December

There are Christmas lights on many houses, cute decorations in downtown, and Christmas music from many radio stations.
It's December.

I hope that this warm atmosphere contributes to decrease the number of crimes in town.

Luck

Our luck seems to be determined by our "words," "deeds," and "expressions."

A Strange Dream

One day, I had a strange dream.
I was flying over the edge of a big cliff, and there were gigantic hedges which were around 50m (55 yards) high. Then, I totally don't know why, but there was a manatee lying on top of it.

.........

I really wonder why I saw this dream.

Neutrality

If I could understand each countries' news in its own language, such as
news on U.S. in English,
news on Korea in Korean,
news on China in Chinese,
news on India in Hindi,
news on Iraq in Arabic,
I would be able to get a really neutral point of view.

The Youngsters

It's said that about 700 years ago, a famous Japanese monk, Kenko Yoshida, commented about the young people in his era that,
"The youngsters of today do not know correct speech."

So, I guess, youngsters have the same characteristics in any era.

The Real

Snow bunny!

Which?

Question; which is better?
1. Lose so mach points due to many miner mistakes arised by lack of sleep.
2. Get low points because of the insufficient study time (sleeping time is enough).

....Whatever, I'll do my best.

"Sort of"

I sometimes think that I sort of understand the material, but when I solve problems, I always realize I have not yet understood it.

The Biggest Enemy

The biggest enemy of my study is my "laziness."
I guess it's impossible to overcome the tendency completely, but I would like to conquer it little by little.

Find a Balance!

It's said, "there's always someone above you." If I think upside down, it could be "there's always someone below you."
What I need is to achieve a balance!

The Brain

The working speed of the brain seems to increase its speed geometrically as we train it.
Therefore, I can also be like the classmate who can solve questions twice as fast as I solve.

A World of Convenience

I live in Canada, but I can download Japan's books by one click.
How convenient is this.

(I still prefer reading on paper though.)

The Same Lesson

I find that I cannot grasp a thesis of the essay that I look down.

I think it's the same lesson from long before: "I must not look down on anybody."

Hot Water

When it becomes cold, I become more thankful to hot water.

Snow-Covered Campus

The snow has kept falling during the night, and today, it has become just under my knee (over 10 inches!).

In this very unusual condition, I went to the university wearing a knit, a scarf, a jacket, boots, and gloves. But, when I get there, I found that the university was closed!

So, to change my feelings, I took a walk around the campus, and took some beautiful pictures. These are the ones, and they make me feel good.

The First Snow

It's the first snow of the season!
My friend said that it's a week earlier. And the fall about four inches now.

Difference

Everyone is different.
That's why this world is so interesting.

Practice

Today, I went to the practice room at the music school near my apartment.
It's been a long time since I practiced a whole hour. I was really refreshed!

A Psychological Test

According to the psychological test I did on the day before yesterday, I am "a fairy who has an infinite imagination."

......Does this imply that I may not be so useful in the real world......?

Daily Life

We are living between life and death.

A Compare/Contrast Music Essay

I'm writing a music essay now.
It's the compare and contrast essay about the song "In darkness let me dwell" written by John Dowland, sung by three different singers, Anne Sofie von Otter (mezzo-soprano), Andreas Scholl (countertenor), and Sting (a pop(jazz?) singer, tenor).

How difficult it is to describe their singing way when I don't have so much vocabulary for English adjectives.
Oh, well.

Realizing

"Realizing" is a bit different function from "thinking."
It seems that whether we can realise something important or not at a time it's needed is a big factor to decide our fortune.

Now,

Oh, I hit on the idea of constructing a theme park on another place.
It is the moon. The catchphrase could be this.

"See the earth form the first theme park in the earth's history!"


... Now, it's the time to study for the Math's midterm on the day after tomorrow.

Mathmatics

I have always disliked Math.
But I'm still taking it. I really wonder why.

A Pendulum

If I'm a good girl yesterday, I tend to become a bad girl today.
It's like a pendulum. But, to cheer me up, let's think like this;

I'm a pendulum, moving back and fourth from good to bad. But every time I go through a circle, I am making a little growth from the last experience. Therefore, it's an upward spiral that I am drawing.

All Over the World

I want to establish theme parks all over the world.
Am I a starry-eyed dreamer?
May be...

