Obama is our president!

Map for Julie

For Julie <3 Ashley

Only cool people get it.

Bento Pity Party, Ladies' night, and other stuff

Maybe you are not aware - but bento boxes are huge in Japan. Bento is just another word for boxed lunch. But these people go crazy making these awesome lunches. It kind of makes me jealous. Am I boxed lunch making deficient?
I make lunch for Bob every day pretty much. And this - is how it turns out.

His is on the left. You can tell because I actually make some effort at being cute.

That looks pretty good right? But it's not THIS:

I mean, that's two bananas chatting it up. But they're bananas made from katsu (fried cutlet) and how cool is that? I want that...

So I've decided as yet one more thing I'm going to add to the list and maybe maybe not get around to doing should be to be a better bento chef.

I've been visiting blogs of various internet gurus and I figure I have a good chance of at least stealing other people's ideas. You can look here if you want to check out my progress. I guess =p








Enough with the pity party. Let's talk about brownies.



So a few nights ago I spent the night at Erin's house and we had a girls' night with Leslie, Amanda, and May. Here is how it went down:


That's Leslie and Erin and our brownies.

May and Amanda looking excited.


Oh wait.... that doesn't look right. So evidently we doubled the recipe or used a bowl have the size we were supposed to and it ended up exploding in the oven. That's okay though. We scraped off the top (which had cooked) and enjoyed a molten creation which was terrible for my calorie count for the day.

Anything else I can show you today.... the most beautiful sky I think I've seen so far.

Cheers. Now I'm going to go collapse because I'm heavily medicated from my cold.

My new school

Alright, this isn't necessarily going to be a post of rainbows and unicorns but let me introduce my new school. I found a movie which almost perfectly illustrates how I feel when I wake up in the morning and realize that it's Tuesday or Thursday:


http://fourfour.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/ulpathy.gif

Thanks Rich.

It's not that the school itself is located precisely near the mouth of hell... but sometimes I wonder why there isn't a teenage-d vampire hunter prowling around the grounds to help me. I can't even tell if they're just like that because they're like that in all of their classes or if they (rightly so) believe that they'll never use English in their daily lives in the future (even McDonalds employees get to flip over to an English menu so they're saved the embarrassment of speaking the language they've learned for six years) so why should they bother listening to me in class? Paradoxically the students LOVE talking to me outside of class. Many of them haven't appeared to figure out that if they only paid attention in class more then they would be able to converse with me more. Who am I to judge right?

To be honest the only thing that really affects me about the school is the high rate of violence in class. The students don't bother me exactly but if a certain teacher makes a wrong move or (goodness forbid) takes away someone's cell phone when they've been shouting at the top of their lungs into it then all hell breaks loose and I end up wondering if I'm physically safe.

It's not impossible but it's certainly trying.

The one thing that keeps me going back are the friendly students who, despite their classmates yelling and goofing off around them, diligently try to do the work and try to use their English with me. I'll keep you posted but I wanted to just let it out here.

Happy Birthday

Late, I know--Happy 2nd birthday Felicity! (photos compliment of Dad)

Say hello to my new nephew!

Benjamin Cole Alexander born 2:35 pm Sept. 8,2008. 8 lbs 1oz,22in. Mom ,Dad,Baby and Big Sis all doing well !!!!








The name Damien Victor shall be mine! XD

McCain has committed political suicide

So, McCain picked Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, to be his vice president.
I'm assuming he's hoping to pull the female democratic vote away from Barack but... the whole reason those women wanted Hilary was because she had good issues to back her up. This cougar wants to drill for oil wherever she can find it and believes we should be teaching creationism in schools (not to mention she's a card-carrying NRA member).

I guess McCain has really decided he can't win and wants to try to go down in a flaming ball of failure and defeat as soon as possible.

