Another chance for my first love??

When I was 15 I bought my first car. It was a classic 4wd Ford Bronco. I couldn`t even drive until I was 16 but I bought it and worked on it for a year. I worked and all my money I used to update my Bronco. I put in a new engine by myself, put in new seats, new flooring, new paint and new tires. Over the years I changed my Bronco over and over again. But 5 years ago I decided to sell it. I didn`t drive it much. It was just my first love, my first girlfriend. I keep it in a garage locked up. But still, I decided I was getting tired of the old girl and sold it to a young 16 year old from California. The value of the Bronco now was fairly high. It was a classic and has a very good reputation. When I sold it, I had completed updated it again. I took the top off, the doors off, new tires, and lot of other extras. Here is a picture of it just before I sold it.


This Bronco has a lot of value with me. This is the car I drove all in high school and college. This is the car I had dates in and explored lots of areas. When I sold it people were surprised. I always said I would never sell it. But I did.

Now 5 years later, I received an email from the father who bought this for his son. He is thinking of selling it. I always wondered what happened to my girl. He sent these pictures. I was shocked!!

My girl is now red with the top and doors back on. I am not sure if I like her that way but she was still my girl. My question should I take her back?? I sometimes thought after I sold it I wish I never did. I did have some regrets. Now I have a 2nd chance to get my first love back. Its a hard decision.

After I sold that Bronco I bought a new Jeep which I now love. But its still not the same. Still, I decided this car has too much value to me. I guess I will get her back and keep my Jeep too. I can`t drive her much anyway but she is a classic and a collectible. Its going to cost me more to get her back than what I sold her for. Nothing I can do though.

So thats my story. I have only lost a couple of loves in my life. Each one I regret and the chance to get them back is just too great I guess. My garage in Utah already has 3 cars parked in it that I can`t drive. One more will be ok.... It will be nice to get her back. Now if I can get another one back I will be really satisfied!!

Christmas is here....

Well the month is gone. Christmas is here. I can`t believe it. I am heading up to Hokkaido to be at my home away from home for the holidays. So I am excited to take some time off and just eat some good food and do some skiing and relaxing in onsens. .... ahhh this is going to be good!!

This past month I have had a hard time getting going at work. I am burned out for the year and have a hard time keeping my motivation. So being able to refresh is going to be just what I need!!!
I am happy to have 2009 over and look forward to 2010!!

Yesterday morning it actually snowed in Nagoya. Only about 2 inches and it was all melted at around 10am. But it was kind of nice to see some snow. Well my shopping is finished and I am now ready to start my holidays!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

I took today off work. I decided enough is enough. I need a break. It felt so good today. It was Thanksgiving in the United States. I stayed home all morning and watched American football on TV. Then went out at noon and got some ramen. I came back and finished watching football and went for a walk. I have decided I need more Fridays like this for sure!! Beaufitul peacefull day for me. I think I got a little younger today without all the stress at the office...hehe.

The other day a friend sent me a picture of all my old neighborhood friends. When I was growing up I lived in a neighborhood that was very close. All the kids were best friends. We took this picture is just just behind my house at a park when I was a sophmore in high school. You can see me in the back in the upper right. These guys were all my best friends and we still keep in touch today. We had some good times and I can`t believe the time is gone. But thankful to still have all of them in my life.


I was so surprised when I got this picture. It brought back a lot of memories. Its funny how peoples lives ended up. Two of us live in Japan now. Two of us live in Las Vegas. A couple live back East and others are in Utah. Kind of crazy... Those were some good days...

Well its November. The weather is getting a little colder now but I still love it. The air is crisp and clear. Much better than summer air in Nagoya thats for sure. But its going to get a little colder now I know. My house is very very cold in the winter months.

Now I am watching Smap Smap. Tonight Brad Pitt is on. Pretty interesting but I hate the beard. What happened?? Maybe he is filing a movie or something. But seems happy to be in Japan.

Speaking of TV I finally got my slingbox hooked up. This allows me to watch my local TV from the United States. Oh its nice to have my TV back. With TV from the US and Costco in Japan now there is no reason to return to America....hehe.

Well Christmas is around the corner. I am heading to Hokkaido to spend 2 weeks of doing nothing but sleeping and playing. Maybe I will have a chance to see some friends too.

