My Apartment building

A Good Political Chat with my Dad

what is it about?

You Don't Like Carrie???

This coming Tuesday is Election Day in the US. I have already sent off my ballot to be counted via absentee ballot.
SO THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT VOTING PEOPLE!!
One thing that I miss about my random visits home is a good political chat. My dad and I have agreed until recently on many political stances, but we have always been capable of finding some point to debate. And he knows I am right. So below is a chat we had online (and we had a phone conversation not too long ago too) about politics. You must read the following with a light heart, and know this is a conversation between a dad who helped mold this girl and who helped pay for the education that allows his daughter to think in this manner.

It was preceded by a great incident between my sister, Sara, and dad at dinner in STL recently that she shared with me. My dad was in town visiting sara and they were out to dinner. -------->

Sara: blahblahblah regular conversation then.....
Dad: Do you want to know why I don't like Carrie?
Sara: what?!!!??
Dad: Do you want to know why I don't like Carrie?
Sara (thinking to herself, do you not like me too?): Ummm...Sure.
Dad: Because I think he is to wishywashy.
Sara: OH!!! KERRY! OK! KERRY!

So to all those who may not like Kerry, it is ok, and to all those who may not like Carrie, well that is ok too. Everyone is entitled to your own opinion.......Just formulate your opinion wisely.

is it about marketing?

is it about fashion?

