How To Win A (Small) Prize

While I was having supper yesterday, the door bell rang.  I got a parcel from a confectioner. The firm held a "candy campaign" last month. 

Inside were a lot of candy (ten bags!) and a canvas bag made by "Ichizawa Shinzaburo Hanpu" in Kyoto.
Today I brought one bag of candy to my office.  Some co-workers asked me how to get a prize.  They are quite interested in getting prizes in campaigns and have entered many canpaigns, but they've never won.

I don't have any special tips for getting prizes but I have a few rules; before I enter a campaign I always ask if  I really want this present.  If not, I don't enter it.  When I get a prize luckily, I let my family and friends receive a share of the things I get.

 I believe that things (not only money) are great traveler in the world.

The Tiny Trainer Cheers Me Up

I have a multi-pedometer. 　I bought it at a drugstore last month, and I go to work with it everyday. The function which I got interested in most is showing how many calories are used not only by walking but also by other daily activities.  When you start using it, you have only to input your age, sex, and weight.

I make it a rule to see how many calories I've used in a day before going go bed, which gives me confidence in my getting healthier day by day.  If  I'm not satisfied with the result, I'll eat less the next day.  I don't give up sweets and  I walk more the next day. 
No weights gained since I go out with the pedometer.  Walking is becoming one of my hobbies now.

Mushrooms Are Stil Growing

I've downloaded the newest version of the game.  There are three seasons (stages) and you can see cutier Namekos; a snowman-like one in winter, a schoolgirl-like one (who is in love!) in St. Valentine's Day, and a cherry blossom-like one in spring.

In the new version less "new" Namekos are found than in the older one.  But the game keeps me in fun; you can get lovely "wallpapers" for a cell phone display by the points got in the game.

When you are not playing the game,  you can see cute mushrooms on your cell phones.

It's Go Time, Penguins' Fans!

I got an e-mail from Amazon.co.jp, which brought me a very exciting news.  Two DVDs (for Japan) of "Penguins from Madagascar" will be on sale at last! 

Amazon and TSUTAYA (chain stores where you can buy magazines, CDs and DVDs) advertised that the DVDs were released last Spring.  However, no "arrival infomation" came.  I don't know why they will be sold so later than the noticed date.

The strongest penguins in the world will come to Japan in the middle of July.   Let's give them a big hand, no, flipper!

A Bold Banner In The Ballpark

I'm now watching the game between Giants and Dragons on TV (BS-TBS).  Giants was  2 runs behind when I turned on the TV, and I made a sigh.

Oh, my goodness!  Wada (Dragons) hit a three-run homer.  5 runs behind, that's helpless.  I was so angry that I wanted to turn off the TV, but my finger didn't touch the "off" button on a remote controller.  Instead I burst into laughter.

Wada took off his helmet after he came back to the bench.  His bald head was closed up.  I  laughed not at his head, but at a big banner held by fans which was closed up right after that.  It said, " Wada, A Bright Man."  I've never seen such an impressive banner to let me forget the scores.

April 22:  I'm very sorry for the sparkling player to have made a mistake in his name.  His name is not Takeda.  I must have been too upset.

A Ball Game On My Palm

I went home later than usual.  While I was waiting for my bus, I watched the game between Yomiuri Giants and Yokohama DeNA Baystars on TV in my smart phone. The game started at six.

This is the first time for me to watch TV in such a tiny display.  It was raining and my bus would be late.  Anyway I was watching the game.  Giants' captain Abe hit his first homerun this season! 

My bus came very late but I didn't get irritated by that.  However, it was frustrating me to watch TV without sound ; I should have bought a earphone. 

I went home and turned on the TV.  "Run, Suzuki!" "Go, Giants, go!"   I found that it's more frustrating not to cheer my favorite team silently.

A Sweeping Weeping Victory

Rain gives me a headache and the defeats of favorite teams a pain in my stomach.  Yomiuri Giants, the team I like best, got off to a bad start.  And another favorite team, Yokohama DeNA Baystars is in the last place of the Central League.

While watching the game between Giants and Chunichi Dragons on TV, I got to know that Yokohama DeNA Baystars won the game by 7 points .   It's their second win in this season and it was a called-game because of rain.  I wept a little.

"After rain comes fair weather."  It's been raining outside, my headache is gone.  Giants, it's your turn to get rid of my pain!

50% Juice'n Soda

I like 100% fruit juice.  There's a one-litter juice bottle in my refrigerator all year round.  I'd like to take Vitamin C every day. 

However, when it's getting warmer, 100 fruit juice sometimes tastes a bit heavy.  Today I went to buy a big PET bottle of soda water.  I was too thirsty when I came back home.  I mix the soda and the juice. A healthy and refreshing drink is coming right up!

Dande-lion Heart

When I get up in the morning, I open a window in front of a porch.   Fresh air is comfortable.  About a week ago, I found a plant. 

It's been growing out a small crack in the floor at the porch.  I don't know where its seed is from, but imagining the seed with down made a long journey has me smile. 

It's there.  Even after a furious storm a few days ago,  dandelion is still there.  I 'm amazed at its strength.

Toast To Cherry Blossoms

I had more time than usual around noon, and walked to a bakery "DONQ."  This bakery has many branches and most of them are found in department stores.

Fresh-baked breads seem quite delicious.  I chose a bacon and asparagus bread and a custard cream pastry.  Just before going to the cashier, I found a small pot of jam.

                                                      

 It's a limited pot jam of cherry blossoms.  Do you see pale whilte petals?  I'm looking forward to having this jam on a toast this weekend.

Adelie, Her Partner, And The Twenty Birds

My partner and I had to give up having kids.  Minute examinations last weekend showed that there's almost 0% to take in vitro fertilization.  Both of us have "troubles."  Our challenge ended.

When I left the hospital,  I shed tears while walking to the car where he's waiting for me.  He dropped his shoulders and said, " Sad, actually. But let's not make our lives a misery, shall we?  We must not forget that we've already had twenty kids." 

That means "stuffed dolls" in our house.  We like birds and have twenty birds. Some are very famous characters like Pingu and Pinga, Munsingwear Penguin.  Some are characters in cartoons or TV shows.
Souvenirs from aquariums.  Spring Toy Birds. 

Yes.  Twenty kids are with us.  That night we went to a restaurant to have "a farewell-to-past party."  Good wine, wonderful meals.  We started out in life as a childless and happy couple.