Started working in nearby Starbucks today… AGAIN.
Yeah, sort "refused" to go to the office since there is nothing scheduled to do there in that place.
Performance cannot be measured based upon where I am. All matters is how I do the job and the RESULT. What else? Hahaha.



New menu to the Starbucks food… was my lunch. Roast pork and cream mustard… hot sandwich.
Not as good as the one in above picture. It was rather mediocre. At least, baguette and cream mustard were a good match.
I may try this, maybe, one more time. 480 yen.

Worked alone. In Starbucks.
No meetings planned. All can be done in the casual manner… however, my appearance for the day is as:



Entirely formal. Pretty much. From suits, tie, pocket chief, and watch… oh boy, must be a big business ahead.
In fact, nothing ahead.
Just felt like putting on something fancy today. You know what I mean.



Good restaurant found… more than good. Great.
Famous cuisine guidebook has posted this restaurant twice before.
So this place is (was?) one of "Michelin Bib Gourmand Restaurants." Highly expected!











It was a small gathering with a young coworker. We joined each other in this restaurant for talk.
Talk rather then festivity is the theme for the night to see how we can move forward our career hereon.
Young fellow does definitely has indefinite potential and his future intension seems very promising.

I am looking forward to witnessing his career development!!!

It was good investment (or merely spending) to make this night be very fun and productive. Made myself more energized as well.

Today, nothing scheduled until 18:45.
It means that I needed to seek what to do until then. Entirely up to myself.
Another boring day it was.

Well, at least I accomplished minor things like schedule sheet creation for new project due up.

Though, all major works are still left behind... intentionally. Well, you can call me lazy ass.
I was. Really.
You know, if you have too much time, you probably cannot push yourself too much. That is my case.

I have to put myself in rush mode by some urgent request or whatever. Otherwise, everything is darn slow.
Please let me know if I can be very productive under such no pressure circumstance.



Went in a cafe on the way to work for breakfast.
I should have had to choose doughnuts instead of sandwich!!! Hahaha.
Good coffee, though.

In fact, I buy coffee beans at this coffee stand, nowadays.

Work gets done with 2 meetings which took place at night.
Then didn't go home straight. Bad intension.
Coffee didn't last til the end of day… and something different was definitely demanded. Yup.



Alcohol amount is not more than required. Just right. Though, quite amount of time has been consumed, already.
When rushed into nearby train station, nothing was waiting but just simple sign said "last train has departed."
Oh boy.

Thus, I decided to walk home… not sure how much in distance I walked then.
Yeah, walk started around 1am…
It was surely interesting walk for me to see the life in the middle of the night like that. Very urban Tokyo life there was.

Saw another movie tonight. After work.
This is 4th movie in this month. This is the pace of 48 movies a year... pretty fast paced so far!
Compared to 30 movies watched last year, it is a big question how many movies I am going to see in 2018.

Anyhow, tonight's pick is a Japanese movie.

It is called "Shinzan Mono" Series. Traslated as "New Comer."

It is originally famous police detective novel which became popular TV dramas.
Then, turned out to be the movie series.
Very famous... in Japan.

The story takes place around Nihonbashi area... center of Tokyo and center of Japan.
Very authentic and historic area.
In fact, not too far from where I live.

All shops and restaurants in the story are actually existed still today.

This movie shows Japanese soba place called "Sunaba." Very famous restaurant. Such setup makes us be familair with story much more.

Case is crossed murders that "Shinzan Mono" is going to solve.
Very complex murder cases and there are such human stories behind them... how such murders have had to occur.

Not sure that this is ever going to be published in English.
Actors in the story did such great jobs and frame work of the picture is actually spurb.
Never thought that this movie series was such great stuff.

I'd better check out all past movies. Really.

MoonFlower had to work over time and decided not to come home since it is a long way.
Instead of coming home, she stayed with her dog and her sister family.
I guess, that was much easier solution because that place is much closer to where she works.

Compared to the case that she had to commute a little over 2 hours!!!

Early Sunday - rushed to Chiba…
Before that, I had to make sure to tape the TV drama in this morning…



Drama performed by actress Manami Higa (in the middle).
It is suspense drama of 2 hours… and I cannot miss this because she is my favorite actress. Hahaha.

Saw the Gundam Stamp Rally - you can collect up to 65 or 67 stamps for prizes…
Gundam is popular Japanese animation.



