2:29 p.m. Was going to arrive at the office in plenty of time, though eventually, had to run from the station to office because have been caught by a woman I knew right after I left my house. She and her husband used to run a rice store and I've known her since I was little however, they'd shut down the store years ago and now her husband has dementia. I've always felt sorry for the old couple being met by such cruel fate after working diligently for most of their lives. And I just couldn't walk past her. She asked me about Obaba whom she hadn't seen in weeks, to which I explained that she'd had another stroke, this time rather serious. The conversation took some time, thus the running to office. Also, had to skip breakfast. But got lucky and managed to have coffee before the first meeting.

2:48 p.m. Have been thinking if there's anything I could do to to ease the rice store's wife's burden a bit, or at least cheer her up in some way. Well, if chatting does her good, then maybe I could drop by to have a pleasant chat. But then I'll need to get up early...

The End

Caterpillar

2:56 p.m. The printer has went down again... Thought it revived after Cow's laborious attempt. Am sure Cow have been thinking so, too. But you see, reality hurts.

5:47 p.m. Cow has been fiddling with the printer for a while, his fingers all smudged with ink. He seemed so desperate, thought I could compliment his hard working for a change. So I told him, "To put it the bad way, you don't know when to give up Cow, don't you?" I tried to give him a compliment after that to make it sound a little dramatic. Though the words that came out of my mouth were, "To put it in better terms, you're a bad loser."

5:48 p.m. Have said it wrong somehow. Japanese is difficult to master.

The End

Caterpillar

3:15 p.m. Just been to see Obaba. Think she's doing fine for her age. She's now able to sit propped up in a wheel chair though she drifts off occasionally. The nurse told me she ate Okayu (thin porridge) for lunch today. I had her help me fold a paper crane with a paper towel to keep her awake. She even uttered some words today, when asked what my name was by the nurse. Though her answer to the question was, I can't remember.

3:28 p.m. Talked to Cow on Skype! Thought it strange because he was using a different account, but then he told me in a wearied tone that his lap-top has not been working properly since this morning. What a surprise. According to Cow, the problem seemed to be the hard disk, and he is now going through an endless disk check program distributed by the manufacturer, after being suggested to do so from their customer support staff. I might have to bring mine to work tomorrow in case Cow's won't work.

While talking to Cow on Skype!, have discovered that Oukasho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas) was only a week away. Another surprise. Have forgotten about it lost in the eventful days that have written about earlier. Then, as I was saying something to Cow, I also discovered the shocking news that Reve d'Essor has been scratched because she's had a fraction. Oooh, surprise, surprise.

The End

Caterpillar

1:35 p.m. Took me an eternity to find AirCap to wrap my lap-top in. Yes, had to bring it to the office today, since it turned out that Cow's lap-top's hard disk was broke. The manufacturer would replace it for free because it's still within the warranty period. Well, it hasn't even been six months since he'd bought it.

1:41 p.m. There was a mysterious recording left in our ofiice's answerphone. The message, if it could be called one, wasn't addressed to either one of us. It sounded like someone had recorded an unknown woman blabbering about her plans for the Golden Week (consecutive holidays from the end of April to the first week of May), going on and on until the tape ran out. Assuming the the recorded date and time were correct, it was recorded Saturday evening when Cow and I were there near the phone, though neither of us could recall hearing the phone ring. Then how did it end up on our answer phone? The surprises seem to be continuing.

2:39 p.m. Oh, my God. My lap-top is releasing a loud beep from the second it displayed the Windows logo, as Cow started to launch it. One trouble after another... Seems we're never short of surprises.

The End

Caterpillar

7:18 p.m. Cow is pissed off because his part of work is making slow progress. It's apparently consuming more time than he'd thought it would have and, he's getting tired of the endless task. But that does not give him license to take it all out on me, I think. Still, he yells at me anyway to blow off steam.

7:45 p.m. My work was interrupted by an uninvited visitor. So saved and all the files in the desk-top computer though they weren't well organized. This made Cow furious because A, he thought I hadn't made the file he'd ordered in the morning which I actually did make, although it just wasn't in the folder Cow was looking in, and B, I hadn't made a file in the way he wanted it to be. Great, great. I'm always wrong and he's always right. Whatever. As he wishes. He's the boss after all.

