Friday February 1, 4:32 p.m.
January has already gone into history. At this rate, I should be looking forward to my cremation in no time.
Since I only had The Yogist yesterday, I was able to have an early night at home. I was finally able to peruse "The Maltese Falcon". Very grateful to have gotten the North American version from my brother since the Japanese have been selling the cut-rate models for just 500 yen with very little in the way of extras. The one I got is chock filled with stuff: along with the commentary and trailers, I also got the previous two inferior versions of "The Maltese Falcon", along with a blooper reel (yep...neither Dick Clark nor "Star Trek" weren't the ones who came up with the concept of bloopers) of various actors in the Warner Bros. universe screwing lines up and swearing (a debonair James Stewart whispering "Son of a bitch!"...classic), a documentary on the movie itself, and a TNT special about Humphrey Bogart's movie trailers. And it was pretty nifty of the DVD producers to arrange things so that it felt like the original movie experience at a theatre of the 40s with the trailers, a 15-minute musical short, old Bugs Bunny cartoons and even a newsreel highlight.
As for the Bogie classic itself, I'd never seen "The Maltese Falcon" before although its reputation, of course, preceded it for years. After seeing it last night, it made for an interesting comparison piece with the other movie that Humphrey is famous for, "Casablanca". The latter movie's Rick Blaine is a hard-bitten cynic who finds redemption at the end. In "Falcon", Sam Spade isn't just a cynic but he's an ice-cold son-of-a-bitch leading around other ruthless characters; and Spade doesn't find redemption at the end. Everyone gets sent up the river but Spade ends up in his own emotional prison...a lifetime sentence. Film noir, indeed.
But for the movie that started the film noir genre, I was struck by how light and comic some of the scenes came off. Even the music sounded sitcom-ish at times. It definitely deserves further viewing...with the commentary.
The other media piece I explored was the other present from my brother, the Chaz Jankel compilation, "My Occupation". It's definitely one for all those who love the disco/new wave stuff from the 70s/80s. Still kinda disappointed that the original version of "Questionnaire" wasn't included...just "Reve de Chevre" which is the stripped-down sliver version. Well, there's always the Japan-only release.
Just have The Ace for his half-hour tonight. Kinda wish that the boss would just have him come twice a month for an hour each, instead of the 4 half-hour lessons.
The big news last night was about the food poisoning cases that have been rolling through Japan over the last month due to tainted packages of frozen siu mai and gyoza dumplings....imported from China. Incredibly, the Chinese government has flown out of the starting gate to resolve things PDQ (considering the other major problem of moving all those citizens trapped in blizzards). Perhaps, the fact that the Beijing Olympics is on the slate this year may have been an incentive.
And that supposed mano-a-womano smackdown at The Kodak Theatre in LA between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton never happened. The debate was so cordial and sedate, all it was missing was a silver tea set and a string quartet. Still, history was indeed made with the first African-American and the first woman to be in such a forum to be nominated for President from the Democratic side. Should be interesting come Super Tuesday.
Just a place to deposit my thoughts on life here in the Kanto and about anything else that sticks to my walls.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Thursday January 31, 12:42 p.m.
It's Bill Day...so had to pay off a few of them, including the biannual one for home insurance. Plus, I still gotta pay off the premiums for NHI and City Tax. Not feeling too financially stable right now.
Came to work seeing what looked like Speedy and The Admin having an argument. Actually, the two were having a mutual venting session over an unreasonable customer...happens from time to time. I just politely ignored them and had lunch. Those Hokkaido sausages I got from Ms. Travel the other day certainly hit the stop. She and two others from The Beehive had gone up north to the island to visit Ms. Perth. They had a good time playing in the snow and noshing on the local delicacies.
002 is back in from the cold. She confirmed her lessons for her regular Tuesday afternoon slots. She should have some stories to tell next week.
Those debating stages in California must be looking pretty empty right now, now that a couple of more folks have bitten the dust. Rudy Giuliani with his WTF? campaign strategy quickly threw in the towel after that embarrassing defeat in Florida and I just heard that John Edwards has also left the race. So, that Democratic debate tomorrow will be quite the arena for a smackdown between Hillary and Barack...mano a womano. Meanwhile, the Republican debate looked a bit like the ESPN newsdesk with four guys still in there. However, John McCain must be riding high in the saddle right now, although he still has to get those conservatives.
Anyways, The Yogist should be here any minute....
It's Bill Day...so had to pay off a few of them, including the biannual one for home insurance. Plus, I still gotta pay off the premiums for NHI and City Tax. Not feeling too financially stable right now.
Came to work seeing what looked like Speedy and The Admin having an argument. Actually, the two were having a mutual venting session over an unreasonable customer...happens from time to time. I just politely ignored them and had lunch. Those Hokkaido sausages I got from Ms. Travel the other day certainly hit the stop. She and two others from The Beehive had gone up north to the island to visit Ms. Perth. They had a good time playing in the snow and noshing on the local delicacies.
002 is back in from the cold. She confirmed her lessons for her regular Tuesday afternoon slots. She should have some stories to tell next week.
Those debating stages in California must be looking pretty empty right now, now that a couple of more folks have bitten the dust. Rudy Giuliani with his WTF? campaign strategy quickly threw in the towel after that embarrassing defeat in Florida and I just heard that John Edwards has also left the race. So, that Democratic debate tomorrow will be quite the arena for a smackdown between Hillary and Barack...mano a womano. Meanwhile, the Republican debate looked a bit like the ESPN newsdesk with four guys still in there. However, John McCain must be riding high in the saddle right now, although he still has to get those conservatives.
Anyways, The Yogist should be here any minute....
Wednesday January 30, 10:49 p.m.
Finished up with Medicine Man's first official lesson. Man, he's a shy, reticent one. The bossman took his Polaroid (as we usually do with all of our students)...he looked like he had just gone to a family funeral. We gotta get this guy some major social activity. But we also found out that MM hails from my family's neck of the woods in Wakayama Prefecture...hope he remembers that when it comes to renewal time.
Speaking of MM, I actually got e-mail from one half of M+M...I'd almost forgotten about those two ladies. It's been several months since I heard from them. Looks like they want to resume our conversation again. Well, now that I've been drafted for active Saturday service at Speedy's, it's gonna be a bit difficult to schedule...but I did suggest February 23.
That talk about Kanako Wada got me looking for the original singer of "I Should Be So Lucky" (finally got the title right)...namely Kylie Minogue. Reading up on the Wiki on this song brought out some party-trivia worthy nuggets such as that it was apparently written from the foundation of Pachelbel's "Canon"...sure doesn't sound like it to me. Also, the boys Stock, Aitken and Waterman whipped it up in about 20 minutes based on how unlucky Minogue seemed to be waiting outside their studio.
Then, I discovered from the Japanese-language Wiki on Wada herself that she's been pretty much retired from the biz for the past 17 years since marrying another old folkie, Michael Maki, who was responsible for the hit "Bara ga Saita" (A Rose Has Bloomed) decades ago. So, now this singer has another link with the Australian chanteuse: same pop song, same initials.
Finished up with Medicine Man's first official lesson. Man, he's a shy, reticent one. The bossman took his Polaroid (as we usually do with all of our students)...he looked like he had just gone to a family funeral. We gotta get this guy some major social activity. But we also found out that MM hails from my family's neck of the woods in Wakayama Prefecture...hope he remembers that when it comes to renewal time.
Speaking of MM, I actually got e-mail from one half of M+M...I'd almost forgotten about those two ladies. It's been several months since I heard from them. Looks like they want to resume our conversation again. Well, now that I've been drafted for active Saturday service at Speedy's, it's gonna be a bit difficult to schedule...but I did suggest February 23.
That talk about Kanako Wada got me looking for the original singer of "I Should Be So Lucky" (finally got the title right)...namely Kylie Minogue. Reading up on the Wiki on this song brought out some party-trivia worthy nuggets such as that it was apparently written from the foundation of Pachelbel's "Canon"...sure doesn't sound like it to me. Also, the boys Stock, Aitken and Waterman whipped it up in about 20 minutes based on how unlucky Minogue seemed to be waiting outside their studio.
Then, I discovered from the Japanese-language Wiki on Wada herself that she's been pretty much retired from the biz for the past 17 years since marrying another old folkie, Michael Maki, who was responsible for the hit "Bara ga Saita" (A Rose Has Bloomed) decades ago. So, now this singer has another link with the Australian chanteuse: same pop song, same initials.
Wednesday January 30, 8:29 p.m.
Well, I guess I'm not the only one who appreciates the qualities of one Kanako Wada. I just checked out a few homepages and YouTube. Apparently, there's quite a rabid following for the lass...all of them through her contributions to the anime "Kimagure Orange Road". But it seems as if none of the comments mention the compilation album that I just got a few days ago. So, if any of them are reading this, I'll let them know that it does exist. Just check out Amazon or even come out here. Plus, they'll be happy to know that the KOR ballad is the very first track.
Nice to know that she's loved somewhere...
Well, I guess I'm not the only one who appreciates the qualities of one Kanako Wada. I just checked out a few homepages and YouTube. Apparently, there's quite a rabid following for the lass...all of them through her contributions to the anime "Kimagure Orange Road". But it seems as if none of the comments mention the compilation album that I just got a few days ago. So, if any of them are reading this, I'll let them know that it does exist. Just check out Amazon or even come out here. Plus, they'll be happy to know that the KOR ballad is the very first track.
