Nothing happened and did for the day.
Very calm day… just needed.

Except one. MoonFlower and I went out for coffee to the nearby cafe, which we hadn't been to ever before.

Wearing this watch today… instead of usual one.



Remember that this was wedding anniversary gift from MoonFlower.
I shouldn't put this watch aside too much… Rather, I ought to put on my wrist more often… hahaha.

Omotesando - favorite shopping area.
It was a first time in a LONG LONG time...



Lots of new shops are open… very fast moving trend in this shopping district!



Checked out new watches… didn't buy any, though.
They are GaGa Milano from Italy.
Manual winding watch… very colorful and cool!

Somewhat expensive!







Just for coffee - turned out to be pancake. Hahaha.



Still (window) shopping afterward.

1. Less meat, More vegitable
2. Less salt, More vinegar
3. Small bite, chew many times
4. Less smoke, Less drink

5. Light dress, sleep well
6. Less drive, More walk
7. Less saying, More making actions
8. Less greed, More treats to others

Wait. Greed is not good?

My briefcase is back!
So it must be repaired, right? Hahaha, quite not.
I was actually given new one today!

That's actually better, right? Surely.





This must be improved design. Same thing but I do not think that the same part won't be issue anymore because those leather seems glued. Hope that won't happen again.



Another thing I got for today is CD... the Single of pop group called "AKB48."
This group is surely the best known and most popular in the Japanese pop music.
"Flying Get" is the latest release.

I know, "Flying Get" doesn't really make sense and not even quite English. Hahaha.

This should be translated like:

"Jump the gun to grab your love.*



Another thing received... My god so many gifts?
In the middle, "Yu Ri Ka" along with her birthday July 19th, 2011.
Friend's baby girl... I received the gift in return.

This wrapping is quite cute! So I took a picture.

Also received a call from my boss with some news... BAD ONE.
That was not fixable like bag... Too late to do anything. Hmmm.
I am quite disappointed about some colleague is taking another course rather than one we all going together. I know, such Plan B is valid...

Better shake it off... be bygones.

Already August... even though weather were like rainy season still.
Well, I bet that it would catch up soon... probably later this week. Big hot summary days are just coming up!

For me, I took day off for today and tomorrow. Better not to think anything related to work (however in fact, I still do.)

I finally got a chance to go to Ricoh’s service center for camera repair. Located in Ginza area.
Well, what I found out was that those scratches on the screen monitor of the camera... couldn’t be fixed unless whole new display replaced. Would cost me about 12,000 yen or 100 USD.

Too much... I cannot afford. Camera itself is worth 300 USD or so for now. Too much investment for old camera. So I instantly gave up.
I know, those are “scratches” and nothing matters to camera’s functions. I still can take pictures fine. Only bothering is that it is hard to see the monitor under the sun. Well, I’d better suck it up.

I should make a stop by at the big electronic store like Yodobashi Camera for watch repairs. I’ve got two. Paul Smith watch needs a new battery and Casio’s G-Shock needs new band.

I forgot those watches to take with me... hahaha. Maybe tomorrow.

Late night earthquake warning was very shocking, wasn’t it???
The center of quake was in Shizuoka... indicating Tokai Earthquake. It was actually not.

Still M6.5 was large enough... and scary. Hope this won’t lead to major one like one in March.
You know, 3.11 Earthquake had some warning... M6 level earthquake hit the same area two days before on March 9th. Hope this won’t be the case.



Late night view from my home... Very nice summer breeze... hope this peace continues...

Omotesando was our destination for the day.
MoonFlower and I went out to a cafe where she made a reservation for tea and cake.

Yeah, it was limited open cafe in Omotesando... run by Setsuko Homma.

MoonFlower is going to take her lesson for cake baking... so that’s why.
This shop was open because Setsuko Homma recently published new book.



Somehow, the picture turned out pretty blurry... sorry! Will do better job next time.
I do not know what I did wrong. I know, I used manual mode on my camera then.



This picture is much better... Darjeeling Tea with orange.



Today’s MoonFlower collection... she picked up more than several choices today. Hahaha.

1 week after perm on my hair... here is the style that I retain for now.



I know, no one really gives me any compliment... that’s fine with me.
I am okay with this... and I may even try another hair style after this... Hehehe.

What do you think?

It is time again! Yeah, another birthday has already (!) come here.
It is my 38th. Do not remind me that I am so close to Big Four!

Somehow, I got flowers from MoonFlower.



Why flowers?
Why roses?
Why white roses?



Nice flowers... thank you!
What about the present???

