Sakura... (2010.4.12 20:32)

Everyone, sorry for not writing for a while.

I haven't had much time for sleep lately. (^^;)

Wake up → Work or Training → Fall over → Wake up

And then repeat every detail. Yeah, a complete animal... (^^;)

Although, once I fell right down and got a little 2~3 hour nap. (^^;) Well, I think we can call that one training, too. (^_^)

So, of course, after nearly 2 weeks of this lifestyle, I collapsed in a heap yesterday (^^;) and had a proper sleep for the first time in a long time. (^_^)

So, not to change the subject, but,

Last week, I went to get my car fixed, but the day before I went to get it back, the sky cleared right up, my last chance to go out and take some photos of the 'Sakura.'

I heard from Cha-cha 'Chidorigafuchi's nice,' (^_^) and we didn't have any time at lunch, so we went out that evening,

and wow, that whole neighborhood was a packed parking lot! (^^;) Even more, humans and cars were in a mess of congestion... (big ^^;)

In desperation, I pulled out my cell phone...


The number of people was just amazing. (O_O)

So, there was no chance to take photos loitering around in a car all day, so we gave up for the day and went home,

and the next day there was a torrential downpour. (T_T)

The moral of the story: Sakura is the enemy of the heart that thinks on tomorrow, by Shinran Shonin. (^_^)

Boo-hoo-hoo... Won't I get to photograph anything this year... (regret) Everyone, let's go out and take some photos... Some good photos...

At least I did get to have some Sakura-viewing sake... (^_^)

Everyone, the temperature's fluctuating wildly, so be care so you don't catch a cold.

Well then well then~


[ yes, i am not dead~~~ (X_X) i was almost caught up, and then Life Intervened. well, i can't promise any regularity around here, but i've got a huge bunch of entries to get through, and they will be done, if just not with any noticable alacrity... (T_T) (terminator voice) i'll be bahk. (^_^) ]

How long... (2010.3.30 23:49)

it's been since I wrote you all.

The MENS festival safey completed, I totally deflated and couldn't utter a word...

And then a fever laid me completely out. (^^;) Yeah, compared to training, I'm so weak, what's with that? (^_^)

So, I revived, and straight off fixed my car. (^_^) First, when I went to the parking lot to take the car to the car guy,

Wha? The car lurches... Then I remembered, that nightmare...

The tires all around were punctured and crushed flat. (^^;)

So, even calling a tow truck was a big deal, and getting a tire pump from home,

and after that, nothing but the ssshu-pah ssshu-pa of the pump. (^_^) It didn't really have a lot of capacity, so after about an hour,

I was covered in sweat, and I gave up on the tire and went to the nearest auto parts store.

It was "Ah~ that's a tough break, like this..." and "It's a 4WD, gotta replace all four tires."

Those words pierced me right through, and when I started complainin, 'First off, I'm only going 10~20 km, I can make it!!' and 'I'll push it over to my repair shop!!'

"Well, we can't guarentee the safety, but we can fix it." So I took it over to my own car guy.

"Well, these two tires are the worst, but if you can, I'd replace all four of them." It was the same thing. (^_^) I got a quote...

'Uh... Let me think about it just a minute...' and I went home with my car just like it had been.

But this is, of course, the age of the net, and I scored myself four wheels. (^_^) Plus, just the tire, or with aluminium rims was the same price,

so after all this effort, I get some aluminium wheels. (big ^^;) Man, that was a good job... (^_^)

The world of purchasing parts by mail order hasn't completely disappeared quite yet, so things were steadily looking up for me. (^_^)

So, this has no connection to my car, (^_^) but getting some aluminium wheels put me in a good mood, so I went to the Mister Donut shop for the first time in a long while,


Since when have they been 100 yen~? Is this a limited time only thing? I had no idea at all~

With the tension all high, I ate with some gusto. (big ^^;) Angel Creams... Now that's just cruel. (^_^)

Hence the title, "How long..." (^^;) Yeah, that was a long introduction. (^_^)

You say it's only a donut, but that's crucial intelligence information. If I'd have known earlier... (^_^)

It's gotten cold all of a sudden, so everybody be careful not to catch a cold.

I'm going to do a bit of convalescence, so I'm sure I'll catch one. (big ^^;) Eh? Maybe I ate too many donuts? (^_^)

Well then well then~

MENS festival (2010.3.22 01:02)

Man alive, everyone,

the MENS festival, that was best LIVE ever. (^_^)

To be frank, the tension was higher than high (^^;) and it was really hard during the show (big ^^;)

but when I considered it after the show was over, I had this satisfied, complete feeling. (^_^)

The guys in the audience really let us have all their fighting spirit. Everyone, you are the best guys, I mean really. (^_^)

With that kind of hot mood, you made a study of how to be a real guy, and man among men.

