Tuesday, June 30, 2009 Rainy

　Took my mother-in-law to her bank. She had to have her bankbook reissued because her old one was found missing recently. So, I could not go to the sign language club. In the afternoon went to the Korean class and then to work. At work recorded the listening comprehension test for the OC�Texam. Also studied Korean and did a liitle reading.

Monday, June 29, 2009 Cloudy and rainy.

　We can expect some precipitations today, which is a good thing. A dry rain season is no good for crops and also can bring about a water shortage. A Monday Korean study meeting as usual for about one and a half hours. A quick lunch and the first period was English �T. Too tired or maybe too old to keep speaking at the top of my lungs. It raises my blood pressire. Better to do everything at my own pace and within limits. Should avoid an old man's indiscretion.

Sunday, June 28, 2009 Fair

　Returned three library books and cheked out two. On the way back, dropped by the barbershop near the station. I decided to wear my hair in a popadour after my father's death-a kind of tribute in a way. After having my hair cut, went shopping at the supermarket and went to the bento shop. Today is a holiday, so I can relax for the first time in many days.

Saturday, June 27, 2009 Fair

　Getting up early in the morning, began making the first-term exam in OC�T. I finished it by noon. In the meantime, I drove my mother-in-law to her clinic. Also drove my wife and my son over to the noodle shop for lunch a little after noon. Then to Joshin because my son had to have his computer repaired. Back home, took a nap and went to see Mom with my wife. I handed my mother five copies of the certificate of my registered seal all right, but forgot the seal itself. Therefore, I have to put the seal on the documents and send them later.

Friday, June 26, 2009 Overcast

　Yesterday Farrah Faucett died at 62, and Michael Jackson at 50. We all die sooner or later, but they died too soon. One of my OC�Tclass students made the suggestion that I use more English in class. I said, "No problem." However, there are some students who are not too motivated. I will have to take it into cosideration, too. The bonus was chump change as I had expected-the governor's order.

Thursday, June 25, 2009 Fair

　To see if it is OK to hang from a horizontal bar to alleviate my stiff neck, I called my doctor in Tokyo this morning. Waiting for his answer because he was not available then. It has been almost five years since he operated on my neck. The draft plan for the fire drill was acknowledged at today's Student Council teachers' conference. So was the club budget. Today's teachers' meeting was held in the AV room, where it was hot and stuffy. Then sent mail to students.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 Cloudy

　Checked some reports. Had a phone call from a student about her report. Answered questions in the third period, Inclusive Learning (Question Hour). Prepared two documents for tomorrow's Student Council teachers' meeting. Had an English study meeting with my friends. It has been another hot and humid day-easy to dehydrate. In the morning went to the ward office to get four copies of the certificate of our registered seal.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 Cloudy

　A substitute holiday. Went to the sign language club but today's event was a lecture by somebody else, so I came back home after buying some bread at the supermarket. Then eating lunch, went to the Korean language classroom. On the way home got some sushi for supper. Took a nap toward the evening. Slept rather long and woke up just before our firson came back.

Monday, June 22, 2009 Cloudy, windy and humid.

　Today's weather was the kind of weather in which we dehydrate easily. I felt like being a sauna bath. Even in class I felt dizzy in the air-conditioned classroom. I did not have a large audience, but they were responsive, which is OK. I would rather have a few students who participate than quite a few who do not because I want to enjoy teaching. After school some students came to the English Interview Room. At home the massager has been repaired. They charged us nearly 30,000 yen, but it was worth it.

Sunday, June 21, 2009 Cloudy , hot abd muggy.

　The humidity has been high today. To avoid dehydration, drank a lot of water. Worked almost as planned, but not much has been accomplished. It cannot be helped in this kind of weather anyway. Summer is here, and so is the rainy season. Today being Father's day, my first son gave me a small thermos bottle, and my second son, who lives up north in Tokyo, sent me a text message.

