iPod morning commute music: The Who, Live at Leeds, Delux Edition, disc 1 (2001)
I bought the original album, with only 6 tracks, back in high school. This edition includes the entire concert, 33 songs, with disc 2 being the entire Tommy rock opera. This is classic stuff, and if you love rock and roll you should own this. I chose to listen to disc 1 this morning as it included their great take of Summertime Blues.
I got really bad news at last Thursday's teachers' meeting. Basically, I'm losing almost all of my 'summer vacation' (please note that in Japan, our teaching contract is for the whole year, and the school is perfectly within its contractual rights to do this). I have to be available through the end of July for packing up the old school in preparation for the move, which could be scheduled from as early as August 10th, the day we take possession of the new school.
Kaoru and I are canceling our trip to the States this summer. Alisa will still fly to Seattle in July, and will attend the Global Young Leaders Conference in Washington DC and New York City from July 30th through August 10th. Tatsu will probably fly over at the beginning of September to get ready to attend university.
Since I will be unable to return home, I'll probably escort students to Australia again this summer. I've already talked to the head of my school about going home in the summer of 2007, and there should be no problem.
Anyway, as disappointing as it is not to be returning this summer, I'll look forward to seeing everyone in 2007.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Blurry Thursday
iPod morning commute music: Lynyrd Skynyrd: Leonard Skynyrd (Box) disc 1 (1991)
Southern rock, arguably at its best. Ronnie Van Zant and crew could write, sing and, with three guitars, play. Free Bird and Sweet Home Alabama are probably the songs that come to mind the quickest, but as this box set proves, all their music is really good rock and roll. Van Zant's 1977 death, along with two other members of the band, in a plane crash was a sad end to a great band.
Last night, a sales rep (and friend) from one of the textbook publishers took me out to dinner. We had a fun visit, trading stories of growing up as well as our Japanese experiences. I don't think we'll be using any of her company's textbooks next year, though we used one this year.
Choosing new textbooks is a part of my job that I hate. If you get saddled with a bad book, it makes your life and your students' lives miserable. For the last two years I've been stuck with a horrible textbook that I used with my junior high students. I thought I could cover it in one year, but it was so difficult to work with that I had to slow down and make it a two-year text, over 8th and 9th grades.
Now I need a book for 7th graders (hopefully for just 1 year) and one for Sophomores (lasting through their Junior year). Moving into Computer Aided Language Labs (CALLs) from next August, I really feel the need to find textbooks that can utilize the new equipment. This is especially hard in the junior high.
Anyway, today has been a bit blurry after last night. With luck, today's teachers' meeting will be short, and I can get home and rested.
Southern rock, arguably at its best. Ronnie Van Zant and crew could write, sing and, with three guitars, play. Free Bird and Sweet Home Alabama are probably the songs that come to mind the quickest, but as this box set proves, all their music is really good rock and roll. Van Zant's 1977 death, along with two other members of the band, in a plane crash was a sad end to a great band.
Last night, a sales rep (and friend) from one of the textbook publishers took me out to dinner. We had a fun visit, trading stories of growing up as well as our Japanese experiences. I don't think we'll be using any of her company's textbooks next year, though we used one this year.
Choosing new textbooks is a part of my job that I hate. If you get saddled with a bad book, it makes your life and your students' lives miserable. For the last two years I've been stuck with a horrible textbook that I used with my junior high students. I thought I could cover it in one year, but it was so difficult to work with that I had to slow down and make it a two-year text, over 8th and 9th grades.
Now I need a book for 7th graders (hopefully for just 1 year) and one for Sophomores (lasting through their Junior year). Moving into Computer Aided Language Labs (CALLs) from next August, I really feel the need to find textbooks that can utilize the new equipment. This is especially hard in the junior high.
Anyway, today has been a bit blurry after last night. With luck, today's teachers' meeting will be short, and I can get home and rested.
