www.snowmanjapan.net

Snowman Japan Web Log

for October 2007

NOTE:  The OBJECTIVE of this BLOG is to help my students with their study of English.

AND

For all of you, out there, around the world to;

SEE HOKKAIDO

2007 October 31 Wednesday.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!   What does it all mean???   Are you talking about NOW, or about the ORIGINS of this cultural icon.   It was a perfect night for walking around in the neighborhood, and NOT ringing anybody's  doorbell.   I finished my last lesson at 19:00 today, so I took advantage of the extra free time to take a not so long walk in the coolld evening air.   I was imagining myself as a twelve year old me, the one that I remember, and went to the 100 Yen Shop, Rabbit, and onto the river line cycling roads.    My intentions were strong, but my bare feet and toes in sandals, were getting too cold to bare any longer, so I took a shortcut through Crystal Park, and came back home by about 20:00.   Everybody else were wearing socks and shoes.   They have more common sense than I.   But I am WILDer.    Not Oscar, but Norman.   I write for fun.   I write as a hobby.   If you don't like the stuff I write, CLICK ON THE RED square with the white X.   That is your eXit window.     Either way, HAPPY HALLOWEEN to each and all of us who are aware of this event.   It only happens once a year so, remember it and recollect upon it, as each and every cycle of the sun goes around and around.  

2007 October 30 Tuesday.

Lots to write about today, but no time to write it.  　そうSORRY

2007 October 29 Monday.

Lots to write about today, but no time to write it.  　そうSORRY

2007 October 28 Sunday.

A very nice, partly sunny and rather warm day.  The autumn leaves are at their best, until a big wind and rain storm comes along.  Starting  tomorrow.  At about 16:00, I put down my Master of Hokkaido Tourism Handbook, and took a walk over to the 100 yen store, to buy some more tea candles and some notebooks for writing English and Music.   I also walked over to らびっと to get one of their last bottles of 男山笹おり 100% pure rice malt, non-pasteurized  Japanese rice wine 日本酒　生酒.   Today is a bit of a special occasion.  October 16th of this year was our 13th wedding anniversary, but we didn't have time to celebrate it until today.   I found some very nice　霜降り牛肉 at the next door Seikyo supermarket last night, that was marked down by 70%, so I snagged it.   Even at 70% off of the regular price it cannot be considered as cheap beef, but it was so delicious, and well worth the price.  This stuff is so good, that all you need to do is cook it slowly on an electric hot plate, and just eat it right off the grill without any other seasonings.   Talk about high cholesterol, this meal is the king of fat.   No diet food at this years anniversary dinner.   Most Americans, think that the best beef, is the cut of meat that has the most red meat, and the least amount of white fat.   In Japan, the perception is somewhat different.   The beef that has an evenly spaced red meat to white fat ratio of 50/50, is considered to be the best, and therefore the most expensive beef.   Which do I like better?   When it comes to a choice of beef or pork, I will pick beef every time.    Beef or chicken?   It depends on the mood I'm in.   Chicken or fish?   Again, it's a case by case situation.   How about you?  Which meat do you eat the most of; beef, pork, chicken, fish or mutton ラム肉?   There may be other types of meat that I haven't thought about.   How about a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT OPTION?   No meat at all.     A vegetarian diet.     I've never tried it myself, but many people that I know who EAT NO MEAT, tell me that it is a good choice for premium health and maximum longevity.   Maybe so.   The last time I looked at the teeth in my mouth, I noticed that I have several different types of teeth.   The sharp and pointed looking ones, on the left and right sides of my two or three front teeth, are incisors.   Theses were designed to be Cutting and tearing teeth.    Perfect for meat eating.    Most of the teeth behind them are flatter with small nodes protruding upwards.   Perfect for grinding all types of food, both meat and vegetable products.   Considering our anatomy, I would speculate that the humanoids of today, were designed to eat just about anything.   As with every other thing that we choose to do, our choice of food is largely a matter or personal taste.    As for me, if I have enough food to eat right now, I know that I am blessed.   Blessed enough to think about the wants and needs of OTHER PEOPLE.    Food, Clothing and Shelter 食・衣・住.   The basics of life for every living being.   If you have all three, you need to start looking outside of yourself and creating a civilized world with no want and no need.   It starts with you.   And with me, too.