Today, my BD isn’t that special. Today it was first day for the Round Table.
Yeah, typical annual event for any consulting firms...
Mine holds that session for three days from today!

Oh boy, my performance review (judgment) is done? Hahaha. Not yet.
I know, there is no promotion for me this year. Hahaha.
At least I should hope some raise!

Today I came to office environment for work. Yeah, I really looked for a space...
Due to the client’s decision for time being, people, including me, are forced to work at home.
Same as last week, this week there is no change... whatsoever.

So I came to my office for own space to work, instead of working at home. Much better!

Productivity level was certainly up. I felt much better. Am sure that client will be content as well. Hehehe.

Anyhow, I see some night view through the window of the meeting room where I worked today.
Seemed to be calm already... though, not yet. We still have minor earthquake as after-shock.



When to be calm for all of us? That’s the biggest question for now.

I found a youtube video of the tsunami. Not of how the disaster developed over the area... but of how one ship went over tsunami wave. This is quite amazing...

Not only Tsunami is the issue...

Now we face another hardship... Nuke issue.
We have major Nuke Power Plant in Fukushima and the Plant got damaged by the Tsunami as well.
2 out of 7 generators are not working well...
Those are almost considered “melt-down.”

This affects the entire amount of power required for all in Kanto area including Tokyo.

In fact, power cannot be supplied fully to the needs.
Government now decides to take planned power shut-down all over the area.

It means people have to live out of power time to time as per the plan.

from 6:20am to 10pm... different time zone and different area...
I do not know how this affect to my work...

This planned shut-down would last for 1 month or possible longer...
Well, this disaster is so massive and all the nation should cooperate as much!
I definitely second this!!!

Here are some photos of disaster... massive one for sure!!!

It was about 2:45pm... I was in the meeting on 21st floor of 50-story building.
It wasn’t something I have ever experienced... MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
Until then, I have never felt “scared” about any earthquake... but I was SCARED then.
Really horrible shaking it was!

I really imagined that the building would be collapsing like 9-11 disaster.

Well, the 1st earthquake was done... then big security alarm all over the building.
It could cause a fire within the facility, everyone must be evacuated as soon as possible.
Oh boy!

We had to take stairs from 21st floor down to ground floor.
While doing so, many smaller (still big one compared to my past experience) earthquakes hit...
It was even hard for me to keep standing... so many people sit down, being so scared.



Finally, I made the ground safely.

It was around 5:30pm, we were okayed to go back... on foot again.
I finished a meeting (still business!) around 7pm... then went back to my desk on 27th floor (via stairs).

I made all my team members were okay and I reported so to my firm.
After that, I waited for subway back on operation...

I finally took a train around midnight... from Roppongi to Morishita.
Another train from Morishita... was troublesome... SO PACKED and I had to let several trains go...
Only one train every 30 mins or so. I caught the 3rd train, finally.

Went to Motoyawata Station... not usually one for me... but that was the closest possible one for me to go home tonight.

Too bad that JR - railway is totally closed down due to the earthquake. It is much more vulnerable than is subway.

So from Motoyawata, I have to walk home from that point. Took me a full hour on foot.
Thank God, I made home... even though it was 3:30am!!! I was alive and no major damage to my new home!!!

MoonFlower is also safe. I contacted her over phone only once throughout the messy communication downtime. She stayed with her mother over tonight just in case. Major gas explosion happened near her workplace. Thank God, she is also safe...

Got 1 before... and now 3... 4 Valentine’s gifts for me this year.
Thank you!!!



Well, notably, I received nothing from MoonFlower. How come?
Valentine’s Day is no longer part of event between us? Hahaha.

Another luck? I must have spent it all already? No more luck in 2011???



I won some gift... in the box...



Got a glass! With alcoholic drink.
I know, this is part of promotion... but FREE for me! Hehehe.

Got free night (stay in the hotel) the other day... and I won another prize like that... not high value... However, I have some luck these days...

Let’s hope that I didn’t use the all luck for 2011!!!

It was my firm’s all staff meeting tonight. At hotel in Daiba.
During the party after the conference, there were two door prizes.

Spa ticket and free night. Just 2 prizes... I won the free night!!!





The odd was about 2 out of more than 200... means 1% or less!!!
Oh my god!

Shibamata Taishakuten - the temple is for our 1st prayer in the year!



Not big place... but surely packed with lots of elders.





Famous movie character “Tora-san.” Stories of all movie series are originated to this area.

Japanese movie, “Partners” is our pick for 1st movie to see in this year.
This is policemen’s story...



2nd movie was well done... much better than last one.
If you like this TV series, it’s worth to see this movie version!