iPod morning commute music: Steve Forbert, The Best of Steve Forbert: What Kinda Guy? (1993)
When Forbert's first album, Alive on Arrival, was released in 1978, I really did think we had a new major folk star on our hands. However, he wanted to be a rocker, and that's where he went on his second album, Jackrabbit Slim (1979). I saw him at the Paramount Theater in Seattle that year, and he put on a great show. Unfortunately, most of his studio albums haven't been well received, so this greatest hits fills a big gap.
Halloween is another American holiday adopted by Japanese. No trick or treating, but parents buy plastic pumpkins filled with candies for their kids, and my high school club is having a party in a classroom today. It is a holiday I miss. I liked kids dressed up in costume showing up at my door.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Friday, October 28, 2005
Friday Again
iPod morning commute music: The Verve, Urban Hymns, 1997
Every time I play this, I'm astounded that it sounds just as good today as it did 8 years ago. I saw Richard Ashcroft perform Bittersweet Symphony during the televised Live 8 concerts, a brilliant performance of one of the great songs of the '90s. The great thing about Urban Hymns, though, is that all the songs hold up.
Tonight, I have to help stuff ballots for the Democrats Abroad Japan-Kansai officers election (I'm one of the three members of the election committee). It really does feel a little dumb, as only one candidate per office was nominated (a pretty apathetic response to our call for nominations) so the results are a foregone conclusion.
Democracy in action!
Every time I play this, I'm astounded that it sounds just as good today as it did 8 years ago. I saw Richard Ashcroft perform Bittersweet Symphony during the televised Live 8 concerts, a brilliant performance of one of the great songs of the '90s. The great thing about Urban Hymns, though, is that all the songs hold up.
Tonight, I have to help stuff ballots for the Democrats Abroad Japan-Kansai officers election (I'm one of the three members of the election committee). It really does feel a little dumb, as only one candidate per office was nominated (a pretty apathetic response to our call for nominations) so the results are a foregone conclusion.
Democracy in action!
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Poem #1
iPod morning commute music: Warren Zevon, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (an Anthology)Disc 1 (1996)
When Warren Zevon died two years ago, the world lost one of the great bent geniuses in music. He was even a favorite shooting partner (guns, guns!) of Hunter S. Thompson. This two disc anthology captures the high points of his career. He will be missed.
Poem #1
sometimes
to talk to them
is like talking to memories
scratched records repeating
scratched records
how my father found
a yellowed novel
left behind when I left for good
and he wondered where'd it come from
as he read it to my mother
my brother looks in on them now
catching the ferry to the island
the tang of salt in the drizzled air
he goes to chop iron madrona
for their winter fires
I make my weekly call
Sunday morning my time
Saturday night for them
and Dad tells me how he read to Mom
from a novel he'd never seen before
When Warren Zevon died two years ago, the world lost one of the great bent geniuses in music. He was even a favorite shooting partner (guns, guns!) of Hunter S. Thompson. This two disc anthology captures the high points of his career. He will be missed.
Poem #1
sometimes
to talk to them
is like talking to memories
scratched records repeating
scratched records
how my father found
a yellowed novel
left behind when I left for good
and he wondered where'd it come from
as he read it to my mother
my brother looks in on them now
catching the ferry to the island
the tang of salt in the drizzled air
he goes to chop iron madrona
for their winter fires
I make my weekly call
Sunday morning my time
Saturday night for them
and Dad tells me how he read to Mom
from a novel he'd never seen before
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
The Hanshin Pussycats
iPod morning commute music: Radiohead, The Bends
My first Radiohead CD was their third, OK Computer; the reviews were so good, I figured I had to give it a listen. Obviously, a special band, but it was their second album, The Bends, that really got to me with its shimmering vocals and outstanding guitar. I like all their music, but The Bends remains my favorite.
Last night the Hanshin Tigers baseball team dropped their third straight game against the Marines, this time by a score of 1 to 10 (they lost their first 1 to 10, their second 0 to 10). This is pathetic. I'm walking around my school singing a variation of Tom Jones' What's New Pussycat, much to the amusement of the Japanese staff. It's hard to take our team seriously when they've been outscored 30 to 2.
My first Radiohead CD was their third, OK Computer; the reviews were so good, I figured I had to give it a listen. Obviously, a special band, but it was their second album, The Bends, that really got to me with its shimmering vocals and outstanding guitar. I like all their music, but The Bends remains my favorite.