2007 October 27 Saturday.

This is the day for the 5 hour lecture, about taking the 北海道観光マスター検定　Master of Hokkaido Tourism examination.   From 10:00 until 16:00, about 45 people including myself, listened to 札幌国際大学観光学部観光学科の   吉岡　宏高先生   Talk about the 2nd annual examination, and what parts of the book, and what facts need to be looked into more closely, and also some amusing stories about traveling around Hokkaido, and how some things have changed, and some things have remained the same.  It was a very interesting 5 hours lecture with a full one hour lunch break between 12:00 and 13:00.   The walk back home however, was a bit cold, due to the fact that I wasn't wearing any socks nor shoes.  I was barefoot in sandals.   Feels great during most of the year, but not today.   Brrrrrrr.....    When I get back home I am going to fill up a big tub with hot water, climb in, and make everything better, all over again.   Then, I need to sit down and read some more of what is written in this book.   I have until November 23 to learn it all.    Am I up to the challenge?    We shall see.

2007 October 22 thru 26 Friday.

Another very busy teaching week with classes until 21:40 every day this week.  In the past, I usually finished my teaching day at 20:00, but recently I have had an influx of many new students, for which I have made special arrangements as per their requests.   I am here to serve.  In return for my services, I live a wonderful life, in a wonderful city, in a most beautiful part of the world.  Who could ask for anything more?   In fact, I like my life's work so much that I would do it for  FREE, IF I didn't need "money" to pay the rent, buy food, buy fuel, etc.   You all know what I am taking about.    If you really like your job, that is.   Speaking of working for free, a lot of gaijin teachers who worked at NOVA EIKAIWA, have been working for free for at least one or two months, until now.   NOVA is finished.   Friday's evening edition of the Hokkaido Newspaper, had the BIG HEADLINE NEWS.   In Spanish, the words "no va", means DOESN'T GO.   How appropriate.  I myself have been in the same situation before, working for a larger new school project for about 2 and one half years before the place went bankrupt.  I've been there, and done that.   I did get all of the money that was owned to me during that time, so I said SAYONARA and moved on.   I'm still here in this city today.   Welcome Home.   Help yourself, by helping others first.   You will both win every time.

