Anyway, I go to work in rubber boots whenever there's heavy rain, or strong wind in addition. But as a matter of fact, it's not just my feet that I want to keep dry. As well as to keep the backpack on my shoulder dry, I also prefer to stay in dry clothes. So although I know that I look exetremely clunky, I wear a rainproof poncho to work too, in such cases. This is pretty embarassing, but I hate to get wet in the driving rain so I settled for this poncho and the rain boots.

Then, yesterday. I happened to discover some letters on the back hem of the poncho. It said in large marker-written letters, "class 6-5, Caterpillar". Oh boy ... . I tried to scrub it off with some ethanol immediately, but it didn't come off. I really can't wear that poncho any more ... .

The End

Caterpillar

Going through the murderous rush hour of commuting, I've grown tired of seeing so many people every day, wondering why in the world there were so many of them in Tokyo. In the crowded train cars, there exists a world where your bags won't fall even if you weren't holding them, while the platform is covered with so many people that you can't walk straight.

And you hear the public announcement, "the train is arriving, please step back behind the white line for safety." Hey, no way. There's too many people here. Soon you would hear the announcement once again, this time in an annoying tone saying, "stand back pleeaassse! It is dangerroouuss!!" But that's physically impossible. The platform is flooded with people, you know.

The End

Caterpillar

This morning, Obaba came to me to tell me that she was going shopping. I knew she was cooking up to something, since she wouldn't take the trouble if she wasn't. As I had expected, she started to whine about how troublesome it was to her, to go out for shopping every day to get herself food to eat.

I knew you'd say so. All in good time, JoOusama was just coming into the kitchen so I fired Obaba up a bit. Then Obaba started to ask JoOusama to "please cook supper for me again", for she fully understood and agreed now that it was troublesome to fix supper every day. JoOusama seemed unwilling at first, but eventually she agreed and after three weeks of my anxiety, these two old ladies settled for a reconciliation.

The End

Caterpillar

Tono spoke to me for the first time in a couple of months since the case of the smudged leather boots. He complained, "don't cut out the newspaper that I haven't read yet,".

He was right. I did cut out an article from the paper. Well, I have been using an article on the Saturday's evening newspaper as a material for Tuesday's work for some time now. And because Tono is reading so slow that I don't know when he would ever finish, I've been cutting the article out before he started reading the Saturday's evening edition. But it seems it has been accepted unfavorably, he mumbled "I can't read what it said on the back-page." For your information sir, what was printed on the back-page were just some adds I think... .

The End

Caterpillar

It was last Sunday, when I went to put my betting on the Japanese D'erby with Cow and my race horse friend, Mr. N-jima. As I stepped into the car of the homebound train I noticed a young man, personally estimated age of about 21, standing in front of me. From the clothes he wore, he looked very much like one of today's Japanese young guys.

It was shortly after the train had left the station. That young guy pulled out a .. hand mirror. I thought he could be trying to peep in the skirts of young girls using the reflection like some university teacher, but a second look confirmed that he has also pulled out a large tweezer, and checking in the mirror, started to pull out his beard with the...tweezer . Whaaaattt?!

The End

Caterpillar

I was astonished to see a young guy pulling out his beard with a large tweezer inside a train car without hesitation. Confused, also.

Well, the time was nearly 11 p.m.. What was he gonna do pulling out his beard at that time of night? With a tweezer? And it wasn't just a tweezer that we know of, it was a large type, the ones that a French Chef probabaly uses to pull out bones from big salmon fillets or something. Hmmmnn, I don't get it. What good reason would he have, to have to pull out his unshaven stubble with a tweezer in a train car from 11 p.m.? Quit acting like a girl, dude. !! I don't think this is so, but could HE ever be a SHE??

The End

Caterpillar

I read an article in the newspaper yesterday, that said "Economist", the British economic magazine has announced its ranking of the world's most peacedful countries, the "Global Peace Index Ranking". The article also said that Japan was ranked 5th, the same position as last year according to the ranking.

It's so like Japan to fall into a gray position of no.5, though it was the highest rank earned by one of the G8 countries. It doesn't actually hit me living in Japan that it is a peaceful or safe country, (violent crimes are reported every day), however, it must be so when in comparison with other countries. I guess Japan should be encouraged by the fact and also aim to become a more safer country. Additionally, the 1st place was Iceland while the last place was Iraq.

The End

Caterpillar

Sorry folks, I've skipped writing the "Murmur" for Sunday, for I have been too busy.

