Cow told me that our office's answering machine picked up a strange call. A message was left in an old lady's voice as follows.

"Hi, it's xxx of the 2nd block. Can you bring 2 cans of kerosene, please? Thanks."

Where the hell is the 2nd block? Well, that's what's so-called a "wrong number". Too bad ol' lady, we don't sell kerosene at our office.(^ ^;) By the way, has it arrived? I mean ... the kerosene cans.

The End

Caterpillar

I usually cross a bridge hanging over a river to get to my office, and it has become sort of a rule for me to throw a glance into that river every day.

During winter, I noticed a big black carp taking position in the sunny shallow waters near the bank. At first there was only one, but lately other carps seemed to have gathered around, growing into about 5 figures. It still must be cold for the carps, too as it is for us humans.(^-^)

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Caterpillar

I took Obaba for her medical checkup today. For the moment, I'm relieved. It's over.

Last year we had to undergo reexamination, because Obaba had drank Chu-hai (shochu-based beverage) the night before and "excretion of protein" was found by a urine test. So this year I've told Obaba a million times, that she'll have meal the night before as usual, no breakfast on the checkup day, and only tea and water for drinks. But she seemed to have told JoOusama yesterday, "I don't need supper tonight cos I'm having a checkup tomorrow". After I've told you a million times ... .

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Caterpillar

Having finished a day's work, I pulled on my jacket, stuffed my things in the bag and was ready to go home. Just then, Cow threw a word at me saying "it's opened".

What, really?! Instantly I dropped my head to check the zipper of my jeans. ?? Why, it's zipped up tight, I thought and raised my face when Cow said embarassingly, "not there, the bag!". Oh ... . (^ ^;)

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Caterpillar

I got on the Odakyu line to go and finish some things I had to do.

I had hit the evening rush-hour and the train car was packed with passengers. And in that packed train, there was a girl talking loud on her cell-phone. "Well you know, my nails break so easily. Yeah, yeah." So it does, now everybody knows that. Maybe Odakyu Railway Company should do something to improve public manners. Or else, we might end up hearing another long story about a strange girl breaking her nails again.

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Caterpillar

By chance, I happened to take on helping someone learn English since she was moving to Melbourne from April.

Fine with me, but I speak American English with a New York accent. There seem to be pretty much difference between Australian English, in pronunciation, intonation, sometimes even expressions. I remember having trouble understanding the local language when I've been to Perth before. One month left to go, I wonder if she'll be all right ... .

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Caterpillar

Again, by chance, I happened to get a Windows lap top.

It only has 256MB of memory but it's mounted with XP and Office 2003. CPU isn't that bad either. It sure is an improvement compared (may be too cruel to compare) to the old Mac I've been using (still using). Though if I bring home the lap top, what's to become of the old Mac? I'm attached to it since I've shared joy and sorrow with it > I can't just dump it > but I don't have any space left to keep it ... . What am I gonna do?? (- -;)

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Caterpillar

I set up the lap top referring to an instruction manual before taking it home.

The manual was left on a table a little apart from me, though I found it troublesome to go and get it every time, so I brought and kept it with me. But when the time came to turn to the manual again, now I couldn't find it! Having searched all over but in vain, I gave up the manual and got over the setting on my own. As I was putting away the lap top, ?? There on the side table right beside me was the manual oh gee ... .(>_<)

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Caterpillar

I received an e-mail from the library saying the book I had reserved was now ready .

Ahh, yeah, yeah. I thought they'd told me that there were 15 more people on the waiting list, when I made the reservation though. 15 people waiting means, supposed if they signed out the book for 2 weeks repectively, it would take about 30 weeks which is approximately 7 and a half months (!!), until it's my turn comes. I don't know why but it was unexpectedly quick. Oh well, I must have been lucky. (^-^)

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Caterpillar

I went to the library to pick up the book I had reserved. And I also used this opportunity to return the books I have been reading.

My bag was supposed to be weighing a little lighter on the way back, though it didn't take much time for me to start looking for other books when I reached the library, and I ended up signing out 3 books again ... . But I signed out books less heavy this time. And I didn't take a tumble either.(^ ^;)

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Caterpillar

I brought home the lap top.

JoOusama happened to catch me and asked what in the world it was, so I explained to her highness, that someone who wanted to get rid of this used lap top has given it to me. And here's what she said after hearing my story. "So you've earned some profit, huh?"

Can't you ever see things without measuring it with profits and losses?

The End

Caterpillar

I was taking a break when I saw a man passing by on the other side of the road. He suddenly bent down folding his body. I wondered what he was doing, but soon I noticed that it was to pick up an empty cafe au let package thrown away on the side of the road. Perhaps he's going to bring and put it in the garbage pail at the convenience store just a little ahead. Good for you, old man.

