11:32 a.m. Gave up washing clothes since rain has started falling, earlier than predicted, actually. Will put off visiting Obaba's grave too. The forecast had said the rain would get heavier.

2:40 p.m. Rain has not become heavier at all. In fact, it's been stopping occasionally. Have checked out forecast for the third time today and leaarned that the rain wasn't going to fall on us full power until later this evening. Though have also learned that the temperature was going to shoot up in the week ahead, starting tomorrow. Must clean up and pull out my goza (straw sheet). The heat would be unbearable on carpets.

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Caterpillar

2:58 p.m. Have done some searching on neck pain yesterday, since I had some free time in a while. Have been having a pain only in the left side of my neck whenever I tried to turn my head in that direction. It seemed it was the muscle that was hurting, not the joints or anything.

After some searching, I found out that the pain might be caused from distortion of my body structure, in other words, distortion of my pelvis. Have found many articles by sports trainers, medical trainers, or bone-crushers, saying that the distortion of your pelvis can often result in pain in only the half of your body.

According to those articles, pelvis can be displaced over the years slanting back and forth or, in a diagonal positon when seen from front with one side higher than the other, depending on your daily behavior. People having the following symptoms are likely to have slanted pelvis; uneven eyes, brows in different angles, different length in arms or legs, pain only in either side of your body. Oh my. I have them all...

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1:42 p.m. So, what can I do to reduce the pain in the left side of my neck? There were a couple of exercises introduced in the former mentioned articles, that were said to be effective to draw in your flated and slanted pelvis to the right position.

One of them was a squat, though you need to hold a bundle of bath towel between your knees with your hands crossed in front of your chest. Twenty times a set, do one set every day, two sets if every other day. Another exrcise was a sort of stretch, I think, in which you place your feet shoulder-width apart, then bend your knees resting your whole weight on either one. Leaving the feet at its original position, twist the other knee (the one not carrying your weight) inward so that both knees meet. Make sure your upper body doesn't twist with your knee, since it should face straight forward. Repeat this procedure on both legs in alternate shifts for twenty times for each leg. One set would work fine if you're doing it every day, two sets if every other day. I'll leave a link to some pictures.

Have tried right away not to mention, and presto! The pain seems to have subsided somewhat. I can turn my head in the left direction without so much pain as I felt before.

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2:22 p.m. As I was going through the gate to the platform last evening, I saw an unfolded umbrella mark meaning that substantial rain was expected for today, on the digital information display inside a subway station.

When I got home, the TV weather forecast was saying that they were expecting some rain, too.

By the time the date had changed, though, forecast had somehow suddenly changed their view completely and was calling for cloudy skies to partly cloudy skies.

As of 2:32 p.m., Tokyo is under the blue sky with some clouds and the sun beating down. Even I can see there wouldn't be a slight chance of rain today. Certified weather forecasters must be having a tough time lately.

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3:51 p.m. Have learned from a TV news last night, that a new website featuring earthquakes in Japan has been launched by NIED, The National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention. Information on scales, sources, intensities, or effected areas of earthquakes which have been uploaded on different websites, will be shown on this particular website Earthquake Information Service from now on.

The webpage itself is in Japanese, though the graphics will help you get the above information visually. The graphic of the Japan archepelago on the top left shows earthquakes occurred in the last 24 hours with the dots reflecting their magnitude (size of dots expressing magnitude and color expressing depth). The graphic beneath it which says AQUA-CMT on its top left, shows the main source, depth and scale of recent earthquakes. The Real Time Sindo graphic depicts present earthquakes observed on the ground surface, with each color reflecting their intensity level (greens and blues are small ones we can't even feel), and is modifyed every 2 seconds (thus, the name, REAL TIME). There's a link to the NIED page (thankfully, they have English contents) at the bottom of the page if you're interested.

It might not be too convenient, but thought it would be better than no informtaion at all. Hope the website will help foreign people learn that it's actually very rare to have such huge earthquake as the one we had in Touhoku last year.

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4:55 p.m. Was her name Xin-Xin? The female panda in Ueno zoo has delivered a baby. It's the first baby panda in decades, since Tong-Tong, I think. Hope the baby grows into a healthy giant panda though we have to return it to China in a couple of years.