Last night the Hanshin Tigers baseball team dropped their third straight game against the Marines, this time by a score of 1 to 10 (they lost their first 1 to 10, their second 0 to 10). This is pathetic. I'm walking around my school singing a variation of Tom Jones' What's New Pussycat, much to the amusement of the Japanese staff. It's hard to take our team seriously when they've been outscored 30 to 2.
Tuesday, October 25, 2005
Paying for another Late Night
iPod morning commute music: Lucinda Williams, Lucinda Williams (1988)
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road was the first Lucinda disc to cross my path. I quickly went to her back catalogue for more. This was her second album, her first coming in 1980 (we can be grateful that she's recording more frequently these days). Full of cool songs, including Passionate Kisses (which was covered by Mary Chapin Carpenter), this is great country rock.
Last night's movie, Atomic Cafe, was at times funny, at other times moving. It is amazing how our government lied to us about nuclear weapons. The idea that children could survive an attack through "Duck and Cover" is funny and sad at the same time.
Before the film, I checked out a new music shop in Umeda for my son, and the new Tower Records in the same building. Ended up buy a 3-disc compilation of Django Reinhardt and the latest Uncut magazine because my friend Ian got a letter to the editor published in it. Well done, Ian.
After getting home I found I had to call my co-author of the TOEIC book we're writing to finalize some first draft changes. An hour and a half later we were finished, 11:30, after which I had some wine. Overslept this morning, woke with a headache, and have been paying the price for yesterday's folly. Oh, well, at least managed a shower, got to school on time and had decent lessons.
Car Wheels on a Gravel Road was the first Lucinda disc to cross my path. I quickly went to her back catalogue for more. This was her second album, her first coming in 1980 (we can be grateful that she's recording more frequently these days). Full of cool songs, including Passionate Kisses (which was covered by Mary Chapin Carpenter), this is great country rock.
Last night's movie, Atomic Cafe, was at times funny, at other times moving. It is amazing how our government lied to us about nuclear weapons. The idea that children could survive an attack through "Duck and Cover" is funny and sad at the same time.
Before the film, I checked out a new music shop in Umeda for my son, and the new Tower Records in the same building. Ended up buy a 3-disc compilation of Django Reinhardt and the latest Uncut magazine because my friend Ian got a letter to the editor published in it. Well done, Ian.
After getting home I found I had to call my co-author of the TOEIC book we're writing to finalize some first draft changes. An hour and a half later we were finished, 11:30, after which I had some wine. Overslept this morning, woke with a headache, and have been paying the price for yesterday's folly. Oh, well, at least managed a shower, got to school on time and had decent lessons.
Monday, October 24, 2005
Another Monday
iPod morning commute music: The Go Betweens: 1978-1990 (disc 1)
A great band almost no one has heard of. The came from Brisbane, Australia, but moved to London to make their claim to fame. After 10 years of critically acclaimed records and almost no sales, they broke up. At the turn of the century they got back together again and have made 3 records. This is obviously an anthology and a great place to start (if you can find it; the 2-disc version was available in only Australia and Japan, I believe).
It was a good weekend, capped by Kaoru and I going to my friend Dave's house for a late lunch. We met his daughter from his first marriage, Kana, and her boyfriend, Chris. Really nice people, and it was a fun visit. I'll be seeing them again tonight for the Democrats Abroad Japan-Kansai Movie Nite. Tonight's film is something called The Atomic Cafe (I think), which is a look back over the atomic age. I am old enough to remember having to duck under desks in elementary school during Air Raids.
The White Sox are up 2 games to none in the World Serious. I could watch the first game, which started yesterday at 8:30 am Japan time. During the game I called my brother in the States. It's always fun to chat while watching the same game in real time. At one point between innings, the Japan station was showing vintage footage of the 1917 Series, with Shoeless Joe Jackson. I asked Mark if he was seeing it and he said no, he was seeing a razor blade commericial equating the blade with fast cars and beautiful women. I'll take the commercial-free NHK replays of highlights any day over commercials!
A great band almost no one has heard of. The came from Brisbane, Australia, but moved to London to make their claim to fame. After 10 years of critically acclaimed records and almost no sales, they broke up. At the turn of the century they got back together again and have made 3 records. This is obviously an anthology and a great place to start (if you can find it; the 2-disc version was available in only Australia and Japan, I believe).
