A Gem

There is nobody who is perfect.
Every person has at least one fault.
So it's not good to accuse he/she by that fault. Rather, we should find good aspects of that person.
Then, the person become a gem for us.

Relaxed Time

Today (actually, yesterday), I went to my friend's apartment and ate Thanks Giving dinner.
Well, they are all Japanese, but we just mimicked the dinner to have fun. Then, I stayed at them until around 12:30.
...It's good to have a relaxed time at whiles.

A Special Name

There are some special words for every person.
Especially the name of a person one loves is special for him/her. Only murmuring the name, we recover from our fatigue.
It has such a powerful energy.

The Basic

Because I've never worked, all of the money I'm using now is from my parents, but sometimes, I also get money from my relatives.

Today, I was going to use some amount of money from my relatives casually. I was thinking like, "With this money, I can buy something like a free present, because it's from my relatives." But since I couldn't find the right one I wanted, I didn't use.

And now, I'm really grad that I didn't use that money with such a silly thinking. Even though that money is from my relatives, I shouldn't use it so casually. There is no difference between the money from my relatives and the money from my parents. They are both giving it because they care about me.

So, the source of the money is the same. It's love. All of my money is from Love.
I really shouldn't use it so casually.

Way Off Base

I sometimes miss the point when I'm writing an essay.
I did this again today.

We were given a topic, "What was the attitude of your parents or your friends when you decided to go to UVic?"
I started writing about my feeling when I decided to study abroad, then continued how I prepared, and then wrote about the attitude of my parents.

The first two, my feeling and the preparation were not being included on the topic. I realized about this after I wrote these, and thought "Oh, my gosh. I was way off base. But there is no time for rewriting whole of this. What do I do now..."

Then, what did I do? I wrote few sentences in the beginning of these spurious paragraphs, and made some kind of connection to the topic. But I'm sure that my teacher will notice it.
I have to make a plan more carefully before I actually start writing.

"Happy Birthday!"

Today is my mom's birthday.
So, to say "Happy Birthday," I called my aunt who are currently with my mom and other aunts. After the wedding ceremony last Saturday, they start traveling other places and now they are in Las Vegas and Grand Canyon.

I wasn't sure whether the call from Victoria (Canada) to the cell phone in Las Vegas would get through or not. (I've never called to a cellphone in the US from here.) However, only after the second waiting tone, my aunt took the phone and we started talking. The voice was surprisingly clear too. So, I was very amazed by the technology.

It's very good if I can say "Happy Birthday" to a person in any part on this earth. And I'm sure that in the near future, we can all say this to a person even if he/she is on the opposite side of the earth.

Midterm Attacks

One third of the fall term has already finished.
And now, I'm just in the middle in the midterm attacks. O oh, it's so hard! Can I survive this?
Well, I have to survive. So let's study!

The Direction

In my mind, everything exists; from Christ like loftiness to Hitler like madness.
If I choose, I can drive someone insane, but I know that that direction isn't the right one.
Love is the direction we are all following.

At the Wedding Ceremony

I come back from California today at 6 o'clock.

Yesterday's wedding ceremony was very impressive. It started about 4:30 pm at a park. The bride (my cousin) and the broom exchanged their wedding vows by the lead of the bride's younger brother (I've heard he has the license(?) to do this.)

My aunts and I wore kimonos, but after the ceremony, It became so casual. We moved to a hall in the park, and had so much fun at the reception. We even danced to the music of both Okinawan traditional dancing music and American rock music.
It was a really good wedding.

I'm About to Leave Home

Today, in twenty minutes, I'll leave home to go to California to cerebrate my cousin's marriage. I come back on Sunday afternoon; so I guess, I can't write the post tomorrow, but if I find the Internet connection, I'll write about that. So, see you tomorrow or on Sunday!

To Do a Small, Good Thing

Usually I don't want to stand out.
I feel uneasy if I'm in the center of attention, so I often choose to be quiet. But sometimes, this prevent me from doing a good thing.

Today, when I was on the bus, I saw a girl running so hardly to catch the bus. And because the bus started to move very slowly, It seemed that she might be able to catch. It was that close, but since she was running from behind the bus, the driver didn't noticed at all and started the bus. She couldn't ride it...

I regret so much just after that moment she missed. If I had only said a word, "Stop!," then she could ride it. Since when I was a child, I wasn't good at moving fast. I didn't like PE. I was so afraid to be smeared because of my miscalculated reaction.

But now, I have to correct this tendency. If I'm aware that I am right, then I should move as I thought at the moment it's needed. It would be much better feeling than just guarding myself.

Play a Villain

The person I don't do well or the person I hate could really be good text books for me.
I experience a lot of negative feelings, and will know that I'm not an angel, then learn how to do well with them.