2007 October 21 Sunday.

It is a gawwwd awful; cold, windy and rainy day, today.   The kind of day when you just want to stay indoors, and get into and out of a bathtub full of the very hot and very abundant water that this island is blessed with.    If you are more adventurous, you can drive for a few minutes, or even an hour or so, and get into a 100% natural geothermal hot tub, of which there are many, in Hokkaido.   I choose to stay at home today, and get into some really heavy duty relaxation, and some major reading time as well.   While I was sitting in the hot tub, I thought back to yesterday's 90 minute lecture by David F., and remembered a part of the conversation, that happened during Questions and Answers, at the end of his presentation.   Someone in the audience asked about the longevity of houses in the Western World, as compared to that in Japan.  As a general rule, most residential housing in Japan, is considered to be outdated, after only 30 year of use!    When I first came to Japan to live and work almost 20 years ago, I remember being surprised to hear this fact of life, about the average "home owner".    A few days later, when I learned that the typical BANK LOAN for buying a new house, was set up to be fully repaid in 30 years, I had one of those AWH HAW! moments.    The system is set up so that the "home owner" will need to either remodel or rebuild their home, after 30 years, and will most likely take out another BANK LOAN in order to do so.   What a scam.    David told the person who asked the question, that his grandparents in England live in a brick house that was built over 400 years ago!    Now, that's a real house.   Other well built houses can be expected to last 100 years or more.  It depends upon the people involved in building, living in and maintaining the housing structure that determines its length or shortness of usability.   One thing that I must confess here, is that I do not "own" my own home.  I am a renter.  My classroom is on the 2nd floor of an 11 story building, that is in a very easily accessible part of Asahikawa City.   However, I do have my eye on a very nice piece of land that is for sale only about 300 meters from were I live now.    If I could somehow buy this land and build a new building upon it, I could have a bigger classroom and have more students, and hire more teachers.   I could become even more beneficial to the city of Asahikawa, than I am at this present moment.   However, I REFUSE TO TAKE OUT A BANK LOAN to make this happen.   Why????    Here is the simple reason.     When a person goes to a bank to take out a LOAN, of any kind, the BANK DOES NOT take that money out of another customer's savings account and give it to the LOAN BORROWER.    The BANK employee, sits down at a computer, and punches in the numbers, which transfer a NEWLY CREATED sum of money to the BORROWER'S BANK ACCOUNT.    The borrower then puts their name stamp, on a paper agreement, which says that the borrower must repay the entire amount of the LOAN PLUS INTEREST, to the bank, by a certain date, some 30 years later.    Remember, the BANK created this NEW MONEY out of thin air.   It was only an electronic entry into a vast computer system.    Nothing of REAL VALUE was exchanged at the time of making the LOAN.   However, the borrower must give much of his or her time by working at a job, or having his/her own business, in order to exchange goods and/or services, for "money" in order to repay the BANK for it's generous LOAN.    Can you see the way the GAME IS PLAYED???   The lender is ALWAYS the WINNER.    Unless, the borrower can not repay the loan.  Then the BANK loses, RIGHT!    Wrong.    The BANK has the right to possess the house or the car or whatever it is that the borrower bought with the loan money.   The BANK can then resell the house or car or whatever it is, and get even more money on top of what the borrower has already paid back on the LOAN.   But, what happens if the borrower does not have any assets which the bank can steal?   No problem.   The LOAN was created out of THIN AIR in the very first instance, so the BANK loses NOTHING!!!    Can you think of a better business than that?   I can.   It is called WAR.   Get massive bank loans, build the military equipment, destroy it all in a WAR, and then build more new war machines.    That is the ultimate way, to make big money while doing NOTHING GOOD for the EARTH.   Gawd Damn It!   When will this XIT ever end?   It will only end when everyone on this earth loses their VANITY and EGO and comes back to the realization that, EVERYONE MUST HELP EVERYONE ELSE.    At all times.  BECAUSE we are all connected.    My prediction for the future?   Not good.   I see self absorbed, vain and greedy individuals all around me, when I venture outside of my Base Of Operations.    They are the great majority of people, who are constantly looking outside of themselves, to see what it is that LIFE is all about, and what their place in that greater LIFE sphere is all about.   They watch TV, they read the newspapers, they rent DVDs, they play PACHIKO, they constantly surf the internet, in an attempt to validate their beliefs and their very existence.   They will only find HINTS there.  Never the WHOLE PICTURE.   Look Inside.  That is where the "GOD" that made you, is living right now, as we speak.   Always has been, always will be.     You are the answer.      You are the problem.       Every tool is a double edged knife.  It CUTS BOTH WAYS.  Use it carefully, and with good intentions.   The road to paradise, is the road you are walking upon RIGHT NOW.      Today is always NOW.      Now is always TODAY.

2007 October 20 Saturday.

This morning at about 10:30, I attended a lecture of The Open College, being held at the newly remodeled Kagura Citizens Exchange Center.   The presentation was given by a Canadian guy, that I have known for more than 15 years.   His subject was Urban Sprawl in Western Countries, and he had a lot of google earth photos within his powerpoint slide show.    It made me feel once again, how much I love living AWAY from the nasty world of URBAN SPRAWL.     Hokkaido is just the right size for human habitation.    David gave his speech in English while using bilingual slides, while a teacher from the Commercial High School gave some interpretation into Japanese, for the benefit of those audience members who may not be able to understand exactly what David was saying in perfect North American English.    I had the benefit of understanding all of BOTH.    Language is a tool.   After listening to the excellent 90 minutes presentation, I went downstairs to take a look at the new Kagura Library.   Very nice.   I think I will be spending more and more time over there, during the cold and dark days.    As I left the building and started walking back to my place, it started to rain.   And continued to do so long after I had arrived back home.   Tomorrow, it will only get worse.   And colder.    Tonight, I need to do surgery on my electric practice bass guitar.   A couple of wires need to be soldered back on to their terminals, or I can't get any sound out of the axe.    It won't take long, and I'll be back to practicing the basics.