It was a good weekend, capped by Kaoru and I going to my friend Dave's house for a late lunch. We met his daughter from his first marriage, Kana, and her boyfriend, Chris. Really nice people, and it was a fun visit. I'll be seeing them again tonight for the Democrats Abroad Japan-Kansai Movie Nite. Tonight's film is something called The Atomic Cafe (I think), which is a look back over the atomic age. I am old enough to remember having to duck under desks in elementary school during Air Raids.
The White Sox are up 2 games to none in the World Serious. I could watch the first game, which started yesterday at 8:30 am Japan time. During the game I called my brother in the States. It's always fun to chat while watching the same game in real time. At one point between innings, the Japan station was showing vintage footage of the 1917 Series, with Shoeless Joe Jackson. I asked Mark if he was seeing it and he said no, he was seeing a razor blade commericial equating the blade with fast cars and beautiful women. I'll take the commercial-free NHK replays of highlights any day over commercials!
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Finally, Saturday
iPod morning commute music: Bob Dylan, Bootleg Series, Vol. 5: Bob Dylan Live 1975 - The Rolling Thunder Revue (Disc 1 and a bit of 2)
Dylan live is always a revelation as he reinvents his songs with each performance (note his rocking version of A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall on this set as just one great example). This two-disc set captures Dylan just before he converted to Christianity, and covers all aspects of his career through the album Desire. The recording quality is excellent, as is the song selection. The Rolling Thunder Revue was a huge band, including Mick Ronson on guitar and Joan Baez singing duets with, as she calls him, Bobby. If you're a Dylan fan, you really need this music.
Tomorrow the World Serious starts, but the Japan Serious started this evening, with the Central League champion Hanshin Tigers going against the Bobby Valentine skippered Chiba Lotte Marines. Those of us living here in the Kansai area are almost all Hanshin Tigers fans. They last won the championship in 1985, but are usually the league bottom feeders. I know nothing about the Marines other than they haven't won the championship since 1974.
In the bottom of the 7th, the Marines are leading 10 to 1, with the game delayed due to fog. Things do look bleak for the Tigers, at least in game 1.
Is there anyone outside of Texas who isn't rooting for the White Sox in this year's Serious?
Wine of the day: 1993 Chateau Lanessan, Haut Medoc
A note on wine in Japan: Since almost everything is imported (Japan does have a small wine industry), prices are competitive for all wine, be it French, Australian, South American or US. For example, today's wine cost ¥2100, or about $18 at today's exchange rate. Also, older vintages are readily available; not as old as today's wine, which is an unusual find, but vintages ranging from 2000-2002 are easy to find. Of course, young wine is also available at cheaper prices.
Dylan live is always a revelation as he reinvents his songs with each performance (note his rocking version of A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall on this set as just one great example). This two-disc set captures Dylan just before he converted to Christianity, and covers all aspects of his career through the album Desire. The recording quality is excellent, as is the song selection. The Rolling Thunder Revue was a huge band, including Mick Ronson on guitar and Joan Baez singing duets with, as she calls him, Bobby. If you're a Dylan fan, you really need this music.
Tomorrow the World Serious starts, but the Japan Serious started this evening, with the Central League champion Hanshin Tigers going against the Bobby Valentine skippered Chiba Lotte Marines. Those of us living here in the Kansai area are almost all Hanshin Tigers fans. They last won the championship in 1985, but are usually the league bottom feeders. I know nothing about the Marines other than they haven't won the championship since 1974.
In the bottom of the 7th, the Marines are leading 10 to 1, with the game delayed due to fog. Things do look bleak for the Tigers, at least in game 1.
Is there anyone outside of Texas who isn't rooting for the White Sox in this year's Serious?
Wine of the day: 1993 Chateau Lanessan, Haut Medoc
A note on wine in Japan: Since almost everything is imported (Japan does have a small wine industry), prices are competitive for all wine, be it French, Australian, South American or US. For example, today's wine cost ¥2100, or about $18 at today's exchange rate. Also, older vintages are readily available; not as old as today's wine, which is an unusual find, but vintages ranging from 2000-2002 are easy to find. Of course, young wine is also available at cheaper prices.
