3:34 p.m. Buena Vista's victory of the Tennou-sho was a perfect win but I'm skeptical about her winning the next race which would probably the Japan Cup, since the distance will be extended two furlongs. There is a chance she could fall for a second or third place. On the other hand, Pelusa could make a good match against her, if he doesn't get left behind at the start again. Apparently he's still a terrible starter although it was slightly better than the last race, thanks to his crew.

3:49 p.m. What a difference it makes to win a race! I'm already thinking of the Japan Cup two weeks ahead. See what a successful experience can do to you. And it's not just me savoring the win. Cow has mistakenly marked the trifecta instead of trio, resulting in an unexpected amount of pay-out enough to cover most of his new TV expense (though Papa-Cow is saying he'll pay). He's actually sent me on an errand to check out the prices at Yodobashi Camera, and beat around the bush a bit to see if the staff there are willing to take a couple of thousand yen off the price tag.

The End

Caterpillar

1:17 p.m. Have been expecting an email from the library for months which has not arrived yet. They are supposed to drop me a line when the books I have reserved are ready to be signed out. Have been waiting more than eight months now and not a word from the library. About a month ago, I visited the library determined to find out the whereabouts of the books and asked the staff at the counter, if she could tell me how much longer I had to wait. If I remember correctly, she told me at the time, that I was NEXT on one of the three books' waiting list. Have waited patiently for a month. Still, the good news is yet to be delivered.

1:34 p.m. Have just been to the library site to search for the book to which I'm entitled to next but I couldn't find it anywhere... What does this mean? I have submitted a reservation form with no doubt approximately eight months ago, and my reservation list shows the book's status as ‘reserved,’ but the search result gives me a list of books with only that book excluded. How could this have happened? What's going on? Luckily, tomorrow is a holiday and am not working. I'll have to go down to the library and have the librarian explain.

The End

Caterpillar

11:10 a.m. Am leaving for the library, determined to find out what happened to the books I had reserved.

1:47 p.m. Back from the library. According to the staff at the library, the book I'm waiting for ( the one I was next to sign out on the waiting list) was signed out from another library in the same ward and, the self-indulgent ruthless prat who assumingly still holds the book has not returned it though it's way past due. I nearly bursted and spilled out my guts taking it all out on the poor staff, though I managed to hold it down since it wasn't her fault after all. She promised to tell the director so her boss would make a call urging the director of the library where the book has been signed out. I doubt if that will do any good. Whoever is borrowing the book right now apparently has dull sense, oblivious enough toforget the whole world around him or her, with me waiting eight months included.

4:10 p.m. While I have been grumbling about the selfish holder of the book, a registered mail arrived from Udo Soundmate with my sister's name on it. It must be the Bon Jovi ticket! Am just opening it. THUMP, THUMP.. It was the ticket and it says ‘Arena B5-67’ Is that good or bad? Have no idea so must check it out.

The End

Caterpillar

1:54 p.m. Oh my God. Jon Bon Jovi is calling out to all Bon Jovi fans over the world to join a video contest on the band's fan site. They want fans to make movies of themselves singing their mega hit tune ‘Livin' On A Prayer’ to show their love for Bon Jovi. It said on the fan site that they're going to pick out a winner from each city around the globe, offering the winner pair tickets to the VIP seats for their stage!

2:01 p.m. I'd like to participate in the contest, but then again, I have never made a movie in my life, not to mention being in one. Actually, haven't even been up to learning how to shoot movies with my iPod... Though it's a great opportunity (and also great offer!) to tell them how much they've encouraged me through most of my life, and how grateful I am.

6:45 p.m. Have pondered the idea of making a video of myself and have made up my mind. I'll give it a try. I have absolutely no idea how I could go through this, not sure if I can handle the Movie Maker software, but I think it's worth trying. After all, I've got nothing to lose.

The End

Caterpillar

2:26 p.m. Have found a beautiful movie on Carah Payer. Jennifer Greer, a spanish photographer has created a movie featuring the seasonal changes of Japan. The mixed beauty of our age-old nature and the artificially-structured cityscape is very impressive. It said she spent eleven months(!) on shooting. Great work. Also very interesting to know how our country reflects on western eyes. Hmm.. Here's the link. ‘Cognition’

2:46 p.m. Am suddenly aware of the fact that I am shooting my own video. I can learn a lot from this movie.