Nice to know that she's loved somewhere...
Wednesday January 30, 7:54 p.m.
Just have that model lesson student-turned-regular student for the 9:30 lesson. Yep, a bit of a drag to have to come out here for just one night class but that's the nature of my occupation. I've already got a friend who's been tagged as The Doctor, so I'm naming this guy Medicine Man. He's a nice enough bloke but he's also as quiet as a church mouse; willing to learn, though.
It was one of those crosstown commutes that I have to do occasionally yesterday. I had The Beehive for their usual at Beckers yesterday morning before having to come here to Speedy's to teach The Nurse for one of her rare Tuesday afternoon classes. Then it was back to Chiba for the juku classes. Both Mild Jr. and The Bohemian were absent. I got that belated Xmas present from my brother. It had what I was hoping for...that Chaz Jankel CD "My Occupation" and a 3-disc Special Edition of Bogey's "The Maltese Falcon". This DVD is definitely a keeper. It not only has the definitive effort of Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor and Sydney Greenstreet, but also the first two versions including the more comedic version with Bette Davis titled "Satan Met A Lady".
As for the Best of Jankel, it has his hits of "Glad to Know You", a funky disco hit with some of the most Dadaist lyrics ever put to paper, along with the original "Ai No Corrida" and a chopped version of "Am I Honest With Myself, Really?"...and that still rates 8:34. I've got the extended version from his first album which spans 15 minutes. I knew that "Questionnaire" wouldn't be on the disc but I'm still a bit disappointed that it isn't present. But there's always the Japan release (if it ever gets over here) which always seems to include a bit more. And perhaps "Questionnaire" the album will be remastered.
I did listen to that Kanako Wada album during the afternoon. Very 80s...down to the cheesy synths. Recently, there has been a flood of these remastered discs featuring artists from 20-30 years ago. I've got a fraction of them in my nostalgia haze: PSY*S, Ruiko Kurahashi, Yoshie Kashiwabara. I guess the studios needed to let the ol' dogs out for accounting purposes, perhaps, since these discs have very little in the way of liner notes and the pics are just copies from previous albums. Still, I was surprised to hear that Kanako's cover of "So Lucky In Love" was given a bit more oomph.
I got e-mail from Skippy. Looks like she wants to undertake another burger trip. This time, the target is in Komazawa...west of Shibuya. It'll be great for Movie Buddy since he's virtually in the neighbourhood. Most likely, the latest invasion for ground beef will be during the next long weekend in February.
Just have that model lesson student-turned-regular student for the 9:30 lesson. Yep, a bit of a drag to have to come out here for just one night class but that's the nature of my occupation. I've already got a friend who's been tagged as The Doctor, so I'm naming this guy Medicine Man. He's a nice enough bloke but he's also as quiet as a church mouse; willing to learn, though.
It was one of those crosstown commutes that I have to do occasionally yesterday. I had The Beehive for their usual at Beckers yesterday morning before having to come here to Speedy's to teach The Nurse for one of her rare Tuesday afternoon classes. Then it was back to Chiba for the juku classes. Both Mild Jr. and The Bohemian were absent. I got that belated Xmas present from my brother. It had what I was hoping for...that Chaz Jankel CD "My Occupation" and a 3-disc Special Edition of Bogey's "The Maltese Falcon". This DVD is definitely a keeper. It not only has the definitive effort of Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor and Sydney Greenstreet, but also the first two versions including the more comedic version with Bette Davis titled "Satan Met A Lady".
As for the Best of Jankel, it has his hits of "Glad to Know You", a funky disco hit with some of the most Dadaist lyrics ever put to paper, along with the original "Ai No Corrida" and a chopped version of "Am I Honest With Myself, Really?"...and that still rates 8:34. I've got the extended version from his first album which spans 15 minutes. I knew that "Questionnaire" wouldn't be on the disc but I'm still a bit disappointed that it isn't present. But there's always the Japan release (if it ever gets over here) which always seems to include a bit more. And perhaps "Questionnaire" the album will be remastered.
I did listen to that Kanako Wada album during the afternoon. Very 80s...down to the cheesy synths. Recently, there has been a flood of these remastered discs featuring artists from 20-30 years ago. I've got a fraction of them in my nostalgia haze: PSY*S, Ruiko Kurahashi, Yoshie Kashiwabara. I guess the studios needed to let the ol' dogs out for accounting purposes, perhaps, since these discs have very little in the way of liner notes and the pics are just copies from previous albums. Still, I was surprised to hear that Kanako's cover of "So Lucky In Love" was given a bit more oomph.
I got e-mail from Skippy. Looks like she wants to undertake another burger trip. This time, the target is in Komazawa...west of Shibuya. It'll be great for Movie Buddy since he's virtually in the neighbourhood. Most likely, the latest invasion for ground beef will be during the next long weekend in February.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Monday January 28, 3:35 p.m.
Had my first lesson of the year with The Class Act this morning. Got a bit of a winfall as well via souvenirs. The Lady gave me a bit of tea from her latest foray into Hong Kong, and The Matron gave me a New York Times Crossword Calendar along with a bar of Lindt Chocolate with Cherry and Chili (!)...70% cacao...from Hawaii. Actually, The Lady gave us samples from her bar since she's not huge on sweets. I could only pick up the faintest hint of heat on my tongue, but then again I've been eating so much spicy food over the years that my tongue has gotten be part asbestos by now. The Matron even had an Elvis Calendar for SIL; I guess after all my talk on her about her love for The Pelvis, The Matron decided to pick something up for her. Ironically, I couldn't see SIL today due to some sort of doctor's appointment.
Since I had the extra time, I just did my first lunch at Wendy's in Shibuya before hitting Tower Records. Despite my financial conundrums, I did fire the gun and picked up a disc; it happens to be one of those 80s J-Pop artists who never really hit the big time (I seem to have a soft soft for these has-been and never-was chanteuses from 2 decades ago). The lady's name here is Kanako Wada, and the disc is a compilation of her hits. She had a minor hit almost 20 years ago with a jingle for some instant soup spaghetti called "Dreamin' Lady"; but otherwise, most of her fame came from theme tunes for anime, notably for "Kimagure Orange Road", or KOR as otaku like my friends in The Anime Court would say. Her voice is somewhere between the smokiness of a Kahori Kohiruimaki and the etherealness of a Reimy or Ruiko Kurahashi, other singers who didn't really hit the ranks of Seiko Matsuda or Akina Nakamori...but that's not exactly a slam against them. Wada also happens to be the first J-Pop singer to do a cover version of Kylie Minogue's first big hit, "I'm So Lucky In Love"; something to mention since current popsters Mihimaru GT have come out with their own version of the song.
Another cancellation to lessen my load. Mr. TOEIC, to noone's surprise, had to dotakyan tonight due to a sudden business trip. So basically, I've got The Full-Timer, The Diver and that model lesson with that doctor later on. At least I'll have a little breather before the doctor comes in. Pored over some of those Medical English books that Speedy had lent me on Saturday. Can't say that any of them are particularly all that friendly. I may have to adapt or concoct something totally on my own.
The Chipmunk contacted me about a possible new home for me. It's gonna be farther out...20 minutes instead of the current 10 minutes I have to walk from the station to my home but if it means cheaper rent and bigger digs, well...I'll be willing to take a look at it. I've also asked her for some more help when it comes to negotiations.
Saw Barack Obama do a royal smackdown on both Edwards and Clinton (figuratively, although I do wonder, considering last week's two-way abuse, if Michelle Obama hadn't considered something more physical against the junior senator from New York) yesterday on CNN. He gave a pretty stirring near-Kennedyesque victory speech. The Class Act and I touched upon the US elections briefly...after massive gossip on the latest amazing restaurants in Tokyo and Hong Kong. The Lady feels that it's still a bit early for Obama to take centre stage just yet. We both think that Hillary Clinton will still get the Democratic Brass Ring later this summer and may eventually become the first female President. But we also worry that if the senator from Illinois actually becomes President, he may achieve Kennedyesque status in a more dubious way...as a possible assassin's target. I'm still not totally convinced that all Americans would accept an African-American President. Still, we're months away.
In the sumo world, there was a smackdown of a far more physical sort between the two Mongolian yokozuna, Hakuho and Asashoryu. This was the equivalent of the dream Super Bowl of loincloths: one is a fallen champion seeking (I think) redemption, the other is a champion seeking to continue his domination of the sport. And boy, everyone is buzzing over the fact that the final match of the first tournament of the year was one to remember for years. It was 47 seconds (an eternity in sumo terms) with the two behemoths struggling titanically (each rikishi looking like they had one up on the other) until Hakuho finally throwing Asashoryu to the ground. The dohyo was littered with ecstatically thrown zabuton. I think the right man won.
And Osaka got another celeb governor. His name is Toru Hashimoto, a 38-year-old lawyer who's also become the charismatic TV personality. Now, he's head of the second-largest metropolis in the country. The Class Act also gave their opinions...basically calling him a fame-hogging question mark. I kinda wonder myself. Some have said that the Prime Ministership may not be too far away. Considering that Yasuo Fukuda isn't exactly holding a lot of support right now, there may be some approach by the LDP mandarins. Hashimoto also has another interesting trait...he's the father of 7, count 'em 7, kids. If he ever does get the big job, that's gonna be one noisy Prime Minister's mansion in downtown Tokyo.
