GOTTA HAVE FAITH-A-FAITH-A-FAITH

I can’t believe I am actually going to type this next sentence: hearing George Michael inspired me to write this morning. Stay with me true believers...

Our world clicks along its up-and-down roller coaster track and we ride it; sometimes with eyes shut, sometimes with screams, but always with faith. Not just the religious type, although most that recoil from the word envision churches and funny-robed men, but all of the trust and faith we put into everyday life. Faith that if I go to the bank today I can get my hard-earned clams back. Faith that other cars will stop when I go on green. Faith that your job will be here tomorrow and you won’t have to start scoping out supermarket throw away boxes for a new bed. Faith that your choices will bring you happiness. Whatever love or hate you have for the word or the concept, it’s a necessity.

And who is the Lex Luthor of mighty Faith? Doubt. And he is an evil bastard indeed. While Doubt can keep Faith honest and on the straight and narrow, he can also paralyze. I’ve had so many of them in my life. Hindsight can show them as justified, silly, saving, or a source of monster regret. And I think it all boils down to the type. When my doubt was based in an honest questioning and evaluation of my life and choices, it was a voice to be listened to. But when it was based in fear, of change or the unknown or another’s opinions, it was a life leech.

Fear and Doubt can be a villainous team-up. Even Superman would stress. However, I’m going to try and elminate the pair in my life even without superpowers...but maybe I’ll don a cape.

“Faith keeps you going, but doubt keeps you from going off the deep end.” --- Brad Warner

I CHOO CHOO CHOOSE YOU

A long time coming for a blog update. I’m not sure whether it’s that I’ve had nothing to say or just haven’t been motivated to say it. Regardless, someone has convinced me to start a private journal, and this stuff is the first of its offspring.

I’ve been thinking about what has brought me to where I am and the paths I’ve taken to get here. All the tiny little moments, coincidences, and people that have propelled me through this crazy roller coaster ride that will end up being known as My Life.

Looking at the wide world of choices... it never ends. When I was 18 I woulda figured that by this age I'd either have had everything worked out or I'd be dead. As it turns out neither option panned out. These days my best advice to myself is to do what I love the most, to the best of my ability to do so. Sometimes your own idiocy places you into a position where it seems like you have no options. But I've stopped believing that. There's always some way to make whatever situation you find yourself in into a place you want to be. I've even managed to do this in packed cattle-like commuter trains in Tokyo, or holding the hand of a friend lying in a hospital bed in incredible pain.

I made a lot of mistakes because I half-believed those who said I couldn't ever accomplish the things I truly wanted to do. I majored in chemical engineering in college not because I liked it that much, but because I believed those who told me I had to choose a major to hang a hat on for the rest of my life. Better late than never, but I’ve come to be proud of my choices. From leaving engineering and becoming a teacher, to moving to Japan instead of teaching high school, to moving to Spain without a job, to returning to Japan although everyone said “You can never go back.”, to moving to the UK for a girl…they've all brought me to a place in this world that I never dreamed I would be in. Self-five.

“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” --- Eleanor Roosevelt

LAST OF THE NIPPON NO BU-RA-GU

Decided to toss the last of the MySpace blogs onto this one. I've had someone say "You need to write more." enough that I am hearing it on the radio. So let's see if we can't get this moving again.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

London baby! (Vol. 2)
Hello! (that's how they say "Hello" in England)
Typing this from a chilly house in the North London area and realizing that I just used the word "chilly" in mid-August! The North Atlantic current is a marvelous thing indeed. It's a bit surreal, but I'm apartment hunting again (the 187th time?) and recovering from my monster cross-continental train adventure. It was good, but the peace and quiet is proving to be equally sublime. I'll have to pop up to see the high school where I'll be teaching (mathssssss) sometime to double check how much body armor is needed for the first day of work.
Speaking of London, who is here?!? I've lived overseas for long enough that I'm not sure where the peeps I know have all settled these days. If you are in England for work or pleasure, give me a buzz and we'll pub it. The first pint (do the French say half-liter?) is on me.
Cheerio.

