(Thusday, August 4, 2011)I've been so tired from working under the mid-summer sunshine that recently I tend to go to bed very early. This summer I'm not going to take any days off. I think I'm going to take care of the softball team. The softball of our school has no tradition and has been known as a very weak team. I guess the reason is that most of the members of the team have not been serious about practicing softball. I can even say that they have been rotten as softball players. In order to change the atmosphere, we have to do something quite different. That's why I've decided to make them practice a lot this summer. I understand that they want more summer holidays because they're just kids, but I want them to do their very best.
　Around 4:45 this evening I was sleeping on the bed, when my father-in-law came to take Ryoma for an evening walk. I was very sorry for him, because recently he takes Ryoma for a walk both in the morning and in the evening. He must be very tired. Tomorrow I think I'll have to take Ryoma for an evening walk.

(Friday, August 5, 2011)The most important thing when you play softball is not the skills but the attitude toward the sport. I've wanted to let the girls on my team learn about it, but it's not an easy job. They're just today's teenage girls and what they hear from me will never be told them by the adults around them. When I worked in junior high schools in Chigasaki City, it was much easier to make the players understand what I wanted to say. Why is it so difficult to do the same thing here in my school in Yokohama? Today after the practice was over, only three girls including two 7th graders were brushing the ground. The other girls were drinking sports drinks and chatting until I told them to join the three girls. Surprisingly the two 7th graders hadn't drink any drinks. After brushing the ground, I gathered them and told what kind of players I wanted them to become. I was not sure if they really understand my words, but the only thing I could do is keep on telling the same thing. They usually have no practice on Sundays. What if there might suddenly be a practice game next Sunday? Will they be happy to hear the news or will they complain about it? I'm very much worried.

(Sunday, August 7, 2011)Yesdayday I was waiting for a phone call from a junior high school in Ebina City. I had asked if our team could take part in the practice games which were to be held today in Ebina. But I didn't get a phone call. I told my players that we were not going to to go Ebina the next day and that they would have a day off instead. This morning I got a phone call from a teacher in Ebina I know very well. He asked me if our team would come to the practice games or not. I explainied the situation we were in and it turned out that they were waiting for our team to arrive at the school. I think they should have called me to tell that it was OK for us to take part in the practice games clearly. But I also should have called them to ask again if it was OK for our team to go to Ebina today. I'm now very shocked to have missed a very important occasion.

(Tuesday, August 9, 2011)Yesterday my team came to Chigasaki and played two practice games against Tsurugadai Junior High School. We won the first game by 10-0, but lost the second game by 1-7. In the second game the southpaw pitched oon the other team and the batters on our team couldn't make clean hits. The players on our team made a lot of careless mistakes. Before the second game started, they were sure that they could win the second game as easily as the first game. I didn't like that and I knew that they would lose the second game. This morning before starting today's practice I noticed that some of the players were not serious about the practice. I gathered them all and talked about yesterday's games. If they really want to win the championship in Yokohama, they have to become good athletes as well as skilled players. I hope they really understand that.
　It was extremely hot this morning just as the summer days we had last summer. I hope I'm not going to suffer from heat exhaustion during the practice.

(Thursday, August 11, 2011)It's been extremely hot these few days and some people have died from heat exhaustion. An old woman aged over 80 was found dead in the field. Another old woman in her seventies was found dead in her room without any air conditioner or fan. This crazy heat will last a few more days, so we'll have to be very careful not to suffer from the heat disease.
　I was surprised at the news that told a 2-year-seven-month-year-old boy was dead from starvation. His parents didn't give him any food, so he tried to eat plastic pieces and paper. That kind of stuff was found in his intestine. The father said to the police that it was more important for him to feed his cat. I'm sure he's insane. If you really love your cat, you can give your food to the cat without eating yourself. How can you compare your boy's life with your cat's life? He should be sentenced to death.

