Sunday, April 15, 2007
The Last Post
This will be my last post on blogger.com. I've had a lot of trouble posting on the site from work, which is where I seem to spend most of my time. However, I've started a new blog, The Reluctant Blogger, as part of my homepage, Craig in Japan, at .mac. Hope to see you there.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Birthday Musings
iPod morning commute music: The Doors, Perception box set, 2006
It's been awhile since I've posted, so I'll just mention that I've been listening to this box set pretty much exclusively for the past week. Basically, it's all 6 of The Doors studio albums, remixed and including bonus tracks. Each album is accompanied by a DVD with a 5.1 Surround mix of the album, some video content, pictures, etc.
Thus far, I've only listened to the albums. I don't have a 5.1 Surround system in my home, but it's on my shopping list.
The Doors are probably the last of the great 60s bands which I needed to invest in. I've had their 2-disc greatest hits for years, and my brother sent me Morrison Hotel as a Christmas gift some time back. In a way, it was fortunate that I didn't have more of their music, as I would have never bought this terrific box set if I had...Perception is pretty costly.
I turned 53 last week, on the 24th, and feel pretty good about it. I have been reflecting on aging recently. I mentioned to my friend Dave a few weeks ago that I haven't gone down stairs two steps at a time for years. I think it started when I first got bifocals back in my early 40s: I found it hard to focus going down stairs, and slowed way down to avoid disaster. And then there were the two times I dislocated my shoulder running down wet stairs at my local train station, my feet slipping out from under me while I was holding on the the handrail trying to catch a departing train. I honestly can't remember if I was taking two stairs at a time then, but those accidents certainly put a damper on my desire to rush down stairs.
It's been awhile since I've posted, so I'll just mention that I've been listening to this box set pretty much exclusively for the past week. Basically, it's all 6 of The Doors studio albums, remixed and including bonus tracks. Each album is accompanied by a DVD with a 5.1 Surround mix of the album, some video content, pictures, etc.
Thus far, I've only listened to the albums. I don't have a 5.1 Surround system in my home, but it's on my shopping list.
The Doors are probably the last of the great 60s bands which I needed to invest in. I've had their 2-disc greatest hits for years, and my brother sent me Morrison Hotel as a Christmas gift some time back. In a way, it was fortunate that I didn't have more of their music, as I would have never bought this terrific box set if I had...Perception is pretty costly.
I turned 53 last week, on the 24th, and feel pretty good about it. I have been reflecting on aging recently. I mentioned to my friend Dave a few weeks ago that I haven't gone down stairs two steps at a time for years. I think it started when I first got bifocals back in my early 40s: I found it hard to focus going down stairs, and slowed way down to avoid disaster. And then there were the two times I dislocated my shoulder running down wet stairs at my local train station, my feet slipping out from under me while I was holding on the the handrail trying to catch a departing train. I honestly can't remember if I was taking two stairs at a time then, but those accidents certainly put a damper on my desire to rush down stairs.
But the more I think about it, the more I realize I don't want to fear this. Maybe this is the same knee-jerk reaction to aging that causes me to want to drive a fast sports car, preferably a convertible. I think we believe that if we can still face danger, we can somehow remain younger. Once we cave in to fear, we cave in to aging.
So I've started practicing, slowly, taking two stairs at a time. It's cheaper than the car.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Japanese Foundation Day
iPod morning commute music: N/A, but on our Costco commute, my wife and I listened to: Lindsey Buckingham, Out of the Cradle (1992), and on the way home his latest, Under the Skin (2006).
I thought it would be fun to compare these two CD's, considering the 14-year hiatus between them. I liked them both, but Kaoru felt his voice was stronger and clearer on Out of the Cradle. I thought this was simply because of the way he chose to record his voice on Under the Skin, which used a lot of echo (something my daughter pointed out the first time she heard the CD). I obviously recommend both of them.
When I first started working at my school 22 years ago, I asked one of the Japanese history teachers how old Japan was. Well, it turns out that he had no idea, or rather, that no one has any idea to the age of Japan. Unlike the States, which we know was founded in 1776, Japan just WAS. It would be as if asking the indigenous Native Americans how old their nation is. So today is Japanese Foundations Day, and we still have no idea how old Japan really is.
The last couple of days have been all about the Senior High Entrance Exam, and all I can say is thank God is over! Friday I arrived at 8:00 a.m. and didn't leave until 7:30 p.m.; Saturday it was 9:30 till 4:00. And we still have to wait to find out how many students actually sign up.