On this tour, I won't loose my spirit of affection for all you guys. I'm looking forward to it. (^_^)

Man, but this time I took my clothes off, well, I was supposed to take my clothes off, but if you do a side-by-side comparison, all the members taking their clothes off (^^;)

and me still with all my flab, I worked hard. (^_^)

Unless we're on tour, I don't do anything about my belly. (big ^^;) Next time I'd better do a bunch of weight training. (T_T)

Well, just for tonight, my reward


I had some yakiniku. (bwahahah)

Uh, no good? (^_^)

Man oh man~ I've got a bad headache, and it's handicapping my brain. (^^;) Tonight, I shall go to bed early like a good boy. (^_^)

Well then well then, sleep well... zzz


P.S. My car... I went out the other night and it was ruined. (^^;) The left side was totally annhiliated. (T_T) Not just the body, the tires and the wheels are all gone. (T_T)

Before, I thought I'd just keep it with a normal exterior, but that night I swore I'm going to do it all up, totally custom. (^_^)

Men's Festival (2010.3.20 22:13)

Yeah, praise, adulation, of course it's a festival. (^_^)

Actually, tomorrow, right. Gotta get my fighting sprit, my loving spirit on. With the prolonged rehearsals and trainging I temporarily have a body worthy of such things. (^^;)

After one day, I'd better give it my all~

P.S. Cars... Car buying, well, when the LIVE is over, I think I'll go out and touch a few. I've been driving myself, even to rehearsals.

Then, with all those strong winds today, I was thinking all the posters might have blown away, with my usual attempt at avoidance.

Yeah, desperate... (T_T)

I really don't understand what human life is about... It certainly is heaven and hell...

Let's make tomorrow really a rocking musical experience. (^_^)

As for tonight, the tension's rising, and I'm going to sleep!!


Well then well then~

Sweet~ness (2010.3.13 02:33)

Have I mentioned these before?


Probably most of you know of them already. In the city, Amala is famous.

Yeah, the tempation of the fruit corner. (^_^)

They're always sold out, but this time I could unexpectedly buy one, and, well, it was amazingly pricey. (^^;)

Snowboarding, tomatos, this city is... a battleground of worldly desires. (^_^)

So, people who haven't yet eaten this tomato...

People who don't like tomatos...

People looking for new fruits... (^_^)

Please, definitely definitely definitely give this one a try. (^_^)

It's really sweet, and tomato-y, it's more completely fruit than fruit tomatos.

Tomatos are full of lycopene, so it's good for beauty, and anti-aging. (^_^)

Wow, it's been a long time since I discovered delicious food. (*joy*)

Everyone else should give it a try, too. (^_^) Well then well then~


[ a) i'm not sure about that whole fruit/tomato/fruit tomato line, i think there's something i'm not getting there...
b) happy super belated b-day chachamaru-san, aka old man. (^_^)
c) wow, you guys are so patient and nice, waiting for translations, thanks so much! ]

I've become a warring commander. (^_^) (2010.3.7 22:44)

I look a little threatening. (^_^)


Whenever I wear a helmet and armor, I get all tense. Puts me in a Warring Commander spirit. (^_^)

Honestly, it's really heavy. Including the guitar, it's at least 30 kilos. (^^;) *

Before the show, we get our fighting spirit on, with the image of going out to the front. Well, our usual LIVES are battles too. (^_^)

Ahh... My back... hurts... (major ^^;)

The real thing is even heavier, the commanders of the old days were amazing. Of course, it's bushido. I'd love to be able to follow their example.

Everyone should try this on at least once, if they get the chance. (^_^) It's weight will surprise you.

Well then well then... Today, I'm asleep already... zzz


[ i'm already surprised by their weight. turns out 30 kilgrams is 65 pounds. 65 pounds! jesus. no wonder he needs a live-in chiropractor. ]

Commander T-Shirts (2010.3.6 22:13)

Looks like an elegant family crest.


Furnished by J.S.ART-san.

A family crest that looks like that would be pretty amazing.

Japan's in the process of losing all the old designs... Yeah, is this what we call civilization?

If we don't do something it'll be too late.

Well then well then, let's go for it tomorrow at the Tama-Ari again. (^_^)

Hina Matsuri (2010.3.3 22:19)

As a boy, I have nothing to do with this, (^_^)


but today is Hina Matsuri. Also, a certain someone's birthday. (^_^) We've got an event this week, so it'll definitely be a surprise... (bwahahah)

Yeah yeah, just the same, everyone, good work on the snowy mountains.

