 November
2, 2010 - Baby Gap Model
Contest. Yup,
once again this year we entered Shai in the Baby Gap Model
Contest in Japan. For those of you interested, we took a
bunch of pictures making the decision of which pics to send a
bit tougher. You can check them out at the following link. |
November 2, 2010 - Email
Message -
Ikuko.
HI. I wanted to tell you Akiko is not working today.
We are talking about many things now.
Maybe we will go shopping today.
Need to work on the bedroom walls.
We are going to talk about getting the tv today.
Send email when you can.
Howie.
November 4, 2010 - Email
Message -
Jim.
Hi. I wanted to give you guys an update.
Akiko is getting much busier at work now. Shai caught a cold this week and is
pretty much inside the last couple days.
Now much cooler in Japan. I spent the last couple weeks putting in plywood
flooring in preparation for the finished flooring. Was able to finish the entry,
kitchen, and bedroom. Planned on pulling off the paneling in the bedroom and
paint only to discover there is nothing behind the paneling. Yup, an exterior
wall, air space and paper thin paneling. Now need to spend the next couple weeks
redoing the walls in the bedroom. Possible could chat early on Sunday our time
like 8 am which would be around 4pm the day before your time.
Been watching football almost every night. Many good games this year but the
bills really suck.
Anyway, send email when you can.
November 6, 2010 - Email
Message - Jim, Linda.
Hey guys. We might be a few minutes late tomorrow. Now the little dude is sick.
Can still do chat though. Will send email in the morning. Talk to you again.
November 6, 2010 - Email
Message - Jim, Linda.
Hi. We were really happy to chat with you guys today. Thanks again for the stuff
and especially the camera. After chat we played around with it and found we can
do all kinds of crazy effects. Shai looked really funny. Will show you next
time.
We realize the plan of coming to Japan is in the talking stages but we were
pretty excited to even think about the possibility. You can take a look at the
English Global Group school site. With everything set up now we plan to begin
marketing for new students.
Wanted to talk to you about the SD site and completely forgot. Now the site is
being spammed like crazy. These auto spam bots found the site. Akiko is going to
install a new script which is the same as the United Nations site. This script
is open source and free but tons of files. When finished there should be a
really good event calendar and classifieds. Individual groups will be able to
make there own profiles to promote their missions in detail. I want to set u p
your advertising when this is all finished. Would be nice for you to make a
promotional video. Some stuff to think about.
Anyway chat in a few weeks. Send email when you can.
Howie, Akiko.
November 6, 2010 - Email
Message -
Ikuko.
Hey whassup.
I was kinda upset during class because you shoulda told me before class but no
problem now.
Really do not wancha to worry about it.
Already you know we are good.
Today class was lotsa fun.
Whajya think of the kids class today.
Waddaya wanna do next class.
Maybe you can gimme a few ideas.
I think we coulda spent more time together today.
I really want to spend more time and like you.
Send email when you can.
Howie.
November 6, 2010 - Email
Message -
Ikuko.
Hi. I want you to contact the students when you can. I am changing the party to
November 20 if the students can make it to the party. If they cannot then maybe
it will be on the original date. Let me know as soon as you can. I was really
amazed you cannot understand the reduction lesson. It is probably the easiest
concept to teach. This is simply combining words to a simpler form. Nothing
difficult at all since the meaning is listed along with the definition. Anyway
take a look at the school site. Now many new lessons and the pictures are
uploaded. send email when you can.
Howie.
November 7, 2010 - Email
Message -
Ikuko.
Hi. I want to know some things about the party.
Wanna know if many from your family plan to come.
If not many are coming then might cancel the party and do next month.
Cannot change the picture for you.
Pretty sure people use a program called photoshop but it is not installed on my
computer and no experience using it.
Now really sick with the flu. tayed in and worked on the computer the entire day.
Probably be in much of the week.
Send email when you can.
Howie.
November 8, 2010 - Email
Message -
Ikuko.
Hi. I am happy you are concerned about me anytime.
Actually a bit better tonight.
I took a bath the last few nights.
I ate really spicy food and drank wine.
Then sweating a lot and can get rid of the sickness soon.
Recently doing tons of work on the Internet and job.
Really happy to be working again on my career and making new content for the
sites.
Can spend hours working on my projects without getting tired.
Many times I will wake up in the middle of the night and think about work.
Then cannot sleep and simply get up and work for a few hours.
Anyway your picture is really good.
Happy to keep this picture on the site.
Send email when you can.
Howie.
November 10, 2010 - Email
Message -
Ikuko.
Hi. I want to comment about your recent email and other things.