Today was centered around our mythical Trip to Costco, where we really had to buy such essential goods as coffee beans and Listerine. Such is my life. No wonder almost no one reads this blog!
I thought it would be fun to compare these two CD's, considering the 14-year hiatus between them. I liked them both, but Kaoru felt his voice was stronger and clearer on Out of the Cradle. I thought this was simply because of the way he chose to record his voice on Under the Skin, which used a lot of echo (something my daughter pointed out the first time she heard the CD). I obviously recommend both of them.
When I first started working at my school 22 years ago, I asked one of the Japanese history teachers how old Japan was. Well, it turns out that he had no idea, or rather, that no one has any idea to the age of Japan. Unlike the States, which we know was founded in 1776, Japan just WAS. It would be as if asking the indigenous Native Americans how old their nation is. So today is Japanese Foundations Day, and we still have no idea how old Japan really is.
The last couple of days have been all about the Senior High Entrance Exam, and all I can say is thank God is over! Friday I arrived at 8:00 a.m. and didn't leave until 7:30 p.m.; Saturday it was 9:30 till 4:00. And we still have to wait to find out how many students actually sign up.
Today was centered around our mythical Trip to Costco, where we really had to buy such essential goods as coffee beans and Listerine. Such is my life. No wonder almost no one reads this blog!
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
After the Super Bowl
iPod morning commute music: Prince, Purple Rain (1984)
Actually, I'm cheating here. Today, I didn't listen to music, just slept on the ride in. But I did listen to Purple Rain at the end of last week, on my evening commute, without realizing that Prince was going to play the half-time show at the Super Bowl (here in Japan, I'm lucky to know when the Super Bowl is on...extra details like who provides the half-time entertainment sometimes passes me by). Anyway, he opened the show with Let's Go Crazy, the first track from the CD, and closed with Purple Rain (fitting, given the weather). It was a great show, and Purple Rain remains his finest album.
I watched yesterday's Super Bowl in school, missing the opening kickoff return for a touchdown (I was taking care of a class during our morning service) and the third quarter (teaching my one class of the day). It was a sloppy game, but I enjoyed it. Still, nothing like the Fiesta Bowl over New Years between Boise State and Oklahoma. THAT was a game!
Our senior high entrance exam is being held on this Friday and Saturday. We had to take in too many students after the junior high entrance exam, six full classes instead of the usual five, and I'm hoping that doesn't happen at the senior high level as well. It would be hard to cover the extra class with the part-time foreign staff that we have, and it's pretty late to be looking for someone new. Friday will be a busy day, Saturday not so much but it could be long due to the teachers' meeting concerning who we invite to become students.
I found out last Friday that I'll be one of three escort teachers going to the UK this spring with our students. I'm actually excited about it. Last year I really got to know the British students when they came to visit our school, and am looking forward to seeing them again. Also, it will be my second time to visit the UK with this program (or should I write programme?), so I have the schemata down pat. It will also be great to see my mentor, Evelyn (the missionary who hired me all those years ago) when we visit York, where she's now living.
Actually, I'm cheating here. Today, I didn't listen to music, just slept on the ride in. But I did listen to Purple Rain at the end of last week, on my evening commute, without realizing that Prince was going to play the half-time show at the Super Bowl (here in Japan, I'm lucky to know when the Super Bowl is on...extra details like who provides the half-time entertainment sometimes passes me by). Anyway, he opened the show with Let's Go Crazy, the first track from the CD, and closed with Purple Rain (fitting, given the weather). It was a great show, and Purple Rain remains his finest album.
I watched yesterday's Super Bowl in school, missing the opening kickoff return for a touchdown (I was taking care of a class during our morning service) and the third quarter (teaching my one class of the day). It was a sloppy game, but I enjoyed it. Still, nothing like the Fiesta Bowl over New Years between Boise State and Oklahoma. THAT was a game!
Our senior high entrance exam is being held on this Friday and Saturday. We had to take in too many students after the junior high entrance exam, six full classes instead of the usual five, and I'm hoping that doesn't happen at the senior high level as well. It would be hard to cover the extra class with the part-time foreign staff that we have, and it's pretty late to be looking for someone new. Friday will be a busy day, Saturday not so much but it could be long due to the teachers' meeting concerning who we invite to become students.