As I was praising him inside, Cow came and said, "maybe there was a 10,000 yen bill on the package." ... .(- -;)

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Caterpillar

Riding on the subway, I happened to see a young male passenger at his little performance.

He seemed to have been sleeping until the subway had reached his destination. Suddenly he got up with a jerk, scrambled to his feet and made a quick dive at the doors that were already more than halfway shut. The next second, he shoved his foot in the remaining small gap between the doors about 8 inches wide! Then, the door opened again (!!) and the young man got off and walked away as if nothing had happened ... .

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Caterpillar

While I was impressed having seen a young man make the subway doors open again, I almost missed�@my stop�@too.

So I tried to do what I had just seen, inserting my right foot between the closing doors. What happened was, the doors which opened when the young man had done the same DIDN'T in my case, narrowing the gap squashing my foot ... . I succeeded in pulling out my right foot just in time before it became as flat as a pancake. Eventually, I missed my stop until I went 2 more ... . My advice, do not try to do what I've done.

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Caterpillar

As I was having a late supper with the TV on after finishing a day's work, JoOusama appeared. She started saying complaints, "they're born idiots," about politicians displayed on the screen, but I acted deaf.

Having JoOusama's complaints as BGM, I finished up my supper and went into the kitchen to do the dishes. Somehow, it was awfully warm. Feeling suspicious, I checked out the Scholtez oven which was large enough to cook 3 whole roasted chickens. It was left on ... . I was the one who almost got roasted.

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Caterpillar

I bought a pack of Tofu. I like Tofu. It's just that I don't like film of the package that doesn't easily come off. I usually end up cutting the Tofu out of the package with a knife, after struggling with the film. What's annoying is that such things happen so often, to Tofu made by companys that print "EASY TO OPEN" on their packages.

Almost in despair, I peeled off the film and it came off so easily! Wow, this is awesome!

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Caterpillar

Very impressed, I was, by the film of the Tofu package coming off so neat and smooth. Then, I got curious about the company who freed me from the frustration that has been bothering me for so many years, and checked out the manufacturer's name which was supposed to be shown on the package.

It said "Shuhsui Co., Ltd.". Hmmnn, I've never heard about it before. But I'd definitely buy this brand when I'm gonna buy Tofu next time. Shuhsui Co., Ltd., I think they know how to pick up their customer's needs. Keep up the good work!

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Caterpillar

I was amazed by the terribleness of the announcer(s) while watching the on-the-spot race on TV.

He (or they) mistook a horse's name through the whole race, making two "Excuse"s (horse's name) exist in the Nakayma Mare Stakes, and it took 3 times to announce the name of this week's Fuji TV Championships Spring Stakes properly, calling it "the Fuji TV Spring Championships" (where has the "Stakes"gone?) or the "Fuji TV Stakes" (where has the "Championships" gone?). And yet no appologies to the viewers nor the horse owners. Are they OK? Though it's not anything new.

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Caterpillar

I purchased Tofu again. Of course, I bought Shuhsui Co., Ltd. brand. (^-^) However, I bought a larger package. I tried to peel off the film and ... . How come it doesn't come off like before?! Heeey, Shuhsui Co., Ltd.!

Hmmmn. I bought a larger size this time, it could have been that the package supplier happened to be different from the one before. If so, then it would be that supplier who's impressive, not Shuhsui Co., Ltd. Blieve me, Shuhsui and place the order of all the packages with that supplier, and place it now.

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Caterpillar

As one of my acquaintance's daughter reached her 5th birthday, I tried making her a paper birthday cake for she loved Origami.

I went googling though there weren't many sites showing how to fold cakes. I finally came across and referred to a page showing how to fold sponge cakes. I arranged it a little so the top formed a triangle, and made 8 of them so that it made a round cake-like figure when put togehter. I think I did a good job regarding I'm all thumbs. Cow helped me out with it, too. Besides, the girl seemed to like it because "it's fun to blow them off".(^ ^;)

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Caterpillar

The Romancecar I've mentioned before, seemed to be the new model called MSE (Multi Super Express) started its service from March 15th. It's used on through services over th Tokyo Metro Subway, operating as a pleasure train on Sundays and holidays, between Kitasenju of subway Chiyoda line and Hakone of Odakyu Railway Co.. While on weekdays (and Saturdays probably) it carries passengers as a reserved-seat super express between Kitasenju and Hon-Atsugi. The super express fare for the reserved-seats of interest, is told to be 1,070 yen from Kitasenju to Hakone-yumoto.

Additionally, the luxurious color of the train is supposed to be "Vermeer blue" reflecting the image of "the shining sea and the clear blue sky". Ohh.

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Caterpillar

I think it was about a week ago. Our butter container went empty and a tube of margarine? apeared in our fridge instead. According to JoOusama, there weren't any butter sold. They seem to have vanished from the racks of the supermarket in our neighborhood, due to the rising cost of processed food ingredients.