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Danny
iPod morning commute music: The Clash, London Calling (1979)
Their breakout album, full of musical styles and surprises. The title cut is just great, as is Spanish Bombs, but the whole CD is wonderful. I especially like Lost in the Supermarket, where the singer's shopping for a personality. Essential.
I just got the word that my cousin's ex-husband had a massive stroke last Thursday and is not going to make it. Danny and Bev were more like uncle and aunt to me than cousins. Bev's now about 70, and Danny had to be about the same, maybe older. When I was growing up in Jersey, we would see them at least once a month. After we moved west when I was 12 they ended up divorcing.
Danny always seemed to be larger-than-life, macho, cigar smoking. I only saw him a couple of times after the divorce. Their daughter, Stephanie, and her husband Chuck, became close to Kaoru and me, and their eldest daughter, Katie, is the about the same age as our Alisa. It was Stephanie who contacted me about Danny's condition. I had sent an e-mail to her last week, and another yesterday to Chuck as his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers are playing my beloved Seattle Seahawks in the Superbowl. Football games just don't seem that important at this moment.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the whole family.
Their breakout album, full of musical styles and surprises. The title cut is just great, as is Spanish Bombs, but the whole CD is wonderful. I especially like Lost in the Supermarket, where the singer's shopping for a personality. Essential.
I just got the word that my cousin's ex-husband had a massive stroke last Thursday and is not going to make it. Danny and Bev were more like uncle and aunt to me than cousins. Bev's now about 70, and Danny had to be about the same, maybe older. When I was growing up in Jersey, we would see them at least once a month. After we moved west when I was 12 they ended up divorcing.
Danny always seemed to be larger-than-life, macho, cigar smoking. I only saw him a couple of times after the divorce. Their daughter, Stephanie, and her husband Chuck, became close to Kaoru and me, and their eldest daughter, Katie, is the about the same age as our Alisa. It was Stephanie who contacted me about Danny's condition. I had sent an e-mail to her last week, and another yesterday to Chuck as his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers are playing my beloved Seattle Seahawks in the Superbowl. Football games just don't seem that important at this moment.
Our hearts and prayers go out to the whole family.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Superbowl Seahawks
iPod morning commute music: Wilson Pickett, The Very Best of Wilson Pickett (1993)
Sad news: The Wicked Pickett passed away last week. Not the most famous of the '60s soul men, but hey, he gave us Land of 1000 Dances, In the Midnight Hour, and, hee hee hee, Mustang Sally ("Ride Sally Ride"). This greatest hits has 16 of his best. He will be missed.
Yesterday I got snowed in, which was OK as I don't have any classes on Mondays since the seniors finished lessons last December. I watched the Pittsburgh/Denver game live, and then saw the Seahawks delayed, with all the timeouts, commercials, half-time, etc. edited out. What a game!
The Superbowl should be good. The Steelers are 3 and a half point favorites, which is probably good for Seattle. The game will be televised live here in Japan at 8:30 in the morning of February 6th, a Monday (see above paragraph as to why that's good news). I my friend Ian, a Brit who says he likes American football but I suspect is just looking for an excuse to party, has said he'll join me at my house for the game.
About getting snowed in: This is always a bit embarrassing. If you look at a map of Japan, you can see Osaka is located on the Pacific side of Japan. Our cold weather usually comes down from Siberia, and affects the Japan Sea side of Japan. Our house is located in the mountains, almost exactly between the Japan Sea and the Pacific, and we are often on the outer edge of the cold fronts. In other words, if it's snowing on the coast of the Sea of Japan, it is often snowing at my place, with Osaka experiencing clear skies!
The office staff always laughs when I call in because of snow.
Sad news: The Wicked Pickett passed away last week. Not the most famous of the '60s soul men, but hey, he gave us Land of 1000 Dances, In the Midnight Hour, and, hee hee hee, Mustang Sally ("Ride Sally Ride"). This greatest hits has 16 of his best. He will be missed.