Speaking of pandas, here's a movie I found of a Sneezing Baby Panda surprising its mom. It really did surprise her, didn't it? I mean, the mom panda. Didn't expect such a tiny baby panda's sneeze to be so loud either.

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1:16 p.m. Have watched Wimbledon men's semi-final match, Federer vs Djokovic last night. It was a heated match, former world top ranker challenging current top ranker, though was secretly cheering Federer since he'd been away from the Grand Slam title for a while. So far Federer's been playing well. He'll be moving up to the top from his current 4th position in the world tennis ranking, if he wins the final match.

Am excited to see tonight's women's final, too, Serena Williams against Agnieszka Radwanska. From her semi-final match, Swanska seemed both smart and tough but Serena will be hard to beat, no doubt about that. Serena, she's so powerful and fast that the only way to beat her seems to be to take advantage of her misses. Anyway, can't wait to see the match.

By the way, I used to have a friend who lived near Wimbledon. East Putney, actually.

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6:45 p.m. Last night's Wimbledon Women's final was spectacular. Serena won the match but Swanska was good, too, especially after the rain interruption. She must have assessed her performance while she waited for the game to restart. Tonight it's going to be Federer against Murray. Murray's gonna have a powerful back-up for sure. Wonder how Federer would feel playing in such circumstance.

7:03 p.m. Have just discovered that they're doing Toy Story 3 on TV from 9:00p.m. tonight, while Wimbledon Tennis is going to be broadcasted from 10:00. Must record Toy Story.

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2:23 p.m. Amazing. Great match that could go down in history. Too bad for Murray (and his fans of the UK), though as he'd said, he's getting closer. It was a close match, the players both had their pinches and chances, which means that either of them could have won. Only. Federer overtook Murray with the fierceness of a 30-year-old ex-champion desperate to make a come back.

Personally believe Federer has reached a stage of tennis god, having achieved a tie record to that of Sampras's however, Murray is still twenty-five and, as Federer himself has put it, he is going to win at least one Grand Slam title in the near future. Think it's only a matter of time.

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2:08 p.m. Sun is beating fiercely outside and Cow has thankfully turned on the air conditioner, although it was only for the computers, not for me.

Somehow am always on the back burner wherever I go, whether it's at work or among friends or at home in my family. Yet people tend to notice me in a crowd or when they see me for the second time. They say I stand out.

Still they put me in the backseat and prioritize whatever they want to do. I'd like to respect people, be nice to them, but sometimes I wonder if they ever think about me at all.

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3:23 p.m. The shocking news that the baby panda has been found dead this morning was delivered early in the afternoon. Oh, god. The poor thing was only four days old! According to NHK news, the cause of death is said to be pneumonia.

The cheery mood surrounding babay panda's birth has been met with a let down. A couple of days back, I saw some shops on TV trying to jump on the bandwagon of welcoming the baby. I wonder what they're gonna do with all those buns with panda faces on top.

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3:35 p.m. While people in northern Kyushu has been suffering from disaster caused by unbelievably heavy rain, we've been having high wind since last night in Tokyo. Had gone to sleep with the windows opened because it was hot, but my sleep came in short lapses interrupted by the wind battering the curtains.

Added to this, someone from the neighborhood seemed to be, well, vomitting. The unmistakably unpleasant sound, combined with the occasional metal clanking sound, presumably to steady his or her body with the gate, also kept me from falling into deep sleep. Why is the person vomitting outside his or her house? It's not the year-end party season, you know. Didn't bother to get up and check who it was, though.

Thanks to the disturbance, am half sleeping.

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3:54 p.m. Heavy rain had brought Kyushu a record amount of rainfall and still, they are under fear of more rain coming tonight. Have regarded it as a sign for the rainy season to be nearly over, but the rainfall seems to be getting heavier and heavier every year. And I've come to think that something must be done to prevent further disasters.

Couldn't we make a new island somewhere off the southwestern coast of Okinawa and build a 3,000-meter-class artificial mountain on it? So that the clouds would drop the rain there? I guess it's totally different and much more difficult, technically, from reclaiming the waterfront to make Odaiba. But if we could, we could save Kyushu from disasters. Plus, maybe we could even solve our energy shortage problem, by building power-generating systems such as solar power generating systems, tidal power generating systems and other nature based generating systems on and around the island. Then, we could get rid of the nuclear plants once and for all.