I found out last Friday that I'll be one of three escort teachers going to the UK this spring with our students. I'm actually excited about it. Last year I really got to know the British students when they came to visit our school, and am looking forward to seeing them again. Also, it will be my second time to visit the UK with this program (or should I write programme?), so I have the schemata down pat. It will also be great to see my mentor, Evelyn (the missionary who hired me all those years ago) when we visit York, where she's now living.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Feelin' Alright
iPod morning commute music: Gene Pitney, Ultimate Anthology (1995)
1964 was probably the first year I really listened to rock 'n' roll (WABC out of NYC, with Cousin Brucie and Herb Oscar Anderson). I was 10 years old. The Beatles ruled, but Gene Pitney was also way cool with his hit It Hurts to be in Love.
It was sad when he died last April at the age of 66. I'd bought this CD several years before, and well I guess it isn't considered the best collection ("What? Not Ultimate???), it has served me fine. Pitney was graced with a tenor voice and the ability to hit over-the-top emotional peaks, comparable to his peer, Roy Orbison. His talent is missed.
I decided to self-medicate myself with aspirin today, and have felt fine since morning. What this means is not clear, but I will continue to take aspirin for at least tomorrow.
Today we found out our new year groups at school. I'm with the Senior High Two (juniors) year group again next year, which means I get to go on the school trip to Hokkaido again next fall. Joy! Joy!
Sorry for the short entry, but it's late and I'm sleepy. Hopefully I'll have more to say in my next post.
1964 was probably the first year I really listened to rock 'n' roll (WABC out of NYC, with Cousin Brucie and Herb Oscar Anderson). I was 10 years old. The Beatles ruled, but Gene Pitney was also way cool with his hit It Hurts to be in Love.
It was sad when he died last April at the age of 66. I'd bought this CD several years before, and well I guess it isn't considered the best collection ("What? Not Ultimate???), it has served me fine. Pitney was graced with a tenor voice and the ability to hit over-the-top emotional peaks, comparable to his peer, Roy Orbison. His talent is missed.
I decided to self-medicate myself with aspirin today, and have felt fine since morning. What this means is not clear, but I will continue to take aspirin for at least tomorrow.
Today we found out our new year groups at school. I'm with the Senior High Two (juniors) year group again next year, which means I get to go on the school trip to Hokkaido again next fall. Joy! Joy!
Sorry for the short entry, but it's late and I'm sleepy. Hopefully I'll have more to say in my next post.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Wednesday and Still Not 100%
iPod morning commute music: America, Here and Now (disc 1); 2007
For years, I have been trashing the band America, primarily because of the lyrical content of their (in)famous song A Horse with No Name. I have refused to even consider that I might be wrong. I have quoted Rolling Stone Album Guide's pans of ALL their albums. Then this album rolled in, highlighted in my All Music Guide weekly e-mail of new releases.
All Music Guide's basic view is that this band has been treated unfairly by critics and people like me, and they wrote a compelling review of this release, produced by James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) and Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne). Included as a bonus disc is a live performance from 2005 covering all the songs on their 1975 greatest hits release Hits.
Well, I guess I was wrong. The new stuff is good, and the old stuff is good. It is, of course, soft rock, not my favorite genre, but one that I certainly listen to often enough. I'm even considering picking up Rhino's 2006 double CD greatest hits collection The Definitive Pop Collection.
That said, A Horse with No Name still suffers from insipid lyrics.
This has been a bad week for me. Last Thursday, I came down with severe stomach cramps, coupled with a fever. I ended up taking Friday off work and going to the doctor, who had no real idea why I had the cramps since I had none of the other classic accompanying symptoms (vomiting or diarrhea). The medicine he prescribed did take care of the cramps, but not completely: They are still there, lingering like lechers in alleyways. Awful.
Yesterday was our annual high school choral contest. This is a choral competition between the classes in each year group. Each year group is given a hymn which each class must perform, and then the students choose one other, popular song. The students choose conductors and pianists, and practice completely on their own, before and after school, during lunch breaks, and any other time they can find to work together. It actually is a cool competition, one of three between classes in year groups. The first is Sports Day, where classes compete in various races and games against each other. The second is the Cultural Festival, where students create performances. My memory is we didn't have these types of in-school competitions between classes, not individuals.
Tomorrow, we teachers find out which year group we'll be attached to. I should also find out if I will be escorting to England this year. Hopefully, there will be no unpleasant surprises.
