Wednesday March 24, 4:35 p.m.

While Saturday night was made for listening and seeing The Manhattan Transfer, Sunday night was the time for "Sherlock Holmes". In between was the mother of all windstorms. Overnight, there were some fierce gale-force winds which beat down on the Kanto.

As for the World's Greatest Detective, the movie had come out originally in North America right on Christmas Day but only came out last Friday here in Japan. MB, The Sylph and Skippy came out to see Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law. It ended up being a split decision. MB liked it but I wasn't all that impressed.

Whereas Basil Rathbone was the embodiment of deductive logic in his deerstalker cap, and Jeremy Brett was the effete Doctor Who version back on 80s BBC, Robert Downey Jr. went for a mix of Tony Stark and perhaps his dissipated character from one of his earliest films, "Less Than Zero". I don't know...the film just seemed as foggy as the stuff that rolled across that film's London. And I just got somewhat bored of it all. It just seemed narcolepsy-inducing. Strangely enough, MB and I didn't really discuss it at dinner...not much to discuss really.

Afterwards, the four of us went to another Skippy recommendation nearby in Shinjuku. Lately, the new flavor of the month has been this Korean dish called Sundubu, a piping hot bowl of kimchi, tofu and other stuff. Restaurants selling the stuff have been hitting the various city centres. We tried out this one place in the basement...pretty small place, too. My version was the spicy one...and it sure had its fair share of capsicum. But it was awfully tasty.

Skippy was able to land on her feet once more in terms of job search...well, this time, it took a little while longer at 3 months, but she's working for some medical supplies company; something that she's never tried so it was a pretty fast and hard week for her.

Wednesday March 24, 9:39 a.m.

A lot of stuff happened between Saturday and today, so I'll just segregate my entries. This one is on The Manhattan Transfer.

Yep, I finally entered the premier jazz joint in Tokyo to see one of the premier veteran jazz groups of the past century. Blue Note Tokyo is located in the appropriately swanky neighbourhood of Minami-Aoyama, the same area where I'd caught Ruiko Kurahashi back in December.

On entering Blue Note, it was kinda like entering an old-style theatre with a lot of the plush golds and browns. I went down to the basement where I gave my ticket and then got a paper disc with the number 38 denoting my place in the order of getting seated. I waited just half an hour before the count began.

When I heard my number called, the staffer led me further downstairs to the main hall where another staffer took me to my seat. He asked me nonchalantly whether I wanted to get a close-up view of the stage. I certainly did. And he escorted me to one of the tables. And that's one of the drawbacks of Blue Note that I'd heard about. The place is big but the non-reserved tables rather remind me of being in Economy Class on a plane. My image of a swanky jazz club has always been that of round tables with a certain discreet distance amongst them. However, the tables were all jammed up against each other as if we were in a cafeteria. So, I was all by myself between a couple and a group of middle-aged folk. And I had to make some yoga-like turns to face the stage, but then again, I was just 3 m away from it.

Also, came the fact that the food and beverages are pretty pricey. I would say that the food is overpriced. However, for the sake of being there, I ordered the Mas Que Nada cocktail for 1,000 yen....basically a tropical Shirley Temple. I definitely savored that drink at that price.

Then, came the Transfer. The radio-like announcer proudly introduced the group, and after being a fan for 35 years, I finally saw Tim Hauser, Alan Paul, Janis Siegel and Cheryl Bentyne in the flesh....3 metres away. At first, when they trundled up on stage, I became rather aware that they were no longer spring chickens. Alan looked like a retired hippie professor with a bit of a paunch showing on his otherwise still-lean frame, Janis had that motherly look with the glasses, Cheryl was showing a bit of wag in her arms, and Tim looked like my Dad in the Polo shirt and blazer...but then again, Tim has looked like my Dad for decades now. But when they opened their mouths, the glory days were back. It was just like listening to the CDs. They were not just old, but they were old pros.

Their raison d'etre for their current tour was to promote their latest album, "The Chick Corea Songbook", and the tunes were fine enough so that I'm thinking of buying my first original Transfer album in several years. But it was of course when they sang their hits such as "Route 66" and "Birdland" that the audience was just jumping. One fellow behind me believed that he was the secret 5th member and was just bopping and singing in the audience. Still, it was nice that the guys can still elicit this much love. It was almost eerie to see these four right in front of my eyes. They really brought the house down with "Trickle, Trickle".

The set itself was less than 90 minutes. But not too surprising considering their age and the fact that they have been pumping out 2 shows a night all over Japan at full blast.

Friday March 19, 4:44 p.m.

In this year of self-whimsiness, I decided this morning to head back to Shibamata. I say head back, since back in 1994 when I had first gotten here for my current tour of duty in Japan, I had stayed in this sleepy neighbourhood of Tokyo for about a month before moving into my apartment in Ichikawa. Since the move, I hadn't been back.

Shibamata is known for two things...one is the Taishakuten, the local temple. The other one has far more far-reaching appeal. It's also home for the legendary Japanese movie character, Tora-san from the "Otoko ga tsurai yo" series (It's Tough To Be A Man)...perhaps the longest running movie series in the world in terms of movies made if not in actual time elapsed (and yes, that includes the Bond series). The actor, Kiyoshi Atsumi, passed on nearly 15 years ago, but he's been immortalized in bronze in front of the station in his characteristic uniform of an itinerant peddler. But while he was still on this mortal coil, he managed to get out 47 films...all having the exact same plotline of him coming back home to Shibamata to his long-suffering family, then storming out after a huge fight, finding the girl of his dreams (or Madonna) somewhere in Japan, and then losing her once again. It probably had no chance to win any Japanese equivalent of an Academy Award, but for millions of Japanese of my generation and those of the previous, it was the cinematic version of comfort food.

Pretty much all of Shibamata can't help but be tied up with Tora-san. There's even a museum made in his honor, and unlike the John Lennon Museum, I was able to take shots inside. It was rather reminiscent of going to the Ramen Museum in Yokohama since there were mockups of old Shibamata of the 60s and 70s.

Thursday March 18, 7:09 p.m.

Haven't had a Donut Day in a long time...certainly since last year. Mr. TOEFL did an uncharacteristic cancellation of his lesson today, and so I only had Grandma FON this morning and only have The Music Man later tonight. Hopefully, his hay fever is much more under control than last week. Basically the big hole in between lessons has been spent alternately working on the latest translation from Cozy and having fun with the latest applications on Facebook. So, now with Farmville, I've also got to contend with Cafe Ville and Social City. Plus on Mixi, I've got the Aquarium.

I actually got word from The Lens suddenly last night that he and the missus are coming back to this side of the Pacific for about a week, so it's entirely possible that we'll be meeting up for lunch in Tokyo on Saturday several hours before I meet The Manhattan Transfer at The Blue Note.

Wednesday March 17, 11:35 a.m.

The hay fever is doing its thing. As soon as I woke up, my nose started twitching and my eyes soon followed suit. Down went the three tablets. I've got to get my next batch of masks.

Last night, it was just the juku crowd since The Beehive had the week off. The juku boss and I were talking a bit on my newest student, Mr. Nice Guy. Apparently, he'd had another English-language interview for a company, and the boss told me that he didn't even know the term, "earthquake" when the interviewer brought up the subject of the recent tremors hitting Japan. She kinda threw her head back in mock frustration, but she does have a certain point. Mr. Nice Guy is taking English so that he can get ready to take himself and his family over to Hawaii in what is amounting to be a start to a new life. However, he's going there with no guarantee whatsoever of a job...a bit of a quixotic journey that has the boss scratching her head. The guy isn't a blank slate by any means but his ability is nowhere near getting him that ace position at a company...I think he can just get away with being a better-than-average tourist. And although I think I'm a pretty decent teacher, I don't think even I can turbocharge this guy's linguistic levels within 3 months. Still, I just gotta do my best.

As for the Milds, both Milds showed up. This time, Mr. Mild was suffering from the ravages of a cold while Mrs. Mild was still in the recovery stages.

I've got Miss HGL in 15 minutes, followed by The CEO and then 001. I've got 001's belated White Day present. Should be good sessions with all of them. They're all talkers, although the challenge will be with The CEO since it's kinda hard to know what kind of material she'd like to do.