Had my first lesson of the year with The Class Act this morning. Got a bit of a winfall as well via souvenirs. The Lady gave me a bit of tea from her latest foray into Hong Kong, and The Matron gave me a New York Times Crossword Calendar along with a bar of Lindt Chocolate with Cherry and Chili (!)...70% cacao...from Hawaii. Actually, The Lady gave us samples from her bar since she's not huge on sweets. I could only pick up the faintest hint of heat on my tongue, but then again I've been eating so much spicy food over the years that my tongue has gotten be part asbestos by now. The Matron even had an Elvis Calendar for SIL; I guess after all my talk on her about her love for The Pelvis, The Matron decided to pick something up for her. Ironically, I couldn't see SIL today due to some sort of doctor's appointment.
Since I had the extra time, I just did my first lunch at Wendy's in Shibuya before hitting Tower Records. Despite my financial conundrums, I did fire the gun and picked up a disc; it happens to be one of those 80s J-Pop artists who never really hit the big time (I seem to have a soft soft for these has-been and never-was chanteuses from 2 decades ago). The lady's name here is Kanako Wada, and the disc is a compilation of her hits. She had a minor hit almost 20 years ago with a jingle for some instant soup spaghetti called "Dreamin' Lady"; but otherwise, most of her fame came from theme tunes for anime, notably for "Kimagure Orange Road", or KOR as otaku like my friends in The Anime Court would say. Her voice is somewhere between the smokiness of a Kahori Kohiruimaki and the etherealness of a Reimy or Ruiko Kurahashi, other singers who didn't really hit the ranks of Seiko Matsuda or Akina Nakamori...but that's not exactly a slam against them. Wada also happens to be the first J-Pop singer to do a cover version of Kylie Minogue's first big hit, "I'm So Lucky In Love"; something to mention since current popsters Mihimaru GT have come out with their own version of the song.
Another cancellation to lessen my load. Mr. TOEIC, to noone's surprise, had to dotakyan tonight due to a sudden business trip. So basically, I've got The Full-Timer, The Diver and that model lesson with that doctor later on. At least I'll have a little breather before the doctor comes in. Pored over some of those Medical English books that Speedy had lent me on Saturday. Can't say that any of them are particularly all that friendly. I may have to adapt or concoct something totally on my own.
The Chipmunk contacted me about a possible new home for me. It's gonna be farther out...20 minutes instead of the current 10 minutes I have to walk from the station to my home but if it means cheaper rent and bigger digs, well...I'll be willing to take a look at it. I've also asked her for some more help when it comes to negotiations.
Saw Barack Obama do a royal smackdown on both Edwards and Clinton (figuratively, although I do wonder, considering last week's two-way abuse, if Michelle Obama hadn't considered something more physical against the junior senator from New York) yesterday on CNN. He gave a pretty stirring near-Kennedyesque victory speech. The Class Act and I touched upon the US elections briefly...after massive gossip on the latest amazing restaurants in Tokyo and Hong Kong. The Lady feels that it's still a bit early for Obama to take centre stage just yet. We both think that Hillary Clinton will still get the Democratic Brass Ring later this summer and may eventually become the first female President. But we also worry that if the senator from Illinois actually becomes President, he may achieve Kennedyesque status in a more dubious way...as a possible assassin's target. I'm still not totally convinced that all Americans would accept an African-American President. Still, we're months away.
In the sumo world, there was a smackdown of a far more physical sort between the two Mongolian yokozuna, Hakuho and Asashoryu. This was the equivalent of the dream Super Bowl of loincloths: one is a fallen champion seeking (I think) redemption, the other is a champion seeking to continue his domination of the sport. And boy, everyone is buzzing over the fact that the final match of the first tournament of the year was one to remember for years. It was 47 seconds (an eternity in sumo terms) with the two behemoths struggling titanically (each rikishi looking like they had one up on the other) until Hakuho finally throwing Asashoryu to the ground. The dohyo was littered with ecstatically thrown zabuton. I think the right man won.
And Osaka got another celeb governor. His name is Toru Hashimoto, a 38-year-old lawyer who's also become the charismatic TV personality. Now, he's head of the second-largest metropolis in the country. The Class Act also gave their opinions...basically calling him a fame-hogging question mark. I kinda wonder myself. Some have said that the Prime Ministership may not be too far away. Considering that Yasuo Fukuda isn't exactly holding a lot of support right now, there may be some approach by the LDP mandarins. Hashimoto also has another interesting trait...he's the father of 7, count 'em 7, kids. If he ever does get the big job, that's gonna be one noisy Prime Minister's mansion in downtown Tokyo.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Saturday January 26, 12:53 p.m.
I've just taught The Manhattanite about an hour ago. In fine fettle as usual. And I've got The Doctor later this afternoon. So far, it's just BC and me in the school since the bossman is taking a rare opportunity to partake in a process called sleeping in. The weather is cold and sunny...just like a typical Tokyo winter day.
I had that three-in-a-row with The Sisters of State and BC on Thursday night. The aforementioned sisters will be heading for Bali in mid-March. Must be nice being siblings who can actually be like traveling buddies. As for BC, she and I had a bit of a talk on our mutual boss, Speedy. Nothing too conspiratorial...but we both agreed that his personality can be a bit intimidating for some students. Could possibly explain why 001 and 002 usually demur whenever I have to be absent from their classes and suggest that Speedy take my place.
I just had The Ace last night at the juku. Jolly tried to get in under the wire by asking to come in just a half-hour before The Ace's lesson. The boss took one look at my face and made the call to decline his request. Jolly's a great guy and has been a good student and even if he couldn't find out until last night whether or not he could come in, I really didn't want to set the precedent that he could just come in on the turn of a dime. Luckily, he was understanding about it. And besides, I'm sure he would probably enjoy a night out in Shimbashi with the guys anyways.
Newswise, it was the tragic case of Mrs. Hatakeyama that took up the reports last night. Mrs. Hatakeyama is the tortured woman responsible for killing not only her own daughter but also the little boy of a neighbour. Her appearance and her case history kinda strike me as being similar to that Charlize Theron character in "Monster". In any case, I think the gallows will be her final destination.
SIL cancelled her lesson for this Monday. Not too bad since I'm pretty loaded down with classes on the 28th. I could use with the 6-hour space between The Class Act and The Full-Timer.
I've just taught The Manhattanite about an hour ago. In fine fettle as usual. And I've got The Doctor later this afternoon. So far, it's just BC and me in the school since the bossman is taking a rare opportunity to partake in a process called sleeping in. The weather is cold and sunny...just like a typical Tokyo winter day.
I had that three-in-a-row with The Sisters of State and BC on Thursday night. The aforementioned sisters will be heading for Bali in mid-March. Must be nice being siblings who can actually be like traveling buddies. As for BC, she and I had a bit of a talk on our mutual boss, Speedy. Nothing too conspiratorial...but we both agreed that his personality can be a bit intimidating for some students. Could possibly explain why 001 and 002 usually demur whenever I have to be absent from their classes and suggest that Speedy take my place.
I just had The Ace last night at the juku. Jolly tried to get in under the wire by asking to come in just a half-hour before The Ace's lesson. The boss took one look at my face and made the call to decline his request. Jolly's a great guy and has been a good student and even if he couldn't find out until last night whether or not he could come in, I really didn't want to set the precedent that he could just come in on the turn of a dime. Luckily, he was understanding about it. And besides, I'm sure he would probably enjoy a night out in Shimbashi with the guys anyways.
Newswise, it was the tragic case of Mrs. Hatakeyama that took up the reports last night. Mrs. Hatakeyama is the tortured woman responsible for killing not only her own daughter but also the little boy of a neighbour. Her appearance and her case history kinda strike me as being similar to that Charlize Theron character in "Monster". In any case, I think the gallows will be her final destination.
SIL cancelled her lesson for this Monday. Not too bad since I'm pretty loaded down with classes on the 28th. I could use with the 6-hour space between The Class Act and The Full-Timer.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Wednesday January 24, 12:48 p.m.
I've been reading through Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point" as my latest commuting book. It's been an absorbing read so far. Basically, it comes across as a "how-to" manual for creating epidemics or fads. And in his theories about Connectors, Mavens, Salesmen along with his various laws, he weaves in everything from Paul Revere's Midnight Ride to Sesame Street to Bernard Goetz to apply his teachings. I haven't taken in everything at face value...his Power of Context, for example, is more illustration than illumination of something seen and heard before. However, having said that, some of his earlier stuff on the different types of people needed to get a fad started is worthy of thought. Perhaps, I may try something with those Reese's Peanut Butter Cups that I get as tribute from some of the ol' gang from home.
In any case, The Yogist should be here shortly.
I've been reading through Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point" as my latest commuting book. It's been an absorbing read so far. Basically, it comes across as a "how-to" manual for creating epidemics or fads. And in his theories about Connectors, Mavens, Salesmen along with his various laws, he weaves in everything from Paul Revere's Midnight Ride to Sesame Street to Bernard Goetz to apply his teachings. I haven't taken in everything at face value...his Power of Context, for example, is more illustration than illumination of something seen and heard before. However, having said that, some of his earlier stuff on the different types of people needed to get a fad started is worthy of thought. Perhaps, I may try something with those Reese's Peanut Butter Cups that I get as tribute from some of the ol' gang from home.
