What is Your Ecological Footprint?

The ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on the earth's ecosystems.

My ecological footprint was 3.8.
If everyone in the world lived like me, we would need 2.3 planets to support global consumption! How scary...

What is Your Ecological Footprint?
The site is for UK citizens, but try out!
It is interesting to test to find out what choices make the biggest differences.

Anyway, there are many ecological movements around us these days.
This morning, I saw kids interviewed on the television and I was impressed to know they have knowledge of environmental issues!

What I do everyday is I bring my bag to shop at supermarkets. (I don't use plastic bags.)
I carry a bottle of water, using the same plastic bottle, everyday instead of getting a new one.
I try to reduce my garbage...

Hmm... What else...

What do you do to reduce your ecological footprint?!

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Caffeine Efficacy

Oh boy! I'm so sleepy to work!!!

How many cups of coffee do you drink a day?

I limit to one cup a day, without sugar or cream.
Why? Because perhaps it might not work (to wake up) if I get used to consume too much caffeine!!!
Also, I heard high intake of caffeine will make your skin dull and cause pimples :(

Anyway, I am always troubled by sudden sleep at around 3PM, a few hours after lunch! Damn it!!!

I just had a cup of coffee, so now I am okay, though ;)

Stay awake!!!

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Happy Drinking :)

I was slightly drunk yesterday, while cooking.
I don't drink every day nor do I drink in the kitchen, but I had to use the apricot wine (Shinluchu) for my recipe, so I had to taste it. The wine was fruity and refreshing! It was more delicious than I expected.

After a while, I was slightly drunk, and surprisingly, I was in good form! I had many deadlines due May 31st, but I could finish them within a time frame!!! My work came out pretty good, too.

Don't you think sometimes you get the idea for your art while drinking?!

I don't want to depend on drinking, so I don't recommend it, though...

Anyway, it is already June! Time flies!!!
I hope there is no rain this week...

Bye for now :)

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Oops, Snake !!!

Sorry you all. I am posting something other than food.

Almost a week ago, my boyfriend found a snake on a path by a river, just a few seconds away from our home. Jo's Gardner snakes reminded me of this.

How scary!

But I'm glad to know that there is wilderness left in Tokyo.
Or did he escape from somewhere else?! Hope not...

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Hawaiian Tableware

Don't you think this tableware cute?

Sorry maybe just me, at this moment. My picture is not good, but I found this Hawaiian tableware at the shopping mall in Odaiba. It is funny that because I started hula, things from Hawaii look so cute. I am always like this, so my boyfriend is beyond criticism. Ha-ha. Don't worry, I'm not gonna get any. I think I need to get a pa'u skirt first ;)

Tomorrow, I have a hula class again, so I need to practice before I go to bed.

Good night!!!

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Rules for Success

I just came across with Bob Parsons' article...
Wow! I totally agree with him!

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Bob Parsons 16 Rules for Success in Business & Life in General

1. Get and stay out of your comfort zone.
I believe that not much happens of any significance when we're in our comfort zone. I hear people say, "But I'm concerned about security." My response to that is simple: "Security is for cadavers."

2. Never give up.
Almost nothing works the first time it's attempted. Just because what you're doing does not seem to be working, doesn't mean it won't work. It just means that it might not work the way you're doing it. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, and you wouldn't have an opportunity.

3. When you’re ready to quit, you’re closer than you think.
There's an old Chinese saying that I just love, and I believe it is so true. It goes like this: "The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed."

4. With regard to whatever worries you, not only accept the worst thing that could happen, but make it a point to quantify what the worst thing could be.
Very seldom will the worst consequence be anywhere near as bad as a cloud of "undefined consequences." My father would tell me early on, when I was struggling and losing my shirt trying to get Parsons Technology going, "Well, Robert, if it doesn't work, they can't eat you."

5. Focus on what you want to have happen.
Remember that old saying, "As you think, so shall you be."

6. Take things a day at a time.
No matter how difficult your situation is, you can get through it if you don't look too far into the future, and focus on the present moment. You can get through anything one day at a time.

