Ever since my junior high school days, one of my favorite places to go in my free time has been the stationery shop. I can literally spend hours at a time looking at different sorts of pens and papers.
When I go, I always go equipped as though I were going to hike across the Mongolian steppes or climb Mt. Everest. I could probably even get to Mars with the stuff I take with me.
First, I'll get my most comfortable pair of sneakers — footwear that allows for speed and dexterity. Then, I'll get out a huge backpack, the kind you take when you go rock climbing. On the way to the stationery shop, I'll always pick up some kind of sports drink, something to give me energy and make sure I don't dehydrate in the long hours I spend inspecting stationery in over-heated shops.
Every year, this hobby gets more and more intense. Look up the word "obsession" in Webster's and you'll see a smiling photo of me holding a paper clip.
Recently, I've broadened my horizons and I'm getting into computers. I really want, for example, the Mac with the big 30-inch screen or the lightest laptop in town. Each comes with its own fantasy. With the big computer, I would write my epic poem from the comfort of my own home. With the light-as-a-feather laptop, I would write my best-selling novel on the beach.
But I am sure of one thing: When I write something that's not up to par and I'm asked to rewrite it, my typical reactions will be to blame the stationery or the computer that I have. "I can't write with ballpoints," I'll say, "If only my fountain pen hadn't broken, I'd have my Pulitzer by now." Or "I can't type as quickly as I'd like to on this keyboard. It can't keep up with my complex thought processes. That's why the article comes out jumbled."
At the moment I'm blaming 007. You just can't concentrate when you have a Daniel Craig screen saver, let alone write a decent article.
Q1 Why does Kana go to stationery shops with confortable shoes and a sports drink?
A1) So she can practice climbing Mt. Everest.
A2) So she can spend hours checking out different sorts of stationery.
A3) So she can take home all the stationery she buys.
正解： A2) So she can spend hours checking out different sorts of stationery.
Q2 What is Kana's most recent "bad tool" that she blames for not being able to write a good article?
A1) A picture of a good-looking actor she uses for her screen saver.
A2) A keyboard that won't let her type fast enough.
A3) A 30-inch screen on her computer that hurts her eyes.
正解： A1) A picture of a good-looking actor she uses for her screen saver.
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