Dad and Carrie Go Head-to-Head

Dad: Hi
Carrie: hi
Carrie: working on my lesson plans for next week
Carrie: any ideas?
Dad: How are you doing? The U.S election?
Carrie: that is good
Carrie: very in depth though
Dad: be balanced!
Carrie: maybe for san nensei
Carrie: 3rd grade
Carrie: i am always balanced
Carrie: i just always have an opinion
Dad: No left-wing propoganda:-\
Carrie: that i think is right
Dad: Opinions are OK
Carrie: left wing is not propoganda
Carrie: it is real
Dad: I'm glad your'e on the "right"
Dad: Just kidding
Carrie: conservatism is propoganda- ignoring the fact that there are others in the world who do not have the same opportunity ; and full of populist propoganda
Carrie: just made myself a horrible cup of coffee
Carrie: i really don't like instant coffee
Dad: No conservatism is realizing that you need to help people help themselves and become self-sufficent.
Carrie: i think i will buy a coffee press and use it here at school for some proper coffee
Dad: I've never liked instant coffee
Carrie: help themselves by keeping opportunity from them?
Carrie: or at least difficult to achieve?
Dad: No teaching them and setting reasonable expectations.
Dad: Kind of like I raised you.
Dad: You know "do the right thing."
Carrie: teaching them how- by beating them and telling them to get back up?
Dad: Sure
Carrie: yes and the man you are voting for does not do the right thing
Carrie: that isn't right
Dad: You know thta's not what I mean.
Carrie: you should reach out and help people- it is possible
Carrie: without getting walked over
Carrie: do you respect a bully more than someone with a firm voice and open heart?
Dad: Anyway, just teach tem about how the two party system works in the U.S. We're still the country where everyone wants to come to live
Dad: depend on weather there's any substance behind the "kind" voice and "open" heart (whatever that is)
Carrie: the system isn't actually a 2 party system- but the two parties are the only ones who get anything because they have the money, and are we the country everyone wants to live in? I beg to question..
Dad: Correcto
Carrie: whether
Dad: It still works. do you think Geroge Washington was in poverty?
Carrie: no, but I do think it is wrong to not at least have people in the system who do not represent this voice
Carrie: and I think George Bush lacks substance- I would love to BBq with the guy- but as far as letting him run my company- no chance- sorry
Carrie: i don't think he is real
Carrie: i think he is a puppet who doesn't know what comes out of his mouth
Dad: Everyone in this country has the opportunity to succeed. Black, yellow, green, purple if they work hard, get and education (which is free) Look at Nanny-Mum, etc. We didn't have extra money. it's the people who have the opportunity and don't do anything with it that need a quick kick in the pants. Tehre's no excuse for dropping out of schools, etc.
Carrie: and what is this stuff about us losing weapons- please!
Carrie: I'm not saying there is
Dad: Didn't you ever loose anything? :-D
Carrie: but not everyone has the opportunity yet
Carrie: and we are taking money from this opportunity to give it to things like weapons that we lose in terrorist filled country
Carrie: that we were advised by UN and others to watch more cloesely
Carrie: and now countries like UK, Japan, NZ, Australia, and even US are losing civilian casualties in a war that was said to be over a year ago
Dad: What's the big deal about a few missing bombs, erc. Seriously, do you think any president can control that kind of thing. that's a mess up by the military if it really did happen. they're not sure./ the press has too much air-time and space to fill with "new." If we had had this kind of coverage in wwII, the Civil wAr, etc. it would have seemeed much worse.
Carrie: you know if the REpublican platform went back to the days of FDR and even Teddy Roosevelt and started concentrating more on domestic issues I would be impressed. the republican party reminds me of Wes
Dad: No war in history has really been over that quickly. We're still dealing with the aftermath of the civil war in some ways, even though it was necesaary and mad our country a better place. There were 7000 soldiers kille in less than two hours at Shiloh. Doesn't make killing any better I know.
Dad: You're right on that. I love wes.
Carrie: i love Wes too
Carrie: and I don't know his political stance- but he is strongheaded and unwilling to listen or accept anything other than what HE THINKS to be true..
Carrie: and just because we can kill more exact doesn't make this anybetter
Dad: Hey, I've missed having you around to argue with. This is just like our old chats with you draping your legs over my green chair upside down. >:o
Carrie: it just means that there are more opportunities for us to use expensive bombs to ruin a country that is only going to be rebuilt by a company our VP gets income from
Carrie: I don't understand why you like this guy!?
Carrie: It is not like he has given YOU sole rights to the airfilter business in the Middle East
Dad: Anyway, at your age I would have been making the same arguments you're making. Remember this 30 years from now when you're old grey and a Republican voting for W the III.
Carrie: you should talk to your parents and ask them why in their 80 years of wisdom they disagree with you
Carrie: old and grey
Carrie: smarter and wiser (thank goodness there is no W the III)
Dad: Nanny agrees with me. Mum doesn't like Bush and likes clinto fro some reason.
Dad: clinton
Carrie: i think it has to do with not just what you listen to
Carrie: but what you hear
Carrie: I like Clinton.
Dad: by the way, who did you vote for?
Carrie: and everyone hears different things- but due to this day in age you can hear and see things all around
Dad: :-D:-D:-D
Dad: Like my false teeth?
Dad: Ican't hear well either you know.
Carrie: and I think it is important to recognize the difference between why certain things are on mainstream news and why certain things are covered up
Dad: I give!!!!
Carrie: ok- you know I am right
Dad: Just don't editorialize too much with your kids.
Carrie: so Tuesday you should vote in an effort to help your kids
Carrie: and maybe in an effort to help your grandkids (some day)
Carrie: give them the opportunity to be educated, hold jobs, see nature
Dad: I am. Paying less taxes helps my kids. the student loan interest rates are the lowest in history.