The End

Caterpillar

11:53 a.m. As I pondered about the reason for that shrieking beep from my lap-top, I remembered that I had changed the settings of the stereo mixer function when I made the movie to submit to the Bon Jovi video contest. I had changed the settings so that the lap-top could record the sound made around the computer, together with the music played on it. Considering that the beep seemed to come out from not the fan but the speaker, there was a fat chance that it could've been causing howling.

12:11 p.m. I've backed up all the data I need and brought my recovery discs just in case, but now that I've come to realize the reason that might be causing the trouble, I am anxious to reset the stereo mixer since I fear it might trigger some other damages to my lap-top. The manufacturer's quick check program has detected nothing wrong so far, and I'd absolutely like to keep it that way. However, Cow is too occupied with the impending project that he wouldn't let me. Oh, I'm getting itchy.

The End

Caterpillar

4:23 p.m. Good news has finally been delivered. JoOusama had a call from her brother yesterday afternoon, telling her that their sister's safety had been confirmed. He left for Ishinomaki with his wife in the morning going straight to his sister's house, and it seems he sort of bumped into her when she was allowed a temporal visit back to her house. According to the little information JoOusama was able to pick up from the fitful conversation from my uncle's cell phone, my aunt seems to have been staying in a small shelter near her house. It must be a very small place since I've went through a number of name lists though I couldn't find her name anywhere.

4:35 p.m. Thank God, am relieved. Things are starting to go well. My aunt is alive, Obaba is recovering nicely, and my lap-top stopped beeping. Luck seems to be changing its course.

The End

Caterpillar

8:45 p.m. Geez, am exhausted. Have been working all day, working my head off, being interrupted every three minutes by Cow and don't have an ounce of energy left...

8:46 p.m. Hope can go home soon.

The End

Caterpillar

2:36 p.m. Was worn out yesterday. Two consecutive weeks of hard working with additional unexpected troubles were too much for me, and I was ready to collapse by the time I got off the train. But things seem to be going well enough. Good, good.

2:41 p.m. Have just remembered tomorrow was Ouka-sho (Japanese 1,000 Guineas). Cannot believe I've forgotten about it until now since Sunday. Am going to check out the racing form.

2:43 p.m. There. Have printed out the barrier draw chart. Now I can look at it whenever I want to handicap the horses.

2:47 p.m. Just checking if have missed any announcements on JRA site. Oh, no. They're not selling betting tickets at WINS (off-track betting booths) in the Kanto area... Seems we can buy them on PAT (online betting system, need registeration beforehand), though. Must ask Cow to buy it for me. But how? He's still using my lap-top which means I won't have it at home this weekend... I'll have to call him on the phone.

The End

Caterpillar

1:12 p.m. Though many things have been turning out all right, some things just don't seem to work out. Have keyed Whale Capture for first place on my triplet, Trend Hunter, Derma Durga and Speed Ripper on the wheel with an additional Dance Fantasia, Whale Capture and Speed Ripper for insurance. Dance Fantasia, I thought, would either sweep them all together or end up behind 5th. Marcellina also caught my eye but I wasn't sure about her. After all, she was just one of a hundred Deep Impact offsprings although I admired her remarkable instantaneous force. The fact from the past Ouka-sho that fillies with only three racing experiences before the race were all performing well made me hesitate, but then, Marcellina may not be as talented as those fillies which were Rhein Kraft, Cesario and Dance In The Mood. So I simply cut her out.

4:00 p.m. Whale Capture ended second, with Trend Hunter in tow. But Marcellina had hit the wire just a flash before the two... So, she's talented.

The End

Caterpillar

3:59 p.m. Have ran out of cigarettes. Thought I had another fresh pack but the truth was I didn't, so I went out to get some new packs to a 7-eleven down the road.

4:14 p.m. On the shelf of 7-eleven, many brands of cigarettes were replaced by a slit of paper with the words ‘SOLD OUT’ printied on them, and unfortunately, my favorite brand somehow seemed to be included. So I made a little side trip to a nearby cigarette shop where I discovered they'd run out of it, too. I reluctantly extended my trip to a liquor shop where I usually buy cigarettes in cartons, only to find it was closed.... I went around three more shops in hope of completing my mission of buying cigarettes, since I had just smoked my last one without realizing it actually was my last. I was desperate. However, all the shops had somehow sold out. Perhaps it had something to do with the earthquake? Anyway, am starting to get worried about when and where I could get my cigarettes. Meanwhile, must be careful not to throw things at people even if I get irritated...

