Thursday July 9, 7:39 p.m.

Another pretty quiet night. Grandma FON and I had another good session. She'll be heading off to her dacha out in the wilds of Nagano Prefecture from next week so we may or may not see her again for about 6 weeks, at least. The Nurse came by...pretty lackadaiscal...I'm kinda wondering if she'll be taking off if things get anymore lax. And then, The Carolinan. She seemed slightly moody tonight....couldn't really tell why until she told me at the end that the president of her company, an alcoholic beverage retailer that's fallen on some hard times, had announced a big meeting with everyone at a major hotel tomorrow. She thinks, being somewhat pessimistic, that the big meeting will really be the excuse to bring down the axe on a lot of folks. Hopefully, everything will work out for her.

Just have The Music Man in about 90 minutes. Still slogging away at the remaining stubborn article to be translated. I got in touch with The Lens' wife just now to say that I'll meeting them for lunch in Akiba tomorrow.

The campaign trucks have once again been assaulting our ears since the Tokyo Assembly elections are on for this Sunday. I think we've had about 4 or 5 pols waving their white-gloved (oh, the irony) hands while using their megaphones like a secret weapon. The media will be keeping their eyes and ears peeled as to how the LDP fares. If the LDP bombs, as many expect they will, then PM Aso may just hold off on that call for a general election until more stable times come again.

Thursday July 9, 11:16 a.m.

Another one of those warm and humid days. Not quite the moushoubi, or torrid days, characteristic of summer in the Kanto, but we're making the transition. It'll be a somewhat middlingly busy day today. Not particularly a Hump Day but I have enough on my plate to keep things going. I've got Grandma FON in another 10 minutes, and then it'll be The Nurse a few hours, The Carolinan a few hours after that, followed by The Music Man in the last slot tonight.

I've been reading that somewhat forgotten sitcom stars from the 70s have been getting back into the limelight...but not in the most positive of ways. Eddie (Carmine) Mekka of "Laverne & Shirley" and Joyce (Janet) DeWitt from "Three's Company" have been busted for DUI in the last couple of days. I'd say that Conrad Janis, Pam Dawber and Donna Pescow better think twice about that last drink.

Well, I've yet to hear from The Lens about where we're supposed to be meeting for lunch tomorrow afternoon. I've got that day cleared for he and his wife before I have my sole classes at the juku on Friday night.

Wednesday July 8, 9:12 p.m.

Quiet ending to the night. Just waiting for The Fashion Designer to show up in about 15 minutes. 001 had one of those rollicking classes; I knew things were going to be fun when she pointed at her tummy and said in all seriousness, "I had a headache". Loved to whomp her on that one.

Well, I am quite impressed with Kinokuniya. Not less than a week after I'd ordered that CD for Mr. White's textbook, I got a call from them stating that the discs have arrived. Far better than those 2 months waiting for the DVD at Maruzen. Don't think I'll have a chance to pick it up tomorrow due to the schedule. If I'm lucky, it may be Friday before I meet up with The Lens for lunch. Most likely, it'll be Monday morning.

Wednesday July 8, 4:11 p.m.

I may only have three lessons here at Speedy, plus that private one with The Admin, but it's still feeling like Hump Day since I still have those translations above my head like a Sword of Damocles. Well, I managed to overcome another hurdle by getting another batch off to the Cornerette. Strangely enough, I haven't heard from her for a couple of days; not sure if she's run off screaming like a banshee. I still have that rather large bundle that I've let slide since the others that have come since then had higher priority. In any case, this latest assignment has been the toughest I've ever had.

The family restaurant was really bustling when The Admin and I got there. I think the lunch crowd doesn't exactly head back to work right at 1 anymore. I brought over the will of Michael Jackson that I'd downloaded from CNN.com a few days ago for a conversation piece. The Admin had seen more of the funeral than I did, and just remarked on the spectacle of it all, which is the word that I would also use to describe The King of Pop's final farewell.

Had Miss Prissy earlier in the morning so I've just got 001 and The Fashion Designer later tonight. I had a small chat with Ray who's just come back from a week vacationing in Paris. She had a good time in The City of Lights although she didn't bother going out at night due to security issues. I got a tin of mints as a souvenir.

Wednesday July 8, 8:13 a.m.

Well, the funeral of the century came and went. I let this world event pass me by as I slumbered overnight (it happened at 2 a.m. JST). Ordinarily, I would've watched it but since I do have an early class today which meant an early departure from home, I'd decided that I wouldn't risk the embarrassment of collapsing in front of Miss Prissy just for the chance of watching Michael Jackson's casket.

I think people get the funerals they deserve. I don't remember the services that John Lennon or Elvis Presley got, but I do remember Princess Diana's from 12 years ago. It was grand and laden with celebs. Terry Fox also received a fine sendoff in a church with the Canadian flag. As for Michael Jackson, from what few highlights I'd seen and the stuff I'd read on CNN.com, his funeral was as spectacular and as telegenic as any of his concert extravaganzas. I don't think I'll have to worry about missing it; I'm almost positive that it'll get repeat airing and perhaps even a DVD deal is in the works. I'm not sure if that would be something that MJ would appreciate, but entertainment is a business.

I was also drawn to yesterday's tirade by Congressman Peter King about the media's lionization of Michael Jackson. I think it was more of a venting than anything else by the politician. Nothing's gonna change about the viewing of Jackson because of one pol's dislike of The King of Pop. However, I'd have to disagree with him about his statement that Jackson did nothing good, although I can't say that I'm a fervent fan. At the very least, Jackson entertained and perhaps inspired a lot of people to do things. In the last few years of his life, he may have shown some incredible lack of judgment but if he managed to keep people happy, then that's not a bad legacy at all.

Monday July 6, 8:45 p.m.

Those translations just keep dragging on and on. I've just said the heck with it and I'm gonna shut down the translating for tonight. I've already sent in my contribution for today anyways.

Got to see SIL for the first time in a few weeks. Of course, Michael Jackson was the hot topic on the menu today. We made a comparative study between him and her idol of Elvis Presley. It'll be another 3 weeks before I meet SIL again since she and her family are on Obon holiday (for certain folks here, the Obon holiday is celebrated in July, not in August).

Met up with The Full-Timer. She's still doing the rounds of interviews with her temp company. She's been getting rather exhausted from all of the speaking in English and stuff, but she is sounding more fluent.

The Spaniard, one of our other teachers here at Speedy's, contributed some suits to me and the bossman tonight. Not quite sure if I'll be able to fit into the trousers but the blazers are hopeful. In any case, they'll all need a good pressing.

With all of the Michael Jackson news and that crisis in Honduras, it's easy to overlook what's been happening in my backyard. And what is happening in my backyard is that it's looking more and more likely that the Prime Ministerial revolving door will be turning once more in the next month or so. After a slight blip of hope a few months ago with that small scandal in the Democratic Party of Japan, the Liberal Democratic Party is once again sinking. There was a gubernatorial election in Shizuoka last night with the LDP being ousted there which can't be good news for PM Aso. And there are the Tokyo councillor elections this coming Sunday which the LDP can't afford to lose.