Carrie: give me the opportunity to recieve my SS which I have already given into for 11 years in my short life here on Earth
Dad: anyway I got the exldusive air filkter contract for Iraq
Carrie: remember, "the economy" you said "is not directly related to GW being in office"
Dad: don't be;lieve everything I say
Carrie: loans- interest rates- and mortgages would still be in the same place no matter what happened
Carrie: because those are all controlled by the economy, right dad?
Dad: The congress voted the new lower rates to stimulate education.
Carrie: I know that what is controlled by presidents are things that are affecting me personally
Carrie: that would have happened either way- and that effort was a joint party effort- started by ahem- not the republicans
Dad: the student loan rates are not. it was part of bush's educational initiative. He believe the way to build more jobs is through better education. 95% of the small business owners, 85% of physicians and 1% of trial lawyers are for bush.
Carrie: jobs- there aren't any and there is no stimulation to create any with this regime
Dad: We have 7 new jobs created at AllegyZone
Dad: and our practice continues to grow
Carrie: ecology
Dad: huh?
Carrie: the environment- there is going to be nothing left of our country
Carrie: we are drilling in Alaska
Carrie: we are logging WA and everywhere else there is a forest!
Dad: On ot a new topic?
Carrie: it is jsut a topic that this regime seems to love to ignore
Dad: Anyway, enough political argument. I'm glad I changed your mind.
Carrie: but loves to take to even a more "crucial desperate need immdiate attention" point
Carrie: you will never change my min
Carrie: d
Carrie: I am living amongst the world
Carrie: and I hear what people have to say
Dad: at least I changed your d
Carrie: I hear peoples perceptions of us as a country
Carrie: and I am disgusted
Carrie: and not everyone I talk to are liberals
Carrie: and not everyone I talk to are conservatives
Dad: Well, keep it all in perspective. it's much easier to be critical of anything than to look for the positive.
Dad: No matter which side you're on politically
Carrie: but one thing that everyone I talk to agree on..is why we being such a strong country and full of so many resources fail to use these resources and fail to have strong leaders in office
Carrie: leaders who aren't like frat boy rush presidents
Carrie: leaders who don't care how fast they can run or how well they can snowboard
Carrie: leaders who can argue issues, compare politics, listen to both sides, and not turn a blind eye
Carrie: and I have nothing to tell them
Carrie: but I do agree with them, it is time to give some one else a shot
Dad: And many of them would love to come and live here. we are free and can argue liekt hsi without worring about lossig our heads. And we still survive, even with Clinton, bush, etc. that's what makes us great.
Carrie: It sucks when people tell you flat out they are scared of your country, and really scared when they think that man could have another 4 years to run it.
Carrie: will we survive dad?
Carrie: We have never had such a threat against us
Dad: No one man can change the overall direction of our country. and when something like 9/11 happens we're all united.
Carrie: well we have had the threat
Carrie: are we united?
Carrie: people can throw that patriotic BS down your throat
Carrie: but to me it is like all these devout Catholics I know who don't even know what they are reciting at mass, or what it means to really have faith
Dad: It's kind of like you, wes and Sara arguing. You might fight among yourselves, but when it comes down to the bottom line you would battle for each other.
Carrie: I wouldn;t
Carrie: if wes or sara was beating on some guy for looking at him the wrong way I wouldn't step in
Carrie: but they wouldn't do that
Carrie: you know who would
Dad: right
Carrie: hmmm...BUSH!
Dad: that's where we see things differetnly
Carrie: he is like that drunk guy at the bar you just really wish would leave
Carrie: or hey- ok enough of me calling the cleaned up bush a drunk
Dad: well we'll see what happens on tuesday.
Carrie: he is like that punk at a ballgame who just can't stand to see his team lose so talks a lot of sh..
Carrie: you know what
Dad: I've got to get up early in the AM, so I'm going to 'give" again.
Carrie: I don't think what happens on Tuesday will really matter
Dad: Let's just pray that whoever winns that ouyr country remains safe.
Carrie: How un-party oriented- you "GIVE?" succumbing to the enemy?
Carrie: Because it is those people who only get to see the conventions and those who have free time on their hands or control their businesses enough who actually make it to the polls.
Carrie: i jsut hope that whoever wins doesn't start something with North Korea
Carrie: Because with that accuracy of our smart bombs- I wouldn't want to be blown up
Carrie: goodnight dad
Carrie: sweet dreams
Dad: Everyone has the opportunity to vote. There's actually increased registration. Again, it takes getting out of bed early before work, etc.
Carrie: true
Carrie: but not everyone is educated to know how really important it is to vote
Dad: Hey I love you little rebel
Carrie: hardly a rebel
Carrie: I just keep it real dad
Carrie: I am going to post this on my blog.
Dad: Ok Ms Real. I love you. Wehat on your Blog?
Carrie: this im
Dad: My mispelled words?
Carrie: yep mine too- when we type fast it happens
Carrie: see there you go again mr now a republican
Carrie: can't let anyone see any of your mistakes huh
Carrie: power to the people!
Carrie: ha!
Carrie: goodnight dad
Carrie: love you
Dad: :-[:-X
Carrie: I have to go practice an earthquake drill
Dad: Love you too. Goodnight. be careful.
Carrie: always- I am careful with everything- that is why no one worries about me, it's not lack of love- it is because you all know I am SMART AND KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE WORLD
Carrie: so therefore I have a better say on who to vote for
Carrie: that is logic
Carrie: did you take philosophy
Carrie: ?
Carrie: tried, tested and true stuff...
Carrie: if only people used more logic
Carrie: :-)
Dad: That I agee on. Good night.
Carrie: for real though- goodnight and have a good weekend
Dad: I go to beautiful south Dakota tomorrow
Carrie: enjoy the beauty
Dad: for one night to give a talk.
Carrie: it might not be around in another 4 years if we reelect some puppet
Dad: night.
Carrie: nite