The End

Caterpillar

3:12 p.m. Have bought several packs of cigarette on my way to work. It seemed to be a serious problem yesterday, but then, today is another new day. I found my favorite brand neatly lined up on the shelf at a 7-eleven near my house. So what was all the fuss about? I felt like I've been tricked. Surely, it wasn't the April Fools Day. And I don't remember hearing anyone move it to ten days later...

Or has someone moved it? I brought an umbrella with me when I left the office yesterday evening, because it was raining pretty hard. I stopped by a convenience store to check if a pack of my favorite brand had somehow miraculously survived the stockout crisis. I stuck my umbrella in the rack by the side of the entrance and went inside.

As pretty much expected, I was confronted by another series of ‘SOLD OUT’ paper slits... With shoulders drooped in disappointment, I walked out the door, tried to take my umbrella from the rack to put it up when my jaws dropped. It was gone. Someone had taken my umbrella.

The End

Caterpillar

12:59 p.m. Sadness and fury rushed from the bottom of my stomach and words failed me. The fact that my umbrella looked comparatively nicer than the other dimestore plastic umbrellas left in the rack, and that the rain was really coming down seemed to point out that whoever took my umbrella must have taken it intentionally. How could one be so selfish when the whole country is trying to care about each other? Shame on you!

I strongly belileve one will eventually be made to pay for his or her sins. And I certainly hope that day will come for whoever has taken my umbrella.

The End

Caterpillar

2:21 p.m. Cow has discovered that JRA is going to start running WINS partly from this weekend, April 16th. There are some restrictions though. For example, they're selling betting tickets only from the sixth race, probabaly effected by the planned blackout.

It's good WINS are going to be open again. JRA must have felt the pain last weekend. The sales must have dropped more than they'd expected. But unfortunately, we're not having any grade one races this weekend.

There would be no grade ones this weekend however, Satsuki-sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas) is coming right up next weekend. Must be prepared for some inconveniences due to electricity situation or aftershocks if am going to WINS, such as not working escalators or vending machines being out of order. How are they going to sell the betting tickets anyway? Would they make middle-aged women sit behind those tellers again like in the old days?

The End

Caterpillar

2:03 p.m. Gee. Happened to stumble upon another stockout crisis. Have been using hot spring water sold in plastic bottles for some time for both drinking and splashing onto skin, since I have allergic hypersensitivity and get attacked by various skin troubles or other allergic symptoms as seasons change especially, in spring and autumn. But the brand I've been buying has now vanished from store shelves. Not again... Have searched the Internet in hope of finding somewhere could buy online though the search has been fruitless.

2:13 p.m. What to do? I'll be forced to deal with skin troubles until the symptoms somewhat subsides which would be somewhere around late November or December, if cannot buy new bottle of hot spring water. And the sad thing is that the bottle am now consuming is about to go empty...

The End

Caterpillar

5:15 p.m. Again, am exhausted. Have been made to wait for an hour while uploading data on server. The reason it took so long probably was because it contained so many photos. Yes, pretty photos with high pixels resolution look nice, but hey, we're looking at them on screens depending on various specs and conditions. After the tedious uploading event, have been struggling with HTML ‘target’ attribution. I wanted to display a page in a new window, though discovered later that ‘target’ attribution is not supported by XML and the like. Ended up ditching ‘target’ and switching to ‘openwindow’ in javascript.

5:35 p.m. And I still have one more meeting to get over... Wonder if I could get home in one piece. Wish me luck, folks.

The End

Caterpillar

11:38 p.m. Have been working on Hulet Packard lap-top PC which belongs to Tono and now is permitted to JoOusama. The permission has automatically allowed me to work on its new security software, since the original one has long been out of date. So have installed new antivirus software. But almost immediately, the computer started to slow down. It actually hung up when I tried to download and install OS updates...

The OS mounted on this computer was Windows Vista, though later it trasnpired that the PC had only 500MB RAM... How could it perform well when Vista requires at least 512MB to operate? Seems I'm forced to choose between two options which are a, add memory or b, downsize OS to XP. Oh, there was another option. Change antivirus software to something more lighter... But what?