A New Blogger

I moved my blog to a new beta Blogger.
The features are almost the same, and the old posts are all preserved. But, it's said "you cannot post a comment on a non-beta blog" for now.
So, until it's enabled, I guess we cannot post a comment on my old posts.
I'm sorry for this.

New

Reading other people's blog (diary) is very interesting and fun.
Why? I guess, it's because that we have a new person born in our minds.

It is fun to know other people's thinking.

Sometimes

Sometimes, I want to blame the person who is too shallow to understand my words.
But, I always try to convey myself with the phrase I once wrote in here; everyone is learning something with its own speed, so that I cannot look down on anybody.

I wish I can keep this phrase in my mind anytime, anywhere.

How

I become happy when I get a good mark, and I become sad when I get a bad mark.
How easygoing my student life is.

The Most

I guess that the words that are most painful to us is the words that are most needed for us.

Good Mark!

Today, I got another Math assignment back.
It was 19 out of 20! I am very very happy with it.

Facial Expressions

One's facial expressions create one's own world.
Recently, I really feel that the statement above is true.

My Desk

I really think that I have to study.
But as strongly as I think, there is more resistance created before my desk. I wonder why does this happens.

Oh, I really have a long way to go...

Britannica

I found the way to access the online Encyclopedia Britannica by free!
It's through the database of the university's library homepage. (I need the ID and password I made at the university, of course.) Now, I can search many (useless) things on the encyclopedia.
Yey!

The Effective Phrase

Sometimes, we only need the phrase "oh well" for certain types of concerns.

Outside

Do you know about this?
There is noting that exist outside of our minds.

Our minds encompass everything.

Skate Canada

Right now, in Victoria, a figure skating's international competition called "Skate Canada" is held, and according to the schedule they put on a web site, Men's Free is going on (or Medal Ceremonies is preparing.) at this moment.
When I think about that there are many world class skaters gathering and competing each other at the place where I can go within half an hour by car, I feel very excited.
I hope every skaters do their best on this competition.

Sometimes

Sometimes, I want to run away from many things, but I know that I should not do that.

Keep Going

Nobody has no problem in proceeding its own life.
We are all correcting our courses little by little, and keep going.

Once

There are some words that spring to your mind but sink in your consciousness again.
However, after some period, some of them come up again with more completed form.
I think that such words have so much power in it.

Interaction

I am refined by other people.
Therefore, perhaps, I am also refining others.

(Because there was an error on the server, yesterday's post was completely gone. I'm sorry for this.)

Artistic Jack-o'-Lanterns

I went to the Pumpkin Art Exhibition. These are the pictures. The fist is from the section of musicals, and the second is from the section of Disney, and the third is a witch. There are many other sections in the exhibition such that Star Wars, the Beatles,or Sesame Street. It was very fun to see them.

The Pumpkin Art Exhibition

Today, I'm going to the "Pumpkin Art" exhibition at the place called government House near my apartment.
It's said that there are so many artistically curved pumpkins placed on its large gardens.

If I can take pictures correctly (since it's held at night), I'll put one or two in here tomorrow.

A Big Shock

I thought that the course was very easy, and the test we had last Tuesday was OK, BUT I got only 20% for it.

I was so shocked!

I must not underestimate any course in the university...

The End of the Week

I was going to take a nap for about two hours (from 8 pm), but five hours has already passed.
It is the end of the week...

Sometimes, The Phone Line Is Strange too.

Yesterday, I couldn't connect to the Internet.
I totally don't know why.
Oh, well.

The Same Foolishness

I sometimes feel that "Oh, I was misunderstood." But today, when I found that the real title of the essay I've been assigned at class was "The Female Body" which I've been mistakenly read as "The Female Boy," I laughed and thought "Oh, I often do misunderstand."

If I do have misunderstandings about other people, then I cannot go for other people's misunderstandings about me. I guess, we are doing the same things to each other.

A Starting Point

We need some power to make a starting point.
But, once it has started, we can go forward.

Use It

It's better to use your knowledge than keep it on your own.
By using it, you can acquire more knowledge.

Advancement

The young building custodian, who have always opened the door of a practice room after the office hours, got a new position at the music school, and now is working behind the scenes on the concerts with a suit.
It's good to see someone I like to move up.

