YEA SPRING BABY!!!

I am so ready for spring this year. The cold days are coming to an end. Its about time!!! Its been an interesting last couple of months.

The news in Japan has been interesting lately. Anyone who has been watching the news has heard about the movie "The Cove" and also the anti-whaling activist on the "Sea Sheaperd". I have been very interested in this.

I saw The Cove a couple of months ago. I was surprised to see this. As documentaries go this was a good one. I added the trailer on my page. As you all know I live in Japan. While I do respect and try to respect all the culture here that is different than my own, I believe there are some things that possibly in today`s world are looked at differently than in a previous time. I agree and support the efforts of those who made this documentary. I believe dolphins being the intelligent animals they are should not be hunted down, ate, or held in small tanks. I enjoy a good dolphin show. But after watching and this documentary and doing some reading on my own I now am not sure I support the whole idea of dolphins in captivity. But if they are born in captivity I am ok with that. Just not catching from open waters and selling them. Then killing the ones that don`t sell for food.

Many Japanese say catching whale or dolphins are no different than killing cows and eating beef. But it is. Very different. Cows are now farmed as food. They are not caught out of the wild and their numbers are not declining. If whales could be farmed I believe its a little different. But they can`t be. We should protect them. I am against whaling. I also favor the tuna ban. Sorry Japan!! Its not in my culture. I have had many debates about this with people but its my feelings vs theirs. Basically whaling is an ancient custom that no longer has a place in todays world. American`s stopped killing buffalo and now farms them if we want to eat them. Its not the same. I believe Japan who go around the whole world hunting and buying fish should do more to preserve and give back to the oceans. But I don`t see where they do. Its just take and take. The balance of the ecosystems in the ocean is becoming very dangerous I feel. But the country doesn`t seem to care. They want their tuna and want to hold on to some ideals that really as I said have no place in todays world with the technology and information we have. Don`t get me wrong. I love sushi and love maguro. But I believe we should protect and scale back the fishing. Again Sorry Japan... I am with the activist on this one.

Well the Olympics are over... I have been watching pretty heavy the last 2 weeks. I like the winter Olympics better than the summer Olympics. So I am kind of sad to seem them go for another 4 years. But there was a lot of excitement this time. The US did really good.... GO USA!!

My favorite was the snowboard half pipe. I am a big Shaun White fan. When I grow up I want to be just like him....hehe. The downhill freestyle moguls were also awesome!! Also speed skating as well. So I guess its Russia next. I remember the Salt Lake Olympics and it seemed just like yesterday.

Well at least spring is in the air. Another few weeks and I think we will have some cherry blossoms!!

Well its been a while. Where do I start??

Toyota Recall: Everyone knows now about the recall and possibly other one. Its been huge and kept me busy. A lot of people have asked my opinion. Here is my opinion to be very frank.

Toyota is a good company. Maybe one of the best. But like all good companies who put too much focus on growth, they forget the things that made them great. Toyota has cut corners. Their quality has gone down and they are NOT the safest car on the road. I don`t think Toyota is any better than the top 3 or 4 automakers out there now. Out of the top 4 I would think they are 4 on safety. I am not bashing the company. I am just giving my opinion. I drive a Toyota here in Japan. But if I was in America, I would not. There are many other companies that offer more car for less money with the same quality and better safety ratings. Toyota is now over rated. I don`t see them as the golden company they used to be. The companies culture needs to change along with the boring cars they make. Thats my opinion.

Now to tennis..... wow.. I was dissapointed in the Aussie open. I didn`t want Serina or Federer to win. But they did. I was really hoping Andy Roddick would win. I felt so bad for him last year at Wimbledon. I really wanted him. As for the women... I really wanted Henin to win. I like her and she is so strong. But she had a terrible game. Still she is just coming back so I hope she continues to get stronger. I want some new champions.

Last is football. Today in America was the Superbowl. The biggest sporting event in the United States. The game is good and the TV commercials are too. Because its such a big event, companies spend a lot of money on commercials. The TV commercials become part of the whole game. Many people watch the game just for the commercials. There were a lot of good commercials this year but one of my favorites was a simple one from Google.

I attached it at the right. Check it out.

Well thats it for now. My job is so busy right now I can`t believe it. But I guess its better than having no job. I have had no time for tennis. Last week I was traveling everyday. This week I still have a hangover from last week. So maybe by this weekend I will be back to normal. Whats normal anyway?????

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...