Last week after teaching the kids class the girl asked many questions to Akiko
about you. It seemed like she was thinking a lot about you being in class. Then
I asked Akiko to contact the parent and decide if they want you in the class.
They said they want you to continue coming to class at least until other
students register.
This week the adult class will only be pronunciation since a student will miss
class. This way it will be easier for the student to understand the lesson. Tell
the ladies class on day 20 of this month will be a two hour class.
I decided to cancel the party on day 27 of this month. It seemed there was not
enough interest and many people cannot attend and many are undecided. Still
planning the party for next month though.
Any conversation online classes will be 3000 yen for a 55 minute conversation
class. Business classes will be 4000 yen for a 55 minute class. This price is
not listed on the site because I thought no requests for this type of class were
coming. Business classes require a lot of preparation time depending on the
topic. Actually you can see the price for the regular business classes is higher
on the site.
Hopefully this answers your questions and concerns.
Send email when you can.
Howie.
November 13, 2010 - Email
Message -
Ikuko. Really happy you are going to advertise the school with me tomorrow.
Send email when you can. Howie.
November 16, 2010 - Email
Message -
Ikuko.
Hi. I am going to do the intermediate class without you in a couple weeks.
Akiko is inviting some friends and coworkers to the party.
Maybe they will stay overnight.
Should be fun.
Send email when you can.
Howie.
November 18, 2010 - Email
Message -
Ikuko.
Hi. I want to tell you many things now. Recently I am very frustrated. When I
made my real estate business many years ago it was much easier. Then I was in
America and everything was in English. No need to depend on anyone and could do
everything. Now need to depend on Akiko and you for Japanese and many things.
Really do not like to ask favor from anyone. It is not good feeling for me to
depend on others for my business. Recently you are very busy at work. Akiko is
busy and coming home late and tired. Then I realize do not want to depend on
anyone anymore. I am going to do anything I can do for the Internet business and
the school. If cannot do then it will not be finished. Recently I took the links
to the Japanese pages on the school site off the site. Cannot do the Japanese
translation and will keep the site English only now. Spending more time now
getting caught up on all the link exchange requests and other business relating
to the sites. This will be the focus now. Marketing at the event last weekend
was ineffective. No phone calls were received and almost no new visitors to the
school site. It was a good attempt but same as America handing out flyers is not
effective marketing. Was thinking it might be different in Japan but it is the
same. Want to talk about you being assistant in class. Really I can do without
you. Really focusing on my work from now. Pretty much this is my thinking
now. Send email when you can. Howie.
November 20, 2010 - Email
Message -
Ikuko.
Hi. I want to talk to you about many things now. You know we like each other and
do not forget about this.
Today you sent email which seemed really important when I was shopping with
Akiko. It seemed like you need to talk about some problem. It was day off for
Akiko but you said you were waiting for me and we came home a bit early. I am
really happy Yuya wants to learn English from me but it needs to be on the
school schedule. A normal language school will set the classes and then the
students need to decide. Quite honestly I already made plan with Akiko for this
week on the days she is off. We went shopping today to purchase things to finish
the bedroom. Recently Shai is getting sick and maybe because the bedroom was not
warm. I can only work on the room when someone is with Shai now. I cannot do the
free class on Sunday and Tuesday because I need to finish the room which I
already told Akiko. I can do the free class next Saturday at 10 am with the
ladies. He can also come at 11 am for a private free class and then for the
party. I can even talk with him during the party. Again I need to think of
family and being warm and stick to the plan with Akiko. Maybe you can understand
about this.
Today you talked about coming to the kids class again. You wanted to know a
decision and you wanted to know when I would make the decision. Again it was a
lot of pushing for me to do something. Akiko seemed unhappy about it because she
needs to keep telling the parent of the student something different. It was a
long talk with Akiko tonight about many things. I made a decision as you
requested. I want you to continue to volunteer for the class with your friends
if you want. I am not going to need you as an assistant in the kids class and in
the intermediate class. It is many discussions about this topic and better to do
these classes myself. It makes the situation simple and easy. Today you said not
to use any Japanese in the kids class but when you were assistant you used a lot
of Japanese when you talked with the student. This made talking to you tonight
kind of confusing. Again I want to make my own decisions concerning teaching and
the classes.
Akiko and I talked about BYOB for the party. She agreed it was a good idea and
she will probably tell her friends if she wants.
Anyway I want things to be easier and simpler for everyone and I will do instead
of asking others to do from now. This will take away a lot of frustration and
take away many discussions. Hopefully you can understand about all this. I
really appreciate everything you for me anytime. Really happy if you can learn
English from me. Really know I like you. Send email when you can.
Howie.
November 20, 2010 - Email
Message -
Ikuko.