I've been trying to write this every day as much as possible, though there could be a time like this sometimes. Hope you'll all refrain yourself from bursting your disappointment on me. Thanks.

The End

Caterpillar

One of the reason that kept me busy Sunday, was because I've gone to the off-track betting booth with Cow and Mr. N-jima again. It was the Yasuda Kinen, and to our surprise, cow won a triplet long shot.

Mr. N-jima who lost started to go over the last race and fill in the mark cards imediately. Then, Cow opened his mouth and said, "I really think you'd better give up betting on trifecta, Mr. N-jima." Hearing that, Mr. N-jima dropped his eyes on his halfway blotted mark card and began to laugh out loud. As I asked him what was so funny he answered, "Shit. I'm getting this wrong way before I bet." Well, it happens, it happens.

The End

Caterpillar

Last Saturday, the Japanese men's volleyball national team secured Olympic berth in the combined Asian preliminaries and Beijing Olympic qualifiers after 16 years. The scene of team members, coach and staff all jumbled in an echoe of hugs and tears was very touching.

Regarding the 16 years of their long strugling and striving, you can't blame them for having such a riot. Especially the present team leader Ogino I think, has worked so hard since he first appeared on the cort of an international match as a pinch server, at the age of 18. A hard worker as he is, Ogino means a lot to the team. Of course, the team has just reached another start line called the Olympics, but I'd simply like to congratulate them for now, from the bottom of my heart.

The End

Caterpillar

They say that New York is experiencing a heat wave of temperatures rising as high as 90 degrees, these several days. It must be tough, with the humidity and all. So today, I'd like to introduce a countermeasure for heat stroke from Tokyo, where we fall into the same kind of situation in mid-summer.

If you could stay in a cool place that would be prefered, though even if you have to stay inside a hot room without air conditioning, heat stroke can be prevented by supplying yourself with water, salt and minerals, which are lost along with sweat, by drinking fluids such as sports drinks frequently, before the daytime heat begins. But how much should you drink? That, I'd like to write about tomorrow.

The End

Caterpillar

Now, about supplying water, salt and minerals to prevent Heat stroke.

It is said that approximately 200ml of water would be lost along with sweat when you walk in the summer heat for about 15 minutes, while 60ml would be lost in an hour's commuting as well. This may vary between individuals or the temperature and other circumstances however, say you are staying in the heat of about 86 degrees without particular physical activities, I guess about 500ml of fluids per hour would do. As for the salt and minerals, it is said to be good to take about 0.1% to 0.2% of fluids as a rough guide. So it would be both simple and convenient to use sports drinks, which already have them included in good balance. Additionally, a combination of Mugicha and Umeboshi is also said to be effective. When taking Mugicha and Umeboshi, a rough idea is given as one Umeboshi to 0.5 to 1 liter of Mugicha.

The End

Caterpillar

While commuting on a train, I ususally take the same route once going out of the station, to transfer to subway.

This morning, as I came out of the station to transfer to subway as usual, there came from ahead of me, a familiar person. I think I've met that person before. Who was it..umm.. . !! I finally remembered when I passed him by. Wearing that hat low over his eyes covered with sunglasses, that suspiscious-looking man was ...yes, it was Tono. So he was coming this far for his everyday walking, huh?

I was about to call to him, but I stopped. I knew he'd probably ignore me again. Besides, I didn't like the idea of other people around me taking me for one of that fishy guy's acquaintance.(^^;)

The End

Caterpillar

I couldn't modify this "Murmur".

Well, me and Cow were talking whith this woman I know, when she started to say that her PC hasn't been working properly lately, and that she wanted to have us check it and see what's wrong with it. Cow said "sure," and began checking the PC. To our surprise, we soon found out that it has been attacked by computer virus. And since Cow has been fighting against it all day, I haven't been able to modify my "Murmurs" which I usually do from my office PC. By the way, the woman's PC seems to be in serious trouble. Keep fighting, Cow.

The End

Caterpillar

On day offs, I ususally write the articles for this "Murmur" at home and send it by Email to Cow, then have him upload it.

As I was trying to send today's article, a trouble came up. An error log appeared and I couldn't send it ... . Oh man, please. I can pick up my Emails but I can't send one. Nothing was wrong till yesterday. And I swear that I haven't changed any sort of settings either. Then why, oh whhhyyyy ... .