Yesterday I got snowed in, which was OK as I don't have any classes on Mondays since the seniors finished lessons last December. I watched the Pittsburgh/Denver game live, and then saw the Seahawks delayed, with all the timeouts, commercials, half-time, etc. edited out. What a game!
The Superbowl should be good. The Steelers are 3 and a half point favorites, which is probably good for Seattle. The game will be televised live here in Japan at 8:30 in the morning of February 6th, a Monday (see above paragraph as to why that's good news). I my friend Ian, a Brit who says he likes American football but I suspect is just looking for an excuse to party, has said he'll join me at my house for the game.
About getting snowed in: This is always a bit embarrassing. If you look at a map of Japan, you can see Osaka is located on the Pacific side of Japan. Our cold weather usually comes down from Siberia, and affects the Japan Sea side of Japan. Our house is located in the mountains, almost exactly between the Japan Sea and the Pacific, and we are often on the outer edge of the cold fronts. In other words, if it's snowing on the coast of the Sea of Japan, it is often snowing at my place, with Osaka experiencing clear skies!
The office staff always laughs when I call in because of snow.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Linked
iPod morning commute music: Moby Grape, Moby Grape (1967)
The San Francisco band Moby Grape made one great record, and this is it. If you don't know it, and if you like the San Francisco sound of the '60s (Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service) do yourself a favor and buy this today. Great songs in a variety of styles, superb vocals and excellent guitar work (they had 3 guitarists). This was their first, and best, record, and stands up as well today as it did then.
My friend, Naoko, sent me an e-mail asking if she could link this blog to her new children's English school's website. I said yes, though I wonder how interesting this blog is for people who don't know me. So I'm an official link. Hmm.
I've written about Naoko's late husband, Bob, in one of my earliest posts. I know it must be hard on Naoko to try to raise her young daughter and start up an English school on her own. I'm guessing that Bob's family in the States might end up here through the link. I never met his parents at the hospital; our visits just never overlapped, and they had to return home before his funeral. I did meet two of his sisters, though, and one, Mary, still keeps in occasional touch.
Tomorrow, I'll be going to my friend, Steve's, 25-years-in-Japan party. I had my 20-year party in 2003. While most of the ex-pat population is transient, quite a few friends remain from my first days here. Back then, the main meeting place in Osaka was the Pig and Whistle Pub, the original just a hole-in-the-wall down in Shinsaibashi. Tomorrow's party will be in latest addition of the Pig (its third location). It should be good.
Have a great weekend.
The San Francisco band Moby Grape made one great record, and this is it. If you don't know it, and if you like the San Francisco sound of the '60s (Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service) do yourself a favor and buy this today. Great songs in a variety of styles, superb vocals and excellent guitar work (they had 3 guitarists). This was their first, and best, record, and stands up as well today as it did then.
My friend, Naoko, sent me an e-mail asking if she could link this blog to her new children's English school's website. I said yes, though I wonder how interesting this blog is for people who don't know me. So I'm an official link. Hmm.
I've written about Naoko's late husband, Bob, in one of my earliest posts. I know it must be hard on Naoko to try to raise her young daughter and start up an English school on her own. I'm guessing that Bob's family in the States might end up here through the link. I never met his parents at the hospital; our visits just never overlapped, and they had to return home before his funeral. I did meet two of his sisters, though, and one, Mary, still keeps in occasional touch.
Tomorrow, I'll be going to my friend, Steve's, 25-years-in-Japan party. I had my 20-year party in 2003. While most of the ex-pat population is transient, quite a few friends remain from my first days here. Back then, the main meeting place in Osaka was the Pig and Whistle Pub, the original just a hole-in-the-wall down in Shinsaibashi. Tomorrow's party will be in latest addition of the Pig (its third location). It should be good.
