Monday, March 31, 2014 Fair

　The last day of this school year. Got a slip of appointment for this next academic year. Typed in two hours off and was about to leave when a homeroom student came for his sign-up, which took me by surprise. Had him fill in the necessary papers and decide on his subjects for next school year. Inputted the data and printed out a few slips. Handed him one of the slips, and he left. Took the papers to the office and to the school nurses' room. What a hassle!

Sunday, March 30, 2014 Rainy and then cloudy.

　It rained all night, and this morning I could not go slow-jogging. Finished reading a book. Just went to the library to return a book and check out two. I understand the human spieces will be extinct in millions of years because there is a limit to the number of times of genetic duplication. I sometimes wonder what this thing called "life" is.

Saturday, March 29, 2014 Cloudy

　Got chilly as the day advanced. My slow jog in the morning, and relaxed for the rest of the day. A death row inmate was released yesterday after 48 years of imprisonment. Every time there is a case of false incrimination like this, I wonder who is quilty then.

Friday, March 28, 2014 Cloudy

　Toward the evening it got a bit chilly. At work they moved the desks in the staff rooms today as they were told by the boss. I gave up my dest there because I am not usually there. Some teachers have another desk somewhere else. Before today's staff meeting those who were quitting were supposed to ssay a few words, but quite a few of them were absent, which perhaps shows their feelings toward the way the present workplace is. There is less breathing space now.

Thursday, Mrach 27, 2014 Cloudy

　At work did some monotonous and irritating work, double-checking the grades in pairs and putting computer printouts in order alone for one and a half hours. It strained my eyes, too. Did some shopping on my way home. Also had a haircut. Both hands are somewhat numb. Did some exercise as instractued at the clinic.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014 Rainy

　Went to I- Clinic up north in Osaka and had my neck MRIed and also saw the doctor. The clinic had a nice atmosphere. My illness, OPLL, is progessing, but surgery is not urgent as yet, maybe some day. Visit the clinic again in late April. It took me a little over one hour to get there. The MRI exam lasted for 30 minutes or so. OPLL is incurable.It will be gone when I am gone. Exhausted today.

Tuesday, March 25, 2014 Cloudy

　Another warm day. At work there was a staff meeting etc. I cleaned the desk and put away some stuff on the desks on either side of mine. The vice principal ordered that the desks be rearranged in the staff rooms. Tomorrow I go get an MRI exam. I am afraid of even open MRIs, you know.

Monday, March 24, Fair and warm.

　To the hospital for neck traction in the morning. Slow-jogged for 30 minutes for lack of time. At work sent the homeroom students a letter informing them of the red tape at the beginning of April. Cleaned the English Interview Room.

Sunday, March 23, 2014 Fair

　Went to see my mother. She was OK, and so was my sister. One year passed so quickly. I did almost the same thing at this time last year. Bought six taiyaki, bream-shaped bean jam pancakes, on the way home. Our second son came back home from Tokyo the day before yesterday, leaving for Tokyo tomorrow. He just dated his girlfriend while here.

Saturday, March 22, 2014 Fair

　Went to the library to return the books before 10:00 a.m. when it is normally open. Slow-jogged for 40 minutes or so as usual. Intended to have visited Mom, but had to go to the hospital for neck traction becuase yesterday was a national holiday. I will go see her tomorrow. Today's her 85th birthday.

Friday, March 21, 2014 Fair, occasionally cloudy,

　Went to the supermarket first thing in the morning to buy some cat food. Then jogged as usual. Finished reading a library book. Went out at night to return the library books, but it was freezing outside. On second thought decided to check those books in tomorrow morning.

Thursday, Mrach 20, 2014 Rainy

　Could not jog this morning because of the rain. At work interviewed around 20 examinees with Ms. B , who is my age and about to quit this month. Finished reading a book by Uchida Tatsuru, who is quite ethical in his analysis of Japan's future. I share the same worries.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014 Fair

　Pretty warm today. Went slow-jogging in the morning and out for a walk in the afternoon in tne "park". Paid a mothly visit to my family doctor as usual. My blood pressure gets high at the clinic all the time. At home normal. I get easily uptight and am also claustrophobic-so many shortcomings. So warm today I was not in very much pain so far.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　Day one of Schedule B. Interviewed 17 examinees in all. I was done 15 minutes before 7:00 p.m. This exam began at 3:40 p.m. Took a break from 5:00 p.m to 5:30 p.m. Ate my box supper quickly and got back to the exam. Took one hour off. On the way home was caught in a rather heavy rain. It being rather warm, I could manage without taking a painkiller.

Monday, March 17, 2014 Cloudy

　It has been rather warm today. Last night I had so sharp a pain at night that I took a painkiller. This morning called a clinc with an open MRI and made an appointment. Got a letter of introduction from my doctor at the usual hospital. In the evening went to the dentist. My lower back tooth is risky... shaky. Too bad. I am aging, no, aged and out of order here and there.