In any case, The Yogist should be here shortly.
Thursday January 24, 12:11 p.m.
It's back to a normal Kanto Winter day....sunny but cold. But we also have some pretty arctic winds blowing through the megalopolis. Not exactly helping the Wind Chill. I've got a quad today on the schedule. The Yogist is first at bat in less than an hour, and then I have the whole gang at Tully's tonight: The New Yorker, The Carolinan and BC. It'll definitely be a busy one on Monday. The entire Monday crew will be back to normal: The Class Act, SIL, The Full-Timer, the new kid on the block...The Diver, Mr. TOEIC...and yet another model lesson with this doctor to wrap up.
I haven't been paying too much attention to the domestic news over the past few days due to all the WWF-style wrestling between the two frontrunning Democratic candidates in the US. However, there is one piece of news that's been festering in my craw since it broke yesterday morning. It's a sad addendum to what has already been a tragic case.
Several days ago, a scumbag managed to rob an apartment by not only tying up a young woman immobile to the fridge but also by slapping on some masking tape over the nose and mouth of her 18-day-old baby so that the tyke wouldn't scream. The money he took was the gift money for the baby from various wellwishers. The baby died.
Now, just a few days after the funeral, the family will now have to hold another one. The helpless 22-year-old mother committed suicide by jumping from a bridge. If there's anything that proves that there is no God...
It's back to a normal Kanto Winter day....sunny but cold. But we also have some pretty arctic winds blowing through the megalopolis. Not exactly helping the Wind Chill. I've got a quad today on the schedule. The Yogist is first at bat in less than an hour, and then I have the whole gang at Tully's tonight: The New Yorker, The Carolinan and BC. It'll definitely be a busy one on Monday. The entire Monday crew will be back to normal: The Class Act, SIL, The Full-Timer, the new kid on the block...The Diver, Mr. TOEIC...and yet another model lesson with this doctor to wrap up.
I haven't been paying too much attention to the domestic news over the past few days due to all the WWF-style wrestling between the two frontrunning Democratic candidates in the US. However, there is one piece of news that's been festering in my craw since it broke yesterday morning. It's a sad addendum to what has already been a tragic case.
Several days ago, a scumbag managed to rob an apartment by not only tying up a young woman immobile to the fridge but also by slapping on some masking tape over the nose and mouth of her 18-day-old baby so that the tyke wouldn't scream. The money he took was the gift money for the baby from various wellwishers. The baby died.
Now, just a few days after the funeral, the family will now have to hold another one. The helpless 22-year-old mother committed suicide by jumping from a bridge. If there's anything that proves that there is no God...
Wednesday January 23, 8:04 p.m.
Looks like 001 will be making another one of her skiing pilgrimages next week up to Hokkaido. So, it'll be another 2 weeks before her next lesson although she promises that she'll be here for all the Wednesdays in February. Still, she'll be heading to Hokkaido one more time then before she takes off for an aurora tour in Alaska on Leap Day.
I envy folks like 001 and Jolly who head up to the lodge for skiing. Despite my Canadian-ness, I never learned how to get down the slopes. I had done cross-country skiing in Ontario back in the 6th Grade, and tried doing the snowplow during one of the special Ski Days up in Gunma-ken during my JET days but never really acquired the taste or skill for the sport. And over here, skiing is just as much as a lifestyle as it is in Switzerland. 001 is getting together with a couple of buddies on Sunday at Haneda Airport, sending her skis and equipment ahead by courier, and then they'll board the JAL flight to Hokkaido to Shin-Chitose Airport where a shuttle bus will drive them over the next couple of hours to Kiroro Resort. They'll then partake in a few hours of early evening skiing before having a nice dinner at the lodge, a bath and then some well-earned sleep before hitting the buffet, slopes, brunch and dinner...in that order. Nice but pricey lifestyle...way out of my reach. Sometimes I wish that things had turned out a little differently for me.
Just waiting for the EIC student who'll be coming here in about 45 minutes. The snow has stopped but it's still spitting precipitation out there.
Looks like 001 will be making another one of her skiing pilgrimages next week up to Hokkaido. So, it'll be another 2 weeks before her next lesson although she promises that she'll be here for all the Wednesdays in February. Still, she'll be heading to Hokkaido one more time then before she takes off for an aurora tour in Alaska on Leap Day.
I envy folks like 001 and Jolly who head up to the lodge for skiing. Despite my Canadian-ness, I never learned how to get down the slopes. I had done cross-country skiing in Ontario back in the 6th Grade, and tried doing the snowplow during one of the special Ski Days up in Gunma-ken during my JET days but never really acquired the taste or skill for the sport. And over here, skiing is just as much as a lifestyle as it is in Switzerland. 001 is getting together with a couple of buddies on Sunday at Haneda Airport, sending her skis and equipment ahead by courier, and then they'll board the JAL flight to Hokkaido to Shin-Chitose Airport where a shuttle bus will drive them over the next couple of hours to Kiroro Resort. They'll then partake in a few hours of early evening skiing before having a nice dinner at the lodge, a bath and then some well-earned sleep before hitting the buffet, slopes, brunch and dinner...in that order. Nice but pricey lifestyle...way out of my reach. Sometimes I wish that things had turned out a little differently for me.
Just waiting for the EIC student who'll be coming here in about 45 minutes. The snow has stopped but it's still spitting precipitation out there.
Wednesday January 23, 5:12 p.m.
Well, the snows finally came en masse onto the Kanto from late last night. Still, there are only a few centimetres (if that) on the ground. And in my neighbourhood, it's only been cold rain that's fallen...I guess that heat shield has been in good condition. Of course, the morning news shows have been covering the atypical weather like any other major typhoon.
The last 24 hours have seen the world economy teetering on the brink of recession, and the aftermath of the latest Hillary n' Barack fisticuffs (I just don't see these two ever getting together as running mates). However, the other big news was the surprise demise of actor Heath Ledger. I was just watching CNN's "Lou Dobbs" when the scroll just showed the headline "Heath Ledger dies". I was never a fan of his although he had been coming up through the thespian ranks as a full-fledged actor...not just a movie star. Still, it is a pity that he has left this mortal coil so soon. However, I will finally see him on the big screen, if posthumously as The Joker on "The Dark Knight".
Last night, I had just the usual juku night. Chip N' Dale showed up and it was just them. Those model students from last week never called back. The boss asked Dale about them, and she just replied that their parents were kangaechu (still thinking). Otherwise, it was Mild Jr., The Milds and The Siberian to wrap up. Jolly dotakyan'ed again due to a cold he probably suffered while skiing in Naeba last weekend.
Just have 001 and that EIC student tonight. Kinda wonder if that rain outside is gonna convert into snow once more. Not too much fun commuting in that kind of weather.
Well, the snows finally came en masse onto the Kanto from late last night. Still, there are only a few centimetres (if that) on the ground. And in my neighbourhood, it's only been cold rain that's fallen...I guess that heat shield has been in good condition. Of course, the morning news shows have been covering the atypical weather like any other major typhoon.
The last 24 hours have seen the world economy teetering on the brink of recession, and the aftermath of the latest Hillary n' Barack fisticuffs (I just don't see these two ever getting together as running mates). However, the other big news was the surprise demise of actor Heath Ledger. I was just watching CNN's "Lou Dobbs" when the scroll just showed the headline "Heath Ledger dies". I was never a fan of his although he had been coming up through the thespian ranks as a full-fledged actor...not just a movie star. Still, it is a pity that he has left this mortal coil so soon. However, I will finally see him on the big screen, if posthumously as The Joker on "The Dark Knight".
Last night, I had just the usual juku night. Chip N' Dale showed up and it was just them. Those model students from last week never called back. The boss asked Dale about them, and she just replied that their parents were kangaechu (still thinking). Otherwise, it was Mild Jr., The Milds and The Siberian to wrap up. Jolly dotakyan'ed again due to a cold he probably suffered while skiing in Naeba last weekend.
Just have 001 and that EIC student tonight. Kinda wonder if that rain outside is gonna convert into snow once more. Not too much fun commuting in that kind of weather.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Tuesday January 22, 4:37 p.m.
Well, the forecasts still keep showing that snowman icon over the Kanto....but I still haven't seen a blessed snowflake.
Managed to survive the loaded night last night at Speedy's. As I said, I had The Diver for her model lesson. She was a lock but she'll be a lowbie for sure. Then, I had Mr. TOEIC for the first time in over a month. Not too bad considering how low he is. And then, I had my final student for EIC. Quite a bit higher than the previous two, but she's pretty soft-spoken.
Met that friend of the juku boss this morning at the station. He kinda looks and talks like a comedian by the name of Cozy Kubo...so I'll just tag him Cozy. Despite the nickname, he's a pretty sobersided if congenial fellow. We went to the nearest coffee shop to discuss business. For one thing, his request isn't a one-shot but an off-on thing involving translation of various documents from his office. He gave me a couple of samples. Fairly technical stuff but he gave me about a week to peruse them before he actually starts sending me the work. So, I'll be looking forward to the extra income, although I don't know what a professional translator would earn on a couple of pages of technical details. The boss told me that I shouldn't go for the low wages she has to pay me but I'll have to consult some folks about what to charge. We shall see.