(Saturday, August 13, 2011)It's quite humid tonight without much breeze. I think we should use the air conditioner, but my wife and Ryoma would not like it. How to survive the hot night will be a big problem for me. I'm going to keep the fan wroking all night and sleep with an ice bag under the pillow.
　Tomorrow I'm planning to visit my late father in his family's graveyard. My wife was very nice to him after he got sick. At that time I was out of work and I could see him in the nursing home very often. I was very sorry for him. Now that he has gone and I've come back in the teaching career, I'd like to visit him and talk as often as I can. I hope he's having a happy life in the heaven.


Let's start writing again!

(Tuesday, April 11, 2017)It's been a very long time since I wrote in this diary. Maybe I thought it was a little bit tough for me to keep writing in a busy teaching life. However I should not forget the famous saying, "Practice makes perfect." That's why I've decided to restart the diary.
　This year I don't have my own homeroom class. The principal was worried about my health? Or he didn't trust me? I don't know why, but now I'm taking a three-month off. I talked with my doctor about my health. "I'd like to stay away from school and try to get well," I said to the doctor. She didn't say anything about it and gave me a medical certificate.

(Wednesday, April 12, 2017)Yes, of course, I'm already awake. Ryoma has just come back from his morning walk. I feel a little bit sick because I couldn't sleep well last night. Just before midnight I was listening to my favorite song. Then I went to sleep without turning off my iPhone. The music went on and on repeatedly. I'm not sure how many times I had to listen to the song. That means I was not actually sleeping deeply. I was unintentionally listening to music.
　It's 7:40 now. I'm awake, but something's wrong with my stomach. I think I have to go to bed again to have some more sleep. That will help stimulate my appetite, I hope.

(Thursday, April 13, 2017)Oh, no! It'll be rainy on the first day of my Kyoto trip. However, how much rain we're going to have, I'm not sure. I have two main places to visit this time. One is the Ninnaji Temple, and the other is the Ohara-sanzen-in Temple. In those places, beautiful cherry blossoms will still be seen. The cherry blossoms in the Ninnaji Temple are called "Omuro Zakura." They usually come out the latest in Kyoto, showing that spring in Kyoto is over.
　By the way, Ryoma is staying at my parents-in-law. My wife and I have already got divorced, but our relations are still going on. We didn't have any kids, so Ryoma is just like their grandchild. He'll sleep in the middle of my mother's bed. She's happy to let him do so.

(Friday, April 14, 2017)I'm leaving for Kyoto tomorrow morning. My Shinkansen will leave Odawara Station at 7:04. So I'll have to get up before 4 o'clock. There's not any bus service around 5, so I'll have to talk to the station. It'll take me about 40 minutes. What a tough morning walk!
　I'm taking Shinkansen Hikari. It'll take me about a little more than 2 hours. If I get into sleep, I'll be in Kyoto when I wake up.
　I've double-checked the weather in Kyoto during the two days. I'm so lucky! In both days the weather will be cloudy occasionally fine or sunny after cloudy. Around this time of the year, we often have to be afraid of rainy days. Actually until a few days ago, I saw an umbrella mark at the weather forecast site.
　I'm planning to buy some souvenirs for some of my students in the former class secretly. I know I shouldn't do it, but still they're my pretty kids that I can never forget.

(Tuesday, April 18, 2017)It's going to be a beautiful day this afternoon. Spring weathers are so changeable. It started to rain yesterday afternoon, but when Ryoma and I left home for an evening walk, it had stopped raining. When we came back, it started to rain again. Finally we had a rain storm late last night and it lasted until early this morning. My dad-in-law usually takes Ryoma for a morning walk just before 6 o'clock every day. I asked him to make it an hour later, because of the weather forecast. I was right in doing so. The storm had already gone when they went out around 7 o'clock.
　I was in Kyoto last weekend. It rained a little on the afternoon of the 15th. It was quite a beautiful day on the 16th when the special cherry blossoms called "Omuro Cherry Blossoms" were said to be in full bloom. They were so beautiful. I feel the weather god has been blessing me a lot.

(Sunday, April 23, 2017)The day before yesterday I went to City Hospital to talk to a doctor about my diabetes. I thought the blood sugar leven had gone bad, but surprisingly it was better than the last time.

　As to Ryoma, he'd had some trouble with his nipple boils. They must be so itchy he kept scratching his stomach so many times. I took him to his vet yesterday and he gave us antibiotics for a week. I'll take him to the vet again in one week.