For years, I have been trashing the band America, primarily because of the lyrical content of their (in)famous song A Horse with No Name. I have refused to even consider that I might be wrong. I have quoted Rolling Stone Album Guide's pans of ALL their albums. Then this album rolled in, highlighted in my All Music Guide weekly e-mail of new releases.
All Music Guide's basic view is that this band has been treated unfairly by critics and people like me, and they wrote a compelling review of this release, produced by James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins) and Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne). Included as a bonus disc is a live performance from 2005 covering all the songs on their 1975 greatest hits release Hits.
Well, I guess I was wrong. The new stuff is good, and the old stuff is good. It is, of course, soft rock, not my favorite genre, but one that I certainly listen to often enough. I'm even considering picking up Rhino's 2006 double CD greatest hits collection The Definitive Pop Collection.
That said, A Horse with No Name still suffers from insipid lyrics.
This has been a bad week for me. Last Thursday, I came down with severe stomach cramps, coupled with a fever. I ended up taking Friday off work and going to the doctor, who had no real idea why I had the cramps since I had none of the other classic accompanying symptoms (vomiting or diarrhea). The medicine he prescribed did take care of the cramps, but not completely: They are still there, lingering like lechers in alleyways. Awful.
Yesterday was our annual high school choral contest. This is a choral competition between the classes in each year group. Each year group is given a hymn which each class must perform, and then the students choose one other, popular song. The students choose conductors and pianists, and practice completely on their own, before and after school, during lunch breaks, and any other time they can find to work together. It actually is a cool competition, one of three between classes in year groups. The first is Sports Day, where classes compete in various races and games against each other. The second is the Cultural Festival, where students create performances. My memory is we didn't have these types of in-school competitions between classes, not individuals.
Tomorrow, we teachers find out which year group we'll be attached to. I should also find out if I will be escorting to England this year. Hopefully, there will be no unpleasant surprises.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Residency
iPod morning commute music: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stadium Arcadium (disc 1); 2006
This is new music for me. I confess to not really having paid attention to this band, but from what I've heard, I like this double CD. Rolling Stone put it at #2 on their top 50 albums of 2006, after Dylan's Modern Times, but allmusic.com pretty much pans it. This will require further study on my part.
The big news is that my son, Tatsu, was finally granted Washington State residency by The Evergreen State College (where I graduated from back in 1977). We've known since last summer that he would probably be granted residency since I had maintained my Washington State Drivers License and Voter Registration during all the years I've lived in Japan. This meant that I'm considered a Washington State resident, living temporarily abroad (a bit of a stretch, maybe, but thank God I maintained my ties to the state), and therefore my residency passes to my children. However, until yesterday Tatsu's residency status was still labeled "Disputed". No more.
Now he can move forward in his plans to enroll Fall term. Supposidly, the school will be waiving a lot of credits due to his IB Diploma (up to 45), and he's been granted an academic scholarship towards his first year tuition, so things are working out nicely. I'm just sorry we couldn't have resolved the residency problem in time for Fall 2006.
This is new music for me. I confess to not really having paid attention to this band, but from what I've heard, I like this double CD. Rolling Stone put it at #2 on their top 50 albums of 2006, after Dylan's Modern Times, but allmusic.com pretty much pans it. This will require further study on my part.
The big news is that my son, Tatsu, was finally granted Washington State residency by The Evergreen State College (where I graduated from back in 1977). We've known since last summer that he would probably be granted residency since I had maintained my Washington State Drivers License and Voter Registration during all the years I've lived in Japan. This meant that I'm considered a Washington State resident, living temporarily abroad (a bit of a stretch, maybe, but thank God I maintained my ties to the state), and therefore my residency passes to my children. However, until yesterday Tatsu's residency status was still labeled "Disputed". No more.
Now he can move forward in his plans to enroll Fall term. Supposidly, the school will be waiving a lot of credits due to his IB Diploma (up to 45), and he's been granted an academic scholarship towards his first year tuition, so things are working out nicely. I'm just sorry we couldn't have resolved the residency problem in time for Fall 2006.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
iPod morning commute music: Lucinda Williams (1988)
Technically not commute music, since I don't commute on Sunday, but I did listen to it in the wee hours after midnight (see below), and played a couple of songs for my daughter this morning. This great album is essential if for no other reason than Passionate Kisses, my all time favorite Lucinda Williams song. I suppose Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998) is a stronger album (and certainly the one which propelled her, finally, into stardom), but this self-titled second album is the one I tend to put on most (I have 5 of her studio CD's). Also a highlight on the disc: Changed the Locks.