The End

Caterpillar

11:05 a.m. Here's another link from ‘Carah Payer.’ It's a picture that tells you if you're nearsighted or not. If you see Marylin Monroe in the picture, then you're nearsighted. If you see Einstein, then you're not. Those who wear glasses or contact lenses should try without them. It's something called ‘hybrid image’ that MIT has delivered in 2007. By superimposing two totally different images, one with clear outlines and the other blurry, it creates an optical illusion making you see the clear outlined figure in short distance, and the blurred one in longer distance.

11:09 a.m. I've tried, too. With my glasses on, it looks perfectly like Einstein. Take them off, still looks like Einstein. Looking at the picture with only my naked left eye, still Einstein, though with Marylin Monroe like hair style and the beauty mark. Seen with only my naked right eye, oh geez. The figure is completely blurred and I can barely tell it's a human face... Wait. It looks like a blurred Marylin Monroe! Actually, my left eye is far stronger than the right.

The End

Caterpillar

8:40 a.m. Have woke up early though no G1 race held today. As a matter of fact, found myself lying on the electric heating carpet with my glasses lying beside my left and a paperback that says ‘The Client’ on the cover, obediently sitting on my chest. I must have fallen asleep while reading it last night.

10:31 a.m. Was making myself coffee and toast when JoOusama came into the kitchen rubbing her eyes. Apparently, she's just got up. Her mouth opened as she walked in to say "My, what gets you up so early?" Sweet. Do I have to have a reason every time I get up earlier than usual? "I've got things to do," I retorted, and focused on my coffee and toast ignoring the rest of what she said. I don't care. Have been pondering about the video I must make and my head has been so filled with the thought, that I'd forgotten to make the payment for my commuting pass extension yesterday. Have also forgot to buy a bunch of other things, so must go out to get them this afternoon.

11:53 a.m. Have received email from a friend, encouraging me about the video. Thanks. I'll do my best anyhow.

The End

Caterpillar

3:48 p.m. Have been doing a bit of research. Have been searching for tips on shooting movies. Found a couple of useful information like shooting from a low angle or how to take in the light. Though it was mostly on photographs and not movies... Have come to a conclusion that the more I read about those techniques, the more I get worried about my shooting.

3:53 p.m. Just remembered that there were cardboard boxes in my room, stacked halfway up the wall. Oh, my God. What to do? And what should I do with the sound? There are railroad tracks running right in front of where I live, casting intermittent rattling sounds every five minutes. I've got used to it over the years, but this certainly is a problem when shooting a video in my room. I'm having a headache.

The End

Caterpillar

2:08 p.m. A thirty-two-inch LCD TV has arrrived at Cow's place this morning. Last week, Cow has been down to Yodobashi Camera (Japanese electronics retail shop) to daringly purchase two LCD TVs there, with the staff offering him a thousand yen discount when he made a sarcastic remark that he had seen the same TV at another retailer, sold one thousand yen cheaper than Yodobashi. He bought two, one with a thirty-two inch display for his cubby living room so his parents won't have to strain their eyes any more, to figure out whether the color of someone's tie was red or black. The other LCD TV was a bit smaller, twenty-six-inch actually, to be put in his room. His former TV hasn't been working properly for the past couple of years, though he had been coping with it somehow. Guess he figured it was time he got a new one.

2:33 p.m. The living room TV has been hooked up and now working. It's nice. I think the old folks are really happy with it. And I bet Cow can't wait to see his new TV which is supposed to arrive next week.

The End

Caterpillar

1:33 p.m. Cow has told me that his TV was going to arrive on Monday. I didn't need the information but he had to tell me to have me help him bring down his old TV from upstairs. The old one seems to be a twenty-seven inched CRT. It's bulky, no doubt about it, and probably much heavier than the new LCD. Hate to think about carrying such TV down the narrow stairs first thing Monday morning.

2:28 p.m. I have a terrible feeling that there were a couple of things I wanted to do some research on, however, I cannot recall any of them... Oh, geez.

The End

Caterpillar

4:09 p.m. I went to check the news site and picked up the news that the Leonid meteor shower is expected to be at its peak from late night of November 17th to dawn of November 18th. Yeah! Meteor showers! According to the prediction map offered by Weathernews, Tokyo seems to have a chance to see it, although not a fair one, since the southern Kanto area is mostly blotted out with yellow. They also distribute a free prediction map application from the green link on the bottom left.

4:17 p.m. But then again, I remember the video shooting and all. Haven't done any cleaning yet though I had planned to get it done by the end of this week, so I can try out a test shoot on Sunday. And 18th Thursday, I have to come in early so have to go to sleep early the night before. Why, oh why, is everything happening all at once?

