ちっぽけな勇気

智、
おおちゃん、
リーダー、
ニノの恋人。。。

誕生日おめでとう～！！＞＿＜

もう二十八歳よ！
今年も嵐をスポットしてください！

ーリサ

ノート：　今年、ずっとカツオを釣れることができると思う！＾Ｏ＾

"I wish I could've lived my life...
...without making any wrong turns.

I wish I could have lived...
...in a kind world.
Without anxiety.
Without fair.
Without hurting other people.
Without being hurt myself.
Only doing the right things.
I wish I could have followed...
...the shortest path...
to the kind world I wish for.
'That's wrong.'
'That's stupid.'
When it comes to other people's lives...
...you can say that kind of irresponsible dreck as much as you want.

I wish...
...I could've lived my life...
...without making any wrong turns.
But that's impossible.
A path like that doesn't exist.
We fail.
We trip.
We get lost.
We make mistakes.
And little by little, one step at a time...
...we push forward.
It's all we can do.
On our own two feet.
Even if we get a little banged up.
Someday, we'll reach something.
We'll reach someone.
We pray.

Come on.
It's time to start walking."

- Anonymous (just to keep people wondering BUT...100 Pocky sticks for anyone who knows which manga this is from. ^O^)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
disclaimer: this bittersweet excerpt is from a work of a great mangaka, and not me~! I only came up with the title of it! haha...>_____<...

Those words are almost lyrical...really makes me want to create a piano song to fit them. Anyways, not trying to be all emotionally depressed here or anything like that, it's just that this excerpt just kind of stood out to me so I wanted to share it with all of you. ^O^

This week, I bring you with...

FUNKY MONKEY BABYS - "Chippoke na Yuuki" (A Little Bit of Courage)

We still aren't much of anything, and in our hands
In our hands we've got nothing
We're hammered by the rain and blown on by the wind, but we won't give up
We don't want to give up
So certainly we'll grasp a hold of something one day

We still aren't much of anything, and in our hands
In our hands we've got nothing
We're hammered by the rain and blown on by the wind, but we won't give up
We don't want to give up
So certainly we'll grasp a hold of something one day
Don't you think so? Don't you think so?

Where did everyone go? I've been left all alone
God, if you can, take me back to those innocent days once more
I'm scared of the unforeseeable future, I'm scared of the expectations of everyone around me
I want to run away to the first page of an old dust covered photo album
But yet, but yet, another new morning begins
Waiting for the night like this, like this, makes me sad
My timid dreams that seem like they may be crushed
No matter how uncool they may be
Since I'm a crybaby, I'll bask in the rain of tears just like a crybaby would

We still aren't much of anything, and in our hands
In our hands we've got nothing
We're hammered by the rain and blown on by the wind, but we won't give up
We don't want to give up
So certainly we'll grasp a hold of something one day
Don't you think so? Don't you think so?

Do you really want to do the things that you're doing right now?
Are you really doing the things you're doing right now for yourself?
Backtracking or standing still, sometimes looking back
My emotions are entangled in the confusion and conflicts in my heart
On my way back home, from the south Hachiouji exit to my place
I always see my friends and family, who I look forward to seeing
But I'm comfortable in depending on the kindnesses of others
"Is that really alright, I wonder?" I carry those feelings with me
If there's something bothering you, then change it; Move forward one step at a time

We still aren't much of anything, and in our hands
In our hands we've got nothing
We're hammered by the rain and blown on by the wind, but we won't give up
We don't want to give up
So certainly we'll grasp a hold of something one day
Don't you think so? Don't you think so?

I was always searching for a place where I could be myself
I'll take my pathetic little bit of courage and my embarrassingly large hopes
And hoist them in my heart forever

We still aren't much of anything, and we don't know anything either
We don't know a single thing, but we laughed together
Hand in hand, arm in arm, at that riverbed
At that riverbed, we'll sing a song like this together again

We still aren't much of anything, and in our hands
In our hands we've got nothing
We're hammered by the rain and blown on by the wind, but we won't give up
We don't want to give up
So certainly we'll grasp a hold of something one day
Don't you think so? Don't you think so?

-----

FUNKY MONKEY BABYS - "ちっぽけな勇気"

俺たちはまだちっぽけで手のひらの中には
この手のひらの中には何もないけど
雨に打たれ風に吹かれでも諦めないから
でも諦めたくないから
きっといつか何かを掴むんだ

俺たちはまだちっぽけで手のひらの中には
この手のひらの中には何もないけど
雨に打たれ風に吹かれでも諦めないから
でも諦めたくないから
きっといつか何かを掴むんだ
ねぇそうだろ?ねぇそうだろ?

