Another night in a hotel....

Well here I am again in Tsukuba. My home away from home away from home!! I am sitting here in my hotel room watching TV and just relaxing. But without a coke. I have now gone 2 full weeks without a drink. Thats right.... 2 weeks. For me thats like going 2 years without a cigarette for a chain smoker!!! hehe. Anyway, I decided to stop for a couple months to see if I feel any different. The first 4 days was terrible. I had some serious headaches and felt really tired. But I am over that now and feeling fine. So right now I am not really missing it. So lately I have just been drinking water and Aquarius. Bit to be honest I am sure I will be back on the coke shortly. But right now I want to stay off for a while and see what happens and if I feel any different. So no soda at all for a while. It seems like I try to stop drinking coke every couple of years and then start again. This time has been easier. I guess I am getting older.... hmmmm...

The sun was finally out today. I think it was the first time I have seen such a blue sky since I came to Nagoya. It was a beautiful day. But its getting hotter and hotter. Over the weekend I watched a couple of DVDs. I watched "The Guardian" and "Letters from Iwo Jima". Both movies were really good I thought. Its been a long time since I rented a couple of movies and ordered a pizza. It was nice.
I then went to Bic Camera to buy my son an ipod for his birthday. He wanted a video ipod so I went to buy him one. I will see him in a couple weeks during his birthday. So I will take it to the US and give it to him. I then had to get him a new tennis racquet (again!). But back to the ipod. I was so surprised to see how many accessories there are for this thing. I have always wanted one but a couple years ago ended buying a different mp3 player. So I buy this one and bring it back to my house. I start uploading some music, games, and movies on it for my son. When I am finished I started playing with it. I was so impressed. I ended up going back to Bic Camera and buying me one also...hehe. So that was my weekend... kind of funny but I don`t regret buying that at all. I also wanted the new Babolat racquet I bought my son. Its the 4th one I have bought him. He is a serious Nadal fan. He uses Babolat racquest, wears Adidas shoes, and the rest is pure Nike. I heard over the weekend that he is also now growing his hair a little longer like Nadal. So I don`t know. Kind of crazy and he is only 10. But I can`t wait to get in the court with him in a couple weeks and see how good he has become.
Well thats it. I guess I will surf around itunes and see what I can spend more money on.... (dangerous!!)

japan is dangerous....

OK so Saturday night we get a typhoon then today we get an earthquake.... man Japan is a dangerous place to live!!! Then on top of that you have the narrow roads with people driving about 5 times the speed limit and it makes me wonder how Japanese people have such a long life expectancy...hehe. But I guess you throw in the healthy good food and active lifestyle and that pretty much evens everything out. Seriously the rain and wind was going pretty good Saturday night. It kept me up half the night. Then this morning while working we felt the earthquake. Mother nature playing games.... But it seems like there is always something here. I guess thats ok. It keeps life exciting... Tomorrow I am off to Tsukuba for 2 days again so I will see what excitement is waiting for me there.

Today was Christmas!! Merry Christmas to me. I got my car back from the hospital!! Good timing because it has been raining here and the weather forecast for Saturday is rain, rain, and more rain!! So anyway I am happy and it looks new again. So I have got to keep it that way!! I was told it would take at least a month to fix. But they did it in 3 weeks so my hat is off to them. But I wish the rainy season was over. I want to play some tennis and unable to because of the rain. I am getting really bored on Saturday mornings now. Speaking of tennis the Wimbledon championships were awesome. Especially the mens finals. I was up all night watching it last Sunday night. I am still paying for not getting any sleep. I have been tired all week. But Federer is amazing and even though I am a Nadal and Gonzalez fan I really enjoyed watching him win this match. Nadals time is coming soon. But for now its just amazing to watch Federer play. His backhand is completely flawless and smooth. I just watch in awe when I watch this guy play. So up next is the US Open. I can`t believe thats coming up next month and its been year. I really enjoyed going last yea rand look forward to next year. I think I will be going to Wimbledon. At least that is my plan. I need to get there.Tomorrow is Friday. Tomorrow night can`t come soon enough!! I am ready for another weekend....

Well the 4th of July holiday is going on in the United States. I wish I was there to relax and party a little. Our office there shut down for the whole week which makes me jealous!! But I guess next month we will get to shut down here so thats ok. I spent the 4th in Tsukuba working like a crazy man. I got home late last night. I am getting tired of the train ride up there. But it is a break out of the office which is good. So one more day back in the office and its finally the weekend!! I can`t wait because I have been running on about 4 hours night of sleep this whole week. Taking customers out drinking and to dinner. Its really not fun. But has to be done. But its one thing I really hate about the business culture here. I guess when I was younger I didn`t mind it that much. But now I just want the nights to myself. Next week I don`t think I need to do anything so I can come home at a good time and relax a little. I guess with any job anywhere there are things we don`t like. Basically I am enjoying living here. But the working hours are terrible. I had a girl at our office who came up to me at lunch and asked if it was ok if she left at 6:00pm. I said "of coarse", " if your job is done go". She told me she feels guilty leaving because so many people stay. I told her I am American so I don`t think anything when someone leaves at that time. But its not right for employees to feel guilty if they leave at 6:00pm. I think thats the management and culture aspect of the office thats the hardest. I had that same feeling when I worked at Sumitomo. There is a pressure to stay until most people start leaving. I can be in my office until 10:00pm before people start leaving. But I usually just go. After 8:30pm there really is not meaning in my life to be there. Its a job not my life. A lot of theses guys have no hobbies or other passions. Its like they just throw their whole life at the job morning and night. Thats good but in my opinion its not healthy for a balanced life. Anyway, I always hit on this. But I thought it was interesting a girl from my office would ask that question.
Well... just one more day and its relax time!