Saturday, June 20, 2009 Cloudy

　Went out shopping with my wife in the afternoon-for printer ink, cat food and fuel. On the way home, ate at the udon shop and also bought two short-sleeved shirts at UniQlo. Back home, found the scaffolding for condo complex repair work taken down. Yesterday a big centipede was found on the wall-the first one this year and for the first time in some years. Probably because of the absence of anti-centipede powder due to the repair work.

Friday, June 19, 2009 Overcast

　It says in the Scripture that without a vision the people perish. How true! Look at today's world or Japan now. How many commit suicide out of despair! It has been quite a hot day today. I used air conditioning in class. Corrected over 20 reports, which took me a couple of hours. Also made one OC�Thandout. Still waiting for the badminton club's budget draft.

Thursday, June 18, 2009 Cloudy

　Just one report to correct. Made one English �Thandout for next Monday. Just ran off 50 copies. Handed in the textbook recommendation slips. Then there was a Student Council staff get-together in the first teachers' room, which lasted for an hour and a half. Rather long and it was about school excusions. Then ate my bento and had an English study meeting with friends.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 Fair
　
　Took our morning brisk walk, ate bread with a hot cup of coffee, took a shower and got ready for work as usual. This afternoo there will be four classes to teach in a row. It will be so very tiring. Better to take it easy now. I managed anyway, but my audience was so small. What does it mean? Maybe the other teacher is a lot more to the liking of most students. I will do my utmost anyway. That is all.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 Cloudy

　This morning so sleepy that I could not attend today's sign language weekly meeting, but did my morning shopping and also checked out a book at the city library. Watcked KBS's morning drama sequel and left for the Korean language school. I took a half day off. Then went to work. The fifth floor was deserted as usual, but I did work at my own pace, accomplishing quite a lot.

Monday, June 15, 2009 Fair

　A Monday morning Korean study meeting as usual- for an hour and a half. Then ate a box lunch and taught Reading in the first period. Drank a lot of water today to avoid dehydration. Sent back over 70 reports, which I had corrected over the weekend. Corrected only 10 reports today. Also sent my homeroom students a reminder about their report status.

Sunday, June 14, 2009 Fair

　There was a reunion of the Korean language teachers' course alumni. Ate lunch together at a Korea Town restaurant, talking a lot. Then went to a coffee shop and again talked a lot. From 11:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. we talked and talked. Back home so tired I fell a sleep and slept for several hours. Could not do any work at home.

Saturday, June 13, 2009 Fair

　Began correcting the reports early in the morning. Took my mother-in-law to her clinic a little past eleven in the morning. Our first son wanted some takoyaki for lunch, so I drove over to the takoyaki shop with my wife. On the way home dropped by the shoe shop to get back my shoes and at the same time bought some canned beer. I finished correcting all the reports around seven in the evening. It took me almost all day. There were a little over 70 reports in all. Took a brisk walk around 9:00 p.m. with my wife. A full day!

Friday, June 12, 2009 Fair

　Went to work for the first time in ten days although I was still in mourning. There were over 70 reports to check and two classes to teach. A couple of hmeroom students came to me for help. I had my father die ten days ago, but things are going on just as they were. I will catch up on my work little by little. There is no need to hurry. However fast you do things, work never ends. Better to live at my own pace as much as possible.

Thursday, June 11, 2009 Fair

　Again at second thought made up my mind to resume working tomorrow, when my mourning holidays end. It took us four days to make friends again this time. Went out shopping together during the day. These days it seems my neck, which was operated on about five years ago, is not in good condition. I will just wait and see. My father's passing away made me realize that death is sure to come and that his being there meant a lot to me. His was so sudden to me. But it seemed so peaceful.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 Cloudy, occasionalluy sprinkling.
　
　Resumed our brisk walking this morning in the sprinkling rain. Back to normal. On second thought, however, I decided not to go to work today. I am in no mood for work yet. This afternoon the bulbs I had ordered online came, but they did not fit the receptacle. It was my fault. I mistook FWL for FML. Am I really an English teacher? I called the company right away and explained. I sent back the bulbs immediately. Also I went to the shoe shop to have my shoes stretched. It will take time. The longer the shoes stay on the mold, the better, according to the shoe shop owner, who looked very stubborn.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009 Cloudy

　Still in mourning for Dad. Next week I will resume going to the sign language club. I will get back to work tomorrow little by little teaching two classes on Friday. This afternoon went to the Korean class. Talked about Dad only to the one who is on good terms with me. This person slso has had painful experiences and knows a lot about how it feels to lose an important person. My wife is still miffed. I ordered a bulb for the rest room online. The one my wife had bought did not fit the receptacle.