(Monday, April 24, 2017)I thought this was a picture taken in the Maldives. I saw a similar scene when
my first wife and I went on a honeymoon trip to the beautiful island country. But recently I knew that this was a scene from Hawaii. What a surprise! Hawaii has been my favorite place I want to live in. How I wish I could make my dream come true. Am I a little bit too old to move there? Too old to become a surfer? When I was young I was afraid of going out of Japan to live abroad. Time passed by and now I really want to get out of Japan when it's a little too late.

　It's been a few days since Ryoma started to take the antibiotics, but he still scratches his stomach. I'm sorry for him. Dogs can't speak to explain how they feel. The only thing I can do for him is to give him delicious breakfast and dinner.

(Wednesday, April 26, 2017)In some of the pages of my website, you often see an ad saying, "Do you still use the phrase 'I don't know'?" Why not saying I don't know when the answer is in the negative? If you understand what the other person says and say I don't know, it's perfect. After being able to say I don't know, you will learn some other phrases like "Negative.""I have no idea.""How do I know?""It's hard to say yes." Teaching English is not to deny but to accept. The advertisement goes on like this; "Listening is not eanough. Writing sentences will make you a perfect speaker of English." Is it true? Well, I don't know.

　In the middle of next month I'm visiting Kyoto again, for the third time this year. I'm going to stay there for two nights and three days this time. The Aoi Festival will be the target for the trip. And in June I'm planning to the Gero Hot Spring site. I went there long long time ago. I still remember the quality of the spring water. It was incredibly great.
　
(Thursday, April 27, 2017)Something's been wrong with the weather these days. One day it's wam and very beautiful, but the next day it's cold. This morning when I woke up, it was raining as I had expected. I checked the weather forecast on my cell phone last night. I asked my father-in-law to take Ryoma for a morning walk later than usual, because it must be raining around 6 o'clock. We were right and Ryoma didn't have to get wet walking in the rain.　　

　In Japan there is a famous word "hanabie," meaning literally "the coldness around the cherry blossom season." We usually have "hanabie" at the beginning of April. Now it's toward the end of April, but it seems we're having "hanabie." Does this have anything to do with the phenomenon happening off the coast of South America? It well-known as El Nino, which affects the weather here in Japan.

(Friday, April 28, 2017)I woke up early this morning. Ryoma was coming home from my parents-in-law's. According to my father-in-law, Ryoma licked my mother-in-law's face times and times again. I can easily imagine the scene because he often does the same to me at home.

　I renewed my website so that it might look tidy. I expected a lot more visitors, but it was difficult. It's not an easy job to invite a lot of visitors to the website. I shouldn't forget that people are busy working during the day. When they come home from work, they don't feel like checking my website. They must be tired and want to go to bed soon.

　Last night I ordered gemstone totems for my parents-in-law. I believe they have mysterious power and will bring good luck and happiness to my parents. I hope they'll be happy to have them.　

(Sunday, April 30, 2017)It seems that Ryoma's getting better thanks to the medicine. I think we owe a lot to the vet. He has to see the vet in one week again. I guess fleas in the grass did something harmful to his skin just like last summer.
　
　The two powerful stone bracelts will arrive this afternoon. I've already prepared a bowl with a lot of purification stones at the bottom. That bowl is needed when they have to take a rest during the night. Powerful gemstone bracelets need to get power again after they work hard during the day. They have to regain their power. It's quite interesting to know.

　I hope my parents-in-law will be happy to see those beautiful bracelets. If they believe something good will happen with those bracelets, it really happens.

(Monday, May 1, 2017)Time flies, doesn't it? It's already May today. This morning I went to see my psychiatrist in a hospital. It's been about a month since I took a sick leave. I still have two more months before going to school again. What should I do?

　Tonight at 22:00, I'm going to the movie theater to see "Deepwater Horizon." Titles of the movies often differ from those of Japanese versions. In Japan this movie is named "Burning Ocean," which really sounds like an English title. Today is the first day of the month, so we can see the movie at a lower price. The fisrt show is now on air, but I couldn't be in time for it because I hade to visit the hospital. That's why I had to reserve a seat for the late show starting at ten at night.