Friday, October 21, 2005
Van the Man
iPod morning commute music: Van Morrison, Astral Weeks (1968)
Considered by most to be Van Morrison's masterpiece and consistently ranked in the top ten all time rock albums (of course, it is not rock, but who's to quibble?), this is probably my favorite commute music, acoustic guitar, flute, strings, horns all somehow flitting around Morrison's voice. Two classic songs are found here, Cypress Avenue and Madame George, but the whole album is a unique treat, unlike anything you've heard before.
I was reading an Uncut interview with Van Morrison in one of the many issues my friend Ian (read his comment below after Moday's post) loaned me the last time we met. I think the timing of our meetings may hinge on when his wife gets fed up with his magazine collection, so he shoots me off an invite and we get together for some beers, exchange music, I get a ton of mags to take home.
Van was also Bob K.'s (see yesterday's post) favorite musician. A few years before he died, Bob told me he was sending his sister, Mary, his entire Morrison collection (virtually his complete catalogue) after dubbing them first onto MDs. He loaned his collection to me, and I got them dubbed as well. At his funeral, my co-worker Marty and I sang Bright Side of the Street (well, Marty sang and played guitar, and I just tried to quietly accompany him without singing off key for once in my life).
Today is Friday, but my school is a 6-day school, so I have to come in to work tomorrow. We've started mid-term tests, so I'm only proctoring, but I wish I could sleep in. I hate working on Saturdays.
Wine of the Day: Chateau Grand Plantier: Cotes de Bourg 2000
Considered by most to be Van Morrison's masterpiece and consistently ranked in the top ten all time rock albums (of course, it is not rock, but who's to quibble?), this is probably my favorite commute music, acoustic guitar, flute, strings, horns all somehow flitting around Morrison's voice. Two classic songs are found here, Cypress Avenue and Madame George, but the whole album is a unique treat, unlike anything you've heard before.
I was reading an Uncut interview with Van Morrison in one of the many issues my friend Ian (read his comment below after Moday's post) loaned me the last time we met. I think the timing of our meetings may hinge on when his wife gets fed up with his magazine collection, so he shoots me off an invite and we get together for some beers, exchange music, I get a ton of mags to take home.
Van was also Bob K.'s (see yesterday's post) favorite musician. A few years before he died, Bob told me he was sending his sister, Mary, his entire Morrison collection (virtually his complete catalogue) after dubbing them first onto MDs. He loaned his collection to me, and I got them dubbed as well. At his funeral, my co-worker Marty and I sang Bright Side of the Street (well, Marty sang and played guitar, and I just tried to quietly accompany him without singing off key for once in my life).
Today is Friday, but my school is a 6-day school, so I have to come in to work tomorrow. We've started mid-term tests, so I'm only proctoring, but I wish I could sleep in. I hate working on Saturdays.
Wine of the Day: Chateau Grand Plantier: Cotes de Bourg 2000
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Rembering Bob K.
iPod morning commute music: Paul McCartney, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
This is a quiet, reflective album with no filler, unique for a McCartney effort, but consistent with his best creative period in years starting with Flaming Pie, Run Devil Run (a rock 'n' roller recorded just after Linda died) and Driving Rain (recorded after getting together with his second wife, Heather). Produced by Nigel Godrich (of Radiohead fame), it has a mood of its own, unlike any other McCartney album I can think of. Sir Paul played most of the instruments himself, but this is no Ram. I'm sure it will be underappreciated for years to come. Well worth owning.
The last time I saw McCartney was on his Back in the World tour (which followed his Back in the US tour). It was great for Beatles fans. George Harrison had recently passed away, and Paul dedicated songs to both him and John.
My late friend Bob K. scored us tickets (I'm guessing his wife, Naoko, helped). Little did we know that in less than 2 years, Bob would be dead from liver cancer. He died on September 25, 2004, just about 4 weeks after the diagnosis was made. He had just turned 39, and was survived by his wife and small daughter. Kaoru and I were able to see him 3 times in the hospital, once every week. The last time he asked us not to come back. Less than a week later he was gone.
At the JALT conference, I ran into one of his friends whom I met at his funeral, and we are hoping to get together with some of his other foreign friends. Bob was a great guy, and he will be missed. In watching him die, helping him through it, Bob taught me a lot about myself. He helped make me a better person. He was a teacher to the end.
