The French Open is over and wow it was interesting. I wasn`t able to watch as much as I wanted this year. But interesting that Nadal lost and I think he had a bad day. Lucky for Federer because I think its the only way he would have won it with Nadal in the tournament. So it was good he won and we didn`t have to watch him cry like he did after the Austrailan Open. People are now saying he is the best player ever. Maybe so. But I am not a huge fan. I went to the US Open and he came out in a gold sport jacket. I thought then that the success has gone to his head. He thinks of himself as the god of tennis. Oh well... now we can get ready for Wimbledon.

Well the rainy season has started in Japan. This means we have a month now of bad weather. Then when thats over we have 2 months of hellish hot and sticky weather which I hate. So now I just look forward to October. I had Nagoya summers. But I did see something new this summer. Diet Coke plus Green Tea.


Well I had to try it and guess what it tasts like??? ................ Diet Coke and Green Tea. Thats exactly what it tasts like. Not too sure if I like it. But interesting. Coke will try anything. There is coke coffe in the U.S. But my favorite is Coke Lime. I love it.

Well June is here and its warm. Guess I need another coke.

Its been a crazy month. Golden week has come and gone. I had a good but crazy busy golden week.

I first drove from Nagoya down to Kyushu. I spent the day at Huis Ten Bosch. Its kind of a Dutch park which I must say was really nice. I decided to go the right day as there were not many people there. So I spent the day just relaxing and looking around it was good.

After, I took a drive around and went to Nakasaki and looked around. I went to the Atomic Bomb museum and spent the night. I stayed near China town there and had dinner at an excellent resturant.

The next day we drove and put our car on a ferry and went to another island. There I had to see "oppai rock".



The drive around was beautiful. I saw this church and took a picture. I was surprised to see so many Christian Churches around Nagasaki and Kyushu. I guess it must be the culture and influence from the early Christian missionaries there.




After that, I got on a ferry and went over to Busan Korea for a couple of days!! It was some good relaxation. Food, shopping, massages... I had a good time. .. too much drinking !!!

After Korea, I got back in my car and drove all the way back to Nagoya. it took me 12 hours with the traffic. But not too bad. I was dead tired from the week but ready to go back to work.

Now its been a couple weeks and I am ready to go on another trip...

Happy Easter!!!

March is gone and April is here. Where did the time go?? Of coarse at work and facebook. But I am so happy spring is finally here and I guess now spring is about gone. The Cherry blossoms in Nagoya were really beautiful this year. Here is a picture just out front of my office.





Nagoya is warm now and this weekend was fantastic!! So the cherry blossoms are now all just about gone and green leafs are replacing them. The good weather is here. But I guess this means the rainy and humid weather is just around the corner. Such are the seasons.

I drove to Osaka today to visit Costco and pick up some food. Its a long drive but nothing else to do today and I missed my food...hehe. So it was a good drive. I hate Sunday nights but I guess I can be positive and say at least another weekend is just 5 days away.

Last Friday riding my bike home from work I was hit but a small Nippon Express delivery van. I got a little hurt and my bike was in bad condition. The van was in much worse condition. But I was lucky. Just sore muscles and 2 cut up hands and a scratched face. But I will live. I didn`t even have my helmet on and my head and shoulder flew right into the windshield of the van and broke it. So a little crazy and I was more scared about the van than anything. But the guy was nice. We both were at fault. So after I realized I wasn`t dead and we looked over my bike and his van we decided to not call the police and I called for some help. So it was a bad night. I spend Saturday fixing my bike and I think we are good to go. This time... with a helmet. The last time I was hit by a car on a bike was in Otaru 10 years ago. I have now been hit 4 times on a bike all in Japan...WOW!!!

wow.... its March!!

I can`t believe its March. Its been a crazy February. Actually maybe the worst month I can remember. Its been busy and the economy has got me down. I can`t think of harder times. People I know left and right a getting cut from their companies. In a sense I am glad I am in Japan right now but to be honest I am completely burned out. The salaryman lifestyle in Japan has got to be the worst life style there is. I mean no time to pursue your own interests or hobbies. Its just company and customer time. Its amazing that I am in the same company. The US and European offices are so much different. Japan is unique thats for sure. There are some good things and generally I think the Japanese business culture is very good. But not if work is only part of your life. In the states we often say we work to life. Meaning we work to get the money to life the kind of life we want to live. In Japan its completely different in a lot of industries and just the general working culture. Its really you live to work I feel. Meaning your place of employment becomes the center part of your life. Its hard to explain in words. But I feel it and as an American Salaryman in Japan I can tell you its a lot of pressue. Doing things that are completely against your own beliefs or values. But doing them because its expected. I don`t think anyone could really understand unless you are in that position. I talk to a lot of guys from the states who are in similar positions. We all feel the same. This is different than just teaching English in Japan or being here to play or party. This is a culture that you really need to work in to understand. I do now and I know I could never do it for my life. In fact being here has got me thinking of maybe some other things I would like to do. I love Japan. I could life here the rest of my life. But I could never do what I am doing for the rest of my life. If I wanted to stay in Japan I would change. I would go into education. Not English conversation!! Real eduction. Thats my interest and thats what I have been thinking lately. So who knows. This economy makes you think of other careers and maybe time for a change. So I am thinking. I do know I don`t want to be an American Salaryman anymore. Its just not for me. When I get back to the states every day is going to feel like a vacation. I know this.... But I really respect the guys I work with here. Wow such hard workers and while their approach is different that that of America or Europe, they do well and you can only respect them. But I don`t want to be them....

So thats my month... as you can tell its been crazy and my rant on this subject is over. I should write a book...

Valentines!! Wow February is almost half over. Where have I been?? Its been a crazy couple of weeks for me online. I started a facebook account and got really involved. I could not believe how many old friends quickly found me and it is sooooo good to see so many people and chat with them. I talked with old high school friends and even girlfriends. Its really interesting to see how everyone has grown up and how their lives have developed and changed. I look at my own life and I would never have though in high school I would be doing what I am. Back then we all had such different goals and things we wanted to do. Now looking back its interesting and fun to see how people have changed. Some people are married, some divorced, some not married and some unemployed. Its life for everyone. So I have completely been away from my blog and hooked on facebook. Crazy!!

Well Valentines day is almost here in Japan. I was so surprised to see all the chocolate at Jusco the other day. I could not believe all the different kids of chocolate that were being sold special for Valentines. It looked so good I had to buy some for myself. So happy valentines day to me!!

Back to Reality....

The Holidays are over... wow time flies. I spent about 2 weeks all over Hokkaido and had an excellent time. Did some skiing and met some old friends. Went to a couple of onsens and ate some great food. It was a really good 2 weeks which I hated to see end. I stayed in Sapporo, Otaru, and Furano. It was awsome just awsome. I really thought as usual how much I really love Hokkaido. Its buy far my favorite place to be in Japan. Not to say other areas in Japan are great too. I just really like the openness of Hokkaido.

I did miss going back to America though. Maybe next year I don`t know. It was kind of nice not to be in the US this year due to the economic situation. Also, the holidays in the US are sooo busy. It was good to just be away and relax in a nice onsen and eat some good food.

Here is a picture of me taken at an onsen... Its nice to be outside relaxing in the hot spring water... especially when its snowing...



Well I was happy and relaxed as you can see. But now back to reality.... the economy stinks and my industry is really having a bad time... so this new year is going to be a challange.... I guess I will have to go relax there again next year.