Lonely Boy

A very short entry today, people. After a solid 31 days oif writing these entries, we had 1,209 page visitations. Awesome! Thanks for reading.
For some reason, I have readers in Denmark, Spain, Germany, Russia, South Korea, and Slovenia. I have no idea why! I hope you are planning on visiting Japan.
For those of you who may be interested in staying awhile - I've painted a picture of fun and excitement. It certainly was - and for about four days a week, I had more fun than human beings should be allowed to have. But the other three days?
Let me tell you how I often spent my evenings in Ohtawara-shi. On nights when I wasn't selling my services as an English teacher to the Ohtawara International Friendship Association, or going for Kyudo (Japanese archery) lessons with Ashley and Kanemaru-san, one of my bosses at the OBOE (Ohtawara Board of Education), you would find me home alone.
Leaving one of the seven junior high schools I taught at, or the OBOE, at 5PM, I'd be home by 5:30PM at the latest. I'd drop off my things, change from my dress clothes into my tee shirt and jeans and ride my bicycle over to the local video rental shop and get two or three videos! I'd then race to a local grocery store and pick up a pre-cooked Japanese meal that only required me to heat it up in the microwave.
Riding home, I'd stop off at the variety/convenience/sake store directly two floors below me and pick up a two-litre bottle of Coca-Cola.
At home, I'd turn on the air-conditioner or heater I had installed. Then I'd flick on the televisions, watch some American TV that would be broadcast in bilingual stereo (those programs could be watched in English, Japanese, or a combination of both). While microwaving my food, I would put some clothes in the washing machine. When the heating in the microwave was done, I would turn on the washing machine.
Having the heater or air-conditioner on with the television, microwave and the washer, would blow the fuse! I did it twice before figuring things out. No big deal... I just had to throw the breaker back on to get electricity back.
While eating, I'd watch my videos... Depending on my mood, I might answer the telephone when it rang. At 8PM, it was my mentally-challenged student from Nozaki Junior High School, a double-ring long distance call could mean it was Kristine--she, I would pick the phone up for. In fact, I knew I would gladly kill a yak for her supper, if she was so inclined.
Owing to the time difference between Toronto and Ohtawara, I knew no one from Canada was calling me in the evening. I had no answering machine, so I did take my chances.
Others calling me locally - it really was hit or miss.
Despite my out-going personality, I enjoyed being alone (or so I thought). Matthew (who called me on October 30, 2010), he knew better than to try and call me at my apartment - and often just showed up on my doorstep with beer and food.Great friggin' guy!
We'd watch a movie... he'd leave, I'd watch a couple more and finish my laundry and ironing. By 1AM, it was time to go to bed and wake up six hours later.
I'd become domesticated without realizing it.

Somewhere I don't have a girlfriend this week,
Andrew Joseph
Today's title is by Paul Anka: LISTEN