They are playing villains in my stage, but no one other than I cast them as villains.
(I may be a villain on somebody's stage.)

In Anything

When I realized that the everything I recognize is only existing in my mind, I noticed there is no other way but love them all to live completely my life.
Every time when I think, "I don't like it," I can't possibly draw out my biggest power to the thing.
So, I'm trying to find the golden light in anything I see.

Time

Where did yesterday go?
It's no more exist on any part of this earth. It's no more than a memory of our mind.
The past doesn't exist, nor as the future. The present is the only one which we are in.

Learn from Myself

I sometimes learn from my posts after I wrote.
It's like self-learning. I learn a lot from outside world, but I also learn from my writings. My thoughts become very clear in the process of writing, and after that I can go farther deep of my mind.
It's fun.

Friend's Friend's Friend

Even though, I don't like some people, my friends would like them.
And even if my friends would hate some other people, my friends' friends may like the people.
We often don't want our friend to go well with the person we hate, but think in the opposite way. "Because my friend like him/her, I'm allowed to hate the person."
In this way, we can all be united.
Nobody would left behind.

A Hot Shower

I can take a hot shower whenever I want.
How happy is this.
Thanks civilization!!

From the Long-Suppressed Jealousy

I've been jealous for a certain person for over two years.

It started just after when I met her at the highest ESL class started in January, 2003. She was very smart and seemed to have no difficulties in the class. But I, who had nearly passed the lower course, struggled to keep up the class. (I failed that highest course in the end.)

I kept this intense jealousy very long, but I also tried to overcome this feeling. Very slowly, the jealous weakened as I get new views. I realized that there are infinitely many levels in human intelligence; there are many people who are much clever than her or much lower than me. And I also learned the effects of having a better person in front of my eyes.

One day, about the time I almost forget that jealous, I realized one thing. I realized that I had been jealous for just a phantasm which I had created in my mind.
Because I'd seen her and I'd talked her, I thought that was the person herself. But this image was just an illusion. I had created the image based on my limited memory.

So my strong jealousy played in big role in helping me understand how I create my own reality.
I guess I even have to thank for that jealous.

Track Down the Thoughts

People always think so many different things in one day.

Thinking is like a non-stopping current flowing in our mind. We are almost always thinking about something. However, often we don't recognize what we were thinking. May be we had a very bad through for few seconds, but in the next moment, another topic were raised in the current and forget what we thought just before. Thoughts are changing so rapidly that we usually don't remember all of its contents.

But what happens when we don't remind them and let those bad thoughts go?
If we don't correct those bad thoughts, then I'm sure, we don't mature at all. It's so difficult to track down thoughts every second, but we need to catch them anytime when we are awake.
It's because your thoughts is exactly the world you live in.

Sharp Words

Today, at the end of the English class, we wrote an paragraph.

Everyone except me finished his/her paragraph within an hour. I was struggling but still had few more sentences to finish. Fortunately, that paragraph was not that serious one, so the teacher said to me I can finish this at home and put it in a folder on the door of her office. So I left the classroom and wrote the last few sentences at a desk in the corridor, and in about five minutes, put it in the folder she mentioned. So it's no more a burden right now.

But I couldn't forget the words from my classmate.

When we left the room, I said to her only half seriously, "I always couldn't finish writing an essay within the given time." But she replied, "That's a problem. We'll have a final and we all have to finish exactly within the given hours."
Even though her face was smiling, her words were very sharp.

I was shocked for few seconds and was thinking like, "I wasn't said that seriously. She could've replied, 'Don't worry. You'll be a fast writer' or something like this," but then, realized how accurate the words were. I thought, "... But, her words are so true. I can't take back the exam essay at home and write."
So, I decided to take her words as a little kick from the Buddha (or someone great).

And so, from now on, to write fast, I set a timer and write these posts within 30 minutes or 60 minutes (if it become long).

The Light From the Sun

At the full moon night two days ago, I realized one thing about the moon's light.
The moonlight... is not the actual light of the moon; it's the light of the sun reflected. But the light we see at night is coming from the shining moon and so we usually forget about this fact.
How strong the sunlight's influence on earth is. Even at night, when there is no sun on the sky, it illuminates us by getting a help from the moon.

Pay Attention

The person in front of you seems exist in front of your eyes, but more exactly, he/she exists in front of your mind.
If you close your mind, then you don't see the person even if he/she actually talk to you.
This applies not only for people but also for every other things.
If you don't pay your attention, you don't see the thing.
We all look things which we have paid attention.

