You can't just stick your head in the sand every time you have a problem

It's nice to have a dream once in a while.

See what's going on.
Get real!

It's no sacrifice at all

If I have a child, I can raise the child all by myself.
If you can help me, I will be glad.
But I won't expect much from you.

You are the genius of wasting money.
I wish I could spend money like you.
It must have been tough to make a debt which is bigger than my housing loan.
It's a big achievement.

Infidelity. What a beautiful word!

I understand your infidelity

I know you can't help it.
It's your basic instinct.

Your silly lies make me sad.

How many times do I have to forgive you?
Thank you for making me strong.

Broken brains surely can learn something

I read a book about a doctor who had brain hemorrhage three times.
Her brain was seriously damaged but she made efforts and wrote this book.

Almost 50% of her brain is damaged, but she can now work as a rehabilitation doctor.
Every brain can learn something no matter how seriously damaged it is.

You should challenge, never give up if you have a broken brain.

"Broken brain and surviving intelligence" Yamada Kikuko

I would rather be vaguely right,

than precisely wrong.

John Maynard Keynes

Enjoy conflict in the workplace

I don't really understand other's sufferings or concerns.
Nobody understands my problem, either.
We are all different, so it's natural we don't get along well at work.
We misunderstand each other.
It doesn't mean we hate each other.

I hope not.

Keep a humble attitude

I feel as if I were the busiest person in the workplace.
That's funny.
I have to ask someone to help my work.
I don't have to do everything all by myself.

Cutting corners

When I don't have time or don't feel like writing anything, I take second best.

I remember Madonna's "Express yourself".

Don't go for second best.
Second best is never enough.

I understand.

Eye strain

I'm going to take a rest.

Use your imagination

I took the English speaking and writing test.
As I practiced yesterday, I could do pretty good today.
Speaking test doesn't mean interview test.
We took the test by using computers.
I was a little absent-minded for a short time, so I missed one question to answer.
It was a pity. I knew the answer.

At the writing test, I could manage to write a 300-word essay.
I was to express my opinion on a problem in the workplace.
I didn't have enough time to revise my essay in thirty minutes.
I had to write whatever came to my mind immediately.

I realized that I don't have to speak or write about true things in this kind of test.
I can use my imagination and express anything I like.

If I have an interview in English, I guess I can manage it.

What are the reasons for working except for making money?

Many people work for money because they need it to live.
But there is more to work than this.

Some people work to help others.
For example, doctors can make a lot of money but their job is too hard.
Even if they don't have time to take a rest they try to save patients' lives.

Professors work because they like to get new knowledges and teach them to the public.

Work is also good for old people. They should not stay at home alone.
If they have a will to work, they should do.
Because they can stay healthy both mentally and physically.
And they can make friends.

Teenagers should take a part time job.
They should know how hard it is to make money and they can learn how to get along with other people with variety age group.

A workplace may be a school for adults.
When you are small, you go to school everyday and learn a lot of things to live.
When you are big, you go to work and remember what you learned at school and apply it to the real problem.

Work can be fun if you learn from it.
It will be wonderful if you can make money by working with fun.


.....I wrote something like this at the practice test for writing.
This one is the last section. They gave me thirty minutes to write the essay.
Although essay needed more than 300 words, mine was about 200 words.
That's all right. I did my best.

The speaking practice was terrible.
I had to deal with some complaint.
A man is angry because the air conditioner doesn't work and the service person doesn't come but he is charged for the repair.
I'm sorry for that. What else can I say?

I still have a problem in making my opinion.
Practice,practice, practice!

English speaking and writing test

I'm going to take the exam on Sunday.

I bought a practice test to prepare for the exam but I don't feel like doing it now.
The exam is approaching.
I want to be confident when I speak foreign languages.

I like to study languages but why can't I speak?
I am too shy to speak even in my mother tongue.
But I can speak what is necessary at work.

I'll try to imagine speaking foreign languages is my job.

Dump the garbage completely

There are many bottles and other inflammable garbages.
I want to feel refreshed in a garbage-free apartment.

Will somebody help me?

Disaster prevention

It's been twelve years since the Great Hanshin Earthquake happened.
It's the year of wild boar again.