"In England, if you commit a crime, the police don't have a gun and you don't have a gun. If you commit a crime, the police will say 'Stop, or I'll say stop again!'" --- Robin Williams




Thursday, April 26, 2007

Turtles and teaching
February
March
April
Must...stop...flow of time. Need...to...blog more. Days of Japan keep happenin'.

Cherry blossoms have fallen but not before Hanami parties were had. Spring is here but have already taken a Spring Break. Did a quick fly-by of Malaysia! Scuba diving, beaches, fish BBQ's, and swimming with turtles. Grand time. The ability to travel to wonderful places in Japan on the cheap is truly one of the most awesome things about living out here.
Work is solid, but looking elsewhere. Very elsewhere! Scoping out some math/chemistry high school teaching jobs in England. Yes, Gene plans to return to Europeland. Looking to head there in July via many many trains. How do I feel about returning to the land of textbooks, teenagers, and pom poms? Worried, excited, nervous...yes, yes, yes. We'll give it a shot!
The world of English conversation beckons. I must answer its call. Will write again...soonish? Rather than laterish.

"Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is most important that you do it." --Mohandas Gandhi




Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Wow!
OUCH!!! Been a long time updating this thing. Flay me with blogs, stick me with emails...I deserve it. Been busy but mostly lazy. Tokyo does that to one!
Things in me world are good. Still with Nova teaching zee Engrish. Teaching high school and jr. high school students after school in a private tutoring program also. Would love to make that a five-days-a-week thing but we'll see. Seeking another job, but failing to find something both better and similarly paid. Confident that I will though.
Also have started taking capoeira lessons! For all that don't know it's kind of like martial arts dancing from Brazil. Think of it as Chinese Drunken Boxing combined with Samba. Fun...but muy painful.
Traveling has been at a min due to finances, but did manage to get to Nagano for snowboarding over the New Year break. Easier than I thought, but still spent most of the first day sliding on my butt. Defnitely going again!
Have to run! Will maybe type more soon...knowing me when Oscars come out and it's time to rant and rave. ;)




Sunday, August 27, 2006

Tokyo Redux
Jet lagged and adjusting to the now extraordinary amount of fish back in my diet. Tokyo! Felt a wee bit strange to be back in the city of sardine-packed trains and streets. Bright lights and polite people...a little surreal to be back but it's starting to feel more familiar. Start work tomorrow so we'll see if that changes anything. Going back to the exact same school! Great or rotten luck? Have to wait and see.
Anyway, needing sleep to try and beat the lag. Will write later once I've processed all the info of the last few days.




Monday, July 31, 2006

Nippon roads...take me home
Its time. Time to bust a rhyme? No. Time for key lime? No. Time to beat a mime? No. Its super happy fantastic Nippon time!
Returning to Japanarama. Barring any visa hangups or unbeatable offers to be a professional hand model (one can dream) I should be back in Tokyo on August 24. Looks like Ill be living near Shibuya, working for the Nova regime again, and perfectly my okonomiyaki recipe. (the secret ingredient is love) Any who are around and/or might have comfortable couch space (guesthouse may not be available till Sept) please feel free to give me a shout! Sho-chu is on me.
Ready. Set. Go

LONDON BABY!

Job hunting season began a few weeks ago. Those of you that know me well know that I would rather pull my toenails out with pliers than participate in the What-is-your-greatest-weakness Dog and Pony Show. Neverzeeless, went to London last week for lightspeed sightseeing and some interviews. Fish and chips, Westminster, and the Tower of London...I saw more of London before dawn than...

Interviews went swell. One was a Tokyo teaching job. Won´t have availability until January tho. Can you riv 6 monfs wif no emproyment? Yeah, no problem, let me just withdraw about $12,000 from my imaginary account from the Neverland Bank and Trust and I´m good ta go.
Other Japan shigoto was with ye ole Nova! They are keen to have The Law back in Nihon, but making me jump through the hoops of redtape corporate crappola. "Hi Gene, hooow´s it going? Yeeeeah. It's just that we're putting new coversheets on all the TPS reports *before* they go out now? So if you could just remember to do that from now on, that'd be greeeeeat..."

