Merry Christmas to you all!!!

Spanish Lladro's year ball 2014 - bought on Monday.
Now part of the collection.





Since the marriage - 2009, the collection of the year balls is on-going.
Now collection of 6 balls, already, up to 2014.

Without my notice, this has been part of our family's tradition. Hahaha.

One question still remaining… why Japanese people do buy thing for 2014 now?
I do not think that it is a problem to buy the year ball for 2014 at the same time around next year.
Hmmm, not sure why.

Any clue?

iPad mini case got cracked. Plastic part is cracked and no longer good to use.
Today, got new combination of case and cover for my iPad mini:







With Bamboo stylus pen, Apple smart cover is green!
Plus, transparent case to support the back.
Pretty cool combination!

Too bright? Maybe so. Hahaha.

What about replacing this with new iPad mini Retina???
Not so fast.
I probably wait for another model after Retina.

So far everything is peachy with iPad mini (1st generation).

Ok, my Christmas arrived a bit early!
New watch is just added to my (still small) collection.
Cool, huh!



Sorry, picture is a bit (?) blurry.
I show it to you when seeing you next time for sure!

This is very simple watch compared to others that I have.
Others are like chronograph ones.
Very different but I still love this new piece!





Well, too bad that my Christmas for 2013 (and even 2014?) is over!!!

Still hot summer goes on here in Japan.
Dog "Love" cannot stand this heat just like me!!!
Poor thing.





SMILE!



So cool down is quite necessary.
Frozen yogurt is quite irresistible. Don't you agree?
This was a great one!!! Mango source was great, too.



And quite shopping.



Then quite driving!

Audi A7 was fast enough and passed me like a wind!
I wish I could drive that fast and own that fancy car!!!



My shopping was of this pair of shoes!
This is for rain use.
Yes, really.

Okay, long weekend is done!
Need to face the realty… let's get back to work!

Didn't plan… but when I came to realize what was happening…
Lady casher already had my credit card in her hand!!!





Now another addition to my collection - G-Shock. Cool blue, huh!!!

Has to be done sometimes before September this year for sure.
Finally… order is placed!



Here it is!
Contract is now official and valid.
When to be delivered? That is the remaining question for us.

How's it going, folks? MoonFlower and I slept in and missed the delivery in the early morning.
We woke up around 9:30am. Hahaha.
Anyway, made a quick call to delivery person and he came back in hour or so.

Thanking him for making two trips! Yes, we know, it is all out fault.



Delivered wine bottles from Enoteca.
I made online order completed late afternoon. Yeah, it was Saturday afternoon.
Very fast delivery - next day without any extra cost. Good deal.

In the afternoon, we had periodical fire alarm inspection home.
Nothing went wrong and alarms in every room proved working properly.
Good.

Late afternoon… around 4:30pm, we went out to Chiba.
Dinner and music live tonight at friend's restaurant. Cool, huh!



Supper dish prior to music. Two free drinks included.
Beer first and another drinks.
MoonFlower went for another one and I joined. Chose and drank red wine. Good enough for me!



Live music - Indian music instrument (drum) called Tabla and Japanese guitar - Shamisen.
Interesting combination and unique music!
Those players were just before me within 1 yard or so. Indeed!

Dramatic sounds for several hours! Fascinating!

It were like jazz session. They never played together before today.
Though, managed perfect music in harmony. Wonderful session it was. Really was.
Ver unique, huh!

Wearing the Jawbone UP all day now you can see what data gathering...



110% of sleep - target 6 hours and actual 6 hours and 37 minutes.
138% of walk - target 8,000 steps and actual 11,098 steps.
15 items eaten for 1,557 kilo calories.

Interesting enough? This is only on dashboard and you can see more in details.

In the music session, I found another audience wearing black UP. Already that popular?
Hehehe.
Will see how else around me has such cool gadget like that!



Home-made cake by MoonFlower.
This is my birthday cake according to her!
Really? A bit early… Hmm.

All right. That is it for today.
See you tomorrow!

I'd better share my condolences - to the father of my American sister.
Yes, I have met him several times and recently heard that he passed away.
Very sad.