is it about strength?

You can disagree with me, but really, a CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT! There is no need to amend the constitution that discriminates!

I voted by Absentee Ballot, if you are in the States you better be making it to the polls!

Here are your options for US president..

Is this for Real...what the bambino?

Ok, so this is really getting to me, are the Cards going to get swept? What is the reaction in STL? Holy Motha! I came back from class and it is the top of the forth and the game stands 3-0 Sox. BLEH.

Cardinals and Sox Series

Well I haven't talked baseball in a while. Mainly because it has been such a traumatic weekend. And I am not talking about the earthquake... My Redbirds are down three games now.... one lost at home in a blood red Busch Stadium. Game Four is underway right now...just 25 minutes into it to be exact...and a homer has already been hit off Marquis. We are going to have to go to a Game Seven to win the Series obviously... WE CANNOT BE SWEPT!!! that would be ridiculous to say the least... I will update later- got to go teach a smiling lot of scared kids some English...this weeks lesson is Halloween and then we are playing a baseball game for the celebration of the Series. I mean come on now you got a bunch of Japanese kids here singing take me out to the ballgame Root Root Root for the Cardonells. hear thier little calls...

Earthquake In Niigata

The Shinkansen derailed, now travel is difficult in Niigata

I was still moving- but this is the inside of Jusco, where I was during the Earthquake

Map of Niigata- I live near Joetsu, the Earthquake happened in Ojiya

Rockin' It Out in Niigata

Daijobu desu. (I am ok) I was in an earthquake around 6:00 last night (Sat). Actually, I was in three. I am ok. The worst thing about the quakes are actually the aftershocks. Unlike a tornado, you just never know how strong it is going to be, or how long it is going to last. So just a few days after one of the worst typhoons in japan, we get an earthquake. Happy natural disaster week, Carrie, another typhoon is already on it's way..so here are the details for your inquiring minds....

I was shopping at a department store when it happened . It started as a slight shake- and you initialy are like, did anyone else feel that- you look around and then boom- you are rockin! Everyone kind of did sometihing different when it happened. When it began I looked around and everyone else was looking around and then you choose what to do, as what would be the safest. I made sure I wasn't directly under a light, and then I ducked and protecteed my head and neck. Mothers dove over thier kids. There were some people bracing themselves against racks of items. No one really moved during the big shake. I was among racks and just prayed they wouldn't fall over. No racks near me fell, but things did fall off shelves and off the racks. People were runnning around screaming and looking for their children (I was near the toy section) and kids were running around looking for their parents. After the major tremble, yet everything is still moving, they started to direct everyone out of the store. I walked by the electronic section as I was leaving and there was a large group of people gathered, watching the news. The report- and this is while the quake is happening- was saying that Nagano, the next prefecture over is where it started. I was thinking- God, if it was that strong here, I don't even know how Nagano would be (I found out later that the epicenter of this one was in Ojiya . I just prayed that everyone I knew was ok. There were several more tremors- and I went outside with everyone else- we were all in panic, but it was like a what is going to happen next panic. My ketai wasn't working, I couldn't call anyone, and I was getting ready to head to pick up Karmen from the massage parlor right when it happened. (Up until this point our day had been about relaxation and pampering)

Karmen got through to me though and I cautiously headed over there....I headed over there- and when I was in the car there was a pretty steady aftershock. I had to cross a bridge to get where I was going- so I waited until everyone was off the bridge- some people stopped on it- there was no way in hell I was going to park up over this bridge because right now our rivers are flowin rapid due to the typhoon on Friday- which flooded the streets the day before- so after everyone cleared the bridge I gunned it up to about 115 km an hour and sped on over the bridge- the kid in the car behind me did the same thing.. so then I got to the massage parlor, and IahSan, our masseuse and friend, and Karmen were there with a couple of other ladies who had made refuge in there. They had laid the mirrors and drawers on the floor and were cleaning up some spilt tea. Everyone was a little shaken up though. It has been 36 years since a quake of this size has hit this area.

I had plans to go out at 6:30 and it was already 6:25 so I thought I would stop by tiff's house and just hang with her until it we were ready to hit the town. And Tiff lived right around the corner on the honcho, (the big street in Takada). I went upstairs to see if Tiff was home and she was, so I went back down to tell Karmen I was sticking around here. As we were talking, a shake began, and Karmen got out of the car. We were on the Honcho, and all around us were large concrete cylinders, store signs, big buildings, and glass storefronts. We weren't really sure where to go at this point. So we ran to and throw- I mean this all happens so fast- but then it really started to shake. (This was quake 2) Karmen had grabbed ahold of me at some point, and I dragged her to a doorway that appeared to have steel around it, and we crouched in this small area watching everyone else that was on the city streets start to do the same. I am not saying I wasn't scared- but it is much easier to not think about the fear you know. Karmen was really shaken up, I made Karmen laugh by reminding here that the honcho is covered with livecircuit video cameras. So we were probably on the news- two white gaigin running around looking in the air trying to figure out where the hell to go. To be honest the site of all this reminded me of the classic film, Godzilla. Everyone running in every direction, everyone japanese, and everyone looking up, ducking and covering. Actually maybe more like Mothra- but you get the picture. (this is the tokamachi quake)

