1:41 p.m. Aaaand I'm fighting sleepiness again, thanks to my helpful mother who blasts off her radio from 6:30 in the morning. Besides, I couldn't sleep well last night, perhaps because it was hot and humid.

Added to this, my lunch has been put on hold since Cow is out on business and hasn't returned yet. There's always suffering ready for me every day.

The End

Caterpillar

3:14 p.m. A couple of bad news have reached me today. One is that I'm forced to re-re-schedule my meeting which I've already been made to reschedule once. I had to squeeze it in between two others on Friday. I hate it when I have to change my plans with such short notice.

The other bad new is that Admirable, that won Aoba-sho with record time and came in 3rd in Japanese D'erby, has been met with accident and will spend the rest of this year away from the turf. As I'd feared. That's what happens when you put too much strain on the horse while its still young, Mirco.

The End

Caterpillar

4:45 p.m. A few weeks had already passed since I bought a new body composition monitor, and I finally put in the batteries and finished the settings. These high-tec gadgets always need to be set before starting which I find very troublesome, grrrrr.

This morning I learned how to display the rates such as visceral fat, BMI or my BMR. And it turns out that all of my rates fit in the "average" area... Well, to be precise, except the visceral fat which was slightly on the bad side. Does this mean that I'm fit?

The End

Caterpillar

12:56 p.m. As one of the fans who is belatedly in to Yowamushi Pedal, I'm beginning to want to ride a roadbike. To be exact, I'm craving to ride one. Not that I'm going to buy one right away or in the near future. Roadbikes are expensive. I want to be sure I've made the right decision if and when I get one. So I've made a plan to buy it if I still want to ride it three years from now.

In the meantime, I could try riding with a rental. Then I'll know what it would be like to ride a roadbike and whther I like it or not.

The End

Caterpillar

3:32 p.m. This week, I'll call Kokura Kinen. Races in Sapporo, I'll take my time to hit the bull's eye.

My key horse is San Martin. The horse is fresh enough to win with Tozaki on his back. On the wheel would be, Vosges, Fermezza, Beruf, Katie Pride and Bandwagon.

The End

Caterpillar

10:11 p.m. Aaaarrrgh! Aaaaaarrrrgghhh!!!

I had the 2nd, 3rd and 4th for Kokura Kinen, 1st, 2nd, 5th no, 6th for UHB-sho in Sapporo and I didn't even call Leopard Stakes let alone buy betting tickets, that went really wild!

Someone had told me that I'd get lucky if I see Doctor Yellow (an yellow shinkansen that keeps the shinkansen network healthy) and I actually saw it today, when I went out to buy betting tickets! All I got was a distasteful experience of seeing two runover mice (three days in a row!!) and heat rash all over my body, thanks.

The End

Caterpillar

3:22 p.m. I don't know why, but when home appliences start to break down, they all seem to come at once.

After my hair dryer, this time my clock has stopped functioning. It's okay, no problem. I've got a few more clocks I can use. Besides, I can tell time on my smart phone, diving watch, on my iPod nano that Apple has given up, on my lap-top while I'm using it, and even from the TV screen.

Wow. Now that I think about it, I feel like I'm always rushed off by time.

The End

Caterpillar

2:28 p.m. I don't know why. I don't know why but somehow I've been seeing mice dead or alive, every day since last Saturday.

Saturday morning, I was greeted with two runover ones on my commuting route near my house, Sunday another two victims on the road to the station, yesterday yet another runover victim on a different road, and then today, I just saw one, though this one was still alive, running across the street.

I am not born in the year of mice in Japanese zodiac signs. I've never had much relations with mice before, except that I had gerbils as pets a long time ago. What is this sudden successions of mice? Are they trying to tell me something??

The End

Caterpillar

4:47 p.m. The temperature went over our body temperature.

Today's high is said to be 38℃ which is just like having a fever when you have cold. I was almost late for work today and had to run from the nearest station, and I thought I must be crazy. Why in the world do I have to run in 38℃ heat of all days?

I just hope that this heat doesn't stay for long.

The End

Caterpillar

2:19 p.m. As a matter of fact, one of my classmate is a high school baseball team coach, and having won their ticket to the summer Koushien for the first time in school history, his team is now fighting their first ever game at Koushien stadium.

Not to mention I've been following the game through text scoreboard in my spare time between work. They've just finished the 4th inning with my classmate's team being led 4-0. Think I'll stop following since I feel like they are going to lose if I keep watching...

The End

Caterpillar

9:36 p.m. First day of summer vacation.

Although I managed to get a week of summer vacation, I've got most days filled with things to do as usual... This is probably because I have little free time that sadly, everything concentrates in this precious week.

Oh well, my main goal is to refresh and to revive and to rise up from the ashes like a phoenix after this week of interval. Which is very unlikely to happen, I'm afraid.

