MEGA MAC

A special in Japan a month back or so. So popular that it often sold out by dinner time at many of the McDonalds. If ya missed out, you could get a coupon for a discounted Mega Mac.

HERE COMES

Here comes spring! Cherry blossom viewing is around the corner!
もうすぐ春に来ます。花見を見たい!

TRAIN SUNSET

A sunset of train wires on the Hankyu line.

RUNNING SMALL

Sometimes it amazes me in Japan how things are sometimes. In the big city kids who wouldn't even come up to my waist are taking the train with their friends. No parents, no supervision, just the little group of them, I would guess they are maybe 1st graders or 2nd graders. In America that wouldn't happen, of course the first question to them would be "Where is your parent?","Oh, my parent is out playing pachinko". But the kids are so cute riding on the train. Here is a photo of them weaving through grownup traffic after getting off the train.

FERRIS BASKETBALL CHAMPS AGAIN

** Photo from Seattle Times
Earlier in the week I noticed that my high school, Ferris was back in the 4A Washington state tourney. Then checked again, low and behold another state trophy for the school, better luck next time you Franklin Quakers!! ha ha ha.

I remember back in the days going to watch the bball games, going to state every year. Watching coach Gillman work his magic, it surely was inspirational especially when I taught my junior high kids here in Japan. Jeez, they just get bigger every year, this year team had a student, Casto who was 6-8 and he is only a junior! Also on the team is the nephew of John Stockton, Shawn. Props out to the players. Ah and last props to the Lewis and Clark Tigers girls team, school rival, but winner of this year state girls 4A bracket. A double sweep for the eastside! Go country teams! Seattle Times article <-- click here for article

IN THE HOT SEAT

Yeah thats my chair and my ass burning up everyday. Sometimes it feels good and sometimes its a bit toasty. Was so glad it was natural gas this year, much cleaner than the ghetto oil gas that stinks. Well everything was peachie until this morning. When in the morning meeting the VP was talking something about the heater, then held up a brochure, then pointed at the one I was sitting by. Found out that there is some sort of problem with them, not sure what, but they gotta be fixed. Great, dumb heater ...

CRAZY?

Crazy is probably what all my teachers and thought of me today at school. Why? Because I was wearing a short sleeve t-shirt (mind you, 3 layers). I was fine, and the sun was shinning, it was a nice 54 degrees as a high, kinda felt like a Seattle spring. But teachers and kids were still in winter mode. Whispers went around, "hansode? 半そで? short sleeves?", "are you hot? atsui desuka? 暑いですか?", "oh, it must be because he is young, wakai kara, 若いから". Mmm .. this is the land where all elementary kids go to school in shorts, even when its snowing, and girls wear skirts year round. It was fun, maybe I will wear short sleeves again this week. 　

BLACK AND YELLOW

Colors of the Hanshin Tigers and also a rail road crossing.

HANKYU 阪急電車

Hankyu is one of the 3 major train lines in the Hanshin (Kobe and Osaka ) area. Of course its my favorite, the main station (Nishinomiya Kita Guchi) is by my home, fares are cheap, its clean, not too crowdy, train comes every 7 minutes, and it takes only about 20 minutes to get to either Umeda/Osaka or Sannomiya/Kobe. Its great until about the end of February when I have to move again, dang.

THE NEW YANKEE

Good luck to Mr. Igawa. From Hanshin Tigers to New York Yankees. (took this pic when I was walking around Koshein Stadium in Nishinomiya)

MORE PHOTO BOOTH

Poor guy can't get his head in the circle, (diagram to show you how to get the perfect picture) and when he does, he is still sad. Isn't he supposed to be happy getting it in there?

AT THE PHOTO BOOTH

You know it's a little old skool if it still says "FRESH".

HONEST MARKETING

Gotta love it, honest marketing in Japan, no beating around the bush, and they even show you its fake, great!

SUPER BOWL BET

I love you Colts for winning the Super Bowl and winning me that Guinness beer. Made a friendly beer bet with Ken at the local bar in town.
The Colts beat the Bears 29-17, finally good man Peyton Manning won. I like to see a good guy win.

IN THE PARK

It was a nice winter day for a walk in the park, and other people thought so too.

SUPER BOWL

Super Bowl Sunday is Super Bowl Monday here, damn! 815am for game time, thats not gonna work. Anyways, GO COLTS!

LUST FOR BUST GAME

Look but don't get caught, this funny game I first saw on a Japanese TV show. Rules of the game are easy, try to sneak a peak at the girls bust (using your mouse), within a couple of seconds, or if you get caught sneaking a peak, game is over as a big beer can comes crushing down on your head. The Japanese comedians were trying to master the game several times, but with no luck. So I thought I would try it myself. If you wanna play, check it out lust for bust game

VICTORY IS OURS!

Yeah baby, got my ooooooogle on!!

WII

Gramps plays Wii, and grandma cheers i think. This is a screenshot of some of the people playing the new Wii. I was bored so I checked out the new Nintendo Wii site, and wow do the games look really cool!! Makes me wanna get a Wii too! Forget that overpriced PS3 crap, give me Wii!!!

FUCKIN COOL!

Sometimes it's cold in Japan, but how cold is it? ....