3:06 p.m. After a long blank of twenty months, Perusa is coming back on the turf. He's going to run in today's main race, Shira-fuji Stakes, at Tokyo race tracks.

The horse has won 4 straight races in a row in 2010, including Aoba-sho, the prep-race for the Japanese D'erby, and has also come in 2nd place after Buena Vista in the autumn Tenno-sho (G1) the same year, and 3rd place in the 2011 autumn Tenno-sho, however, hadn't won since the former mentioned Aoba-sho. To be honest, I wasn't especially surprised when the top searched query with Perusa turned out to be "retired," since I hadn't seen the horse for such a long time.

I don't know the details, but the horse seems to have gone under some sort of throat surgery, so maybe he had some respiratory problems. Anyway, let's see how the horse would perform.

The End

Caterpillar

9:59 p.m. Pelusa (sorry, I misspelled his name yesterday) sank in 12th place in the Shira-fuji Stakes yesterday. Leaving aside the long blank, I should say that it still couldn't be called a satisfactory result for a horse that once had earned the second favored in the Japanese D'erby.

Despite his almost usual lagging behind at the start, Pelusa's first step was quick. And it seemed for a moment, that he had made a good start, however, he dropped behind from the leading group with his second step, and he gradually moved down to the back. Pelusa has wrapped up his last three furlongs with the second fastest time, though naturally, it wasn't possible for him to take over 13 horses from the last corner, while the other contestants were also rapidly gaining speed toward the finish line.

Perhaps Pelusa should choose a longer distance for his next race where he can make better use of his talents. He's powerful, he's got speed, it's just that he doesn't like to be trapped in by other horses, I think. Thus, the lagging at his second step. He also might perform well on a smaller course like Chukyo or Kokura, by moving up rather agressively on the far outside. And horses like Pelusa always performs better on soft track conditions. That is, unless he's stressed out in former races.

The End

Caterpillar

3:47 p.m. The water heater in Cow's place doesn't seem to be working properly. He's been searching about water heater problems, that the top ten search history data is showing a list of "water heater" this, and "water heater" that. Cow insists that he hears abnormal noise from the heater.

Well, whatever the cause may be, he'd better do something about it soon, or it could be critical. I mean, having no hot bath in mid-winter is almost as bad as having no water in mid-summer.

The End

Caterpillar

4:01 p.m. Gosh. Snow is falling.

Of course I knew that it might snow today, but yesterday, it was as warm as the beginning of May making me carry around my down jacket in my arms, and today, it's snowing. How am I supposed to adjust to this rapid drop in temperature?

There's been lots of news reporting heavy snowfall and excessive coldness in the U.S., lately, and I've been wondering whether I should contact my old friend who possibly could still be living in New York. I've been thinking about sending something like handy jell warmers, though the delivery and post service might not be in service due to heavy snow. I also fear that my friend might not even remember me as I haven't been in touch for decades, or might find my sudden contact uncomfortable or intrusive.

Anyway, must take necessary precautions, as the transportation can be delayed and the streets are very likely to be frozen by morning.

The End

Caterpillar

4:22 p.m. I was going to leave the appendix aside and start reading a different book, but then, I find myself still reading The Return of the King. Progress is slow, as I keep turning back the pages to make sure I know which king or steward I'm reading about.

I've finally come up to the descriptions about Aragorn and Arwen, though it was interesting reading about the history of Numenor, and the heirs of Isildur and Anarion. It reminded me of the Japanese history class in school, where we had to study the chronological table.

I hadn't had the recognition that such ancestory was valued in the Western culture, and perhaps it isn't an important factor in the modern Western life, but these information, I think, gave more depth to the story and as a reader familiar with a long list of ancestries, I rather enjoyed reading it. I feel like I'v been taught by Tolkien, that great stories like The Lord of the Rings, only reveals itself after the creation of such detailed backgrounds.

The End

Caterpillar

5:13 p.m. Looks like Cow is having Sukiyaki for dinner.

Jealous of him as I haven't had Sukiyaki for years now myself. The last time was probably the year-end party, about three years ago.

God, what did I do so wrong that I can't have Sukiyaki for years? What, what?

The End

Caterpillar

1:41 p.m. The Sochi Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games are starting before I knew it!

Actually, there'd already been the qualifications for some sports such as mogul, snowboarding slopestyle, and figure skating team. Not to mention that I stayed up till I've seen the performance of the men's short program in figure skating team. Aw, Plushenko was amazing, as he's always been, and Mr. Hanyu, his performance was remarkable! The Kimura and Takahashi pair I think, has also performed well enough, considering their short career as a pair for merely a year.

I hear they're broadcasting the opening ceremony tonight (Japan time), so am looking forward to watching it. And since heavy snow is expected in Tokyo for tomorrow, I wish I could have the day off, stay home and watch the olympic games.