It's been a while since I've gone three days without sleep, and it did kind of melt in the sun for that second half, but still. (^^;)

Well, even with that, that weather was a miracle... (^_^) The weather forecast was completely rain, but really, the clear skies and snow was great.

This time, we didn't have a tug of war, so except for the freezing cold, we got to enjoy ourselves right to the end, huh. (^_^) Every year, I totally use up all my energy. (^^;)

It was only for a little while, but hanging out with everybody was truly a precious time. Thank you.

So, after all that, as predicted... I was shrewdly kidnapped. (^_^)

This season's coming to an end already, but for two days we got in plenty of gliding early in the morning. (^_^)

I intended to quietly glide, but I got a little overexcited in the end...

I did some jumps. (major ^^;)

Yeah... Dumb... My apologies. (^^;)

These "jumps," they're really absurdly scary, but they give you the best rush... (^_^) They were small, but I even got in some quick kickers.

I didn't do anything unreasonable, thankfully. I only jumped within the lines of my own safety. Next season I'm definitely buying a helmet... (^_^)

Everyone get good practice, and next year on the snowy mountains we'll all jump... er, glide. (^_^)

Well then well then, everyone, please get some careful body maintenance in.


P.S. Please pardon the weak-minded leader of Team Bail Out. (^^;) We were so close... so close. Just one more step, and we could've had that ball...

Next year a YOUVICTORY will definitely avenge this loss.

Thanks, Team Bail Out, really good effort.


[ a) hina matsuri, also known as the girl's doll festival.
b) Team Bail Out's alternate names include Team Ladle, Team Hollow, or Team Stick Your Chin Out. (^_^)
c) am i dumb? who's birthday is that? ]

Strawberries~ (2010.2.22 02:14)

They were gifts to me, but go ahead and have some. (^_^)


In the past three days, I've eaten enough strawberries for a whole year. (^_^)

Eh? Overeating? (^^;)

Although, winter isn't really strawberry strawberry season... If you think about it, strawberry season is May~June, right? (^^;)

Yeah~ The strawberries that were pilled up in the fruits and vegetables corner, I couldn't win out against that temptation. (^^;)

But, I didn't have any condensed milk! (^_^) Non-chalant after a herculean effort, but still. (^_^)

Also, after I'd eaten a couple of them, their individual flavors were totally different,

so looking back at it, it was a day of flavor discovery. (^_^)

So, this time was "Amaou," * and they were very firm and moderately sour, and also they had an elegant sweetness to them.

Yeah, that one earned it's place in my mouth. (^_^)

It must have... I had some more before I went to bed. (major ^^;)

Everyone take care. (^_^) Well then well then~


P.S. Everyone, thanks very much for your advice. (^_^)

Of course, you're all steadily forcing my head. (^_^)

However, those rides are really expensive. (^^;) I could think of it like an investment in a machine, I guess. (^_^)


I'm a little worried...



[ amaou is a special kind of strawberry from fukuoka. man, just looking at all those yummy strawberry pics made me want one so bad! ^^; ]

Bindings (2010.2.21 01:20)

When I went snowboarding the other day, I used my new bindings, and while I was running around with that tea water on the day before we entered Niigata,


I finally got UNION.

The shop clerk at the shop that I used at first,

when I asked,

"I'm looking for some bindings by Noah's Ark?"

he said, 'We've got UNION or FLUX~'

I don't know how much stuff I tried out, but they didn't have any of the colors I'd hoped for, so at first, I took out some black UNION ones.

'Those bindings are light~ (long explaination) I really recommend these.'

The shop clerk gave these bindings huge praise, but the color was really bothering me,

so I said, "Let me think about it for a while."

And I left the shop behind for a while.

So, the number of snowboard shops in the tea water area, there were so many, I was all but surrounded by them. (^^;) I didn't have much time, so I ran. (^_^)

I searched everywhere, all into the day, until I was out of breath, but all the good colors of UNION and FLUX were sold out. (^^;) And to make matters worse, even the BURTON that I normally like, wasn't stocked in my size,

I pressed on as stores started closing, so reluctantly, I headed back to that first store... (^^;)

"Yeah~ I've been to all the stores in the area, but every single one is sold out..." I said frankly to the sales clerk, and then

'They're very popular. Even at our store, they sell out almost as soon as we get them. (^_^) '
'It's the end of the season, so we really don't have any...'