It's a Full Moon

It's a full moon today!
And just half an hour ago, I was looking the beautiful full moon on the eastern sky.
We had a cloudy sky in the morning, but those clouds disappeared in the afternoon and we had so clear sky by the time of the sunset.
Then now, it's the time for the full moon! It looked so big when it just appeared on the sky, but it seems that the moon appeared from the different place from the other time. I don't know well about the moon's path, so may be I should get some knowledge about this.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is just another day.
People always say Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
But this is just human's definition for the days.
So, tomorrow is just another day.

A Healthy Body

Now, the pain from the yesterday's wasp sting is completely gone, and so I've been enjoying the freeness of my right hand.
I paused to realize how precious my health was. I already appreciated to have a healthy body, but after the pain gone, I really thanked for being able to move my hand so freely.
My body moves according to my will, but it's not that natural. There may be other times when I get sick and can't move, and also, when I get older, my body starts to weaken and don't work properly.
I really have to be more thankful that I have a healthy body which moves so freely as I wish.

A Wasp Sting

This morning, I got stung by a wasp (or something very small insect).

I suddenly felt very strong sharp pain on my right-hand annular finger, when I just took out my bus pass from my backpack. It was like a small but very sharp needle pierced my finger. At first I thought I cut myself by the bus pass, but then I found that there was neither a cut nor blood at all on the painful part. Because the pain was so sharp and strong, I felt so weird and checked very closely the very part; then I found that there was a tiny red dot on the middle of the annular finger.

After I finished two classes in two and a half hours, I went to the university's medical center to check this pain. I still felt strong sharp pain, but still didn't have any idea about wasps. I thought I may be stung by unusually strong static electricity or something. But after I explained how I feel the pain and showed the tiny red dot (it was almost gone but he noticed... I guess) to the doctor, he said "It's really sounds like a wasp that stung you. It often happens because there are so many of them around here. But the pain should go in the end of the day, so don't worry. If you have still have the pain tomorrow, then come again."
I was surprised and relieved.
I was surprised for that a mere wasp can leave such a strong and long-lasting pain (In fact, I still have the pain, but it's already past midnight.), and relieved that this pain at least won't remain.

In the middle of our conversation, the doctor said, "Welcome to Canada!" So, I think this is also one of the interesting experience about living in here.

Many New Buds

Yesterday, just before I go to bed, I found new flower buds on my smaller African Violet.
The bigger African Violet often blooms since I bought, but I succeed to bloom the smaller one only once. And I that time, I actually hadn't seen them blooming because I was in Japan. I saw the small small buds just before I leave Canada and it bloomed at my friend's room. The smaller one has violet double flowers and they are also small (may be because of the pot's size... which is small).
I really really pleased when I found these buds this time, and it looks there are so many buds shooting one after the other.
I can't wait to see them blooming!

A Message

Today is my birthday.
And just now, I opened email and found that there was one email from my mom. She said, "Happy Birthday to you! Today is September 12th. - We can only support you from far away now, but thank you for coming into the world as our child."
I got some presents from a friend and was treated to lunch by another friend, but this email was the biggest present to me.
In the future, could I say "Thank you for coming into the world as our child." to my child when he/she grow up?
I certainly have to say it... because that phrase filled me completely. I was filled with so much joy that I couldn't stop crying.
I thanked to my parents and thanked to the email system that brought me this message.

The Others

Only four months ago, everyone else other than me were 'the others,' because we never shared the thinkings completely.
But now, everyone else is 'me,' becausee nobody but I figure out how the others think and feel. They are already inside of me.

Diverse Views

It's good to have many different view points.
I should have view points from any kind of people from any part of the world.
I should have the view of the people from yellow, white, black and red, the people of wealth and poor, and the people who beat others and the people who are beaten. There are so many kinds of people on this earth, and each person has its own thinking way. Even they can be categorized in some groups, you never find a pair who exactly thinks in the same way. There are so many views... So many... so many...
But these people, those diverse views are, in the end, in my thoughts.
Who imagine these?
Me.

Music on a Full Stomach

When I'm full, I like to lie on my sofa and listen music (usually with headphones).
How luxury that time is.

The Power of the Unconsciousness

How enormous our unconscious' power is.
We determine everything of this world by using this power.
From the time I wake up, I start to determine my world unconsciously. I determine how the sky look like, how the classes are, how the bus going, and how every other things works. These determinations work perfectly only during my conscious is awake.
That's why there is nothing when I'm sleeping. I even don't feel my existence while I'm in deep sleep.

To Be Free

Even in the busy times, I shouldn't forget to think that "What do I want to do tomorrow."
Today was not busy because it just started, and everyone isn't ready for school work. But even it becomes so busy, I should keep imagining that tomorrow as a 'unfettered' day that I decide to go to classes.