皆どこへ行っちゃったの?俺一人だけを取り残して
神様できるならもう一度無邪気なあの頃に戻して
見えない未来が怖くて周りの期待が怖くて
ホコリまみれ古いアルバムの1ページへ逃げたくなるよ
それでもそれでもまた始まる新しい朝
このままこのまま夜を待つのは悲しいから
弱気でくじけそうになる夢を
それがどんなにカッコ悪くても
泣き虫なら泣き虫らしく涙の雨をあびるんだ

俺たちはまだちっぽけで手のひらの中には
この手のひらの中には何もないけど
雨に打たれ風に吹かれでも諦めないから
でも諦めたくないから
きっといつか何かを掴むんだ
ねぇそうだろ?ねぇそうだろ?

今現在やってる事が本当にやりたい事なの?
今現在やってる事が自分に向いてる事なの?
なんて後戻りとか立ち止まり時には後ろを振り返り
胸の中の迷いや葛藤に絡まってく感情
八王子の南口から家までへの帰り道
待ち遠しい友達と家族にいつでも会える道
でも居心地がいいからって甘えて
これでいいのかなって気持ち抱えて
引っかかってんなら変えてこう一歩ずつ前へと

俺たちはまだちっぽけで手のひらの中には
この手のひらの中には何もないけど
雨に打たれ風に吹かれでも諦めないから
でも諦めたくないから
きっといつか何かを掴むんだ
ねぇそうだろ?ねぇそうだろ?

いつだって探していた自分らしくいられるそんな場所を
情けないほど小さな勇気と恥ずかしいくらいの大きな希望を
胸に掲げていつまでも

俺たちはちっぽけなまま何もわからないけど
何ひとつわからないけど笑いあってた
手をつないで肩を組んでまたあの河川敷で
またいつかの河川敷でこんな歌を一緒に歌うんだ

俺たちはまだちっぽけで手のひらの中には
この手のひらの中には何もないけど
雨に打たれ風に吹かれでも諦めないから
でも諦めたくないから
きっといつか何かを掴むんだ
ねぇそうだろ?ねぇそうだろ?

-----
lyrics and translations: credits to Mognet.

On Amazon, I just purchased 7 books (I really really REALLY had to refrain myself from buying any more...) and they are:

"Banker To The Poor: Micro-Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty"
Muhammad Yunus

"Bone in the Throat"
Anthony Bourdain

"Creating a World Without Poverty: Social Business and the Future of Capitalism"
Muhammad Yunus

"How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas, Updated Edition"
David Bornstein

"Kitchen Confidential Updated Ed: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly (P.S.)"
Anthony Bourdain

"The Rape of Nanking: The Forgotten Holocaust of World War II"
Iris Chang

"Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time"
Greg Mortenson

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOD...I'M DYING TO READ THEM...
HOPEFULLY THEY DON'T TAKE TOO LONG TO GET TO ME...
>________________<

Anyways, so to why I suddenly bought all these books...I want to go back to my bookworm roots...only those who have known me back from middle school or earlier would know that I used to be a CRAZY bookworm...but once I got into high school, things just got too hectic...

SO...now that I have a lot more free time on my hands, I thought I will get back to reading...but, anyways, to people who hate reading, let me just tell you that's only because you haven't found the books that interest you. I like reading, but only books that I want to and choose to do so entirely on my free will; I hated it when my high school teachers would always assign books because this actually makes me dislike reading them (no matter if the text is interesting to me or not) due to the fact that I have to read it according to a certain pace and for the primary purpose of getting a good grade; This totally ruins the whole purpose of reading.

- Lisa

Thought this would be something fun to do...these songs aren't chosen based on any genre, time period, or anything like that; they are just the ones that I happen to be really into this week:
-----

1. 斉藤和義 - "歌うたいのバラッド" (1997)
(Saito Kazuyoshi - "Utautai no BALLAD")
^ note: I think it was just this year that Bank Band sang a remade of this song, however I prefer the original.

2. GLAY - "Winter, again" (1999)

3. レミオロメン - "粉雪" (2005)
(Remioromen - "Konayuki")
^ note: one of my favorite songs for a long time now, but have been listening to it a lot this week; theme song for the drama, "1 Litre of Tears," which I personally feel everyone should watch.

あっ！！めんどうくさい！この大学のばかなインターネット！
今、もう三十分待ってたなのに。。。
まだインターネットがあるよ！！

昨晩、私はおいしいお弁当を作った。。。
今、おなかがすいてるの、
超食べたいよ！
でも。。。
つまらなくて政治のクラスにまた出てる。。。
；＿；
あっ、助けて！

今日のお弁当：
１．鶏肉とコーンとにんにくとレモンジュース
2．サツマイモ
３．ねぎがたくさんいれてるラース

今週の週末のプラン
土曜日：
友達のジングさんとカキさんと。。。
日本町へ行って、
買い物をして、
（私はも一ヶ月に日本町へ行かなかったから、たくさんまんがとＭＡＧＡＺＩＮＥＳを超買いたいよ～！）
家へ帰って、
おすしを作る～！
私とジングさん二人はおすしを作ったことがあるから、
大丈夫と思う。
楽しみにしてる。。。＾＿＾