In these hard times... Even the things I can buy are all sold out... (T_T)

"Well, let me have those ones from earlier, really black's not such a bad color. (^^;) " and so when I reluctantly bought the original UNION ones,

the clerk kindly gave me some encouragement, 'Black can go with anything, so you can change your board and still use these.'

When I got home, I put them right on, and forgot about the color in seconds. (^_^)

Man~ That was a model clerk. I'm buying from that store next time. (^_^)

Clothes, check. Bindings, check. I've got to put these things to use. (^^;) The news said the winter sports crowds are thinning out, so...

Everyone, if there's something you want, you should go out a buy it, quick. After it's sold out, it'll be too late. (^_^)

Well then well then, have a nice day off~

P.S. Just for a little while, we rented... a parking lot. (^_^)

This probably goes beyond impertinence... (big ^^; )

But, we investigated the parking lots in the neighborhood, and there are just so many telephone wires. There was only the one that was free of them... (^^;)

Be afraid, Tokyo...

That which is rented... May be purchased... (^_^)


[ zombie. jesus. stop writing such long posts, YOUkun! alternatively, life could stop interfering. you know, either/or. (^^;) ]

Dead-tired... But Mellow... (2010.2.18 20:06)

just a little too much sliding. (^^;)

Last week, I didn't sleep that much, with all that training, and I wanted to take a snowboarding day trip with my next free day, and there was an event in Niigata that weekend,

thus I went snowboarding... (^^;)

Well I'm paying for my mistakes now, and of course with the surging waves of manual labor, I am completely exhausted. (major ^^;)

But

If I could be revived by all the chocolate I got from everyone (^_^) Cardboard boxes... It's scary, I can't even count all the chocolates. (^_^)

Borrowing this space, "Thank you" for the food nosebleed. (^_^)

So, the presents from Hell the other day (^_^) got a trial run right away.

My impressions...

Absurdly easy gliding. It changed into a feeling like, What? You can really glide like this?

To be frank, I've never ridden on a board like this. (^_^) From this season on, this is going to be my main board. (^_^)

With this, I'm really going to get into snowbarding. (^_^)

Man~ I've been going snowboarding a lot lately, I'm gonna need a 4WD.

This is my favorite era. (bwahahah)

I'm the type to instantly jump into action whenever I get an idea, so if I had a 4 wheel drive, I'd be headed off to the snowy mountains at the drop of a hat. (^_^)

Yeah, that's really the only reason. (^_^)

Has everyone ridden in an off-road vehicle or an SUV? This is of a completely personal nature, but if you have any advice, please give it. (^_^)

Well then well then, we've got training tomorrow, so I'll be laid up for a while. (big ^^;)

Everyone, it's been absurdly cold lately, so be careful of colds.


[ well, i'm moved in, and i've got a few days off work, but i've got a friend staying with me for the week, so we'll see if i can't squeeze some translating time in. i hope~ ]

zombietranslator

i swear i'm not dead. i'm moving. it may be a long minute here, folks, but i'm coming back. just, maybe not until april. sorry. (^^;)

~meredeth.

Thanks (2010.2.12 23:32)

For your many kind words,

truly truly thank you.



For being born in this era,

for the miracle of being able to meet all of you, I'm grateful,

and I'll try with all my might

to live a long life. (^_^)



Incidentally, in a birthday to remember,

I somehow broke my cell phone. (^^;)



So I couldn't get the all important calls from friends. (big ^^;)

The emails reached me though...



Plus, I only realized it was broken yesterday. (^^;)

I'm really tied to my phone. (major ^^;)



To borrow this space,

"Really sorry about that..."



So,

at one year older,

I'm still called robot (^_^)

I'm still called old man (^_^)

but I'll try for a lifetime of service~



Well then well then, see everybody in Niigata~

From the demon realm... (2010.2.9 22:05)

a present. (^_^)


Finally, everything is a NEW model. (^_^)

At first, I installed the bindings that I used before, but I guess I shouldn't have bought that whole other board.
(^_^)

Man~ Still some time left to go in the land of enjoyable problems. (*joy*)

The brand is "NOAH'S ARK" which is one I'd never heard of, but maybe it was fate, maybe it's my friendly relations (^_^) but somehow, this turns out to be their second season as a core domestic brand.

It feels a lot more limp than the board I've been using, so I'll have to play around with some jumps and airs. (^_^)

I'd better get right out and do some practice. (^^;) But you might say... Why exactly? (major ^^;)

However, with "NOAH'S ARK" from Sata-sama, has an even more profound meaning. (^_^)

And this design is super adorable. (^_^)

I'm grateful to Satan-sama... And grateful for being born in this season. (^_^)

I've got this new board, I've gotta get to those snowy mountains and get some practice... (^_^) This year, I WILL slide~

Bean-Throwing Day (2010.2.3 22:36)

Did everybody get to eat a lucky roll?