From Tomorrow

From tomorrow, we'll start winter classes, and I'm sure that I'll find lots of things that I have to do.
But it's interesting to find that how I forgot last year's toughness of the classes. So, it's what they really call, "Vows made in storms are forgotten in calms." right?
But today, I made one decision that I'll practice violin everyday. (...Now, it's totally out from the school because violin is my HOBBY.)

Centre of My Chest

Today, when I was waiting for a bus for twenty minutes, I mumbled one prayer to kill time.
But, when I did that, I felt so warm on one particular part, the centre of my chest.
That part wasn't exactly on my heart; it is little out of line to the right, and is exactly centre of my chest.
So, I guess that's where my soul really dwells.
I'm grad that I felt warm for that part.

My Mind

I think I still don't know how I'm really given and how I'm happy to live in this world.
I'm born as a human and given a free spirit.
I can think on my own.
My thinking or my mind is all that I am.

Endless Way

When we think ourselves improved, we feel great joy.
Recently, I often feel this joy, but then I also feel my goal isn't close at all.
When I achieved something, I've already found another goal, so it's the endless journey.
Sometimes, it's tired, but it's the endless joy too.

One Thing - Two sides

Every single thing has two sides.
Good side and bad side.
Only looking good side isn't enough.
Only looking bad side is depressing.
So look the both sides. Think about it from both ways.
Then you'll understand what truly it means.

To Somebody

Yesterday, when I was checking email or something, I suddenly overwhelmed by very warm feeling. It's like as if I was sent a prayer from someone who is close to me. Of course it is only my imagination, or could it be true? Anyhow, I felt good, so I prayed back to the 'somebody,' "I wish you to be happy as well as I felt."
(You may think I'm insane, but well, praying for happiness is not as bad as wishing for curse.)

The Beautiful Wall Reliefs

Today, I noticed that the beautiful decoration of the buildings of downtown Victoria, especially the wall reliefs just under the roofs.
But it's the first time for me to realize this for the whole four years!!! What was I looking for the past four years? Anyway, I found one more beautiful things in Victoria. It's so good to have found this. I wonder how many more do the amazing things left unnoticed in here. It's so much fun to look for them.

Worked on Homepage

Today, I worked on my homepage.
And tomorrow, I'm going to update those at school. I can only update my pages from school since I'm using the UVic's space. I guess if I buy some software from UVic and install on my computer, then I can update my homepages from home, but I think updating from school is OK for now.

Nonfiction

Today, I am reading a Japanese book for a whole day.
It's nonfiction and I love document stories much much more than fiction.
It's good to know many things that actually happened.
Nonfiction is much more interesting than fiction.

After the Rain

It's been a long while from the last time when we had have rain, but today we had rain.
But now it stopped and I can see the sunset ray shines all the trees along the road. With still the gray sky, the trees are stand more than a usual fine day.
It is the scenery of after the rain.

The Power of the Nature

Today, I went to see the sea and the Olympic mountain from Beacon Hill park, mile zero.
Today's mountains were so beautiful. I'd never seen that much layers of peaks of the mountain.
Seeing that mountain, the sea and the sky, I felt refreshed and went back to home.

Lay Down and Fell Asleep

I can lay down on my sofa and fell asleep
with no fear about a bomb coming from the sky.
How happy this life is.
I wish any child on this earth could feel this happiness.

An Angry Shouting Man

"Don't do that!!!"
Today, I awakened by this angry man's voice.
I've been sleeping opening the window to avoid too much heat, but then the noise outside has easily been come in to my room. This was the second time I awakened by a shouting voice from somewhere outside. But both voice were a man's voice and they were similar, so I guess it's the same man.
Last time, I got very irritated by this voice, so I shut the window violently and turned on a music loudly. But this time, I didn't get irritated at all but instead felt it funny. He was shouting, "Don't do that!" "Everyone gets mad." "NOOOO!!!" for about 15~20 minutes! I thought, "Wow... he has so much energy! It's already been fifteen minutes. Not so many can shout so long. It's like a comic! Poor the other person, though." I couldn't hear the other person's voice, so I totally don't know whether a kid or a woman or a man was scaling by him. I also don't know what the person was trying to do, but certainly felt sorry for him/her.
But that was a comic!

Manga for Improving English

I stood and read manga in a bookstore today.
It's one of my bad habits. I love reading manga, but don't have enough money to buy all of them especially in here. The English translated manga costs double of its original Japanese one. Naturally, I just go to a bookstore and read them, however... I do feel guilty, so what I do is to pray for the bookstore to earn more money so that my browsing won't be a big thing.
But there are two good points (only for my side though). I've learned many new words from them, and I actually start thinking in English.
I guess reading (even though it's manga) is really good for improving English.

