Ok... revenge is finished...

Last Saturday, Andy and I climbed Mt. Fuji again. This time we started climbing at 12:00 am (midnight). We climbed all night and reached the top in the morning. We didn`t make the top to see the sunrise. We were at the 9.5 stage but close enough. Andy was dead. We didn`t get any sleep and we basically hiked and rested here and there all night. But the weather was beautiful. Although the climbing season is over, there were still a lot of people and the parking lot was full. But it was a great climb and we were dead when we reached the top.

Here is the sunrise at 5:30am from 9.5 stage.. almost at the top..



Andy on the top...


We had a good time and it really felt good to get out and work my body hard. I felt like I cleaned my body and head at the same time. It was refreshing. But after we got down I had a hard time driving back to Nagoya. I was dead tired. Andy was asleep next to me of coarse. So I had the music loud and drank Pepsi the whole time driving back... we got home and sleep the rest of the day... It was a good day..

Because I have been playing tennis and riding my mountain bike pretty hard during the week I felt I was in good shape....So that was good... Next on our list now we will go to the Japan Northern Alps at the end of this month for a couple of days of trekking. So we are excited to go see some other scenery and I hear its beautiful this time of year...

Well tomorrow its back to work... good thing we have the weekends to play...

I`M BACK!!

Wow the month flew by. Where do I start???

I took a quick trip to Hokkaido for a drive. This was really needed as I
was starting to feel pretty stressed and tired from my work. I needed to
get away. So I took a weekend and went up there and listened to music and
just drove and enjoyed the fresh air. It was beautiful and the air was
good!!

The next weekend I flew to America. It was interesting. I was stopped at
the Airport in Nagoya. My passport didn`t have a Japanese return permit. I
got a new visa but forgot the return permit. So immigration at the airport
wouldn`t let me fly. I was shocked. I talked to immigration and they said
if someone in my family was dying or some kind of emergency then I would
qualify to fly home without it this time. But this was not the case. I was
a little stressed because I was going to a concert that night I get to
Utah. So I was thinking I will miss the concert. Immigration asked me if
there was any other reason why I needed to fly home today. I told them I
had a concert to go to. It was funny. They thought I was giving a concert
when I told them. They asked what kind of music. I said Rock. So they
started thinking I was in a rock band or something and was going to miss a
concert in Utah. Well I didn`t tell them that was not the case. I could see
they were now thinking to let me go. So I just let them think I was some
rock star. They said ok and I paid my \3000 to get the emergency return
permit and was able to go. It was so funny...

So I flew to Utah and had enough time to shower and go to the concert. I
spent 1 week in Utah. It was so nice to be at my home and in my bed. It was
fun to play with my toys too....I missed driving my toys... I had to do a
lot of yard work though. But I cleaned my place up pretty good. I went to 2
concerts in Utah and I think I saw maybe 3 or 4 movies. So it was a busy
week. I saw my favorite band Rush and also went to "Dave Mathews Band"
which is another of my favortie groups. It was good to get outside and
party with friends and good music.



I had really good seats at the Rush concert....


I took a drive above my house in the mountains...


This is the view just above my house.... down there is my house...


After a week I flew down to California to be with my son. He was at
Stanford training in the US Junior Nationals. I watched him play his final
tournement of the season. He did really well. He took 4th place at the
tournament. This was a very big one and he looked good. But I was very
stressed out watching him. I can`t watch him play because I get too
involved in the game and too worried about his play. So I am more stressed
and nervious than he is. But it was fun and he did good and learned a lot.
But he was worn out. He has been playing so hard and training so hard. His
body was just worn down. So he needs a break too.

After California I was on a business trip then back to Japan. I arrived in
Japan and just a couple days later went and climbed Mt. Fuji... I was
dead!! But the bad thing is I was with some friends who all got tired and
sore at the 8th stage. They all gave up. I was feeling ok and ready to go
to the top. But at the 8th stage everyone voted to retire. I couldn`t
believe it....hehe. So I spent the day climbing and never got to the top...
SOOOOOO... I decided I am going again this weekend. I will take my son who
came home with me. We are going to climb Friday night in order to see the
sunrise on Saturday morning... I hope the weather is good and we make it...
this story is to be
continued ............................................................................................

August is here...

The month of my birth... Last weekend I took a quick trip up to Hokkaido for a drive. It was a very quiet weekend. It was just me driving and enjoying the fresh air. I went down around Toyako lake and over to Muroran. This was the first city I came to when I first visited Japan. It always has a special place in my heart. I lived there for about 6 months and loved it. I have been back often but its been a few years so I decided to go and see some of my favorite places. I bumped into some old friends as well. Then headed up to Noboribetsu onsen. There I relaxed in the hot springs and just walked around and enjoyed the atmosphere. It was really needed. The weekend was fast but really good. I have decided I need that more often.

Well tomorrow now I am back on a plane to Utah. I will go back to the United States and have a very busy schedule. I will go to my house in Utah. I look forward to seeing my place and toys. Also to sleep in my bed in a much cooler house. After about a week there I will head down to California to see Andy. Then my trip is over and its back to work. But the next 2 weeks at least I hope to be able to relax. At least next week I can because Japan is basically shut down. But the week after that Japan is back in business so I am sure there is going to be some fire I have to deal with. At least for the next couple days I am not going to think about work... it should feel good....