Cheers...

Ahhhh Sunday....

Well I survived the typhoon like almost everyone else. My house here in Nagoya was shaking like an earthquake. I woke up around 4:30am to the strong winds and couldn`t sleep after that. It was a crazy morning with the wind and rain. I could not believe how much rain was falling. I have never seen so much rain. I ended up getting in the office a little late. So that was my excitement for last week. The weather after the typhoon was beautiful!!! Its been really nice here now.

For me now as many know its my favorite month of the year. I love October. I love the weather, food, and the sports. Baseball playoffs are underway.. GO YANKEES!!! Football is here and basketball starts in a couple of weeks. There is no better month for me. I wish October lasted 3 months....hehe.

I`M BACK !!!!

Its been over a month. Maybe almost 2 months since I last updated this. I can`t remember!! Wow where did summer go. Its over. I went back to Utah to my home for a couple weeks in the summer. It was an excellent trip. Its been a year since I was in my house. It was kind of strange to just go home and open my door and nothing had changed. Its nice because I really don`t need to take anything with me. I still have most of the clothes and things home so I need nothing. I just get on the plane and go home. My cars were still there and everything was good.

While home in Utah I was busy. Shopping, eating, playing and seeing old friends. The time flew. I even sold one of my cars while home. So that was good. I have too many cars!!

I went to the Utah Salt Flats. This is an area where natural salt grows on the floor of where the Great Salt Lake used to be. Its pure salt and looks like snow. Its pure what and if you tast the ground its all salt. There they have speed week. Its a week where everyone from around the world comes to try and break the land speed record with a car. Meaning they are trying to go faster than anyone. The salt flats are flat and very smooth and stretch for miles. Its a perfect place for this and very famous. Here are some pictures.


Both cars and motorcycles race for the world speed records. Cars go as fast as about 500kmh.


Then I saw this crazy old guy and had to take a picture..



When I got home there was a surprise waiting for me. It was my birthday and my family and friends had worked at my house while I was gone. I wanted a new Japanese maple in front of my house. I have a large one one one side of my front door. I wanted another one in a little area on the other side. So they came and did some surprise landscaping for me. Its a very small area but a really nice thought and I was really happy. They put a happy birthday card in the tree. So I got a tree for my birthday!! Perfect!!


It was a nice surprise. But I didn`t have time to enjoy. Just a few days and I was back in Japan. But look forward to next time. My life is now back and forth between Japan and the US. Its a little crazy and hard at times. But its how I like it. I am now to a point in my life where I can`t imagine living in just one place. I will always be back and forth. When my time in Nagoya is up I will be back and forth between the US and Hokkaido. Thats where my heart is.

My parents also had their 50th wedding anniversary while I was there. There was a huge family party. There is aroudn 60 people just in my family. I was the MC over the party. I also had made a slide show for them putting together a bunch of pictures of memories from their 50 years. It was really fun and kind of a good experience for me to do this for them. Check out their wedding picture 50 years ago!!!


Well I am now back and back to work. Its crazy as ever and look forward to getting next year over with as my life should slow down a bit after my work transfers. Its good to be back and look forward to hearing from every one!!

Oh my gosh its been forever!! Yea I am still alive. But its been crazy.

This damn weather in Nagoya is making life terrible. I am sick of the hot humid weather. Next month I am going back to Utah for a couple weeks. I am so looking forward to some nice dry heat. The weather there is around 37 degrees but its dry. You just need to keep drinking fluids but otherwise it feels much better than the humid weather in Nagoya. This rainy weather just doesn`t seem to end.

My parents are having the 50th wedding anniversary on 8/14. My 3 sisters and I are planning a big party which has been taking a lot of my time. I am putting together a 50 year memory slide show with a lot of pictures from the last 50 years of their married life. Its been fun to see all the pictures and I have been able to relive a lot of good memories. Its been very special. So I am excited to get there and be with them during this time. We have having a family picture taken also. Our family is now 32 people large. Crazy!!

Another crazy thing is a new album that has been released here in the states from a girl that well let`s just say I was good friends with in high school. She is one of my best memories of the 80s...hehe. I listened to it and it sound really good. I may post some more information later. I am not trying to sell CDs for her but was impressed.

Well thats it for now... its raining.... of coarse!!