3:57 p.m. I came across a cat that could be more worried than Sam, actually, quite desperate about his current situation. Cat Gets Stuck In Window.

It seems tha cat got stuck in the middle of trespassing into someone's home via a window. Now I'm worried that the man who helpled the cat get in might be blamed for assisting trespassing.

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Caterpillar

2:03 p.m. As I was writing about the cat that got stuck in the window yesterday, Cow told me about seeing a cat with eyebrows on TV news the day before.

So I went searching right away and here he is. Hachi With Hachi-Mayu. It's a photo from Mito Keizai Shinbun's (literally, Mito Financial Times) webpage. His name is Hachi, and he lives in a cigarette stand where people also come to buy lottery tickets. Hachi's eyebrows resemble the form of the Kanji numeral Hachi(eight), which spreads out wide towards the bottom, and therefore is believed to bring wider opportunities in success. It mus have been the report on NHK news that Cow saw, with customers who came to buy lottery tickets petting Hachi for good luck.

Well, his eyebrows are very impressive, indeed. So impressive that I bet no one would call him a "worried" cat.

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Caterpillar

7:35 p.m. It seems that we're threatened with snow forecast every week. This week the snowman mark is on Wednesday, apparently, also the low temperatures going below zero towards the end of the week is another threat.

I mean, after yesterday and today, we still have to bear such coldness? That's something close to torture.

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Caterpillar

2:44 p.m. I came across this test called TSST which tests your English speaking skills on Alc's website last night. According to the website, you are supposed to answer an English question orally in 45 seconds. In English, of course. The sample question they offered for viewers to see for free was, "Why do you study English?"

I was squatting and smoking on the balcony as usual this morning, thinking about this question. If I was asked that question in a normal conversation, then I'd probably just say, "Because it's useful." But since it's a test and you're provided with 45 seconds to answer, perhaps my answer should be something like a very short speech.

And it suddenly hit me. So that's what I lack. Not vocabulary or grammar, but skills to take in necessary information from the speaker, organize my thoughts, then replace them with words to output an answer through my mouth. Oh my god. Am I OK? Couldn't this also be the reason for my low social skills?

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Caterpillar

2:45 p.m. The problem with my speaking is that I don't seem to be taking in much information from the other speaker, or perhaps there's something wrong with me in the process of analyzing the data I took in, but I ususally am not thinking about the purpose or the intent of a question when it's thrown my way. As a result, I tend to answer something far-fetched, or sometimes, even irelevant.

Another thing is that I start talking before the thoughts in my head are organized, eventually coming to a mumbling stop because I got too confused while I'm talking. And there have been times, actually many times, that I've said wrong things at the wrong time.

So I finally realized, that there's a problem with my speech process. And since the problem is in the process of speech, not the action itself, and occurs in both English and Japanese, I reckon it's not vocabulary or grammar that I lack. What I lack is the skill to listen and take in information, the skill to analyze them, and the skill to collect my thoughts. I might need a self-help book for this.

The End

Caterpillar

2:09 p.m. It snowed.

I was afraid, as a matter of fact, terrified that it might pile up again, but thankfully, it didn't. There must be many of you letting out a sigh of relief that you wouldn't have to go snow shoveling again. Needless to say, Cow is one of them.

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Caterpillar

4:17 p.m. I don't know why and how I'd believed such thing could happen. Especially after I'd been encouraged by Tina Seelig to "challenge assumptions."

I came in late today. So I don't have time to be bickering about my stupid assumption involving Amazon's Kindle Fire HD right now. Maybe tomorrow, I can tell you about this depressing incident.

The End

Caterpillar

3:42 p.m. Some of you might remember Joie de Vivre, the younger sister of Buena Vista, who won the Hanshin Juvenile Fillies as the second race in her career. You might also remember that she had a set back because it was discovered that her hind leg was fractured after the Juvenile Fillies.

Cow and I had been thinking that she's already retired for quite a long time before we found out that she was recovering and was planning to come back to the turf. I'm not sure how long it's been since we learned that she was willing to make a come back, but she's actually going to appear in Kyoto Kinen this weekend.

Sister Buena Vista has won this race at the beginning of her second season, so I think she has enough potential ability to win. Anyway, there's no doubt Joie de Vivre's future depends on this race. I can't miss it.

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Caterpillar

2:10 p.m. Looks like Cow's going out tonight. He had a call from a friend who used to be his colleague, and was asked to help make a video for a man who was their superior when they'd worked together, because that man is retiring.

I think it's good for him to go out sometimes since he rarely does, except for the daily shopping and the usual horse race meeting with Mr. N-jima. In my personal opinion, he should go out and meet people more often. It'll help prevent having dementia.

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Caterpillar

5:42 p.m. Joie de Vivre finished 7th place. Too bad, but it wasn't an unexpected result. After all, it's her first race after recovering from her fraction. It'll take some time for her to get used to running in races again.