Have a great weekend.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
I Find I have a Collectable
iPod morning commute music: The Long Ryders, Anthology, disc 1 (1998)
The Long Ryders is a band most people haven't heard of. I read about them in the All Music Guide a couple of years ago and decided I had to get this album. They were a punk country band out of LA, heavily influenced by Gram Parsons. They were only around for a short time, formed in 1981 and disbanded in '87. Unfortunately, the CD was/is no longer available. I gave up. A couple of weeks later I was in the Osaka/Umeda Tower Records thumbing through the bargain bins and there it was, brand new and dirt cheap! I couldn't believe my luck. When I got to my car at the station, I put it on and was amazed at how good these guys were, and how original.
As I was preparing to write this I decided to check if it's been reissued, so I checked out amazon. Not only hasn't it been reissued, it's now considered a collectable, selling for almost $100 as such! I probably paid about $10. I didn't even realize CDs could become collectables. This has me wondering if I have any other collectables in my collection, and how to find out. Any ideas?
The Long Ryders is a band most people haven't heard of. I read about them in the All Music Guide a couple of years ago and decided I had to get this album. They were a punk country band out of LA, heavily influenced by Gram Parsons. They were only around for a short time, formed in 1981 and disbanded in '87. Unfortunately, the CD was/is no longer available. I gave up. A couple of weeks later I was in the Osaka/Umeda Tower Records thumbing through the bargain bins and there it was, brand new and dirt cheap! I couldn't believe my luck. When I got to my car at the station, I put it on and was amazed at how good these guys were, and how original.
As I was preparing to write this I decided to check if it's been reissued, so I checked out amazon. Not only hasn't it been reissued, it's now considered a collectable, selling for almost $100 as such! I probably paid about $10. I didn't even realize CDs could become collectables. This has me wondering if I have any other collectables in my collection, and how to find out. Any ideas?
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Music Ed 101
iPod morning commute music: Johnny Cash, The Essential Johnny Cash 1955-1983, disc 1 (1992)
Johnny Cash was my introduction to country music. While I claimed to hate country, I always loved Johnny's music. Willy and Waylon soon followed (as did rock music, with Dylan's Nashville, the Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo, The Band to name but a few). This 3-disc set is a very good introduction to Cash's music. I also have his Love/Murder/God set as well. In the end it doesn't really matter what anthology one gets; his music, and especially his voice, is timeless. When he died in 2003, we lost an icon.
Since Alisa was elected Treasurer of her school's student council, I've been timing my commute home on Tuesdays and Thursdays so we can meet at the station and I can drive her home. When she signed up for basketball, which meets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, I started meeting her every evening. This has turned out to be a cool thing, because it gives us a chance to talk privately. Tatsu and I have developed a pretty good relationship over the years, due in part to our mutual love of music. But for Alisa and me, this is a new opportunity to really get to know each other.
Last night in the car she asked me if I had any particular song lyrics that I thought were great. Yes, yes I do. When we got home I took down my book of Dylan lyrics and had her read while she listened to Like a Rolling Stone, one of the few Dylan songs she likes (Alisa takes after Kaoru, who likes every Dylan song better when someone other than Dylan is singging it, especially if it's Joan Baez). Then we listened to Leonard Cohen's Suzanne, a song she doesn't much like but whose lyrics she hadn't considered before ("And Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water, and he spent a long time watching from his lonely wooden tower, and when he knew for certain only drowning men could see him, he said all men will be sailors then, until the sea shall free them, but he himself was broken, long before the sky would open, forsaken, almost human, he sank beneath your wisdom like a stone", or something like that...my memory for lyrics is not as good as it used to be). It felt good to be sharing these words with her. I feel we've become closer.
Johnny Cash was my introduction to country music. While I claimed to hate country, I always loved Johnny's music. Willy and Waylon soon followed (as did rock music, with Dylan's Nashville, the Byrds Sweetheart of the Rodeo, The Band to name but a few). This 3-disc set is a very good introduction to Cash's music. I also have his Love/Murder/God set as well. In the end it doesn't really matter what anthology one gets; his music, and especially his voice, is timeless. When he died in 2003, we lost an icon.
