6:05 p.m. Happy New Year, everyone! Though my New Year seems to have a troubled start...

Since a couple of days ago, Windows have been feeding me with a start-up recovery program whenever I tried to boot my lap-top, so I've followed the instructions dutifully and waited nearly an hour while the computer went through the program. And the program spits out an error, humph. In the end, I had to go back to the last recovery point. The lap-top booted up without incident after that but the clock showed the time 3 hours ago, so I've tried adjusting it using the Microsoft server and again, was met with an error log. Sigh.

Well, looks like the clock is working so far, so it could be the battery. Anyway, have taken waht back up I can onto my flash memory just in case. What a start, really.

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Caterpillar

11:53 p.m. Have gone out to see my friends, went to karaoke for my first singing of the year and just got back.

I've tried out some of the songs I've recently came to like, and discovered that P!NK suited me better than I'd imagined. Will check out some of her hits so I'll be able to sing them when my foreign friends come to Japan again. Who knows, they might invite me to another karaoke party!

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Caterpillar

11:37 p.m. Work starts again tomorrow and I haven't done anything yet...

It has taken me almost 2 hours and 3 tries just to launch my computer. It's been acting strangely for the past couple of days as I've mentioned 2 days ago. I really must get myself a Flash memory tomorrow, so I could keep a back-up of the necessary data. To be honest, I rather want an external hard disk drive, though after I've been ripped off with otoshidama (money you give to the younger ones at New Year) for my nieces and nephew, 500 Yen extra expenses sound much better than 5,000 Yen.

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Caterpillar

3:32 p.m. Start of work day, gloom.

But might have a new client, yay! Not exactly sure yet, though he'll come back again tomorrow for a trial. Not that it brings me more income, though. Have lost one client at the end of last year, so it only brings me back to the beginning of December. Still, it's better, much better than losing another one! Especially, when my pockets are empty.

Though I wonder how I'm supposed to bet on my first race of the year Kinpai, while I go through a metting... will just have to start early, I guess.

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Caterpillar

3:41 p.m. Because I had to take a detour yesterday to buy USB Flash memory and other items, I didn't have enough time to call the Kinpai, my first race of the season, sigh.

Barely prepared, I took my chances and bet on triplets but Nakayam Kinpai that has just been run 11 minutes ago, with my horses coming in 1st and 3rd, but not in 2nd.

3:50 p.m. Kyoto Kinpai has also finished... with my key horse Extra End nowhere to be seen. Doom.

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Caterpillar

3:30 p.m. My new client is coming in again tomorrow.

It's good, I mean, it's something I should be grateful for since he's paying me, but having to attend to an old man makes me feel like I'm working in a care home for old people. He's made another appointment for tomorrow and I'm beginning to have a feeling that he might come in every day... Why, Japanese people?

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Caterpillar

2:03 p.m. I've been keeping a Tillandsia for several months now. Tillandsias are a kind of plant that are known as "air plants" because you can hang them in the air like ornaments and just leave it without waterig for weeks. They are also known to be one of the most easiest plants to take care of, next to well, cactuses.

Since it was getting cool and dry, I've followed the instructions I found on the Internet and been soaking my Tillandsia in water for about an hour every week, but somehow the bottom leaves began to turn brown at the roots. It looked like they were rottening... and the worst happened last year-end. Four or five leaves from the bottom, all came off! Arrrrgh!

I'd stopped the soaking after that, though my poor little Tillandsia looks so small and miserable now. Well, it seems to be holding up without water, so I'll have to wait and see how it turns out. In the meantime, I could go and search for remedies, I guess.

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Caterpillar

4:21 p.m. While I've been coping with my over-energetic new client, it's already Friday and my first week back at work is gone in a flash.

They say that time passes quicker as you get older, and I agree with it. But if it keeps getting faster like this, I'm pretty sure that this year would also be gone in a flash and by Christmas, I will again be feeling guilty listening to the words of John Lennon: so this is Christmas; and what have you done?

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Caterpillar

1:24 p.m. Last night, I happened to see a report on a sumo wrestler called Chiyo-no Kuni, related to the opening of this year's first sumo tournament.