Ask me for the link so that you my understand =D

Cheers

Okay, I know I've been busy and blah blah blah I need to get over it but I AM trying to keep up with this thing. Between being sick, being busy with the new school year, and just plain being tired all the time I haven't exactly been the best thing since sliced bread. I know this. So, this is the last time I'm going to be apologizing for my lack of follow through. I promise that I'll get to work on making this a bit more consistent. THERE.

One thing that I'd like to do is get you clued in on everything that's been going on. I really haven't posted anything substantial (in my opinion) since Christmastime so I'll be rectifying that in the coming posts. Please be patient as one of the reasons it's been so slow coming is that I haven't gone through my photos in AGES. Tomorrow, which is technically today as I'm having a bout of insomnia, I have only one class but I have a substantial bit of grading to do. Somewhere in there I'll be posting our Christmas video and hopefully it works this third time around...
Cheers and see you all in the morning!

Here's something to watch in the meantime

Please read this...

As if I didn't feel obligated to hate McCain before... this is an article from Jezebel which I look at every so often.

Meet Lilly Ledbetter. She's A Good Reason To Vote Against John McCain

Lilly Ledbetter, pictured here with Hillary Clinton yesterday, got totally screwed by the Supreme Court. And now she's being screwed by the Senate. You see, Lilly was a supervisor for an Alabama Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. She was being paid less than every single one of the male supervisors: 15% less than the lowest paid male supervisors and 40% less than the highest paid. Lilly had no idea that she was being stiffed by her bosses, because in her contract she had agreed not to discuss her salary with anyone outside of her family. An anonymous coworker slipped her a note, telling her she was being cheated, and so Lilly decided to sue Goodyear for the discrimination. A lower court awarded Ledbetter $3.8 million, but the Supreme Court overturned the decision — because she didn't file the claim within 180 days of her first unfair paycheck (though there was absolutely no way she could have known she was making less at that point).

As a result of that patent unfairness, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was put before the Senate yesterday. And it was voted down, 56-42. By a Republican filibuster. And John McCain didn't even bother to show up to vote.

The Ledbetter Act would have allowed people more than 180 days to file claims against their employers, and, according to U.S. News and World Report, "It would have each discriminatory paycheck trigger a new claim-filing period, that is, another 180-day window in which to file a case with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission." McCain, however, is against it because, according to the Daily Kos, McCain is "all in favor of pay equity for women, but this kind of legislation, as is typical of what's being proposed by my friends on the other side of the aisle, opens us up to lawsuits for all kinds of problems...This is government playing a much, much greater role in the business of a private enterprise system."

As Kos points out, "Pay discrimination is already illegal. This legislation would have fixed a bad [Supreme Court] decision that severely limited the ability of workers to hold their employers accountable for breaking the law." Both Obama and Clinton voted in favor of the Ledbetter Act.

The fact that this Act was voted down in the first place makes me want to vomit, but it's especially depressing if you read Ruth Bader Ginsberg's dissenting opinion in the Supreme Court case. Ginsberg, of course, was one of four judges who voted in favor of Ledbetter, and she wrote, "The jury also heard testimony that another supervisor—who evaluated Ledbetter in 1997 and whose evaluation led to her most recent raise denial—was openly biased against women...And two women who had previously worked as managers at the plant told the jury they had been subject to pervasive discrimination and were paid less than their male counterparts. One was paid less than the men she supervised...Ledbetter herself testified about the discriminatory animus conveyed to her by plant officials. Toward the end of her career, for instance, the plant manager told Ledbetter that the 'plant did not need women, that [women] didn't help it, [and] caused problems.'"

What the fuck. On a micro level, Lilly Ledbetter got completely fucked over. On a macro one, Republicans don't give a shit about anyone but CEOs. I'm just as baffled about this as Nevada Senator Harry Reid, who said, "I don't know how anyone would oppose something like this. It just makes sense that people should be treated fairly."

Only I probably understand it...

But it makes me happy. And isn't this what it's all about really?

Wind for the bitches?

In case you're curious, it was inspired after watching this.