Monday March 15, 8:19 p.m.

The Ides of March indeed. And sorry to say that Peter Graves, the one and only Jim Phelps from the one and only "Mission: Impossible" has passed on. He and his brother, James Arness, aka Sheriff Matt Dillon from "Gunsmoke", provided literally decades of calm, gallant reassurance to television viewers. Jim was the ultimate spymaster while Matt was the finest lawman of the West.

I would light a torch for Mr. Phelps but I'd be afraid that a fuse may be set off.

Monday March 15, 4:53 p.m.

The cable guy never showed up yesterday. This kinda indicated to me that that notice I got in the mail last week was perhaps just a little bait for anyone who hadn't signed up to the service. Well, at least, the notice gave me incentive to clean up the place.

Had an unexpected late start to the week this morning. First off, Cozy had re-scheduled his lesson for tomorrow morning instead of today, and then Swank called me suddenly this morning, just 30 minutes before I was to leave, to say that she would have to cancel the lesson due to illness. So I had the morning to myself and to watch "Star Trek" for the fourth time on DVD. Still holds up in my estimation....but that's natural for a Trekkie like myself.

Got a call from The Cat out of the blue last night. My old friend way back from university is originally from Nagoya, got married to Paddy's buddy in Ibaraki, and now lives in Nagano. She asked me for some English phrases but her main topic was about whether I was going to Paddy's wedding party (actually a celebration of the happy couple's 10th anniversary of being together) on the 5th. Still don't know exactly where and when the party is gonna be. I did ask Skippy whether she would be my accompaniment but apparently she's secured a job starting from tomorrow so she's probably out of the loop.

Anyways, Speedy should be coming out any second so that I can take over as HGL's teacher.

Saturday March 13, 3:15 p.m.

Usually during Hay Fever season, I'm the one who has to do all of the apologizing for letting my nose drip like a faucet in front of the students. Not something that enhances a teacher's image. However, on Thursday night, it was The Music Man who was mightily ailing. He was just doing anything in his power to keep from sneezing or dripping liquid all over the desk. I swear he was twisting his body in all sorts of yogic positions to somehow will his nose and eyes from precipitating. Felt mighty sorry for him, especially since I've been there. I think for that night, I should've changed his name to The Misery Man.

As for my seasonal health, I've managed to stave off the runny nose by taking medicine every morning. At least, Hay Fever sends a warning shot across my bow; every morning, I get that itchiness in my eyes and nose which tells me to swallow a few pills, lest I end up disgusting some student. Still, I'm gonna be throwing my money to the pharmaceuticals, and after paying my taxes and rental lease renewal fee, I don't think I can really continue paying my hard-earned yen for drugs.

Yesterday was my day away from Speedy's. I just had The Bass and The Bow outside. Between lessons, I succumbed to my desires and went for the latest and last chapter in McDonalds Japan's "Big America" burger campaign. I had the California Burger which debuted yesterday. Like the first three, the patty was bigger than usual. And it had a red wine sauce, which was probably supposed to evoke the Napa Valley. I had heard rumors that an avocado would be put in, but there was no soft green mush there. Pretty nice, I would put the California Burger in 2nd place behind the New York Burger.

I've pretty much finished giving away all of those White Day chocolates this week. The Bow was the last one with my contribution from Hokkaido's Rokkatei shop of freeze-dried strawberries covered in white chocolate. I still have one more person in the form of 001 since she suddenly cancelled her lesson a few days ago.

Just had only The Intellectual for the lone lesson here at Speedy's today. But I also had to check over a translation for Cozy and some other paperwork. I'll be heading home in about another half-hour since I gotta clean things up for the cable guy tomorrow. He's supposed to be checking my lines due to some maintenance work, although I think he's also gonna try to sell some new package.

Thursday March 11, 5:44 p.m.

Yup, I hope whoever's reading this is neither a vegan nor on a meat-restricted diet. The consequences could be rather dire. These two photos are from the two yakiniku restauarants I went to back over the weekend. The one on the left is the far more expensive place in Futako-Tamagawa that I'd gone with The Jyuppies while the one on the right is the Takadanobaba eatery with the Korean staff. There were quite a few differences (as I'd mentioned in a previous blog entry) between the two places. The pictures show off one difference in terms of the meat. The Japanese shimofuri just about glistens its price while the Korean fatty pork looks like somewhat more heartier stick-to-the-ribs fare.

I'm halfway through my day now. I finished up with Miss Prissy, Grandma FON and Miss HGL. Just have another 40 minutes before The Carolinan arrives. I've got her chocolates to give her. Most likely, we'll be starting off with talk on her sister's takeoff for San Francisco next week.

Thursday March 11, 8:25 a.m.

Been a while since I actually got to Speedy's early. One reason is that Grandma Dynamite hasn't been in anytime this year due to some family problems. And it's been a while since I'd had a Sausage McMuffin Set at the Golden Arches. But I've got a full slate today with Miss Prissy heading off the list, followed by Grandma FON and Miss HGL. Then in the evening, it's The Carolinan, Mr. TOEFL and The Music Man. I heard via the staff that Mr. TOEFL finally got that needed pass on his eponymous test. He should be in a good mood tonight.

I had The New Yorker for her last class before she heads off to San Francisco for her very first solo vacation next week. I'm somewhat worried about her since her English is still nowhere fluent. I'll have to see what The Carolinan thinks. If we're all fortunate, one of the Carolinan's old friends may just be able to come up from San Jose to help The New Yorker out.

Had a Monday night off. And yesterday was also a night off since 001 cancelled her lesson. It was nice to watch some mindless game shows on TV. And I also caught another episode of "Burn Notice". It's a fine show to watch...the usual hour-long adventure with a touch of DIY espionage thrown in.

Wednesday March 11, 1:17 p.m.

The up-and-down nature of our Winter this year in the Kanto continues to not disappoint. Sunny and 21 on Friday, sleeting and 3 last night. It was a bit of a trial getting home on slick sidewalks. However, things are better today at a torrid 13.

The White Day distribution continues unabated. I just gave Ray and the rest of the admin staff their chocolates, courtesy of The 100% Chocolate Cafe, and I gave similar things to most of the juku students last night. 001 cancelled tonight's lesson so I actually just have The New Yorker in Shinjuku in about 90 minutes. A free Monday and Wednesday night...there must be a blue moon out there. However, I'll be getting the lion's share of lessons tomorrow with 6 on tap.

The "big" news over the past several days has been that microscandal involving perhaps/perhaps not future Empress Aiko. Apparently, she's been skipping her elementary school classes since she was slightly traumatized about being bumped by some of the rowdy boys at Gakushuin School, the school for all of the elites. I couldn't believe it got BREAKING NEWS status on Friday afternoon. Words like ijime (bullying) were being bandied about in hushed tones from the media folks as if the concept could never be applied to the royals. Well, the young princess is back in classes, and it seems as if all is well again in The Imperial Palace. Must have been a very slow news day. I think it was all a big misunderstanding that got blown out of all proportion, most likely by the Imperial Household Agency. I rather feel more sorry for the boys who had supposedly bumped her than for Princess Aiko herself; I can imagine the ultrarightists trying to ram their cars through their parents' gates in revenge attacks. And as for the princess, having a mother who's been driven neurotic due to the pressures of her enforced Imperial status cannot be a great influence.

Anyways, I have to grab that seat at Starbucks.

Tuesday March 9, 1:36 p.m.

The weekend was one of yakiniku, or Korean BBQ. On Saturday, I met up with The Bohemian in Takadanobaba since he invited me to meet his "friends" at this Asian friendship exchange club. In actual fact, he had only met the leader of the group just a week before and was also meeting the students for the first time. I had been wondering why those students looked somewhat nonplussed at his attempts to speak Korean. And so I kinda felt a little embarrassed afterwards about trying to strike up a conversation with them. This ain't America...in Japan, you have to ease yourself into the group. And The Bohemian, despite his genteel ultra right wing stance on some things (such as the Taiji issue), is strangely unsubtle socially. However, the Korean BBQ was good. It was at a truly Korean place with zainichi Korean staff. The meat was very tasty and fatty, and since it was an all-you-can-eat, I took full advantage...something I haven't done in months.