Sunday, March 16, 2014 Cloudy

　Late last night worked on the Super Crossword. Done well past midnight. So today was a lazy Sunday all day. Sleeping with my cat in futon. I think I will write about my condition regarding my neck pain, which may be useful later. In pain, especially the left base of the neck as usual. Took a painkiller for the first time in a month or so. Again looked for a good clinic with open MRI on the Internet. Almost decided on it.

Saturday, March 15, 2014 Cloudy

　Although I did a lot of searches on the Interet. close MRI is more accurate than open MRI, and sedative is not usually used during an MRI examination. Too bad. This morning went to the English conversation school, mostly listened to our instructor's interesting stories.

Friday, March 14, 2014 Cloudy

　Actor Utsui Ken passed away. When I was a little boy, I saw him in a film in which he played Super Giant. At work checked the school records for a couple of hours. I am claustrophobic. If I go through an MRI examination, I will be scared to death. I looked for the so-called "Open MRI", but even that is scary enough to me. Anyway I need at least "Open MRI."

Thursday, March 13, 2014 Rainy

　Although it was rainy, I went out for a walk. As long as I can move, I want to move although symptoms of my neck trouble are developing. At work got the envelopes ready. I need them on the 24th. Also printed the schedule for early next month for the students.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014 Fair and then cloudy.

　Today was a substitute day off. The weatherman says it is going to rain hard tomorrow. Returned two library books. My fingers are a bit numb today maybe because of the neck trouble. When I took a walk in the park this morning, there were dozens of female high school students practicing dancing. So alive with their young vitality.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014 Fair

　It was so suuny I took a walk twice in the "park" today. When I went shopping yesterday, the cloth shopping bag I had long used broke. I will have to buy a new one. Fixed the 3-Sentence Diary part of my web page today. Now all the back numbers are one click away.

Monday, March 10, 2014 Fair and cloudy. Quite cold.

　At work interviewed seven examinees. The grade sheet has changed a bit. Took me some time to get used to this new way. The interviews went O.K. Took two hours off as the exam ended around 5:30 p.m. It was freezing when I got outside.

Sunday, March 9, 2014 Fair and cloudy. A bit cold in the morning.

　It is going to be even colder tomorrow. Tomorrow I will have to interview some examinees for a couple of hours. Today I did some searches on facebook and hit some high school acquaintaces. I could hardly recognize one of them. A man's face shows his past personal history. One of them was a university professor. Another was a CEO. I am just an ex high school teacher.

Saturday, March 8, 2014 Fair and then cloudy.

　Did a little cleaning at home. Took care of some small metals in an almost disintegrated plastic bag on the balcony. As it turned out, they belonged to our first-born son. There were some things that could be still used. To me, it seems too wasteful. Listended to my iPod a lot today. Read a little, too. There is still a chill in the air.

Friday, March 7, 2014 Cloudy and cold.

　The high-rise tower called "Harukasu" has fully opened today. It has been so windy that the tower must be swaying in the wind. Today has been a rather relaxable day at work for the first time in many days-the lull before the storm. Next two weeks will be awfully busy ones.

Thursday, March 6, 2014 Fair and then cloudy.

　It was rather cold toward the evening. In the morning it was sunny while slow-jogging in the "park". The last day of the former application period. Hope we are not going to be short of applicants this year.

Wednesday, Mrach 5, 2014 Mostly rainy.

　Day 2 of the application period. I was on telephone duty between 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. There was one more person, so at first we did it together, and later we took turns. Pretty busy because there were quite a few calls from the outside. We had to deal with some people at the window, too. . At night on the way back it was so cold. Not good for my blood pressure as I am no longer young.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014 Fair, occasionally cloudy.

　The Crimea is now in a risky situation. Hope it will not develop into a serious situation. Maybe Russia needs the ports there for their navy. And quite a few Russians live there. When the future seems to be bright, people all over the world are likely to be open to each other, but today the global economy is precarious and most nations seem to be getting more and more nationalistic.

Monday, March 3, 2014 Cloudy

　We are having a cold spell again starting on Thursday. It is going to last for a week or so. At work one homeroom student came for her sign-up in the evening. It looks like around ten people are leaving this school. It is sad for some familiar faces to disappear from this workplace. Life is about hello and goodbye.

Sunday, March 2, 2014 Mostly cloudy.

　Late last night worked on the Super Crossword for the first half of March. Sent my answers and heard from the author. I got them right. This morning went out super slow jogging and translated the Morning Letter into English and uploaded it onto my Facebook. In the afternoon went shopping for Ciao's bonito flakes and found that the supermarket has decreased the number of discount days. We are having a consumption tax hike, too. This is rubbing salt to the wound. (We are being stepped on and kicked helplessly.)

Saturday, March 1, 2014 Cloudy

　At the English conversation school had a lively discussion about the teaching of English, the quality of teachers, and so on. In my opinion, if most Japanese took it for granted that English is taught and learned only in English, it woul be possible to teach English in English and students' ability might improve, but in reality it is next to impossible. To begin with, we can get by without speaking English. We cannot be like native speakers in our lifetime however hard we may try in Japan. It is a waste of time and energy. And whatever the Education Ministry says, teachers are teachers. Nothing would change in schools.