Yesterday's teacher's meeting didn't start until after 9:00 p.m., and finished around 11:00. I could get trains most of the way home, but had to take a taxi from Kawanishi to Nissei Chuo, where my car was parked. Fortunately, the school will pay the fare, around $35. I got home, finally, at 1:00 a.m., pretty much shattered.
Today we went to see Scorsese's The Departed, which opened yesterday here in Japan. I saw the film, unedited, on my flight back from Seattle on the 4th, but knew at the time I had to see it on the big screen. What a film! The acting is great, the directing even better, but probably the most impressive aspect of the film for me is the editing; just superb. Leonardo DiCaprio has grown exponentially with each appearance in a Scorsese film (Gangs of New York and The Aviator before), with this performance cementing his reputation as Scorsese's new DiNero. Matt Damon is also great, and Jack Nicholsan is just awesome as the villain. Vera Farmiga, an actor I wasn't familiar with, also does a fine job in this highly recommended film.
Tomorrow is the second round of the junior high entrance exam, but hopefully the meeting will be a LOT shorter.
Technically not commute music, since I don't commute on Sunday, but I did listen to it in the wee hours after midnight (see below), and played a couple of songs for my daughter this morning. This great album is essential if for no other reason than Passionate Kisses, my all time favorite Lucinda Williams song. I suppose Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (1998) is a stronger album (and certainly the one which propelled her, finally, into stardom), but this self-titled second album is the one I tend to put on most (I have 5 of her studio CD's). Also a highlight on the disc: Changed the Locks.
Yesterday's teacher's meeting didn't start until after 9:00 p.m., and finished around 11:00. I could get trains most of the way home, but had to take a taxi from Kawanishi to Nissei Chuo, where my car was parked. Fortunately, the school will pay the fare, around $35. I got home, finally, at 1:00 a.m., pretty much shattered.
Today we went to see Scorsese's The Departed, which opened yesterday here in Japan. I saw the film, unedited, on my flight back from Seattle on the 4th, but knew at the time I had to see it on the big screen. What a film! The acting is great, the directing even better, but probably the most impressive aspect of the film for me is the editing; just superb. Leonardo DiCaprio has grown exponentially with each appearance in a Scorsese film (Gangs of New York and The Aviator before), with this performance cementing his reputation as Scorsese's new DiNero. Matt Damon is also great, and Jack Nicholsan is just awesome as the villain. Vera Farmiga, an actor I wasn't familiar with, also does a fine job in this highly recommended film.
Tomorrow is the second round of the junior high entrance exam, but hopefully the meeting will be a LOT shorter.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Into the Night
iPod morning commute music: Rodrigo y Gabriela (2006)
I'm not big on world music (a shame, since I live in Asia), but I am big on great guitar playing. This duo met in a metal band in Mexico City, but ended up going acoustic and busking in, of all places, Ireland. Rodrigo plays lead, Gabriela rhythm. Flamenco is the obvious influence, but they really defy categorization. The video clips on their website rodgab.com (found under 'media' on their menu bar at the top of the site) are probably the best introduction to their music. You will then be searching for the CD. Exciting stuff. Also, see the review at allmusic.com, linked below:
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ltcibkd9fakz
Today is my school's junior high entrance exam. It is really hard to explain this aspect of the Japanese school system, but basically you have two groups of students who take the test. The first group are students who say our school is their first choice, and they are given special treatment, meaning they can enter with lower test scores (tests subjects are Japanese, Math, Science and Social Studies) than those in the second group, who are taking the exam as a back-up in case they fail the exam for their preferred school. The second group usually represents the better students, who are hoping to get into a high level public school (as opposed to private schools like mine). The tests are administered in the morning, marked and the data entered into the computer in the afternoon, after which the administration examines the results and determine which students from both groups will be invited to attend our school. Determining how many of the first group will accept our invitation is not so hard, since almost all of them really do want to come here. The problem is determining how many of the better students applying here as a back-up will actually end up here: maybe 10% of those invited, say, so if you want 10 students from this group, you have to invite 100. Then we have a teachers meeting to decide if we will accept the administration's recommendations. We are waiting for that meeting to start. It is now 8:00 p.m. We had to be here by 7:50 a.m. for our morning service (Christian school). It's been a long day, extending into the night.
