Friday, August 31, 2012 Cloudy

　School has begun again today. Just one English �Tclass to teach and corrected 16 reports. Had an English teachers' meeting, where somebody seemed to show his true colors. Things will change at this school, but I will disappear anyway.

Thursday, August 30, 2012 Cloudy

　No time to breathe today at work. To begin with, making a counseling room schedule for this next term. Then a regular staff meeting. A health department teachers' meeting was next. Then had to view the recording of the lecture for teachers' human rights education the other day. Finally, there was a curriculum committee meeting. No time to eat supper. What a day! I ate, excusing myself from the health teachers' meeting, though.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012 Cloudy, sprinkling sometines.

　Took the first half-day off and went to work late in the afternoon. At work it was so humid, but anyway was in the process of preparing for classes starting the day after tomorrow. Well, in full swing from tomorrow on, though.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012 Fair

　My wife told me that I am supposed to make a speech at our first-born son's wedding in November. I hate to attend weddings, but this time it is going to be unavoidable. Well, I will prepare for that anyway.

Monday, August 27, 2012 Fair

　Went to work and wrote two transcripts for two homeroom students applying for a position. Took me some time. A health dpt. meeting. Studied Korean for a while. Took a summer special latter half-day off. The night seems long at home, though. Yesterday did nothing in particular except that I watched the usual serial Chinese dramas.

Saturday, August 25, 2012 Fair

　Was at home all day. Just the man from the secondhand book store came. While doing a search on the Internet, I did not pay enough attention to my wife. She got sulky. Well, I am a man. Men can only focus on one thing at a time.

Friday, August 24, 2012 Fair

　Went to the prefectural education center to attend an explanation meeting about the new course of study on foreign languages. After that, went to work. Took a half-day off and came home rather early. My wife is happy with my birthday present for her-a body pillow. She has a pain in her right shoulder.

Thursday, August 23, 2012 Fair , raining and thundering in the evening.

　This afternoon it got quite humid, which made me weary. Only had an English study meeting. Shot the breeze with a colleague. Did nothing else in particular. It was the humidity that got me. Back home drank beer while eating some boiled green soybeans.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012 Fair but humid!

　The weather was OK but so humid I did not feel like working. At any rate did the bare minimum. Yesterday finished reading a library book entitled " Japan Being Chinized"( 『中国化する日本』）Quite interesting. I just hope a devil-like dictator will not show up. However, the way things are, the chances are we may be having one. History repeats itself. Survival is the name of the game nowadays-that is what is called "globalization."

Tuesday, August 21, 2012 Fair and muggy.

　My wife's birthday. Went to the usual confectionary to buy her a birthday cake, which would be consumed tonight. At work so hot and humid I went down to the air-conditioned staff room on the 2nd floor. This afternoon went to the Korean language class for the first time in two weeks. Yesterday attened the wake for my colleague's mother, who passed away suddenly the day before yesterday. Went there with three other colleagues.

Sunday, August 19, 2012 Fair

　Yesterday my mother-in-law came to live with us, so did a lot of things for her to live in her room here. Bought a new TV for her. Today an LED light. Transported a lot from her former place, too, such as clothing, plants, and the family altar. Also yesterday's thunder was really scary. In all that lightning my wife rode her bike home from her alumni get-together.

Friday, August 17, 2012 Fair

　Another muggy day. At work they were waxing the floors, so I was forced to spend a few hours down in the overly air-conditoned teachers' room on the second floor. When they were done, I went up and ate supper. All the handouts for the second term are now ready. At the last minute a Reading student came with his two reports. I corrected them and put them in the mailing system. By the time I was ready to return home, the lights were out in the teachers' room.

Thursday, August 16, 2012 Fair

　In the morning at home worked on the Super Crossword. Had an English study session with my Korean friend. However, befofore that, we chatted a lot about this and that. Worked on my own my own way for the rest of the day at work. The place was empty as usual.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012 Cloudy and fair.

　This morning swallowed a stomach camera. The result was no big problem. This afternoon reported to work half-dizzy. Did the routine work-making some handouts and cleaning. The bosses on the second floor were on vacation. The fifth floor was deserted as usual. The secutiry man alone was on patrol. Very strict, but not easy on us.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012 Rainy and then cloudy.