Hi. I know those type of email were sent to you before. Really I apologize for
sending those. Actually I am not upset with you and the situation. Recently
Akiko is getting upset about many things. Now she knows about work more and my
thinking. She met a man at work who is a professional site designer and working
for her company as a consultant. This person is really impressed with the work
Akiko had completed on our sites. Then he was saying many people are making a
lot of money on the Internet even with only google ads. Now Akiko can understand
more about my thinking. She is becoming more motivated to do online business and
not thinking as much about the school. Man times people cannot understand the
way I am thinking especially about business. Actually doing business was a good
point for me in America. Maybe Akiko could not believe before and now is
realizing I am doing a good thing online. Many Japanese cannot understand about
my work. To many of them it look like I am playing on the computer every day.
Many think I should be focusing on the school and maybe working a regular job.
Really do not want to do like everyone and do same thing every day. Want to do
more and contribute something to this world. Really want you to understand about
this thinking. Send email when you can.
Howie. |
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November
25, 2010 - Email
Message - Valerie.
Hi. I want to tell you Happy Thanksgiving. Spent a quiet day at home with Akiko
and Shai and ate the closest thing we could find to a traditional meal. I am
thinking about you all the time and wondering if we can chat anytime soon. I
love you and miss you very much. Send email when you can.
Dad. |
 November
27, 2010 - Thanksgiving Party. Another theme party. This time to celebrate Thanksgiving in
Japan which was overall pretty funny. Everyone enjoyed
themselves despite the numerous food substitutes used to
make as close to a traditional Thanksgiving meal as
possible. Kinda funny but the turkey tasted like
chicken....hmmmm. |
November 27, 2010 - Email
Message -
Ikuko.
Hi. I was really not feeling good this morning. Then I talked with Akiko for a
few hours and we came to a few decisions. Would like to talk to you about it
when we meet. Need to do a few things this afternoon around the house. Send
email when you can.
Howie.
November 28, 2010 - Email
Message -
Ikuko.
Hi. I really need you to quit worrying about everything. Recent fighting was not
about you. Now the situation is not good with Akiko and you keep thinking too
much. Quite honestly all this drama is getting to be a lot for me now. If things
do not settle down soon then will probably sell the house and go back home. I
simply am getting very tired of this mess. Combine all this with the fact Japan
is either too warm, too cold, loaded with bugs, and very old and small. Going
home means no need to work, warm temperatures, no bugs, beautiful wide streets,
and no drama. It certainly seems like a better choice for me now. Send email
when you can.
Howie.
November 30, 2010 - Email
Message -
Ikuko.
Hi. I was really happy to see you again.
I think the party was good and everyone enjoyed themselves.
I wanted to talk to you much more about business and many things.
Maybe we can spend some time together and talk soon.
I want to talk to you about sending the class files.
I made a decision and hopefully you will understand about this.
I am not going to be able to send you the files for the following reasons.
I really cannot make an exception for only a single student and even for a few
students.
This is a business decision.
It is not fair for other students if I send you the files and different students
cannot get the same benefit.
All the information is on the site and you are welcome to copy each lesson page
into a word file and then do your translation work.
It was the same when doing the real estate business.
It was not good to make exceptions for individual clients.
Send email about this when you can.
Howie.
November 30, 2010 - Email
Message -
Ikuko.
Hi. I think we need to do the long class another day if possible. Really sick
now and think it might be difficult to teach for two hours. Definitely want to
keep the class for this week though. Send email about this when you can.
Howie.
November 30, 2010 - Email
Message -
Ikuko.
Hi. I want to explain. Really do not want to return to SD at this time. Simply
do not want any drama. Went through a lot in the past. You worry about many
things. Anyway the Internet is working again. Actually I make a mistake. After making
the wall in the bedroom I needed to reinstall all the wires because they were on
the cabinet and a total mess. Maybe you saw this when you came to the party. I
really do not like a lot of wires hanging all over the place. Spent a few hours
and put everything up on the wall. Then I put all the connections together and
put a wire in the wrong place. Then the Internet was not working. The error was
all in Japanese and I could not read it. Needed to wait for Akiko to come home
and then I could know the wire was in the wrong place.
Since the Internet was not working I decided to work outside. Shai was not home
and it was a good chance to work on the parking space since a few tiles were
loose. I spent the day outside. This is why the car is parked in the next yard.
A couple days ago Akiko was very sick at night with the flu and a fever. As
usual the next morning she was good again. Because she was sick and working
outside now I am sick and home. It is good the Internet is working again. I am going to be very busy getting all
the Internet stuff ready for the new year and the house. Send email when you can. Howie. |
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