Chiyo-no Kuni has been suffering many injuries throughout his career, but he's making his come back in the coming up tournament. According to the report, Chiyo-no Kuni has an older brother who also used to be a sumo wrestler, but have already retired. During his tough days fighting injuries, Chiyo-no Kuni has been strongly supported and enouraged by the words given by his brother; "One who works hard utters faith; One who don't make effort utters complain."

I was touched by these words. Somehow, I even feel a bit sorry for scoffing at my friend's frequent Facebook posts about resonating quotes.

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Caterpillar

4:58 p.m. Our friend Oggy has visited us yesterday, for a New Year greeting. And he's given us otoshidama (New Year's gift money, usually given from adults to children), yay! It remeinds me that I'd once decided to bet on Gold Actor and Kitasan Black Saturday afternoon talking it over with Oggy, only a day before Arima Kinen... Though I probably didn't put Sounds of Earth on my wheel.

Also, I've remembered that I'd made a bad decision after seeing Rouge Buck win Kisaragi-sho last year, one of the step races held around this time of year. Watching Shinzan Kinen today, I thought I should carve that down in my heart.

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Caterpillar

5:15 p.m. Just read on Yahoo! News that David Bowey has passed away. It seems he's been fighting a battle against cancer though apparently, he couldn't win.

The sudden departure of the glam rock legend came as a huge impact, and it feels like another age has quietly closed. It was shocking when I learned that John Lennon has been shot dead from the headlines of the Daily News, but lately it's been sadness and lonliness that have been filling my heart, whenever I am met with deaths of rock stars. I wasn't particularly keen on David Bowie, though I think I can understand his creativeness, the way he always, always challenges new things, styles, and his genuine honesty. He was a true rock legend. R.I.P., David.

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Caterpillar

4:05 p.m. It's cooold!

But this must be normal weather, I guess. It's been too warm up until now. They say we had our first snowfall this season in Tokyo, around 4 o'clock in the morning. No wonder I couldn't sleep well last night. It wasn't just because of the radio noise coming from next door, but also the temperature. The cold has woken me up time and again, and I had a hard time getting up.

If this cold is here to stay for a while, I'm afraid that I will lose my chance to wear my jacket which is currently at a repairshop for the replacement of its lining. I'm going to pick it up next Sunday, but it's a thin jacket from what, perhaps nearly half a century ago. I'd probably have to wear down jackets if this cold stays.

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Caterpillar

1:43 p.m. I've dropped by a JRA WINS (off-track betting) to payout the otoshidama betting ticket that Oggy had given us, and it turns out that they're closed, humph!

I'd never imagined after all these years, to see not only the payout machine not operating, but the whole building closed with all the shutters down. I can understand it if it was 35 years ago, when the betiings and payouts were all done by hand. But now, they're all done by machines like the bank ATMs. And they only operate on weekends and Mondays! Unbelievable.

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Caterpillar

1:21 p.m. I've asked Cow to water the Sansevieria Laurentii, but it seems stupid Cow has forgotten.

Sansevierias should be watered in the morning while the sun is bright and warm, to prevent whilting in the cold or so I've read. Since I couldn't come by nine o'clock in the morning (that makes me leave my house at 7:30 at latest, meaning I have to get up by 6:30 while I'm going to sleep around 3 AM), I'd given strict instructions to water the plants yesterday. And he says he's forgotten...

Not to mention, Cow will be punished.

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Caterpillar

4:44 p.m. I am drained...

Have just finished a meeting with my 66-year-old client, who has sucked out all the energy I had. I feel like I've been entertaining a vampire. I want to work on my negative space drawing after work, which I have been practicing for about a month now, but am not sure whether I have any strength left to go through it.

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Caterpillar

1:34 p.m. Another sad news. Alan Rickman who played professor Snape in Harry Potter has passed away after his battle with cancer. The fact that he has been fighting cancer and his life closed at the age of 69, seem to coincide strangely with David Bowie.