Monday, June 8, 2009 Fair

　Went to City Hall with Mom and did all the necessary formalities after Dad's death. Took us about an hour. We drove there past 2:00 p.m. On the way back dropped by the same Japanese-style confectionery shop and took a tea break. Mom bought some Japaese sweets for my wife. Driving back home, went out again to buy some cat food.

Sunday, June 7, 2009 Fair

　Did not visit Mom today. She and my siter are going to visit my grandfather's grave early in the morning. Watched TV almost all day long. Our first-born son was out all day spending time together with his girl friend. My wife came back home past 10:00 p.m. I was watching the Korean drama then. We are at war with each other-a cold war.

Saturday, June 6, 2009 Fair

　Went to the English conversation class as if nothing had happened this week. Then after eating a quick lunch drove over to Mom's place. Took Mom, her brother and sister, and my sister to Mom's little brother's grave in the neiboring city. On the way back dropped by a confectionary restaurant and relaxed. Back to Mom's place ate supper and drove back home. Called my wife at night about a postcard addressed to our second son. She was rather blunt on the phone. I hung up. pissed off.

Friday, June 5, 2009 Cloudy, occsionally sprinkling.

　My wife went to Tokyo to help our second son move out and move in. The movie comes tomorrow. The weather man says it is going to rain heavily there tomorrow, though. Drove over to Mom's place, ate lunch there, and spent some time together. Back home a little past four. Ate supper alone. Our first son came back home rather early this evening. I will have to help do all the necessary procedures at the city office etc. after Dad's death.

Thursday, June 4, 2009 Cloudy

　Dad's funeral was held at 11:00 a.m. and lasted for an hour. Looking at Mom crying, I also went down in tears while we were placing flowers in his casket. His coffin then was carried into the hearse. His body was cremated and about two hours later we gathered his ashes. He had a sturdy constituiton, so his ashes were clearly identified. Our sons had already left the funeral home because the younger one had to hurry back to Tokyo for his work while the older one said he could not stand seeing his grandpa in ashes. At around 4:00 p.m. all the formalities were over. My wife and I left my mother, sis and bro. I will go see my mom tomorrow. My wife will go up to Tokyo to help our second son move.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009 Fair

　In the morning went to buy a dress suit because I had to go out in formal dreass. Have been to Dad's wake. His death mask was so peaceful and he never looked dead. His soul must have left his body in peace, which is very comforting to me. The wake began at 6:.0 p.m. and we had dinner. Tomorrow the funeral begins at 11:00 a.m. His body will be cremated in the afternoon.We will gather his ashes then.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009 Fair

　Absented myself from today's sign language club. Went to the Korean class. On the way home bought hokkaben. Toward the evening there was a call from my sister, saying Dad passed away. It was a bolt from the blue. He had a heart attack. Contacted the school and asked for the boss. The wake is tomorrow eveing, the funeral the day after tomorrow. Called Mom, who said he died quite peacefully. When he got ill, I almost collapsed at work. A premonition, I guess. Last time I saw him, he waved goodbye when I left, as if to predict his farewell.

Monday, June 1, 2009 Fair

　A morning Korean study meeting. Then a quick lunch. While eating it, there was an announcement about an extra teachers' meeting. Back to the room, a barrage of questions from a student, which was a very good thing. However, no time to take in any fluids from this morning. I must have been dehydrated and this past stressful and busy Sunday. All these bad factors combined and raised my blood pressure. I almost fainted in the first period. So, I went to the school nurse's room and rested until the fourth period. What a day! I am OK now, but I must be cautious about my health care.