The End

Caterpillar

2:41 p.m. Tanino Frankel who gathered attention having Vodka as his mother and Franked as his father, has lost in 2nd place in his debut race in Niigata. That's horse race. It is said as a blood sport but the difficult part is that it's not just blood that makes a horse win.

There will be two grade races run tomorrow however, one is on Niigata turf and the other is a dirt race in Sapporo. Either of them are my specialty so will call Sapporo Race 10, HTB-sho. My key horse would be La Vie Est Belle. If trainer Fujisawa has entered him here in a lower class, he must have confidence. On the wheel would be, Enigma Variate, Tanta Gloria, Deirdre and Binary Code.

As for Elm Stakes (Sapporo main race), I'd not go against T M Jinsoku. He might not win, but is very likely to come within 3rd.

The End

Caterpillar

4:13 p.m. I've got a 1st, 2nd and 4th again....

I knew Manhattan Cafe descendants will suit the current track condition of Sapporo, but I'd underestimated the rider Kazu Yokoyama. I thought he'd be a downgrade from Ebina, though it actually wasn't as the results prove. It's a blessing that the payout was small.

Am going out tonight to see a friend from overseas. Hopefeully, that will come as a refreshment to my worn out brain.

The End

Caterpillar

5:00 p.m. So this week we're having a double grade race in Sapporo and Kokura. There's Sapporo Kinen which can be a great prep race for the autumn Tennno-sho, so must pep up and give it all I can in calling the race.

It's still fresh in memory that last year Maurice had let Neo Realism win in Sapporo Kinen, despite its most favored odds. Will keep that in mind and have to analyze the race well. There is no win without good preparation.

The End

Caterpillar

7:16 p.m. I was going to visit the family grave today, but the weather turned out to be rainy and I gave up. What's the use of cleaning up the grave when it would get all wet and muddy again?

My grans might be unsatisfied, though I'd rather go on another day to scrub off all the dirt and pull out all the weeds.

I would make the best out of this time to do what I like and refresh my mind a bit.

The End

Caterpillar

9:32 p.m. I've had my regular ten-don for lunch which means my short summer vacation is almost over.

I feel rushed off thinking that it will be over in just another day, although I knew it will be over in a week when it started. There's nothing that doesn't have an end as long as it has a start. Still, I feel like have to do all the things I hadn't done during the vacation. I have a hunch this feeling goes back to the time when I was a child and had homework to hand in on the first day of the new semester. So my teachers and the Board of Education are the ones to be blamed for my unexplainable panic.

Now that I've realized why I was feeling this way, perhaps I can stay more calm to enjoy the rest of the vacation.

The End

Caterpillar

7:28 p.m. And finally, the last day of my vacation. From tomorrow, I will have to work non-stop until the year-end, except for national holidays.

I know it will be tough, but I've started some muscle training and aerobics during this vacation which hopefully, if I could keep it up, help me tone up my condition both physically and mentally.

Oh yes, and I've also unexpectedly dug out a pack of anti-inflammatory herb tea which I thought I'd already drank up. This would be a blessing for my toothaches and sore throats when my immune systems go down.

The End

Caterpillar

2:35 p.m. Back to work.

On my first day, I met a young man on the subway spreading uncomprehensible smell all about the subway car. He seemed to be a construction worker assuming from his outfit, and I was quite convinced. Anyone working hard in this heat and humidity would smell as long that person is a living human being.

There was a 6-foot empty space around him probably in a vain attempt to avoid the smell, though the guy didn't seem to care as though he was saying, " Smell harrasment? Hack! You try doing my job and see if you smell or not!" in the Arakita tone.

I don't like body odor not to mention, but this guy even looked cool. Perhaps because of his unwavering attitude? Man, you rock.

The End

Caterpillar

2:43 p.m. Cow has ben torturing me by singing a melody and making me guess while I decide which horse to buy for Sapporo Kinen. The only clue he gave me was that it was a Beatles' song. And Cow is almost tone deaf.

Miraculously, I guessed right and was released from this madness so here's my call. My key horse will be Air Spinel. The rider being switched to Christophe from Yutaka, if I don't buy him now then when? On the wheel would be, Sakura Empereur, Lord Vent d'Or, Mount Robson (since Moreira is riding), and Sounds Of Earth. Will cut out Yamakatsu Ace.

The title of the song was "A Hard Day's Night", by the way. I'd like to praise myself for getting to the correct answer.

The End

Caterpillar

9:24 p.m. Oh, all right. So Sapporo Kinen wasn't a race for G1 top horses, I get that.

Come to think of it, Maurice had lost in 2nd last year. Buena Vista didn't win either. Top horses usually take recess during this hot season, unless they need to start preparing for the coming autumn G1 season earlier than other horses. Which means that to top horses, Sapporo Kinen is just a prep race they don't have to win.

I should have realized that before the race. Then, I would have keyed Sakura Empereur instead. Though I wouldn't have bought Narita Hurricane...

