Yeah, wow, it’s been like a whole freaking week since I’ve written anything really. Well, I’ve actually been kinda busy.
I signed up for a Japanese class at this place called ARC Academy and it meets five days a week for three hours a day. It’s pretty fun so far. I hadda laugh the first day when we were going over pronunciation. All I could think about as we regurgitated the phrases was “Shinbashi” (see Pepsi’s Pile of Fun) — I mean, seriously, Kawasaki-sensei could have been feeding us crazy stuff and we woulda just parroted it back like it was perfectly acceptable! (Incidentally, this past Firefly Sunday, Mike had us listen to some other tracks akin to “Shinbashi” — our particular favorite is KyoNara.)
We’re using the same book that I used in my private lessons, and so right now we’re going over stuff I’ve already learned, but this time around, I’m grasping the grammar a little more. I really am a perpetual student…
Speaking of which, I’ve had a pretty full week of private lessons. The high school students seem to be enjoying their classes well enough, and I had the ladies today (the class I inherited from Rob). I gotta admit, the extra cash isn’t too bad. And I sincerely enjoy it.
I’m glad that I’m filling my time. It was getting pretty disgusting for a while there where I was just so damn lazy even I was annoyed with myself.
I’m wickedly bummed ‘cuz I finished A Song of Ice and Fire and now I’m at a loss at what to read. I started up with The Heidi Chronicles but it just couldn’t hold my attention; same thing with Neverwhere at present. I think my mind is set on academia so maybe I’ll just focus on studying for now.
So the George R.R. Martin’s is simply genius. While I confess to enjoying Harry Potter and looking forward to the final installment debuting this year, I’ll sooner take ASoIaF for its gritty reality and the fact that it works out a lot like it could in real life. So. Good. That reminds me, I gotta e-mail Joe Holtzman and pick his brain about some theories…
Last Wednesday, Anna and I had a kind of sleepover. It was Game’s Night at Matt’s place, so Mike wanted to stay out in this neck of the woods. Thus, Anna and I ordered a pizza, watched Chicago, and had us a fine time; she even made rice crispie treats to completely make it a “movie night” comparable of something that would happen back home. I ain’t sayin’ it even compared to anything Lorelai Gilmore would come up with, but considering the location and the lack of easily accessible junk food, we somehow managed. Steve came over, too, since he preferred a quieter company than what was going on at this house.
Ok. That’s about it for now. My mind is kinda scattered (a little more than usual) so I’m gonna go and try to organize my Japanese notes. I’m not sure about the wisdom of this logic considering I just said my mind’s all over the place…
Oh yeah, we had another tremor on Sunday.
“Holzman” is sans “t”. If you’re interested in that sort of reading, I was gifted a book by another fellow who enjoys George R. R. Martin (at least I believe that’s the author he has in common with Joe for liking…): _Quicksilver_ by Neal Stephenson. It seems to be in the time of Isaac Newton, but I’ve read a chapter or so yet. It’s a big thick book, btw. Anyway, just a thought.
Hooray for learning!