What was unexpected was that Curren Black Hill, the NHK Mile winner was registered for February Stakes coming up next week. The first grade one race this year, but it's a dirt race. Interesting. It's going to be his first dirt race if I remember it right. He's a front runner with power though, so there's a fat chance for him to win if he could race without having dirt kicked into his face.

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Caterpillar

5:21 p.m. Constitutional Memorial Day. There have been too many disapppointments this weekend that my going-down-meter has jumped up to, say, 78 (max 100).

The biggest of them all, was that I realized that Kindle Fire HD does not offer 3G connection once you've purchased the device, and that I'd simply got it mixed up with Paperwhite. In fact, I was only a step away from buying one. I know it was all my fault, that I was too stupid to mix up the former two devices, but it was a let down anyway.

It would've been a miracle device if Kindle Fire HD had also provided 3G connection via docomo. And it sure would have beaten iPad and Nexus 7.

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Caterpillar

3:21 p.m. There was one nice thing though, in spite of all the down points of the weekend. Our women's ice hockey team has won the final qualificarion group league games for the Sochi winter olympics! Yeah!

They couldn't make it to the Vancouver winter olympics, because they'd lost in the final qualification game last time. They must've been working hard until then too, but I assume they must've worked even harder after that loss. And as I always say, I like to see hard work being rewarded.

Congratulations, ladies. You've done a great job. Thank you for bringing us back those shiny four letters, HOPE.

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Caterpillar

2:16 p.m. There were two shocking news reported. Wrestling bound to be kicked out of the olympic games, and Japanese tourists falling victims to a deadly assault in Guam, two dead and fourteen injured.

I've always wondered why the number of games that take part in the olympics have to be decreased. There are people who are devoting their life to become an olympian. What's to become of them? Why can't they just keep on increasing? I mean, all we have to do is make the olympics run a little longer. Why, they might as well run the olympics for months or perhaps a year.

As for the attack in Guam, gee, I frankly don't know what to say. I've been in Guam for nearly a month some years ago, and I used to go by the place of attack every day at the time.

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Caterpillar

4:15 p.m. Oh, god. Am running late. I have a meeting from five, but haven't finished all the preparations yet. I've asked Cow to print a couple of files but he seems absorbed in the simulation game he's been enjoying for the past several weeks.

Wonder why Thursdays are always so hectic.

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Caterpillar

3:39 p.m. The barrier draw for February Stakes has been announced. Curren Black Hill is in 11, Wonder Accute in 10, Testa Matta's in 14, while Grape Brandy, Espoir City and Ijigen, drew gates 2, 6 and 8, respectively.

The center of attraction may be whether Curren Black Hill can win in a dirt race or not, which is impossible to tell until the race is actually run. He might do well, but there's nothing to assure you. Therefore, I shouldn't be making him the key horse on my wheel, because there's too much to risk. Hmmm... Am I getting smarter?

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Caterpillar

1:41 p.m. Ooohkay. So Curren Black Hill is the most favored as of one o'clock this afternoon, although he's never raced on a dirt track. I assume that his owner possibly has the Dubai races in mind, and wants to see if the horse could perform well on dirt tracks. That leads to a conclusion that no one has any idea if Curren Black Hill can perform well in February Stakes. Mmm, risky but tempting.

I'm pretty sure that Testa Matta is here to win, so for now am thinking of keying Testa Matta on my wheel of trio over Grape Brandy, Namura Titan, Espoir City, Ijigen and Curren Black Hill. That's too much. I'll have to cut off another horse.

The End

Caterpillar

6:40 p.m. I was going to key Test Matta on my wheel, but in fact, I was torn between Testa Matta and Ijigen. I was positive that the Testa Matta crew were more than eager to win the race, yet that doesn't automatically lead them to the result they're expecting. Also, I'd become unsure considering the horse's age. Ijigen, on the other hand, is still young and performs well on Tokyo tracks, however, he has the terrible habbit of lagging behind at the start. After a lot of thinking, I finally decided to key Ijigen over Grape Brandy, Namura Titan, Espoir City, Curren Black Hill and Testa Matta.

Perhaps the horse had heard what I've said. Ijigen screwd up at the start, left behind by two or three lengths just as in Japan Cup Dirt. There was no way he could come within third place from that position, furthermore, win the race. My February Stakes of 2013 has finished at the start.

Have learned yet another lesson : don't ever key a horse that has trouble at the start.

The End

Caterpillar

2:49 p.m. I've been horrified by the idea of another snowfall since I'd seen a snowman mark on Tuesday, last night on the TV forecast. I've finally summed up my courage and checked out Yahoo! JAPAN weather a couple of minutes ago, which assured me with a cloud mark instead of the snowman.

Thank you, god. You wouldn't know how much that means to me, really. Am feeling very grateful, though my key horse has sunk in twelfth place in the first G1 race of this season.