Then, the next day, The Jyuppies took me to a Japanese yakiniku place near Futako-tamagawa Station. I emphasize a Japanese yakiniku restaurant since with the benefit of having had the Korean fare the day before, I could make some comparisons. The Korean place was cheaper, had somewhat more of a family atmosphere and the meat was fattier. This Japanese place was tons more expensive (blew away 7,000 yen easily...which is more than 3 days' food budget), looked far more fancier (we had our own room) and the meat was had that truly juicy flavor due to marbling. I'd say that the meat in the Japanese was more delicious but, again, I had to pay through the nose and perhaps a few more orifices. Not that I'm complaining; it was really good fare.

Monday was an unusual one in terms of schedule. I did have Cozy and SIL for their sessions but my session with Swank was only 90 minutes this time around, since the lass had a bake sale to deal with. And I had no evening lessons at Speedy's...which is rather rare. So I was able to enjoy a nice night at home watching the quiz shows such as "Nep League" and even reruns of the original "Hexagon" on a Fuji-TV cable channel. Most of Japanese TV is indeed brain-killing pap, but sometimes a little fatty food is fun.

I have started the annual White Day run for the chocolates. I've already played a March Santa Claus and given the stuff to The Beehive and SIL, and tonight, it'll be a triple with the juku boss, Sugar & Spice, and Mrs. Mild getting their chocolates. It sure is nice having The 100% Chocolate Cafe nearby for a bit of culinary whimsy.

Tuesday March 9, 1:05 p.m.

First off, I'm happy that "The Cove" was made. Second of all, I'm also happy that "The Cove" got an Oscar, thereby increasing its profile worldwide. The people of Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture are certainly feeling the opposite. It never feels too good when you've been depicted as de facto baby seal killers. I've only seen a few scenes on TV of this film, but I have to admit that my blood ran cold when I saw those dolphins being literally beaten to death and the water running red.

I tend to look at both sides of an issue which has worked for and against me (there I go again). Must be the Libra in me. It is extremely easy for anyone to side with the producers of this project and environmentalists in general when watching this documentary. So, allow me to play Devil's Advocate (or Angel's...if you're a Taiji resident...then again, most likely you wouldn't be able to read this, would you?).

So, why is everyone raising a mighty hue and cry about dolphins being bashed into surimi paste once a year when cows and chickens are being executed for their meat on a daily basis in Europe, America and just about everywhere else? Simple...dolphins are cute creatures with a modicum of intelligence on perhaps the level of an average sheepdog. Dolphins are the go-to animals on all those sea aquarium pictures, and the marine creatures that everyone would love to take pictures with. Plus, they've got that perpetual smile people just get weak in the knees over. They're beautiful creatures, and most people couldn't ever see them being culled into sashimi....well, except the folks living around that cove. On the other hand, cows aren't exactly photogenic, and when most people look at them, they suddenly wonder about the terms: rare, medium or well done. Plus, the bovines and farm fowl probably just have the intelligence of a block of oak. Hard to imagine seeing Bessie doing the Moonwalk on its taile while juggling a ball on the end of its nose. So there may be a bit of hypocrisy here...or perhaps even a bit of discrimination? Are we being just a tad intellig-ist or cute-ist? Oh, we can't eat Flipper....it's jumping through a hoop....it's nuzzling little Cathy's cheek...it's just looking oh-so-adorable. Bessie? Ring that dinner bell....steak on the hoof. Chicken Little? Get the Colonel over here!

Still, what tipped me over to the side of the producers behind "The Cove" is just the way the so-called "fishermen" got their bounty. Yep, cows are given the bolt through the head and chickens are just simply given the axe behind closed factory doors, but to see what was going on so starkly...sorry, but no animal deserves to go through that fate. I just thought, fairly or unfairly, about how the Jews were treated by the Nazis. And the other telling difference....cows and chickens are livestock; they've been bred to be eaten (and yep, PETA will come up with a counterargument on that very point, but I digress). However, these dolphins are just dolphins straight and free from the sea, which have somehow been corralled into this cove and then slaughtered. It's kinda like watching hunters bringing in a whole herd of deer into one pen and then just firing away. No sport in that at all.

The Taiji residents have given their rebuttal with one fellow looking rather forlorn and just saying that he was "absolutely dismayed" at the awarding of the Oscar to these foreign interlopers. This is a years-long tradition, they say. Well, a tradition is an activity that occurs at regular intervals to commemmorate a certain phenomenon or day. It isn't automatically conferred a good or evil status. That is up to we humans. And as a human, I declare this tradition to be wrong. However, all the world's environmentalists and politicians will not change this tradition. I think it'll come when Japan's bankbook is affected in terms of lost revenue if people start boycotting products or tourism. Then, I can see Hatoyama and the boys coming down on this small town.

Saturday March 6, 12:53 p.m.

Yesterday was one of those warm Spring days that belong more in May than in March. It got to about 20 degrees C here in The Big Sushi. And strangely enough, I didn't get attacked by hay fever. Pollen usually love these conditions. But we're back into the cold and drizzly again, and there are even meterological thoughts of snow once more on the horizon. Just another in the series of ups-and-downs we've been having all Winter long here.

Got the annual elephant off my back and paid my income taxes at the Ichikawa Tax Office yesterday. Not too bad a payment although that means that I didn't earn as much last year. I'll have to try to remedy that. Of course, after contributing to Hatoyama's coffers, I went for the 500-yen lunch special at KFC near Moto-Yawata Station.

Today, I just had The Intellectual as the lone lesson here at Speedy's. And he decided to go for another lesson next week as the lone lesson. He had forgotten his homework and text at home, so he wasn't quite as confident in his answers as he usually is, but he can still speak rings around a lot of the other students.

I'll be meeting up with The Bohemian and his Japan-China study group in Takadanobaba today for dinner. He's been itching me to meet some of his friends for some time now, so I'm hoping it's worth trudging out in the rain, but then again a 3,000-yen all-you-can-eat & drink Korean BBQ dinner is pretty nice in this cold weather. All I hope is that The Bohemian keeps his mouth in fairly good control, although with an all-you-can-drink option, that's pretty debatable.

It'll end up being a weekend of yakiniku since I believe The Jyuppies will be doing the same with me tomorrow night. But I really cannot complain.

And White Day season will be upon me from next week. I'll have to get the first batch of chocolates for SIL since I've got her on Monday. At this point, it's looking like I may have Monday night off since neither Miss HGL nor The Medicine Man will be coming into Speedy's that day.

Thursday March 4, 10:47 p.m.

Sounds like it's raining its shares of dogs and cats out there. Could be a bit of a muck heading back home. Just the weather I need to pay off my taxes tomorrow morning....that is, if I can get up early enough.

Had a back-to-back with Mr. TOEFL and then The Music Man. Luckily 22.5 years of experience kicked in so that I didn't look panicked when I had to make the transition. Just kept the smile going.

When I went out for dinner at the conbini earlier tonight, the avuncular super was chewing out some young folk for some malfeasance....I bet it had something to do with the elevator, since the alarm bell had gone off for several seconds. These weren't errant teens but guys in their 20s...not sure where they came from. But when I came back to the building some 10 minutes later, the super was still verbally tanning their hides; to be honest, it was less frightful than some of the other beratings I've seen teachers give their students back on the JET days.

Well, gotta head on home before I completely crash from exhaustion.

Thursday March 4, 12:47 p.m.

Feeling especially crunchy around the shoulders. Would like a rubdown but I think Ray would balk at that (heh, heh). Still, it's been many months since I've had a shoulder massage; would consider getting one but I'm still licking some existential wounds from getting financially gouged at Riraku no Mori a year ago.

Just had Grandma FON for her weekly session. Lots of spunk in that one. Speedy will be handing off Miss HGL in about 10 minutes. HGL has opted for the cramming of 36 lessons by Golden Week since she'll be heading for Vancouver in May. So, it'll be a lot of tandem teaching between me and Speedy.

I also have got to get my tax return done and ready by tonight since I'll be heading over to the Tax Office tomorrow. With that done, I will have finished all of my big payments for the year.

Wednesday March 3, 8:37 p.m.