Don't worry, I won't rick roll you UNLIKE SOMEONE I KNOW

HMMMMMMMm

I know I need to be more consistent with this thing because sooner or later I'm going to want to read everything again.... but I'm losing the motivation. GIVE ME MOTIVATION.

My computer is finally fixed THANK GOD and Bob and I have been playing a lot of video games ^_^v but there's nothing much going on. Tomorrow we'll be climbing mountains with Ohara again so maybe I'll take the time to write an entry about all the mountains.
To Do List:
1. Video Games
2. Current Events
3. Teachers
4. Saying Goodbye
5. New Year
6. Mountains
7. Parties
8. Pictures
9. Anything else I can think to ramble on about

Anyway, give me a ring!!

Not AS Sad Face

So, I figured out how to hook up an external monitor to my computer so I'll be answering e-mails ALLLLL weekend =D Look forward to it!!

SAD FACE

Alright, I know you guys don't want to hear it but I am having a shitty week.

1. I just found out my dog Annie died. Luckily there's some fresh blood in the family in the form of Ella (see Dad's flickr). I just miss Annie ;_; She was getting old and kind of cranky but she's the best dog I've ever known and I had her for almost half of my life so it's a big part of me to suddenly say goodbye to. RIP Annie

2. All of my seniors graduated. This goes both ways. I'm extremely proud of all of my students and I absolutely wish them the best at everything... I just don't want to say goodbye to them yet.

3. I just found out that I'll be transferring visit schools from Tagawa SHS to Akashina SHS. I've finally gotten used to the office and making friends at the school and feeling like I can be a good teacher here and THAT'S when they decide to transfer me. Terrific. The teachers here are confused and a little upset, so at least I know they'll miss me.. but dammit why do I have to say goodbye so much? I won't be leaving Tagawa until August and I kind of wish I had found out then so I could forget about leaving.

Saying goodbye sucks and I am officially vetoing it.

A Unicorn in the Garden by James Thurber

Okay, so this is coming a little out of nowhere but earlier today I was searching for famous Ohio people so I could write up a new introduction lesson (my current one is a mite bit boring in the beginning) and I came across James Thurber. I was only casually interested in him as a famous person until I found this cartoon:

http://www.jibjab.com/player/main.swf?jid=167159

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did ^_^v Please let me know if the video is screwed up.

So what'd you do at work?

Alright. Here is the product of a day's work:

8:35 Arrive at work (technically) but head off to Lawson for some deliciously German named Milk Cocoa (in the hot beverage section of course).
8:45 Enter the building, exchange my outdoor shoes with my ten dollar indoor shoes, head upstairs to the English office.
9:00-10:30 What I'd like to call actual work. I made two lessons plans and have started on a third. Lesson plan 1: a murder mystery based on clue-finding and occupations to play next week so the students can "review." Lesson plan 2: A lesson based around cell phone English (and technically I just stole it lock, stock, and barrel from another ALT but.. we're all in this together). Lesson Plan 3:
my introduction. I ordered a bunch of pictures from Snapfish and I'm organizing a scavenger-hunt-look-at-the-map-crossword-puzzle-ask-the-teacher-search-a-word extravaganza of an intro so next year my intro to the firsties can be stunning.
10:30-12:00 Wander the internet, e-mail Bob, e-mail Todd, remind myself to call Mom and Dad, checked out www.virtualthesaurus.com and play with it until the subscription screen but still consider buying it.
12:00-12:40 Lunch, look over a third year's compositions, laze
12:45-3:45 Shop on Amazon, ogle the Kindle and then scoff at it, make a 3-D snowflake to hang in the office window



And now for something completely different:

Just because

It's been a great weekend so far and, as Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die.” Which is a creepy thing to say >>;

The Kingdom of Loathing

A tasty treat that Charles came across at some point and gifted to Bob and me and I've already gifted it to Julie so I might as well give it to you =p.
google kingdom of loathing and join up!
Bob = Rapturous
Me = Rhapsodine
so be friends with us

A preview:

You're fighting a G imp

This is an imp dressed entirely in black leather bondage gear. He giggles in a way you're not entirely comfortable with. With which you're not entirely comfortable.

