April 2014

4/1

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4/2

Woke up at 5:00am, drove to work and stayed at the office until 6:30pm. Drove to Wa for dinner with friends. I thought we are going to finish by 9:00pm but ended up staying until midnight. Went to bed around 2:00am after cooking rice.

4/3

Woke up at 5:00am as usual, I felt tired but was okay. Drove to work and began my day. I had to leave at 5:00pm to get to the Minutes Maid stadium for baseball game. I thought it was going to rain but it held it but the traffic was terrible. Stayed until 10:00pm to watch Yankees to win. Tanaka did not pitch but Ichiro was pretty cool today. Drove back home and went to bed around midnight.

4/4

Woke up at 5:00am but fell back to sleep straight. Woke up again and made it to the office on time, walking into the building while watching nice clear sky with stormy clouds in distance and began my day. Worked on machines and stayed until noon before going to a chiropractic's to get my back aligned. Stopped by Bicycle World before going back to work. Left the office around 4:00pm and drove to LTF for one hour workout. Come home, had dinner and went to bed around 11:30pm.

4/5

Woke up at 5:00am as usual. Stretched my body then packed my bag and bike. Drove to LTF for swim around 7:30am. I logged about 1,500yd then left the building at 8:30am. The road to Galveston was a easy drive with no congestion. However, there were cops on I-45 watching for the speeders. Arrived at Galveston Island, drove toward the Moody Garden. Parked my car at 9:30am. Checked in at 10:00am and get myself tagged with a blue band. Afterward, I walked around and bought a bike jersey with Ironman 70.3 Texas logo. Left there around 11:00am to grab a lunch at McAlister. The outside was now overcast and windy. Stopped by at Kroger for groceries before driving to check out the bike course prior to the race. I had to pay $4 to cross and back a bridge. Back to the Moody Garden around 2:30pm to drop off my bike and rain proofed before leaving to the hotel. Checked in there at 3:15pm and workout easy until 4:50pm. I took a shower then stepped outside for dinner at Mario's for spaghetti around 5:45pm. Come back to the room at 7:00pm, took things easy until 10:00pm and went to bed.

4/6

[2014 Ironman 70.3 Texas]
Woke up at 4:00am, checked the weather on the TV and internet, looks like we are good to go. Left the hotel at 5:15am toward the Moody Garden. Parked nearly the transition area and walked to the area to check gears and setup for the race under dark sky. Rain came sometimes, and occasionally the lights to the area went out somehow. Get changed into wetsuit and left the area by 6:45am then walk toward the starting area. The path was paved but the surface was pretty rough so it was a bit tough to walk. The race started t 7:00am then my pack started at 7:30am. The wave was a bit high and because of the many people swimming along, I swallowed some salt water but when I made a turn, it was better and kept going. When I made the second turn, I was in quiet comfortable position. Swim out at 8:14am and headed to the transition area. I wanted to use restroom so I get changed and took care of business before heading out for the bike. Left the transition area at 8:36am and mounted on the bike and rode toward the Seawall Rd. At the beginning, the wind was somewhat coming from behind so it was nice, but soon the wind becomes cross wind. Even the rain began to fall so I had to be careful. Turned at mile 26 at 9:52am, then rode back to the transition area. The rain stopped while riding so finishing up was easy. Back at 11:24am and changed into my running gear in 15 minutes. I did my three laps and finished around 1:42pm. Walked to the tent for free meals and water. I was chatting other participants then the transition area opened at 2:30pm, picked up my bike and retrieved my bag. Walked to my car and loaded everything. Left Moody Garden around 3:30pm, drove under congested area and once I was on the I-45, rain was falling for the most of the time when I drive home. Unloaded all the items and washed my wetsuit. Put my legs in cold water and cool them down, and relaxed at home until the evening comes. Went to eat at Logan's for 22oz steak and come home, relaxed and went to bed around 10:00pm

4/7

Woke up at 5:00am, stretched my body then drove to work. I was dragging my right leg all day because of the fatigue on the knee. Left on time at 5:00pm and stopped by at Daido to buy groceries. Come home at 7:00pm and then stayed at home to get ready for the Japan Festival this weekend. Going to bed around 11:30pm.

