that I could feel doing.

Yet it didn't help me to be steable.
I began to fear and be nervous to communicate with others.
I had been afraid of making any mistakes in the communication and being disliked.

And so, I finally decided to call for God's help.
I knew He waited for me, but I had hesitated to see Him.
I think it because I need to give up ARASHI to choose Him.
I loved ARASHI more than God, and I knew He doesn't like it.

But I knew that I need Him, not ARASHI, to get mentally steable condition.
I can love myself, other people, and my life, if He protest about my value.

So, I gave up being interested in ARASHI, at least until the end of this month.

Softball Tournament

I got up at 5:00 a.m. in this morning.

I needed to join a softball tournament as a member of my company's softball team.
There are nine teams for this tournament to compete each other, and all teams are from agents of a manufacturing company.

It was very, very sunny day (but it was also windy and so pretty cool in the shade.)
So I got suntanned, especially on the top of my nose although I put some sumscreen!

Though, tomorrow will be rainy day.
Actually, the rainy season of Japan may start tomorrow...

With My Family

Tonight, my family spent time together.

I met my father inside of the bus on the way back to home.
We had a supper together, and my mother and my sister also joined to watch TV drama after the supper.

Tomorrow is our company's softball tournament.
I need to get up earlier than usual, and so I go to bed soon!

Mom's Birthday

Today, June 10, is my mother's birthday.

This year, I gave her three presents!

1) A birthday card with my message. A poem is on the back of the card, and it is the only one designe in the world. I bought the precious card from an artist before.

2) A birthday cake. I ordered via Internet the delivery of a birthday card. (Look at the picture on the right!)

3) A musical ticket. I told my mother that I give you two ticket of the musical "Wicked," and so choose the date and time you would like to go.
Then you can go out with someone you like and have relaxed time.

My mother looked so surprised but seemed to be glad.
I sartisfied with her reaction, and so I was happy too!

Relaxed at My Favorite Cafe

It's sunny and warm day today.
I'm posting this journal at my office now.

I went to Saint Mark Cafe for my lunch today.
Actually, I went there yesterday and a day before yesterday too.
Indeed, I LOVE the cafe.

My favorite points of the cafe is...

1. Having seats at the counter facing the window.
I don't need to feel any pressure to have a lunch by myself at such a seat.
Also, It is pretty fun to watch people outside of the window.

2. The price of the foods (which is mainly breads) is reasonable.
The lunch set, one or two breads and one drink can be bought with one coin, 500yen.

3. The manager is a beautiful woman. I'm happy to see her! ;-)

I wish I could work for the cafe someday! (Laugh)

Surprising Guest

In this afternoon, my sales partner asked me to buy three cakes for his guests.
(The picture is the roll cake I chose which is called "Doujima Roll.")

I didn't know who the guests would be.
(Assistants are usually not involved in a meeting with visitors.)

Yet my partner called me to give the visitors a word of greeting and my business card.
When I entered the visitor's room, I found a business aquintance I'm pretty familier with.

"Hi, I had talked with you on a phone, but now I see you!" He said.
"Wow, I finally met you! I had been longing this moment!" I replyed.
"Thank you for your cheerful talk on a phone although the talk ought to be mainly related to our business." I added.
Then my partner said to me, "I didn't know that you had such happy talk with him!" with his surprising voice.

Today's guest is the man who shows me that it is good to have idol conversation besides topics of the business we're dealing with.
He always asked me "how do you do?" or "what's new with you?" on the phone and help me enjoy having conversation with him.

So, I was glad to meet him!

Acceptance of an Application Started

ARASHI LIVE TOUR 2010, the application is now able to be accepted.

ARASHI is my favorite idol group as I explained the older post.
Live concert would be the most appealing moment of their activity.
Now, they have more than seven hundreds of thousands of fans, and it is very difficult to get their concert ticket.

I wish I could win in the drawing!!!!!

Golf

Today, I went to a driving range with my father to practice my swing for a golf game.

I had never been interested in golf until I start my work.
I decided to know about golf since I noticed that golf is one of major communication tool for general business men.
In short, I'm trying to be close to men of my office.
Since I can't be involved in technical topics of the goods we're dealing with and don't seem to be familiar with baseball which is another major topic for Japanese business men, "golf" may be the last tool to break the ice and be a better working mate to men.

Even though I asked to teach how to play golf to my father IN THIS MORNING, he took care of me at a driving rage today.
He also gave me books explain how to play golf before our dinner time.

I was pretty glad for his attitude since we are generally not close although we are in family relatioship.

Shopping

Today, my mother, my younger sister and I, three of us went to shopping together.
It had been a long time since we got together for shopping last time.
We have different time schedules and relationships now.

We went to the south area of Osaka.
Checking items of shops, having lunch, looking around shops again, having tea time, and finally, buying what we checked and desided to get.
It's the settled schedule for our shopping.

We ate Okonomi-yaki and Yaki-soba for lunch and chose tarts (cakes) for sweets at our tea time.

We were exhausted because of walking for such a long time, but sartisfied.

* The picture is one of my purchased items. A soundtrack CD of "My Girl" - a Japanese TV drama.

Moving

I had a changing the seating arrangements at my office.

After 5:00 p.m., the scheduled time of finishing our business in a day, one of my superior made an announcement with his loud voice.

"Please begin moving as soon as you can!"

Another superior began bringing his stuffs toward the desk besides me because it was not belong to anybody and was ready to accept.
I knew I was not able to concentrate on my jobs anymore, and I started my moving.

"Why are you so excited?"

Somebody asked me so. I just love moving physically with others for one purpose.
Wondering about troubles or happenings occurs alongside of moving...
Smiles we have when we help each other during moving...
Refreshed and reasonably exhausted feeling after the moving is completed...

I love such a feeling.

My Lost Ring

Today, I didn't receive any order or inquiry from the customer that I'm in the handover process.
So, there were not so big trouble, and I left my office around 6:00 p.m.

I didn't go straight to my home, but went to a performing theater where I left my ring on last Saturday.
Since I told about my ring before going, the staffs brought it as soon as I reach there.

It was only one ring I have, and so I was really happy that I didn't lost it.

Frequent Change of the Leader in Japan

No way... The top of Japan is going to change again!

To make a better image of his own party in next election?

For such a reason... I can't understand why he resigned NOW.

This morning's TV news showed the scene that Mr. Hatoyama made a thumbs-up with smile when reporters asked about the possibility of his resignation.

I thought he wasn't give up on his tasks yet...

Or, is it the sign of his happiness to be able to get off the complicated problems he was dealing with?

I'm afraid that I don't like Politic topics and usually change TV channel when political news is on TV.

Even though, today's top news was really shocking for me...

* Check the news on the web page below!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100602/ap_on_re_as/as_japan_politics

First Day

My handover process finally started today.

Last spring, I failed to handover one job completely from my senior assistant.
I had been feeling really sorry for the senior since I couldn't help her by decreasing the amount of her tasks.
Now, the same senior who tried to handover her job last year is trying to teach me how to manage the new job for me.

This time, I can't fail.

So, I had been very nervous while my senior was explaining about the job.
I frequently stopped her explanation to take notes and ask questions.
I reviewed my notes and looked over the manuals after her explanation finished.

Today, actions I needed to take was just listening and taking notes.
From tomorrow, I will be involved in the practical actions.

I'm still nervous, but excited at the same time.