The End

Caterpillar

3:03 p.m. Sapporo Kinen was a total blunder, I admit. Looking at the results, I realized that I should have noticed Narita Hurricane. He'd been running mainly dirt races until a couple or races ago. That meant his mind was quite fresh in this turf grade race category. Besides, he had a fast time record which backed up the requirements of this summer's Sapporo tracks.

This week would be the last of Sapporo races, the main race being Keenland Cup, a turf sprint G3. However, my motivation is down and I'm not sure if I could bring myself up be the weekend. I would probably call the race though, anyway.

The End

Caterpillar

3:11 p.m. The rain has finally stopped, or so it seems.

Up till yesterday, it has rained every single day in Tokyo since we entered August. That has been 22 consecutive rainy days, marking a tie record for the longest consecutive rainy days in Tokyo metropolitan area during August.

It hasn't rained (perhaps, yet) today so far, so I hope the sky would hold since I'm seeing some friends after work. Though the forecast says the heat will be back bringing a high of 36 degrees by the end of the week. Out of the frying pan, into the fire.

The End

Caterpillar

1:36 p.m. Had a great time with my friends last evening. Am going to see them for another karaoke party next week, yipeeee!

Meanwhile, one of the members who come to Japan every year had to stay home this time, due to her partner's serious illness. I am thinking of her and her partner every day. I wish there was something I could do for them.

The End

Caterpillar

3:42 p.m. It's steaming outside.

After the rain comes a calm they say, but here in Tokyo it was the tremendous heat. The thing is, the temperature doesn't drop even after sundown when it gets hot during the day. Not to mention I'm sweating profusely, bringing changes of clothes to work.

However, some horses are already coming back from their summer break. Rey De Oro and Soul Stirling has come back and started their training towards the autumn season, Makahiki has been back too. With Soul Stirling, Makahiki and Silver State entered, looks like Mainichi Ohkan is gointo have quite a member lined up.

The End

Caterpillar

2:26 p.m. I'm pretty fed up with the heat after the long spell of rain, but it seems today will be the peak of it.

According to the weekly forecast, there will be some rain in Tokyo from tomorrow evening, and this rain will bring in the autumn air which is cooler and more dry. Ha! That sure would be a blessing!

So hang on everyone, hopefully it would be less uncomfortabel next week.

The End

Caterpillar

3:25 p.m. I've wasted time because the line was busy and couldn't pull up the top page of netkeiba.com.

Not because I've ran out of time, but I've been unable to decide my key horse. So will just name the horses that might perform well for Keenland Cup. Nero, Nobo Baccara, Solveig. Monde Can Know, I just can't be sure.

The End

Caterpillar

5:49 p.m. A 9-year-old has won Keenland Cup... I never imagined Epoisses would come within 3rd place, let alone win the race despite the rider. It's been another total blunder. Though if I may, let me make an excuse that I've had a sore throat and was beside myself yesterday.

I've tried out a bike ride for about 26 km today. I had to go on a city cycle without derailleur, so it was a task climbing up slopes, but the weather was fine for a bike ride and it felt good.

The End

Caterpillar

3:10 p.m. The temperature feels fairly high and I'm sweating as usual, but the air is dry which is so much better than a week ago. From now, it will start to get cooler with every rainfall, though I'm expecting some typhoons, too.

Nice season coming up for both bikes and horse race. Had better learn about trafic rules, though. I found myself at a loss when I encountered a three-lane street while wanting to go straight yesterday. What did I do? Got off the bike and pushed it on the sidewalk till I got through the intersection.

The End

Caterpillar

2:19 p.m. As usual, the karaoke meeting with my friends was a load of fun. We drank and sang to our hearts' content.

Now it's time to switch my head to the coming up races, though I can't quite focus on them as I am not good at calling races at Niigata. However, this weekend we're having three grade races one on Saturday and two on Sunday, the one of two on Sunday being Niigata Kinen, run on Niigata turf not to mention.

I've scanned the entry sheet of Niigata Kinen and the past results and got the impression that in order to perform well in this race, horses need a fast time record on firm turf, instantaneous speed like that of Deep Impact descendants and mental freshness. The most favored doesn't seem to perform well, except for the past two years, but as I've said, I have no confidence in calling it right.

The End

Caterpillar

6:20 p.m. As an aftereffect of my sore throat, my nose is clogged as well as my ears and I'm having trouble breathing and hearing.

I didn't think it would linger this long, but as a matter of fact I'm suffering it more than the sore throat. Hope I would be released from it soon, though we seem to be in for some rough weather which can make it harder for me to stabilize my condition.

The End

Caterpillar

3:30 p.m. Today it's coming down to the chest and the coughs. Wonder how much longer I have to suffer. Looks like it's gradually getting better, but I'm having another busy day tomorrow.

I'm thinking of going riding again on Sunday, so I'd better recover by then.

The End

Caterpillar