Karmen was really against the idea that I stay in Takada, so I told her I would return with her, but I had to go and tell Tiffany, so I ran back up stairs encountering many people running out of her building at the same time. As I was running up, the fire alarm started to sound, and steel doors had swung shut due to the quake- there was no fire, but alarms were going off all over the city. (you see Tiff lives on the fourth floor and there was no way I would take an elevator at this point) I ran to Tif's apartment and she ws now in the floor cleaning up glass and spilt water. And through vulgarity, we were both wondering when all this was going to stop? So I told Tif I would come back to town later- we both agreed we needed nama biru (a beer). i drove Karmen home, and we went and checked to make sure our gas lines were off, called family (yes I had the audacity to call at 5:00 am to make sure no one freaked out if they saw news- but even with this precaution, I still recieved calls everyfew hours making sure I was ok, I guess the news drizzled in slowly to the US) and then headed to the Board of Education in order to ease the mind of our supervisor who had called us immediately after it happened making sure we were ok.

We hit 7-11 for ban-gohan (dinner) on the way to the BOE. The shelves were practically bare- the place had been cleaned out. So we grabbed some onigiri and sandwiches and headed to the office. The BOE was bustling= everyone reporting to duty and hanging out waiting for word that everything was ok. TojoSan- this old guy who loves Karmen and I visiting lightened everything up with a joke- I was actually in quite high spirits but Karmen worries quite a bit- about everything,,, but he told me (in japanese) that there are three things you need to be afraid of in Japan. 1. Earthquakes- because they are strong and you never know when they will hit. 2. Fires- because a lot of things in Japan are made of wood 3. Typhoons- because they will sweep you away and 4. Old Men- (no explanation needed). We fed the BOE some candy- made thier days with our smiles and then YamamotoSan came back- he had been out scouring the schools making sure everything is intact. And of course they were. He then told us about how he was in an onsen when it happened, and a big wave came and splashed everyone. I could only imagine being in an onsen a bunch of naked people running around and the waves splashing. ha! at least I got a good laugh out of that... So YamamotoSan took us home and we all made sure that our gas was working and we had hot water and stuff.

Then I went out. Karmen was really against the idea of me going out. But you know what am I going to do, sit around my apartment by myself waiting for the next shake. I like being around people too much. It was Saturday night and I wanted to get my drink on (as planned). So I went up to Memory for some live music. Got to see this guy play some Japanese punk to a drum track... yep only partially live (I had missed the band due to my delay) Some of my friends and neighbors (of the surrounding area Joetsu) all slowly got together here and we laughed about the quake- kompaied to the day and downed our Asahi. After the live music was done and we pulled Liz from her 18 year old endeavor (he was hot I will give her that) We went down to our watering hole, PTAs, where the drinks are strong (well if Master likes you) and drank for the remainder of the night. Those who weren't at Memory were here at PTA (well those social ones) So we karaoked- actually I never did, and we laughed and had a good time and partied until about 4. Good times- Happy earthquake day! While at PTAs I was chatting with hmmm...I forgot his name, typical of me,....but everytime the earth shook, which was several times...We drank. It is funny when you can barely communicate, but you can sit and share drinks for hours. Lots of laughter. And I finally this week learned how to say, I don't understand...I know, It probably should have been the first thing I learned. But even knowing it, no once listens if they want to chat- they want to chat...

I woke up on Sunday to another shake, (and they are still occurring even up until today and today is Tuesday) and then I went back to bed. I had people coming over we were all going to make washi in Nagano. Washi is handmade paper. So a group of ALTs from throughout the area assembled at my house and we waited for GotoSan and Ms. GotoSan and Chieko to come over and get us for our road trip through the mountains to Nagano. Sunday was beautiful, we couldn't have asked for better weather.

While waiting for the coffeeclub gang we all exchanged funny stories about what would happen if the earthquake had occurred at school. This led to conversations about what who had practiced any emergency drills at school. (we have not practiced any, but I hear they pretty much entail everyone running to the nearest exit screaming and flailing their hands in the air. )

Dave shared the Myokokogen practice that Dave B had to videotape for his school. This was intruder practice. During intruder practice in Myoko a teacher randomly enters classrooms dressed in a mask and waving a knife (in this case it was a real knife- another school had a fake cardboard knife) and then they all watch the videotape and see what could have been done better. Supposedly this drill led to crying children and teachers throwing chairs across the room at the intruder and a lot of screaming.