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2:12 p.m. Something's come up and the browser is showing about:blank empty page though we had a home page set. The security software just finished a full scan of the computer, a weekend ritual, which reported that everything was safely protected. Then why was this happening?

2:20 p.m. Cow's been paranoid and searching for details on the symptom. Well, there was a metnion of boxing off one Trojan in the report, however, the number of detected viruses were zero and, the number of dangerous programs, also zero. What does this mean?

The computer hasn't been behaving any stranger than usual so far. Haven't found any links to pornographic sites secretly added to our favorite links either. Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

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5:43 p.m. I had been out of luck lately. And yesterday. I dropped by the library to pick up a Python book which I'd reserved beforehand, to take it home and study it during the holiday. I actually saved it for the weekend so I would have enough time to study the book. I got to the library around seven twenty, and it turns out that the library was closed at five.

What was more frustraring was that the library wasn't going to be open either on Sunday or Monday, which meant that my plans were totally ruined. No book, no study. No progress in my scripts. Great.

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Caterpillar

11:38 a.m. There was one good thing, though. Had stopped at a vending machine to buy a pack of cigarette Saturday night, that's when I'd been discouraged by the library, anyway, I put in money enough for one pack and two packs came out.

Tide is turning here. Up, up, up, can only go up from here, up, up, up where the clouds gonna clear.

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2:13 p.m. The sun is scorching. It was already burning my skin by the time I left my house this morning. They were just saying on the radio that the rainy season has been officially announced to be over for the Kanto area.

Yeah, really. I was about to call Japan Meteorological Agency to tell them that the rainy season should be over. It's obvious. Thank God we've got air conditioning in here. Outside the wind must be searing.

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2:28 p.m. Last week we'd been discouraged by sad news that the baby panda has died. But you see, pandas are not the only loveable creatures you can see in a zoo, with Koalas among them. And in some zoos that exhibit Koalas, paerhaps you will get a chance to see an unexpected feature of Koalas. What a Wet Koala Looks Like

It was quite a shock for me. They must have exposed such unexpectedly scary features in some of the Japanese zoos too, especially during the rainy season.

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4:08 p.m. Last night as I was doing the dishes and preparing today's lunch, I heard a rumbling noise coming from the refrigerator. It seemed that it was coming from somewhere close to the icemaker.

After some checking, have found out that the ice cube tray of our automatic icemaker has somehow been stopped during the ice-making process, and was now tilted in a ninety-degrees angle with its top facing right. I tried to fix it but it felt like the gear kept slipping and the tray wouldn't move.

It took me about an hour to dig out the instruction mannual to stop the machine to prevent it from causing further troubles, and another half to search online, to find out what was really going on with the fridge and whether I could fix it or not. As a result, it was past three in the morning when I finally got down to sleep. All the action has gotten me weary that I wish I could stay away from home for a while.

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3:38 p.m. Had told JoOusama to call the customer service center for the icemaker repairement but I doubt if she's ever called. There's nothing more I could do now, until she feels up to doing it.

3:48 p.m. Cow has retreated into the residential part of the office, probably sensing my prickly mood. He was lecturing me about the difference between beer, "the third beer (cheap, malt-free beer-like alcoholic beverage)," and "the fourth beer (alcoholic beverage made from low-malt beer and spirits)," sold in Japan, which I don't care about at all. I don't drink those. I drink BEER period.

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Caterpillar

2:13 p.m. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes is going to be run at Ascot Racecourse around midnight Japan time, and Deep Brillante, our Japan D'erby champion is going to be in it.

Personally, I think the odds are against him except for the wight he carries, which is more than four pounds lighter than his competitives. Though his crew including his main jockey Iwata, are confident and is running for a win. Not to mention Deep Brillante would go down in Japanese horse race history if he wins.

It's a pitty we can't bet on the race online.

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3:43 p.m. Unforunately, Deep Brillante looks like he's sank in 8th place in King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Just as I'd suspected he would. So why don't they sell betting tickets online? Anyway, am afraid the horse won't be performing well for a while. Perhaps he might even waste his autumn season.

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3:14 p.m. According to Yahoo! Japan News, Washlet, the now world-famous toilet with water cleaning and seat warming system manufactured by TOTO, has been listed as mecahnical engineering heritage.