In any case, I caught the highlights from that debate version of The Thrilla from Manila involving Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. John Edwards seemed to be a trumped-up bystander with his own dais. Man, it is getting nasty out there.
Got another long night ahead of me...
Well, the forecasts still keep showing that snowman icon over the Kanto....but I still haven't seen a blessed snowflake.
Managed to survive the loaded night last night at Speedy's. As I said, I had The Diver for her model lesson. She was a lock but she'll be a lowbie for sure. Then, I had Mr. TOEIC for the first time in over a month. Not too bad considering how low he is. And then, I had my final student for EIC. Quite a bit higher than the previous two, but she's pretty soft-spoken.
Met that friend of the juku boss this morning at the station. He kinda looks and talks like a comedian by the name of Cozy Kubo...so I'll just tag him Cozy. Despite the nickname, he's a pretty sobersided if congenial fellow. We went to the nearest coffee shop to discuss business. For one thing, his request isn't a one-shot but an off-on thing involving translation of various documents from his office. He gave me a couple of samples. Fairly technical stuff but he gave me about a week to peruse them before he actually starts sending me the work. So, I'll be looking forward to the extra income, although I don't know what a professional translator would earn on a couple of pages of technical details. The boss told me that I shouldn't go for the low wages she has to pay me but I'll have to consult some folks about what to charge. We shall see.
In any case, I caught the highlights from that debate version of The Thrilla from Manila involving Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. John Edwards seemed to be a trumped-up bystander with his own dais. Man, it is getting nasty out there.
Got another long night ahead of me...
Monday January 21, 8:35 p.m.
Well, got through the first two fingers of the gauntlet. The Full-Timer was no problem, of course. Apparently, her bizarro supervisor has become somewhat more normal after a bit of counseling by powers above. She even went out for coffee with him...I asked her if she'd brought a knife, just in case. She also informed me that her father had to go in for some elective surgery which brought up the topic of tonsils. Over here, the extraction of tonsils is rare, to say the least...while in the West, it's pretty much a rite of childhood passage.
Then, there is my model student-turned-newest regular....ahhh, how shall I christen her? Ah, The Diver. She's actually a nurse but since someone already has that tag, I'll go with her hobby. Anyways, she's not a complete tabula rasa but pretty close to it. However, she is a trooper so that's good enough for me.
Of course, Mr. TOEIC has just called in to say that he'll be 10 minutes late. A pity since I won't be able to extend due to the fact that I still have that EIC student to take care of after his class. Anyways, he's just buzzed in.
Well, got through the first two fingers of the gauntlet. The Full-Timer was no problem, of course. Apparently, her bizarro supervisor has become somewhat more normal after a bit of counseling by powers above. She even went out for coffee with him...I asked her if she'd brought a knife, just in case. She also informed me that her father had to go in for some elective surgery which brought up the topic of tonsils. Over here, the extraction of tonsils is rare, to say the least...while in the West, it's pretty much a rite of childhood passage.
Then, there is my model student-turned-newest regular....ahhh, how shall I christen her? Ah, The Diver. She's actually a nurse but since someone already has that tag, I'll go with her hobby. Anyways, she's not a complete tabula rasa but pretty close to it. However, she is a trooper so that's good enough for me.
Of course, Mr. TOEIC has just called in to say that he'll be 10 minutes late. A pity since I won't be able to extend due to the fact that I still have that EIC student to take care of after his class. Anyways, he's just buzzed in.
Monday January 21, 5:21 p.m.
Supposedly, according to the CNN website, today...January 21...is the year's most depressing day. And we haven't even reached Income Tax Day. Hopefully, we don't have too many fluent readers of English in this country...otherwise, we may have to look up in the sky a lot to make sure sure we don't get smooshed by falling bodies. Suicide happens to be one of the leading causes of death here.
Bought a new text for Jolly...something that's specific to his job as a salesman. Then, I had lunch at my usual place of Com Pho underneath Oazo at Otemachi Station. Went for the Sesame Pho which is just clogged with sesame seed paste. I heard somewhere that sesame has a lot of curative properties. If so, I should be Adonis. Speaking of Jolly, he and his girlfriend went off to Naeba Ski Resort this past weekend. He should have a pretty interesting report...provided that he doesn't cancel out tomorrow night. Naeba is the most famous ski slope in the Kanto area, and the singer Yumi Matsutoya are pretty much bonded at the hip with this place due to a number of her songs being used as commercial jingles.
I've yet to hear from the juku boss about those two boys who'd come in for the model lesson last week. I wouldn't be surprised if they decided not to sign and it would relieve me of some extra headaches.
The juku boss actually set me up with this tax accountant friend of hers in terms of some translation job. I'm supposed to meet this fellow, who I'd spoken with briefly over the phone during our viewing of "Blood Diamond" yesterday, tomorrow morning for a meet-&-greet at the station.
I saw the teaser trailer for the upcoming "Star Trek" movie (still basically a year away) on YouTube this morning. It apparently got laughed and sneered at by the audiences back home and Stateside. I'm a Trekkie but I'm also not surprised by the cold reception that it got, considering the poor showings of the last two films and the not-so-warm feelings toward the last Star Trek series. I think the franchise could still use a bit of rest.
Well, I've got The Full-Timer in about 20 minutes followed by a model lesson, then Mr. TOEIC and finally an EIC student. If I don't go mad tonight, I should be OK for that tax accountant tomorrow morning. SIL was her usual self earlier this afternoon.
No hint of snow yet.
Supposedly, according to the CNN website, today...January 21...is the year's most depressing day. And we haven't even reached Income Tax Day. Hopefully, we don't have too many fluent readers of English in this country...otherwise, we may have to look up in the sky a lot to make sure sure we don't get smooshed by falling bodies. Suicide happens to be one of the leading causes of death here.
Bought a new text for Jolly...something that's specific to his job as a salesman. Then, I had lunch at my usual place of Com Pho underneath Oazo at Otemachi Station. Went for the Sesame Pho which is just clogged with sesame seed paste. I heard somewhere that sesame has a lot of curative properties. If so, I should be Adonis. Speaking of Jolly, he and his girlfriend went off to Naeba Ski Resort this past weekend. He should have a pretty interesting report...provided that he doesn't cancel out tomorrow night. Naeba is the most famous ski slope in the Kanto area, and the singer Yumi Matsutoya are pretty much bonded at the hip with this place due to a number of her songs being used as commercial jingles.
I've yet to hear from the juku boss about those two boys who'd come in for the model lesson last week. I wouldn't be surprised if they decided not to sign and it would relieve me of some extra headaches.
The juku boss actually set me up with this tax accountant friend of hers in terms of some translation job. I'm supposed to meet this fellow, who I'd spoken with briefly over the phone during our viewing of "Blood Diamond" yesterday, tomorrow morning for a meet-&-greet at the station.
I saw the teaser trailer for the upcoming "Star Trek" movie (still basically a year away) on YouTube this morning. It apparently got laughed and sneered at by the audiences back home and Stateside. I'm a Trekkie but I'm also not surprised by the cold reception that it got, considering the poor showings of the last two films and the not-so-warm feelings toward the last Star Trek series. I think the franchise could still use a bit of rest.
Well, I've got The Full-Timer in about 20 minutes followed by a model lesson, then Mr. TOEIC and finally an EIC student. If I don't go mad tonight, I should be OK for that tax accountant tomorrow morning. SIL was her usual self earlier this afternoon.
No hint of snow yet.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Monday January 21, 9:35 a.m.
An intriguing DVD/movie weekend, to say the least. It would seem that the overriding unintentional theme amongst 3 of the 4 movies I saw over the past couple of days have dealt with doomed vengeful sociopaths. And amazingly...Movie Buddy, The Satyr and I played absolute contrarians.
First off, and you folks who actually read my ramblings can see it here. And I will even bold it for you. The Reader's Digest version of my feelings for "Sweeney Todd" is: IT SUCKS! Yep, you read it right...you may be seeing what could be the only negative comments for Tim and Johnny's latest collaboration since it would seem that just about everyone else such as TIME, Internet Movie Database and even the usually garrulous reviewer for Tokyo METROPOLIS loved it. Heck, MB even said that if it hadn't been for the fact that he was trapped in the middle of the row, he would've walked right on out and gone to the solace of his PSP.
As for me, I just couldn't get into the musical. Not that I hate musicals...or even dark musicals (heck, I've got the original London soundtrack of "Phantom of the Opera"...without having seen the play). I enjoyed "Chicago" although it has had its share of detractors over the years since it won the Oscar for Best Movie. And "Sweeney Todd" has actually won 2 Golden Globes already....which is astounding. The songs all sounded the same (ironically like Tim Burton's usual go-to-guy for music, Danny Elfman, when he did "Nightmare Before Christmas"; another overrated Burton production which also had overly similar songs) and there wasn't a hummable one in the bunch. 10 minutes into the movie, I was already starting to fidget and wishing...oh, how I wished....that the throat-slitting could get started. In that respect, "Sweeney" failed to disappoint...it was truly a horror-musical. It is also a horrible musical. I knew that MB was despising the movie since he usually gets fidgety and sigh-y on seeing a waste of hard-earned yen and time...the final clue was seeing him finally put his head in his hands. The only other time I'd seen him do that was for "Revenge of the Sith".