February 3 is bean throwing day, so:

"Evil out~ Good luck in~"

Good fortune always seems to turn up at my house somehow. In this case, Good Fortune means "Clothes" specifically snowboarding clothes. (^_^)


Of course I bought it, yes... (^^;)

The recent trend has been for either the super flashy type or the tight type, or the type that looks like casual wear.

It's been a while since I bought snowboarding clothes, but tight lines seem to be the fashion, and HOLDEN seems to be the brand that's ahead of all the others.

I am a BURTON believer (^_^) so I bought BURTON, but I didn't expect to find so many of them left on the shelves, so really tight lines must be popular.

HOLDEN is super expensive, and they're sold out everywhere on the net, and even at the store, they didn't have any in my size. (^^;)

Well, the tight stuff that's popular right now is really stylish, but to be perfectly frank with you, it's kind of difficult to be all SPUNKY and KAPOW with a kneepad. (^_^)

Talking to the people in the store, it's the butt pad, nevermind a knee pad, that you really want,

but, yeah, I think anybody who's snowboarded even once will understand that if you do not have a butt pad, that is when you will fall right on your bum. (^_^)

I've had to learn it myself repeatedly (^_^) but it really hurts when you fall down.

Ah, for people who are snowboarding for the first time, please get all of the necessary pads. Without them, there will be a world of difference, like between heaven and hell, I'm not kidding.

As for me, for now, I've got my super fancy type all ready for next season. (bwahahah) This year, it's SPUNKY and KAPOW. (^_^)

Well then well then.

P.S. New shoes, and clothes, and bindings. I wanna try them all out today. (^_^)

Major Snow~ (2010.2.2 03:12)

Somehow the snow piled right up in front of my house... (^^;) It's really been a while since we got this kind of snow in Tokyo, hasn't it?

Aaah, after training today, I thought I'd see how my snowboarding gear looked. (^_^)

Mm? Did I buy a complete replacement set?

Actually, I'd already gotten a pair of NEW shoes. (^_^)


I'm slowly buying it all. (^_^)

When this kind of snow piles up, I can slide around a little in front of my own home. (bwahahah)

Everybody don't get injured on those odd snow-covered roads. Be careful.

Imoya (2010.1.28 23:11)

I went out with my friends to buy some snowboarding gear, and we stopped for a little tea water.

I haven't had any tea water like that for a long while. I used to go all the time, but I can't remember all the locations and stuff. (^^;)

However, as usual, when you buy at one place, it's okay to lose your way a little, and there are a ton of snowboarding stores.

Lately, I've been buying only on the net, and my encounters with the latest snowboarding gear (^_^) are really dangerous.

Plus, the binding, the clothes, the board, boots, everything I see, I have to touch, then I end up buying everything. (^^;)

It is about time to replace my outerwear anyway... and I have been wanting some lighter boots... and my bindings are in rough condition...

I steadily make excuses for myself. (^^;)

This time, I won the battle with greed! (^_^)


Only bindings... (major ^^;)

Man alive, even just this took some effort. (^_^) More than my friend bought, for a while, it was touch and go. (^_^)

So, after all that, we were hungry, so we got some tempura at a place called "Imoya."

The price was great, at 600 yen for a tempura meal, and we got some delicious tempura.

I don't know if just the shops in the Jinbouchou area, but in the store we went to,

the owners were quiet, and the customers were quiet, and they were just on the verge of closing shop.

It's not much, but I wasn't brave enough to take a cell phone shot inside. (^^;)


A little snapshot from after the store closed. (^_^)

Maaan, as you'd expect, Jinbouchou has the best gourmet spots in the metro area. I'd heard rumors they were of a high level. (^_^)

I can't visit this gourmet find too much though... Or in the end, snowboarding greed will get me. (^_^)

Well, it'd only be a problem until I hit the slopes. (^_^) Even if I had completely new stuff, you'd have to be gentle with me, please. (^_^)

Well then well then, have a good weekend~

P.S. The first holiday of the new year has passed us by. Hopefully, this year will continue in peace and tranquility, too. (^_^)

Responding to everyone's love comes first...

And curing back pain. (^_^)

"Always, thank you."

THIS IS IT (2010.1.26 19:36)

I'm on of those who missed seeing it in the theater, but this time, I definitely put my hands on it.


The reputation around those around me:

"When we do our job, we definitely wanna look like this."

