among the green leaves
a few pink petals hold on,
unwilling to fall.

clarity in the workplace

Builder (holding a blueprint, looking a bit confused): Hey boss, you got a minute?
Boss (looking busy and on his way out): Not really. I'm pretty busy and I'm on my way to another site. What do you want?
Builder: Well, it's just that we had a question about the second level...
Boss: What about it?
Builder: Well, there's no plan here for the second level.
Boss: That's cuz the client said it should just be like the first level.
Builder: So, um, when you say "just like the first level"... um...
Boss: What is so hard to understand? You know the design calls for the second level to be just like the first.
Builder: Well then, so, JUST like the first level?
Boss: Yes! JUST like the first level. The SAME! The second level should be the SAME as the first level! Crap, now i'm late. Just get it done! (leaves)

The next day:



The lesson here: Clarity is important. "What you say may not (in fact is probably not) what they hear." Or maybe it's "never assume" or MAYBE it's "With great power, comes great responsibility" OR "look down when exiting a second floor door" - you know what? Just add your own lesson.

P.S. I'm now looking at the photo I took more closely and realizing that the door handles are on opposite sides. How weird is that?

for a few blossoms more

As if I hadn't posted enough pictures of the cherry blossoms yet, here are a couple more from the weekend.







Symian is: really just trying to blog more consistently
Currently Reading: 走れメロス
Currently Listening: Dr Kiki's Science hour (something awesome about viruses and how certain bacteria in our bodies affect our minds!)
Kanji of the Day: 片付け／かたづけ／tidying up

Hanami Sunday 2011 pt 2

After leaving Peter's hanami in Amagasaki, i went to meet Ulala down at Sakuranomiya to wander around and see the trees. That area is one of the most popular spots for people to have their parties and it was very crowded. She hasn't been feeling well, so we avoided joining any parties and just wandered through the trees and along the river, taking pictures and stopping to sit and eat roasted chestnuts by a pond. Later we met up with Anne and walked around a bit more. Then, as the sky got darker and hazed over, we went and had a nice pizza dinner nearby. I had planned to hang out and meet some friends after dinner but that got wife-vetoed. Probably just as well since i have rather a large pile of work accumulating on my desk at home. But who could think of working on such a glorious day?









At one point there was a cacophony of caws and we looked up to see dozens upon dozens of crows behaving much more murderous than usual.






This may not be the most glorious tree in the park but it may very well have been the only one without lots of other people around it. Thank you to Anne for taking the photo.








Symian is: sakura saturated
Currently Reading: --
Currently Listening: Coverville #758 (Parodyville)
Kanji of the Day: 満開／まんかい／full bloom

Hanami Sunday 2011 pt 1

After a couple of lessons in the morning, i headed out to Amagasaki for part one of my Hanami Sunday. The sun was shining and the weather warm. Peter runs a school in Amagasaki called Four Seasons, and every year he has a nice picnic hanami in the park next door with students and friends. Usually there is ample food and snacks and today was no exception. Homemade pickles, onigiri, sausages, loads of maki-zushi, and bags upon bags of snakcs and chips. Being Canadian, I naturally brought maple cookies bought from the store.

Lots of fun. It is really nice to see that community continuing (and growing!).





Trying to dance in his papa's shoes










Symian is: enjoying the company of good people and some serious picnic snacks.
Currently Reading: --
Currently Listening: Book of love by Awaken A Capella (Coverville #759)
Kanji of the Day: 人徳／じんとく／personal virtue

Saturday. The day started out grey and rainy. The big cherry tree near our building seemed sullen and lonely in the empty street of early morning. That tree is my personal Spring-o-meter.

Yesterday i had a tickle in my throat and this morning it has grown into a scratch that is audible in my voice. Since my job involves a fair bit of talking and Saturday is our busiest day of the week, there is little doubt that it will get worse before it gets better. But no worries, tonight i rest early and tomorrow looks to be a sunny and warm day for the hanami (bossom viewing parties). Call me sentimental, but the week or so of sakura (cherry blossoms) is one of my favorite times in Japan.






Later, near work, i took what i think is a nice picture of the sakura wet with the rain.


Symian is: going to make darn sure the students do even more talking than usual today.
Currently Reading / Listening: Michael Chabon "Manhood For Amateurs" (audiobook read by the author)
Kanji of the Day: 雨／あめ／rain

the earth she keeps a rockin'

Last night before bed, a little (well, little to us here in Osaka) swayed our house briefly. No damage here and no worries, but I don't know about up North. When you look at the quake stats and maps it looks like they might as well be surfing on land. A month later and there are still daily aftershocks, only some of which can be felt. It has to be about a Mag7 up there for us to feel it down here, and even then it just depends on what kind of building you're in, what height, what you're doing, etc. Please keep the people of Northeastern Japan in your prayers and thoughts. They need all the help and support they can get as they rebuild.

They're here! They're here!