Sunday, November 30, 2003 Cloudy
I cannot stand the bad smell of drunken
middle-aged men, although I am in the same
age bracket. I sometimes encounter them on
trains on the way home from work. Their breath
is so offensive to me. I know they want to
let off steam working under stress daily.
Even so, their bad breath is out of the question.
Today two Japanese diplomats were shot
to death in Iraq. They were hopefuls of the
Foreign Ministry, I hear. The war still goes
on in Iraq.
Saturday, November 29, 2003 Rain
It rained all day today. I went to the
hospital for neck traction as usual, on foot
today in the rain. On the way back, I did
some shopping and also did some browsing
at the usual bookstores. After a late lunch,
I spent a lazy afternoon not doing anything
special but just resting my tired body. At
night I read a little and watched some TV.
Tomorrow is a workday, so I will hit the
sack now. Sweet dreams!
Friday, November 28, 2003 Cloudy
Took an umbrella just in case, but came
home without using it. Today took a late
train back. Got extra work every Friday.
The trains were less crowded., even the express.
These days I often hear an old hit song playing
at JR stations. Its title is Iihi Tabidachi ( Good Day to Start on a Trip), which was
sung by Yamaguchi Momoe and very popular
when I got married a long time ago. Nostalgic
song!
Thursday, November 27, 2003 Cloudy
One of my OCA class students had an appointment
to take her makeup today. She came off the
night shift and came for the exam. After
taking the exam, she said, "If I had
known the pronunciation of English, I could
have done better on this test." She
wanted to know how to pronounce each word.
According to her, even writing the pronunciation
in katakana helps. I promised her to do something about
it. I am glad she expressed her wish.
Wednesday, November 26, 2003 Fair
On my way to work, it was rather warm today,
but on my way home, it was pretty cold-quite
a drop in temperature. I did a lot of typing
at the personal computer at work where there
was much draft. I may catch cold sitting
there in a draft.
There is a deaf student at my school. Today
I acted as her sign language interpreter
in class. From time to time, I do this, but
since I do not use sign language these days,
I am getting rusty.
Tuesday, November 25, 2003 Cloudy
This morning I did not go to the sign language
circle. This circle meets every Tuesday,
and I usually attend the weekly meeting.
But I went to see a doctor instead this morning.
I sometimes had a stomachache recently. The
doctor prescribed the usual medicine for
me. Maybe I drank too much beer or maybe
I am under stress at work. Even now my stomach
aches.
Monday, November 24, 2003 Cloudy, Rain later
Did not accomplish much today. Just uploaded
a couple of pages. Did some household chores
in the morning. Got tired and took an afternoon
nap. In the afternoon, it began to rain.
That was a cold rain which seemed to make
the whole world gloomy. Talking of rain,
somebody seemed to have stolen two of the
umbrellas left in the umbrella stand outside.
Long ago my bike was stolen, too.
Sunday, November 23, 2003 Fair
Spent the morning updating my web page.
In the afternoon, ate out for lunch and did
a lot of shopping-cat food, household goods,
etc. Ate out for supper, too. Then went to
a nearby bookstore. Bought a couple of books.
The cold of winter really tells on me because
of my chronic neck ailment. The pain never
subsides. If I think too seriously about
it, I might go mad. I must live with it until
it is gone when I am gone.
Saturday, November 22, 2003 Fair
According to Heidegger, the German philosopher
of worldwide renown, what kind of a person
you want to be in the future depends on your
mood or frame of mind. If you are in a miserable
mood, you do not feel like doing anything.
You are not interested in becoming any other
kind of person than you are then. You are
depressed, and life is empty.
Man is a social being. He cannot live alone.
But as far as human relations are concerned,
when the chemistry is wrong, he is unhappy.
Friday, November 21, 2003 Cloudy
I did it again, poking my nose into somebody
else's business and making a boo-boo. I just
tried to help, but eventually it did not
work that way. Hence the unpleasant aftertaste.
It was silly of me. The saying, "Fools
rush in where angels fear to tread."
came home to me. Just a little unpleasant
happening can spoil the whole day.
