iPod morning commute music: Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Dirt Silver and Gold, disc 2 (1976)
Not really, but it WAS the last thing I listened to. I owned the original release, a 3-record set, the bulk of it a greatest hits, with 10 new songs. I discovered this new release (2003, on [I think] BGO, a British label) in Tower, in the country section, and had enough points on my point card to get it for free. I was surprised to see it in country, but that really is the best genre for the music, all of which is excellent. 37 songs total, I think, give a very good representation of the band's talent. It lived up to my memory, and it pleases me that I had the sense to buy it way back when.
I'm in Korea's seriously beautiful and new Seoul/Incheon International Airport. So far the flight home is going well. The limo bus took only an hour from the closest pick up point to my house. I don't think I've forgotten anything, I got the house shuttered down, powered off (except for the scheduled recording of Lost (season 2 in Japan). Flying Korean Air seems like a great idea so far. The service was great on the short flight from Osaka, with five flight attendants (yes, young, attractive pleasant women, and yes, in economy) bending over backwards to get the snacks out and the beers served. The connecting flight's gate was only a 5 minute walk from the arrival gate. One piece of advice: Get out of the duty free area, which is crowded and expensive (there's a Internet lounge where you have to buy a prepaid card to log on) and go up to the level denoted as Transit Hotel and Airport Lounges, where the Internet's free and the restaurants empty. They even have showers, which I may take advantage of on the return flight.
It has been a crazy week. The last day at work (Thursday) was just jammed with cleaning and packing up the LL's for the move to the new school. I got there at 7:50 am and finally left after 4 pm. Yesterday was spent cleaning the house and packing up. Today it was up at 6 am and out of the house by 8:20. It's just about 5 now. My flight leaves at 6:20, and then it's 10 hours till home. I can't wait.
Finally, it looks like the Seattle flight has individual entertainment systems for ALL the passengers (at least, Korean Air was advertising it on the flight from KIX). That would be nice, if true.
OK, time to let others get on line.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Monday, July 17, 2006
Still in Japan, Wanting to Leave
iPod morning commute music: N/A; Driving to JUSCO shopping music: R.E.M. Reckoning (Import w/bonus tracks), 1984
R.E.M. was a band I missed in the States. Their debut album, Murmur, came out in January, 1983, when I was eking out a living as a substitute teacher in the Seattle area. In November of that year, I moved to Japan. As I mentioned before, I became a fan in the early '90s. This is a CD I've been meaning to get for sometime, and it is great. It is sad that I missed out on the band for so many years, but one of the wonderful things about music is it's never to late to go back and explore. Highly recommended.
Obviously, I'm not posting often these days. Saturday I went into work for a PTA (Perfectly Torturous Activity) meeting, then packed up my work area for moving to the new school. Afterwards, I escorted my club students to a prefectural level meeting, then went out in Umeda with another teacher and good friend, Keiji, for beers, pizza, and nachos.
Sunday afternoon, I met my friend Dave for beers and conversation in Kawanishi. I also talked to the family in the States, and did so again today. It's amazing how much meta-language I lack in English. I tried to help Tatsu get hooked up to a DSL Internet connection, but I just don't understand the on-line questions. I think I understand them, but I can't be sure. In Japan, when we decided to get broadband, we looked at the cost, picked a company, and Kaoru got them to come in and do everything. But I have no idea of what they did, other than...hook me up for broadband! In the end, Tatsu and I had to give up. He'll talk to my good friend, Craig B., when the family goes to their place for a BBQ tomorrow night.
Five more days and I'm out of here! At least the weather cooled down as the remnants of a typhoon moved over us, dropping down a load of rain (though South Korea appeared to get the brunt of it). I can't wait. As Paul Simon once sang: "Oh, homeward bound, I wish I was...."
R.E.M. was a band I missed in the States. Their debut album, Murmur, came out in January, 1983, when I was eking out a living as a substitute teacher in the Seattle area. In November of that year, I moved to Japan. As I mentioned before, I became a fan in the early '90s. This is a CD I've been meaning to get for sometime, and it is great. It is sad that I missed out on the band for so many years, but one of the wonderful things about music is it's never to late to go back and explore. Highly recommended.
Obviously, I'm not posting often these days. Saturday I went into work for a PTA (Perfectly Torturous Activity) meeting, then packed up my work area for moving to the new school. Afterwards, I escorted my club students to a prefectural level meeting, then went out in Umeda with another teacher and good friend, Keiji, for beers, pizza, and nachos.
Sunday afternoon, I met my friend Dave for beers and conversation in Kawanishi. I also talked to the family in the States, and did so again today. It's amazing how much meta-language I lack in English. I tried to help Tatsu get hooked up to a DSL Internet connection, but I just don't understand the on-line questions. I think I understand them, but I can't be sure. In Japan, when we decided to get broadband, we looked at the cost, picked a company, and Kaoru got them to come in and do everything. But I have no idea of what they did, other than...hook me up for broadband! In the end, Tatsu and I had to give up. He'll talk to my good friend, Craig B., when the family goes to their place for a BBQ tomorrow night.
Five more days and I'm out of here! At least the weather cooled down as the remnants of a typhoon moved over us, dropping down a load of rain (though South Korea appeared to get the brunt of it). I can't wait. As Paul Simon once sang: "Oh, homeward bound, I wish I was...."