I've completely forgotten that we live in a fragile country.
They put an emphasis on crisis management.
I tend to think it's none of my business.

No, it's not good.
I should think about natural disaster more seriously.

Today is a good day to die

Today is also a good day to be born again.
It's never too late.

Learn from Native Americans.

Knowing you have a problem is half the battle.

Honesty is the best policy.

Spanish seminar

I attended a Spanish seminar.
There were only three students.
The teacher was very nice.
He knows many languages and has a lot of knowledge.

I realized I really like languages.
I hope I can make good use of my knowledge of languages and make money.

And I like people who like languages.

Dealing with unexpected

Life is full of unexpected events.
You usually live a clockwork life.
Is it interesting?

You shouldn't withdraw into your shell.
Try to meet other people.

Your friend always makes you surprise with his unexpected behavior.
It's natural because you are all different.
Don't you think you are too selfish?
You should know life doesn't always go the way you like.

Languages

I like languages.

I think I like them in academic point of view.

I like to study languages even if I can't use them.

It's fun to study them.
I will keep on studying.

Baby animals

I saw baby animals on TV.

They are so cute.
Especially baby pandas.
When you feel down, you need animal therapy.

I visited the same shrine which we go every year with my mother and my aunt.
How quickly a year passed!

When you visit a shrine, you should think of others.
You live a selfish life, so you should at least wish for others once a year.

You will be "pluted"....'06 Word of the year

To "pluto" is "to demote or devalue someone or something"

I don't want to be pluted.

Meet evil with evil.

Set a thief to catch a thief.
Devil must be driven out with devil.
Like cures like.

I will never give up.

Where is the winter?

It's not cold.
What's happening?
Global warming must be the reason.

It was "Coming of Age Day" yesterday.
I'm still on the way to grow up.

Eat veggies!

They say Hidetoshi Nakata doesn't eat vegetables.

I saw his documentary on TV yesterday.
He's traveling around the world.
At a restaurant in the Philippines(or Thailand?) he ordered only meat(beef or something) with no vegetables and no rice .

I hear he likes sweets.
Don't tell me he takes carbohydrates from sweets.
And how does he take vitamins?
Does he eat any fruits?
Or does he take supplements?

I think his eating habit has a bad influence on children.
Many children who likes soccer will learn from Nakata.
He should not be a bad example.

Why was he able to become a great soccer player with such a poor eating habit?

Hidetoshi Nakata travels around the world

Why does he travel after retiring?
His life as a professional soccer player is over.
Now he is looking for himself.

He says he wants to go everywhere in the world and to see what's going on out there.

He also wants to know the dark side of the world.
There are a lot of people suffering from poverty.

What does he get from this experience?
What is he going to do after his travel ends?

It's great to have enough money to do everything he wants to do.

Vienna New Year's Concert

I want to go there in the future.
Classical music usually sounds solemn but this concert is casual and friendly.

I think I like classical music when I see the concert on TV.
The members of the orchestra look relaxed and enjoy playing.
They are really having fun.

The music makes me want to practice playing the piano.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

KEEP TRYING!

Reaching the middle age

I'm going to be 39 years-old tomorrow.

What have I done in my life?
What am I going to leave when my life ends?

I want to leave my gene.
I've already lost three lives.
I want them to come back.

There are many celebrities who have babies in middle age.
I think I can do it, too.

What is my cat called?

A pimp?

An incident on a train

The train was very crowded.
A woman suddenly sat down on the floor and didn't move.
Everybody was indifferent at the sight.
Nobody tried to help her including me.
The woman got off at the next stop.

I don't know what happened next.

It's a big city we are living in.
There are many cold-hearted people like me.

Where did I lose my sincerity?

Be careful.
I am not perfect.
Learn from others.

Your sudden request

makes me upset.

You are always confusing me.
You should think twice before you ask me anything.

A cat has nine lives.
I want to be much stronger.

Day one

It's nice to start working on New Year's Day.

I take a different route to my workplace because the bus is not running at this time today.

I still haven't seen a flu patient yet this winter.
Are we going to be busy today?
What time can we go home?