I got back the folding umbrella which I
had lent the other day. It was folded very
tidily.
Thursday, November 20, 2003 Rain
I made a boo-boo when I marked the exam
papers this past Monday. I found out that
mistake today and I needed to contact one
of the students and apologize. When I talked
on the phone, this student was so nice to
me without reproaching me for carelessness.
I was very grateful.
On my way home from work, I was a bit hungry
and had an urge to eat ramen、so I made a
stopover and went to the usual ramen shop.
I like miso ramen. I ate it and it was delicious
as usual.
Wednesday, November 19, 2003 Cloudy, Rain
later
This year I am one of the advisers for
the tennis club, although I do not play tennis
at all. And today I was on club duty. But
today's tennis practice was rained out. Tennis
is quite popular now among junior high and
senior high students because of the animated
cartoon " The Prince of Tennis."
I think it is an elegant sport. I wish I
could play it.
On my way home, a student of my school
was taking shelter from the rain under the
eaves. I happened to have a collapsible umbrella
in my bag besides the one I was using, so
I loaned the folding umbrella to the student.
Tuesday, November 18, 2003 Fair
Although today was not a workday for me,
I was supposed to attend a one-day English
teacher training session at the education
center with over 200 JET teachers participating
as well. I thought I would have to be a moderator
or something, but actually I did not have
to. That was a relief. During lunch and after
the end of the whole session, I chatted with
my former colleague over a cup of coffee.
Most of the foreign teachers were quite enthusiastic
about teaching. I was impressed. Maybe I
am getting old...
Monday, November 17, 2003 Fair
The first cold wintry wind(kogarashi) of
the year blew in Tokyo. It was rather windy
in Osaka, too. The weatherman says the winter
weather pattern has set in. A thin sweater
did not keep me warm today. I needed a jacket
over it. Winter is here.
Tomorrow I will have to go to the prefectural
education center to attend a study session
for English teachers. The man in charge said
for me to act as an emcee at one of the meetings.
I would rather not do it. I am not the right
man.
Sunday, November 16, 2003 Fair
There is a very interesting on-line crossword
puzzle called 'Super Crossword Puzzle.' Twice
a month I work on it. Today I spent a few
hours solving the crossword puzzle for the
latter half of this month. I have just emailed
my answers. If you answer correctly, you
will find your name in the home page. It
is a challenging crossword. Time flies while
you are doing it. The URL is as follows:../../www.geocities.co.jp/Playtown/3995
Saturday, November 15, 2003 Cloudy, rain
later
On the first and third Saturdays, I go
practice speaking English at a nearby English
conversation school. Usually besides the
teacher, several persons are present, including
myself. Among them is a gentleman who spent
much of his youth abroad and is very knowledgeable
about all kinds of things. His English is
not native-like, but his knowledge is just
amazing.
Friday, November 14, 2003 Fair
Tried a Chinese restaurant in the vicinity
of my place of work. The dish I ordered was
O.K.But compared with the Chinese restaurant
in my neighborhood, the taste leaves much
to be desired. There are not any good restaurants
near where I work. I had better take my supper
with me.
Thursday, November 13, 2003 Cloudy
On my way home from work, my left big toe
hurt terribly. A couple of days ago, I trimmed
the toenails. I must have cut the toenail
to the quick. Or the shoe may be too tight.
I sometimes have an ingrown toenail. My wife
is going to do a little 'surgery' on my left
toe now. I am being panicky even before she
does it.
Wednesday, November 12, 2003 Fine
Bosses should not abuse their official
authority. Today my boss got tough with me
on the hall, feeling sure that I had been
absent from work without permission. Last
Thursday I was so tired both physically and
mentally I called in sick. Without checking
it out, the boss tried to rebuke me, saying,"What
were you doing that day?" I answered,"Am
I supposed to explain why I was absent?"
Then the other boss cut in and said,"He
called in sick that day." They have
no manners even as human beings.
Tuesday, November 11, 2003 Rain
Went maple-viewing at a temple in Kyoto.
