Brass Band Reunion

Last Friday, I met my brass band friends and the teacher from high school. It has been more than 10 years to get together. It all started with my wedding stuff. I really never see them again unless I look for my old friends' contact info, you know!!!

Interestingly, we haven't changed in a time span of a decade. We all flashed back to our high school days and talked the same as at the time. What a fun time! By talking with them, I went back to basics and felt motivated :D

I know we all are busy, but it is nice sometimes. I hope my wedding will offer a good opportunity for everyone.

Anyway, I hate this high humidity. It is raining from the morning and I feel very drowsy all day long.

Gonna have some coffee! Bye for now!!!

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MandraRossa Grecanico

Grecanico is a native Sicilian grape which produces a complex, aromatically defined white wine with citrusy fruit character.

I seldom drink white wine but I bought this wine since it was recommended at 980yen ($10) last weekend.

It was a sweet-scented tasty white wine! I bet red wine lovers would like it!!! So do I :D

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Last Minute Man

I call my darling "Last Minute Man".

The deadline for us to submit the list of addresses of our wedding guests was yesterday. However, yesterday morning, my darling still haven't completed his list (playing with his iPhone), so I was kind of prepared myself for the worst (empty seats)... However, in the evening, he suddenly made some calls and completed his list!!! Isn't that amazing?! Why couldn't he do that earlier to avoid our fights until now...

Anyway, the rainy season has begun from today. It is going to rain till July. We find a lot of hydrangeas in bloom. I love the blue ones :D

I have a condo which I want to purchase but can't make a decision. In addition to my culinary stuff, I have a lot to think!!! Whew... I hope I can come up with a suitable compromise...

Bye for now!!!

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MOS BURGER

Do you know MOS BURGER?

My darling and I go there once in a while. Their most popular burger is "MOS burger". We love this burger the most! Juicy beef and pork patty with their original meat sauce is distinctive :D

Recently, we tried their "superb cheese burger" and that was delicious, too! As you can see (on the left bottom image), the patty is larger than the buns! It has roasted onion soy sauce with a hint of black pepper in between which makes it really tasty! Speaking of "luxury MOS burger", it is twice as big as the regular MOS burger. It looks cool, but too difficult to eat. Since you focus on how to eat, it doesn't actually do the trick... Their rice burgers are yummy, but unfortunately they aren't many different kinds available lately... I love kinpira, though :P

MOS BURGER is now located in Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, China and Indonesia.

Try it out!!!

FYI:
'M' stands for Mountain - dignified and noble.
'O' stands for Ocean - wide and vast.
'S' stands for sun - vibrant and life-giving.

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KEIKO Organic Green Tea Chocolate

Wow! This small celadon-colored chocolate costs a dollar each!!!

KEIKO has the most authentic, extensive line of Japanese organic tea and tea based products in the world! Their products include organic half shaded green teas and matcha for Retail, Food Service and Manufacturing.

KEIKO organic green tea chocolate is delectable private-label product. It is made from the highest quality cocoa butter and green tea powder with collaboration between tea garden in Kagoshima and German chocolatier. You can enjoy unique texture of grated tea leaves in the chocolate which enhances an unforgettable flavor of it :D

To tell the truth, my darling found it at half price in the sales wagon. Good job!!!

Bye for now ;)

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Bricco al Sole Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Recently I found tasty organic red wine at a low price: $9! (My budget is always under $10 per bottle :P)

Bricco means "crest of a hill". The wine is made from grapes harvested on the sunshiny hill, hence the name Bricco. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a red wine from the region Abruzzi in Italy. It is typically a fruity, dry wine with soft tannins, and as such is often consumed young. You can enjoy it with chicken and red meats :D

Anyway, it is raining again today... It seems like the rainy season has arrived already! I hope it won't rain on Friday since I am seeing my friends after work!!!

Bye for now :)

BTW, I made a new label for My Favorite Wines!
It is listed on the side bar!!!

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My Dearest Wedding Dress Coordinator

It was in February when I first met her at the dress shop. There are many wedding dress shops in Tokyo, but I just happened to go there after scouring few other shops because their rental fee was 50% off at that time.

