Thursday, December 31, 2009 Cloudy and very cold.
We did a general cleaning. My wife cleaned the bathroom, the toilet,
and the kitchen. Our first son cleaned his room. Our second son went to
see his best friend. In the evening we all got together and ate supper
together. Then we played mahjong like last year, eating buckwheat noodles.
Our young cat is in hear for the first time, meowing all around. The older
one is dying but looks happy with our two sons.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009 Fair
Received an email from my American friend in Oregon, the U.S. Write back
to him right away. Did a little cleaning around the desk and the bookshelves.
Our sons are not at home, spending time with their friends. I am still
itchy all over and scratch a lot, knowing scratching is not good. Just
watching "Isan", a Korean drama.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009 Fair
Wiped the window panes and windowsills in the morning. I was suprised
to find them so dirdy and moldy, which is clearly no good for the health.
Nobody else does this cleaning. Again the worst pattern-only me working
around the hourse with the rest at rest. Actually, my wife is under the
weahter and in bed without saying a single word, which is often the case
with her. We are a lousy family. Decided not to use loose-leaf paper for
my paper diary because I have no reason for not using a conventional notebook
now. Our second son came back from Tokyo late at night, talking far into
the night with his mom.
Monday, December 28, 2009 Cloudy
Had the last Korean language study session for this year. I did not know
how to say "mizukiri-asobi." It is "(to play) ducks and
drakes" or skipping a stone ( across the river)." Made about
half of the 3rd-term OCⅠexam anyway. Aloso checked the first-term OCⅠreport
for next school year.At home I am watching a Korean drama called "Isan"
on DVD. On the desk is our ailing older cat "Igi."
Sunday, December 27, 2009 Cloudy
Watched the remaing six or seven epiosdes of "Shining Inheritance"(『華麗なる遺産』)
on YouTube. Went to Joshin to buy coffee for Dolce gusto, the Nescafe coffee
maker. Tomorrow I will have to go see my home doctor to report about my
itchy body. Started watching "Isan"(正祖's story) on DVD. Today
I was not in the mood to clean the rooms.
Saturday, December 26, 2009 Cloudy
Had been to a different dermatologist, a better one. The waiting room
was always full, but this time could make a reservation on the phone. I
was the 14th patient. Given two kinds of medicine. One was the same as
the one I got from my home doctor, and the other oridental medicine. I
must revisit my home doctor on Monday next week. After eating lunch at
the noodle shop, took my wife to Joshin for DVD disks, then to the pet
food shop. On the way home bought takoyaki.
Friday, December 25, 2009 Cloudy
As my body is still itchy, I went to see my home doctor, who said I should
go to a different dermatologist. So I will tomorrow. Ate lunch together
with four Korean-loving friends at an Italian restaurant. Almost finished
making the first-term OC１report for next school year. The fifth floor
was almost deserted by the time I hit the road. I will go to work next
Monday, too. I gather my skin disorder may be seborrhetic dermatitis. Rest
my iPod again this morning.
Thursday, December 24, 2009 Cloudy
Some of Morrie's bite-sized philosophies about living with death's shadow:"Accept
what you are able to do and what you are not able to do";"Accept
the past as past without denying it or discarding it";"Learn
to forgive yourself and forgive others";"Don't assume that it's
too late to get involved." Did a little shopping at Korea Town. Sent
my homeroom students their second-term grades. Studied English with my
Korean friend. Bought a book at the station, too.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009 Cloudy
About time to do my year-end general cleaning. To begin with, I thought
I was cleaning the room where most of my stuff is. It is call "Free
Room" at our home. I cleaned the room, spending most of the day in
vain. It is still a mess. Anyway I tried hard. I changed my homepage a
little today. Just a 30-minute walk in the evening.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 Cloudy
Yesterday finished reading Lois Lowry's The Giver . I read it aloud little by little every morning from cover to cover. It was a good story worth reading. Now I have begun reading tuesdays with Morrie by Mich Albom. This nover was made into a film, but usually reading the
original gives you a better idea. Because I have been itcy all over since
last week, I went to a dermatologist this morning, boought bread, returned
two library books. In the afternoon went to the Korean class. On the way
home met my wife and ate out together.
Monday, December 21, 2009 Cloudy
The day before yesterday when I went to Joshin, I tried the newest Fujiiryo
massager, it was great. Hearing the attendant's explanation, I thought
I had better use the older model at home regularly. Fatigue has piled up.
I need to get some rest. From today until January 6, I think I will be
in vacation mode. I have gained weight these days. I need to lose weight
during the holidays.
Sunday, December 20, 2009 Cloudy
I could work at my own pace all day today. Called several homeroom students.
