Back from Europe,

I have been in Europe this past week and now finally back to the real world. I was in Sweden and Paris for work and some additional training. I had a good time but it was busy. We had a lot of workshops and training on different subjects from culture, leadership, management, and company policy and standards. It was a really good session.

One night we went to a resturant to cook a 7 coarse meal with a professional chef. It was a lot of fun. We drank so much beer and wine while making the meal we are all full by the time it was to eat. But here is a video of us preparing some of the meal. I of coarse can not be seen since I am holding the camera..... But you can see the chef who taught us everything. He had great English and a great personality!!

After we prepared it we ate it.... but first some Swedish drinking songs.... notice all the wine glasses on the table. We tried several different kinds of wine.... it became a very crazy night!!

Anyway lots of study and lots of drinking last week. By the way Paris was nice too.... I love the cheese!!

Incredible!! Its October 13th... its been a while since I updated this. The past 3 weeks have been a circus for me. Work has been crazy and my personal life just as crazy. But now things are calmed down a little. I voted for the US president today. The election has been going for so long. I will be really happy to have it over with. So many ask who I voted for??? Well its personal. Let`s just say I supported the Guy who has a big "O"at the beginning of his last name. Yes thats right I did vote for Obama. The United States is so messed up right now I am not really sure any one person who acts as president can hope to fix everything. It took Bush 8 years to mess everything up so I guess it will take at least 8 years to get back to feeling good again. Who knows??? But I think Obama is a little more fresh and has a little more energy combined with some decent plans to get things going in the right path. Basically anyone but Bush. McCain would not be as bad. I just think Obama is better. So this is who I voted for. I have to vote early because I am on absentee ballot.
On other news..... I heard from my office in the United States they were thinking of pulling me back there next year. They need me to come back and work on some issues. As the whole Automotive industry is doing terrible. So it looks like my stay in Nagoya may be coming to an end in a few months. I am a little torn. On one hand... I am tired of the hours and work environment here. On the other... I really love living in Japan. But my life has always been back and forth. So its not a good-bye and I expect I will be back possible in Nagoya in a few years. But still will be taking my summer vacations up in Hokkaido. So it looks like I need to quickly buy a condo in Sapporo so I have a place to take my summers and some winters....hehe.
Football season started and its the baseball playoffs. Basketball starts in a couple of week.s I always say October has the best weather, best food, and best sports!!

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...)