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.

Christmas is here...

Well my bonenkai is over. Its always fun to go watch guys who are so stressed out in the office and never smile become drunk and act like complete idiots. I love it. We had a bonenkai last Friday night and yes as usual for any bonenkai everyone got a little too drunk. We had 4 parties until early morning. I think it was a little more extreme than most bonenkai in Japan. But I guess there was a lot of stress this year to shake off. Still its funny to watch these guys. I swear a lot of Japanese guys turn gay when they are drunk I don`t know. But they love to hug and touch. Its crazy!! American`s just love to fight when they are drunk... who knows I guess Japanese do too.

So I survived that and tomorrow is my last day at work. Finally I can take a couple weeks off. I will spend the whole time in Hokkaido. I plan to just eat and ski. Thats it. Yaki niku, sushi, Sapporo Ramen, and ski ski ski... however it looks like I will play a little tennis also. I decided not to go back to the US this year and stay here. My parents were here earlier this year so its ok I don`t go. Plus they are headed down to Mexico now for winter. So I no one to go home to anyway. My shopping is done and everything shipped. So I am good to go. I will wake up Christmas morning and go to the airport and fly out. So an early morning for me thats for sure. But excited to see friends waiting for me.

December has just flown by. I can`t believe it. Next year is going to be hell I think. But I will get into that later.

Merry Christmas,

Well well well... December is here. November was a crazy but fun Month. I was busy with work but at the same time took a couple days off and went to Disneyland / Tokyo to play. I also went to Osaka and Kyoto to see the autumn leafs. Kyoto was beautiful I could not believe it!! I took some pictures.

Now the Christmas rush is on. I am doing a lot of shopping online and almost finished. Just a few more gifts and I am finally done. The big problem is the shipping costs I have to pay while living in Japan.... but nothing I can do about that. I am going to spend Christmas and New Years up in Hokkaido. So of coarse I am excited to go and eat some good food and see friends. I really need to just get a place up there. Someday.... Well I can`t wait to get my shopping done and relax the rest of the year. I also am really in the need of a break from work...

OBAMA BABY!!!

Finally.... the election is over!! I was getting so tired of the election news! I voted 3 weeks ago. I voted from Japan. Everyone asks me who I voted for. Well OBAMA! I was supporting him the whole time. So I am so happy he won. I am more happy Bush is almost out. I am tired of the current administration. Bush has had a lot to deal with 9/11 and the war. But I don`t agree with everything he has done. So change is good and Obama will be better..... (I hope).

I was at a meeting last Wednesday morning as the elections were going on in the US. I had my computer on and was watching the events live during the meeting. It was fun to watch. Maybe I should have concentrated on the meeting more....hehe.

Well the economy sucks and the auto industry sucks worse. My company and every other company in this industry is hating life. I can`t wait for this to be over and the economy to start to improve. Its been a tough year. I know many people who have lost jobs this year and been moved around. So its a terrible year. Today at work my boss told me I would be staying another year at least. So I am here another year. I have mixed feelings about it. On one hand I want to get home and play a little. On the other..... I have some things I wanted to do here but have not been successful so far. I have not been able to meet people I wanted to and have a personal issue which I must take care of here. So anyway..... its good to have more time to complete things. But I am sick of the Japan work ethic....hehe. I am not Japanese so its really tough on me sometimes... but its a good experience and I have learned a lot.

Well we have a new president and I am happy. OBAMA BABY!!!

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!!