My co-worker Bob and I brought DVDs and munchies in anticipation of all this. We watched one of the classics that Bob brought, The Naked Gun, and a Sheryl Crow video DVD. Good stuff. Ate potato chips, cheese, crackers, along with the food provided by the school.
In the hours when we weren't working, eating, or watching TV, I got some serious work done on the TOEIC reading book, which made me feel good. Meanwhile, it 8:10, with no meeting in sight. It's going to be one long, long night.
I'm not big on world music (a shame, since I live in Asia), but I am big on great guitar playing. This duo met in a metal band in Mexico City, but ended up going acoustic and busking in, of all places, Ireland. Rodrigo plays lead, Gabriela rhythm. Flamenco is the obvious influence, but they really defy categorization. The video clips on their website rodgab.com (found under 'media' on their menu bar at the top of the site) are probably the best introduction to their music. You will then be searching for the CD. Exciting stuff. Also, see the review at allmusic.com, linked below:
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ltcibkd9fakz
Today is my school's junior high entrance exam. It is really hard to explain this aspect of the Japanese school system, but basically you have two groups of students who take the test. The first group are students who say our school is their first choice, and they are given special treatment, meaning they can enter with lower test scores (tests subjects are Japanese, Math, Science and Social Studies) than those in the second group, who are taking the exam as a back-up in case they fail the exam for their preferred school. The second group usually represents the better students, who are hoping to get into a high level public school (as opposed to private schools like mine). The tests are administered in the morning, marked and the data entered into the computer in the afternoon, after which the administration examines the results and determine which students from both groups will be invited to attend our school. Determining how many of the first group will accept our invitation is not so hard, since almost all of them really do want to come here. The problem is determining how many of the better students applying here as a back-up will actually end up here: maybe 10% of those invited, say, so if you want 10 students from this group, you have to invite 100. Then we have a teachers meeting to decide if we will accept the administration's recommendations. We are waiting for that meeting to start. It is now 8:00 p.m. We had to be here by 7:50 a.m. for our morning service (Christian school). It's been a long day, extending into the night.
My co-worker Bob and I brought DVDs and munchies in anticipation of all this. We watched one of the classics that Bob brought, The Naked Gun, and a Sheryl Crow video DVD. Good stuff. Ate potato chips, cheese, crackers, along with the food provided by the school.
In the hours when we weren't working, eating, or watching TV, I got some serious work done on the TOEIC reading book, which made me feel good. Meanwhile, it 8:10, with no meeting in sight. It's going to be one long, long night.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Just Another Tuesday
iPod morning commute music: Oasis, Stop the Clocks (disc 1); 2006
It was interesting when I went back to Seattle for Christmas and showed my brother, the rock musician in the family, this double-CD greatest hits package. He asked if they really had that many hits. Granted, this 18-song set includes B-sides and album tracks, but the answer is that, yes, Oasis had that many hits. I don't know if it's just my brother, or if Americans in general missed how good Oasis was, and continues to be: Their last release, 2005's Don't Believe the Truth, is the best new album they've put out since 1995's masterpiece (What's the Story) Morning Glory? The bottom line is that this is a great overview of the band. Recommended.
This past weekend was lazy in the mornings, productive in the afternoons. On Saturday, I met with my TOEIC series co-author, who's elderly father has been ill. We've really fallen behind on our schedule, but who can fault her with what she's been through over the last couple of months, and I didn't help anything by going back to the States over the holidays. Fortunately, we both recognize what we need to do (work really, really hard, sacrificing all our free time to finishing the book) which begs an answer to the question: So what are doing writing your blog?
Sunday afternoon, my wife and I went to Costco as we needed to change over to our snow tires and make important food purchases like, er, pepperoni pizza and cheesecake.
Monday was back to work. Our Language Laboratory assistant/saviour, Sae, noticed that I had scheduled one too many lessons for one of my seventh grade classes as I somehow overlooked a minor thing like A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.... Another week off to a brilliant start.
And today, Tuesday, was back into the heart of teaching, four sophomore classes, two advanced (smart) and two standard (not).
I'm still working through the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. As Gib commented on my last post, these ratings are really arbitrary. I've noticed the tendency which he also pointed out towards newer releases surpassing classic releases (fair enough, if done in a rational way). The book itself is a fun read, and I'm actually learning things (example: Dusty Springfield never sang a note in Memphis on her seminal album Dusty in Memphis: all her vocals were recorded in New York and added to the instrumental tracks. I guess she was too much in awe to actually record in the Memphis studio!).