3rd interview recently (on da phone) was for Dubai. Probably going to get an offer. Great pay, but the only negative is I´ll...BE LIVING IN DUBAI. 53 degree celsius weather is awesome, and I mean, women dressed in 40 square feet of curtains are super segzy, but somehow not sure if it would be as enjoyable as Japanarama. We´ll see.

Running out of locutorio time. Back to job search woes. Peace.

"Looking for to have the fun with English time." --- Random Madrid graffiti

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA

I´ve had waaaaaay too many people bugging me to write about my favorite movie...ok, so it was more like two people, but humor me as I try to do justice to this one. I first saw Lawrence of Arabia back in college. Contrary to popular belief I did NOT watch the premiere in 1962. But I did manage to catch it on Lafayette, Indiana´s midnight cultural bonanza called "Late Night Movies". My first impression could be summed up in a shrug. Good, but not great. But two years later I was dragged to a re-release of it on the big screen. From the opening desert shots I knew I was hooked...I mean a full on light-of-heaven-angels-singing kind of cinematic revelation. It became then, and still is me favorite flick of all time.

Unlike the visually pretty dung heaps that war movies can usually turn into (*cough* Pearl Harbor *cough*) Lawrence of Arabia uses the battles and military struggles as a backdrop for awesome character development. Peter O'Toole gives his career-making performance as the legendary T.E Lawrence, and displays the good and evil war can bring out in average men's psyches with scary perfection. Following the exploits of Lawrence during his World War I adventures in the Middle East, the director David Lean gives us not only one of the best war stories of all time but also the best looking (non-CG) scenery ever to hit da big screen.

Go. Rent it. But be warned, it's not the same. Gotta see this one while shushing bored teenagers and trying peel your sneakers off the soda-enameled floors of the cinema. Most directors argue that's the only way to watch EVERY movie, but for this one it holds true.

(As a sidenote to my friend who looked at this and emailed me asking me for my High-Fidelity-esque Top 5 War Movies list....)

Top 5 War Movies that Don't Suck:

1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

2 Patton (1970)

3 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1956)

4 Saving Private Ryan (1998)

5 Platoon (1986)

FIDO NEEDS ATKINS

Funny/scary/sad facts of the day:
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates the annual cost (in addition to current spending) of wiping out world hunger to be $6 billion.

Americans spent approximately $14.7 BILLION on pet food in 2005.

I like animals. I liked that the only cheering in Independence Day happened after the dog was saved. I would have a golden retriever right now if I could take her with me to my company classes.

But good gravy, I think we could definitely cut back a weeeeeeeeeeeeee bit on the excess spending don't you think? A little 180 directional flip for funding would be prudent here en mi opinion.

Some other spending thoughts to mull if yer dull:

US women spent $8 billion on cosmetics (2001)
American Valentine's Day spending exceeded $13 billion in 2005
Pet rock sales skyrocketed to $18 billion in 2004.

Ok so one of those stats wasn't researched as well as the others. Just a made-ya-think train o' thought I had today.

Back in Madrid and feelin' fine. Getting that thar emailing itch again so watch for it! Gene out.

"Truth isn't always beauty, but the hunger for it is." --- Nadine Gordimer

OSCARS SHMOSCARS

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Top 5 Oscar travesties of all time:

1) 1976: Rocky beats out Network, All the Presidents Men, Bound for Glory, AND Taxi Driver. Well I guess Sly wouldn't have become the greatest actor in the history of movies without it.

2) 1993: Forrest Gump and his chocolates take away Pulp Fiction's trophy. You know what they call this kind of decision in France? Le crap.

3) 1941: How Green was My Valley tops the list over Citizen Kane. This is like comparing apples to orangutans.

4) 2001: Denzel wins best actor for Training Day rather than getting it for [insert anything else he has done here]

5) 1992: Marisa Tomei...nuff said.