2007 October 16 Tuesday thru 19 Friday.

2007 October 15 Monday.

A very nice sunny day with cool temperatures.  My first gig of the day, started off at the Young Bud Kindergarten めばえ幼稚園 at 10:00.  When that was finished at about 11:20, I drove back home and ate some lunch before the start of my next class at 13:00.   This class is of course, the 英会話を楽しむ会 at the 神楽公民館.   We haven't had this class for about one month, because the Kagura District city administration offices were being moved from the old building, to the newly refurbished building, that used to be the Forestry Management Office 営林局.   You can see a photo of the information sign board above/left.    This new facility is very nice indeed.  In fact, the room that we are using now has a very fancy circular table-set in it, with very comfortable chairs.   I felt as if I was at some type of company board room meeting.   Today, I used a translation that I made of pages 10, 11 and 12 of the Master of Hokkaido Tourism Handbook 北海道観光マスター・ハンドブック for our study material.   You can see my English translation that we used today, by clicking here.   This printout took up about 30 minutes of the 90 minutes class time.   Other people talked about various things.  One lady wanted me to talk about Halloween, and my experiences as a child in the USA during this event which is held on October 31.   I told her all about my experiences, which I have also written about in a rather long essay which includes a podcast of the text.  You can read and listen to it, by clicking here.     Another lady, in fact one of the original members of this group that started almost 12 years ago, told us how she spent almost 1 week in BALI, for the wedding of her daughter!!!   Wow!   I want to hear the whole story next week.   That must have been wonderful experience.

2007 October 14 Sunday.

Lots to write about today, but no time to write it.  　そうSORRY

2007 October 13 Saturday.

Lots to write about today, but no time to write it.  　そうSORRY

2007 October 12 Friday.

Oh!  What a surprise!   Al Gore gets the NOBEL PRIZE for his diligent efforts to inform the unwashed masses as to the real causes of GLOBAL WARMING.    I almost fell out of my chair laughing, when I saw this news on JNN NewsBird this afternoon.   Say what?!?   The timing couldn't have been better.   One year away from presidential "elections", and good old Al Gore, is suddenly back into the mainstream news, AND in a very big way.   Could this be the big reward to Big Al, for having been screwed out of the 2000 presidential elections by taking a fall, for the hanging chad masters?      What a farce that was.      And so is this.       Human beings are the main cause of global warming.   Bullxit.   The cycles of the SUN are the MAIN CAUSE of global warming.   Always have been.    True, the activities of human beings are partly responsible for the emissions of "green house gases" into the earth's atmosphere, but it is not the individual family units who are putting out most of this unnecessary air pollution.   It is the Military Industrial Complex Matrix of Participants, that are the main culprit.   The mass media tells us that we all have to conserve energy, and drive more energy efficient cars and cut back on our consumption of electricity.  Meanwhile, the big industries which make the war machines, and the military which drives and flies the big war machines, is pumping out a billion times more, of the same gases into the atmosphere.    They are trying to shift the blame onto us, the common folk.   Phuck them!     TMIC does much more damage to the environment of this planet than any other group of people who also must live on this planet, by far.    HOWEVER,  even with all of their extravagantly wasteful use of energy resources of all kinds, their effect on global warming is still miniscule, as compared to the CYCLES OF THE SUN, which produces SUN SPOTS and SOLAR FLARES and SOLAR WINDS.     This is the REAL REASON why the EARTH is getting warmer and warmer during this part of the solar cycles.   Not only do we have scientific data from the past several hundred years, clearly showing the direct relationship between the 11 and 22 year sun cycles and temperature variations, upon the surface of the earth, but we also have archeological evidence from thousands and thousands of years ago, that prove the same thing.   What am I talking about?    Well for one thing, the JOMON People who lived here in Hokkaido, and  also in many other parts of Japan, left behind the remnants of villages and graveyards.   One very specific example that I would like to mention in particular, are two such places that I have visited right here in Hokkaido, just this year.    One of them is in Date City 伊達市 and the other one is in Minami Kayabe Village 南茅部村, both sites are situated along the Pacific Ocean coastline, and both are about 5,000 to 6,000 years old.    Nowadays, these sites are rather far away from the shoreline of the ocean, but back then during the era when the Jomon People were living there, the water levels of the oceans were much higher than they are today.    How do I know this for sure?    Archeologists have found millions and millions of seashell FOSSILS in the ground, in areas which are now farmland.   In other words, the farmlands along the Pacific Ocean Coast of Hokkaido today, WAS the OCEAN FLOOR thousands and thousands of years ago!    Let's see, 6,000 years ago, there were no huge factories pumping out green house gases, nor were there any petroleum burning cars, buses nor airplanes.   Well,........     Geeez Louize, if there were no human causes to global warming way back then,.....     What was the cause?    SOLAR CYCLES.        What else could there be, besides the eruption of volcanoes and meteor strikes?    You and I are NOT THE CAUSE of global warming.   Don't let these asshole,  powers that be,  convince you that you are the main cause of GLOBAL WARMING.     It is not YOUR fault.  It is a total scam.   A scam worthy of the NOBEL PRIZE.   Top that one for a bad joke, IF you can.