Everybody gives it big praise, so I thought, well I might as well. (^_^)

How long have I looked forward to this day? (^_^)

So, well, let's not think about that. (^^;)

But before that, a meal:


Pardon me... It's the same menu every time. (bwahahah)

For a while now, my number of meals has been on the rise, so I used up all my leftover ingrediants in one meal. (^_^)

I made a half and half blend of the miso base I talked about last time and the miso base I usually use, and it turned out really nice. (^_^)

Everything's been amazingly tasty lately, too. (*joy*)

And also, the promised desert.


This is a new model of the usual. (^_^)

Man, people who develop this stuff, they really understand what I like. (^_^)

But, it's strawberries, STRAWBERRIES!! Strawberry shortcake... My favorite thing!

Mm? There's really nothing better? Man alive, everybody,

when you say cake, I saw strawberry. (^_^)

Certainly chocolate, and mont blanc, and chiffon, and cheese cake, these are all my favorite foods,

but now that you mention it, souveniers for my friends are combinations of cakes, and when I give a strawberry one,

I have to have confidence that I'm giving the best. (^_^)

Once in a while, as a test, I'll combine strawberry tart with strawberry bavarois or something. At times like that, I generally keep it for myself. (^_^)

So, well, I had a bunch of reaction stuff to say about the strawberries, (^^;)

but I write about it and I get massively hungry, so I'm gonna go eat something.

Well then well then~ Everybody have something delicious~

Sorry I was out for so long. (^^;) (2010.1.21 22:51)

I was a little kidnapped. (^^;)

Yeah, there was a snowy mountain preview. (bwahahah)

So, i'm really into cooking for myself lately, so I bought myself a present. (^_^)


With this miso base, I can make another pot meal. (^_^)

However, earlier this year, I felt like I'd never snowboarded (^^;) but thanks to this, I finally got my intuition back.

Lately, I've been reading some snowboarding stuff, but the stuff that's already written is so amazingly high level.

In Japan, snowboarding having a renaissance right now, so it can't really be helped,

A snowboarding magazine I saw a while ago had an article about "Beginning Level Tricks." Aaah, now these are just normal jumps. (^_^)

When I first started, 99% of snowboarders were beginners, too, so jumping put you right up at the head of a class that just did gliding,

although frankly, these days I've got a long ways to go even to get up to beginner level. (^^;)

Well, in my case, if I broke my arm, my life would pretty much be over (^^;) so I have to exercise some self control and careful caution (^_^) so maybe I'll just hold off on those jumps after all. (^_^)

Everbody, please have fun, but take care not to injure yourselves.

Well then well then~

A Late First Visit... (2010.1.16 22:40)

Belatedly, I finally went for my first temple visit of the new year.


When I pulled a fortune from the tiny pile that was left over (^^;) it said this year would have "Middling Luck." How delicately put...

Well, time's passed so quickly since New Year's Day, all the "Great Luck" ones were probably taken already... Yeah... Yeah, that's gotta be it... (^_^)

Hoping for my luck to go up, I stepped inside the shrine.

However, lately the fad of people visiting power spots has been growing, and there were a ton of people in there.

Somehow, when I get in places like that, my heart gets all weak. Maybe when the atmosphere clears up...

In that kind of a holy place, I prayed for world peace and world conquest again. (^_^)

So, when I got home, the obligatory "Chige"


Today's picture is from before I boiled it. (^_^) This is after I put in the bean curd and chives, and finished up with the all-purpose onion. I tentatively tossed in a small amount of chili pepper, too. (^_^)

This pot seems to be getting biggger and bigger with each passing day. (^^;)

Man... It's stragely a relief when the amount of food you can eat keeps going up. (bwahahah)

Although, by day three, I won't be getting full any more... (^^;) Well, of course I have to have a little brown rice, right.

Everybody here is not impossibly deliciously beautiful. (^_^)

I'm a little bored with these, we have to think up my next menu~ Well then well then~

Chige Diet (^_^) (2010.1.14 19:34)

For those of us who are overweight with New Year's overindulgence!!

I'm totally having a "flab" rebirth. (^^;)

The only way to lose weight is to stop eating so much, so I'll have to cross the starvation hell (^_^)

Lately the training's been hard, so I don't know if I can survive fasting though. (^^;)

Well, being healthy right now's difficult anyway (^^;) since I'm on the rebound.

For now, I'm trying no carb meals centered around vegetables, but my stomach's always empty empty... (big ^^;)

This way, I have a menu that has enough nutrition, and I burn calories efficiently, and my belly swells,

and I can slam on the "Tofu Chige." (^_^)

Tofu is full of protein, and vegetables have it too, and if you add capsaicin, it seems like you should be able to get a good burn from it, right? (^_^)

So, here's what I made. (^_^)


The base is my impression of a multi-use miso soup. I mixed some miso with some stronger dashi and added cabbage, bean sprouts, chives, hackberries, kinoko mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms... etc I added in all my favorite vegetables.