Even around 9am on Sunday, people keep coming for stamping. Wow…





Instruction posting is not only in Japanese but in English, Korean, and even Chinese.



1st time in a long time that I sat in passenger seat…
Oh boy, Guilietta doesn't give much comfort ride at all.
While driving, it would not easily feel… but this is obvious.

Ran into local Japanese sweets shop. Just picked up some for ourselves.



After cemetery visit, late lunch is ramen noodle.
Went into a place for us to visit as first time. Called "Marutai" Ramen.



Good but still average, I guess. Not bad, though.
Just not great enough to make us come back, I guess. You know what I mean.



Family dog - Love is still healthy! That matters. She is very calm and doesn't make much move. Though, very lovely.

Late night, MoonFlower and I drove back to Tokyo. No traffic jam at all. Very smooth drive.
Weekend is now coming to an end… so as January - the 1st month of year.
I should make everything to gear up for further acceleration. Let's begin the serious work.

Besides going to dry cleaner and convenience store, nothing is really accomplished outside the home today.
Reason? Just glued my ass to the chair before TV. Literally, all day long.
That was exactly I intended to do.

Since there is a great technology available home - which is all-time recording of 6 different channels, I am busy checking out all dramas currently running.
Some are good and I will continue checking out. But some other are going to be out of my check list.
Today, I made such list completed. Hahaha.



Yesterday, friend Amy gave me this. Sake Almonds. Nice snack while watching TV.
Perfect stuff and taste great!
I should prepare something for her in return. I really should.

It is still awfully cold outside and that is another reason that I decided to stay inside.

Just briefly saw that weather forcast for next week, Tokyo might come to another cold front and snow fall can be expected again.
Is that really? Wow, we have to watch out the forecast more carefully from now on.
If does for 2nd time, things would go even more crazy…

It is called "Premium Friday" today. Last Friday of the month, government "encourages" nation to finish the work early for fun.
Yes, it wants us to spend money and get drunk.
Thus, I definitely follow such rule and intend to set a good example.



I was ready from the beginning of the day… even refused to brink company laptop to the work.
My firm does prohibit employees to go to drink with laptop for hedging the risk of information leak by lost.
The choice is merely between the case that you leave PC in the office locker and that you leave PC home.

1st case is that people usually would take… but I came to choose the latter.
Reason is that I do not want to be away from PC until Monday. That can be even more critical for me.
Thus, I tried to sustain without PC for entire Friday afternoon. I made myself stuck to iPad Pro.

That was enough, actually.

Along with blue suits and new tie from Italian Franco Bassi, Panerai Luminor Due was on my wrist today!

Soon as wrapping it all up for the day, I showed up to my usual place…



"Kaminariya" is my usual place - tavern located in Shinjuku 3-chome.
Master handed me the small gift by sudden.
Wow, it was traditional Japanese hand towel with the shop log on it.

5-year anniversary gift it was. COOL!



Usual menu, usual chose and usual fun. What else needed?



I left a message to several friends via SNS to make sure that they know where I am tonight.
Planned to drink alone… but didn't bother much if this became several rather than one.
Friend Amy showed up after work. She joined me tonight over drinks…

Fun and definitely entertaining night for me. Amy and I even joined a couple drinking next to us.
Lots of common topics like ANIME - Gundam, Galaxy Express 999, Mazinger Z, etc.
Man, I want to see all episodes of Gundam again… only Amazon Prime provides the program… not my Hulu subscription. Darn it.



Once again - Japanese traditional hand towel. "Tenugui" is hand towel.



Doubled name logo on the top - "Kaminari" as Thunder and "Inazuma" as Lightning
Good pared name as collaboration.
Thank you for neat gift. Will use it soon and I definitely come back to the tavern "Kaminariya" again. Very soon.

Just short drive up to dry cleaner… found out that the odometer just indicated 27000.
Yeah, 27,000 kilometers run so far… over 5.6 years or so.
Very low mileage, huh. It is.



Coming June, another mandatory inspection required by law is up.
That means a chance that I may switch the car… again?
Will see.

MoonFlower was with her friends all day long except dinner… when we got together for dine-out.



She has selected to come over this place tonight. Sort Chinese restaurant.
However, this place's speciality is of lamb. Yeah, lamb meat.





All of those dishes.. with lamb!!! Full of it.
Ate too much… but it were fast food restaurant because the time from placing order to the food on table was super duper fast. Hahaha.
Family dinner was good but very quick. Hahaha.

