Monday, May 31, 2010 Fair

　At today's Korean study session was our ex-teacher, who spoke Korean fluently. He made me realize how lazy I had been about my Korean studies. I definitely lack the amount of reading in Korean or in English. I seem to have hurt my right knee. I have no idea when or how I hurt it. I applied a cold compress to it as soon as I got back home. I am watching "Merlin" now on TV.

Sunday, May 30, 2010 Fair

　Took a day off today because we held a memorial service for my father. It is the first anniversary of his death. The Buddhist service began at 11:00 a..m. , lasting for about an hour or so. Then we had lunch together until 2:00 p.m. As soon as my wife and I came back home, we went out again in our car to buy my mother a joba machine. When I got to the electric appliance store, I walked to the section where joba should be. There was only one left and it was a bargain. I bought it and it will be sent to my mother's place on June 6. I paid for a 5-year guarantee for that, too.

Saturday, May 29, 2010 Fair

　Walked in the moring, listening to my i-Pod, took a shower, went to the English conversation school, bought okonomi for lunch on the way home, took an afternoon nap, went to Hokkaben to buy something for supper, and read a book or two in the evening. Took it easy and did things in my own way on my own. Our son came home late with some sweet, so we ate it with a cup of coffee. I should not have made a pig of myself, though.

Friday, May 28, 2010 Cloudy

　In the evening somebody went berserk in class. Yesterday somebody played practical jokes in the restroom on the fifth floor. Trouble seems to be brewing these days. Violence is inexcusable. However, insidious vilence is spreading, I am afraid. It looks like social unrest is closing in on this school, too. In society the gap between the rich and the poor is increasingly widening. It is reflected in students' behavior.

Thursday, May 27, 2010 Cloudy

　At work there were two meetings until around 4:30 p.m. Then I corrected the 2nd-term Reading and OC�Treports. Prepared for tomorrow's class. Got a handout almost ready, too. On the way home when I made a connection at the usual station, because some poople ran, I did so and barely made it to the train, but I found myself so much out of breath I thought I would die. I am no longer young.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 Cloudy

　Many a day makes a whole life, and today, a day, is over now. Although I worked in my own way at work, I felt a little tired today. On my way to and back from work, I read a library book. I made a handout on one of the computers in the staff room, where I heard some teachers shooting the breeze as usual-socialization. I also chatted a little with a colleague or two. Helped a Reading student with her report and promised her to uplload some hints online.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 Cloudy, occasionally rainy.

　No sign language club today because they were going on an outing at the Expo Park. I could not join them because today was a workday for me. Today I had the fiirst half-day off and went to the Korean language school, making a short speech in front of the class in Korean. Anyway it went smoothly. Then went to work and did things my own way as planned. The floor I was on was deserted as usual.

Monday, May 24, 2010 Rainy and then cloudy.

　A Korean study session in the morning as usual. Then three classes to teach in a row. This was a killer. Checked about 20 reports.. A fellow teacher came to my room and we shot the breeze for an hour or so. According to him, things are getting from bad to worse for us teachers, and this situation is similar to that just before the Second World War began. A powerful politician like somebody in Osaka appears and leads the nation tactfully, eventually leading it to another war. History repeats itself.

Sunday, May 23, 2010 Rainy

　Is it due to today's nasty weather that I feel like doing nothing in particular? Putting the blame on the weather would hurt nobody, so let it be so. Tomorrow is another day. Today just stayed at home with my wife and our cat, doing nothing in particular after taking a morning walk in the rain under an umbrella. It has been a lazy early summer day today.

Saturday, May 22, 2010 Cloudy

　Yesterday was our first-born son's 29th birthday. However, we held a birthday party(?) this evening. During the day I went to the dentist I would sometimes go to while young. Also my wfie and I went to the confectionery for our son's birthday cake. The first anniversary of my dad's death is coming soon, and the memorial service is held on the 30th of this month. I must get Sunday off, cancelling the English study session with my Korean friend.

Friday, May 21, 2010 Fair

　Unlike yesterday, I did things my own way at work. Therefore I am content now. Fruitless conferences are the last thing I want to do. However, it is democracy, and it should not be disregarded, I know. TGIF. I am going to take it easy on the weekend. I have worked hard enough this week. I deserve some rest. My gum began to hurt yesterday. Aging? Stress? Well, as you get older, you lose parts of the body little by little, and eventually extinction.