Crash wins, Brokeback Mountain doesnt. In my opinion these two movies were about on the same level to begin with. They both were the least deserving of the five to win. One is a portrayal of the "Who can be more racist?" game, the other is exploring homophobia in John Wayne Land. Both solid flicks, but neither had a 4 star plot or cast. (Gyllenhaal was a gazillion times better in Jarhead)

Brokeback fans are steamed that Crash won, Crash fans are ticked that Brokeback fans are trashing their movie. Racism vs. Homophobia? The issues arent enough in themselves that supporters have to start competing against OTHER issues? Simmah down peoples.

Seems to be representative of a bigger issue to me. Why is it that these topics suck out so much of the energy and debate from USAers, while topics which should be of equal or more concern (take the foreign relation themes of Munich and Good Night and Good Luck for example) get left out of pop culture approval. There's something to this...maybe more later. Time to teach The English!

(Credit to James Berardinelli for his thoughts on the 2006 Oscars. I agreed with him totally: http://movie-reviews.colossus.net/ )

"Dont take the wrong side of an argument just because your opponent has taken the right side." --- Baltazar Gracian

ALMOST HAPPY

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Not much new on the Spain front! Getting plans ready for Nicole's mom to visit in the next couple of weeks. Have to see how the 4th-floor-no-elevator apartment holds up. All worth it for the homecooking…

Found this awesome quote the other day when reading about the history of Islam in Spain:

"I have now reigned about 50 years in victory or peace, beloved by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies, and respected by my allies. Riches and honors, power and pleasure, have waited on my call, nor does any earthly blessing appear to have been wanting to my felicity. In this situation, I have diligently numbered the days of pure and genuine happiness which have fallen to my lot. They amount to fourteen". --- Abd ar-Rahman III of Spain (960 A.D.)

Abd ar-Rahman consolidated power over nearly all of Spain, rejected the authority of the entire Muslim power structure, and made Cordoba the greatest city in all of Europe…nothing had existed like it since Rome. And he did it before the age of 27. If this dude wasn't happy with his accomplishments or possessions in life, what hope does a freelancing, English-teaching coffee addict of the 21st century have?!?! Well, maybe ADSL would help…

Not really sure why we feel happiness is something to strive for. Why is it we always believe that it's something we will eventually "reach"? I personally blame Disney. Cinderella II: The Honeymoon's Over never really hit it off with test audiences. It's tough to believe that money, fame, and career success don't guarantee happily-ever-after euphoria, but there's sense of truth to it.

Not to say I don't fall into the same trap! You can play the Fill in the Blank game with me…"My life would be soooooo much happier if only _______!" Can't count how many times I've said it. Can't count how many times it's come true and good feelings about getting it didn't stay. Every day though I seem to realize this fact a little bit more: Happiness is a choice. Wishing and worrying only lead to disappointment. Learn to love what's happening in and around your life, and maybe you'll find life a little more perfect. At least I for one am gonna try!

But I would still love that ADSL.

(Finishing with me fave quote of all time…from the only President who could say "Honesty is my first name.")

"Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be." --- Abraham Lincoln

EGGS

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Annie Hall is one of my favorite romance stories. Now I can try to defend this statement with all sorts of critique. I could tell you that it made a huge impact on my life. Or that I identified with Woody Allen's character. Or that I dated an "Annie" in the past. Or that it has some of the best story editing of anything to come out of Hollywood in the last 30 years. Or that I really liked Diane Keaton's ties. All of that would be trueand complete and utter crap. I love this film for the same reason every other one of its fans does. Woody's monologue at the finale. It goes something like this:

It was great seeing Annie again and I realized what a terrific person she was and how much fun it was just knowing her and I thought of that old joke, you know, this guy goes to a psychiatrist and says, 'Doc, uh, my brother's crazy, he thinks he's a chicken,' and the doctor says, 'well why don't you turn him in?' And the guy says, 'I would...but I need the eggs.' Well, I guess that's pretty much now how I feel about relationships. You know, they're totally irrational and crazy and absurd, but I guess we keep going through it...because...most of us need the eggs.

