MY HONDA

Ah my poor honda, it always took me everywhere. Even after driving other cars, new and old, i still like my honda the best. Dunno why, the steering maybe, the seat, it just felt right. Yeah so today was just stripping out the old wires, and my speaker box. Sad, no more techno on the road.

ITS NOT HOT!

Today the hi temp was 90 degrees! Big deal! I will take this 90 degree weather and 23% humidity compared to Japan's 90 degree plus 90% humidity anytime!! I didnt even break a sweat today.

BRAT CAMP

Was sitting watching TV yesterday and came across this show called BRAT CAMP. Yet another semi-reality show. But this was about a group of troubled kids who were pretty much hopeless (with attributes such as drug abuse, assault, etc). So this 40 day excursion through the woods accompanied with counselors was an experience presented to them to find themselves in this world. A great show i thought, i really enjoy working with disadvantaged kids. It was great to see them in this show and really change their life around. I have heard about these special kid counseling programs but never seen it on tv. It was very interesting.

BACK IN SPOKANE

Spokane is still the same even after returning all these years.

Drivers dont really have a concern to rush anywhere, they even brake to stay within the speed limit. It was like slow motion as everyone was cruising along at 30mph and that was a busy road.

Everyone is really friendly in Spokane, people acutally say "hi", "thank you", or even open the door for ya. Its true that its got that smalltown friendly feeling. Of course there probably is a little racism just like any other place, but generally most people are very nice.

Some new houses here and there, the dirt road and little forest where i used to play around when i was a kid is gone, replaced by a paved road and new homes. How things have changed. But damn that Zipp's Papa Joe burger and tarter sauce is still the best in the world! Can't be beat even after trying all those other burgers around the world.

CURRENTLY LISTENING

Blogger isnt quite Xanga but just a FYI on what music i am currently listening to. Counting Down the Days by Natalie Imbruglia. I like her voice and guitar work. She has been around awhile and i have always liked her style since back in the days. She rocks!

LIVE STRONG

Was watching the Discovery Channel after Lance Armstrong won his 7th Tour De France. He is truely an amazing man after battling back from cancer and becoming even stronger. His outlook on not only competition, but life is truely inspirational to me. LIVE STRONG !

YOU GOTTA KNOW WHEN TO FOLD EM

Well i had to get my last fix of poker before i headed home with the parents to Spokane. So stopped over at Ben's meeting up with the gang and brought my cuz from France, NeNou. Got him to give texas hold em a try, but the beginners luck didnt hold up. So it was left to the cousin to take it all home. So battling with 10 people somehow i came out on top. Avoided alot of near losses by folding tough hands, but ya gotta do it sometimes. And in the end it worked. Not to brag but i won the next game too, not an easy feat to take two in a row or even win at all. Yah got a 10% chance each time, but luck was on my side as everyone had me beat on the flop, but by the time the river came around the chips came by my side. =) . And my name got two stamps next to it on our new champion scoreboard. To bad i couldn't do the threepeat, but i will take two anytime, plus it was always fun hanging out with the boys. Guess i will rest up this week with the folks, and be back for the weekend for more Texas Hold Em action!

WEEK ONE : BACK HOME

Been home for about a week, just catching up on things. Family, friends, and a whole lot of poker. Here are some pics from the past week. My life the past couple of days. Enjoy.

ben's homecourt advantage pays off

a wanna be winner jumps in front of the camera

arks hours of pokerstar.net pays off

jeff rakes in some gas money

thao i cant see u behind ur mountain of chips

texas holdem action heats up

brian supports his kitchen remodeling fund

split pot

brian takes 2nd, but his finger begs to differ

eva shows off her winnings

i love you frozen junk food!

gotta have my jamba juice

ace and eva eating at johnny rocket

need to order a song? only 5 cents

my everyday meal, burritos and cereal

now theres the beer i have been missing

ah i miss greenlake

talk to me bird

some interesting fashion

read the sign

new buildings going up

singing a tune in front of the 1st starbucks

and the band plays on

we will call him ballon man

doesnt get any fresher than the PPM

back at pike place market

good luck to my boy "Diep", weddings next week!

ah, sure dont miss the traffic, PS dont drive and take pictures

damn cheap fruit, i must be back home

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my grandparents

spending time with the family

my little cuz "Francis" isnt he cute

looking through spiderman eye's

KOREAN AIR

I have taken many flights and have encountered many airline companies. So here is my report on Korean Air.

plane: 3/5 stars Airbus, very clean, older model (from JAL?), no monitors on the seats, feet rests, just one big screen with multiple tv monitors

customer service: 4/5 stars Very nice staff, helpful, speak Japanese, Korean, English, beautiful girls (bonus), served drinks regularly, even gave me an orange juice to eat with my muffin before takeoff, extra brownie points, blankets and pillows were available

food: 4/5 The food portions werent huge, but were ample, recieved sushi (bit dry), beebimbaa was a decent taste

ticket price: moderate

BUYING STUFF IN INCHEON AIRPORT

On my trip over to Seattle i had to stop over in Seoul. So during the layover why not get some presents. But while looking at some goods, i think i was hassled by all these crazy sales women, pushed by another, and had nice tapping feet while talking to one. How pushy, i won't be buying anything else from them anymore.

CLOUDS

In Japan often i liked to look at clouds, everyday it was different, the little everyday differences gave me a meaning of change. Sometimes how i feel about life, its constantly changing just like the clouds. On a side note when i got to Seattle i noticed how different the clouds are compared to the clouds in Japan. The clouds in Seattle are much larger, fluffy, and rolling. Those nice big fluffy clouds seem almost majestic and special to me. It means that i am truely home.

