So I finally got some old pics off my memory card. These are from my trip back home. I try to fly Southwest when I can these days, so I flew in to Jackson. Vicksburg is right on the way home, and what, I hear you ask, is in Vicksburg? Why, the Civil War Memorial is! And… yeah, that’s about it.

I hadn’t been to the memorial since I was a kid. My great-grandmother lived in Mississippi, so every now and again we’d stop either coming or going on a visit. I don’t remember it that well, honestly, but they seem to have been making some improvements to it. Maybe. Anyway, it was nice to visit it again.

So yeah, Christmas was good. Lotsa good food, prepared by the mother figure. Very good food. And I was able to add to my collection of kitchen gadgets! (pictures there later)

I’ve been spending quite a bit more time in the kitchen lately. It started with the Kitchenaid stand mixer a couple of months ago and has spiraled out of control since then. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Right? >_>

So it’s been a while. Working on a post, but in the meantime here’s a picture of a dachshund snout to keep you amused.

The zoo was very, very nice. And very, very large. They had a ton of animals there that I had never actually seen in person, which was rather nice. I now need a colony of meerkats.

Afterwards we headed to the Museum of Man, but, sadly, it was already closed. Very impressive building, though.

You know, it must really be a shame living in San Diego. Constant blue skies. An unchanging 70-80 degrees. Right on the ocean. On the other hand, wildfires! But I suppose you don’t really have to worry about that at Sea World, full of water and fun. And seals on a feeding frenzy.

So it’s been a little while. What can I say, my life’s not that interesting. Still looking for work. Still going to school. Not much else, really.

It is getting much warmer here. This apartment stays nice and well, mildly chilly in the winter without the use of a heater. What this means, however, in the summer is that it turns into what might mildly be described as an oven, were Japanese people to know what an oven is. And, of course, it’s sitting right on a main road, so leaving the windows open at night presents problems as well. Not as many as boiling to death in my skin, though.

Weekend before last I did a demo-lesson for the job I was interviewing for. I thought it went rather well. The feedback from the interviewer lady seemed rather postive. I still haven’t heard back from them. Rage seethes. Had another interview today, but, of course, it might be a little while before I hear back on that. All things equal, though, I really would rather teach adults. Easier on me in so many ways.

Last weekend it seems the USS Kitty Hawk was docked in Otaru, meaning there were people all over town in white uniforms. There was also some little festival thing downtown, though I’m unsure if these were related in any way.

Apparently there is a somewhat public gym not too far from here, next to one of the saddest libraries I’ve ever seen. But it’s, actually both are, free to use. I’m not sure what the gym has other than a hardwood court, but it was impressively deserted. Also, much to my surprise, badminton is considered a sport in Japan. However there was no AC therein, so we only stayed about 40 minutes.

Afterward was the library, which was also without AC. I think the Farmerville Public Library has more books than the little thing in Sumikawa. Despite this lack of books I think there were more people in the library than I had ever seen in the one back home. Mostly the rather aged, but a smattering of younger people as well.

Thanks to an anonymous female relative in Ohio I’m overflowing with American snacks and foods at the moment, and I’m getting ready to prepare an all-American supper. Mmm mmm. It’s been a while since I’ve had access to bar-b-q sauce. Or corn meal. Or real english peas. And… well. My food options have expanded somewhat. And I am quite tickled.

Nothing big planned for this week. This weekend is a birthday party for one of our Nebraskans, and it seems we’re headed out to the beach. Should it not be raining. Which it seems it should be. But I don’t trust Japanese weather forcasters any furtherthan I can throw an elephant.

A few pictures for you here. I have more stashed on the phone, but haven’t had the chance to get them over to the computer yet. Patience, please.

continue reading "A wayward Chevy struck a tree"

My life has taken a turn for the uninteresting. Not that it was very interesting before, mind you, it was just different than what all you people in the great, spacious land to my east are used to. This week I basically did nothing except for karaoke and impress people with my ability to read Japanese quickly. Yay. I also wrote a report in both Japanese and English. The Japanese part took many, many hours. I was rewarded by the Japanese people not bothering to come that day, rendering my efforts rather moot. I still read the Japanese anyway. I spent too much time on it not to. Dammit.

So, basically, since I have nothing at all to write about that anyone in their right mind would find remotely interesting, I’ll torture you all with my interpretation of Oedipus Rex, the rather disturbing and long-winded play that my homie Sophocles wrote back in the day. Amazingly enough, I got a decent grade on this.

Also, to those who’ve emailed me and I haven’t gotten back to you… Give me a little more time. Most of you, I’m sure, know how I am with emails. If you didn’t, well, now you do.

Idiocy after the jump.

continue reading "Where the Pins Meet the Eyes"