The autumn leaves, however, were not red
yet. It was drizzling, but the rain let up
late in the afternoon. The place was full
in spite of the rain. Just one haiku:
autumn leaves still green−
gentle rain falling
on the Tofukuji Temple.
Monday, November 10, 2003 Rain
Spent some time in the morning with my
wife at a roadside coffee shop. Our second
time to go there. The service was not much,
and the 'morning service' was no big deal.
While I was there, I did not notice, but
later I had a bit of a sore throat. My throat
is very susceptible to cigarette smoke, The
place must have been smoky.
Sunday, November 9, 2003 Cloudy
It being the general election day for the
House of Representatives, I went to the polls.
The Democratic Party, affiliated with the
Liberal Party, have won more seats than before.
The word 'manifesto' was often used in this
election. I am against revising the Constitution,
especially Article 9.
Went to Hyogo Prefecture. The wind blowing
down from Mt. Rokko was so cold. I had to
walk up a very steep hill.
Saturday, November 8, 2003 Fair
Did the routine household chores as usual
in the morning. It was boring but necessary.
Mop the floor, hang the washing out to dry,
do the dishes, etc. I am not good at cleaning,
so , though I do the cleaning every day,
the rooms are a mess. My family are not so
cooperative. Yes, I am complaining.
Tomorrow is a workday for me. I will have
to get up early, and it is going to be a
long day.
Friday, November 7, 2003 Fair
Today was abnormally warm for November.
I saw a person wearing a short-sleeved summer
sweater. While driving in the morning, I
turned on the air conditioner. I am afraid
something bad may be happening soon. Mother
Nature may be sick.
My wife is now watching a TV drama and
in tears. Yesterday I was almost in tears
while reading "Darren Shan," the
part where Mr. Crepsley died.
Thursday, November 6, 2003 Cloudy
I took a day off today. I was in no mood
to do anything. I was depressed in the morning.
I cannot enjoy the atmosphere of the present
workplace. I sometimes feel as if I were
choking up. The former one was enjoyable.
I could relax. It is not that the people
here are bad、 but I am getting emotionless
here, beginning to forget what joy is. I
wonder why that is.
Wednesday, November 5, 2003 Cloudy and Rain
Today I made a salad of bean sprouts. I
did everything by rule of thumb. I served
my second son with some for lunch. I asked
him how it tasted. He said, "Not bad."
I tried it. Yeah, it was O.K. Now I know
a new recipe.
This coming Sunday I will have to take
the tennis club members to a high school
in Hyogo Prefecture. It will probably take
me more than three hours in all to get there
from home. What a bummer!
Tuesday, November 4, 2003 Fair
I am afraid I am putting on weight these
days. I need to lose some weight. When I
walk up and down the stairs at work, I easily
get out of breath and tired. I had better
go on a diet. First, I will not drink beer
at night. Second, I will not eat to the full,
moderation in eating. Third, I will eat a
good breakfast. I want to lose at least 1.5
kilograms.
Monday, November 3, 2003 Rain
Spent a whole day reading all the emails
that had piled up in the mail boxes. There
were 100 mails or so left unread. Today was
a good day to do that because of the wet
weather. I took a break from time to time
and did chores.
I am feeling ambivalent about reading Darken Shank. There is only one more book left and if
I finish it, I have no more to read. I like
the story and it is kind of sad not to be
able to read further.
Sunday, November 2, 2003 Fair
One of our cats is in heat now. We did
not spay her. She sometimes peas in our beddings.
She is minoring loudly now. The hormones
kick in rather periodically. We just try
to live with that. This cat is not too noisy.
The cat who died in April this year was very
noisy when she was in heat. She was a smart
cat, but I could not stand her minoring while
she was in heat.
Saturday, November 1, 2003 Fair
Drove my wife to the wedding of one of
her men. She was asked to make a speech at
the reception, too. She was working on it
until late last night. She spent a lot of
time wearing her kimono in the morning. That was such a hassle.
The newly weds are going to Hawaii on their
honeymoon. While waiting for my wife, I was
at my parents' home. Mom made me supper.
Dad was the same as ever. The wedding ceremony
started at . The wedding reception was over
around . My wife had a full day.