The End

Caterpillar

2:16 p.m. Still undecided about security software. Well, I'll take my time and think about it. JoOusama can wait since she seems to have bought her first cell phone yesterday. She's thrilled with her new toy for now, so that should keep her busy.

2:19 p.m. By the way, a grade 2 race was run yeterday. The Yomiuri Milers Cup. It wasn't a top category race but I watched it anyway, mainly because I wanted to see how well Apapane, last year's fillies' champion would perform after about five months of good rest. She came driving up the outside of the homestretch, though too late and ended in 4th place. But then, she wasn't fit yet. Besides, she's not the type to perform well from her first race in a while. 4th place is good enough, considering her next target race which probably must be the Victoria Mile. Must be alert.

The End

Caterpillar

4:48 p.m. Cow has returned from dentist and shopping.

He's bought new printer, finally! After years of fiddling with the old one, and after years of my convincing, FINAALLYYYY!

He's bought 8GB flash memory.

He's bought inner case for lap-top PC which I asked him to get one if he was going to the electronic retailers'.

Wow, what happened? He's too generous.

The End

Caterpillar

3:01 p.m. Have downloaded and installed Windows updates on Tono's lap-top late last night. Since the new antivirus that I installed had been too much for the not-so-high-spec computer, I uninstalled it and tried the update. To my relief, it worked! It took about two hours though, since there were sixty-something files to update...

Think it was past three in the morning by the time I finished the updates. I don't really remember clearly because I'd fallen asleep somewhere during my attempt to relaunch the computer. Seemed like the computer fell asleep, too, which I realized in the morning still half asleep. Didn't expect to work so hard on the stupid lap-top...

The End

Caterpillar

9:21 p.m. Have been absorbed in work that didn't realize it was past 9:00. Gotta run to avoid unnecessary bickering with JoOusama about my coming home late...

Why do I have to worry about such things when I'm not a school kid any more? Why?

The End

Caterpillar

3:53 p.m. Cow has gone out to buy his carton of Camel, but came back empty-handed. Apparently, Camel was not sold. Seems like it joined the stock-out brand. Maybe those who favor Camel should run to the cigarette shops right now. Or perhaps it's too late.

4:32 p.m. Cow has been mumbling about not having able to get his cigarette. He reluctantly gave in to a pack of Lark, though didn't seem to like the flavor.

4:57 p.m. Have been out to the bank and some other places. I was concerned about my cigarettes after seeing what happened to Cow, I mean, no shop could possibly have a minor brand such as my favored in store, when they don't even have a world standard brand like Camel, so I was wondering what to do. But as I crossed a street to the bank, I spotted a familiar orange package in the window of a small cigarette shop on the corner. What luck! I was able get a carton.

6:29 p.m. Guess it's needless to say Cow has been whining forever since he saw me walk back in with my orange carton.

The End

Caterpillar

7:23 p.m. Looks like Cow has done something wrong again while have been in a meeting. Shortcut icons have somehow disappeared from the desktop of his lap-top. I gave him a tip on how to access the Internet without using shortcut icons, and currently he is doing a desperate search on his situation.

7:26 p.m. Seems like he's given up searching. Now he's on an attempt to get back to his latest restoration point. Hope it works. Am going to WINS tomorrow for Satsuki-sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas). It's been a while, but haven't had time or energy to even take a quick look at the barrier draw. Must check out by noon tomorrow.

The End

Caterpillar

8:30 a.m. Have got up early to go look for bottled mineral water I can use for the meantime, until the hot spring water I've been using would be in stock again. Luckily, have found bottled soft water containing minerals close to what I've been looking for sold for 88 yen. I'll try this anyhow.

1:31 p.m. Was gathering information about the candidates for the unified local election held today, when I realized I was running late for the Satsuki-sho (Japanese 2,000 Guineas). Grrrrr. Must handicap the horses in the train...

10:24 p.m. Oh my God. I won... My bet was placed on trio wheel keying Sadamu Patek and Orfevre with Danon Ballade, Nakayama Knight, Danon Mill, Eishin Osman and Libertas. I wasn't so confident about my choice however, you win when you win. Wished I'd bet more but that's wishful thinking. Anyway, am glad that have now broken the curse of that shaky theory, "the rules of M."

