Sunday, August 31, 2008 Fair

　Rather hot today. Found a honeycomb in my parking space. Going to ask the janitor to remove it tomorrow. Just went shopping for cat stuff and ate noodles for lunch on the way home. Watched some Fox HD programs on TV after doing some shopping at the supermarkets nearby with my wife. At night took a 40-minute briisk walk with my wife.

Saturday, August 30, 2008 Rainy and cloudy.

　Resumed taking a brisk walk with my wife for the first time in ten days or so. It has become so cool. My home doctor suggests I should lose weight, but I have never succeeded in doing so. I am not too fat, though. A bit overweight. Although a bit too late, ordered online a sg Wanna Be's music CD for my wife's birthday. Back to normal from the day after tomorrow on.

Friday, August 29, 2008 Cloudy and then rainy.

　Gave some students retests in English. Quite a few came. Graded all the exam papers and sent them to the students. Took some time. There were some 'reports' to check, too. I am getting used to the speed with which CNN and ABC announcers speak on the podcasts. I began listening to these podcasts in May this year. These days I am trying to brush up my English, focusing especially on differences between the Japamese and American ways of saying things.

Thursday, August 28, 2008 Cloudy

　Today I listened to the sound tracks of Man of La Mancha in Korean on my i-Pod three times. It was just nice. I spent some time shooting the breeze with a couple of fellow teachers. The vice-principal who has long been absent is back now. I wonder what she has been doing. The summer holiday season is almost over. The summer holidays should be holidays. They are not for work. I reported for work almost every workday, but I doubt coming to school when there are no students at school makes sense. It is nonsense. This indicates the folly of Japanese society today.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008 Cloudy and a bit muggy.

　There was an extra staff meeting. Today's bill was rejected by a narrow margin. I studied English and Korean almost all day and read the textbooks for my first two classes of the second term. Coming back home, wrote two emails-one to a Japanese friends and the other a Korean friend. Our younger cat is now in heat. She takes a leak anywhere. Too bad.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008 Cloudy but breezy.

　There was a call from a student, asking about the retest, which is to be given on the 29th. I am beginning to get ready for my first couple of second-term classes. I read the textbooks over and over again today. I am back home now and writing this diary in the living room. Outside are some autumn insects chirping. Fall is here. I like this season very much, although it seems very short.

Monday, August 25, 2008 Fair and rainy in the evening.

　I have a sppecial headset with a microphone. This morning I practiced reading Korean and English aloud by speaking into the microphone and listening to my own voice. Then studied part of the scripts of two movies I am trying to fully understand. Before going to work watched theusueal Korean serial drama for 40 minutes or so. Coming back home watched another Korean drama for a few hours.

Sunday, August 24, 2008 Fair

　Finished reading a municipal library book and returned it. It was easy to read. Translated some Japanese into English. Took a brisk walk at night alone because my wife was not in good shape tonight. Watched a Korean drama on KBS. Our first-born son went out early this morning to participate in a mahjong competition sponsored by some of the colleagues of his section. On his way home his train came to a sudden halt because of an accident involving death or injury.

Saturday, August 23, 2008 Rainy, occasionally cloudy.

　Watching this Korean serial drama "You Are My Star." It is not the kind of story that appeals to me. I wonder why. It has a gloomy atmosphere. I would rather have comedies. Although I try to study Korean and English through movies, it is not so easy. Studying is one thing, and enjoying another. I may have to decide when to to it. Otherwise it seems difficult.

Friday, August 22, 2008 Fair

　This morning went to my doctor and swallowed a stomach camera. When I take this checkup, my blood pressure rises. I am up-tight.The check-up started at 9:50 a.m., when the doctored administered an anesthetic to me. The results were OK. At this time next year I will take my stomach checkup again because I have at least two polyps. This year I am having my blood tested for tumors, too, because I am getting on years. Today I took a day off.
　