Almost time for me to shut down since 001 was the last lesson of the day. Speedy has already gone off home. It's just Ray and myself. 001 helped set up the quartet of pleasant, and let me emphasize, talkative people for today...not unlike certain physicians on Monday.

I did forget to mention that it was hina matsuri day today. That's the day that particularly superstitious folks put up several tiers of little dolls to ensure that their daughters can get married. The key point is that no matter how early the tiers get put up, they have to be put back into the closet by midnight tonight. Otherwise, there is a risk of future Old Maids.

Tomorrow will be another busy one. I've got Grandma FON to start off with, followed by another round with Miss HGL. Then, it'll be The German followed by Mr. TOEFL and finally The Music Man.

Wednesday March 3, 5:45 a.m.

Well, went through the bulk of the really talkative students today. I had Grandma Enka, Miss HGL and then The CEO. The CEO seems to be quite the mover and shaker. Had a meeting with a political bigwig this morning, and now has to do some networking in the diplomatic arena tonight. Kinda reminds me of a young Lady.

Let it all hang out with my grievances against The Medicine Man just now in front of the bossman and Ray. How does one teach a guy who just refuses to speak anything about himself? Of course, as I was explaining myself to him, the bossman gave me that familiar look of not liking what he was hearing but listening to it as a good boss should. I'm glad that I won't be seeing The Medicine Man for almost 2 weeks.

All I have left is 001. She'll be quite happy to know that I have an article for her from "The Japan Times" about her favorite band, Arashi from the Johnny's Jimusho stables. She'll be even more chuffed to know that the Beehive had informed me yesterday that they know the Chinese restaurant that the parents of her fave member, Aiba-kun, run in Makuhari, just east of my neck of the woods. One of the ladies said that she'd seen a couple of Arashi fans around the area looking for the place.

Wednesday March 3, 1:24 p.m.

You would think that with all of the alternating cold and warm days over the past couple of weeks, we as a people were being "tempered" like katana. We're in a warm phase once again. And I think before Winter is officially out in a few weeks, we may still see a few flakes and cold snaps.

Hay fever season has started in earnest, however. The cedar trees have been unleashing their WMDs on a fully suspecting public. No masks as of yet but I've been hitting the meds pretty hard. Made another purchase of that so-called herbal medicine from the neighbourhood drugstore; I'm always hoping that it's actually better than Benza Block.

Tuesday March 2, 2:03 p.m.

The hay fever is starting to plague me once more this year. Looks like I'll be stocking up on meds and tissue for the next couple of months. I've been trying to stay away from the Benza Block since I don't want to damage my liver too badly...I think alcohol would be a better substitute for that.

So I've heard that the Shat himself appeared at the Closing Ceremonies to give his jocular monologue. The Star Trek Mixi community was lathering at the mouth like rabid Trekkies at the news.

A not-so-busy Tuesday today. I had The Beehive for their usual 90. I got quite the goodies from Mrs. Travel and Mrs. Tee. From the former, I got some homemade marmalade...just hope that it doesn't need refrigerating since I'm not going home until after the juku tonight, and then from the latter, I received some homemade sandwiches. And here I thought Valentine's Day was last month. Then again, I'm gonna have quite the shopping list next week when I have to get chocolates for White Day.

It'll be the usual full slate at the juku tonight. Mr. White, followed by Sugar & Spice, The Milds and finally Mr. Nice Guy.

Monday March 1, 10:39 p.m.

It was probably the slowest, most subtle epileptic fit I've ever seen from a guy. Medicine Man was OK for the first little bit as we talked about the ravages of hay fever. But then we got into the textbook, he gradually lost focus and lost touch with reality for a few minutes. He only needed to make sentences out of two-word collocations....stuff that even some beginning students could do with little effort, but with him, it was just too much for him. He just begged off with some exasperation that it was just way too stressful for him to talk about his personality. I didn't lose my temper...I've been around too many students to do that at this point in my career, but I had to tell him that he only has a couple of lessons left in his contract and that he'll have to come up with some ideas about how I can help him. I also told him that there are very few textbooks that would actually not ask him for his opinion on things. Frankly, I'm not sure where this guy is gonna go, but at this point, I really wouldn't mind if he decided not to renew...knowing that Speedy won't like that dark thought, especially with the financial dire straits we're right now.

Aye...I think it's time for me to go home.

Monday March 1, 6:11 p.m.

It's kinda weird still talking about the Winter Olympics while we are now officially in March. But here we are. And it looks like I missed out on the grand opportunity on catching one of the all-time classic Olympic Hockey finals...well, there was really no opportunity to speak of in this country where hockey is only seen as a minor sports curiosity and not as the religion it is in my home and native land. Television here when it comes to the Olympics is the same as it is with every other national broadcaster....they show only the events that the natives would want to see, and hockey ain't it. I had been hoping to see the grand final between the two titans of Canada and the U.S. on regular TV in the wee hours, but just wasn't meant to be. Actually, it was on NHK satellite but I don't have that...just have the cable channels.

Speedy did have it, though, so he was able to catch the thrilling overtime win by Canada. CRAP! I could only find out only several hours later. Looks like I'll have to rely on the inevitable DVD which will come out....just in time for Xmas.

Meanwhile, what I did catch was many, many hours yesterday of the map of Japan superimposed on just about every channel as one of the biggest tsunami warnings in recent memory was issued for the entire Pacific coast of the country. Even Akio Toyoda's miseries couldn't knock out the Olympics totally, but rolling waves coming at the speed of an airplane could. NHK basically devoted its entire Sunday schedule to coverage on tsunami. As it was, although there were some areas which got flooded, the tsunami was far less dangerous than advertised...which was good to be sure, but I'm not sure if these waves totally deserved the TV it got.

Well, today was another busy day. I had Cozy for the early morning followed by those 2.5 hours with Swank...again, happy to say that the time flew pretty quickly. Then, it was another 1.5 with SIL. We really got silly, by SIL's own admission, with the conversation today..."discussing" the merits of a former and current boyfriend of a female pro golfer. I've gotten to Speedy's to find out that my scheduled lesson with HGL had been cancelled, so I just have to wait those 3 hours before The Music Man comes in.

Some months ago, The Romantic had practically begged me to help him with some research for some clients. Basically, it was to research for things via the Net that the clients couldn't do by themselves...which made me question how I could change things for the better. Well, 3 weeks ago, The Romantic sent me a couple of assignments asking me to search for information dealing with computer chips. I've tried to do so and just ended up scoring bupkiss. So, I sent word via his answering service that I couldn't help him. I've yet to hear back and I'm not sure what he will say.

Saturday February 27, 12:20 p.m.

Well, the news was tragic, and regrettably not unexpected. Walter Koenig, the original Pavel Chekov, has lost a son. Andrew Koenig was found dead in a Vancouver park a couple of days ago. There is apparently a video now online showing the grieving parents exhorting anyone thinking about suicide to talk to friends and family before taking that last step. One of the worst things that anyone can experience is having a child go before you do. I'm just a bit surprised that the Mixi Star Trek community hasn't seemed to have picked up on it.

Saturday February 27, 11:55 a.m.

For Japan, the Olympics are pretty much over except for the Closing Ceremonies, and I don't know too many people who would take the time to TiVo that over here (I don't even think you can TiVo here). The big show, the Women's Figure Skating is all done and gone, and the analyses have begun in earnest on the morning wide shows (yep, they also happen on Saturday mornings, too). As I'd thought, there have been some ungrudging admissions that Yu Na Kim was indeed the better performer yesterday. "The Japan Times" front page said it very bluntly: "Elegant Kim Glides to Gold; Shaky Mao Settles for Silver". Good golly...I didn't think Mao Asada was that bad, although Mao herself would disagree.

