it's not life that matters but the journey...

Looking at my most recent entries, I've decided that I may be a bit too long-winded (in other words:  I write too much).  I wonder how many people actually read all that I write here on this journal.  In college, when I wrote for the newspaper, they gave me an award for the "most prolific writer" on staff and "most likely to write a novel."  Well, I'm writing a novel, but its not coming along so well.  But I did write a few more lines today.  And I just came up with another idea for a novel, one that will require so much research, but if I do it, could be very rewarding and interesting.  I will only say that it would be a romance set in Japan during WWII between a Japanese man and an American woman.  See why I would need to do research?  I'm not sure if I'm good enough to do a novel set during the war, but I can try!
But back to my journals and writing too much, I think that I write for myself as much as for anyone.  I just said to my friend Sarah, "A writer writes," which is a quote from the movie "Barton Fink" one of my all time favorites!

speaking of movies, last night we watched the new version of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" with Johnny Depp.  we downloaded it from the server, which I thought we wouldn't be able to use anymore.  I had already read Roger Ebert's review, as well as other reviews that said that it was kind of disappointing.  Especially Johnny Depp's performance.  I love him, but he really did not live up to his talent in this film.  and, unlike the Gene Wilder character in the original movie, who was really quirky and a bit enigmatic (Gene Wilder was truly a genius), Johnny Depp's Willy Wonka is more strange than quirky, and he really looks ugly - actually quite scary.   Ebert said he looks like a combination of Michael Jackson (really white skin and makeup) and Carol Burnett (he wears a terrible auburn-colored wig, cut into a bob).  The oompa loompas were interesting, but the songs they sing are annoying.  and the whole movie is too frenetic and tiring - not nearly as good as most of Tim Burton's movies.  but this movie was not as bad as "War of the Worlds." 

It was nice having the last two days to rest.  starting tomorrow, things will get busy again.  I work tomorrow from 10 to 6, with five classes.  Then Sunday afternoon I am taking the train up to Saitama, just north of Tokyo, to visit my friends the Yoshinos.  I will stay there until Wednesday night or Thursday morning.  Then I work Friday afternoon, and will meet my friend for dinner.  I was offered the day off on that Saturday, but I really would like to work (for the money).  Then Sunday the 21st, I will meet several of my former students for dinner, and then I work four days the following week (substituting for two vacationing teachers).  After that, at the end of August, things should slow down!  I've only been promised work on Saturdays starting in September.  Naoko said she would offer me more days, only if I could work until 9 or 10 at night!  I honestly think she is trying to get rid of me, so I will start looking for other things after August.

so I might not be able to update this journal for about a week.  then I am sure I will have lots more to write about, after seeing my friends and getting out of town again (this time without Masahiko).