Pheeewww. I came back from LA last night. It was 10 days work trip....well, staying in Japan is my business trip so I would say my business trip back in LA. Anyway, it was for one of our artist's recording. I had been so busy everyday running around and making sure everything was good. The reward for that was I was fed a nice dinner almost everyday including a nice cup of cafe latte and dessert! I had a day off since the recording and mix went very well so we had a spare day. I went to bed around 1:00 am even though I made it to my friends gathering. It was so nice to see them because I have not seen them a while after staying in Japan a month. However, I could not keep my eyes open. I was so tired. I quietly went to a bed room and in a second, I fell asleep. Next day, I woke up several time but I could not get up until 4:30 pm!! I guess I need it but still I was really surprised. I have done it once when I flew back to Japan from England, almost 10 years ago. It was a new year's eve. I arrived at Tokyo, then I took train to Tokyo, changed to a bullet train to Fukushima where my grand mother lives. 12 hours of flying, 2 and half hours train of train ride to Tokyo, another 1 and half hours to Fukushima. Then my cousin picked me up at the station, another half an hour drive. By the time I arrived at their place, I was dead, I don't remember how I did it through. I went to bed even though the night was still young...next time I woke up was afternoon of the New Year's day. I could not believe myself, could not speak a word, just amazed what I have done. However, I missed whole the New Year's Eve fun!! We usually stay up late, watching TV, getting the feeling of a new year coming. We have a custom to eat Soba noodles for a new year.....we eat at night, new year's eve. Temple rings its big bell thing 108 times to tell the year is changing. So the year changes while they are ringing a bell. This bell means to vanish selfish desires and passions by hearing so we can have a fresh start for the new year. People visit a temple wishing the new year wil be filled with happiness and joy. Many people visit a temple during the night of new year's day. I always go with my relatives right after the new year begins. It is something special about walking in such a cold winter night with white breath while walking the street to temple. Especially the temple we visit is on top of the mountain. There is always a fire place within a temple we can warm ourselves. The darkness of the night, the bright reflection of the fire, the joy of the people to have a new year.....it always be a good memory and nice start, one of the most cheerful moment of the year. Well, in that year I missed everything. Everyone thought I must have been so tired and left me alone. Even though I awoke up after everything has past, the kindness of my family made my new year full of happiness.