日曜日：
ポーカのトルメンッとがある。。。
一番の賞はＰＳ３だ、
二番目のは。。。。ＩＰＯＤ　ＴＯＵＣＨだ、
三番目のはＤＳ　ＬＩＴＥだ、
四番目と五番目と六番目のはギッフカードだ。

勝ちたいよ～！
何でもいいよ。。。

ＯＭＧ．．．
このノートを始めてからはもう四十分だったけど。。。
クラスもすぐ終わる。。。
インターネットが。。。
ＦＩＮＡＬＬＹある！-_______-"

I really know I should not be complain at all, and I am definitely not the type to ever complain about anything concerning subs because I am always amazed at how SO many people are willing to put so much of their personal time and effort into doing something that they don't really get anything back from except for a few words of thanks.

So even about any spelling/grammar mistakes or off-timing issues, I would never complain nor feel the NEED to even say anything at all in my comments to the amazing people who provided the subtitles.

Honestly, to these people, I would normally express nothing but utmost gratefulness....

BUT...
BUTTTTT....

Just this one time...
I really can't help mentioning that....
It just drives me completely insane...
Especially since he is my ichiban....
That throughout the entire subbed video....
The name that kept coming up was....

NINOMIYA KAZUNORI...

I guess it's a sensitive thing for us Arashi fans, especially since Nino always mentioned how he didn't like his name since it was always mistaken to be Kazuya (which I really actually hearing once when a MC was introducing Nino...I think it was a REALLY old clip, back when Nino wasn't that well-known yet...the quality was really bad so I couldn't really see Nino's reaction too well, but the MC corrected himself the next time he said the name so it's alright but...still...)

- リサ

ＹＡＹ～！
ちょううれしいよ！！
昨日、日本語の試験が終わったら、ずっと心配だ。 たくさん馬鹿な間違いをしまったから。。。
でも、先、試験が返した。。。いい点を取った～！！＾Ｏ＾

昨日の晩ご飯は初めて作ったカレーら～めんだ。。。
本当に。。。
すごいおいしかったよ！！
ら～めんは。。。学校へ持って行ってはめんどくさいので、
あの大きいら～めんは昨夜全部食べたと、
今日は弁当が。。。ない。。。；＿；

今、政治の授業に、先生がおっしゃいている（せいかいですか？）言葉は全然聞かないで、
ずっと昼ごはんは何を食べるがいいのことを考えてる。　＞＿＜
はは。。。
私はふまじめなＵＣバークレーの学生ね！
でも。。。
私だけじゃないよ！
隣の学生は。。。皆。。。寝てるよ！
はは。。。寝ていない学生も全然元気じゃなそうだ。
あっ。。。このクラスは二十分しかないのに、今すぐ教室を出たい。　
。。。
。。。
五分しか。。。
先生まだねっしんにおっしゃいている。。。
助けてください！！

ーリサ

今日十時に日本語の試験があるですけど。。。でも。。。昨日、全然勉強しなかった。。。
どうしよう？！DX
宿題もわすれた。。。後で、もう一度しなちゃ。。。でも、今日は忙しいだ。。。
心配してる。。。

今は９：１５。。。
政治のdiscussionのクラスにいる。。。
わあ。。。このクラスの先生は大学院生だ。。。
彼は。。。とでもとでもつまらないよ！　ー＿－”
私はいつもここでコンピューターを使ってと、嵐のことを見る　ＸＤ～！
（上の文に。。。「と」の仕方は。。。間違いですか？）

昨日、仕事で私のオフィスに新しい人が来た。。。
まじめすぎるひとそうだ。。。
ちょっと怖い。。。
彼のテーブルも私の隣にある。。。= (

じゃ、またね！

ーリサ

I mean...I always knew that Riida was born in 1980...and of course, obviously, I also knew that I was born in 1989...but it seriously never really hit me until now...but OH-CHAN IS 9 YEARS OLDER THAN ME...that's only one year off a freakin decade~!! OOMMMGGGGGGGGG!!!!! O______________O....

Why this all suddenly hit me was because...I was thinking...hmm...I wonder when it will be until Oh-chan hits 30...which I see as a really really scary age...I SERIOUSLY do not want to reach the age of 30...I have like nightmares about this...LOL, jk...but honestly, just knowing that there are only 11 years left until I'm 30 scares me to shit. So anyways, putting my stupid worries aside....so back to the main topic, so I realized that in 2010...when I finally become 21 (technically the equivalent of the age of 20 in Japan, but it is really not that big of a deal here in the US...) ....when I finally, in legal terms, become an ADULT in the US...our overly cute and talented Oh-chan will become a 30-year-old "middle-aged" man....gosh, if I can look as cute and young as Oh-chan does when I get to his current age, I would have no complains whatsoever....not likely though....LOL...since I don't even look like that even now...haha >__<

At least, my ichiban, Nino is only 6 years older than me...marriage is still a possibility....LOL XD

- リサ