4/8

Woke up at 5:00am, stretched my body and began feeling fatigues in the muscles in my body. I guess I am getting older. Drove to the office while watching the outside getting brighter, Rain came around 8:30am but was totally sunny by noon. Left office around 6:30pm and had dinner with my friend at Taiko. Stayed until 8:00pm then headed home. Went to bed early around 11:00pm after working on Japan Festival materials.

4/9

Woke up at 5:00am, 46F at outside with clear sky while driving to work. Left office around 7:00pm and headed to Taipei restaurant for dinner with friends. Stayed until 8:30pm then I drove home. Worked on Japan Festival materials and went to bed around 11:00pm.

4/10

Woke up at 5:00am as usual, another clear sky morning as I drive to work watching the sun come up. Stayed until 6:30pm and drove to LTF for the first time in this week. Worked out for 30 minutes then drove home. Needed to work on Japan Festival materials. Went to bed around 11:00pm.

4/11

Woke up at 5:00am, made it to work on time. Since today is maintenance day, I worked on machines all day and stayed until 4:00pm before heading to JASH office then to the festival site, and I stayed until 8:00pm. I stopped at Kubo's for dinner and drove home. I will be busy for the next two days. Going to bed around 11:00pm.

4/12

[Japan Festival Day 1]
Woke up at 5:00am, left home after loading materials for the festival to my car then drove to the Hermann Park. Met with vendors but because of the situation, it was tough to get out from there so I stayed until 2:00pm then I can finally began visiting vendors. I found some are missing something so I had to go talk with logistics. Helped setting up stage for rakugo, and also the take down. I stayed until 7:30pm then headed to a Ibiza restaurant for dinner with guests for the festival. Come home around 11:00pm then went to bed. I was so busy today and did not get a chance to wear Yukata. Maybe tomorrow.

Hermann Park

4/13

[Japan Festival Day 2]
Woke up at 5:00am, left home, picked up a newspaper at Kroger then drove to the festival site. Greeted vendors again at parking to check on people who are coming and even received a death threat. Stayed there until noon then helped setting up stage for Katsura Sunshine's rakugo. Rain came about 1 hour before the end of the festival and people began leaving. The sprinkle were coming and going. Opened the first beer since new year at 5:00pm. Began loading materials for JASH and I was so ready to leave by 7:00pm but because of some vendors cannot pack up right, I stayed until 8:00pm then headed to Kubo's for dinner with friends who helped the festival. Another day I did not get to try Yukata... Left there around 11:00pm after drinking four bottles of beer and come home. Went to bed around 1:00am to adjust to the night shift starting tomorrow.

Hermann Park reflection pool

4/14

Woke up at 7:00am once, the outside was getting bright and it was in the 70s. Stayed in the bed until 10:30am and decided to get up. Rain came around 1:00pm and some were severe. Did three loads of laundries and cooked lunch. Stayed home until 4:00pm and drove to work under rain. Began my day. It's been a while since the last time I had to work in the night. I was in fatigue mode after 10:00pm.

4/15

[One year anniversary of Boston Marathon Bombing]

Watched lunar eclipse around 2:00am under clear sky for a while then went back to work. Left the office around 5:00am walking toward my car in chilly air in the 40s, Drove to Kroger to buy detergent before coming home. Went to bed around 6:00am and woke up at 10:30am. Did two loads of laundries and cooked noodle for lunch. Left to LTF around 2:00pm and worked out for 40 minutes before coming to work. Still a bit chilly when I am walking at outside. Began my day as usual.

4/16

[A South Korean ship was capsized off the coast with 500 passengers on board]
Stayed until 4:00am, I was so sleepy but managed to drive home safe. It was another 45F at outside. Woke up at 10:00am and stayed in the bed until 11:00am. Did two loads of laundries and ate lunch. Left home at 2:20pm and headed to LTF for workout. Today was 50 minutes. Drove to work and began my day.

Driving to work

4/17

The shift finished around 2:30am and I was leaving the office at 3:45am.

The sky was cloudy and I sometimes saw the blue colored moon behind the cloud. Woke up at 11:00am and forced myself to stay in bed until noon. Cooked stir noodles and fried rice before heading to LTF for workout for 40 minutes. Drove to work in a bit more congested than other days road.

4/18

Left the office after 4:30am and then drove home straight. Crash landed in the bed and then did not wake up until 11:00am. Left to run at Memorial Park in the afternoon before going to my friend's house for the party. Started at 4:00pm, enjoyed evening weather and stayed until 2:00am. Opened many wines which I cannot drink often. It was a fun evening.