Good soba noodle for lunch… this place is not too far from where I live.
This is 2nd visit…
No hesitation but very much determined to eat this soba for lunch since early morning. My brain did tell me so.



Great stuff!
Perfect soba. I probably like this more than simple ramen noodle. Different noodle dish.
It means that I am now old because the food preference is slightly shifted like that. Hahaha.



Showed up to the Tokyo Big Sight for some exhibition. Yes, part of work, really.



Coffee break after long walk inside the exhibition. Along with today's watch - Cartier Santos 100XL.



Saw the projection mapping over the Tokyo Big Sight premises. I didn't know that such entertainment was planned tonight.
Cool.
But a little bit noisy because big loud music was along and that was too much for me.

Dinner is planned at Italian restaurant in Ginza.







Forgot to take picture of pasta… otherwise, all here.
Very good food came along with big bill. Oh boy. Too late…
I will keep my wallet closed tightly for rest of the month until pay day!

2nd working day in 2018… however, today it is actually the 1st "serious" working day.
One day previous week doesn't really count. You know what I mean.
Start new week is likely quiet and calm. Pretty steddy.

That is good news for me who wants to focus on what I need to do. Not much interruption.

I even put earphones on and listen to the iTunes music while working today.
That is "signal" as "please do not disturb."
When working in the office which I did today, people easily can speak to anyone.

That usually turns into a long conversation.

Today, I wouldn't be in that kind of mood.
Since the office is yet old-fashion style and set-up, there is no such "concentration area" or "work area."
I have to create such atmosphere around for the sake of myself.

At least that aspect is noticed and I succeeded to do focus on what I should do.

What I am working on is serious proposal to a client. I have to submit it by next Monday.
I have another… several days for such preparation. Cannot afford to do anything else… much.
Focus and focus… looking for better design and wording to make sure that things in the proposal is attractive.

Keep on looking…

MoonFlower and I made it early today. It is mid-day during the extended weekend.
Yeah, Sunday morning it is… we rushed into bakery not too far from where we live.
MF had made a request for some bread in advance and we picked up even more when we went it.

Croissant, croque monsieur, etc.

Rushed back to home... actually we made extra tour to another place.
We went into a place called "WENT" which is newly open coffee stand.
Picked up latte for her and coffee for myself.



Newly backed bread and fresh brewed coffee made things just to be perfect. Cannot complain any for sure.

After easy afternoon when we mostly spent time on Hulu except some grocery shopping, we went down to Asakusa.

20180107 Asakusa Senso Temple #theta360 - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA

Lucky draw came out pretty good. "Daikichi" is top luck. Good new year start with this.
Then, we came to this bistro just near the Temple.







Wow, another GREAT place just found.
Well, it is all well-done to MoonFlower who has done great homework finding great dining place.
It is here… we should come back quite soon.

Good start and great finish. What a wonderful day!

1st day of 3-day extended weekend is just begun.
Why extended? We are observing "Adult Day" on coming Monday. Total 3-day weekend. Not bad, huh.
Even though I worked somewhat yesterday, I still feel like I were in the middle of long vacation.

Definitely, I dreamed about it. Though, no worries since the reality does kick in when time comes to Tuesday. Ha!

MoonFlower wanted to go to a restaurant in Asakusa area and we even get on the train toward the area.
Though, she found out that place is fully booked for tonight and there was no chance for us to be there.
So in the train, we are forced to change our mind. Took a train for opposite direction. Got off the train at Higashi Ginza.

Yeah, not Asakusa but Ginza today.



Saw tons of dried persimmons ("hoshigaki") on the street…. they made us quite hungry.



Late lunch was soba. Didn't come to this place ever before. Good surprise that this soba noodles were pretty good!

Then, we intended to shop in the department stores. Looking for business bag that I use for my work.
There was no luck to reach one for myself as far as today. I have to seek next chance.
Everything was either boring design or highly (over) priced that we cannot afford. No luck it was.

For supper, MoonFlower and I went to two different bars at a night.







Main dining was at wine bar.
Then we stopped by another one. Seems a little more authentic or hard core bar.



Of course, we selected serious drink then. Hahaha.

Long day came along with fun and feeling of getting drunk for hangover. Hahaha.

