Telephone Call

My wife got a phone call from a convenience store near my house yesterday. Apparently, my eldest son did something wrong there. As I mentioned before, he has ADHD, so he often act strangely. The staff of the store said that he had been reading some adult books there and trying to tear a couple of pages. Since he is already a 14 years old, it can't be helped to have such a strong desire as many young boys have. :D
Anyway, my wife rushed to the store and apologized to the store manager. The son did a great job the other day, the victory on the "GO competition", but he screwed it up by himself. When I got home and heard that news, I said to him like, "What you did is like what athletes win gold medals in Olympic games by taking illegal drugs, I mean, even though you did a terrific job, bad behavior makes a mess of the good result."

I'm rooted... X(


妻が昨日、コンビニエンスストアから電話を受けたそうです。どうやら、長男が何かしたらしい。前にも言ったことがありますが、彼はADHDなので、よく変な行動をします。店員が言うには、変な本を読んでいて、ページを破ろうとしていたらしい。まぁ、14歳の男の子ですから、そういう欲求があるのは仕方のないことなのですが。(笑)
とにかく、妻は店に飛んでいって、店長に謝罪したそうです。長男は先日、偉業を達成しました(囲碁大会で優勝)が、自分自身でそれを台無しにしてしまいましたね。私が帰宅して、そのことを聞いたとき、彼に言ってあげました。『お前のしたことは、運動選手が薬を使って、金メダルを取るようなものだ。つまり、良いことをしても、後で悪いことしたら、意味ないでしょ？』と・・・。

めっちゃ疲れた。(ToT)

Son Wins Go Competition

[Notice:注意]
The English edition doesn't necessarily correspond to the Japanese one.
必ずしも英語版と日本語版は、一致しません。(^^♪

My eldest son is really crazy about "Go" and "Syogi", so he belongs to the Go and Syogi club in his junior high school. As far as I know, he is the strongest student of the club members. The advisory teacher of the club recommended the other day that he take part in the competition held in Wakayama prefecture yesterday. Of course, he took part in it and won the tournament! I knew he could do it! As soon as he got home yesterday, he showed my wife and me the trophy. We are really glad and complimented him on his victory, of course.

Actually, he has ADHD as some of my friends know. ADHD stands for "attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder". Therefore, it's sometimes tough for us to deal with him. Even though he has it, he did very well. That's one of the reasons my wife and I were really happy to hear that he had won the match.

私の長男は、碁と将棋が大好き。だから、中学校で『囲碁・将棋クラブ』に所属してます。私が知る限りでは、彼が一番強いそうです。先日、顧問の先生が和歌山で開催される大会に参加するように薦めてくれました。もちろん、彼は大会に参加して、優勝しました！さすが！彼は帰宅するとすぐに、嫁さんと私に優勝トロフィーを見せてくれました。もちろん、めっちゃ嬉しくて、彼を褒めてあげましたよ。(^^♪

実は、友人の何人かはご存知でしょうけど、彼はADHDなのです。ADHDは、『注意欠陥多動性症候群』の略です。それゆえに、時々、彼を扱うのは難しい・・・。にも関わらず、彼はよくやりました。まぁ、それが嬉しかった一つの理由ですね。(^^♪

Knitting & USB memory

[Notice:注意] The English edition doesn't necessarily correspond to the Japanese one. 必ずしも英語版と日本語版は、一致しません。(^^♪

Since yesterday was my birthday, I expected someone got me something nice. But, unfortunately nobody gave me any presents. (ToT) There was just a cute thing when I was having dinner alone after work. My six-year-old daughter was knitting something, so I asked her what she had been knitting. She replied to me that it was a muffler. As soon as she replied, of course I asked her again who she was going to give it. I wanted her to said like, "Of course, I'm giving Dad this!" However... no reply.... (ToT) I wonder when I can get a muffler that she knitted by hand....