Many of you might remember his great job in Die Hard. I nearly jumped out of my skin from excitement when I first discovered it, and that was because he has played the difficult role of professor Snape so well. The story of Harry Potter could not have existed without the character of Snape, a character having so many complexes, tormented by battles of two contradicting emotions love and hate, whenever he was reminded of them by Lilly and James that he saw in Harry, and Alan has expressed it beautifully. As well as David Bowie, it's a blessing that their great works will remain for those who loved them, and for those who have yet to share the joy. Rest in peace.

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Caterpillar

5:42 p.m. The jacket I inherited from my gran and has been out for a renewal of the lining has come back!

As the repairguy had suggested, the color of the lining has been matched with the stiches around the buttons. Beautiful! The repair fee has been an "ouch," but the satisfaction and happiness being able to wear this jacket again, hopefully for many more winters to come, is priceless!

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Caterpillar

5:05 p.m. And, just when I'm so excited to wear the jacket again, it snows. I had to wear my down jacket...

Moreover, I got caught in the train and subway delays and packed cars. I've always wondered if it was really effective to decrease the number of trains operating, to avoid unnecesarry accidents when the weather runs wild. It only seems to increase trouble.

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Caterpillar

3:56 p.m. I'm going down with the succession of sad news. After David Bowie and Alan Rickman, it seems Glenn Frey has followed.

Glenn Frey, the guitarist of the Eagles has died at the age of 67, the band has announced on their webpage. He died from complications arising from rheumatoid arthritis, colitis and pneumonia, reports BBC News.

Every guitar kid in late 70s must have practiced "Hotel California." I met the tune much later, but naturally followed in their footsteps. I understand that there are beginnings for many things as well as endings, and when the time comes, we have to part with even the ones we love so dearly. Still, it comes as a sorrowful shock to have to part with great musicians almost every day. Hate to sound so plain, but these are the only words I can come up with: Rest in peace, Glenn.

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Caterpillar

5:17 p.m. One of our clients have brought us a pack of exquisite senbei (rice crackers) for New Year greeting, so we've had them for snack.

What is this? Is this really just okaki (fried rice cakes)? Mmm... this is really goooood!!! I especially liked the plain okaki and the curry-flavored ones! And the manufacturer's name is Harimaya. Hmm..., it seems they have a web shopping page. So we can order through the Internet, huh?

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Caterpillar

3:07 p.m. Darn! I have accidentally dropped a whiteboard marker on my jeans. Now there's a black dot on my left knee...

Will have to Google how to get the ink off my jeans. And then, will have to spend time getting the spot off tonight, while I have other things to do like preparing tomorrow's lunch. Down on luck, humph.

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Caterpillar

1:47 p.m. So here's a life hack on how to take off marker ink spots.

Basically, it depends on the kind of the ink, whether it's oil-based or water-based. The whiteboard marker I dropped on my jeans turned out to be alcoholic pigment ink according to the manufacturer's web site, whatever that may be. Spots made with such kind of ink should be thinned first using ethanol (for disinfection) or nail-polish remover, before applying washing soap and rubbing them off in warm water. When you thin the spot with ethanol, make sure you have some layers of paper towel or unnecessary cloth underneath the spot you want to take off, so that the ink doesn't get on other parts. Pour just a few drops of ehtanol on the spot, then cover it with clean cloth or paper towel, and tap from over it to remove the ink onto the cloth. When no ink comes onto the cloth or paper towel, rub the spot off with washing soap in warm water.

Have gone through this procedure last night fighting with fatigue, and had a satisfactory result. The spot didn't come off completely, but enough that no one would notice.

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Caterpillar

1:13 p.m. Oh, no, no, no, I've done it again! This time the marker I've dropped bounced once on my right palm and dropped on my sweat pants, again leaving a dark spot on my left lap...

How could I have made the same mistake again in less than three days? Am I stupid? Well, the good news is that at least I know how to get the spot off this time.

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Caterpillar

7:04 p.m. Yes! Yeeeeessss!!! Kotoshougiku has won this year's first sumo tournament!!! It's his first victory in his career and also the first time in 10 years for a Japanese wrestler to win! I am so happy!