1st working day for me in this year among so many others. Hahaha.
Work was flat and no over time at all. No need to.
Though, I had to stick with one work. One work only. Worked on a proposal that we have to make soon.

I need to have a break to make sure that I face that proposal, calmly.
So I went out… do some errands before getting back to serious work.
Happened to be in Nihonbashi. One thing on my to-do list was unchecked since last year and now checked.



My Rolex Explorer II is gone for overhaul service today. It would take a month or so for completion.
In addition to OH, I even requested for brand new sapphire crystal (glass) to replace.
Finally, I completed that to-do. Good move in early 2018!

Plus, I decided to go to 1st movie for this year. It was opening day for "Kingsman." Cannot resist…



Pretty easy story to follow. Very relaxing spy action movie.
This is hilarious since British-like jokes are mixed with authentic (?) American ones.
Not sure that those British-like is genuine slang or not… cannot tell.

That doesn't matter. As far as story is simple and fun to watch and follow, it was such an entertainment.

Last day - the holiday season is almost over.
Tomorrow, I have to resume the work… yeah, everyone is back to work!
However, there is some exception.

MoonFlower resumed working from today. Oh what a pity… she has to work one day earlier.

Thus, I have a free day today, completely! Hahaha.



Car wash is done in the afternoon.



Early evening, I came to kitchen and washed rice for cooking.
Yeah, it is so rare that I do some preparation for any meal like that. Hahaha.
Since MoonFlower is at work and I am free, she asked me to help at least doing such. No problem!

So different kind of washings are done today.

I should have stated what I think for now… it is new year resolution 2018… here they are!

- Work: 12 site visits total 98 days are contracted for this year's project

Just completed one project last month… single contract covered up to 15 locations for consultation then.
Well, this year… similar to last year… same mission but visiting 12 locations this year.
Total 98 days is expected. Last year, it was 120 days. Therefore, physical burden is somewhat less this year.

- Car: Are we going to buy new car?

This is a big question. Probability is yet high, I presume.
However as you know, I do not have any final answer. I have to depend upon MoonFlower for such big decision making.
Though, following 4 cars are the candidates… at least for now:




Mercedes-Benz C-class and Audi A5 Sportback



Jaguar XE and Toyota Camry

I guess, Toyota Camry has least chance. Thus, 3 import brands are possible and real candidates.
Will see if we are really going to buy a new car or not.
Nothing wrong with current car - Alfa Romeo Guilietta. She runs great and I still like it.

At the same time, MoonFlower may insist that we should go for new car to enjoy as much while we're active in everyday life.
I see the point.
Will see how that would go for us.

- Movie going: 30+ movies for 2018

Since having moved to a place near the movie theater, I fully took advantage of such environment and went to see 30 movies last year.
Well, this year would be going to be similar. I bet that I would go 30+ movies this year.
Budget for movie-going is already planned. Just a matter of finding time for movies!

- Go back to Ogaki for seeing mother

This year I should plan to go back to Ogaki to see my mother more often. She lives alone and this is a concern.
I know that she lives in comfortable life cycle and environment. She is healthy as could be.
Though, being alone is not that simple thing and I intend to go back as often. Let's say, once every quarter. How about that?

More on my resolution list. Not going to disclose all.
For most important thing, I should stay healthy and have fun as much with family. That is it!
Let's keep smiling.

2nd day for 2018 - I have begun the work, already!
Well, not entirely true.
In fact, I have started the work since day 1 in 2018. Yeah, I worked on New Year's Day.

How come not resting or joining the celebration? I did. Well, let's say, I did work as well.
Spent time fully with MoonFlower before TV over dinner.
Tonight, one wine bottle came to empty, very quickly.



Juan GIl - Spanish wine came along with supper. No authentic Japanese new year meal tonight.







Special sweets. We bought this large strawberry bavarois like pudding with fruits.
This was really sweet dessert. Love it. Recommended. You can buy this from fruit shop in the basement of Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi.
A little bit expensive and I don't think I can repeat in short time… I have to wait another big celebration like my birthday or so for 2nd time.

It is definitely worth it, though!

New year has come! It is 2018!



New Year greeting cards - I have 2 types prepared as usual.



Big food called "OSECHI" accelerates the new year celebration!
Belated new-year-welcome soba was the lunch on new year's day. Should have eaten last year. Hahaha.
Slow day it is… I am supposed to be as lazy as much for today… and maybe tomorrow.