The End

Caterpillar

12:56 p.m. Meanwhile, snow is piling up in Tokyo.

It started snowing in the small hours and there's been blizzard warning since last night. The subway and train I use for commuting were still operating, though a bit delayed in the morning, but who knows how long that would last? I'd better get home early.

On this snowy day, Tokai Trick, the 12-year-old grade winner, is putting a period to his long career as a race horse. Deep Impact, one of the horses that started its career in the same year as Tokai Trick, has long been retired and now sending out star horses like Kizuna as his successor. Guess it's time Tokai Trick retired. It is said that he's going to start a new life as a riding horse at Kyoto race tracks, though I wish he'd been able to become a sire as an heir of El Condor Pasa, one of the greatest race horse in Japanese history.

The End

Caterpillar

7:09 p.m. I'm aching.

I spent the morning clearing the snow around the house with a dustpan. I've tried using the shovel, but it's not a snow shovel specifically designed for removing snow, and I wasn't sure how long I could stand the weight of both the shovel and the snow, so I switched it to a dustpan, which proved very useful.

The snow we have in Tokyo is usually watery and heavy, meaning that clearing it off the streets is hard labor. I wish my hard labor would be rewarded with something else than a muscle ache.

The End

Caterpillar

4:01 p.m. I love to watch the Olympic games because it gives me a chance to learn about sports I usually don't see, or about the athletes, how they are striving to achieve their goals, which encourages me and gives me strength especially when I'm stuck with something.

Though it's true that I also have to go through some frustrating time, when some of the performances are not judged by their quality but by something else. I personally believe that this is caused mainly buy the fact that the Olympic games have become too commercial, and although I understand that these huge international sports events cannot be held without commercial support, still it doesn't feel good to see hard-working athletes undervalued.

As I've mentioned before, I always like to see hard work rewarded, that is, as a spectator, and so I believe do many other sports fans.

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Caterpillar

10:15 p.m. Since it was a holiday today, I was watching the men's mogul cheering Sho Endo late into the night yesterday.

Unfortunately, Endo couldn't make it to the final, but I saw this Swedish skier doing an awesome front flip. He couldn't win a medal, but his performance was very entertaining and I enjoyed watching this sport for the first time.

I'll put a link so I can share the fun with you all. Per Spett's Superman Jump Is Awesome

THIS is what I expect in the Olympic games, not some backdoor trade to win gold medals.

The End

Caterpillar

2:38 p.m. I think I've ssen a judge error in the women's ice hockey game, Japan vs Russia. There was a scene when Japan rushed to the Russian goal in the second period, having been lead the game 1-0, and it seemed that we've shoven in the puck.

I waited for the replay anxiously because I hadn't been so sure, but when the video was aired, it was clear that the puck had crossed the line. However, the judge didn't count the goal or even stop the game to check the video. Instead, the game went on as nothing happened. There was no announcement or explanation on the incident, at the beginning of the third period either.

I am disappointed at the fact that such a misjudge has occurred, but such things do occur in heated games and I am willing to forgive human errors. However, I cannot understand why the Japanese coach did not protest against the judge. Isn't that part of a coach's job? Surely, he must know how hard the Japanese team members have been working? I understand it must be extremely hard to stop the game and raise a voice in a situation like that, but I strongly wish he did, in respect to the players.

The End

Caterpillar

5:22 p.m. The forecast says we're bound to have another snowfall tomorrow.

The snow piled up during last weekend's blizzard is still remaining on the edge of the streets and we're having another snowfall? Oh dear. It is rare to have snow in Tokyo, and we don't have so much snow usually, as to pile up on the streets and roofs, but things seems a bit different this year.

I just hope that we don't have it so deep. I haven't completely recovered from my muscle ache yet.

The End

Caterpillar

3:34 p.m. Finally, at long last, Kick Ass is going to be aired on TV!

Be happy and ready, my friends, it's going to be aired on Nihon Terebi (channel 4, Tokyo) from 1:59AM on February 25th, Tuesday, and also on Aomori Terebi (Aomori), from 1:30AM on Saturday, March 8th. I hope I got the date and time right.

There were other things on my mind today, about Plushenko or about Hanyu, but I thought that could wait till tomorrow. I just wanted to let you all know of the news before I forget, since I've been counting fingers for this day to come for years.

The End

Caterpillar

3:32 p.m. While I was hurrah-ing about Kick Ass finally going on air, Yuzuru Hanyu has won the gold medal in the men's figure skating. Amazing.

I couldn't stay up to see his performance in real time, but the news had dominated all the TV shows this morning. He missed two jumps according to the news, so he seems to have kept his safety lead from the short program.