Now, it would probably be a good time to start at least thinking about the TOEIC book!
It was interesting when I went back to Seattle for Christmas and showed my brother, the rock musician in the family, this double-CD greatest hits package. He asked if they really had that many hits. Granted, this 18-song set includes B-sides and album tracks, but the answer is that, yes, Oasis had that many hits. I don't know if it's just my brother, or if Americans in general missed how good Oasis was, and continues to be: Their last release, 2005's Don't Believe the Truth, is the best new album they've put out since 1995's masterpiece (What's the Story) Morning Glory? The bottom line is that this is a great overview of the band. Recommended.
This past weekend was lazy in the mornings, productive in the afternoons. On Saturday, I met with my TOEIC series co-author, who's elderly father has been ill. We've really fallen behind on our schedule, but who can fault her with what she's been through over the last couple of months, and I didn't help anything by going back to the States over the holidays. Fortunately, we both recognize what we need to do (work really, really hard, sacrificing all our free time to finishing the book) which begs an answer to the question: So what are doing writing your blog?
Sunday afternoon, my wife and I went to Costco as we needed to change over to our snow tires and make important food purchases like, er, pepperoni pizza and cheesecake.
Monday was back to work. Our Language Laboratory assistant/saviour, Sae, noticed that I had scheduled one too many lessons for one of my seventh grade classes as I somehow overlooked a minor thing like A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.... Another week off to a brilliant start.
And today, Tuesday, was back into the heart of teaching, four sophomore classes, two advanced (smart) and two standard (not).
I'm still working through the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. As Gib commented on my last post, these ratings are really arbitrary. I've noticed the tendency which he also pointed out towards newer releases surpassing classic releases (fair enough, if done in a rational way). The book itself is a fun read, and I'm actually learning things (example: Dusty Springfield never sang a note in Memphis on her seminal album Dusty in Memphis: all her vocals were recorded in New York and added to the instrumental tracks. I guess she was too much in awe to actually record in the Memphis studio!).
Now, it would probably be a good time to start at least thinking about the TOEIC book!
Friday, January 12, 2007
Old Friends
iPod evening commute music: The Beatles, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)
One of my Christmas gifts from my brother was Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (or something like that). #1 was Sgt. Pepper's, and no true rock fan can deny that it is a great album. It was the first Beatles' album that I bought with my own money (a paper route). It is not my favorite album by the band: I think I listen to Rubber Soul and Revolver more often. However, the importance of the album lies in the direction it moved music, the multi-tracking, the psychedelia, the idea of a group recording without performing live. Rock became art.
Last Monday, I searched around and found the phone number of one of my old college roomates, a great friend, and the person who recruited me to Japan all those years ago. Eric and I have been out of touch for several years, and he wrote to one of our mutual friends in Japan asking about me and asking him to pass on his current address to me. Hence, my phone call.
Eric and I have one of those friendships that are like a pair of really comfortable, well-worn slippers that always feel good when you slip them on. Though much of our conversation was catch-up, none of it sounded as though we hadn't talked for years, but rather that we had just talked last week. I know it is not an original thought, but I've always felt that to be a test of true friendship: Easy conversation after long absences.
It was a great conversation, and I know we'll work hard to ensure the absences are fewer, and shorter in length.
One of my Christmas gifts from my brother was Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (or something like that). #1 was Sgt. Pepper's, and no true rock fan can deny that it is a great album. It was the first Beatles' album that I bought with my own money (a paper route). It is not my favorite album by the band: I think I listen to Rubber Soul and Revolver more often. However, the importance of the album lies in the direction it moved music, the multi-tracking, the psychedelia, the idea of a group recording without performing live. Rock became art.
Last Monday, I searched around and found the phone number of one of my old college roomates, a great friend, and the person who recruited me to Japan all those years ago. Eric and I have been out of touch for several years, and he wrote to one of our mutual friends in Japan asking about me and asking him to pass on his current address to me. Hence, my phone call.
Eric and I have one of those friendships that are like a pair of really comfortable, well-worn slippers that always feel good when you slip them on. Though much of our conversation was catch-up, none of it sounded as though we hadn't talked for years, but rather that we had just talked last week. I know it is not an original thought, but I've always felt that to be a test of true friendship: Easy conversation after long absences.