Since Alisa was elected Treasurer of her school's student council, I've been timing my commute home on Tuesdays and Thursdays so we can meet at the station and I can drive her home. When she signed up for basketball, which meets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, I started meeting her every evening. This has turned out to be a cool thing, because it gives us a chance to talk privately. Tatsu and I have developed a pretty good relationship over the years, due in part to our mutual love of music. But for Alisa and me, this is a new opportunity to really get to know each other.
Last night in the car she asked me if I had any particular song lyrics that I thought were great. Yes, yes I do. When we got home I took down my book of Dylan lyrics and had her read while she listened to Like a Rolling Stone, one of the few Dylan songs she likes (Alisa takes after Kaoru, who likes every Dylan song better when someone other than Dylan is singging it, especially if it's Joan Baez). Then we listened to Leonard Cohen's Suzanne, a song she doesn't much like but whose lyrics she hadn't considered before ("And Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water, and he spent a long time watching from his lonely wooden tower, and when he knew for certain only drowning men could see him, he said all men will be sailors then, until the sea shall free them, but he himself was broken, long before the sky would open, forsaken, almost human, he sank beneath your wisdom like a stone", or something like that...my memory for lyrics is not as good as it used to be). It felt good to be sharing these words with her. I feel we've become closer.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Happy Martin Luther King Day (Monday in the States)
iPod morning commute music: The Jayhawks, Rainy Day Music (2003)
This is a band my friend Brad G., an ex-pat from the midwest, turned me on to. The band formed in the mid '80s in Minneapolis and perform what I guess would be called alt country. They remind me of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band back in the late '60s early '70s, and also somewhat of Gram Parsons. Pretty cool stuff, but I still haven't heard most of what they've recorded.
Sorry for the delayed holiday greeting to those of you in the States. It's Tuesday here, and I've just now finally had the chance to get to the computer.
Am I right in writing that not every state celebrates MLK Day? We were talking about this over lunch (5 teachers, 2 Americans, 1 Canadian, an Australian and a New Zealander), and I was having a hard time explaining why this would be. I think most Americans recognize he was a great man, though not a saint. I know J. Edgar Hoover dug up (or manufactured) a lot of dirt on him, but why exactly is it that not everyone recognizes the holiday? Is it racist sentiment? If anyone would care to comment, I'd love to hear your opinions.
For some reason the Blogger spellchecker has stopped working on this school computer. It used to work. I hate publishing without running a spellcheck. Isn't it strange how, even as I near the age of 52, I'm still sensitive about the fact that I was a poor speller in my youth. You'd think I'd have gotten over it by now. Anyway, I apologize if an error shows up.
This is a band my friend Brad G., an ex-pat from the midwest, turned me on to. The band formed in the mid '80s in Minneapolis and perform what I guess would be called alt country. They remind me of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band back in the late '60s early '70s, and also somewhat of Gram Parsons. Pretty cool stuff, but I still haven't heard most of what they've recorded.
Sorry for the delayed holiday greeting to those of you in the States. It's Tuesday here, and I've just now finally had the chance to get to the computer.
Am I right in writing that not every state celebrates MLK Day? We were talking about this over lunch (5 teachers, 2 Americans, 1 Canadian, an Australian and a New Zealander), and I was having a hard time explaining why this would be. I think most Americans recognize he was a great man, though not a saint. I know J. Edgar Hoover dug up (or manufactured) a lot of dirt on him, but why exactly is it that not everyone recognizes the holiday? Is it racist sentiment? If anyone would care to comment, I'd love to hear your opinions.