So, unless we have some further upsets, Japan is gonna end up with four medals from Vancouver: 2 Silvers and 2 Bronzes. I can say, somewhat sarcastically, that Team Japan was able to increase its total haul from Turin by 4 times. However, it would seem that the gleam of Gold shines far hotter than any Silver or Bronze take. Sure, The Japan Olympic Committee was wringing its hands at how poorly Japan did in 2006 but Shizuka Arakawa's lone Gold performance in Figure Skating took quite a lot of the tarnish off. And "Turandot" became one of the best-sellers of that year. Not to bring down the competitors in Speed Skating and Figure Skating this time around, but it seems that the glow of four medals hasn't really outshone that one medal four years ago. One of the officials of Team Japan gave a pretty grumpy press conference a few days, stating how disappointed he was in the results. At first, I thought rather Pollyannishly that the man doth protest too much and that it was an honor just to be selected to perform at the Games; however, reality bonked me upside the head. Yep, just performing there is great but there is also a lot to be said about bringing in a huge medal haul in terms of money, prestige and national pride...and even more importantly, future sponsorship in those sports. Not finishing in the medal rounds or even in the Top 8 (for some reason, Japan seems to be on the Base 8 system, not the Base 10 of much of the rest of the planet when it comes to rankings) tends to tighten up those coffers. So I think the JOC will be doing some major rethink when everyone comes home next week.

Now, as for the home country. I think it would be safe to say that Canada has had a pretty good Games. No, we're nowhere near the U.S. or Germany in the total medal count, but we're all tied when it comes to Gold...and you've just read my point about Gold and those two other medals. The Women's Hockey Team just grabbed their 3rd Gold in as many consecutive Olympics, and Joannie Rochette got that Bronze in Figure Skating. And while that event was Japan's big raison d'etre to watch, the highlight for Canada is still more than a day away...right on the final day of Vancouver 2010, when we find out whether The Men's Hockey Team will get their Gold. A pity that if there is any chance at all to see in here in Japan, it will be in the wee hours of Monday morning.

Saturday February 27, 11:44 a.m.

Yep, that is indeed the third entry in McDonalds Japan's "Big America" campaign: the one and only Hawaiian Burger, following in the footsteps of the Texas Burger and New York Burger. I had this behemoth on Wednesday night after work since I finished relatively early (9:30 p.m. is early for me). Unlike the first two times, when the Speedy staff and I had gone for a group tasting, I did a solo since I was rather hungry and the local Golden Arches was really the only quick viable alternative. At first thought, I had believed that it would be sold out since the first two sold like hotcakes (McDonalds, of course). But strangely enough, there were still plenty of the Hawaiian variety.

As can be seen above, the Hawaiian Burger comes loaded to bear with bacon, cheese, a fried egg over the patty all slathered in a dark sweet sauce which brings to mind the local Hawaiian fast food, loco moco. The burger did me right in filling me up, but I can't say that it topped the last entry, The New York Burger since I've never been a fan of the combination of a fried egg and beef...I guess that combo of coagulated white and meat is just not my thing.

So, it's on to the next and final entry of The California Burger in a couple of weeks' time....which brings up the question of what would be some other possible "state" burgers. I think the Illinois Burger (Chicago, home of deep-dish pizza and ribs) and the Louisiana Burger (Cajun cuisine) are absolutely viable next steps. Probably down at the bottom would be the Alaska Burger (arctic char in a bun? uh, no) and the Vermont Burger (in Japan, Vermont stands for apple-and-honey curry...a crime against culinary humanity).

Friday February 26, 1:46 p.m.

Well, for a few minutes, probably most of Japan stood still and crowded around their televisions anywhere and everywhere....in their homes, offices, restaurants and perhaps in front of store windows in Akiba. They were watching the showdown....only in Japan could two lithe female skaters could elicit the sort of hyperbole usually meant for championship boxers or NFL teams in The Super Bowl.

For several months, the media in both Japan and Korea have been crazy reporting about the exploits of Mao Asada and Yu-na Kim...if they were Klingon, there would've already been a song written about them to drink over their Rokeg Blood Pie and Gagh. And now the party's over.

It was pretty much expected amongst the masses that Kim would get the Gold Medal. Her James Bond routine had both artistic and technical merit in spades. Well, she just about splatted the competition into paste right now...scored tens of points ahead of Mao. Mao did her best but artistically, she has a ways to go yet. So, to Mao goes Silver. No shame in that. And I think things worked out as best as they could realistically. Kim deservedly gets her Gold, Mao gets the Silver for being technically perfect, and Joannie Rochette of Canada gets the Bronze.

Now, come the days-long analyses on morning TV.

Thursday February 25, 5:45 p.m.

Being a Trekkie, it was interesting to actually see a rerun of "Boston Legal" on cable, which means seeing William Shatner as the zany Denny Crane. This is a cheerfully debauched old guy who could be mistaken as the younger brother of Jabba The Hutt, except for the hair. Then, I later see an old "Star Trek" episode, "The Tholian Web", with the leaner, far more heroic Shatner as Captain Kirk.

Keeping on the same theme but on a darker tone, Walter "Chekov" Koenig's son is missing. And the background doesn't sound too good. Apparently, the son has been pretty depressed recently, and departed his L.A. apartment after having sold all of his possessions. Not gonna predict anything yet, though.

Thursday February 25, 1:22 p.m.

Well, Canada managed to steamroller past the Russians in hockey just now. Final score: 7-3. And Vancouver is a very happy place to be. Now, if we can just win two more games... Hockey is not a popular sport by any means in Japan, so somewhat regrettably we expat Canadians will have to rely on what scraps we can get from various sources. If we are very lucky, we may get live coverage of the final in the wee hours.

Finished with Grandma FON about an hour ago. Her memory was faltering a bit but the drive was still there.

Thursday February 25, 11:26 a.m.

The balminess continues. It's gonna go up to 17 degrees C in The Big Sushi, but then the rains will start coming from tomorrow. However, at least, the cedar pollen will get washed out from the air when they do come in. Yep, hay fever has arrived once more to plague the population. I did take my medicine, though.

Was lucky to have been able to get The Hawaiian Burger from McD's last night for dinner. This time, I was by myself in trying the 3rd in the Big America series of burgers from The Golden Arches. I'd already gotten some background on the burger...it's basically styled from a local Hawaiian fast food known as loco moco...a big meat patty slathered with sauce and a fried egg, all put on rice. I was never all that fond of having a fried egg put on any sort of meat, although I make a very big exception for Eggs Benedict. It was kinda weird, therefore, to be sinking my teeth through several millimetres of coagulated egg white before hitting the patty. Not too bad, though, and it was fairly big.

The TV commercials have been getting a lot of airplay...all to the tune of "Footloose" by Kenny Loggins. The 80s will never die in Japan.

Just have 3 today. I should have Grandma FON in a few minutes...she's running a bit late. Then, much later on I've got The Carolinan followed by Mr. TOEFL.

Wednesday February 24, 8:50 p.m.

Well, this is the end of a pretty relaxing day. Just had 001 although I've been here since 12 noon. Basically, I've been popping away at the Internet. 001 had her usual ski trip up to Hokkaido. This time, she and her cronies skiied away in Furano, and she got me those famous Marusei Butter Cookies with the cream and raisins which promise to increase my cholesterol by about a thousand degrees.

However, we had our tea session with these things to the left of me. These are yatsuhashi...basically, bean paste-filled pasta-like envelopes which come from Kyoto. They're a delicacy in Japan, and I'm a pretty big fan of them. The ones in the box here are trendy little variations with the pink ones being sakura-flavoured while the green ones are matcha. The usual ones are beige in color and dusted in kinako, a powdery spice, most reminiscent of cinnamon. As with cinnamon, there are supporters and detractors, but I'm one of the former. I actually knew a student back at the ol' school whose last name was Yatsuhashi, and she confessed that she was probably related to one of the family responsible for the production of these confections. The fact that she is also from Kyoto cements that theory.

Well, I'm basically done here, but I do have to mention that as far as I know, it seems as if the Women's Figure Skating has gone accordingly. The Korean skater, Kim Yo-na is out in front while Mao Asada is just behind her by a point. As much as I want to see Mao win the big prize, I don't think it'll be happening at these Olympics. Plus, my heart is going out to that Canadian skater who lost her mother tragically just a couple of days ago, just when she was about to skate her heart out to her parents from Montreal. Nothing sadder than that.

I've joined another community on Mixi for a singer by the name of Mariya Takeuchi. I can probably say that she can be called the Queen of J-AOR.

Anyways, I'm gonna see if I can grab that Hawaiian Burger at McDonalds before I head on home.

Wednesday February 24, 3:32 p.m.