I have been cheering on the ozeki wrestlers for some time, but Kisenosato has been a let down while Kotoshougiku has been fighting injuries. I've heard that Kotoshougiku has gotten married just before this tournament, so surely that must have boosted his motivation, too. Now that he's won, I hope it will bring large impact and influence on other wrestlers. Anyway, congratulations Kotoshougiku! You've worked hard and you've been rewarded with the best prize!

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Caterpillar

2:56 p.m. After Kotoshougiku, it's Kei Nishikori's turn to win against Novak Djokovic tomorrow, and make it to the top 4 in the 2016 Australian Open.

Kei has been performing well so far, while Djokovic has recorded nearly 100 unforced errors in his last match against Simon. Well, the match has been over already, with Djokovic winning (even with all those unforced errors) so it probably wouldn't effect the next match. Besides, Djokovic's mental has become undefeatable in the past several years. I'm sure he'll come back as full-charged and ready as usual.

But that is exactly why Kei needs to beat Djokovic. And Federer.

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Caterpillar

3:09 p.m. Getting excited for the tennis match. 2 more hours to go! Though I can't watch it on real time basis as I have work...

Last night in a TV sports news interview, coach Chang mentioned that Kei has beaten Djokovic before and so he should face the match with the same mentality. I think so, too. If Kei has done it before, he can do it again!

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Caterpillar

2:21 p.m. I was hoping to see the "Nikkori smile" but he's been beaten by Novak Djokovic, 3 sets in a row. Shuzo Matsuoka sure knows Kei well! He'd predicted that if Kei was to lose the game, he'd lose straight. After all, the champion was great.

The reason for Kei's loss seems to root in his mental state, as he broke down after a succession of unforced errors and a double fault. As I've been saying, the guy needs a professional mental trainer. And a good one at that. I strongly believe that most Japanese athletes can improve their performances with mental training. That includes you too, Kisenosato.

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Caterpillar

2:28 p.m. I've been to cut my hair this morning, but had to give it up.

There were 4 old women waiting and 2 being attended. I should have thought that they all take time as they don't just have their hair cut, but also dye them to blot out the white hair. And I should have thought that it must have been crowded as the weather today was fine and warm. I waited an hour killing time scanning a magazine, but decided I couldn't be late for work and gave it up.

Extremely cold weather and rain or sleet is predicted for tomorrow, so will try again tomorrow just to see how many old housewives come to cut and dye hair in such weather.

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Caterpillar

3:07 p.m. After I'd given up on the haircut yesterday, I'd been waiting all day for my 4B pencils to be delivered from Amazon.

I've been practicing negative space drawing using posemaniacs for a while, using the only 4B pencil I had at hand, but that pencil has already become as short as 2 inches. So I had ordered a dozen Tombow Mono-R 4B pencils and was waiting for them to arrive. As I spotted a Sagawa delivery guy across the road, I was eager and ready, pen in hand, to sign and accept my pencils, but the delivery man had vanished somewhere while a 7-eleven truck was parked to block him from my sight.

It was later that I remembered I can check the delivery date via Amazon, and discovered that the due date was today, not yesterday. Luckily, the pencils have arrived on schedule. Now I can drow my heart out.

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Caterpillar

1:01 p.m. It's cold. It's freezing.

Luckily, it seems the risk of threatened snow has been avoided in Tokyo, but it is extremely cold. The temperature is supposed to be above zero, but still it's cold and I had a hard time crawling out from under the covers this morning.

So who said it was going to be a warm winter?

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Caterpillar

5:29 p.m. Watched a good game last night of AFC U-23 also known as the Rio de Janeiro Olympics qualification match of Japan vs Korea. Both countries have already earned the tickets to the Olympics, so it was a game to decide wich team would go to the Olympics as Asian champion.

We were 2 goals behind, but the young team has turned over the game and won by 3-2. I've read in some articles that this generation has been bearing the reputation of "always second best," but they've proved now for themselves, that they were THE BEST.

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Caterpillar