To change the subject, I bought a USB flash memory at an Internet shopping site, to use it as a virtual memory. As you know, most operating systems, such as Windows XP and UNIX, support virtual storage access method. A friend recommended the other day that I should install a USB memory to use my PC comfortably, because the speed of accessing USB flash memories is much faster than that of accessing hard disk drives. It doesn't seem to run faster than I expected so far tough. :p


昨日は私の誕生日。誰か、なんかプレゼントくれるかなぁ、と期待してたけど、誰もくれませんでした。(ToT) ただ、夕食を食べていたときに、かわいい出来事がありました。6歳になる娘が、何か編んでいる！『何を編んでるの？』と聞くと、『マフラー』との答え。『誰にあげるの？』とさらに質問。『もちろん、お父さん！』という返事を期待していたけど・・・返事なし。(ToT) いつ、娘が編んだマフラーをもらえるのかなぁ・・・

話題は変わって、ネットショップでUSBメモリを買いました。仮想メモリとして使うために。ご存知のように、ほとんどのOS(例えば、Windows XPとか、UNIX)は、仮想記憶アクセス方式をサポートしています。友人が先日、PCを快適に使うために、USBメモリを使うように薦めてくれたのです。USBメモリのアクセス速度は、ハードディスクよりもはるかに速いから。今のところ、期待したほど速いようには見えませんけどね。(^^♪

MUST work!

[Notice:注意]
The English edition doesn't necessarily correspond to the Japanese one.
必ずしも英語版と日本語版は、一致しません。(^^♪

I have to work in my factory from today, but unfortunately my wife hasn't woken up yet. She seems to be still in the New Year holiday. I mean, I have to be off to work without having breakfast. Holy shit!
I can't complain because I work for her, I mean, I don't work for my kids and global environment. Since my factory belongs to a kind of recycling industries, I can't work too hard for the earth. I'm proud of my work as a way to fight against global warming.
Umm... today's journal is too short, isn't it? (^^)

今日から、仕事に行きます。でも・・・嫁さんは未だ起きてこない。寝てるし・・・どうやら、まだ新年の休暇中と思ってるみたいやね。つまり、朝ごはん無しで、仕事に出かけなくちゃいけないってこと。なんてこったい・・・(ToT)
まぁ、不平を言うことはできませんね。ヤツのために働いてるんじゃないから。ワシは、子供のため、そして地球環境のために働いているのです。私の工場は、リサイクル産業の一種で、地球のためにどんなに働いても、働きすぎということはないのです。地球温暖化と戦う一つの手段として、私は私の仕事を誇りに思います。
う～む・・・今日の日記は、短すぎるな。(笑)

Lucky or Unlucky?

Last night I had a really great time with the whole gang of my friends, including some foreign guys, in the party held for the American guy I mentioned yesterday. Actually, I know my English skills, especially speaking skills, are still not good enough to do business with foreigners, but I'd like to do that someday. On the other hand, I often have a chat with non-Japanese in English, that's to say, I'm a little good only at casual talking, and so I'd like to master particularly polite and business English this year.

Now, I'm thinking how I should spend my free time today. I wasn't going out today until this morning but my wife recommended that I go away tonight. She seems to want to relax at home without me because she doesn't have to prepare anything to eat for me when I'm out. Could it be that I'm a kind of nuisance for her? X( By the way, "nuisance" means a person or thing is in the way of someone, right? Anyway, I can go out alone tonight and spend my free time doing something nice. However, I wonder if I'm lucky to be able to go out freely or not...LOL

昨夜、数人の外国人を含む大勢の友人達と、昨日述べたアメリカ人のために開かれたパーティで、すごく楽しい時間を過ごせました。実は、私の英語の能力、特に話す能力は、外国人と仕事するレベルには十分ではないのですが、いつかそういう仕事をしてみたいのです。一方で、外国人と英語で、しばしば、おしゃべりをすることがあります。つまり、カジュアルな会話だったら、ちょっとだけ得意ってこと。それで、今年は特に、丁寧な英語と、ビジネス英語を修得したいのです。