It must have been frustrating for Patrick Chan as he was so close to winning, but then everyone misses sometimes, even Shaun White, as Chan himself had said. Considering the enormous pressure he must have been under, I think he perforemed well enough.

The End

Caterpillar

5:35 p.m. I've dug out a hand-made Kimono that my grandmother on my mother's side had sewn for me when I was a child, and have been wondering what to do with it. It was still in good condition after all these years, and I couldn't quite bring myself to throwing it away.

Thankfully, one of my friend has sent me a message that she'd love to have it for her daughter who is crazy about Kimono, so I've handed it down to the next owner today.

I'm very happy that the Kimono was given another chance to be worn and cared for again. I couldn't keep it any more since it was too small for me to wear, yet I didn't want to throw it away among other trash becausse I thought it deserved to be treated in a more respectable manner. This is the best outcome I could have hoped for, and I'm sure my late grandmother must be happy, too.

The End

Caterpillar

2:20 p.m. It's been an unusually happy weekend and am still digesting the happy feeling.

I've been to the annual class reunion of my high school which I enjoyed very much. I've got some chances to talk with people I hadn't known that much in my school days, and it felt like I was meeting them for the first time. What was I doing when I was in school? There were also new discoveries, that some people remembered me from events that I couldn't even recall, which made me realize how we all feel different and think different. To be honest, I was overjoyed that I had made at least a little impression in someone's mind. It all was a great experience.

Additionally, I learned that Noriaki "the Legend" Kasai had won the silver medal in large hill ski jumping. Most people in Japan must know about the backstage story of the Nagano Olympics by now, but I'm especially happy because the long period of his hard work has finally been rewarded.

The End

Caterpillar

4:25 p.m. I had just written about "the Legend" Kasai winning a silver medal in large hill ski jumping yesterday, and this morning, our national team has won the bronze medal for team ski jumping! Amazing!

The team members each faced their own hardships, the youngest Shimizu, expereiencing the heavy pressure of his first Olympics, Takeuchi, currently fighting Churg-Strauss syndrome as he pursues his career as a ski jumper, Ito also fighting his knee injury, quite severe that he couldn't stop his skis without falling on his bottom, and Kasai, who worked out more than anybody in the team and has strived through even fasting to control his condition.

It was so touching to see them all smile when they went on the podium. Congratulations guys, I'm very proud of you. Hope you get to hang those medals round your necks soon!

The End

Caterpillar

2:15 p.m. The women's figure skating single short program is going to be held from tonight to tomorrow morning, Japan time.

Cow has been bombarding me with "Don't you want Mao-chan to win the gold medal?" for weeks now, and it's a relief that it's finally coming to the end in a matter of days. Of course, I would like to reward her in some way, especially, as this is going to be her last performance as a skater. All the more reason that I wish she'd forget about all the evaluation that people give her, the criticism, the medals, the score, forget them all, and just focus on her skating performance. She's got what she needs to make it an impressive last performance, and it would be a pity if she got distracted by such small things and spoiled her performance.

As for the media (and Cow), for God's sake, it's her last stage. Let her focus on her skating and perform it any way she likes.

The End

Caterpillar

5:06 p.m. Mao-chan has missed her jumps. The media (and Cow) has been making alot of noise about it.

It was said that her performance in this Sochi Olympics was going to be a compilation of her skating career, and what came across through her performance was her strong will to keep facing the challenge, no matter how hard it may be.

From the results, Mao-chan might not have been able to succeed in achieving her goal in the short programs. But. She's faced the challenge, and took her chance. She didn't scuttle away and settle on some safety measures, and she is taking the consequences as it is. I think one needs a lot of courage, patience and a strong heart to believe in oneself to do that.

I don't know if this message would ever get through to Mao-chan, but if I may, I'd like to tell her that it's okay. It's okay to make mistakes. You are trying to do something that no one else has ever done. Of course, you'll make mistakes, and a lot of them, because what you're trying to do must be something very difficult, way beyond my imagination. I said that I wanted to see you enjoy the performance. I was expecting you to perform like when you were a little girl. But now I understand that it was only my ego that made me want to see you as a young girl, smiling and happy because you've pulled through without a miss.

You have grown stronger, braver, and tougher than I'd ever imagined. And I'm sure your late mother would be happy, just to see how much you've grown.

The End

Caterpillar

2:10 p.m. I thrust my fists in the air each time Mao-chan landed a jump. After 4 minutes, there was Mao Asada on the ice bursting into tears of joy, relief and a sense of accomplishment, all mingled together. Great job! Great job well done!

Can't be sure about the exact number but there must have been so many of you all over the world, who wept with her at that moment not to mention myself. Yesterday evening, I was happy to learn that so many people, including some skaters, had tweeted encouraging messages for Mao-chan. And I thought, all I'd ask for was for her to somehow pull through the free program. But what I'd actually seen with my eyes was AMAZING!