　The weather was still bad, but I went to work. Cleaned the English Room. Prepared two kinds of handouts. Read a book. Chatted with some colleagues. Probably because of the bon period, there were only a few at work. The fifth floor was deserted as usual except for the Career Guidance Room.

Monday, August 13, 2012 Cloudy, thundering later.

　Went to Dad's grave with my sister driving. There were three of us-my mother, my sister, and myself. Got there early in the morning-maybe 8:30 a.m. or so. Got back to Mom's place before 10:00 p.m. Ate lunch with them and went to work from there. I had a haircut on the way. At work only did a couple of things, such preparing some handouts for the next term, cleaning, and reading a book. On the way home, it was thundering. I did not like it at all.

Sunday, August 12, 2012 Fair

　Finished reading a library book entitled "A Sequel to the Power to Worry." Transported the old bed to my wife's sister's place. It was quite a hassle. Did some cleaning. Have to get up early tomorrow to visit Dad's grave.

Saturday, August 11, 2012 Fair but so humid.

　Had the rest of the old books taken away by a Bookoff man. Gave my wife's sister a ride from the hospital where she had her hands operated on. Then drove over to a furniture outlet to get a bed. Not too busy but a full day anyway.

Friday, August 10, 2012 Fair

　A bit humid today. Sent some English students a reminder-35 or so in all. Still in the process of getting rid of unnecessary stuff in the English Interview Room. Almost done, though. Naturally things get old as time goes on. However, the past English teachers here seemed to have been so indifferent to the deterioration of things and passage of time. They may have been different to each other, to begin with, I am afraid.

Thursday, August 9, 2012 Fair

　My spouse says whatever she likes, especially when she is drunk, shutting her eyes to her own shortcomings. Well, that's women. Yesterday at work got rid of some old textbooks and sheets. The trash container became full. Today did the same thing. Nobody does that, so I do it.

Tuesday, August 7, 2012 Fair

　It was rather cool in the evening today. Prepared two kinds of handouts for the second term. Still in the process of cleaning the English Interview Room. It will take time. Shredded almost all the unnecessary papers down in the drawers of my dest on the second floor. Helped a colleague with his work. Went slow jogging with another colleague. Enjoying reading this book and that.

Monday, August 6, 2012 Fair and cloudy, sprinkling.

　Finished reading three library books and returned them on the way home. Cleaning at work little by little, doing the routine work like preparing for the next term. The place is almost deserted even during the day. From mid-September we are supposed to clock in and out, so they are taking advantage of the interim. What is the good of cracking down on us this way, I wonder? There will be less incentive, though.

Sunday, August 5, 2012 Fair

　Went to the city recycling center twice today. I disassembled some pieces of furniture, which included our old chest of drawers. Disposing of my old books and furniture seems to be preparing myself to die. Retirement does not necessarily mean I retire from my social life, but it sure is a milestone in life.

Saturday, August 4, 2012 Fair

　In the morning came the book I had ordered on-line late last month-a Korean version of an English book. In the afternoon came a secondhand book man, who checked hundreds of books here and bought some of them for 3.000 yen, which is not bad. The rest will be disposed of by another seconhand book company. Called Mother about Obon. Drove over to a clothing shop to buy some T-shirts.

Friday, August 3, 2012 Fair

　Attended the retirement preparation seminar held at International House. The hall was rather full. It lasted for about four hours with a 15-minute-long intermission. There is cause for concern after retirement-health, raison d'etre, and money. Because of the former governor, our retirement money has greatly decrease. Even now at work there is less incenstive for work.

Thursday, August 2, 2012 Fair and hot.

　Had an English study session. Went "super-slow jogging" with my usual fellow teacher. Today took something to drink with me. By 8:00 p.m. the fifth floor was deserted as usual except the Career Guidance Room. Had a call from a Reading student. A homeroom student's mother called, too.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012 Fair and hot.

　Maybe I was too tired to run, but I did. I almost lost my body fluid balance. Back home solved the Super Crossword after drinking a beer. Well, it has been a long day at work.