This is a quiet, reflective album with no filler, unique for a McCartney effort, but consistent with his best creative period in years starting with Flaming Pie, Run Devil Run (a rock 'n' roller recorded just after Linda died) and Driving Rain (recorded after getting together with his second wife, Heather). Produced by Nigel Godrich (of Radiohead fame), it has a mood of its own, unlike any other McCartney album I can think of. Sir Paul played most of the instruments himself, but this is no Ram. I'm sure it will be underappreciated for years to come. Well worth owning.
The last time I saw McCartney was on his Back in the World tour (which followed his Back in the US tour). It was great for Beatles fans. George Harrison had recently passed away, and Paul dedicated songs to both him and John.
My late friend Bob K. scored us tickets (I'm guessing his wife, Naoko, helped). Little did we know that in less than 2 years, Bob would be dead from liver cancer. He died on September 25, 2004, just about 4 weeks after the diagnosis was made. He had just turned 39, and was survived by his wife and small daughter. Kaoru and I were able to see him 3 times in the hospital, once every week. The last time he asked us not to come back. Less than a week later he was gone.
At the JALT conference, I ran into one of his friends whom I met at his funeral, and we are hoping to get together with some of his other foreign friends. Bob was a great guy, and he will be missed. In watching him die, helping him through it, Bob taught me a lot about myself. He helped make me a better person. He was a teacher to the end.
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Thanks for the feedback
iPod morning commute music: The Kinks, Ultimate Collection
One of the advantages of living in Japan is having access to CD's imported from Europe and Australia as well as from the US. This is a European greatest hits, which starts with the earliest '60s hits (You Really Got Me) and follows through the '70s. It's chronological and long for a single disc compilation. I don't usually finish the whole disc in a single listening, and would recommend their '60s classic albums Face to Face and Something Else by the Kinks over this, or any, compilation.
I've started getting some feedback from people (in e-mail, which is great) about the blog and about blogging in general. Thanks. Someone asked if the comments would be for my eyes only: No, they'll be for everyone, so again, first names only, please. I want to ensure everyone's privacy. If you want to reply to me privately, use e-mail (and for those who don't know me but are reading this, sorry, you'll only be able to post comments as I'm keeping my e-mail address off the blog). Another friend told me not to worry about posting daily, but to follow my muse. Good point. As she said, we can't force creativity. I will follow her advice, and not post when I have nothing to say. A third friend advised me not to give out so much personal information in my profile due to the problem of identity theft. Sadly, he's right, so I have changed my bio, though the site hasn't updated it yet (his other point was that most of the people who would read this already know that info anyway; no reason to give it out again). This issue of identity theft is one I hadn't considered before (who the hell would want to be ME?), but in this day and age it is important. Maybe we all want to consider what personal info we've given web sites that allow public access (classmates.com jumps to my mind).
One of the advantages of living in Japan is having access to CD's imported from Europe and Australia as well as from the US. This is a European greatest hits, which starts with the earliest '60s hits (You Really Got Me) and follows through the '70s. It's chronological and long for a single disc compilation. I don't usually finish the whole disc in a single listening, and would recommend their '60s classic albums Face to Face and Something Else by the Kinks over this, or any, compilation.
I've started getting some feedback from people (in e-mail, which is great) about the blog and about blogging in general. Thanks. Someone asked if the comments would be for my eyes only: No, they'll be for everyone, so again, first names only, please. I want to ensure everyone's privacy. If you want to reply to me privately, use e-mail (and for those who don't know me but are reading this, sorry, you'll only be able to post comments as I'm keeping my e-mail address off the blog). Another friend told me not to worry about posting daily, but to follow my muse. Good point. As she said, we can't force creativity. I will follow her advice, and not post when I have nothing to say. A third friend advised me not to give out so much personal information in my profile due to the problem of identity theft. Sadly, he's right, so I have changed my bio, though the site hasn't updated it yet (his other point was that most of the people who would read this already know that info anyway; no reason to give it out again). This issue of identity theft is one I hadn't considered before (who the hell would want to be ME?), but in this day and age it is important. Maybe we all want to consider what personal info we've given web sites that allow public access (classmates.com jumps to my mind).