An Advice

Today, I went to school to check out the text books and to take a rocker to keep my stuffs in for this new school year.
When I was checking text books at the bookstore, I met a friend who already took the Math course that I'm planning to take. She said one of the course is much harder than the one I took in Spring, and if I take two Math courses at the same time, it might be so hard.
I was actually planning to take two Math courses, but now from her stories, I'm considering dropping the harder one and take only one Math which she recommended to take first.
I'm not yet decided, but it's good to hear such advices from a friend. I appreciate for her.
Thanks!

Moving Ads

Blogger is good because there is no moving ads inside.
When I look some pages where there are lots of small moving advertisements, I feel dizzy.
If there are switch to stop them, it will be very good.

The Violin Case

In these days, whenever I look my violin case, I always gloat.
I really appreciate for it. The violin itself and the case didn't come at once. At I first bought the violin case, ... more accurately, a violin case and a bow set that contains a case, a bow, a rosin, and a shoulder rest. I had found this set from a web page of a strings store. All of the items are good quality and I'm satisfied with them, especially for the case. The case always closed very tightly (so the water doesn't easily come in) and is lighter (I guess). Also it can be carried either over one's shoulder or on one's back, and for me, both style fits my body very nicely.
I'm sure that I bought a nice one.

For Everyday Life

As I know more, the unknown increases in double.
If I keep looking too far, I'll be devastated.
So, keep my eyes down and look only two or three steps from my feet.
This is for everyday life.
Only occasionally, look far away.

My African Violets

One of the two of my African violet is now getting weak and weak.
But the other is getting strong and strong. But they share one pot. I don't think the soil becomes bad and I'm watering them properly I think, so the only thing I can do is to change the position.
The weaker one is facing brighter place; the stronger one is in the opposite. African violet doesn't like too much sun. So, I'll turn the pot 180 degrees and watch what will happen.

The Second Step

The second step of building the pillar of light is finished today.
Wait for the next step... Then at least the pillar will stand.

Two Weeks More

Only two weeks left? until the schools begin?
Wow... I'd better do more preview.

The Pillar of Light

Today, I started building one strong pillar of light in my mind.
This is not yet completed, but the first step will complete soon.

The Dream Which I Don't Remember

Today, when I was sleeping on my sofa, I may have seen a mysterious dream.
I totally don't remember the dream, but when I woke up, I was overwhelmed by intriguing feeling.
I might have learned something important, but I don't remember. ...Well, I guess when the time comes I'll know it.
Dreaming is so interesting. Anything is possible in a dream, but it's almost always doesn't make sense.

One Minute

Just before midnight, I opened this page.
The clock on my computer was 11:59, but this post's time shows 11:58. I thought this posts creation page's time and date follows on the computer it opened up... Well, they may follow but show one minute late. (or just my computer is too slow to download the entire page.)

How is it enigmatic to be exist.

UVic's Practice Room vs Conservatory's

Today, I went to a practice room at UVic.
This was the first time to use the room, so I didn't know where the room is and how I open its door. But, that wasn't difficult at all. I don't have to call the building manager to open the door unlike the Conservatory. It seems the door is open all the time even in the weekends.
However, there are two bad points. The first one is the time. I can't use the room (only one room is available for non-music students) more than two hours per week, and also I have to sign the schedule sheet before I use. But if I go to the Conservatory after 5:00 pm, I can use a room (any practice room) as much as I want until the building close, and as long as it's outside of the office hour I don't have to book. The second one is the distance. UVic is much farther than the Conservatory from my apartment. It's take about half an hour to go UVic by bus, but to the Conservatory, it's only 15 minutes by walking.
So, as soon as the summer courses ends at the Conservatory, I'll use the practice room at there.

Free Sushi-set

Today, I went to London Drugs to buy batteries.
Then, when I look at the batteries shelf, I found small catch letters saying, "With 2 sets of EnerOOOer AAA-8 or C-4 or D-4 batteries, you can get Sushi-set (in aisle 2A) free!" How lucky! Naturally I bought 2 sets of C-4 batteries and got the sushi-set; the collection of three kinds of dishes :square, rectangular and round (two pieces for each item), two sets of chopsticks with two chopstick-rests, two red wooden sheets and one big rectangular try.
Now, I can eat sushi in the normal Japanese style.

Too Lazy

I'm so lazy in these days.
You know this from these short short posts.
But I'm at least continuing!

Friend's Things

My friend talks a lot about herself.
About her host-mother, her pets, class' teacher, her friends, ... etc.
Some of them are complaints, some of them are happy memories and some of them are small future plans.
Then I just feel how happy she is.
All of the talks eventually become good memories of her, and it makes me so happy too.