For some reason the Blogger spellchecker has stopped working on this school computer. It used to work. I hate publishing without running a spellcheck. Isn't it strange how, even as I near the age of 52, I'm still sensitive about the fact that I was a poor speller in my youth. You'd think I'd have gotten over it by now. Anyway, I apologize if an error shows up.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Monday Again
iPod morning commute music: Bonnie Raitt, Nick of Time (1989)
Most people who know Bonnie Raitt know her from this album, which won several Grammys including Album of the Year. I first heard her in my university days, and my CD collection is weaker for not having more of her work. I suppose, though, if you're only going to have 1 album, this would be the one to own. Great stuff.
I'm really feeling thrashed today, but I'm fortunate in that I don't have any classes on Mondays this term. Saturday I was in school from 7:50 am until 9:45 pm because of our junior high entrance exam. I didn't get home until just before midnight. Yesterday I finished the FAFSA paperwork for Tatsu's financial aid and then was shocked to find out how much I'm expected to contribute towards his schooling. Of course, this is treating our Japanese salaries as if we were in America, and once I calmed down I found the page on the FAFSA site that expains how universities will take into account the individual family situations that FAFSA cannot. I wrote an e-mail to the woman in charge of foreign recruitment at the U of O asking her what extra info if any we should provide for the Diversity-Building scholarship Tatsu's applying for. Now I guess it is simply wait and see.
Today I need to get a better idea of what textbooks I want to use next year. I teach in two rotations, one for junior high and one for senior high. Basically, we follow our students up through the years, so rotation one is 7th grade in the first year, 8th grade in the second, 9th in the third, then back to 7th. High school follows the same pattern. This year I taught 9th and 12th grades, so next year (which starts in April) I'll go back to 7th and 10th grades (note my 9th grade students will be 10th graders next year, so I'll be teaching many of them again). I've been using the same textbook series for the last several years, but because we'll be in our new school from second term next year I really need to switch textbooks. This is because all our lessons in the new school will be in Computer Aided Language Laboratories (CALL), and our current texts can't really take advantage of the new technology. It's hard to decide since we can't really pilot any of the new series because the CALL systems won't be operational until after summer vacation.
So that's today's agenda: kick back and look at books. I know, it's a tough life but somebody has to live it.
Most people who know Bonnie Raitt know her from this album, which won several Grammys including Album of the Year. I first heard her in my university days, and my CD collection is weaker for not having more of her work. I suppose, though, if you're only going to have 1 album, this would be the one to own. Great stuff.
I'm really feeling thrashed today, but I'm fortunate in that I don't have any classes on Mondays this term. Saturday I was in school from 7:50 am until 9:45 pm because of our junior high entrance exam. I didn't get home until just before midnight. Yesterday I finished the FAFSA paperwork for Tatsu's financial aid and then was shocked to find out how much I'm expected to contribute towards his schooling. Of course, this is treating our Japanese salaries as if we were in America, and once I calmed down I found the page on the FAFSA site that expains how universities will take into account the individual family situations that FAFSA cannot. I wrote an e-mail to the woman in charge of foreign recruitment at the U of O asking her what extra info if any we should provide for the Diversity-Building scholarship Tatsu's applying for. Now I guess it is simply wait and see.
Today I need to get a better idea of what textbooks I want to use next year. I teach in two rotations, one for junior high and one for senior high. Basically, we follow our students up through the years, so rotation one is 7th grade in the first year, 8th grade in the second, 9th in the third, then back to 7th. High school follows the same pattern. This year I taught 9th and 12th grades, so next year (which starts in April) I'll go back to 7th and 10th grades (note my 9th grade students will be 10th graders next year, so I'll be teaching many of them again). I've been using the same textbook series for the last several years, but because we'll be in our new school from second term next year I really need to switch textbooks. This is because all our lessons in the new school will be in Computer Aided Language Laboratories (CALL), and our current texts can't really take advantage of the new technology. It's hard to decide since we can't really pilot any of the new series because the CALL systems won't be operational until after summer vacation.