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Ch-ch-ch-changes
iPod morning commute music: David Bowie, Singles 1969-1993 (disc 1)
One of the sad truths of my youth is I didn't like challenging music. I liked The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan. I did not like David Bowie. I liked some of his songs, but I didn't like the image of the man himself. I didn't like his dresses. Happily, I grew out of this over time (a remastered Ziggy won me over). This two-disc set is absolutely superb. Highly recommended.
Changes: Hmm...I'll have been in Japan for 22 years next month, 20 of them at my current school. There have been so many changes over that time. Most of you who will read this know me, and I you, and we've seen a lot of those changes as personal, the aging process. Dylan's wonderful album Time out of Mind was really one of the first to address this musically, though of course this has been a part of literature forever (Timequake by Vonnegut, Closing Time by Heller which I'm reading now having just finished Catch 22, come immediately to mind). Probably those of us with kids would have to say raising children brought on a huge change in our lives. I remember wondering how my parents could have been wise enough to raise children as I certainly knew I didn't have a clue. Then Tatsu was born, and 6 months later I woke up and realized that my life had really changed. And I realized that, just as I was winging it with child rearing, so had my parents.
But apart from personal change, I've seen a lot of change in Japan itself, especially change which affects foreigners in Japan. In the '80s and '90s, Japan really had to open her markets to foreign goods. Foods you could never get suddenly appeared: Good cheese, sour cream, cheap beef, cheap alcohol (when I first arrived, wine and whisky were WAY overpriced as they were mainly given as gifts, and so a high price tag was considered prestigious...popping that old bubble economy changed that way of thinking). Satellite TV suddenly opened the door to English television programming; the first season of Six Feet Under just finished on Sky/Perfect TV, and while the last season has concluded in the States, we are just pleased to have it here at all. When I first got here, we had as English programming NHK's 7:00 evening news, the occasional movie, the Rose Bowl, the Super Bowl, the World Serious (pun intended), and re-runs of Mannix (sp), a highlight of our afternoons. The Internet obviously opened up a means of communication those living far from home needed. Now, with my IP phone, I can call the States for about 2 cents a minute, cheaper than a local call.
People often wonder how I could stay in Japan for so long, but life's gotten easier as technology has progressed. An American (ie, English language) lifestyle is possible here, and far easier to obtain than a Japanese lifestyle in America.
One of the sad truths of my youth is I didn't like challenging music. I liked The Beatles, The Stones, Bob Dylan. I did not like David Bowie. I liked some of his songs, but I didn't like the image of the man himself. I didn't like his dresses. Happily, I grew out of this over time (a remastered Ziggy won me over). This two-disc set is absolutely superb. Highly recommended.
Changes: Hmm...I'll have been in Japan for 22 years next month, 20 of them at my current school. There have been so many changes over that time. Most of you who will read this know me, and I you, and we've seen a lot of those changes as personal, the aging process. Dylan's wonderful album Time out of Mind was really one of the first to address this musically, though of course this has been a part of literature forever (Timequake by Vonnegut, Closing Time by Heller which I'm reading now having just finished Catch 22, come immediately to mind). Probably those of us with kids would have to say raising children brought on a huge change in our lives. I remember wondering how my parents could have been wise enough to raise children as I certainly knew I didn't have a clue. Then Tatsu was born, and 6 months later I woke up and realized that my life had really changed. And I realized that, just as I was winging it with child rearing, so had my parents.
But apart from personal change, I've seen a lot of change in Japan itself, especially change which affects foreigners in Japan. In the '80s and '90s, Japan really had to open her markets to foreign goods. Foods you could never get suddenly appeared: Good cheese, sour cream, cheap beef, cheap alcohol (when I first arrived, wine and whisky were WAY overpriced as they were mainly given as gifts, and so a high price tag was considered prestigious...popping that old bubble economy changed that way of thinking). Satellite TV suddenly opened the door to English television programming; the first season of Six Feet Under just finished on Sky/Perfect TV, and while the last season has concluded in the States, we are just pleased to have it here at all. When I first got here, we had as English programming NHK's 7:00 evening news, the occasional movie, the Rose Bowl, the Super Bowl, the World Serious (pun intended), and re-runs of Mannix (sp), a highlight of our afternoons. The Internet obviously opened up a means of communication those living far from home needed. Now, with my IP phone, I can call the States for about 2 cents a minute, cheaper than a local call.
