Wednesday, August 31, 2005 Cloudy

　Somebody I know has become a victim of the so-called "Pay up!" scam. In America Hurricane Katrina has devastated New Orleans and other cities in the South, resulting in around 100 deaths as of today. At work I sent Reading "report" errata again to the students.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005 Cloudy

　Yesterday evening my wife, our second son, and I ate out together. While eating, my wife suggested that we all make a trip to Korea next month. This morning I went to see our family doctor to hear the results of my annual checkup, and while I was at it, I went to the municipal branch office to get two copies of our family register and passport application forms.

Monday, August 29, 2005 Fair

　I forgot that there was a conference for judging whether to admit a transfer student or not., so I failed to take my tape recorder to my Korean teacher though I had promised him to. There was one makeup. To my regret, I found some mistakes again in my Reading 'reports' or assignments for the second term. I have to do something about it. How careless of me!

Sunday, August 28, 2005 Fair

　Although today was Sunday, not a workday, I had to go to work for some English retests. I marked some retest papers and mailed the results to the students.. Today I went to the shopping street to eat lunch. I ate noodles. For today's supper my wife had pizza delivered.

Saturday, August 27, 2005 Fair

　This morning I cleaned the kitchen a bit thoroughly for the first time in many many days. There was a lot of 'overdue' stuff, and I threw it away. I applied some anti-spiderweb spray on the balcony, but the wind was blowing my way, so I seemed to have inhaled a little. Isn't it dangerous stuff to breathe in? On my way from shopping, my cellphone rang all of a sudden. It was a call from a student asking about tomorrow's retest.

Friday, August 26, 2005 Fair

　The typhoon had gone, and the sky cleared up in the morning. On my way to work, in front of me on the train was sitting a middle-aged man, about my age, who was reading a sports newspaper for information on weekend horse races or something.. This is what makes him forget the worries of life. Our second son has been unofficially promised employment.

Thursday, August 25, 2005 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　Typhoon No. 11 did not come this way but went in the direction of the Kanto district. In Toyonaka City the police arrested the young man who kept hurting others on the street with a sickl e or something. When busted, he said,"I don't care what will become of others?" Yesterday while walking down the street, I heard somebody saying, "Nowadays we've got to live even by killing others." What a world this country has become! .

Wednesday, August 24, 2005 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　At work I was on soccer duty today. The members practiced from 4:00 p.m. to 7::00 p.m, when it was already dark. I also took care of two makeups. Both students got passing marks. I had today's lunch at the restaurant on the sixth floor of the ward hall, or kucho.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　My wife's fatigue must have piled up, for on her way home this evening she dozed on the train and almost rode past the usual station where she was supposed to get off. Our son, too, overslept himself and was late for his part-time job.. Waking up in the wee hours of morning, I did the dishes and put the garbage in a plastic bag.

Monday, August 22, 2005 Fair

　I had my stomach examined by stomach camera-my annual checkup. There is a tiny tumor or polyp in my gullet. According to my doctor, it is still as it has ever been. But I hate swallowing the gastrocamera. because I feel so uncomfortable when my throat automatically tries to vomit it.

Sunday, August 21, 2005 Raining on and off.
　Today was my wife's birthday. In the morning I went to the usual confectionary to buy a birthday cake. Our first-born son was unable to celebrate her birthday because of urgent business. She asked me for another birthday present although I had already bought her some.

Saturday, August 20, 2005 Fair but scorching hot.

　Like last Saturday we drove over to our parents' place-this time to get our share of the offerings removed from the family altar. Mom served us lunch-sushi and hiyamugi. On the way back we dropped by Konan and bought canned cat food.

Friday, August 19, 2005 Fair

　I went to the Korean language class this afternoon-a substitute class for August 9. So, I studied Korean a lot this morning. I am worried by my friend's long silence. I hope I will hear from him soon. This summer the fig tree in our backyard has grown quite tall, but it still does not bear any fruit. My wife has a weakness for figs. I am going to be off from today until the 22nd.

Thursday, August 18, 2005 Fair

　I stepped on the feces of one of our two cats when I was leaving home for work. The cat dropped part of its poop on the hall near the front door. She is so furry that she sometimes has a little poop dangling from her rear. Luck ("Un") was with me from the morning. I had to clean the sole of my right foot. Then I hurried to the station, riding my bike.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005 Cloudy, occasionally sprinkling.

　The student who promised to come see me today did not come after all. The corridors of the school were being cleaned by professional cleaners. I made the first Reading 'report"　for the 3rd term. I was so absorbed in Darren Shan I forgot to listen to NHK's Korean program.