The End

Caterpillar

1:59 p.m. Have stopped by a cigarette shop in Shibuya to see if they still happened to have a pack of filtered Camel left. Cow had asked me earlier to get a pack if I can. I took a good look inside the shop to make sure there weren't any camel characters exposed, because I'd never been inside the shop before and also because the guy behind the counter seemed a bit grumpy. I found no sign of a camel strolling on the desert, so I plucked up my courage and asked the man if there happened to be a pack of filtered Camel left.

As I had expected, the man grunted and said, "They're not putting them out. At least not until June. You should be changing to another brand by now." as if to say, "What, have you been hiding under a rock or something?"

I scurried out the shop in embarrassment as the guy behind the counter threw his last words at my back, crashing in for the kill. "Didn't you check the production and shipment schedule? It's posted right there."

Oh, how kind.

The End

Caterpillar

4:58 p.m. Cow seems to have given up hope for filtered Camel. Well, if JT is not producing any, there's no point in waiting, I guess. He's just been out to buy a pack of Marlboro.

Mmm... Marlboro. The name brings back the image of the TV commercial I've seen so many times on the screen. The image of a cowboy rounding up cattle on his pony, and at the end of a hard day, he lights a Marlboro in the dusk. Marlboro man (not Marshmallow man, just in case you've got it mixed up).

Unfortunately, Cow does not conincide with my image of the Marlboro man which had been stamped in my memory so many years ago. The only part that does coincide is his name and the cattle.

The End

Caterpillar

2:00 p.m. Have just filled out an applying form. Am applying for TASPO. TASPO is an ID card you need in Japan to buy cigarettes from vending machines. Since smoking under the age of twenty is strictly prohibited here in Japan, they need something to prevent young people to buy cigarettes from vending machines. As for me, I thought it wouldn't hurt to get one after all. It might come in handy when one's favorite brand disappears from the store shelves.

Application forms can be found at cigarette shops or in the boxes attached to some cigarette vending machines. You will need to enclose an ID photo, 3.5cm by 4.5cm in size (same as the one on your passport), together with a photocopy of your identification such as drivers' license, health insurance card, alien registeration card. (ID must have your current address on it otherwise, you'll have to add another photocopy of your public bill that has your current address). Simple instructions on how to fill out the form (in Japanese) and the form itself all comes in one kit with an addressed collect envelope, so all you have to do is fill out the form, paste your photocopy on it, tape your ID photo on it too, put them in the envelope, seal, then drop it in the mail box and wait. It says the card will arrive in about two weeks.

The End

Caterpillar

6:32 p.m. Although I've won a race in a while, haven't had the time to review it. The next G1, the Tennou-sho is only a couple of days away, but am drained and cannot squeeze out enough energy to check out info.

Luckily, tomorrow is a holiday. Think I'll review last week's race and go and check out the next one tomorrow.

The End

Caterpillar

10:39 a.m. Am going to install security software into the Hulet Packard lap-top today. Let's get it over since have a lot of other things to deal with.

2:40 p.m. There. Have downloaded and installed anti-virus. Tried some searching on the computer, but it's moving quite smoothly so far. Must check and see how it performs when the scanning starts. Ahh. Need to register for free lisence before I go on.

2:43 p.m. Discovered that E-mail address is required to register for lisence, though no one seems to have set an account on the Hulet Packard lap-top...

2:50 p.m. Decided to think about that later. I can't be spending too much time on this, I've still got a lot more to do. Besides, got to fix and eat lunch. Am starving.

The End

Caterpillar

2:00 p.m. Still haven't reviewed last week's race yet. Wonder when I'll get to see it. Hopefully, tonight.

2:01 p.m. Have glimpsed the barrier draw of the Tennou-sho held tomorrow. Hmmm... eighteen runners. The number of competitors are limited to eighteen at most in JRA races, so gates are full this year. Think it's been a while since the Tennou-sho was run with eighteen horses.

2:11 p.m. Have not studied the form yet, but Cow is boasting about Rose Kingdom winning the race. Or at least come in 2nd or 3rd place. Fn. I'll bet against it.

The End

Caterpillar