The End

Caterpillar

JoOusama bought two pairs of Kenkou-sandaru (health-enhancing sandals). A pair of them turned out to be mine. Well, it was true that the slippers I've been wearing inside the house were now pretty much worn out and ragged.

But to tell the truth, I never liked these type of sandals before 'cause it hurts. You see, Kenkou-sandaru are one of the most popular health products in Japan, and they have treads facing upwards where you put your feet on, so that it stimulates certain pressure points of your feet whenever you wear them, as to improve your health condition. Regarding the fact that it hurts when I put them on, does that mean that I'm in bad health condition? If so, would I become healthier if I bore the pain and kept wearing them? I'll try and see anyhow. But it still hurts. Ouch.(T-T)

The End

Caterpillar

During the rainy season, Japan usually experiences broken weather and there are many times when it starts raining as you leave your office for home, even though there were no sign of rain in the morning when you left your house. You could be troubled in such cases, especially if you don't have an umbrella with you. On the other hand, you could also face the trouble of being cumbered with an umbrella, because it didn't rain a drop although you've brought it with you.

As a matter of fact, I have a recipe so I don't have to carry a deadwood. It's JoOusama's forecast. Whenever she tells me to bring an umbrella as I'm leaving the house, somehow it doesn't rain. And her forecast is right in an unexpectedly high rate. Actually it's amazing that it proves better than a bad weather forecast.

The End

Caterpillar

A couple of days ago, I wrote in this "Murmur" that I had been hit by a trouble of not being able to send e-mail from my house. Since I wanted to send the data for this "Murmur" somehow, that night I stayed up till morning searching for the cause of the trouble and a solution to it, though eventually I couldn't find any effective way to solve the problem. I had nothing to lose so I reset the router before going to sleep, and tried to send the e-mail again next morning, but in vain.

The same day, after I came home from work and as I booted the mail soft, it transmitted and received the data as if nothing had happened! What was all my hard work for?

The End

Caterpillar

Last night as I went out on the balcony to have a smoke, I noticed the moon hanging above. It was a full moon.

Looking at the moon, I wondered what would become of those female monthlies in outer space. I've heard before that it's deeply related to the phase of the moon. In space, the relationship between human and the moon must differ from that on earth. Would female hormone be secreted in the same way that it did on earth? And would women have their monthlies just like they did on earth in such circumstance? It's only my curiosity.

The End

Caterpillar

Squid fishermen in Hakodate has been keeping their vessels at harbor since yesterday. Their fuel cost had been increasing influenced by the skyrocketing oil price, and it seems that they have chosen to give up their fishing on a temporary basis, to protest against the Japanese government's poor handling about the situation.

I had a small bowl of Uni-ika-soumen (squid vermicelli with sea urchins) in a Sushi-bar that I happened to walk in, when I've been to Hakodate about 5 years ago. It was definitely one of the most delicious food I've ever had in my life, still ranked in my top 3. The combination of rich and creamy urchins, the light-tasted dressing of soy-sauce and vinegar, and the soft sweet squid vermicelli was a taste I'll never forget. But if the situation doesn't change, I'll never be able to have them again ... . Please, Mr. Fukuda. You've got to do something about it.

The End

Caterpillar

Lately, I often see ill-behaved kids on the train. They seem to trouble their mothers crying out loud, or being boisterous. From observing many of them, I've come to realize that the kids are not obeying their mothers at all. As for the mothers, they seem to try to talk their chidren down at first, though finding their kids uncontrolable, the case is that they usually give up and leave the children be.

Basically, I think that the parent who hasn't taught some sense into their children should be blamed. However, these mothers seem confused rather than not knowing how to teach their children, they even look like they are at a loss how to treat their children. Suppose if there were training sessions for moms by some experts? Wouldn't that help those mothers?

The End

Caterpillar

I've blundered again. I overslept and blew off Saturday's meeting with my clients... . What's even worse, this wasn't the first time... .

Needless to say, I went to sleep much earlier than usual the night before, but I erred on the side of thinking that I can't be late, I can't be late, waking up many times during the night. Every time I've snapped awake, I checked the clock and let out a sigh of relief, oh it wasn't time yet. Though after my fifth or sixth check at the clock, the next time I woke up was when it was too late... . This time I'm dented... totally.

The End

Caterpillar

Since I've blundered terribly again, Cow went furious. And he's got a good reason to be. It was true that I overslept and blew off the meeting. I was late and I didn't make it on time. Added to this, it wasn't my first time.. . What can I say, even if he fired me?