Evening, looking at the sky from my friend's house backyard

4/19

Woke up at 10:00am and stretched my body, had breakfast then lunch before heading to George Bush park for bike ride. Spent about 2 hours riding under light breeze and sunny sky. Drove to storage place to pick up my cooler box and then to grocery stores. Come home, cooked spaghetti then relaxed in the evening. I chat with my dad before going to bed around 12:30am.

Bike day

4/20

Woke up at 5:00am as normally I do. Stretched my body and headed to softball game field at 8:30am. Our team advanced to 2nd round but lost the game by paper-rock-scissors. Met again around 7:00pm for party. Stayed until 10:00pm and come home. Went to bed after that.

4/21

No work today because of the shift change. Woke up at 6:00am and get ready for the day. Went to swim in the morning then drove to George Bush park for bike for 2 hours. The sky was a little cloudy and I even get showered for a while. Come home, get showered then relaxed for a while. The outside was getting warm so I had to be careful not to overheat myself while I was staying my room. Stepped out around 4:30pm and headed to Gyu-Kaku. Stayed until 10:00pm then drove back home. I had to stay up late to get ready for the week.

4/22

Woke up at 9:00am, stayed in bed until noon. Took care of personal matters until 4:00pm before heading to work. The outside was sunny and warm around 85F. Drove straight to work since I am skipping workout today.　

Driving to work

4/23

It was not a bad night shift. Finished around 4:00am and left work at 4:45am, drove to Kroger for groceries before coming back to home. Somehow I woke up at 9:30am so I tried to stay in bed until noon. Left to LTF at 2:30pm and worked out for 30 minutes before going to work. Driving under sunny sky already in the mid 80s again. Began my day.

4/24

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Dinner

4/25

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4/26

Stayed at work until 4:30am and drove home. Went to bed after coming home and woke up at 11:00am. I cleaned my bike then headed out to pick up packet for tomorrow's race around 3:00pm. I took Sam Houston tool way and arrived at Kemah to check out the location. Drove to a Chinese restaurant at 6:00pm for dinner, bought bananas at nearby grocery store before checking in at hotel. Prepared gears for tomorrow and went to bed around 9:00pm.

Visiting Kemah

4/27

[2014 Kemah Triathlon]
Could not sleep at all and got up at 3:00am, stretched my body and get ready for the race. Left the hotel at 4:00am and got to the parking in 20 minutes. I left the transition area at 5:15am and walked toward the boat for the triathlon. The boat left the Kemah and began unloading swimmers around 6:40am. My turn came around 7:00am and jumped off from the boat, which was quite insane idea. The water was murky and the sky was overcast. I swim with a little trouble while locating the lights at the shore. Get changed for bike after getting out from the ocean. The first half heading to south was nearly 20mph and I struggled to keep going but on the second half, I was able to go nearly 30mph. The running portion was okay as usual, just a lot warmer than the Ironman70.3 three weeks ago. Left there after 11:00am but the traffic was jammed and had hard time getting out. Come home around 1:00pm and had lunch. Took a nap for one hour after that. Stopped by at Daido to meet my friend to rent my friend my indoor trainer then to Izakaya Wa for dinner. Come home, relaxed and went to bed after midnight.

Getting ready for the day

4/28

[For the second day, some part of the U.S. faces severe storms including tornados]
Woke up at 8:00am, stayed in the bed until 11:00am. The first thing I did was to call an utility company to check on the status of payment since they charged me late fee. What I found was that they were late on process despite of me sending the money on time. Left to LTF around 2:30pm and worked out for 30 minutes before going to work. The last week of night shift has began and I have only four days!

4/29

Stayed at the plant until 4:30am. Drove home but stopped by at Kroger before coming home. Stayed in the bed until 11:00am then got up. Cooked salmon and headed to LTF for workout. I did 40 minutes today and felt good. Drove to work and began my shift.

Kayano

4/30

Stayed at work until 4:50am then left. I had to buy milk, bananas and apples before coming home. Woke up at 10:30am but stayed in the bed until noon. It was not a bad day since the air was cooler. Left to LTF for workout for 30 minutes before heading to work. The road was pretty congested but made it to work and began my day. It was pretty quiet tonight.

Driving under summer like sky

April 2014(last updated on 2014/05/02)