seriousaura

Although I've been home for a few weeks, work has kept me quite busy. The holidays were wonderful. I didn't get as much translated or read as I would have liked, but I did get to spend some time in Hanover with my mother's side of the family. Munich was nice. I rather wish it would have snowed. It would have made the Christkindlmarkt much more gorgeous. Belatedly, I hope everyone had a good holiday.

I also have spent quite a bit of time in the building that Arthur and Yanagi found and repurposed into a library. I've been cataloging items, shifting, shelving. It is quite relaxing and makes for a good break in between chapters. Though the building isn't as big as El Ateneo in Buenos Aires, I still find myself getting lost in the stacks.

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( Private to Yukimura, Sanada )

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( Private to Atobe )

( I found a new project. )

Seiichi. While perusing auctions for things of interest, I found a few that might be up your alley. Granted, I believe they fall after you are set to return. The first one is Palais Abbatial de Royaumont and the other is L'âge d'or du rail.

If the weather holds, I believe the mountain climb will take place Wednesday. Thus far, it has been nice in the mornings and afternoons, then rains during the evenings.

Despite my firm resolution to not work, I did stop by the Munich offices this morning to have a look around as well as pick up a few items from the vault to bring back to campus. I might have to spend a few scattered weeks here over the summer.

( Private )

Even I can now admit that the amount of snow we are receiving, or bound to receive, is reaching ludicrous levels. Being snowed-in gives one a chance to think too much or, in my case, get caught up with everything school and company related so that I am positively bored. While a favourite of mine, another read through of "Lord of the Flies" has left me quite longing for spring or at least the snow to melt.

If at all possible this weekend, I am getting off campus. For tennis.

I officially took over my grandfather's firm over the weekend. It went smoothly due to the months upon months of preparation. I have no doubts of my abilities to maintain current levels of productivity until I have graduated. Though, I would like to increase it by 5% over the next two years. I've put my father in charge of European and both American operations while I take on the rest since it is a smaller market and will be easier to manage while I focus on my studies. Of course, nothing will be released without my approval.

I am contemplating working on "The Picture of Dorian Gray" next. Though, I don't know what language to use. The manuscript that has been sent to me is from 1944, though I'm still looking for both the 1890 magazine publication and the 1891 bound format. I suppose I shall see what the next batch of materials brings me.

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( Screened to Echizen )

Christkindl Markt was nice, although the lack of snow rather caused the atmosphere to be lacking. The weather in Munich has been shifting between rain and somewhat cloudy. I was hoping for snow when we make the trek to Neuschwanstein, but I see the snow is only supposed to hit after we have left for Paris. Even there, the schedule is for rain. I suppose I should be thankful we had plenty of it in Japan before we left for break.

Thank you, everyone, for the gifts. Sengoku, yours amused me greatly. Saeki, Oshitari. I almost think you believe I am unstylish. Regardless, they came in handy for an impromptu board meeting I had. Ryoma, Atobe, Oishi, Kabaji. Your gifts will be very helpful in the future. Sanada, I suppose this means I'll turn your gift against you at practices in the spring. I look forward to it. Ohtori, the music was a good choice. Yanagi...I'm not even going to ask.

The flight thus far have been problem free. We are taking the train to Paris. I think Karupin has had enough of flying for awhile, but there's only one more for when we return on the 2nd. There simply wasn't enough time to head to Vienna and Copenhagen over break. Not with family obligations. Speaking of which, they went a lot better than I expected.

Hope the holidays are pleasant for you all.

I spoke with my father the other evening. Mother wants to attend "Carmen" in Copenhagen and fortunately unfortunately, the only weekend they could get tickets for fell on family visitation. Father was almost adamant about flying out. I think he mentioned something regarding 'not wanting to see "Carmen" for the 5th time', but I told him in no uncertain terms that mother would not be pleased if he flew out here without her and did not accompany her to the opera. He relented finally and I charged him with the task of perusing a select list of bookshops in Copenhagen for materials. I emailed him the list while we were on the phone. While he prattled away about the Munich offices and whether or not I would consent to procuring a bigger space, I finished up the quarterly financial reports and a couple of papers for class.

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( Screened to Atobe )

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( Screened to Ryoma )

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( Private )

(ooc: public strikes deleted, screened strikes barely visible)

My office in Tokyo was decorated as if a 5 year old girl had it before me. In all actuality, it was one of the senior managers that my grandfather terminated the week before his death. I attribute the office decor to be the main reason she did not get much accomplished. I ended up spending all of Saturday practically gutting the room. I suppose that is the consequence of not using the Tokyo offices as headquarters. Thankfully, the remodeling will be finished by the end of October and I'll be able to have quite the library attached to my office.

My birthday is in less than two weeks. I had plans to go up to Hokkaido...but unfortunately, those plans fell through. Oshitari was nice enough to email me the name of his travel agent. I had wanted to go to America and skip Atobe's birthday and prevent him from ruining mine, but I'm not willing to miss that many classes. I will probably just fly down to Kyushu Friday after classes and spend the weekend there and take a lengthier trip the next time we have a break in classes.

Happy birthday Kurobane, Shishido.

A week...

(ooc: strikes deleted)