Prices have been rising in Japan, recently. Starting with oil, dairy food, seasoning materials, from grain or grain based processed food to transport costs and electricity bills, prices are rising one after another. It makes me anxious to think that the rationing system could start again in the near future.

The End

Caterpillar

I left a sidedish I had fixed for lunch on the kitchen table to let it cool down.

As I went down to the kitchen to check if it has cooled off yet, I found it covered with a colander. It must be JoOusama. She's probably done that to prevent rubbish from mixing into the sidedish, I thought and removed the colander to put the sidedish into my lunch box. There on the sidedish was a string of hair ... . Of course, I threw away the food partially with the hair right away, but judging from the length, color, and texture, it was JoOusama's no doubt. What was the colander for, huh? (- -;)

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Caterpillar

Tonight's sidedish for supper was mini pork cutlets. Ahh. Lucky I can leave this for my lunch. I ate just one piece and left the rest for my lunch.

Hey, wait, wait. There's been something like this before. Yeah, Tono had eaten 3 of my 5 pork cutlets by the next day the last time, leaving only 2 ... . Alright. I'm gonna wrap them with a film and write with a marker, "FOR LUNCH, DO NOT EAT" there. I wouldn't make the same mistake twice. Now, you stay right there till tomorrow, little cutlets. Please.

The End

Caterpillar

Lately, I have been sufferring from typical symptoms of cedar pollen alergy.

As for me, who originally have been allergic most of my life and have reactions to various things, it's not anything surprising. However, regarding the fact that it wasn't this bad last year, could it be that I've finally made my debut in cedar pollen allergy?

Anyway, my nose is scraped because of too much blowing, my throat is swollen, and my brains freezed having stopped its thinking process. It's pretty tough. (- -;)

The End

Caterpillar

In a Japanese book that I've read a little while ago called "Jinsei Coaching", there was a part that said "don't take anything for granted".

Back to Thursday last week, JoOusama questioned me after being informed of my sister's family coming over. "Why does she have to come in such a bad weather?" I'm afraid I can't answer that question, said I. "Isn't it trouble coming through all that rain?" I've told you, I can't answer that. You should say that to her, not me, your highness. "Why ..." So I've been telling you "don't take anything for granted", haven't I? Drop it. (- -;)

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Caterpillar

They were saying in the weather forecast, that Japanese cypress pollen also started to fly about.

So it has. In fact, I have an allergy for Japanese cypress pollen. I thought I could finally be making a debut in cedar pollen allergy since I had been suffering from terrible symptoms, but now I get it. It was the cypress. Oh, well. Now that I know, I could control the symptoms by my special countermeasure for pollen allergies. I'll be putting out more info on the message board in a couple of days, so don't miss it!

The End

Caterpillar

Last Sunday, my sister and her kids came over again. As usual.

And also as usual, the kids probably not having been fed at their home, were hungry and in a bad mood. As a matter of course, they got cranky and didn't listen to what their mother said. Then, my sister who got pissed off by the children suddenly has gone home abandoning her kids (the youngest was only 1 year old) at our place ... . Ergh. Isn't this what they call "neglect", huh?

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Caterpillar

I was on my way home on a packed train. A young girl standing behind me was leaning on me, with both of her hands busy pressing her cellphone keys. I felt it uncomfortable, being forced to bear not only my own weight but also her's, but was too tired to go against her.

In such cases, what comes in handy is a fart. So I dropped her a silent, but a deadly one.(^-^) After a few seconds, she (and some other passengers) backed off, leaving me enough room to stand on my own. Ahh, release.

The End

Caterpillar

Everybody have favorite things, don't they. You get troubled and anxious when you suddenly become unable to find it.

About 4 or 5 days ago, my favorite underwear went missing. Strange. I'm sure that I've washed it and left it hanging right here to dry off, since I thought it such a bother to fold it and put it away in the drawers. But I couldn't find it anywhere. So it has been bothering me and I've spent the whole week uneasy. However, as I looked unconcsiously, there it was under the furniture right by. I found it! My underwear! As they say, right under my nose.(^ ^;) Say, wasn't there something like this before?

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Caterpillar

A Buddha statue told to be made by Unkei sold for $12.8 million (!!) to a Japanese department store operator Mitsukoshi Ltd., at an auction in New York the other day. Later, I learnt from a TV news that it was a Japanese religious body who submitted the successful bid to Mitsukoshi.

Errgh. I thought religious bodies were supposed to be nonprofitable. I mean, that's why they benefit from the tax at least here in Japan, don't they? Regarding the fact that the statue was of Unkei's work, is it only me who think that the tax breaks (such as no charges on cars up to 3) should be unnecessary for bodies that can afford $12.8 million (it would be over 13 million including comissions and all, no doubt) for a Buddha statue?

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Caterpillar