Thursday, August 21, 2008 Cloudy

　Writing this diary offline. If possilble, I will upload it later. There was a human rights lecture this afternoon, lasting for two and a half hours. In the middle of the lecture I had to go to the restroom. The lecturer was an experienced lady in counselling. During a quesiton-and-answer session some biased questions and comments were given, and the aftertaste was not too good. It is not fair to take advantage of the lecturer.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008 Cloudy

　A toilet repairman came and fixed our "Washlet." (Panasonic's Beauty Toilet) My wife wetted the part which should be dry, by mistake the other day. This time it was repaired for free because all he did was drying that part with our hair dryer. I took a latter half-day off and gave my mother-in-law a ride to her doctor. On the way home my wife and I dropped by at the usual udon shop for supper.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Cloudy

　I carry my folding eco-friendly bag with me these days. I have it dangling from my belt.At the checkout counter I say, "No need for a plastic bag. I have my "eco bag"." Then the cashier usually says, "Thank you for your cooperation." It is such a little thing to do, but better than nothing. The 21st of this month is my wife's birthday. I have little idea what I should buy for a birthday present.

Monday, August 18, 2008 Fair

　The daytime weather was not as hot as before, but it is still hot and humid at night. Air conditioning is necessary anyway. After hours dined together with some friends and enjoyed talking about this and that. Worked at my own pace at work. Apologized to my wife because it was childish of me to be sulky. She was generous enough to accept my apology. To sharpen your sense of a foreign language it seems necessary that you are immersed in that language for some time every day. It does not matter how you do it. Duration of immersion is important.

Sunday, August 17, 2008 Fair

　Watched the Korean movie "Sassy Girl"(2001) on DVD . At first I inetended to watch it little by little for my study of Korean, but I was unable to resist watching the ending. I had seen it before, but I had forgotten the story. In the Beijing Olympics Japan is not doing very well while Korea is doing fine. Japanese at lare lack the will to do things, and so do the atheletes. My short special summer holidays are now over. I have not accomplished very much.
　

Saturday, August 16, 2008 Fair

　Drove over to my parents' place to get our share of the offerings removed from the altar after this bon season. In the backyard I found some feathers as if they had been plucked off a bird or a cat or something had eaten a bird there. Strange. I will clean the place next week just before garbage pickup day. My wife went walking in the neighborhood alone tonight, too.

Friday, August 15, 2008 Fair

　These days I translate one newspaper article into English daily. My translation may make sense, but it is far from satisfactory. This is a very painful kind of training, but I feel I need to keep doing it. My wife seemed mean to me, so I am sulky all day today. My psychological age must be very young toward my wife. Shame on me! It appears that my first-born son goes out for a drink every day recently. He likes the company of friends. I am never bored with my own company.

Thusday, August 14, 2008 Fair

　This evening my wife and I quickly turned on the air conditioner, because both of us had a headache. I suspect we almost had a heat stroke at home. The humidity and heat really got me. It is impossible to work or concentrate in this unbearable weather. We are wrecking our system by not having a summer vacation. Our body needs a long rest. Then we can be productive and creative in the next term. They have made too many rigid regulations, ending up entangled in their own nest. There is little breathing space at work.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Fair

　This summer we gave up the idea of traveling somewhere. For one thing we did not plan early enough. Another thing is that we have been almost everywhere in the neighboring districts. Today was another sweltering day. This muggy weather makes the body sticky. Just sitting still, you get sweaty. So just rested most of the day. Must have gained some more weight. Listened or watched the backlog of the i-Pod. Took a couple of hours.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008 Cloudy

　The humidity is so high I feel so uncomfortable. I am in no mood to do anything. I am putting on weight in spite of all this heat and humidity of the summer. Too bad. I have an appetite. I drink beer. I do walk briskly at night with my wife, but I eat and drink too much. At this rate I will never lose weight. I will have to do something about it. I have rested at home for the past few days. Now I will have to move.

Monday, August 11, 2008 Fair

　It is really sad to see your parents age, but aging is inevitable. A Japanese philosopher says, "Nothing matters because sooner or later I will die." I share the same sentiment. In the Olympic 100 meter breast stroke a Japanese swimmer called Kitajima won the gold medal today. It was very impressive, but it matters to him, who has been hard at work until today, not to me. Of course I was impressed, though. In Georgia some 2000 citizens were killed yesterday while in Beijing this fetivitiy, which is symbolic of peace, is taking place.