It's been an interesting week. I had a very stacked Monday, and will probably do so for the foreseeable future, with 7.5 hours' worth of teaching. Basically, I'm looking at leaving the apartment at 6:30 a.m. and coming home at the stroke of midnight. I had Cozy for his usual 8 a.m. lesson. But then Swank is back in the saddle again requesting 2.5 hours per lesson in Roppongi Hills. I'd been worried about how such a long haul would go. But the first session at least went quite swimmingly. It may have been quite Spring-like outside for the past few days but still not warm enough to merit sitting in the outdoor table area for 25 minutes, let alone 2.5 hours, so we had our class in the Espresso Americano, a slightly more swankier cafe than Starbucks. Swank kept things going very well about her Eiken scores and on other topics so that the 2+ hours sped by. I can only hope that this continues.

Then, it was the usual 90 minutes of fun and games with SIL followed by the first official class with Miss HGL (happy-go-lucky) who just seems to be happy to be alive. For a very long day, the students made things very easy for me. Even The Medicine Man, who is considerably more mute though a very nice guy, kept things going fairly smoothly.

Yesterday, after my session and lunch with The Beehive, I did my annual visit to the Ichikawa Tax Office in Onigoe to pick up my income-and-expenditures sheet. I just mixed up one syllable in my Japanese request and two officers there were left flabbergasted. And I felt like a dumb tourist with a map. Well, at least, I got two copies of it...perhaps so that I won't have to ask them again next year. Anyways, I'll be getting my taxes done this weekend.

My Tuesday nights are also pretty packed now since my juku schedule is now nearly filled up, except for the 6-7 hour. Happy to see that Mr. White is back to his jolly self and that Sugar & Spice are still enjoying the lessons although I think some of the stuff I'm using may be a bit too tough for high school kids. The Milds are fine as always. And then there is my newest student, Mr. Nice Guy. He can haphazardly string sentences together but his English is kinda like a car put together with string instead of nuts, bolts and welds. Gonna be working rather intensively with him, which must be fine with him although he's a friendly and/but intense fellow. The boss pointed out that he IS from Osaka. Anyways, I think the early part of the week will probably have me reaching for the vitamin drinks.

Actually, I just have one lone class today, and it is my veteran, 001. I only had one other lesson with The Music Man, but he dotakyan'ed to next week. And even The Restauranteur has had to cancel her lesson this Friday since she's gotta go to another service involving her recently departed uncle.

As for The Olympics, things have settled into a good rhythm. We were able to reap 3 medals from the first week, so basically the monkey is off our backs for at least another 4 years. However, all eyes are now on the ice rink to see who will win the battle between South Korea's Kim Yo-na and Japan's Mao Asada. Both are 19, virtually the same height and going for the same medal. You couldn't get a more dramatic showdown than this. But I think when all is said and done, it'll be Kim who'll get the Gold, unless she suffers a major catastrophe.

Wednesday February 24, 3:14 p.m.

That emblem to the right is that of Toyota, one of the more famous logos on the planet and, along with the company itself, a source of national pride. However, that logo is now the corporate equivalent of the Scarlet Letter. The president of Toyota, Akio Toyoda, is in Washington D.C., literally and figuratively being put on the carpet to answer questions from a US government panel about the problems that the Prius and some of the other lines of cars have been suffering.

The news has been so big in Japan that it has rivaled even the news about the titanic battle between Kim Yo-Na and Mao Asada in the Women's Figure Skating at the Olympics. The showdown, though, will be between middle-aged folks, not young and pretty athletes. Still the results in the committee room, instead of on the ice, will potentially have far more resounding consequences.

Mrs. Alp of The Beehive yesterday morning, despite her laryngitis, was pretty vocal about the fact the Japanese people themselves have to step up to the plate and defend their automobile company. She kinda struck me like Jimmy Stewart's "Mr. Smith" heading up to Capitol Hill. The rest of the ladies nodded in sage agreement, although they wondered aloud what they could do. And I have to say that I also feel for some of the victims of these cars. Please imagine being behind the wheel of a recent Toyota when it suddenly pulls a Stephen King "Christine" and accelerates without your say-so. That would be true terror, not the literary kind. Perhaps, pride and jobs may be lost not only in Japan but also in Toyota's subcontractors in the States, but some of these families have lost loved ones, so I can't really join Mrs. Alp's caravan.

There was also an article in the paper this morning about how limited Mr. Toyoda's testimony will be in front of the Congressional representatives. Akio Toyoda is indeed the President of Toyota but he is also a figurehead. The big cheeses of corporations and ministries are there for show, but the real movers and shakers are at least a level below...the vice-presidents or parliamentary vice-ministers or even lower. The American pols may be wringing their hands in frustration as they try to get through to a fellow who has limited English fluency and an inability to really make much of a dent in policy.

At least Mao and Yo-Na can control their destinies to a certain extent.

Saturday February 20, 4:50 p.m.

Well, Japan can say that it now has 3 times the total number of medals won back in 2006. Daisuke Takahashi, male figure skater and potential future "An-An" model, got a Bronze for his efforts yesterday. He became the very male skater to actually hit the podium in Japanese Olympic history which makes it all the more sweeter for him. So, of course, he and the other two skaters have been serenaded by all of the TV stations for the past 24 hours.

Over in the rest of the world, everyone else was glued for about 10 minutes when Tiger Woods made his abject apology over all that kerfuffle over the last two months of 2009. Some of the folks on Twitter...or "twits" as I would call them...stated that Woods has no reason to apologize and we have no business in butting in this personal life. Well, yep, I would agree that if he were a normal person, he shouldn't have had to do what he did last night and we shouldn't have had to hear any of the sordidness. However, he is most definitely NOT a normal person, no matter how he or we would like him to be. He just happens to be the most talented golf player on the planet, he is a celeb, and he is a publicly known person. As much as he, and a lot of us, would wish that he didn't have to step up to the podium and basically dress himself down for his sins, being a public person means that, like it or not, he has to answer for things that the vast majority of us can relievedly sweep under the rug. I know it's not fair but it's frankly the price for fame and fortune.

In any case, I just had The Intellectual and The PA today. Pretty smooth going, and The PA aced her Final test for the textbook. She can go onto the next book, and it looks pretty good that she's gonna be renewing with us...which will make the bossman happy. Will be heading home in a few minutes to cook up some dinner.

Friday February 20, 4:35 p.m.

Yesterday, I continued to fulfill that one New Year's Resolution to try new things and go to new places. So, I decided to make the 65-minute train up to Saitama City where I could visit the world's only John Lennon Museum...placed right in Saitama Super Arena. Now, I've got no idea why a museum devoted to one of the 20th-century's premier singer-songwriters was installed in a gigantic soccer stadium. The area surrounding the arena and the closest train station, JR Saitama Shintoshin is an urban concrete jungle, right out of "Logan's Run"...nothing remotely resembling the Liverpudlian skyline. For that matter, I'm not sure why it was even built in the wilds of Saitama. When Lennon was alive, he, Yoko and Sean would head over to Japan on vacation, but to the resort area of Karuizawa (kinda like Banff, Alberta), not to a satellite town on the Keihin-Tohoku Line.

But I digress. I went into the arena where the museum was located. There was a collage of John's photos all the way from childhood to middle age while various Beatles tunes were playing over the speakers. I went up to the 4th floor where Reception was and gave my 1500 yen. Not too many people there but it was indeed a Friday morning. However, I also think that the museum has probably been rather starved of customers for some time now since the announcement was made late last year that the JLM would be closing its doors for the last time this September.

As part of the tour, me and the three other visitors had to sit on a 7-minute mini-bio concering the granny-glassed Beatle which quickly summed up Lennon's life, before we could start the walkabout through the museum. And then it was a pretty straightforward stroll going through the various phases of his life: sad childhood, Beatles, Yoko Ono, retired househusband and then his work on "Double Fantasy" before his untimely end in 1980. It was pretty interesting although I'm not a huge Beatles fan, let alone a fan of John Lennon. The museum itself has been running for about 10 years...a good run, to be sure. But I'm not surprised that the museum will finally be closing up shop...the exhibit was obviously professionally done and with love but, as I've said, it's a pretty straightforward telling. There's no real need to see it more than once, and I couldn't see anyone except for the most rabid of fans making their way across the Pacific, and I think those folks had already made the pilgrimage early on in the 21st century.