I am so happy for her! We didn't need you to bring back a gold medal Mao-chan, we just wanted to give you one! Besides, you've already won something that shines even brighter than the gold medal. Our hearts.

The End

Caterpillar

1:40 p.m. The Sochi Olympics is getting closer to the end, but we still have women's parallel slalom and men's slalom run in Alpine skiing. Tomoka Takeuchi who won the silver medal in women's parallel giant slalom just 2 days ago is going to be in the snowboard parallel slalom, while Naoki Yuasa is going to be in the ski slalom.

Yuasa has had a chip fracture about a month ago, so I've been wondering if he's okay and how he is coming out. He's been in the Vancouver Olympics, but he's gone through a lot of training since then, and has now become one of the top Alpine skiers in the country, as to go on the podium in the World Cup.

I've been cheering him since Vancouver, and I really wish the best for him this time, though with his serious injury, I don't know whether I should cheer him on or just watch and hope that he finishes without further incident. It's disappointing that they're only going to broadcast the finals on NHK tonight, but in Sochi, they're having the first run from 4:45 this afternoon, Sochi time. I'll just have to cross my fingers, I guess.

As for Tomoka, I'm sure she's going to give it her best shot. I've seen her practicing with her Austrian coach and team mates on TV, and from what I've seen she's a tough woman, very tough at that.

The End

Caterpillar

9:39 p.m. Oh, god. Canada has scored a goal while I was away from the TV. I was watching the ice hockey game Canada against Sweden, the final match fighting for the gold medal. And while I've been enjoying the Sochi Olympics, February Stakes, the first grade one race this year has been run.

The winner wasn't Belshazzar, and it wasn't Hokko Tarumae either. It was Copano Rickey, the least favored of all the 16 horses, owned by that famous Feng Shui guy, Dr. Copa. Of course, I hadn't bought him. It was supposed to be Wonder Accute to rip through the inside to win the race in my simulation.

Miss Takeuchi and Mr. Yuasa both couldn't make it to the podium, but they've both tried their best and that's what counts.

10:39 p.m. Wow! Canada has scored a goal in the 2nd period! That forward, Sydney Crosby is awesome.

The End

Caterpillar

3:06 p.m. As usual, the olympic games has been very inspiring and encouraging. So many tears and smiles I recall, and I'd like to say thank you for the spectacular performance to all the athletes. Your courage to face challenges, your toughness to not give up easily, and the beautiful faces of all of you who worked hard, has touched our hearts in so many ways.

Viktor Ahn is a true champion for the come back he's made, so are the Jamaican bobsleigh team who reminded us of something very important, to not fear, always do the best you can, and enjoy, which they expressed through their real "Cool Running." The Canadian ice hockey team both men and women, played a great match against their rivals, the games so exciting that it made me wish I was a hockey player. The superman dive that Perr Spett has shown us, the huge jump of the Legend, Kasai, the tears of Sara Takanashi, and of course, the smile of Mao-chan after her free program.

These are all presious little treasures in our minds and although we might forget about them temporarily over time, they will come back to us every time when the Olympic games come around, when we open our rusty drawers and pull out these wonderful memories.

The End

Caterpillar

4:36 p.m. Ouch. The left side of my neck is aching. For those who have to sit all day in front of a pc terminal or in long meetings, the aches in your body that you get at the end of the day may already seem like something you can't get rid of. I mostly do work in a sitting position, so I know how it feels.

Here are some stretching exercise you can try to relieve back pain, soften your stiff shoulders, or simply get your spines relaxed. Sit up straight: five of the best posture exercises Maybe I should try these a little.

The End

Caterpillar

2:42 p.m. I forgot to write about it yesterday, but I've succeeded in recording Kick Ass broadcasted during the night of February 24th to early morning of 25th.

I was afraid I might forget to record it, though this notion had made me cautious enough to double check the on air date and time, especially because it was in the odd hours. Well, they couldn't have broadcasted it in broad day light as there were some violent scenes, is what Cow says.

Anyway, have got it on my HDD recorder now, and I can't wait to see it on Sunday!

The End

Caterpillar

4:53 p.m. As a matter of fact, I've also recorded The Sorcerer's Apprentice that has been aired also after midnight on Tuesday.

So I think I'll enjoy some Nicolas Cage festival this weekend.

The End

Caterpillar

2:59 p.m. Many things happened at once, and I'm a bit confused. It's warm, very warm today, and the swelled up plum buds bursting into blossoms make us think that spring has already come.

Though I won't be tricked, not just yet, because I know that his is merely a fake spring that only lasts for a day. Tomorrow, the temperature will drop down 10 degrees, throwing us back into mid-winter, threatening us with a chance of snow again, depending on how low the temperature would drop.

The End

Caterpillar