7. Always be moving forward.
Never stop investing. Never stop improving. Never stop doing something new. The moment you stop improving your organization, it starts to die. Make it your goal to be better each and every day, in some small way. Remember the Japanese concept of Kaizen. Small daily improvements eventually result in huge advantages.

8. Be quick to decide.
Remember what General George S. Patton said: "A good plan violently executed today is far and away better than a perfect plan tomorrow."

9. Measure everything of significance.
I swear this is true. Anything that is measured and watched, improves.

10. Anything that is not managed will deteriorate.
If you want to uncover problems you don't know about, take a few moments and look closely at the areas you haven't examined for a while. I guarantee you problems will be there.

11. Pay attention to your competitors, but pay more attention to what you’re doing.
When you look at your competitors, remember that everything looks perfect at a distance. Even the planet Earth, if you get far enough into space, looks like a peaceful place.

12. Never let anybody push you around.
In our society, with our laws and even playing field, you have just as much right to what you're doing as anyone else, provided that what you're doing is legal.

13. Never expect life to be fair.
Life isn't fair. You make your own breaks. You'll be doing good if the only meaning fair has to you, is something that you pay when you get on a bus (i.e., fare).

14. Solve your own problems.
You'll find that by coming up with your own solutions, you'll develop a competitive edge. Masura Ibuka, the co-founder of SONY, said it best: "You never succeed in technology, business, or anything by following the others." There's also an old Asian saying that I remind myself of frequently. It goes like this: "A wise man keeps his own counsel."

15. Don’t take yourself too seriously.
Lighten up. Often, at least half of what we accomplish is due to luck. None of us are in control as much as we like to think we are.

16. There’s always a reason to smile.
Find it. After all, you're really lucky just to be alive. Life is short. More and more, I agree with my little brother. He always reminds me: “We’re not here for a long time, we’re here for a good time!”

Copyright © 2005-2009 Bob Parsons. All rights reserved.
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#15 makes sense! I always think 50% of my success depends on my luck...

But sometimes I want to believe "There is only one success, that is to be able to spend your life in your own way. (by Christopher Morley)"

What do you think?!

Oh gosh, I haven't been cooking for a few days since I couldn't concentrate on it. I need to cheer myself up!

It's sunny today!
I'm gonna have lunch outside with my co-worker again!
At the same cafe, merce-san ;)

Have a great one!!!

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Bento Box for Onigiri

Hi! It is getting warmer day by day. Now the high is 68F (20C)!

I found cute bento boxes for onigiri! You can carry a side dish in it, too :)

Anyway, I am still having worries about my boyfriend... He says there is no problem but I just doubt him... I sometimes feel I should have got married sooner. If we have a child, he/she will be a link between us. I am doing fine, but I realized our relationship is very fragile after 6 years!!! I hope I can get over this feeling... If I could, I believe we can be happy later. I know my work is important, but my love is more important now! Love is truly without reason! I can't do anything else!!!

Sorry about this...
See you again with a different topic the next time!

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Sakura Season...

Sakura was almost in full bloom yesterday. (These pics are from yesterday.) Today, the high is 64F (18C), so I hope all buds open up!

Anyway, I attended my grandpa's funeral in Shiga the other day. He died at age of 94. He lived a full life! Since he was a monk, his ceremony was held at his temple, Konnenji (the temple is famous for 600-year-old pine tree). More than 13 monks came and recited a sutra. It was a gorgeous ceremony!

During his life, I remember he was very close to grandma. He commuted everyday to see her when she was hospitalized. When they were young, they enjoyed traveling around different places every year. They were always together! I still can't believe he is gone. My grandma should be sad... the time is surely passing...

While I was very saddened, my smallest sister (I don't know whether I wrote this before or not, but she is mentally deficient) told me that our grandpa is always in our heart. He is not dead! She was so sweet... I thought I need to live long for him!!!

It was freezing cold in Shiga, but sakura there was nice, too. It was his dream to die under sakura trees. He should be happy! May he rest in peace.

The image on the right is the food we had on the last day. We were all busy preparing for the ceremony but we had a good time with our relatives!

