In Search of A ゆ Noren

I have not felt so sore on my legs and butts for a long time — yesterday, I had an intense hike in Marin Headlands in a terrific summer like weather. And, I pushed myself a little too hard. I used only an hour to finish a trail that I normally hike for at least two hours. I even ran a little a bit at the end, because I didn’t want to miss the hourly bus. Now, I am suffering the consequences, but I don’t mind. I am in the spring fever mood. On Saturday, I spent pretty much the whole day to clean the house, wash rugs, wipe dust, and organize my stuff. That’s just after I moved in and organized my new cubicle, which I hate already after just one week. I simply cannot get used to hearing others’ talking on the phone when I am at work, and there is no longer a door that I can close to keep the noise out. I asked the secretary ordered me a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. They help a little, especially when I am playing music in my headphones, but I still can hear people talking! I am thinking to begin to work from home. Another problem is the distraction I get when people pass by my cubicle, even very few people do. I have been thinking a solution. On Friday when I was working out on an elliptical machine in the gym, suddenly an idea came to my mind, and I almost giggled myself off the machine. People in the gym must think that I am crazy. What came to my mind? — I think I should hang a noren (暖簾) at my cubicle entrance! That will build a barrier between my cubicle and the walk way, also it will create more privacy for me. It will be perfect if I can find one like this one, because I doubt anybody in the office would know what "ゆ" means (bath house). The search is on, and I didn’t find anything like this in Japantown on Sunday. If I can’t find one, I probably make one myself! I hate cubicles!!! I should feel content actually. I got both the federal and state tax refund within a week, especially when the governments are all broke. I am quite impressed. Besides the terrible economy, many Americans reach for their guns and start to slaughter others and themselves. During the period of one month, there are 53 people died from mass shooting! A quick rundown: MARCH 10, SAMSON, Ala. &8212; A gunman kills 10 people and commits suicide in a rampage that spanned two dozen miles across the southern Alabama countryside. Police say Michael McLendon had struggled to keep a job and left behind lists of employers and co-workers he believed had wronged him. MARCH 22, OAKLAND, Calif. — A man pulled over in a routine traffic stop fatally shoots two officers and then kills two more in a gunfight in which the suspect was also killed. Relatives say Lovelle Mixon, 26, had been frustrated about not finding work and feared returning to jail. MARCH 29, SANTA CLARA, Calif. — A man shoots and kills his two children and three other relatives, then kills himself at a family housewarming party in an upscale neighborhood. Investigators don’t yet know the motive of Devan Kalathat, a 42-year-old engineer at Yahoo. MARCH 29, CARTHAGE, N.C. — A man opens fire in a nursing home and kills seven elderly residents and a nurse who cared for them. Investigators say Robert Stewart, 45, apparently had targeted an estranged wife, a nurse’s assistant who escaped by hiding in a bathroom. APRIL 3, BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — A gunman bursts into an immigrant center and kills 13 people before killing himself. Police say Jiverly Wong, a 41-year-old Vietnamese immigrant, was apparently upset about losing his job and about people picking on him for his limited English. APRIL 4, PITTSBURGH — A gunman wearing a bulletproof vest opens fire on officers responding to a domestic disturbance call, killing three of them. Police say Richard Poplawski, 23, had been upset about losing his job and feared the Obama administration was poised to ban guns. APRIL 4, GRAHAM, Wash. — A man fatally shoots his five children in their mobile home and then takes his own life in his car miles away. Relatives identified the father as James Harrison. Authorities said he lashed out because his wife was leaving him. God bless America, if there is one.