Dead Broke....

I heard president Bush give his speech tonight about how the US is on the verge of a major economic disaster. Bush is the same guy who said just about 6 months ago that the US was not in a recession and it was just a little slowdown in the economy. I can`t believe it!! I think everyone in the US understood how bad things are. I am glad he finally figured it out just before everyone becomes dead broke. As you can tell I think the current administration is so wrong on so many things. Its been a terrible 8 years. I wish the election was tomorrow. It will feel good to vote and fire some of these people.

I checked my stocks yesterday and about died. I decided a few months ago not to watch them so much. So I just let them sit without watching them. I knew it would be bad but I had no idea how bad they had dropped. I can`t believe. I spent my lunchtime yesterday selling some of my investments which are almost shot. Its a good time to invest possibly thats true. But I found I lost so much on a few that I didn`t have the faith to leave them in. Others though I did leave. My retirement is also getting killed. I am tired of it. I am glad I am not in the US right now. I hope to be in Japan for at least another year or 2 years. I don`t want to go back to such a mess......

Well I never was able to go to Mt. Fuji. The weather wasn`t good. I am afraid the only time I will see the mountain is from the airplane I rode a couple weeks ago.

It wasn`t even a good picture. Cloudy and I could hardly see it. So I guess I will be waiting until next spring. I think next year I will go early in the year in June. But I have a few weeks to go to some other places and hike around now. The fall is the best time. I am planning to go to Kyoto in November and see the fall leaves. I was at Osaka yesterday but the only hiking around I have found there is in the streets....hehe. So anyway next year. Even if the weather was good this year the night I was planning to go I had some sudden meetings and issues at work. I wasn`t able to leave my office until around 10 pm and I was dead tired. No way I could have drove to Fuji and climb that night. So any way, the best time of year is almost here so I am happy.

The US open was awsome this year. Andy Murray finally was able to reach a finals. Although he lost I usually cheer for the underdog in any sports. Even when they are playing my team sometimes. I like the story of a team or player that is expected to lose and come out and triumph. Its always good in sports... Nagoya is still hot and humid. This year was by far worse than last year. I am looking forward to some crisp cool mornings to play tennis. I am also looking forward to turning off my air conditioner and opening the windows. Maybe in a couple weeks. I see the convenient stores have oden and niku man back so the season must be getting here soon...hehe.

Ahhh.. back to reality..

Well I am back from my summer vacation. It was a tough couple of weeks relaxing in the sun and sleeping in my real bed....hehe. Actually it was really great being home this time. I had a lot to do around my place. When you are not living in your home there is a lot to clean and take care of. So I was outside in my yard doing a lot of yard work. I love working out in my yard pulling weeds and trimming bushes and things. I really enjoyed it and got my sun tan back... I was really white from just being the office everyday!!

I spent some time with my son also. He is playing a lot of tennis and getting really serious about it. Its good for him and bad for my wallet. Not Cheap!! But he is doing good and took 3rd at a Jr. Nationals Tournement in California. He is only 12 but hanging in there.

Last night it rained and rained here in Nagoya. I have never seen it rain so much. It was crazy. There was a river running down my streeet here. Today more rain. I was supposed to go climb mt Fuji this weekend but impossible with the weather. Maybe next week. I will post some pics if I go.

Physical....

Well I went to my first physical here in Japan. I have been to hospitals sick and such but this was a first for me. It was a little crazy for me. This was a company sponsored physical. So basically the clinic seemed to do just physicals for company employees. It was more like a health factory or physical factor instead of a health clinic. I mean there were a ton of people in line going from one station to the other. Basically we stripped down and put a robe one. Then went and did a series of tests. They tested almost every basic thing. I mean they checked my urine, my poop. my stomach, my lungs, my blood, my eyes, my ears, blood pressure and heart beat and other things. I have never done so much. A little different in the US. But the biggest difference is when they checked my stomach. I had to drink that white thick mixture of something that tastes like glue so they could check my stomach. It was terrible!!! Anyway.... pretty interesting to say the least. But all in all I think it was a good check. I don`t get any results for maybe at least a month. The funny thing is that I return to the US next week and have a physical scheduled with my family doctor.... so I guess I get two this year.... but its ok. Actually it will be interesting to compare. But my family doctor knows all about me and personally knows my medical history. Its a very different system in the US. So I am always more comfortable going to him.