Now if you want an insightful exploration of the value of stealing every precious moment and chance encounters, watch Before Sunrise. If you'd like a verification of true love's eternal power, rent Doctor Zhivago. But if you're looking for a flick that details the insanity, senselessness, and little pleasures in couplehood, it's a gem.

Speaking from the viewpoint of a guy in a 1 year relationship (like wow, Scoob!), I can't explain it. Will I ever get married...I dunno (my friends have created a Vegas odds calculator for it) but I do know that I am addicted to all the craziness that having a girlfriend entails. Note to all blog-reading, shotgun-toting exes: The noun craziness refers to good times, not mental states.

Spend $2 and this movie won't disappoint. It's Woody's best. And it's got Diane Keaton wearing really cool ties.

"Life is full of misery, loneliness, and suffering - and it's all over much too soon." --- Woody Allen

INNOCENCE

Friday, February 17, 2006

A new blog! Giving some others a try (thanks to Candace for the hookup on Myspace) over my one at Xanga. If anyone wants to look at my old and horrendously updated stuff it´s here:

http://www.xanga.com/genelaw9

And this is my Myspace spot:

http://www.myspace.com/genelaw9

Not much new other than my new pad in Madrid. A bit cold, and the hot water does not flow in torrents, but it has a salon (living room), a freezer for ice cream, and most importantly, only one roommate! Not that the people in the old apartment were bad folks, but having six roommates can be a wee bit straining on the nerves.

I've recently decided to try a bit of writing! Just some views on the world, my experiences, and my thoughts on what's happening. Seems everyone is catching the "Blog Bug" these days, so if you can't beat em…

I watched Munich (fantastic flick) last week and today was thinking someone's blog entry the on the topic of innocence and guilt. (Disclaimer: I'm going to pick on my fellow Yankees because I am one and know little of what motivates Mr. Doe in Uzbekistan.) We Americans love to play The Blame Game. It's so easy! Right vs. Wrong. Good vs. Evil. Me vs. The other person to blame. Why is it we literally jump like jackrabbits to place 100% guilt on perpetrators of heinous crimes? How is it that the person to blame is nearly always "Not me."? Why is it so insanely difficult to accept, however tiny, the small part we played in bringing about a tragedy or transgression?

Now, I've never been any sort of devoted existentialist (there's even doubt I know how to pronounce it!) but I've always loved Jean Paul Sartre's ideas on choice and responsibility. Did you steal that candy bar from Little Timmy Thompson in the third grade? No, of course not, it was Bubba Bartfink, the class bully. How could you possibly bear any responsibility for that? Silence and acquiescence have their own share of guilt. You could have stood up to Bubba, you could have told a teacher…both of which might have earned you humiliation or a beating with a half eaten Kit Kat. The choice of non-action is usually the most comfortable, and probably no one would give you detention for it. But are you innocent?

Sartre's famous example used the French Nazi collaborators of World War II and their plea of "It wasn't our fault!" It was his belief that their choice of non-action, even if action had meant death, made them responsible for the Nazi war crimes in France. It's an extreme case, but I think this ignored share of responsibility is a huge everyday problem in today's "Looking out for Number 1" world. Bob got fired. Not my fault. Or did I fail to let the boss know exactly how important Bob was to the company? My fear for my job prevented me, and thus, I have a share in what happened. Muslims crashed planes into New York. Not my fault. Or did my actions and/or silence (through taxes, failure to vote, failure to get involved, etc.) help foster this intense hatred of my country?

Listen, I understand how difficult it is to determine how much of a random tragedy is my fault (I personally feel that OJ was only 89.54% guilty). For me, the concepts of absolute responsibility and innocence are useful, but as tools. They're necessary devices to keep society in one piece, and to prevent axe-wielding urban Vikings from barging into my place with demands for mead and Playstations. But it can be really empowering to recognize that one of the biggest influences on world events is your acceptance of your part in them.

Next time a seemingly senseless act occurs, resist the impulse to point a finger and swing the gavel of judgment. Instead, ask yourself, "What did I do/not do to help bring this about?" Seems backwards, but it's really helped me make more sense of this "us vs. them" planet we live on.