Thursday, May 20, 2010 Cloudy

　Two conferences from 1:00 p.m to 5:30 p.m.-lengthy and dull. I wonder what is going on in this world. Students seem to have changed, not for the better. Their manners are out of the question. I am sick and tired of all this stuff. I mean hypocricy. Most teachers are a lot better off than most students' parerents. Teachers always say "for the sake of our studetns." I do not think they really mean it. Most kids are despondent. Most teachers do not really care about them. Students play around at school, not studying. They play cards for money. They smoke. They never listen to their teachers. It looks like the end of the world.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010 Rainy

　Walked for an hour or so as usual in the morning, listening to English and Korean on my iPod. At work, listened to my Reading class old lady for over an hour. Talked with a homeroom student for some time. Teaching in the second period, checked some reports and made a handout for my next English �Tclass. Printed out the second-term Reading and Oral �Treports and handed them to the other teacher for proof-reading. Really hectic. On the way home, rode past my station reading a book. I was so much into the book. Did some shopping and got back home.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010 Cloudy

　Just took 90 copies of the sign language club newspaper to today's meeting, returned some library books and got an extension on some, too, and did some shopping at the supermarket. Went to the Korean language school in the afternoon. Next week it is going to be my turn to make a speech, so I have to memorize my speech by then.

Monday, May 17, 2010 Sunny

　Had a full day. Worked hard my own way. The quality of students is quite different than last year. Chekced around 20 reports. Spent quite a lot of time answering questions on an individual basis in the English Interview Room. On duty for some time as well. Did some reading on my way to and back from work. Back home watched "The Adventures of Merlin" of BBC.

Sunday, May 16, 2010 Sunny

　Our school had an outing today. I walked around with a homeroom student for more than three hours. My wife packed a box lunch for me but there were no chopsticks, so I dropped in at a convenience shopm bought a bottle of tea, and asked for a pair of chopsticks. All my students were dismissed by three. I came back home around five thirty in the evening.

Saturday, May 15, Fair

　A morning walk listening to my iPod as usal and first drove my son to the hospital and next my mother-in-law to her doctor. After giving the mother-in-law a ride home. My wife and I went shopping at a supermarket, doing a lot of impulse buying. Then dropped by the takoyaki shop. Taking an afternoon nap, began working on my Korean assignment, a one-minute speech. Took me a few hours to finish it and send it to my Korean teacher via mail. Exhausted.

Friday, May 14, 2010 Cloudy and cold.

　Today's morning walk was a bit shorter than usual as nature called me. As you age, the call of nature gets more frequent, you know. At work, did things my own way and on my own for the most part. Also helped with the sign language lesson. Our part-time English teacher had a hoarse voice today. She said her cold had worsened since catching it last week. Finished handing out the homeroom money to all the homeroom teachers today. Had a homerrom class student visiting with me. He rode his bike to school all the way from home. Unlike the OC�Tclass, participation is good with the Reading dlass.

Thursday, May 13, 2010 Cloudy and cold.

　I was not in good shape, but I took a morning walk anyway. However, my body felt light. I weighed a little less than one kilogram less. Maybe that's why. At work today's Student Council meeting lasted for two hours. Then I did a lot of miscellaneous work. I gave three more homeroom teacher the homeroom class money. I still have four teachers left. I have a bit of a headache and a sore throat now.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010 Cloudy

　Taking a morning walk as usual listening to my iPod, I took a shower and went to the library to get an extension on a library book. On the way home went shopping at the usual supermarket. Back home watched the serial Korean drama "Ta hamke chachacha." Then ate an early lunch and left for work. The first period was OC�T. This year's class's participation is the worst so far-especially at the time of pair work. Reading aloud in chorus is O.K. The third period was Homeroom. They had a checkup today. Today I was busy handing out the so-called homeroom money to the homeroom teachers-44 out of 51 done.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010 Rainy

　To the sign language club in the morning after going to the dermatologist and doing a little shopping at the usual supermarket. Today I was supposed to hand in my speech draft to our Korean teacher, but could not because I had not written it yet. My Korean classmate talked confidentially to me on the train on the way back. My wife was miffy this morning because I kind of said something in retort.