A homeroom student came over to see me for her Incluisive Hour class. Worked
on next school year's first-term OCⅠreport. Studies a little Korean and
read a little English. Toward the end of the day patrolled around the gym
but there were actually no students. No need to patrol in the third term,
I guess. Uncrtical conformity is no good.
Saturday, December 19, 2009 Cloudy and cold.
In the morning went to the library to return one book and check out a
reserved book and then to the English conversation school. Back home ate
chicken ramen for lunch because my wife was out with her mother, who needed
to go to her ophthalmologist. Late in the afternoon I took them to Joshin,
Uniqlo, and the usual noadside nood shop for supper. It was freezing cold
outside. My wife bought a Nescafe coffee maker which is popular now-impulsive
shopping. For the past few days I am ictchy all over. Some allergy?
Friday, December 18, 2009 Cloudy
Today was the deadline for the second-term reports and exams. There were
a couple of gatecrashers, but it was not much compared with the nighttime
section. Took care of six or seven makeups or retests and checked dozens
of reports. Two English Ⅰclasses, the first one with little participation
and the second one with OK participation. Am I expecting too much of my
students? I just want to enjoy English with them, though.
Thursday, December 17, 2009 Cloudy and cold.
There was a Student Council teachers' conference where we reflected on
this past school festival. After this meeting, I checked the settlement
of accounts for the school festival and found out an error. Also I happened
to find another in the Club related expenses when I went down to the the
person in charge in the office. Took some time to find out about why that
happened. Had a student over to school although there was no school today
for him. Helpled him with his reports and gave him two makeups.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 Cloudy
Worked on the Super Crossword this morning. Took me over an hour. At
work help Five or six students with their reports, and another five or
six came for their retests or makeups. Checked over 30 reports, too. Very
busy all day. On the way home had an encouter with a group of elementary
school kids who were on their way home from their juku school. They had
no manners. Maybe their parents are in theri 30s. Their image of the future
must be a lot more competitive. These 'brats' I met on the train looked
precocious-no warmth whatsoever felt. The future of this country seems
dreary.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009 Cloudy
This morning removed quite a few past Yahoo mails from my mailbox. While
on the Net, came across an interesting news story, printed out both in
English and Japanese. To the supermarket for bread, then to the sign language
club, and off to the Korean class as usual. My wife was in a bad mood this
evening. She got mad at me when I contraditcted what she said while watching
TV. Let sleeping dogs lie.
Monday, December 14, 2009 Cloudy
Cold weather in the moring. Our son left his coat at the time of the
party other day. He went to work without it. He keeps grumbling about his
work-maybe so much to do and so little time available. My wife just listens
to him. She must be mentally in agony. Life is harder for or on young people
today than before. I waited for a Reading student to come, but he did not
show up, as is often the case with students here. Checked nearly 30 reports.
Helped a student with his reports and gave another student a retest. No
gatecrashers today.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The black-and-white cat, who is dying, gives off a stench now the way
the late Kyon, our first beloved cat, did. Today at work a total of four
students came and worked on their reports-most of them almost all day.
I called over ten students about their reports. Some of the telephone numbers
were invalid. The school festival settlement of accounts was done today.
Toward the end of the day patroled around the gym with a couple of Student
Council colleagues.
Saturday, December 12, 2009 Cloudy
Gave my wife's mother a ride to her doctor as usual this morning. Our
son, coming back home late last night after drinking(one of his year-end
parties, maybe.), is still in bed. At work yesteday I said for the other
one in charge of student council money to take care of settlement of accounts
for the homeroom money at the end of the school year because I did this
school festival stuff. Ate and drank a lot with my wife today-cakes, ostukuri,
chuhai, etc. -weekend binges?! Our son went to work, today, too-an obvious
vilolation of the Labor Standard Law. He is a slave of the company, working
all the time for it. I cleared my desk last night so that I could use the
space freely. Also the bookcase on it is now filled mostly with dictionaries.
Friday, December 11, 2009 Rainy and cloudy.
Obama said, at the Nobel Prize award ceremony, "Evil does exist,"
justifying their war in Afghanistan. History repeats itself. I think of
the Crusades. At work two classes to teach-one Reading class and an Inclusive
Learning Hour. Checked a little over ten reports, three makeups to take
care of, and a Reading student to help with his report. The settlement
of accounts for the school festival is almost done except for one teacher,
the usual one.
Thursday, December 10, 2009 Cloudy
Yesterday I felt out of shape because of overwork. So did my wife. When
I got back home, my wife was fast asleep. However, she resurrected this
morning. I did not. I could not get over fatigue. Besides I hurt my right
knee. So, today I took the elevators as often as possible when I had to
move vertically. Began making an OCⅠreport for this next school year.
Still five teachers have not handed in their financial report for the school
festival. How delinquent! Took a couple hours off.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 Sunny around noon and then cloudy.