First, my darling and I planned to rent our tuxedo and dress for NY (photo wedding in July). In the fitting room, I talked my coordinator that I used to live in NY, and surprisingly, she said she also used to live in NY and worked as a hairdresser. Then she said she used to work at the salon in Harrison, where I used to live!!! Isn't it amazing?! Sorry my darling, we made him wait outside for a long time and talked. But at the same time, I found the very best dress for NY with her.

Anyway, all dresses there were my taste, and I enjoyed playing dress-up. So without question, we rented our costumes for October as well. I will show you all the dresses I tried after our wedding in October ;)

But unfortunately, she is going to leave the job today, 6/8. She is going to take care of her dad in her hometown. So on Sunday, we went to see her again. This time we chose my darling's tuxedo for October wedding, which we postponed. (sorry my darling...) Anyway, we had a good time and chose perfect ones! Please look forward to seeing our wedding costumes!!!

I really miss her but I hope she makes her dad happy with her smile :D

Thank you!!!

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7th Anniversary

6/7 is the day I met my darling! It has been already 7 years since then. Time flies... This year, I was kind of busy with our new home, wedding and my cooking stuff, so I forgot to remind him of the day! I hope he remembers...

My hair is not that straight at the bottom now! I fixed it last Wednesday, as you know.

Busy every day but I need to think before I act!

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Green Cola

Here comes another funny Cola product by Asahi Soft Drinks Co., Ltd. on 5/25/2010!

For your natural life, "Green Cola" is made from selected raw materials derived from plants such as fruits, with cola's own dynamism and briskness. No artificial color, no caffeine, and no preservative used.

By using the technique of black beer manufacturing, it's taste is as strong as cola drinks. Plant-derived scent is used for it's fresh scent. Hence it's name "Green"!

"Green Cola" markets to the older crowd in their 20's and 30's, and the next material-derived cola drink will come to market this summer!

Changing my story, my dearest wedding dress coordinator is going to leave the job this June... I knew it last night and the shock simply doesn't go away X(

I think I am really out of luck!!!

Anyway, tonight I am seeing my friend after 15 years or more! I used to play with her while we lived in Jordan.

Have a good weekend!!!

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Pentax Optio W90 @ Sushi Misakimaru

Last night, my darling and I've been to kaiten-zushi (conveyor belt sushi) after a while. I don't always write here, but Sushi Misakimaru serves fresh and huge sushi at low prices! They are located in many places in Tokyo

The photos are taken by my darling's new camera: Pentax Optio W90!!! Don't they look yummy?!
(BTW, I brought my camera with me but without a memory card... damn...)

An inventive LED Macro Lights installed on the front surface of the lens barrel enables Pentax Optio W90 to capture clear, bright images of the subject, even when the close distance of the camera makes it cast a shadow on the subject!!!

Pentax Optio W90 also has a funny function called "Small Face filter". It makes the subject's appear slightly smaller than in reality in recorded images, helping you to create better proportioned, more attractive portraits. Maybe we can test this later. Ha-ha!!!

Anyway, I fixed my hair last night! My too straight bottom hair is now thinned out! Hereafter till the wedding, I won't cut my hair!!! I hope I can grow back 2 inches by 10/10 :(

Things that I thought good sometimes make extra work, you know...

Have a good day!!!

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iPad magic

Have you seen this video already?



His name is Shinya Uchida, used to be a professional magician but now working for an ad company in Japan. Isn't it cool that he created magic tricks with the iPad?! He posted this video (original video without English subtitles) on the day the iPad was released in Japan (6/28/2010). Up to today (in 5 days), his video has reached more than 470,000 plays! His magic was amazing, but the way he promoted his magic is smart indeed!!!

Anyway, first time ever, I forgot my iPhone at home... I'm really out of shape almost daily! Damn!!!

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Massage @ Hands On

How often do you get a massage?

Me? Maybe once in a year.
I really felt tired on the weekend, so I went to get a massage near the station with my darling.