さて、今日の自由時間をどう使おうか考えています。今朝までは、今日は外出しないつもりだったのですが、嫁さんが私に今夜出掛けることを薦めるのです。どうやら、私抜きで、家でリラックスしたいみたい。だって、私が外出するときは、何も食べ物を用意する必要ないからね。ひょっとして、私は妻にとって邪魔ものなのでしょうか？(>_<) ところで、"nuisance"というのは、人の行く手を遮る邪魔者という意味ですよね？とにかく、今夜は一人で出掛けて、自由に時間を使うことができる。けれども、自由に出掛けることができるのが、はたしてラッキーなのかどうなのか・・・(笑)

Visit Temple for New Year

My family and I went to Negoro Temple in Wakayama prefecture today as this year's first visit to shrines or temples. The custom is one of famous Japanese traditional events during new year seasons, and so, most Japanese people visit a shrine or temple during the time to make a wish for happy things that they hope will happen this year.
I prayed for good business results and a little more hair on my head. As a matter of fact, I lose my hair year after year. I can no longer allow myself to lose my hair, otherwise I'll go bald completely someday....(ToT)

To change the subject, I have to go to a bar in Izumisano city tonight, in order to attend the party that is held for an American guy, who came back to Japan at the end of last year and goes back to the United States this weekend. The party must be crazy because of many funny guys including me. :-P

今日は、家族を連れて、和歌山にある根来寺に初詣に行って来ました。この習慣は、新年における日本の有名な伝統行事の一つで、ほとんどの日本人がこの時期に神社やお寺を訪れ、今年に期待する願い事をします。
私は、商売繁盛と、もう少し髪の毛が生えてくれるように祈りました。実際のところ、年々私の髪の毛は薄くなっていってます。もはや、これ以上髪の毛が薄くなるわけにはいかない。さもなくば、いつか完璧にハゲてしまう・・・(ToT)

話題は変わって、今夜は泉佐野のバーに行かなくちゃいけません。某アメリカ人(去年の暮れに日本にやってきて、今週末アメリカに帰ってしまうのです)のために開かれるパーティに参加するために。面白い奴ら(俺を含めて)が来るから、クレイジーなパーティになるやろうなぁ・・・

Sink into Drinking

This afternoon I'm going to my wife's hometown to greet my parents-in-law for the new year. That's a kind of tradition that I have to do every new year season. They always prepare nice meal and a large amount of alcohol for us. Besides I have to go to Umeda, a northern part of Osaka city, tonight in order to have a reunion with my old friends, who work for the computer company I used to work for. Of course we are going to drink a lot there. I MUST get fat during the new year season because of tons of nice meal and a huge amount of booze. :)

今日の午後、義父母に新年の挨拶をするために、嫁さんの実家に行きます。毎年新年の恒例みたいなもんです。いつも彼らは、ナイスな食事と沢山の酒を用意してくれます。さらに、今夜、私は梅田(大阪市の北部)で旧友と再会します。彼らは、以前、私が勤めていたコンピュータ会社に勤務しています。もちろん、沢山飲むことになりそう。この正月シーズンで、大量の旨い食事と酒で、太ってしまうに違いない。(笑)

Happy New Year

Happy New Year. Be counting on you this year!
May the new year bring you health, happiness and prosperity.

Let me try to go on writing my diary here in both English and Japanese as long as I can this year!

あけましておめでとうございます！今年もよろしく！
新しい年があなたに健康と幸福と繁栄をもたらしますように。

今年も出来る限り、ここに英語と日本語両方で日記を書き続けるように挑戦します！

Open Day

Sunday, November twenty fifth, two thousand and seven

There was a cute event in the primary school two of my children belong to the day before yesterday, a national holiday called "Labor Thanksgiving Day" in Japan. Parents visited the school to see the students' performances, such as chorus and musical performance, that's to say, it was an open day. Let me upload a couple of pictures and a movie below. :D

『授業参観日』
2007年11月25日

一昨日、つまり日本では『勤労感謝の日』の祝日、可愛いイベントが、私の二人の子供が所属する小学校でありました。親達は学校で生徒たちのパフォーマンス(例えば、合唱や演奏)を見るために、学校へ。つまり、授業参観の日だったのですね。いくつか写真とビデオを以下にアップロードしますね。(^^♪