The Round Globe

I'm sure that there is an enormous power to really know the truth.
Therefore, I wish to go outside the Earth, and want to look the "round Globe."

A Period of Rebelliousness

There are many things on my desk, and it's so messy.

Oh, well.


(I guess I entered a period of rebelliousness.)

How's My Study?

I want to rise the efficiency of my study, but it means that I have to concentrate on the work right at this very moment.

...How difficult it is.

One Scenery from a Bus

There was a middle aged woman who was sitting on a window seat of the bus that was on the other lane of the bus I'm on.
She seemed to be a little tired.
...
Then, several weeks have passed since I saw this woman, but somehow I still remember her expression.
I hope that she is happy now.

Right now, I am losing myself.

......

Oh, well. I can go farther.

Choose

There are so many sources for information, but which one to choose is totally depend on each person.

The Thing I Need the Most

Unless I don't give up, all things can be a good thing.
Everything is dependent only on this short words "never give up."

From the Moon

The moon I saw today was first raised on the countries on the Pacific Ocean, then Japan, Australia, Korean Peninsula, China, Middle East, Africa, Europe, got across the Atlantic Ocean, then finally reached the American continent.

At any place on the Earth, the moon is the same moon.

And, from the moon, human activities might look like the ant's activities.

Handwriting Speed

I found the biggest issue of my study.
It's the slowness of my writing.
Now, to improve it, I need to practice more handwriting.

The Efficiency

Even if I study all night, my work does not progress as much as I hoped.
I need to improve the efficiency of my daytime activities.

After the Rain

It's after the rain.
I can see the beautiful jewel-toned sky from my room's large window. Then, I realize that nature has always been beautiful.

First

When my mind is disturbed so much, I cannot do anything.
Therefore, first I need to calm it, then I can do whatever I want.

A One-Way Street

When she has some emotions toward a person, the person usually have the same emotions toward her. The same type of emotions occur in both minds simultaneously.

Therefore, it's an illusion if one likes a person but the person doesn't.
And, it's a jealousy if one hates a person but the person does not.

What do you think?

The Bluish Light

Today's moon is near full.
Then, when I saw a tree shadow made by the moonlight, I recalled the time when I first saw the bluish ray.

It is said that moonlight is bluish, but I had never seen it until I was about fourteen. That night, I was really really moved, and thought that,
"The old tales were true. It is really blue!"

I think, we sometimes need to spend a night in the darkness. Then, we can see the color of moonlight.

Super Mario Brothers!

It's already about four years ago.

When I first took the ESL class at the University of Victoria, a boy from Columbia entered the class about two weeks later, so he introduced himself in front of everyone by saying,

"My name is Mario."

Then, just after this introduction, a Mexican boy started to sing,

"La la la, la la, la, la."

I don't know many about games, but I immediately noticed that the song was the very famous video game, Super Mario Brothers' theme.

This was the first time I really thought that, "Video games really are spreading across the world."

Video games often said to have bad influence on children, but I just thought that they could be one of the useful tools to unite the world. (If it's not a bad one.)



If you want to know what the melody is like, visit this page, and press the top left image after you enter. (When you want to stop the melody, press the bottom left image - the x sign - in the second box, or press the image of a flag, if you cannot find the stop sign easily.)

http://redruth.greenbean.org/%7Eben/4CR/smb_super_synth.swf

Today's One

When I make a really really low score on a test, first, I laugh to myself.
Then, I get angry.
Finally, I cry.

Sometimes, I cry before I get angry, but in most cases, I end up with crying before I feel refreshed.
So, the above order is the normal case for me.

... ...

Today's one is not a test though.

Legibility

The web browser I now use is Firefox version 1.5.
This latest version has a new function that enables me to choose the basic font of a web page. I had a slight dissatisfaction in the old version's basic font, and I wanted to change it to the one which is more legible.

On a computer screen, the font that is like calligraphy is not so legible than the font that is like pen-written. Simple font appears better on a screen.
But, since I can change the font in this new version, I finally found a satisfying solution for this problem.

Hesitating

When I'm taking with my English teacher, I cannot talk well.
I guess I'm hesitating unconsciously.

A Hope

Human mind might be a hope as well.

A Determination

First, I need a strong determination.
Then, I can achieve a difficult thing.

