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Long time since my last entry but a lot has happened.  I got the web development  job for ILC.  I will be revamping the site in March.  I might be buying a laptop here for cheap which will be a great second computer.  I'm also going to buy a digital camera so I will be able to send photos of us over the net.  It will be cool.  You will be able to see what I see everyday here.  What a crazy place but I have become accustom to it.  I will also be training a Japanese member of staff web design which will be fun as learning about computers when you don't have any knowledge can be challenging but when you are learning a foreign language it's even more fun.  The fun just never stops here.  I also have some possible part time English jobs lined up too.  Plus teaching English privately it's been all go.

The weather has been nice here lately.  Spring has come thank god.  It was getting really cold in January but now its all good again.  Apparently the summer is unbearable. Not looking forward to it but its all good.  I miss home a bit as I would love to be jamming with everyone on the island.  I also miss the smell of the forest.  It is very barren here.  

How's the web development work in Canada these days?

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Through the many requests that I have been receiving about up dating my site, all I can say is thank you.  It's been an honor to serve you, my public.  Faithful readers of my travels I say this to you, keep reading.  There is plenty of more joy coming your way.  Joy, joy and more joy babies!  Cause it's all just joy!

Valentines in Japan is great.  They have a system here where the woman have to give people who work with you, or know you, chocolates.  I have been receiving many chocolates today as tomorrow is my holiday.  I also received a book called studying Japanese.  I think the local people are trying to tell me something.  The men don't have to give anything to the women on this great day.  However, on March 14 the men have to give presents to the women and apparently it has to cost 3 times more than the present you received from you women friends.  I plan to leave town that day.  

I currently went on a day trip to Mt Aso region.  We traveled to the largest caldera in the world.  It was really cool to see.  It was hard to imagine that this valley was once the volcano.  It must have been one big ass one.  They also have a mountain range called 
" The sleeping Buddha ."  If you look carefully you can see it.  The head is to the left, arms folded on the belly and two feet at the bottom.  It was really cool.  We then went to a hot spring (onsen) and did the Japanese thing, which means getting naked and sitting in an extremely hot bath soaking with the local bacteria.  Best not to look at what was floating around in the water.   After a long fifteen minutes we had to get out as I had turned into a lobster and the thought of all the bacteria was getting to me.  We dried off and went off to a traditional Japanese lunch.   Miso soup, rice, cold potatoes, pickles and green tea later we headed back home.  It's amazing how a fifteen minute hot spring can nock the socks out of you.  

No word on the jobs situation.  I'll keep you posted.  Oh, and about the guest book, I'm working on it.

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A lot has happened since my last entry.  I have been looking for better employment here in Kumamoto.  I may have lucked into a decent job but I won't know for sure for another week.  Because people here have my address now too I can't say too much about it as it may be scooped up by someone else.  The competition is huge here.  One breath of a decent job and everyone applies for it.  I also have a back up job incase this one doesn't pan out.  When I know either way I will inform you all about this crazy cool position.

Besides looking for work, going to interviews and making business cards I have been in good sprits.  I can't wait to get out of this place as it is driving me up the wall.  Independence is just around the corner and I can't wait.  

The scooter is driving well.  Haven't had any problems with it and I'm getting more confident on it.  I can jump it now off the raised man hole covers and I've been trying to wheelie it but to no avail.  I haven't been too confident to scrape the side panels while going around corners but I'm getting closer.  I'll let you know the moment the plastic touches the pavement.  I have scrapped the kick stand though.  Scared the crap out of me.

Due to people screwing around with the guest book I have decided to take it off until I can find another one that people can't screw with.  Don't worry, it won't be down for long.  Any ideas on good software let me know at my hotmail account.

I may have a job sprucing up this site ILC.  It needs major work, could be a nice little earner.  I wish my hard drive would turn up soon.  So far I haven't heard from the post office and I'm beginning to get a bit worried.  My brother sent it over about a month ago and still no HD. 

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Well not much to add since my last entry besides hanging out with Sting, Tina Turner and Bob Marley.  The weather here has been wet and cold.  Not really scooter weather.  Every day some one tries to kill me on the bike.  It's like I'm a second class citizen on the road.  It makes for an interesting ride though.  

The cost of living here is amazing.  Once you are making the yen you just sink into the 2 dollar apples and 10 dollar fast food joints.  My living costs are cheap though.  I spend about $500.00 on food a month.  You just get used to it.  Then I spend about $500.00 on rent and bills.  All in all about $1000.00 a month living expenses.  Can't complain too much.  The scooter puts me back about $10.00 a week on gas and that gets me around town and to work.  

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Last night was one of the coolest nights that I have experienced in Japan so far. Mr Matsumoto, the owner of the building that ILC is in (the company that Carmen works for) asked Carmen and myself to go out to watch some Jazz. As it turns out, Mr Matsumoto is extremely rich so he ends up taking us to one of the elite Jazz spots in Kumamoto to watch the Eric Reed Trio . 

When we walk in we were immediately introduced to the band, an awkward moment to say the least, and then we start to chat to them.  Because we were the only foreigners besides them they were happy to talk to us. It was really cool talking to pianist Eric Reed , bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Rodney Green . After talking for a bit they went up and played there second set.

We had front row seats and could practically touch the piano. The music was one of the best Jazz that I have ever heard. Rodney Green was the best drummer that I had ever had the pleasure to watch.  He is definitely a name to remember. After the set Eric Reed went to his hotel room and we spent the evening talking to Rodney, well he did most of the talking about himself and the conversation grew a bit tiring after a while and then we split, but it was really cool all the same. We found out that he's  also the drummer for Diana Krall.  He was dying for some English conversation so it was really quite a cool place to be in. This all happened on the day that I got off salary from Washington and I had parents observation, which really sucked. The cool symbolism about this evening is that it was totally unexpected, I love Jazz, I just had a crappy day, and I went of salary at Washington.