10/13/2007: "One of those update things"

Before I forget, included in the "more.." thing is a photo from an event I went to today with some students from the school I work at. Figured I didn't have anything else to do today.

My sense of emotional well-being sways pretty dramatically from day to day, sometimes moment to moment. Fine one moment, most certainly not okay the next. But midterms, papers, and work don't really give one much time to deal with this stuff, so I'm just trudging through as best I can.

I now have an iPod Touch (8gig model), for all my video-watching, music-listening, information-managing, and web-browsing needs, all in a small, portable package. I also managed to pull some international ties and get ahold of the demi-god of all electronic Japanese dictionaries. For those of you (the vast majority) who don't spend much of your time with Japanese, this seems kinda trivial. Unfortunately, they're nearly impossible to get in America (since learning Japanese isn't exactly that big of a market). Second, when you can find them, they're either terrible American/beginner's models ("Hi! I'm a hideously small screen that can't really do anything! I do make a decent--if markedly big--calculator!") or from import companies who tack on a healthy 200% mark-up. I do already own a totally sufficient electronic dictionary, but being in my 4th year with the language (and I bought my current one 2 years ago), I figured it's about time to upgrade from the standard model to the cadillac of dictionaries (the Canon V300). Seriously, it has a touch screen. I can touch words to look them up, or write directly on it if I can't read a kanji. Useful? Who knows. Totally awesome? Most definitely.

Seriously, though.. even if this thing is practically coated in gold with all the 'cool' (yet not exactly 'necessary') features, it is something I'd be needing. Translating's hard work.

Aside from spending obscene amounts of money, I've been pretty much living at work this week, starting my days at 7:30 and between work and classes, getting home at about 6-7. Fortunately, placement testing is almost finished, just got to do the testing for the late-comers on Monday, hand out class schedules and grades, and.. do the orientation. My boss who usually does this is at a conference, so I'll be taking over the computer lab orientation. Good thing public speaking doesn't bother me.

I really should get some sleep.. ideally, the world will look better in the morning. I really do hate feeling like this, but things just don't feel right lately. Nothing does. All the details in my life just feel kinda distant, out of sync. Unfortunately, I have no idea what to make of any of this.

I'm gonna get going and head off to bed. Not sure if I'm tired, but I guess we'll see what happens.


Tucson Meet Yourself

I'm the one in the obscenely large hat, that's Na Young (Korea) to the right, and the others are assorted Japanese and Taiwanese students (I did their placement tests earlier this week, so I don't really know their names yet).
Jason