(Tuesday, May 2, 2017)Last night I came home from the movie theater at 12:30 in the morning. I didn't expect so many people that late at night. Because they were just in the middle of the Golden Week? The movie I saw was entiled "Deepwater Horizon." It was produced based on the real oil accident. The story itself is like that of the Japanese movie "Umizaru." Frankly speaking, "Umizaru" is much better, much moving. But if I didn't to go to the movie, I would always have to say to myself, "Oh, I wanted to see the movie." Next time I'd like to see a very funny movie.
　When I came home, Ryoma was sleeping silently. When he saw me, he walked to me and wagged his tail happily. I said to him, "I'm sorry, Ryoma. I'm so sorry I kept you waiting alone." Dogs are so faithful and they make us happy.

(Wednesday, May 3, 2017)Today very big five-day holidays start. I'm sorry that many of the junior high school students have to spend some of those holidays on extracurricular activities. Holidays are holidays. We need holidays to clean up the total mess both mentally and physically. Japanese people are no good at doing that. Trying hard might be importand, but taking a rest is much more important.

　My teaching life has always been like that. I couldn't take any holidays. I didn't have time to take a trip with my wife. I couldn't enjoy going out for dinner with her. She gave up having a happy life with me. Is that a human life? Why do we work? Western people think that they have to work in order to enjoy their life. They enjoy their life by taking a long trip during their holidays. Those happy days can refresh their tired mind. They know that. We Japanese don't.

　I hope we'll also realize that the Golden Week should really be golden happy holidays.

(Thursday, May 4, 2017)Last night I went to bed a little past 10. I listen to music as usual, so when I woke to stop it, it was about 12 midnight. This morning I woke up before 5. I got up and started working on the computer. After both Ryoma and I finished eating breakfast, we got sleepy again and slept for a few hours. Ryoma is still sleeping by the window.

　I don't think my brain is working well now. It seems I need some more sleep. Even though I went to bed earlier than usaal, it doesn't mean I had enough sleep.

　This afternoon I saw a disgusting morie "Predator" on TV. It was different from the original movie starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Anyway it was so scary. Why did I see the movie? Because I was working on the computer and didn't have anything else to see. The predator is an animal which killes other animals and eat them. Yes, of course, there are disgusting people like predators in this world.

(Friday, May 5, 2017)Usually during every walk we expect Ryoma to do his business. But last night he didn't take a shit although we walked about one and a half hours. I was worried that something was wrong with his stomach, but he was OK. This morning as usual he went for a morning walk with his grandpa. When they came home, my father-in-law told me that Ryoma did a surprisingly big business. I was relieved to hear that. He's now sleeping on my bed in the warm sunshine.

　Today's Children's Day. It's a day to wish that every boy would grow up to be a great man. You see a lot of carp swimming in the sky. It is believed that carp swim up many falls to become dragons. Dragons fly high up into the sky. They're the symbols of good luck, strong power, and positive will.

(Sunday, May 7, 2017)Last night the number of people who visited my blog was 33. I don't understand why it increased so suddenly. One possible reason is that someone who is related to my school happened to find the blog and told other teachers about it. "What is this! He's writing whatever he thinks is right! We can't let him keep doing this anymore!" Someone might have said so. The Yokohama Board of Education? The Principal of my school? People in the teachers' room? Or am I thinking in the wrong way?

　Because I have been betrayed by many school teachers so far, I don't trust teachers. I tend to criticize that's happening in school. We public school teachers have responsibility to keep the secrets that we happened to know at school. I'm not breaking the rule. If I am, something much more interesting will be in my blog. But I'm not. Because I don't want to be fired because of such a crazy job. Things I write about school should be known by usual people.

(Monday, May 8, 2017)Last night I tried to go to bed at 11 o'clock. While I was lying on the bed, I started to listen to music as usual. The songs I listened to last night was a little too old. I felt lonely and it made me unable to get into sleep. So I got out of bed again and sat in front of my computer. I wrote in my blog for about half an hour. Then I tried to go to bed again. It was successful, but I feel a little sleepy this morning. I got up at 6 o'clock! You say I'm leading a healthy life?

