Today was a rather uneventful day... but interesting none the less, for me at least.

I reacquainted myself with the public library today. I forgot that they have quite a few books that I want to read. Yes, I like reading. Yes, I am a nerd. Well, maybe a wannabe. So anyway, as I walk in I see the business hours posted outside. What's with these crazy hours? I understand with the fiscal problems and everything... but help make the business hours easy to remember! The closing times varied from 4PM to 8PM depending on the day. It's almost as confusing as those stupid Berkeley parking signs that say something like "No Parking Every 3rd Tuesday of the Month 12:30PM-3:30PM." Actually, confusing isn't the word I'm looking for. How do you say "Mendou" in English? Inconvenient? Who wants to think, "Ok what day is today?" as they're about to walk into a library? Or who wants to think, "Ok, is this the 2nd or 3rd Tuesday of the month?" after they've searched for a parking spot to no avail for the last 20 minutes?

I also went to the post office today. I went to send a CD of pictures to the LIFE Ministries office. So, I stood in line. When it was my turn, the clerk was very friendly. He cracked a few jokes, we talked for a while as he was processing my parcel, and wished me a good day. Nice guy. Yeah, in Japan something like that would never happen. There are nice guys there too. It's just that, well, I guess they're just not as friendly. It seemed like being a nice guy there meant that you kept to yourself and didn't butt into other people's lives. That was my reality for the last 2 1/2 years. So, when the clerk at the post office today started off by saying, "Hey, how're you doing? What would you like me to do for ya?" I was a bit overwhelmed... but in a good way. For a few seconds I wondered, "Which question am I supposed to answer?" Yes, I am a sad, sad man.

I've gotten a few questions about driving in the States again...

"Is it hard to drive on the right side of the road again?" Quick answer, no. Long answer, if I lived in the country it might be more of a problem, but since I live in the Bay Area, I just follow the perpetual car in front of me. I'm yet to drive on a road with absolutely no cars in front of me. If that were the case, I might accidentally turn into the left hand side of the road, but yeah... I think I'm done explaining this one.

"Is it hard to shift with your right hand again?" No. If the pedals were switched then we'd have a whole different issue.

"So is there anything difficult about readjusting to American driving?" Yes. But stupid stuff. Example: It's been a long day and I just want to go home. I'm about to make a right turn. I get to the right hand side of the right lane and... woop woop, there go my windshield wipers. The lever for the blinkers (or winkers as the Japanese like to call them) and windshield wipers are switched. This makes sense because the gear shifter is on the left side of the driver in Japanese cars. Why does that matter? Well, suppose you're driving a manual Japanese car. You want to make a right turn. You slow down, because you've put your rice rocket days behind you, flip your turn signal with your right hand, and shift down with your left hand for maximum acceleration out of the turn. It would just be hectic and stressful if the turn signal remained on the left side of the steering wheel (as it is in America).

One more example: I go to run errands. I go to the grocery store. I buy some stuff. After finding the car in the vast American parking lot, I get ready to get in, and put the groceries in the car... only I open the right front door thinking that it's the driver's side. I play it off like I meant to do that (to who, I don't know because no one can see this small little Japanese man in the vast expanse known as the parking lot) and promptly drop off the groceries into the passenger seat, close the door, walk around the car, and get into the real driver's seat. Real slick.

Thought this was an interesting article about Christian leadership. The beginning caught my attention real quick but I wish he elaborated a bit more on the application side at the end of the article. It seems to me that the trouble comes in trying to figure out how to apply this concept in everyday life.

Much fun in the South Bay.

Much love out to Deez for being a good host. Driving me around. Putting a roof over my head. "Wrastlin'," and not being able to breathe when he squashed me. Oh, and good grubbin' at Google. I've since been inspired. I have visions of my future kitchen now. Got to see his workplace at HP as well. Thought the placement of his pictures on his desk was interesting. The foodstation at HP was quite disappointing after being blown away at Google.

Much love out to Alinna. Yes, I went to high school prom... to chaperone. Lots of fun thanks to a great conversationalist. She was looking great especially with her choice of footwear. They played a lot of music from my senior prom. Well, minus Hit Em Up. But you know when you're old when they play a song from your senior prom and everybody in the room goes "Awwww yeah" and proceed to lift their arms and do a roofing movement with their hands upon hearing. No way I'm turning 25 this year. What is this? Didn't I just graduate from college?

Gmail.

Pretty sweet. A gig of space on webmail. Because I'm an "active Blogger user" I get a Gmail account. So, for all you Xanga users out there tough natto.

hideyo@gmail.com

No jumping frogs. No stupid underscores. Just plain ol' hideyo. That's me!

As I was talking to Seri last night, I started wondering... is it white board? Or wipe board?

I think I've heard both depending on the person. Since the two sound so similar, I think I just let it pass without a glancing thought. Just putting it out there. Which is it? Or is it both? White wipe board? Yeah, I don't think it's white wipe board. That just sounds stupid.

So many changes.

Being back has been strange in a lot of ways. I remember when I got in to LA and turned on the TV, I saw a bunch of programs I've never seen before. I mean what's up with all the reality shows?

I look around at all the gas stations... crazy prices! $2.35 a gallon?!

Today, I called my home from a pay phone. Since when did phone calls cease to be 20 cents? When did it become 50?

Man, I'm glad God is an unchanging God. At least He remains the same. Well, Him and the Warriors. My first night back, the Warriors played the Blazers, and lost. Hardly recognized anybody on the Warriors squad, but they still lost. That, my friends is consistency.

I'm home.

My mind's going in a sorts of directions right now. That's all I have to say.