Early Bird

Tuesday, October ninth, two thousand and seven

I usually wake up naturally at the crack of dawn, therefore many people say I'm definitely a morning person(early bird). When I was young(Should I say "when I was younger"? :D), I was a night owl(night person) as most young people are. Since I'm already on the wrong side of 40, maybe it can't be helped to awake early morning. Anyway, the time from when I awake until when I leave for work is an important for me to study English actually. However, too much noise made by my kids and the mother of them often gets in my hair, especially her loud screaming toward the kids really drives me bananas. Some of my friends say, my wife is so nice that I must be very happy. In a pig's eye!
Anyhow, they usually get up around 6 am, so I came up with a good idea dealing with the matter, that's is being off to my factory around 6 am with some books, that's to say, I can study English at home from when I get up until 6 am and at my factory from 6 am until when I start working.

"quotes from LONGMAN Dictionary of Contemporary English"
get in somebody's hair (informal): to annoy someone, especially by always being near them
in a pig's eye [American English] (spoken, informal): used to show that you do not believe what someone is saying

Relatively Cool

Wednesday, October third, two thousand and seven

Finally this autumn has just come in Osaka, Japan. Since it's cool compared to last month, I can work in my factory sort of comfortably and feel little stress. I have tons of back-orders still, though. :-<
Anyway, autumn could be the best season for any activity - such as sports, hiking and having a BBQ! I'm dying for having a BBQ or else I wouldn't have enough energy to live! Actually these days I can't have dinner with my family on week days due to the recent busy situation. Honestly, I really like to see my children eating with a smile. Because I'm the breadwinner, it's a responsibility of mine to work for feeding them. Anytime I see them digging in, that makes me think working hard is worth it and pays off. On the other hand, it's one of my pleasures to go out alone for a drink. If my physical condition allows me to go out this Saturday night, I WILL go get a drink after chatting in English at a branch of NOVA!

Go to Wakayama

Sunday, September ninth, two thousand and seven

Every Sunday I usually have to do something nice for my family instead of spending my spare time freely on Saturdays. Fortunately, I can visit Wakayama branch of NOVA today, however. Actually, my eldest son is completely crazy about playing "Syougi(Japanese chess)" and "Go". So he asked me to take him to a big competition hall of that kind of games in Wakayama. Since he seems to want to play those games for hours, I had to figure out how I kill time while waiting for him there...
After a while I came up with a great idea, that's to attend some free conversation lessons in Wakayama branch of NOVA. I actually know some teachers who belong to the branch because some of them had come to the small branch I used to go to as substitute teachers(= help teachers?) before I moved to the one I belong to now. I'm looking forward to having a reunion with them.

Sea Bathing Nearby

Tuesday, August fourteenth, two thousand and seven

I took my third son and daughter to the beach near my house to swim in the sea. Because my wife-in-law(^^) and eldest son refused to go there together, I had to take care of the two kids alone. X(

Let me upload two pictures I took at the beach.




You can see Kansai international airport, where the second runway has just come into operation, behind my kids in the first photo. In the second one, you can see a big shopping mall in the back. Actually, I used to be a student of the NOVA's branch in the mall.

Watching DVD with my kids

Saturday, August eleventh, two thousand and seven

Last night my eldest son and third son asked me like, "Dad, we would like to watch the DVD you often watch!" I didn't understand what DVD they want to watch at first, actually.
No way! Adult DVDs????? NO! Honestly, I DON'T have such a kind of DVDs!
They went on like, "Rio... whatchamacallit...."
I realized what DVD they had mentioned; that is to say, they wanted to watch the DVD that is called "Rock in RIO" and that is presented by IRON MAIDEN.
Like father, like son! They seem to like the DVD. Generally, IRON MAIDEN is categorized as "Heavy Metal"; in fact, they are still one of the greatest British heavy metal band.
I recommend watching the DVD to anyone who usually doesn't listen to heavy metal. Whenever watching the content, I don't think they are older than me through the energetic performance. There are some melodious numbers; on the other hand, they are sometimes excited with the Brazilian audience. In my case, I MUST watch the DVD at least once a week. :)