A Strong Feeling and Energy

Today, I felt so happy because of some small books send to me.
But now, I'm little exhausted because of the great pleasure. A very strong feeling whether it's happiness or sadness, takes some amount of energy. If the amount of energy can be checked like its in video games, I'm sure that my energy now is lower than usual.

When It's About to Die

Today, I encounter very a good phrase.
"When it's about to die, let's say 'Oh, that was fun' ."
~~~ nice.

The Wish for Peace

Every one has its own wish for peace.
Some don't hold the wish strongly, while others hold it with god like intention.
Some only wish peace for their people such as his family or his pets. However, there are some who wish peace for everyone on this earth.
I don't blame the people whose minds aren't strong enough, because they eventually become strong.
I don't blame the people who wish only their peace, because it's just the starting point for bigger wish.
Everyone is on the way to improve more.
Let's give a smile to anybody you encounter.
Then peace is here.

A Digital Recorder

Have you ever waited more than 2 years to buy something?
In my case, I waited about 4 years to buy one special thing, a digital recorder.
That is not the normal one. It can play the recorded voice with the speed from 0.3 till 4 times faster. I recorded some English sentences with my voice, and often hear them between 2.5 ~3.4 . When I thought the speed is too fast, then I slow down it. But if I hear the same track so many times, gradually my ears get use to its speed, then I can catch up to the maximum - 4.0. I can save so much time if I review English words with faster speed and also I can remember well if I repeat them many times within a second.
I'm really grad to have this.

Unregulated Sleeping Pattern

Now, I'm in summer vacation.
Last night, I went to bed around 3:20 in the morning. Then I got up 9:30 am, but I was so sleepy, so went to bed again after 10 o'clock. Finally I got up completely at 1:50 pm.
How happy I am!

My Wish

Children are the light of our future.
I wish a great future for any child.
I hope the beautiful earth will be left for them.

My Pace

I just realized that how important to keep my pace.
When I follow other people's pace, sometimes I become hasty and lose myself.
Any good is done with impatience.

August 1st

Today is the first day of August!
May be I should make a goal of this month today.

Blackout!!

Yesterday, we had a blackout for more than 6 hours!
As long as I remember, it started from about 7:40 pm and ended around 3:30 am. This morning, I heard that this blackout happened almost all of the area of the city of Victoria, and the cause is the fire that burned the area where one of the important power lines are located.

When the power stopped, I was using the Internet.
Suddenly I couldn't open Google and the power sign of my PC became the battery mark instead of the plug. This PC is getting old so it has a problem for the battery. Even if the battery mark tells me there is plenty of power for about two hours, I can't use it for more than three minutes. So naturally, the PC went off while I was checking the power plug. After I checked there is no problem with the power plug, I noticed that the digital clock of the microwave was also not gleaming as well as the radio clock. The fridge was not working either. I felt certain that this was the power failure, but I still didn't know that this was happening only in my room, the apartment or the whole area.

As the dusk gathers, I saw some candles lit in one suite. Then I knew that this was not for only my suite. Ten or twenty minutes later, two or three people were taking in the apartment's parking lot and a man's voice said, "There is no street lights either. Be careful!" Now, it was clear that the whole area were suffering. Then I received a phone call from a friend and knew that the whole city was in the blackout. (She just went back from Chemainus.)

I lit four candles and prepared flashlight. This was the first time to burn candles in my suite. With only the flames of the candles, I have nothing to do, so I took out my violin and plunked, then tried to find some notes of some melodies. I also went out to look the stars when it got very dark. The more stars were shining and they are so beautiful.

At last, this blackout was not so bad for me. But for the next time, I'll prepare the batteries for my radio cassette. Then I can at least hear the news.

The Theme of Food

I've been talking to a friend by telephone over an hour.
Surely she is very talkative.
And we are talking about foods... you know, cakes, dessert, and menus of popular restaurantｓ. (Of course we talk other things too.)
The theme about food is the common for entire people.

My Violin

Today, I had a violin lesson.
This was the second time after I came back from Japan with my own violin.
From about two weeks ago, when I was playing, I started feeling that this violin sounds better than the one I rented. So today, I asked to my teacher, "Do you think this violin has a better sound than the last one I rented?" Then she said, "I think so." I felt really good for her reply. I'm sure that I bought this violin well.

Emotion and Action

I put up one phrase from my favorite homepage.
"Know that one's emotion follows his action." (Original is in Japanese.)
I've known this words from the beginning of July, but I didn't really understand it. But recently, when I felt a little sad, I automatically raised my head to be more cheerful. I actually felt lighter by doing that. Then I remembered this words and assented its meaning.
My emotion really followed my action. If this is the case in anytime, then I guess I should raise my head all the time.

A Quick Job

Today, we took the final test and the Music class was ended.