Maria by far had the best story. Last week her school had a fire drill. When she asked what she should do they told her to stay in the teachers room. Then they pulled the alarm. All the children and staff exited the building, except Maria because they told her not to. and then the students noticed her and they all started to scream in agony at teh window- MariaSensai! MariaSensai! and waving for her to come out! Maria waved back and blew kisses but she had to stay there because the principal told her. She said some children paniced and ran around looking for the teachers to tell them that they thought Maria was going to burn to death. Poor things.

So we all hopped in the car and drove among beautiful fall leaves to Nagano. It was a coffee club meeting that I invited a bunch of other English teachers along for because they all expressed interest,. but it was great. We went to this house in this small town in Nagano to make homemade paper. Some people made fans, some people made clocks, one person made paper, one person made postcards...Karmen and I both made a lamp. It was awesome. I got crafty and went outside and picked flowers to put on my lamp so it glows beautifully in my aparto. (*apartment) After we made our items we all loaded up and GotoSan took us up to this amazing onsen. The best one I have been to so far- all outside no indoor showers- totomo kickass. (totomo means totally). We all bathed and some old lady was chatty with me, no matter how often I told her I didn;t understand.. But it was nice to bathe and watch the steam rise up into the sky the bright moon and stars lighting the mountainous skyline and the little village lights glowing in the town below. Ahhh.

(Only to go back to my place for more sleep intermitted with small tremors,) As far as this earthquake stuff is all concerned, they expect there to be more- but I think that is what these small rattles are all of. It is highly uncommon for there to be so many quakes at that high of a rating so close together, there is also this great theory of that volcano that I had gone and seen that is spewing ash, Asama, that these quakes may trigger Asama to erupt, and then if Asama erupts she will trigger more quakes. Crazy shit, huh. I will keep you posted. I would say that the worst part of this experience is that you never know how big these slight shakes will be- so everytime you find yourself looking around to see if it is escalating- and bracing yourself. I even flew under a piece of furnture the other day- that was the forth one. Oh and the epicenters so far have been Ojiya which is about 40 miles from me and Tokamachi which is about 30 miles- a lot of my friends live in these parts and some have spent some time in shelters- many of them are without gas and power and water- but we have all come together offering places to stay and checking up on one another. So if you have any questions feel free to ask me! Go CARDS! (both STL and the ville)

Earthquake damage in Ojiya

Map of the Earthquake

Cards win the NLCS

REDBIRD ZEN!!

The Cards are going to the WORLD SERIES!!! I tell you this is exactly like the Rams iin 2000, once I am out of the country, we are guaranteed postseason wins!!

Ichi nensei- yon kumi (class 1-4) performing at the music festival

Pujols for the Out!

There Will Be a Game Seven

Well, gotta love Jimmy, he homered and Pujols (who was walked) scored..so he we come game seven...then here we come World Series!! (Oh and the RedSox also pulled in for a game seven against the Yankees)

Watching For a Game Seven

it is weird for me to watch these baseball games first thing in the morning here in japan. Today is game six in the NLCS after the Cards allowed the astros to gain a lead over them in Houston! So I came to work today expecting the game to be over and to know that there would be a game seven...but to my dismay the game was in it's tenth inning...the Astros had tied it up in the ninth. KyotoSensei, our viceprincipal, sits right next to me, and due to me teaching baseball this week, everyone is asking me about the games. Yesterday he told me that in Japan they call this type of game a Sayonara game.....it better not be...I just checked the Gameday Live again and now Taguchi is up to bat....maybe this is a sign...went to check and now i am back in the top of the 11th....i just watched that...so i guess i will find out what is going on in a little bit....well I missed the inning..now i am in the top of the twelth all of a sudden..taguchi struck out swinging, anderson had a pop up fly out to left field for the out, and walker struck out swinging... I need to go make copies....come on game 7!!

Edmonds Makes a Great Catch

What is happening in Houston?

I do not get this..in a matter of three games...what is going on?!! WHY?! we are going damn it.. tommorrow the cards are back in the STL and they better play some ball....bring out our best.....