(Tuesday, May 9, 2017)The number of people who visited my website and blog decreased in one day. Maybe because people start to work again after the Golden Week is over. I checked some other blogs about education. One was about teachers' overwork on club activities, and the other was about English education. I don't trust most of the English teachers today. When I listen to their conversation with the native teachers, I soon understand they themselves should learn English before teaching kids. Even if we don't go abroad to stay there for a long time, it's possible to become a good English speaker here in Japan.
　If you are a teacher and don't want to spend a lot of time on extra-curricular activities on weekends, you could say frankly to the principal that you don't want to do it. If you think it's for your kids, then you can decide to work hard for them. The blog says that extra-curricular activities are against the law and that principals should think more carefully about the teachers. Especially young teachers. I understand what they're going to say, but I don't like teachers who complain about their hard work. Many people in society are doing much harder jobs than school teachers. I know that because I workd outside of school for more than four years. Earning money is such a tough job to do.

(Wednesday, May 10, 2017)The ranking of my homepage went down rapidly this morning. I don't see why. The number of people who visit my website is not very big every day. There's not big difference. Why did the ranking show a great change. Maybe I don't quite understand the ranking system. But I should not worry about it. When you try to do something new, it'll take a long time until you see good results.
　On the other hand, the ranking of my blog went up this morning. I have to thank people who have voted for my blog. I've got to thank Ryoma for his cooperation. Usually he didn't like to be taken pictures of, but these days he doesn't care about the camera.
　It's been raining since last night. It's been cold rain. It was a surprise because it was very hot like summer these days. Ryoma doesn't like hot nights, but last night he didn't sleep near the open window and he chose to sleep at the foot of my bed. According to the weather forecast, it's going to start raining again around 6 o'clock tonight. Ryoma and I will have to leave home for the evening walk around 4.

(Thursday, May 11, 2017)I sometimes write too much in the blog. I try to write so frankly that there might be some people who get angry. There are many different readers who feel in their own ways. I have to understand that. But thinking too much of the readers will make my blog uninteresting. It's difficult.
　My room is on the third floor. Nice breeze comes in from the windows. The building is about 4 kilos form the beaches. The nice breeze might be coming from the ocean. I like this location, but someday I'd like to move to Kamakura. Living in Chigasaki and living in Kamakura. There'll be no difference. A great earthquake will happen in the near future and give a great damage to both areas. However when I'm walking in Kamakura, I feel as if I was walking in Kyoto I'm addicted to.
　"Then why don't you move to Kyoto and live there?" Well, it's a splendid idea. But you know, Hawaii is my final destination, not Kyoto. Funny?　

(Friday, May 12, 2017)This morning I sent a message by Line to my American friend. He's been working as an ALT(Assistant Language Teacher) in Yokohama. I hope his company evaluate highly the native teachers working there, because they're more than assistants. Most Japanese English teachers are no good at speaking English. Still they tend to be uninterested in understanding them. However the ALT's are having a hard time understanding us. Also they're having a hard time living in a different culture here in Japan.
　I asked him to check my English sentences written here on the diary page. Of course he's so busy helping the English teachers and the children at his school. I don't want him to spend too much time on my diary. He's such a good guy he answered yes immediately.
　
(Saturday, May 13, 2017)It was raining all this morning. As the weather forecast said, the rain stopped late in the afternoon. I'd like to go for an evening walk with Ryoma now, but he's hiding behind the bed and isn't going to come out. Maybe it's a little too cold for him. Or he might be a little too sleepy to walk.
　I have to come home earlier than usual, because I'm starting for Kyoto tomorrow morning. I'll have to get up around 4 o'clock tomorrow. After coming home from an evening walk, I'm going to put everything needed in the backpack, take a shower, and go to bed early. I always think that preparing for the trip at the night before is the toughest time. I have to be careful not to leave something important behind.