The End

Caterpillar

4:23 p.m. I went to the JRA site to check on the racing form for the upcoming Elizabeth JoOu-hai, the Queen Elizabeth the second Commemorative Cup in English. And my jaws dropped. TM Precure is running? My God, she's a seven-year-old mare. It's very unusual for a mare that old to be competing in a race here in Japan. Actually, she was going to retire a couple of years ago, when she had unexpectedly sprang out the gate and ran all the way winning her retiring race. It was a grade two race, and the owner and the crew had suddenly changed their minds to keep her on the turf.

4:35 p.m. TM precure is a tough girl, no doubt, but I'm afraid she's not one of my options.

The End

Caterpillar

1:13 p.m. I was reviewing last year's racing form of the Queen Elizabeth the second Commemorative Cup, when I discovered that TM Precure had earned herself the second place... Oh, yeah. Queen Spumante had taken the lead with TM Precure in hot pursuit and they had got away without being overtaken. But Precure was a year younger at the time. It won't happen again. I hope.

2:03 p.m. Oggy has dropped in again and we were chatting about the race. As Cow displayed the racing form on the JRA site, he let out a small cry saying that there was a horse that has been scratched off. What?! Who? "Provinage," he said. Oh geez. I was thinking of keying her...

The End

Caterpillar

8:57 a.m. Have taken my first test shoot of the ‘Livin' On A Prayer’ video with my iPod. Am now viewing it for a check. Oh, no. All it shows is the ceiling...

12:30 p.m. Charging battery for iPod. It took me 14 shoots repeating the process of changing the position of the iPod, shoot, then checking what's in the frame. Think I've finally found a not-so-bad position for the iPod camera, attaching it on the TV cable with a pinch. It was good of me to call the Queen Elizabeth the second Commemorative Cup yesterday, though. I was able to give it a good pondering so am not in panic though I only have about forty minutes to go before I leave my house for the WINS. My bet is going to be placed on a trio of Snow Fairy (she's an Oaks winner, how could one exclude her?), Saint Emilion, Brightia Pulse (I was fond of her father), Animate Bio, keying the great amazoness, Apapane, unless something goes wrong like marking the trifecta column instead. Let's wait and see what happens.

The End

Caterpillar

1:17 p.m. Snow Fairy won the Queen Elizabeth the second Commemorative Cup. She was obviously in a different level, hitting the wire four lengths ahead of all others. My key horse Apapane, unfortunately ended up third, with Meisho Beluga breaking in at second place. Poor Apapane must have burned more energy than I thought in her previous race, Shuka-sho. Cow and Mr.N-jima had won but not me. Had hoped to win the race so I could save the pay-offs for a Bon Jovi T-shirt to buy at the concert, or at least get myself a cheap new pair of jeans but that didn't come true. Oh, well. I'll put myself together and start thinking about the Mile Championship coming up this weekend.

The End

Caterpillar

5:07 p.m. The good news has been delivered today, that the samples space probe Hayabusa carried home to earth has been determined as the first samples grabbed from the surface of asteroid Itokawa. The capsule which had been separated from Hayabusa itself when re-entering the atmosphere, has been told to contain about 1,500 tiny particles when the full-fledged studies of the capsule contents began in September. "I turned white with terror," recalls Akio Fujimura, professor at JAXA, about the time when they first opened the capsule. The samples were hardly seen with naked eyes, not even reaching 0.01 millimeter in size. But the research team's worry turned into a victory pose when they discovered crystals that are not found on earth.

5:49 p.m. Seems like the Hayabusa had brought home a great souvenir for the whole human race. Cheers!

The End

Caterpillar

2:00 p.m. Speaking of outer space, the Leonids meteor shower is expected to be seen from late tonight to early tomorrow morning, as I've written earlier. And it's been raining since morning... Not again. I hate to have to give it another miss. Until Monday this week, we hadn't had any rainy days for two consecutive weeks in Tokyo. And today of all days, it's raining. On the day of the Leonids meteor shower. Great. The rain seems to have stopped as of this afternoon, but I doubt if the sky would clear up in time.

3:05 p.m. Oh, man. It started raining again. Thought the weather was gradually going to get better toward the evening. At least that's what I've heard on the forecast this morning.

The End

Caterpillar

3:58 p.m. It was still raining when I was walking home from the station and I cursed myself for not bringing along an umbrella with me. Well, I thought I wouldn't be needing it because the forecast had said the rain would stop before noon. So it's the forecast's fault not mine. But I was the one who believed the forecast, so it was all my fault as usual.

