Last Entry

This will be my last entry for a while. Things just don't work out as plan. Until I decide what (and where) I'll be, I'll be limiting my on-line computer time. I also won't have access to the internet, so I won't be able to answer my e-mail as frequently as I've done in the past. Sorry!

Best wishes.

State of Boredom

The story has changed a little. Now it is throwing technical words like there is no tomorrow. I feel like I am reading a science textbook. In the last chapter I read, there were about 4 charts. Also, in the back of the book, there is a 16-page bibliography. And...about a 7 page Appendix! The author wants to show that he did his research about the topic of global warming.

Another problem with the book is the author's writing style. In my opinion, he seems to be telegraphing the characters actions and thoughts too much.

Since I paid for the book, (being the cheapskate that I am) I intend to finish the book whether I like the book or not.

Oh...remember the couple of killings I mentioned at the beginning. It turns out the victims in the story were killed with posion from living baby octopus(I think). I peeked ahead near the end of the book.

So Far, No Change in the "State of Fear"

Well, I've read a few more chapters, and so far, there seems to be no change in the "State of Fear". Characters are still doing stupid things. Examples:
*I know he is not who he says he is (a character says to himself), but the character stills does business with the man.
*The request for 5 "machines" is strange when no one in the world should need more than 1.
*A beautiful woman sticks a man with something that causes the man to become dizzy. The woman tells the shocked witness to pretend he did not see anything(as the dizzy man runs into traffic), and the witness does. Only to be shocked later when he hears sirens. The dizzy man was hit by a car.

Well, that's it for today. I am going to try to write a few Japanese sentences while my bathtub is filling up, so I have to keep this entry short. Besides, I had nothing to write about.

State of Fear

The above title does not describe my life. However, if you substitute stress for fear, then the title would fit my life. Sorry, I'm getting side tracked. I want to finish this blog entry quickly, so that I can go relax in the bath.

The above title is the title of the new book I bought today. I finished reading the Da Vinci Code over the weekend. My plan was to buy another book written by the same author (Dan Brown) hoping the next book would be as interesting as the Da Vinci Code.

Once in the bookstore, I came across "State of Fear" written by Michael Crichton. I remembered (vaguely) hearing (or reading) a review) about "State of Fear", so I decided to buy this book. Once I returned home, I started reading the first chapter. I was very, very disappointed with the first chapter. I hope the reminder of the book is not as stupid. A brief first chapter synopsis:

A scientist (24 yrs. old) goes to a cafe. A woman and her boyfriend at the next table are arguing. The woman starts flirting with the scientist with her boyfriend watching. Later, the scientist brings the woman (because she is sooooo beautiful) and her boyfriend(?!?!) to his lab so he can show off his new experiment. That night, the scientist goes to the woman's apartment. After having sex, a group of men break into the apartment, they beat him up and drug him some kind of way, then leave when the woman comes out of the bathroom and shouts at them. She tells the scientist not to call the police because it was just a lover's situation (between her and her boyfriend) and the police won't do anything. Instead, she wants him to stay to continue making love to her. Finally, when they are walking him to his home(the scientist was not feeling well), he realizes that he had been poisoned. Unfortunately, he realizes 2 seconds before the woman pushes him into the river. Yes, the young, smart(!?!?) scientist died. However, as he was dying, he was able to hit the river water face down, but turn over to see the woman calmly "smoking a cigarette with her hand on her hip, and...with her leg forward in a kind of model's pose". Stupid scientist, but he has very good eyesight.

If the rest of the story is like this, I am going to be very, very upset. Ja Mata...

The Da Vinci Code

Today was another very hot day here in Tokyo. Unfortunately, I spent most of the day reading "The Da Vinci Code". I am now about a little over half-way through the book. I am enjoying the information that is included along with the story. For example, the references made about "The Last Supper". In my opinion, I think it is a very good book! I am looking forward to seeing the movie. Now, it is getting a bit late, so I will have to continue reading tomorrow.

Star Wars 3 - Revenge of the Sith

Hello pen pal. I thought that I would take a break from the depressing entries about school. Since my Japanese level is so low, I am writing today's blog in English.

Today I went to see Star Wars 3. Usually, I don't like to go to crowded movie theaters. Since Star Wars is a popular movie, I waited a few weeks so that the crowd would be less. Before going to the movies, I stopped at one of the discount ticket booths to buy my ticket. My ticket was 1,350 yen. I think the regular ticket price is 1,800 yen. The movie theater showing Star Wars 3 was about 1/2 empty. I seem to have a little bit of bad luck picking the right seat. Today, an elderly gentleman and his wife sat right behind me. The elderly gentleman (or his wife) had a bit of body odor, so that annoyed me a bit. Also, the volume was too loud. Well, while I'm at it, I was also annoyed at the commercials shown before the movie. I think it was about 15 minutes worth of commercials and previews shown.