Monday, July 10, 2006
Finishing Up the Paperwork
iPod morning commute music: Robert Johnson, The Complete Recordings, disc 2 (1990)
This was the first box set I ever bought. I was so dumb, I threw away the box, saving the booklet and the discs in their jewel cases. Just wanted to save space. These two discs contain everything Johnson record, all in the mid-1930s. Just the man, his voice, his songs and, most importantly, his guitar. The myth is that he sold his soul to the devil down at the crossroads in exchange for his blues guitar playing. Extremely important music.
Got my marks in the computer, and will return the tests shortly. Hopefully, I'll be finishing up today. Then I just need to pack up my desk and things for the move. That job will get underway on Thursday, after the senior high students get their test back. Tuesday and Wednesday I'm taking a holiday.
I'm shipping two boxes of books back to my house, a 20 volume Japanese dictionary styled, I guess, after the Oxford English Dictionary. They're for my wife, of course. It'll cost about $25, but each book weighs about 5 lbs., so I think it's worth the expense.
Tonight I'll be meeting my friend Gib for some beers, maybe a bite to eat. Should be fun. He's getting back from a conference in Kyushu, so he should be all dressed up. Poor bastard, in this heat.
This was the first box set I ever bought. I was so dumb, I threw away the box, saving the booklet and the discs in their jewel cases. Just wanted to save space. These two discs contain everything Johnson record, all in the mid-1930s. Just the man, his voice, his songs and, most importantly, his guitar. The myth is that he sold his soul to the devil down at the crossroads in exchange for his blues guitar playing. Extremely important music.
Got my marks in the computer, and will return the tests shortly. Hopefully, I'll be finishing up today. Then I just need to pack up my desk and things for the move. That job will get underway on Thursday, after the senior high students get their test back. Tuesday and Wednesday I'm taking a holiday.
I'm shipping two boxes of books back to my house, a 20 volume Japanese dictionary styled, I guess, after the Oxford English Dictionary. They're for my wife, of course. It'll cost about $25, but each book weighs about 5 lbs., so I think it's worth the expense.
Tonight I'll be meeting my friend Gib for some beers, maybe a bite to eat. Should be fun. He's getting back from a conference in Kyushu, so he should be all dressed up. Poor bastard, in this heat.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Alone again, naturally
iPod morning commute music: N/A.
Saturday drive to JUSCO for a bottle of red for tonight music: Ray Davies, Other People's Lives (2006)
I've always loved the Kinks (perhaps my first iPod morning commute music entry), saw them a couple of times in the '70s, and this solo effort by Ray Davies (main songwriter, singer and rhythm guitarist for the band) is a welcomed addition to my collection. It's wonderful to hear someone who hasn't lost his wit or his eye for observation. He makes you both tap your foot and smile. Not many artists can do that.
My friend Gib just started his own blog, and wrote to let me know AND remind me that I haven't posted for over a week. What can I say? Monday was the start of first term final exams, so I was proctoring tests and trying to finish writing my senior high one (sophomores, for those of us in the U.S.) test. Tuesday was dedicated to getting the family to the airport and on the plane to Seattle via San Francisco (I took the day off work). Wednesday was spent proctoring and finishing the test, getting the listening sections recorded. Thursday I had my English for Academic Purposes exam, and had to mark my senior high three (yes, seniors for all you bright Americans out there) tests. I also went out with for dinner with the sales rep (and friend) from one of the major textbook publishers. Friday was more proctoring, my SH1 test, and getting paperwork done. And going out for dinner at a new Portuguese restaurant with my travel agent (and friend), an ex-co-worker (and friend) and the owner of the main foreigner bar in Umeda.
Today was laundry and dishwasher day. I'm finally sitting back with a beer.
I did get very good news late Thursday night: my son's IB scores were posted, and he did exceptionally well. When he goes to university in 2007, I'm sure they will waive enough courses to basically allow him to enter as a sophomore (second year student to all of you NOT from the U.S. I talked to everyone in the States today, and we are all so proud of Tatsu's achievement.
Time to bring in the laundry and start marking tests.
Saturday drive to JUSCO for a bottle of red for tonight music: Ray Davies, Other People's Lives (2006)
I've always loved the Kinks (perhaps my first iPod morning commute music entry), saw them a couple of times in the '70s, and this solo effort by Ray Davies (main songwriter, singer and rhythm guitarist for the band) is a welcomed addition to my collection. It's wonderful to hear someone who hasn't lost his wit or his eye for observation. He makes you both tap your foot and smile. Not many artists can do that.
My friend Gib just started his own blog, and wrote to let me know AND remind me that I haven't posted for over a week. What can I say? Monday was the start of first term final exams, so I was proctoring tests and trying to finish writing my senior high one (sophomores, for those of us in the U.S.) test. Tuesday was dedicated to getting the family to the airport and on the plane to Seattle via San Francisco (I took the day off work). Wednesday was spent proctoring and finishing the test, getting the listening sections recorded. Thursday I had my English for Academic Purposes exam, and had to mark my senior high three (yes, seniors for all you bright Americans out there) tests. I also went out with for dinner with the sales rep (and friend) from one of the major textbook publishers. Friday was more proctoring, my SH1 test, and getting paperwork done. And going out for dinner at a new Portuguese restaurant with my travel agent (and friend), an ex-co-worker (and friend) and the owner of the main foreigner bar in Umeda.
Today was laundry and dishwasher day. I'm finally sitting back with a beer.
I did get very good news late Thursday night: my son's IB scores were posted, and he did exceptionally well. When he goes to university in 2007, I'm sure they will waive enough courses to basically allow him to enter as a sophomore (second year student to all of you NOT from the U.S. I talked to everyone in the States today, and we are all so proud of Tatsu's achievement.
Time to bring in the laundry and start marking tests.
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