It was a great conversation, and I know we'll work hard to ensure the absences are fewer, and shorter in length.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Home From the Holidays and a New Years Resolution
iPod morning commute music: N/A
Flew back to Japan yesterday, and got home about 9:00 p.m. I had a good holiday, but it was also good to get back to the States. My goal for the visit was to ensure that my parents and son had the best Christmas and New Years possible, and I think I helped.
It was good to see how my son has adjusted to life in the States, and on Vashon Island in particular. He's well-liked at work, has made friends (including several with whom he can play music), and is continueing his art. Now we just need to clear up the residency questions before he starts school in the fall.
It is hard to watch my parents age. My mother has lost a lot of her vision, and tests have confirmed that, in the past, she has suffered one or more small strokes which affected her vision. I was able to go with my parents for my mother's doctor appointment, and got a much better picture of what's going on. My father's showing his age as well, slowing way down. My brother and I had a good chance to visit and talk about them, and what could be in store in the future. As always, I feel bad that the burden falls unfairly on his shoulders.
I was able to do some cooking for everyone, but I had to be careful not to try to dictate to my parents what to eat: they actually LIKE eating cereal for breakfast and dinner! Still, I managed, in part, a big batch of chilli, a turkey for Christmas day, a ham for the extended family's Christmas party, and spaghetti and meatballs from scratch. I also baked a pecan pie.
I also got to attend a couple of Sonics basketball games curtesy of my friends Nan and Will (one of which was on New Years Eve with my son). They won both games, and maybe were the only games they won while I was there! I also saw a lot of televised games, especially the Fiesta Bowl, probably the most exciting football game I've ever watched.
I also had some quality (drinking and visiting) time with my friend Craig B. I'm lucky to have such a long-time buddy living so near on Island. The fact that he looks in on both my parents and my son means so much to me.
But now it's back to work. Today I had to be in for a meeting at 10, and then found out we have a major student problem in my year group, so it looks like I'll be here until late this afternoon or early evening. Not the best news considering the jet lag, but what the hell! You play, you pay, and I have no real problem with that. I'll slog my way through the day, and will have tomorrow (Sunday) and Monday off. Life shifts back into low gear on Tuesday, and high gear (actual classes!) on Friday.
Finally, that resolution: I resolve to blog at least 3 times per week in 2007.
Happy New Years, everybody!
Flew back to Japan yesterday, and got home about 9:00 p.m. I had a good holiday, but it was also good to get back to the States. My goal for the visit was to ensure that my parents and son had the best Christmas and New Years possible, and I think I helped.
It was good to see how my son has adjusted to life in the States, and on Vashon Island in particular. He's well-liked at work, has made friends (including several with whom he can play music), and is continueing his art. Now we just need to clear up the residency questions before he starts school in the fall.
It is hard to watch my parents age. My mother has lost a lot of her vision, and tests have confirmed that, in the past, she has suffered one or more small strokes which affected her vision. I was able to go with my parents for my mother's doctor appointment, and got a much better picture of what's going on. My father's showing his age as well, slowing way down. My brother and I had a good chance to visit and talk about them, and what could be in store in the future. As always, I feel bad that the burden falls unfairly on his shoulders.
I was able to do some cooking for everyone, but I had to be careful not to try to dictate to my parents what to eat: they actually LIKE eating cereal for breakfast and dinner! Still, I managed, in part, a big batch of chilli, a turkey for Christmas day, a ham for the extended family's Christmas party, and spaghetti and meatballs from scratch. I also baked a pecan pie.
I also got to attend a couple of Sonics basketball games curtesy of my friends Nan and Will (one of which was on New Years Eve with my son). They won both games, and maybe were the only games they won while I was there! I also saw a lot of televised games, especially the Fiesta Bowl, probably the most exciting football game I've ever watched.
I also had some quality (drinking and visiting) time with my friend Craig B. I'm lucky to have such a long-time buddy living so near on Island. The fact that he looks in on both my parents and my son means so much to me.
But now it's back to work. Today I had to be in for a meeting at 10, and then found out we have a major student problem in my year group, so it looks like I'll be here until late this afternoon or early evening. Not the best news considering the jet lag, but what the hell! You play, you pay, and I have no real problem with that. I'll slog my way through the day, and will have tomorrow (Sunday) and Monday off. Life shifts back into low gear on Tuesday, and high gear (actual classes!) on Friday.
Finally, that resolution: I resolve to blog at least 3 times per week in 2007.
Happy New Years, everybody!
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