I am going to the gym now since it remodeled on April 1st! This is why I am early this morning ;) Also, today is my boyfriend's birthday, so I have a plan this afternoon! Getting busy now!!! See you again :)

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Sakura is in Delay

Hello! The high is 53F (12C) and chilly almost daily, so the sakura buds are still closed. However the closest viewing spot is now illuminated :( They will end the light-up on 4/1! I think they should extend the time...

Anyway, there are too many unpleasant things going on around me. I am keep on losing Cookpad's contests. My effort won't match with results!!! They don't offer that big prizes so it is not about the prize, but the recognition for my effort! Damn it!!! Then yesterday, I was sorry to see that Mao Asada couldn't stand on the podium at ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2009. I hope she can do it the next time! Then about my grandpa, he passed away on the 29th. In ordinary circumstances, the wake and funeral will be held immediately, but since my grandpa was a monk, we need to wait until related parties to hold a mass. I am very shocked to hear about his death, but what made me more nervous is my boyfriend... A girl is calling his cell at night! Can you believe it!? He doesn't change his attitude towards me, so I might be wrong... I want to believe I am wrong!!!

Sorry for my complaints...
I hope everything will be fine when spring comes!
Fight!!!

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Ichiro Led Japan to WBC Title

Hi! It is cloudy, rainy, and cold again :(
Cherry blossoms are not yet blooming.



This morning, WBC was featured in most of TV programs! I was not that crazy about the game, but when I saw Ichiro smiling and happily accepting an interview, I felt something quite important to it. He usually keeps a straight face, you know!

Anyway, tonight I have to attend a convivial party after work. It is mandatory... The party will be held at the same Italian restaurant as last year. Last year I forgot to bring my camera with me, so this year I did! I will post the pictures if I get nice and yummy shots of foods!

May I complain about something?!
I think there are too many point services around us! Credit points, airline points, shopping points, etc... I just realized my Internet points have expired before I redeem them. I try to remember expiration dates for all but unfortunately those points were managed by my boyfriend, so it was lost before I realize it :( Anyway, I wish at least those points can be easily transferred to the other point services, so that I can manage them easily...

That's it for now!

Talk to you again soon ;)

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Point Cards

Do you get point cards if available?

I do, but I don't want to carry many cards with me so sometimes I deliberate a long time. In January, the cafe I used to go closed, so I started go to a different cafe near station. For the first 2 times, I thought I wouldn't go there that often, so I didn't make a point card, but on Saturday, when I went there for the 3rd time, I thought I should better make one. At the register, the cashier told me that if I have the receipts of the past purchases, I can still get points! However, I realized that I have shredded them the day before when I organized my wallet...
But sometimes I have a run of luck! The receipts I shredded got jammed, so I gave up and threw away as-is. Do you think I can get points with those?!

Changing my story, I have sore muscles all over the body... Yesterday, the personal trainer came to me and talked to me for about an hour (about enrolling the program, etc...) while I was training on the step machine. I was actually exhausted but since he is a trainer, I thought I shouldn't stop exercising... How pretentious of me...

The weather is not nice again. But it seems like everyone is healthy under this bad weather. Funny but many people around me got sick when the sun came out! My orthodontist went into the hospital last week :( I hope he gets well soon and hope my braces won't break until he comes back...

Take care!!!

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Now Solved the Problem!!!

This morning, I spent too much time on the computer since I had a trouble getting online (disconnected from the Internet!) everytime I view my site! I visited my blog buddies' page and the same thing happened.

Then finally, I realized one of the gagets was the cause! I removed it and everything went fine...

Time might have solved the problem, so I shouldn't be this addicted to this issue.

Now I'm gonna be late! I have to leave!

Damn it!!!

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Wrong Effort

Hi! It's freezing cold today.
It's supposed to snow again in the afternoon! Brrrr...

Well, today is Hinamatsuri, but not having any bright news at all...
Have you ever continued doing something what you think is right for a long time and realized it was wrong after a few years? I just had this kind and remaining deep in the shock. (It happens to me once in a while!) I'm not gonna write about it in detail but it is about my camera setting... I have continued using it for more than 2 years... and was a bad decision!

Yes, never too late to change it from today, but 2 years (730 days) are too long to let it go :(

I found a balloon like jose for myself! Ha-ha-ha X(



Good luck to me and you all, too!!!

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