Tuesday, August 16, 2005 Cloudy, occasionally rainy. A big earthquake in Tohoku.

　Today I kept meeting people without manners or common sense. On my way to work I saw a boy, maybe a junior high kid, squeezing in where there was not enough room to sit. The lady next to him looked speechless. Also while shopping with my wife, we were about to go through the checkout counter, then a young mother cut in with two basketfuls of food because an old woman, supposedly her grandmother, put a carton of milk on the counter beforehand so as not to queue. What a sly and low bunch of people! My wife and I were just dumbfound by their behavior. And this young woman is a mother of a baby!

Monday, August 15, 2005 Cloudy

　At last I finished reading "Howel's Moving Castle," which turned out to be not much. I wonder why Miyazaki Hayao decided to make a movie out of this story. The author's style is terrible. I went to work and began making the next term's Reading 'reports.' The teachers' room was very quiet, or rather deserted.

Sunday, August 14, 2005 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　While eating ramen, I tried to speak and may have suddenly breathed in, so that I had it stuck in my throat. I thought I would die because I could not breathe for some time and also because the soup contained red pepper and it was so hot. I asked my wife for help. She patted me on the back and I could breath all right after a while. My lesson from this is "Don't speak while eating."

Saturday, August 13, 2005 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　I picked up my wife at the hospital around noon. Then we drove straight to my parents' place, buying a box of canned beer to offer at the family altar. We had lunch there and talked for some time. Dad was talking very slowly to my wife about his ailment. On the way home, we bought takoyaki . The three of us, including our son, ate it, drinking cold beer.

Friday, August 12, 2005 Cloudy

　At work, making address seals for all the Reading students on the computer, I corrected the 2nd-term 'reports' for Reading because there were so many mistakes. I did the printing, running off about 60 copies, doing the stapling, and mailing them to each and every Reading class student. It was quite a hassle. It took me around four hours to do all this. I had the drafts for the Reading 'reports' proofread by somebody else and felt assured that there were no errors, but I forgot to answer the questions beforehand, so it is my responsibility, not the proofreader's.

Thursday, August 11, 2005 Overcast, but fine by and large.

　Last night I got back home from Tokyo. I stayed with my friend for three nights, going places, taking hot spring baths, eating out at a smorgasbord, and talking a lot about this and that. On the 10th I went to see the doctor who operated on my neck last year. Next time is one year from now. Back to normal, business as usual from today again. Being away from the ordinary can really be a change of air. But my friend and I have both gotten old. It has been almost 30 years since we first met in the States. Just like yesterday, though. Life is but a dream...

Saturday, August 6, 2005 Overcast

　Yesterday morning I twisted my left knee as I got out of my car when I was driving my wife to work. It hurts a bit even when I just walk. Too bad. From tomorrow until Wednesday I will be away from home, so I cannot write my diary for a few days.

Friday, August 5, 2005 Fair, occasionally cloudy and sporadic showers in some areas.

　I had my hair cut at the station barbershop as usual. Today I had a female barber do my hair. She was very good. This afternoon the temperature registered a little above 38 degrees in Toyonaka Cityーhigher than the normal body temperature. This is also part of globalizationーglobal warming.

Thursday, August 4, 2005 Fair

　I found the Reading reports ( assignments ) for the next term full of errors. I need to send an errata list to each student. I never expected this to happen because I had somebody else proofread it, but I should have answered all the questions myself. I failed to go through this 'simulation' process. Shame on me! 　

Wednesday, August 3, 2005 Overcast

　"Inscrutable are the ways of Heaven," as the saying goes. Around this time last year I was watching the Korean drama "Hojun" like crazy. Until then Korean had been the last language I had wanted to study, but now I am so much into the language. Today was Coop delivery day, but when I got home, the stuff was left as it was although our second son was at home. What a helpful boy! I put away the stuff all by myself, sweating a lot. He was enjoying a long telephone conversation with his friend.

Tuesday, August 2, 2005 Fair

　Come to think of it, I have never especially tried to train myself to raise my level of English. Doesn't this signify my arrogance or negligence? I might as well be a little more humble toward reality. Escapism from reality produces nothing worthy. Studying Korean is no excuse for not studying English. It is your attitude that matters, for that attitude is what make a difference and makes the process meaningful whatever results you may have in the end.　

Monday, August 1, 2005 Fair

　The car dealer came a lot earlier than he had said. Taking a quick shower and eating a quick lunch, I left for work. There were a couple of makeups. Again Pal's fireworks day came around. The trains were crowded. Young people were wearing yukata. I finished watching all the 18 episodes of the Korean drama "Rosemary."