DRIVING RANGE

Nothing much to do today, because no car. Forgot how important a car is in america. You need one! Anyways luckily Ben has a long summer vacation like me too, so he scooped me up and we were off to the golf driving range. Met his friend and got some good tips. It was pretty fun, felt like Tiger Woods. Maybe a new sport too.

CEREAL AND BURRITO

Sounds like a wierd combo? But if you havent had something for such a long time, it doesnt really matter. This has been my main staple of food for either breakfast or late nite snack for the past couple of days. And you know what? I havent really gotten sick of it. Yum.

SOCCER FAREWELLS

Catching up on some of my blogs before i head out this thursday. Soccer has been fun as it is kinda the only organized sports outlet i have. I love sports. Then saturday was our end of the year soccer party for everyone. Alot of my good soccer buddies are leaving and i will miss them. No matter if we won or got slaughtered by some high school kids we had fun, on our trips to Awaji, Nagano, going to the onsen, playing in the rain, its been fun you guys, i will miss you all! Carla the waltz, Ari the passes, Brian the football on the soccer field, Rob big and loveable, Monte wherever you are probably. Good luck to you all!

the B squad of soccer, aka the social group

Ari, aka hiking man, and my soccer buddy, have fun in south america!

oh brian and my waltzing buddy carla, farewell my dears

DONT DRINK THE WATER

Was riding my bike home and i saw two little kids up ahead, they were pretty small but maybe one of my 1st or 2nd or 3rd grade kids. As i approached i was correct, as one greeted me by saying my name, "makan". Then as i looked at the other one his greeting technique was more visual, as he was nicely peeing with his pants down for the world to see. It was as if he was watering the rice, aiming right into the irrigation canal ... ewwwwww. Well that was an interesting greeting to end my work day. Guess i cant say anything because i used to pee all around when i was little, but usually not in front of my teacher.

YUKATA AND SOMEN NOODLES

On thursday i headed to my special elementary school class. Today's special event was for the kids to enjoy an old folktale which included a god and a mortal in the sky that every year on July, 7th the lovers would come together. A nice old story from China. Anyways besides the story it was an opportunity to have fun. The kids wrote wishes on to some paper and put it up on a bamboo tree, as i did myself. Then they made wierd animal creations from veggies, still not sure of the reason, but it was interesting on how many toothpicks that could go into an eggplant. Then it was eating time, where everyone lined up near a long bamboo pipe which water ran down. With a bowl and sauce in it, and chopsticks in another hand it was your goal to swoop up as much noodles as you could from the flowing water and put it in your bowl. Of course there was a slight advantage being near the begining, those poor kids at the end, i think they were starving. Some of the vulture kids at the top quickly kept on keeping their bowls full, but one was kind enough to scoop me some too! It was fun and the somen noodles was so soft and yum! In the end i also got some new gifts from the center, todays item was a geta sandal and a sash to go along with my yukata from last year. Oh boy looking more Japanese everyday now. Cool sandals, i can see more now.

wierd veggie creatures

nice thongs

get your noodles

kids putting up their wishes

writing my wish

TEACHING = STRESS

Its wierd, or maybe sometimes i dont know it, recently in the past year or two since i have been in Japan i have had my bouts of stress. Or that is what my doctor diagnosed. Well i think its correct because when i take those little pills she gave me it makes me feel all better. Anyways, was teaching class today, and the class was kinda shitty, and the teacher i teach with is i would say kinda passive, not sure what the deal is but he wasnt like that last year and it seems to be getting more worse and worse. Not sure if he is too busy, or maybe cuz these are kids he doesnt know, fuck i dont know, its like a mystery i try to figure out everyday. I finally solved one last year, and it was going great but now i dont teach with her, so shit. Then the other teacher which i was bored as hell with, is pretty cool this year as i get to be more a part of the class, and those classes are awesome! Then my other teacher is cool, she is full of ideas, and she doesnt do much, but we work like clockwork, so its all good. But that still doesnt solve my mystery. So in class today, kids were getting restless cuz its so fucking slow, cant call on a kid, dont have the seating chart in a language i know, cant run out and pick kids, cuz takes too much time, then the other teacher is too hesistant. Damn so in class when i was getting aggrevated, i could feel my stomach acting up, and it wasnt the ole stomache, it was stomach pain. Fuck i am glad school is getting over, and if my BOE guy gives me more shit about it and how great Japan is for my health, i will tell him to go shove it. Alright, time to sleep ... well after school it was all good.

BUSY AS A BEE

Well it was a pretty busy day, went to elementary school, taught 5 classes (sweating in all of them), escaped some crazy kids chasing me home, then went to junior high to coach basketball, then went to the gym, then had ramen for dinner, and when i got home it was like 10pm. Dang, tired yo. But yo know what, it was a good day. I had fun, and that is a big thing to say from my job. I dont really remember having fun at any of my prior jobs or even have the feeling of accomplishing anything or even being worthy (except when i worked at the Boys and Girls club and NIA Center). Its all about the kids, i love hanging out with them, being crazy and all, its fun. Of course there are ups and downs, but i tell ya there are more ups and it sure beats sitting in a cubicle all day.

Anyways brought my camera to elementary school, so thought i would give you all an inside look of a japanese elementary school. Cute kids.

forget the nasty soap dish, one of the best creations here is the good ole soap bag, cleans your hands good, and the soap doesnt get all watery

cleaning time

the kids at lunch time, his name was Mario and his buddy was Luigi, and across was Yoshi, sounds like a video game to me

todays lunch ... bread, milk, mabo tofu, shuimai, and bean sprouts with little fishes ... mixed taste results

new kiddie signs

brush your teeth

paper animal creations

hangin around

swingin high