Precious memory from the time I met him - like big beef like a golf ball and Japanese garden that he was proud of.

Well, it is definitive true that those who took good care of me while in US are getting old as we all do.
Yes, I am turing to be Big 40 next week.
In addition to my (own) parents - American family is part of my concern.

Really hope Janice (Mom), Nannie, and all others are in good shape for long time from now on.
Will keep my fingers crossed and keep in touch.
Hope another chance to visit them soon.

Today's work - had some critical moment via tele-conference.
It was to Germany.
I worried a quite bit about understanding German-accent English…

My such worries were in vain.
The German lady over the phone spoke perfect English without any heavy accent. Hahaha.
What about the work? Bet it was all right. At least for time being.



Finally, it is a release date today for Jawbone's new product called "UP."
This is digital gadget which is yet wearable.



Just like that.
I chose blue even though MoonFlower said, blue isn't nice. Hahaha.
Her opinion does matter most of the times… but not hers is it! Hehehe.



What can this device do?
This is like health gadget can measure how many steps you walked or how much calories you consumed.
Also count how many hours of your sleep and how much for deep and shallow of sleep (or sound/light).
You can download app from web to your iPhone. Works on it.

Why do I need it?
Well, I just start watching out the calories so that I can control over my diet. Hahah.
Will see.

Thanks to friends!
Had a special discount at Banana Republic.
30% off on top of every single discount available at outlet shop.



This is equivalent to gold card to me! Hehehe.
Here are winning stuff from my shopping today:







Three above plus one pair of pants which already gone to alteration.



I beg MoonFlower to stop by this old ramen shop for supper tonight.
I used to come this place every Thursday night after work.
Yeah, near old apartment where I used to live.



Nothing ever changed. Really same ramen still today!
Good reminder about old days that I was working in logistics industry.

Chasing after AWESOME French toast today!



Cafe in Shinjuku… a place where MoonFlower has ever been to.
NOT me. It was my 1st visit… absolutely.



LOOK!
They were FANTASTIC ones for me. Made me full quite easily.
Apple sauce was perfect match.



World's Fountain Pen Show in Nihonbashi.
NO purchase made, though.



What we picked from shopping was this coaster.
Pretty cool.



This wine… was VERY SWEET. Made me feel like drinking sweet wine.
However, interesting enough… this came along with Japanese food as supper tonight.





Then pasta.



Sweet is home made by MoonFlower. WONDERFUL stuff.
Made me totally full… all day long. Hahaha.

Finally arrived. From US.
It is my Christmas present for myself…
Took a while… since having placed an order. Hahaha.

That was okay for me… totally. It is because I asked a friend to customize the nib. Hehehe.

Delta fountain pen from Italy. Called "Dolce Vita."



I do not know why usually the package is oversized… for any prestigious fountain pen.



Here it is! Enormously big, right?
Darn right!!! Wanted to have a big pen like that.
I knew all about it before placing order fro sure.



Nib is customized as specifically instructed by… ME!



See it is big pen… compared with other biggies like Montblanc MS 146 (middle) and Churchill (left).
I bet that those three are the biggest category in my fountain pen collection.

How many do I have then???
Let me see… going over the list.
Now I have 11 fountain pens. Yeah, 11 of them.

Too many? Hahaha.
Call me crazy! Actually I am. Out of question.

Now I am wondering what color of ink I should use for this Italian pen.

1st major shopping day in year 2013 was just today… Hahaha.
I guess, the wallet of mine… the zipper is broken… now making ME broke!!!
Went out to Omotesando area for shopping with MoonFlower.

Usual shop where we both go… Brand called "Tsumori Chisato."
It carries very small quantity for men's… but I was lucky today.
Yet, 1st day of New Year Sale today.



Big coat for me!
Very cute color and design around the wrists.



Pants. Other pants I have were almost all worn out… so need one. Hahaha.



Extra - this is what MoonFlower bought for herself. Very girly skirts. Hahaha.



No more heavy food celebrating New Year!
Just pasta and...



salad!!!
Good stuff.
Need to be soft to my stomach for sure.