But I already know the final's result; It's 100%!! Yey!! My other quiz and assignments were also good, so I can expect A+ for this class.
But the amazing thing is the speed of the teacher's grading. He marked the test while I packed my backpack. It must be within only one or two minutes while I solved it with two and a half hours! I guess it's only normal for him who is the professional teacher.
In twenty years, I hope I can be like him, clear the work within a second.

Too Much Worry?

Sometimes a strong determination decides one's life.
I strongly decided that I want to study abroad, so I'm in here now. I guess I must make a strong decision again to continue my training of fast reading for coming September.
But I also feel that it's nothing good to worry September's study now.

Lantern Festival = Obon

I didn't know that Lantern Festival is also "Obon Festival."
When I put the ward 'lantern' on an online English-Japanese/Japanese-English dictionary, the dictionary showed "lantern festival - Obon" on the three lines from the direction word. And when I put the word 'obon (in Japanese)' on the same dictionary, it showed like this, " Buddhist festival period called bon // lantern festival // Obon festival" on the top line.
Wow, this is interesting. I may research more about this festival after the final.

Luminara Victoria Lantern Festival

Today (July 23), I went to Luminara Festival in the Beacon Hill Park.
This festival is also called the Lantern Festival and is held at night. So tonight, the park was filled with many kinds of lanterns and candles. Some performers were also singing or dancing inside the candles.
The most interesting work on this year was the "Icy Candles." Each candles was put into an round ice and all of them were set like a small mountain. Many people touched the ice and said "It's ice" or "Cool."
The fiddlers were fantastic too. Two young women and one man were playing very fast and rhythmical melody. And one woman (the leader) were playing a melody with her fiddle vertically on her right shoulder. I was really amazed. I've never imagined that playing style so it was a big shock. I'm sure I'll ask about this to my violin teacher.
Festival is fun.

Quiz III

Today's quiz III on the Music class was very difficult!
It's all about identifying intervals between two notes or constructing triads according to the instruction. It should finish on 4:30 pm, but I finished about 5 pm and I was the last one to handed in. (The teacher is very generous.) But I could solve all the problems, so I guess I can take a good mark.
I hope the final on coming Tuesday is not as hard as this quiz.

To Feel Happiness at Anytime

It's so easy to think "I'm less fortunate."
But, I started to think "I'm very lucky."
It's a little hard to keep thinking in this way when I'm surrounded by the people who feel they are less fortunate, but I guess it's the way to be happy through anytime.

Short Class

The elementary Music class was already getting a little difficult...
Today, we learned Triads; major, minor, diminished, and augmented one. Except for major triads, those are all sounded similar to me. If there are ear-testing, I'm sure that I can't distinguish them.
But we have only four days more for this class; tomorrow, Friday, then next week's Monday and Tuesday, but the next Tuesday is the final, so I guess only three days more for the lecture. This class lasts only a month, and so we are running materials so fast. Because I already knew about 80% of the materials, ( we started from the very basic; whole note, half note, quarter note ... pitches of CDEFGAB etc) I didn't have to study so hard. But I guess if someone don't know well from the notes, it's a very difficult class.

Some Distance

When you meet a person who gives some uneasiness for you, take more distance to that person.
Uneasiness will fade and some kindness will appear when you have enough distance, then you can give smile. And for now, I guess it's enough for you and the person.

A Musical Software

In my computer, there is an interesting software called "LaLaSong."
This software was already installed when I bought this computer. When I start LaLaSong, there is a staff notation with a treble clef, meter, and keys. And left side of the window, there are some musical notes. I click the note I want and put it on the staff, then I can hear it by clicking the "play" bottom. If I put some notes, I can make a melody.
I found this program may be a year or two years long ago, and sometimes I used it. I used this program when I want to remember the score for some melodies which I don't have. But, often it's easier to check the notes by plucking violin before placing them on the staff.
It's really fun to do this.
But the only and the biggest regret for this LaLaSong program is this; I can't print the score I made!! How regrettable it is... but I don't feel to buy another software for only this. May be I'd better remembering all of them just in my head.

Present

I guess it's so important to concentrate on the present homework, rather than looking too much for the other goods.
I'll try doing the best on the present.

Minor Scales

I've learned "minor scales" in the Music class.
I've known this for long, but I didn't know it clearly. I thought minor scale is just only one kind of scale, but there are three of them and each of them is slightly different. So today, when I went to a practice room, I tried to remember the degrees and its steps by using piano. I wanted to play all of the three, but then I found it wasn't so easy, so I tried the first one, natural minor. I still don't remember the natural minor completely but anyway I'll try other two tomorrow or later.
Piano really helps recognizing the sound and the music theory.

Chance Meeting

I'm now writing a letter to a person who I met in Okinawa.