Then I stir fried in some sesame oil, pork, and garlic, and of course slipped in some gochujang (a korean chili paste) through the back door, and added some more sesame oil and kimchi.

In the end, I let some tofu in, to. If you like spicy stuff, you can pile on the Korean red pepper powder. (^_^)

And thus you have, something like, a simple "Tofu Chige."

They way it's all mixed together in the picture doesn't look that tasty, (^^;) but seriously, it was huge success. (^_^) That I could make something so delicious surprised even me. (^_^)

For preference, it might be even better with shellfish and seafood in it.

With my stomach firmly settled, and my body nice and warm, this week will be given over for taking recipies to their extremes. (^_^)

Have some, everybody, for those cold nights.

Avatar (2010.1.12 16:00)

All of you new adults, congratulations on becoming adults. You've got a lot of life from here, so don't give up on anything, really try and realize your own dreams.

Of course, for those of use who are a long ways off from the coming-of-age ceremony (^_^) we've got some time left, too, so let's all go for it.

So, this isn't connected to the coming-of-age ceremony in any way, but I went to see "Avatar" which has taken the town by storm.


This year is totally the "Year of 3D" so they're changing movies and tv into 3d,

and a 3d movie appeared her and there last year, but it seems that the first 3d movie to go epic is this "Avatar."

Incidentally, at "International CES" held in Las Vegas, which is the place for world appliance debuts, where domestic companies of course, and world consumer electronics companies gather, this 3d thing is a driving force,

so I think the days are near when even regular household TVs will have 3d. I've heard they're for sale in Japan this year.

So I got a little off subject, but, "Avatar."

WOW, IT IS COOL!! The graphics!! (^_^) Man, really cool!!

The level CG and stuff has finally reached, when kids see this, it's no different from reality. (^_^)

People who haven't seen it yet, this is a must. (^_^) See it in 3d if you can, and get fully into the world of the movie.

Well then well then everone, it suddenly got chilly, so beware of colds.

Just when I get to talk about the mild winter weather the other day... So, freezing. (^^;)

GIVE ME body heat~ (^_^)


[ well, your 'umble translator went and got herself Basement plan, not so hot for the Timely Translation plan. they will get done, YOUkun is still (and probably eternallly) cute and funny, but i think we're past the era of the 5 second turn around time. not that i've been having that for a while now. still. just thought you'd all like a warning. the next few months may be especially rocky, until i get set up in my new place. after i find a new place. anyway. see you on the flip side, minna~ ]

Sorry I kept you waiting. (2010.1.10 03:31)

I am back at last from a long trek to the snowy mountains. (^_^)


I went on this trip intending to drop the filth of last year's waves of busy,

but it took so long to get there, with every day slipping away...

Yeah... And my back pain further deteriorated. (^^;)

Finally, a vacation, but with my endurance slipping away, too, of course, my entire body snapped right into total exhaustion mode...

Tomorrow will definitely be maintenance again. (^_^)

Last year was one big explosion of frustration, but this year I was gonna go for it~

It's smack in the season of heavy snows, so it blizzards and blizzards (^_^) and right when the snow hit, of course I went out! (^_^)

The picture is from the day it finally cleared up. (^^;)

Although, it has been a mild winter so far... Well, if it's cold, it's cold,

but I always remember it being freezing in the winter when I was a kid.

It's not that far, but if we could go back even 10 years, I have a hunch it was plenty warm.

Eventually, when it would start snowing or something... When I think about that, it only gives me cause now to wonder when the heck I'm going skiing. (bwahahah)

Everyone, it's seriously cold, so take care not to get hurt and please enjoy your respective sports underwear.

Well then well then~




... Ah... My first shrine visit of the year... I haven't gone... (^^;)

Happy New Year (2010.1.3 20:28)

Well wishes at the new year. m(._.)m

Wrapped up in everybody's warm affections, last year turned out to be one hot year.

I've still got some skills to learn, but let's have a good time this year, too. Let's all have a great year.

We can still have new year's greetings this far into it. (^_^)

Did everyone jump off into the new year? (^_^)

We, like we do every year, were firmly made to jump.