A Knack

Sometimes, I am very clumsy.
I want be a smooth operator, but how do I do? Through practice, may be...?

The Best Thing

When I thought about a friend, I realized that she was learning the thing that has the best value to her.
If she is learning the best thing from her circumstance, then I'm sure that I am learning the best thing from my circumstance too.

An Interesting Side

I expect that there is at least one interesting side in every person on the earth.
I want to find it in everyone I meet.

My Neighbors Across the Door

There are people who live across my apartment room.
I don't know their names even though they live inside the door which is located within two meters from mine.
But I'm sure that there is a drama that is completely different from mine just going on everyday.

'-ism'

The day before yesterday, I learned that there is no "the" before a word '-ism.'
It's because '-ism' is usually a general idea.

I need to learn English more...

The Sky Full of Stars

For at least once, I want to see the sky full of stars.

(I thought this when I was looking stars just some minutes before.)

The Core of the Problem

One can go forward only after she came to the realization about the core of the problem.

Need for Sleep

On last Friday morning, a very very scary thing happened.
I thought that only two minutes passed, but actually it was one hour and two minutes.
How scary our need for sleep would be...

Basic Language

I found that on Windows XP, it's much easier to read the explanations in English than in Japanese.
This is may be because that Windows is basically created in English.

Finally

I'm still setting up my new computer.
Why does it take so much time?
It's only because I'm trying to install some Japanese software on this English base computer, and use it freely.

Well, I guess, I finally see the end of this long work.

One Thing

Today, while I was on the bus from school, someone hit the head over the floor.
Because I was on the second floor of the double-decker, I didn't see the person's face nor know the detail, but form the voices from below I knew that the person was a middle-aged woman.

For me, this person is an acquaintance, but for her, I'm not even an acquaintance since she even didn't know that "I" was on the second floor.

But even a person like me, who doesn't exist in her world, can do one thing for her.

"PRAY."

The Thick Fog

This morning, at seven o'clock, it was so foggy.
Victoria is getting very cold.

...

(Other places could be colder though.)

Setup

I'm still trying to setup my new computer...
It's a long operation.

Thanks to the Old One

Today, I bought a new laptop computer.

The one I bought five years ago has become too old to update the security programs. For me, who do Internet banking, Net shopping, or other important things on the Internet, this problem was too scary and was enough reason to buy a new one.

Notebooks are said to be very breakable, but my laptop has been working for five years, so it may really the time to rest.
I give lots of thanks to my old computer.

Others

I was thinking that others were disturbing me.
But I realized that I was, in fact, were polished by them.

Quarter Size Violin

Last Sunday, I saw a quarter size violin for the first time.
It was only three hands long from the top to the bottom, and was really really cute!!!

I wonder why miniatures are always so cute.

(The boy who is said to have the first lesson on that day was so cute too! )

On the Same Place

The person who is going mad and the person who is coming back from it are standing on the same place.

September 12

Today, September 12, is my birthday.
I had a birthday party at a friend's house, got mail from my family and my pre-host family.
I really thank to them.

...

But I feel so bad for the people who have a birthday on yesterday (especially Americans).
My birthday is at least one day after, but the people who were born on that day would never be cerebrated on the very same day. The memories are still vivid and I'm sure that it cannot fade at least half a century.
I really hope that there were no war on this planet.

Live in Peace

Today is September 11.
I hope that everyone on this Earth to live in peace.

Children's Voice

I hear some children's voice playing together.
They are so cute.

My Pace

I will go with my pace.

Changing

We are living in the world of ever changing.

Step Back

Any problem looks like a comedy if you step back from it.

The Moon

Today's moon was nearly full.
I actually thought that today is full, but then found out that we have two more days.
The moon is interesting. (I think I'll take the easiest Astronomy course someday.)

Explore

I am exploring myself.

Naturally

Like plants, which sprout, grow, and bloom when the time comes, we can also grow naturally.

Casual Remarks

It seems that my friends remember more the words that I said casually than the words that I said because I wanted to say.
This is may be because they don't feel any intrusion in casual remarks.

Change

Ten years, twenty years, and thirty years, we will change as the time passes.
In three decades, I'm sure that both the world and I will be so different from now.

A Growing Point

The struggle is a growing point.