Doing The Dishes

My 6-year-old daughter is doing the dishes for the first time to help her mother. Her figure in the movie is super cute, isn't it? (^^;

10th Anniversary

Tuesday, July tenth, two thousand and seven

Today is one of the most unforgettable days for me actually. Ten years ago today my second son passed away because of his terrible heart problem, and he also had Down syndrome. As is well known, those who have Down syndrome tend to have heart problems from birth. Let me visit his grave after work today to pray for his soul.

There are some web pages for him that made by me years ago. Access them if you like. The contents are written in Japanese though.
http://www.geocities.jp/prowler7010/naoto/index.html

Dad's 76th Birthday

Friday, June twenty ninth, two thousand and seven

I decided to write my English diary everyday at the beginning of this year as a new year's resolution, but my recent health condition doesn't allow me to do that. My job really has worn me out lately. That's why I was absent from this blog space for a few days. Besides, I've been suffering from a terrible backache as I mentioned it the other day. It's been one of those days! Frankly speaking, I can't help but feel that I'm no spring chicken. (^^;

Taking of "one of those days", one of my American friends taught me the phrase while he was in Japan. It is used to say that everything seems to be going wrong, according to my English-English dictionary. Whenever I use the phrase in English conversation, it reminds me of his face and nice memories. Nostalgic... (^^;

Anyway, today is my father's 76th birthday. My family already had a party with my brother's family last Saturday, which combined with my third son's birthday party. Next year we'll have to hold a big party for him. He's going to be 77 years old on the same day next year, which means that he's going to reach "喜寿(kiju)", one of special birthdays for Japanese people. Those who reaches 77 years old are mostly celebrated by their families for having the long life. The Chinese character "喜" used to be written with three "七"s in Japan, "七" means "seven" in Japanese, and also "寿" is a formal word to describe happy things... maybe. That's the reason 77 years old is also called "喜寿" in Japan. Even though "喜" used to be written with three "七"s, "喜寿" doesn't mean 777 years old. (^^; It's impossible for anyone to have such a long life as you know!

Lazy Diary

Sunday, June twenty fourth, two thousand and seven

Today I'm under the weather, so I can't write long English sentences. Let me just upload some pictures I took during my third son's birthday party yesterday.
I'm going to take a shot nap to get rid of my fatigue and go out alone to take some English free conversation classes this afternoon.

Son's 9th Birthday

Saturday, June twenty third, two thousand and seven

It's my third son's ninth birthday today. As I wrote an article here, we are having a BBQ party at home. Let me pick up tons of food stuff this afternoon. But before that, I have to go see a doctor because of my terrible backache and stiff neck caused by the recent busy job, I guess. I'm going to have a massage and electric therapy or acupuncture treatment. Therefore, I can't take English lessons today as usual Saturday. Let me take them tomorrow instead. I MUST speak English a lot more! In fact, these days I feel like my English skills are turning down(going down?) actually.

Anyway, I'll post some pictures of the party later if I can take nice ones.


electric therapy: 電気治療
acupuncture treatment: 鍼治療

BBQ For 2 Birthdays

Friday, June twenty second, two thousand and seven

It's my third son's 9th birthday tomorrow, and besides, my father's 76th one is June 29th. We were planning to have a party on June 30th but have just rescheduled it. My brother's family and us are having a BBQ tomorrow at my place to celebrate their birthdays. We are having a party with my brother's family after a long time, so it will become a kind of crazy party because of many noisy kids! Actually, each of us has three kids. They are so energetic that I'm afraid of my house being crashed by them. Anyway, let me prepare tons of meat! Plus I have to.... NO! MUST prepare lots of BEER! There's no more delicious one than cold beer in such hot weather. I can't help but swallow a huge amount of beer! In fact, on a day like recent hot climate, I would do anything for cold beer!