I'll take "Stress" for 100, Alex.

I had to chuckle when I saw this over at http://www.someecards.com/ .....

...because, really.....that's pretty much going to be me this summer when I come to the States.

Then...I found out that, my mom? Yeah...she pimped me out at a party....which got me to thinking,
"Hey....she might have something there."

So....whaddya think?

****************

Right now I have about a gazillion thoughts and ideas running around in my head and they are all mooshing together....I'm really having a hard time getting my "ducks all in a row", such that they are. (Did that even make any sense...at all?? sheesh. I'm not safe to drive!)


On Monday, there was a bit of a "This is your travel agent and oh, I'm sorry, but, your credit card isn't working, could you call the Visa company?"

Try not to stress a bit over that kind of thing...go on....I dare you.

After I called the company ("No, there's no trouble here...it must be on the end of the travel agent."), I called my mom and got another credit card lined up and was going to figure out how to wire money in case we needed to resort to that.....then I called the travel agent back on Tuesday morning and went over the numbers again...slowly...in both Japanese and English....about 2 hours later she called back and "Oh, it's okay."

Holy Hell. I don't need this kind of stress.

Funny thing about the tickets though? Yeah...on the itinerary it has us flying into "Denver-Stapleton".

Now...I'm not sure if you are familiar with the Denver area but....Stapleton Airport? Yeah...they closed that puppy down about 1995....it's gone...maybe it's an ice skating rink and shopping center, I'm not sure...I do know that it. is. no. longer. there.
My cousin, who works at the real airport, was cracking up.

I have lined up people in case they are needed to help cause a diversion and stop traffic, you know...if the plane has to land right there in the middle of Quebec Street. You might want to stay close to CNN on July 16, just in case....I'm thinking there's a HUGE possibility for a story here.

I'm also about to do something that I have been thinking about for a very long time....something I've been wanting to do but never had, if you'll pardon the expression, the balls to be, you know, like Nike and just DO IT.....well, I found 'em and I'm going to do it.

I'm being creative in trying to find something that will encourage students to study with me.

Now....since I don't have a Master's Degree, I'm not qualified to teach at the university level.

I am not a big fan of teaching kids. If they want to learn, then I will think about it, but if Mom is the one who wants them to learn? No....sorry, but I can help you find someone else who has a lot more patience than me.

I spent 10 years teaching at the high school level (the last 2 were basically in Hell!) and I'm seriously thinking that there is not enough yen in the world to make me go back to that...(but not to completely burn that bridge, you never can tell...I might someday get over the trauma...not from the students, mind you, but from the other teachers, administration and bureaucracy and go back.)

I've spend the last 5 years being, basically, self-employed. I like being my own boss. But as there are many others here doing the same thing...oh, not as well as moi, mind you...but still...it's pretty competitive.

So....I'm trying something new.

I'm starting a new class that will be held in a place where I already rent the room for classes a couple times a week.

The idea of this class is different, maybe for Nagasaki, though I do know of a couple other people NOT in Nagasaki that are doing something similar.

I'm offering a 2-hour class, once a month (with a choice of two available dates) that will include a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere for English conversation with a beverage, something to eat and chatting time on a different main topic each month.

The first class is Friday and I have 5 ladies signed up, so far. I have received phone calls from a few others sayng that they are thinking about it.

The theme of the day is "Patio Time".

I'm serving something that I do so love to eat while sitting on the patio with friends and since there will be no alcoholic beverages (damn!), I'm making some 'fruit tea' to drink and then possibly there will be something sweet to eat to finish up. As my mind is a'jumble, I haven't completely decided on that part yet.

Wish me luck and I'll let you know on Friday night how it went.