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.