About the movie. I thought the movie was very nice. I enjoy SF movies very much, so I liked this movie. I thought the special effects were very, very good. I thought the special effects carried the movie. Without the very good special effects, I don't think Star Wars 3 would have been a good movie. I thought the plot and (some of the acting) was a little bit sloppy. It seemed as if most of the movie was devoted to giving George Lucas a reason to show off what special effects can do now. Only towards the end, did the movie realize that there were loose ends that needed to be tied up. For example, the Anakin character spends most of the movie good motivated by high standards. However, around the last 15 or 20 minutes of the movie, he suddenly turns evil(not bad, but evil). Strange!? Since some people may have not seen the movie (or are waiting for the DVD), I won't give any specifics about the movie. Overall, I enjoyed the movie for its special effects.

After the movie, I made a quick run to the bank, then I went over to Kinokuniya bookstore. I wanted to buy "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"(book 7), but it was not out in paperback yet, so I bought the book "The Da Vinci Code". I also bought a couple of issues of the manga "Dragon Ball Z"(#3 & #4). Later, I went to McDonald's for dinner. After returning home, I made a quick run to a couple of stores for the usual (milk, juice, bread, & cereal). After finishing this blog entry, I'll relax in the bath.

Another meeting about the letter of resignation

It has been a few days. Sorry, I have not been in the mood to write a blog. Last Friday I had another meeting at my company, this time with one of the company representatives. It was a two-hour waste of time. The meeting dragged on, only because of stubbornness. I was being too stubborn to see things another way. Since the school fired me, I was okay with a letter of termination. To this day, I don't know why, and I probably will never know(and so quickly to [I only had one more day before summer vacation--they could not wait just one more day]).

The company representative (and my boss) were being stubborn trying to convince me that they are only asking me to sign a letter of resignation for my benefit. Each time I came up with a simple why or how question, we would just fall back into the merry-go-round of denial. I refused to accept signing a letter of resignation, and the company refused to back down. I don't feel like treading over same old nonsense, so I'll just give you some highlights:

The meeting began with the representative putting (in front of me) a paper written in Japanese saying that he had a meeting with the principal that afternoon, and he needed me to sign it then and there. Only explained rather quickly, that the paper was just saying that I was finished working on the 19th.

I was told that I had to sign the letter of resignation, or the school would not be able to put a replacement teacher in the class, forgetting, or not caring that they had told me at the beginning of the meeting that the school would not request a replacement teacher. The school is going to use one of the teachers that is already at the school. They held on to this point for at least 30 minutes. They insisted that if I did not sign the paper, the students would come to class, but there would be no teacher in the room.

Although, the school was not supposed to use an agency to find its part-time teachers, the letter of resignation had to be signed because it would be going to the board of education. If I did not sign the letter, then no one could get paid. The question, why does a company that is not suppose to be involved in hiring and firing is insisting on a letter, only sent us back on the merry-go-round of denial. Or, when I'd mentioned that this "letter thing" has nothing to do with me, or my feelings, it is only about money. "Oh, no, no, no", said the company rep. "The principal was just concerned about your well-being". I said, "Oh, then why did he avoid speaking to me in the halls, or when I was making copies for about the last two weeks." "Well, (another 3 or 5 minutes explanation), the school contacts this company, and this company contacts you". Actually, I was talking about receiving the cold shoulder in the hallways, and the "Oh, I did not see you hello". When I explained about being avoided at the school by the principal and the head English teacher, I received the "oh, I will talk to them later".

The rep. made a point of telling me that the letter was official, and that it came from the principal. He also added that he did not make it himself. Strange, I never suggested that he did. He also made a point of showing me that the envelope was from the school (it had the school logo and address).

When I'd mentioned that if I died, they would not be able to get a signature. Both agreed that Japanese contracts often have a clause that if a person dies, that person is automatically considered to have resigned. My boss even added that most of our contracts also have that clause. Strange, I don't remember seeing that clause on any of my contracts.

The meeting ended with what appeared to be a dramatic finish. It looked like the company rep. wanted to make a big dramatic finish. He ended with, "okay if you don't sign it I lose big money, big money." I think he wanted to say we. Anyway, he shoves the envelope with the Japanese letter into his briefcase, then tries to walk out, stumbles over the chairs in the closet size office, then tries to slam the door, but the door has one of those hinges that prevents the door from slamming.

The rep. leaves, then returns waving the letter angrily--although, he really did not look angry. He just looked like a bad actor. Anyway, he said to my boss, "If he doesn't sign it, just throw it away. Just throw it away. We lose big money." He must have forgotten (or he was sooooo angry) that he forgot that the letter was "an official document" that he had to return to the principal. The rep. then manages to slam one of the outer doors. I don't know why, but that slam got me angry. I ended up shouting. I don't think my boss knew what to do, so he seems to be whispering, please leave, just leave to me. So I left.

Later that day, my Japanese friend came over. I asked him to translate the letter. I was sure that it would take him 5 or 10 minutes to explain the letter. However, he took one look and said, "oh, this is a letter saying you wish to resign(退職)." And........I sign it. Strange isn't it. After all of that nonsense, the meetings, and the phone calls. Why did I sign the letter? I just realized that it was pointless to argue anymore.