I couldn't really blame the cast...they did try hard. Perhaps, Johnny Depp did merit his Golden Globe and kudos to the other actors. It was just that it was wall-to-wall music of the lousiest kind. Y'know...if "Sweeney Todd" had been just a straight drama, I would've enjoyed far more than I did. As it is, though, I am now fervently rooting for "Atonement" or "Jesse James" to get the Oscar for Best Movie. Perhaps the other title for this one should've been a twist on the aforementioned Star Wars sequel but anagram the final word.
Strangely enough, it was the one of the DVDs on Saturday that the three of us had seen...a flick that didn't get anywhere near the adulation, the advertisement or the cash flow of the abomination that is "Sweeney Todd", but also dealt with a doomed psycho...that provided a good chunk of entertainment. We actually caught "Crank"....90 minutes of pure hilarious mayhem with a juiced-up Jason Statham (we had approached this one with some trepidation at first because of the disappointing "Transporter 2")...it was just a nutso over-the-top action flick. And that scene between Amy Smart and Statham in the plaza was definitely a highlight.
Also, caught "Smokin' Aces"...a flick that tried to emulate the vibe of "The Usual Suspects" and "Lucky Number Slevin". Basically, it was a movie to see which contract killer would survive to the end. Actually saw Chris Pine (the future Captain Kirk redux) as one of the neo-Nazi Tremor brothers.
Finally, MB and I saw the odd picture out of the theme of doomed psycho..."Blood Diamond". We enjoyed it for the most part although we also thought that DiCaprio was trying to be a little too earnest to get his Oscar. For that matter, the movie was just screaming to be nominated.
Well, in one of those coincidences...we went to Tony Roma's for a hearty meal in Roppongi (we'd caught "Sweeney Todd" at Roppongi Hills). We did the same thing after we'd seen "Revenge of the Sith"...another flick that met with withering criticism from MB. Skippy and Miss Ivory were also part of the movie "experience". The only one who actually enjoyed it was Miss Ivory. Even Skippy said that she wasn't all that impressed.
It was supposed to be wall-to-wall teaching today. However, The Lady of The Class Act had called up a few nights ago to cancel today's lesson since her buddy, The Matron, had to pull out. Still, it'll be a busy one with SIL's first of the year followed by The Full-Timer, an EIC student, Mr. TOEIC and a model lesson student.
I'm currently borrowing a book from The Satyr called "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell; it talks about that important period of time when something goes from nothing to a huge phenomenon. Maybe it'll explain the inexplicable popularity of Crocs...good heavens, they look like those plastic shoes worn in Japanese bathrooms during cleaning with holes punched into them.
Well, the weather guys are still warning about snow and have been for the past few days although I've yet to see a single flake. The skies look fairly threatening but they still haven't put out...yet.
An intriguing DVD/movie weekend, to say the least. It would seem that the overriding unintentional theme amongst 3 of the 4 movies I saw over the past couple of days have dealt with doomed vengeful sociopaths. And amazingly...Movie Buddy, The Satyr and I played absolute contrarians.
First off, and you folks who actually read my ramblings can see it here. And I will even bold it for you. The Reader's Digest version of my feelings for "Sweeney Todd" is: IT SUCKS! Yep, you read it right...you may be seeing what could be the only negative comments for Tim and Johnny's latest collaboration since it would seem that just about everyone else such as TIME, Internet Movie Database and even the usually garrulous reviewer for Tokyo METROPOLIS loved it. Heck, MB even said that if it hadn't been for the fact that he was trapped in the middle of the row, he would've walked right on out and gone to the solace of his PSP.
As for me, I just couldn't get into the musical. Not that I hate musicals...or even dark musicals (heck, I've got the original London soundtrack of "Phantom of the Opera"...without having seen the play). I enjoyed "Chicago" although it has had its share of detractors over the years since it won the Oscar for Best Movie. And "Sweeney Todd" has actually won 2 Golden Globes already....which is astounding. The songs all sounded the same (ironically like Tim Burton's usual go-to-guy for music, Danny Elfman, when he did "Nightmare Before Christmas"; another overrated Burton production which also had overly similar songs) and there wasn't a hummable one in the bunch. 10 minutes into the movie, I was already starting to fidget and wishing...oh, how I wished....that the throat-slitting could get started. In that respect, "Sweeney" failed to disappoint...it was truly a horror-musical. It is also a horrible musical. I knew that MB was despising the movie since he usually gets fidgety and sigh-y on seeing a waste of hard-earned yen and time...the final clue was seeing him finally put his head in his hands. The only other time I'd seen him do that was for "Revenge of the Sith".
I couldn't really blame the cast...they did try hard. Perhaps, Johnny Depp did merit his Golden Globe and kudos to the other actors. It was just that it was wall-to-wall music of the lousiest kind. Y'know...if "Sweeney Todd" had been just a straight drama, I would've enjoyed far more than I did. As it is, though, I am now fervently rooting for "Atonement" or "Jesse James" to get the Oscar for Best Movie. Perhaps the other title for this one should've been a twist on the aforementioned Star Wars sequel but anagram the final word.
Strangely enough, it was the one of the DVDs on Saturday that the three of us had seen...a flick that didn't get anywhere near the adulation, the advertisement or the cash flow of the abomination that is "Sweeney Todd", but also dealt with a doomed psycho...that provided a good chunk of entertainment. We actually caught "Crank"....90 minutes of pure hilarious mayhem with a juiced-up Jason Statham (we had approached this one with some trepidation at first because of the disappointing "Transporter 2")...it was just a nutso over-the-top action flick. And that scene between Amy Smart and Statham in the plaza was definitely a highlight.
Also, caught "Smokin' Aces"...a flick that tried to emulate the vibe of "The Usual Suspects" and "Lucky Number Slevin". Basically, it was a movie to see which contract killer would survive to the end. Actually saw Chris Pine (the future Captain Kirk redux) as one of the neo-Nazi Tremor brothers.
Finally, MB and I saw the odd picture out of the theme of doomed psycho..."Blood Diamond". We enjoyed it for the most part although we also thought that DiCaprio was trying to be a little too earnest to get his Oscar. For that matter, the movie was just screaming to be nominated.
Well, in one of those coincidences...we went to Tony Roma's for a hearty meal in Roppongi (we'd caught "Sweeney Todd" at Roppongi Hills). We did the same thing after we'd seen "Revenge of the Sith"...another flick that met with withering criticism from MB. Skippy and Miss Ivory were also part of the movie "experience". The only one who actually enjoyed it was Miss Ivory. Even Skippy said that she wasn't all that impressed.
It was supposed to be wall-to-wall teaching today. However, The Lady of The Class Act had called up a few nights ago to cancel today's lesson since her buddy, The Matron, had to pull out. Still, it'll be a busy one with SIL's first of the year followed by The Full-Timer, an EIC student, Mr. TOEIC and a model lesson student.
I'm currently borrowing a book from The Satyr called "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell; it talks about that important period of time when something goes from nothing to a huge phenomenon. Maybe it'll explain the inexplicable popularity of Crocs...good heavens, they look like those plastic shoes worn in Japanese bathrooms during cleaning with holes punched into them.
Well, the weather guys are still warning about snow and have been for the past few days although I've yet to see a single flake. The skies look fairly threatening but they still haven't put out...yet.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Friday January 18, 6:30 p.m.
It was the coldest day of the year today in the Kanto...maybe for the past few years. I don't think I've ever felt this cold...I actually threw on the longjohns for my solo with Jolly tonight. I may have to flip on the air conditioner/heater tomorrow night when MB and The Satyr come over.
It was the coldest day of the year today in the Kanto...maybe for the past few years. I don't think I've ever felt this cold...I actually threw on the longjohns for my solo with Jolly tonight. I may have to flip on the air conditioner/heater tomorrow night when MB and The Satyr come over.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Thursday January 17, 3:54 p.m.
Well, got through the lessons pretty painlessly. The Yogist was a bit struck for words, though. Looks like I'm done for the day.
I may have mentioned last week about my ol' NOVA trainer who's now this big high-flying author. Well, did a Wiki on him which branched into other sites. Yep, he has definitely found his calling as a writer. He's won his share of prizes and I've read at least one positively glowing review about his series of books. His pic is also liberally out there on search engines. He never had much hair when I knew him but he's even less hirsute now. Really good guy. So I guess my old NOVA school has spawned its share of celebs. One of the other teachers ended up becoming a regular on an NHK Japanese-lesson koza a few years back, and I got to teach a slightly eccentric but charming old lady who had already become famous for being a NOVA spokesperson in the early 90s. There were even two students who ended up on the "Why did you choose NOVA?" series of commercials several years ago.
If I ever met my old boss again, I would probably recommend him to write a fiction about the rags-to-riches-to-rags life of a Citizen Kane-like president of an English-teaching chain in Japan.
Well, I'll probably be heading back for home in about a few minutes. Still feel slightly bloated from all hamburger I ingested last night. I'll grab some relatively harmless sashimi (sans salmonella, hopefully) to use on the leftover rice.
Did forget to mention that kerfuffle in the Antarctic involving Greenpeace and those Japanese whaling boats. Apparently, the Greenpeacers have accused Japan for kidnapping two of their guys who had boarded the lead vessel...which I kinda think is a bit exaggerated. I never thought that the fellows would be warmly welcomed but kidnapping? Come on. However, I'm all for Greenpeace trying to stop the whalers....as quixotic as the venture might be.