2007 October 11 Thursday.

Lots to write about today, but no time to write it.  　そうSORRY

2007 October 10 Wednesday.

Lots to write about today, but no time to write it.  　そうSORRY

2007 October 9 Tuesday.

Much less wind and rain today.  The SUN poked through the clouds, and warmed the place up a bit.   This was good for everyone, especially the construction crew, which took down the scaffolding 足場 this morning while I was at Asahikawa University.    You can see for yourself in the photo above/left, what a clear view I again have of the world outside my little bubble.   On a really clear day, you can even see the Taisetsu Mountain Range from here, but not today.   If you could see the mountain range today, you would notice right away, that it has much more snow on top of it, than it did just last week, on this day.    An interesting cycle that repeats itself every year at this time.    The most interesting part about it is that you can literally see the big snow coming towards the city, as it slowly but certainly creeps down from the top of the mountain, and into the lowest valleys, filling everything, and I do mean everything, in thick coat of frozen white wonder.   Remember, we are talking about frozen water crystals.   H2O.   This stuff is not only cold to the touch, it is also, billions and billions and billions (Carl Sagan) of tiny little electro-magnetic circuit boards, just sitting around everywhere, waiting to be used.     One way in which many people utilize this power is by going skiing or snowboarding.    When you do this, you are literally flying through the air, because your feet to ground resistance, is ALMOST ZERO.    You really have to try it for yourself, to see what I am talking about.   White Crystal Wonder World,....      Coming Soon.

2007 October 8 Monday.

A National Holiday in Japan known as Physical Education Day 体育の日.  It used to be observed on October 10, but that was changed to the 2nd Monday in October just recently, to help people have a 3 day weekend, and relax.   Or, get some vigorous exercise.  Your choice.   Unfortunately today, it was cold and dark and windy and rainy and just plain xit, weather wise.   Not a nice day to be outdoors for any reason.   The sun doesn't always shine in Hokkaido.   But it still can be warm inside.  

2007 October 7 Sunday.

Lots to write about today, but no time to write it.  　そうSORRY

2007 October 6 Saturday.

Time to get out the garden hose, and hose down all of the stuff that I keep outdoors, all year long.    During the first part of the total face lift for this rather tall building, a lot of xit, fell down upon my cheap plastic dinning table and other BBQ items.    I can't use this stuff in this condition, so I hosed 'em down.   The result of which you can see in the photo above/left.     The new gray surface is rough and hard to clean.   Even the crow poop, which was dropped a few days ago, could not be completely removed, even though I used dishwashing detergent, and a long handled scrubbing brush, in a futile attempt to remove it all.   Not only that, but the wide rubber squigee, which I used to push all of the ugly crap towards the drain hole, didn't slide as smoothly, has it did when the veranda was GREEN.   Yeah well,....    I'll get used to it.    It could be better, but count your blessings every day.    Call it prayer, call it meditation, call it Yoga or even Yogurt.   If you have enough food, clothing and shelter, consider yourself BLESSED.   NOW, if you have those BASICS OF BIOLOGICAL LIFE, use your free time to live half for yourself, and half for others.     At the very minimum.    This RATIO is totally up to YOU.   And your KHARMA is directly reflective of that.    THOUGHTS are THINGs.   Even more than we currently realize, as the BASICs of these COSMIC LAWs.    Be good to yourself, and be good to others.    Happiness is made of THESE.