Thursday February 18, 3:33 p.m.

In the lull of a donut hole right now. I had Grandma FON earlier this morning...still tons of energy for a 78-year-old; peppered me with enough questions to last a whole class. And then later on tonight, I have Mr. TOEFL.

And therefore, I went down to Kinokuniya in Shinjuku Times Square to pick up yet another TOEFL text with accompanying CDs to sate his hunger for dry test runs. I finally got to use that much belated point card that the bookstore has finally gotten to undertake. Picked up the text, plus the issue of "Entertainment Weekly" covering the Oscars. The big question is whether any movie will trump "Avatar"; I just want to know if there will ever be an Oscar show that will be entertaining for 3 hours.

I also picked up a couple of cakes from New York's Gramercy in the depachika section of Takashimaya since both Ray and La Fille are celebrating birthdays...the latter one enjoying her big day today. I would've have already presented the sweets to the sweets, but they're both in a fairly serious meeting with the bossman right now.

Was rather surprised to wake up this morning to see a thin blanket of snow on the ground and roofs, and flurries blowing all over the place in my neighbourhood. Looks like Tokyo got an unprecedented 2nd accumulative snowfall in one season. It truly is an unusual Winter. However, pretty much all of it is gone now since the sun has come up.

The Olympics have settled into their daily groove. No more medals for Japan since they clinched a Silver and a Bronze from their Speed Skating force, but it looks like Bad Boy Kaz Kokubo may be making up for his supposed faux pas in the Snowboard Half-Pipe. Canada's picked up another Silver from their Women's Short Track.

Since I've got nada until the juku lessons tomorrow night, I'm thinking about visiting the John Lennon Musueum in Saitama...just for the heck of it, and because the place will be closing down after about a decade at the end of this year.

Wednesday February 17, 8:49 p.m.

Finished up with 001. Basically, it was just a comedy act between the two of us; no text whatsoever. I think sometimes that such classes make for a good palate cleanser. And yep, she's still addicted to Aiba-kun from Arashi. She'll be heading off for another ski pilgrimage up to Hokkaido this weekend. Must be nice to be loaded with time and money.

Got yet another belated Valentine's Day present from Grandma Dynamite. She apparently had come in during my lesson with 001 to drop off some Godiva's Chocolate. She won't be coming in for a long while this time....maybe after Golden Week in May since she has to tend to her ailing daughter. That list for White Day just keeps getting longer...

Droopy had her very first lesson with the bossman himself since I was busy (gratefully so) with 001. Looks like Speedy has the better touch with her since she apparently said that she actually enjoyed the lesson. I'll be very happy to tip my hat to the better teacher. And as it turns out, she'll be having Speedy on Tuesday next week...the day that I'm not here at the school.

And I am getting hungry since I haven't had dinner yet....best be off.

Wednesday February 17, 5:54 p.m.

The CEO was as vivacious as usual. Although the actual material isn't quite that engaging, the student herself helps things go along smoothly.

Got some further belated Valentine's Day stuff from Grandma Enka and Mrs. Speedy. Two more to add to the White Day list. At this rate, I can likely include diabetes as a reason for death.

I read that the Olivia Newton-John tune, "Physical" was rated as the sexiest song in history. Pure and chaste Olivia trumping Madonna and Lady Gaga? Well, not her perhaps but the song itself. Still it's a bit hard to believe that a 1981 pop song could outdo some of the racier stuff from recent years. Just remember my old high school buddies bringing over the album to my place and playing the record over and over again until I was ready to boycott the Aussie.

Wednesday February 17, 12:10 p.m.

Ironically, what was once a Hump Day during my week is now a pretty empty one. I've only got The CEO and 001 today...although The CEO will keep me on my toes. I also received a surprise phone call from none other than Swank...another high-level talker on the same level as The CEO. I haven't seen her since the early Fall but she wants to start up those Monday lessons in Roppongi Hills, although I'm pretty sure we won't be outside this time. It's been pretty chilly out there, and we even got some wet snow last night in Chiba.

Speedy has to teach that really Droopy lady I had the model lesson for nearly a couple of weeks back. I hope the bossman has better luck than I do. I will probably know what's happening by the loudness of the silence in the next room.

Actually now, my Mondays and Tuesdays will serve as the Hump Days....pretty logical considering they're at the beginning of the work week. Now that Swank is coming back into the fold, I'll end up teaching as much as 7 hours' worth of classes; Swank has asked for a 2.5-hour session! And my juku lessons have definitely gotten a lot busier since Mr. White has returned and with the addition of Sugar & Spice and Mr. Nice Guy to my evening slate. The thing is, though, The Ace will be finishing off his time with the juku at the end of this month since he'll be going onto new and better things. He and I had a good run...around 3 years.

I'm rather happy to exclaim that Japan managed to double its entire medal total of 2006 Turin in one event. Yesterday, two of the speed skaters grabbed Silver and Bronze behind the South Korean winner. Those South Koreans pretty much own the event.

I did want to catch the Women's Snowboard Cross this morning. I ended up waking up at the slightly more reasonable hour of 5 a.m. rather than 3 a.m. for the Men's Cross, but the Women's event was plagued by several holds due to fog, and a lot of the athletes were just tumbling all over the course. By the time things finally got settled, NHK had to veer away from live coverage to give the news. C'est dommage, but I'm pretty sure YouTube will help out in that cause later on.

Tuesday February 16, 1:49 p.m.

Being a child of two worlds (sorry, I did lift that from "Star Trek"), I'm rather lucky to say that I can cover all the angles by supporting both Canada and Japan. And it looks like Canada is holding up its end of the bargain after 4 full days of competition. Jennifer Heil got her Silver in Women's Moguls, a fellow by the name of Bilodeau got Gold for the Men's Moguls while we got another Silver in Snowboard Cross early this morning. And I believe there was a Bronze in there somewhere.

Meanwhile, Japan has still been trying to get a 2-ton gorilla off its back since the Turin Games of 2006 when its Olympic team could only manage to secure one Gold via Shizuka Arakawa in Women's Figure Skating. One of the country's big hopes, Aiko Uemura, was hoping to get any sort of medal after 4 tries, in Women's Moguls but just slipped into 4th place after the very final entrant from Canada got the Gold. And so far, Japan's splash into the Games has caused very few ripples so far. Looks like everyone's gonna be hoping for the two MAs: Miki Ando and Mao Asada in Figure Skating.

I guess even Japan is not immune to bad boys in sports. One dreadelocked and nose-pierced snowboarder by the name of Kazuhiro Kokubo has ruffled some major feathers, mostly within the media, by being himself. He landed in Vancouver wearing his official Olympic suit as if it were a high school uniform worn by a hip-hop punk, and managed to alienate the reporters by having that blase attitude that some celebs have taken during a press conference. Now, I've got no problems with him looking like Eddy Grant...after all, snowboarding is a hip-hop sport; but I think he needed to give a bit more respect to the Olympics. Having said that, the Japanese media has once again overreacted over a fellow who's not an evil dude. Yep, he needs some attitude readjustment...which I think he got a taste of via the JOC leader, former Olympian and current pol Seiko Hashimoto...but I think he just hasn't been exposed to public relations as of yet. He's been given some punishment by not being allowed into the Opening Ceremonies, but then I don't think he really cares about any of that pomp and circumstance. And if he manages to secure a medal later this week, then I think all of that media witchhunting will go out the window.

Tuesday February 16, 1:41 p.m.

Well, the Vancouver Games are finally here. I've been keeping up a steady viewership via NHK and the commercial stations. The opening ceremonies were in keeping with past openings...the happy entrance of the athletes, some fun moments, some boring ones, and some cheesy ones (hello, Nelly).

Have to admit that it was a fine moment to give that tribute and one-minute silence for that Georgian luger who had died so horrifically in the training accident.

As for the musical interludes, the official theme by Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado was the usual "inspirational" pop pap and instantly forgettable. I much rather enjoyed hearing Joni Mitchell's softer version of "Both Sides Now" and K.D. Lang's take on "Hallelujah". Of course, NHK cut those two songs in the rerun and kept the Adams and Furtado thing....I swear that the latter was mincing on the stage as if she were charging 10 cents a dance.