4:01 p.m. Weather wasn't good so I missed the meteor shower again. But then it's clear when I get up. How come? What did I do wrong to miss another meteor shower? Actually, to be perfectly honest, I forgot to check the sky before I went to sleep last night. I was running late since ‘Ugly Betty’ started later than usual, and was in a rush getting ready to go to bed that I simply forgot... Why do I forget everything?

The End

Caterpillar

2:49 p.m. Have just seen a movie on Carah Payer, of an animal suspected to be a Tasmanian tiger which is told to have been extinct since 1936. It's a short movie shot from a distance and the image of the animal is blurred, and the strypes that are supposed to be the trademark for Tasmanian tigers are not visible, so you can't tell if it's really a Tasmanian tiger or not. It does look like a dog in a way, yet it's completely different from a dog. This is apparent when the animal starts to jog across the plain. It seems like it has stronger hind quarters compared to his upper body, pushing its body rather upward than ahead when running. While the creature is walking, the position of its shoulders seem to be slightly lower than its hips, which I think matches the feature of Tasmanian tigers with longer hind legs resembling Kanagaroos.

3:10 p.m. I wish it WAS a Tasmanian tiger. And I'd surely like to see one before my life comes to an end if they really do exist.

The End

Caterpillar

12:08 p.m. Snow Fairy, the Elizabeth Queen the second Commemorative Cup winner and her crew has declined their invitation to the Japan Cup held next week. I was pretty much looking forward to see her run against Buena Vista or Nakayama Festa, but too bad. They must be satisfied to walk away with the previous victory and the ninety million yen bonus offered for an Oaks winner to win the race.

1:59 p.m. Am looking at the racing form of tomorrow's Mile Championship. Hmmm... For now, I'm tempted to TM Aurora. Am thinking of keying her. The problem is the others... Think Sahpresa will do well, but what about the others? Need a good thinking.

The End

Caterpillar

5:00 p.m. Disaster. Have lost the Mile Championship miserably. I had eventually chosen TM Aurora for my key horse and bought a wheel of Smile Jack, Joe Cappucino, Wild Raspberry and Sahpresa online, since some family affair had come up for Mr. N-jima and we didn't go to WINS this week. But none of these horses came within 5th place except Sahpresa. Where was TM Aurora? Have studied the racing form for hours and how close did I get while Cow almost won again, with two of his horses sliding into 1st and 2nd place though he simply picked them from the odds.

5:08 p.m. Things have turned out bad and am also shattered by my own video to submit for the contest. I struggled all morning and the movie is hideous. Maybe I should reconsider posting it. And on top of everything, I've just received an email from the library informing me that one of the books I've been waiting for is finally ready to be signed out, so I must drop by to pick it up by Saturday. Thanks a lot. I have to go pick it up now because I won't have time this week. It takes approximately twenty-five minutes to the stupid library. It's 5:40 now, and it's already dark. Great. Nothing seems to come my way.

The End

Caterpillar

4:07 p.m. I've been to the library dutifully yesterday though I had to double back since I noticed I'd forgotten my ID card at home (had a bag and my iPod with me but not my ID, the most important of all, why?), when I'd already come about half the distance. I cursed myself and hurried back home, and then to the library.

4:13 p.m. So now I finally have the long-awaited book in my hands, flipping the pages and looking at them carefully. And I realize that the book seems rather too neat for a book from the library. It seemed odd at first but then it struck me. I assumed that the scruffy person who has been holding up the book must have not returned the book yet as a matter of fact, for some lame reason. If the book has yet to be returned, the library must have gave way to pressure and bought a new one, since there were lots of names on the waiting list, and they must have thrown a bunch of claims at the librarians just like I did. Then why didn't they buy it much earlier before putting me on the wait for ten months?

The End

Caterpillar

11:57 p.m. I'm struggling with the sound of my movie and am exhausted. I don't think I can finish up this video by tomorrow...

The End

Caterpillar

1:40 p.m. Drowsiness has been distracting me since morning. No wonder, because I've eventually stayed up through the night tackling with a sound mixing software (free, of course) called Audacity. Have figured how to cut up the music on the first track somehow, and put them back together with appropriate intervals, so it sounds like I'm singing along to ‘Livin' On A Prayer’ with perfect rhythm. However, I had to give it up after a whole night of struggling, since the recording kept sounding like a troll no matter how hard I tried to make it sound proper.

2:28 p.m. Just found myself wetting my Guns'N'Roses T-shirt with drool. Am pathethic...