She is a middle age woman, and she said she went and stayed Victoria for may be a week to cerebrate her daughter's marriage and traveled across Canada after the wedding ceremony. Only this was very surprising but she even said that the wedding ceremony was held at UVic's university chapel!! Her daughter held the wedding ceremony at there because she met her husband while she was in ESL class at the UVic!
Before we met, we totally didn't know each other. I just visited a craft center and she was an employee (or an employer) of that center. But somehow, we had one common thing and now she gave me a letter that says "Enjoy your school life and do your best." So I'm writing the reply for this letter.
We really don't know when and where we meet a person who has one kind of bond with us.
We might notice, or we won't.
I really want to pay attention to this kind of meeting.

Creating a Song

I'm now trying to create a song.
It's the homework from the Music class I'm now taking. But how hard to create a song from scratch!
The second quiz is also in tomorrow, so I have to finish this soon.

A New Trip

It's almost always a happy thing to attend a wedding ceremony.
My American cousin will get married this October 1, and I'm going to attend her wedding ceremony in Los Angels.
So today, I took a airplane ticket to go there. My flight starts from Victoria Airport and go Los Angles via Calgary.
It's the first time for me to attend a wedding ceremony held in the West as well as to fly over the Rocky Mountains. (It's even the first time for me to go further east from Vancouver too!)
I'm very much looking forward to this trip now.

CD from Music Book

Yesterday, I bought a music book called "Conservatory Fiddle Tunes Book 1".
The book came with CD and so I can hear the melody before I try the score. But when I bought it, I didn't hold up too high hope for that CD, because last time when I bought a CD of another music book, I felt bored with the sounds. So I didn't expect this CD to be good; I thought that know the melody and that's enough.
However, when I played the CD, I was so surprised for the sound of the violin! It was so different from the one I felt bored (It was also a CD of violin).
This was a new shock to know that "Even CDs from score books could be good." But I'm very happy with this shock.

Silly Behavior

I'm doing so silly thing... Free-cell game.

Three Year Old

In front of Jesus, I'm still a three year old kid.

Now and Then

There is a small small globe right beside my notebook computer.
The size is about a female hand and it was 100 yen (about one dollar) in a Japanese version dollar store. In these days, I also got a normal-size (about 25 cm - 10 inch in diameter) globe from a friend.
The small globe is made after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, so it shows the countries Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ... etc, but the bigger globe is made before the dissolution, so it shows the name "Union of Soviet Socialist Republics."
These two globes shows one aspect of how the world had changed before and after the dissolution of the Soviet.

The Opposite Point of View

How important the opposite point of view is!
I've been reading books about Okinawa ( the place I'm from and the place it has been well renounced in Japan) written by Japanese who are not from Okinawa, but from other part of Japan. May be not all of the books written from opposite point is interesting, but when the author has the love and passion for the people he/she wants to write, I believe that the books has some influence for both the people from that place and the people in the author's place.

The Star Festival

Today, July 7, is called Tanabata in Japan.
In English word, it is the Star Festival. We usually write our wishes on a peace of paper and put them on bamboo leaves.
From Wikipedia, "Tanabata (七夕) is the Japanese name for the originally Chinese star festival. Held on July 7 the festival celebrates the meeting of Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altair). The Milky Way, a river made from stars that crosses the sky, separated these two lovers, and they were allowed to meet only once a year. This special day is the 7th of July."
If you want to know more about, open Wikipedia, and put Tanabata on search.

Guardian Angels?

Do you believe in guardian angels?
It's often said every person has one guardian angel. If this is true, I think they are so generous and patient. Then, I think I'd better don't give up my goal, because if there is an angel looking over me, she (or he?) is like an audience. Any audience doesn't like watching a game which the player doesn't show his sincerity. So I'd better don't give up.

From Tomorrow at Noon

From tomorrow at noon, I can register courses for this September.
I can finally take English 099! My aim was to take English 115, but well I guess I couldn't study English well unless I take a class. My February's result of the test was level 3 and May's was also level 3.
I'm sure that I need to read more English!

Basic Music

From today, my summer class is started.
I took a basic music course this time and it seems easy for me. So I may have some time to read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

From Tomorrow

Summer class starts from tomorrow and I feel little dizzy...
Oh, well.

Eating Food

I found one very interesting and important rule for eating habits.
After I bowed with the word "Itadaki-masu. (Thank you for food.)", I really felt that the food tastes much better than the food I didn't bow. I think it happens only because my attitude is changed. It's just like, "When we are hungry, we feel any food is delicious."
Gratitude would be the best flavoring for food.

My Baggage

I start clearing my baggage.
I put out everything in the suit case, and now my room looks really messy. I'm going to clean all of this on this weekend.