Hidemi's Rambling No.111

I still linger on the dream I had, in which a monk told me that I had only 25 years more to live. I've given thought to life and death. I have plans for my future and a fairly good deal of hope, I guess. Suppose I work hard and achieve something, but the remaining time to enjoy it is so short. What's the difference between now and then? Maybe life has nothing to do with achievement. Without realizing, I get influenced in a good way from someone, and I could influence someone as well. If I can encourage someone depressed through my music or whatever I do as I was encouraged, that's more wonderful than superficial success. I think that's life is all about. And above all, I'm not alone...

Hidemi's Rambling No.110

Lately I've been depressed which is so unlike me. I wonder why. Is it because I fell for a scam of an auction website? Or because the holiday season is past and there is a long way to have the next one? Or because Carrefour is closing for good? I thought I might be simply tired and took the day off two days in a row. I was going to be relaxed, do nothing and refresh my mind. Instead, the free time brought back bad memories and regrets from my past and I felt more negative...

Hidemi's Rambling No.109

I went to my most favorite supermarket, Carrefour. As I mentioned here, it came from France and is going to withdraw from Japan next month. What I like about it most is its atmosphere. It has such a huge, spacious floor that I feel like shopping at a supermarket in US. Their selection of merchandise is also my liking. They carry items which are popular not in Japan but abroad, such as rotisserie chicken, couscous, paella, pretzel and pesto. Imported food is usually very expensive but their prices are low. On the same floor, they also have kitchen goods, stationery, electronics, books and daily goods so that shopping is fun and convenient. Although it's an ideal place to shop to me, it's going out of business which means Japanese people didn't like it. When I got out of the store, it was already dark outside. Looking at its elegantly glowing neon sign, I thought this would have been my last visit, and I would certainly miss this store. How come they don't like it? I am not getting along well with other Japanese people...

Hidemi's Rambling No.108

The sale of Kindle began in Japan. I wondered what all the fuss was about and looked it up. I had underestimated Kindle. Its features are much more extensive than I thought, and it seems exactly what I've looking for. The prices for download are amazingly low and that really excited me. But after I checked carefully in details, I found that the prices in Japan were much higher than in US although the contents were exactly the same. If so, I tried at least to have my blog registered for it, but the service was available only in US. Maybe it's too soon for me to get it now. Besides, I still have many unread physical books by Stephen King, Time magazines and USA Today that I had brought from US...

Hidemi's Rambling No.107

I always carry a folding parasol because I'm afraid of cancer, lines, and spots. My parasol is waterproof so that it turns to an umbrella when it rains. I went shopping after sunset and left my parasol home. And on my way back, it started to snow. On sunny days, I never leave home without a parasol. Yet when it rains, I don't have it. I wound up walking in blowing snow, and came home soaked. According to the news, it was the coldest day of this winter here...

Hidemi's Rambling No.106

I worked on the effectors and the equalizers for our new song. By trying numerous kinds of combination on the chorus tracks and the vocal track, I found the perfect setting. When I played back with all tracks on, it made blips. The processing data exceeded a CPU load of my PC. I use Cubase SX for my work and my PC's spec was duly enough before I got down to this project. I didn't expect it to be this big and CPU-consumed near the end. It never gives me a break...

Hidemi's Rambling No.105

I found an auction website where successful bidders get about 90% off on electronics or gift certificates. They were amazing prices and appealed to me so much, as I'm cheap. A bidder needs to buy the bidding coins beforehand. I'd never seen those low prices even after adding the cost of the bidding coins. I started to bid, and the price was going up steeply. It went well past the average price of the site, and yet, I couldn't stop because I'd already invested too much. When I won the bid, the price soared to an auction record for the item. I didn't get 90% off but rather lost money. Finally I understood. Yes, it was a scam. I was quite confident to have the discerning eye for it and never thought I would fall for it. The time when I was young and stupid should have long gone. I, who is more careful for money than anybody, lost it by a scam. Am I a fool after all...?