The End

Caterpillar

1:42 p.m. Have stayed up again till 4:30 this morning, in desperate struggle to somehow complete my task of making the movie for the Bon Jovi video contest. Am terribly tired and sleepy but also am contempt with sense of accomplishment, since I've finally finished the video. Feel like an expert of video making now.

4:05 p.m. Have just submitted the video on the fan club site. I was having a nervous knot in my stomach until I pressed the ‘submit’ button, though once submitted was released from pressure in nearly a month. Hurrraaaah! I'm freeeeeeee!

6:59 p.m. I must get out of this place as soon as possible. Cow has been cooking curry with rice and the tasty smell of curry is causing a flood in my mouth. I can't stand it any more.

The End

Caterpillar

2:34 p.m. Cow has been visiting Bon Jovi's fan site repeatedly. He probably wants to see if my video has been uploaded onto the site among the best clips, though mine cannot be found so far. I was already satisfied when I finished submitting the video and am trying not to think about whether or not I win the contest, or what other people might think about my video.

3:28 p.m. But it still hurts to know I'm not good enough for anything when Cow reminds me that my clip isn't uploaded. As I grew up being traumatized by JoOusama's sarcasm, every negative clause sounds louder than other words. Blunt Cow.

The End

Caterpillar

2:47p.m. The Japan Cup will be held tomorrow. I've been quite busy this week, with making the video and submitting it and all, that I hardly had time to catch a glimpse of the racing form. Now as I'm looking at it, am having trouble again. I've learned from experience that it would generally be a tough race for horses invited from abroad, especially when they aren't G1 winners. As for Japanese horses, well... I don't know. I mean, two of them are actually back from Arc de Triumph and although I think one of them, Nakayama Festa to be a quite successful horse, I doubt he would be in good condition after the trip to France and back.

2:57 p.m. Considering such matters, that leaves me only Buena Vista. She's the most favored of 1 to 1.1 as of Friday, but cannot dare to ignore her...

The End

Caterpillar

10:38 p.m. Have been to WINS. Result of the Japan Cup was devastating in a way. Buena Vista seemed to sweep the others and beat them by two lengths as favored by the majority however, the iquiry lasted for an unnaturally long time and everybody started to get worried. After some time which seemed like forever, Buena Vista's placing order was changed because she had broke in and interfered Rose Kingdom who finished second. Eventually, the official order of placing was announced as; first place Rose Kingdom, second Buena Vista, third Victoire Pisa, fourth Jaguar Mail and fifth, Pelusa (he was left behind again).

10:57 p.m. I've been fantasizing winning the race and buying myself a leather jacket to wear to the Bon Jovi concert coming up this week, after all it was my long time dream since I first went to their show when I was fifteen. My tiny dream was left to two trio wheels, one with Voila Ici, Rose Kingdom, Pelusa, Eishin Flash, and the other with Voila Ici, Shingen, Jaguar Mail, Meisho Beluga, both keying Buena Vista. The result has snapped me back to reality.

The End

Caterpillar

3:18 p.m. Have seen the patrol video of Japan Cup. Since Buena Vista was set back on her finishing order, thought I should take a look at it. As far as I know, every horse race rin by JRA is recorded on video from several different angles. They are called ‘patrol videos’ and are referred to when interferences are suspected to have been caused in a race. JRA plays the videos for the wagerers after the 12th race when all the scheduled programs of the day are finished. You can also check them on their website.

3:25 p.m. About halfway down the homestretch, Buena breaks in scratching against Rose Kingdom, then bolts in front of him as she takes him over. Yutaka Take nearly stands in the saddle on Rose Kingdom trying to avoid crashing in on Buena, when her body suddenly cuts in in front of him. Woah. No wonder JRA has set Buena's position back as penalty.

The End

Caterpillar

4:51 p.m. Have been waiting for a last minute mail informing that I have actually won the video contest, though nothing has arrived. I wasn't expecting to win, but it would have been comforting if they had at least uploaded my video onto the fan site. Oh, yeah. It said they were going to put only the best ones on the site. Guess that means I simply wasn't good enough again...

4:56 p.m. Here I am sitting in front of the computer being bitter about it all, muttering, cursing myself, taking it out on Cow because he was the nearest living creature. Cow has scuttled away into his living room as usual, now comfortably protected by his beloved mommy and daddy. It's been like this all the time ever since we met. He always gets all the help he can get when he needs it, while I'm forced to fight everything alone. Oh, no. They're playing ‘Desperado’ on the radio. It's making me cry.

The End

Caterpillar