People often wonder how I could stay in Japan for so long, but life's gotten easier as technology has progressed. An American (ie, English language) lifestyle is possible here, and far easier to obtain than a Japanese lifestyle in America.
Monday Monday Can't Trust that Day
iPod morning commute music: Green Day, American Idiot
This is a band I just knew nothing about, when my friend Brad gave me a copy of American Idiot. What an album! I can't remember being this taken with a punk album since The Clash's London Calling. I later saw them perform in the Live 8 concert, and was again really impressed. This is a damn near perfect album.
Yesterday the wife and I saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Fun, but not as good as Sin City, which we saw a couple of weeks ago. Anyway, had to go into Osaka to see the film (free tickets good at only 1 theater, a gift from our newspaper), so 90 minutes in and 90 back. Depp was great, as usual, and Burton's visuals are always a treat (not to mention the squirrels). Got home to find I'd screwed up and missed a Democrats Abroad Japan-Kansai meeting; I got the date mixed up. The meetings are held in Osaka, and there was no way I was going to commute back in, so I watched the White Sox and Freddy Garcia dominate the Angels again. Freddy...being from Seattle, I can't help but wonder about THAT trade. We got a catcher who couldn't hit, Olivio I think the name was, and they got The Chief.
Finished watching No Direction Home. Superb documentary. What was really cool was how normal Dylan sounds in the interviews he gave for the film which also provided a lot of the voice over narration. In concert he seems somewhere between standoffish and shy, almost uncomfortable. The soundtrack that go with it (No Direction Home: Bootleg Tapes #7) is also good.
Picked up as well the new Neil Young, Prarie Wind. Good acoustic Neil.
Well, back to work.
This is a band I just knew nothing about, when my friend Brad gave me a copy of American Idiot. What an album! I can't remember being this taken with a punk album since The Clash's London Calling. I later saw them perform in the Live 8 concert, and was again really impressed. This is a damn near perfect album.
Yesterday the wife and I saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Fun, but not as good as Sin City, which we saw a couple of weeks ago. Anyway, had to go into Osaka to see the film (free tickets good at only 1 theater, a gift from our newspaper), so 90 minutes in and 90 back. Depp was great, as usual, and Burton's visuals are always a treat (not to mention the squirrels). Got home to find I'd screwed up and missed a Democrats Abroad Japan-Kansai meeting; I got the date mixed up. The meetings are held in Osaka, and there was no way I was going to commute back in, so I watched the White Sox and Freddy Garcia dominate the Angels again. Freddy...being from Seattle, I can't help but wonder about THAT trade. We got a catcher who couldn't hit, Olivio I think the name was, and they got The Chief.
Finished watching No Direction Home. Superb documentary. What was really cool was how normal Dylan sounds in the interviews he gave for the film which also provided a lot of the voice over narration. In concert he seems somewhere between standoffish and shy, almost uncomfortable. The soundtrack that go with it (No Direction Home: Bootleg Tapes #7) is also good.
Picked up as well the new Neil Young, Prarie Wind. Good acoustic Neil.
Well, back to work.
Sunday, October 16, 2005
Craig in Japan
Just trying things out. This photo is about a year old, but hey, I haven't changed noticeably. I was on a cool hike which followed an abandoned rail track running along a river. Part of the cool factor was having to walk through a series of long tunnels (flashlights a must).
First post
What a past couple of weeks. Coaching a JH speech contestant, hitting the JALT conference in Shizuoka, attending the speech contest (my student advanced to the Tokyo contest), sports day. I took today off from work to relax. Watched the White Sox kick the Angels around. Got an e-mail from Susan telling me that JB and Suzie are finally getting married around Christmas, the first marriage for both of them. We were all Thesbians in high school together. I gave them a call, first time to talk to them in over a year since the last time I was in the States. Then made a COSTCO run. Hard to believe we have a COSTCO in Amagasaki, about an hour away from the house. Lifestyle in Japan has certainly change in the 22 years I've been here. It was pissing down rain, but the drive was OK, though the store was jammed with Saturday shoppers. Picked up my daughter, Alisa, at our train station on the way home. She took her first PSAT today, then watched her school's boy's volleyball team win the international school tournament. Came home, had a beer, created this blog for better or for worse. Hopefully it will get better in the future. Now to watch Scorsese's No Direction Home with son Tatsu, a 17 year old Dylan fan. Cheers!
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