I suppose a person does not have habit to thank oneself. Appreciation always comes from other people's objective view. It's the same with me and frankly I rarely, almost never, thank myself. I have never experienced praising myself properly, so when an idea hits me out of nowhere that these self appreciation may not necessarily be silly and vain, I am totally at a loss of words towards me. Which should I tell me "Well-done" or " Good Job", or anything else?
While words don't come up to me, I think of the meaning of self appreciation. After all it's already in the word "appreciate"---to recognize the real value of something, and be thankful to it. To appreciate myself I should try first to know me better and get to like myself. It's not that senseless.
I don't hesitate to say I'm a strong believer and enthusiast for morning. What's more, I'm a believer and enthusiast for breakfast. All I need is a fine cup of coffee, vegetable and fruits, hot egg, and bread or cereal. Morning aura with these simple but rich food gives me idea, courage, relief, sharp mind and clear decision. If I can enjoy morning time for a whole 24 hours of a day (let's ignore the scientific fact of earth rotation for a moment), could I be happier than ever? I don't know (but I don't deny the possibility, unless there's no delight of watching starlight in the night sky).
Even those who are not such a huge fan of morning like me should find the irreplaceable, unmatched powerful effect of it. Of course I also like evening and nighttime and I believe they have their own power to drive people but only morning can do those things combined; set people's mind and behavior, renew, and then release them.
At dusk, at the limited time between daylight and evening sky we sometimes see the golden Magic Hour or the Blue Moment. Those marvelous nature are always so fascinating that I cannot help taking photo and bask in the beauty.
But the magic hour appears even in the rainy morning looking at the empty terrace surrounded by fresh green trees. I don't have words to describe how this is magical but just photograph and feel them with the same enthusiasm as the orthodox moments.
As one of professional workers / living citizens I sometimes find myself trying to pursue perfection in almost every aspect of life. The quality of documents I make on job, the balance of my outfit which should be (hopefully) stylish and comfortable, the ability to use 24 hours a day as managed as possible, the maintenance of my house to be kept hygienic and clean, the care of physical and metal health with stretching and training, efforts to obtain and master knowledge and wisdom from reading, and so on.
In fact simply I cannot be perfect but just keep always trying to getting close to that state. Nor I'm not sure if "trying to get close to the perfect" itself is at least significant. I don't know if it's like filling a glass full until the edge of it with pouring water, or getting rid of useless moves to find out the core, ultimate essence like martial arts. Maybe it's best to know your own way to act, judge, and do something in a manner that the unconscious "best of yourself" would pilot you.
桜、梅、桃、杏、アーモンドなどサクラ属の樹の花はよく似ているのですが、近所で毎年春に開花するこの樹は、ずいぶん駆け足に咲く桜だと思っていたところ、よく観れば梅の花でした。桜と比べるといかにも控えめに咲く梅ですが、樹の枝振りのシルエットと調和しながら、新緑の若芽と一緒に咲き出る花の姿は、一切ひけをとらない独自の美しさと凛とした雰囲気があります。この樹が生えているのはビルの細い隙間の、それも自動販売機の裏、という妙な場所で、誰かに大事に育てられている様子もないのに（野良イヌや野良ネコならぬ、野良梅でしょうか）、樹にとっては自分が生えている場所など何ら気になるわけもなく、毎年春を待ちかねるように勢い良く開花する姿は趣深く、魅せられます。
何だか風変わりな桜だと思って見上げていたのは、実は桜よりも美しい梅でした、というのはまるで「醜いアヒルの子」の寓話です。もちろん、アヒルの子と白鳥の雛はご覧の通り（どちらがより可愛らしいかは別として）かなり違うのですが。
軽妙なコメディ、というジャンルがありますが、ときにコメディの真価は過小評価されているのではないかと思います。Jean Renoが三ツ星レストランのシェフを演じた映画"Comme Un Chef"はまさに軽妙なコメディで、軽快でテンポよく、全編に渡りコミカルで、くだらないギャグも交えつつ、最後は敵の鼻を明かし、恋が実り、愉快な大団円に落ち着くあたり、おそらく作った方も典型的なコメディ以上の深みは追求していないのではないか、と書いたとしても文句は出ないでしょう。
そうだとしても、軽妙で肩の力が抜けているのに、台詞を言うたびに笑いを取る演技とは実は相当に難しいものではないでしょうか。ある人物のあるシチュエーションが笑えるとしたら、その前提としてその人物のリアリティがしっくりくるものでなければ、まず笑う準備もできません。高級レストランのシェフのドタバタが可笑しいのは、その雰囲気や立ち居振る舞いや料理の腕や存在感や台詞回しがちゃんとシェフになりきっているからで、そうでなければ笑いは成り立ちません。それもただ役柄のリアリティを追求するだけでは笑えないので、そうした職業にありがちな特徴をわずかに誇張したり風刺したりするからこそ面白く、加えてコメディを見に来る観客はそもそも笑ってやろうと待ち構えて観ている訳ですから、それに応えるには相当可笑しくなければならない。その上で、俳優が観客が感情移入できるような魅力を備えているから、コメディ映画が観客に幸せな時間を提供できるというものです。
この映画は題材からして料理の魅力に溢れている、と誉めても良いのですが、むしろ全編が活き活きとした台詞の掛け合いに満ちていて、さほど爆笑を誘うというわけでもないけれど、コメディの本質はこうしたシンプルで面白おかしい言葉の妙にこそあることを思い出させてくれます。
Has anybody been mistaken for someone else? Surely everyone has. But can it happen on Twitter? The other day I found that my twitter name was quoted by someone whom I never knew. Judging from the tweet the person seems to run a coffee beans shop, and he/she wished to take lunch at a cafe (of my name) where the owner (me) bought the coffee beans to serve.
Actually there's interesting coincidence. In my neighbor there IS a coffee beans shop, and also my friend has opened a small bistro near in the town. The chef uses the shop's beans. Funny enough!
To a stranger who mistakenly tweeted above; Sorry I couldn't offer you a lunch at my place the other day, but thank you for making me imagine for a moment myself as a cafe owner, one of my dream avocations.