What makes it so frustrating is that I woke up late despite all the preparations I had done to prevent it. Anyhow, in order not to let such a thing happen ever again, I reflected thoroughly on this situation and immediately got and set myself another alarm clock. Now I'll have a second alarm going off after I've stooped the first one. Well the rest, I guess, is up to my mentality. I used to wake up on time, so I should be able to do that again. C'mon Cat, get a grip.

The End

Caterpillar

I took Obaba to the doctor's. Usually it's just me that goes and picks up her mdicine, but since the doctor told me to bring her in once in every 3 times for an examination, I've been doing so. I'll be late for work, though I was able to take a half day off in advance, so this time it would be all right.

To make it on the consultaion time that starts from 9:30A.M., I was about to leave the house with Obaba when JoOusama said, "why didn't you tell me? I'll go for you if you tell me beforehand." Excuse me? Would you blow it out? When you come right down to it, it was you, your highness, who all of a sudden stopped to pick up Obaba's medicine, did you know that? I wouldn't have been doing it if you were carrying out your responsibilities.

The End

Caterpillar

I've been setting two alarm clocks and the TV timer on (though I feel like the electricity bills could cost too much and also a waste of energy, but they say "Close is my shirt, but closer is my skin") in order to improve my daily life into a better cycle. This morning I managed to wake up to the sound of the weak beep from the second alarm clock. Woh, that was close.

As I was pulling my half slept body together, there came JoOusama her voice ringing from above, "did you know that something has been beeping?" Yes, I know, your highness, and it's your whimsical ideas again. You know you've never woken me before. If you want to wake me up so much, why couldn't it have been Saturday? (- -;)

The End

Caterpillar

Obaba has a friend who goes to the same daycare center. She has dementia but she lives close and Obaba calls her up to have her come over to our house quite often. The other day when that old lady came, it seems that she was very much impressed by the large-sized calendar on the wall of Obaba's room. Well, it sure is big with enough space to write in lots of schedules even in Obaba's large handwriting.

As I asked Obaba, where in the world did she get such a large calendar from, she answered, "I'm a person of virtue." You bet. If you are a person of virtue, then why do you have to call your friend every time to ask her to visit you?

The End

Caterpillar

Well, that Obaba's friend old Mrs. T who is suffering from dementia, pretty often forgets where her house was or repeat the same thing over without knowing that she is. However, Obaba seems not far behind from her. Obaba seems to know where HER house is, though she has been lost several times when she went out on her own. And the conversation between these two old ladies is hilarious.

Mrs. T:"Which daycare center are you going to?" Obaba who probably couldn't catch that:"Are you going to such places every day?" Mrs. T:"Which daycare center are you going to?" Obaba:"The food they serve is terrible." Mrs. T:"Sad." They seem to have a huge gap in their conversatin.

The End

Caterpillar

I think it was 2 or 3 days ago. A poster hanging from the ceiling of the subway caught my eye. As I looked closer and I noticed letters at the bottom of the poster that read "the Chinese Embassy, local Chinese residents, Chinese descent, Chinese students". That made me more curious, so I decided to read it. The following is the whole text.

We'd like to give our sincere appreciation representing the Chinese, to the Japanese people for your great support on our recent disaster of the Sichuan province earthquake. As they say, better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off. We will make efforts toward recovery on the bond that our old and good neighbor, the Japanese people has given us. Thank you so much." It's nice to know that we were of some help to them. It may be tough, but hang on, buddy.

The End

Caterpillar

It was the last grade 1 race for the spring season, so I went to the offtrack betting booth with Cow and Mr. N-jima again. On my way home, the rain that had been pouring all day seemed to stop, so I walked home from the station carrying my ubrella. Then, a rain drop came down right on my belly.

It fell not on one of my feet that was supposed to be a step ahead, nor my nose which was supposed to be sticking out from my face, but ON MY BELLY. Does that mean that I'm having a big belly, bigger than my steps or the height of my nose?

The End

Caterpillar

I have been jogging home from the second nearest staion more for enhancing physical fitness (I feel it's burning low), rather than to keep my belly in shape. Though the distance I think, is less than a mile. And I sometimes meet some other joggers.

A couple of days ago, there was a man in his late 20s jogging reeeaal slow. I was jogging, too. He seemed very relaxed and his speed seemed to be pretty slow. But before I noticed, he gained a gap between me and in no time, I was left far behind... . It was a night when I suddenly felt embarrassed having secretly aspired to run a full-length marathon.

The End

Caterpillar