So that's today's agenda: kick back and look at books. I know, it's a tough life but somebody has to live it.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Entrance Exam
iPod morning commute music: N/A due to the early hours of my commute and general lack of sleep.
Today is my school's junior high entrance exam. Needing to be at school by 7:50 this morning (as opposed to the usual 8:25), I dutifully left the house at 5:55 (as opposed to the usual 6:20) to catch a train at 6:20. This should have been no problem, but I ran into a mini traffic jam which I couldn't get around (I can pass 1 car, on a good stretch of road 2, but not 4). I missed my train by 2 minutes, which caused me to be 5 minutes late for school.
My job today was to broadcast the instructions in Japanese to start and stop each of the 4 exams. It is a stupidly easy job. I'm now hanging out with all the teachers waiting for the meeting to decide who will be invited to join our school. Last years meeting started late, at 8 pm, and finished at 10:00. It is 5:10, and we still have no idea when it will start.
I need to take a nap.
Today is my school's junior high entrance exam. Needing to be at school by 7:50 this morning (as opposed to the usual 8:25), I dutifully left the house at 5:55 (as opposed to the usual 6:20) to catch a train at 6:20. This should have been no problem, but I ran into a mini traffic jam which I couldn't get around (I can pass 1 car, on a good stretch of road 2, but not 4). I missed my train by 2 minutes, which caused me to be 5 minutes late for school.
My job today was to broadcast the instructions in Japanese to start and stop each of the 4 exams. It is a stupidly easy job. I'm now hanging out with all the teachers waiting for the meeting to decide who will be invited to join our school. Last years meeting started late, at 8 pm, and finished at 10:00. It is 5:10, and we still have no idea when it will start.
I need to take a nap.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
University Application Hell
iPod morning commute music: The Band, The Band (1969)
I really wish I could remember when I first bought this album. My guess would be 1970 or 71. It went hand in hand with my discovering Dylan, which was in the summer of 1969. This remains my favorite album by The Band, though I also have Music from Big Pink (1968) and Rock of Ages (1972) on CD, as well as the box set Across the Great Divide (1994). Still, to understand The Band one only has to listen to this disc. It's a classic.
It seems all vacation that I've been stuck with my son in University Application Hell. Tatsu really wants to go to the University of Oregon, but we can't afford out-of-state tuition, so he has to apply for scholarships. This should not be so difficult, but between tight deadlines which can only be met after other tight deadlines are met is enough to drive one mad. Just one hour after we had his SAT scores sent to the U of O by snail mail, Tatsu discovered they needed to be there by 1/15. Of course, you can't cancel an order, so I had to reorder; the U of O will get them twice. And I don't even want to talk about FAFSA, other than to say that this is the first time in my life I've had my income tax prepared in January!
I suppose many of you reading this (I know of at least a couple who do!) have been through this, but it really took me by surprise. But it's finished now. Tatsu I can relax for a few days, until the next round of applications need to be filed. What a month it has been.
I really wish I could remember when I first bought this album. My guess would be 1970 or 71. It went hand in hand with my discovering Dylan, which was in the summer of 1969. This remains my favorite album by The Band, though I also have Music from Big Pink (1968) and Rock of Ages (1972) on CD, as well as the box set Across the Great Divide (1994). Still, to understand The Band one only has to listen to this disc. It's a classic.
It seems all vacation that I've been stuck with my son in University Application Hell. Tatsu really wants to go to the University of Oregon, but we can't afford out-of-state tuition, so he has to apply for scholarships. This should not be so difficult, but between tight deadlines which can only be met after other tight deadlines are met is enough to drive one mad. Just one hour after we had his SAT scores sent to the U of O by snail mail, Tatsu discovered they needed to be there by 1/15. Of course, you can't cancel an order, so I had to reorder; the U of O will get them twice. And I don't even want to talk about FAFSA, other than to say that this is the first time in my life I've had my income tax prepared in January!