2007 October 5 Friday.

Today, I experienced first hand, the lack of money in the Hokkaido Government Budget for this year.   I teach English to 2nd year students at the Hokkaido Prefectural Nursing Academy of Asahikawa,  道立旭川高等看護学 on Fridays, for a total of 30 lessons in one school year.    Today after the lesson was finished, the nice lady who is in charge of the educational office of the school said in very polite Japanese;  "Norman,  I have a favor to ask of you.   The accounting office has noticed that your use of the taxi tickets we give you, are sometimes for more or less money, than the average amount."   I replied; "Yes, that is true.   Sometimes I take the taxi into the center of the city after my lesson, get off there, go shopping, and then walk back home.   Or take the bus if it is a really nasty winter day.   At other times, I will walk to the small shopping mall here, in Midori ga Oka, do some shopping, and then hail a taxi on the street, for the return journey to my home."    She listened very carefully and then said;  "That is fine, but please tell me in advance, when you will be taking another route, that is not a straight route from your house to our school."    I said;  "Thank you for telling me this.   As a matter of fact, again today, I will be stopping by at the Asahikawa Chamber of Commerce  旭川商工会議所 to pay my registration fees for the Master of Hokkaido Tourism review seminar, and also the actual test fee.   Today's taxi ticket will be about twice the price of my usual route back home."    She replied;   "I understand, thank you for telling me."    End of story.      I was not at all offended by her request, because I know that all government agencies, are doing their best to fight against fraud 詐欺.   Almost daily on TBS JNN News Bird, channel A258 on SkyPerfecTV, I see news broadcasts about greedy slimy humanoids, that think because of their illusionary high status in "society", they can take a little extra money for themselves, on top of their already overblown  salary and bonuses.   Phuck them.  Put 'em all out on the street.    If the school tells me that I can only use my taxi tickets for direct round trips between the school and my house, that's fine with me.   If I need to go somewhere else that day, I'll walk, take a bus, or drive my own NOAH van.   I have options.   I don't look at nickels and dimes, I look at the BIG PICTURE.   The ENERGY that we all call MONEY, is LIMITLESS.   All you have to do, is look inside of YOURSELF and see how you can be of service to your fellow humanoids.    When you make that connection, the money flows your way.       Prepaid.        PAY IT FORWARD.       Delivery on your Promise.    EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM.    That's how a person can develop trust among their associates and friends and family.   We are all connected.  If you hurt other people, you also hurt yourself.  IT can't be avoided, or lied to.  The truth is the truth, and correct knowledge and application of THE TRUTH,  will give you wings to FLY.   FREEDOM of movement.  Freedom of THOUGHT.  Come FLY the LOVE filled skies, of Hokkaido.

2007 October 4 Thursday.

Well, it's 100% confirmed.   The new color of my Private Hokkaido will be NAVY GRAY.   Nah, let's use our imaginations and call it Bleached Coral Beach.    I don't like it so much right now, but it will grow on me.   As you can see in the photo above/left, the stuff which I keep on my balcony all year long, has magically reappeared, after spending some time in the reading room, which is straight ahead and to the left.   After I rearrange this stuff, I will be able to freely use this part of my living space again.   The remainder of the scaffolding, will be coming down during the next week.   Then, I will be able to see the view of the Taisetsu Mountains from here as well.    It was a long hot and dark summer this year, from the viewpoint of this window.   The outside of this building looks really nice now, so I guess it was worth the wait.   Only a few days left this year, during which it will be warm enough to comfortably sit outside and cook some food.    It's better late than never.

2007 October 3 Wednesday.

They still haven't moved my stuff back onto it's rightful territory upon the big patio.   A somewhat hopeful sign, that NAVY GRAY will not be the final color of my sun deck in Private Hokkaido.   There is still hope that another coating of green goo, will restore my favorite home, just outside of my home, back to the big green outdoor garden party,  that it used to be.    However, my hopes were deeply shattered at about 15:00, when I saw workmen, putting the AC units back into their original deck holes, and another crew of guys, began putting the final touches on the bricks and the steel railings.   Not a good sign that they will put another coat of green paint down on the deck.  In fact, it is 99% certain, that they won't.   Every meaningful project, has certain steps that follow each other, in a certain order.   There is NO WAY that my sun deck, will be anything but gray, as of today.   And for many years to come.   It will be interesting to see, how long it will stay looking like a white sandy beach, without the beach tar.   Light colors show dirt more easily than dark colors do.     Need I say more?      Maybe. 