Teachin' How to Keep it Real

So as a warm-up excercise I am teaching the kids SLANG. The first week, I taught the kids what "What's Happenin'" means, and last week I taught them "'Sup". It is hysterically funny and basically gives all the students an opportunity to laugh at me for about five minutes before class begins. Because of the challenge for them to say what's up in a matter that they can sound cool...I abbreviated it down to 'Sup. I told them it had to be said fast and in passing...and that men have to use a low voice when saying it...So now I have all these little 12-14 year old kids passing me in the hallway going 'Sup.
This weeks SLANG is "I'm Down!" For those who may not know..."I'm down" is used to say that "I am willing to participate in that activity...or please include me in the plans..." The best part about teaching the kids slang is that the teachers learn the slang also. KodomaSensei was having a helluva time trying to figure out why "I'm down" means what it does.. I believe I would be a great slang etymoligist because so far I have come up with explanations for the etymology of them all! I'm down... a deriviate of the invitation/RSVP list...hmm..makes sense right...write me down on the list please I want to be included....I'm Down!

Karmen dances with a PTA member

We had an enkai with the parents of the first year students, and Karmen and I sang Karaoke with them!

The mountain in the background is the Great MyokoSan

go team go!

Karmen and TakasawaSensei

Getting the balloon back into line

There goes a balloon flying away!

You blow up a balloon and then you hit it up into the air and take it to the end of your line. The greatest part was, it was a windy day.

Playing a Silly Game

Ichinensei Sports Day

Cards win game 2!

In the comfort of Busch Stadium, the Cards came back to win game 2 of the NLCS. Thanks to Izzy for being the closer and Pujols and Rolen getting those homers.

gotta love that

i am heading to eat lunch and pujols and rolen just got homeruns- so now we are up by two going into the top on the 9th!!!

tied it up in the 7th

The Astros have now tied it up in the 7th

That's what I'm talking about

So finally we got four runs in the bottom of the fifth, so now STL leads by 1.

What??!!

I just came back from getting a cup of cofee and now we trail by 3? Where are our hits?

I hate the refresh button!

I refresh only to find out that the Astros have hit another homer against Morris...bleh!

Cards at it Again in Game 2

So the Cardinals are playing again...and they had a rain delay so I haven't missed to much of the game. Do you know how wierd it is to watch a game with a fake picture of a generic batter, but at least you can see the where the balls got pitched..and it is only an inning behind- so sometimes I know what is happening before it happens...but right now the Cards trail by one to the Astros- it is still early only in the third inning and I know my boys are only warming up, better go hit the refresh button!

Card Win Game 1

So the Cards have one Game one of the NLCS. I have put out a message to folks in my area hoping to find a place to watch game 3 on Sunday- game two I will keep updated on the net tommorrow while at work.

It wasn't a hit..

Edmonds didn't get a base hit he was hit by pitch.

Keeping up with My Cards

So I am at work and the Cardinals are playing game one of the league championship, when I went to class it was the bottom of the first and the cards were losing 2 to nothing..when I got back it was the bottom of the third and the cards had tied it up. now when i just checked the astros have had two more runs making the score now 4 to 2 astros in the bottom of the 4th with 1 out.; Aggh it is killing me that i can't be watching this game!! You know what is even worse is that the last series the only game I got to see in completion was the Lima game- oh was I screaming at the tv, I think Karmen thinks I was crazy...And in the Red Sox game the Yankees are winning...bleh. Just thought I would express how disturbing it is to me on how I cannot watch any of the games... I am going to go watch and update my box score (I can't watch it live because of a firewall) Edmonds is up to bat with 2-1 and 1 out...later..oh edmonds got a base hit= this gameday live thing isn't too bad. now for real bye- gotta work and watch some baseball!

Americana

Today we had intercultural day here at Arai JHS. It is interesting to me to have to teach about American culture. Funny, but I have a really hard time doing this...I mean really I have never been able to answer the question as to "What is America" but I gave it my best shot.
After a morning of pure stress, in which began last night when my computer died on me because I left the cord at school and I had nada prepared for the day. So I, carrie the really truly non-morning person- got up at 5:45 and was at school by 6:30 so I could work on my powerpoing presentation and finish it...and then go back to get Karmen at 7:30 for school. BUT the school doesn't open until 7:30...shougunai!.....I completed my powerpoint and it looked really good...complete with the classic Vashon influenced version of the Star Spangled Banner sung by her majesty herself Whitney Houston.
So I go to give my hour long speech, and low and behold the projector won't work with my computer... so now I am stuck winging it.

I have one piece of advice when you are as skilled as me when it comes to drawing on the board. Be careful on how you draw Europe. This isn't my first offence in this field...but once again I look up at my mass that is representing Europe, Asia, and Africa, and all I see is phallacy. I immediately erased and begged the laughing children to excuse me...yes I teach Junior High...ages 12-15...and I am their daily dose of comedy.