I suppose many of you reading this (I know of at least a couple who do!) have been through this, but it really took me by surprise. But it's finished now. Tatsu I can relax for a few days, until the next round of applications need to be filed. What a month it has been.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Back in the Groove
iPod morning commute music: Alicia Keys, Songs in A Minor (2001)
Yes, I sometimes listen to music not recorded in the '60s. This R&B disc is as good as its hype, and has to be one of the great debut CDs of modern times. It's also pretty good morning music when one is still operating under psuedo jet lag.
Today is the second day back for the students, who are taking what we call achievement tests. I proctored two tests yesterday and one today; tomorrow, regular lessons start up.
Monday was a national holiday here in Japan, Coming of Age Day. It celebrates all those who turned 20 (the age one becomes an adult) in 2005. Kaoru and I ended up shopping in our local JUSCO shopping center, and the women celebrating were dressed in traditional kimono. It was a bit disconcerting to my wife to see them standing in line at MacDonalds, a visual clash of cultures to her eyes. I felt it, too, but sadly MacDonalds is America's greatest contribution to Japanese life. Burgers replacing sushi.
Yes, I sometimes listen to music not recorded in the '60s. This R&B disc is as good as its hype, and has to be one of the great debut CDs of modern times. It's also pretty good morning music when one is still operating under psuedo jet lag.
Today is the second day back for the students, who are taking what we call achievement tests. I proctored two tests yesterday and one today; tomorrow, regular lessons start up.
Monday was a national holiday here in Japan, Coming of Age Day. It celebrates all those who turned 20 (the age one becomes an adult) in 2005. Kaoru and I ended up shopping in our local JUSCO shopping center, and the women celebrating were dressed in traditional kimono. It was a bit disconcerting to my wife to see them standing in line at MacDonalds, a visual clash of cultures to her eyes. I felt it, too, but sadly MacDonalds is America's greatest contribution to Japanese life. Burgers replacing sushi.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Back to Work Blues
Happy New Years to everyone! I hope you had good holidays. We ushered in the new year at my in-laws' house, watching awful Japanese TV, playing cards, drinking wine. We returned home, and I could watch three Bowl games live on satellite TV (Fiesta, Orange and Rose Bowls, to be exact). The Rose Bowl was one of the best football games I have ever seen.
And then, yesterday, back to work, where we had a teachers' meeting. Today we had opening ceremonies.
One of the real drawbacks to where I live is having to get up at 5:00 am every workday. When I'm in the rhythm, no problem, but over vacations I get very lackadaisical about getting up, 7:00 on a good day, 9 or 10 on a lazy one. Switching back to work mode is like jet lag. For example, there is no "iPod morning commute music" today because I just fell asleep on the train as soon as I got on. Last night, I took a nap directly after dinner. I'm exhausted!
Fortunately, the next two days are off, and Tuesday and Wednesday are test days, so I don't have to actually teach anything until Thursday. With the seniors gone, I only have 7 classes per week as well (I had 10 lessons with the seniors), so I'll have some down time between now and April, when the new school year begins.
And then, yesterday, back to work, where we had a teachers' meeting. Today we had opening ceremonies.
One of the real drawbacks to where I live is having to get up at 5:00 am every workday. When I'm in the rhythm, no problem, but over vacations I get very lackadaisical about getting up, 7:00 on a good day, 9 or 10 on a lazy one. Switching back to work mode is like jet lag. For example, there is no "iPod morning commute music" today because I just fell asleep on the train as soon as I got on. Last night, I took a nap directly after dinner. I'm exhausted!
Fortunately, the next two days are off, and Tuesday and Wednesday are test days, so I don't have to actually teach anything until Thursday. With the seniors gone, I only have 7 classes per week as well (I had 10 lessons with the seniors), so I'll have some down time between now and April, when the new school year begins.
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