In the morning, I went to TSUTAYA to have the DVD back. Then, Maya-san and I went for a walk by Arakawa river as we did last week.
It was warm. Maya-san found a mole hole and started to dig it deeper.
She dared not leave the hole, so I carried her up to take her back to the car.
After breakfast, Katya, Maya-san, and I went up the mountain to Sun Meadows in Kiyosato area for the first ski in this season.
It was a bit cloudy but not extremely cold.
Katya and I took a lift, “Flower Lift”, to up the hill. Since this was the first ski this season, we chose the least steep slope.
Katya seemed uneasy first, but she quickly caught up her skills.
Katya drove all us back. On the way home, I called mom and dad, who have just started their 16-day journey celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Katya and I bought a stay in a suite in Tokyo for the beginning of their journey.
Mom and dad just arrived at the hotel. They said that the hotel is gorgeous and that the staffs are friendly. They were tired after the long transportation from Shimosuwa and were going to take a rest. We hoped that they will enjoy their stay.
On the way back from the mountain, Katya and I saw deer. Maya-san did not see them but smelled them. She looked around and tried to find them very hard (but unfortunately she couldn’t).
Katya and I got hungry. We went to Yumura Hotel for a buffet. We arrived at 6 PM just, but the restaurant was not open yet.
We impatiently waited for 5 min, when the restaurant opened.
Katya and I kept eating.
plum wine
Salad
Meat and fish fries
Main dishes: Fish, Chicken, Port
Curry and Stew
Seasoned rice and soup
Rice in seasoned soup
own-made dessert
coffee
I had discount tickets for 2,500 yen, which I used.
When we came back home, Maya-san was deep in sleep. She did not have a nap today and became very tired.
I called to my parents to find out that they enjoyed the Chinese dinner.
From 10:30 AM, there was an interview of a Thai student graduating from a university in Kyoto. He did a good presentation. Hopefully, he will be working together with us from April.
From 11:40 AM, there was another interview, this time of a Vietnamese student trying to study in our university for a PhD degree. He did not do well as expected, but he still has a chance to be accepted.
Katya and I had lunch at New Mahal. Nans were served right after baked, and they were very good.
In the morning, I took Smart to take Maya-san out for a walk, then, Katya left home by bike for teaching English.
I left the key inside!
I found it out when Katya arrived at the class. I called her, but it was too late. There was nothing to do except taking Maya-san for a longer walk; so I did.
Maya-san enjoyed a morning digging very much.
I went to the real-estate office to borrow a master key. At 8:30 AM, I got the key.
I went back to the apartment quickly, left Maya-san inside, and returned to the office to have the key back.
After I finally arrived in my office, I checked e-mails.
I found out an e-mail telling my paper was rejected saying that it lacks a broad generality being too specific. I was surprised because the paper deals with a very fundamental, general aspect. I was so disappointed, so were the coworkers.
Anyway, I kept working.
In the evening, Katya and I went to Tokube, a sushi restaurant.
Yellowtails are the best in this season.
Okra sushi was good, too.
After the sushi, I thought well, I will try my best anyway.
She looked so sorry. I said it was not a big thing. She asked me to have it repaired, and said that she will pay for it. I said thank you.
However, it was a busy day today. The morning meeting lasted till 1 PM. I had another meeting from 3 to 4 PM. I did not return home for lunch, nor did I take the bike to a bike shop.
Meanwhile, I prepared everything ready for the 16-day trip of my parents in the Izu peninsula. I reserved the hotels and finished travel plans, and have sent everything to my parents.
Katya, Maya-san, and I would visit them on the weekend.
I was talking with a neighbor of mine, while his wife drove backward her red Toyota. I thought she would stop, but no, the car hit my bicycle. I fell down, too.
I was not injured but you can see the front wheel is destroyed.
In the afternoon, an insurance company called me to talk about the accident. I will take the bicycle to a bike shop, and the shop owner and the insurance company will talk.
In the evening while I was still working, the man and his wife came to leave some sweets for me.
It was not a big accident, so I hope they do not feel too sorry.
From 10:30 AM, there was a meeting in Shibuya for the coming governmental funds. I had been asked to join by the governmental office who gives money, so I went there.
It was boring, but I found out one thing: the government is trying to focus more and more on the application studies than the fundamental researches.
I do not like application researches. In my mind, there is a feeling that application is for money, which should be done by companies.
I am a scholar, who seek for the truth.
I know I need to carry out both fundamental and application researches to be funded, but I wish I could concentrate on the fundamental studies.
In the evening, I went to a building-management company to discuss the apartment in Nakaochiai. We will change the internet company to reduce the cost. A cable TV company is offering a free installation and maintenance fees for the cable TV. As representative, I will seriously consider it.
While we were having dinner outside, Maya-san enjoyed a one-dog party, which she had not been holding for a while. We scolded her as a rule as usual. She stayed alone for a while.
Then we are having a lazy evening.
Now Nadal and Djokovic in the Australian open. Katya likes Nadal and worries whether he wins. She checks the game once in a while on the internet.
At about 7:40 AM, there was an earthquake. Although it was a Saturday morning, Katya woke up.
Maya-san kept sleeping.
I soon understood that the earthquake itself might not be a big one because the frequency of the shake was high. Even though, the vibration was rather large, meaning that the location of the earthquake might be close to Kofu.
The quake stopped, and restarted twice.
Katya check the news by her iPad.; the epicenter was near Kofu, close to Mt. Fuji. The magnitude was 5.5, so it was not a big earthquake.
Then I went to school to work.
At 1 PM, Katya and I met at the parking lot of mini. The landlord found me and gave me a small towel, which is a common New Year present.
I drove mini to Dohshinboh, our favorite Chinese restaurant. I felt a bit scared of driving after the accident.
On the way back to school, I found the acceleration pedal of mini was a little less smooth than before. I will ask the car company to fix it.
After the lunch, I worked on the submission of the paper. It finished at 8:30 PM. The journal is the best in the field. I hope the reviewers like our paper.