Sunday, August 10, 2008 Fair and too hot in the afternoon.

　Watched the TV Korean program first thing in the morning for 25 minutes. Then did the radio exercise, too. Returned the two library books. After eating lunch drove over to my parents' place with a Bon offering. Dad, who is 86 years old now, and Mom, 79, and my sister were there. Talked for an hour so and headed back home. On the way dropped by the cheapest gas station. High octane gasoline is 176 yen a liter there while the current price at other places is 190 yen a liter. This afternoon was unbearably hot and also the humidiy is high, too,-70 percent.

Saturday, August 9, 2008 Fair and a shower toward the evening.

　In the morning drove my mother-in-law to a clinic. Went to Korea Town in the afternoon to do a little shopping. Dropped by the school for something on the way. It was totally deserted. At night did the usual brisk walking with my wife. It was cool after a shower. The opening of the Beijing Olympics was held yesterday, but today there was a conflict between Georgia and Russia. It is said that about 1400 Georgians were killed today. Here in Japan so many people kill themselves by jumping in front of trains. In spite of all this life goes on...

Friday, August 8, 2008 Cloudy

　My eyes are blurry these days. Maybe because of aging. I feel like fainting working where the temperature is more than 30 degrees Celcius. Since school was out for the first term, I have been working in this kind of environment for 10 days. From tomorrow I will take nine consecutive days off. I do not want to think about work if possible.

Thursday, August 7, 2008 Cloudy

　Early in the morning with my wife did some brisk walking in the neighborhood for 40 minutes or so. Then rested for some time and watched KBS's serial drama. Then ate a bit early lunch as usual and left for work. At work worked at my own pace. For supper ate the usual bread from the usual bakery near the station. Had a visitor , a Korean friend. Enjoyed talking for a while in three different languages-Japanese, Korean and English.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008 Cloudy and a thunder storm toward the evening.

　Because I did not come back home until very late last night, I was tired this morning and stayed in bed until very late. Unlike yesterday, I worked at my own pace at work, but because of the heat and humidity, it was impossible to work fast. Few reports came as usual. There are only twelve workdays left for the summer vacation. And from this month our pay is cut by 10 percent. Ridiculous!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008 Fair

　Took three hours off and ate out with a colleague. Came back home around midnight. I was fortunate enough to catch the last express train. Good grief! However, tonight I could not afford to read a Korean book . I just hung onto a strap and meditated. Checked out a municipal library book and also got an extention on another book. Could not walk briskly in the neighborhood with my better half.

Monday, August 4, 2008 Fair

　I sent mail to all my homeroom students, but there was an error, so I again sent mail, correcting the error and giving more info for the second term. This took a little over an hour. Working in this muggy weather, I felt like fainting, and my brain did not function properly. In the good old days teachers could take it easy at home in summer. Now we are supposed to report to work every day even during the summer holidays.

Sunday, August 3, 2008 Fair

　Today was also unbearably hot. The heat and humidity really got me. Our air conditioner was a very expensive one, but it is now more than ten years old and consumes a lot of electricity. Better to buy an eco-friendly one. We will have to make a decision a little later. My first attempt at the Super Crossword was a flop. Sent my second attempt anyway.

Saturday, August 2, 2008 Fair

　It has been hot and humid today, too. I cannot do without air conditioning. Even our two cats seem to have been affected by the heat. My wife and I took a brisk walk together in the neighborhood for 40 minutes or so. It was so muggy even at night. During the day they were weeding the bank of the irrigation pond in back of our condo complex. Today's English conversations class was OK.

Friday, August 1, 2008 Fair

　Helped an ESS member with his English this afternoon. Few reports came. Worked at the computer for an hour or so, and spent some time shooting the breeze down there. At home watched the Tejoyon Special on KBS and worked on the Super Crossword. Got so sleepy I decided to go to bed with the crossword unfinished. Our son failed to get off at his station drunk. He should know better.