Isn`t life just interesting??? I mean really... its pretty interesting...
People are pretty interesting too..... this week has been a pretty bad week for me. Generally I don`t share my feelings when I am having a bad week. But hey everyone has bad days right?? So I have had mine. Its a little crazy. The last 10 years of my life have been very interesting. I have made a lot of changes in my life the last 10 years. The changes have not been easy. Actually very difficult. But I did it because I had a dream and hoped things would work out. I did it because my heart knew it was right. But the stress of the changes were tough on me and those special people it affected. In fact the person I wanted to protect got hurt the worst in the changes.

Its strange. I mean I have always tried to do the right thing. I am a person who continually changes. I believe you have to change your life before your life changes you. I know people who are afraid of change. Change is tough and its scary. But for me its always been what I do. I change. I was never the type of person who could just sit around and have the same life day after day. I am not saying thats bad. I am saying I am different. I was referred to as a "hunter" last fall by a friend. He told me I am a hunter because I am always needing to hunt for something. I didn`t really understand but do now. I guess in a way I always hunt for change. But when it comes to things that are important to my heart, I never change. So I can`t understand I guess when other peoples hearts do. But I understand my changes and the stress involved in the changes made other people change and gave them stress. But I also believe it forgiveness and 2nd chances. Especially when something is so right and so true, I believe you have to fight for it and never give up. I can`t understand people who quit fighting. I guess they become tired. They become too stressed. I can understand that. But I never wanted to do that. Anyway,,,,,, this week someone in my life basically just threw me in a fire. I have tried for years to get this person to understand some important things. I have tried and apologized over and over again for my mistakes. But it appears this person will never give me a chance to make things right. Especially when I spent the last 10 years of my life slowly trying to make things right. Then, when everything is perfect..... boom!! I get thrown in the fire... like I said... isn`t life interesting?? I love it!!!..... all the drinks in the world can`t make me feel better this week... But thats life I guess. Some people make life harder than it needs to be I guess. Anyway, I guess I am glad I have people in my life who are a little more understanding and forgiving. Although it hurts... I guess its those people who really matter in the end. Thank you Mizuho!!!

On the positive side of my week I got a video from Andy`s coach. I guess they take daily video and train as well. So this was the video of his first day in a few light shots. Still was good to see him and I am looking forward to seeing him in a couple of weeks... For friends you can see the video below. For those who don`t know this is my son who is 13 years old. He loves tennis, long hair, AC/DC, sushi, and now getting to the age where girls are starting to look good as well.....




So anyway it was good to see him. Well its Thursday. This hell week is almost over. Tomorrow its work and then I am headed to Hokkaido for a drive. That I really need. But wished it could be a little different. I had other plans for a drive but that idea got thrown on the fire too.... too much fire this week... I guess next week may be better. We all have bad days right?? Just like those guys in the video I posted a while ago..

Well Monday is over... I survived... I was not looking forward to today at all. But its over and the week will go on.....

Saturday and Sunday I didn`t have any plans. When I have no plans I usually go hit tennis balls with my ball machine. I play with my son Andy and some friends and other people but sometimes I just have no plans and feel like just hitting some balls and practicing. So thats what I did. Craig you wanted to see a picture of the court and the machine so I decided to take a quick little stupid video.... Check it out below.





Andy is at Stanford at the Jr. Nationals so my biggest rival and buddy is gone. But he told me to practice hard which I will do. But his level has become much higher than me and he is young.... it really sucks to get old...

So my weekend is over and my work week has started. This week I will spend 3 days in Tsukuba and Tokyo.... a little busy but its ok. Next weekend I guess I will be playing more tennis and hitting more balls..... if only it wasn`t so damn hot!

Sunday night....

I hate Sunday nights. I am not sure of how many people actually like Sunday nights. There was a time in my life when I didn`t mind it. But now due to the stress of my job I just hate Sundays starting around 5pm..... Thats about when I start thinking about Monday..... and I HATE MONDAYS!!!! But such is life I guess. My summer break is only about 3 weeks away so I guess I can survive. But really I need a break quick.

I found this video below which basically describes how I feel sometimes. But to be honest, I really like my company and I love what I do. I love living in Japan and its going really good for me. I don`t like the Japanese work live balance. I don`t believe there is any balance. I do miss my hobbies and the free time to also enjoy my life. But this schedule isn`t forever I guess. I am just happy to be doing what I am doing and hopefully I can get a little better balance between my personal life and work life. But unfortunately I think that will never happen in Japan. At least I have become used to this schedule. Besides... the food is awsome here!!!! hehe...


Bad Day At The Office - Watch more Funny Videos

Summer is here!!! But its still the rainy season in Nagoya. I hate this weather. Too hot and too humid. I complain every year at this time though. This is when I really am ready to get up to Hokkaido and enjoy some better weather. Or at least back to the US...

My son flew out last week to Stanford University to the tennis academy there. So its another summer without out him. But he is ready to go and I am wishing I was there later this summer to watch his tournaments. But maybe next year. As for me I guess its just me and my silent partner.... thats my tennis ball machine!! Saturday mornings I love to get rid of the stress by going and hitting balls for a couple of hours. It usually takes me that long anyway before I am warmed up. But I love my ball machine...hehe. I guess in a way its my girlfriend on the weekends. Wimbledon was actually a little boring I thought this year. Kind of disappointing. Andy Roddick was out early and Federer lost too. So I guess I can look foreward to the US Open in September.

I am going to Utah in the middle of August. My favorite rock group RUSH is playing in concert. Its been a couple years since I have seem them. I am so excited. This year in America there was movie / documentary about them. I just bought the DVD and have been watching. I love that band!!!! Here is the preview below. (Wow they were really ugly in the early days!!)