(Wednesday, May 17, 2017)Late last night I came back home from Kyoto. I was so tired I didn't want to take a shower. So I went to bed soon. I slept well or not, I'm not sure. I remember when I woke up this morning, it was a little cold. I waited for Ryoma to come back from his morning walk with is grandpa. When he found me in the living room, he looked happy. I soon went to him and held his face in my both hands. He was happy and licked my face repeatedly.
　Today I have to start editing a new page for my website. It's about my three-day trip to Kyoto. I have taken so many pictures it'll take me a long time to complete it. But it'll be a lot of fun. I could look back on the enjoyable days in the oldest city of Japan.

(Friday, May 19, 2017)Last night I completed my new page on my website. It was about my Kyoto trip from May 14th to 16th. What I wanted to see most during the trip was the parade of the Aoi Festival. It was a little too modest. I had expected a more gorgeous one. The traditional women's wear called "junihitoe" was so beautiful. Children in the parade were so cute.
　After coming back from the evening walk, Ryoma didn't feel like eating his dinner. He didn't do his business during the walk. Something may have been wrong with his stomach. It was my fault. The night before I let him eat some "yatsuhashi" I bought at the hotel in Kyoto. It is said that dogs should not eat chocolate. onions, or green onions. "Yatsuhashi" might also be no good for dogs. He's now sleeping by the window. I hope he'll get well again after his nap.

(Saturday, May 20, 2017)This morning I woke up early and left home for a morning walk with Ryoma before 6 o'clock. It was about the same time my father-in-law usually takes Ryoma for a walk every morning. It seemed Ryoma wanted to go out as soon as possible. He drinks a lot of water. He wants to go to the bathroom early in the morning, I guess.
　He had some trouble with his stomach for these few days. Now it seems he's in good health. He felt like eating breakfast soon. He's sleeping a sound sleep during the morning. I feel relieved.

(Sunday, May 21, 2017)This morning I woke up a little before 7 o'clock. It was a little too late for the morning walk. Ryoma must have been waiting for me since very early this morning. We went out for a walk about half past seven. First Ryoma looked fine walking along the usual course of his walk. But when he came to the crossing, he turned left and started walking along the evening course. Soon he did his business and tried his way back home. I guess he was a bit tired because he had to walk in the burning sun.
　I haven't finished my breakfast yet. I'm starving. I'm not going to cook rice this morning and go to a convenience store to buy something to eat. I know it's no good for my diabetes, but I don't feel like taking too much time preparing for breakfast today.

(Monday, May 22, 2017)It's a little past seven in the morning. Still it's incredibly hot! It was yesterday too. What's happening with the weathers these days? I once read on the website that it was going to be really hot this summer because of El Nino off the coast of Peru. When the extraordinary hot summer comes, lots and lots of people might suffer from heat stroke. Ambulances must run around in towns.
　Although he ate a lot for breakfast, he's always hungry. When I was about to eat "udon" for lunch, he came up to me to ask for something to eat. I gave him some slices of kamaboko, which he soon liked very much. He's a kind of strange dog who likes to eat something not very popular among dogs. I know it's no good to let dogs eat human food. But when he looks at me with big wet eyes, I have to listen to him. Too sweet a dad.

(Tuesday, May 23, 2017)It's such a beautiful day today. How come we have such a cool breeze every day? Ryoma's having a pleasant sleep with the refreshing breeze coming through the mosquito screen. He must be dreaming a daydream in which he's running in the grass field.
　Not to change the subject, there are only two pieces of cigaretts in the box. I'm thinking of quitting smoking at present. Smoking's bad for the health, especially for those who have diabetes like me. It could cause bad effects on blood vessels, bringing a cardiac infarction or a cerebral infarction. Those technical terms are difficult. So are the diseases themselves. It's OK I die a natural death, but I don't want to say goodbye from those difficult diseases.

(Wednesday, May 24, 2017)What's it like to have dementia? In the TV drama now on air, the old woman who has dementia has seen a crime scene. She insists that she has seen a mailman running away from the crime scene. But nobody, even the police, doesn't believe her words. This is my second time to see the drama. So I know the ending. The old woman actually saw the killer and the mailman really exsited. What do you feel when nobody believes what you say? I was once involved in a bullying incident. I told the truth, but the board of education didn't believe in me. I was misunderstood and punished by the municipal board of education. I feel I kind of understand what it's like to have dementia?