The younger cat is such a rascal that the older one, who is now weak
because of her illness, is often attacked by her. We need to watch this
mischievous one. The Giver by Lois Lowry, which I am reading in the morning little by little, is
getting more and more interesting. It is about time I were thinking about
how to do my year-end cleaning at home. At work busy all day with settlement
of accounts for the school festival( Five or six teachers did not make
the deadline, and my partner was absent today, of all days.). Took care
of three makeups and one retest, helped some students with their reports.
Checked 20 reports or so. No time to take a break. Exhausted at the end
of the day.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009 Cloudy
Went shopping at the neighborhood supermarket for bread and yoghurt.
Then off to the sign language club's weekly meeting. Have to publish a
newspaper again. After eating lunch over to the Korean language class.
The train was delayed, so I arrived there later than usual. According to
our instructor, our class will be abolished next Mrach. And they will be
having only 120-mintute classes, no more 90-minute classes. On the way
home, bought hokaben for the two of us. Went to bed earlier than usual.
Monday, December 7, 2009 Cloudy
Got up early as usual and read an English book and a little Korean aloud.
Ate some bread and drank coffee for breakfast. Then listened to the radio
Korean program. Can't make time to take a morning walk this morning, either.
At work busy with settlement of accounts for the school festival. It is
due on Wednesday. Today's Korean study meetin was held as usual. It has
been a full day.
Sunday, December 6, 2009 Cloudy
Our school festival was held today. I was in charge of attendance and
cleaning. I put some colleauges in charge. One of the floors was ignored.
I found it late in the afternoon and disposed of the trash (four big plastic
bags ) and put away four collapsible trash boxes. I was sad about this
and complained about it to a colleague who happened to be near. Then he
said he was busy with his job. This remark again saddened me because I
never wanted him to help me out. I just wanted him to listen to me. I never
expected this to happen. I will also have to settle accounts and make a
finacial report. For lunch I ate curry noodles(100 yen), a baked sweet
potato(100yen), and a sui gyoza(100 yen).
Saturday, December 5, 2009 Cloudy
Last night our second son in Tokyo sent his mother, my wife, an email,
saying his name would be found in a book published a couple of days before
in the Kanto area. He will be getting a bit of royalties as well. The title
of the book is 『生きテク』（PHP), not that on suicides, though. The lastest
edition. He anyway helped the author in some way-technology-wise. Went
to work. Prepared the collapsible trash boxes. There were 16 of them in
all. Stuck two kinds of sheets to each trash box for conventional trash
and recyclable stuff. Took the attendance for those students who came to
help arrange seats in the auditorium, too.
Friday, December 4, 2009 Cloudy, occasionally fine.
Got up around 6:30 as usual, did the radio exercises, read a book in
English and the online "Morning Letter" in Korean, and listened
to the radio Korean program, which is my daily routine. Rested for a while
and watched the serial drama on KBS and ate lunch, leaving home around
11:20 a.m. for school. At work checked 15 reports and taught one Reading
class. Put some colleagues in charge. They are supposed to dispose of the
trash and put away the collapsible trash boxes. The sheet for settlement
of accounts for the school festival was a bit defective, so I put into
the pigeonholes slips e with the necessary information. Spent some time
shooting the breeze with a colleague in the second teachers' room. A full
day. Dog tired.
Thursday, December 3, 2009 Cloudy, rainy, and cloudy again.
Got an email from my Korean friend. Wrote back this morning. The economic
situation is the same in Korea, too. My answers to the Super Crossword
turned out to be all correct. What a relief! Once I make any mistakes and
get bogged down in a maze of that crossword, I have difficulty getting
out of it. It has been rather cold today. At work two meetings from 1:00
to 5:30 p.m. Then preparations for the school festival. I am in charge
of attendance and cleaning. I now have somebody else to work with for these
duties. I have never experienced this kind of thing. Usually however busy
one is, one makes time to do one's duties, though.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 Fair
Worked on the Super Crossword this morning and finished it. Therefore
unable to do the radio exercises or take a morning walk. My left wrist
hurts again, so put a cold compress on it. Our dying cat is now sunbathing.
This may be her last time she does that. At work taught two classes and
checked around 20 reports. Studied English with my friend. Regarding English
ⅠI have little interest in improving the way English is taught. The reports
being as they are now, what can I possibly do?.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Fair
Took a short morning walk and then went to the supermarket to buy some
bread. Then off to the sign language club's weekly meeting. After eating
lunch, off to the Korean language school. On the way home met my wife at
the station and ate out at the buckwheat noodle shop. Drank draft beer
for the first time in many days. As soon as I got back home, I fell asleep,
waking up around midnight and printed out the Super Crossword for the first
half of this month.