The Mechanical Engineering Heritage is a list of sites, landmarks, machines and documents that made significant contributions to the development of mechanical engineering in Japan.

Have heard that some foreign visitors expereincing the toilet during their visit to Japan, has actually purchased and installed it in their homes because they liked it so much. I hear it's good for people with haemorrhoids. Some people even carry the portable versions everywhere they go.

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2:03 p.m. Oh, God. I was stopped by a man, seemingly about fifty years old or over, on my way home yesterday. I pulled out my iPod earbuds because I thought I heard him say something about direction. Turned out that he was just another drunken old man wanting company.

I left him standing there as soon as I'd discovered that, but he kept yelling at my back to come back and keep him company. Why should I? What's in it for me? What have I done to have to keep you company? Gosh. Why is it that I attract these weird people all the time?

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1:50 p.m. Can't believe the Olympic games are starting already. The opening ceremony is still a day or two away, but the qualification games for soccer is starting from early tomorrow morning, Japan time. Am excited.

Must not forget to record women's soccer. I'd love to watch it live, though I have to get up early tomorrow so cannot stay up late.

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1:41 p.m. Although I was going to record the qualifying game, having finished everything I had to do, eventually I watched the whole game. Nadeshiko Japan has fought well and beat Canada by 2 to 1.

True, there were some things Nadeshiko need to improve, such as how to handle the situation when the defence line on the left side is broken, however, their victory is the first to be won for our national teams and athletes. Am sure it will be a great encouragement to all who'd follow, not to mention us fans, too.

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1:54 p.m. Wow. Our men's soccer team (U-23) has earned themselves a big win against Spain. It would have been even better if they'd scored a few more goals, since they did have the chances, but that might be asking too much.

Looks like both of our national soccer team men and women have made a good start. Was in a pretty good mood until Cow spoiled it with his criticism that women's skills, especially their trapping skills, were so bad it should be improved.

Maybe so. Though I'd rather enjoy the game than pick on the members' skills.

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1:14 p.m. Have just seen the hilights of the London Olympics' opening ceremony, since I'd set the TV timer but couldn't get up at 4:30 this morning. It was a happy surprise to see Mr. Bean, though.

Now that the Olympic games have started, there's women's Judo 48kg class from 5:30 p.m. (go, Fukumi!) and Nadeshiko (women's soccer) is fighting against Sweden from 8:00 p.m. Righ on time, we're also having the annual Sumida River Fireworks Display this evening from a little past seven. Gee, how eventful.

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What was that? That wasn't Judo, it was wrestling. And what were those judges? They can't judge without consulting the jury? I was watching the match of Ebinuma when the judge flung up three white flags withdrawing their own previous decision. That cannot happen. It's insulting the athletes. I feel sorry for both Ebinuma and his Korean rival.

I started watching the olympics since the LosAngeles games when I was inspired by Gushiken (gymnastics) and Yamashita (Judo). Thinking back, it wasn't like this at all in those days. Am very disappointed. Not because we can't win a gold medal but because the Judo sport had changed so much and become something totally different.

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2:17 p.m. Kitajima couldn't win the 100m breast stroke. Well, we can't ask too much. I mean, he's been swimming at the top category for what? Over eight years? And we're expecting him to win yet another gold medal? Hey, folks, cut him some slack. Even Hansen couldn't win, you know. Or that Michael Phelps.

Though he's till got the 200m race, so I wish he can enjoy his race this time. Am also cheering for Aya Terakawa (100m backstroke) and Takeshi Matsuda (100 & 200m butterfly). Oh, they've been through so much, I want them to be rewarded in some way.

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2:10 p.m. Not again. In the gymnastics final, the judges have changed their previous decision which led the spectators into yet another chaos of confusion and suspicion. The judges should apologize to the spectators and the athletes for their first misjudgement and, must at least explain the reason why they've changed their decision, before correcting the scores. No one would be convinced otherwise. Think it's time those judges stop making everyone unhappy.

Am glad, actually relieved, that swimming does not require judges to decide a winner, since Takeshi Matsuda is going to race in the men's 200m butterfly. God, am so excited. I wish the very best for him and hope he could win that shiny medal.

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Caterpillar