The End

Caterpillar

2:41 p.m. It turned out to be wishful thinking. Tiny snowflakes are whirling in the air outside the glass door. And the temperature is dropping down, literally.

Have been fighting against the cold freezing my legs from below the knees, and desperately trying to find a position that could keep both my feet and legs warm. I have a blanket over my lap but that doesn't cover below the knees, you see.

Am sitting now, on the chair with my legs crossed, blanket pulled over the bottom half of my body, with the edges tucked under my butt. Think could keep myself a bit warmer. Though I sure hope some delivery guy wouldn't pop in to destroy this less-colder-sitting-position.

The End

Caterpillar

2:34 p.m. Eventually, it snowed on and off untill late afternoon yesterday, though it didn't pile up since it was powder snow, unlike the usual heavy wet snow we often see in Tokyo.

It feels like we're having a colder-than-normal winter this year. Here's a movie uploaded on YouTube that shows what's going to happen when you've carelessly forgot to put away your hose after you'd used it the day before. I'll be careful not to step on the ice puddle on my roof balcony.

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Caterpillar

3:45 p.m. I met a very nice old gentleman yesterday. As I was waiting in line at the cashier in a supermarket, an old man about seventy or over waiting in front of me, asked if I only had one item to buy. When I said yes, he offered me his position because his cart was full and he thought that it would be quicker for me if I went first, while waiting another minute wouldn't trouble him. I thanked him and we switched places.

To be honest, I've been feeling just slightly guilty of making the line longer just to buy one item, but the heart-warming offer of this gentleman has saved me from that awkwardness, too. I made sure I said my greetings when I was leaving the cashier, to express my feeling of appreciation.

It's good to know that someone like him is actually out there somewhere, and that you just haven't had the chance to meet him yet. It makes you feel that this world isn't such a bad place to live in after all.

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Caterpillar

3:40 p.m. A friend has contacted me to ask if I was interested in working with someone she knew. Apparently, that person was looking for someone who could assist him in opening up a new market for sexual toys here in Japan.

Wow. I never thought I'd sell something like that. Not that I'd accepted the offer. Well, I guess there'd be less competitors, but I doubt if the market in Japan is worth exploiting. Perhaps an Internet shopping site might work. Provided that the seller has earned certain trust.

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Caterpillar

2:35 p.m. I stumbled on a movie of a rock python eating an antelope. World's Deadliest.

Think I'll work on my Python programs tomorrow so I won't get swallowed by a rock python. Brrrrr.

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Caterpillar

9:21 p.m. Tired. Have been trying to contact old friends but my attempts have all turned out to be useless. I've tried sending email to the address my friend had written in his new year greeting card, which came back because the address wasn't used any more. I've tried calling his cell-phone to which I was scolded by the annoying recorded message, "the number you have dialed is not in service...please check the number and try again."

I tried contacting my other friend via email which also came back.

It's true that both information was quite old, one dating back several years and the other back a decade, but am beginning to feel like am being disliked by everyone.

The End

Caterpillar

3:10 p.m. When you've run into a dead end and desperately need some kind of breakthrough, it might be a good idea to take a good look around yourself.

Who knows? You might find a familiar item that you've missed turn into something that gives you the spark you need. Just like these pinch bombs: Clothespin Bombs

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Caterpillar

3:34 p.m. I wish I had a bus stop like this on my commuting route.Best Bus Stop Ever

I'd especially appreciate the Lamborghini surprise when going to work. It would also be nice to have a puppy bus surprise when I'm going home. But the problem is, that I don't have a smart phone or a tablet device.

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Caterpillar

4:22 p.m. The price of leafy vegetables have been rising lately, probabaly due to the long spell of cold weather and lack of sunlight. I've been watching the price closely, since I've had strict orders from Cow to get a ball of Chinese cabbage and the usual cabage, respectively, not tomention, at a reasonable price. I managed to get a mini-Chinese cabbage for 120 yen today, so all I need now, is a ball of cabbage for less than 180 yen.

In fact, there's no special secret in buying the leafy veges cheap. All you can do is to check out the sale day that the supermarkets set every week. Checking out and comparing the prices in your neighborhood supermarkets will also be a necessary strategy, in order to get leafy veges at a reasonable price. I've just learned in shufoo (a website where you can check digital flyers of your local retailers) that they're having a cabbage sale at a supermarket nearby on Friday. 148 yen a ball is definitely a buy.

As for the Chinese cabbage I got today, I simply know a place where they sell for a reasonable price. I don't walk around every day for nothing, you know.

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Caterpillar

3:45 p.m. I found this TV ad on today's Yahoo! Japan top page. Thai Life Inusrance - Silence of Love

Very touching. Aren't all parents supposed to be like that? But the sad truth is, not all are like that. I'd gladly give mine in exchange for the Thai father.

The End

Caterpillar