Well, got through the lessons pretty painlessly. The Yogist was a bit struck for words, though. Looks like I'm done for the day.
I may have mentioned last week about my ol' NOVA trainer who's now this big high-flying author. Well, did a Wiki on him which branched into other sites. Yep, he has definitely found his calling as a writer. He's won his share of prizes and I've read at least one positively glowing review about his series of books. His pic is also liberally out there on search engines. He never had much hair when I knew him but he's even less hirsute now. Really good guy. So I guess my old NOVA school has spawned its share of celebs. One of the other teachers ended up becoming a regular on an NHK Japanese-lesson koza a few years back, and I got to teach a slightly eccentric but charming old lady who had already become famous for being a NOVA spokesperson in the early 90s. There were even two students who ended up on the "Why did you choose NOVA?" series of commercials several years ago.
If I ever met my old boss again, I would probably recommend him to write a fiction about the rags-to-riches-to-rags life of a Citizen Kane-like president of an English-teaching chain in Japan.
Well, I'll probably be heading back for home in about a few minutes. Still feel slightly bloated from all hamburger I ingested last night. I'll grab some relatively harmless sashimi (sans salmonella, hopefully) to use on the leftover rice.
Did forget to mention that kerfuffle in the Antarctic involving Greenpeace and those Japanese whaling boats. Apparently, the Greenpeacers have accused Japan for kidnapping two of their guys who had boarded the lead vessel...which I kinda think is a bit exaggerated. I never thought that the fellows would be warmly welcomed but kidnapping? Come on. However, I'm all for Greenpeace trying to stop the whalers....as quixotic as the venture might be.
Thursday January 17, 12:01 p.m.
Sunny but cold here in The Big Sushi...very typical for a January day. However, Speedy did make a hatsuyuki sighting last night...at about 2 a.m....the time he usually leaves the office. So, we can finally say that snow did come to Tokyo.
Speedy, and I by association, may also have some good news. The bossman contacted me twice last night about a potential new student for Monday nights and a new EIC student. However, next Monday will be a veritable traffic jam of students. Everyone will be back...hopefully. The Class Act, SIL, The Full-Timer and Mr. TOEIC will be returning. Then I've got these two newbies. I'll make the money but man, it'll be an exhausting day. But I can't complain much; I had yesterday off, I'll be having an early night tonight after TheYogist and The Nurse back-to-back, and tomorrow will just see Jolly...and he may even do a dotakyan. Plus, The Beehive will be off next Tuesday so I can sleep in then til the juku.
Paddy contacted me from London where he's returned. Apparently, his old school buddy, whom I've met over the years (including my trip to Ushiku a couple of weeks ago) has asked for some translation help within his company. I can help him out if the work's not too technical. Plus, the yen would be appreciated.
It's the 13th anniversary of The Great Hanshin Earthquake in Kobe...can't believe so much time has passed. I'm not sure if the pain has truly subsided for the victims of the quake but the media turned to the gaijin angle today concerning quakes. Apparently, a lot of the signs and notices to warn citizens of evacuation routes and other emergency information are only written in Japanese...not much help to the newcomers here. I'm sure a lot of the ultra right would just snort and tell the invaders to learn some f**** Japanese. Well, it takes a while to pick up the ability to read kanji and even hiragana/katakana, so it would be nice if the goverment can print up some English-language notices. If anyone needs help, I'm right here.
Speaking of which, I read that the government is considering having long-term foreign residents (which would include me) tested on Japanese language proficiency. On the surface, I would agree with it...after all, if you want to stay here permanently, you should know the language. However, I always wonder if the government has an ulterior motive....let's say, charging the folks tons of money for the opportunity to take a test.
Sunny but cold here in The Big Sushi...very typical for a January day. However, Speedy did make a hatsuyuki sighting last night...at about 2 a.m....the time he usually leaves the office. So, we can finally say that snow did come to Tokyo.
Speedy, and I by association, may also have some good news. The bossman contacted me twice last night about a potential new student for Monday nights and a new EIC student. However, next Monday will be a veritable traffic jam of students. Everyone will be back...hopefully. The Class Act, SIL, The Full-Timer and Mr. TOEIC will be returning. Then I've got these two newbies. I'll make the money but man, it'll be an exhausting day. But I can't complain much; I had yesterday off, I'll be having an early night tonight after TheYogist and The Nurse back-to-back, and tomorrow will just see Jolly...and he may even do a dotakyan. Plus, The Beehive will be off next Tuesday so I can sleep in then til the juku.
Paddy contacted me from London where he's returned. Apparently, his old school buddy, whom I've met over the years (including my trip to Ushiku a couple of weeks ago) has asked for some translation help within his company. I can help him out if the work's not too technical. Plus, the yen would be appreciated.
It's the 13th anniversary of The Great Hanshin Earthquake in Kobe...can't believe so much time has passed. I'm not sure if the pain has truly subsided for the victims of the quake but the media turned to the gaijin angle today concerning quakes. Apparently, a lot of the signs and notices to warn citizens of evacuation routes and other emergency information are only written in Japanese...not much help to the newcomers here. I'm sure a lot of the ultra right would just snort and tell the invaders to learn some f**** Japanese. Well, it takes a while to pick up the ability to read kanji and even hiragana/katakana, so it would be nice if the goverment can print up some English-language notices. If anyone needs help, I'm right here.
Speaking of which, I read that the government is considering having long-term foreign residents (which would include me) tested on Japanese language proficiency. On the surface, I would agree with it...after all, if you want to stay here permanently, you should know the language. However, I always wonder if the government has an ulterior motive....let's say, charging the folks tons of money for the opportunity to take a test.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Wednesday January 16, 3:08 p.m.
Not Hump Day today...quite the opposite, actually. It's more like Pit Day. I've got nothing on the slate since 001, The Nurse and Mr. TOEIC bailed out, although two will be back next week and one will be here tomorrow afternoon. So, just enjoying a slow Wednesday...a very unlikey oxymoron if there ever was one.
Last night's marathon at the juku was OK. Had those two new boys in for the trial lesson with Chip N' Dale. The hour with four kids was fine as could be expected, but I'm not quite sure yet if the newbies are gonna be keepers. One of the boys' mothers said that they had been going to kids' classes at the Benesse Corporation, which happens to be one of the country's educational corporations with all sorts of methodology, texts and trained teachers to boot. And here I am with homemade pictures, a digital timer I got for 500 yen in Funabashi, obviously handwritten Human Bingo sheets, and a not-so-eager disposition to teach children. Kinda wonder why the parents even bothered to bring their sons to a meatball surgery-type of operation like mine.
The rest of the evening was pleasant enough. Mild Jr. had another intensive round of conversation and major spazzing out over his delivery...perhaps I shouldn't really be calling him Mild Jr. His parents were their usual mild selves. They'd gone traveling in Taiwan last week...as expected, they did the sights including Taipei 101 and the sho ron po legend, Din Dai Fon. Their souvenir was one as tightly connected to Taiwan duty-free shopping as Macadamia Chocolates are to Hawaii...Pineapple Cake.
The Siberian and I had another pleasant conversation for the 30 minutes allotted him. We started out on the karaoke party we'd had on December 27 and he'd missed, and we ended up talking about the music of yesteryear....70s and 80s. So, ABBA, The Carpenters and Earth, Wind & Fire all came to the fore. We even went into some detail about Billy Joel's "An Innocent Man". According to last night's banter, I regret that he's now opted for the half-hour classes.
As for Jolly, he finally showed up for his first of the year. We did do a proper lesson which included our remedies for the common cold. He has his own in the form of a DIY hot water bottle via a regular 2L PET bottle filled with 60 C water...good for him. Mines was the one handed down from some of the Nippon Oil boys I'd taught years ago. The guys there just took a very hot shower, downed a couple of bottles of the stronger and more expensive vitamin drinks (the ones labeled Yunker come to mind), and then wrapped themselves in blankets. Basically, it was a matter of exorcising the bad humours through sweat overnight. The result was probably at least one wet smelly blanket but a much better disposition. I tried it once and it wasn't too bad in execution.
Got home a tired man so it was with some surprise that I'd gotten a call after midnight from Skippy concerning our Sunday viewing of "Sweeney Todd". We may have a bumper crop in our party this weekend. It'll be MB and The Satyr with their significant others of course, Skippy and me. I was also thinking of asking The Sisters of State and BC along. The only hangup is that the times and reservations haven't opened up yet, and The Satyr is thinking that Johnny Depp could bring in volume business into Roppongi Hills, so we would need to grab those seats quickly. Dinner may also be a bit tricky since we've got a larger party than usual, but we're aiming for Tony Romas nearby. Haven't had ribs in a while.
Skippy was sounding atypically tired. For a woman who can tire out most of the Olympic Track And Field team on energy alone, she was pretty exhausted. Looks like her latest assignment at a tobacco company has been laden with tons of paperwork. Methinks that the paperwork must be at least a few floors high to tucker out Skippy.
There hasn't been much of a big story here...outside of the return of Mongolian yokozuna, Asashoryu, to the dohyo. PM Fukuda managed to steamroller legislation to bring back the MSDF into the Indian Ocean to resume re-fueling operations for the ships dedicated to The Coalition of the Willing for the War on Terrorism. The media has been talking about the LDP used a little-used rule in the Constitution to start up the steamroller. Not sure what NHK and the boys have been crowing about...I think the LDP has often used the steamroller to slam through the bills.