2007 October 2 Tuesday.

Starting at about 8:30 this morning, the wretched smell of paint thinner began seeping into my living space.   Yuck!   I really dislike that smell.    As you well know, the outside surfaces of this building, have been undergoing a complete cleaning and repainting.    The operation is almost finished, but they still have a bit of work to do before they can remove all of the scaffolding 足場.    This was the third time in less than six days, when I had to put up with the obnoxious odor of these solvent based paints and coatings.   The first time this happened on my veranda was last Saturday afternoon.   During that morning, the crew did a complete hose down of not just the deck, but all of the bricks as well.   Then, in the late afternoon, after it was all dried out, they put down a clear coat of solvent based sealant over the entire deck.   As the horrid stink from this liquid goo, began to seep into my classroom, I got packed up and headed towards the out of doors, for a long walk.    Even after I retuned home at about 21:00, the smell was still very strong.   Gaaaw  Awful.      Then again, on Monday morning, they laid down a second coat of goo.  This time, it was the BLUE DEATH which I have seen before when I was at the U.S. Coast Guard Motor Life Boat Station in Umpqua River Oregon.   Our job for that day, was to paint this sky blue colored preservative, on certain areas of our 44 foot Motor Life Boats.   After about 5 minutes of work, I leaned over the rail and vomited into Winchester Bay.    I had to say, "Hey guys, I just lost my lunch.   I gotta get out of this place.  See ya all later."    Then again, this morning, they put on the gray colored paint that you can see in the photo above/left.    I had to go to Asahikawa University today, so I made another quick exit from my classroom, and hit the road by about 10:00.     When I returned home at around 13:00, the smell was still in the air.   No big surprise there.   Even with all of the windows completely closed, the smell was overwhelming.    Even so, I hope this is not the final color of my new balcony.  Before, it used to be a deep green color.   Very relaxing.   This new gray color reminds me of a navy ship, and it will show dirt easily.   Look at the photo again.   Can you see the three dark spots on the deck?   That is crow poop.   Pretty obvious, isn't it.   PLEASE MAKE IT GREEN again!   I think I can put up with just one more round of toxic odor for a day.   I want my private Hokkaido back.

2007 October 1 Monday.

My first gig of the day started off at 10:00 at the Chestnut Tree Kindergarten くりの木幼稚園.   Today, I brought my acoustic guitar along with me, for the first time in a long time.   I played a bunch of sing-along-songs for the kids today.   Some of them are very well known children's songs, and some are ones that I just made up by myself.   You have to keep it simple so that the kids can follow along.  Nowadays, I almost never play the acoustic 6 string guitar, except when I go to the kindergartens.   I am spending all of my music time, playing the electric bass guitar these days.   The low mellow tones it makes, resonate deeply within my soul.   It's like a four string ticket to paradise.   After my gig at the kindergarten was finished at about 11:00, I drove back home slowly, through the beautiful Indian Summer Day 小春日和.   After that, it was straight classes at my place from 15:00 until 20:00.   Then, it was back to practicing the major scales, backwards and forwards through all 12 keys, using the Circle of Fourths.   This exercise really gives me a much better insight as to how everything on the fingerboard is seamlessly connected.  The more I practice it, the easier it becomes.   Someday, I will be able to play on full autopilot.   The photo in today's blog is one that I took on September 16, while the wife and I were walking along the banks of the Chubetsu River.   It is a photo of a very young Great Blue Heron, looking for his/her dinner in the shallows along the river bank.   The only reason I put this photo in today's blog, is because it is the best photo I have ever taken of a Great Blue Heron.   If this had been an adult bird, it would have jumped up an flown away, before I could have gotten off even one snapshot.   This very young and inexperienced bird, didn't even seem to notice us at all.   The camera I used for this photo is a 4.0 mega pixel with a 3 times optical zoom lens.  Obviously, not powerful enough for the serious wildlife photographer.

Coming from that direction was a commercial jetliner having just taken off from the Ashikawa International Airport, about 30 kilometers away.   As the airplane came towards us, and as we were walking towards it, the airplane appeared dark and non-reflective, more of a silhouette than a colorful flying machine.   I watched it as it turned to the southwest and continued its ascent.   As it did so, it caught the full force of the sunlight on its starboard side, and appeared to be a brightly shimmering ball of intense white light.   Just behind us, on little bicycles, were a group of three elementary school girls.   They noticed that I was gazing skyward and they began to do the same.   Then, one of them exclaimed;  "Look!   A UFO!   It's so beautiful!"   The two other girls chimed in, and they all became very excited.  As they slowly rode past Ikuko and I, they asked me if I could see the UFO.   I said,   "Yes, I can see it, but this one, is one of ours.   It is a passenger jet liner heading southwest and reflecting the light of the sun as a big mirror.   I know this for sure because I have been tracking this plane ever since it first appeared on the eastern horizon."   They seemed to be satisfied with my explanation, but deep down inside, they really wanted to believe it was a UFO.    They should come back out here again at night.   Then, they will be able to see the real thing.

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