Hands On give you a massage based on bodywork system (整体). Your masseur will stretch out your body and massage for around 30 minutes or more! Unbalanced body will cause stiffness in your body, so they add stretch technique to loosen joints and make you supple.

I think I feel better this week!
I wish I could go there once in a while!!!

Anyway, I still regret that I cut my hair... Why now? Why before wedding... Damn!!!

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Did I Cut My Hair Too Short?!

Yesterday I got a haircut (after 6 months) because I thought my hair was too long. But do you think my hair is too short now?! Or my hair trimmed too straight across the bottom?! Damn... I decided to cut little bit shorter than usual but I guess that was a mistake X( Anyway, my hair looks heavy, so maybe I should ask my hairdresser to thin out the bottom...

It's pretty depressing when I cut my hair too short than "no change" after the haircut!

I hope I can make an appointment for this afternoon...
Tonight, I looked forward to going to the GYM but no time for that now!!!

Oh, I have many deadlines today!!!
I gotta concentrate on my deadlines first!!!

What a busy Monday :(

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Micro SD Adapter

This morning my Micro SD Adapter broke. Actually it kept on saying that the card is LOCKED, so I tried to unlock it. But first of all, as you can see in this image, you can't tell which way to unlock the card! Damn product!!! So, I tried the either way, but somehow both sides were recognized as LOCKED. Therefore, finally, I opened it to see how it works...

What a simple product! I knew that the cost price of "10 bucks micro SD adapter with 2GB micro SD card" is only a dollar (adapter is less than 10c), but what a product...

BTW, have you ever thought about the cost price of the products around you?

- $200 contact lens: 10c
- $300 suit: $30
- $14,000 car: $2,200
- $2 fried potatoes: 15c
- $5 umbrella: 10c
- $10 condom: 20c
- $2 milk: 13c
- $3 cake: 30c

But actually PlayStation game has a deficit. $250 game costs $240!
Also, beef bowl pays little. $5 beef bowl costs $2!

(Data from NAVER)

I think I digressed a lot...
Anyway, I gotta get a new Micro SD Adapter!!!

Take care!

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PEPSI NEX Promotion: LE CREUSET Miniature Accessory

Followed by the free Dean and Deluca Magnet promotion, now 500ml PEPSI NEX comes with a free LE CREUSET miniature accessory (cell-phone strap)! There are 3 different types (Ramekin D'amour, Ramekin Fleur, and Ramekin Etoile) in 6 different colors (red, pink, orange, green, white, and blue). Aren't they neat!?

Le Creuset, as you might know, is a French cookware manufacturer best known for its colorful enameled cast iron casseroles. Their products are pretty popular among Japanese homemakers. There are many cute shapes (star, heart, flower shapes) and colors (such as pastel colors) available in Japan.

PEPSI NEX is a leader product of PEPSI Cola Japan (which Suntory plays a full part). The product was originally made in Japan in 2006. Adapted to the Japanese palate, it's 100% calorie-free with a refreshing lemon flavor.

Last promotion was for 1.5 litter PEPSI NEX, so it wasn't easy to get one, but this time is for 500 milliliter PEPSI NEX, so people can get it without hesitation! After I bought one bottle as a trial, they were all sold out in the afternoon when I returned to get another! Damn X(

Anyway, I look forward to the next promotion :D

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Hope and Wish!!!

Last night, I had dinner with my ex-colleague in NY. We talked and agreed with each other that every goal can be reached if you hope and wish strongly.

Sometimes, I feel discouraged thinking that my efforts are not rewarded, but thanks to that fruit of efforts, I think I am getting a better result in a different form, which is close to my goals.

Goals, usually are the things that make you happy and may change as time goes by. You don't have to achieve your goals perfectly if you result in happiness at some point. But to get such a result, your effort is necessary. So what I realized is we should always hope and wish toward our future (goals) and do our best at anytime!!!

I hope you understand what I mean...

On my previous post, I mentioned that my dream is "To live every moment with all my energy". Yes! I always want to hope and wish to reach my goals and do my best with all my energy because I know I can be happy in that way!!!

Don't give up!!!
(Saying to myself. Ha-ha!!!)

Illustration by hiroto.

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