You get the jump on him.

potted cactusThis is a tiny cactus in a tiny pot. It's perfect for gift-giving, 'cause, y'know, nothing says "I'm fond of you" like a harsh, dry, motionless, spiny thing that neither requires nor gives care or affection.


urinal cakeOkay, it's surprisingly tasty, but this really isn't something you should give to anyone you actually like. I guess it's the perfect way to say "thanks for looting my clan," or "thanks for PvPing the crap out of me," or just "I'm not feeling all right today, I'm not feeling that great."

You're fighting a Snow Queen

This frosty monarch is made of a cloud of whirling snow with a regal crown floating on top of it. She's a bit of a fat-bottomed girl, but she hits like dynamite with a laser beam. If you don't stop her now, she'll be the champion. My friend.

She gets the jump on you.

Speak, Frat Boy, and Enter

While moseying (which is like sashaying, only with less of a lisp) through the maze of tunnels in the dwarven mine, you come across an eXtremely lost Orcish frat boy.

"Hey, bra," he says. "I brought a sorority orc in here to make out, y'know, but she totally ditched me and I can't find my way out! Can you help me?"

You agree to lead him to safety, reasoning that you haven't done your good deed for the day yet and you don't want another frat boy skeleton on your conscience. As you wind your way through the darkness, you hear someone playing the longest drum solo you've ever heard.

"Whoah," the frat boy says, "drums in the deep... what do you suppose that is?"

"Be on your guard," you tell him. "There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world."

Of course, he takes offense at that comment and you end up having to throw down with him anyway. You make short work of him, there in the darkness, rifle his pockets, and make your way back to the surface alone.

There's nothing more impressive than funny English.

Question #1: What would you do with $1,000,000?
-- I will sleep on the roll of bills. Next, I will scatter it from helicopter. Next I will buy all commodity in all one hundred yen shop.

Question #2: What is your favorite part of Japanese culture?
-- My favorite part of Japanese culture is instant noodles. I put hot water into it. I wait for three minutes. It becomes very beautiful, shining, and delicious. I think this is true Japanese culture.

Question #3: Who is your idol? / Tell me a Japanese joke!
-- My idol is Ms. Higuchi. I am happiest when I am thinking about her. I love her. This is Japanese joke.

Courtesy of one of my first year students. Ms. Higuchi is the Japanese teacher who teaches English with me sometimes.

The Re-Contract Dance

So, can I have a drum roll please?

Bob and I have decided to re-contract and stay in Japan for another year. It took a lot of sweat and tears to finally get to this place so there's nothing left to do but move forward!!

I'm looking forward to paying off my loans and really getting my life figured out as far as graduate school goes. We're both looking at Indiana but the one problem is that our universities there are about two hours apart >>; We'll figure it out. Just thought anyone who's reading this would like to know where we're headed in life!

So this sucks

I can't get a gym membership because I have a tattoo............

At least Bob likes my tattoo but I can't lift him...

HA

I know it's not particularly funny to anyone but me at the moment but when I was walking back up the stairs from the bathroom I walked by a teacher who I almost ran into. He immediately started jumping like a bunny in place and when I gave him the WTF look he said hello and then continued bouncing. Completely unbelievable and I wish I could have laughed out loud but I was mostly in shock until a few seconds ago.

Ashley's goals for the year 2008

To apply to a great grad school
To try out finger painting again (I liked it when I was three anyway)
To take a hiphop fitness tape home from the library and try it out with the Juli-s
To make home movies of me and Bob being ridiculous together so I can torture our future teen aged children
and to learn how to sing a song in a different language while actually knowing what I'm saying

Coming soon

Coming soon to my blog (oh the suspense)
1. Bonenkai - End of the year party
2. Osaka and Kyoto
3. Chinese with Ohara-sensei