So I wing the speech, of which one child proceeds to ask me questions about the War (WWII), and I try to answer them..then the second class asked no questions and I had all this spare time to waste..what do you do when you have tons of spare time to waste and you don't have anything else prepared..?? You warn the children of how horrible it is going to be...you beg for questions....and then if you still have time...the only thing I could think of was the Hokey Pokey! How awful! Now I have to hokey pokey in front of the class.. I had already listed all the music genres I could think of that you could find at your local music store..I had talked about popular cartoons...now I have to Hokey Pokey because I was too effiecient in my time! I made all the students stand up and in my horrible acapella, I proceeded to sing and dance that horrible dance that is the Hokey Pokey...yes, I'm a fool.

So after bustin it loose...I was thinking...really...what is america? Americana is a culture of some truly messed up individuals....we require a lot of work.....in more ways than I can think.....ain't it great to be crazy?...

Our Parking Spot

My Own Parking Spot

due to the "we can't do anything without getting all up in arms" cultural habit that is inherent in the school I work at, Karmen and I now have our own parking space. After recieving conficting instructions from various people who would like to be our boss, it came to the conclusion that we would require our own space, because that would just be easier I guess. So we were given our space last Wed.

today we notice our car is moved.....here is why...yes not only do we require our own parking space....we require ALT written in large letters filling the space to show us which one is ours. Yes, you gotta love Japan!

karuizawa

by the time we got to the top of the mountain, there was a misty haze over the temple, it was peaceful and gorgeous

statues at the shrine

you could walk from one side of the shrine grounds to the other and be in two prefectures

shrine in Karuazawa

Chillin' Out Relaxing and Actin' All Kewl

This weekend I took a break from tons of fun and knocked it down a notch to just fun. A well needed vacation spent at home in Arai. Thursday we had a regional ALT meeting in which we praised and griped about our situations here. We also took much needed advice from the people who have been here for a while. An example of a big question like this is "Where do you get your hair done?" And the answer is always- i don't have a place/ person yet, because most people are always dissatisfied with the outcome. We also discussed things like where to buy normal peanut butter, coldcuts (I haven't really seen any but maybe they do exist here) and other various items that would make you feel at least a little normal. Another big topic...THE WINTER! and how to survive. Basically it won't be pleasant from the sounds of it- but there will be a lot of hitting the slopes. I still haven't gotten a good answer to the question of why are the houses not insulated? (especially when we live in a place that gets so much snow) I only get the answer "to make us tough!" The key advice on this point (the cold that is) is to invest in things that will keep you warm. I already have a kerosene heater- and a kotatsu (a table you plug in that has a little heater in it and then you sit under it with blankets). The other things you can invest in are heated toilet seats. People are crazy about the things- especially since there is no way to keep your bathroom warm (my bathroom window doesn't even really close- it is just vents (I do not think I will need to get a heated toilet seat though) You can also buy heated rugs- and heated shoes. Luckily I am prepared, I have an electric blanket on the way! I cannot wait. yippyfreakindee.
On that note. The tempature has already dropped a lot. I am going to tough it out as long as I can to not use my heater. Because I know once it starts there will be no way to catch up with my acclimation to this weather. It is so crazy- the weather is drastic! Last week no one wanted to leave the A/C and then this week I am running around with sweaters on. All these typhoons have really cooled down the town.
Well back to what I spend my time doing. Thursday after the meeting we went to an itakaya for beverages and then we went and did karaoke accompanied with more beverages (that is one way to keep warm). So Friday I just took it easy because I had crashed at my friend Tiffany's house in Takada and taken the train home at 6 a.m. and then I went straight to school.
But Saturday felt like my days back at SLU. A group of us met up and tossed the 'bee around. Then we had a game of Ultimate in the pouring rain. I got a couple points but was not as good as I liked. It was tough being all drenched and it made the disc harder to catch. There were a few good sidetackles though (more like slipping and sliding into eachother) but good rough fun nonetheless. After the game Karmen and I cleaned our muddy selves up over at the Joetsu public bath. There was even a collagen tub- the water was red- I don't ask. (well I can't ask even if I wanted to) Then we all went to dinner. Okinomiyaki. It is a bunch of shiz that you mix together and grill like a pancake. The real test is flipping the fish, cabbage, cheese, and mystery filling concocotion. I did ok. Then we looked at the movie theater- seeing that there really were no options (and it costs nearly 18$) we played arcade games, pool, pirikura, and bowling to fill the rest of the evening.
Sunday was the Sabbath. So I rest.