　I have finished almost half of the newpage on my website. It's filled with lots of good memories and during the work I can clearly remember the happy days we had two years ago. It's about the school trip we took in May, 2015. We went to Kyoto from May 14 to May 16. The middle day was Aoi Festival. I could see only part of the parade. My students were not allowed to go near the parade. I was sorry for them.

(Friday, May 26, 2017)Yesterday I spent most of my free time on completing my new webpage. Finally last night I finished my job. I let my ex-students that they would be able to enjoy the memorable photos I took in Nara and Kyoto two years ago. The pictures are so fresh that we had our school trip yesterday.
　Some of them have already visited the page and shared good memories with me. I haven't counted the pictures I used for the webpage. Anyway I'm so satisfied with those many photos I took of them.

　Are you interested in badminton. Do you know that Sudirman Cup is being held in Australia now? It's a world-wide badminton championship tournament held every two years. Japan is now among the strongest top eight teams and today they're going to fight with Malaysia again to get into the best four nations.

(Saturday, May 27, 2017)This morning I woke up too late for Ryoma's walk. So we left home a few minutes past 8 o'clock. It was a little too hot for Ryoma. He usually doesn't want to drink water from the bottle I carry, but this morning he drank some water. In my bottle I usually put some tap water. At home Ryoma drinks mineral water. That's why he doesn't want to drink water from my bottle.

　These few days the breeze coming from the window is too cool. I've got to be careful so that Ryoma might not keep sleeping in the cool air. He's easy to have trouble with his stomach.

(Sunday, May 28, 2017)This morning again I woke up too late. It was 8:03 when I watched the iPhone. Ryoma must have been waiting for me for a long time. I'm terribly sorry, Ryoma. We took out for a walk around 8:30. It was as hot as yesterday. It seemed that Ryoma didn't want to walk fast.
　Usually in front of the gate to Tsurumine High School, he makes a left turn. It's the starting point for the long course. But this morning he took a right turn meaning he wanted to go on a short course. I thought he didn't need to do his business. I was wrong. He did his business near the golf practice site.
　He hasn't drunk any water on his way back home. Doesn't he like the tap water? Does he want to drink mineral water? I visited a vending machine and bought a cold can of coffee instead. I know it's no good for my diabetes. Too much sugar in it.

(Monday, May 29, 2017)Last night while I was walking Ryoma, I slipped on the slop filled with short grass and fell to the ground. At that moment the two dog leads I was grabbing did something wrong with Ryoma's right arm. He screamed because of pain, or because he was so much surprised. Soon after the accident Ryoma couldn't walk properly, but gradually it seemed to get easy for him to walk. "Are you 　　　　hurt?" I asked him, but of course he didn't know how to express his ideas. Then he happened to meet a little girl named Kirara. The old man who was talking her told me that she would never go near other dogs. However she came to Ryoma and played with him for some time. Ryoma's such a gentle dog that he's always been loved by most of the dogs he met during the walk.
　The photo left shows that he was watching the direction Kirara went home. She was about two years old and I guess Ryoma liked her. Look at the photo again. Do you think there's anything wrong with his right arm? Maybe it was healed by the sudden meeting with Kirara. Usually he doesn't sit on the ground because he likes clean places. But yesterday he was sitting on the grass for more than 10 minutes.
　I was really sorry for him, so I cooked a pork steak for him. He was really happy to eat the whole steak by himself. He didn't have to share it with me.

　Just before noon I took Ryoma to the vet. He needed to get medicine for filariasis, which is a very dreadful disease. First he had to take a blood test to see if there was any tiny filaria worms in his blood. He didn't have any problems and got medicine for seven months. This time he took a more detailed blood test to check if his liver and kidneys are woring properly.

