September 22 - September 27, 2017

September 22, 2017

Ugh…I had to go to a clinic today, due to the burning in my throat.  It took me about 2 hours all told to get checked out, get my medicine, and then get home.  I had to skip my editing due to the exhaustion and get a nap.  I think the medicine is helping because as I write this, I feel noticeably less shit.  But still, tired.  Tried liver with my yakiniku as well and while not terrible, it’s not my thing.  I prefer horumon.  Just…so very tired right now, so I want to rest.

September 23, 2017

Pardon my French, but fuck waiting in line.  I…do not get why the Japanese will line up, out the door or up stairs, for a hamburger at Mcdonalds or for $1 sushi…the lines are just…well, let me put it this way.  If you want lunch at any time from 11:30-1:00, screw you.  You are going to be in lunchtime rush hour hell and it’s…in China of all places, I could always find a seat or whatever when meal time rolled around, but here…there just aren’t any.  You could build another 2-3 Mcdonalds or whatever and it still wouldn’t be enough to fill to capacity.

Today, the waiting and other things have made me feel very old.  The goal was to take it easy, but I still went out for a bit.  The second hand shop I knew is gone.  Bulldozed to the ground.  Fantastic…sigh…I’m tired.  I went to a nerd shop where they sell games, figurines, claw catchers, etc. and I just…couldn’t get up any enthusiasm for it.  Even around my beloved Gundam models, I just felt…what’s the point?  And I feel that way a lot now.  Fatigue, maybe, but I am so much more jaded and disillusioned compared to when I was here in college.  The pizzeria, which is named Ionia in case I forget, always has a little space, so I got a pizza there.  And seriously, why would you pay like 1000 yen for a hamburger and wait an hour for it when you could pay 1700 yen for a salad, a delicious cream based pizza, and where you are seated immediately?  I…do not get it.

Going to write and play a new game called Alwa’s Awakening tonight.  I’ve been wanting to try it for a while, so that’ll be fun.  Mostly, I’m tired, so I’m going to be resting.  Did I forget?  Yeah, I did, the doctor said I had bronchitis, so I need fluids, medicine, and lots of rest.  So, I intend to do that on Saturday evening and Sunday.  Now, excuse me…going to collapse.

September 24, 2017

Writing continues to be hard for me at different times.  When you get in the zone, it’s easy, but actually finding the time and where withal to get into the zone is…difficult.  I finished my chapter, but it needs revisions.  I had a low key day with medicine, fluids, and food being the big highlights.  Finished Alwa, which was frustrating as all hell near the end, and decided to try Dead Cells on Steam as I wait for Nioh’s DLC to launch.

This is one point I want to comment on financial stability and freedom.  I am not rich, but…it has taken time to get used to the idea that I have…money, essentially.  I can literally go out and drop a 50 or 60 or even 200 or 400 on games and a game console and be…fine, if I wish.  So, I’ve been finding it…freeing, as I don’t need to wait for sales or watch the charts like a hawk or any of that BS.  I can just buy a game I want, if I want it.  True, I am waiting for my games from the US, but being able to just buy and play is…liberating.  It makes me feel like I did when I was a kid and I could get what I wanted with my job or allowance money, but now, I’m not ignorant and stupid about it.  I realize the value of money and can still indulge myself and being able to do that is…intoxicating.  Really quite cool.  Still, I must temper my newfound freedom.  My years of frugality and poverty will be useful in this regard.

Still, I do love me some ice cream…so there’s always money for ice cream.  Not even kidding, I cannot seem to get enough of that.

September 25, 2017

Not much to say today.  It was my last day teaching on Monday for about six months.  I feel bad because I didn’t tell my kinder students and they’re adorable…probably won’t be a thing, but I don’t want my little ones just going, “Where’s Stephen?  Things are different and I don’t like different!”  Anyway, beyond that, nothing special.  I think I’ve mellowed on the idea of being fired.  Nothing to be afraid of now.  Whether or not I get renewed for another year is another matter, but I maintain that I would still like it.  I like this town.

I had eel for dinner tonight and while good, I wouldn’t again because the cost is crazy high.  Staying up later and getting up later it seems, as well.  Just making an observation.  As long as I get my reading and editing in, I don’t care that much.  Still, tomorrow is the hardest day of the week for me, so…gonna hit the hay.  Till later.

September 26, 2017

Sigh…still feeling a bit sick, though my medicine has helped.  We’ll see if I need another trip to the hospital on Friday or whenever.  Tuesday is always difficult.  I made it through my morning classes, which are usually the hardest, with few issues and things went a bit better controlwise and in terms of innovation.  However, I am struggling with workload.  I am days ahead of it and still I feel like I’m struggling due to the Eiken.  Trying now to create new material to help with the reading tests, but…ugh…so tired.  I also somehow got the wrong Eiken material for one of my classes and had to run and get the book to get them through it.  And then there was an impromptu class where all my plans were cancelled, but the student, despite not being as skilled as others, was willing to try hard and that really, truly makes the difference.  They have room to improve, sure, but I love teaching them because they enjoy talking and are willing to experiment.  Others have a problem with that…I don’t know how else to coax them out of their shell beyond forcing it with mandatory timers.  To top it all off, my last class cancelled, but didn’t call, so, as an honorable man must, I waited until the end of the class to leave.  The class never happened, but still I stayed, just in case.

So, I am tired…days like this destroy me.  We also had to set up holiday stuff.  Not too big a deal, but…I dunno, holidays have lost their luster for me, being all alone out here. I like the Halloween atmosphere, but…I don’t feel in the spirit, I guess.  When I got home, I basically watched the new Duck Tales for most of the night.  So very good.  Sooooooooo very good. Now, I need rest…or perhaps need is the wrong word, as my sleep schedule has shifted to later nights and later mornings.  We’ll see if it’s worthwhile…I dunno.  Gonna cuddle with my lamb, Totoro, and Cthulhu pillow now.  Bye.

September 27, 2017

I used all my medicine and still I suffer.  May need to go back to the hospital for more soon.  Today was fine, but since we are doing Eiken, Halloween stuffs, and regular teaching, I feel a bit stretched thin, as I’m trying to improve materials, get my regular planning done, plan for Eiken stuff, and deal with the stress of it all and it is wearing on me.  I felt okay going in today and now I just feel so very tired.  The kids who try are what keep me going, as I don’t want to let them or my fellow teachers down.  So exhausted, though.  This weekend will be long for me, as this is the switchover weekend.  So, I get three days here and sacrifice one day from my long vacation to even things out.  Picking up my shinkansen ticket Saturday and may finally try to eat at that Mexican place. Unless I have to go to the hospital again…

New Nioh content is nice.  It’s similar to the old stuff, but I’ll take what I can get as I wait for my stuff from the US.  I didn’t play too much.  Just an hour or so. I felt tired near the end of my session, so I wanted to just take it easy…instead, I ended up editing this for you fine folks.  I hope you appreciate.