Monday, May 10, 2010 Rainy

　Had a Korean study session in the morning as usual. Although there were no classes to teach, I had a full day. I checked around ten reports. Some students either came to me for help or called me on the phone. I also prepared envelopes, homeroom class money settlement sheets, and a list of the homeroom teachers' names. My wife prepared two box meals for me today-one a conventional box lunch and the other onigiri and some side dishes.

Sunday, May 9, 2010 Cloudy

　A workday. So-so busyness. Handed in the sheets for my homeroom class's graduating students' credits for the judgment conference. Had an English study session with my Korean friend. Although I worked busily all day, my level of satisfaction was not high at all. Is it because the kind of work I did today did not mean much to to me? More work and less pay because times are hard nowadays. I do no have much in this world.

Saturday, May 8, 2010 Sunny

　Walked half the usual distance and gave our first-born son to the hospital. He was diagnosed as being asthmatic. While he and his mother were in the hospital, I drove over to my mom's place, for tomorrow is Mother's Day. As soon as I received a mail from my wife, I drove over to pick them up at the hospital entrance. Our son went to work this afternoon. Mom was doing OK. I got some Chinese-related books from my sister. I am thinking of learning Chinese now. Back home did some shopping at the supermarkets. Took a nap late in the afternoon.

Friday, May 7, 2010 Rainy and cloudy.

　Took a walk in the rain this morning. My shoes and pants got wet. I wore a different pair of shoes to work. At work I had three classes to teach and several 'reports' to check. Also enjoyed practining sign language with a certain club. During supper break I was on duty at the canteen. Went on with the graduating students' list of credits taken by them so far and to be taken this school year. This is for the judgment conference for graduationg students.

Thursday, May 6, 2010 Fair and hot.

　It was rather hot while taking a walk this morning. Of course, I took my canteen with me. Since i have quite a few library books to read. I must see to it that I spend as much time as possible reading. However, at work i had so much to do today , such as some Korean homework, a staff meeting, shipping printed matter to students, preparing a list of my homeroom class's graduationg students with their credits, handing in a slip asking for homeroom class money and so on. I really had a full day.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010 Fair and hot.

　Our son was on his way back to Tokyo as soon as he got back home this morning. What a hasty departure! I sent my Super Crossword answers at noon on May 4, but there had been no word from the author. I wonder what was wrong. Today being the last day of the consecutive holidays, I was in no mood to do anything. Watching our governor speak on YouTube, I felt things have changed. He is very much like an American, beliving in the survival of the fittest.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010 Sunny and hot.

　Summer is here all of a sudden. Solved the Super Crossword by noon and sent my answers. Our two sons are out now. The first-born son will not come back tonight. Our second son left home this afternoon to meet his friend(s) although he was working online on his computer. Actually he worked all night last night. Checked out another four library books and got an extension on two. I have so many books to read.

Monday, May 3, 2010 Sunny

　Took a morning walk and did some shopping at the usual supermarket because we were out of bread. This morning I went without my jacket. Warm enough. Unlike yesterday, I did not do any work but just took it easy all day. I am afraid I will have gained some weight by the end of the holidays. Two library books are due tomorrow. I am trying to finish them, but I will not be able to, I am afraid. Both son are out at night with friends as usual.

Sunday, May 2, 2010 Fair

　Getting up early in the morning, kept working on the 2nd-term Reading and OC�Treports, finished making them around five. Worked on and off almost all day. So, I will take it easy for the rest of the consecutive holidays, that is, for three days. Our second son got back here from Tokyo the day before yesterday. He is being busy meeting his friends here. Our first son went out early in the morning to play golf.

Saturday, May 1, 2010 Sunny

　The first day of five condective holidays.In the morning took a brisk walk. Went to the English conversation school. Still in the process of making Reading 'reports'(assignments) for the second term. Made the first six pages so far. Three pages left for Reading, but for Oral Communiation �Tmaybe five pages to go. Therefore eight pages in all. It will take me two more days to get all this work done.