And to see The Great One himself take the final torch pretty much ended any debate on who's the most beloved hockey player, Gretzky or Lemieux.

Friday February 12, 1:00 p.m.

Doing this...my 3301st entry...from the Kinko's in Shinjuku. Wouldn't do this usually because of the price but since I'll be away from a computer for 4 days, I felt I had to make sure I didn't get any sudden emergency requests from Cozy or The Corporation.

A happy birthday to my father...turning the big 73 today.

Well, I was all set to attend that do that The Bohemian had been itching me to go tomorrow with his Mixi crew...when I saw the price tag: 5,000 yen. Sorry, just a bit pricey for me right now, especially with guys I don't even know. Heck even with guys I do know well, I would be somewhat hesitant...but then my guys wouldn't go to such places in the first place. So, I've had to give my regrets, and I'm pretty sure The Bohemian will be calling me up tomorrow or tonight to change my mind. However, I did send The Bohemian a counter-proposal to just meet for drinks with his buddies in the future.

The Olympics officially launch tomorrow morning JST....still not sure about the weather there. Pretty darn balmy on the slopes...just wonder if that could translate into more wipeout conditions; not something the skiers will take too kindly to. Heck, Tokyo is experiencing more wintry weather than Vancouver. Some places in the Kanto got hit with snow again last night.

Saw The Carolinan yesterday at the Shinjuku Starbucks. She was back on an emotionally more even keel. She and her sister gave me the annual Valentine's Day tribute...which was probably why she wanted a lesson on a holiday. I'll be back there later on today to see The New Yorker and The Bow...and then I'll catch my usual Friday night folks at the juku. I saw The Bass earlier today in Funabashi. Strangely enough, this will end up being my busiest day this week. However, I'll be looking forward to a full weekend off from tomorrow.

Wednesday February 10, 4:56 p.m.

You gotta hand it to those food producers up in Hokkaido. They know how to market their products. Bay, before she left us for good, had left us a little present in the form of a plastic tube containing balls of Japanese purin (basically the bastardization of the word "pudding" but really custard); there they are right above the text. They resemble tiny version of those large clear sacks of mozzarella cheese that show up on The Food Network. They come in these little plastic sacks which you poke with a toothpick to release the globes of purin and then you put some caramel sauce on them.

Looks like the Valentine Day's parade is rolling on. I got my third package of chocolates via Miss Prissy today. I'd half-expected the gift since she did the same thing last year. So, I've got The Beehive, Sugar & Spice and Miss Prissy on my White Day list next month.

I realized that after today, I won't be coming into Speedy's for about 5 days due to the national holiday that noone remembers (it's actually Constitution Day...Japan's Birthday) tomorrow. To those who celebrate The 4th of July and Canada Day, it must sound rather shocking and unconscionable that this day is largely seen as merely a good excuse to sleep in by millions. However, when one considers the still-sore sticking point about Japan's Imperial past and how even the flag and national anthem are considered controversial, I think most people would just appreciate the holiday as a day to sack out.

Did catch an early Jude Law movie today by the title of "Immortality". It was an interesting flick about a vampire who looks anything but, just appearing in a relatively low-key mystery.

Wednesday February 10, 12:54 p.m.

Forgot to mention that we did have a 24-hour period of Spring yesterday. It went all the way up to 18 degrees C. I could doff off the heavy coat and longjohns, and sport a lighter jacket. Back to reality today...more on the order of 6 degrees, and in fact, we may even get some snow tomorrow...stuff that should really be heading over to Vancouver for this weekend.

The juku boss was somewhat less than her usual cheerful self last night when she greeted me at the door. Apparently, the accountant taking care of her taxes had given her a bit of a fire-and-brimstone lecture about her juku business being in the red and that the boss needs to shape up or ship out. Plus, the other teacher at the juku....the one that I hardly ever see...got rather cranky at her and a mother of one of the kids over some sort of matter.

The boss asked me what I thought, and I just answered by asking her whether she was operating her juku for money or for fun. As I thought, she answered the latter although she would like a bit of profit from the business that she's been running for almost a quarter of a century. Of course, that's fine with me, and so in that case, I would probably just throw out 90% of her accountant's advice. Accountants are supposed to give tally up the numbers and give advice when necessary, and they certainly don't like to hear their clients say that they just want to make just an teensy-weensy bit of money for what is supposed to be a fun side thing. The beancounters really just want to work with the serious entrepreneurs and regular corporate types, so I'm sure Miss Fire-and Brimstone was rolling her eyes back repeatedly during the boss' audit.

However, what brought the juku boss out of her funk and back to her happy-go-lucky mood was when I talked of Speedy. Like her, he had recently been given a royal chewing out by the school's two investors for not doing nearly enough to keep the school out of the financial tailspin it's currently in. So, she felt that she was not truly alone. And she isn't. Speedy and the juku boss are two of a kind...both of them want to have a business but not for the tons of net profit but just because they want to provide clients with a homey, happy service. And that's fine with me, and that's why I joined them.

Tuesday February 9, 1:36 p.m.

Should come up with a name for those two high school sisters at the juku. I guess Sugar & Spice will have to do. Sugar will be the younger while Spice is the older. Sugar is the one who plays the sax and has a slightly better hold on her English whereas Spice is holding down two jobs in a tonkatsu and ramen restaurant.

Tuesday February 9, 1:28 p.m.

Well, got word from The Croatian, my proofreading client in Eastern Europe, that he managed to get top honours in his test. He made sure that I would share some responsibility in his good forture which I appreciate. He even sent me some money....not a heck of a lot but still every little bit helps.

Read in this morning's "Japan Times" about how yesterday's Super Bowl is starting to shape up to be a modern classic with The New Orleans Saints finally shedding its "Aints" image. Would have loved to have seen the game although I'm not an NFL fan by any measure. I guess YouTube will have to suffice my curiosity.

Got my first Valentine's Day gift of the season from Mrs. Tee from The Beehive. It's chocolate-covered yuzu peels, and the bunch of us even shared a box of Godiva Chocolate Cookies. It was as sinfully delectable as I'd predicted. The chocolatiers on the street and in the depachika are working overtime this week as the 14th approaches.

I've got my expanded schedule at the juku tonight, although ironically, my veteran students, The Milds, will not be there. They're traveling off in Italy this week. However, I've got those high school students, Mr. White and the new guy, Mr. Nice Guy.

Monday February 8, 10:42 p.m.

Well, Mr. TOEFL showed up for another rousing battle with the time clock. He did pretty well this time around. But as for The Medicine Man...well, he just didn't show up. Ray called him a few times but has gotten no answer. He only has 4 lessons left on his current contract and since he is a highly-paid doctor, I'm wondering if he has decided to just forfeit the rest of his classes and call it a day. Believe me, considering how low key he is in class, I wouldn't be too surprised.

Anyways, I've sent off the translation to Cozy. And I'm ready to call it a day myself.

Monday February 8, 7:47 p.m.

Well, just 5 days away from the Vancouver Olympics. They've got the athletes, the facilities and the media...now if they could only get some snow. Yep, the ski hills are lacking snow. Could be embarrassing if all that white stuff they had to carry from 200 km away were to melt on Friday night. Still, I'm lucky in that I can root for two countries, my homeland of Canada and my adopted home of Japan. Of course, I would love to see Team Canada get another hockey gold like they did in 2002, and certainly, it would be nice if Japan can get more than 1 medal (although that was gold). After the news from the last week, the locals here can sure use some good stuff. Asashoryu leaves sumo in disgrace and Toyota has to recall its Prius (or should I say, "pry-us"(as in "pry us from this wreckage") in pretty much the same state.

I already feel like I went a few rounds with either Mike Tyson or the Kameda Bros. I've had to get stuff done up for some of the new students at the juku, take a last look-see at the latest translation for Cozy, get a bunch of stuff typed up for Mr. TOEFL and have to deal with some more red tape from The Corporation. I would be looking forward to the holiday Thursday except that I have to teach The Carolinan and she wasn't in a great mood last time.