Maybe we'll have our best jump in these 10 years? We must have been thinking something like that, so we jumped into the air to meet the new year. (^_^)

Halfway through the countdown,

we were counting, "Ten, nine, eight, seven..." we started asking, so, we jump at one? or at zero? (^^;)

Just at the last minute, we said, "Three, two, JUMP!!!" and when we jumped, right at the highest point of the jump, was timed perfectly when they announced, "PLOP."

So, we were perfectly airborn for the new year. (^_^) We instinctually called out with everybody else, "Ooo!!" (^_^)

People who didn't do the new year jump, should definitely challenge themselves to do it. It's an amazing rush. (^_^)

Well then well then, everyone, really, be careful about New Year's gorging. (bwahahah)

I just got back from a trip, and I'm going right out on another one for a while. (^_^)

New Year's Eve~ (2009.12.31 20:49)

In this, the last minutes of this New Year's Eve, I am really totally rattling. (^^;)

Halfway through spring cleaning... (^^;) Before long, we'll be looking over our shoulder at this year...

With the first step of this new year,

I hope everyone jumps off (^_^)

once again in to the sky. (^_^)

Well then well then, have a good year~

I'll be on a trip for a short while~

A Party on Fire (bwahahah) (2009.12.30 00:29)

Man oh man~ my fever didn't go down even a little bit, but at our traditional year end party, I was chugging down that sake,

and the next day, not only did I not have a hangover, but somehow my fever had gone down, and my cold was cured. (*shocking*)

Maybe that's the so-called alcohol disinfectant effect? (^_^) Plus my skin is all smooth. (*joy*) Sake can be scary... (^_^)

Ah, I guess I should say, all you good kids out there should definitely NOT try that at home. When you have a cold, stay warm and stay in bed. (^_^)

So, now that i'm healthy, it's time for some aimless wandering down to Harajuku...


I went to buy some sports outerwear.

By the grace of the store manager, I got a tidy discount. Dear me, there really are side benefits. (^_^) So I'll borroww this space to say,

To the mass of athletes around me, (^_^) I highly recommend them. m(._.)m

And of course to everyone else, too. (^_^)

So, there was some fashion underwear in town (^_^) but the ones I had for fatigue recovery were "SKINS," and this time I bought a supporter called "UNDER ARMOUR" to try out.

Seriously, though, this thing is really amazing. (^_^) Jump jump (^_^) * You might say it's a feeling of wearing a full body supporter, and I feel like my body's potential certainly went up.

People who do sports should definitely try wearing this.

I'm happy with mine, and went into training right away. (^_^) Incidently, I did more barbell lifts than usual. (^_^)

Well, "SKINS" and "UNDER ARMOUR" are ridiculously expensive, so when you buy them, there's a lot of hesitation, (^^;) but these really hit the mark.

I definitely recommend these to people who overwork their bodies.

Well then well then~ Everybody~

Sake for beautiful skin. (^_^)

And underwear for when you exercise. (^_^)

And it is with that sort of feeling that I conclude. (^_^)

So then, I've gotta do some spring cleaning... Just... great. (bwahahah)


[ * this is the onomatopoeia for a) jumping vigorously, b) being super healthy, or c) bouncing. i'll let you pick whichever you like best... ]

School's Closed~ (2009.12.27 03:33)

Man oh man oh man~

2 Days in Osaka~

That was really really hot.

Not that my whole body wasn't rattling already, but everybody's cheering from the stands fixed me right up.

Good job everybody, both days had MAX energy, and we had a couple of Lives perfect for ornamenting the end of this year.

That sense of unity was crazy. (^_^) Of course, it was Osaka. (^_^)

For helping us win the fight, truly I thank you. Honestly, with the force of that Kansai dialect, it felt like we knocked our opponent straight to the floor. (^_^)

Of course the takoyaki power was the strongest. (^_^) On the Shinkansen on the way back, I got wrapped up in feelings of gratitude, and ate some "takomusu." (^_^) *

So, I sadly passed Kyoto, was home from Osaka in a moment, arrived at home, had a light meal, and then my arm fell of. (^^;)

They say when you go to sleep right after you eat, you become a cow, but when I woke up, what I had was a cold. (big (^^;) )

Plus, I was sore all over, and even breathing hurt pretty bad.

I swore I was going to forge my body into perfect shape, but as usual I had a weak constitution... (^^;)

Well, this has been the hardest year in the past 10. (^_^) Before we cross over into the next year, I should do some firm body maintenance.

Maybe some spring cleaning after that? (^_^)

Everyone, seriously, please take care not to ruin your physical condition.

Well then well then, to celebrate the end of the year holidays, a toast!! Cold medicine!! (^_^)


[ * which is takoyaki (octopus dumplings) + omusubi (rice balls), of course. ]