Well even though I have not received my results yet I know one thing.... I got to stop eating ice cream....hehe.

I want YOU!!!

Its been a week now but still can`t get over the Wimbledon finals. What a match!! I was really happy to Nadal finally beat Federer on something other than clay. He has really improved his game this year. So I think more good matches are to follow for these two.

I was able to take my ball machine to the court today and hit some balls for a couple hours. It was so hot I thought I was going to die. I can`t beleive the heat today. But it felt good to finally get and and do something.

The last 2 weeks have been really busy and I think I have put in a new record for hours worked. I put in almost a full week of straight 16 hour days. I have worked the last 2 weekends and today finally today had a day off. So I was able to just relax and get some things done around the house. I think this hell should be over in the next couple of days and maybe just maybe my life can get back to normal... (whatever normal is these days...)

Back Again,

I spent last week back in America. It was a good trip. I went to San Francisco and then up to Utah to work out of my office there. It was really nice to just get away for a few days down in San Francisco. My 11 year old son is at Stanford at a tennis academy this summer. So I saw him briefly. He is playing well and I guess I am now officially living my dream through him. It is always fun to watch him play. But as a parent I find myself getting too involved during matches. I think I get more stressed out watching him than he does playing...hehe. Its a fun time. I miss him now. I will see him again near the end of August when I go back. I really miss him.

I then went up to Utah and had a good time working out of my office for a few days. It actually felt like a vacation being able to go home at a good time. I forgot what it was like to have more time at night. It was really nice.

America was hot and dry. I loved it. Everyone was complaining how hot it was but I thought the dry weather felt so good. I just wanted to be outside and it didn`t feel so hot to me. But now I am back in Nagoya and its raining, hot, and humid. Terrible weather!! I don`t like this humid rainy weather.

Coming home was interesting. At the airport in Salt Lake the airplane was delayed. My seat was in the very back and for some reason we were not taking off. The flight attendant came and knocked on the restroom door which was right behind me on the plane. She asked the person inside if they were ok and told her to quickly take her seat as the airplane needed to take off. Well we waited and waited for this person to come out of the restroom so we could take off. Then the door opened and a girl and guy came out together. Smoke also came out. I was shocked as were many other people who saw this. I wondered what they were doing in there together. Then I noticed smoke coming out of the restroom. They were in there smoking crack. I could not believe it! The police came on board the plane and arrested them right there. They then searched the restroom and found the crack and lighter and pipe. I was shocked. How did they get all that on the plane??? Were is the security?? So we were delayed for almost an hour because of this drama. We finally took off and as we landed in San Francisco the flight attendant asked all the passengers if they enjoyed the drama in Salt Lake. He then told everyone to "just say no to drugs". It was funny. But I almost missed my flight to Nagoya. I was running in the airport to my plane. Luckily they held the plane until I got there. So a little crazy but actually really scary that people could sneak that through the tight security. Really scary!! It shows that really things still are not safe. I have flown a lot but this was by far the biggest shocking thing I have seen in a long long time.

Well its Sunday night. Tomorrow hell starts all over again....

Business Trip:

Well here it is June and I have no idea where the time is going... I just know its flying. I kind of wish it would just slow down... I guess my work has been so crazy I have not had time for anything. I work and come home and work and go to bed. But its better than having nothing to do thats for sure.

Friday I am headed back to the US on a business trip. I will be gone for a week. Its always good because I can just stay at my house and sleep in my bed and each lots of Mexican food which I miss!! I will fly out on Friday and first make a stop in San Francisco. My son is at a tennis acadamy at Stanford. So I get to see him there which will be fun. Then back to Utah for the rest of the weekend and work from my Utah desk the rest of the week before coming back to Japan. Anyway, it will be busy but a nice break.

The weather is getting more and more hot and humid everyday. That hot and wet terrible time of the year is around the corner. I hate the wet humid weather!!

Well on Sunday I will get to play at my house and play with some of my toys so I am excited for that at least. Its always nice to be home.. But Nagoya is growing on me more and more each day.