And there was an interesting incident the other day concerning a bus whose driver had literally been asleep at the wheel. Apparently, a tour bus was driving through the countryside of Japan when its driver, who had knocked back some cold medicine, just conked out. Of course, the bus and the passengers all started re-enacting key scenes from the Keanu Reaves "Speed" until one passenger was able to get the unconscious driver aside while he took over at the wheel. Luckily, noone was hurt although a lot of nerves probably suffered undue frazzling.
And speaking about frazzling, what is up with that Britney Spears? All of the guys on Larry King all but wrote her epitaph last night. Well, I'll be waiting for that breaking news.
Not Hump Day today...quite the opposite, actually. It's more like Pit Day. I've got nothing on the slate since 001, The Nurse and Mr. TOEIC bailed out, although two will be back next week and one will be here tomorrow afternoon. So, just enjoying a slow Wednesday...a very unlikey oxymoron if there ever was one.
Last night's marathon at the juku was OK. Had those two new boys in for the trial lesson with Chip N' Dale. The hour with four kids was fine as could be expected, but I'm not quite sure yet if the newbies are gonna be keepers. One of the boys' mothers said that they had been going to kids' classes at the Benesse Corporation, which happens to be one of the country's educational corporations with all sorts of methodology, texts and trained teachers to boot. And here I am with homemade pictures, a digital timer I got for 500 yen in Funabashi, obviously handwritten Human Bingo sheets, and a not-so-eager disposition to teach children. Kinda wonder why the parents even bothered to bring their sons to a meatball surgery-type of operation like mine.
The rest of the evening was pleasant enough. Mild Jr. had another intensive round of conversation and major spazzing out over his delivery...perhaps I shouldn't really be calling him Mild Jr. His parents were their usual mild selves. They'd gone traveling in Taiwan last week...as expected, they did the sights including Taipei 101 and the sho ron po legend, Din Dai Fon. Their souvenir was one as tightly connected to Taiwan duty-free shopping as Macadamia Chocolates are to Hawaii...Pineapple Cake.
The Siberian and I had another pleasant conversation for the 30 minutes allotted him. We started out on the karaoke party we'd had on December 27 and he'd missed, and we ended up talking about the music of yesteryear....70s and 80s. So, ABBA, The Carpenters and Earth, Wind & Fire all came to the fore. We even went into some detail about Billy Joel's "An Innocent Man". According to last night's banter, I regret that he's now opted for the half-hour classes.
As for Jolly, he finally showed up for his first of the year. We did do a proper lesson which included our remedies for the common cold. He has his own in the form of a DIY hot water bottle via a regular 2L PET bottle filled with 60 C water...good for him. Mines was the one handed down from some of the Nippon Oil boys I'd taught years ago. The guys there just took a very hot shower, downed a couple of bottles of the stronger and more expensive vitamin drinks (the ones labeled Yunker come to mind), and then wrapped themselves in blankets. Basically, it was a matter of exorcising the bad humours through sweat overnight. The result was probably at least one wet smelly blanket but a much better disposition. I tried it once and it wasn't too bad in execution.
Got home a tired man so it was with some surprise that I'd gotten a call after midnight from Skippy concerning our Sunday viewing of "Sweeney Todd". We may have a bumper crop in our party this weekend. It'll be MB and The Satyr with their significant others of course, Skippy and me. I was also thinking of asking The Sisters of State and BC along. The only hangup is that the times and reservations haven't opened up yet, and The Satyr is thinking that Johnny Depp could bring in volume business into Roppongi Hills, so we would need to grab those seats quickly. Dinner may also be a bit tricky since we've got a larger party than usual, but we're aiming for Tony Romas nearby. Haven't had ribs in a while.
Skippy was sounding atypically tired. For a woman who can tire out most of the Olympic Track And Field team on energy alone, she was pretty exhausted. Looks like her latest assignment at a tobacco company has been laden with tons of paperwork. Methinks that the paperwork must be at least a few floors high to tucker out Skippy.
There hasn't been much of a big story here...outside of the return of Mongolian yokozuna, Asashoryu, to the dohyo. PM Fukuda managed to steamroller legislation to bring back the MSDF into the Indian Ocean to resume re-fueling operations for the ships dedicated to The Coalition of the Willing for the War on Terrorism. The media has been talking about the LDP used a little-used rule in the Constitution to start up the steamroller. Not sure what NHK and the boys have been crowing about...I think the LDP has often used the steamroller to slam through the bills.
And there was an interesting incident the other day concerning a bus whose driver had literally been asleep at the wheel. Apparently, a tour bus was driving through the countryside of Japan when its driver, who had knocked back some cold medicine, just conked out. Of course, the bus and the passengers all started re-enacting key scenes from the Keanu Reaves "Speed" until one passenger was able to get the unconscious driver aside while he took over at the wheel. Luckily, noone was hurt although a lot of nerves probably suffered undue frazzling.
And speaking about frazzling, what is up with that Britney Spears? All of the guys on Larry King all but wrote her epitaph last night. Well, I'll be waiting for that breaking news.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Tuesday January 15, 3:58 p.m.
Well, it was a pretty quiet couple of days at home. I didn't bother watching the local news. Since it was Coming-of-Age Day yesterday, I would've been assaulted by the images of girls in badly-worn kimono along with future yakuza boys with the latter heckling the mayor or revving up the car to full speed and blasting out of the lot like The Millenium Falcon out of Mos Eisley.
Still, Sunday was the big return of Asashoryu, the disgraced yokozuna from Mongolia. Every media outlet was focused like lasers on this sumo slacker after having been banned from the last two tournaments. He came back in a big way getting his first win in his first match back but then the zabuton were flying yesterday when he got upset by a lower-ranked native sumotori. In a way, I was rather happy at that result...he should be given a bit more humbling by my reckoning. Anyways, another 12 days to go before we find out if he's truly been redeemed by the Japanese public.
I actually caught the downscaled Golden Globes on CNN. Ironically, because of the writers' strike, I was able to watch it for the first time since it was down to just 32 minutes and Larry King really wanted to have it on during his hour. And then the "post-game" was fairly catty with two ladies having a little battle about the boredom factor. It was certainly just as meow-worthy as that battle between the Clinton and Obama camps on the latest little comment to hit the airwaves. One piece of advice, though; make sure that Mary Hart never ever gets to a podium again. At least, I know that "Sweeney Todd" is now premium viewing. The bunch of us will be catching Johnny Depp at Roppongi on Sunday.
Had The Beehive this morning at the usual spot at Beckers. And of course, folks soon pretty much took off around us. We went to Tokyo Chubo, an eatery serving the best of Japanese-Western fusion food such as Hayashi Rice and Hamburg Steak. The talk got really heavy when the ladies started going into a major venting session about various things. Mrs. Travel, especially, got a bit emotional talking about her mother-in-law-from-Hell. I wisely kept quiet.
Well, got the kids...hopefully all 4 show up this time. It should be a full slate tonight which will mean that I'll be exhausted by the end of Jolly's session. At least, I can sleep in tomorrow since I may have no classes whatsoever, depending on Mr. TOEIC's call to reserve tomorrow night.
Well, it was a pretty quiet couple of days at home. I didn't bother watching the local news. Since it was Coming-of-Age Day yesterday, I would've been assaulted by the images of girls in badly-worn kimono along with future yakuza boys with the latter heckling the mayor or revving up the car to full speed and blasting out of the lot like The Millenium Falcon out of Mos Eisley.
Still, Sunday was the big return of Asashoryu, the disgraced yokozuna from Mongolia. Every media outlet was focused like lasers on this sumo slacker after having been banned from the last two tournaments. He came back in a big way getting his first win in his first match back but then the zabuton were flying yesterday when he got upset by a lower-ranked native sumotori. In a way, I was rather happy at that result...he should be given a bit more humbling by my reckoning. Anyways, another 12 days to go before we find out if he's truly been redeemed by the Japanese public.
I actually caught the downscaled Golden Globes on CNN. Ironically, because of the writers' strike, I was able to watch it for the first time since it was down to just 32 minutes and Larry King really wanted to have it on during his hour. And then the "post-game" was fairly catty with two ladies having a little battle about the boredom factor. It was certainly just as meow-worthy as that battle between the Clinton and Obama camps on the latest little comment to hit the airwaves. One piece of advice, though; make sure that Mary Hart never ever gets to a podium again. At least, I know that "Sweeney Todd" is now premium viewing. The bunch of us will be catching Johnny Depp at Roppongi on Sunday.
Had The Beehive this morning at the usual spot at Beckers. And of course, folks soon pretty much took off around us. We went to Tokyo Chubo, an eatery serving the best of Japanese-Western fusion food such as Hayashi Rice and Hamburg Steak. The talk got really heavy when the ladies started going into a major venting session about various things. Mrs. Travel, especially, got a bit emotional talking about her mother-in-law-from-Hell. I wisely kept quiet.
Well, got the kids...hopefully all 4 show up this time. It should be a full slate tonight which will mean that I'll be exhausted by the end of Jolly's session. At least, I can sleep in tomorrow since I may have no classes whatsoever, depending on Mr. TOEIC's call to reserve tomorrow night.