(Tuesday, May 30, 2017)Ryoma had a serious trouble with his stomach this morning. Maybe he's had the trouble since last night. He was walking aoound in the house and seemed to go out to do his business. I hurriedly got ready to take him out, but he hid himself behind the bed and didn't come out. I gave up taking a third walk and went to bed.
　Ryoma went for a morning walk with hid grandpa this morning. He was unusual, my father-in-law told me. He walked fast straight to the grandpa's house and did loose feces. He threw up too.
　His grandpa was very much worried, but when they got home Ryoma looked so fine. He ate up his breakfast so rapidly and looked happy. His trouble was caused by the cool wind coming from the window? Or it was caused by the pork steak I gave him the day before yesterday?

(Wednesday, May 31, 2017)Last night I had a quite enjoyable night with some of the mothers in my class 19 years ago. We've got old, but it seemed that everyone including me looked almost the same. At the first kushikatsu shop, they liked the young girls who waited on us. Yes, they were right! Their smiles were so good and that's why we enjoyed eating food there.
　After leaving the shop, we went to a karaoke shop as usual. Time passed so quickly and we were there for more than one and a half hours. Maybe the shopclerk forgot the finish time so we were very lucky. We really enjoyed the night. Everyone is looking forward to the next party.

(Sunday, June 4, 2017)I've ordered another powerful stone bracelet from Yamaguchi Prefecture. I already have more than ten, but when I see something new and interesting, I soon feel like getting one on the Internet. The bracelet shown in the picture left was the one I purchased this morning. The four big stones will protect me from various things and bring good luck. I know many people would say it's just a waste of money, but if you firmly believe that it'll bring you good luck, it must be worth the money I paid.
　For the last year I had to say goodbye so many times. My kids at school graduate and I myself had to say goodbye to the school to start working at a new school. Last summer my wife and I got divorced.and said goodbye to our 13 years of marriage life. This March the principal told me that I was not going on to the 2nd grade with my kids. I was very shocked to hear that. That's why something got wrong with mental situation and now I've been in my three-month sick leave. I really need something good coming to me. Buying so many powerful stone bracelets makes sense now? I know money is important, but for me good luck is even more important. Frankly speaking wearing beautiful bracelets sometimes makes me shy. I wonder what people around me think of a man wearing colorful bracelets. I know as long as I feel that way, nothing good will happen to me.

(Monday, June 5, 2017)I checked the searching service for posted items. I found that the bracelet I had ordered was still at Iwakuni Post Office in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Is it possible it will be mailed during today? I don't think it is. It's still there? What's happening?
　This is a season when hydrangeas are in bloom. It means we're already at the beginning of the rainy season. These days there are more and more new species of hydrangeas seen in flower shops everywhere. Among them I like "Hydrangea Snowflakes", "Sumida Fireworks", and "Dance Party." They're all so cute and beautiful.
　If I remember correctly, the original species to Japan was "Gakuajisai." In Edo Period western people brought them back to their own countries in Europe. They grew many different kinds from the original one and later they were brought back to Japan again. Those new hydrangeas were called "Western Hydrangeas" in Japan, which have become very popular.
　Every time I have my own class, I buy some pots of hydrangeas aroung this season. When the season is over I usually plant it in the school garden. They grow beautiful flowers every year. I believe everyone in my former school can enjoy some new kinds of pretty hydrangeas in the garden now.

(Tuesday, June 6, 2017)I've been doing a lot of things of my own for the kids. I've been writing lots and lots of class letters to express myself. It seems I've been doing something good that a teacher could do. But it's difficult to do something that is welcomed by everyone. There are some students or parents who don't like what I do. It's quite difficult to make yourself understood by all the people around you. Well, it's not fun to write things like these. People have their own ideas and I can understand that.
　I've been exchanging messages on LINE with some of my ex-class students, but I've decided to delete all of their accounts, because I feel something scary is going to happen to me. In Yokohama it is prohibited that teachers exchange messages on LINE with students. If the board of education knows that I've been against the rule, I'll be punished in some way or other. I'm very sorry for the kids, but I've already deleted their accounts. We can't send email to each other.
　When I'm back at school, I'll be asked by the principal: "Do you enjoy doing LINE with your ex-students?" I would answer, "No, I don't. I used to, but now I'm not interested in it." He knows I'm lying, but all he needs is the negative answer. "No, I don't."